But low key makes me think about how people with adhd have been raised their whole lives to value a day based on what they accomplished vs what they experienced
I think your point is excellent. But also consider:
That list might say things like “Paint a picture. Go birdwatching. Finish that great novel I started reading. Call my grandma. Learn to bake a cake. Visit my sister. Play piano.”
For me at least, the good/fun things are harder without meds too. I can have the best intentions, but following through is hard.
Yeah. I once made a post in which I complained about being frustrated at my brain, and one of the things I said was:
“I should not be struggling this much to do things that I want to do and have the time, space, energy, and skills to do.
Actually, when I list it all out like that, I should not be struggling at all to do those kinds of tasks.”
And I STILL somehow got a rant about capitalism in the comments. And I do understand where it’s coming from, yes, but goddamn did I not make myself clear? Did I not say Things That I Want To Do???
What I had to go through to find this again...
BUT THAT'S NO MATTER!
Shoutout to this person, chat
Went to the playlist immediately, and found:
First of all, MARTIN KUZNIAR MENTIONED? THE KING IN YELLOW SOUNDTRACK? I found that one by chance and AAAA I finally found someone who knows about it 🥹
EPIC THE MUSICAL. My favorite song from it, too
Digital Hallucination :O This is self-explanatory
EASTWARD OF EDEN??? RULER OF EVERYTHING??? BERNADETTE??? Man, this person's got TASTEEE
ICARUS. ICARUS BY BASTILLE. That's, like, one of my favorite songs
Some other songs I know, which I won't list 'cause...this reblog is arleady longer than the original post
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHARLIE, FOR MAKING THIS MASTERPIECE OF A PLAYLIST!!! I know what I'm going to listen to on the bus next week 🎉
I’m a xinjiang chinese-kyrgyz that’s very active in both the en and cn speaking cnovel fandom and yall need to understand that as much as that was phrased as a meme, you are truly not immune to it. racism, colourism, and xenophobia against ethnic groups in/from central and northern asia are entrenched in every single aspect of the han media that has been popularised in western fandom. the books and adaptations of them use racism that can be as subtle as the eye colours of villains to making the xiongnu an alien species of violent beasts. cnovels, regardless of their morality or status as problematic/unproblematic, such as mdzs, fgep, cql, tgcf, 2ha, woh/shl and spl, all of them engage in and encourage the racism, xenophobia, colourism, classism, and sexism that form anti-central/northern asian stereotypes
this isn’t me saying don’t read cnovels or to completely disengage with fandom. rather, I’m asking you to think critically about the media you consume and what prejudices it might encourage. think about how this impacts your views of these ethnic groups; even if we don’t actively realise it, we are conditioned by media to view these groups as barbaric, savage, and uncivilized. think about how your ingrained prejudices might impact those around you. if you see a character coded as mongolian, then maybe consider how they’ve been coded. why do you interpret them as mongolian? how does this represent your view of real, living mongolian people?
many people honestly don’t know about us either! the struggles we face are unrepresented and heavily suppressed by eastern media, making western understanding of northern nomads and similar groups very stunted. the number of people I’ve met who have never even heard of my people is innumerable. however, being uninformed does not negate the harm you do by engaging in racist habits, no matter how good your intentions
frankly, I do not want to be responsible for educating an online space that has firmly entrenched racism, it makes me upset to have these conversations in the first place. I would much rather you educate yourself and think critically, but I also know that topics like these can be difficult for western audiences to understand and I know a lot of people truly mean the best and want to support minorities. so, just as a general guide, here are some things that are the most prevalent in anti central/northern asian racism:
eye/hair colour: lighter hair and eye colours, especially when paired with darker skin, are common in our genetic clines, while han culture views those combinations as unsightly, creepy, dangerous, sinister, etc. often you will see villains given bright blue or green eyes, such as xue yang in many mdzs adaptations, to signify that they are murderous and untrustworthy. this directly stems from interactions between central asians(casians) and central plains people. our features are labelled as demonic, freakish, and evil
broad features and large stature: often you see the quote “back of a tiger, waist of a bear”. the ban yue desert people in tgcf are a good example of this, described as being many feet taller than the average person, broader, and in general much more physically strong
