#they spark a particular feeling that is completely unique to them

[sam-glade]

Happy STS! Today I have a riddle: what comes first? The title or the story? 🤭 To expand, I'd love to hear the creation order of one (or several) of your stories. Did you think of characters first? Plot? World? What was the final piece?

Happy STS, Tori💜

That's a very good question🤔

I think it's usually the story, but more specifically a key element of a concept of it, which in my mind starts acting as a shorthand for 'that WIP', and more often than not evolves into the title. But even before that, the very first thing I come up with are a few locations that I really want to explore, so I start coming up with events that will take me to all the intriguing nooks and crannies. Since 4 out of 5 of my novel-sized projects are set in the same world, it's more about exploring an aspect of it than the world as a whole. For Days of Dusk, that's the countryside, then the city where the Army's Command is located, then the manors and palaces of the aristocracy.

As for particular stories, here's the list:

Gifts of Fate (DoD book 1) - the sequel to it was written first, and included mentions of the backstory, which was supposed to be a typical YA fantasy, but as I kept including more details, it grew more unique, until it didn't fit in the background, and stole the spotlight. So, the world and the characters were already very much developed. The title was the very last thing - I had the manuscript ready for beta readers, and only then I started brainstorming the title.

The Prince's Shadow (DoD book 2) - this story has lived in my head for 12+ years, so the beginnings are a bit fuzzy in my memory. The key thing is that it was previously titled Aftermath, because it was about the consequences of being a hero. I can't tell anymore what came first; it feels like the title and the concept were so intertwined. However, after I've written out the prequel (Gifts of Fate), I realised that the concept no longer works, so it was back to the drawing board with respect to the title.

Prodigal Children (DoD book 3) - I've written it a year or two after the first complete draft of Aftermath, as a continuation, still riding the momentum of the previous instalment, and I remember the title being there from the very beginning, and almost shoehorning the story to fit it. It also started as two independent short stories that were left as very rough drafts; the first of which became the first act (after some expanding), and the second the climax. Initially, the stories were meant to take place 50 or so years apart (bear in mind nigh-immortality in this setting), but as I started stitching them together, it became clear that if these two events are about a year apart, it puts so much delightful pressure on the characters.

The Truth Teller - it started with the concept of someone who's nigh-omniscient and simultaneously unable to lie, as in, the metaphysics won't let her say something objectively false, so the title followed very quickly. And of course to get the protagonist in trouble, I came up with the dystopian setting (DoD setting a few millennia later). The government would very much like to have access to a power like this, while the protag would go quite far to resist. I admit, this came up around the time I read Mistborn for the first time.

The Fulcrum - oh boy. That was definitely inspired by the Vivec city in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. I had this image of a city inhabited by a cult that believes itself to be the centre of the universe and is obsessed with order and control, not to upset the balance of the world, while in reality it's just one of the many larger than life locations. I also visited Korea around that time, and went to all the museums, which indirectly sparked my interest in pre-Medieval cultures. Then I wanted to write a travelogue to organise all of this worldbuilding. So, setting first, then probably the title - the holy city is called Lornai, which translates to 'fulcrum' or 'pivot', and in my mind I started using 'Lornai' and 'fulcrum' interchangeably to think of this setting/story. The story came later.

#sts #ask and i shall answer #writeblr

[jackobbit]

[Working for E.V.I.L. Written Lore #1]

The first post of its kind! Introducing, Solar Flare! Below the read more is their personality, backstory, fun facts, dialogue and behavior examples, and other such things!

Hope y’all like them! If you’ve got any questions or comments I’d love to hear it!

[To be shown next: Bloodmoon] [Will be posted in: 2 days]

[Solar Flare]

[They/Them]

While the Working for E.V.I.L. Au has no main character, Solar Flare might be the closest thing there is to one due to the fact that they are introduced to the world in tandem with the audience.

As stated prior, Solar Flare was created within one of E.V.I.L.’s many labs following a zero-turn-out hiring event. Eclipse oversaw the project, but did not help directly. Although Eclipse was the one to introduce Solar Flare to the corporation following their completion.

Solar Flare is very goal oriented, determined, logical, blunt, has a flat voice and tends to take things literally. Very ‘I’m a classic no-personality robot’ type ordeal. They also have a tendency to not know what common objects, expressions or sayings are/mean/do. Their programming really honed in on a focus towards following orders to a T and not doing much if nothing else aside from that.

However, against all odds, Solar Flare begins to develop personality with time. They pick up bits and pieces of information as they go, and slowly apply what they think feels right to themself. It takes time but emotional expression, a unique way of speaking and a personality form within them the longer they exist and work with their team.

Unfortunately, some of the things they learn along the way are either skewed or flat out incorrect because of who they learned those behaviors/sayings from. (Cough, Bloodmoon, cough cough)

Dialog examples: “Greetings. I am: Solar Flare. My goal is to: Obtain Stars.” “What purpose does stopping at: Burger King, serve to our mission?” “Eclipse is correct, I am not sentient. I do not have the capacity to make decisions for myself. Thus, I do not know how to spend this money, Bloodmoon.” “I do not understand, what entertainment do you receive from looking at aquatic animals behind glass?” “Apologies for the intrusion, but we will be taking this, have a nice day.” “I think that I would like to do that.”

Very short, straightforward, blunt and too the point!

Behavior examples: Solar Flare tends to speak most through their eyes. They have little to no body language and tend to stand rigid and still, their eyes give away what trace sparks of life and emotion they have. An example being the way in which they dart around following a state of confusion.

Fun facts: One of the first things Solar Flare picks up behavior wise is how to be polite, quickly adding terms such as ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to their lexicon despite doing so not serving any additional purpose to missions.

They can fly! They also have a little star design on their back, which hides away two little bars that can be grabbed to help them transport an additional person. Eclipse refuses to fly with Solar Flare, but with time, Bloodmoon is practically hanging off those bars 24/7.

Solar Flare is the second tallest of the cast, but is still much shorter than The Boss, who they haven’t met.

Solar Flare was not initially programmed with either free thinking or emotion in mind, thus, higher ups are certain that they are not sentient. Whether or not Solar Flare is sentient is something that is argued a lot internally within E.V.I.L., with the only two people being on Solar Flares side being Bloodmoon, but only after the two get to know them.

They can release steam and smoke from the air vents in both their mouth and chest, it helps their internal systems cool faster.

They eventually learn that they like music! Although they have no particular favorite genre.

#shut up jack #working for e.v.i.l. solar flare #working for e.v.i.l. au

[lastontheboat]

Fandom creators self rec game! Choose five favourites from your own creations (and tell me why, if you like!), then pass on to at least five other people. I'd love to hear what you're proudest of.

Thank you @tackytigerfic for providing me an opportunity for navel-gazing! I enjoyed reading about your own favourites; I find it super interesting to see what other creators value about their works.

Per my last letter (I hope you choke on it)

This is my favourite completed fic for a number of reasons:

1. I had always wanted to try writing an epistolary

2. I had always wanted to try collaborating on a fic with a friend

3. The writing process was an absolute joy

It feels like a distillation of many of my favourite things, but unlike many fics the creation process didn't involve tearing my hair out trying to make it do what I wanted. Whenever I'd get stuck, I'd just close the document and go to bed, then when I woke up the next morning @fluxweeed would have added several new scenes that set my brain on fire. It was an absolutely magical experience for me, and I'm extremely fond of the end result. This is probably the fic of mine that I've re-read the most, and it delights me every time!

Podfic of Stop All The Clocks, by firethesound

I've got a lot of podfics to choose from, but this is one that I'm particularly proud of. The original fic is imprinted on my soul, but the thing that sticks with me more than the actual plot is the sensation of reading it and feeling my heart break over and over.

Making podfics is a very personal craft for me. It's an investment of my time, and I generally choose ones to record that I strongly associate with a particular first-time reading experience. This was my sixth large podfic project, and I really wanted my reading to amplify the heartbreak that's already present in the text. It was a much more emotional recording and editing process than most of my podfics, but it's also the only one I've listened to entirely after releasing it.

I'm extremely fond of every listener who has taken the plunge and commented about their experience of it, and completely understand everyone who has been like "I don't fuck with that fic. You couldn't pay me to listen it."

body electric

This is the first fic I can recall writing that was entirely driven by a feeling. I remember being consumed by the idea of that spark between Harry and Draco, of them needing to feed it and hold it but being unable to act upon it. I was between jobs and had a lot of time to myself, and I wrote this fic in a fugue state over the space of two days. I had never experienced a writing process so feverish before, and I don't know if I will again.

I also need to shout out the beta feedback I got from @zaharya on this one, whose very insightful comments about the passage of time in the second chapter led to me adding a bunch of my favourite lines to it:

“I want to bend you over this table,” he says, panting now. “I want you under me, here in my workshop. You’ll leave here and every time you smell wood shavings you’ll think of me.” “I already do,” Malfoy says, his voice cracking.

Podfic of If The Fates Allow, by saras_girl

I spend a lot of time listening to audiobooks these days, and I really appreciate being able to consume so many stories while driving or cooking. For me, recording a podfic is about giving others the opportunity to experience some of my favourite fics, and trying to capture some of what they mean to me in my voicing.

saras_girls fics hold a very special place in my heart, and this one is my absolute favourite of hers. As a podfic, the biggest challenge here was dealing with the ensemble cast—it stretched the limits of unique voices I could do without them sounding forced, but it was also exciting trying to keep the voices consistent across 25 chapters.

the spirit is willing (the flesh is weak)

This is the newest fic that I finished (the only one so far in 2023), but I haven't made too much noise about it on here because it's attached to my alt account. This one started out as a concept that wouldn't leave me alone (Bill/Ginny fuck or die), but it's also another data point in my exploration of what it's like to write smut.

I still don't think it comes naturally to me, whatever that means—I'm much more comfortable keeping my writing to Teen, but I'm very satisfied with how this fic achieves what I set out to do with it. It was a stretch, but a good stretch!

#my works #navel-gazing #i've always wanted to put together some behind the scenes posts about my creations #thank you helping that process along!

[sparky-is-spiders]

When I first finished my Amaldyne ref I started on an image of her breathing dragonfire but never finished it. Until now! Here she is my beautiful baby girl setting things on fire. Idk how I feel about the shading but I'm kinda proud about how revenant!Amaldyne looks. (Also if you're wondering why her neck is Like That it's because maintaining your form as a big hungry goop puddle is especially hard when you're also angy). This was mostly just to see how dragonfire looks when I try blending it a bit (which I don't do on the refs to make it more clear which colors go where) but I might mess around with it in the future, idk.

