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ships-bynoa · 3 years

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The Titans are almost back, bitches. aka 3x06

Guys, literally every time the titans are together-or even paired up-the episode gets ten times better, but in 6 episodes there is simply not enough Kory and Gar. I can easily forget that when I’m basking in the episode they are in, especially when they’re giving us family dynamics.

Kory:

“You’re not mad that I left. You’re mad I came back.” Kory’s face tells us Blackfire is right on the money, and who would know her better than her sister?

So, Kory, oh boy. Our girl is on edge. She is slowly unraveling and is super vulnerable and raw with Kom around and little sister is going to exploit it and her guilt, which I think she’s carrying a lot of. So far their dynamic has been fascinating because there’s so much to read between them and so many accusations being flung back and forth, from both. From Kory; you sense guilt and even contempt and from Kom there’s envy and resentment, but also there’s a sense of idealization for her older sister, too, which of course, with younger siblings, there always is an element of that. And as an older sibling, there is always an unspoken and sometimes spoken responsibility placed on them for their younger siblings. Parents often don’t realize it, but they can create a lot of tension within siblingships by assigning roles.

They remember home and family very differently, which is often the case, too. Kom was often thrown in the pit and to that, Kory attributes her sister’s constant rebellion as the reason, and yet, Kory herself was a bit of a rule breaker, sleeping with her guard, Fiddei.

Kory was being suffocated by the laws and customs of her home planet; one could say she rebelled by going on a mission, to escape her duties. Home did neither of them any favors because while one rebelled because she did not fit in, the one who did fit in was dying inside, surrounded by little robots and becoming one herself. Being told what to eat, wear and who to love or be friends with is yikes.

I was thinking Kom began her game of manipulation in the bunker, but she really started before that when she sent Fiddei to bring Kory home when she probably intended to kill him all along. After all she would’ve castrated him if she’d had the chance to for sleeping with Kory in the first place. Shortly after Fiddei’s death, Kory flamed out. No powers. Emotionally wrung out from the news her family was dead and now the culprit is here. These two know each other very well and know exactly how to get underneath each other’s skin. Right now Kom is getting underneath Kory’s and our girl is losing patience fast.

I’m wondering when exactly Dick will tune into Kory’s anxiety-ridden state and step in to support.

Ultimately, I just want to see what truly happened to the girls on their planet and how we have the versions we have now. Like, Kory said to Rachel, “No one is born good or bad, we are defined by our choices.” I get the feeling Kory has given Kom so many chances to make a different choice and has become disillusioned, meanwhile Kom believes nothing she does will give her the respect she feels she deserves anyway, so she may as well blow shit up, figuratively and literally. At least then she’ll have Kory’s attention.

Gar:

Gar losing it on Dick was so cathartic and yet he could’ve gone much further, considering Dick abandoned him last season to go jail and hallucinate Bruce. It ultimately led to Gar (and Conner) being kidnapped and experimented on by Mercy. It’s actually all the adults fault this happened, but as the leader promoting his family everywhere he goes, he needs to keep his eye on the ball. He would know if he spent five minutes at home with them that Gar is struggling. Last season Gar was #OperationSaveTitans and this season he’s #ThisFamilyIsDying. He’s doing what the adults should be doing, or at least leading the charge on it. He’s the glue, but who will hold him together?

He’s carrying too much emotional responsibility and Dick’s dismissal, because he is fully locked into Gotham and being Batman, makes me mad. Get your head in the game, Grayson. Gotham is going to eat your family while you retread the nostalgic steps of your past.

We all know Dick’s not good at expressing himself emotionally, though he’s usually forced to express something when talking to or being confronted by Kory, so I was proud of him for giving Gar the floor to speak. I just wish Gar spoke about himself, but then again, he needs more time and consistent offers to be heard. I’m happy Dick followed up the conversation up with a bonding/training session. There was definitely pride in Dick’s face because Gar really has come a long way in this group, but he needs MORE SCREEN TIME. I’d like to see the two of them out in the field together the way we’ve seen Kory this season with Gar and Conner.

I wonder if Gar losing control is the start of all his trauma bubbling up to the surface, will being in Gotham, hunting down a friend be too much?

As a side, has the CGI tiger face gotten worse?

Kom (and Conner):

First thing’s first, what music are we thinking Kom listens to? Probably the kind of music she can break your tailbone to, like, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Jay Z, or Prince, Jimmy Hendrix, Stevie Nicks and Led Zeppelin? Rihanna?

Kom is absolutely a villain this season and if she isn’t, what a waste that’ll be. A mastermind at mind games (see, her picking up the chess piece), who is going to drum up Kory’s paranoia and anxiety around her being there. Trying to kill her suspicion by guilt tripping her while simultaneously being a do good-er to the group, feigning interest in helping the Titans to earn her way in, a tip from our boy, Conner.

She says she wants acceptance and I believe that’s absolutely true, but she doesn’t know how to get that without using power, so she’ll continue to covet acceptance through and with power because according to Kory, she’s always been a climber. Add to that, being born the cursed child and the only royal member born without the gift of fire, something that differentiates them from the common folk, being too frail to participate in the same games as Kory, having a speech therapist be her only friend while being the object of ridicule and you have a villain origin story nicely set up.

I really enjoyed Conner and Kom’s exchange. The boy lit up when he spoke about seeing his family happy and it made me light up. He’s so genuine and has a big heart and Kom is going to take advantage of it, that’s not to say she won’t develop real feelings for him, but she can like him and still use him.

Conner’s “you have to earn your way into the family,” is perhaps an internal and personal struggle he has from sharing blood with Luthor. I think it may come from an insecure place because he was made a titan as soon as he woke up and no one questioned it, but as he’s only half of superman, he’s constantly trying to prove his usefulness for good, which losing Hank has rocked, leaving him vulnerable to Kom’s recognition for his otherness. Their otherness.

She gave us insight into her mind, but also she has likely seized an opportunity to use the vulnerability against Conner and to her favor by making him her kindred. Outcasts. Will she gain influence over him? He’s still young and learning, and trusting, too.

Her interest in him felt layered, ignoring the ugly customs of sex servants, she was also observing Kory’s relationships and ranking them in her sister’s life. Her being able to determine who may have Kory’s interest (which Kory gave away with her vulnerable display of worry over Dick’s welfare in front of Kom) will surely come into play at some point, right? After all, Kom did kill Kory’s last lover/royal guard. This may be me projecting. LOL.

Romantically, I’m waiting to see how they play it before I decide if I like it or not, but so far, they have a nice chemistry. Friendly.

Dick (and Barbara) :

What a lovable dumb ass.

I was so happy Kory lost it on him and called him on his lone ranger shit, at least when it’s her, even when he’s being an idiot, he’s still listening. “Let’s go.” and I thought it was hilarious that he tried explaining himself, but when Gar called him out, he got all huffy with, “Excuse me, young man.”

Gar asking Kory not to have words with Barbara over Dick getting shot was so funny because Dick’s face seemed to ask the same when she asked how it happened. We love a protective Kory. I’ll be looking at him when it’s his turn to reciprocate.

I don’t like him dismissing their concerns about his personal safety and how it affects them, it’s like he’s learned nothing after running off alone to battle Trigon, or rather has unlearned his lessons of S2. I’d like to see some more permanent emotional growth from him by this season’s end. In his current state, he’s not an exuding leader. He can’t be when he’s still wrapped up in Bruce and all things Gotham. He’s not tuned into Kory’s anxiety, or Conner’s grief and insecurity, or Gar’s emotional burden.

He’s started making it up to him, but he has much to do in taking Gar’s concerns and emotional needs seriously.

I’m not even going to try and work out the timeline between Barbara and Dick and Dick and old Titans in San Fran and S1. But it doesn’t bode well that Dick’s dream with Barbara ended in a nightmare.

I wish they’d never did the whole Dick and Dawn relationship in S2 because they’re basically repeating some of the beats in showing us how they don’t work as a couple, only his relationship with Babs makes a lot more sense even though I don't care. Dick has unfinished business with that relationship, Bruce and Gotham and I can only hope he’s wrapped it up for good by this season’s end. I want to see relaxed, smiling and happy Dick in THE PRESENT. I still Babs will be the one to notice and point out Dick's feelings for Kory.

Barbara (outside of Dick) is being downplayed a little, no? Dismissing Dick’s suspicions about Jason when he arrived, showing no knowledge of Jason’s visits to Crane and then taking the bait and moving Crane after he got a light beat down. A commissioner who was also a very capable vigilante is tricked by a recording and goes to meet “Bruce” on her own. I really enjoyed that she could hold her own and the fight scene was really good, but it was a bit baffling that she fell for that ruse. So far, she’s not entirely good at her job.

Dick’s a distraction in his own right and her feelings clearly get in the way, which is why she keeps asking him to leave the precinct and Gotham; because she’s pining a fantasy and he’s ruining it. Lastly, I really like the way Savannah plays Barbara.

Why’d they do that to Tim?? :(

Overall, it was a better episode and I enjoyed it more than latter episodes, but they’re not quite there yet for me. I’m still waiting for Team Titans.

#dc titans #kory anders #koriand'r #stafire #gar logan #beast boy #dick grayson #nightwing #conner kent #superboy #noa posts

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demonslayedher · 3 years

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An Attempted Timeline: Kochou Shinobu

Very open to feedback, because canon is as spread out as Muzan after his first date with Sun Breathing. Instead of tracking the year or distance from current timeline, we shall track this by Shinobu’s age (roughly, in most spots). Despite being centered around Shinobu’s life events, I’m also diving into Aoi’s life, the other Pillars’ timelines of life events too, and doing some conjecture about Shinobu’s deceased Tsuguko. Should be obvious, but spoilers ahead.

Childhood: Raised by kind parents who possessed medical knowledge. Sometime around elementary school age (at the oldest, I’d put her at 11, but probably younger), parents are killed by a demon, house is demolished, and she and Kanae are rescued by Himejima (who was maybe around 20 or younger at the time), who hands them off to the Kakushi. After the funeral for their parents, she and Kanae seek out Himejima for training, and after a little time with them he sends them to separate cultivators (according to the light novel chapter “One Winged Butterfly.”) Training under cultivators usually takes about a year. She and Kanae perhaps passed the Final Selection when Shinobu was around 12-ish, give or take. (For setting and comparison’s sake, Kagaya and Amane have long since already been married and Kiriya is already born.) Whether Kanae becomes a Pillar first or they establish the hospital at the Butterfly Mansion first is unclear, but these events happen relatively quickly. I suspect they might have had access to a lot of savings from their parents. Furthermore, this makes Kanae one of the many Pillars in the recent generation who blows that “it usually takes five years to become a Pillar” Taisho Secret away. (As an aside, maybe the reason the Corp as a whole seems to be full of weaklings is because the current Pillars have sucked up all the amazingness, but I digress.)

The Butterfly Mansion’s hospital was established long before Sanemi became a Pillar (according to the light novel chapter “Signpost of the Wind”). Sometime after Kanae becomes a Pillar, Sanemi becomes a Pillar. Giyuu was a Pillar before Sanemi was; the three of them were the same age. My guess is that Shinobu was around 13 when Kanae became a Pillar, putting Kanae and Sanemi around ages 15ish~17 when they would have had chances to interact. For comparison, Giyuu and Sabito were 13 at the time of the Final Selection, so Giyuu would had already been in the Corp longer than Kanae and Shinobu.

