Xuebing Du
Not today Justin
Game of Thrones Daily
Jules of Nature
roma★
Mike Driver
trying on a metaphor
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
d e v o n
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One Nice Bug Per Day
tumblr dot com
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
$LAYYYTER
Product Placement
⁂
@theartofmadeline
pixel skylines
if i look back, i am lost
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@badartonpurpose
Hey Guys! I will be deactivating this blog soon, since it is attached to my old main & I wanted a new start. Since I don’t write too too often I’ll just post my stories on my new blog @nightwindhowls
Check it out if you’d like :)
You are a shapeshifter that is unable to transform into an animal or magical beast. Instead for better or worse you are only able to transform into inanimate objects.
At 20 my abilities presented themselves. At first it wasn't very useful, a party trick, nothing more. As you know, some people get abilities, some useful some not, some earlier than others. We all know someone who didn't figure theirs out until retirement, and I didn't really find my true enjoyment of mine until then either.
Like many college students I was pretty broke, so occasionally I'd turn myself into a tea kettle, for my roomate who was having a bad day and wanted tea made properly, or to make do for whatever we couldn't afford to buy - a ravioli press, a wrench that was just the right size, a replacement phone charger. I'm sure you can image the others.
Once I even turned myself into a shoe so I could fit in someone else's suitcase to fly home. Which was not ideal - it's boring being an object, still left with your thoughts, no way to interact with the world. For short periods of time it's fine, but a three hour flight plus the time in the airport with no chance for a break was too much. I pleaded with my mom to buy me a ticket back.
At 25, I went to the bank. While I was in line, there was a stickup. I was able to turn myself into a pen and escape notice. While I was relieved that I was able to escape unharmed, I wish I was quick enough, smart enough to have turned into something that would've help the situation. A wall or a shield or something. Though if I get broken inform, it can damage me as well, which might have just caused me to get hurt and the situation to be escalated, especially with something so flashy. But situations like that don't happen very often, so I've learned to live with my choices, and no one got hurt, which made it a little easier.
At 30, my niece was 3, and had trouble sleeping. It was driving her parents insane and they needed sleep as well. We cuddled on the couch watching movies until we both got tired as she fell asleep and a little before I did, I turned into a bed, and we both sleep sound and deep. This did prompt more sleep overs though. As the years past, our sleep overs became more of the talking until you fall asleep kind and I was greatful for the closeness we shared, especially after she got over that rough patch and I know longer had to be the bed.
I jumped from career to career, trying everything under the sun. I liked the variety the change. Maybe it's being a shapeshifter that makes change so appealing, but I had a hard time staying in one place or one form for long.
At 60, I retired. For the last leg I worked at a museum. I liked the idea of all the unusual things I could turn into. Modern art has crazy shapes in its design, history has a lot of objects with unclear purposes, or things that don't really exist today.
Now that I'm retired I've gotten into self portraits, if you want to call them that, I guess still life also works. But I love being able to use my creativity and create the wild images you see here. So take your time, and have a look around.
Fire Lord Zuko passing a law that forbids challenging anyone under the age of majority to Agni Kai
Fire Lord Zuko waiting until the day he reaches the age of majority to pass this law, lest anyone think he is a coward
(No one. Literally no one would have thought that, but it’s generally regarded as a very classy move regardless)
Wait but also, until then, if anyone under the age of majority is challenged
Zuko fights it for them.
Which, especially in more rural towns (where Agni Kais are less of a public event and more of a fast and violent duel) is terrifying because you challenge your neighbor’s kid over a stolen chicken-fish and all of a sudden the Fire Lord is showing up???
But, those few who still challenge those who should be kids learn quickly to regret it.
Okay but this implies that Zuko knows whenever someone challenges a kid to an Agni Kai and is there before the battle takes place.
Firelord Zuko: *wakes up in a cold sweat near midnight*
Firelord Zuko: *running down the palace hallways while still struggling to put in his pants, being chased by his team of bodyguards* I’M GOING TO HING WA ISLAND TO KICK SOMEBODY’S ASS SEE YOU IN A WEEK BITCHES
Random spirit: Why’d you do that to him? Isn’t it kind of a stretch for a mortal to be blessed like that?