Anyway some Lizard Lore(TM): dragonfire is a very unique substance. Impossible to replicate (at least under current magical science), dragonfire can and will destroy everything it touches save for the dragon who breathes it. All dragons have at least a few sparks (even if all they ever manage to do is cough up smoke and embers), but a vast majority only have enough to breathe out a single stream for a few minutes, after which they'll need to stop and recover. Amaldyne is probably about average when it comes to dragonfire (although nothing about my universe is set in stone yet sooooo). Dragonfire can come in any color except blue (although there are a handful of old, scattered scraps of legend about a powerful sky dragon with bright cyan flames). It also sometimes feels more like a dragon's element rather than regular fire (although most who get hit by it are generally too distracted by the feeling of being burned by magic fire to describe the experience afterwards). Amaldyne, as a poison dragon, has fire that feels like getting doused in acid (complete with an odd, slimy sensation that lingers for awhile after). It's pretty common and there really isn't any particular significance to it. Just an odd quirk of dragon magic. Also, if a dragon's fire is somehow extinguished (methods to do so are currently unknown) or stolen (incredibly difficult but also quite possible, if you know a few tricks), it WILL kill them. A dragon won't survive without their dragonfire, not even for a moment.

#anyway i love her i love her i love her so much #i think seeing the comparison of regular-sized ordinary amaldyne vs big freaky revenant!amaldyne has convinced me that she's bigger after #she emerges from the cocoon #also fun fact about her broken horn! i've decided that after her death (when eityr finds her and pulls her from the battlefield) #eityr saw one of her horns was broken (and maybe kept the broken piece? idk she's a freak about her (only) friend) #and somehow amaldyne found out about this and consciously chose to make her horn look broken whenever she assumed her dragon form #part of her campaign to cling on to the remnants of her mortality #(can. can you tell i developed massive amounts of story and character details while neck-deep into my t/m/a hyperfixation? can you?) #(censoring t/m/a to keep it out of the fandom tags lol.) #anyway i love my little monster poison dragon #(btw dragon elements are their own whole lore Thing) #ok anyway sorting tag time: #amaldyne #amaldyne rotwing #the lizard crew #lizardverse #body horror #body horror tw #tw body horror #idk if the tag applies but she's doing the thing where her lower jaw sort of... separates..... so i figured i should tag just in case? #if there's another better tag let me know #anyway i should go make dinner now #ok goodbye. #WAIT FORGOT MY ART TAG #sparkarts #<- is it that i think it’s that #ok i’m serious now. pasta time.

[isolaradiale]

Every second spent within those worlds returns only the brightest flickers of hope, data itself compiling in their favor. Those questioning the validity of it all only serves to prove so, whether or not they enjoyed their time within those worlds or not, while others might have sought to merely accept it all. Until the note of a particular spike in data, the slightest surge that would soon act as the breaking of the dam which begins to flood through the entire city without relent.

It starts momentarily as a flower blossoming in the sidewalk of Archimedes, one from a distant world that shouldn't be native to the island. And then a building shifts, taking on the form of a prominent structure belonging to another, each structure slowly beginning to be overridden by terrain and scenery that should not belong. It was concerning... and yet the green eyes of Star observing couldn't help but spark with a certain joy at it.

"Wait, what's happening?"

"Ugh. Don't tell me it's another virus—"

"No, no, nothing like that. Actually it seems like it's rather good news... for our work, at least. Not so much for the city or our lovely subjects' little worlds. Though I think there's a way to tend to that without us having to do too much."

At least in the eyes of Pleaides, what she witnesses can only be a sign of rousing success, causing her to dart from her seat to a scanning device. A few inputs is all it takes before it scans her figure, the smile on her face far more delighted than it should be.

"Anyone else care to come along and see for themselves?"

Few glance between them before Solaris steps forward first, taking the initiative as well in joining on the venture to the city they watch over. Orion follows soon after, as well as Taygeta accompanied with Mimosa, too. Even more stand up, the glances between Lyra, Alathfar, and Caelum all in agreeance to join. And before long, their very bodies were projected into the overridden city, parting their ways to inspect it all. Flowers so real that one could not call them fake, with wafting scents from a bakery that only a distant galaxy could call its one and only. She steps forward, basking in the success of their work, before turning to see those few swept up in it all, cordial as ever in addressing them despite her distant disposition.

"I'm glad to be the first one to tell you all congratulations, my darling subjects. After all, you're the ones that have made this all become a reality. Well, even if this particular part of it was unexpected."

Any who attempted to attack would be met with no victory, their frames holographically glitched with every attempt, continuing to stand unmarred.

"That being said, what you see now is rather concerning. Due to many of you not quite settling back into that life of yours as if it were nothing, far more than we expected in this outcome, it would seem that your worlds have started to try and take over the city itself as a manifestation of that collective will of yours. I'd like to say it's not an issue, but that'd be a pretty big lie."

Adjusting her glasses, she turns to glance at a cracked point, one where a world has slowly begun to leak through, corrupting the city slowly with its unique existence. "Once a world has fully poured into this one, let's just say that it will cease to exist as a place you can return to. Simple, no? But this city is also under a direct threat because of that. If too much of your worlds fully corrupt here, everything you know will become a conglomerate before it overrides itself, including you, unless these points are sealed off completely to halt the override. Any method will do so long as it's closed off," she continues, shrugging her shoulders soon after.

"Of course you can choose not to believe me and do nothing. Feel free to go right back to your worlds if it pleases you. But if that comes to pass, well... I guess you'll see if I was lying or not, won't you?"

She smiles, turning once more to inspect the encroaching world as if it were naught but a research topic before speaking one last time to those present.

"Until then, I hope you understand our request and think about it. And as always, the Stars will always be watching over you..."

SO WHAT'S GOING ON?

Compared to the first part where people were sent back to their worlds without a way back, now the worlds are... creeping right back into Spirale in a pretty frightening way! It's nothing like how the Garden of Ash has some native flowers or the Star Trail has local cuisines and ingredients. Rather, it's acting like creeping vines slowly overriding the city itself due to everything with the threat of consuming it all in an overload of collective data from your worlds.

That being said, places on the island may now start to look exactly like your worlds and take on the world's properties while it's still very much the island you've been kept on all this time. Maybe the street your home is on now suddenly has taken up its space in one of the housing districts, house and all? Or perhaps the ocean has started to become boiling hot or snowfields ice over the ground if your world had such things. Terrain can also mix and match, so maybe one instance you're walking in a stretch of ruins only to then walk directly into a lush field of beautiful flowers. Weather from your worlds also happens as it would there, as well as the fauna beginning to invade in many areas, whether they're benign or malicious to people or the environment.

Basically the world (Spirale and all the others!) is your oyster to play with this as you'd like! Just remember that only worlds present on the masterlist will be invading the island and anything that might get too invasive with people learning some world lore that isn't their own should be discussed with the proper muns beforehand!

CAN WE STILL GO BACK TO OUR WORLDS?

You absolutely can! There are entry points where the worlds have breached through that can warp you back to your world as it leaks into Spirale itself. You can come and go freely, as that world will also have a warp entry point in several places to flow back to and fro, so you're free to world hop as you'd like and experience things this way.

Likewise, your characters can naturally have returned back to Spirale to see what's going on currently or have been forcibly returned due to what's happening, so choose however you'd see fit to have them become aware of the situation if you choose to have them become aware at all!

WHAT DO THE PORTALS LOOK LIKE?

Basically they look like little hovering warp points that are scattered around with glimpses of the world that is leaking from them! So you can tell which world it is easily and know that's one of the points that need to be closed off.

HOW CAN MY CHARACTERS SEAL THE PORTALS?

The sky is the limit. There are several access points for each world that must be either sealed off in some means, whether that be breaking it with force to collapse in on itself or another way of magic or creativity. So long as you feel it could suffice in working, no matter how dire or silly it might be, you're welcome to use that as a way to stop the points that are leaking.

DO MY CHARACTERS HAVE TO HELP?

Nope. They don't have to do anything they don't want to. If they wanted to go back to their world with a pair of sunglasses and a mimosa while kicking back on the beach, they can do just that. It's also a note that they've been told that sealing off their worlds to halt the takeover will once again trap them on Radial Island for who knows how long, meaning you're also welcome to have them try to stop others from cutting off entry points to the various worlds. Whether your characters believe the Stars or not about the impending consequence of what happens, they weren't present to hear the announcement at all, or otherwise, you're free to dictate how they handle it how you think they would!

WHAT IF MY CHARACTER DECIDES TO STAY IN THEIR WORLD UNTIL THE END?

Once the event is over, every character will be returned to Spirale as it once was without exception. But at least you got to enjoy a little vacation time in your world again until that moment, right?

ARE WE STILL FULLY UNLOCKED?

Yes! Your characters still have all of their powers unlocked during this portion of the event, so feel free to go ham in taking down monsters that have come in or any way you'd like to go about sealing the worlds in the way they feel suitable.

WAIT, ARE SOME STARS DOWN IN THE CITY?

As holograms of their figures, yes! Some, if not nearly all, have gone down to check out the results and ongoing situation for whatever their reasons may be. You can see them here and there and can reference them in your posts, if you'd like! Just remember that they can't be hurt or damaged given the nature of their presence being more holographic.

CAN WE STILL WRITE PART ONE STARTERS AND THINGS?

Of course. You're welcome to make any part one starters as if part one is still going on even during part two and to continue it on. You're also welcome to transition any part one threads into part two as you see fit!

WHEN'S THE ENDING OF THE EVENT AGAIN?

The event will run until DECEMBER 1ST AT 11:59:59PM EST. This may differ from the first event ending date you saw in the first post as the event was mistakenly listed to run only two weeks instead of three, so we apologize for that and want to reiterate that this is the proper ending date! Until then, feel free to make any starters from any part as you like through that date.

#isola event #event: homecoming

[almightyhamslice]

KDL3 Stage 1-1: Tulip's stage!

I'm approaching these with a similar format to my KDL2 posts, except divided by stage rather than level since each stage is very unique in KDL3. This also means this is going to take me forever LOL. In terms of standalone ability drawings, each one will contain Kirby AND Gooey, since they have the same movesets. They're only placed next to each other for comparison though since like I said they can't BOTH wear the necklace at the same time. So far I think Gooey likes Spark the best!

This level has Rick and Nago, but I never used Rick since it was too risky-- too much of a chance of him accidentally stepping on the flowers!! Nago is preferential since he has 3 jumps. I would NEVER take Gooey here unless I was playing w 2 players though. His CPU is SO bad lmao (worse than any Helper in the original Super Star if you can imagine). That's how it is for the entire game quite frankly, but I REALLY like the idea of Kirby and Gooey going on the whole adventure together, so I'm pretending I did this whole thing with 2 people LOL.

