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guzhuangheaven · 2 months

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I'm rewatching Ruyi, and all I'm thinking is, "Why is Yanwan such a stupid person?"

She is surviving and thriving because of luck most of the time. How is it that her mother murders his child and Hongli thinks that maybe she is not evil because her mother didn't confess Yanwan's part but he spend over a decade hating on Yuyan because of an accessory and her ambitious son.

I feel the writer faltered and could have made her a more subtle and clever villain. Her only becoming a Consort because Hongli wanted to piss of Zhen Huan, I think sucked the most.

See, here’s where I think the writing is genius in terms of human psychology, because it shows just how utterly narcissistic both Qianlong and Yanwan and how much they see themselves in each other. Yanwan panders to Qianlong’s narcissism, so he literally willfully tells himself that a woman he favours can’t be that bad, to the point that he actually believes it. He wants to always forgive Yanwan whenever she pisses him off, because he can’t admit that he likes or gets turned on or whatever by someone so despicable, because what does that say about himself?

In the situation with Yongjing, he would rather believe astrology nonsense that Ruyi’s vibes killed Yongjing than consider there was foul play. He gets so hyped up with the idea of Yongjing being a good omen that when Yongjing dies he feels like he's losing face to ever have hoped so much. Face is a huge deal to a person like Qianlong, he can't deal with losing face like that so he turns it on Ruyi instead. Later he would rather deceive himself that yes somehow Yanwan’s mother can miraculously pull all off this huge feat of paying off midwives and people both inside and outside the palace to endanger Yongjing and frame Hailan in the process, than admit the obvious that she couldn’t possibly have done all of this without Yanwan’s will or involvement. And some people really are just so narcissistic that they would believe these excuses they tell themselves rather than think that they might be wrong.

Yanwan says it very succinctly in the end, he chose her, he raised her up, if she’s horrible, then what is he? That’s why he can’t ever admit to Yanwan’s worst actions until he can’t be in denial anymore, when it’s all shoved into his face in the end.

Yanwan basically spends her entire time as consort failing up because her benefactor (Qianlong) is too narcissistic to admit he was ever wrong and has the ultimate privilege to get away with that mindset. This happens in real life…

Anyway, I think while Qianlong is aware of Yanwan’s ambition from the beginning from the way she approaches him, and he nurtures that ambition to use her as a weapon against the empress dowager and Ruyi at times, he doesn’t see Yuyan (or do you actually mean Luyun and her hairpin?) in the same way. We see the Yuyan’s scheming private moments but I think for Qianlong, she’s just this plaything gift from a tributary state with a sharp tongue, and she is the equivalent of a sexy lamp to him. So he is blindsided when that toy dares have her own goals and uses her son to push her own gains.

If you mean Luyun, I always thought it was a perfect concoction of coincidences that sets up Qianlong’s suspicion of Luyun, from Langhua suddenly recommending Luyun as the next empress on her death bed even though she hasn’t shown any preference for Luyun before, after Qianlong just learnt that Langhua had supposedly done all these evil things, and then Luyun’s hairpin being found at the wrong place, then suddenly Luyun showing desire to compete to be empress that she didn’t have before and both Yongzhang and Yonghuang who were raised by Luyun acting up at Langhua’s funeral. With his tendency for paranoia of course he would be suspicious of her and he can continue to hold a grudge because Luyun isn’t a mirror to him the way Yanwan is.

#ask #legend of ruyi #如懿传 #ruyi's royal love in the palace #ruyi meta #clearing out the inbox #this has been in our inbox forever #send us asks and we might answer it in the same century

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teecupangel · 7 months

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Normally, Desmond is sent back in time to mess with things.

But what if it wasn't him?

Like, maybe Desmond couldn't go back in time himself but he could, in the split second he touched the apple, send someone else.

What if one of his ancestors went back in time? (Upon their deaths or something.)

I imagine a young Altair (who might be using a fake name) running around Italy with a tired Ezio following like a worried mother hen. (No, Claudia, he is not hovering he is just concerned) He ends up taking Altair under his wing (No, Claudia, it is not adoption.)

Or maybe Altair ends up in Bayek's time, Oh! Or Connor in Ezio's time. (Edward and Ezio would either get along badly or be too powerful if they were together in the same time period.)

These boys ruin the timeline and somehow save the world/future by simply stumbling through everything with no clue what's going on. and of course the power of friendship and really sharp blades.

Desmond and Clay are laughing their asses off in the afterlife as their ancestors destroy centuries worth of carefully calculated plans. (They might also manipulate things a little to help.)

And the time traveling ancestors for the most part, are doing the best they can in their current situation.

They are freaking the fuck out the whole time but are excellent at hiding it.

Poor Ezio.

(No, Altair, you can't kill that person because that have information we need, yes, I'm sure, Claudia don't encourage him.)

Well… How about we add some… ‘order’ to the chaos?

Desmond only had a fraction of a second to send his ancestor back in time.

And he hesitated.

He didn’t know which one to send.

Should it be Altaïr? Altaïr always felt like he would find out what to do even if he was given only minimal clues.

But Ezio was his prophet, the one he had been with the longest…

Ratonhnhaké:ton though… he deserves answers. He deserves the truth.

And when he woke up…

In that endless sea of gray…

The first word he heard were…

“’Morning. Which fucked up timeline do you want to hear first?”

Desmond sat and blinked as Clay stood before him, arms crossed with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Uuuhh…”

“Do you want to hear about how Edward Kenway managed to save his grandson and his grandson’s mother from the fires that should have killed her?” Clay asked before adding, “Oh… and he’s learned that his son’s a Templar by the way. At least, one of his old friends believe he’s actually Edward Kenway. If you think the Kenway Family Drama is bad when you were reliving Connor’s memories, then you gotta see the top tier drama that’s happening with Edward and Haytham right now.”

“Or maybe you want to hear about how Connor got kicked into Ezio’s time? He has no idea what’s happening but he got appointed as Federico’s combat instructor. He knows jackshit, by the way, about the tragedy that’s about to happen but, hey, at least Giovanni believes he’s an Assassin from another country or something. Oh.” Clay rubbed his chin as he added, “Connor doesn’t like how close Giovanni is with the Medici by the way. Lorenzo reminds him a bit of Washington or maybe he’s projecting, who knows?”

“Maybe you’ll like to know how your dear prophet is doing? Well, he’s doing badly in preserving the damn timeline that’s for sure. Let’s see… he got in touch with Alamut and managed to bluff his way into making them believe he’s the mentor of a destroyed Assassin branch from the crusader lands, he got the mentor’s permission to make his own branch in Levant, made a deal with said mentor to become a thorn in Al Mualim’s side and find out what he’s hiding, adopted Altaïr and even went as far as adopt Abbas because he believed he could ‘change’ things.” Clay was quiet for a moment before he added, “Oh and his branch is in the underground temple in Jerusalem so he has the Apple with him already.”

“Then there’s Altaïr.” Clay said with such… annoyance Desmond was actually afraid of what Altaïr had done. Clay rubbed the side of his forehead as he started, “See, they can only be transported into what counts as their past so we can’t have something like Altaïr being pushed into his future in Ezio’s time or something. And, since your only instruction to the Moraes was to ‘change the past’, they had to improvise with Altaïr considering he’s more or less the starting point. They had to pick another one of your ancestors who was important to your past and this world’s future so…”

“Altaïr’s been sent to the time of the Isu-Human war and his knowledge of the POEs and getting unconstrained access to the POEs at their full power… well… let’s just say…” Clay’s tone was drier than the desert as he said, “The Isus didn’t know what hit them.”

Desmond could only stare at Clay as he said.

“Soooo… which one do you want to contact first as their ‘patron’?”

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amournoir · 9 months

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hello! how are you? I hope you're fine<3

can I ask #11a & #11b of fluff scenarios for Elijah Mikaelson?

thank you🫶🏻

Fluff Prompt | E.M {request}

℘ prompt — late night texts (11a) & phone calls (11b)

℘ warning — fluff

℘ pairing — elijah mikaelson x f!reader

℘ count — 0.9k

The moon cast a soft, silvery glow through my bedroom window as I settled into my pillows, clutching my phone. It had become a comforting ritual—a late-night text or call with him, the man who had captured my heart in a way that felt both surreal and entirely right.

My fingers danced across the screen as I typed out a simple message: Can't sleep?

I pressed send and held my breath, waiting for his reply. It didn't take long for his name to appear on my screen.

Elijah: Indeed. The night often finds me contemplating the mysteries of life.

I chuckled softly, imagining him in his distinguished attire, sat on his grand office chair in his study with his brows furrowed.

Me: Sounds deep. But don't let it keep you up too late.

A few moments passed, and I saw the three dots indicating he was typing.

Elijah: I promise, I'll try not to lose myself in the labyrinth of my thoughts tonight.

His reply came, accompanied by a playful emoji. My heart warmed at his words. Despite his centuries of existence, Elijah had a way of being both dignified and charmingly human.

As our conversation flowed, it felt like we were creating a world of our own, separate from the demands of the daylight hours. We discussed everything from literature to our favorite constellations, sharing pieces of ourselves that we might never have revealed otherwise.

Elijah: Tell me, my dear, have you ever considered that the stars might be the echoes of forgotten wishes?

His words painted a vivid image in my mind. I smiled, my heart fluttering.

Me: I've never thought of it that way, but now I can't help but imagine the night sky filled with whispered hopes.

The conversation continued, moving from dreams to laughter to the occasional playful tease. And as the night wore on, it was clear that neither of us wanted it to end. I started to feel my eyelids growing heavier with each passing minute so I thought I’d rest them for a moment. Before I was fully asleep, my phone loudly rang and jolted me awake. In a rush to pick it up, I accidentally pushed it and it fell but the ringing stopped. I figured it was probably one of my late alarms so I decided on looking for it in the morning, I couldn’t be bothered to search for it now in the dark.

