Color in the Clouds

Hi there! This is my blog, where I share and repost fandom content plus relevant real-world stuff. Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and LotR fan. Occasional writer and conlanger. Budding physicist and philosopher. Solidarist. She/her. My username and blog title speak to the need to find the good that can come out of every situation. In fandom, this means finding the "happy faults" in canon that allow us to write fix fics; in the real world, it means learning from both our successes and our failures to discern the best path forward.

[chromanebula]

We Are Here For You

I know a lot of you are worried, sad, and angry about what has just happened in American politics. 

Maybe you yourself are in a bad place, and would face great hardship if you were to get pregnant right now. Maybe you fear the same for a friend, or a group of people you love, now that abortion is no longer a (legal) option in some states. But please know that whatever your situation, there is still hope. Planned Parenthood clinics will still be open to offer free/low-cost birth control, including long-acting implants and IUDs,* as well as other services.  Even more importantly, many private charities and/or public programs in all states are hard at work addressing the tragedies like poverty, healthcare disparities, abuse, and assault that can make pregnancy so trying in the first place. Regardless of the legal status of abortion, they will stay open to serve those in need.

My friend has compiled a list of resources here. In addition, if you are in a crisis situation--pregnancy-related or not, in the U.S. or elsewhere, in a red or blue state--please reach out to me, and I can listen to you and help connect you with the support you need. You can DM me on Tumblr, and I am also on Discord at chromanebula#9540. 

We are here for you. Now and always.

*(Just please be aware that if you have an IUD and know/suspect that you’re pregnant anyway, there’s a significant risk it is ectopic--especially if you have any of these warning signs--and you will need emergency medical treatment. Regular abortion procedures WILL NOT suffice, and may even make it worse.)

[chromanebula]

Pope: Easter drives out hatred and brings down the mighty - Vatican News

At the Easter Vigil Mass in the Vatican, Pope Leo says that “God responds to the hardness of sin – which divides and kills – with the power

"God responds to the hardness of sin – which divides and kills – with the power of love, which unites and restores life... [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary witness] the power of God’s love, stronger than any force of evil … Humanity can kill the body, but the life of the God of love is eternal life, which transcends death and which no tomb can imprison."

[chromanebula]

The Lord's right hand hath struck with power; the Lord's right hand is exalted! We shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

[chromanebula]

Reference: Psalm 118, "This Is The Day"

[gsirvitor]

[im-not-here-achitchuchaly]

"You're telling me I gotta read this whole book to understand how? Screw this movie."

[chromanebula]

Somehow Jesus returned, okay? It's a mystery!

[chromanebula]

The Lord's right hand hath struck with power; the Lord's right hand is exalted! We shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

[ahopefulbromantic]

So because Christmas is coming and there's gonna be a lot of talking about the Holy Family, let me get one thing straight:

St. Joseph is Jesus' father.

Okay? We all agree, right?

Not the biological father of course, that's God the Dad (for His godly self) and Holy Spirit (for his human self). Joseph is Jesus' adoptive father. But father nonetheless. Not a "caretaker", not a "guardian", not a "protector". A FATHER.

Please do not erase the importance of adoptive parents, please do not perpetuate the idea that they are something less than biological ones. Joseph raised Him and cared for Him and loved Him like any parent should. He. is. His. dad. Jesus gets to have two dads! As a treat!

alt under the cut

[ahopefulbromantic]

Reblogging this for the feast of the dad ever!!! Happy Two Dads As A Treat Day!

[just-shower-thoughts]

I hate that SEPTember OCTOber NOVember and DECember aren’t the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th months.

[advanced-procrastination]

Whoever fucked this up should be stabbed

[maybe-its-jake]

Today’s your lucky day

[lj-writes]

I get emotional about the fact that Finn grew his hair longer and is finding his own style. In addition to looking amazing, it’s meaningful to his character and the worldbuilding in a way few style/design changes in SW have been, except maybe Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader or Kylo’s unmasking, both of which marked changes for the worse and made the universe a darker place. Finn’s change is the opposite. Obviously he was not allowed individual style as a cadet and Stormtrooper–all the Stormtroopers had very short hair regardless of gender, and their hair like everything else about them was strictly utilitarian. They couldn’t even take off their helmets without permission.

Against this background, Finn growing and styling his hair in ways that he would never ever have been allowed to in the FO is indicative of how he is becoming more settled in his personhood and individuality despites a systematic decades-long attempt to stomp both out of him. The distinct pleasure he felt at seeing the unhelmeted faces of his teammates during mealtimes became a full-time reality as he sought out expressions of his individuality, in his hair, his clothes, perhaps his bearing and more. He is truly coming into his own, as John Boyega promised.

Finn’s development also implies, on a larger scale, that the Stormtrooper program itself is a failure. You can’t turn people into machines no matter how they are “programmed from birth,” as Hux revoltingly put it. “We know that a man is not a thing,” as James Baldwin said, and “We know that a baby does not come into the world merely to be the instrument of someone else’s profit.” Finn’s entire being, from his life story to literally the tips of his hair, is a testament to that truth, the fundamental indomitability of people’s spirits.

