#stronger than fear (1950) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

xtinacherry · 2 months

Text

Honda's Godzilla Blog Post 2/14

I have never seen Godzilla before nor have I seen any of the remakes. I was expecting a more action-oriented film and more silly in nature, but this movie takes itself very seriously and realistically highlights the horrors of the unknown. Before even watching the film, I knew about Godzilla from its sheer impact on Japanese and even American pop culture. It was interesting to see how this film was shot as CGI I believe was not yet a thing in media during this time. After looking it up, I found that it was someone wearing the Godzilla suit, and he would stomp around in this heavy suit over miniature sets to look like the cities. I thought it would look silly, and it did, however this must have been very impactful and impressive during the time of release.

Godzilla is a creature that appears from the sea and starts attacking ships, with any ship going near it being sunk and most likely consumed. It’s quite resistant to almost every action taken to subdue and kill it, being resistant to bullets, cannons, and even radiation.

A theory portrayed in the film is that Godzilla absorbed an abundance of nuclear radiation and is now resistant to it, making it stronger than can even be comprehended. One thing I was not expecting was it being potentially linked to the nuclear bombing of Japan. This film was shot in the 1950s, around the postwar period in which the fear of atomic bombs and nuclear weapons was still fresh. So, Godzilla could potentially be a symbol of this fear of atomic weapons. Because Godzilla came from the results of radiation, he symbolizes the fear, destruction, and horror nuclear testing and attacks can be on Japanese society at large. While I thought Godzilla was merely a horror film, it creates social commentary about the state of postwar Japan and the incessant impact the nuclear bombs had on it.

Scientists from all over the world fly in to provide a helping hand in researching Godzilla and tactics to subdue it, however, no one can explain its strengths and weaknesses. The scientists and researchers either fear Godzilla or are enthralled by it, given that it is such a scientific mystery. No one can offer an explanation other than it being born or made stronger through radiation. This might resemble how scientists during the nuclear bombings were utterly dumbfounded over this level of weaponry. Their stunned perceptions of Godzilla can be interpreted in two ways in my opinion. One, Godzilla can represent the bombs themselves, terrorizing Japanese cities, its infrastructure, and its people. We see this through Godzilla’s attacks on the cities, causing fires, destruction to homes, and consuming people. Two could be that Godzilla represents the aftermath of nuclear radiation. He is the embodiment of the after-effects of the bombing, which is the radiation that permeates the air and surroundings. If it were not for the radiation, Godzilla would probably cease to exist and not terrorize Japan.

#forjapanesefilm

4 notes · View notes

my-head-is-an-animal · 2 years

Note

Would you be able to write a fic/one-shot (can be marauders or golden trio) about Remus and the reader going on a mission for the Order of the Phoenix but they get captured by Death Eaters and Bellatrix tortures one of them in front of the other to try and get information about Dumbledore?? Lots of angst with a tad of fluff at the end to please?!!

Thank you for considering the request!

Take care ;)

Kidnapped

Remus Lupin x Reader

Word Count: 1950

Kidnapped. Bellatrix Lestrange? No, not a good combination at all.

You and Remus were supposed to be on a stake out when you were ambushed and brought to the mouldy house you were watching. Bellatrix cackling her way up the stairs was the first indicator of what was about to happen.

‘No matter what,’ Remus whispered, kneeling next to you with his hands bound behind his back just like you. ‘We stay strong. We cannot give them anything.’

Remus had always managed to put a sense of bravery within you, just his words were enough to make you fearless. You nodded and took a deep breath, no matter what happened, you would not reveal Dumbledore’s location, or any other piece of information that they asked for. You would give them nothing.

Bellatrix stood in front of you, the light of the half moon casting over her pale skin, and it only illuminated how thin she had become since Azkaban, her cheek bones protruded and made her eyes bulge as the skin around her face was pulled tight, as if it might tear any moment. You tried hard not to show any fear, even more so not to feel it, but even Remus was struggling to keep himself in check.

‘Take that one.’ Bellatrix pointed to you.

‘No.’ Remus begged. You had both thought he would be the one they would torture for information and given his condition, he was in a better position to deal with the pain. This was not the plan. ‘Take me instead.’ He begged again.

Two Death Eaters you only half recognised, dragged you to your feet, Remus struggling against the others to get to you. You tried to stop them moving you, digging your feet into the ground, but it was no use, they were far stronger than you.

‘Remus!’ You called as you were taken to Bellatrix, forced to kneel at her feet.

‘Shh.’ Bellatrix ordered, tapping her wand to your throat, forcing you to look up at her. You could see the wounds of Azkaban clearly in her eyes, there was barely any sanity left inside her now. ‘Where’s Dumbledore?’ She said, loudly and clearly. Her voice penetrating your face, but you wouldn’t give her a single thing.

Bellatrix smiled wide, revealing the brown teeth within her mouth, her breath was foul and you thought perhaps that might have been the thing to make you break.

‘Have it your way.’ She said, pulling her wand back and speaking with an eerily calm tone. ‘Crucio.’

The pain was overwhelming, every part of your body writhing, trying to escape the feeling that your body was being torn apart from the inside out.

It went on for far longer than Remus wanted it to, no one was coming for you, the Order sent the both of you because they knew you could handle yourselves, but this was an agony he’d never known the likes of.

Greyback had turned up after having heard the screams, he enjoyed the sport of it far too much and was told to continue the torture while Bellatrix tried to get the information from Remus. Never had he thought he could fall victim to an interrogation, his pain threshold was high, he could outlast the best of them, but this… this was his weakness. You were his weakness.

‘You tell us where Dumbledore is, this stops.’ Bellatrix made clear the terms, but you were fighting so hard, telling him to say nothing.

His knees were aching, he was sure his wrists were bleeding from how hard he fought against the binding. If he could just get to you, tell you everything would be okay, then maybe it would be true.

‘No, please.’ Remus begged again and again. ‘Please stop this!’ He yelled and fought harder to get to you.

Each wave of the curse that hit your body, he started to feel it in his own, like someone lashing his chest and all he wanted was for it to stop. He came so close to giving them what they wanted, when suddenly Bellatrix’s eyes darted to the door, fear laced her expression. Remus didn’t care what she saw, it was enough to make the Death Eaters run to the other exit.

Bursts of light shot across Remus’s head, but all he cared about was getting to you. Your body lay facing away from him, you weren’t moving and the tears were streaming down his face.

‘Please, no, no, don’t be dead, please.’ He begged shifting his body closer, but the bindings were stopping his movement.

‘Remus.’ Tonks had made her way towards him, cutting the rope around his wrists. He couldn’t even thank her, he just needed to see that you were alive.

He gently turned your body a little, seeing blood pouring from your nose. Remus leaned down to hear small breaths coming out of your mouth quickly and with some difficulty. His hands shook as he got the rope off of your own wrists and sat you up, resting against his leg.

‘Y/N? Just stay with me okay?’ Remus begged, moving the hair away from your face, the sweat that covered your skin was making it difficult, but he could finally see all of you. ‘You’re going to be okay, you hear me?’ Remus prayed you could. He couldn’t lose you, not now, not ever. ‘Help is here, just hold on for me.’

‘Remus.’ Tonks still had her wand up as she approached. Remus hadn’t even noticed that spells were still flying all around the room, he could have been hit by any of them, but he didn’t care as long as you were okay. ‘We need to get you both out of here.’

Remus was somehow able to understand what needed to be done, but he was too tired to stand, let alone carry you to safety. Luckily, Kingsley was on hand to lift you into his arms and drag Remus to his feet.

‘Let’s go.’ His voice boomed.

Remus hadn’t realised how tired his legs really were until he was asked to move them. They shook beneath him with every step he took. Nothing was easy for him and his worry over the fact that you were still unconscious was only adding to his list of problems.

Kingsley got you all outside and grasped Remus’s arm, making him look at the Auror.

‘Did you give them anything?’ He asked, a serious and scared tone to his words.

‘N-no.’ Remus’s voice was cracked, he just wanted you to be okay, he didn’t care about anything else, least of all answering Kingsley’s questions.

Kingsley looked him in the eye, as if confirming Remus’s answer was truthful, and apparated the three of you to St Mungo’s.

It was three days before you regained consciousness and each one was longer than the last for Remus. He had his injuries seen to and was deemed to be medically fine, but you were still on death’s door as far as he was concerned and that was what was killing him most.

Remus couldn’t lose you. He’d put off telling you how he felt so many times, never feeling like it was the right moment or like you would reciprocate in any way, in fact, he was always certain that your friendship was perfect for you and he didn’t have the heart to ruin it. He traced through the moments where you’d laughed with him about one thing or another, usually something stupid and completely between you both, he was never happier than when you smiled at him. The mere thought that he would lose that from his life in anyway was too much to bear.