powerful voice and coarse language: describing our languages as guttural, barbaric, harsh, rough, simplistic, or lacking nuance is an attempt to paint us as uncivilized, uncultured, and intellectually inferior to other peoples. similarly, giving us voices that are booming, loud, coarse, and rough attempts to do the same
sparse clothing and animal furs: think of “caveman attire”. having characters wear strips of fur, have bare chests, clothing considered barbaric or caveman-like, etc. this is a pretty self-explanatory one
exotic customs/dance/looks: while central/northern asian people often do have different appearances and customs than han people, the portrayal of evidently fabricated, uneducated, exaggerated versions of our culture is offensive, othering, and often fetishistic. our hair styles are also incredibly important, and many times are religiously significant. using them as “exotic braids” or similar intricate styles is offensive and rips away all their cultural significance. these cultures and customs are an important part of life to millions of people, they are not a costume or flashy dance that is there to make a character seem exotic and enticing
geographical racism and fantasization: to many casian groups, our lands are extremely important to us, such as the northern steppes. if this is portrayed respectfully, then great! but most media shows our lands as the mystical, faraway, dangerous grass plains filled with roaming wolves and venomous snakes. for the love of everything holy, you can have a fantasy world WITHOUT fantasizing a certain region in an offensive manner. this is an ecological region, similar to every region in the world. if you want to write mystic lands filled with dangers, then have all the regions included in that. do not single out the northern steppes to be some fantastical mountainscape. while this might seem odd to western viewers, this kind of prejudice is linked to thousands of years of casian lands being portrayed as demonic and dangerous in han culture
religious racism: again, othering and fantasizing a strong cultural component. having characters practice blood sacrifices, use corpses for “evil religious rituals”, cast curses with bones, etc. this is really any uneducated and exaggerated portrayal of casian religion (especially tengriism or any paganistic variant), making it look exotic or dangerous
medical racism: this is closely tied with religious racism, but normally manifests through offensive portrayals of shamans or priests. having shamans be anything outside of their traditional roles of religious leaders and healers in most communities is offensive! having shamans or priests be demonic practitioners that make blood curses, raise poisonous beasts, and breed venomous beetles is offensive!
innate connection with beasts/animals: making this a trait associated with specific groups of people, especially tribal societies, is just racist and dehumanizing. this one is self-explanatory
Brutal Strong Girlboss Female General: large, strong, domineering, women are considered unattractive and disgraceful in han culture. the strong female warrior stereotype is 99% of the time not some feminist girlboss statement, its a racist stereotype to make our people look brutish and unattractive, especially considering that another strong stereotype against us is that casian men are all brutal, womanizing, harem-masters
sinicizing/civilizing us: the western equivalent of this is christianizing various ethnic minorities. having casian characters be “civilized” through introduction to han culture is just blatantly racist. similarly, describing mixed han-casian people as “more delicate” than their casian family, being finer-featured, etc is also just plain racism
a lot of these overlap with anti-indigenous and anti-black racism too! while the struggles our groups face are not the same, we have many mutual experiences that mean this conversation also extends to these groups. with that being said, if you are not central/northern asian, indigenous, or black, if you clown on or derail this post I’m going to start swinging
Forgive me, Arcane grabbed my brain in a vise grip again
And I am very tempted to write a fic that happens after the events of the show by a few months, where Vi and Caitlyn are still dealing with some of the fallout from...all the events of the show. Things are going ok, hearts are healing, everything is getting back on track. Vi is still grieving her sister and adjusting to this fancier lifestyle, but with Cait's help, she is getting there. She is fine. She will be okay.
And then badda bing badda boom some scrungly little orphan shows up on their front doorstep.
Not just any orphan, however.
This is definitely the kid who was following Jinx around like a lost puppy and preventing her from doing a war crime for a while.
The kid who allegedly exploded, but who shrugs when asked how she's here but seriously how is she here. Why is she here.
And Vi realizes, oh no, this kid is looking for Jinx, and Vi is, in fact, Jinx's next of kin. She also happens to live in a large fancy house with plenty of space for an orphan. And it's not like there's a stable enough system to find her another home, plus she's probably more used to Vi than anyone else in Piltover, and so...
