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#there’s a very specific hierarchy
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I simultaneously want to live a lifestyle where I can regularly afford to EXTRAVAGANTLY tip service workers, whilst also living in a world where topping culture is not normal or necessary because minimum wage laws do their damn jobs and actually allow all workers to comfortably support their selves & families without relying on the arbitrary "generosity" of entitled customers
#not a shitpost#anyway tipping is not the norm in many countries bc employers are held to a higher accountability re: liveable wages#and in the U.S. specifically tipping as a cultural norm is DIRECTLY descended from post-civil-war racism#I highly recommend googling that shit bc there are MUCH better sources than my dumb little blog#but basically i believe it arose in industries that employed (exploited) a large newly unenslaved black workforce#by offering service jobs that paid unethically low wages (to post-emancipation black americans with VERY few options/resources)#with the excuse that 'tips' would 'reward' good performance and make up the wage difference to 'deserving' workers#while actually it was a control tactic that enabled racist white customers to financially abuse underpaid black employees#keeping in mind that many white americans at this point resented the new legal right of former slaves to earn money and hold jobs at all#ANYWAY I'm rambling and I don't have a list of sources that's just a summary of stuff I remember reading#I apologize for any accidental misinformation this is why i normally stick to dumb clown biology horror posts#(the nose is the fruiting fungal body. honk it thrice to Release The Spores)#...no wait wait wait i thought i was done BUT:#it's no coincidence that tipping culture has continued predominantly in industries more likely to employ women and people of color#and people without access to higher education. because TIPPING IS FUNDAMENTALLY A FORM OF FINANCIAL ABUSE MEANT TO ENFORCE SOCIAL HIERARCHY#ok whew i think im done#oh P.S. LEAVE A FUCKING TIP for people who provide you services in industries where tipping is (unfortimatrly) standard#Yes even if they do a crap job. TIPS AREN'T A 'BONUS' for 'good performance' they're literally something exploited workers need to SURVIVE#you should be able to screw up occasionally at work without being terrified of being able to pay this month's bills#Humans are human. Which means we are DEEPLY FLAWED and IMMINENTLY DESERVING OF DIGNITY AND COMPASSION.#There i did it i summarized my personal core theology nobody asked for. and in entirely too wordy a process okay i am going to BED
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asparklethatisblue · 4 months
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Why won’t tumblr let me upload more than one video clip, my laptop is broken, I can’t paste them together, and I need visuals for my ineloquent “The power dynamics aboard HMS Erebus are odd before Sir John dies” ramble. Because in episode 1 alone there’s at least three scenes where someone asks Graham Gore a question or gives him a command (usually Sir John), and he looks at Fitzjames, who makes one clear deliberate nod or wordless encouragement, and only then does Graham do whatever was asked. He is not the only one, Dr Stanley physically turns away from Sir John to speak to James when Silna and her father are brought aboard. All this while Sir John clearly is the leader of the expedition, the most senior officer in general rank and actual position. Yes James is the Captain of Erebus, but Sir John technically is more so. There might be more, all of it was wordless on James’ part, and contrary to what you people might think, I don’t ONLY look at him while watching
anyway, here’s the one I noticed relatively recently:
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falmerbrook · 15 days
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Snow Elf culture?
*pulls up a chair*
Perhaps...
A wee disclaimer that I'm not particularly good or creative with developing cultures or societies, but my brain has just latched on to the snow elves in a way where I can't stop myself. But anyway
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I developed a lot of this because of a big ass draft for a fic I've been writing on and off about Gelebor and Vyrthur, so a lot of my headcanons are religion heavy. I'll start there:
Gelebor seems to place Auri-El and the Chantry of Auri-El as having significant importance to the Snow Elves over the other gods/temples. He's probably got a bit of bias in that regard since he's devoted his life to Auri-El, but in order to differentiate their religion from the other elven ones I like to think that their religion in general worshipped Auri-El as not even just as the figure head of their pantheon, but almost monotheistical, while the other gods (Trinimac, Syrabane, Jephre and Phynaster according to Gelebor) were like minor divine figures or just legendary heroes even more than in Altmer myth, depending on the interpretation. My idea is that if their culture had been allowed to continue on, it would've eventually become monotheistic, but by the arrival of the Nords they were in a bit of an awkward transition period with it.