Not seconds had passed when it rang again, the echo underneath my bed made it louder than before. With a frustrated groan and whine, I blindly searched the floor for it. My eyes were still shut all the while. Once I felt it, I pressed the answer button without a glance, clearly this wasn’t my first time.

“Hello? Y/N are you alright?” his voice dripped with worry.

“Eli? What’s wrong?” I asked instead.

“You didn’t respond to my texts nor did you answer your phone. I grew worried.”

I smiled in the dark to myself and calmly replied, “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

“Oh.”

“Aren’t you tired yet?" I could feel the sleep heavy behind my eyelids.

“Not quite,” he replied. “I just find myself drawn to the sound of your voice. It's as if the night becomes a little less lonely.”

I hummed in approval at his words and let out a soft chuckle, I couldn't help but feel a rush of affection for the man on the other end of the line.

“I feel the same way," I confessed. "Talking to you makes everything feel a little brighter.”

We talked for a few more minutes, at times we’d pause and the quiet intimacy of our conversation soothed my soul. Eventually, I yawned, unable to suppress the exhaustion any longer. I propped my phone up against my nightstand lamp so he could fully see me and pressed the speaker button. With a few turns, I was now comfortable and ready for bed. I heard noise in the background from his side and soon the view changed from his study to his bedroom. He placed his phone down then seconds later retrieved it and it was clear that he had changed into his nightwear.

“Elijah, I think it's time for me to get some sleep,” I admitted, pulling the cool pillow closer to me.

“Of course, my dear,” He replied. “Rest well, and know that I'll be here, watching, until you fall asleep.”

I felt a sense of warmth and security in his words, and I knew that I could close my eyes with a peaceful heart. I was almost sure that all the peaceful sleep I had gotten in the recent months had been due to him. He had a way of making me feel protected and safe even if we were apart.

“Goodnight Eli,” I whispered softly into the phone, letting the darkness and Elijah’s digital presence lull me to sleep.

“Sweet dreams, my love,” He responded with a smile as he made himself comfortable against the bed’s headboard.

With a contented sigh, I set my phone aside, feeling grateful for the unique connection that bound us. As I drifted into sleep, I could almost hear his voice in my mind, like a soothing melody, promising to be there whenever the night grew too quiet. And so, with the moon as our witness, our late-night conversations and calls would continue to stitch together the tapestry of our love— one text, one call at a time.

🏷️ taglist:

⤷ @mrs-maximoff-kenner @thatfanficstuff @elijahmikaelsontrash @mxacegrey @thatfictionalwh0re @catmikaelson20 @loverswillowed @sweetwrathoflilith @panic-at-the-fiction @iiskittles16ii @original-siphon @hellotvshowtrash @onlyfreds @onlyfredslibrary @imgoingtofreakoutnow @slinthoex @i-love-nora @multiversediaries @decoffinated-vamps @hopester08 @aloneatpeace @hopes-wife @softcoremaybank @klaustopia @dreamingwithrafe @sweetestdesire @cottontears @cottonreads @buckyysdoll @spnandtvdudeservedbetter @impossibleheartflower @madetragic @spike-and-angels-gf

home ✰ navigation ✰ masterlist

#request 💌#aurora’s writing prompts #fluff #aurora.r works #elijah mikaelson x reader #elijah mikaelson #elijah mikaelson fluff #the mikaelsons #the originals

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lostbetweenvampiresandmusic · 7 days

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Could I request #16 and #22 with all of the boys or just Dwayne?

16. Time becomes meaningless after a while...

22. I know, it's stupid, crying alone in the dark in a cemetery.

--------------------------------------

I sat down in the gravel, crossing my legs. Wrapped in brown paper were some roses lying next to me, the paper wet from the ground it was laying on. In front of me was a headstone, made out of grey marble. On it was my name, my birthday and my supposed death day. I sighed, not knowing what to feel. It had been so long since it happened, so long since that night, since I left my human family behind without even realising it.

Before I knew it, the tears were rolling down my cheek. I couldn't stop myself. For the first time in decades, I allowed myself to cry, to mourn the life I'd lost that night. To mourn the family I'd lost.

I'd closed my eyes, only opening them when I felt the presence of someone standing behind me. I looked up and noticed it was an old friend. In all honesty, he was more than just an old friend. But when i had last seen him, he hadn't been ready to accept it yet. So here he was, as an old friend. An old friend I hadn't seen in ages.

"I know," I sighed with a sad smile, "its stupid, crying alone in the dark in a cemetery."

Dwayne smiled, sitting down next to me. "It's not."

"It's been a while, since I've last seen you."

He nodded. "Max hast kept us busy."

"Not that I mind, but why are you here?"

"David noticed that another vampire had entered the territory. I was send to check it out."

"Ah, you're just the welcome comity?"

"Just this once, just for you."

I smiled shyly, looking back at my headstone. "I'm honoured, Dwayne."

"You never answered my question from the last time we met," he said after a moment, as he looked at my headstone. "Don't tell me you were ashamed to admit you were older than me?"

"Oh no!" I smiled a genuine smile at him. "I'm not, and it's not by that many years."

"Good." He nodded. "Because it would be a shame if you were."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"I've been told in not so many words that if I found my mate I shouldn't be an idiot about it."

"And?"

"I've been very idiotic around you."

"Previous times, maybe. Now I do quite enjoy your company."

"I'm glad to hear it." He looked at me.

I looked back, studying his face. I sensed a certain nervousness. "You don't have to be worried. I never rejected the mating bond, nor did I ever have the intention to."

Dwayne couldn't help but chuckle. The way he had dragged his mate into the Emerson mess in the eighties would have been enough reason to reject the bond. He supposed he was lucky, with a mate like his.

"We're going to have to figure out how to make this work, though, " I said with a soft tone. "As much as I tried back then, I am not one for nightly parties and playing human."

"That doesn't matter. I am not a big fan of human interaction either. We'll find a way to make it work."

I stood up, taking his hand in mine. I looked him in the eyes and found myself smiling. "We better do."

"Why?" Dwayne asked. "We will work, we were made for each other."

"Yes we were," I nodded. "But we mustn't forget that-"

"What?"

"Time becomes meaningless after a while..."

Dwayne shook his head, looking at me. "It doesn't," he said firmly. "You lived the past three decades alone. You didn't have a family to talk to, or to hang out with. All you had was you."

I nodded.

"Now you won't. You'll have me, and we'll have centuries to explore who we are together and what we're going to be. And you'll have the boys, keeping you on your toes and making sure your life won't be boring. As long as eternity might be, it won't lose its meaning. I promise."

I nodded, a tearful smile on my face. "I'd love for you to be by my side." I said softly, caressing his face. "I'd love for you to show me what immortality means to you, and I'll try to do the same in return."

He kissed me softly, after quietly asking if he could. He held me in his arms, and it didn't take long before I realised he was right. I had him. Eternity wouldn't be something I would spend alone, I would spend it with my mate and his family. I would get new ways to fill this life and share it with him. I smiled at him, as he stood up and took me along to his bike.

"Thank you for finding me tonight," I said as I climbed behind him, causing him to smile. He drove off, taking me home. Home. What a wonderful feeling was that.

#the lost boys #marko #david #paul #dwayne #tlb #the lost boys 1987 #tlb 1987 #star #the lost boys x reader

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marvelmusing · 1 year

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Have Faith

Pairing: Sun Summoner!Aleksander x The Darkling!Reader

Summary: Inspired by this moodboard. Aleksander has a tiring first day at the Little Palace and as it draws to a close he wants nothing more than to hide away in his room. Then the Darkling sends for him.

My Masterlist

“Thank you, Ivan. You may leave us.”

The Heartrender nods politely, giving Aleksander one last scrutinising look before he leaves, closing the door behind him.

Aleksander hesitates near the doorway, watching you almost warily. You have to remind yourself that this man isn’t the same one you knew all those centuries ago.

“Aleksander,” you say softly, discarding your papers down onto the desk to give him your full attention. “Please sit.”

He hesitates briefly, before he crosses the room in a few smooth strides to sit in the seat beside you at the war table.

“How was your first day?”

His eyes look over you, as if he’s waiting for some sort of catch.

“It was fine,” he says slowly.

The corner of your mouth twitches at his tone.

“Really? Even Baghra?”

His shoulder slump slightly, as if a piece of his facade had been loosened. You wonder what he had told the rest of the summoners about his first day.

“She’s a bit of a trial,” he admits.

You laugh softly.

“Just a bit,” you concede teasingly. He blinks at you for a moment before his expression softens. The two of you are quiet for a moment before you speak again, “I know you’ve heard all sorts of stories about me, but I want you to know that I’m not a monster Aleksander.”

He frowns slightly.

“Why do you care about what I think of you?”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“You’re the Darkling? I’m sure you have more important things to think about than my feelings.”

At that you stand up, pacing towards the fireplace. Staring into the flames as they flicker in the hearth, logs crumbling to ash, you admit quietly in a low tone,

“You’d be surprised at how much I think about you.”

Turning back to face him, you realise you might have come off a little too strong. As he studies your expression, trying to figure out what your meaning is, you take the opportunity to admire his features.

He looks exactly like your Aleksander. The same dark hair and eyes, the same nose and mouth and chin. He’s a little smaller but hopefully, with training and eating full meals here at the Little Palace, he should begin to look healthier.

At the thought of him suffering through the wasting sickness for so many years, your heart aches in your chest. The dark shadows under his eyes look heavier than when he first arrived in the war room. Genya’s tailoring must be wearing off.

“Are you tired?” you ask him softly.

He nods.

“A little.”

The corner of your mouth twitches slightly. Even if he was bone-dead exhausted, you feel as though his answer would remain the same.

“Homesick?”

He shrugs lightly, looking down at your boots.

“I suppose.” He lifts his gaze when you don’t respond. Once he sees the questioning look on your face he adds, “Not much of a home to be sick for.”