Dangit.
Enter several dozen chapters of Cait and Vi dealing with grief and chaos and rebuilding while also raising Vi's little sister's little sister. Isha is absolutely vibing with this, by the way. She's having a grand old time. Vi is pretty locked in on getting this kid to turn out okay. And Caitlyn is. Doing her best.
I am back in "what if everyone was happy actually" land and this is where I shall stay.
No there is never an explanation of how Isha is fine but Isha is fine, if Sherlock can fall off a cliff and be dead for ten years our girl who takes after the person that has famously survived getting exploded can be fine as well.
And yes this all absolutely gets considerably funnier when taking into consideration the fact that Jinx could come back and walk in on this odd little family at any time
serving your god is the same as serving your prince is the same as serving the one you love (12/?)
Pairing: Hua Cheng/Xie Lian
Rating: T
Read on AO3
Previous chapters
also, everyone who asked for a tag: @xxlilnifflerxx @wercia555 @brurbrur @sisislair @elletromil @thepineapplegal86
Also, @oricouldjustnot made these amazing two art pieces for this fic, you should all go and check them out immediately!!
Here's the links: X and X
Feng Xin is watching him with something strange hidden in his gaze as Hua Cheng enters the room, his dark eyes narrowed and his brows drawn close. It’s not quite suspicion, not quite curiosity, not quite concern, but something in between, something altogether different.
He would ignore it if he could – Feng Xin’s opinion has never mattered to him after all – but His Highness treasures his advice, so Hua Cheng has to care, at least a little.
“Did something happen?”, he asks Feng Xin, careful to keep his voice calm, neutral. “If it has something to do with His Highness, let me know how I can be of assistance.”
There is a pause of only a moment or two, but Hua Cheng notices it anyway, just like he notices the short intake of breath, the way Feng Xin’s gaze sharpens.
“It is nothing. Only a small matter concerning Xie Lian’s shrines. You should not concern yourself with it.”
Feng Xin crosses his arms, looks almost like he is challenging Hua Cheng to continue asking; there is something more to this, and if Feng Xin refuses to tell him, it must have something to do with His Highness. After all, apart from Mu Qing, he hardly seems worried about anyone.
“Alright. If that changes, let me know”, Hua Cheng answers, and tries for a smile; he might fail, might succeed.
And he leaves, having forgotten what he came to fetch in the first place.
“I did not expect you to come by”, Xie Lian comments as he sets down his tea cup, the scent of jasmine wafting through the air. “Usually, you are quite busy at this time of year, after all.”
“I wouldn’t have had to, but Your Highness has been so occupied with a certain someone lately that he has not visited my palace in far too long”, Shi Qingxuan answers pleasantly, a smile on her plush lips. “Not that I could fault you! After all, your little god seems just as enamoured with you as you are with him.”
Xie Lian knows that the Wind Master carries no hint of malice within her heart, means it in the most pleasant of ways, but her words make Xie Lian blush nonetheless.
Suddenly glad he is no longer holding his cup, lest his hand start shaking.
“Let’s not talk about him for now”, he responds, maybe a little too quickly; Shi Qingxuan gives a little laugh, as pretty and musical as a bell. “You said you came to discuss something about the Mid Autumn festival?”
“Are you certain? You seem to enjoy talking about him at most other times. I don’t mind listening.”
“Quite certain, thank you.”
The blush is still high on his cheeks, Xie Lian can feel it burning, but Wind Master just nods, takes a sip of her tea and does not mention it.
It reminds Xie Lian a little of how they met, him still bitter about having become a god of misfortune, and Shi Qingxuan sitting down next to him on a whim, unknowing or uncaring of his status. How she had chatted pleasantly with him, ignoring the scowl Xie Lian could not always keep hidden, laughed with, but never at him, kept him company for hours.
Xie Lian had thanked her for it years later, and even then, Shi Qingxuan had only smiled at him, patted his hand and told Xie Lian how she had enjoyed that evening fully.
“What did you want to speak about regarding the Mid Autumn festival?”, he tries again. “Is Ming Yi not coming this year? I heard that the Earth Master is in high demand right now.”
