a sleep deprived gremlin

they/them | disaster queer | this is my writeblr? I guess? [EDIT 18/04/22: HAAA YOU THOUGHT]

[littlestpersimmon]

The Sixth Swan

[bulkhummus]

The importance of his doctorate in molecular biology aside, the way in which Ryland Grace approaches an alien life form with curiosity, compassion and kindness is indicative of his lived experience as a teacher in a middle school.

It is one thing to be able to teach effectively, and another to manage a variety of different individuals needs while maintaining engagement. Every skill that Grace uses in his meeting of Rocky, and building a relationship with him, whether he remembers or not, are skills a good educator and mentor uses.

To not assume ill intent. To approach first with curiosity. To explain difficult concepts in a palatable way without condescension or malice. To empathize with one's situation and acknowledge how it may shape one's responses. To exercise patience. To adapt and shift gears in the face of uncertainty. To remain calm in the height of stress and remain a leader.

Grace as a scientist yes, but as a teacher, maintaining an openness to not only work with Rocky, but to also embrace his differences and utilize his strengths to find creative solutions that benefit both of them.

History is fraught with disputes and wars driven by ignorance and sustained by fear of unique cultures and experiences that are different to our own. It is practically in our DNA to reject or fear that of which is different to us, and so it is not weak to trust or to be kind. It is harder to be these things, because the opposing forces come so effortlessly.

Grace's inclination toward 'flight' instead of 'fight' is not an indicator of weakness. It is preservation. It is learned behavior. To take a step back, recalibrate and approach again. You do not win students over by being a fearless dictator. You win them over by treating them like people, and acknowledging where you yourself have room for growth. Ryland Grace is a coward for many reasons that define his narrative, but being trusting and kind are not among them.

Humanity owes its salvation to Ryland Grace the middle school teacher.

[feluka]

i hate the way fat antagonists have their weight moralized and used as a metaphor for greed and corruption and i hate the way it's overcorrected into fat people being "soft squishy friend-shaped cupcakes who look like they give incredible hugs" and i long for the day we have nuanced, interesting, and complicated fat characters and most of all i long for the day people are normal about fatness

[zestivivi]

The sensei💫✨

[samcormac]

what’s the rush?

[rainwasheseverythingaway]

The time will pass anyway

[zmeess]

commission for @velnna, who asked for a portrait of Kostya from his comic The Under Garden! thank you for commissioning me 💜

commission info commission tag headshot | half body | full body

[vanessagillings]

"Do hurry, Jeremy, or we'll be late for Mr Beaver's party!"

[prokopetz]

They looked like a wet cat, which is to say refusing to acknowledge their situation with such rigid dignity that it almost feels foolish to bring it up.

[targetedknowledge]

[writing-prompt-s]

"Your son will take your throne from you," they prophesized, spitting each word out of teeth clenched tight with hatred. Why they'd bother prophesizing such an event befuddles you; your son is literally your chosen heir, after all.

[loveyourllamas]

Years later, you realize what the prophets meant. For most of your life your son was your pride and joy; an academic, who would surely lead the kingdom into greater health and wellness. Until he committed the ultimate act of betrayal.

"You will not take my throne from me!" You cling to your grand chair so hard your knuckles turn white.

Your son sighs. "Dad. Dad it's lead-"

"Of course it's lead! It's a strong metal, signifying the strength of our country- this throne has been passed down the royal line for 300 years, 15 rulers before me-"

"That is not enough time for that many people!" Your son throws his hands up in the air. "Because it is lead! It is poisoning you! Didn't you wonder why grandpa died at 40?"

"Ah, pfoo! That's the ancestral curse."

"It's the throne! The throne is the ancestral curse!!!"

[littledoggy-girlcollar]

the son successfully convinces his father to give up the lead throne. he lives and rules peacefully for much longer than his family’s previous generations, dying in his third score.

the son, upon coronation, receives his own prophecy: “your daughter will tear your castle to the ground.”

now, this is a bit more of a cause for immediate concern, but unlike kings of old, he decides that the best way to avoid this surely gruesome future is to love his daughter the best he can, encourage her interests, and guide her with a steady hand - if she is to ruin his kingdom, after all, then let it be with iron will and care for the people.

his daughter is not violent at all, will only hunt if they promise the kitchens will cook what is killed and will give some to the people, and only takes a passing fancy in swordsmanship (which he thinks is more to do with the jawline of the instructor, not that he says anything). she loves to study and read, and when she asks to go for further education in a different corner of the kingdom, he allows it.

after one year, she returns, and spends the first week back acting shifty. she is always caught ducking out of corners and hidden passages, whispering with staff, and pouring over old maps of the castle layout in the library, hurriedly covering them up when anyone passes.

he privately gets his affairs in order.

two weeks after her return, the king’s daughter approaches her father with a steely look in her eye and a grim set to her jaw.

“father,” she begins, “what do you know of asbestos?”

[makesoneteam]

underrated friendship stage is the "testing the waters to see how much of a freak you are" stage. let me microdose being feral to see how you react. i have one large eye on you at all times waiting for you to give me Secret Permission to be a pervert or a weirdo. when will the shameless whore dam break. The Freak Rituals are sacred and time honoured and their importance cannot be overstated

[eternalgirlscout]

earlier today i told an acquaintance in passing that i'll often be in the middle of a novel and think "man i wish this shit were more ambiguous" and had to reiterate twice that i wasn't being sarcastic before they believed me, so this post is to say: i love when writers don't bother to explain everything, i love when stories end uncertain and unsettling, i love being required to think as a reader, i love when stuff makes no damn sense, no i'm not kidding

[jackkdaniels]

stupid thing about me is I don’t cut corners but I also have no work ethic. if I do something it WILL be done right. no telling whether I’ll actually fucking do it tho

[electricpentacle]

Ah, the fatal combination of having pride in my work but fuckall executive functioning.

[nondelphic]

writing isn’t hard it’s just emotionally devastating and time-consuming and requires full body possession by an idea

[bsustories]

you say 'full body possession by an idea' like it's a bad thing

[mysticalflyte]

One Day More!!!

Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky | Cara

[ratwednesday]

and in the distance, I saw / proud, solemn/fern-wild

-

a painting sponsored by my patrons

[transpunkspacejunk]

be christ-like this christmas. gather a crowd and inspire them to anarchism. beat a politician with a whip. help out your local sex workers. preach equality.