You nod faintly, trying to gather the right words to say to him.

“I hope you know that the Little Palace is your home now. You’re one of us, Aleksander.”

He nods, a small frown creasing at his brows and a distance in his eyes. You can still remember the shock on his face, when you had first unleashed his power. It appears to be taking some time to fully sink in.

“It will get better,” you assure him.

His eyes meet yours and the hope filling them has your breath catching in your throat. The silence feels heavy, forcing you to throw out some casual conversation.

“Grisha usually train in pairs. Inferni work together, whilst Tidemakers and Squallers often team up.”

“Does that mean…?” Looking over at him, you lift a brow when his voice fades away. He shakes his head, “It’s nothing.”

“What is?”

“I thought that, since we’re both different from the other summoners, that we might train together.”

The thought of training with Aleksander has you freezing in place. You hadn��t thought of that. When he sees your stunned expression, he’s quick to add,

“I understand that you’re busy. You have better things to do than help me learn the basics.”

You shake your head, sitting down in the chair beside him.

“Everyone needs practice.” You glance down at the space between you both. “I haven’t trained with someone else in quite some time.”

Lifting your eyes up to meet his, you can see a calculating edge in his gaze as he thinks over your words. To pull him away from such thoughts, you ask suddenly,

“Can you summon for me?”

He blinks in surprise.

“Now?”

“I know you’re tired, but I just wanted to see.”

He shakes his head, his gaze dropping down almost shamefully.

“I can’t summon on my own.”

You place a hand on his arm, curling your fingers around his bare wrist. The feeling of his power meeting yours has a shiver running down your spine, and you hear him inhale sharply as he feels the impact of your amplification.

“What about now?” you ask.

He looks down at your hand, hesitating for a moment. Then he cups his hands together, resting his forearms on the table as his palms face the ceiling.

Then he brings his power to the surface.

A bright blossom of sunlight bursts into life, twinkling in the palm of his hands. Emotion gathers in his eyes and you smile in understanding. After such a tiring day, there’s nothing better than summoning.

If you reach a little further, you might be able to open up the tether between you both. But it’s too soon for that. This Aleksander barely even knows you. You will have to ease him in slowly.

As Aleksander continues to summon, illuminating your faces far better than the fire that now looks incredibly dull compared to his light, you explain a few of the basic Grisha theories to him. He listens intently, asking questions when he doesn’t understand something.

All the while, you slowly loosen your grip on his wrist. His eyes flutter quickly when he feels your fingers stroking over his skin, but his light remains as strong as ever. The two of you continue to talk, and as time goes by you slow down the motion of your thumb brushing against his skin.

“Aleksander?”

He hums softly and your heart warms at the sight of him looking so peaceful. Part of you wants to keep him here for tonight, allowing him to sleep in your bed. Instead you smile at him and say,

“You’re summoning on your own.”

His eyes widen as he looks down to where your hand had been. There’s a distance of around two inches between his wrist and your hand as they sit beside one another on the table.

His light splutters lightly and he loses his focus. The sunlight fades, but it’s warmth still lingers in your chest as you smile at him.

“It will take time,” you say softly. “But I have faith in your abilities. You should too.”

He tilts his head slightly as he looks at you, swallowing hard before he all but whispers,

“Thank you.”

You nod in acknowledgement, holding his gaze for a long moment before you stand.

“Come with me.”

He follows you to one of the doorways in the war room. Opening the door, you gesture down the corridor and explain to him,

“If you take a right at the end of this corridor, the dormitories will be at the end of the next hallway.”

He frowns a little, as he takes in this information, before he nods.

“Good night.”

“Good night, Aleksander.”

Even when he’s turned down the end of the corridor, you linger at the doorway with a small smile on your face. Then you close the door behind you and return to your work.

»»---------------------►

marvelmusing Tag List: @dreamlandcreations @blanchedelioncourt @idaofinfinity @slytherheign @ellooo0ooo @vixenofcourse @dumb-fawkin-bitch

Aleksander M Tag List: @nyctophiliiiiaaa @jazmin2211

BB Characters Tag List: @rachlovesactors @noortsshift @aikeia @weallhaveadestiny

#aleksander morozova #aleksander morozova x reader #sun summoner!aleksander #the darkling au #shadow and bone au #shadow and bone x reader #the darkling moodboard #my moodboards

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nkjemisin · 1 year

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"How easy/hard is it for cities to be born, and what cities do you think will be born next?"

Got this set of questions from a reader, but I can't post the actual ask due to spoilers. I've paraphrased the questions, and here are the answers, sans spoilers. This post is long, so first a cut:

Hi there! I'm afraid I have to answer this privately because of the spoilers in your ask. But since my reply contains info that might be interesting to other readers of my books, I'm going to publicly post a redacted version of my answer, paraphrasing your q without the spoilers. I'll leave your name out of it, unless you prefer otherwise.

Re cities being born -- it's not an "easy/hard" thing, it's a "critical mass" thing. Basically as more and more minds focus on that city and imbue it with their beliefs and imaginings, these become the metaphysical building blocks of city life, which build up and interact. Let's call them, uh, "citimino acids," lol. Many things can disrupt this buildup -- the city's character changing drastically and quickly, natural or societal disasters, a hit TV show a la "Miami Vice" from back in the day. These changes introduce fresh citimino acids, and some of the new ones are incompatible with some of the old ones, so the primordial soup stops churning for a while as the city develops a new character or reputation. But if the soup is allowed to churn up again, for a period that varies per city, then the acids eventually spark into life. At this point, the process changes to something more like human pregnancy, because humans are driving it. The physical city starts to "gestate" a metaphysical self: a mind, free will, whatever you want to call it. (I'll call it a soul.) At this point city avatars start being able to sense the developing meta-city; that's how the Summit knows to send someone when the "due date" draws close. Proto-avatars of that city can sense it, too, as Neek did in the short story/prologue of TCWB.

This process eventually happens in most new cities that develop any kind of distinctive culture. It also happens in old cities that have been through a period of upheaval, like a conquest or a major disaster. Complete destruction of a city (see: Pompeii) would obviously kill its soul. But for cities that only get partially destroyed, the city's soul (and avatar) survives on the sufferance of belief. If a city gets conquered or its population killed by a disaster or something equally horrific, every human being who hears about it is going to have a thought about that city. If enough of those people think, "Well, that's just life in [City], its citizens ought to be used to this kind of thing," then the city retains its character, stays alive, and the avatar lives. (See: Istanbul.) But if enough people think, "Oh no, the [City] that I knew is gone! It's never going to be the same, what a shame, we went there on our honeymoon," then the physical city might be rebuilt, but the city's soul (and avatar) wil die. A new soul might eventually be reborn, but it will be a different soul. Roman Empire-era Rome is very different from the Rome of today. That city has had several avatars down the ages.

Anyway, tl;dr, colonialism is why there's so much city birth happening in the Western Hemisphere. And all the technological and cultural revolutions the world has had in the past few centuries have created other clusters; consider all the new "planned cities" in Africa and Asia, for example. So because of all this global upheaval, the Summit is going to be very busy for a while.

(This is stuff I sketched out a few years back, when I was figuring out how "city magic" worked. I tried not to put too much of it in the books, however. Just because I suffer for my art doesn't mean everybody else has to.)

Off the top of my head, US cities that will definitely (eventually) get born include, in addition to the ones mentioned in the books: Los Angeles (per the original short story), New Orleans again, the Bay Area, and Boston. But feel free to imagine more, because I haven't exactly visited every city in America so my impressions of them are naturally going to be biased.

Outside the US, I honestly don't know enough about other countries to tell. I would guess most of the 10 largest cities in Central and South America, but it won't be in order of size, it'll be in order of culture/renown/public opinion.

Whew, long answer. Hope that answers your questions. And thanks!

#answered asks #the great cities

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acorpsecalledcorva · 3 months

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What's something you've been enjoying thinking about recently? Could be DID/system-related or not, whatever sounds fun to answer.

I made a post about it before but was talking to wife about it again last night. The fact that in the 18th and 19th century the study of dissociation, or auto-hypnotic ability, was this huge broad category of medicine, psychology, physics, and spirituality that branched off and began to specialise. Mesmerism, hysteria, Spiritism, and Psychoanalysis were all knocking on different doors to the same house and in Europe, Freud won with his bullshit fantasy model, but in Brazil, Spiritism really took hold.

To the point where there are Spiritist Hospitals that along with psychiatrists and nurses employ mediums that tell you if your mental health ailment could be due to spirits hanging around from past life trauma and help you to release them. Like the "symptoms are not explained by cultural practices such as mediumship" in the DSM for psychiatric disorders is there in part because mediumship is so prevalent and largely harmless (if not actually beneficial) in Brazilian culture.

Like, if you wanna get all purely scientific then you can explain it as traumatic events getting warped by the autohypnotic brain into something that seems like it happened to someone else in a past life which makes it easier to process in a similar way to how IFS asks you to distance yourself from your parts so that you may be your most helpful self in resolving internal conflict, but I do wonder what the world would have been like if Freud hadn't abandoned dissociation as a model and instead developed it to incorporate the strange way in which traumatic memory can present in some patients.

Would we have have explored the dissociative ability of the healthy mind? Understood how hysteria and the placebo effect really worked? Discovered endogenic plurality as a genuine psychological model? Or even developed more accepted spiritual models of Psychotherapy? I mean like half of my therapists have had spiritual beliefs but it's always discussed in a hushed tone like "oh you're a friend of Glenda Goodwitch too?" We know that culture can have a strong influence on how a mental health condition can present, and I don't think it's very helpful to try and view those presentations through a western lens, they're their own thing, but we can imagine how our own lens might have been different.

I dunno, I guess I just wonder if we're denying some core aspect of human nature when we try to be completely scientific sans spiritual, if we have been wholly rejecting techniques that have worked for centuries or millennia on the basis of being spiritual instead of being curious about their real world practical uses.