I can tell you a little more about Nago since this post is very Nago centric! He's 19 years old and is honestly a completely normal guy... other than being able to turn into a giant cat anyways LOL. He can't use copy abilities for himself, but he's very crafty. He likes to help Kirby come up with new methods and angles to use his abilities. He has some difficulties befriending the other animal friends since he feels like he can't relate to them, so for now he's only friends with Kirby and Rick. He doesn't like when Kirby chooses to hang out with other friends over him. I guess that makes him n Rick more alike than I realized LOL. He is prone to expressing his emotions in catlike ways since he's a werecat.

I don't have much to say about this level's resident character, Tulip. She's a flower nymph, and she has 4... kids? counterparts? I don't know what they are to her. None of them transform, and the little flowers don't talk or anything, they just have eyes. Though, they can move underground by tunneling I think. Only between areas without grass though! They're very particular.

Ramblings abt Nago and calico cats in general under the cut since I have a special interest in cats and genetics:

So if you were unaware, calico cats (and tortoiseshell cats) are almost always female IRL! Thsi is because 'red' (orange) and black fur colors are both linked to the x chromosome, so a cat can only have 1 of those 2 per x chromosome. If the cat has only 1 x chromosome, it can only be red or black, never both. So this means that even though he's a male character, Nago must have 2 x chromosomes for his coat color to make sense. I think one could interpret him as transmasc, intersex, or they could say he has Klinefelter syndrome or some other chromosomal condition? So I chose to depict him as transmasc in my gijinka AU since I'm transmasc and he was my favorite animal friend when I was a kid!!

Did the designers working on KDL3 intend for him to be trans? Probably not, I think it was just an oversight. They wanted a funny cat character and calico is a very cute and popular color for cats! Though idk it is possible he was intentionally transgender since Kirby's probably like, the queerest popular nintendo mascot I can think of?? If he's gender neutral is it that farfetched for Nago to be trans or intersex? I don't know, I'm not his original designer.

Anyways another funny fact abt cats that Nago's designers might've known-- cats squint/close their eyes as a sign of trust in others! So Nago's eyes are usually shut because he's showing Kirby that he can trust him! (yes that means he's VERY upset when Kirby uses the needle ability or switches to a different animal friend cuz his eyes widen. TBF, if my friend was shooting chunks out of his face and turning them into needles, I'd be pretty distressed too LOL). I really like this detail cuz it means at least one person on the design team rlly rlly loved cats lol.

#art #Kirby #Kirby gijinka #Kirby's Dreamland 3 #traditional art #mixed media #colored pencil art #marker art #scrapbooking #pen art #completed #Gooey #Nago #Tulip #Spark #Parasol #Cutter #Heart Star

[peace-coast-island]

Diary of a Junebug

Searching for hidden gems while overcoming trust issues simply by doing our best

I try to generally keep a somewhat optimistic outlook on people, but sometimes I come across something and my reaction’s along the lines of disappointed but not surprised. The lengths some people will go to mistreat another and try to justify their behavior is disturbing, but I guess that’s in their nature. However, that doesn’t mean that they can get away with it all the time. Sooner or later, they’ll have to pay for their transgressions, and maybe that’s why it’s always good to hold out a tiny bit of hope that things will change for the better.

It’s not easy to escape a shitty situation, and it’s not easy moving on from it. Just because you’re in a much better place now doesn’t mean that the trauma you’ve experienced goes away overnight. Things like trust issues, anger and resentment, and the feeling of being broken and unlovable - those are the kinds of scars that stay with you. That doesn’t mean you can’t overcome them, it just takes a lot of time and effort, and it is far from easy.

What sparked this whole thing was two different incidents that are kinda connected in a way. But first, let me go back and explain why we’re in Yuexing for a sort of impromptu event. And what kind of activity would that be? A gyroid event, of course!

Globe gyroids are kinda uncommon and tend to pop up wherever and whenever they want. We know for certain that they tend to show up in places with high cliffs and soil rich with various minerals, and so Yuexing fits that description. And also, besides the gyroids, we’re also here to check out the jade since it’s said to be very high quality. Good thing I know someone who knows someone who can give us access to the good stuff without breaking the bank.

Connie was the one who heard about the globe gyroids and told me and Isabelle about it. Part of the reason why they invited us up here for that is so we can sort of provide a good distraction for some people who could really use a break. After the ordeal they went through, they really do deserve to take it easy.

What brought this on were Sophea’s latest clients, an adventuring trio dealing with harassment due to unsubstantiated rumors and likely just bad luck. Basically, three complete strangers came together to become an adventuring team, rising probably a bit too quickly in the ranks, causing some to become suspicious of their success. As with most cases like that, it’s just a series of coincidences and pure luck, especially when you consider their backgrounds and combined talents.

In this case, there’s the party leader Nikolai, a seasoned adventurer, so someone with a lot of expertise and knowledge when it comes to that kind of stuff. Then there’s Saff who, like Sophea, is half human and half mystical beast, so she’s someone with unique skills and life experiences. And then Cerise, who comes from a noble family of mages in another land, meaning they’re quite powerful in terms of politics and influence.

It’s not uncommon for underdogs to suddenly rise up in ranks, although it certainly does cast suspicion depending on who you ask. However, in most cases, these suspicions are unfounded - but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t instances where some people use underhanded methods to climb their way to the top. The investigations are really to protect the adventurers under question as often times these rumors are usually started by someone who opposes them, usually out of jealousy.

What made this particular case difficult is the parties that are involved. In other words, two separate but similar motives in an attempt to discredit someone. And to make matters even more complicated, it’s the kind of harassment that puts someone in danger, which is why law enforcement has to get involved. What a mess that is.

First, there’s Nikolai being outed by his former mentor. Said mentor was like a parent to him, the one who raised him to become a capable adventurer, groomed him to be his successor, blah, blah, blah. Except things didn’t go the way the mentor had planned because Nikolai - surprise, surprise - is his own person with his own thoughts, options, methods, and moral compass. Basically, his mentor’s adventure party is involved with a lot of shady stuff and he didn’t agree to that, which ultimately led to him getting kicked out.

Of course, at first Nikolai just went along with it because he had no other choice - can’t fault him for that. Still, he couldn’t help but feel guilty for being a bystander while his mentor and comrades get away with scamming others. And because they were quite wealthy and powerful, that inevitably complicated things as there was no way to fight back without repercussions.

Eventually, he reached his limit when a particular incident went too far. At least at that point, when they inevitably kicked him out, at least he’d be able to support himself for a time. He had hoped that his other party members would stand by his side, especially his now ex-girlfriend, only to be disappointed in the end. And now they’re claiming how they’ve been “deceived” by him after he was outed. Some friends they are.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for him to bounce back. He, Saff, and Cerise happen to regulars at a local bar, so that’s how they met. It was crowded that night and they ended up sharing a table. Then they got drunk and opened up to each other about their woes and trust issues. Next thing they knew, they headed off to the local adventure’s guild to register as a team.

Initially, they just went on missions so they could pay their bills, though as time went on, they slowly came to trust each other. It wasn’t long before they started taking on difficult missions and climbing the ranks. Really, there’s not that much to it other than that.

Saff, like Nikolai, was once affiliated with a party who later tossed her aside. She’s originally from the north, though she believes her mythical beast roots are from Yuexing, which was why she moved there. She didn’t go into much detail other than her so-called friends were just using her and taking all the credit for her accomplishments. And then one day, for reasons unknown, they decided she was of no use to them anymore, so they robbed her and left her for dead in the middle of a dungeon.

Somehow she got rescued and later found out that her party left to travel west while telling others that Saff met a tragic end. By the time she reported the incident, their whereabouts became unknown, so it’s out of her hands now. As soon as she recovered and was told to leave the rest up to the authorities, Saff left, determined to make a clean break. Although she could care less about her ex-friends, they are considered fugitives, so when they finally get caught - well, that’s another legal mess she’ll have to deal with later. Besides, with everything else going on, it’s a good thing that they’re not involved with the current situation.

Cerise, unlike the others, had no prior experience as an adventurer. Despite hailing from a prestigious clan, she was treated like an outsider because she is disabled, which they are ashamed of. She considers it a mixed blessing that her parents sent her off to boarding school as it distanced herself from them. Although she’s the eldest, she was always infantilized and bullied, especially by her younger siblings and cousins. Had she stayed home, she doubts she’d be alive by now. Yikes.

She figured that when word got out that she had become an adventurer, no one would care. Instead, what she got as a response was not only hostility, but straight up harassment from certain people in her family. Cerise knew that they had little faith in her, though she never thought that they seriously assume that she had malicious intentions or something. She was under the false assumption that if she was able to prove that she could stand on her own, she’d finally get the respect she rightfully deserves. If only it were that simple…

Instead, when they realized that Cerise could take care of herself given the right accommodations, they interpreted that as her needing to be coddled in order to do the bare minimum, therefore, she’s nothing but a spoiled brat who can’t take care of herself. Again, yikes. She stopped expecting too much from them a long time ago, but when they started making her question whether or not she deserves autonomy over her own life, it’s no wonder why it’s hard for her to stand up for herself.

Cerise and Saff’s troubles began not too long after Cerise’s family heard about the investigation. Saff was unwittingly dragged into the family drama and lost her cool when she witnessed the bullying Cerise had to put up with. So she jumped to her friend’s defense, though she admits that she overstepped her boundaries a bit - still, she meant what she said for the most part. She and Cerise didn’t expect her siblings and cousins to blow things way out of proportion, labeling Cerise as a helpless puppet and Saff as manipulative mastermind. In other words, it was a private dispute turned into a spectacle, which inevitably added even more fuel to the fire. Situations like that never turn out well for both sides regardless of who’s right or who’s wrong.

The initial investigation was nothing remarkable, just a routine thing to make sure no one’s cheating, or abusing their power, or pulling some strings - and that should’ve been it. But no, now some people with petty grudges had to come in and start up some flames of their own. And for what? Revenge? Jealousy? Or are they just a bunch of whiny bitches who can’t stand the fact that their victims are doing better without them? Beats me. Though, considering the roots of these attacks are basically transphobia and ableism, it’s pretty obvious what their angle is.

As if the harassment and bullying isn’t enough, Cerise came across another thing that’s pretty fucked up. Basically, her siblings and cousins have been making bets on how Cerise will die because, A, adventurers live a high-risk lifestyle, and so their lifespans if they’re a mortal human are obviously shorter. And B, there’s a likely chance that she would commit suicide. So they’re making bets on whether she’d die by accident, murder, or suicide - what the fuck. And not only that, they also plan on profiting from her death, making it out to be sensational tragedy or something to draw sympathy or something. I’m like okay…that’s really fucked up and disrespectful…what the fuck is wrong with these people?