Agni himself: I felt like it
@dead-fandom-society @evilkitten3
how dare you leave this gold in the notes
@contacting-u omg 😂
tops wins the agni kai anyway
Zuko and Toph are both unable to make it, so Katara shows up and just stares this overly buff firebender down like:
That town disavows Agni Kais from that moment on.
(Zuko later reads the town’s collective apology like, ”Katara, what did you do?” “Your father’s not the only one who can roast people.”)
Toph learns that you can create a spark using stones and could feel the gap in the earth below, figured out it was probably a pocket of gas. (After all sokka's bragged about the hot air balloon thing and she knows what other pockets feel like). So it's still technically bending, that creates fire, so that has to count right? At least its hard to argue with, especially after she's won.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
— Thomas A. Edison (via treygocray)
I disagree, and depending on the context, I would even say this is unhealthy advice. Our greatest strength lies in ‘knowing’ when to give up and when not to. If you want to improve the quality of your life, then knowing when to quit, when to give up on something or someone, is just as important a skill, if not more, as knowing when to persevere. The most certain way to succeed (in life) is to know yourself, set your ego aside, use common sense, account for your weaknesses, and play your strengths.
Claire walks into the physical therapy office to pick up her soon to be wife, Alice. She glances over to where Alice is struggling to take a few steps with crutches.
Alice was wheelchair bound before she met Claire 4 years ago. She can stand for brief, painful seconds, usually reserved for trips to the bathroom or getting in and out of the tub. But Alice's mother wanted her daughter to have a Normal Wedding.
And this meant encouraging Alice to attend physical therapy and strengthen her body. The doctors said that after months of therapy she could look forward to being strong enough to walk down the isle.
But this didn't seem to lessen the pain, mused Claire, as she watched Alice pant and grimace before finally sitting down.
"You ready to go, babe?"
"Yeah just about" Alice replied.
That night, as they were sitting on the couch Claire said, "You know you don't have to this"
"I know, but I don't want to give up". Alice sighed, they had this conversation before. And she was bone tired from therapy. Part of her wanted to prove she was strong enough, that she could grit her teeth and get through this. Another part of her just didn't want to deal with the backlash from her mother and risk being bad mouthed by her mother at her own wedding.
But she was tired. All of this work, sweat, and pain, just so she could take 23 painful steps down the isle? And why? Claire knew she was in a wheelchair. Her guests all knew she was in one too.
"I know, and I know we've had this conversation before," Claire said, interrupting Alice's thoughts. "Buuuut I was talking to my friend the other day. Sam? You know the one whose into cosplay?
She said she'd be able to make a cover for your wheelchair, and customize it to our colors. And she had some other ideas to make it more beautiful as well. You might consider giving them a call."
Alice thought about it, and did. Sam was able to give her some great ideas, and they showed her some pictures of beautiful wheelchair bound brides as well.
Alice mulled it over, and decided to stick with therapy for another month before making her final decision.
Once that month was up, she decided to give up. While she was strong the pain was still there, it hadn't faded. Plus some of those designs were really cute. She loved flowers, and adding flowers to the spokes seemed amazing. Maybe she'd keep them there afterward.
When the wedding came, Claire watched her bride roll down the isle opposite from her with pride, as the met in the middle of their family and friends.
The ceremony went off without a hitch, and the two of them smiled and laughed their way through the evening,and into the night.
A year later, on their anniversary, Alice was still satisified with her decision. She would've been in pain, on what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life, and wouldn't have had the energy to socialize afterward, and enjoy the night to the extent that she had.
She was glad that she reached out to Sam for their help. After all, she remarked to herself, we have to give up doing it on our own in order to accept help.
the poetic cinema in the movie Holes when it shows Kate Barlow in the schoolhouse and drops of water are falling on the book she’s reading and you think the roof is leaking again even though Sam fixed it but then it shows that it’s actually because she’s crying and then Sam walks in and looks at her tear stained face with the softest expression and says, “i can fix that.”
The subplot of Holes was hands down the greatest love story of our generation
Had me shook as a kid
I loved the subplot, I've often only wanted to watch that story arc.
I'm not fond of extending movies for no reason, but it totally could be.