What was that scene in Contact? Where Matthew Mchorbalorba asked Jodie Forrester if she believed in God because 96% of the population believes in one God or another so it would be very misrepresentative to send an atheist to go meet sky daddy

#syscourse #spirituality #thinking about thinking

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plutodetective · 2 years

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So, guys, thanks to posts recommending it here on tumblr I’ve been listening to a podcast called Murray Mysteries, which is a modern adaptation of Dracula that manages to be more faithful to the book than any of the movies. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t change some things... You know how in any adaptation (that is, any play or movie that doesn’t strictly follow the original text) of Much Ado About Nothing nowadays Hero never ends up with Claudio, because as a modern audience we know he’s an abusive asshole? Murray Mysteries did something with Dracula that I think is comparable. Spoilers for a 125 years old novel! And for the podcast, of course.

If you know anything about the plot of Dracula, you know that Mina ends up being bitten and nearly transformed, and that Dracula can get to her in great part because the lads were sexist and decided that a woman shouldn’t go vampire hunting with them, so she was left completely alone while the rest of the gang was out there investigating Dracula together.

In the Murray Mysteries, we’re talking about the 21st century, and also a large part of the cast are women, so it makes absolutely no sense for Mina to stay behind. But following the same logic of “not going with us would be better for them because they’re fragile”, you know who can stay behind, in a way that makes sense for us? Jonathan.

The gang decides he’s been traumatized enough by his experiences in the castle, which is something I don’t think any of us on tumblr would disagree with. Leaving one of their number completely alone while there’s a vampire out there is still a very unwise (not to say stupid) decision, but with Jonathan being the one, it’s a decision that makes sense for a modern audience.

And then, of course, he is the one that ends up being bitten, which makes more sense than Mina imo, given his previous history with the Count. It makes more sense that he would be the one Dracula would go after. There’s a part, before he bites Jonathan, in which he sends the gang an audio message and asks “how’s Jon?” in the creepiest tone, and it just fits the whole Jonathan Harker is a gothic heroine being harrassed by a creepy villain vibe so well.

But plutodetective, you might ask, doesn’t making Jonathan even more Dracula’s victim, then giving him his happy ending with Mina, play to the homophobia of the original novel?

That’s a very good question! And the answer is not if you make several of the good guys queer as well, which Murray Mysteries does! Mina and Lucy are amicable exes, Jonathan is ace, Van Helsing is lesbian, Art (Arthur) is non-binary, Jane (John) is obviously sapphic... It’s wonderful. And like I said, it’s still the most faithful adaptation to the novel I’ve ever encountered, in great part because it never tries to pull the Dracula/Mina bullshit.

I haven’t finished listening yet, so I don’t know if it’ll be canon, but the latest episode I heard was hinting at an Art/Jane endgame romance. My only criticism of that is that because they went with a monogamous route, it feels a little bit like Art is moving on too quickly after losing Lucy. But that could easily be solved by having Lucy and her three suitors be a polycule through this whole thing. This way, Arthur and John (using the canon names because I’m now dreaming of possible future adaptations) still sadly lose their two partners, but still have each other by the end.

There are, of course, a lot of other problems with Dracula that should be changed in modern adaptations for modern audiences. But I think making Jonathan be the one to stay behind, for the sake of his mental health, and queering most of the cast, are excellent ways to get started.

#dracula daily #murray mysteries

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finnlongman · 2 months

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Hello, I'm the anon that asked about the Diarmuid and Grainne tale before and you gave such a great answer that I felt like it was safe to maybe send you an ask again? I've read more into the Ulster and Fenian tales and also came across the comparison between Diarmuid/ Grainne and Tristan/Isolde (a lot actually). Does that hold any evidence? Did the Tristan take evolve from Diarmuids story? I was thinking about maybe it up on JSTOR but you're definitely the less intimidating option. Have a great day

So, with the huge caveat that I am not a specialist in fíanaigecht material and also not an expert on Tristan material, this question did come at the only time when I might be able to answer it, because I literally read an article today about this topic. Having said that, I am still extremely not an expert!

First of all, I will say that this has definitely been a topic of discussion in academic scholarship on these texts. What the current consensus is on whether one text is drawing on the other, I can be less confident asserting, because I haven't read a lot of the scholarship on this topic. Although I'm not working on this topic directly, I'm currently looking substantially at the relationship between Arthurian romances and Early Modern* Irish texts (a category to which Diarmait & Gráinne belongs, although I'm working on the Ulster Cycle, so it's not in my corpus), so it's probably something I'll find myself coming back to. It's a very muddy area though -- although Arthurian scholars are often very ready to attribute details to the "Celtic" origins of a story and therefore imply that any similarities mean an Irish or Welsh text is the original blueprint, in this case, the surviving texts are late enough that you get a lot of influence coming back in from French and English sources via the Anglo-Normans and Ireland's general literary contact with the outside world.

When looking for articles on this kind of topic, JSTOR may be able to help, but I tend to find it's a bit limited for Irish material because so many articles and chapters in our field haven't been digitised. Which is a huge disadvantage. However, there are a few ways around this, at least in terms of identifying material (not so much getting access to it). I ran a search for tristan on BILL, the Bibliography of Irish Language & Literature, to see what had been published on the topic recently (but not super recently because BILL tends to be a few years behind with recent publications).

From there, I found Marie-Luise Theuerkauf's 2017 article in The Matter of Britain in Medieval Ireland: reassessments (Irish Texts Society Subsidiary Series 29, ed. John Carey): 'Tristan and early modern Irish romances: James Carney’s Ur-Tristan revisited.' This is a useful place to start. At least, it's where I started while reading today!

In this article, she discusses James Carney's controversial attempts (in the 1950s) to reconstruct an insular "ur-text" of the Tristan story that would have served as the source for later texts. In this study, Carney identifies a number of Irish texts that share motifs with Tristan stories, among them Tóruigheacht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne. TDG probably dates to the thirteenth or fourteenth centuries, although the earliest manuscript of the text is from the seventeenth century. However, Carney believed that the original story underlying it dated to around 900, and therefore he can count it among his early, pre-Tristan texts.

It's true that there were definitely earlier versions of the story, since the (descriptive) title of one is found in tale lists: "The Elopement of Gráinne with Diarmaid". The text itself is lost, though, so we only have the title. Theuerkauf notes that "this proves that the love triangle story of Diarmaid, Gráinne and Fionn was known at a date anterior to the earliest Continental Tristan texts, we cannot automatically assume that the Aithed Gráinne story in exactly the same way as the Tóruigheacht does." In other words, a lot of the very specific motifs and similarities that the two texts share might be later, so which direction the influence is in becomes very muddy -- does Tristan get it from Diarmaid, or the other way around? Or do they both draw on a shared source? Or are they coincidental/more general folklore motifs from a common stock?

Theuerkauf cautions: "While it may be tempting to focus on the similarities which exist between the Tóruigheacht and Tristan, this focus has tended to lead to an over-simplification of the nature of the source material" and comments that although they're "very much alike in theme, they are often very different in execution or intent". She finishes by concluding that Carney is wrong about most things, if not everything, and introduces for consideration another 15th-century Irish text with close correspondences to the Tristan stories.

Another scholar who has worked on the relationship between the Tristan stories and the Irish material is Raymond J. Cormier. His article "Open Contrast: Tristan and Diarmaid" in Speculum 51/4 is available on JSTOR. I haven't read this one myself yet, but it looks based on Theuerkauf's citations that he tends to be quite critical of the connections between the two; among his criticisms is the fact that the late date of the surviving Irish texts means influences can enter directly from the French material, so shared motifs don't necessarily mean shared sources or Irish origins for those details.

He's also written about connections between Tristan narratives and the Naoise/Deirdre story, so looking at the love triangle motif in another Irish text. I haven't read this article yet, but it's here, if it's of interest (not sure if paywalled or not, sorry, I'm on institutional WiFi right now so it's bypassing all of that!)

Another article that looks valuable on this topic is Joseph Falaky Nagy, "Tristanic, Fenian, and lovers’ leaps" in Diasa díograise: aistí i gcuimhne ar Mháirtín Ó Briain (2009). Unfortunately, I can tell you nothing about this article because this book is not available to me. I have actually just requested that my library buy it because a couple of the other articles in there are relevant to me, but that means I can't advise on its contents yet!

Nagy has another article on the topic, 'The Celtic "Love Triangle" Revisited', in An XIV Comhdháil Idirnáisiúnta sa Léann Ceilteach, Maigh Nuad 2011: Imeachtaí (Dublin, 2015). Again, I have not read this one (although it looks like my library does actually have it), but it's also cited in Theuerkauf's article and sounds like it could be helpful.

I don't know if this answered your question at all, as I feel like the general vibe of what I just gave you was "ehh well they're definitely similar but the question is Why they're similar and that's more complicated" (ain't that always the way). But hopefully it might give you some sources to follow up on. I'm sorry I can't provide direct links to more of these -- the lack of open access and digitised scholarship in this field is a challenge.

*A point of terminology just to clarify in case anyone was confused: 13th-14th century may not sound "Early Modern" if you're used to thinking in purely historical terms, but linguistically, when it comes to Irish material this label tends to start from about 1300 (and obviously, being found in 17th century manuscripts positions this tale more solidly in the early modern period anyway).

#toruigheacht dhiarmada agus grainne #tristan and isolde #answered #anon good sir #fianaigecht #finn cycle #long post #medieval irish #early modern irish #ps i honestly don't remember the previous ask and I can't find it on my blog #but I'm glad whatever i said was useful!#I'm sorry I can't remember what it was!