He cried on and off when no one was around and prayed to whoever was listening that you pulled through.

Remus held your cool hand, gently kissing it, begging you to open your eyes, but you never did. He liked the colour of your eyes, probably not because of the colour, but because they were yours. Nothing about the way he felt made any real sense, but he loved you all the same.

He lay his head down next to your body and tried to banish hope that you’d ever wake up again. He tried not to think about the last thing he ever heard you say, the last begs for the pain and torture to stop, calling for him to help you, knowing that it would only end with your death. He tried not to think about the last moments of your life, unbearable agony.

Remus took a deep breath. He remembered once that you’d helped him after a full moon, he was hot and for some reason unable to move his body properly. You had been worried about him and came to his room to help. He’d asked you to leave, thrown a bit of a tantrum, not wanting you to see him in that state, but you stayed anyway.

He remembered feeling your hands on his arms, his chest, his neck and forehead, trying to cool him down with a cloth. The way your fingers had dragged through his hair, trying to relax him so he could breathe properly and regain a little strength. You were so kind to him, so unconditionally kind.

Remus realised that the memory he was thinking of was crystal clear, he really could feel your fingers dragging over his scalp, calming him.

His head snapped up, your hand dropped from his head, Remus just about caught it and held it as his other hand travelled up your arm, as if holding onto consciousness for you.

‘Y/N?’ Remus breathed.

‘Yeah.’ It was barely audible but it was there.

Remus darted up from his seat to get a Healer to help. She came rushing in and checked you over. You were conscious, exhausted and incapable of much, but you were alive.

The Healer told him to have some patience, but you would be fine in a few days and could be taken home then.

Remus didn’t care that he was crying, he only cared that you were okay. Suddenly his heart could function again, but it was going into overdrive. He sat back down next to you and held your hand against his chest, it was a lifeline.

‘Y/N, I’m so sorry this happened to you.’ Remus stuttered, seeing your almost closed eyes gaze vaguely in his direction. ‘I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you.’ He swallowed thickly. ‘I realised, sitting here, that I should have been honest with you from the beginning. It’s a shame that something like this had to happen for me to find the courage to tell you… I’m in love with you.’ Remus watched your chest inflate slightly more, reacting to his statement. ‘I’m sorry I never said it, I didn’t want you to feel like it was something you needed to… well, I don’t really know. I suppose I just didn’t want to lose you.’ Remus half laughed.

He watched your mouth open just a little and sat closer to listen.

‘Stole…’ you breathed. ‘The… words… from… me.’

It was all you could manage, but it sent Remus’s heart into overdrive once more. You loved him as well and he felt like a fool for not noticing or even testing the waters. He could have been with you all this time and yet, neither of you gave yourselves that chance.

‘Well, when you feel able to,’ Remus couldn’t stop smiling. ‘Would you care to get a drink with me?’

Your mouth was forming a small smile, the only thing you could manage, but it was everything to Remus. You were everything.

‘Yes.’

If you liked this, please consider supporting me ☕ thanks for reading!

#remus lupin x oc #remus lupin x reader #remus lupin fluff #remus lupin fic #remus lupin fanfiction

151 notes · View notes

just-me-and-the-toaster · 3 months

Text

Things Your Muse Will Notice About Mine | Audrey Fulquard

What they look like :

Like a second hand Marylin Monroe trying too hard to fit into the molds set to her by the men in her life. She hides her true self behind layers of makeup, bright eye shadows, and dark lines. Her hair is her most recognizable feature – blonde, short, and with its signature inward curl. She’s quite petite with a very delicate frame, manicured nails and a bright smile that can range from beaming and radiant to soft and shy. She knows how to use that smile and her long thick lashes to her advantage when she needs to, though it doesn’t make her feel very good inside. A post-canon Audrey is your typical suburban housewife ripped straight out of 1950s magazines and television shows. Her features have melted into their natural state with soft pastels and rosy pinks, ultimately making her prettier than the harshness of Skid Row ever could. She’s finally able to bloom into who she’s also been at heart, since she was a day-dreaming little girl.

What they smell like :

Various cheap floral perfumes – all perfectly aligned with all the seasons and moods you could imagine – with a hint of hairspray and rose shampoo. In her suburban dream, you can add freshly baked cookies and pine sol to the mix.

What they taste like :

Sugary, sweet, and home-like in that same comforting way a grandma’s house is or a mother’s arms.

What they sound like :

Helium on steroids. Her voice is sky-high in pitch with a heavy New York accent that gets thicker with excitement or fear. At times it’s bright and dance-like, tinkling like tiny bells, and other times it’s wispy and quiet in attempts to either appease or comfort. She’s also always accompanied by the click of heels and the jingle of jewelry.

What they feel like :

Warm and welcoming, but too soft for her own good. But she’s stronger than she looks and is resilient despite how much she’s been knocked around. She has a strong maternal aura and her presence is reassuring and comforting, and can go as far as to soften the toughest and stoniest out there.

Tagged by: @scrivellc

Tagging: Anyone who wants to!

#( me when I get to make things pretty... :) )#audrey fulquard rp #lsoh rp #just me and the toaster (self)

4 notes · View notes

aidanwaynealghul · 1 year

Text

Talia Al Ghul

Obviously things can vary to fit plots, the info I'm writing mainly fits in with my fic and my info for Danny but can be altered to an extent timeline wise and such. Also she has been effected by proximity to the pit along with how much her father had used them before she was conceived and ages a bit slow & I kinda picked and chose pieces from the various stories we have about her

Talia Al Ghul was born around 1950 to a woman born into the league who had caught the eye of the Great Ra's Al Ghul, Melisande was killed when Talia was an infant by a former ally of Ra's named Qayin. After her death the guard who had been charged with protecting his child was killed for their failure and a price was put on Qayin's capture or death. After the lose of her Mother Talia was raised by a combination of teachers and her father, as she got older and her skill became more obvious? Her father became a more prominent figure in her lessons, training her to be able to run his organization for him when he had things to attend to.

Sometime later in her life she meets Bruce Wayne as Batman after both her she and Dick Grayson are kidnapped seemingly by a mutual enemy of Ra's and Batman. Unknown to Batman at the time, this was a set-up to allow his daughter the chance to seduce him. After their encounter an offer is extended to Bruce to train with the league and expand his skill set, during his time with them Bruce and Talia do manage to fall into a whirlwind romance. During this time, much to her father's disappointment, Talia ends up truly falling for Bruce. Unfortunately for her he learns the truth about their meeting and that Gotham is in danger at the same time, making his decision to leave easy for him.

It was nearly 2 weeks after Bruce left that Talia realized the that she was pregnant with his child, or rather children. When it was learned she was pregnant, steps were taken to make sure that her child would be stronger and more resilient than any normal child should. A combination of Lazarus magic and science was used to make the child stronger and more resilient. She's had thoughts about it being the reason Aidan was born still, needing to be dipped in the waters to truly enter the world. She has never voiced them allowed for fear that her own meddling in an attempt to make him stronger caused her son's entrance to the world to be delayed.

As Damian and Aidan grew, it was obvious to Talia which one her Father favored, even if it had not been for Aidan's less than ideal birth? His hesitance to kill unless it could not be avoided was obvious, even if none would voice it outside the looks her father would give her in those instances. Despite this, he excelled in stealth more so than even many of his teachers. Many members took to referring to him as The Heir's Shadow and assumed that if Damian ever took over for his grandfather, Aidan would serve a similar role to him as Talia did for Ra.'s.

When it comes to her son's Talia would do anything that she could to protect them, no matter who that made an enemy to her or who it turned against her; even if it was them that turned against her. It is this that pushed her to helping Jason Todd when he died and came back incomplete, knowing that Bruce was going through the pain of losing a child? She could not sit back and ignore that as her own children now nearly 7 years old lived and breathed in front of her, and so she found Jason and tossed him into a pit to be fully revived. During his time with her he met Damian twice and Aidan only once, but he was so far into the pit haze that it's possible they looked similar enough he didn't realize there were two of them.

Unsurprisingly with her protective streak when it came to her children, when her schedule allowed it Talia would follow them on any missions that they were assigned. When Danny was 8 years and 3 months old, he was assigned to a mission to kill a former ally of Ra's. She did just that, seeing when he failed in his mission and doing so for him well, rigging the building to blow. She then caught up with her son and told him to follow her, traversing him over 2 states from where his mission had been. She told him that Aidan Al Ghul was dead, and if he wanted to survive, he would stay that way. She trusted that she had instilled the skills needed to survive in him and left, not being able to stay away longer for risk of Ra's becoming suspicious.