I also like to lean into the sun motif with Auri-El that they established in Dawnguard and with Auriel's Bow, partially because it's another thing to make their depiction of him more unique, and in part because it makes some very juicy irony for Vyrthur. Some ideas include:
- The more religious folk tend to pray at noon when the sun is at it's highest. - The two biggest snow elf festivals happen on the summer and winter solstices. As far north as they are, the summer solstice is during a time of year where the sun barely sets and the winter one is during a time of year where it barely rises. The summer one is more jovial and celebratory, with a grand feast. With almost 24 hours of daylight, the festivities last up to three days straight, with folks commonly staying awake for over 24 hours. Most of it is spent outside, with the celebration being focused on making the most of the weather and daylight hours to spend as much time in the sun and the light of Auri-El as possible. The winter festival is as large scale but lasts longer and is lower-key. It also involves a feast but features more winter foods and meat and alcohol. It is more pensive. At this point in the year, there is no full daylight, and so this season is seen as a test of one’s faith and mental fortitude. This festival acts as a break from this trying time, taking time to relax, build community (a strong community will allow them to make it through the winter and strengthen their minds), and bond with family and friends. It is about a weeklong break, where leading up to the festival everyone works harder to prepare for it and allow themselves to have the break. There are activities and festivities, but they remain indoors for the most part and are smaller. - I've referenced this before, but with long winters with little sunlight (due to harsh weather and short days), they see that time of year as a reflective test of will and faith.
Due to their proximity to dragons, it was hard to miss the connection between Auri-El (/Akatosh) and dragons, and so their depiction of Auri-El is either much more influenced by the iconography of dragons, or is a dragon (although their depiction of dragon Auri-El is much more benevolent than the Nord/Atmoran one). I got the idea for this one from this Reddit post (i know I dog on Reddit a lot but this one has got some fun stuff in it, even if it's a bit out there)
^On that note, later in the timeline (post Dragon War (the timeline is very fuzzy on when this and the Night of Tear happens. They are both sometime vaguely in the late Merethic Era I believe, but it's unclear which happens first or how long each conflict is)) some Snow Elves see a sort of unreturned, unofficial comradery with dragons, seeing themselves as both on the receiving end of the Nord's/Atmoran's brutality (disregarding whether it was warranted or not in the context of the Dragon War).
Ok here's some more general cultural ones:
I mentioned my reasoning for this in this post, but I like to think their general settlements were not as permanent, with a larger focus on wood and building into the sides of hills (good for warmth), while their temples tended to be made of stone and much more permanent. This is why there are so few identifiable Snow Elf ruins across Skyrim. Their cities and towns were easy to wipe out, scavenged for resources, or were in good places for Nordic cities (perhaps Bromjunaar was originally the site of a Snow Elf city?), and their temples were either very hidden (e.g. the Chantry of Auri-El) or eventually converted to Nordic temples.
I love this journal in general for gleaning ideas for Snow Elf headcanons for, but one interesting this is the use of "Old Ones" and "Young One". They're treated like established titles. From that I like to think they place a lot of emphasis on the respect of those older than you. The social hierarchy and whose opinions are most valued is heavily influenced by age. Folks call anyone older or more revered “Old Ones” as a term of respect, and anyone younger than them “Young Ones”. Old One is almost never used in a demeaning way, but Young One can be (not always). Typically, “Old Ones” is used in the third person (e.g. you wouldn’t refer to someone directly as “old one”) whole “Young One(s)” can be used as an epithet for someone directly or in third person.