“Ah! Ming Yi will come, even if I have to drag him there myself! You know how much he enjoys the food, and I would never recover if he left me to go on my own!” A snap of her fan, a cool breeze; it disturbs some of her dark locks, which move like the wind itself. “Not that your company, or your Hua Cheng’s wouldn’t be sufficient! But it would just not be the same without my darling Ming-xiong.”
“That I know. As, I am sure, does Earth Master.”
“He better!”, Shi Qingxuan answers with another flutter of her fan, before settling down a little once more. She truly is like the wind, quick to rouse and as quick to calm again. “Anyway, I just wanted to discuss some arrangements. Have you decided on what to wear already? And has Hua Cheng something for the occasion?”
“I bought San Lang some robes that should fit the banquet”, Xie Lian answers without thinking; it’s only a second later that he realises how it might just sound. Even if it was nothing like that at all, even if he just wanted San Lang to be fed, clothed, cared for. “Not like- It would never…. Just. He arrived and he had nothing with him, and he did not want to found his own palace yet. Anyone would have done the same.”
Another soft, musical laugh, and Wind Master puts her hand on his arm, looking at Xie Lian fondly, if a little bit disbelieving.
“Of course! Don’t worry, I would never expect His Highness to have ulterior motives. It goes against your cultivation, after all”, she says easily, “I know just how highly you value that.”
And she is right, Xie Lian knows that, only that by now, he knows why hearing it stings like this as well.
Wind Master comes by again, this time in her female form, and Hua Cheng knows that he should be better than this, should be kind and pleasant and supportive, just like his god would be; instead, he is spoilt and rotten and vindictive, and feels his insides boil at the thought of them together.
Will she put a perfect hand on His Highness’ shoulder as she did the last time? Will she laugh as sweetly, smile as brightly, look at him with stars in her eyes?
The thought makes him clench his hands where they are mending an old robe he found tucked away in one of the wardrobes, its embroidery exquisite, even if faded with time.
After all, Hua Cheng already knows that if she does, His Highness will be there to look back.
It’s almost a ritual by now: Xie Lian is sitting down after a long day, languishing in the beauty that their garden has become, and Feng Xin comes up next to him, brows drawn together, his mouth a thin line.
“What has happened at the shrines this time?”, Xie Lian asks, half a smile on his lips; it will be some little mystery, perhaps related to the slightly strange prayers that come to him now. It will not, however, be a reason to worry. After all, he is a god meant to be forgotten. “I have told you, you don’t have to take care of them so well, it’s not like they are of much use.”
Close by, one hand extended and his head bent so dark hair shadows his face, San Lang stops mid-motion.
“You telling me does not make it true”, Feng Xin quips back, but he doesn’t sit down next to Xie Lian, like he knows he won’t stay long. The question is only if out of duty, or something sweeter, only that Xie Lian has not seen Mu Qing all day.“But yes, it is about the shrines. I know you don’t think it is anything to worry about, but something is...changing there.”
“Changing?”
“Yes. I haven’t seen this many people at your shrines in… well. You know.”
Xie Lian cannot know, and yet thinks he does; there is a flash of memory, of golden statues, of painted murals, of a thousand voices muttering in his head, if he only stopped to listen.
It hurts, as it always does, but by now, the pain isn’t sharp anymore, but the ache of a lover pressing against a broken joint that will never fully heal.
“And this is a cause for worry?”, Xie Lian teases with a smile, and Feng Xin rolls his eyes. Even after centuries of having picked up the habit, it does not look quite as natural on him.
“Not that. Well. To some extent, that as well”, Feng Xin explains, eyes trailing over at Hua Cheng, who is still busying himself with the plants, but who has crept closer. “What I worry about is… it’s that… well. It seems that the new followers you have, they bring flowers, and they think… they think you are getting married.”
Of all the things possible, this might be the one Xie Lian expected the least.
Married?
Him?
It takes a moment, but then he can’t help himself; he starts to laugh until tears are flowing down his cheeks, his stomach starts hurting.
There is something that stings within the amusement – who would want to marry him, after all? A half-forgotten failure of a god, whose only significance comes from people wiping their shoes on – but he revels in it anyway, lets himself laugh until the aftershocks of it leave him breathless, with a smile still on his lips.