In light of that disturbing information, that prompted Sophea and Connie to tell the trio to get their affairs sorted out. They may not have much to their names right now, but that won’t stop their enemies from taking advantage of them when they’re dead. In Nikolai’s case, if he doesn’t put an executor on paper, his old mentor could easily swoop in and take over. So that means nothing would stop him from not only stealing what little property and assets he had, it’s also likely that he’d bury Nikolai under his deadname, leaving him to be misgendered and disrespected for eternity. What better way to disrespect the dead than to disregard their identity?

In Cerise’s case, Sophea notes some similarities with a high profile case she took on recently that’s still on the public’s mind. It involved the downfall of a once prestigious clan following various scandals, including allegations of abuse towards the former master’s eldest daughter. The daughter, like Cerise, has a mild intellectual disability, and so her father was ashamed of her existence. Thankfully, after she was thrown out of the house, another family took her in, and the head of that family, a general whose sister is an acquaintance of Sophea’s, later proposed to her.

Not too long after Lifeng took Shuyi under his wing, the allegations came out, which Shuyi’s father tried to deny at first. Some time later, Shuyi was reunited with her mother’s family, who were forced to cut off contact when her mother married into the Yulin clan. Basically, it was an arranged marriage for political reasons. After his first wife died, the former head of the Yulin clan married his mistress and they had a daughter who was going to be his successor.

While getting reacquainted with her mother’s relatives, Shuyu and her uncle came across her mother’s will that was hidden away long ago. To no one’s surprise, the Yulin head forged his first wife’s will so he could put himself as executor and take everything for himself. There has been suspicions, but without evidence, like an actual physical document, it was only speculation. As the family suspected, the authentic will maintained her brother as the executor and her daughter as the sole benefactor. And that put the final nail in the coffin for the Yulin clan.

The last thing Shuyu and Lifeng wanted was for the whole thing to become a public spectacle, but the ex-master apparently was desperate to save face. The legal mess that followed thanks to him was a nightmare, so most legal advisors dared not to get involved. Sophea was understandably reluctant too, but because she’s well acquainted with the Tianyu clan and is known to not be easily swayed or bribed, she was the best advisor who could put this potentially drawn out legal debacle to a swift end.

Because two powerful families are involved, the case was bound to draw a lot of attention. The general public was sympathetic to Shuyu and felt she deserved what was rightfully hers. When her father realized that, he tried to justify his abuse towards her in some desperate attempt to gain favor. Obviously, it didn’t work, and that led to an infamous confrontation in the courtroom when he made some speech about how his daughter was feebleminded and that she would never amount to anything - basically shit like it’s for her own good or she wouldn’t have known better.

By then, Shuyu was understandably fed up and told her father to go fuck himself, which surprised everyone in the room because she was said to be soft spoken and somewhat passive. Then again, we all have out limits. Sophea had a feeling that if it wasn’t for the fact that he was in public, he probably would’ve killed his daughter right on the spot. In the end, the Yulins refused to accept their downfall and committed suicide, blaming Shuyu for what happened. Shuyu’s sister is missing, though most likely dead considering how loyal she was towards her parents.

There’s still a lot of unresolved stuff with the Yulin case, but at least Shuyu’s no longer in their clutches. Sophea has to work with the estate in terms of giving Shuyu the money and property that’s rightfully hers, which will take a while considering the mess her father left behind. It’s not an ideal resolution, though it’s a start. As long as Shuyu’s safe and happy, that’s what really matters in the end.

With that case fresh in her mind, it makes sense that Sophea wants to make sure Nikolai, Cerise, and Saff get their affairs in order to avoid an incident like with Shuyu’s mother. It may not seem like a big deal, especially if you think you don’t have much to your name, but people should have a say in regards to how they want their death to be handled. It’s just basic decency and respect. Plus, in places like Yuexing, it’s also a cultural thing - deaths and funeral rites are big deal over there, so it must be done with utmost respect.

In light of finding out that certain people are making a game out of her supposed death in hopes of profiting off it, Cerise wants to know all she can about the topic of making a final will and testament to avoid being exploited when her time comes. Nikolai, knowing full well that his former mentor’s the type to disrespect someone’s wishes just because he can, also wants to delve more deeply into that - not just to protect himself, but to also protect others in a similar situation. Saff’s indifferent, mainly because she’s not a mortal, but that doesn’t mean she’s invincible. Better get those final affairs sorted out now rather than never, Sophea and Connie had warned her. They would know.

Despite the heavy stuff they’re dealing with, the trio’s glad that most of their troubles are behind them now that Sophea and Connie are helping out. Nikolai’s former mentor is currently in a lot of hot water because of an unrelated problem and now that the general public knows about his various transgressions like harassing and outing his former student, it’s safe to say that there’s no coming back from that. Whatever happens to his ex-mentor from here on out is no longer Nikolai’s concern.

As for Cerise, her situation’s a bit more complicated, but for now, the best thing she can do is shut them out, which is fine by her. Besides, with one of Yuexing’s best legal advisors around, Cerise knows that her family isn’t stupid enough to fight a losing battle unlike a certain former clan. Plus, she’s done trying to bend over backwards just to get approval from those who will never respect her. She’s found people who care for her unconditionally and won’t get mad at her for being slow and constantly make mistakes, and she’s found that to be more than enough. If certain people have an issue with that, well, fuck them for hating on someone’s happiness.

The one upside to all of this mess is that it allowed the trio to really get to know each other. The three admit to having trust issues, which is understandable given what they’ve been through, which was what ended up bringing them together. Despite being jaded by what they’ve had to deal with, it made them more determined to believe that people are still inherently good. Just because they’ve suffered doesn’t give them permission to do the same to others, and that’s what probably kept them from becoming completely disillusioned.

Nikolai said it best about how there’s a lot of suffering in the world already and it’s getting old. Break the cycle, so to speak. I see where he’s getting at and I think he’s right. People with that mindset are the ones who get things done and see to it that things change for the better.

Read on AO3

#animal crossing pocket camp #animal crossing #headcanon ramble #diary of a junebug

[freesia-writes]

Howzer + Aurelia Ch. 34 - Opening Up

Even as a cocky young shiny, there were a few people who saw the integrity and depth beneath Howzer's facade. Aurelia was one of them, but life tore them apart. However, when they found themselves reunited on Ryloth, with drastically different circumstances, they have to learn anew how to navigate a changing world and their undeniable feelings for one another.

Master List of Chapters

Content/Trigger Warnings for Entire Work (individual chapter posts not labeled): wartime peril, injury, and death (chapters 12-14); pregnancy, birthing trauma, and infant loss (chapters 31-38); sexual assault up to kissing (chapter 19); relationship passion up to making out and heavy petting; sexual relationship alluded to but not described (no smut, sorry) ;)

Word Count: 2.9k (eep!)

34. Opening Up

"We've got a full workup coming in," the nurse said, flipping pages on her clipboard. "Sounds like he was just rescued from some remote mountain. He's been shot, but they say he's alright, although there's a note on here to check his mental faculties. Something about an explosion, head injury... Whoever wrote this made a complete mess of it."

"Not much of the standard protocols left, it seems," Lennox said, shrugging dismissively. "Let's get him in here. Aurelia, can you please prep the diagnostic bed?"

"On it, Doc," came the reply, as Aurelia bumped a nearby cart with her mildly protruding belly. It had been another couple of months, full of the rhythm of work, rest, and the ever-changing spectrum of pregnancy quirks. Thankfully, the lingering first trimester symptoms had mercifully subsided. Her energy had returned, including an extra spark that she hadn't anticipated, and her baby bump had finally started to show. It was still fairly small, but she frequently found herself rubbing it with fondness, smiling as she thought to herself about all that it represented. 

"I told you! I'm fine!" a voice came from the hall, slightly louder than usual, as a flustered nurse ushered in a clone. He looked diminutive, as they all did without their armor, and his unique appearance was even further accentuated by his strikingly sharp features. His cheeks seemed to be more angular than most, and his expressive eyebrows were working overtime to convey his displeasure. Aurelia smirked at the bravado, but the lighthearted observation was immediately replaced by a stabbing pain as her eyes rose to his hair: he had a faded undercut that reminded her of Howzer, though instead of being thick and tousled on top, it was smooth and laid flat against his skull. 

"You alright?" Lennox asked, appearing at her side. He seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to her, and she could never quite decide if it was helpful or annoying. 

"Yeah, sorry. Just distracted," she flubbed, turning away to continue entering the protocol on the diagnostic bed. 

"Thank you, nurse," Lennox said kindly, turning to face the clone and rising to his full height, standing a good few inches over the head of the newcomer. "Alright, CC-5576 is it?"

"That's my number, sir, but Gregor is my name!" came the answer, and Aurelia tilted her head to inspect him again. He was a standard clone, but his voice had a unique lilt to it that caught her attention. It was hard to describe -- somehow slightly higher in pitch than the others, and as he continued talking, she noticed a periodic squeak on various syllables. She punched in an additional command on the screen for a more thorough vocal cord inspection in addition to the brain scan. 

"Alright, Gregor," Lennox continued evenly. "I understand it's a bother, but we'd like to make sure you're all good to go, and we'll get you back out there in no time. Maybe we can see if we can modify the machine to give you some superpowers while you're in there, eh?" He had a variety of approaches with patients, attempting a variety of humor, discipline, paternal sternness, and gentleness until he found the particular combination that worked for each clone. Aurelia was amazed at his ability to connect with such a wide array of personalities, and she had learned quite a bit in this area during the last four months of working with him. 

"Oh!" Gregor said, "Well now you're talking!" He followed it with a sudden giggle that brought a smile to Aurelia's face without her permission. That was a new one. 

"All you have to do is lie still for a while and we'll do the rest from here, alright Captain?" Lennox said, noting Gregor's title from the clipboard, which seemed to go a long way in increasing the clone's respect for him and led to subsequent cooperation. With a grin, he hopped onto the diagnostic bed with a bit of a wince, moving a hand to his chest where his blaster wounds had been stabilized on the journey to Coruscant. "We'll take care of those as well," Lennox assured him as he flattened himself on the gurney, which slowly slid into a large plastoid tube that whirred to life as the captain disappeared within. 

"Do you know him?" Lennox asked Aurelia as they watched the data screen populate with various readings. 

"Him? No, why?"

"You just had a funny look when you saw him."

"Ah," she said, shrugging dismissively, "My face looks funny sometimes, I guess."

"Why do you keep pushing us all away?" Lennox asked gently, reaching out as if to place a hand on her shoulder but rethinking it last minute, moving it quickly to the side to grab a tissue analyzer that he didn't really need. "Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to comfort you? To share in your thoughts, both the good and the bad? There are wonderful people here, who truly care..." he drifted off for a minute, swallowing hard. "I mean, I'm here for you, but even if you don't want to confide in me, that's fine... I just know the value of having someone that feels like... I don't know... a counterpart of sorts. You know? You don't have to do it all alone." 

