Talk Shop Tuesday! You asked me a really really good question about my art style, so I'd like to bounce it back to you! Are there any specific influences on your art style and/or process that you can pinpoint? How do you feel you incorporate new information and techniques to your existing style?

And, of course, what do you like best about your art style?

yes, i really like this question! i like getting insights into one's artistic journey and what started it. so, speaking of mine, i was asking the same question and failing miserably at answering it. it just happened? and i went with it?

as for influences i don't think it was any particular media, tho i have been getting quite a few comments that my artstyle (especially in traditional) reminds people of illustrations from various books. and the thing is yes, i can see that, i love illustrations that are done in ink, i did take a lot of inspiration from artists with similar styles and used their art as references when i liked something about it or the way they draw a certain thing. so i guess that's where it all originated and came together.

there's one influence of which im not 100% certainly about but i really really liked How To Train Your Dragon books as a kid and i always loved illustrations in it and how messy and unflattering yet compelling they looked. when i default to drawing characters in a very simplified manner i think there is a slight similarity or, at very least, similar vibe that could be noticed

[id from alt text: a page from How To Train Your Dragon book with very messy pencil drawings of main characters: Hiccup with Toothless on his shoulders, Fishlegs (hiccup's best friend) with Horrorcow and Camicazi./end id]

tho i specifically remember the turning point in drawing eyes, when i decided to stuck with only upper eyelid and the iris after noticing how many other professional artists simplify eyes in their quick sketches or figure drawings, where eyes are not a focal point but they still communicate emotions just as well and look coherent with the rest of a drawing. i just really like how it looked so i adopted it, plus drawing just two dots is fun.

i wouldn't say i learn a bunch of techniques, im still intimidated by actual hatching and learning process for that, im definitely not a jack of all trades when it comes to mediums and art tools. that said, the easiest (for me) way of incorporating something new is by drawing something one time but as detailed as possible and then finding ways to stylise or simplify it in the future. mostly i use it for character designs but it works with a lot of other things too.

and to round it up, i'd say the thing that i like about my artstyle the most is that it has a good balance between being realistic and stylised. it's versatile and gives me a certain freedom to be as detailed or not with what i draw but also doesn't limits me to drawing just one thing (my hyperfixation does). also i think it became somewhat consistent and recognisable in the past few years so that's also a nice thing to have

singles inferno with enhypen hyung line

episode 2.5 behind the camera

previous part masterlist next part

warnings: fluff, sexual tension

pairing: Heesung x reader

prepare for the next part cause it’s going to wild 🫣

that was probably the most comfortable bed you’ve ever laid in. after such a busy day you should be sleeping like a child. but here you were tossing and turning. you looked up at the clock. it was 4 am, 2 hours of you unsuccessfully trying to fall asleep. but you could not stop your thoughts from running, emotions flooding you, keeping you restless. you did not expect to feel like that after just one day in the program. Heesung wasn’t your first choice in inferno. but now after the evening you have spent with him in paradise you felt the unbearable chemistry between you two. but not only that. he really seemed like an awesome person, so passionate about his career and interests, funny and kind in such a charming way. he definitely tickled your heart. you were wondering about many things now. you were an over thinker since forever. you were thinking about him, his cute smile and shiny eyes. you were wondering if he feels the same, how things are going to be in inferno. or maybe all of that will disappear when you come back to other contestants. you were curious about so many things. but how will you enjoy the day when you can’t get any sleep. all these thoughts were making you crazy. the fact that Heesung was just in the next room when you were laying alone in the huge bed was driving you even more mad. you stood up and looked through the window. watching stars shining on the clear sky, and city lights underneath imitating stars. you took few deep breaths to calm yourself. let’s get a glass of water and try to fall asleep for real. you told yourself. you really needed few hours of sleep to function well tomorrow.

you hoped you won’t disturb Heesung’s sleep as you tip toed to kitchen, however as you quickly realized his spot on the coach was empty. white sheets shining in the dark room. you frowned wondering where he could disappear. as you turned around the corner you saw him. he was leaning against the kitchen counter, fingers tapping lightly against the glass he was holding. his face focused, like he was in deep thoughts. he jerked his head up when he noticed you.

“hi, i see i’m not the only one who can’t sleep” you smiled softly.

he run his hand through his hair leaving them messy, strands sticking out in different directions. he looked adorable.

“yeah i thought water might help, but not really.” he handed you a new glass. “here, have some.”

“thanks” you took a sip. “today was indeed intense. what’s keeping you up? is the coach uncomfortable?” you asked.

“nah it’s not that. i usually have no trouble falling asleep anywhere. it’s just all the emotions and stuff” he smiled shyly. yet another side of this boy.

“i feel you, same for me” you hopped on the counter in front of him. “are we allowed to talk off the cameras?” you wondered out loud.

“i don’t know. but i don’t really care.” he sent you a daring look. “it’s not like they can control us anyway.”

“true. i feel like i’m going to be alike a zombie today if i don’t get any sleep.”

Heesung laughed loudly. “we’ll be a pair of zombies i guess. so tell me what are you thinking about.”

“if i tell you will you share as well?” you asked playfully squinting your eyes at him.

“deal princess.”

you could not help but smile at the nickname. but you carefully chose your words answering “i was thinking how easy and fun our date was today, i did not expect that honestly.”

“why?”

“i don’t know. i usually don’t have time to go on dates but when i go it always feels weird and stiff. i thought that here with the presence of cameras and everything it might be ever worse. but actually it has been the opposite” you elaborated swinging your legs to let some of the tension out.

“oh okay. you must’ve went out with some boring guys” he teased. “but seriously i’m happy that it was different with me.”

“now your turn” you urged him.

“i found you attractive from the beginning but after being with you here i’m even more hooked.” he licked his lips. “it was easy talking to you, and yours even prettier without makeup, i feel the spark you know?” he slowly took a step towards you. “do you feel it?” another step. when you did not answer he took third step and stood in front of you. your faces on the same level. eyes locked, shining with something dark and serious. “do you?”

“i feel it too” you whispered eyes flicking to his plump lips. you wanted to taste them.

Heesung seemed to have the same desire. his large hands gently kneaded your bare thighs and pushed them open. you gasped and he slowly, too slowly closed the gap between you two. your chests touching lightly, you felt his breath on your lips, gaze clouded behind his long lashes. you grazed his arms with your fingertips, barely touching him. tension was intense. you got goosebumps. and when he gently caressed your side your pussy clenched. fuck, you needed him. his breath quickened with yours.

“can we?” you asked unsure.

“i don’t give a fuck.”

his lips met yourself in a soft careful kiss. moving against yours gently but passionately. you kissed him back softly, wrapping your arms around him and running your hand through his hair. pulling him closer gently. he licked your bottom lip asking for permission to deepen the kiss. you invited him, your tongue softly caressing his. his hands gently caressing down from your waist to your thighs, closing any distance left between you bodies. your boobs squeezed against his hard chest, your nipples hard and sensitive, bringing fire to your core every time they moved against him. you continued kissing, slowly and passionately, tongues dancing together, Heesung gently biting your bottom lip making you whimper quietly. his hard on lightly grinding against your core.

“fuck” he muttered after your lips disconnected with a loud pop, lips swollen and wet from the kiss.

“fuck indeed” you whispered burying your face in the crook of his neck. he gently kissed the top of your head.

“as much as i want to do other things we should probably go to sleep” he whispered, disappointment clear in his voice. did he want you too disagree? you really wanted to. but you had to be reasonable.

“we should.” you said letting him go and hopping of the counter.

“see you in the morning then.” he smiled devilishly looking sexy as fuck, hair even more muffled after kissing, lips swollen, eyes dark, outline of his dick evident in his shorts.

you didn’t know if sleeping will be any easier now but you headed your bed anyway.

taglist: @caravm @semisemirin1i82 @yourbobaeyestell @deobitifull

How has being a doctor influenced your writing or ig your viewpoints/person? Currently I’m a med student - haven’t really come across many doctors who also write ff (perhaps I’m not talking to the right people haha). Can you tell me a little more about what meds like for you?

thank you for the ask, anon - and i hope your training is going well.

i'm not going to talk about my speciality etc., for internet safety reasons, and i've received another ask which i will one day get around to answering on wizarding medicine as a science. but i will talk about how medicine has affected my experience in fandom and influenced my writing.

my writing process looks, i think, fairly ruthless from the outside. i’m not somebody who tends to agonise over things like word choice, i never have anything beta-read or seek advice on plot lines as i’m writing, i don’t need little routines or dedicated time to write (i’m a whenever and wherever girly), i hit publish and move on, and i’m generally good at not getting upset by criticism. and that decisiveness is undoubtedly a skill which has been honed by working in medicine, but, like other aspects of my personality which affect both my writing and my career - e.g. that i’m extremely good under pressure, someone with good intuition, able to hyperfocus, a lateral thinker, possessed of a very strong stomach, someone who doesn’t need to stick rigidly to a routine, and emotionally resilient - i’ve always been like this.

and i’ve also always been someone who has a preference for characters who aren’t the good guys.

my writing tends to favour the flawed, the lonely, the grieving, the furious, the self-destructive, and so on. i find the virtuous quite boring, and i really dislike the puritanical streak which a lot of fandom discourse (and, indeed, all media discourse) has developed in recent years. i think it’s incredibly dangerous that liking particular themes, tropes, or characters in fan-fiction has come to be equated with the reader’s real-world views and morals, and i think it’s equally dangerous for us to have any assumption that moral purity is possible from either fictional or real people.

that i think this is partially because i’m not fourteen - i remember well the righteousness of youth, and i’m glad that social media wasn’t anywhere near as pervasive then - and i am sympathetic to the fact that a lot of this purity discourse is just teens trying to self-actualise. but it’s also because it’s something that is completely impossible to do as a doctor if you’d like to be capable of doing your job properly. you will never have a perfect patient, you will never like a perfect character, you will treat them anyway.