Plus that could lead to a trilogy with each movie a different genre. (Why don't we have more of those?)
The trilogy:
Movie 1: Romance - school teacher falls in love, a pretty clasic love story with some comentary about racism, about to end with a kiss. But then you look at the run time and realize there are still 15 minutes left. Ends with her shooting the sheriff.
Movie 2: Western - Kissing Kate shenanagins, honestly the just did a montage in the movie so you could expand a lot here. Also would go into Stanley's great great grandfather's story a little so we have a segue for the final movie.
Movie 3: Coming of Age - The main plot of holes, the hole (pun very intended) Madam Zeroni piece, weaving the other 2 movies together, slowly realizing all of the connections, like who the warden and zero are related to, peaches and onions, etc, tying up all of the loose ends
1. Gold earrings from the Greek island of Sifnos, 17th-18th century.
2. Queen Elizabeth I’s ship pendant necklace, ca 1580
3. English, ca. 1620
4. German, ca 1600
5. English, Second half of 16th century
6. European/ maybe Venice, probably second half 19th Century
7. German, ca. 1570
8. French, probably late 19th century
It took a lot of time but humanity finally manages to make it to the galactic community and at first we were welcomed. A new species is always interesting and out primitive technology was not that uncommon. There had been other species who come from resource poor sectors. If anything it was a badge of honor to make it across the stars when your sector lacks some of the vital resources that make space travel practical
But then everything changes when humans mentioned sleep .Nobody could understand what they meant. At first everybody thought that it was a translation error but soon it became clear that sleep was unknown throughout the whole galaxy. Every time the humans tried to explained it left every single other species baffled. Being immobile and helpless for almost a third of a cycle? Hallucinating? It made no sense. And when humans told them that almost every species on Earth also slept Earth quickly became known as “The Planet Where Evolution Went Wrong”. Humans went from scrappy go-getters who made it to the stars almost on pure will alone to the butt of every joke. “At least I am not human” became one of the common phrases in the universe
Still humanity didn’t give up. They wanted to be among the stars and tried their best and then some. But nobody wanted to really work with humans. Often it wasn’t evne a prejudice thing but simply a practical matter. Why would anyone want workers who spent a third of a cycle immoboile and who’s health and sanity would break down if they didn’t get their “sleep” regularly”. So human became the cheap labour of galaxy. Working the worst jobs and accepting the worst possible conditions and pay because after all three humans equaled about a normal worker and if humans were willing to work for 1/3 of the pay why not let them?
Nobody understood why humans were so desperate to belong in a society that was clearly not meant for them. It’s not like the Galactic Community would abandon Earth. Interstellar Society provided technology free of charge to all worlds. Human could have a safe happy live in their home with all the comfort and advantages of modern technology so why would they go through all this just to be in a society where they clearly have no place? Where they are at a constant disadvantage? Where they have to work the worst jobs just to exist? One of those jobs was on the Qyr’yiop transport freighter. It transported medical supplies to remote planets and colonies. Transport routes like this were always dangerous because they were juicy targets for pirates. And this was indeed the fate of the Qyr’iop today. Pirates had boarded them and had killed most of the crew already. Human had been sleeping in their tiny isolated quarters so they were overlooked in the initial attack but they knew that it was only a matter of time until they were found. So they did the only thing they could do. Hijacked the navigation controls and did the one thing you NEVER ever do on a spaceships, steered it into a Dead Zone. It was the first thing they taught you to avoid on any ship. Dead Zones were large sectors of the galaxy that had a dangerous radiation that made it impossible for anything sentient to pass through. Even a few seconds turned your mind into mush. It was a painful and horrible way to die and there was no defense against it. Even the most heavily shielded military ships could last at most an hour in the Dead Zones. The only ships allowed inside were fully automated vessels but they tended to be highly unreliable.
So the humans thought that if they were going to die they might as well take the people who killed their friends with them and full burn right into the Dead Zone. A week later Galactic Space Patrol used an automated drone to retrieve the stranded ship and give the crew a proper burial. When they open the doors they expected to see the dead crew , what they did not expect to see were humans jumping around in joy
“You found us! Thank you so much. The engine malfunctioned and we were dead in the water for a week now. We thought we would be goners for sure when we couldn’t repair the communication system”
“How are you alive!?? You have been in the Dead Zone for a week!” exclaimed the astounded Captain
“We have Whoa.. I thought we missed it!”