“This is no laughing matter”, Feng Xin chastises as Xie Lian slowly calms himself, sounding something between exasperated, fond and worried. “We should find out what the reason for this is. I have heard some of them mention a dream sent by your -”
“Oh, Feng Xin”, Xie Lian interrupts with so much affection in his heart, it might burst. “If this is what they want to believe, let them. Is it worse than thinking I bring plague and misfortune and calamity? Marriage sounds like bliss compared to it.”
And his gaze flits across Hua Cheng’s form, who has turned around to look at him, his eye wide and his expression unreadable.
It’s impossible, he knows this. Improper, too.
Still, the thought appears before Xie Lian can stop himself, and once it does, he can’t refute that it is true.
That maybe, with the right person, marriage could be bliss compared to anything.
A dream.
Even if His Highness does not react to it, Hua Cheng hears it, and the thought burrows itself into his chest like a blade might, like a tree forces its roots through the waiting earth.
Sometimes gods send their believers dreams, echo His Highness’ words through his mind, to give them advice, orders, or just to let them know they are being cared for.
Who would care more for his followers than His Highness would?
So, of course, he would send them dreams, and of course, they would carry some of his thoughts, his feelings, his hopes with them, just like Hua Cheng knows the vision he sent had carried his.
And His Highness loves someone; it would spill over, cling to whatever His Highness wanted to let his believers know.
Which means that His Highness does not simply love Shi Qingxuan, but loves her deeply, truly, dearly, enough that he would consider abandoning his cultivation to be with her.
It is no surprise, and yet that does not lessen the blow by much as Hua Cheng’s fingers slip where they are plucking away at the dead hibiscus flowers, the thought lodging itself into his heart right next to the love he carries for his god.
He will bear it, Hua Cheng knows this as he looks up to meet His Highness’ gaze, taking in the gentle smile on his lips, the spark in his eyes.
As always, he is beautiful, radiant, and Hua Cheng will bear it, even if it means watching those dark eyes rest on Shi Qingxuan as they promise their lives, their heart to each other.
And with hibiscus petals staining his fingers red and purple, Hua Cheng vows to his god and to himself that he will be satisfied for the rest of his existence if he will just be allowed to stay at His Highness’ side.
“Your Highness, the Heavenly Emperor wanted me to let you know your request has been granted”, Ling Wen’s voice rings out in the heavenly array, calm as always. Even if he cannot hear, cannot see it, Xie Lian knows that she is writing while talking to him, her work unending. “I hope it pleases you, seeing how you have asked for the same thing six time in a row.”
Xie Lian cannot help chuckle, slightly embarrassed and yet unable to feel remorse; his hand comes up to rub at the back of his neck, eyes slipping shut for a moment.
“Thank you, Ling Wen”, he sends back quickly. Before he goes to the palace the next time, he will ask San Lang for some flowers to bring. “Please give the Emperor my thanks as well. I will take care of it as soon as possible.”
The ground of the clearing is covered in flowers when Hua Cheng sets foot on it, even the moss adorned with tiny white stars that seem to sparkle in the sunshine. By now, there must be a dozen different kinds of plants around which should all glow at night and yet have remained dark and disappointing whenever Hua Cheng comes to check.
Yet they look lovely now in the bright daylight, nestled against the kneeling statues, like they too have absorbed Hua Cheng’s love for his god and are trying to get closer. On one of their laps, a fox has laid down to nap, and Hua Cheng uses a sliver of his power to silence his steps as not to disturb it as he approaches.
His heart still aches quietly, softly, but by now, it is bittersweet: His Highness loves someone, and if anyone knows the power, the beauty, the joy of that, it is Hua Cheng.
And if His Highness might feel all that, then it is is worth any kind of pain, for in the end, all he really, truly needs, is for His Highness to be happy.
So, amidst His Highness’ statues, Hua Cheng raises another flower from the ground, making its petals long and white, its stem delicate and strong, its leaves fan out elegantly.
In it, he instils a longing for light and beauty and companionship, and hopes that it will drink up enough sunshine to make it glow once night has set.
Not quite a lantern, but perhaps he could light up the landscape with them instead when the festival comes, make it glitter like the night sky itself.