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

PSA: new type of bots plaguing AO3’s comments section.

as obvious as it is that these are all bots/scam, I believe there are still people who believe they are legit and fall victims to these trolls. so if you get a comment like these, don’t panic, don’t delete your works. they are all bots. you’re fine.

MORE ABOUT SCAMS ON AO3

[margindoodles2407]

chick-fil-a chick-fil-ae chick-fil-ae chick-fil-arum chick-fil-ae chick-fil-is chick-fil-am chick-fil-as chick-fil-a chick-fil-is

[klngfili]

merry the fellowship leaves rivendell day to all who celebrate it

[kindredspiritsnotsorare]

Almost like hope for evils ultimate defeat starts with something Christmas something

[chromanebula]

Frodo is the first coming of Christ. Aragorn is the second.

[draconym]

Going to a seder at a family friend's place tonight and I have been informed multiple times that someone there has changed her name to Stephanie, but because it seems nobody wants to deadname her, nobody has specified who Stephanie is. So I guess I'm just going to get a surprise Stephanie when I arrive.

[draconym]

I am among the first people to arrive which means I get to play a fun process of elimination game. It is not the family's youngest child so I think that leaves two more. Unless Stephanie is an aunt or a niece or something.

[draconym]

Have learned that Stephanie is the eldest child. Which is very convenient for me because she is the one family member whose name I could not remember anyway.

[draconym]

[trankinstein]

Less magic schools. More magic universities. Unlearn the simplified models of your secondary education. Discover how to reference scrolls written by a wizard possessed by a different wizard. Identify bias in the voices that whisper from beyond the veil. Have your institution be accused of promoting a Merlinist agenda. Become addicted to energy potions.

[earhartsease]

start an onlyacolytes account to pay for tuition

[chromanebula]

Violence isn't something we as a nation can afford to normalize. It certainly isn't the Christian way.

But, dear God...DELIVER US FROM EVIL, or else our footsteps will stray further and further from the way of peace.

[lunarblazes]

after a lifetime of hearing about aragorn but not reading the books or watching the movies, genuinely nothing could have prepared me for his actual introduction. the hobbits picked this man out of a dumpster. he is a textbook softspoken angst prince and he is covered in dirt and he probably smells so bad. he’s the coolest man alive and is so casual about it. his number one skill is Knowing Where They Are and his number two skill is Having A Horrible Destiny That Torments Him. tolkien got it in one i’m afraid aragorn son of arathorn you are the guy of all time

[miss-nerd-alert]

And then the movies went and understood the assignment by casting Viggo Mortensen.

Described by legendary fight choreographer and Olympic fencer Bob Anderson as “the best swordsman I’ve ever trained”, and insisted on using a real steel sword to get the movement right. Actually bonded with the horses he rode and worked with over the course of filming. Was noted by cast members as being the natural leader of the actors when they were together. Went hiking and fishing in full costume for the sake of authenticity, even repairing damage to the costumes himself to better convey the life of a self-reliant ranger. Actually learned Sindarin, and speaks it more frequently in the films than any other character including the elves. Is an actual polyglot, speaking four languages fluently and having a passing knowledge of six more. Personally composed and performed music for the soundtrack.

They needed someone to play the guy of all time, and they actually GOT the guy of all time.

[ryttu3k]

Didn't just bond with the horses, he bought the horse that played Brego after the movie. (He also bought the horse that Arwen's stunt double rode for her.)

During the fight with the orcs at the end of Fellowship, one of the orcs is meant to throw a knife at Aragorn. There was a mix-up with the props and the orc actor threw an actual knife instead of the blunt prop. Mortensen casually managed to block it with his sword anyway.

As well as hand-repairing his costume, he also was the one who suggested Aragorn have a small bow for hunting, since he lived in the wilderness and would need one. No one else had thought of it.

It was also his suggestion to take Boromir's arm guards and make everyone cry.

He and Peter Jackson once had a whole conversation where Jackson called him 'Aragorn'. Neither of them noticed for about half an hour.

[elfwreck]

In one of the collectible artbooks (I can't track it down now; there are a LOT of photo & artbooks), he was the only person not photographed touching the ring - he held it on a chain. Everyone else held it up and looked at it.

[chromanebula]

Don't want to drive traffic to X with an actual link, but this was so great I just had to post it.

[chromanebula]

[Image Description: A Twitter post from "Otto Von Tweetmarck": "Extremely funny to accidentally elect a Pope because everyone settled on the same guy as their initial throwaway vote to figure out what the factions were."

Below screenshot: "The cardinals in conclave, most of whom opposed a return to Rome, demanded of Cardinal de Comminges, whose election seemed assured, the promise to remain at Avignon. His refusal precipitated an unexpected canvass for candidates. On the first ballot, 20 December 1334, many electors, intending to sound the mind of the conclave, voted for the unlikely Cardinal Fournier, who, though he was one of the few men of real merit in the college, was but lightly regarded because of his obscure origin and lack of wealth and following. He amazed the conclave by receiving the necessary two-thirds vote. On 8 January 1335, he was enthroned as Benedict XII." (cite note 7)]

[chromanebula]

Don't want to drive traffic to X with an actual link, but this was so great I just had to post it.