The following events either happened very quickly or unfolded over the course of a couple years:

Aoi (likely the the same age as Kanao) comes into their care (she preceded Kanao since she was there for Kanao’s naming, according to Taisho Secrets and second fanbook)*

Kanao (two years younger than Shinobu but much smaller, and given how petite Shinobu is, I can only assume this is because of how malnourished Kanao was) is adopted as their little sister on some May 19 (the anime seems to put the event in winter, but I assume it was already in production before the first fanbook was published with that detail)

Kanao has ample opportunity to observe Kanae’s Flower Breathing and learn by watching

Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho come into the fold (separately or all at once, though not as relatives)

Kanae is killed by Douma (Shinobu is age 14, one of the only pieces of this timeline we can be certain of). As she wished in her dying moments for Shinobu to live a normal life, she may or may not have had Shinobu as her Tsuguko, or had any Tsuguko at all.

Shinobu, age 14, becomes the head of the Butterfly Mansion household, where she already has five adoptive/pseudo younger sisters. At this point she takes on a cheerful personality, as well as probably set her heart on becoming a Pillar as soon as possible and becoming strong enough to defeat the demon that killed Kanae.

*Aoi’s circumstances are important (and curious) because the second fanbook tells us both that she practiced Water Breathing and that she passed the same Final Selection as Muichiro. Since Muichiro became a Pillar two months after taking up the sword, that means he went almost straight from sword to Final Selection to Pillar. We don’t know how much recovery time he needed after losing Yuichiro at age 11, because he wasn’t among the Pillars in the Rengoku Gaiden, so he perhaps only started practicing the sword closer to late 12 or age 13 (putting Aoi around 14, 15-ish when she passed the Final Selection, and presumably quit the sword right after that). It’s interesting to note what a different relationship Aoi has with Shinobu than Kanao does, especially since Aoi was there first but Kanao was adopted as a sister in a more all-encompassing sense. I suspect (and am putting this in italics for conjecture): Due to whatever circumstances with her Water Breath cultivator (possibly difficulty in housing a lone girl among a bunch of male students), Aoi needed to live elsewhere during her training. The Butterfly Mansion was a good spot, so Kanae and Shinobu agreed, like sponsoring a junior, and in exchange Aoi helped out around the house and hospital. Aoi kept her own last name, as she had her own family to avenge. When Kanao came in, it was purely out of wanting to help an orphan who wound up staying with them instead of being adopted out, which is why she was given a family identity and an opportunity to take the Kochou name if she wanted to (or even Aoi’s family name). They were probably treated differently because of the nature of how they came in and an assumption that Aoi would leave as soon as she entered the Corp. As Kiyo, Naho, and Sumi came in, it was a weird middle ground of whether they were just looked after until something better for them came along or if they were adopted as sisters as fully as Kanao was. Ultimately, they still retained a lot of their identities from before they were orphaned, and it was more of a pseudo-sisterhood, which Aoi had sort of fallen into as well. But, once Aoi entered the Corp and then quit the sword, she probably didn’t feel she could turn to her cultivator for any help, so at that point Shinobu took more full responsibility for her as a permanent household member.

Moving back on to Shinobu’s timeline, if I’m remembering the Giyuu Gaiden correctly (it’s been a while since I read it so I don’t recall exactly), that story took place shortly after Giyuu sent Tanjiro and Nezuko to Urokodaki, and it was also shortly after Shinobu became a Pillar. Since Tanjiro took two years to train after that, that would put her at age 16. Since Kanao joined the Corp in the same batch as Tanjiro, that means Shinobu would have had about two years between becoming a Pillar and taking Kanao as her official Tsuguko (I stress ‘official’ because it comes with distinction Tengen respects, it’s not casual “sure, I’ll look after you” thing). In that time, she had (at least) three other previous Tsuguko, all girls given butterfly hairpins, and who were all killed by demons in that two year period.

Conjecture about Shinobu and these Tsuguko:

Knowing how likely she is to be killed before she has an opportunity to avenge Kanae, Shinobu was likely in a hurry to train a Tsuguko and started trying to pass her knowledge on right away. It’s possible they were even closer in age to her than Kanao, maybe even older, and quite possibly physically stronger. It’s possible they were trained under Flower Breathing cultivators and still used that Breath, which would have given Kanao opportunities to learn by watching. That said, Shinobu doesn’t mention or think back to her Tsuguko often, and they never appear in Kanao’s flashbacks, though their deaths are some of the little pieces that strengthen her resolve to slay demons (she seems to care more about how her pseudo-sisters’ families were killed by them). My guess is that Shinobu made a clear divide between family and work, so as to protect the little girls from getting attached to more people who were likely to be taken away from them. Likely, her Tsuguko and the Butterfly Mansion girls resided in separate spaces and had very little interaction, and their Pillar/Tsuguko relationship was kept very formal so they could all focus on their demon slaying goals (albeit they were probably fond of each other anyway, signified by the butterfly hairpins).

In that two year period, the following events occur in roughly this order:

Rengoku become a Pillar (around age 18 or 19, and since he was raised practicing Flame Breathing he probably finished the Final Selection around age 12 or 13, so it clearly took him a more normal period of time to become a Pillar. But, despite being naturally gifted with strength his mother recognized, this drives home how hard he needed to work to overcome a perceived lack of “talent.”)

Iguro becomes a Pillar (around age 19 or 20, so he likely had worked at it a long time)

Aoi passes the Final Selection and quits the sword (thereby leaving Shinobu able to leave most of the hospital and household work to her since she’s no longer training), Muichirio becomes a Pillar (around age 12 or 13, genius-level speed at attaining Pillarhood)

Mitsuri becomes a Pillar (around age 18 or 19--a friend, yay! Also someone who became a Pillar way faster than normal.)

On these note, please also me to jump backwards a few years to when Kanae was still alive. Uzui had to have been a Pillar by at least age 18, but given the state of Ubuyashiki’s illness, probably a lot earlier than that, and he probably didn’t take very long to become a Pillar after entering the Corp. Since Giyuu was already a Pillar in Sanemi’s flashback, then he attained Pillarhood by, at the very oldest, age 17, so it took him four years or less. Interesting that in all these four or more years he’s been convinced the position is vacant, there’s no one else who performs Pillar-worthy achievement in the Corp’s most widely used Breath style. That really drives home the difference between the Pillars and the average cannon fodder. (Also worth noting, the Kamaboko Squad’s progression seems to fall somewhere in the middle; right to the very end the Taisho Secrets state how Tanjiro was still far from mastering Hinokami Kagura.)

At late 17 or age 18, two events occur:

Shinobu begins filling her body with poison for the sake of exacting revenge, knowing she will likely be eaten (she began about a year before the Pillar Training arc)

Kanao sneaks out to the Final Selection of her own will and with self-studied Flower Breathing, officially becomes a member of the Corp. Shinobu worries Kanao was just doing this because it’s what everyone around her does, as Kanao cannot express that she’s built her own hatred for demons.

Shinobu makes Kanao her Tsuguko almost right away, making the following changes (conjecture in italics):

Teaching her proper Breathing and sword technique (and the little girls witness her quick progress with blowing up gourds)

Instructing her very simply just to focus on cutting on demons’ heads so that she doesn’t get caught up in indecision on the battlefield

Censuring Kanao a bit for her choice to go against her sisters’ wishes and take up the sword, for now she risks death and giving the other pseudo-sisters yet another person to grieve. Given the risky nature of their work, Shinobu feels forced to treat her the same strict way she treated her Tsuguko instead of treat her as a sister. Kanao accepts this and goes from treating Shinobu as her sister to treating her as her master (calling her “Shihan” instead of “Shinobu-neesan”).

Over the course of the events of canon, Tanjiro and company spend a very large portion of their time in recovery at the Butterfly Mansion (even if a large portion of that time is spent unconscious), they might as well be pseudo-adoptive little brothers. But, I suspect Shinobu bonds more readily with girls. Also in that time, Kanao speeds up the ranks (she attains Hinoto rank, the 7th of 10 ranks, while Tanjiro & co attain the one above that, Hinoe). Furthermore, thanks to Tanjiro’s influence, Kanao also makes leap and bounds in being able to express herself, like something finally broke through. This at last leaves Shinobu somewhat relieved, after maybe five years or so since she first adopted Kanao. By that time she is getting anxious about the impending final battles (and her death, which she has deemed inevitable but purposeful), and she tells Kanao the plan. And then Oyakata-sama is like, “heeeey, so I heard you want to be friends with demons, I got you one, her name is Tamayo.” (It’s possible he already told her he was planning to get Tamayo’s help and wanted her cooperation, but he didn’t actually approach Tamayo about it until after Pillar Training started (though by Kimetsu logic, it’s highly possible that the crow talking to Tamayo took place much earlier than when it was presented). I gotta wonder how quickly they worked to combine their research and if the other girls in the mansion had any idea who Tamayo and Yushiro were.

And then, at age 18 (or likely 19 given the progression of the series and very lengthy recovery periods, heck maybe even 20), Douma. Shinobu dies, Kanao switches back to calling her Shinobu-neesan instead of Shihan, Kanae’s butterfly hairpin which Kanao wore breaks in battles, Shinobu exacts her revenge on Douma while her efforts against Muzan are also in motion and then she reunites with Kanae and her parents in spirit, and Kanao wears Shinobu’s butterfly hairpin in the final showdown and then she makes Shinobu the surprise hero in the surprise final battle to save Tanjiro. It was a really long night, and a really short, busy life.

#Kimetsu no Yaiba #Demon Slayers #Kocho Shinobu #Kochou Shinobu #KnY fandom theories and meta

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nocturne-inuyasha-ff · 4 years

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Chapter Twenty: Infallible Cure

Author's Notes: I would like to take an opportunity to have a moment of silence. The moment is for reflection during the uncertainty of our time and also because someone I know passed away unexpectedly. In the blink of an eye, we can lose anyone and it is all too easy to take things for granted. Please hold your loved ones close and cherish what you have because grief is the price we pay for that love.

Nocturne - Chapter Twenty: Infalliable Cure

Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

o - o - o - o - o

Time has a way of settling things. It moves for no one, always at its own pace, steady and sure, but never-ending in itself. Like anything, time has a way of feeling different for each who encounters it. For the impatient, it moves slow. For the zealous, it moves fast. For those with temperance, it can push on stoically.

Kagome could not fathom which group she may fall into. At any point in time, she felt her category shift.

It had been five years since she had first encountered Sesshomaru in a cave under a spell. It was magic that had turned both of their lives on end and pushed their paths to entangle. One may assume that their lives were bound by destiny, and that may be true for nothing happens without reason, even if it does not make sense.

In the beginning, Kagome had feared the retribution that their new nemesis, Fan Tsenpo, had promised them. Anxiety had her on edge for nearly a year. During that time, Sesshomaru had constantly urged her not to let her fear consume her. He assured her countless times that she had not only his protection but his love as well.

The land of the West was guarded by Sesshomaru, so nothing came in or out without him learning of it. He'd also advised her that a long-lived yokai would take their time putting any plan of vengeance into play. A yokai's idea of swift could be translated into something different in human terms. Kagome figured that might be true. A couple of years are nothing to a being that has lived centuries. That knowledge eased her fears somewhat and gave them the time needed to prepare for whatever may come.

As the months and years ticked by with no sign of their enemy, Kagome allowed herself to settle into a routine. It wasn't hard to do. The Sengoku Era was one of routine for its people. Daiyokai and their families were no exception.