After returning, she broke the news about Aidan to her father before doing so privately to Damian in anticipation of his upset about his brother's lose. It was not long after this that she brought him to Gotham to tell him who his father was, hoping that learning this information would help him through his grief. When she later left Damian with his father it was the second-hardest day of her life, because at least with him she knew that Bruce would be there to protect him.

#in this house we ignore the weird incubator shit #;;Muse Info #;;Talia Al Ghul

14 notes · View notes

emletish-fish · 2 years

Note

Hey! I’m rereading worst prisoner and I was wondering if you had any plans for it? Also if there is any way to get you the rights to atla so that you can be in charge of cannon since your version is the only one I am willing to accept lol

Ah, The Worst Prisoner!

I do love it.

I want to finish it.

I know exactly what is going to happen.

But, full disclosure - I've hit a wall of writer's block with the next Aang-centric chapter. We've spent a lot of time with the Fire Nation kids, and I got many queries/requests to catch up with the gaang, so I promised I'd write the next chapter from their POV...

(and I normally try and keep my promises, and I knew what was going to happen, and all these events were happening concurrently, so I figured it would be easy)

And...

Nothing

I love Aang as a character. It's a pivotal chapter for him when it comes to reconciling himself with his past/his beliefs/how he wants to BE as an avatar... so I really want to get it right. It's a chapter I probably feel more perfectionist about.

(And this is probably due to the 10+ years of Aang discourse. So I do want to be really clear in this chapter. I love that lil dude, and he was done so dirty by canon. Aang is a character were you can clearly see that there were huge squabbles in the writers room about him because the end of his story does not match the set-up AT ALL, and I have never seen a character be done a greater disservice whilst being given their so called happy-ending.

Like, wants and needs Bryke?!

It's a super basic story-telling construct.

What the character wants vs what the characters need are meant to be two different things, and the narrative tension comes from them being pulled between the two. Shoving what they want in their face and never giving them a skerric of what they actually need isn't a happy ending.

Aang wants katara.

Aang needs to forgive himself and get closure on the loss of his people, reconcile himself with his beliefs, gain some self actualisation and control over himself and his powers, rebuild his found family (because the air nomads weren't 1950s american boomers all about the nuclear family. found family was their whole jam?!) and be able to confidently move forward in his role as the avatar rather than running away from it.

but sure, lets give him NONE of that. Aang gets not one ounce of closure, not a single drop of working through his fears and doubts to overcome them and become stronger for it. Aang gets a magic rock and a kiss then Bryke call it a happy ending?!

And that's not even my biggest gripe!

My biggest gripe is that Aang was the character I actually saw a lot of myself in. I'm a pacifist. I will build my own canoe and paddle to the other-side of the globe to avoid an awkward conversation with someone. I totally got that aspect of Aang's character and between season 1 - 3 and a half, I didn't actually mind the way he would run away from problems because the narrative was clearly set up to DEAL WITH THAT AS A CHARACTER FLAW. Like, I was pretty sure there was going to be a satisfactory resolution.

I'm a pacifist but I totally support BLM, and the Eat The Rich Brigade and Extinction Rebellion, even when they aren't using pacifist means. Without any exaggeration - billionaires are completely happy for a shit ton of us to die just so their stock portfolio can go up a quarter of a percent. Systematic Racism isn't going to be solved by a gentle approach because white-supremacists/facists want to kill everyone who isn't like them. How do you embrace non-violence in a very violent system?

It's the tolerance paradox in a children's show.

It's really meaty, weighty stuff that Aang's entire story was set up to deal with.

He is a pacisfist who is shoved against his will into a situation were he has to kill a dictator or the whole world will burn.

like wow, what a conundrum.

Damn, I was expecting some really great self-discovery and philosophy and drama and beautiful coming of age/coming into his own for Aang.

and instead...

magic rock.

An emotional, spiritual, meaningful and impactful personal conundrum with extremely high stakes all revolving around the pacifist dilemma that was set up from the very beginning of the entire show - pretty much something that could have been the centrepiece of the entire series. The main philosophical questions of ATLA - how to choose peace in the middle of a war? what is the price of justice? what is the importance of mercy?

and the answer we were given was ....

No think to hard... No life lesson for you here. Magic turtle and magic rock solve all your problems. by magic.

Like, Damn.

Yeah, I'm still salty about this.

Aang was done so dirty, y'all.

But do you know how hard it is to be a Zutara shipper and an Aang fan?

Like, I genuinely like Aang.

And I honestly feel that so much Aang criticsm/Aang hate is railing against Bryke shoving their creepy nice-guy fantasies onto the character and completely derailing his story so they could animate their weird creepy fantasies...

That's a rant for another time.

But anyway, the Aang-hate seems more about the weird writing than Aang himself, and people can't seperate the character from the writing. (and like, fair. I get that. Bryke couldn't either, because they animated older Aang, AN ASIAN MONK, to look exactly like one of them - a midwestern white dude. Like, we knew they were over-identifying, but c'mon people! seriously. I'm pretty sure that's racist.)

But anyway, the ATLA fandom is still WILD.

For saying things like "Aang should have gotten what he needed, not what he wanted. I think it would have been a better story if Aang was allowed to work through his grief and build a found family/ Aang's story would have been better if it dealt with his spiritual conundrum/ Aang's beliefs are closely modelled on buddism and so an american style nuclear family as a happy ending doesn't make much sense for him. Aang was a 12 year old child who's entire narrative was about coming into his own as the avatar and having him french kiss someone as the end point was a disconcerting choice for me," - has gotten my inbox overflowing with hate. I've been called a nazi, told to kill myself and had someone try to dox me.

all from Aang stans?!

So yeah, writing Aang-centric chapters makes me apprehensive.

Like, I'm a person too?

Dealing with an inbox overflowing with unhinged hate stresses me out.

Like, I still have the occassional Aang stan getting all up in my grill on my Cobra Kai fanfics comment section yelling at me?!

(Cobra Kai is a VERY different story to ATLA. Yeah, they both have martial arts in them and talk about balance, but.... beyond that, the characters/story-structure/arcs are very different. Like, these characters would not fit into each other's worlds.

Like, can you imagine the sheer amount of chaos Johnny Lawrence could create if he had bending?

my god. the mind boggles.)

So yeah. Whenever I have an Aang-centric arc, I get nervous about pressing 'post' cause I don't want to invite an avalanche of weird abuse.

But you asked if I have plans for worst prisoner and damn straight, I have PLANS!

So many PLANS

And one of those plans was to start to un-tangle Aang's spiritual conundrum in a way that I felt was personally satisfying.

(Spoiler alert - The Worst Prisoner will contain no magic rocks. Aang is going to have to work through this problem on his own).

But because these plans involve Aang not always getting what he wants and having to work for what he needs - I've hit a bit of a block. Past drama/discourse/series of unhinged abusive messages has made me a little wary of opening the can of worms again.

So there has been a massive delay in chapters because I really don't want to be misunderstood this time.

But I know exactly what I want to say about pacifism/justice/mercy/Aang's dilemma this time.

But, yeah, writing it is hard because every second sentence I'm like 'Is this going to bite me in the ass?'

I'm toying with the idea of just finishing Zuko-Finally-Escapes/Fire-Sibling Dysfunctional Relationship Shenangins Arc instead.

That one is easier to write now.

(To be honest, everyone bags Azula fanatics, but I have only ever been threatened with violence from Aang stans? And there is like a weird ironic disconnect for me there because Aang is the easy-going, happy-go-lucky pacifist and Azula is.... the very opposite of that. But yeah, I'm less nervous about writing fire nation drama, simply because people who really jive with Zuko, Azula, Mai or Ty Lee seem to have mastered the art of reading something they disagree with on the internet and then scrolling past and continuing with their day?)

So if the next chapter is Zuko-centric, you will know what I have decided to do.

(Honestly that is looking more and more likely at this point).

But if the next chapter is Aang centric, then... um, three cheers for me.

I would have solved one of Aang's challenges from the series, and stopped avoiding the unpleasant drama.

So that would be some fun character growth for me.

If you have made it to the bottom - my apologies for the rant.

#Emletish Answers #The Worst Prisoner #Emletish writes #Anti-Aang #not really #I love A@ng #but damn I do it every time I mention him just in case #Like I'm a mum now #I have kids #I don't have time or brain space or emotional energy to deal with someone trying to dox me over a fanfic #Fic: The Worst Prisoner

23 notes · View notes

grad60450 · 1 year

Text

“Can a machine think?” Alan Turing asks in the opening line of his seminal paper that aimed to explore the possibility of a computer exhibiting human-like intelligence. The question, posed by Turing in the 1950s, led him to engage in deeper reflection on the common use of the terms “machine” and “think”, deeming the commonly held attitude dangerous. And he might have been right, as it is the common use of words that has led him to reevaluate this question in the first place. Nowadays, as technological devices become largely integrated into our lives, Turing’s dream that one would be able to speak of “machine thinking” without expecting to be contradicted became a part of our everyday reality and rendered the question far more compelling.