And as he settles down to watch, a butterfly lands in the middle of it, flaps its wings once, then twice.
And stays.
“Has the wretched Snow Lotus finally remembered he has a cousin rotting away in his backyard?”, Qi Rong spits at Xie Lian once he has noticed him approaching, green eyes flashing with hatred. “What a glorious day, what a cause for joy! Bring back your dog next time too, he has not come to torment me in a while!”
Xie Lian should be livid at the mention of San Lang, but it is hard when his insides are singing with relief, his heart light with it.
Finally.
Finally.
“You won’t see San Lang again”, Xie Lian tells Qi Rong with a smile he feels for once. “As I said you wouldn’t. The Emperor has finally found a spot to put you in. I have not asked where, or how, nor do I care. But I will take you outside now, and someone will come to fetch you. And then, both San Lang and I will finally be free of you.
Something flits across Qi Rong’s face, an expression that is between shock and despair, before it settles on the familiar malice.
“OH, SO COUSIN SNOW LOTUS WILL NOT EVEN KEEP ME HERE!”, he shrieks, starting to thrash in his bonds, “VILE, DOG-FUCKED COUSIN! GIVING ME TO HIS CRUEL EMPEROR WHILE HIS MUTT RUNS AROUND SLAPPING PEOPLE IN HIS NAME! HURTING ME! AND SAYING IT IS THE PURPOSE HE WAS GIVEN BY HIS GOD!”
And Xie Lian should care, he truly should, but it is Qi Rong, and if he wants one thing from his cousin, it is to never hear his voice again.
“Whatever San Lang has done in my name”, he stays instead, still smiling sweetly, as he comes closer, ready to undo the bonds,“I am sure I would support it completely.”
That night, Hua Cheng sends another dream to his believers.
It carries the same image as the one before, the flower-crowned martial god clad in a red robe, delicate fingers carrying a single carnation, but next to him, is a figure that has not been given a face, a voice.
Yet, their hand is wrapped around His Highness’ wrist, holding it as gently, as securely as His Highness is holding the flower, their body angled towards His Highness, their head tilted like they are watching him.
Serve him, Hua Cheng repeats in his believers’ dreams, and there is love in his voice, there is longing. And once the time has come, serve his beloved just as well.
I don’t like how I’m kinda expected to rewrite the first 20 years of my life just because I’m trans. I was the eldest daughter in a black household. I can’t go back and edit my history to say I was the eldest son, cuz that doesn’t accurately convey the certain standards I was held to. I was the only girl in my engineering class. I can’t leave out the “girl” part. It recontextualizes the entire situation. I don’t think either of those facts invalidates my current gender and I don’t think trans people should be expected to rewrite their own history in fear of that
I secretly enjoy the daylight savings time shifts because as someone with ADHD time-blindness it’s fun to watch everyone else get knocked down to my level twice a year
ohhh my goddd, you feel like someone stole an hour from you or shoved an extra one where it doesn’t belong? you were late to something because the clocks and the sun are colluding to lie to you? should we throw a party? should we invite benjamin franklin
i need people on this website to stop being scared of the n word like i seriously need white people especially on this website to stop being scared of following black people who say nigga or songs that say nigga or movies or books or essays or whatever.
like why is it that it is easier for some of you on this website to become acclimated to the queer people around you reclaiming slurs like faggot or dyke but as soon as a black blogger has the GALL to say nigga you start getting scared because for some weird reason the concept of someone around you using a word they have the right to use and you do not scares you? GROW UP
i need people on this website to stop being scared of the n word like i seriously need white people especially on this website to stop being scared of following black people who say nigga or songs that say nigga or movies or books or essays or whatever.
like why is it that it is easier for some of you on this website to become acclimated to the queer people around you reclaiming slurs like faggot or dyke but as soon as a black blogger has the GALL to say nigga you start getting scared because for some weird reason the concept of someone around you using a word they have the right to use and you do not scares you? GROW UP
dead tired today so I grabbed a coffee from the gas station & the guy greeted me by trying to say “is that everything “ but fumbled and said “e ga thebythin” and me trying to say “yeah” or “yup” just went “YIP!” in response. No survivors