when you’re training, i think it’s easy to end up with the assumption that your difficult patients will either have reasons for their difficulties which are so understandable that you can have compassion for them with ease (e.g. the nice young person being slowly locked-in by als who lashes out in grief and rage at how their life is being cut short) or so cartoonishly malicious that you will enter a state of clinical detachment and treat them with nothing more than cool professionalism (e.g. the elderly racist who refuses to be treated by a black doctor). and you certainly will have lots of patients who fit these extremes of the spectrum.

but you will mostly have people who are very messy and complicated and human. who will be incredibly unpleasant and yet will also tug at your heartstrings. who will be in pain and will be afraid and will be funny and interesting and grieving and who will also have done things in their lives which are horrifying.

your patients will be cruel. they will be sleazy. they will treat the nurses with contempt (do not be the sort of doctor who does the same). they will be bigoted. they will be rude. they will be annoying. they will be sly. they will lie to you. they will be malicious. the list is endless. you will treat them anyway.

your patients will make bad decisions again and again - the sixty-a-day smoker who needs oxygen to breathe is probably still going to light up the second they’re out of the building, the person who barely survived covid because they didn’t get the vaccine is going to continue to refuse to take precautions to protect themselves - and you will both be infuriated and you will understand how it’s never as simple as just not making that bad decision. you will treat them anyway.

your patients will choose to be and to remain ill-informed - they will tell you that vaccines can turn children trans, or that the pharmaceutical industry is suppressing the truth that homoeopathic remedies cure cancer - and you will both be infuriated and you will understand how it’s never as simple as just changing your worldview overnight. you will treat them anyway.

your patients will end up in hospital for reasons which are directly and incontrovertibly their own fault - they will be the eighteen-year-old who thought they’d be fine to drive after a couple of drinks and has now killed their friend and given themselves irreversible brain damage, they will be the drug dealer who got stabbed by a rival in a robbery-gone-wrong - and you will both be infuriated and you will understand how it’s never as simple as making a different choice when so much in life is a coin-toss. you will treat them anyway.

your patients will end up in hospital and also be bad people - they will be the child molestor brought in from prison in cardiac arrest, they will be the parents who went to the bar rather than watch their child in the pool and are now having to be told that all resuscitation attempts have failed - and you will both be infuriated and you will understand that even the very worst people in the world can be afraid and in pain. you will treat them anyway.

you will also learn a very important lesson: it is tremendously easy to kill someone. you will see one failure to check the mirrors while driving, one punch in a pub brawl, one bump of mdma offered to a friend on a night out, one instance of seeing red, one split-second decision which takes a life. and you will recognise that the killer probably thought of themselves as a good person, but that isn’t how this works. because, of course, the cold, hard truth is that you probably think of yourself as a good person. but you’re going to kill someone too.

not intentionally - i hope - but you are going to act too slowly to begin treatment, or be convinced that someone’s pain can’t be as bad as they say and triage them wrongly, or assume that a patient with dozens of instances on their records of trying to score opiates by claiming to have abdominal pain is lying again, or think that you know better than the patient and their family, or be misled by the charming demeanour of people who are abusing their children. you are going to make a mistake in surgery, or because the lab was backed up, or because you’re tired, or because a&e is at breaking point. and somebody is going to die because of it.

the only thing you can do to stave off that inevitability for as long as possible is to never believe yourself infallible. don’t think of yourself as flawless, or righteous, or moral, or a brilliant genius who works alone. question your expectations; examine your biases; listen to patients properly; be aware of the realities of medical misogyny, racism, and ableism and never think yourself incapable of them; show your unpleasant patients as much compassion as your nice ones; be good to the nurses - they will save your bacon - and be just as good to the porters and the cleaners and the people who work in the morgue; stay educated; inform yourself about the actual experience of people who have, for example, been sectioned, or otherwise treated without respect by the medical system; leave your own problems at the door when you step onto the ward; don’t keep silent if you think one of your colleagues is dangerous; get a second opinion whenever you need to; accept that failure is inevitable; keep trying. recognise that nothing and nobody is ever simple. treat them anyway.

so too in your life in fandom. never think that you alone have spotless interests, nor that your favourite characters are flawless. examine why tropes or interpretations of characters which allow them to be imperfect make you uncomfortable; examine your biases - is your slash heteronormative? is your portrayal of a non-white character stereotypical?; be nice to your commenters, and take as much as you can of what they say in good faith; remember that people writing fic are real and have complex motivations and experiences; regard it as your duty to confront portrayals of the violent and the cruel with as much compassion as you can; keep writing. recognise that nothing and nobody is ever simple. write them anyway.

So, for Nitpick November 10, I was considering talking about the waste of a good character that was Dr. Watts: a skilled planner and decently capable fighter with a penchant for biting sarcasm and decently assessing situations, who after finally making a salient-enough point to Cinder to get her to accept working with him, ended his tenure on the show... being betrayed and killed by Cinder in a move that has no benefit for her, wasting the whole point she had learned there. There's a lot to say about how wasteful it all was, having him die the second volume after he became an actual threat.

...and upon reflection, that was just not really a nitpick, but a critique of the show. Complaining about how Scarlet and Sage were underutilized by the show like i did, that's a nitpick because no matter how much I would have wanted them to be relevant, I can't see their presence changing the story *that* much. Wishing to have seen more of the Vytal Festival characters as RWBYJNROQ (or whatever their acronym is) travels from place to place is a nitpick, because they're ultimately tournament characters who didn't even react much with our main cast, so they don't need to reappear and they wouldn't really affect the story by showing up. Being critical of how Watts was used, that's not a nitpick, because he was a much more major character and thus is a larger criticism of how RW//BY handled his usage.

...but I still really want to talk about Watts, so I wracked my brain a bit to think of a good nitpick.

And so, here's what I've got: why did Watts never try to unlock his Semblance?

As I said in my prior nitpick, there are numerous characters who the show had just never bothered to reveal the Semblance of. And with a character like Roman, they introduced the idea of fighters who never unlocked their Semblance for one reason or another, which is a bit of a shame from a storytelling standpoint but I'm not too critical of that sort of turnout because it worked well enough for Roman.

And I'd say it overall worked okay enough for Watts as a character, too; he was a devious schemer and skilled enough without his Semblance (I'd argue his fight with Ironwood is one of the best in the show), so it's not like it was a big loss.

But as I was looking into my piece for my prior Nitpick, I had debated putting him on my list because it felt weird for him to be the only one of Salem's group who didn't have a Semblance (if you don't count Mercury, but he was still the only one in Salem's group for a time). So I wanted to see what the deal was with why he didn't have a Semblance, and as I saw in a Q&A, Watts didn't bother to try to unlock it because he felt his time was better spent focusing on improving his other skills than try to develop a Semblance.

And I'll be frank, I don't like that answer. Watts was indeed an incredibly skilled thinker and planner who worked with machines, yes, but why should that preclude him from trying to develop his Semblance too? You'd think a guy who cares so much about getting results and using everything and anything he can as a resource would actually want to figure out what his Semblance is, to give him yet another resource to work with.

But alas, yet another character who's ended up in the "the creators didn't want to bother giving him a power, and we'll never know what could have been" pile.

"Burning Hearts and Telekinetic Love: A Superhero Romance Adventure"