Sesshomaru was a demon lord and had lands to maintain. Though he did not usually deal with humans directly, Kagome helped to bridge the gap. People trusted her due to her status as a miko more than a yokai who was beautiful and frightening to behold.

Most vassals assumed she was a retainer of the lord Sesshomaru, a servant, but that was to her liking. People had a way of becoming fearful or, at worst, disagreeable if they learned the truth. Much to Sesshomaru's chagrin, Kagome preferred it this way.

He had often attempted to convince her to dress her part as the Lady of the West, usually by bringing her clothes cut in the best fashion of the time, but she would turn her nose up at those items. They did not suit her. He would agree, almost begrudgingly, but yet continued to bring new items back from any journey. Kagome had developed quite the collection that sat unused in a spare room.

It had taken much more convincing for Sesshomaru to allow the people of their lands to even think of her as lower than her exact position. That was a much harder sell. It had taken nearly a year to wear him down, which was a fantastic accomplishment that in of itself. Kagome had pegged him to hold out much longer.

Kagome's status not notwithstanding, Sesshomaru held steady with his opinion that his daughter would be held with the utmost regard. He refused to tolerate intolerance, which was a perplexing conundrum to deal with. She was to be treated with class and decorum and any who did not comply would face the personal wrath of the Lord of the West.

Kagome had a secret thought that Sesshomaru felt regret over his younger, half brother's situation and his lack of involvement. It was something Sesshomaru would never admit, but it became increasingly evident in his actions. His protectiveness over their daughter could border on the extreme at times.

Sesshomaru was a very dutiful and doting father, Kagome learned. It made her heart swell to think about it. He ensured that Setsuna yearned for nothing while maintaining a structured learning regime.

As a mother, Kagome wanted to nurture her child, but Sesshomaru disagreed, stating that Setsuna would need to learn, and it would come easier if she started sooner than later. Kagome would begrudgingly agree since she always felt at a disadvantage with her miko training picked up later in life.

He had crafted a blade fit for a small child and began to teach her swordcraft, and they explored her other yokai abilities. However, being the child of a miko, there were other traits she had inherited that her father could not help her with. Setsuna was, after all, half daiyokai and half miko.

Her powers were unusual and strong, much stronger than Sesshomaru could have anticipated. Kagome had nothing to go on, but of all the things she had seen and learned, Setsuna's abilities were not a stretch by any means. However, if Sesshomaru had cause to be amazed, then Kagome figured there was something worthwhile there. He must have assumed that she may be weaker due to her mixed heritage, but if his brother were to be used as an example, then there could be no telling just how capable Setsuna may be.

So their young daughter grew and learned in the ways of both her mother and father. Of course, it would be cruel not to count the things Setsuna learned from her grandmother, who had lingered on, deciding her time was best spent near her son's family.

Sesshomaru had done his best to banish his mother back to her palace in the sky, but the demoness would casually wave her son off and stress her interests in her only child and his family. What interests the demoness had was beyond anything Kagome could fathom. When she wasn't spending time with Setsuna, she would seek out Kagome while she was alone and henpeck her like a proper mother in law.

The woman was nearly impossible to get along with, and she constantly belittled Kagome in a passive-aggressive manner. On more than one occasion, the woman had hinted at overhearing Sesshomaru's and Kagome's overzealous lovemaking sessions and berated Kagome for her shortcomings. These particular conversations were always held far and away from Sesshomaru. He would not entertain such behavior from his mother and would promptly put her out. But Kagome would never tell him about it if she could help it. Her mother in law was a proud, indomitable woman whose beauty was beyond comparison, but inside she was lonely, and Kagome could sense it. On the bright side, she was an infallible tutor for court life and political intrigue, things that neither Kagome nor Sesshomaru had a care for.

On one such day, Kagome had an interesting altercation with her mother in law.

"Even throughout the years, I am surprised you can still satisfy my son. To be quite honest," she teased, "I am even more astonished to see you survived the ceremony. I have not told you that, girl.'

"You have told me that," Kagome would remind her, "many times before."

The ceremony the demoness was alluding to was nothing more than a commitment ceremony, similar to a wedding. According to her, the rites required some barbaric stipulations like bloodletting and marking. Kagome was sure that she was being lied to when her mother in law told her all this.

Sesshomaru had looked mortified when Kagome asked him to confirm, stating there was no way she would ever be allowed to participate in such a beastly display. He declared that the only worrisome part of the ceremony would be the lack of sleep she would get the night of the ceremony and the nights afterward. It would seem his inner demon had to be satiated as well, which was the core of the problem, but he was hesitant to harm her.

Kagome had learned that Sesshomaru had kept his yoki at bay and also that he did so at great pain to himself. She had difficulty wrapping her mind around what he had meant. He was always in command of himself, so Kagome was not entirely sure what he had meant when he told her of this.

"Like you are able to access your spiritual powers within, I, too, access my yoki. Albeit in a different manner. It is a part of me in my duality," he had told her.

Whatever that had meant, she pondered. Sesshomaru had not yet hurt her in any of their sometimes violent lovemaking sessions, why would that start now? She would be lying to herself, though, if she did not admit the curiousness from after those sessions. Often she would be so sure that some body part or the other would sport a bruise, but that was never the case.

Even after the ceremony and that evening when Kagome had finally been presented with Sesshomaru's red-eyed demon, nothing much had changed. Sure, she had expected to bear love bites and scratches, but there had been nothing outside of delicious soreness that accompanied hours of passion. She joked to herself that if she could withstand his constant stabbing, then she could withstand anything.

Something was different this time when Sesshomaru's mother teased Kagome. "For the years that have passed, I would have expected more from you, dear human girl."

Kagome was beyond rolling her eyes at the woman. It was easier to be patient and allow the demoness to grow bored and move on than it was to attempt to bandy words. "What's that, mother?" Kagome asked sweetly.

"Ah, girl, you know I despise when you call me that," the demoness chastised, but even Kagome's subtle diversion did not stop her tirade. "I have watched my fine granddaughter spring up in the blink of mine eye, blossoming into a beautiful and capable child. However, I look at you, a mere human who has bespelled my only son, and I see nothing."

She could feel her patience being tested with the woman's trying words. "For that, I am glad that Sesshomaru is not as short-sighted as you, mother."

The demoness shook her head and gave a smirk that held a secret. "Hnn. You've been too long around our kind girl. Never questioning anything." She said no more and left Kagome to her thoughts.

The demoness was being as mysterious as ever, Kagome thought. The words were no more cutting than usual, but today they plagued Kagome enough to take action. She swiftly sought out a mirror in the large manor. There was only one on the premises as Kagome had a distaste for them for a singular reason. Anytime she looked into a mirror, she had thought there would be something she did not want to see on the other side. Often, the time in Fan Tsenpo's palace came to mind when he had tried to pit her against Sesshomaru by showing Kagome her deepest fears.

Kagome had been swiftly reassured when she once questioned Sesshomaru about that time. He told her that it had been a setup, a trick of the eye, and nothing had happened. As unbelievable as it sounded, she had no cause not to believe him, and he had never once given her a reason to doubt his words, but still, mirrors were also notorious for showing the truth, and for Kagome, that truth was of how time was a harsh mistress.

The only mirror in the manor was located in a guest room that received seldom use outside of a good cleaning, and the only reason that Kagome had not requested it removed was due to its beautiful cast work encasing the mirror. That was a reason she had allowed herself, but she knew that deep down, she was morbidly curious to see, from time to time, what Sesshomaru saw. Knowing that she aged and he did not was a constant battle for her.

When Kagome walked into the room, she hesitated for a moment, afraid of what she might see. She was only 28 years old, but wrinkles and grey hair weren't necessarily discriminatory. Taking a deep breath, she held it and finally took a step in front of the mirror.

The demoness' prodding seemed to be getting the better of her. As she looked in the mirror, ensuring to move her head to see from different angles, she did not notice anything unusual. A small sigh of relief escaped her lips from a breath she did not realize she'd been holding. Kagome had nearly expected to see laugh lines or crows feet, possibly even a crease in her brow from the occasional frown, but there was nothing. So, she stood in front of the mirror, simply looking and wondering. It was there, moments later, that Sesshomaru found her.

"You are still beautiful, beloved. Time has not changed that."

Kagome gave a small start, not expecting to be found examining herself in a mirror, like some vain woman. "Sesshomaru, you startled me." She quickly turned away from the mirror in guilt.

"Hnn," he said in mild amusement. "Do not be ashamed to behold yourself. This one is not." His lip rose in a tiny smug smile.

"I am not ashamed," she responded, folding her arms.

Sesshomaru grabbed her and turned her back towards the mirror, stroking her hair and looking at their reflection. "I shall dispose of her yet. Her words have pushed you to doubt yourself," he told her, speaking of his mother. He only tolerated the woman being around at Kagome's discretion; otherwise, he would have put her out long ago.

Kagome tensed. She'd been found out. But she should have expected the woman to go running to her son. "So, she told you I would come here?"

He moved her hair from her shoulder, pulling it back to expose her neck and placed a gentle kiss there. "No," he said softly. He planted more small kisses up her neck, stopping only at her jaw. "I must depart soon, so I intended to seek you out."

She had closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his breath upon her flesh, but his words made her feel deflated. "You have only just returned. These days you are away more than you are here." Her voice had a ring of stark disappointment that she could not hide.

Sesshomaru kissed her neck one last time before fixing her hair and grabbing her by the shoulders. He still looked at her in the reflection of the mirror. "There are whispers of movement along the coast."

Kagome had heard enough. "There are always whispers and rumors. Can you not send someone else to check every little bit of gossip that passes our doorstep?"

They had had this battle many times before. Sesshomaru was very dedicated and thorough about his promise to protect Kagome and Setsuna. There had not been a hide nor tail of Fan Tsenpo or the DaiOzuko in years. It was not that Kagome doubted the severity of the threat Fan posed, but the amount of time that his lack of retribution took up from their lives. So, anytime unknown things transgressed, Sesshomaru was diligent in his mission to hunt it down personally.

"We shall not discuss this again," he said with an air of finality. His grip on her shoulders tightened to demonstrate his distaste at her complaints on the topic. "You of all people know why this one must go. Would you risk yourself? Or our daughter?"

He knew just where to strike, and even his words were perfectly aimed to do the most damage with little exertion on his part. Kagome grit her teeth and turned, pulling out of his grip. She knew he could have held her had he wanted to, but he was always delicate with her. Kagome glared at him for good measure. "Don't patronize me! As if I don't understand what is at stake."

His eyes turned hard. "Then you know the importance of investigating each rumor. The first time one is overlooked will be the time that Fan slips through."

Kagome turned her head petulantly. This was not something she wanted to discuss, either. He was right, of course. She would only begrudgingly admit it to herself, though.

"My, my, a lover's spat?"

Kagome rolled her eyes once she recognized the voice. Why was she here? What other harsh words did she forget to share?

"What do you want?" Sesshomaru asked impatiently in response to his mother appearing in the room unannounced and unwanted.

The demoness gasped at his words. "The outrage! To know that my son is so contemptuous towards his loving mother."

"Say your piece and go. I have little patience for your games," he warned.

She shrugged and smiled, "Fine. I only came to apologize to your human woman. My words were not designed to inflict pain, though clearly, they have done that."

He sneered, "You knew exactly what you were doing. I shall warn you this now, one final time. Keep your nettlesome tongue to yourself. You are only here by the grace Kagome affords to you. It is only by her discretion that you are allowed to stay. Otherwise, I would not tolerate an insufferable supplicant such as yourself."