When thinking about death/"burial" customs (needed for some scenes in the fic I'm planning), you have to consider that there probably wasn't a lot of land in a place like Skyrim where someone can be buried. Nords intern their dead in crypts or burn them to get around this, and I like to think Snow Elves participated in something akin to sky burials (at least sometimes). After preparation, the departed's body is left outside on a ledge, cliff, or the temple balcony to be scavenged by birds. This is seen as a metaphorical return to Aetherius, while their soul literally returns to it. They do this even in poor weather or deep winter. If it doesn’t thaw and rot/be scavenged until months later, so be it. The length it takes to rot is considered indicative of how long it takes for the spirit to let go and move on (not in a bad way though. It’s interpreted more in the way of the soul or body grieving). It's seen as if they may wish to wait until spring to finally rot if they want to experience one more warm, sunny day.
Food (I mostly wrote this in my notes in the context of the Forgotten Vale and Chantry of Auri-El, but I think it could work elsewhere as well to an extent): Plant-based food is grown in gardens in the spring and summer, and that that is able to be stored is carefully preserved through the fall and winter. Winter foods include some nuts, dried vegetables, and dried and preserved/fermented grains (like wheat, barely). These foods must be eaten slowly throughout the winter to last, and winter diets are more meat based. Summer foods include apples, cabbage/lettuce, leeks, tomatoes etc. Snowberries can be found in the wild out of season of most other fruits, and provide fruit in very early spring. Occasionally, fungus from caves is harvested, but this is seen as a delicacy (foreshadowing).
Ok, that's it for now. I gotta go to bed. Thanks for the ask!!!! :D
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maironsbigboobs · 6 months
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re: elf servants
I think generally there are servants in royal/noble households simply for practical reasons and they generally fall into 2 categories: specialised servants (think, stewards and messengers and scribes, masters of horses or kennels, that kind of thing) and servants who help with the upkeep of the household (cleaning, repairs, cooking and also the apprentices and assistants of specialised servants)
specialised servants are probably quite prestigious roles and fields of industry in their own right, and they are considered full members of a household, and probably are closely linked to the person they serve - it's as much a political and social statement to be Finwe's chief scribe as it is an economic one
but the second category are more associated with the house than the family living in it - for example, Finwe's palace in Tirion would function both as a home and a diplomatic and administrative centre, it would be impossible for him to rule and keep up with chores himself. But Fingolfin's personal home would probably not have any full-time servants - when there more people than usual to feed or house then professionals might be hired, but for the most part I imagine the day to day is done by the family (made possible by the fact elves sleep and eat less than humans)
IRL domestic service (at least in the 18th century) often functioned as a kind of prep stage for adult life (for women in particular, but gender is probably not as big a factor for elves) and I could definitely see this in Valinor - domestic servants being 80% elves between 50-100 who haven't chosen an apprenticeship or similar in another field who are earning extra money to set up their own households, getting experience outside of the family, meeting others in their own ae cohort, learning independence etc. It's a job that comes with the offer of room and board + the wages a king/prince/lord can provide. Not glamorous, but not terrible.
The other 20% is made up of professional servants - experienced elves who are genuinely like the work and are contracted workers as much as a builder or gardener might be. Some of them might be independent and others part of businesses set up by other elves who are really into cooking/cleaning etc.
In Beleriand the situation (for the exiles at least) is probably very different, though I think there would be attempts to adapt the system - but there aren't as many households that need servants and there aren't as many young elves.
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nicosraf · 9 months
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The Hierarchie of the Blessed Angells: Their Names, Orders and Offices by Thomas Heywood
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Some angel illustrations:
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Previous owner's notes:
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Some of the "arguments" dedicated to the spheres of angels and their chiefs:
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Some lines dedicated to Lucifer:
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Some of it Transcribed: Of the Rebellious, Lucifer is prime Captain and King ; who in the first of Time, From out the feuerall Classes had selected Legions of Angels, with the pride infected, Against Jehovah; and with expedition Hurled them with himself headlong to perdition. And as in his Creation he was fram'd More glorious far than others before-nam'd; More goodly featur'd, beautiful, and bright, And therefore, his name deriv'd from Light
......... I said before that I got to work with an original copy of this book a while ago, and apart from being a lot of fun to read, it's really beautiful! It was dedicated to the Queen Henrietta, and it doesn't seem like Heywood had any interest in angels outside of this massive book, so I guess he was commissioned to write this. Either way, it's really great! There are some full scans of it online, if anyone would like to flip through it too :)
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The true danger of the Emily Wilde series btw is it makes me think I could stay in academia
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playerkingsley · 5 months
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I'm not sure how the link between a devil & an ongoing contract signatory works as far as communication goes, but it would be very funny if percy & ipkesh kept up a relatively congenial relationship. perhaps occasional dream visits, sipping metaphysical wine, asking about the kids, the family—“how’ve gwendolyn’s horns been coming in? any chance I can tempt you into that third pact any time soon? no? well, you'll be sure to pass on my well wishes to the lady vex, as usual”
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radarsteddybear · 11 months
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A Marya spinoff definitely could have been something
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not-poignant · 3 months
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Re-reading Palmarosa (don't @ me about how many times I've re-read) and all the stuff that's come up in the last two chapters has been there for a long time!!! When did you know the heist was coming?