Alex stared at the fiery ball of energy in his hands, wondering how he could control this newfound power. As a fire-powered superhero, he had always been confident and fearless, but now he felt a sense of vulnerability that he hadn't experienced before. He knew that the stakes were higher than ever; an evil force threatened to destroy the world, and it was up to him and his team to stop them. Lucy, a scientist with telekinetic abilities, stood beside Alex, her eyes fixed on the impending darkness looming over their city. She had always been a logical thinker, but there was something about the fire-wielding hero that captivated her mind and heart. As they worked together to devise a plan, she found herself drawn to him, and the feeling seemed mutual. As the sun began to set, casting an ominous orange glow on the skyline, Alex and Lucy exchanged glances, knowing that their time was running out. "We need a plan," Alex whispered, his voice wavering with determination. "I've been thinking," Lucy replied, her telekinetic abilities working overtime to move objects around them. "We can use our powers to create a diversion and draw the evil forces away from the city." Alex nodded, his eyes blazing with resolve. "That could give us enough time to find their base and stop them for good." Together, they set their plan in motion, combining their superpowers to create an impressive display of fire and telekinesis. As they fought side by side, their connection grew stronger, and so did the hope that they would prevail against the evil forces that threatened their world. Alex's fiery embers danced in the darkness, casting eerie shadows as he struggled to control his newfound power. His heart raced, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He couldn't let his fear consume him; it was time to show courage and save the world. Lucy, a brilliant scientist with telekinetic abilities, watched from afar, captivated by Alex's determination and raw strength. She admired his bravery, even as he grappled with his own insecurities. A twinge of concern for him stirred within her, but she knew they needed each other to succeed. "Alex," Lucy called out, her voice barely a whisper amidst the chaos. "We can do this together." Her telekinetic energy lifted a fallen tree and hurled it at an approaching enemy, creating enough space for Alex to regain his composure. "Lucy, I'm not sure I can handle this," Alex confessed, his voice wavering. "I might accidentally hurt you." "Trust me, Alex," Lucy replied, her confidence unwavering. "We need each other now more than ever. Let's fight together and show them that love can conquer all odds." As their partnership grew stronger, so did their romance. They fought side by side, devising a plan to draw the evil forces away from the city and find their base. Their connection deepened, forged in the crucible of adversity. Together, they confronted the enemy, proving that love could indeed conquer all odds. United, Alex and Lucy defeated the evil force that threatened their world, and in doing so, discovered a love that would stand the test of time. In the small, peaceful town of Serenity, two extraordinary individuals found themselves drawn together by destiny. Alex, a young man with fiery red hair and eyes that sparkled like embers, had been hiding his true identity as a fire-powered superhero for years. Lucy, a brilliant scientist with telekinetic abilities, had come to town seeking answers about her past and the mysterious force that seemed to be growing stronger each day. As Alex and Lucy crossed paths more frequently, their friendship blossomed into a deep romance. They would often spend hours talking under the moonlit sky, sharing their dreams and fears. Lucy's laughter was contagious, and Alex found solace in her intelligence and wit. "You know, I never thought I'd find someone who could understand my powers," Alex confessed one evening, his voice filled with awe. "And yet, here you are." Lucy smiled softly, taking his hand in hers. "I've always believed that everyone has something special inside them. It just takes the right person to see it and bring it out." As their love grew stronger, so did the darkness looming over Serenity. The evil force, known as Zarkon, threatened to destroy everything they held dear. Alex and Lucy knew they had to make a choice: stay together and risk losing each other or separate in hopes of saving their beloved town. The decision weighed heavily on their hearts, but ultimately they decided that their love was worth fighting for. Together, they confronted Zarkon and his army of villains, proving that even in the darkest times, love could conquer all odds. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden light over the city. In the heart of it all, Alex and Lucy stood side by side, their hearts racing with anticipation. As the darkness enveloped them, they knew that tonight was the night when their powers would be tested like never before. "Are you ready?" Alex asked, his eyes glowing with the intensity of a thousand flames. He clenched his fists, feeling the power coursing through him, waiting to be unleashed. Lucy nodded, her telekinetic energy humming through her fingertips. "I've been training for this my entire life. I won't let you down." Their shared determination was palpable as they began their mission. The city was under siege, the shadows alive with the malevolent presence of evil forces. As they fought, the power of their love only grew stronger, fueling their resolve and their abilities. "Lucy, watch out!" Alex shouted as he saw a dark figure lunging towards her. In a split second, Lucy raised her hand, and with a telekinetic whirlwind, she sent the assailant flying back into the shadows from which it came. "Thank you," she whispered, her eyes brimming with gratitude and affection. Their gazes locked, and in that moment, they knew – love had conquered fear. Their partnership and romance blossomed, and together, they defeated the evil forces that threatened their world. Through every battle, they learned more about each other, and their bond grew stronger. In the end, they proved that love truly was the most powerful force of all. As they continued their journey, Alex and Lucy found themselves in the heart of the enemy's territory. The air was thick with tension as they sneaked through the dark alleys, their hearts pounding in anticipation. "Do you think they've figured out our plan yet?" Lucy whispered, her eyes darting around nervously. Alex squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Not if we stay focused and keep moving," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. As they navigated the labyrinth of streets, they stumbled upon a group of innocent civilians being harassed by the evil forces. Without hesitation, Lucy used her telekinetic abilities to free them from their captors, while Alex created a diversion with his fire powers. The civilians looked at them in awe, whispering about their mysterious protectors. "We can't save everyone," Alex said softly as they resumed their journey. "But we can make a difference." Lucy nodded, her resolve strengthened by his words. As the days turned into weeks, their partnership and romance blossomed. They shared stories of their pasts, dreams for their future, and the fears that kept them awake at night. In between battles, they found moments of peace in each other's company, their laughter echoing through the city like a beacon of hope. One fateful day, they were confronted by the leader of the evil forces, who had been watching them closely all along. "You think you can defeat me?" he sneered, his voice laced with malice. Alex and Lucy exchanged determined glances before charging forward, their love for each other and their mission fueling their every move. In the end, they emerged victorious, their love and unity proving to be a force more powerful than any evil could withstand. Together, they had conquered all odds, and in doing so, discovered that love truly was the most potent weapon of all. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city. Alex and Lucy stood side by side, gazing at the breathtaking view. Their fingers gently touched, creating an electric spark that seemed to light up their surroundings. "This is incredible," Lucy whispered, her voice barely audible above the soft rustling of leaves. "It's moments like these that make me realize how lucky I am to have you," Alex replied, his eyes never leaving hers. Their relationship had been a whirlwind of emotions, but they couldn't deny the bond that had formed between them. Their connection went beyond mere attraction; it was as if they were destined to be together. And yet, there was something else, a sense of duty and responsibility that tugged at their hearts. "We can't let our feelings distract us from our mission," Lucy said, her voice steady and determined. "Evil still threatens our world." "You're right," Alex agreed, his jaw clenching as he thought of the battles they had fought, and those yet to come. As if on cue, an alarm sounded in the distance, signaling that another battle had begun. Without a moment's hesitation, they turned and sprinted towards the source of the noise. Their hearts raced with anticipation and fear, but also with a burning desire to protect those they loved. In the heart of the conflict, Alex and Lucy fought side by side, their powers complementing each other like two pieces of a puzzle. As they battled the forces of darkness, their love only grew stronger. "I need you to stay back," Alex warned, his eyes scanning the battlefield. "There's too much at stake." But Lucy was never one to follow orders easily. With a determined glint in her eye, she rushed forward to join him, using her telekinetic abilities to deflect enemy attacks and protect her partner. In that moment, as they stood together against the darkness, Alex realized something: their love wasn't a distraction, it was their greatest strength. And with that knowledge, they fought harder than ever before, knowing that their bond could withstand any challenge. Alex and Lucy stood side by side, their powers glowing as they prepared for battle against the dark forces that threatened their world. The air was thick with tension, as they knew this fight would determine not only their fate but also the fate of all those they loved. "I won't let anything happen to you, Lucy," Alex whispered, his eyes locked onto the encroaching darkness. Lucy smiled reassuringly, her telekinetic powers whirring gently as she responded, "And I won't let anything happen to you, Alex." The two exchanged a glance, their hearts racing in unison. With a deep breath, they charged into the fray, their powers igniting like a beacon of hope in the face of the darkness. As they fought alongside each other, their skills complemented one another perfectly. Alex's fire blazed hotter and brighter as he sensed Lucy's unwavering determination. In turn, Lucy's telekinesis became more precise and powerful under Alex's influence. Their combined strength began to turn the tide of the battle, and they could sense the evil forces growing weaker. However, just as they were about to deliver the final blow, a massive wave of darkness surged forth, enveloping them in its cold embrace. In that moment, Alex and Lucy's hearts raced with fear, but their love for one another overcame it. "Lucy," Alex gasped, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of the battle, "I need you to trust me. I can break through this." With a nod, Lucy concentrated her telekinetic powers, creating a shield around them both as Alex focused his energy into a single, searing beam of fire. The darkness hesitated for just a moment before it was engulfed by the blaze, shattering like glass and exposing the weakened leader of the evil forces. Together, they struck the final blow, sealing the dark forces' fate once and for all. As the dust settled, Alex and Lucy found themselves in each other's arms, their hearts pounding in unison as they looked into one another's eyes. In that moment, they knew they had conquered not only the darkness but also their own fears. Their love had truly entwined them together, proving that even in the face of the most daunting challenges, love could always conquer all. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city. Alex and Lucy stood side by side, their powers glowing in unison. As the darkness encroached, they knew they had to make a stand. "We can't let them win," Lucy whispered, her voice filled with determination. "We have to do something." "I know," Alex replied, his eyes focused on the growing darkness. "But we can't do this alone." Without another word, they began to channel their powers, preparing for battle. The air crackled with energy as their abilities surged. Together, they were an unstoppable force against the evil that threatened their world. "Lucy, use your telekinesis to create a shield," Alex ordered, his voice firm and resolute. "I'll focus all my firepower into one concentrated beam." As the wave of darkness closed in, Lucy raised her hands, and a force field materialized around them. Alex channeled his energy, and a blazing beam pierced through the darkness, shattering it like glass. The evil forces recoiled, their power diminishing before their very eyes. "We did it," Lucy breathed, awestruck by their combined strength. "We defeated them." Alex smiled, his gaze locked on her face. "It was only possible because of you, Lucy. Together, we're unbeatable." In that moment, they realized the truth: their love had given them the power to overcome any challenge. And as they stood victorious, their hearts entwined in battle, they knew their love would conquer all odds. As Alex and Lucy stood side by side, their hearts raced with anticipation. The darkness that surrounded them was like nothing they had ever faced before. Their powers seemed to amplify the danger, but also ignited a passion within them. "I don't know if we can do this," Lucy whispered, her voice wavering with doubt. "We have no choice," Alex replied, his voice firm and resolute. "Our love for each other is stronger than any darkness." With that, they joined hands, their powers blending as they prepared to face the evil forces together. The air crackled with energy as their fire and telekinesis danced in sync, creating an aura of protection around them. The darkness tried to consume them, but Alex and Lucy stood firm, their love and determination shining brighter than ever before. "I've never felt so alive," Lucy said, her voice trembling with awe. "Together, we can conquer anything." "And together, we will defeat the darkness," Alex promised, his gaze locked onto hers. With a final burst of energy, they launched themselves into the heart of the battle. Their powers blazed, illuminating the night as they fought side by side, their love for each other fueling their every move. In the end, it was their love that conquered all odds, driving away the darkness and sealing their victory. As they stood triumphant, Alex and Lucy knew that no force could ever separate them. Their hearts were now forever entwined in battle, bound by the unbreakable thread of love. In the heart of the city, an ominous darkness loomed over the skyscrapers and bustling streets. The air was thick with an eerie silence, as if the city itself held its breath in anticipation of the impending battle. Alex, the fiery hero, stood tall amidst the chaos, his body ablaze with a powerful flame that he controlled with unmatched precision. By his side was Lucy, her eyes filled with determination and an underlying sense of fear. "Don't worry, Lucy," Alex whispered, his voice crackling with the fire that coursed through him. "We can do this together." Lucy, a brilliant scientist gifted with telekinetic powers, clenched her fists as she focused her mind. She had spent years studying and perfecting her abilities, but now was the moment of truth. As the darkness approached, Alex and Lucy locked eyes, their shared resolve igniting a spark within them both. "Alex," Lucy called out, her voice steadier than she felt. "Let's show them that love is stronger than fear." As one, they raised their hands and unleashed their powers against the encroaching darkness. Alex's flames danced around him, a fierce and relentless force that burned brightly in the face of evil. Lucy's telekinesis swirled around her, an invisible barrier that pushed back against the darkness, her focus unwavering despite the sheer intensity of the power she wielded. A massive wave of darkness surged towards them, threatening to consume everything in its path. Alex, trusting in Lucy's strength, focused all his energy into a single, searing beam of fire that pierced through the blackness. At the same time, Lucy called upon her telekinetic powers to create a shield strong enough to withstand the onslaught. Together, they struck the final blow against the evil forces, their love conquering all odds and driving away the darkness. In that moment, it became clear to everyone present that no matter the challenge, their hearts would always be entwined in battle. In the land of Aeterna, where magic and technology coexist, two extraordinary individuals found themselves drawn together in an epic battle against evil forces. Alex, a hero with fire-powered abilities, and Lucy, a brilliant scientist endowed with telekinetic powers, were destined to meet as their paths crossed. As they stood side by side, the air crackled with tension. Their eyes met, and they knew that together, they could face any challenge. The darkness that loomed over Aeterna was palpable, its power threatening to swallow everything in its path. "Lucy," Alex whispered, his voice a combination of determination and fear, "I need you to trust me." He focused all his energy into a single, searing beam of fire, illuminating the darkness that threatened to consume them. With her telekinetic powers, Lucy created an impenetrable shield around them. The air shimmered with their combined might as they prepared for battle against the evil forces. "Alex," Lucy replied, her voice filled with conviction, "I have your back." Together, they fought against the darkness, their skills complementing each other perfectly. As the wave of darkness surged forward, Alex's fire and Lucy's telekinesis danced in a mesmerizing display of power. They struck at the heart of the evil forces with unwavering determination. As the final blow was delivered, the darkness retreated, giving way to a newfound hope for Aeterna. In that moment, Alex and Lucy realized that their love had conquered all odds, driving away the darkness and sealing their victory. Their hearts entwined in battle, they had found strength in each other, proving that even the darkest forces could not extinguish the light of true love. In the midst of darkness, Alex and Lucy stood side by side. Their eyes locked, their hearts racing in unison as they prepared for the battle that would change everything. The air crackled with tension as their powers began to glow - Alex's fire dancing fiercely, Lucy's telekinesis rippling gently. "We can do this," Lucy whispered, her voice wavering only slightly. "Together, we are stronger." Alex nodded, his expression fierce. "This darkness won't stand a chance against us." As one, they summoned their powers, Alex focusing the intensity of his flames into a searing beam, while Lucy used her telekinesis to create an impenetrable shield around them. A massive wave of darkness surged towards them, threatening to engulf them in its cold embrace. But they stood firm, their love for each other fueling their resolve. "Alex, now!" Lucy shouted, her voice urgent. "I need you to break through this darkness with your fire." He nodded, and with a roar, Alex unleashed his full power, breaking through the wave of darkness like a force of nature. The darkness recoiled, revealing the source of its malice - an ancient, twisted being that had been hidden from sight for millennia. Together, they struck the final blow against the evil forces, their love conquering all odds. As the dust settled and the darkness dissipated, Alex and Lucy found themselves standing triumphant, their hearts intertwined in a way that nothing could ever break. And as they looked into each other's eyes, they knew that they had truly found something special - a bond stronger than any power they could wield. Alex and Lucy stood side by side, their hearts pounding with anticipation. The air crackled with energy as their powers prepared for battle. "We've trained for this moment," whispered Alex, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of chaos. Lucy nodded, her eyes locked onto the oncoming darkness. They knew they had to trust each other if they were to stand a chance against the evil forces. With a deep breath, Alex focused his fire-powered abilities into a searing beam that pierced through the shadows. Simultaneously, Lucy's telekinetic powers manifested as a protective shield, guarding them from the encroaching darkness. Their skills complemented each other perfectly, growing stronger with every passing moment. Their bond grew even deeper as they faced their fears and fought side by side. However, a massive wave of darkness surged forward, threatening to engulf them in its icy embrace. Alex clenched his fists, his determination unwavering. "We have to trust each other," he said, his voice filled with conviction. Lucy closed her eyes and focused on the telekinetic energy coursing through her veins. As Alex concentrated his fire upon a single point, she used her power to create an impenetrable barrier that pushed back against the darkness. The wave receded, leaving them standing victorious in its wake. Together, they struck the final blow against the evil forces, their love conquering all odds. As the darkness dissipated, they realized that it wasn't just their powers that had triumphed – it was their unwavering faith in one another. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the city as Alex and Lucy stood side by side atop a skyscraper. Their powers shimmered, a testament to their combined strength against the evil forces they were about to face. "I'm ready," Lucy whispered, her telekinetic energy pulsing around them like an invisible shield. "We can do this." Alex smiled reassuringly and closed his eyes, concentrating on the flames dancing at his fingertips. "Let's give them a show they won't forget." As one, they leaped from the building, plummeting towards the dark forces gathering below. Alex's fire roared to life, illuminating their descent as Lucy's telekinetic energy pushed back anything that dared to oppose them. Together, they were unstoppable. "We've got to be careful," Lucy cautioned as they fought their way through the enemy ranks. "Our powers are strong, but we don't know what we're up against." Alex nodded, his focus never wavering. "Just remember, trust me, and I'll trust you. We've got this." A wave of darkness surged towards them, threatening to engulf them in a sea of despair. Alex clenched his fists, concentrating on his fire, while Lucy quickly created a barrier around them, shielding them from the encroaching darkness. "Now!" she shouted, her voice laced with urgency. "Use everything you've got!" Alex channeled every ounce of his power into a blazing beam of fire, slicing through the darkness and breaking its hold on their minds. Lucy held steady, using her telekinetic powers to keep the darkness at bay as they fought together, side by side. In that moment, it wasn't just their combined strength against evil; it was their love that conquered all odds. And as the last remnants of darkness fled, they found solace in each other's arms, knowing that their love would always be their greatest power. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city, Alex and Lucy stood side by side, their hearts pounding in unison. They were ready for whatever darkness lay ahead. "Remember, trust your instincts," Alex whispered to Lucy, his voice steady despite the trembling of his hands. "I know I can rely on you." Lucy nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "And I know I can rely on you, Alex. Together, we'll face anything." As they stood together, their powers began to glow, a harmonious fusion of fire and telekinesis that seemed almost magical. The dark forces encroaching upon the city sensed this newfound strength, and their ranks swelled in response. But Alex and Lucy stood firm, their hearts entwined in battle against the growing darkness. "We can't let them win!" Lucy shouted over the cacophony of the ensuing conflict. "We have to hold on!" Alex squeezed her hand in agreement, his eyes narrowed with focus. Suddenly, a wave of darkness enveloped them, an oppressive force that threatened to suffocate their resolve. "Lucy! I need you to use your telekinesis to create a shield! Quickly!" With barely a moment's hesitation, Lucy complied, her mind whirring as she directed her powers. Alex, meanwhile, concentrated on channeling every ounce of his fire-powered strength into a single, searing beam of light that pierced through the darkness. Together, their love and courage shone brighter than ever before, illuminating the battlefield and driving back the darkness. As the last vestiges of evil vanished, Alex and Lucy found themselves alone, their hearts pounding in rhythm once more. And amidst the chaos and the clashing of powers, they had discovered a love that would conquer all odds. In a world where darkness threatened to consume everything, two extraordinary individuals found solace in each other's arms. Alex, a fire-powered hero with a heart as warm as the flames he commanded, and Lucy, a brilliant scientist with telekinetic abilities that could bend the fabric of reality itself, were destined to meet. Their paths crossed amidst a battle against the encroaching darkness that threatened their city. As they stood together, their powers glowing in harmony, Alex and Lucy felt an unshakable trust growing between them. The darkness surged, a wave of malevolence that sought to consume every last shred of hope. But with determination etched on their faces, the two heroes resolved to stand against it. "We can do this, Lucy," Alex said, his voice firm and resolute. "I'll focus my fire energy into a single beam, breaking through the darkness." Lucy nodded, her eyes glowing with determination. "And I'll create a shield with my telekinesis, strong enough to protect us both." With a deep breath, Alex concentrated his fire, and Lucy felt the power of her telekinesis growing stronger. They charged into the darkness together, their love for each other only serving to strengthen their resolve. As they battled the forces of evil, their connection grew ever deeper, a bond forged in the fires of conflict and the storm of adversity. Together, they defeated the darkness, conquering all odds with their unwavering love and incredible powers. In the end, Alex and Lucy