Artificial Tears started with a photographic project in 2017, as a reaction to the question: “what is the difference between humans and machines?” This inquiry is continuously up for renegotiation as technology progresses. Including the Turing Test that assesses a machine’s ability to think and behave indistinguishably from humans to current developments of artificial intelligence, the dichotomy is becoming more and more questionable. Over many decades, machines have proven to be stronger, faster, and more efficient in performing various tasks. Yet the narrative of the conscious system continues to emerge from human imagination as a disastrous model that puts machines in direct competition with our precarious, mortal bodies and minds, easily replaceable by a technological device. Even more than automation we fear autonomy – the vision of technology evolved from the extension of man into singular intention, inheriting human desires for domination and control.

0 notes

sesiondemadrugada · 3 years

Photo

Edge of Doom (Mark Robson, 1950).

#edge of doom (1950)#stronger than fear (1950)#mark robson #farley granger #harry stradling sr.#daniel mandell #richard day #julia heron #mary wills #charles brackett #leo brady #ben hecht #philip yordan

170 notes · View notes

ratingtheframe · 3 years

Text

10 Films to watch this Valentine’s Day if you’re single as hell.

If anyone or anything is making you feel worthless on the Capitalist Holiday that is Valentine’s Day because you’re single AF, then don’t fret because it means one of two things;

You’re happy enough with yourself to not need anyone else.

You’re allergic to people.

Though mine is both the former and the latter, I can still get down to a good romance movie now and again. Now I’m not talking about those horrendous rom coms that Netflix seems to be churning out every damn minute, but those emotionally invested, earthy and well written dramas that has you ugly crying into your bathrobe for 17 minutes straight (me at the end of Her.). Here is a compiled list of some of the best romance films I’ve seen over the years and how each one doesn’t showcase an abundance of clichés and brands them as “acts of love”.

A Star is Born (2018 or 1953, take your pick)

I’ve found that both the 1953 version of A Star is Born with Judy Garland and the 2018 newer version to be a perfect and well rounded love story. What makes this love story so fierce is the vulnerabilities and downfall of its characters, which even though there are many sad moments, it perpetuates and strengthens the acts of love shown in the film. Both versions are similar in that they follow a woman who’s rise to fame as a performer becomes overshadowed by her jealous partner, who is also a notable celebrity. In the 2018 version starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, Gaga’s character Ally is helped by a country singer, Jackson Maine to become a successful singer and icon amongst the music industry. As she rises, Jackson falls and the character dynamics and intensity between them is a fitting love story. I was thoroughly bawling at the end and I guarantee you will too as Lady Gaga’s rendition of Love Again was the true scene stealer of the film.

Call me by your name (2017)

I have an incredible bias towards this film and it has nothing to do with the film’s context or characters or even Timothée Chalamet The reason why I feel so connected to this film and proclaim it as my favourite film of all time is because of when I watched the film. It’s almost like seeing a film about a political event right after it's happened; you have this rush and connection towards something that’s actually affected you in the real world. I had the same feeling with Call me by your name after going through a rough and confusing patch whilst trying to get over someone I thought I truly loved. Turns out I didn’t (thank god) and yet Call me your name was almost like a shoulder to cry on. It’s a film that’s taught me to love and love hard but most importantly, not beat yourself up or try to distinguish the pain felt by true love. If you haven’t been fortunate to catch this beauty of a film, it follows two men, Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer) and their brief relationship in the summer of 1983 in Northern Italy. 17 year old Elio lives with his parents and his father (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a scholar who invites students from outside the country for the summer in hope of passing on his wisdom to them. This is when Oliver arrives, a handsome twenty something American who becomes the infatuation of Elio.

I’ll never forget the first time I heard the monologue that Elio’s father gave his son at the end, explaining to Elio why he shouldn’t feel embarrassed by the pain he felt after loving Oliver:

“We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster, that we go bankrupt by the age of thirty and have less to offer each time we start with someone new. But to make yourself feel nothing so as not to feel anything - what a waste”

That, ladies and gentlemen and all in between, is what love is.

Her. (2013)

Once again, another film about love that had a profound effect on me because of when I watched it. Her. follows the story of Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) and his search for a story using an A.I to help him write. However, after getting to know this A.I named Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) and hearing the way she adapts and shows emotions, he soon falls in love with it. Some may deem this as rather sad (which it is) but I think it speaks to bigger constructs like internet dating and letting go of people you loved thus diminishing the fantasy and world you created for the two of you. This part of the film got to me a stark way as I felt the pain of letting go of not only a person, but a fantasy, just like Theodore had to do in letting his past partners go. Her. is truly beautiful, with some great production design, cinematography and acting.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

The absolute queen of love stories would be Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a film about the romance between two women in the late 18th Century. Definitely not a narrative you see every day or one that’s been painted in such a way (pun intended). Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is commissioned to paint the beautiful and stubborn Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) and the portrait is to be gifted to a suitor of Héloïse’s from Milan. But instead of getting the painting done and sending it off, Marianne and Héloïse unexpectedly fall for one another at a subtle and well timed pace that had me gawping at the screen the entire way through. Slow, sensual and moving is Portrait of a Lady on Fire and I would definitely say is one of the best LGBTQ plus films ever made to date.

Broke Back Mountain (2005)

Ang Lee scooped up a BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar for his direction on his adapted screenplay of Brokeback Mountain. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) form a romantic bond after shepherding alone together on the side of a mountain. Once their time herding sheep comes to a close and they return back to their respective lives, it's clear that their bond is stronger than they had anticipated. They live in constant fear of their relationship becoming apparent to those around them, which leaves one of them taking matters into their own hands. A controversial yet extremely successful film of its time, Brokeback Mountain does a fabulous job of showcasing the consequences and despair of love using two of Hollywood’s finest actors.

Carol (2013)

It’s difficult to fully appreciate LGBTQ plus films set in the past as they mostly focus on the persecution of homosexuals as opposed to the love they wish to express. However, this was pretty accurate of the time and it's only very recently that we have begun to accept one another’s sexualities and genders fully so much that we play these stories out on screen without the persecution part. Carol is a film directed by Todd Haynes and stars Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett. I found them to be an extremely intense pairing whilst they unravelled as their characters on screen. Therese (Rooney Mara) works in the toy department of a department store when one day she lays eyes upon Carol Aird, a beautiful and elegant married woman who becomes the infatuation of Therese. Therese throws all caution to the wind in order to be closer to Carol and because of this and the 1950s society they live in, their relationship is doomed from the beginning. I was in complete awe of the way Carol had been shot and created into this sensual and rich drama set in the 1950s. From the costumes, to the lighting to the acting, everything about Carol held weight to it showcasing the devotion of a truly talented director.

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004)

Usually I’d pass on a Charlie Kaufman film, seeing as they make no sense, however I felt that it was time I delved into this cult classic starring Kate Winslet, Jim Carrey, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo and Elijah Wood. It’s a really well made film with a clear and distinct message to it that’s represented in some phenomenal filmmaking techniques. The plot line of this film follows a man trying to erase a past lover and his memories of her get wiped away physically before your eyes on screen. It made me wish that I could do the same with people I’ve liked in the past, but the contradictory of this would be the trauma of eventually ending up with someone you had already met in another life. I haven’t experienced a break up nor felt the pain of one, though I could judge that this film tells that experience really well.

Moonlight (2016)

Moonlight is one of few films that I would genuinely worship if it were a religion. It's also one of the films that I outwardly shame people for not having seen, as it is truly a masterpiece and film lover’s film. Deep, emotionally connected, colourful, harsh, moving and eye opening, this film takes you on an emotional rollercoaster through the eyes of Chiron and the three stages of his life that have carved out his essence as a human being. Not only that, but he falls in love with another boy at his school, and when he does, he’s hurt rather badly. Literally. Moonlight is the definition of profundity and was awarded the top prize of Best Picture at the 2017 Academy Awards.

Loving (2016)

When I think of a truthful and honest testament of love, the film Loving comes to mind which is a fitting title for such a delicate yet strong story. The film is based on a true story of an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred (Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga) being banned from Virginia in the 1950s for choosing to be together. If that ain’t a true sacrifice of love, then I don’t know what is. Choosing someone you love over your own home is an unfathomable thing and certainly shows the strength that this couple had in facing the judgements of others whilst remaining emotionally truthful to themselves.