There was a wistful tone to his voice, and Aurelia studied his face intently, with a sudden realization that perhaps his friendliness toward her had evolved into more than just decency. A flurry of emotions swirled around at once: self-criticism for not having seen it before, immediate guilt at the thought of letting anyone in other than Howzer, and a yearning for that kind of companionship that she'd been in complete denial about. 

"I have that..." she attempted, voice falling flat. 

Lennox remained silent for a moment, eyes roving the ground as though it would give him guidance. When he looked back up at her, he put forth a small smile and a brisk nod as he returned the tissue analyzer to the counter. "Alright," he said, though he didn't look convinced. He always wanted to respect her boundaries, though it was his very nature to try to help anyone in any kind of pain. But he also realized that it couldn't be forced... All lessons he'd learned over years of both personal and professional experience. "Well, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here, and I know others are too. Alright?"

"Alright," Aurelia answered, meeting his gaze. "I appreciate it, Len. Really, I do... I'll keep it in mind."

"Good girl," he said cheerfully, reaching up to pinch the bottom of her chin playfully, but Aurelia flinched and backed up suddenly in a seemingly disproportionate reaction. "Whoa!" Lennox said, putting both hands in the air in submission, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be out of line...? I apologize..." He watched her closely, confused by her immediate reactivity and the unequivocal look of disgust on her face. He thought they'd reached a comfortable level of closeness and friendship, and he was surprised at the hurt he felt in response to the abhorrence on her face.

"Sorry," Aurelia breathed, though she didn't know why she was apologizing. As she processed it all, and waves of the past washed over her, she shook her head. "It's not you. I just... Please don't ever call me 'good girl', okay?"

"Of course," Lennox said gently, lowering his hands at a snail's pace. 

"I had a boss, back on Ryloth," Aurelia proceeded, the words flying out as though they needed to escape. "He was a slimy, gross, smooth talker who worked for the Empire. I was his assistant, but I was basically supposed to do whatever he wanted. Or so he thought...His name was Moss Gowden..." She shuddered at the thoughts, face contorted. "He was always hitting on me, always whispering nasty stuff... And he used to say 'good girl' under his breath whenever I answered his requests. It made my skin crawl."

The indignation and anger were plain on Lennox's face as he listened, and he clenched his fists at his sides for a second before releasing them and letting out a slow breath. "That must have been awful," he commiserated, leaving space for her to share more if she wished, hoping that she would continue to open up. He felt as though he were diffusing a bomb -- one wrong move and things would never be the same. And he desperately wanted to get it right. 

"It was," Aurelia conceded. "I kept refusing him, trying to keep it professional... So one night he put spice in my food and waited until I could barely stand, then he tried to take advantage of me." Tears swelled in her eyes, and she looked up at the ceiling to try to hold them back. "He probably would have, too, if not for..." she faltered, lost in the splintered memory of Howzer's rescue. Lennox knew better than to inquire any further, and instead opened his arms slightly to the sides in a nonverbal invitation for comfort and closeness. 

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Aurelia gave in. It had felt like ages since she'd been held, and she'd felt so alone, as though she'd been ripped in half. In that moment, she felt like a child, lost and scared, longing someone to simply take care of her when she'd been working so hard to take care of herself. She stepped forward, allowing Lennox to wrap her in a gentle hug, her own arms hanging awkwardly at her sides. He was significantly taller than her, and the small indent where his ribcage split apart made a perfect place for her to hide her face. 

Tears stole silently down her cheeks, wetting the front of his white uniform, and he lifted a hand to peaceably stroke the top of her head. He felt as though his heart were exploding in his chest. He didn't know how he'd come to be so fond of her, but she was brilliant and witty, strong and resilient, and had piqued his interest within the first few weeks of her arrival. He sympathized for her situation even though she didn't want him to, and he felt a strong desire to lighten her burdens. He'd caught a few glimpses of her humor, as well as brief flashes of curiosity, wonder, and delight that had warmed him to the core. She carried so much, and yet kept everyone at an arm's length even within the congenial friendships she enjoyed. Her heart seemed to be set on another, even though she didn't appear to hold much hope of his return. How someone could hold that kind of affection along with a stark sense of realism was beyond him, but it only increased his fascination. 

"If not for what?" came a squeaky voice from inside the diagnostic bed. Aurelia sprang back, surprised by the unexpected third party. 

"I thought they couldn't hear anything in there!" she hissed, wiping her eyes quickly. 

"They usually can't," Lennox grumbled, leaning down to speak loudly into the tube. "You have to stay still please, Captain. Even speaking could cause it to miss some of the micro details. Plus... this conversation is not for you, my friend." There was a slight edge of correction to his voice, though it remained affable overall. 

"Sorry!" was the singsong reply, "Just getting bored in here!"

Aurelia couldn't help but smile. The interruption was a welcome one, if she was honest. The consolation of Lennox's embrace had made her feel as ashamed as she felt gratified, and she'd been wrestling with a multitude of thoughts about it the entire time, which had felt like forever even though it was mere seconds. She appreciated the support, but it still felt wrong. She closed her eyes for a moment, envisioning the lazy evenings she'd spent wrapped up with Howzer on the couch, listening to his heartbeat and his husky voice, enveloped in perfect contentment and comfort. It felt like a lifetime ago, and the bittersweet reminiscence gave her a steadying sense of focus. She'd do everything she could to find him... whether he was dead or alive. The last thought made her stomach turn, and she opened her eyes, shaking her head briskly as if to chase the thoughts away. 

"It's about finished anyway," she said, distracting herself with the data panel. At a nod from Lennox, she tapped the screen and the machine's loud whirring slowed to a quiet buzz as the gurney slid out slowly, freeing Captain Gregor from the tube. He sat up, rubbing the back of his head and looking sheepishly back and forth between them.

"Sorry if I was eavesdropping," he said, "I didn't have much else to do..."

"It's alright," Aurelia answered, "I shouldn't be discussing that kind of stuff at work anyway."

Lennox tilted his head as if to say something, but he was cut off by an oblivious Gregor, "Eh, it's as good a place as any. Besides, he seems like a good one." He jabbed a thumb toward Lennox, who had apparently earned his complete approval in the short time they'd been acquainted.

"Thank you, Captain," Lennox said uneasily, slightly flustered in an endearing sort of way. "If we could get back to matters at hand, however..." He skimmed the datapad, tapping various points to enlarge the detail. "The blaster wound is healing well, and we'll cover it with a fresh bacta patch on your way out. That should finish the job. It says in your file that you survived an explosion on Abafar..."

"Karking right I did!" 

"Yes..." Lennox proceeded, smirking fondly at the enthusiasm. "Well, the lasting effects seem to be fairly minimal. Your motor skills are virtually uninhibited, and your brain function is surprisingly good, considering the trauma it received. I am seeing some damage, however, in the thalamus, as well as the hippocampal formations in your temporal lobe... There are also some rather permanent-looking lesions on the dorsal laryngeal motor cortex... "

"Whoa there, heh, can I get that in Basic, please?" Gregor lilted, looking to Aurelia for translation, who found his unfettered charisma a welcome respite from her troubling thoughts. 

"These areas in your brain are connected to memory, so you may suffer bouts of amnesia or mood swings," she began, interrupted once again. 

"I barely knew who I was before the explosion!" the commando interjected, "Some little bug man and his droid squad filled me in. So no surprise there!"

"You will likely have similar periods in the future, so finding a good support system and creating structures to remind yourself of things when it does happen would be a wise precaution," Aurelia suggested, "And the lesions are on the part of your brain that controls various elements of your vocal cords, including the pitch and cadence of your speech."

"Well noooo kidding..." Gregor marveled in mock surprise. "So I'm Captain Squeak from now on then, eh?" he chuckled as though it were an involuntary reaction. "Ah well. And what about my superpowers?"

Lennox smiled, patting the clone on the shoulder and inviting him to stand. "Your superpower seems to be that you are as difficult to kill as a spider-roach, my friend. You'll be a great asset to Captain Rex's team, should you choose to pursue that option."

"I'll take that as a compliment?" Gregor said, rubbing the back of his neck thoughtfully as he shifted his weight from one foot to another. A disembodied voice came from the small comlink near the door -- the nurse informing the doctor of his attention required in another room. 

"Absolutely," Lennox answered, "Aurelia will get your chest mended with a new bacta patch, and you'll be on your way." He gave an appreciative wave as he exited, leaving the two of them staring at each other. 

"Would you prefer to stand?" Aurelia asked, tearing open a fresh patch and removing the protective strips from its adhesive. 

"Yes ma'am!" Gregor chirped, puffing out his chest with a smile. 

"We need to remove the top of your blacks, please."

"Ohhh, getting frisky now, are we?" His teasing was clearly harmless, and it brought Aurelia a fond memory of Pivot's innocuous advances at 79s. She found a genuine smile on her face once again; this clone was an undeniable ray of sunshine in seemingly any situation, and she was honestly grateful for it. "Juuust kidding," he giggled as he pulled his turtleneck over his head, revealing a surprisingly gnarly chest wound that was covered with fairly shoddy work. The scorched flesh peeked out from around the edges of the wrinkled and faded bacta patch, and Gregor's grin turned into more of a grimace as she removed it as tenderly as she could. 

"Sorry," she murmured, focusing intently on her work.

"You don't have to take it out on me," he muttered in return, hands gripping the edges of the diagnostic bed behind him. The patch was quickly freed from its enmeshment with his skin and hair, and Aurelia moved quickly to apply a soothing bacta spray, earning a deep sigh of relief from the commando. Her nurturing spirit warmed at the sight, and she felt a new sense of affirmation herself, inexplicably, some random inkling that perhaps things were going to be alright.

"By the way," Gregor said, bringing her awareness back to the present, "You should take it easy on that doc. He seems like an upstanding guy, and obviously cares a lot about you. Hard to come by good people these days, you know?" He waggled his eyebrows so suggestively that Aurelia's surprise was overshadowed by the levity of his expression, and she shook her head with a smile, fitting the fresh, large bacta patch across the side of his chest. 

"You're a fun one, Gregor."

Feel free to tag a friend who loves Howzer or comment to be added to the tag list! <3

@mary-on-the-contrary @doublesunsets @523rdrebel

#the bad batch #the bad batch fanart #star wars fanfiction #bad batch #star wars the bad batch #the bad batch fanfiction #commander howzer #clone trooper howzer #captain howzer #tbb howzer #howzer #the bad batch howzer #howzer x oc

[gilmoregirlsbestmoments]

S.7:E.11 - "Santa's Secret Stuff"

I've watched "Gilmore Girls" countless times, but recently, finishing an episode on the same day I start it has become quite challenging. It took me three days to complete this particular episode, and only now do I feel like I've truly understood its ending.

