shadows and sunshine

the roses said: you do not have to choose. six. 38. ao3 books & sports & verbalizing all of my feelings

[mariacallous]

Do My Grocery Store Blueberries Come From Farms Where Workers Were Harmed?

Max Blau spent a year reporting on abuses of farmworkers. It left him wondering: Is the produce he buys at the grocery store part of the pro

[sixappleseeds]

reading the face in the frost by john bellairs, and holy cow!!! this would have scared the heck out of me (affectionate) as a kid, but even reading it now it’s really creeping me out (still affectionate)

it’s about two old campy wizards who are long distance bffs and go on an adventure together to find the thing that’s sending a vile wrongness over both of their respective lands

the narration has the kind of wry humor i associate with diana wynne jones (though i think this book predates hers!), the descriptions are really evocative and at times quite unsettling, and as i said the two main characters are these old farts who — well i’m sure bellairs didn’t mean for them to come off as old queens but they do, they’re delightful

it is supposedly a book for children, but it’s the kind of children’s book they were writing in the 60s, which is to say, it would certainly not be marketed as ya if it were published today. but it is quite short — barely 150 pages in the paperback edition i got at the library

i’m almost done and i think i may go right back and read it again

[cenneidi]

do it grieving

[cenneidi]

do it while the ground falls out from under you; do it while everything you loved goes up in smoke; do it while the dream of your future is still burning embers around you; build anew on the hot ashes of everything you worked for; keep going, keep loving, keep living, even as all you want is to turn back (there is no turning back; it is gone already); do it through grief, which feels like fear in the body

do it grieving

[cenneidi]

The tag I have seen most often on this post is "I needed to hear this," and I am so, so grateful to have said something that was needed. These words came out of the depths of my own grief, and I am so grateful to have made this small connection with others in the midst of it. Grief is isolating and indescribable, but none of us are alone.

That said, these tags were what I needed to hear:

we're all gonna make it

it's okay if you can't see how yet. you don't have to believe in better. for now it is enough to just keep going, and eventually the path will emerge. you are not alone. you are not lost in the woods forever. keep going. I love you.

[umbrellamoss]

[ID: tags reading "#i did and it worked #i made it out #i thought i lost everything but i kept going and made new connections and a new life for myself #and you will too". End ID]

[segamascott]

[professional-rat-eater]

The scariest part of the 52 years of stalking isn’t even the stalking. It’s that Armand knows every bad thing Daniel has ever done and he doesn’t care.

Daniel knows he’s an asshole. He’s potentially the most self-aware character. He knows he hurt his ex-wives and his daughters. He understands that they hate him and he frequently validates their decision to do so. He gets it. He’s not hiding from his mistakes. He knows what he’s done. People leave him because anyone sane would. There’s no malice there. He knows who he is.

But here is this beautiful, ancient creature who has lived through some of the most incredible periods of human innovation in modern history, who lived in Renaissance Venice and witnessed Paris return to its former glory after World War 2 , who has been exposed to some of the most important works of art in history, who has had so much time to absorb humanity and all its most impressive creations, and this creature tells him he’s in love with him, some random kid he met half a century ago by chance.

And not just that he’s in love with him. That he was actively in love with him while he was doing all the terrible things. None of it ever mattered. Armand has seen every shade of Daniel’s soul, more than anyone else ever has, and he is in love with him because of it. It is one thing to have your mistakes exposed, it’s another entirely for someone to see them and decide to stay.

Armand has so freely given to Daniel what he has been trying to find for himself for half a millennia. The only thing he has ever wanted: to be truly known and accepted for everything you are, including the unseemly, ugly parts. How utterly and completely terrifying.

[soliloqueeer]

I think this is the most dangerous and beautiful aspect of their relationship. As an addict, so much of your life is wrestling with the disease and the way it impacts those around you. Imagine all of the shame and guilt left in the wake of the things you did a rock bottom. Armand is someone born centuries ago who exists completely outside of the spectrum of contemporary human morality. Imagine someone being a spectre to the worst things you’ve ever done and still loving you. It’s salvation but it can also be damnation. Because humans have limits, no matter how much they love you. So what happens when the devil loves you for all the damned things you’ve done?