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pokemon-researcher-alexander · 10 months

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@koffing-time getting down into the weeds on Houndoom burns here instead of clogging the other post. or as much as i can before some other researchers start yelling at me to just write a paper already. buckle up folks.

to start with i'm gonna paraphrase a Xander rant on why they're so vilified. in the eastern regions (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh) most fire types fall into at least one of three categories. they've either been domesticated for centuries (Torchic/Numel), live somewhere remote or inhospitable to humans (Magby/Slugma), or were once revered as a near-Legendary Pokémon (Arcanine/Ninetails).

Houndoom are an obvious outlier and justified or not are often blamed for livestock going missing. with the most potential for human conflict this makes them the most likely Pokémon in these regions to badly burn someone.

let's get something straight. third-degree burns are a nightmare to treat now with all of the options available. in olden times? if you could live without whatever was burned amputation was the simple answer. lot easier to keep a cut disinfected.

so while we now know that a Houndoom burn actually does have more lingering effects than other sources at least some of the reputation is a mythos. chopping off your own fingers to avoid the pain sounds better than saying "i'd rather not get sick and die".

that out of the way let's get into how it actually works.

i'll use the Charmander line as a basis of comparison since they're so well known. they also have a gland that they use to spray fire. they let some of the flammable liquid (essentially crude oil) pool in their mouths then ignite it with a spark tooth (won't be getting into the details but it's piezoelectric). with this pilot light burning they expel a larger amount of oil that ignites immediately (giving their attacks a characteristic explosive start).

aside from having a gland in the same position Houndoom are completely different. they (as well as Houndour) have no sparking mechanism and need some other way to kickstart the process at body temperature.

(Tix i'll send you the actual chemical names later. to stop people's eyes from glazing over any more i'm just gonna call 'em by letters.)

in the gland is primarily chemical A. A being extremely unstable and fairly volatile it's stored under pressure and mixed with an inhibitor (chemical B) to stop it from breaking down or evaporating.

when released from the gland the mixture travels through a channel during which most of B is reabsorbed for future use. meaning that nearly pure A enters the mouth where it undergoes a rapid decomposition reaction into chemicals C and D as well as a fair amount of heat.

out of the mouth C and D react further with oxygen to produce chemicals E, F, and G. the exact ratio depends on available oxygen and heat. more specifically there's a consistent starting ratio but G can further react with oxygen to make trace amounts of E and F but mostly water.

E is extremely flammable and ignites as it is formed using energy from the previous exotherms. F has a significantly higher flash point but actually burns at a lower temperature and this is what's actually burning when a ranged attack hits the target. with something like fire fang E is still going strong which is why those burns are usually worse (for the amount of time that the fire's actually in contact).

i'm familiar with the case that you mentioned and that's a bit of a weird one. i won't mention the patient's name (though you can find it fairly easily) but they were hit by a fire fang in a low-oxygen environment. so E burned up entirely but F was left behind and got in through the open wound.

their situation was atypical in that it left them with a source of chronic pain. hadn't thought of the tattoo analogy before since i don't have one but that's a pretty accurate summation of what happened to that patient.

but wait you might ask. if that's unusual then what actually causes the typical hypersensitization to pain in the afflicted area. it's actually our old friend G. as mentioned earlier it mainly decomposes to water so the body can process it but it takes time. and in that time it acts as a mutagen. affected cells (and their daughter cells since the DNA itself is affected) together release certain classes of prostaglandins in much higher concentrations than they should.

the net positive of this are that further wounds in the area clot faster are less likely to become infected and heal at a marginally better rate. the far more prevalent downside is that the tissues will experience a disproportionate amount of inflammation and pain at the slightest disturbance.

NSAIDs like Aleevee can help temporarily as they specifically reduce the rate of prostaglandin release. they should not be taken constantly without a physician's approval though as they work on the entire body rather than a targeted area and there is potential for long term side effects.

all this being said it's not something that most people need to worry about. Houndour end up producing G at lower concentrations so it's almost unheard of with them and even with Houndoom it shouldn't be a problem unless they were aiming for a third-degree burn (meaning that they were legitimately trying to kill you or your Pokémon). unless they're horribly trained this should never happen in a league battle but best to leave the wild ones alone in case they fear for their lives.

fuck.

i just thought of something this could actually be used for. now i've gotta write a damn paper and cite this post so it doesn't get flagged for plagiarism. how you gonna tell me i'm copying my own work. i wrote it dumbasses.

#cw injury #pokémon irl #pokéblogging #eva posts #houndoom #long post #very long post #// the science gets a little handwavy #// but i never took biochem so this is what you get

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radioactive-earthshine · 1 month

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⭐

send in a ⭐star⭐ to have the author select a section they’ve been dying to talk about!

Thanks for sending this!

From Dark Crisis: Impulse

Scoffing, Bart answered him. “Superboy? You guys met him and made him a Legionnaire! Man, I was so jealous when I found that out, but you know what? He never rubbed it in my face or anything.” “Bart, we never met anyone named Ko-” “I know!” Bart snapped. “Because this timeline is all messed up! My father is alive, my mom isn’t trying to overthrow her crazy father, I have no idea what is going on with my grandpa but he’s supposed to be dead in this time, but I guess he’s probably alive! I’m supposed to be in the 21st century!” “And what do you do in the 21st century, Bart?” asked Imra, the remnants of her headache finally gone but her mind was numb. The speedster choked then he cracked. “I… nothing, really… We don’t even have a team anymore. Everyone’s gone their own separate ways. I don’t really fit in anymore. Wally has three kids who take up his attention, grandpa keeps to himself a lot, there’s Ace who is always on edge because I think he’s threatened by me because the world rebooted around him and I just… showed up. He’s always wanted to fight me from moment one, stupid. I don’t even care about being Kid Flash! He can have it, forever! Not like it matters anyway, because everyone is too busy to notice what title I might take up. And I don’t know where I’m going, as Bart Allen, or as Impulse. I’m not looking at life through the rearview mirror like Kon is, but I ain’t looking forward either, or even sideways,” he lamented and finished with one final softly spoken truth: “I’m so sprocking lost.” The room was very quiet after that for a few shaky breaths until Tenzil put his sunglasses back on. He stood very straight as he looked at Bart. “Gee, Bart. Sounds like that life really sprocking sucks.” Imra glared at him. “Tenzil!”

“What? It’s true! We would never do that to him! And you heard him, his dad is dead! Weather Wizard is dead!” “It’s still insensitive and not helpful!” Imra persisted. “N-no,” Bart said shakily as he stood up from his seat, Imra was quick to follow him. “I-I’m fine. He’s right, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made you worry.” “You’re sad, Bart. Very, very, sad,” Imra spoke like she was trying to coax a feral animal down from a tree. “But I do sense that rage. I don’t know why you have these memories, but trust me when I say this, as your friend; we love you. And you will always have a place with us. The Legion will never be the same without Impulse. Understand? We need you.” She reached for him, hands and arms wide open. Rest. Bart blinked two large tears from his golden eyes and he reached for Imra. The embrace she enveloped him in was tight and loving, and in the far reaches of his mind Bart was reminded of Cissie and her long golden hair. “It’s going to be alright, we’ll figure this out together.”

This particular scene was the pinch point for Bart to finally start doubting his own memories, where he started to 'fall' for the reality where he had everything he really, truly wanted all his life. It was a scene that I deliberately wove in some canon placement for Bart, it also ironically mirrors what it's like to enter adulthood where all those friendships you formed as a teen often do just drift apart and changed. Even when you never thought they would. It's grief. Grief of what he knew was perfect having totally changed on him and grief that it might not have ever been real in the first place. And he so desperately wants it all to be real. To be valid.

Note: Tenzil's comment about Don being "Weather Wizard" - Don in this little pocket reality for Bart is the Director for the Weather Control Systems and it is a sort of campy nickname, Don is sort of like a Bill Nye character but for weather and people generally love him.

Fanfic Writers Director's Cut

#my writing #bart allen

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guzhuangheaven · 2 months

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Hi!! Hope everything is going well ✨ I always watch ruyi while I work at home lol I just put one episode and they I end up watching 10 episodes it’s like my comfort shot at this point. But recently I started to feel interested in the bow and kneeling system, do you think you can explain to me how it works?

For example why in the harem some of them bow and make some hand gesture while greeting? The female servants should bow for all the mistresses to greet them right? but do they also bow because their own mistress is bowing? And also a servant should kneel if their mistress is kneeling?

Also I noticed that are different types of bowing, for example some is almost kneeling and other is just a little bow. Who should almost kneel while greeting? And for who?

Hope my question is legible, since English it’s not my first language 💖 and thank you is you see this 💚🌿

...I'm flattered some of you think this blog is this knowledgeable about the minutiae of Qing dynasty court etiquettes. If we can answer questions like this, we'd be a consultant on the drama or something. Which, for the record, they did have etiquette teachers to teach all the actors etiquettes.

Here is a short video of actors on Yanxi Palace learning how kneel. I'm pretty sure Ruyi and Yanxi had the same etiquette master.

See also our etiquette tag.

The only I "know" is from Rong Mo Mo teaching Xiao Yan Zi how to kowtow in Huan Zhu Ge Ge and apparently, only servants touch their actual head to the ground, if you're high born when kowtowing to the emperor, you would touch your head to the back of your hands, and I'm sure there's rules on whether left hand or right hand is on top.

#ask #send us asks and we might answer it in the same century

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booksandchainmail · 9 months

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Pale 10.e

He slept a nascent sleep, impossible to track in hours, days, weeks, months, years, or centuries, because it was a sleep so embedded in meat, meat chunks, and mud.

well that's a strong way to start a chapter

“You want a name?” she asked, clearly dissatisfied. He nodded. “Then I’ll call you-” 🟂 “Toadswallow.”

huh, I was thinking this might be Peckersnot or one of the other young goblins, guess this flashback is from a while ago. Makes sense that it was Toadswallow, fighting smart from the beginning

Toadswallow picked her up in a swooping movement, reached into his vest for the firework, and a wad of not-just gum that his beloved had given him, that he chewed sometimes while thinking of her.

did we know Toadswallow had a beloved? Part of me feels like this was mentioned before, but I have no specific memories. Did he mention that she had gotten bound by a practitioner?