Spoilers for 7th season

I've always thought it bears resemblance to the movie "It's A Wonderful Life." I'm not entirely sure why; perhaps it's because it's a Christmas episode, and many Christmas-related movies and specials draw inspiration from "It's A Wonderful Life." However, the ending is not the focus of attention of this comparison.

In the beginning of the episode, Lorelai tells Rory that she "Grinched" it up so much that she didn't let it snow. We all know that snow holds special symbolism for Lorelai. It snowed when she was sick, blanketing the world in a white quilt, which she considered the universe's small gift to her—a reassurance that everything would be okay. Snow fell when she went into labor, when Rory took her first steps, and played a role in sparking her relationship with Max Medina, whose car broke down in a snowstorm. Snow and Lorelai share a unique bond, evident even to Luke, a cynic, when Lorelai and Snow faced a rough patch, and he did his best to reconcile them. He understands how profoundly important snow is to Lorelai.

In this episode, Luke approaches Lorelai seeking her assistance in writing a character reference, a request she initially accepts but struggles to fulfill. Despite constant reminders from others that her difficulty stems from lingering feelings for Luke – emotions that don't simply vanish – she remains dismissive of such claims. However, as she eventually finds the right words, her character reference becomes infused with emotion as she reflects on Luke's kindness and unwavering support for both her and Rory.

For her, snow in that moment signifies letting go of something important, which is necessary to release. It also serves as a symbol of having done something commendable, approved by the universe. In this context, the snow acts as a supportive companion, offering encouragement as she sends out this letter.

#gilmore girls #gilmoregirls #lorelai gilmore #gilmore girls best moments #bestgilmoregirlsmoments #best gilmore girls moments #rory gilmore #gilmore girls quotes #luke and lorelai #luke danes #luke x lorelai #lorelei and luke

[razzmatazz-2994]

ToTK (minor spoilers, only early-game. I won’t spoil much for the story after the first area, but I will mention some locations and characters, though only a few. But I MUST express my gratitude and appreciation for this wonderful work of art online).

You’ve been warned. Continue at your own risk. (I haven’t even finished the game’s story so I can’t possibly spoil any of that).

Anyway, I’m absolutely blown away by the sheer scope of this game already. Like, not only are there the sky islands, but the Depths?? They didn’t mention this ONCE before the game released, as far as I can tell, and I loved how it caught me completely off guard!! That area is petrifying, and trying to navigate a pitch-black void with only a handful of lights, pins, and whatever machine you can cobble together is so much fun, that’s been one of my favorite areas of the game already and I’ve barely scratched the surface. And the Frox jump scared me so bad, I leapt into a pit and it just SOARED and ate me in a single bite…

Also, the return of the Yiga Clan throughout the land is everything I hoped for. They don’t ambush anymore along the roads, which I appreciate, but they still set all sorts of traps for Link and have secret bases all over the map. There was one location in particular I visited, which I won’t say the name of here, that had me both sentimental and laughing hysterically. And another few that were completely different than how I imagined them in the best way possible.

Next, I’ve absolutely adored seeing the characters. Both returning characters from BoTW and new additions, they’re all wonderful and just as real in this game as they did in BoTW, not to mention that I think the character designs and dialogue is even better. It was so fun running into people I recognized from the first game and having them recognize me in turn. And seeing how different areas have changed after the Upheaval is equally jaw-dropping.

Speaking of jaw-dropping, I’m loving what I’m seeing of the story so far. It feels much more satisfying than BotW’s memories did, and feels like it carries more emotional weight (even though I did like the BoTW memories). They just seem much more substantial, I love it. And Zelda’s new design is killer, absolutely my favorite look Zelda has ever had. SSBU Zelda is a close second. And Link’s new outfits, or those I’ve found so far, are so unique and different! They’re a completely new style, and as something of a Hyrulean fashionista, I can’t get enough of it. The amount of time and money I’m gonna spend in the dye shop will be astronomical, especially with the new paragliding feature.

But, by far, my favorite part so far is diving and gliding around the sky islands. It just feels and looks oh so cool. And devising a Totally Trustworthy Contraption to navigate is really fun. Ascend and Ultrahand have so much potential, I can’t wait to make some wacky devices. And fusing weapons is exactly the spark that BoTW’s weapon durability system was missing, it feels immensely rewarding to kill a strong monster and use its horn to take down the next foe, or create a club to break ore and rock, or a long spear to poke Like Like’s from a safe distance. There’s just so much to do in this world, and I am fully immersed.

Anyway, that’s all from me. I hope nothing I wrote was too much for you, and I sincerely apologize if I mentioned something you didn’t want to hear about. But I put out a warning to the best of my ability.

To any of the team who worked on ToTK, I hope some of you see this. You did an amazing job and your hard work absolutely shows in the finished product, it’s immaculate to a BotW fan such as myself.

DLC when?? DLC when?? I have pockets that are not, as of yet, drained of cash.

#the legend of zelda #legend of zelda #link #tears of the kingdom #zelda #totk link #ganondorf #calamity ganon #good music #breath of the wild #loz botw #botw ganon #botw mipha #botw link #botw yiga #botw #botw2 #totk #loz purah #totk purah #totk thoughts #holy yes I am so hyped

[vespersposts]

Hi V! Hope you don't mind my joining your little event but I was needing some cute was from my blonde angel and I would like to suggest maybe a soft scenario with kise involving a coffe date early in the morning after his training, all to make sure he doesn't get back to his apartment until he is with you so you both can cook gingerbread cookies, drink chocolate and dance to christmas carols while decorating your shared home for Christmas.

Hope you like the idea baby 😘 no need to publish this if you don't want to and you prefer to just write down the post. I was just giving you and idea for our fav blonde angel. Love you lots! 🥰

Mer, (@storyhuntress13)

Merry Christmas and season's holidays my love 💗

I am very happy with the directions you gave me for that angel Ryota's Christmas story, really hope it won't disappoint! 👼

✨You know how special you are to me and I thank you again for coming into my life! Staying on topic, I could say that you are the best gift one could wish for, but I already know that twinnie will claim his share (i.e. all of you) ! ✨

A very big hug, V.

PS: he gets 2 gifts cause he's a gemini like me!

🎄 Masterlist

The golden ribbon

You smile when you feel his golden eyes rest on you, his lips silently speak your name, as if your presence was something magical. You see him straighten his back, move the sweat-soaked hair from his forehead and instinctively take a few steps towards you, but coach Kagetora's stern voice calls him back to his training duty.

"Best time to ask him a favour, he's completely wasted! Hi shortie!" Aomine comments, raising his hand in greeting, triggering the interest of the entire team, who don't spare any glances, smile and cheer in your direction. "Eyes off my girl, you bunch of animals!" you hear Ryota snort, before you intercept his gaze and see him blow a kiss in your direction under the resigned gaze of the coach. 

"My girl'.

Two simple words, which always leave you a little amazed, because you know he says them wholeheartedly ,but also with all the serenity of someone who has gladly taken a commitment.

And yet, you see the effect his presence has on people: from the girl who doesn't blink on the metro to stare at him, to the barista who offers him an extra treat just to see him smile, from the lady of the grocery store, to the schoolgirls who take dozens of photos of him during games to flood social media with thirsty comments.

Then there's you, who wakes up every day to his kisses, to his sweet provocations, to the millions of tiny attentions he lavishes on you.

You, who would like to shout to the world how cute he is when the milk froth from his cappuccino stops on his upper lip, or how your senses go on fire when he causally rests his big hand on your knee, chatting with you. Small moments in time, sparks of ordinary but unique days: just like now , sitting next to each other at the cute café a few blocks from your flat.

You, who are surprised when he pops the question.

"What are you planning, babydoll?" he smiles, casting a mischievous glance at you. "Plans? None in particular!" you try to downplay, resisting the temptation to spill the tea,now that he's getting dangerously close, leaving a kiss on your temple, dropping his head on your shoulder and sighing.

"I want to go home and do something. In fact, I want to go home and do lots of things. Lots of naughty things!" he murmurs, pressing his lips to your neck, gently sliding his hand down your thigh, making it complicated for you to sustain your mysterious secret, when it threatens to make you sigh in public.

"Christmas ornaments! I want to decorate the house with you, okay?" you exclaim receiving a puzzled look back.

"I know it's silly and corny but..." you stop, surprised by his light chuckle. "Christmas decorations... Is that your big secret?" he asks laughing openly, covering his face with his hands under your irked gaze "You are the cutest, I swear. I'm sorry... Don't look at me like that, sweet one. I'll turn our house into Santa's village to make it up to you!" he promises, briefly joining his lips to yours, intertwining fingers and dragging you out of the cafe to hold you close, letting go only to close the front door behind you.

Ryota is one to keep his word, even too much so. While you are busy choosing a suitable playlist, he is ready to cover your pretty dress with an apron, energised by your idea of trying to make gingerbread cookies for the first time.

It doesn't matter if you don't have the moulds or if the dough is left to itself,over and over, because you are so much more pleasant to handle. It certainly doesnt matter, if your hair turns white from the powdered sugar, exploding into a sweet cloud, as he tries to open it with a sexy move. The most important thing is to stand close together, ideally close to each other, and kiss, kiss a lot, kiss to celebrate every single minute together as if your lives depended on the union of your lips.

That is, until you interrupt his plans, by pointing out to Ryota, that the big tree in your dining room had been waiting patiently for days to be festively dressed. "We'll do it later, now let's be naughty!" you hear him murmur, his lips curled into a delicious pout and his hands unwilling to leave your skin. You caress his handsome face and he smiles at you again. He sighs, asks you for a couple more kisses and then, seemingly tempted by the promise of hot chocolate too, resigns himself to retrieve from the mantelpiece the decorations you both brought in the middle of summer to that house, dreaming of your first Christmas together.

"Thank you Ryota for pulling on the lights, now I'm happy in my shiny magic kingdom!" you say, lending your voice to a Santa toy  that has buttons for eyes, a sparking red cloth jacket and a wool beard poorly glued on his face .

He smiles, clasping your hand over his, explaining that he himself had built that puppet in his kindergarten years.

"It's kind of ugly, but I was so proud of it! Every year I used to force my father to put it on top, next to the star, and my sisters would go crazy!" he explains "This friend grew up with me, so ... We should build him a Lady-Claus so he can live happily too! That would be a great story to tell our children on Christmas Eve!" he concludes, looking with a hint of concern at your teary eyes, hugging you tightly and trembling a little, feeling his heart beat faster as he realizes that yours are tears of joy.