“I told you that those weird nightmares we had the first few days were not natural Jared! You never listen to me”
“What is a nightmare”? asked the baffled Captain
“Oh you know it’s this…how to describe it. It usually is a feeling of complete terror and panic and feeling you are helpless and in a horrible place”
“Yes that’s the first stage of Sentient Annihilation in the Dead Zones. It comes right before death. You should all be dead”
“No my dude that’s just a normal part of sleep”
And that day everything changed. Humans became the only species who could venture in the Dead Zones and even build colonies there. Humans became the most valuable resources in the Galaxy. Every species wanted a human representative who would claim part of the Dead Zones for them. Entire new travel routes all over the galaxy opened with the humans ability to easily get in and out of Dead Zones with merely a mild discomfort. And scientists from all over the Galaxy converged on Earth and tried to find out what sleep truly is and why all life on a planet had evolved a way to survive in Dead Zones.
Happy Halloween 🦇🎃🦇
Once a name is written in a Book of the Dead, it cannot be edited. Apparently your name was erroneously submitted, despite the fact that you’re very much alive. This is the 4th time today that yet another Reaper is checking up on you to see if you died yet.
It was another Tuesday. Work, gym, eat, then watch some TV before bed.
Kelly walked to the bus stop. To an outsider it would appear to be empty.
"Hey Stranger!" She called.
The hooded figure waved. "Still not dead yet?" they said with a grin.
"Nope!" Kelly smiled. "But those DEAD-lifts were bruital".
The hooded figure grimanced and shook his head.
"Yeah, your buddy didn't like that one either". After a pause she asked, "I know y'all don't usually give out your names to mortals. I guess they are usually to scared to ask. I know I was" Kelly said remembering her first encounter with a grim reaper. "Any way we can get around it?"
"The name thing or our visits?" The hooded figure asked.
"We've tried all we can, but we still have no clue how your name ended up in the book, let alone how to fix it" They said sadly. "And honestly my name is a little hard for me to access here".
Their eyes were scanning, caught up in the lives that they had and would lead to the after world that day. As their focused turned back to Kelly, the sadness lingered in their eyes. The end was full of pain and fear for almost everyone, as most everyone has something to lose.
Kelly recognized the look.
"Time for you to go?" She asked. She hugged them farewell.
...
As the months past, the cut their visits down from every couple of hours, to three times a day. Kelly was okay with waiting a while when she did die, to have her life a little less interupted. She already got the occasional look for 'talking to herself'.
Kelly gave each of the reapers nicknames, 'buddy', 'pal', 'dear', 'stranger', 'man' and 'friend-o-mine'. There were six who routinely worked her area. Some days they would just nod or have a ten second conversation, but others they'd talk about other things. Slowly learning not only their interests, but their personality and how they viewed the world.
Kelly found ways to make them feel a little more apart of this world. As most people who are apart of two different worlds, they struggled feeling included in either. But between growing more familiar with one another and finding the ways they could interact with the world made them feel better bit by bit. Unsurprisingly food was a big one.
And the lightness they felt when they saw her!
On Kelly's good days they got to experience the joy she felt, ranging from the warmth of a fresh cup of cider to seeing her artwork purchased from the gallery.
And on her bad days, which everyone has, they were able to use all of their second hand experiences for once and for someone who still had the opportunity to grow and change, but most importantly to show her that she was not alone.
Kelly grew older and older. She accomplished many of her life goals, some shifting as time went on, helped others and had many adventures, but as time went on, she started to feel that there wasn't many adventures left to have, and her ability to help others was shrinking as she now was the one who needed help as her body started to weaken.
As her days were drawing close to an end, her 'not yet' s became more somber, then more questioning.
"You dead?" The hooded not-so-much-a-stranger asked.
"Either that pal, or my painkillers kicked in" Kelly said, trying to stay focused on the sound of their voice. "Would I know?"
"Yes, I dare say you'd know. Everyone does, though some still try to deny it". They kissed Kelly's forehead gently, in a familial, comforting way as she drifted out of focus once more. They wondered is she'd ask again, they have been having this conversation a lot lately.