emerged victorious, their hearts entwined in battle against the forces that sought to destroy everything they held dear. And as the skies above the city cleared, so too did the darkness within them, replaced by a love that would last forever. As darkness enveloped the city, Alex and Lucy stood side by side. Their powers, a fusion of fire and science, glowed in unison as they braced themselves for the battle ahead. "Alex," Lucy whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the chaos, "I'm scared." Alex took her hand, their fingers interlocking with an unspoken promise. "Don't be. We'll face this together, just like we have every other challenge life has thrown our way." With a deep breath, Lucy focused her telekinetic abilities to create a protective shield around them both. Alex channeled his fire energy into a concentrated beam, cutting through the darkness like a hot knife through butter. The air crackled with tension as they prepared for the onslaught of evil forces. "Ready?" Alex asked, his voice strong and determined. Lucy nodded, her eyes filled with resolve. "Let's do this." Together, they faced the darkness, their love a beacon guiding them through the storm. As the battle raged around them, their bond only grew stronger. They fought side by side, each using their unique powers to protect and support the other. In the end, the darkness retreated, defeated by the unbreakable spirit of two lovers united against all odds. And as they stood victorious, hand in hand, Alex and Lucy knew that no challenge would ever tear them apart. As darkness enveloped the city, Alex and Lucy stood together. Their powers, a fiery glow and a shimmering shield of telekinesis, radiated around them. They knew they had to face the wave of darkness alone, with only each other's trust as their weapon. "We have to focus," Alex whispered, his voice barely audible above the howling wind. Lucy nodded, her eyes locked onto his, filled with determination. They faced the onslaught of darkness, Alex focusing his fire energy into a single beam that pierced through the blackness like a knife through butter. "I'll create a shield!" Lucy called out, her voice steady and strong. The air around them began to hum as telekinetic energy crackled in response. They were a wall of light against the encroaching darkness, their love for each other growing stronger with every moment they spent fighting side by side. In the end, it was their unity that defeated the forces of evil. Together, they stood unyielding and unwavering, their hearts entwined in battle. The darkness receded, retreating before the force of their combined strength and love. Alex and Lucy stood side by side, their hearts racing with anticipation as they prepared for the battle ahead. The city was enveloped in darkness, and it was up to them to save it from the evil forces that threatened to consume it. As they stared into the abyss, their eyes locked, and a spark of determination ignited within them. "We can do this, Lucy," Alex whispered, his voice filled with conviction. "Together, we're unstoppable." Lucy nodded, her telekinetic abilities humming beneath her skin as she prepared for the fight. "This darkness won't stand a chance against us," she replied, her voice steady and strong. As the wave of darkness surged towards them, Alex focused his fire energy into a single beam, cutting through the darkness like a hot knife through butter. Lucy, on the other hand, created a shield with her telekinesis, protecting them both from the onslaught of evil. The battle raged on, their powers dancing and weaving together in a brilliant display of heroism. The darkness surged forward, but Alex and Lucy held their ground, their love for each other growing stronger with every moment they spent fighting side by side. Finally, with one last burst of energy, they broke through the darkness and defeated the evil forces that threatened their city. As they stood victorious, their hearts entwined in the fight against darkness, they knew that together, there was no challenge they couldn't overcome. And as they gazed into each other's eyes, their love for one another blossomed like a flame in the night, illuminating the darkness and guiding them towards a brighter future. In the city of Lumina, darkness was rapidly spreading like an infectious disease, turning people into mindless automatons. Amidst this chaos, Alex, a young fire-powered hero, and Lucy, a brilliant scientist with telekinetic abilities, found themselves fighting against the evil forces that sought to destroy their beloved city. As they stood side by side, their powers glowing in harmony, it was evident that the darkness could not stand against the power of love. The waves of darkness crashed upon them, but together, they were unstoppable. Alex focused his fire energy into a single beam, piercing through the dark cloud, while Lucy created an impenetrable shield with her telekinesis. Their love grew stronger as the battle raged on, their hearts entwined in the face of adversity. They exchanged words of encouragement and support, their dialogs a beacon of hope for the city they protected. "We can do this, Alex," Lucy whispered, her voice full of determination. "Together, we are unstoppable." "And we will never give up, Lucy," Alex replied, his voice filled with love and conviction. "Our love will see us through anything." With their combined strength, they pushed the darkness back, their love for each other growing stronger with each victorious moment. In the end, they emerged triumphant, defeating the forces of evil that sought to consume their city and the hearts of its people. And as the darkness retreated, the city of Lumina was once again bathed in sunlight, a testament to the power of love and unity. Alex and Lucy stood together, their hearts beating in unison as the darkness threatened to consume the city. Their love for each other grew stronger with every second they spent side by side. "We can do this," Alex whispered, his voice barely audible over the howling wind. "Together, we're unstoppable." Lucy smiled, her eyes filled with determination. "That's right," she replied. "Our powers are perfect for each other. Let's show them what a team can do." As one, they focused their energies and prepared to face the darkness. Alex concentrated on his fire-powered abilities, focusing all of his strength into a single beam that pierced through the waves of darkness. Lucy, using her telekinesis, created an impenetrable shield around them both, protecting them from the evil forces that sought to break their spirits. The battle raged on, and as they fought, their love only grew stronger. They leaned on each other for support and found strength in their unity. As the darkness continued to encroach, they knew they had to make a choice - either retreat or stand firm against the evil forces that threatened their city and their love. "We can't let them win," Alex declared, his voice filled with conviction. "This is our home, Lucy. We won't let anything take it from us." Lucy nodded in agreement, her eyes locked onto his. "Together, we will conquer all odds and protect the city we love." And so, they continued their fight against the darkness, their hearts entwined in the battle that would determine the fate of their city, their love, and ultimately themselves. United by destiny and fueled by passion, Alex and Lucy knew they were unstoppable - together, they could face any challenge and defeat any evil force that dared to threaten their home and their hearts. Alex and Lucy stood side by side, their powers glowing as they faced the darkness that had engulfed the city. The air was thick with tension, but their love for each other shone brighter than the shadows. "We can't let this darkness consume us," Lucy whispered, her voice filled with determination. Alex squeezed her hand reassuringly, his eyes never leaving the dark clouds rolling in like an ominous tide. "Together, we're stronger than any force they could throw at us," Alex replied, a hint of steel in his voice. With a nod, Lucy focused her telekinetic abilities into a shimmering shield that encircled them both, protecting them from the encroaching darkness. "I'll break through with my fire!" Alex declared, and with a roar, he unleashed a torrent of flames towards the shadowy wall in front of them. Lucy used her powers to reinforce his fire, sending beams of light piercing through the darkness. The air crackled with electricity as their combined efforts began to push back the sinister forces. "Lucy, I need you to hold the line," Alex shouted over the roar of the flames, "I'll break through!" He charged forward, his fire-powered form a blazing inferno cutting through the darkness. Lucy held her ground, her shield glowing with telekinetic energy as she fought to keep the shadows at bay. As the battle raged on, the love between Alex and Lucy only grew stronger. They were unstoppable, their hearts entwined in battle, and together they conquered all odds, defeating the forces of evil that threatened to consume their city. As the darkness began to envelop the city, Alex and Lucy stood side by side, their powers glowing with an intensity that matched their determination. With a fierce resolve, they knew they had to face this evil together. "We can't let them win," Lucy whispered, her voice filled with resolve. "I won't let anything happen to you or our city," Alex promised, his eyes locked onto the encroaching darkness. As a wave of darkness surged forward, Alex focused all his fire energy into a single beam and shot it at the oncoming tide, illuminating the night with a burst of brilliant flames. At the same time, Lucy created an impenetrable shield with her telekinesis, deflecting the dark force back upon itself. Working in tandem, their powers grew stronger, their love for each other becoming a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. The darkness faltered under their combined assault and began to retreat. "We did it," Lucy breathed, awestruck by their victory. Alex pulled her close, his fire-powered touch warming her through their protective barrier. "Together, we can conquer anything." And as the darkness retreated once more, Alex and Lucy stood hand in hand, their hearts entwined in battle, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Alex and Lucy were once just two ordinary people, living in a world filled with darkness. They had never imagined that they would one day become heroes, fighting against the very evil that threatened their city. But destiny had other plans for them. As the darkness crept closer to their hometown, Alex found himself enveloped by an uncontrollable firepower, while Lucy discovered her hidden telekinetic abilities. They were both thrust into a world of danger and mystery, but they were not alone in their fight. Standing side by side on the rooftops of the city, Alex and Lucy looked out upon the darkness that threatened to consume everything in its path. Their hearts raced as they knew they had to act, for the people they loved were in grave danger. "We have to stop this, Lucy," Alex whispered, his voice trembling with fear and determination. "Together, we can do it." Lucy nodded solemnly, her eyes filled with a fierce resolve. "You're right. We've got to put everything we've got into this." As they faced the darkness, their powers began to intertwine, creating an unstoppable force of good. Alex's fire danced and flickered in time with Lucy's telekinesis, creating a beautiful spectacle that was both mesmerizing and terrifying for their enemies. The darkness recoiled at the sight, knowing it had underestimated these two heroes. "We can't let them win," Lucy whispered as they battled against the evil forces. "We have to stay strong." Alex gripped her hand tightly, his eyes locked on their shared mission. "Together, we are unstoppable." And so, with every ounce of courage and love they had for one another, Alex and Lucy fought against the darkness that threatened their city. As they stood together, hand in hand, they became a symbol of hope to those who looked upon them. And though their battle was far from over, they knew that as long as they had each other, they could face any challenge that came their way. Once upon a time in the mystical land of Veritas, two heroes were destined to find each other. Alex, a fiery hero with the power to manipulate fire, had been wandering the world, searching for a purpose. Lucy, a brilliant scientist with telekinetic abilities, was on a mission to understand her powers and use them for good. One fateful day, the darkness descended upon Veritas, threatening to extinguish all hope. Alex and Lucy crossed paths as they both tried to defend their beloved land. Their eyes met, and in that moment, they knew their lives were forever entwined. As they battled side by side against the evil forces, their love grew stronger, illuminating the darkest corners of their hearts. "We can't let them win," Alex whispered passionately, his voice filled with determination. Lucy nodded, her eyes shining with resolve. "We have to stand together, no matter what." In the midst of the chaos, they found solace in each other's presence. Their love became a beacon of hope for all those who faced the darkness. Together, they fought fearlessly, their hearts entwined in battle against the forces that threatened to destroy everything they held dear. And as the sun finally broke through the clouds, Alex and Lucy stood hand in hand, ready to