[irisbleufic]

When a human says “I love you unconditionally,” there’s this sense of wistfulness because…no, there are always conditions. You just haven’t found those limits yet. Pray that you never do.

When a vampire says “I love you unconditionally,” fuck. They’ve seen and done it all. Whatever you’ve done, it can’t possibly be worse. The worst in you is a feature, not a bug. It’s just true.

[veryintricaterituals]

And he turned him... He saw everything, the good, the bad, the horrible, the very ugly and he said: you should have eternity, I think you should live forever

[razielim]

imagine you're don abene for a second.

you encounter a secunit for the first time.

it saves your life in a situation where no one else would have been fast, strong, agile, and composed enough to do so.

your security team is immediately more alarmed by its presence than the attack that is obvious to you as the bigger issue at the moment

they insist it's dangerous and struggle to relax enough to take their weapons off of it

then a combatbot attacks your group

somehow this secunit, much smaller than the bot, unarmored, without any heavy weaponry on its person, manages to take it down. some real jaw-dropping action, all over in less than a minute

then it leaps into a room with two combatbots and not only survives, but it gets your unconscious friend out alive

then it immediately comes to your own rescue, disabling impressive combat armor

it then is dead-set on killing your attacker who is already immobilized and harmless

clearly this is an incredibly competent and dangerous and powerful person

then miki tells you that it IS rin and you finally put it together that not only is this person competent in the field, but it is also calling all its own shots and has truly come here all on its own and volunteered its services to help and protect you without needing to be asked or ordered

so this person is incredibly competent, dangerous, powerful, AND kind, AND fiercely protective, AND reassuring, AND intelligent, AND selfless

and it's still coming up with great ideas and still thinking proactively about how it's going to face down or distract another combatbot as though there's no doubt in the world that it, still bleeding heavily, still unarmored and barely armed, is ready for another round with a terrifying machine that appears to be nothing BUT armor and weapons

so you step forward to help treat its injuries

and it jerks back a step with the single most frightened face you've ever seen, as though you had lifted your arm to inflict pain and it was helpless to stop you

behind you, even miki can read the devastating expression that's breaking your heart and says "abene won't hurt you, secunit"

where did the fearsome fighter from moments ago disappear to?

who did this to it?

[loveridden1999]

for those unaware today india experienced one of its biggest protests in half a decade. there were protests all over the nation for various causes but the major one was in delhi. all we asked for was the resignation of the education minister because he's failed the students of this nation time & time again. but we were met with brutality, the police had barricaded the main site of protest (jantar mantar). metro stations were shutdown, the public was restrained from reaching the protest site and all the adjoining areas had signal jammers to make sure the crowd had no access to constant updates. they had us blocked from all the sides. they were lathi (baton) charging students from one side & releasing tear gas from the other. you couldn't walk 100 m on streets without having a tear gas shell thrown at you. there were many students, women & kids bleeding — some from their head. some couldn't walk anymore. the police had removed their nameplates & acted with full impunity to resort to unprecedented levels of violence. they were pelting stones at us, beating up people for no reason, forcefully detaining them and attacking us constantly with tear gas & rubber bullets. they wouldn't let you exit either. the crowd was peaceful & looking out for each other yet they were met with violence. i made a friend who was all alone & she asked to join me & my friend because a policeman wouldn't leave her alone. he constantly prodded her for personal info, invited her back to the jeep saying they have food there, wouldn't stop following her around. you couldn't call or ask anyone for help, we were left to fend for ourselves & be on a constant lookout if you did not want to be beaten up to death by police. all for what? asking a resignation? shame on this country.

[loveridden1999]

Tens of thousands of Cockroach party protesters defy police with Delhi march

Youth-led movement calls on education minister to quit in one of India’s largest anti-government rallies in years

Police attack Cockroach activists as thousands march on Indian parliament

More than 10,000 protesters braved tear gas and baton charges in their largest challenge yet to PM Modi's government.

[sunshinestarseed-deactivated202]

[landofla]

I love pictures you can hear.

[huariqueje]

Painted Glasses - Janet Fish , 1974.

American, b. 1938 -  

Pastel on paper,  56 x 94 cm. 22 x 37 in.