...
"Hey Stranger," Kelly called out, sitting up with ease she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Hey there, you dead?"
"I think I finally am" Kelly said with a soft smile.
"Are you scared?"
"With you by my side, how could I be? I'm glad I have you here."
The two old friends shared a smile.
After a brief pause, Kelly hesitantly asked, "Actually, there is one thing that is making me nervous. Will I still be able to see you and the other in the after world? I've had a chance to say my goodbyes to all the people here on earth, but I never knew when, or if my ending would part with you, and the others".
"Hey you should know by now that I can't tell you anything about the after world until we get there"
"What? Still? I thou-"
They cut her off with a look. "Come on, you know the rule don't change for the dead."
"Plus we are nearly there" They said with a huge smile that answered her question, guiding her forward.
Among us - Humans are weird
It was a slow day on their trip to Skavi'll. They crew was on their way to deliver their cargo across the galaxy. Even with the advances in technology, it would still take a month or two in order to reach Skavi'll and deliver their goods, with very few rest stops on their way.
Even though they were only 10 earth days into their journey, their assignments to keep the ship, well, ship-shape, were already monotonous. Especially to the humans. The Krall were more inclined to find comfort in the routine, as was their ways. The humans on the other hand seemed more inclined to squabble, over who was slacking off, even though doing so made them more at risk to slack off themselves.
As the humans continued to bicker, Cassie, who fell into the role of ambassador between the humans and the rest of the crew, started to brainstorm ways to resolve this. There was no official role for this, as the official guide to humans said that one would always find its way on top.
The next morning - as the ships light cycle deemed - Cassie gathered the attention of the humans at breakfast, along with a few of the crew as well.
"I know our assignments have become.." Cassie searched for the right word momentarily, not finding it he continued, "well, a real pain in the ass. We all want a break, more than our standard shipment proceedure breaks anyway. This journey is already a longer stretch than most of our trips and we are still a few days away to the next port. So I have an idea to make things a little more interesting".
"Intresting how?" Jim asked, his interest piqued.
"Well, any of you remember that ancient game Among us? My grandmother laughed her ass off the first space job I had, and said that she hoped they had OSHA in space too."
Cassie continued on, explaining that they will all have a list of assignments to do - all of their tasks randomly distributed to all of them but one. The imposter wouldn't have any tasks - a lottery break for one person. (That one person's chores broken up among the other 10 people wouldn't feel too much like an extra burden, but the person off would get a substantial break, provided they weren't caught.)
The imposter would go around trying to 'kill' the other participating crew members. They could just say "bang! you died" or hug them and say they ate them or...
Once a crew member was 'dead' they would use the holo function on their suit to change their shirt red and stay in place & not communicate with others until someone found them. Once they were found they'd still be responsible for finishing their assignments.
If the imposter managed to kill all of the players before the lunch break, then they had the rest of the day off for themselves. If the crew won, any surviving players would get to add one task or favor to the imposters plate over their journey.
All of the humans were eager to try it out. The Krall were hopeful that it would keep the squabbling at bay, and were surprised at how heated it became. But by lunch, once it was over and the imposter was vanquished - "I hope you are looking forward to cleaning my quarters" They heard someone happily jeer in the distance - there were no more arguments for the day and peace finally.
Maybe an extra break wouldn't be too bad...
Rapunzel from Tangled is Ace
She's always drawn to adventure and likes Flynn rider, but is out of touch in regards to his advances. And her approach is different when she approaches him. Flynn knows and respects her boundries, accepting her love as she gives it.
I love how any of those graphics that are like "look we finally explained the umbrella academy timelines :))" just end up making it all worse
this is especially a call-out post to that one infographic that was like super thick with all these photos and it assigned a bunch of random non-canon dates to events but I can’t find it for the life of me did she delete??
This is the only timeline I'll accept
if someone asked me “What color is your heart today? Why?” instead of “how are you” I would murder them in cold blood.