The Witch Hunter carried on, closing in on Snowdrop. He seemed to notice Bangnut and Tatty, and his head turned, looking up at Toadswallow at the rooftop’s edge.

I wonder how common this kind of cooperation between different types of Others is? Or will he just assume they're all bound to the same practitioner

The Witch Hunter lived in this world. He had permission and access and privileges the Others didn’t. He could say that kind of thing, asking to stop Snowdrop, knowing he looked suspicious, but attempting to force a conversation. Once in that conversation, he could lie and Others couldn’t. He could sound convincing and calm while any Other, even Lis, would give off odd vibes. They would seem dishonest. Or they’d be forced into a corner.

my thoughts aren't cohering at the moment but I like this passage. Nice bit of worldbuilding.

The power, the privilege, the ability to change the world and the ability to exist were all predicated on having a story and having an identity. To do otherwise was to be expendable. When there were this many faces and names and they became anonymous for being this numerous, the stories were short ones, to be forgotten, saved, or twisted around for the next short story.

in-universe conservation of ninjutsu

And the Faerie, by contrast, were retreating. They didn’t get involved, going back to their courts and kingdoms. The ones who ventured out were exiles, the tired like Guilherme, and the young, like Maricica. Faerie were on their way out.

no grand stories in the modern era. Reminds of how the idea of the lone brilliant scientist/inventor i being replaced with the reality of large teams. All the easy discoveries have been made.

Toadswallow inhaled, deep, and the summer glitter was heavy in the air. Beneath and behind it, close to that family and the man with black hair who had interrupted Guilherme’s maneuvers… the musk of dark fall.

fucking hell Maricica now is not the time

Guilherme nudged him one way, trying to entrap him, while Maricica freed him, countering the pawns Guilherme used. Sending him out toward the water and the southwest. Toward John. In a roundabout fashion, toward the Ghouls.

well. She's trying to wipe out some of her future opponents, I'd assume

“Anyway, so I’m there and dad comes in. Kid’s in bed, covers pulled over her head. He walks over, bam bam bam, punches her. Walks out. What the fuck, right!?”

... did this goblin rescue an abused child? Actually, I wonder if this is how Toadswallow got into his line of work, teaching kids to handle goblins. He seems protective of kids in general.

He rummaged in a pocket, and pulled out a cold cheeseburger. “I was going to poison this, leave it and see what happened. Might’ve already poisoned it but I’m pretty sure I didn’t. Want? Can’t promise you won’t shit your brains out.”

awww

“All meat. I got ambitions,” Bubble said. “Gotta get strong, gotta kick ass, gotta eat meat, gotta get more meat that’s not for eating. Meat makes the world go around.” Turdswallow nodded. It was a good answer.

fair enough

“You know that was too close, moron,” Toadswallow said. Snowdrop shrugged.

Snowdrop is another kid that he can mentor

“You don’t have to lecture me like I’m four months old!” the four month old opossum shouted. “I was less than forty minutes old when I was figuring some of this out, so don’t give me excuses.” She huffed, folding her arms.

this isn't even mentorly, this is downright paternal

“Most places have one. Usually the same sort of rule as your Carmine, Alabaster, whoever, trying to stay so you don’t have to travel more than a day to find one. Sometimes they’re in the Warrens, sometimes up here, sometimes they’re tucked away, and sometimes they’re further because goblins are really bad at counting and keeping track. Helps manage things, to have someone.” She cocked her head the other way. “But-” “You’re goblin enough. You’re popular. They like you. It’d be a part time gig, bit of showmanship, bit of wisdom. Not for right now, but a few years down the line. Once you have that wisdom. We’d need to get there first.”

oh I like this. Snowdrop spends so much time with goblins, but she's smarter and more stable than most, which is good for a sage. And it's very sweet that Toadswallow thinks she's goblin enough. It also gives her something to aim for and work towards, a reason to keep suriviving that isn't Avery. In general I've been glad Snowdrop has other friends and interests outside of Avery, and I think this is a good next step. They share so much, but Avery does have her own goals and connections, and it will balance things to have Snowdrop get some of those for herself. Less of a subordinate familiar, more of an equal partnership

“You betrayed me, Ysolde,” one said. “And to a High Summer princess!?” “No, Eristan, not a betrayal, don’t you see!?” “I don’t! I can’t!” Toadswallow gagged, silent, hiding within bushes. It seemed so fake a drama. “All of life’s a stage, Eristan. All of us are telling a kind of story… each the stars of our own tale…”

big soap opera energy

“Tragedy, Ysolde? But we’re of the high spring.” “You’re of the high spring, Eristan.” “No! Then you’re-” “Yes!” Toadswallow made a barfing sound. Both Fae stirred, looking.

big mood, Toadswallow

The Witch Hunter was inside. In the factory where Nibble and Chloe were.

fuck! Thinking back to early this chapter, about how if there are a lot of people, their stories become short... there are enough Others around Kennet now that some dying will still leave plenty of players in the narrative

“She told me certain details, quite interesting. She also told Maricica.” Crooked Rook glanced at him. Toadswallow sighed. “She’s a bit, how shall we say it?” “Overworked?” “Glaikit. A moron,” he told her. “Unkind. I prefer to blame circumstance first, then to take the best possible interpretation, and then to think of things like that.”

ok, so not so much playing both sides as not thinking about the inter-Other conflict

“Do you extend this jolly fucking philosophy to practitioners, Rook?” “Oh yes,” she said, peering over the mask she held over her lower face. “What a circumstance, that. Almost always their own fault.”

on the one hand, lol. On the other... the Kennet Trio chose this for themselves, but as children in ignorance.

And thinking back to the Blue Heron Institute... what choice did Nicolette have? Or young Talia Graubard, whose mother would have replaced her if she faltered? Or thinking of one of the students, can't remember which, talking about how she had no education outside of the practice, no other way to make a living even if she was old enough to leave her parents' teachings.

"I suspect I know your answer, but I wanted to ask… of the two sides, one wanting to take the Carmine Throne and cast Kennet in new light, and one wanting to oppose that and seek peace…”

thank you so much for asking this outright, Crooked Rook. Could you now go around and ask everyone else?

“Neither.”

Could be worse, and I suspect he might intervene to protect Snowdrop at the very least

“A long few years ago, I visited the Faerie courts. I came to a theory. If words of it left my lips, half of the Others here in Kennet would want to draw and quarter me.”

OwO?

He chortled. “The Faerie live by stories. But so do goblins. It’s… the limerick to their poetry. The one-liner to their epics. From a very early point in time, I knew it was important to tell a lie and portray myself as confident, to be open and ready for ideas, and to be armed with any tool… even theirs. Perhaps that equips me in a unique way.” “The thought crossed my mind… what if the goblins were an eighth faerie court? What if we’re a counterpoint, noisy and active, to Winter?”

holy shit.

That would... fit. I remember wondering why there was an odd number of Faerie courts, why Winter alone had no dark counterpart. And it would explain why Fae magic and goblin magic are so deeply antithetical to each other, if they're linked like that.

Winter is where Fae go when they stagnate... is Goblin where they go if instead of getting locked into a role from boredom, they break out of it? Or earlier we saw goblins being born from the mud... if Winter is the end state of Fae, is Goblin the beginning? Born from mud and filth, telling a vulgar story or dirty joke, then growing more older and bigger and more complex, the story complicating, settling into a favorite trick and story, then metamorphosing into a seasonal court?

“Everything I’ve done since, aping them, dressing myself up, giving myself a meaningless title, the tricks, using their tricks in my own way, like the curse of three… it’s worked out well enough. I have no glamour, but the Winter Fae have little else. It makes its sense.”

and the glamour grows along the way, until it eventually drowns all else out?

He decided to trust. “Many courts have their markets. Each trades in different things. I think Kennet could host an eighth.”

well damn. Explains why he wants a sage.

“A goblin market? With you at the helm?”

hey! Goblin market, even more than a Faerie market that's a thing of folklore

She nodded. “I changed my position and walked over here because Lucy Ellingson approached the place I was previously standing. Just around the corner.” Toadswallow went pale. He looked at her, then walked a few feet to the right. Sure enough, right around the corner, Lucy Ellingson was standing near Matt and Edith, wearing her fox mask, hat, and cape, her eyes burning.

no, fuck, stay away from the Witch Hunter! But I guess if John's in trouble...

What do you want to bet Matthew and Edith called her here in hopes she won't make it?

And she wore the earring. “Be careful. Their kind can listen in.” “You-” Toadswallow bit back vicious curse words. Had she realized? Had she done that on purpose? It seemed so, but he couldn’t be sure. Why? To put him at odds with Lucy?

ah. Though I'm not sure this would do that? I don't see Lucy being enthusiastic about a goblin market, but I don't think she'd try to stop it (given reasonable restrictions, like no slavery). His theory about goblins and fae... shocking in general, but I don't think Lucy is particularly attached to the fae/goblin dichotomy. Knowing he plans to be neutral... I guess that could prompt her to try and recruit him?

#booksandchainmail reads pale #pale #wildbow

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amournoir · 7 months

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hi! can I please request a fluff scenario, #11a and #11b for Elijah Mikaelson? (can you write them together? if you can't, don't worry, do it separately)

Fluff Prompt | E.M {request}

℘ prompt — (11a) late night texts & (11b) phone calls

℘ warning — none, only fluff

℘ pairing — elijah mikaelson x f!reader

℘ count — 0.9k

Midnight Whispers

My fingers danced across the screen as I typed out a simple message: Can't sleep?

I pressed send and held my breath, waiting for his reply. It didn't take long for his name to appear on my screen.

Elijah: Indeed. The night often finds me contemplating the mysteries of life.

I chuckled softly, imagining him in his distinguished attire, sat on his grand office chair in his study with his brows furrowed.