sakljfsaf I'm not going to @ you about how many times you've reread anon because rereaders make the world go round :D
And yeah, there's been hints for a long time! Honestly I knew pretty quickly that this was coming (there's also a few other things that are coming as well and a couple of those also have foreshadowing).
So I'd say I knew about Raphael going to Mephistar probably within about 2-3 days of starting to write this story, and actually before I finished my playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3. Raphael being the son of Mephistopheles is canon, and I quickly tried to see if that becomes like anything in the game beyond a reference (it doesn't) and after some research realised what a huge goldmine that was for plot ideas.
It's also canon that Raphael doesn't have a good relationship with his father, or has a more trauma-based relationship with his father, which makes sense, because Mephistopheles is a calculated sadistic asshat who believes that freezing people to death between glaciers over centuries is genuinely a good way to spend one's time.
I actually was a little frustrated with myself once I realised it was going to take more than 10 chapters to finally get to this point. Initially I was aiming for chapter 7-9, but I needed more established between Raphael and Astarion, and I needed Astarion to start getting a lot more curious about what's happening, because Astarion is basically a cat and if you pique his curiosity, he'll want to know stuff! Even when it's bad for him!
I kind of knew this fic would come across as 'just a PWP contract fic' but I really always wanted it to be very epic in scope, and a longer story similar to Stuck on the Puzzle or The Beast that Chose Its Own Bridle. Something that starts with intimacy between two characters, and then folds out into a much broader world.
But I also wanted it to be a surprise for the people who weren't looking for it! A lot of folks who even have played and finished BG3 playthroughs never find out that Mephistopheles is Raphael's father, and if they do, they have no idea who he is even if they've played some DND (you really have to have played very specific campaigns, or played previous BG3 video games etc. to have any idea).
That's made the build up and the foreshadowing really fun to do, because people are coming in with wildly different DND knowledge (some - absolutely zero, don't even play the game, some - only the game, some - only DND but nothing to do with Ba'ator, some - DND and Ba'ator).
This is actually a huge reason why I say the story isn't canon compliant, because it literally can't be. There's too many moving parts and a lot of Forbidden Realms isn't even canon compliant with itself. And I love that, and that gives me room for movement. FR is about creativity within structure, and that structure can be what FR and Larian gives us, and even then we'd already be picking and choosing what works for us because those two things aren't fully lore compatible. There's a lot of good threads about how Larian was quite selective in how they built up their version of Faerun. And I love that.
But also, same. :D
Anyway, so the TL;DR is I knew juuuust about from the beginning! Not from the first few chapters, but I'd say definitely by the time I started chapter 2!