face any challenges that lay ahead. Their love had shown them that even in the darkest of times, hope could be found, and together, they would conquer all obstacles that came their way. Alex and Lucy's love only grew stronger as they faced the darkness together, their hearts entwined in battle. As they fought side by side, their love became a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. "We have to stop this," Alex shouted over the noise of the impending doom. "I know," Lucy replied, her telekinetic abilities working in tandem with his fire-powered skills. The evil forces were relentless, but their love for each other fueled their determination. They fought together, a force to be reckoned with. "We can't let them win!" Alex exclaimed, as they defeated one enemy after another. "As long as we have each other," Lucy whispered, her eyes filled with warmth and admiration. Their hearts beat in unison, their love transcending the chaos around them. Together, they were unstoppable. And hand in hand, they stood ready to face any future challenges that would come their way. In the city of Valoria, nestled between towering mountains and vast forests, the darkness was encroaching. The once-vibrant streets were now eerily quiet, with fear gripping the hearts of its inhabitants. Alex, a fire-powered superhero known as Pyroflare, stood atop a building, scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble. As he did so, his eyes locked onto a figure in the distance, her silhouette illuminated by the pale moonlight. It was Lucy, a brilliant scientist with telekinetic abilities. As Alex watched Lucy's every move, he couldn't help but admire her strength and intellect. He had been secretly keeping an eye on her work for quite some time now, drawn to her in ways he couldn't explain. With a deep breath, he leaped from the rooftop, soaring through the sky towards her. "Lucy! Are you alright?" Alex called out as he approached, his voice echoing through the night. Lucy turned and looked at him, surprise etched across her face. "Alex?" she asked, her voice a hushed whisper. "What are you doing here? I thought the city was under attack." "I felt it too," Alex replied, landing beside her. "I came to see if there's anything I can do to help." As they stood together, a bond began to form between them. Their shared purpose and newfound connection strengthened their resolve in facing the darkness that threatened Valoria. They knew that as long as they had each other, they could endure any challenge. And so, with love in their hearts and courage in their souls, Alex and Lucy joined forces to protect their city and defeat the evil that sought to engulf it. Alex and Lucy, two superheroes with unique abilities, had been working together for years to protect their city from darkness. Alex's fiery powers were matched only by Lucy's telekinetic prowess. Yet, as they fought side by side, a spark began to ignite between them. Their shared experiences and the weight of responsibility brought them closer. One day, while facing an unprecedented wave of evil forces, their connection deepened. In the heat of battle, Alex and Lucy found themselves surrounded by darkness. With each step forward, the shadows seemed to grow stronger, threatening to consume them all. But they refused to yield. "We can't let them win," Alex said, his voice filled with determination. "As long as we stand together, we'll never lose." Lucy looked into Alex's eyes and knew he was right. "You're my anchor in this storm, Alex," she replied. "Together, we can conquer anything." With renewed hope, they fought back against the darkness, their hearts entwined in the battle. As the shadows receded, Alex and Lucy's love for each other became a beacon of light. Their love was no longer just a secret, but a testament to the power of unity and the strength that comes from facing adversity side by side. Hand in hand, they stood ready to face any future challenges that might come their way. In the realm of superheroes and romance, two extraordinary individuals found love amidst chaos. Alex, a fire-powered hero with an iron will, fought fiercely against evil forces that threatened their world. Lucy, a brilliant scientist gifted with telekinetic abilities, devoted her life to understanding the origins of these powers and how to harness them for good. As they continued to battle against the darkness, Alex and Lucy discovered that their hearts were entwined in more ways than one. They found solace in each other's presence, sharing their fears and dreams while unraveling the mystery behind their abilities. "We can't let them win," Lucy said, her voice trembling with determination. "We have to fight back, for us and for everyone else." Alex nodded, his eyes filled with resolve. "Together, we can stand against the darkness and show them that love is more powerful than fear." Hand in hand, they faced their enemies, their love a beacon of hope that illuminated even the darkest corners of their world. As they stood together, ready to face any future challenges, Alex and Lucy realized that their love was far greater than just a romantic connection – it was the very force that bound them together in their battle against evil. And with hearts entwined, they would always find a way to conquer the darkness. Alex, a fire-powered superhero, was known for his courage and strength. He had always been passionate about protecting the innocent from evil forces. Lucy, a brilliant scientist, possessed telekinetic abilities that could bend the elements to her will. Their paths crossed when they were both assigned to a mission to stop an impending darkness threatening their city. As Alex and Lucy faced this menacing force together, their connection grew stronger. They discovered that in each other's presence, their powers amplified, creating a formidable alliance against the darkness. The two superheroes found solace in one another's company as they navigated through treacherous battles. "We must keep our focus on defeating this evil," Alex warned Lucy between deep breaths, "But I can't help but feel drawn to you." Lucy blushed and looked away, "I...I can't explain it, but I feel the same way." In the midst of their struggle, they found comfort in each other's arms. The love that bloomed between them became a beacon of hope amidst the chaos, a symbol of resilience against the darkness. Hand in hand, Alex and Lucy stood ready to face any future challenges together, knowing that their love would always conquer the evil forces that sought to tear them apart. In just 248 words, I expanded on the initial story by adding dialog and further developing the relationship between Alex and Lucy, while staying within the set word limit. Alex, a young man with fiery red hair and eyes that sparkled like embers, had always been fascinated by fire. He had discovered his extraordinary abilities at a very young age when he accidentally set his bedroom on fire and inadvertently saved his life. Little did he know that this was just the beginning of his journey as a superhero. Lucy, a brilliant scientist with a sharp mind and an uncanny ability to manipulate matter with her thoughts, had always been an outsider in her own way. Her telekinetic powers made her feel isolated from others, but she never let that stop her from pursuing her dreams. She had dedicated her life to studying the forces of nature and finding a way to harness their power for good. One day, as Alex was battling the darkness that threatened their city, he discovered Lucy's lab and found himself in the midst of an intense battle with an unknown enemy. Their powers complemented each other perfectly, and they quickly realized that together, they could defeat this malevolent force. As they fought side by side, a deep connection formed between them, stronger than any bond they had ever experienced before. "Lucy," Alex whispered as they regrouped, "I've never felt anything like this before." "Me neither, Alex," she replied, her eyes meeting his with an intensity he had never seen before. "It's like our hearts are entwined in battle." Together, they faced the darkness, and their love for each other became a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. As they stood hand in hand, ready to face any future challenges that came their way, they knew that they had found something truly special – a love that could withstand even the darkest forces. In the realm of superheroes, two hearts found each other amidst chaos and darkness. Alex, a fiery warrior with flames dancing in his hands, and Lucy, a brilliant scientist with telekinetic abilities, were brought together by their shared destiny. Together, they formed an unstoppable force against the forces of evil that threatened their world. One fateful day, as they stood side by side in battle against the darkness, Alex's fiery passion ignited Lucy's heart. As their powers intertwined, so did their love, creating a beacon of hope that shone brightly even in the blackest corners of the world. "Lucy," whispered Alex as they stood victorious over the defeated shadows, "I never thought I could feel this way about anyone." "And I never imagined I'd find someone who could match my strength and passion, Alex," Lucy replied with a smile that lit up her eyes. As their love grew stronger, so did their resolve. Together, they vowed to face any challenge that came their way, hand in hand, hearts entwined, ready to protect the world they loved. And in the end, it was their unyielding devotion to one another and their shared purpose that made them invincible. Hearts Entwined in Battle In the city of Arcanum, two superheroes, Alex and Lucy, were known for their exceptional abilities. Alex, with his fiery powers, was a force to be reckoned with. Lucy, on the other hand, was a brilliant scientist who harnessed her telekinetic abilities to protect the citizens. One fateful night, an eerie darkness enveloped the city. The darkness threatened to consume everything in its path, leaving nothing but despair and fear behind. Alex and Lucy knew they had to stop it together, or else Arcanum would be lost forever. As the battle raged on, the darkness grew stronger, testing their resolve. Amidst the chaos, they found solace in each other's presence. Their conversation was filled with courage and hope, fueling their determination to save their beloved city. "We can't let this darkness win," Alex growled, his voice echoing through the night. "We have to fight together!" Lucy nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. "You're right, Alex. We need to show them that love and hope can conquer even the darkest forces." As they fought side by side, their love for each other became a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. Their combined powers grew stronger, illuminating the night sky with shades of blue and orange. Finally, after an intense battle, Alex and Lucy stood hand in hand, victorious over the darkness. They knew that together, they could face any challenge, and their love for each other was unbreakable. With hope in their hearts, they vowed to protect Arcanum from any future evil forces that dared to threaten it. And so, the story of Hearts Entwined in Battle became a legend among the citizens of Arcanum, inspiring generations to come with the power of love and unity. Alex's flames danced wildly, a fiery testament to his fire-powered abilities. He was a hero, but beneath the bravado, he yearned for something more. Little did he know, that someone else shared his longing - Lucy. A scientist with telekinetic powers, she too felt an emptiness in her heart. Their paths crossed when they were summoned to fight a mysterious darkness that threatened their world. As the battle commenced, Alex and Lucy found themselves working together, their abilities complementing each other perfectly. They exchanged glances, a silent understanding forming between them. "We make quite a team, don't we?" Alex said, his voice filled with a mixture of wonder and apprehension. "Indeed, we do," Lucy replied, her eyes sparkling with newfound hope. As they battled the darkness, their powers intertwined, creating a force that neither had experienced before. The connection between them grew stronger, fueling not only their abilities but also their feelings for each other. In the heat of the moment, Alex leaned in and kissed Lucy gently, their lips meeting with a passion borne out of shared trials and newfound love. Their hearts entwined in battle, they stood hand in hand, ready to face any challenge that came their way. The darkness may have threatened their world, but it had inadvertently brought them together, creating a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. And so, Alex and Lucy continued their journey, fighting evil forces together, their love for each other shining as brightly as the flames that once burned within Alex alone. In a world where superheroes and romance intertwined, Alex, a fire-powered hero, met Lucy, a brilliant scientist with telekinetic abilities. They were drawn to each other, their hearts beating as one in the face of darkness. As they battled the evil forces threatening their city, their love only grew stronger. Their connection became a beacon of hope, guiding them through the chaos and fear that surrounded them. Together, hand in hand, Alex and Lucy stood ready to face any challenge that lay ahead. And so, in the midst of darkness, two hearts entwined, finding solace and strength in each other's love.