"Don't cry, we still have cookies to cry over!" he jokes, staring into your eyes, getting emotional in turn when he hears his favourite words coming from your lips.

"I love you so much, Ryota" .

What you feel next is the warmth, the sweetness, the sensual language with which each time your blond angel can let you know how much he wants you. His kiss is as romantic as it is passionate, as slow as it is impatient, in a swing of contrasts that makes you languish when his lips part from yours to address those words to you.

"Santa Claus won't mind if we put him and the star on top and do all those things we'll never tell our children about!" he whispers in your ear, effortlessly lifting you up, enjoying the sight of your pretty, flushed face, undoing the knot in your apron and letting it fall to the floor.

"I dont' wanna a lot for Xmas..." you hear him hum. His hands pull you to him, his eyes sparkle, his deep, sultry voice makes you escape a laugh. He asks the dot app for help, specifying that he has  memorised the whole song, but he wants you to dance slowly to the sound of the original melody, your favourite one. That's how, word after word, you get to "All I want for Xmas is you" and to the switch, which he caresses with the touch of his fingers, looking into your eyes, shutting down the lights, making you squirm deep inside.

That's how you begin your Xmas celebration.

#v's xmas #v's xmas special #knb xmas #knb kise #ryouta kise #kise ryouta #the basketball which kuroko plays #kise x reader #kise x you #mymer #also R's Mer #but

[maxwell-grant]

 🎶✨ When you get this u have to put 5 songs u actually listen to, publish. Then, send this ask/tag 10 of your favourite followers ✨🎶

tagged by @artbyblastweave. Thanks! Well now I have to curate my playlists for this so I don’t look like some kind of dweeb plugged into videogame music and Youtube instrumental-only recs 24/7, what would the neighbors say?

Rejoice by Devin Townsend

I’ve been paying more attention to the rest of Townsend’s discography and I’ve been really loving it, been listening to Z² a bit lately and I’m highlighting Rejoice in particular. I got a new job recently, and it’s a really good job, I really really need the money, but it also takes 2-3 hours of subway/bus surfing to get to, which involves a lot of walking, which I usually enjoy doing except I'm usually racing on a schedule, and ever since I twisted my ankle a couple years ago I’ve been dealing with chronic pain that's gotten so much fucking worse since I took this job, feels like daggers stuck in both of my feet all day, so that part of the chorus that goes “IT HURTS, SO MUCH” tends to be pretty cathartic to listen to in the ride. Because yeah, it fucking hurts Mr Ziltoid, thank you for screaming that with a cool backing track, limping home feels way less shitty with cool music as added fuel.

-O U T - O F - I D E A S - by Dankmus

Good YTPMVs just scratch an itch nothing else does. Generally the better YTPMVs come from sickos who painstakingly sample and edit every little scrap of sound the source material gives them, like iteachvader who goes through the most batshit lengths to cannibalize ASotH into a uniquely consistent musical soundboard, but Dankmus is closer to those that use the source as added spice for a whole new instrumentation, which is usually less fun, but he’s doing on such an absurd level of quality. He makes the most hypnotically catchy music with Simpsons meme soundbits intertwined inseparably and it works so marvelously. The vocals and synth of this one in particular get stuck in my head a lot.

Iron Horse / No Man’s Land by Mean Mary, couldn’t pick one

Stumbled onto these by sheer accident looking for songs to match WIP-specific keywords. Banjos tend to be associated so frequently as a comedy instrument but every now and then something like this knocks you over with sheer skill and mood alone. Really love her voice and enunciation, her songs are wonderful instrumentals even without it but her voice is so great, so full of character, so dramatic. She’s very quickly become one of my favorite vocalists to listen to.

Confessions Part II (feat Colin Stetson) by BADBADNOTGOOD

Some of the punchier tracks of BBNG are music for when you need to absolutely and completely need to get your brain hotwired enough to willpower through sewage. They play the soundtracks that manifest when you need to groove while your eyeballs are twiching and sparks fly off your temples and your hands grip the desk and the work is just not gonna fucking end anytime soon but you’re not quitting now, and then when the saxophones start blaring nonstop it’s like they’re screaming and roaring and raving the way you wish you could do right now, and then they hit you with a nice spitzy beat that makes it a little easier to put up with the next minutes or so (is spitzy even a term? Probably not, but it feels right for them), and the music dips into one layered intensity after another and then it grabs your head and shakes it loose and makes it feel like any second now your spine is gonna spring out of your neck like a snake nut can and somehow, it feels like that would be a nice thing to happen that might even fix your back and hey, I feel better now.

Boi Luzeiro por Cordel do Fogo Encantado

Putting links to both the audio as well as a live performance, audio quality’s different but watching the performers go wild on drums and one vocalist taking center shmooving with a pandero at hand is indispensable (to not spoil the ending as well). I’ve been trying lately to branch out tastes and listen to more Brazilian music and I really enjoy northeastern Brazil styles, feels like rediscovering something I always liked and never really had any reason to not listen to more. Not sure it translates too well into English but I really love the song’s concept and lyrics, love the cordel theme the band uses, love the drums and beat ramping up intensity, love the vocals, love the progression, VEM TACAR FOGO NO MUNDO, EI HEI-EI HEI - QUANDO O DIA NASCER E MORRER, EI HEI-EI HEI, QUANDO O DIA NASCER E MORREEEER. Maracatu music just hits differently and I’ve been missing out big time.

tagging @krinsbez, @jcogginsa, @deathchrist2000, @zoanzon, @mirrorfalls, @irregularjohnnywiggins, @about-faces, @totallynotagentphilcoulson, @khancrackers, @thedeathalchemist

#ask game #music #music tag

[bonesandthebees]

Honey and tangerines!! The beach town setting is so beautiful, and the visuals in my head are making me want to sketch this.

The descriptive phrases like "passenger in his own mind" and "giant machine that ebbed and flowed" which are sprinkled all throughout the chapter are so beautiful! I absolutely live for connections and metaphors and these were such a delight to read. I love your writing.

Tommy's awkwardness around Phil was so understandable and, sort of natural in it's depiction? You really nailed the feeling, and even other things such as the atmosphere around Wilbur being off but also not quite completely bad, and the odd feeling Tommy has around everyone of liking them but not quite feeling at home.

Can we talk about the beach description? Yes. Literally beautiful.

Puffy!! Tommy once again chooses to work in an establishment run by Puffy and we're here for it. Your writing of her character is so pleasing, the reasonable yet understanding vibe is so sweet. I can't wait to see how that goes.

And of course, Tubbo! The chaotic feels their duo has was there right from the start. I mean, a fireball thrower? I'm instantly sold hahah

The vibe of this fic feels so, calm and chill in a way that most slice of life settings do, and it's really nice to see that after high stakes settings such as stars! I do like your rendition of this as well, and the natural feel of it all is so pleasant. Thank you for the chapter!!

What made you come up with this particular beach town setting, and what inspired you to write this? I'm so curious because it's rather different from your usual fics but it's still so fun to read. <3<3

Hugs and cookies, hope you have a good day :D

- ❄️

aa thank you for the kind words snowflake!! i love using fun metaphors like that in my writing and i'm trying to do more of that because it's still not a method i'm super used to, so i'm glad you like those lines :)

very glad i got the awkward atmosphere across. it's not fear necessarily, but more just that tense anxiety. this place is nice, but he's still new and out of place and it's just making things a bit strange. he just needs time to adjust!

i love writing puffy as just this very understanding and kind boss, plus I thought of the mcpuffy's reference and thought it was too fun not to include. and yes tubbo is very chaotic as always, i've missed clingyduo they're so good

well, I came up with the beach town setting mostly because I live in a beach town. I'm a southern california native, and while I didn't grow up in a beach town, I've been living near the coast for most of my adult years so far so it's an atmosphere I'm quite familiar with at this point. I thought just a sleepy small beach town really fit the vibes and aesthetic I wanted to have with this fic, and so far i'm really enjoying writing it!

the initial concept for this fic popped in my head when I had a very out of the blue realization that my ex-stepbrother, who I haven't seen in over a decade, is the same age as cc!wilbur. idk what sparked that realization, it occurred to me and then that got me thinking about my ex-stepbrother again, and the few attempts we made to reconnect which never really lead anywhere. then I started thinking, 'man, that's a unique dynamic I haven't seen written in a crimeboys fic before' so I started brainstorming the idea into a story lol.

I've also been wanting to write a fic that feels like a coming of age style indie movie with a lot of calm slice of life vibes for ages now because I love that genre, and my fic vanderlyle crybaby cry was my first attempt at that, but it ended up being far more serious than I originally intended it to be. I'm still really proud of the end product, but it's not what I initially set out to do. the similarities between honey and vanderlyle though is that there's a lot of projection of my irl experiences onto the story itself, but heavily exaggerated to create a more compelling story and to differentiate it from myself. like vanderlyle!wilbur's struggles were based off my own crisis with uni i had in my junior year, but my mental health at that point in my life didn't get as bad as wilbur's is depicted in the fic. for honey, while I like the idea of reconnecting with my ex-stepbrother, I don't have a super strong desire to do that. also, I don't hold any resentment towards my ex-stepfather and never wished he stayed with my mother, unlike honey!tommy who definitely has some unresolved issues regarding phil.

so basically my inspo was a combination of projection and wanting to write a coming of age indie slice of life fic lmao

#sorry for how long this got lol #long post #snowflake anon #ask #honey and tangerines

[denimbex1986]

'*****

Over the last decade in particular, the evolution of queer dramas has been monumental to behold. With an over abundance of important stories finally being told, it becomes increasingly commonplace for the truly great ones to somehow slip through the cracks. This year alone, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and Of An Age both debuted to minimal fanfare when they deserved so much more. Perhaps a film this bold in its messaging can break through to the mainstream—or at least the awards circuit—in a major way. Writer/director Andrew Haigh delicately hand-crafts the year’s most devastating, moving film in haunting ghost story, All of Us Strangers. Its deeply personal exploration of connection, guilt, parenthood, misspent youth, queer identity, and relationship dynamics are executed with the delicate touch of a master storyteller. Keeping a tale that overflows with magical realism this grounded, emphasizing the gentle embrace of a simple touch, could not have been easy. For those who have lost a parent, All of Us Strangers threatens to reopen old wounds while presenting a unique viewpoint about overcoming loss.