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iamphibolous · 8 months
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Good day. Here is an assortment of butterflies! They look a little freaky up close so I'm putting them under the cut 💚
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Edit:
Was out back with the dogs and found another one lol
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#I have in my mind a hierarchy of the difficulty of bugs. Butterflies are moderately hard to photograph#They get distracted with their beverages quite easily. Dragonflies however are always on alert! They're the most difficult to get#Beetles are easy but you have to spot them. If they fly then they're more difficult#If you can believe it snails are actually pretty difficult to get good photographs of. I have to wait around a good bit for them#They get scared and hide and it takes a while for them to chill out and believe I'm not about to put them in my mouth#Even then... if I get too close they get scared again! It's a very delicate balance. I don't have many good snail photos yet :[#Oh also spiders are the easiest to photograph. They're everywhere and if I approach right then they don't really mind my camera#I have more spider photographs than any of the others combined I think. Sooooo many spiders 🩷#It's lovely to find one too! Like 'omg I didnt know someone lived here?!!?! May I give u a photoshoot ma'am?'#And they're always chill with it! every single one! I haven't yet met a spider that I didn't get at least one good photo of!#Maybe I will post those later... but of course they'll be under a cut too with ample warnings.#Anyway thank you for stopping by and seeing my bugs :] I have half a tb of photographs and most of it is bugs and plants lol#bugs#creepy crawlies#butterflies#insects#p.s. I would love to hear about the specifics of bug terminology but please don't get in a twist about me referring to them in layman terms#photography
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sinni-ok-sessi · 1 year
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Chapters: 7/7 Fandom: 琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan Characters: Xiao Jingyan, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Lin Chen (Nirvana in Fire), Xia Dong (Nirvana in Fire), Nie Feng (Nirvana in Fire), guest appearances by other members of the cast Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Science Fiction, Alternate Universe - Space, Hurt/Comfort, Identity Reveal, Identity Issues, Grief/Mourning, Hopeful Ending Summary: In his heart of hearts, Jingyan knows something remains at Meiling. A ghost, a secret – he can’t say for sure. But whatever it is, he won’t abandon it. And one day, when they’ve gathered up whatever fragments of information have been scattered around the rest of the galaxy, he’ll find out whether the rumours that Jiangzuo ships can travel anywhere are true.
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Author reveals are out so it’s time for some shameless self-promotion! I described this to a friend as the Sad Conversations In Space fic and I stand by that, but I assume anyone in the Nirvana in Fire fandom loves sad conversations, so hopefully that’s a selling point.
Written for liuet’s prompt of a sci-fi AU. The space piracy is alas merely implied. Many thanks to cicelythereaper/acrosticacrumpet for beta’ing, brainstorming and general encouragement.
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adozentothedawn · 6 months
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How to see myself as an adult
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shinygoldstar · 7 months
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really love how my native language focuses more on age than gender. could never be wrong with addressing people when the terms are gender neutral
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mxbitters · 2 years
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i will die mad that i didn’t get to be a boy scout
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royalreef · 2 years
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(( Since it’s finally Pride Month, here’s me posting my yearly reminder that Miranda is:
Demiromantic
Pansexual
and technically genderless? It’s complicated, merfolk don’t really have any conception of gender like we do.
Uses she/they pronouns too!
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teddiebearie · 2 years
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seeing a post that was made after seeing another post and having the second post remind me of another, completely unrelated third post.... yeah.
#teddy's talk#that one was abt redemption arcs tho. the thing i'm thinking about now is flaws of the author vs flaws of the character#and how some people really need to realise the author's intent DOES matter#like there was this one post i saw abt a character where he misunderstood something another character was going through#in a story that has very clearly set up a narrative where patriarchy is a big problem#like. almost every single female character suffers under it. this is explicitly highlighted several times.#anyway the character misunderstood something another character went through bc he's a guy and despite being kind of outcast#still benefits from being a guy. and the other character had had specific problems *because of* the patriarchal hierarchy.#and he was like 'she hates me bc i'm privileged' which wasn't quite right.#and this person was like yeah the author doesn't quite get it ://#like!!!! no!!!! no that was exactly the point!!!! he's a good and sympathetic guy and the author was trying to show that even HE has trouble#understanding properly bc that's how this kind of stuff tends to work—people who benefit from oppressive systems don't...#fully realise just how bad it gets unless they actually Try to understand. and he's not quite there yet.#my point is. this was clearly supposed to be a character flaw. but this person got clearly upset bc they thought it was an author flaw#or when ppl talk about madoka and completely ignore the original intended message#but that's another can of worms
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