The Shape of Water (2017)

The Shape of Water is a strange yet enlightening love story between Eliza, a deaf woman (Sally Hawkins) and a creature being tested on in a laboratory. Awards season went mental for this back in 2018, winning four of the THIRTEEN Oscars it was nominated for. I would categorize it as quite the niche film and wouldn’t usually think that such a film could be garnered with Oscar success. However everyone who worked on this film really pulled out the stops in creating an entire new world and perspective that has many layers to it, as well as an abundance of conflict and dynamics for audiences to lull over. The relationship between Eliza and the feared swamp monster that’s being cruelly tested in the laboratories where she works, is heartfelt and honest, which is strange seeing as Eliza’s virtually in love with a monster. The casting in this was outlandish yet it really worked as all actors in this melded well into the story as their prospective characters. It also has one of the most touching endings to a film I’ve ever seen.

And there you have it, ten Romance films for you to enjoy this Valentine’s Day. Watch them all at once, or maybe just watch one. Whether you watch it alone or with someone, it doesn’t really matter!

Lots of love

Ang x

381 notes · View notes

decennia · 3 years

Note

i give u free reign to infodump ab all of the knights and the og army bc i am vv intrigued agjgssgsh

THERE IS SO MUCH HERE OMFG MORAL OF THIS STORY NEVER ASK ME TO INFO DUMP BECAUSE I WILL TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT—

I've separated it into sections:

The Knights of Walpurgis, and the motivations for their assigned sins.

Dumbledore's First Resistance, and the motivations for their assigned virtues.

The dynamics between the opposing contenders.

Given the sheer volume of information, I've included a cut. Please enjoy this manip that I am still very proud of.

THE KNIGHTS OF WALPURGIS (later known as Death Eaters) Tom Riddle (Pride)

Pride and arrogance were very large contributing factors to Tom Riddle's downfall in the end, and honestly, the whole idea for the gifset came from Florence + The Machines' Seven Devils playing while casually thinking of Dagrim and Tom, and then about how perfectly Tom would fit as Lucifer.

Dagrim Patil (Avarice)

When questioned about what she wants, and what Riddle promised her in exchange for her unwavering loyalty, her response is, quite simply: everything. Dagrim grew up starved not for affection, but recognition. And what she was denied in childhood, she would take in adulthood by force. Her philosophy is that if something is worth wanting, it is worth taking.

Cantankerous Nott IV (Lust)

We know so little about Theodore Nott's father from the source material, other than he was elderly, and he raised Theo himself. And that he was a Death Eater, of course. His name is an ode to his ancestor, the Cantankerous Nott who created the Sacred Twenty-Eight pureblood directory. I assigned him "lust" purely for the events leading to the conception of his son (sis, it gets messy).

Abraxas Malfoy (Envy)

Abraxas Malfoy envied Tom Riddle to the point of a half attempted mutiny. He was quickly put in his place, his co-conspirators made examples of, and spared only for his close friendship with Dagrim, who pleaded for his life. Riddle, who trusted Dagrim to a fault for all she'd done to earn it, conceded. Abraxas would later prove himself to Riddle again, regaining his seat among Riddle's favoured generals. He was the one who taught Lucius to never disobey the Dark Lord, and he was not a kind teacher.

Ulysses Mulciber (Gluttony)

Indulgence and excess, spoiled rotten and filthy rich. The Mulcibers were the richest of the Sacred at one point in their lives, rivalled only by the Malfoys. Ulysses never knew the meaning of "enough," and was a glutton not only in all manners of vice, but also for cruelty, dealing it out carelessly with little to no regard for the repercussions he was well protected from by his noble standing and wealth. He was one of Riddle's greatest allies and sponsors, and instrumental in his rise to power.

Carmilla Avery (Wrath)

Carmilla was in the year above Riddle, and was quick to anger and slow to calm. Her temper was legendary, and even her younger brothers – also admitted into the Death Eater ranks – feared her. She had an untempered fury, a rage at the world for no reason at all. She developed an unhealthy codependency with Abraxas Malfoy, who served to have a soothing presence over her. People seldom survive crossing her, as her reputation dictates.

Serafine Lestrange (Sloth)

Serafine is not lazy (as the sin "sloth" would suggest), she just lacks the motivations to pursue the goals that are expected of her. A particularly bright witch, and a wealthy one too, she never applied herself at school for she didn't see the need. Instead, she fell into a fascination of the Dark Arts, where she met Riddle, perusing the Restricted Section. She is rather discontented with life, disillusioned from already such a young age. She initially joins Riddle's gang for the excitement of it all.

DUMBLEDORE'S FIRST RESISTANCE (later known as the Order of the Phoenix in its official conception in 1970)

Albus Dumbledore (Patience)

Name a man more patient than Dumbledore, I'll wait. Better yet, he'll wait, because he's patient as hell. So patient, in fact, he waited until after Harry's supposed death to come to him as a hallucination and tell him about how he was a Horcrux.

Rathin Patil (Temperance)

Temperance is abstinence, and I wanted to explore the kind of toll having his sister so far gone into the dark would have on any man, let alone one who really cared for her and wanted to do right by her. Rathin is not a perfect man, he is still fallible, and unfortunately, he develops a dependent comfort in inebriation when Dagrim disappears with Riddle. He pulls himself back together, especially when he becomes Isaiah Moody's partner at the Ministry, and he begins to pursue Miraya.

Miraya Varma (Diligence)

Methodical and persistent, Miraya Varma earned herself a position at the Ministry immediately out of Hogwarts where she would later go on to form her own task force within the Ministry specifically designed for the interrogation and recommended sentencing of dark wizards and witches. She has been known to put her duty first, up until the birth of her son, Divyansh Patil, father to Padma and Parvati.

Isaiah Moody (Humility)

For a very long time, people seldom knew the Moody name, and that was the way Isaiah liked it. He believed that his line of work would endanger his loved ones (in spite of his wife being in the same profession) and so he never took credit for the numerous arrests he made. It was Isaiah who suspected something was strange about Morfin Gaunt's arrest while investigating the Riddle Massacre, and consulted Dumbledore about it. Once his identity was discovered and he was viewed as a threat by Riddle, an attack was made on his heavily pregnant wife, jeopardizing her and his unborn boy's (Alastor) life.

Minerva McGonagall (Chastity)

Mini Minnie is seventeen, my dudes. But not only that, Minerva grew up with a religious father (he was canonically a reverend), who probably taught her his values. Also given the fact that Minerva was the first of the younger generation to participate and involve herself in the war (she sought out Dumbledore and enlisted herself into his Resistance, fearing her family would be made into another statistic if she didn't at least do something to intervene), she really didn't have much time to think about something as arbitrary as the concept of virginity. Also, it's the 1950s.

Corinne Scamander (Kindness)

Corrine is honestly the greatest. She has all of the tenacity of Tina, and the best qualities of Newt. It was Dumbledore's previous bond with Newt that encouraged him to recruit her, and she willingly accepted, because of course she would. She'd always been the soft spoken girl with a tender touch and a love for life, and she was often the advocate for hope in the resistance. She was adept in a few healing charms she'd learned from her father, and was something of a specialist in magical beings, proving herself to be highly valuable while Riddle was expanding his ranks with all manner of dark creatures.

Declan Diggory (Charity)

Sacrifice is in the Diggory blood, and Cedric's grandfather, Declan, was not the first to prove it. He also, unfortunately, wasn't the last, but he sure was one of the best. Selfless to a fault, Declan would willingly get hypothermia if it meant someone else would have warmth. Diggory's contributions to the war effort consisted of offering sanctuary and shelter to muggleborns who received death threats, and orchestrating the evacuations of targeted muggle residences. He was the leader of a small faction of the resistance, including, but not limited to: Fleamont Potter, Enoch Longbottom, Wilhelm Shacklebolt, and Ramona McKinnon.

DYNAMICS (just the contenders for now because this is hella long)

Albus Dumbledore vs. Tom Riddle

Adversaries, a fair deal of mistrust and guilt from Dumbledore's side (upon reflection, he'd been the one to introduce Tom to the wizarding world; even though he knows that if Riddle had been left unchecked, the risk of him becoming an Obscurus would've resulted in catastrophe all the same). Riddle sees Dumbledore as nothing more than a foolish old man, a pest, and an obstacle to overcome at first, but learns to begrudgingly respect Dumbledore's strength and mastery of magic (after all, Riddle only knew him as the Transfiguration teacher before, and thought the accounts of Dumbledore's victory over Grindelwald had been exaggerated to great effect). Riddle's hubris was believing he could defeat Dumbledore on his own, thinking himself already stronger than Grindelwald ever hoped to be.