Kagome had enough. She stalked past the demoness to escape the madness and her rising disappointment. Any chance of her and Sesshomaru reconciling before he left had been dashed the moment that the demoness stalked into the room.

However, the demoness did something entirely unexpected. She grabbed Kagome by the arm as she walked by, holding her firm.

"Girl," she said with her mysterious smile, "I do apologize. I meant nothing untoward by my words. I just worry as any good mother would. For my son, my granddaughter, and for you."

Kagome had been living in close quarters with the demoness for some time now, and anytime they did share company, it was filled with subtle jabs at Kagome's expense. Had it not been for Setsuna, Kagome doubted they would see each other at all, and she certainly would not have stopped Sesshomaru from showing her the door. Kagome could not recall once that the demoness had ever touched her and quickly pulled from her mother in law's grasp.

Kagome winced as she was left with a nasty gash on her arm right through the fabric of her kosode from an errant claw. The demoness gasped, having the decency to look surprised and covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh, child, I am so sorry. I had forgotten how delicate a human's skin was. Please forgive me!" she urged.

Sesshomaru was at Kagome's side in an instant, sending hateful glares in his mother's direction. He gripped Kagome's arm and held it tight while blood began to soak through the white fabric. Kagome took in a sharp breath through her teeth. "It's fine," she reassured Sesshomaru. "It was an accident."

"You're bleeding," he said as if she had not noticed. Kagome pulled away from him to examine the wound.

"It's just a small cut. They bleed the most. It's nothing," she tried to sound confident, but her words shook. Pulling the sleeve up, she could see a long line down the side of her forearm, neatly sliced. The cut ran deeper than she had expected, but something curious began to happen before her eyes. The edges of the skin seemed to close on its own, and the throbbing that she had started to feel began to dull.

Kagome looked up in mild horror. Sesshomaru stood a step back, a look of concern showing on his face, but his mother sported a look of bemused triumph. She looked back down at the wound, watching as the red of her flesh turned to a bright pink and then a silver sheen and finally, the healthy glow of freshly washed skin. Taking a delicate finger, she prodded where the cut had been but a moment ago. Nothing. No cut, no pain, and no blood, but the drying stuff on her sleeve. "What-what's happened? What is this?" she raised her bare arm.

Sesshomaru said nothing.

The demoness smiled, "I knew it."

He shot a look at his mother that spoke volumes. Kagome gave him an accusatory look; he knew something. He did not seem surprised or disturbed by this.

"What's happening to me?!" Kagome demanded.

Sesshomaru stepped forward and tried to grab her uninjured arm, but she took a swift step away. "Explain!" She demanded again, keeping her healed arm up for all to see.

"Let us go somewhere private, and I shall unravel this," Sesshomaru began.

She was not going to let him commandeer the situation and cut him off. "No! Here. Now."

"Have you eaten anything strange lately, child?" The demoness questioned.

"What? No, nothing out of the ordinary. Why?"

The demoness shook her head, "It would not have necessarily been recent, girl. Think back."

"Silence, mother. Your meddling has done damage aplenty. You are dismissed."

The demoness stuck up her nose. "It is unseemly to lie to the girl to assuage your own pride, my son. I would have taught you better than that." With that, she stalked from the room, finally dismissing herself after putting her clever ploy into motion.

Kagome felt on the verge of tears. "All of your words and promises to love me even after I became old...that was easy for you because you knew that would never come to pass."

His gaze softened, but he stood in place with his head held high. "I stand by my words, Kagome."

A couple of tears slid down her cheeks. "What was it? Tell me what you did to make this happen. Am I still human?"

At seeing her tears, he was compelled to comfort her, though only with his words. "Your humanity is what I love about you."

"That doesn't answer my question, Sesshomaru," she said in flat tones.

"Yes," he answered, guilt blooming with a crease in his brow.

Kagome spun around to face away from him. His guilty look was more than she could bear, and her anger did not need to be dampened. Her mind sifted through memories to finally land upon the evening of her arrival years ago. The night where Sesshomaru had promised her everything in return for her acceptance. But what had she accepted?

The strange meal came to mind. It had been prepared by his own hand, he'd told her. Kagome could not recall another instance where he'd taken a direct role in cooking a meal for her again. "It was that night," she murmured, knowing he could hear her clearly.

"Indeed, it was."

She began to speculate on the possibilities. "Was it some kind of spell?"

"No, something much more potent than a frivolous spell. You consumed the flesh of a ningyo, beloved."

A ningyo? She ran the word through her mind. Where had she heard it before? And then it hit her. "You had me eat a mermaid? A yokai?"

"The consumption of a ningyo flesh may grant a mortal years untold."

She fumed. He used words of uncertainty and risk. "May grant? Not will grant? And what would have happened had that not been the case?"

"Nothing more than an exotic meal prepared by the hands of one who loves you."

"And my arm?"

"A pleasant yet unexpected side effect, beloved."

Part of her was overcome with glee, relief even, to know that she would live alongside Sesshomaru and Setsuna for countless years, but the other part was livid at being deceived.

Kagome decided that she would let Sesshomaru stew with her dismissive behavior. She said no more and walked out of the room as calm as she could muster herself to be.

She hadn't gotten far when she noticed she was being followed. He kept a healthy distance but did not try to stop her. When Kagome reached the garden moments later, she found Setsuna at play with her small blade that Sesshomaru had crafted for her.

The girl had straw dummies set up and was practicing her amateur sword skills on her own against the defenseless targets. Even though Setsuna was nearly six, she was growing tall, and her silver hair reached past her shoulders, where it was not swept up into a messy half ponytail.

"Setsuna," Kagome called, interrupting the girl mid-swing.

Setsuna finished her chopping motion, landing a fatal blow to the dummy's neck. "Did you see that, Mother?! I showed him! Just like Father!"

The girl dropped her sword and ran over to her mother and squeezed her middle. Kagome ruffled Setsuna's hair, dislodging it even further from the hair tie. A disheveled child was one of Sesshomaru's pet peeves, she knew, and he would be rounding the corner on her tail any second.

Kagome smiled, always happy to share a word of encouragement to her child, no matter her own internal struggle. "It was lovely. That target didn't stand a chance! But now I've decided to go and visit your aunt's and uncles. You need to go and grab your things. We'll be leaving within the hour."

Setsuna did a little happy dance, bouncing on her toes. "Really? I haven't seen my cousins in forever, Mother! I can't wait to show them my new moves!"

"I don't believe it wise to travel," Sesshomaru warned as he approached.

Kagome did her best to keep a grimace to herself. Setsuna, with no idea of her parent's quarrel, bounded over to him and leaped into his arms, "Father! Did you see me? Did you? I eliminated the enemy. Just like you taught me."

Sesshomaru smiled and cast a covert glance at Kagome, who did not look amused. "Splendid, child, yet you must never throw your blade to the ground."

The girl wilted a little in her father's arms, dismayed at her father's chastisement. "We shall practice upon my return," he said.

"Are you coming with us to see uncle Inuyasha?" Setsuna asked. She'd all but forgotten her father's words in an instant.

He frowned and gave Kagome a disapproving look. "No, there are other matters that require my attention."

Setsuna looked disappointed for a brief second but put on a beaming smile. "Are you going to kill more of our enemies, Father? I want to see!"

Kagome moved in hastily and snagged the girl from Sesshomaru. "I'm afraid it will be a bit more boring than all that. Come, let's go pack."

She ushered the little girl back to the palace to pack some necessities for their trip and this time Sesshomaru took a different path. Kagome knew that Sesshomaru would stew the entire time she was gone, and she intended to allow that to continue for as long as it took for him to feel sorry.

At this point, though, he didn't seem the least bit upset that he'd done it, only that she'd found out about it. The fact that he could not understand why this would upset her angered her all the more.

Time and space would help her to cool off and allow her the opportunity to catch up with her friends that she hadn't seen in months.

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

A/N: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the readers. First, to those who take the time to review, your words are always so appreciated and cherished. Second, to those who follow/favorite the story, just knowing that you care enough to click that button speaks volumes. Lastly, to those who just read, I know you lurkers are out there just trying to read a good story and I am happy that you made it to mine.

I won't say I have a favorite (cough*cough*reviews*cough*cough), because each thing is a wonder to me. I know I am guilty of not reviewing or favoriting/following stories I enjoy, so no hate goes to people who enjoy a story without leaving a little something-something. Of course, I would enjoy it if you do :)

Until next time.

#Nocturne #Chapter Twenty #sesskag #Sesshome #Sesshomaru #Kagome #Fanfic #Timejump

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corkcitylibraries · 3 years

Text

The Importance of Libraries in Lockdown

by Dr. Sorcha Fogarty

Invaluable portals to knowledge and culture, Libraries function as indispensable spaces in our society. The many and varied resources offered by the Library Services create opportunities for learning, support literacy and education, and help shape the new ideas and perspectives that are central to a creative and innovative society. Like so many organisations during these strange and difficult times, Libraries have had to develop new and different ways of working to ensure we can support library users even when they cannot visit us.

Despite our buildings being closed due to Level 5 guidelines, we feel that libraries can, and should, support people in alternative ways. As we enter an unfortunate but necessary second Lockdown, and bearing in mind the incredibly positive feedback from many Library users following the first Lockdown, regarding online services such as Borrowbox during total Lockdown, and Call and Collect during partial re-opening, it is patently clear that reading has become an increasingly essential coping mechanism during these difficult times.

The gratitude expressed by many Library users has been profuse to say the least, and the ongoing efforts of Library staff to provide online events, fun and informative Talking Newsletters, ensuring the yearly Bealtaine festival was not forgotten by means of printed newsletters, the proliferation of book, film, and other informative reviews on the Library blog, and the invaluable Housebound service, have ensured that library users feel connected to their local libraries, which, for many, provides a sense of stability and support under stay-at-home orders.

Irish Public Libraries provide all users with a wide range of free online services including eBooks, audiobooks, eMagazines, online courses and online newspapers. The yearly children’s reading challenge, “Read With Red” was met with its usual enthusiasm from our younger library users, and keeping our children involved and encouraged to read has never been so important. Furthermore, the annual Culture Night was a welcome and much-needed reminder that Cork City is still a hub of creativity, with the Libraries at the forefront, and on Friday September 18, there was a selection of virtual and in person events to choose from - one such event being ‘The Grand Play-aid on the Grand Parade’, a family play date with games, art and fun for all ages.

Libraries are inherently social spots in almost all communities. They thrive on human interactions, which is why closing our buildings is so difficult. The sudden switch from a physical space to online has been challenging for staff and users, but has also highlighted the vital role of Library Services and the skills of staff. Keeping people productive, safe, healthy, informed, and connected to each other is extremely difficult during Lockdown, and the savvy move of Irish Libraries to enhance their already highly active online presence is perhaps the most important step we can take to ensure that the public have access to the many supports the Library has to offer.

During partial re-opening under Level 3, the Call and Collect service was greatly appreciated by library users. Often unsure as to what reading material to request, staff have guided people in selecting items which satisfy their tastes, as we know all too well how important the company of a book may be to those who struggle with isolation. My own father once told me, “Develop a love of reading and you will never be lonely”. Indeed, we can lose ourselves in literature, much like a restful sleep…and awaken from time spent with a good book refreshed and invigorated. As we all know, physical exercise is crucial to maintaining a positive mental attitude and healthy mindset – and reading is exercise for the brain, salve for the soul, and a welcome distraction from our worries. On the importance of books and reading during the pandemic, Psychiatrist Shyam Bhat notes,

Reading is a workout for the brain. And just as physical exercise decreases the risk of diabetes and heart disease, regular reading decreases the risk of conditions such as dementia, and improves memory, concentration, and mood.This is especially relevant in these times of Covid. Reading also helps deal with isolation, by making the reader feel connected with other worlds.