Hi, momdad.

Thanks to the recent aceweek on tumblr, I am slowly realizing that I am indeed asexual. It is a groundbreaking realization for me, because I always wondered what I was doing wrong in terms of sexual experiences (should I watch different porn? should I explore more with different people? should I try to be more in connection with my body? Why am I just not like that?) and the way these asexuals explain themselves, it just resonated with me. A lot. It's so cliche to say this but it is a cliche for a reason. With all my heart, I say that: for the first time in my life, I don't feel so left out, I don't feel like I have to do something to correct myself, etc. etc. So thank you, first and foremost, for reblogging ace content and being an ace blogger yourself. Much gratitude. It means A LOT. Seriously.

I wanted to ask you to be my guiding light one more time, if you don't mind. I think I might be aromantic. I feel love, attachment, fondness, and everything else, but I never really understood the difference between love to my closest friends and love to my boyfriend. Well. It is different, especially now that I have dated my bf for so long and I have lost close contact with many of my close friends as I grew up, but the difference is in the extent or the amount of fondness I feel for them and not the quality of the love itself. If that makes sense? It's the same kind of love, only to my boyfriend who's been my best friend for so many years, it's much more intense, big and therefore more intimate than to what I have for my friends.

But that's maybe what everyone else feels when they feel romantic love? But some people fall in love when they don't know the other person well, and loving a friend need time, so maybe not?

Anyways, sorry for rambling. The question for which I wanted your wisdom is that: I think I may be aromantic, and I want to tell this to my boyfriend, because (a) I don't think it's fair to him that he thinks I am romantically in love with him when I may not be, and (b) I think I also want to communicate who I am genuinely to him because he's my best friend and I want him to understand me better. But I just have no idea how I can do that without making him feel unloved or putting our relationship in possible jeopardy.

How can I tell him? Are there some effective ways to explain this? He's not versed in the aro/ace vocabulary, not even the slightest bit, he does not know this world, he's a hetero cis man living in a conservative country, he does not speak english and most of these materials are in english, so he probably has never had any access to this stuff. But he's the best critical thinker. He understands queerness well when he's told, and he's the fiercest supporter of do whatever you want to do and be whatever you want to be unless it harms anyone else. His profile picture is a rainbow for that reason when he's never met a single (at least openly) queer person in his life.

More importantly, and I'm so scared to ask this: Can I even be dating someone if I am aromantic and the other person is not? Have I not been "dating" him and should I correct it from now on? By breaking up with him and being his best friend? (This somehow makes my heart break, which I don't understand why that is the case for me if I am indeed aromantic.)

Sorry for sending such a long ask. I literally have nobody else to talk to who understands this issue (I also live in that conservative country with my boyfriend haha), so I ramble, apologies.

hello, darling! congratulations on your realization(s)! it truly is an incredibly freeing feeling, realizing that there's nothing wrong with you and you aren't alone, and i'm so glad that you've found that for yourself.

i'll try to answer your questions about aromanticism as best i can, and for background/context to my answers i'm going to preface by saying that i've never actually dated or been in a romantic relationship myself, but i haven't been aro my whole life, as i was once in love with someone and i used to get crushes. so in that sense i can help with distinguishing between romantic and platonic love, but i may not be the best for talking to boyfriends lol.

first of all, YES, aromantic people can date and have romantic relationships (and get married) if they want and choose, just as asexuals can have sex if that's what they want and choose. they won't have the same feelings or experiences about it as allos, but they can still want and choose it for their own reasons.

it sounds to me like you seem to have a good relationship with your boyfriend, so there's absolutely no reason to break up with him just because of this. if you end up deciding it's not what you want, that's another thing, but if you're happy with him, please don't think you have to break up with him because you're aro and/or ace.

in my experience, romantic love does feel different than platonic love. platonic love is in no way less or inferior, but romantic love does generally feel more like obsession or infatuation. in the crush phase at least, it makes you feel... giddy, butterflies in your stomach and champagne in your blood, and you tend to make an absolute fool of yourself because you can't think straight and you'll do anything to see them and talk to them and, if you're very lucky, make them smile at you. when you lay eyes on them, your whole brain and body and soul goes "!!!!!!"

by contrast, platonic love is, like you said, a great deal of fondness. you don't lose your shit over someone, but you feel a great deal of warmth and care for them, you want to be around them and share things with them and you want them to be well.

these days, when i have a celebrity "crush", i don't feel butterflies, i just feel a great deal of fondness for them. i have no idea why that changed for me, why i suddenly 'turned' aro, but i can definitely see the difference in feelings in myself. i'm deeply fond of my qpp (queerplatonic partner, a relationship type that straddles the line between "friends" and "more than friends") of 17 years, but i definitely don't have romantic feelings for her.

some aromantics find everything to do with romance anathema to them, some aros love romance. personally, i can't get enough of love stories, but the idea of actually dating horrifies me. i might be happy to have a life partner, but i wouldn't want something that looks exactly like a typical romantic relationship. some aros avoid even watching movies with romance in them, some aros get married. it's entirely up to your own feelings and what you want for yourself.

it sounds to me like your boyfriend is a really great guy, and exactly the sort of open-minded person who will be able to understand the way you feel and experience things differently. i've never had to explain being aro to a significant other, but i think you could probably boil this down to, "i don't experience romantic feelings the same way most people do, but i'm more fond of you than anyone else and i want to keep the amount of intimacy that i share with you."

because that's sort of what relationships of all kinds are about, right? fondness and intimacy. different relationships mean different amounts and types of intimacy, but it's still about sharing those things with another person, whether they're family, friends, or partners.

if you and your partner are happy with the degree of fondness and intimacy that you are both sharing with each other, then nothing needs to change except a greater understanding of who you are as a person. if you learn more about being aro and realize that hey, actually, doing X romantic thing makes you uncomfortable, then you can discuss that, but nothing needs to change unless you WANT it to.

if you're happy with your boyfriend, you are 100% allowed to be aromantic and happy with your boyfriend. if you're happy having sex with your boyfriend, you are 100% allowed to be asexual and happy having sex with your boyfriend. if you're not happy, if you're uncomfortable, then think about what changes to make. if you're happy, just be happy, love. that's always a good thing.

here's my aromanticism tag for more, and here's my asexuality resources tag since you'll likely want to do more reading there too. take care, darling. <3

20 & 31 ;D

Already answered 20 (link later, on mobile sry)

here’s 31. Doing a pinky swear

Idyllshire was a place of perseverance, of tinkering and crafting and forging a way forward. It was for dreamers, thinkers, and doers. She loved the energy every time she came here, a little community built from those who never give up, who thrive when given the chance. Who face the brands of scrutiny with a shining tenacity.

It was also a place that held a little Miqo’te girl named Khloe, who already dreamed harder than most and was filled with wonder. A little girl whom Eisha had been bringing countless stories to for years now, who shrilled with glee every time she came to visit.

A little girl Eisha cared for dearly, and made an effort to visit as much as she could. She rounds the corner and makes her way to the girl’s stand.

“Miss Eisha! You’re back!” Khloe sings gleefully.

Eisha crouches down to meet the girls height, “Little Miss Khloe, indeed I am.”

As always, Khloe’s mind was on one thing, and one thing only, “You have stories for me right? You always have the bestest stories!”

Eisha laughs, pulling the journal out of her bag, “I think you’ll like these ones, there’s a dragon or two this time.”

“Really? I love the dragons cause they can fly! I wish I could fly. Those stories are the coolest!” Khloe takes the journal happily, admiring the worn cover with joy.

This was always the best part, the happiness Khloe had for stories and adventure. Even modified to suit a child’s whims, it was something she enjoyed recording. The novelty of battle, recalling her foes. Things she didn’t want to always carry with her, heavy and dark, but easier to carry when she wrote them in books.

“Miss Eisha?” Khloe’s voice brings her back to the present, “You’re going to bring me more stories, right?”

“Of course I will, why do you ask?”

“Well… I heard Zhloe and the other grown ups saying you were leaving, where are you going?” Her eyes are wide, pure innocence.

“Oh. Well, you see… I have to go oversea and help some people. It’s really important that I go, so that no one gets hurt.” It’s not a lie, it’s as gentle as she can deliver.

“Just like in your stories! There will be monsters there too, right? And you’ll fight them and win!” The girl jumps up and down in excitement.

“That’s the plan, Little Miss.” If there’s anything she’ll be sure to do, it’s give Khloe something to remember, “I have something for you to do while I’m gone.”

She hands her a small light purple journal, and matching quill, “I know you’ve been practicing your writing. I want to give you this, so you can write me stories too.”

Khloe takes the gifts, hands gripping the leather tightly as she admires it, “For me? Really? I can’t believe it! You want to read my stories too?”

“I sure do. You’ve been listening to all of mine, and I’m sure you’ve got plenty of stories I haven’t heard yet.”

Khloe ponders this a moment before saying, “You pinky swear you’ll be back soon? I might fill up this book before you’re back!” She holds out her pinky.

Eisha laughs, locking her pinky with the girl’s, “I pinky swear I’ll be back very soon. You’d better be ready with stories then!”

She keeps Khloe in mind as she recalls her memories of walking to the end of the universe, of trying and giving your all for the sake of mankind. The thoughts will need to be polished, refined for younger ears. But Khloe would know of the day they faced the end of days and won.

Sorry for the very specific-to-me questions, but I tried to vaguely frame them in terms of personality typing so it’s still relevant to your blog.

1. I liked the description about head types you reblogged a while back. The part about being susceptible to thinking your noggin is god’s gift to the planet hit me especially hard, because I tend to do that even when insecure.

Ha, ha. Same. It's funny how you can simultaneously not trust yourself enough and still think you are smarter than everybody else, but that's the plight of being a 6. ;)

2. I have a bunch of tryouts for a thing coming up. It’s hard for me to balance my Si-dom-ness (wanting to prepare extremely well) with my 6w7-ness (not wanting to overthink everything and become too stressed/stiff in advance.) I hate how when something is coming up soon I can’t get my mind off of it (especially since I’m more emotionally invested in the outcome than I want to be.) What can I do?

Do you know that this is an aspect of 6-ness? 6s get wholly preoccupied with whatever is "happening." That's why if their computer won't turn on, they can't just walk away from it and leave it for later. And why when they are freaking out about something, it blows up in their mind and obscures all else. And when they are preparing for something, they can't be easily distracted from it. It's part of our focus being in "the present" (as opposed to the futuristic mindset of assertive types and the past mindset of withdrawn types). I think part of what will help you with it is to learn that's what you are doing -- being too focused on the present, talking yourself through it, and letting go of it by choosing to refocus elsewhere. There has to be some sense of "I have done what I can, that has to be good enough" thinking for you to learn to let go. If you are religious, praying about it (let me calm down and not over-obsess about this) helps, or meditation, exercising (get out of your head and into your body).