[mimosa-sexypeople-contests-2026]

Tumblr Sexyman Contest 2026 Final Round

Senshi (Dungeon Meshi)

Ryland Grace (Project Hail Mary)

Mr. Ant Tenna (Deltarune)

Voting ended onJul 20

Tenna art by @9Aaaalt29 on twt

[fwugradiation]

“And if you’ll give me 40% of the MOST POPULAR VOTE, I’ll give you my SPECIAL REWARD... A year’s supply of NON-GLOOBY SLIME!!! Never or BARELY used!!!” Tenna concluded his speech with a huge smile, jetting his hands up in double peace signs.

The crowd roared in confused enthusiasm as Tenna gave a gracious flurry of low-FPS bows, pausing only for the occasional stink-nose at his audience plants who weren’t throwing enough 3D roses.

Eventually, the room fell silent. It was Senshi’s turn to speak.

He puffed out his chest, took a long, sweeping look over the audience… and shook his head.

“I can see not all of you are eating properly.”

The crowd murmured with embarrassment.

“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but it’s time to take the turkey out of your icebox. I have seen the ingenious technology with which your people store food... and I have also seen the waste which results from such convenience.

“The food you take had a life. Beasts grew fat on the grass of the field, plants grew from the sun’s rays, and mushrooms grew from minerals in the cracks of caves. And yet, it sits in your iceboxes, collecting moisture until it perishes.

“Eat what is given to you. Because its life will make you stronger, too.”

Without another word, Senshi left his podium and stepped away from the stage. The crowd murmured in confusion. “Is he really like that?” somebody said. “I only remember reblogging the photosets of him tripping and showing ass.”

--

Back in the Green Room, Tenna wrung his antennas nervously.

“Y-y-you think they liked me!? They HAD to!! I mean, I don’t know what Asgore was thinking, getting that weird haircut and running that food waste campaign, but… YOU thought I did good, didn’t you, Kris?”

Laios nodded aggressively, a streak of blue face paint peeling from his forehead.

“You did AMAZING, Tenna! By the way, now that we’ve seen all your insider campaign secrets, do you have any more videos of Susie? Especially her tail... If I could get a look at that, I could finally tell if she’s a dinosaur or --”

THWACK. Fake antlers butted Laios’s head.

“LAIOS?? Weren’t we dressed up to help SENSHI???” Marcille hissed, gesturing awkwardly with her hooves.

Suddenly, Tenna turned to the two adventurers.

“Hey, WAIT a second. SOMETHING’s not right here...”

Laios and Marcille held their breath.

“Where the heck are my POINTS!?”

Just then, the door opened. Chilchuck took one step into the room, whistling and holding a large bag.

Everyone turned to him.

Chilchuck paused, took a step backwards, and closed the door.

“CHILCHUCK!!!” yelled Tenna.

“How come Chilchuck got to stay Chilchuck!?” yelled Marcille at the same time.

--

Meanwhile, in outer space somewhere, some guy was making out with a rock.

[pinkegodeath]

we are witnessing the gentrification of the term "tumblr sexyman" in real time and it is extremely disappointing. like no, live-action white boy #265 played by ryan gosling isn't a tumblr sexyman. i can't believe i have to say this but if it wouldn't get you shoved into a locker it probably isn't a sexyman

[vodkassassin]

THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYINGGGG

[punkpinkpower]

Terrible Things, by Eve Bunting

A children's story for our times.

[deepetch]

This is awesome on so many levels.

Ladies and Gentlemen i present to you John Carpenter’s The Thing, as performed by the claymated, Antarctic cast of the hit children’s animation Pingu. Directed by Lee Hardcastle, in under 3 minutes. Noot, Noot.

[junkyardddog]

Oh my fucking god.

[novella-november]

This is an absolutely amazing demonstration of skill and artistry with claymation, absolutely stunning, and absolutely as bloody, gorey, body-horror filled as the original film!

(aka, please do not click play if you cannot handle very graphic body horror and blood.)

If you can handle viewing the original 1970s “The Thing”, you should be able to handle this, and will be in for a treat!

[undying-princess]

knowing how it tends to go with male authors and their wives it was probably marge who wrote the odyssey

[brianeno]

[contourkit-deactivated20160224]

What if everything gets better in 2016

[melonisopod]

[junabug]

this is a genuinely haunting post in 2026

[batavias]

There are only two jobs left in the world and it's making sandwiches or killing people