Me: Sounds deep. But don't let it keep you up too late.

A few moments passed, and I saw the three dots indicating he was typing.

Elijah: I promise, I'll try not to lose myself in the labyrinth of my thoughts tonight.

His reply came, accompanied by a playful emoji. My heart warmed at his words. Despite his centuries of existence, Elijah had a way of being both dignified and charmingly human.

Elijah: Tell me, my dear, have you ever considered that the stars might be the echoes of forgotten wishes?

His words painted a vivid image in my mind. I smiled, my heart fluttering.

Me: I've never thought of it that way, but now I can't help but imagine the night sky filled with whispered hopes.

“Hello? Y/N are you alright?” his voice dripped with worry.

“Eli? What’s wrong?” I asked instead.

“You didn’t respond to my texts nor did you answer your phone. I grew worried.”

I smiled in the dark to myself and calmly replied, “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

“Oh.”

“Aren’t you tired yet?" I could feel the sleep heavy behind my eyelids.

“Not quite,” he replied. “I just find myself drawn to the sound of your voice. It's as if the night becomes a little less lonely.”

I hummed in approval at his words and let out a soft chuckle, I couldn't help but feel a rush of affection for the man on the other end of the line.

“I feel the same way," I confessed. "Talking to you makes everything feel a little brighter.”

“Elijah, I think it's time for me to get some sleep,” I admitted, pulling the cool pillow closer to me.

“Of course, my dear,” he replied. “Rest well, and know that I'll be here, watching, until you fall asleep.”

“Goodnight Eli,” I whispered softly into the phone, letting the darkness and Elijah’s digital presence lull me to sleep.

“Sweet dreams, my love,” he responded with a smile as he made himself comfortable against the bed’s headboard.

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blankdblank · 11 months

Text

Protego Pt 15 - April Fools

Masterlist here

...

“I believe it best you graduate early,” Minerva said after they’d gone to talk to her about this for advice.

“I, have to leave?”

“I will say this, seventh year is notoriously hard, and by the dates you have given you are due in April, two months before NEWTS are sat for. Now early graduation does not negate your place to sit for those exams, merely you would be more relaxed and not having to traipse up and down enchanted staircases every day for months while you should be resting to prepare for baby. I myself will weekly check in on you, and should you wish it Sirius you can graduate early too, there have been instances where students were required to graduate and could move into internship jobs in the Ministry until the NEWTS are taken and they can progress into the Auror program. By then you could have sat for all the evaluation exams and have a foot up so to speak on those who graduate regularly.”

While plans seemed to line up well with professors ready to help them graduate by the holiday break Lily seemed to be a hard nut to crack, not having talked to Jewels after not being the first to be told. Letters home did warn the Evans parents and Petunia, who while shocked, was sympathetic that a means of birth control failed and now he was stepping up to the plate. Even going so far as to send a heart warming bundle of bridal magazines to help with any details she might be able to.

On a steady diet and vitamin regimen once she’d handled the deflating task of stepping down from the Quidditch team she’d simply left the other students to speculate about her health as to why she was now graduating early after her fainting spell. A giddy utterance from the Bloody Baron, who checked in on her however, had the Slytherin students elated at the news of a new child for Sirius’ line and whoever the adopted heir of Slytherin hailed from.

Narcissa and Lucius were first to share they would be nearby in London on the holiday break, clearly gunning for an invite as many other students tried to get to just be present at the imagined wedding of the century.

All the same amongst the work load a trip to a Midwife was arranged and anxiously Jewels and Sirius sat with hands locked in the waiting room after having filled it the paperwork under the watch of a House Elf who brought them from Hogwarts for the morning appointment. “Jewels Evans?” Up from the floor her anxious steady brilliantly green eyes rose to meet those of the former Molly Prewett who smiled at her with hands on her own belly.

“Molly Prewett.” At the wedding band in her finger she asked, “Or, not, anymore?”

“Weasley,” she answered with a smile and sat down in the chair beside Jewels stating, “Hello Sirius, my Arthur had to work. Just got hired as an assistant in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office after his apprenticeship last summer. When are you due?”

“April,” she answered widening Molly’s smile.

“Mine as well, three boys already at home with my mother in law so I could get a moment to breathe, won’t get much of that from April on. Twins.”

“Just the one, I believe,” Jewels answered in an anxious tone making Molly pat her arm sweetly in a comforting gesture.

“I was more than nervous my first time around. Have you graduated yet?”

“Not yet, we take our NEWTS on schedule and they’re letting us skip ahead, to get out early so we can prep.”

Sirius said, “My Mum surely will put me back on an allowance and we’ve got the rental we share with Reg and the guys until we find a more suitable place.” He smiled and stroked the back of Jewels’ hand, “Hopefully somewhere near to the theater troupe for my Jewels here.”

“I have an aunt who was a dancer, the traveling will be fun for you. Babies shockingly travel well at least as long as you are moving. It’s when you try to stop and put them down for the night where the trouble comes in. But a nice bath and they will be off to bed for you two to breathe until morning.”

Jewels chuckled and stroked her belly saying, “I’m so glad we ran into you. Everyone else we’ve seen some here on our last visit looked at us like we were fresh out of primary school. Even after seeing my ring.”

“Oh you will come into your age. The pregnancy glow does tend to add to a youthful tilt on us young mothers.” Her smile widened and she said, “We can coordinate our next appointment and have lunch after. You can pop by the Burrow and kick your feet up and I can share some tips you won’t find in any book. And maybe some spare knitting for your little one,” widening Jewels’ smile.

“Just show her your eyes, she simply can’t refuse.” Sirius hummed softly to Jewels, having revealed the front of the Grimmauld Place entrance of his parents’ home with a loving grin and pat of a hand on her still mostly toned belly yet to show sign of her second trimester. Purple to green those telling eyes beyond the door with the knocker to announce guests let them in to be presented by Kreacher to Orion and Walburga Black, who instantly moved to have the notable relative with surely the cleanest line to Slytherin settled upon the best loveseat beside their eldest son.

True she was adopted by Muggles, and surely interactions at the elopement with them would be tedious. Two sisters could be tolerable for a truly acceptable union for their son who they had assumed to have been straying entirely from the path. “Grandfather,” Sirius spoke aloud and stood to be greeted by Arcturus Black who had come through the adjoining door the Black Family mansion connected. His inherited hidden property connected to all residences linked to the clan including a few Malfoy properties now bound in the marital contract between Lucius and Narcissa penned for their future wedding date.

“My birth father is Morfin Gaunt, only I don’t exactly know who my mother is, we can’t seem to uncover her name for all we’ve tried. Did find I have a cousin, but apparently he’s the Half-Blood posing as a Pure-Blood in his war against Muggles.” Wide eyed with a hand over her lips she looked to Sirius, who only just now realized the golden seam accented teacup she had been given for his mother’s offer of a calming drink. One to help spill the tea usually offered to guests the Sacred 28 often wished to know more about. A move now the Witch halfway inched to regretting as the whole effort of the war she wished to push her sons into was based on fraud.

“That usurping little Half-Blood!” she was heard shouting in her storm out of the room while Sirius finished off his cup to pour her tea into his cup so she could keep drinking without force of more secrets from her lips.

Orion leaned forward luring Jewels’ eyes to him as he said to Sirius, “Defense of the line of Gaunt, very admirable. Had we known we would not have pushed Regulus above you. I would presume there is a plot afoot?”

“I had to keep Jewels unknown to him.” Sirius answered to Jewels’ try at a calming sip of tea from his mug. “He killed her parents.”

Arcturus stated plainly, “Your child shall inherit my home.” In reaction to the sudden offer she tried not to choke or spit out the tea and Sirius’ eyes snapped wider his grandfather’s way. “The papers shall be drafted up by the date of the wedding, we should go now, I will show you the garden young dear,” he said and moved around the table to offer her a hand. For a personal help up and walk to tour the grounds of his hidden home that even under snow was breath taking.

“Oh,” she whispered in awe turning around at the snowy hedge maze and fountain decorated cobbled pathways with destinations hidden by snow.

“You may have your ceremony here, I will assure the ballroom is prepared for the reception.” That had her eyes move off the mountains surrounding the bubble hidden mansion.

Sirius at the next plume of breath leaving her lips said, “There are warming charms that can encircle the ceremony outside if you didn’t want tents, we have tents, if you want them.”

Up at Arcturus she asked, “You don’t mind us getting married here?”

“Jewelia, this is to be the finest match of our family history. To not allow you to marry here would not be just an insult to our lines but to your unborn child. We must display full support beyond reproach to all in attendance. But first, Kreacher should have fetched Regulus by now and we shall commune with the stars to know to ready for a son or daughter. For both require certain steps to honor within the ceremony.”

A daughter, more weight to leave the house to her as the female heirs of the Black Family line were tied already to notable lines and were promised properties from those lines to include them into the fold. Sirius would be welcomed back into a small fortune to ensure no risk of discomfort or hunger as well as a few properties under strict terms of always ensuring Regulus would have a place in the properties should he require it.

One of the properties being a cottage in Godric’s Hollow Sirius and Regulus took her next to tour so they could set up home. Close enough to the theater and where her family could visit with ease and not seem out of place. A bit of furniture and paint would join the gifted house warming items from loved ones to fill up their needs inside this quaint place they now called their own.

The space very much needed as Andromeda and Ted had adjusted their house now packed with things for their daughter they hoped to be ready for anything with. Even Severus felt a bit uneasy coming back to the basement apartment and took up the offer of Sirius to rent out the three story town home he now had possession of to share with Regulus, who did not want to crowd the new couple in their new cottage. Three stories, that after finding his parents had just taken off one day in the first semester of this year and left without word or any sort of funds or property to him he was beyond grateful for some form of stability with the ten year lease agreement they signed for Severus.