I had to hide the notifications on this and I’m sad bc the responses have been hilarious. Here are some of my faves
how long does it take zuko to convince his staff that he isn’t gonna slap, punch, beat, banish, or otherwise assault them?
that they aren’t about to lose their job (or life) over a spilled cup or broken vase?
that he’s not trying to trick them when he says they can relax the ornate and complex flattery each time they leave the room?
that he means it when he bans corporal punishment in the palace (and out of it) and that they really can come to him if someone forgets that rule?
that they haven’t upset him or wronged him when he asks to take his meal without the full serving staff of twenty watching him?
zuko is sensitive, even when he tries not to be, and watching these people be so afraid of him would break his heart. but that also means we gets to see it when they begin to open up to him.
firelord zuko who’s feeding the turtleduks when a toddler comes running over. she almost topples into the water but zuko sweeps her up before she’s in any danger. he holds her in his lap and shows her how to feed them gently. when the mother comes careening out screaming for her child she stops short at the sight of zuko and collapses into a bow, head to the floor. she begs forgiveness but zuko shakes his head, and offers his hand for her to stand. he hands over her daughter, asks the girl’s name. his guard calls him back into meetings so he leaves with a smile and a bow to both of them. it’s the first time a child hasn’t been afraid of zuko here in the fire nation, and he smiles all week
firelord zuko who spends months trying to win over the kitchen staff enough the let him make his own tea. they refuse at first (as much as one is allowed to) and stand on principle. but zuko is patient, so patient, so he begins to visit the kitchens once a week. he tells the head chef he’s going to come, it’s not a surprise. and he just thanks the staff, asks their names, maybe mentions an earth nation dish he had that’s native to a region who’s dignitaries are coming. once he’s been a few times he asks about their lives. simple things, never much more than yes or no answers; he doesn’t want to force them into speaking more than they’re comfortable just because he is their firelord. but 10 months in, and he finally convinces the guards, tasters, and head chef he can make his own tea. the head chef still insists on checking the tea as it comes in (special shipment from the jasmine dragon of course) because he’s been working in the palace for a long time and he’s seen many leaders but zuko is the first firelord he’s actually wanted to serve. and he’s seen this 18 year old kid trying so damn hard to help the palace and nation heal, tying so hard to win favor with his dishwashers, that he wants to keep safe. he may not prepare the tea, but not a leaf gets to the firelord that isn’t personally checked by him.
and in a couple years, the permeating sense of fear and dread begins to leech out of the palace. maybe the maids start humming in the corridors, maybe the washer women laugh and talk as they go about their business, maybe the royal dressers don’t flinch at the scars all across their young leaders skin anymore
maybe the country is being run by a smart, kind, genuine young man who works tirelessly to restore their honor as people of the fire nation. zuko brings music, art, poetry, dancing and life back to the fire nation. he teaches the wisdom he learned from the sun warriors and old masters: fire isn’t just hate and death. it can be life, light, a sun blazing inside you and he fosters that light in his people. so they can shed the last 100 years of hatred together and foster a new nation of peace
I really love this. It's slow and gradual, but in my mind, I think the people might be like "thank God, and ounce of kindness" and all their stress would drop away.
So it might go something like this:
It's Zuko's coronation day. It's been a little over a year since Azula's. The staff are prepared for the Need for Perfection and that even those who have been as collected as Azula to snap.
Zuko has servants preparing for the event, as with all events, there are things that could not be prepared for, or otherwise have gone astray.
Yet with every problem that it is brought up to him, when he asks the palace staff to make an adjust he always says a genuine please and thank you. (And jumps in to take care of one or two things himself - he's probably the best person to convince Toph to return the architecture to it's orginal state now).
The same goes to those who make his breakfast and help him get dressed in the correct ceramonial garb. They are met with a please and thank you - something Ozai never said.
And even on that day of great importance, not only his corination, but showing how much the fire nation has changed, and how much it plans to grow, mistakes are met with compassion. Even the assassin whose fail attempt was brought to Zuko's attention, was given the harshest punishment, was sent to the dragon of the west to handle (and we know how it went with the mugger in ba sing se).
After that day, any fear of Zuko acting out of anger, fear, or pride disappeared almost overnight. His nature set the tone like Ozai's did before him, but just as Zuko had replaced the impacts of his father's cruelty with kindness, he led his nation down that same path of recovery.