It all begins with the simple focus on a near-empty apartment building. A sense of seclusion leaps out as the camera explores a mostly-empty refrigerator containing leftover Chinese food, and an emphasis on the seclusion of this sleek abode. Adam (Andrew Scott, Fleabag, 1917) lazes about, attempting to write, when an alarm goes off. He goes outside, and that is when he discovers only one other soul resides inside. The man waves out to Adam from up on the sixth floor. Later that night, he knocks on Adam’s door in a friendly, horny gesture of goodwill. Introducing himself as Harry (Paul Mescal, Aftersun, Normal People), the piercing blue eyes stare back at Adam with a seductive allure. Harry, wielding a bottle of alcohol, offers it up, along with “whatever else you might want.” Despite the intimacy of their handshake and obvious looks of desire shared between them, Adam does not let Harry inside.

Even in this early scene, the chemistry between Mescal and Scott teases the possibilities in their connection. Their shared situational isolation manifests in different ways, with the inevitability of their connection always looming. Both Harry and Adam are flawed characters, which only serves to make them feel more real. To be completely honest, as much as I adore Paul Mescal’s acting prowess, I found it difficult to connect with his critically-acclaimed films Aftersun and Carmen. It was not until Mescal’s vulnerable performance here that his ballooning talent finally sparked a perfect match. In a movie overflowing with phenomenal performances, Mescal’s is one of the very best. All of Us Strangers bottles the isolation and loneliness of its central character, weaving in subtle foreshadowing and mesmerizing imagery. Adam Scott’s performance of a lifetime deserves every bit of awards attention and acclaim.

As a potential love story blossoms in their gloomy London apartments, Adam, a burgeoning film and television screenwriter revisits his past, both literally and figuratively. He pulls a few mementos out of a box to reminisce, then takes a train to visit his childhood home. Adam lost both his parents when he only twelve in a deadly car crash, a vital fact that he later discloses to Harry. Adam soaks up the quietness of a nearby field; as if summoned there, his father (Jamie Bell, Billy Elliot, Rocketman) materializes, and Adam follows the man back home. Visiting with his parents when he is now actually physically older than them does not seem logical, and yet, appears every bit as natural as meeting old friends. Adam begins going back time and time again, eventually comfortable enough to expose revelations about his own identity to parents whose worldviews still exist firmly rooted in 80s norms. Haigh’s film wastes no time spoon-feeding the audience, nor stopping in its tracks to explain the magical elements of Adam’s trips down memory lane.

In delving deep into the visitations with his parents, All of Us Strangers opens up a whole new layer of existential drama. Losing the ones you love is absolutely never easy, and when it is a parent, the pain becomes nearly too much to bear. Adam lost both parents in one fell swoop, and has obviously held on to so many things he was never able to discuss with them for decades. The juxtaposition between aged photographs of young Adam with the new memories he makes as an adult in their home adds a strange level of symmetry. Adam, forced to contemplate the past behaviors of his parents, learns how to embrace their imperfections, too. In one of the film’s most heart-wrenching sequences, Adam pours out his soul to Mum (Claire Foy, The Crown, First Man) as he seeks comfort in between Mum and Dad on their bed. Both parents are presented as loving in their own ways, perfectly imperfect. Even as Haigh makes strides towards implying this cannot last forever, the therapeutic beauty in Adam’s parental exchanges feel wonderfully specific.

Apart from a powerful ending that completely recontextualizes the entire film, the grounded intimacy of All of Us Strangers practically catapults off the screen. Sex scenes and dramatic moments are filmed in drastic closeup, emphasizing each actor’s features, along with the power of suggestion. The squeezing of thighs, the passionate embraces, and the tightness of wrapping hands on hands reminds us of the tenderness of the human connection. This is one gorgeous gay drama presented in a way we have not seen before, loosely based on the book by Taichi Yamada. Closing one’s film with Frankie Goes to Hollywood classic “The Power of Love” is a bold move, but in a movie this aching with sentiment, it adds a whole new layer of decadent, rich subtext. The lushness of the cinematography manages to depict the nightmarish and the beautiful in equal measure. Whether one is here for the textured romance or the enrapturing complications of parental relationships, All of Us Strangers will leave them satiated through its tragic, unforgettable ghostly tale. Call your parents more—knowing when will be the last time is a rarely granted luxury.'

#All of Us Strangers #Andrew Scott #Paul Mescal #Fleabag #Claire Foy #Jamie Bell #Andrew Haigh #1917 #Normal People #Aftersun #Carmen #Billy Elliot #Rocketman #The Crown #First Man #Frankie Goes to Hollywood #The Power of Love #Taichi Yamada

[ecsundance]

As We Speak: The Cruelty of Censorship

I have never been a huge fan of documentaries as I tend to find them a bit slow paced and jam packed with way too much information that I won’t be able to fully process until I read up on an article written about it. However, I have seen so many documentaries at this year’s Sundance Film Festival that my opinion on them has slowly started to shift. As We Speak, directed by J.M. Harper, was an absolutely game changer for me and whilst the theme of the film is something beyond interesting, I believe what truly sparked my interest was Harper’s unique and innovative style of documentary. The film follows Kemba, an up and coming rapper from the Bronx, and his journey in trying to find out why the rap genre and its lyrics is being criminalized on a global level. We watch as he travels to different cities across the country and even gets the opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom to see how drill music artists are being closely watched by government officials. As viewers, we are introduced to a handful of different characters who openly share what their experiences have been with this ongoing issue with outlawing song lyrics. 

I found the structure of the documentary to be so unique and unlike anything I had ever seen before. Harper makes sure to include several interviews that cover the basis of information needed, whilst also managing to incorporate narrative elements and archival footage. I felt that the narrative pieces implemented in the film aided so much in the viewer’s experience when it came to processing the information, as well as allowing Harper’s creative expression to flow freely. The cinematography was so insanely beautiful, I felt myself completely captivated by some of the shots while also keeping in mind how heavy the subject being explored was. In my opinion, Harper did an amazing job at putting together a film that discussed the harsh reality of some of these rappers whilst also highlighting the beauty of the genre and the stories of these individuals. 

As I mentioned earlier, the main idea for this documentary is the criminalization of rap lyrics and how they are able to be used in court by prosecutors, even if there is no concrete evidence to pinpoint the accused. A detail I found particularly interesting is the fact that some of these lyrics are completely taken out of context and rearranged in a way that makes the accused seem guilty. It absolutely baffles me how any of this is even legal, especially knowing that the majority of minority groups have different lingo that a person not associated with the culture could not possibly understand. In the film, the use of the phrase “make a killin’” is used, which quite literally translates to “to earn a lot of money in a short time and with little effort”, yet in the case of a particular rapper, it was perceived by the court as him saying that he had an urge to commit murder. It honestly feels so utterly ridiculous to type that out that it is baffling to think that this is an ongoing issue that has been going on for so long. To think that artistic expression can be criminalized, knowing that the first amendment right in the United States depicts the freedom of speech. 

I could honestly write about this subject matter and As We Speak for so much longer, but I think that the film does a way better job at covering the information and showing the truth about what is unfolding within the music industry and the drill music genre in general. J.M. Harper is such an incredible director and storyteller, I would recommend this film to everyone that is unaware of the criminalization of rap lyrics, especially with how little people know about it.

-Manu Delgado

#sundance #indiefilm #sundancefilmfestival #sundance 2024 #independent film

[dedicated-development-team]

The Must-Haves and Game Plan for a Project with Your Dedicated Team 

What is a Project with a Dedicated Team?

A project with dedicated team structure is a dynamic approach to project management that brings together a specialized group of professionals solely focused on a specific project's execution and success. Unlike traditional project management, where team members often juggle multiple responsibilities, a dedicated project team is exclusively allocated to a particular project, allowing for focused expertise and efficient collaboration.

This innovative structure recognizes that certain projects demand a high level of attention, unique skill sets, and cohesive teamwork to achieve desired outcomes. By assembling a dedicated team, organizations can regulate the collective talents of individuals who possess the right expertise and experience for the task at hand.

In this blog, we will delve into the intricacies of a project with dedicated team structure. We'll explore its key benefits, how it differs from traditional project management models, the roles within such teams, and strategies for successful implementation. By understanding the nuances of this approach, businesses can make informed decisions about when and how to leverage dedicated project teams to drive successful project delivery.

Exploring the Benefits of Dedicated Project Teams

Project with Dedicated Teams: Unveiling the Array of Benefits

In the realm of project management, the concept of a project with dedicated teams has gained substantial traction as a powerful strategy for achieving project success. These teams, exclusively assigned to a specific project, offer a host of benefits that can transform the way projects are executed and outcomes are achieved. By delving into the advantages of dedicated project teams, we unravel the layers of enhanced efficiency, expertise, and collaboration that this approach brings to the table.

Focused Expertise and Skill Sets

Dedicated project teams are carefully curated with members possessing the precise expertise and skill sets required for the project's success. This focused alignment ensures that every team member's strengths are channeled toward the project's objectives, resulting in higher-quality deliverables.

In dedicated project teams, communication flows seamlessly, as team members are immersed in the project's details and goals. This enhanced collaboration minimizes miscommunication, accelerates decision-making, and fosters a shared sense of purpose. Traditional project management often involves team members juggling multiple responsibilities. Dedicated project teams provide the luxury of singular focus, freeing team members from distractions and enabling them to channel their energy and time exclusively toward the project's progression.

The synergistic collaboration within dedicated project teams often leads to faster project timelines. With clear roles, streamlined processes, and aligned objectives, tasks are completed more efficiently, resulting in expedited project delivery without compromising quality. In dedicated project teams, accountability is ingrained. Team members feel a heightened sense of ownership over their tasks and the project's overall success. This intrinsic motivation results in higher levels of commitment and accountability throughout the project lifecycle. Dedicated project teams are equipped to swiftly adapt to changes, as they are deeply immersed in the project's nuances. When unexpected challenges arise, the team's cohesiveness and familiarity with the project's intricacies enable rapid problem-solving and decision-making.

Innovative Problem-Solving

The pooling of diverse skills and perspectives within dedicated project teams often sparks innovative problem-solving. Collaborative brainstorming and the cross-pollination of ideas lead to creative solutions that might not have surfaced in less focused environments.

Heightened Employee Satisfaction

Being part of a dedicated project team can be professionally rewarding. Team members have the opportunity to make substantial contributions, see projects through to completion, and showcase their expertise. This can boost morale and job satisfaction, contributing to a positive work environment.

Consistent Project Management

The dedicated approach provides consistency in project management. With the same team members working together throughout the project, there's a continuity of processes, communication methods, and decision-making frameworks.

Dedicated project teams offer a transformative approach that maximizes efficiency, fosters collaboration, and leverages specialized expertise. By capitalizing on these benefits, organizations can elevate their project management practices and achieve outcomes that exceed expectations. As businesses navigate an increasingly complex and competitive landscape, the advantages of dedicated project teams make them a strategy worth exploring for project excellence.

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