From first night in the new place to first morning routines and breakfast before heading off for the day the couple seemed ready to take their new future on. Complete with use of the cow creamer and duck pitcher they made on their first date. Three days a week Sirius would be accepted to intern in the Ministry come January and could spend the rest of the time at the theater with his future wife. From finances to even future schooling questions, if they happened to have a Squib, much was discussed while the wedding seemed squared away with a visit to talk it all out with her parents.

“Jewels?” Sirius asked his silver eyed fiancé in her place at the chair beside their bed writing in her dream journal, just one word to fill the page beside a sketch of what anyone would take as a self portrait.

Knelt down at her feet his hands on her thighs snapped her out of the trance to look at him then to the book on her lap. “Oh,” she let out in slight confusion. “Suzsieanne, sounds pretty.” And looked at him again in his comforting nod.

“Bad dream?”

“No,” shaking her head she added, “Odd, I don’t remember. I always remember. Do you think, it’s a family name? From my mother?”

“Could be. Our family tend to have longer names, not the usual one middle name, we could use it there,” he wet his lips and her brow arched up.

“What?”

Breathily he chuckled, “Out of habit I have done the star charts, our little girl will be born under Pluto, could we make that as a middle name as well?”

“Pluto is pretty cute,” she said making him smile wider. “I say we keep it.”

Long sleeved sheer lace and diamond appliqué on the top half, the wedding gown certainly made a statement even without the poofy bell skirted white furry layers for the bottom half, accented by firefly like glimmering diamonds inside the fur and the sheer appliqué veil secured by the furry top hat. The hat, while a new tradition came from what was known of older Gaunt lines to try and respect those ancestors. Sirius in his white dress robes also decorated by fireflies out of glimmering diamonds joined the nod to one of their first dates when they were swarmed by them.

A symbol scattered throughout the ballroom as well for the food and music filled celebration select members of his family mingled as respectfully as possible with hers. Joined by friends from both the theater troupe, the Weasleys with their three young boys, Severus, Remus, Peter, Alastor, Flitwick, Minerva and Hagrid. To help fill her side so his would not be so abundant in comparison.

Petunia up at her side beamed in being her Maid of Honor. Lily sat speaking to James, who she insisted be able to come or she wouldn’t, calm even in the onset of worries for the three girls who learned the poorly area they grew up in now had both of their parents with deteriorating health. But for tonight under the light of a sparkler accented phoenix ice sculpture candelabra Albus had sent as a gift in return for his invitation while he was required to travel unable to make it.

A special night to carry on into a second wedding, also during the holiday break, Petunia and Vernon inside their own dream wedding prized their own day, this time with Jewels as Maid of Honor for her sister in return. Dressed in a knee length white strapless dress topped by black and white butterfly wings layered beautifully over the top, one shoulder with a black feathery accent, and onto the voluminous skirt visibly mostly made of tulle. A hint to her dress that was an off the shoulder lace simple dress Jewels had helped to accent with crystal butterflies stitched carefully into the design to truly be one of a kind.

Her ceremony being specifically arranged at a simple request of Vernon, who after being insulted by James at their first meeting chose the more welcoming of sisters to be part of the ceremony that had Lily on the verge of ruining the day out of spite. But in a talk with Petunia the week before she did come to understand as to why she was not allowed to stand up with her sisters.

She understood, but it still hurt, and when it came down to her own future wedding plans she tried to not let the sting make her act harshly against both of her sisters for neither picking her. Sweetly however James kept laying it on thick to distract with talk of better times back at Hogwarts that now neither sister can take part in. Which made Remus huff and hang his head back in hearing this isolating tactic for the sister who really didn’t need to feel alone after returning as the only unwed sister of three in school alone.

“Twelve hemlines, five embroidered fish and an army of brass buttons,” Jewels said with a smile emptying out an enchanted bag of the costumes she had taken home to finish over her last short shift at the theater. Needlework, calligraphy for poster and props and such were her bread and butter these days. Tending to get nauseous terribly easy requiring bouts on the floor to even out again, a role right now above the seated one that had her confined to a wheeled chair as an ailing heiress they worked into the script was the most accommodating way the troupe kept her doing what she loved.

When she might feel a bit embarrassed to force them to put in so much change to the script the whole cast made it abundantly clear this role was hers from the start no matter the accommodation to ensure she could be the one to bring it to life. So with a blanket or conveniently placed muff her growing belly was shielded for the most part while the audience got to prize what was known to be the only role for this starlet until after her maternity leave was through. All the same she loved it, her final role before everything changed, one her newest friend Molly was in the audience on a date night for to share a supper with their husbands afterwards.

Thick as thieves the pair hit it off. Close enough between the Burrow and cottage that weekly a few meetings could be managed to both ready for their births. A bond that would carry over as both women already halfway gone to labor arrived at the Midwife’s sharing a delirious chuckle at the timing.

“Lily!” A hand in the dark stirred the Evans girl from her sleep to find Minerva in candle lit glow who said to explain the wake up call. “It’s time.”

“What time?”

“For the baby.”

“Is it born yet?” she whined and said, “I won’t be-,”

“Lily Evans you get your back side out of this bed or so help me I will make you sleep on hot coals for the rest of the year. Get up! Your sister needs all the support she can get!” Clothes from her trunk flew at the girl’s face and she could only huff and grumble her way to get ready so she could be taken by Minerva out to the main courtyard where she found Remus dressed but shivering in the brisk morning breeze.

“Remus, why are you here?” Lily asked and he shrugged.

“Long as I don’t have to hold a foot I will fetch whatever they need.” He answered and let out a large yawn, taking hold of the portkey a man who arrived offered between the trio who were then off. Soon to see Regulus, who had been brought half asleep by Kreacher, now wide eyed in the cold air in his pajamas confused but soon excited as the reasoning clicked.

....

You can continue reading on ao3 here - From here the Anaticula series picks up. Hoped you liked the mini series and do let me know what you thought if you feel inclined. Doubt I’ll be continuing to double post on here for the rewrite, or if I change my mind once it’s all rewritten or whatnot. But there is tons of fun ahead in the series and no shortage of drama. :) Happy Reading.

Link to the original version where my oc/Fred/George are born onwards still on tumblr, none of the new stuff but all of the original story you guys know. :)

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big-parma · 7 months

Text

The Absolute State of Maths Education rn

Yo so the bigwigs at VCAA (the guys who write the curriculum for all education in Victoria, Australia) have been coming out with new study designs for almost all VCE classes that’ll be implemented at different points over the next 3 years. The VCE is considered relatively prestigious-ish in the sense there’s a fair few people in other countries who send their kids to Victoria to do it (Australia’s biggest export is education after all) so it’s a big deal when major changes happen to how important courses run. Context = understood.

So I’m a maths (…and science) teacher now and the major changes to the three maths streams since I graduated in 2012 can be summed up like this:

Spesh (the highest tier of maths, scales up the most out of any course except stuff like Latin) - Kinematics are less of a thing but they added in Proofs and hypothesis tests(?!) instead

Methods (still high scaling, but more like uni engineering maths instead of theoretical crazy hard stuff) - Stats removed, some more “calculus but if you can’t do calculus to that particular thing” included instead

Further Maths (General maths, scales down(?!) and is the “ya got a mortgage here’s a maths problem” class that a commerce degree at uni usually means by saying you need at least one maths background to get in) - the stats from methods is here now and they call it General Maths to stop the confusion with it and methods

and there’s also now a fourth tier of maths called foundation

I’m assuming foundation is the barebones “pay your bills with x income And do your taxes” class your relatives keep saying they should’ve been taught how to do in school

So that’s all the changes across a decade of education. When they announced “big changes are coming to the way things will work across VCE maths” I think I’m safe to say most of us took it as the usual reordering and in/out for content as described above. Since I’m a good boy (read “I wanted to put on a good front to make sure I got my contract extension” - I’m permanent now dw) I attended the online seminars (lmao webex) that they presented as information sessions on the changes.

First one was Spesh. No biggie, exactly what you’d expect, some stuff’s swapped again, hang on Pseudocode is in..? But that’s just any code that could do any maths?! And they’re mentioning that it’s in methods too??? The chat at this point’s asking a lot of questions, mostly “how can we know what’s examinable so we can actually teach this??” But thankfully they have an example that should satisfy you:

This is not even a half step above “hello world” and it’s in the hardest maths course? How hard does this get? What do they consider legit? Is there an example exam question that they have as a reference? How will they be able to write textbooks on this if that’s all they have?

No answer. Oh well methods is the next day maybe that will elaborate on it.

Methods opens with the same spiel on things, negligible changes imo on actual content… and he acknowledges some confusion from yesterday on Pseudocode! Has he got an answer? What’s the example this time…

Oh. And it’s definitely examinable and we might elaborate on that later but for now that’s all we got.

That was all 2022. Recently (2023) they did the same thing for “revisions” which was for FurtherGeneral Maths’ course (all of these are being phased in kinda since changing a year 12 course when year 11s are running on the old one makes no sense). Guess what showed up in the General Maths study design!

It’s ya boi 21st century life skills!

I’ll be honest, I was a little suss on this from the Meth/Spesh presentations but I think this confirms what I was thinking: this is some boomers pulling the “kids need to learn how to computer” card isn’t it? Don’t get me wrong, kids do need to learn to computer, but lol as if they’ve got this as their only example to show off across all three variety of maths!

But wait, there’s more!

They’ve got a page about it now! Yay! There’s some more examples - harder ones now - but there’s still no actual information on how this topic can be presented on the actual end of year exams. What do i teach them? What constitutes legit Pseudocode vs nonsense pretend code? Is this basic computer science 101 or are the kids going to be presented with a max level spesh question through the lenses of a guy saying “yeah but make it code”

eh I’ll just teach them excel :)

#Excel #teaching #vce #vcaa #They’re also changing the way you report on years 0-10 but that’s all g imo #What the hell are the textbooks gonna do with these examples #Maths #mathsteacher

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