Rathin Patil vs. Dagrim Patil

Rathin had always been very protective of Dagrim, and loved her dearly, although his acts of affection were often misinterpreted as pity and condescension. This only served to push them further apart. When Dagrim turned to the Dark Arts and found solace in Riddle, it revolted Rathin, as he was hugely against the corruption the Dark Arts has on the performing witch or wizard, and wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy. He still very much loves her, and it hurts him to fight her. Dagrim, on the other hand, finds catharsis in duelling her brother, believing it to be justice for the way her parents treated her and the little he did to dissuade them.

Miraya Varma vs. Cantankerous Nott

A mutual respect and an academic rivalry, Cantankerous and Miraya were not friends by any means, but not enemies, either. Cantankerous even went as far as to warn Miraya of an impending attack, allowing her to evacuate the building. But although he knows she's clever, he also knows that she's incredibly stubborn, and displayed little surprise to find her awaiting him in the now vacant building. They are equally matched, and their unique relationship spans several decades, even into Cantankerous' failed run at Minister for Magic, and Theodore and the Patil twins' time at Hogwarts. She was present at his trial following the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and watched as he was sentenced to life in Azkaban for his crimes as a Death Eater.

Isaiah Moody vs. Abraxas Malfoy

Given his profession, Isaiah has a lot of enemies on the Sacred Twenty-Eight who are loyal to the Dark Lord. One such enemy is Abraxas Malfoy. When Tom gets word of Moody's involvement in solving the Riddle Massacre, he sends Malfoy and a newer Death Eater, Evangeline Rosier, to hinder the investigation. Abraxas and Evangeline were responsible for the attack on Isaiah's heavily pregnant wife, who, if she hadn't been an Auror herself, would've never survived. Alastor Moody was prematurely born at St. Mungo's following the attack, and all of Isaiah's efforts were turned on exacting vengeance on those responsible. Malfoy went into hiding, but Isaiah, ruthless, managed to hunt down Rosier. She died under questioning, setting in motion a vicious cycle of vengeance between the Moodys and Rosiers. Once Isaiah had been killed by Evangeline's brother (Evan [who was named after her] Rosier's father), Abraxas deemed it safe to rejoin society.

Minerva McGonagall vs. Ulysses Mulciber

On the list of things Ulysses loathes, he would put half-bloods above muggleborns (although he turns a blind eye to his Dark Lord's blood status when it conveniences him). Half-bloods only serve as a reminder of the lowest and weakest of his kind; the unworthy muggleborns, the lecherous blood traitors, the vermin muggles. Mulciber prides himself as something of a "purifier," and finds great enjoyment in pruning family trees that have been poisoned by muggle blood into purity once more. He takes a great interest in Minerva McGonagall, given that she is an incredibly powerful witch at such a young age, and he wonders how glorious she would've been had she been a pureblood (a twisted and untrue belief among the Sacred Twenty-Eight during that time). Minerva, the threat of Mulciber weighing heavily on her, places her family under Dumbledore's protection. She vows to stop Mulciber and his perverse idea of justice.

Corinne Scamander vs. Carmilla Avery

It didn't take much to enrage Carmilla Avery, and Corinne had been caught in the tempest Carmilla's fury since the day they'd met. Carmilla, who took great pleasure in picking on people she deemed lesser, made a target out of Corinne, perceiving her kindness for weakness. During their time at Hogwarts, Corinne had gained the attention of Avery for being a blood traitor and a muggle sympathizer, which only strengthened Carmilla's vindication. Corinne, who had been friends with Rubeus Hagrid prior to his expulsion, and who had almost fallen prey to the basilisk when she had heard Myrtle Warren's cries from the bathroom, never lowered herself to Carmilla's level nor did she rise to any of the challenges. This hurt Avery's ego, as she thought this was Corinne's way of claiming herself better than her. It wasn't until after Hogwarts that Carmilla's growing resentment came to a head, and, without the protection the school offered Corinne, Carmilla was looking to finally put an end to the blood traitor line of Scamander.

Declan Diggory vs. Serafine Lestrange

Declan and Serafine were childhood friends who drifted apart during their time at Hogwarts, particularly when she fell in with Riddle's crowd. She is viewed by Dumbledore as having the power to sway the entire outcome of the war, for if Serafine could be persuaded into leaving Riddle, her cousins (one of whom is the father of Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange) would surely comply, and the families who held the Lestranges in high regard would be inclined to follow. This makes Declan and Serafine key pieces in Dumbledore's game of strategy. However, Serafine was disowned long before she defected from the Death Eaters, leaving the Lestranges firmly in Riddle's grasp. Although Serafine claimed to feel nothing for Diggory, she still refused to deal any real harm to him when they duel, in spite of having ample opportunity to do so; something which Riddle picked up on. She was later forced to torture Declan in front of him to prove her loyalty to the Dark Lord, something which Declan permitted her to do, knowing she had very little choice in the matter. He was left for dead, but Serafine would later secretly return with Corinne to get him medical attention. She gives her son, Francis, "Declan" as a middle name.

107 notes · View notes

sincerelylaurel · 3 years

Text

YA Books With South Asian Representation

I think we can all agree that we need more South Asian representation in the books we read, especially in Young Adult and fantasy. Here’s a list of YA books with south asian rep because we need it. They’re all written by South Asian authors, too! I read a bit about each of them which was very fun. I’m including the synopsis from goodreads as well so you know which ones to read first :)

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own...Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

Hunted by the Sky by Taniz Bhathena

Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul's mark is what caused her parents' murder at the hand of King Lohar's ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge. Cavas lives in the tenements, and he's just about ready to sign his life over to the king's army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl--Gul--in the capital's bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance--and discovers a magic he never expected to find. Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king's domain in Ambar Fort...a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

If the night sky holds many secrets, it holds Sheetal Mistry's secret the closest. A secret that explains why her hair is the silver of starlight, or why some nights the stars call Sheetal by name. Stars like her mother, who returned to her place in the constellation Pushya years ago. Since that day, Sheetal has been forced to hide. But as her seventeenth birthday draws near, the pull from the sky is growing stronger. So strong that Sheetal loses control, and a flare of starfire burns her human father—an injury only a full star's blood can heal. Sheetal has no choice but to answer the starsong and ascend to the sky. But her celestial family has summoned her for a reason: to act as their human champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of heavens. Desperate to save her father, Sheetal agrees. But nothing could have prepared Sheetal to face the stars' dark history—or the forces that are working to shut the gate between the realms for good.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigrirdar

When Nishat comes out to her parents, they say she can be anyone she wants—as long as she isn’t herself. Because Muslim girls aren’t lesbians. Nishat doesn’t want to hide who she is, but she also doesn’t want to lose her relationship with her family. And her life only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat choose to do henna, even though Flávia is appropriating Nishat’s culture. Amidst sabotage and school stress, their lives get more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush on Flávia, and realizes there might be more to her than she realized.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance. To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood. Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history--but only if they can stay alive.

#writers on tumblr #writing #writeblr #writing inspiration #writing advice #writer #writing techniques #my writing #writersofinstagram #writeaway #books #fantasy books #south asia #representation #ya books #fantasy

12 notes · View notes

paganimagevault · 3 years

Text

Zeus giving birth to Athena by Rudolph Tegner, 1873-1950

"He seized her with his hands and put her in his belly, for fear that she might bring forth something stronger than his thunderbolt: therefore did Zeus, who sits on high and dwells in the aether, swallow her down suddenly. But she straightway conceived Pallas Athene: and the father of men and Gods gave her birth by way of his head on the banks of the river Trito." -Hesiod's Theogony (ll. 929a-929t)

https://paganimagevault.blogspot.com/2019/11/zeus-giving-birth-to-athena-by-rudolph.html

#zeus #athena #greek mythology #european art #aesthetic #rudolph tegner #19th century art #20th century art #art #statue #sculpture #pagan #paganism #religion #quotes #hesiod #ancient literature #jupiter #minerva

48 notes · View notes

woman-loving · 3 years

Text

The “Homosexual Traitor” and US Anti-Gay Purges

Selection from The Deviant's War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America, by Eric Cervini, 2020.

According to the Russians, Colonel Alfred Redl of the Austro-Hungarian Empire had slightly graying blond hair and a “greasy” outward appearance. He spoke “sugar-sweetly, softly.”

Beginning in 1901, Redl worked as a high official in Austria’s Evidenzbureau, where he single-handedly built its counterespionage program. He had more access to classified information than perhaps anyone else in the empire.

In Vienna, Redl’s homosexuality was an open secret. He often appeared at society events with his longtime “nephew,” and he maintained several other affairs. He had no reason to be fearful of exposure, since even the emperor’s brother enjoyed cross-dressing and the occasional army officer.