Therefore, while our Library buildings may be temporarily closed, the Library Service is very much alive and well, as we make every effort to keep the public informed and supported during this challenging time. All of us can still turn to books for entertainment, enlightenment, and empowerment, just like we always have.

#corkcitylibraries #libraries #lovereading

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hcneysoaked · 3 years

Note

sorry i love u but #30-50 for the hc meme c:

I DID IT thank u ily <33333

send me a # to learn an unusual hc about my muse!

30. is there something about their personality they want to change?

Oof, a few things, but none that he’d actually admit to. He just really wishes he was someone with a bit more… direction? He doesn’t care very much about impulsiveness, he feels it makes him more fun, but he wishes he was able to stick through with things, whether it’s projects, relationships, goals, whatever. He’s unable to really see ahead very well, so if he’s bored, he drops it and he knows its an outlook that keeps fucking him over and keeps him from really feeling satisfied, but he’s unsure of where to start and again, usually unwilling to put in the effort to try.

31. do they have good fashion sense? or do they just wear whatever? I talked a little bit about that here, but he really enjoys putting outfits together and coordinating everything. Gives him a sense of being put together and definitely conveys that sort of image to other people. He leans more towards vintage/retro kinda style, usually thrifting a good amount of his clothes, but even then it’s not a super concise style.

32. do they critique others easily? do they judge from afar? Not so much judgy as he is nosy. Unless you’ve done something really awful, then he doesn’t feel he’s in any position to judge. Or if you’ve done something directly to him, then he might be more critical and way less objective.

33. are they too hard on themselves over the little things? Not so much for little things anymore, but he used to be. Growing up he’d feel guilty if he wasn’t doing things “right” or if he was caught in any sort of trouble, however small, but he’s definitely since grown out of that.

34. are they the jealous type? what are they most likely to be jealous of? Oh definitely, he can get jealous over just about anything. The whole dynamic he has with Simon is totally built on the jealousy over their parents favoring him, despite going out of his way to act out against them gbdjkfgd he just likes being everyone's favorite and gets upset when he isn’t.

35. are they possessive over their things? or over other people? Both? He can be a bit possessive of his things, but it’s not something that comes up often. Again, probably around his siblings gbjkdfg but even then its likely just to be a brat. He’s a lot more possessive with people, kinda going in hand with the jealousy stuff from above. He likes having their full attention, which can cause some conflict if its a newer relationship, but he tends to grow out of it too after that newness wears off.

36. would they rather be alone or in a relationship? He thinks he’d rather be in a relationship, but hasn’t been in many serious ones. They’re not really his strong suit, how ever bad he wants to date. He’s always eager to get to know people, and if he doesn’t feel that’s being reciprocated than he loses interest. Honestly, as impatient as he is, the more complicated and the more pining there is involved on his end, the more likely he is to keep pursuing and stay invested, just because he’s like Entertained ™

37. what do they think about polyamorous relationships? would they do it? I don’t think he’d be totally opposed to it given the right people/circumstances, but I also don’t think he’d have the easiest time adapting to it give uhhh more reasons listed above.

38. do they have parents / parental figures? do they have a good relationship with them? Oh he has parents and it’s not the greatest relationship gbdkfg some of it is mostly on his part, just from having that frustration over them not trusting him to make his own decisions (which, he’s not exactly proving his ability, but that’s also bc he’s directly trying to go against them but whatever) and they get frustrated with him pretty quickly in return. He doesn’t see them as often after he’s moved out unless they show up or he visits with his siblings, and in main verse, he definitely hasn’t seen them since he’s died.

39. do they have siblings? if so, how many? do they like them? Oh he sure does!! He has two older siblings, Simon and Sunny, and he loves them so much but also we love a complicated sibling dynamic <3 it’s definitely more complicated with Simon though. He’s closer to Sunny as they’re closer in age and she lets him get away with a lot since they’re both the ones getting into trouble anyway (joint family disappointments whoops). Things get more complicated with Simon being the ideal kid of the family so he has some resentment built up from that and from getting ratted out to their parents by him when they were younger, but he’s also the one he goes to when things get really bad.

40. do they have a big family or a small family? no family? Outside of his immediate family, I’m not sure. I can see him being close to any cousins he might have, just to have more people to mess around with and he’d love to play around with them if they’re younger, but that’s about it.

41. where would they want to live if they could live anywhere? Why? He’d want to stick to a big city, though he isn’t entirely opposed to staying in Atlanta. The plan he likes the most I think would be to have a sort of permanent base there while being able to travel around and see a bunch of other places. He hasn’t had that type of opportunity before, so he’d like to see where he might best fit.

42. are they happy in their current living situation? why or why not? Main verse……. kinda?? I mean he likes ghost life because he doesn’t have to deal with any expectations anymore, but he’s also getting really bored and really lonely staying away from people he knew before. Alt verse…. sort of okay, sort of not. Still hates being in school and dealing with that stress, but he’s happy living away from his parents for now and causing whatever chaos he can with his recklessness.

43. do they like living alone or with another person / other people? He likes living with other people! Even if he’s not totally close with the person, he simply likes having the presence of other people around. But of course, he ends up weaseling his way into their life anyway so they’ll be friends eventually.

44. did they go to college, or are they attending? did / do they like it? Attending in alt verse! He likes the partial independence and the excuse to move out, but he hates studying polsci just because its the option his parents gave him and just generally, he doesn’t have the sort of commitment that’s really suited for that kind of schooling anyway.

45. what’s their dream job / profession? do they have one? I don’t think he totally has one, just because he’s not sure where he’d really like to go on his own. I think he’d most like something to do with other people, maybe kids specifically. He loves working with them and he’s pretty good with them. I could almost see him going into teaching just to make sure there are other options for

47. do they like tv shows or movies? or neither? Movies!! He loves having little movie marathons and often doesn’t have the patience to watch tv shows unless they’re on the shorter side/there’s a lot hooking him in. but he loves watching just about any sort of movie, it's one of his go to friend/date activities.

48. do they have social media? do they like it or hate it? obsess over it? He does!!! Insta is probably his most used one just because he likes posting more visual stuff but he probably rants on twitter too. He’s not super obsessive over it, but he definitely uses it as a way to distract himself/waste time when he doesn’t have the energy for other things.

49. do they have a creative outlet? if so, what is it He likes to write from time to time! Mostly it’s like journaling stuff, so not too much of a creative outlet, but he counts it for something. Aside from that, i can see him jumping from a few different creative hobbies, but I doubt he’d stick to them for very long.

46 + 50. where do they see themselves in 2 / 5 / 10 years? Answered here !!

#fcade #answered.#this was so fun thank u bfdjgfdgdj <333 #hc.#ooc.

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ky-the-squiddy · 4 years

Note

im curious! what's Cash's level of morally grey-ness? is he a anti-hero or a villain? does that depend on the AU maybe? does he even fit any of these labels??

It MASSIVELY varies…

Short asnwer is:

It very much depends on the AU, but his canon self (the pocket-watch-headed version I draw the most) would probably be True Neutral, verging on Neutral Evil, if we’re talking D&D mechanics and you subscribe to the ‘evil just means putting your own wants/needs above other people’s’ line of thought.

Long answer….

Cash is *extremely* morally grey, no matter the AU. It’s pretty rare for him to ever actually want to hurt other people, but he *is* extremely manipulative at times and certainly not above lying to people to get what he wants.

That said, he is very adamant about the fact that All People Are People, and will always behave respectfully towards others. The only people who lose that respect are those that *don’t* view other people as people (racists, homophobes, bigots of many kinds), in which case he’ll grit his teeth through the conversation and then mentally note to take them down a peg when the opportunity arises.

He is also extremely adamant about always getting consent. Which… can sometimes seem like a bit of a conflicting trait when compared to his manipulative tendencies? But because he usually comes on quite strong, he makes sure that things never proceed past the flirting stage if there’s even a hint of discomfort. He doesn’t see the point in being with another person unless they’re both enjoying themselves.

(Of course, both those positive traits are really… the bare minimum of Being A Decent Person, but it’s surprising how few people in the world actually manage to fulfil both requirements.)

Within his own canon, Cash takes the role of one of the protagonists. Does this mean he’s necessarily a good person? Definitely not. Does he still do stuff that is ultimately for the betterment of the universe? Yes. But less because he cares about the good of the universe, and more in the ‘because I’m one of the idiots that live in it’ sort of way.

In terms of hero/anti-hero/villain/etc. he really doesn’t fit any of those roles. He is a gentleman, and he is an observer, and he is someone who needs to be pushed into action with a fucking sledgehammer. The closest sort of label you’d be able to stick on him would be ‘guide’.

Of course, this is all just talking about his canon self.

And it isn’t talking about the fact that, no matter the universe, he did straight up murder his father, as well as indirectly cause the death of his older brother.

All of these things– the manipulation, the respect, the murder, the consent rule– are true regardless of which incarnation of him we’re talking about. But with the different universes and the different experiences he’s lived, different aspects of each carry more or less weight to them

Two of the most downright terrible versions of him are the Villain AU, and the Garbage Fire AU (I’d say we tried to come up with a better name for it, but we didn’t, and honest it suits the absolute tire fire of pain that AU is).

In the Villain AU, Cash isn’t human. He’s a version of the pocket-watch-head that has found a glamour of sorts that allows him to blend in with whatever population he places himself in. This is an AU where manipulation and murder take the front seats. He gather knowledge, then wealth, then power, and eventually situates himself as ruler of the world, able to get there thanks to being functionally immortal and through having knowledge and technology from other worlds. Disaster always happens eventually, whether natural or revolutionary, and when it comes, Cash just… steps out of that dimension/world, and finds another, and repeats the process. He treats the domination of planets like a game, and it’s not unusual for him to manipulate a mortal into caring for him/relying on him and then bringing them along for the ride. That’s not to say he doesn’t care for them in return, but he certainly never forgets their mortality.

In the Garbage Fire AU, Cash starts as human. As is usual for most of his human incarnations, he was born into a rich family, neglected by his father in favour of his younger brother, and wound up completely, horrendously alone by the time he was 19. Cool backstory, still an asshole. This is an AU where manipulation is front and center, and consent gets a bit dicey. He meets and seduces Vincent (@oswald-privileges’ OC), and Vincent introduces him to the wonders and horrors of the go-between, a quasi-magical realm of fantasy worlds all smushed together. Drama happens, a *lot* of drama, and Cash finds a way to steal and capture Vincent’s name, which basically hands him all control over what Vincent can say, think, do, feel, and be. This is a Cash that has sold bits of himself off in order to survive in an unknown and hostile world, and has discovered that he likes it better this way. He likes having someone he can pretend to love, and he can convince to love him back. This is a Cash more willing to kill Vincent than he is willing to give him up to anyone or anything else.

...But then you have the better universes.

Like the Poly AU, where he winds up with two boyfriends that he grows to love so very, very much. He loves them enough to let them convince him to adopt a kid, when he’s spent his whole life knowing he’ll never have children, and he’d never want to anyway for fear of turning out like his father. But he doesn’t, and he learns how to enjoy the small, soft moments of his life, and that it’s okay to be scared.