Redl closely guarded his work as a double agent, however. During his service in the Evidenzbureau, he offered Austrian war plans to the Italian military attaché in exchange for cash. An Italian intelligence officer later recalled it “required no effort” to recruit him. Redl simply mailed envelopes full of Austrian secrets and received thousands of krone in return.

He then began sending military plans to the Russians, too. Redl became fabulously wealthy, lavishing gifts on his lovers and driving two of the empire’s most expensive automobiles. For years, no one seemed to question how he afforded such extravagances on his government salary.

In May 1913, after Austrian counterintelligence officials intercepted a Russian letter containing six thousand krone, they staked out the Vienna post office to identify its recipient. They were appalled to discover Redl.

The army wanted to keep the matter quiet, since public knowledge of treachery at such a high level would have been a profound humiliation. After following him to his hotel, Redl’s own protégé handed him a pistol. Army officials always maintained that Redl voluntarily took his life.

News of the colonel leaked, fact became intertwined with fiction, and the myth of the homosexual traitor came into being. A Berlin newspaper described Redl’s “homosexual pleasure palace, filled with perversities.” The Austrian Army needed a scapegoat for the 1.3 million casualties in that first year of World War I, so it blamed Redl and the larger, more insidious “homosexual organization” that protected him within the military.

Three years later, when a young Allen Dulles, the future CIA director, arrived in Vienna to work at the U.S. embassy, he found everyone still whispering about the homosexual spy who had lost the First World War for the empire.

By the end of World War II, America had become a more open place for homosexuals, but they also confronted novel threats conjured by a political coalition that exploited the uncertainty of the new world order. In 1945, only months before President Roosevelt died, Republicans and Southern Democrats formed the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). In the 1946 midterm election, after Republicans pledged to “ferret out” threats to the “American way of life,” they won the first congressional majority in sixteen years.

In March 1947, President Truman established the Federal Employee Loyalty Program, and the government began investigating its employees to determine their loyalty. Three months later, the Democrat-controlled Senate Committee on Appropriations warned about “the extensive employment in highly classified positions of admitted homosexuals, who are historically known to be security risks.” The committee empowered the secretary of state with “absolute discretion” to purge employees, including homosexuals, who threatened national security.

In September 1949, America learned that the Soviet Union had detonated its first nuclear weapon. In October, eleven Communist leaders were convicted for advocating a violent revolution in America, and in December, China fell to the Communists.

On January 21, 1950, a jury convicted suspected spy Alger Hiss of perjury.

On February 3, authorities arrested physicist Klaus Fuchs for nuclear espionage.

And on February 9, Junior Senator Joe McCarthy stood before a women’s club in Wheeling, West Virginia, and announced, “I have here in my hand a list of 205—a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department.”

Nobody else had seen the list. When reporters caught him at an airport and demanded to see it, he offered to show them—then realized he had left it in his baggage. His number of alleged Communists soon changed from 205 to 57. “Rarely,” The Washington Post declared, “has a man in public life crawled and squirmed so abjectly.”

On the evening of February 20, McCarthy arrived on the Senate floor with an overstuffed briefcase that purportedly contained his list of Communist-linked security risks in the State Department. For six hours, he provided a warped summary of eighty-one cases, relying on unproven allegations from a three-year-old congressional investigation. “In short, the speech was a lie,” concluded historian Robert Griffith.

Two of the cases involved alleged homosexuals, who were “rather easy blackmail victims,” explained McCarthy. It was a shrewd maneuver: what editorial board or politician would dare argue that sexual deviants belonged in the federal government?

McCarthy would later recuse himself from hearings on the issue of homosexuals in the government. At forty-one, the senator was unmarried, and the issue raised questions about his own sexuality.

Other Republicans took the lead. A week after McCarthy’s Senate speech, his colleagues coerced Deputy Undersecretary of State John Peurifoy, a security official testifying in defense of his department, into making a startling admission. In only three years, he admitted, ninety-one homosexual employees had resigned upon investigations under Truman’s loyalty program.

And with that, as the New York Post referred to it, the “Panic on the Potomac” began. Conservative newspapers leapt upon the admission. Congress scheduled hearings. Homosexuality, observed a columnist on Meet the Press, became “a new type of political weapon” that could “wreck the Administration.” The chief of the Washington Vice Squad testified there were “3,750 perverts employed by government agencies.” Republican senator Kenneth Wherry alleged the Soviets were using a list of American homosexuals—originally compiled by Hitler—to blackmail federal employees for government secrets. Washington, he said, faced an “emergency condition.”

The Senate committee tasked with solving the homosexual problem, led by Democrat Clyde Hoey of North Carolina, began closed hearings in July. Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter, the director of the government’s new Central Intelligence Agency, testified first. He arrived with a thirty-eight-page statement, and ten of those pages chronicled a “classic” case, one “known all through intelligence circles,” an example that would leave “no doubt as to the fact that perversion presents a very definite security risk.”

Of all the intelligence available to the CIA, its director chose to rest his case against homosexuals on the forty-year-old story of Colonel Redl. In Hillenkoetter’s retelling, Redl had been an “honest” man who found himself in an imperial army with unforgiving policies against homosexuality. The Russians hired a young newsboy, who “became very intimate” with Redl. Next, they broke into the colonel’s room and caught him in an “act of perversion.” After threatening to expose him, the Russians gained copies of the Austrian war plans prior to the outbreak of violence.

And so a single urban legend, the telling of which was almost entirely, verifiably inaccurate (in fact, a 1907 Russian diplomatic cable had falsely labeled Redl “a lover of women”) became the primary piece of evidence that guided federal employment policy toward homosexuals for decades to come.

The CIA director then explained the “general theory as to why we should not employ homosexuals or other moral perverts in positions of trust.” He gave thirteen reasons to the senators.

1. Homosexuals experience emotions “as strong and in fact actually stronger” than heterosexual emotions. 2. Homosexuals are susceptible “to domination by aggressive personalities.” 3. Homosexuals have “psychopathic tendencies which affect the soundness of their judgment, physical cowardice, susceptibility to pressure, and general instability, thus making a pervert vulnerable in many ways.” 4. Homosexuals “invariably express considerable concern” about concealing their condition. 5. Homosexuals are “promiscuous” and often visit “various hangouts of his brethren,” marking “a definite similarity to other illegal groups such as criminals, smugglers, black-marketeers, dope addicts, and so forth.” 6. Homosexuals with “outward characteristics of femininity—or lesbians with male characteristics—are often difficult to employ because of the effect on their co-workers, officials of other agencies, and the public in general.” 7. Homosexuals who think they are discreet are, in reality, “actually quite indiscrete [sic]. They are too stupid to realize it, or else due to inflation of their ego or through not letting themselves realize the truth, they are usually the center of gossip, rumor, derision, and so forth.” 8. Homosexuals who try “to drop the ‘gay’ life and go ‘straight’ … eventually revert to type.” 9. Homosexuals are “extremely vulnerable to seduction by another pervert employed for that purpose by a foreign power.” 10. Homosexuals are “extremely defiant in their attitude toward society,” which could lead to disloyalty. 11. “Homosexuals usually seem to be extremely gullible.” 12. Homosexuals, including “even the most brazen perverts,” are constantly suppressing their instincts, which causes “considerable tension.” 13. Homosexuals employed by the government “lead to the concept of a ‘government within a government.’ That is so noteworthy. One pervert brings other perverts. They belong to the lodge, the fraternity. One pervert brings other perverts into an agency … and advance them usually in the interest of furthering the romance of the moment.”

The testimony of subsequent intelligence officials echoed that of the CIA director, and the Hoey committee’s final report primarily drew from the testimony of its lead witness, sometimes verbatim. As the Hoey report concluded, homosexuals were ipso facto security risks. Colonel Redl remained its only example.

Hillenkoetter’s thirteen principles became official government doctrine. The government incorporated the Hoey report into its security manuals, forwarded it to embassies, and shared it with its foreign allies. “The notion that homosexuals threatened national security,” explains historian David Johnson, “received the imprimatur of the U.S. Congress and became accepted as official fact.” When the federal government needed to justify its homosexual purges, it simply pointed to the Hoey report.

Dwight D. Eisenhower won the presidency in 1952 with the help of the slogan “Let’s Clean House” and whispers that his opponent, Adlai Stevenson, had homosexual tendencies. Three months after his inauguration, Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10450, which expanded the government’s purging authority—originally given to the State Department—to all federal agencies. Any employee who exhibited “criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct” had no place in the federal bureaucracy. With a Republican in the White House, the purges became less of a spectacle and more of a quiet, well-oiled machine. In Eisenhower’s 1954 State of the Union, he boasted of removing 2,200 security risks in only a year.

McCarthy’s downfall came later that year, but the purges remained alive, as did the rumors that always seemed to saturate America’s capital. After two Republican senators learned that the son of Senator Lester Hunt of Wyoming, a Democrat, had been arrested in Lafayette Park, they gave Hunt a choice. He could withdraw from his 1954 reelection campaign or face the publicity of his son’s homosexual arrest. The Senate was virtually tied. If Hunt resigned, he risked shifting power to the Republicans.

On the morning of June 19, 1954, Senator Hunt, a straight victim of antigay political blackmail, entered his Capitol office and shot himself with a .22-caliber rifle.

#alfred redl #austria hungary #mccarthyism #lgbtq history #united states #suicide cw #homophobia #homosexual traitor #the deviant's war

25 notes · View notes

rosecat5 · 2 years

Text

Headcanons i have for Clyde and Chris being friends :"D

Clyde is my friends oc @dancinggh0stlings @h0lygh0stings 💛🌻

Pls correct me if i am heavily wrong with something here, or made you uncomfortable with something ^^" But i would love to see your ideas to headcanons for both of them :")

Both introverts!

Spending time together, but alone together?! yes please!

Love sitting in a quiet room together, maybe with some music in the background, with each of them sitting in a corner by themself and read!

They both like peace am quiet

Staying away from other people most of the time, and minding theire own buisness

Its not like they are missing out on much tho

Clyde and Chris share the deep feeling of always feeling weird around other people, not quite fitting in

Althou this feeling might be more stronger for Clyde

With both of them being more the restrained type, Clyde is defenetly the more shy one

Even tho Chris could be rather shy himself, especially if he has a crush on someone, he is the more outgoing of the two of them

That also means once Chris knows someone better, he can turn pretty loud and wild

Even so, Clyde is never anoyyed by him

He lets Chris rant and ramble about everything and nothing, while listening closely to him venting

I actually headcanon Chris with ADHD traits, so that might be the reason for him being so hyped sometimes

They both dont like smalltalk tho

They talk about sex, death, astrologie, spiritual growth, magic, aliens, the storys you dont tell someone until its 3am, lies you have told somebody, childhood memorys and the trauma that comes with some of them, insecurities and fears, theire favourite sence and the food they like the most

Probably Chop Top joins them in these conversations, while you can hear Drayton yell at them that its 4 in the fucking morning, and they need to shut up already XD

Clyde needs to have all theire things organized, and while Chirs does like it clean he is the more chaotic one

Chris is gratefull that he can help Clyde tyding up, with him taking the lead Chris can actually focus on cleaning for once and not drown in his chaos

Chris probably still gets distracted, and plays with some things he randomly found or starts doing little bone crafts with Nubbins who had joined him at some point

Please dont be mad at them Clyde, thes are not doing it on purpose

Get theire attention back to yoi again, and thed will be happy to apologize and start helping cleaning up again

They both have a hard time going along with theire familys

Being both the black sheap, and problem childs in theire familys

They genuinely adore each other

I really think they would get along great, and are really fond of each others company

Although they dont have any sexual or romantic attraction to each other, Chris tell them on a regular basis that he loves Clyde

And he does, in a way! More like a close friend of course, and meaning it more like he loves him as a soulmate

It always makes Clyde blush, but they feel the same for Chris

It is not an Erros love, it is a Philia love

Although Chris doesnt have a problem with talking very directly about it

Might be because he is an open homosexual

With that said, Clyde nevee felt uncomfortable around Chris

Most People would probably, especially in the time of the 70's, but Clyde treasured theire friendship way to much for letting such a little thing getting between them

And why would he, it was never even was a problem in the first place

Chris respects Clyde they/them pronunce highly, and trys to remember and use it whenever ge can

When they both feel in a goofy mood they tease each other

Clyde holds things up so Chris cant reach them, and Chris tells him the're old already

Clyde is the older and taller one of them, so its easy for him to hide shit at a higher place wich makes chris feral XD

To be fair, its not hard to be taller then Chris...

Therefor Chris of course is a little bit younger than Clyde

Clyde was born 1947 and Chris 1950

Chris Birthday is in october, making him a Libra

While Clyde was born in november wich makes him a Scorpio

How the hell did they end up in Texas?!

They both hate fucking Texas XD

Way too hot...

Clyde gets sunburned so easily

They are both very kindhearted and gentle beings

Althou its not always good for them

Clyde is probably more likely to give someone another chance, after someone fucked up 3 time already

While Chris is the one to flipp someone off after they fucked up the second time XD

#texas chainsaw massacre #tcm #tcm 2 #bubba sawyer #oc #oc tag #tcm oc #tcm headcanons

4 notes · View notes

canismaxim-games · 3 years

Note

Hmm, do the ros of werewolf noir have any romantic preferences in a partner? Like what specifically do they look for in a partner

Ooo this one's interesting, just a TW tho, Werewolf Noir is a dark noir story and as such this topic will bring up serious things such as having to suffer through fantasy racism (specifically for the hunter because "demon"), existentialism, derealization, as well as depression. So please take care of yourselves. I'm doing research and looking to portray these issues as respectfully as I can and am always open to discuss how I can be doing it better as well <3

that being said here's what the Ro's look for in a partner.

The Hunter: I think the hunter is just mainly looking for someone who isn't outright scared or freaked out when learning that the hunter is a demon/infernal creature. A big problem for Infernal races in WN is there are still people who will use their religious beliefs as justification to be downright detestable to others but especially demons. Now this particular problem is a lot better now than it was when the reveal that "monsters" do exist and want to integrate into "normal" society instead of hiding in forests and caves, but there are always going to be terrible people and the Hunter is just tired of it. They want someone who's gonna look at them and grin, someone who won't be to scared to hold hands in public, someone who treats them like a normal person and not something to be hidden or only being public if Hunter wears a human glamor. Mainly they're seeking comfort and reassurance.

The Ghost: Having been dead for a bout fifty years now I don't think they've actually thought about what they want in a partner for a long time. Being a ghost is very different than being alive, there's only the faint memory of touch, taste is only something to experience when inhabiting a body, you just feel empty, like a shadow of what you used to be. It's why many ghosts end up becoming poltergeists or violent. They coudln't figure out how to move on and they couldn't handle being like this, existing but not at the same time. The Ghost is just a little bit different. Instead of just being stuck in their place of death, they continued their work, being a doctor and patching people up. It was a very good distraction and instead of asking for payment they just asked for people to keep their supplies stocked, maybe keep them up to date with current times and medical practices. What makes an ideal partner for them is just someone who makes them feel again. Someone who can help them find that spark of life that you lose upon death, someone who finds enjoyment or solace in the little things like the sound of rain when you're already feeling low, or how the right candle can make a scantly furnished apartment feel like a true home, someone who hums without actually realizing they do it while they work.

The Burglar: The Burglar is demiromantic and hasn't really thought about a romantic partner since they were turned ages ago. So they're not really seeking anything consciously. They can handle flirting no problem, its when someone gets worried for them after they get hurt, or just soft things like getting them a present or trusting them enough to fall asleep on them, small things like that to make them realize this isn't just a physical attraction, that it's growing into something more and they genuinely care for said person. They'll definitely fluster and fumble when it comes to things like that.

The Loner: They've been through heartbreak before so they're hesitant to throw themselves back into a relationship. They're very sweet and optimistic, but they're nervous. They want someone they can spoil and make smile everyday, but they also understand that sort of comes from a place of rejection. I think what they look for is a kindred soul, someone who can understand them and the pain they've been through, someone they can grow with so that they can both be stronger together.

The Detective: Man the Detective hasn't thought about romance or relationships in so long. They've sort of let their work become their whole life, and if they fail a case or don't make headway they start to feel like a failure or useless. They struggle with depression as well and, especially with the cases they take on it's just hard to see the bright side anymore. I think for them, they'd seek out someone who understands why they work the cases they do, but someone who can also help them see a brighter side to life? Not like "everythings sunshine and rainbows" but like someone to curl up next to after a long day and make them feel safe, someone who'll run their fingers through their hair and watch some shitty 1950's alien movie with them, someone who won't yell at them for not being perfect

The Spouse: Simple, the Spouse has always just been looking for a best friend. They want their partner to be someone they can have fun with, someone they can vent to, someone they can trust, someone to be goofy with without fear of getting judged. They just want to be themself and to be loved just the way they are. They might need reassurance now and again that they are good enough, but in the end they're just looking for someone who's going to love them for who they are.

#werewolf noir #werewolf noir ros

15 notes · View notes