Or in a version of his canon where he finds another wandering immortal, who becomes his best friend, who becomes his reason to stop isolating himself so much. Where he gets so scared of the possibility of her creating and abandoning and repeating the mistakes of his father that he’s willing to destroy himself to convince her otherwise because he doesn’t want more hurt and lonely and lost people in the universe.

Or in the She-Ra AU (no, he’s not She-Ra, he’s a side character that wound up accidentally hogging the spotlight) where’s he’s still barely more than a kid, and he still lives in constant fear of his (still alive) father, and he’s doing his best to take care of the people he cares for and maybe, hopefully, find a way to find his own freedom so he can figure out who he really is.

He’s not a good person, he’s never a good person, but it’s rare for him to be entirely bad, either. He’s too selfish to be good, and too willing to devote himself to another to be entirely evil.

He’s just... a person. Trying to find his purpose in life, and often picking the wrong things.

........also I’ve made my QPP cry over him like... 3 times? so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#anonasks #my ocs #cashimeer klimek #WOW THIS WAS A LOADED QUESTION #ENJOY THE 1000+ WORD ANSWER #this was a lot of fun

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daysswithyou · 5 years

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Fallen Chapter 7: Game well played

previous / next

Characters: DAY6 Young K x OC (Rachel)

Genre: angst, fake dating, high school romance, fluff, romance

-----

It’s been about a week now since the last incident with Jaebum and the start of your regular lunch breaks spent with Brian and his group of friends. After seeing your stupefied expressions at his previous bold public displays of affection, Brian considerably tones down. Now, he holds you close with a loose hand hanging around your waist or shoulders and eats out from your plate freely, but he no longer attempts to kiss you. Somehow, that allows you to know Brian Kang better as a person, and not simply as your fake boyfriend. When you no longer have to be on your guard around him, you have time to observe him. Most of the time, you’d describe him as annoying. He’s always repeating after the members or mimicking them. When you walk past his class, he’s not even paying attention to the lesson, having either his legs or head propped laying on top of his desk. There wasn’t a single good point about him no matter how hard you tried to search – until today.

As usual, the lunch table was in chaos today. Wonpil, Dowoon and Brian were thoroughly engrossed in a game, occasionally letting out shrieks and attracting the attention of the neighbouring tables. Jae and Esther were off at the corner again, this time debating on politics. Jae looks at Esther a little differently these days; he’s more attentive, with a slight glow in his eyes that looks suspiciously like love and admiration. You were certain that you were going to hear good news from the two soon, and you smile slightly at the thought. This leaves you and Sungjin to be lone souls at the table, until he invites you over to watch a video.

“Ya Rachel, you look bored, want to watch Brian play?”

“Am I allowed to?”

“Sure, you can. Scoot over.”

He passes you the phone, and the first five seconds of the video already has your eyeballs popping out of their sockets. Brian was about to land a shot into the hoop and it was clear the opponent attacking from behind was aiming to snatch the ball from his hands. By some mistake, the opponent hooked onto Brian’s arm before landing, the downward force of the movement causing Brian’s shoulder joint to pop from its’ socket. For a split second, you can see his arm hanging limp, with a clear hollow between his shoulder and arm. Yet, Brian merely popped his shoulder back in as he spun around, before charging forward and carrying on with the game like nothing happened. You pause the video in shock, turning to Sungjin in disbelief.

“Is the game- is he- wait I mean, is the- is the game always… this…violent…?”

“Not always, this is one of the more violent games this season but only because it’s the semi-finals.”

“Does he not…feel any pain? How can he carry on playing like that?”

“Oh, that shoulder incident just now? That’s nothing to Kang Bra. It’s happened so many times I’ve lost track of the number of times he’s popped his own shoulder back like it’s a daily occurrence.”

“That’s crazy…”

“Yea but it’s Brian Kang. That guy has done crazier things. His worst injury was probably the one two years back. An opponent twice his size slammed into him at full force, sending him skidding halfway across the court. His skin tore from the burn, and he had soaked through part of his shirt with blood until he realised that he was injured and got pulled off court. Once Brian Kang sets his heart onto something, he never loses focus. We’re just lucky that basketball happens to be one of those things, and earned ourselves a dedicated member for the past 3 years. The only downside is that we have to babysit him all the time when he gets injured, which is very often.”

Turning to Brian Kang, that was when you saw it. He’s playing the game against the younger ones with only one hand today, his right hand resting against his thigh. When he does move it, it’s a slow and small movement, the outline of the bandages on his shoulder showing against the tight-fitting polo tee. He hides his grimace behind a smile, but that doesn’t escape your eye. They say that if you look hard enough, you’ll find what you seek, and today you’ve finally found it.

Your attention on Brian was broken when Jae calls your name, turning your head to face the taller male.

“Rachel! Do you want to come and watch the basketball finals this coming Friday? Esther’s watching the game, so you two can come together.”

Jae’s words catch the attention of Brian, whom now turns to face you in anticipation of your answer. Your eyes flit over to his for a split second, wondering if you should say yes or no. However, looking at Brian only reminds you of the painful injury that he suffered on court, causing your goose bumps to stand. You’ve never been one to have a stomach for the gore and rough play that ensues during sports, and you knew you wouldn’t enjoy the game watching players get injured again and again.

The answer was clear.

“Sorry Jae… I think I’ll give the game a miss. Sports isn’t really my thing but I’m still cheering for all of you nonetheless!”

The table erupts in protest at your words, Wonpil in particular begging you fervently to come. You thank the heavens when the school bell saves you, the boys dispersing in all directions for their next classes. Only Brian lingers a little longer at the table, glancing at you from over his shoulders. He’s thinking of something, you know, but you’ll just have to wait for him to tell you about it.

---

Brian is already waiting for you outside your class when it ends, and you’re no longer shocked to see him. It’s been happening frequently for some time now – it would be odd if you didn’t see him instead. Stretching out his hand wordlessly, you take it and he laces his fingers with yours before leading you towards the school gates. He’s silent today and his eyebrows are furrowed – it’s the same look he had at the canteen just now.

“What are you thinking of?”

“I’m glad you asked. I was thinking that you should come and watch our game on Friday. This is all business. We made it to the finals and the whole school will be there. It’s the perfect opportunity to reach a wider audience, and hopefully get their attention more. It’s a long stretch but it��s worth the shot.”

Your heart clenches at the thought of basketball finals, but not because you’ll have to see Im Jaebum, but because you know Brian will get hurt, for sure. He’s the star player of the team; he’s going to be everyone’s target during the finals. You’ve spent the last half of your lesson secretly watching his videos from under your table, and each injury you saw was worst than the next, making your stomach churn and your blood curdle. You really would prefer to not have to witness him taking a beating in person… but he does have a good point. Besides, he’s looking at you with expectant eyes now, and it’s hard to reject him. Finally, you relent.

“Fine. I’ll go.”

“Great.”

By now, both of you are far from the school gates and out of everyone’s sight. The moment he seals the deal, he lets go of your hand nonchalantly, before continuing on his path in front of you.

Brian Kang, you’re really good at this game.

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promotionsrelationship611 · 3 years

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avocados-and-cardio · 6 years

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The Surprising Secrets to Living Longer—And Better

[brightcove:5596869363001 default]

Old age demands to be taken very seriously–and it usually gets its way. It’s hard to be cavalier about a time of life defined by loss of vigor, increasing frailty, rising disease risk and falling cognitive faculties. Then there’s the unavoidable matter of the end of consciousness and the self–death, in other words–that’s drawing closer and closer. It’s the rare person who can confront the final decline with flippancy or ease. That, as it turns out, might be our first mistake.

Humans are not alone in facing the ultimate reckoning, but we’re the only species–as far as we know–who spends its whole life knowing death is coming. A clam dredged from the ocean off Iceland in 2006–and inadvertently killed by the scientists who discovered it–carried growth lines on its shell indicating it had been around since 1499. That was enough time for 185,055 generations of mayfly–which live as little as a day–to come and go. Neither clam nor fly gave a thought to that mortal math.

Humans fall somewhere between those two extremes. Globally, the average life span is 71.4 years; for a few lucky people, it may exceed 100 years. It has never, to science’s knowledge, exceeded the 122 years, 164 days lived by Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who was born when Ulysses S. Grant was in the White House and died when Bill Clinton lived there.

Most of us would like a little bit of that Calment magic, and we’ve made at least some progress. Life expectancy in the U.S. exceeds the global average, clocking in at just under 79 years. In 1900, it was just over 47 years. The extra decades came courtesy of just the things you’d expect: vaccines, antibiotics, sanitation and improved detection and treatment of a range of diseases. Advances in genetics and in our understanding of dementia are helping to extend our factory warranties still further.

None of that, however, changes the way we contemplate the end of life–often with anxiety and asceticism, practicing a sort of existential bartering. We can narrow our experiences and give up indulgences in exchange for a more guardedly lived life that might run a little longer.

But what if we could take off some of that bubble wrap? What about living longer and actually having some fun? A Yale University study just this month found that in a group of 4,765 people with an average age of 72, those who carried a gene variant linked to dementia–but also had positive attitudes about aging–were 50% less likely to develop the disorder than people who carried the gene but faced aging with more pessimism or fear.

There may be something to be said then for aging less timidly–as a sort of happy contrarian, arguing when you feel like arguing, playing when you feel like playing. Maybe you want to pass up the quiet of the country for the churn of a city. Maybe you want to drink a little, eat a rich meal, have some sex.

“The most important advice we offer people about longevity is, ‘Throw away your lists,'” says Howard Friedman, professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and co-author of The Longevity Project. “We live in a self-help society full of lists: ‘lose weight, hit the gym.’ So why aren’t we all healthy? People who live a long time can work hard and play hard.” Under the right circumstances, it increasingly seems, so could all of us.

Marie Ashdown, 90, has lived in New York City for nearly 60 years, in an apartment on the east side of Manhattan. New York has beaten down younger people than her, but Ashdown, executive director of the Musicians Emergency Fund, loves city life. “I have a fire in my belly,” she says. “There’s not one minute of the day that I don’t learn.”

As a classical-music connoisseur, Ashdown organizes two concerts a year at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. When she’s not working, she takes weekend trips outside of the city, and spends her free time binding old books. Like many New Yorkers several decades her junior, she often orders takeout rather than bother with cooking. “We have the best and worst here,” says Ashdown. “We learn to cope, live on the defensive and conquer fear.”

She’s hardly the only senior who loves city living. In the U.S., 80% of people ages 65 and older are now living in metropolitan areas, and according to the World Health Organization, by 2030, an estimated 60% of all people will live in cities–many of them over age 60. You may lose a little sidewalk speed and have to work harder to get up and down subway stairs, but cities increasingly rank high on both doctors’ and seniors’ lists of the best places to age gracefully.

Every year, the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging (CFA) ranks the best metropolitan places for successful aging, and most years, major cities sweep the top 10 spots. No wonder: cities tend to have strong health systems, opportunities for continued learning, widespread public transportation and an abundance of arts and culture. That’s not to say that people can’t feel isolated or lonely in cities, but you can get lonely in a country cottage too. In cities, the cure can be just outside your door.

“We all long to bump into each other,” says Paul Irving, the chairman of the Milken Institute CFA. “The ranges of places where this can happen in cities tend to create more options and opportunities.”

It’s that aspect–the other-people aspect–that may be the particularly challenging for some, especially as we age and families disperse. But there are answers: a 2017 study in the journal Personal Relationships found that it can be friends, not family, who matter most. The study looked at 270,000 people in nearly 100 countries and found that while both family and friends are associated with happiness and better health, as people aged, the health link remained only for people with strong friendships.

“[While] in a lot of ways, relationships with friends had a similar effect as those with family,” says William Chopik, assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University and the author of the study, “in others, they surpassed them.”

If the primacy of family has been oversold as a key to long life, so has the importance of avoiding conflict or emotional upset. Shouting back at cable news is no way to spend your golden years, but passion, it’s turning out, may be more life-sustaining than apathy, engagement more than indifference.

In a study published by the American Aging Association, researchers analyzed data from the Georgia Centenarian Study, a survey of 285 people who were at least (or nearly) 100 years old, as well as 273 family members and other proxies who provided information about them. The investigators were looking at how the subjects scored on various personality traits, including conscientiousness, extraversion, hostility and neuroticism.

As a group, the centenarians tested lower on neuroticism and higher on competence and extraversion. Their proxies ranked them a bit higher on neuroticism, as well as on hostility. It’s impossible to draw a straight line between those strong personality traits and long life, but the authors saw a potential one, citing other studies showing that centenarians rank high on “moral righteousness,” which leads to robust temperaments that “may help centenarians adapt well to later life.”

At the same time that crankiness, judiciously deployed, can be adaptive, its polar opposite–cheerfulness and optimism–may be less so. Worried people are likelier to be vigilant people, alert to a troubling physical symptom or a loss of some faculty that overly optimistic people might dismiss. Friedman and his collaborator Leslie R. Martin, a professor of psychology at La Sierra University in Riverside, Calif., base their book on work begun in 1921 by Stanford University psychologist Lewis Terman, who recruited 1,500 boys and girls born around 1910 and proposed to follow them throughout their lifetimes and, when he died–which happened in 1956–to have successors continue the work. Friedman and Martin have been two of those successors, and they’ve learned a lot.

“Our research found that the more cheerful, outgoing children did not, for the most part, live any longer than their more introverted or serious classmates,” says Friedman. “Excessively happy people may ignore real threats and fail to take precautions or follow medical advice. It is O.K. to fret–if in a responsible manner.”

One tip for long life that is not coming in for quite so much revisionist thinking is exercise–and some seniors are achieving remarkable things. Take Ginette Bedard, 84, of Howard Beach, N.Y.

It was a drizzly morning last Nov. 5, but that didn’t stop Bedard from crossing the New York City Marathon finish line first in her age group. Bedard picked up running decades ago as a way to keep fit, but she didn’t run her first marathon until she was 69 years old. “I was watching the marathon runners on TV and I was so envious,” she says. “I was thinking, I cannot do that, they are all superhumans.”

So she decided to become one of them. She began training daily until she could run the full 26.2 miles, and she’s run nearly every New York City Marathon since. “It takes discipline and brainpower and dedication,” she says. “The running is hard, but the finish line is euphoria.” She now runs three hours every day along the beach.

Few physicians would recommend that all octogenarians pick up a three-hour-a-day running habit, but adding even a small amount of movement to daily life has been repeatedly shown to be beneficial, for a whole range of reasons. “Exercise likely works through several mechanisms,” says Dr. Thomas Gill, director of the Yale Program on Aging. “Increasing physical activity will improve endurance; it benefits muscle strength and balance and [reduces] occurrence of serious fall injuries. It also provides a benefit to psychology, by lifting spirits.”

Exactly how much–or how little–exercise it takes to begin paying dividends has been one of the happy surprises of longevity research. A 2016 study found that elderly people who exercised for just 15 minutes a day, at an intensity level of a brisk walk, had a 22% lower risk of early death compared to people who did no exercise. A 2017 study found that exercising even just two days a week can lower risk for premature death. Researchers from McMaster University in Canada even found that breaking a sweat for just 60 seconds may be enough to improve health and fitness (as long as it’s a tough workout).

Healthy eating is something else that may have a lot more wiggle room than we’ve assumed, and if there’s such a thing as a longevity diet, there may be more on the menu than seniors have been told. “I have my wine and ice cream,” says Bedard without apology. Similarly, 90-year-old Ashdown phones her takeout orders into Tal Bagels on First Avenue, not some trendy vegan joint.

“It really is an issue of moderation,” says Peter Martin, a professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University, who runs an ongoing study of centenarians. Martin notes that while most centenarians eat different but generally healthy diets, one consistent thing he has picked up from work with his 100-plus crowd is breakfast. “They rarely skip breakfast,” he says. “It’s often at a very specific time, and the routine is important.”

Alcohol has its place too. An August 2017 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that light to moderate alcohol use (14 or fewer drinks per week for men and seven or fewer for women) is associated with a lower risk of death compared to people who don’t drink at all. If you’re a nondrinker, that’s no reason to start, and if you drink only infrequently, it’s no reason to drink more. Still, among the more than 333,000 people in the study, light and moderate drinkers were 20% less likely to die from any cause during the study period compared with their completely abstemious peers.

There’s also an argument for letting go of diet obsessiveness, especially if you’re at a reasonably healthy weight already. A 2016 study found that women over age 50 who were categorized as normal weight, but reported fluctuating (dropping more than 10 lb. and gaining it back at least three times) were 3½ times more likely to experience sudden cardiac death than those whose weight stayed the same. The takeaway: simply stay in a healthy range; striving for a smaller size isn’t necessarily doing you any longevity favors.

Finally, as long as seniors are enjoying themselves with some indulgent food and drink, they may as well round out the good-times trifecta with a little sex. It’s no secret that remaining sexually active has been linked to life satisfaction and, in some cases, longer life. One celebrated study, published in the British Medical Journal in 1997, followed 918 men in a Welsh town for 10 years and found that those with a higher frequency of orgasm had a 50% reduced risk of mortality. Friedman and his colleagues, working with the Terman group, found something similar–though not quite as dramatic–for women. A 2016 study from Michigan State University was less sanguine, finding that older men who had sex once a week or more were almost twice as likely to suffer a cardiovascular event than men who had less sex; that was especially so if the more active men were satisfied with the sex, which often means they achieved orgasm. For older women, sex seemed to be protective against cardiovascular event.

The problem for the men was likely overexertion, but there are ways around that. “Older adults have to realize that it’s intimacy that’s important,” says Dr. Gary Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. “If the focus is on pleasure rather than achieving orgasm each time, it can be fulfilling.”

In this and other dimensions of aging, Kennedy cites pianist Vladimir Horowitz, who died at age 86 and was still performing into his 80s. Conceding the limitations of age, he left the most demanding pieces out of his performances; of those that remained, he would play the slower ones first, making the faster ones seem faster still by comparison. “He would optimize, not maximize,” says Kennedy.

There is an admitted bumper-sticker quality to dictum like that, but compared with the familiar age-related wisdom–take it slow, watch your diet, stay cheerful–it’s bracing. There are, Kennedy says, no truly healthy centenarians; you can’t put 100 points on the board without getting worn out and banged up along the way. But there are independent centenarians and happy centenarians and centenarians who have had a rollicking good ride. The same is true for people who will never reach the 100-year mark but make the very most of the time they do get. The end of life is a nonnegotiable thing. The quality and exact length of that life, however, is something we very much have the power to shape.

–With reporting by AMANDA MACMILLAN

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awesomewrld · 6 years

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The Surprising Secrets to Living Longer—And Better

[brightcove:5596869363001 default]

One tip for long life that is not coming in for quite so much revisionist thinking is exercise–and some seniors are achieving remarkable things. Take Ginette Bedard, 84, of Howard Beach, N.Y.

–With reporting by AMANDA MACMILLAN

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painsofbeingperf · 6 years

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The Surprising Secrets to Living Longer—And Better

[brightcove:5596869363001 default]

One tip for long life that is not coming in for quite so much revisionist thinking is exercise–and some seniors are achieving remarkable things. Take Ginette Bedard, 84, of Howard Beach, N.Y.

–With reporting by AMANDA MACMILLAN

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wbayne · 6 years

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The Surprising Secrets to Living Longer-And Better

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Old age demands to be taken very seriously–and it usually gets its way. It's hard to be cavalier about a time of life defined by loss of vigor, increasing frailty, rising disease risk and falling cognitive faculties. Then there's the unavoidable matter of the end of consciousness and the self–death, in other words–that's drawing closer and closer. It's the rare person who can confront the final decline with flippancy or ease. That, as it turns out, might be our first mistake.

Humans are not alone in facing the ultimate reckoning, but we're the only species–as far as we know–who spends its whole life knowing death is coming. A clam dredged from the ocean off Iceland in 2006–and inadvertently killed by the scientists who discovered it–carried growth lines on its shell indicating it had been around since 1499. That was enough time for 185,055 generations of mayfly–which live as little as a day–to come and go. Neither clam nor fly gave a thought to that mortal math.

Humans fall somewhere between those two extremes. Globally, the average life span is 71.4 years; for a few lucky people, it may exceed 100 years. It has never, to science's knowledge, exceeded the 122 years, 164 days lived by Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who was born when Ulysses S. Grant was in the White House and died when Bill Clinton lived there.

Most of us would like a little bit of that Calment magic, and we've made at least some progress. Life expectancy in the U.S. exceeds the global average, clocking in at just under 79 years. In 1900, it was just over 47 years. The extra decades came courtesy of just the things you'd expect: vaccines, antibiotics, sanitation and improved detection and treatment of a range of diseases. Advances in genetics and in our understanding of dementia are helping to extend our factory warranties still further.

“The most important advice we offer people about longevity is, 'Throw away your lists,'” says Howard Friedman, professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and co-author of The Longevity Project. “We live in a self-help society full of lists: 'lose weight, hit the gym.' So why aren't we all healthy? People who live a long time can work hard and play hard.” Under the right circumstances, it increasingly seems, so could all of us.

Marie Ashdown, 90, has lived in New York City for nearly 60 years, in an apartment on the east side of Manhattan. New York has beaten down younger people than her, but Ashdown, executive director of the Musicians Emergency Fund, loves city life. “I have a fire in my belly,” she says. “There's not one minute of the day that I don't learn.”

As a classical-music connoisseur, Ashdown organizes two concerts a year at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. When she's not working, she takes weekend trips outside of the city, and spends her free time binding old books. Like many New Yorkers several decades her junior, she often orders takeout rather than bother with cooking. “We have the best and worst here,” says Ashdown. “We learn to cope, live on the defensive and conquer fear.”

She's hardly the only senior who loves city living. In the U.S., 80% of people ages 65 and older are now living in metropolitan areas, and according to the World Health Organization, by 2030, an estimated 60% of all people will live in cities–many of them over age 60. You may lose a little sidewalk speed and have to work harder to get up and down subway stairs, but cities increasingly rank high on both doctors' and seniors' lists of the best places to age gracefully.

Every year, the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging (CFA) ranks the best metropolitan places for successful aging, and most years, major cities sweep the top 10 spots. No wonder: cities tend to have strong health systems, opportunities for continued learning, widespread public transportation and an abundance of arts and culture. That's not to say that people can't feel isolated or lonely in cities, but you can get lonely in a country cottage too. In cities, the cure can be just outside your door.

It's that aspect–the other-people aspect–that may be the particularly challenging for some, especially as we age and families disperse. But there are answers: a 2017 study in the journal Personal Relationships found that it can be friends, not family, who matter most. The study looked at 270,000 people in nearly 100 countries and found that while both family and friends are associated with happiness and better health, as people aged, the health link remained only for people with strong friendships.

If the primacy of family has been oversold as a key to long life, so has the importance of avoiding conflict or emotional upset. Shouting back at cable news is no way to spend your golden years, but passion, it's turning out, may be more life-sustaining than apathy, engagement more than indifference.

As a group, the centenarians tested lower on neuroticism and higher on competence and extraversion. Their proxies ranked them a bit higher on neuroticism, as well as on hostility. It's impossible to draw a straight line between those strong personality traits and long life, but the authors saw a potential one, citing other studies showing that centenarians rank high on “moral righteousness,” which leads to robust temperaments that “may help centenarians adapt well to later life.”

One tip for long life that is not coming in for quite so much revisionist thinking is exercise–and some seniors are achieving remarkable things. Take Ginette Bedard, 84, of Howard Beach, N.Y.

It was a drizzly morning last Nov. 5, but that didn't stop Bedard from crossing the New York City Marathon finish line first in her age group. Bedard picked up running decades ago as a way to keep fit, but she didn't run her first marathon until she was 69 years old. “I was watching the marathon runners on TV and I was so envious,” she says. “I was thinking, I cannot do that, they are all superhumans.”

So she decided to become one of them. She began training daily until she could run the full 26.2 miles, and she's run nearly every New York City Marathon since. “It takes discipline and brainpower and dedication,” she says. “The running is hard, but the finish line is euphoria.” She now runs three hours every day along the beach.

Healthy eating is something else that may have a lot more wiggle room than we've assumed, and if there's such a thing as a longevity diet, there may be more on the menu than seniors have been told. “I have my wine and ice cream,” says Bedard without apology. Similarly, 90-year-old Ashdown phones her takeout orders into Tal Bagels on First Avenue, not some trendy vegan joint.

“It really is an issue of moderation,” says Peter Martin, a professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University, who runs an ongoing study of centenarians. Martin notes that while most centenarians eat different but generally healthy diets, one consistent thing he has picked up from work with his 100-plus crowd is breakfast. “They rarely skip breakfast,” he says. “It's often at a very specific time, and the routine is important.”

Alcohol has its place too. An August 2017 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that light to moderate alcohol use (14 or fewer drinks per week for men and seven or fewer for women) is associated with a lower risk of death compared to people who don't drink at all. If you're a nondrinker, that's no reason to start, and if you drink only infrequently, it's no reason to drink more. Still, among the more than 333,000 people in the study, light and moderate drinkers were 20% less likely to die from any cause during the study period compared with their completely abstemious peers.

There's also an argument for letting go of diet obsessiveness, especially if you're at a reasonably healthy weight already. A 2016 study found that women over age 50 who were categorized as normal weight, but reported fluctuating (dropping more than 10 lb. and gaining it back at least three times) were 3½ times more likely to experience sudden cardiac death than those whose weight stayed the same. The takeaway: simply stay in a healthy range; striving for a smaller size isn't necessarily doing you any longevity favors.

Finally, as long as seniors are enjoying themselves with some indulgent food and drink, they may as well round out the good-times trifecta with a little sex. It's no secret that remaining sexually active has been linked to life satisfaction and, in some cases, longer life. One celebrated study, published in the British Medical Journal in 1997, followed 918 men in a Welsh town for 10 years and found that those with a higher frequency of orgasm had a 50% reduced risk of mortality. Friedman and his colleagues, working with the Terman group, found something similar–though not quite as dramatic–for women. A 2016 study from Michigan State University was less sanguine, finding that older men who had sex once a week or more were almost twice as likely to suffer a cardiovascular event than men who had less sex; that was especially so if the more active men were satisfied with the sex, which often means they achieved orgasm. For older women, sex seemed to be protective against cardiovascular event.

The problem for the men was likely overexertion, but there are ways around that. “Older adults have to realize that it's intimacy that's important,” says Dr. Gary Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. “If the focus is on pleasure rather than achieving orgasm each time, it can be fulfilling.”

There is an admitted bumper-sticker quality to dictum like that, but compared with the familiar age-related wisdom–take it slow, watch your diet, stay cheerful–it's bracing. There are, Kennedy says, no truly healthy centenarians; you can't put 100 points on the board without getting worn out and banged up along the way. But there are independent centenarians and happy centenarians and centenarians who have had a rollicking good ride. The same is true for people who will never reach the 100-year mark but make the very most of the time they do get. The end of life is a nonnegotiable thing. The quality and exact length of that life, however, is something we very much have the power to shape.

–With reporting by AMANDA MACMILLAN

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warlust · 6 years

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The Surprising Secrets to Living Longer-And Better

[brightcove:5596869363001 default]

Marie Ashdown, 90, has lived in New York City for nearly 60 years, in an apartment on the east side of Manhattan. New York has beaten down younger people than her, but Ashdown, executive director of the Musicians Emergency Fund, loves city life. “I have a fire in my belly,” she says. “There's not one minute of the day that I don't learn.”

Every year, the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging (CFA) ranks the best metropolitan places for successful aging, and most years, major cities sweep the top 10 spots. No wonder: cities tend to have strong health systems, opportunities for continued learning, widespread public transportation and an abundance of arts and culture. That's not to say that people can't feel isolated or lonely in cities, but you can get lonely in a country cottage too. In cities, the cure can be just outside your door.

If the primacy of family has been oversold as a key to long life, so has the importance of avoiding conflict or emotional upset. Shouting back at cable news is no way to spend your golden years, but passion, it's turning out, may be more life-sustaining than apathy, engagement more than indifference.

As a group, the centenarians tested lower on neuroticism and higher on competence and extraversion. Their proxies ranked them a bit higher on neuroticism, as well as on hostility. It's impossible to draw a straight line between those strong personality traits and long life, but the authors saw a potential one, citing other studies showing that centenarians rank high on “moral righteousness,” which leads to robust temperaments that “may help centenarians adapt well to later life.”

One tip for long life that is not coming in for quite so much revisionist thinking is exercise–and some seniors are achieving remarkable things. Take Ginette Bedard, 84, of Howard Beach, N.Y.

“It really is an issue of moderation,” says Peter Martin, a professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University, who runs an ongoing study of centenarians. Martin notes that while most centenarians eat different but generally healthy diets, one consistent thing he has picked up from work with his 100-plus crowd is breakfast. “They rarely skip breakfast,” he says. “It's often at a very specific time, and the routine is important.”

Alcohol has its place too. An August 2017 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that light to moderate alcohol use (14 or fewer drinks per week for men and seven or fewer for women) is associated with a lower risk of death compared to people who don't drink at all. If you're a nondrinker, that's no reason to start, and if you drink only infrequently, it's no reason to drink more. Still, among the more than 333,000 people in the study, light and moderate drinkers were 20% less likely to die from any cause during the study period compared with their completely abstemious peers.

–With reporting by AMANDA MACMILLAN

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tuesdayswithyou · 6 years

Text

The Surprising Secrets to Living Longer-And Better

[brightcove:5596869363001 default]

Marie Ashdown, 90, has lived in New York City for nearly 60 years, in an apartment on the east side of Manhattan. New York has beaten down younger people than her, but Ashdown, executive director of the Musicians Emergency Fund, loves city life. “I have a fire in my belly,” she says. “There's not one minute of the day that I don't learn.”

Every year, the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging (CFA) ranks the best metropolitan places for successful aging, and most years, major cities sweep the top 10 spots. No wonder: cities tend to have strong health systems, opportunities for continued learning, widespread public transportation and an abundance of arts and culture. That's not to say that people can't feel isolated or lonely in cities, but you can get lonely in a country cottage too. In cities, the cure can be just outside your door.

If the primacy of family has been oversold as a key to long life, so has the importance of avoiding conflict or emotional upset. Shouting back at cable news is no way to spend your golden years, but passion, it's turning out, may be more life-sustaining than apathy, engagement more than indifference.

As a group, the centenarians tested lower on neuroticism and higher on competence and extraversion. Their proxies ranked them a bit higher on neuroticism, as well as on hostility. It's impossible to draw a straight line between those strong personality traits and long life, but the authors saw a potential one, citing other studies showing that centenarians rank high on “moral righteousness,” which leads to robust temperaments that “may help centenarians adapt well to later life.”

One tip for long life that is not coming in for quite so much revisionist thinking is exercise–and some seniors are achieving remarkable things. Take Ginette Bedard, 84, of Howard Beach, N.Y.

“It really is an issue of moderation,” says Peter Martin, a professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University, who runs an ongoing study of centenarians. Martin notes that while most centenarians eat different but generally healthy diets, one consistent thing he has picked up from work with his 100-plus crowd is breakfast. “They rarely skip breakfast,” he says. “It's often at a very specific time, and the routine is important.”

Alcohol has its place too. An August 2017 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that light to moderate alcohol use (14 or fewer drinks per week for men and seven or fewer for women) is associated with a lower risk of death compared to people who don't drink at all. If you're a nondrinker, that's no reason to start, and if you drink only infrequently, it's no reason to drink more. Still, among the more than 333,000 people in the study, light and moderate drinkers were 20% less likely to die from any cause during the study period compared with their completely abstemious peers.

–With reporting by AMANDA MACMILLAN

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valterbecks · 6 years

Text

The Surprising Secrets to Living Longer-And Better

[brightcove:5596869363001 default]

Marie Ashdown, 90, has lived in New York City for nearly 60 years, in an apartment on the east side of Manhattan. New York has beaten down younger people than her, but Ashdown, executive director of the Musicians Emergency Fund, loves city life. “I have a fire in my belly,” she says. “There's not one minute of the day that I don't learn.”

Every year, the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging (CFA) ranks the best metropolitan places for successful aging, and most years, major cities sweep the top 10 spots. No wonder: cities tend to have strong health systems, opportunities for continued learning, widespread public transportation and an abundance of arts and culture. That's not to say that people can't feel isolated or lonely in cities, but you can get lonely in a country cottage too. In cities, the cure can be just outside your door.

If the primacy of family has been oversold as a key to long life, so has the importance of avoiding conflict or emotional upset. Shouting back at cable news is no way to spend your golden years, but passion, it's turning out, may be more life-sustaining than apathy, engagement more than indifference.

As a group, the centenarians tested lower on neuroticism and higher on competence and extraversion. Their proxies ranked them a bit higher on neuroticism, as well as on hostility. It's impossible to draw a straight line between those strong personality traits and long life, but the authors saw a potential one, citing other studies showing that centenarians rank high on “moral righteousness,” which leads to robust temperaments that “may help centenarians adapt well to later life.”

One tip for long life that is not coming in for quite so much revisionist thinking is exercise–and some seniors are achieving remarkable things. Take Ginette Bedard, 84, of Howard Beach, N.Y.

“It really is an issue of moderation,” says Peter Martin, a professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University, who runs an ongoing study of centenarians. Martin notes that while most centenarians eat different but generally healthy diets, one consistent thing he has picked up from work with his 100-plus crowd is breakfast. “They rarely skip breakfast,” he says. “It's often at a very specific time, and the routine is important.”

Alcohol has its place too. An August 2017 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that light to moderate alcohol use (14 or fewer drinks per week for men and seven or fewer for women) is associated with a lower risk of death compared to people who don't drink at all. If you're a nondrinker, that's no reason to start, and if you drink only infrequently, it's no reason to drink more. Still, among the more than 333,000 people in the study, light and moderate drinkers were 20% less likely to die from any cause during the study period compared with their completely abstemious peers.

–With reporting by AMANDA MACMILLAN

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