Something that helps me also is to think about integrating to 9 on purpose by asking "what would a healthy 9 do in this situation?" (Stay calm. Wait and see what happens. Trust themselves to solve the problem. Assume it's all going to turn out fine. Take a nap. Etc.)

3. On a side note, I was talking to a friend about how it’s been kind of tiring for me to chat with heavy thinker types in the past because sometimes they’ll just. keep. asking questions. With one ENTJ in particular, sometimes I’d say “I don’t want you to disagree with every little thing I say just for the sake of it.” And he’d always be like “so you want me to agree with everything you say and compliment you?” Which annoyed me, because it indicates that he would never do those things naturally. Anyway, the answer is yes, I prefer when friends sometimes agree with me sincerely and sometimes disagree with me sincerely, rather than entirely one or the other (I find on average EFJs and 2/3s lean toward “too much agreement for my taste” and extroverted thinkers and 8s lean toward “too little agreement for my taste,” though there are lovely things about all of them.)

It's often helpful to know that as a 6, being argued with constantly is indeed frustrating, because it puts you on the defensive all the time. 6s tend to be anxious about their opinions and so anyone asking them questions can seem like an 'attack' or like 'I have to defend myself!' as part of their projection. (Projection is -- I feel insecure about this, so I translate other people asking questions about it as them thinking I don't know what I am talking about or testing me, when in reality that may not be their motive in doing so.)

It's useful to take a step back and think about whether you are becoming defensive unnecessarily or do not need to defend yourself (just say what you think and leave it at that; do not over-explain). It's also good that you asserted yourself in laying out some boundaries, because other 6s and 8s don't realize how obnoxious it can be to bombard people with questions, push back at them, or engage them in a debate. 8s in particular don't realize how strong their energy is, or how it can be off-putting to other people, or even seem like an argument when they don't intend it to be one. They don't realize their own tendency to argue with everything others say (as part of their rejection of being influenced by someone else), so drawing attention to it is a good thing, which can cause them to realize -- I don't have to do this all the time.

Another friend (an ENTP) said, “It’s not that I’m questioning you, I just get so caught up in the topic and feel like ‘wow, you seem so knowledgeable, tell me more.’” I think as a non-5 head type I often come across as more knowledgeable than I really am, so when pressed for details, I can share them, but get increasingly pushed into a hole as people start asking me questions I no longer know the answer to.

Just admit you don't know. That should be a sufficient answer. "I don't know, but that's a good question! I should look that up!"

So I sometimes end up in more debates than I have the energy for. Then, if I get mad about people refusing to concede any points or see my point of view, there are thinkers out there who get mad at me for not being objective any more.

I still get annoyed at people for not conceding to my logical points, but here's the kicker -- you can't change someone's mind with an argument and logical points won't change how they feel. 6s do not understand other types' ways of reaching decisions. They may think because there's no argument behind it that this stance is inferior to theirs, when in reality, they need to analyze their need to get others to agree with them and what that is saying about them. "Why can't I tolerate this? or leave them alone? why do I have to force people to agree with me and argue with them? is this worth it?"

I caught myself arguing with someone online about something stupid the other day -- being a 6, in other words. They were trying to convince me that streaming is the future and why would anyone want to keep their DVD collection, I was pointing out that owning your favorite movies is a good thing in case you can't find them to stream... and after they snidely remarked that "ah yes, I once went through an 'ownership' phase too," after thinking about how condescending that was, I realized we were both being prideful little turds in trying to convince a total stranger on the internet that our way of living is vastly superior. So I just quit, because I realized how arrogant it is to assume that other people MUST LIVE how I do. And yet, that's all I run into everywhere I go -- people insisting that their way of living is best, and others need to adhere to it. It's tiring to run face-first into intense subjective opinions all the time, so why bother? (Which could also be 9 integration, since 9s aren't going to waste their time and energy arguing about stupid crap online. Like whether someone likes Star Wars or not, or keeps a video collection or not. Who. Cares.)

4. ENFPs are cute. I know an ENFP 7 who I often forget is a feeler because he seems so preoccupied with bantering and crazy theorizing most of the time. But the other day I shared a cool piece of gossip with him, and his reaction was so shocked and excited. So it’s fun with the “caring about crazy things people do” reaction shows up.

Aww.

Title: On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of Progress in Computing

Author: Thomas W. Hinton, E. O. Wilson

Rating: 1/5 stars

What an unpleasant, depressing book.

The authors are the last living members of the "fathers of computer science," the group of people who pioneered computer science in the early 20th century and gave us modern computers. (And the book is, in part, about the history of this group.) There are a lot of fun facts you can learn from a book like this one, but it's also not a fun book, and I didn't learn much.

The premise is that these men -- Claude Shannon, John von Neumann, Warren McCulloch, Samuel Golomb, Kurt Gödel, and others -- were the key "instrumental" thinkers in the development of modern computer science. They did the theoretical work to enable later researchers to build the computer hardware which could do the work.

There's a nice, simple story here. The computer, as it is now, with its great power, came from work by these men and their successors, and they would have been completely unrecognizable to us, without it. If you look at a modern computer, it seems almost magical -- a piece of human ingenuity, a result of many years of work, and it's able to do some astounding, magical things! It's wonderful that we have this tool, and that some of the world's most important scientific research gets done on it. And that's all that was true in 1950 or 1910 or 1950-even-we don't know how much of it is true now, because computer science has been going on for a long time and is still going on, and we don't always talk about that work that underlies the wonders we enjoy now.

But the book's story about "instrumental reason" turns out to be the story of just this kind of thing: people looking at an elegant machine, a product of the work of thousands or millions of people, seeing the usefulness of it, and coming up with the idea of a machine that does it a little more efficiently. That's an appealing story because it makes the machine seem like a person (which means it should be treated well, because a person should be treated well), and it's an appealing story because it gives the machine some justification in our eyes: "see, we are not merely using you, but giving you a fair shake, taking your needs and abilities into consideration, etc. etc." We can say, "our machine will be really efficient, not just good but really efficient at doing the things we want done with it." But that's true of the original machines that these men dreamed of: they are "instrumental," but they still seem very much like machines, very much the creation of the practical imagination.

The difference between the original machines and modern computers has, indeed, been dramatic. In 1950 or 1910 or 1950, a device the size of a suitcase could fit in a person's pocket and perform the kind of tasks we would now consider basic. And it was slow. When the authors talk about early computers, they often say that they're "preliminary models." They wouldn't do what you or I do on a computer, they weren't built to do what you or I did on a computer. But, in fact, they were built to do things you or I would consider basic tasks -- and we call them "preliminary models" and say that they're "unrealistic" because they couldn't really do those tasks very well. Why can we afford to spend many millions on a computer that will do something that, in our time, would only have cost thousands?

In the story the authors tell, the answer is "instrumental reason." In the last half-century, computer technology has gotten dramatically better, thanks to new developments in semiconductor technology. The "new" computer, the "real computer," is better because we can afford to build it and we can afford to program it. The men of the past, who couldn't afford to buy something that could fit in a suit pocket, might not have thought of these things, but they did know about the practical consequences of speed and capacity and reliability.

In the world I have seen, though, the men of the past had good reasons to develop modern computers. I don't have to tell anyone that we couldn't afford to do anything that seemed impractical to people at the time. So when we make the leap to a machine that really is "real," we don't have to explain that we have better reason now to build it, and the "preliminary" models that the authors talk about seem less "preliminary" when the computer isn't just a few yards of wire and a few dozen valves and a little lightbulb and a little metal chassis and so on. It becomes easier to see the real reason for the change, to see something new, and to see that it is a good reason.

But this isn't what the authors claim, either. The book starts out by describing its six "fathers of computer science." And all of the people it mentioned, with the few exceptions of Max Newman and David Gonsalves, are old and dead by now. The book tells a story which has little to do with the reality of history, and is more about a fantasy of "instrumental reason" that has little to do with actual history either. (It's a fantasy of how we might build things without using all those pesky constraints that we've been taught about, in the past, since childhood. Of course we can't really do this. There are good reasons to be wary of using such constraints even in the future, but even then, you get the sense that all the same, all the constraints were a bit irrelevant.)

Of course, the story is comforting in another way. It can make people feel that we have something to be proud of, that our ancestors did something important, if we can say in retrospect, "see, these six men built something that was a big step forward in computer technology." But if we can feel proud of this history, we should feel ashamed of the present. It is the history of the people who built the modern computer, and it has much less to do with the real people who built it than these authors seem to think. It has much more to do with the men of the past, whom the authors can talk about but can't really describe, in all the glory of "instrumental" reason.

How, I ask you, could one man know more about "instrumental reason" than several thousand men and women and millions of people? The book itself tells you -- the book says: "we have these other men to talk about, and we can't talk about them as well as these men." This is the sort of book you can imagine someone making to justify the present by reference to the past. It can be, I think, a powerful apologetic, the "we have a lot to be proud of here, and they are proud of us, so we don't have to give up the pride" sort of apologetic. But, it seems,

"Preserving the Flow: A water conservation crusade" 🌍🏞️

Key words - Definitions 🔑📚

Story: A "narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale." 🔊♟

Tale: "A tale is a comparatively simple narrative, either fictitious or true, written or recounted orally in prose or in verse." 📖🕯

Science fiction: "Science fiction [...] is a genre of speculative fiction, which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life." 🌌🪐🌍

Story 🌌🪐

July 14th / 2050 – Urano’s Spaceship, Dr. Friedrich Asimov:

The ”Operation Zarathustra” was an entire success. Indeed, it was worth it, due to the fact that – after testing for months – we were not only able to travel through time. Also, we managed to change the course of History, remaining the same until now, without showing any kind of metaphysical fluctuation. Hence, our society thrived, being able to access all the resources, in an effective way. Nevertheless, it took time and assets, as mentioned previously.

           First of all, we needed to figure out the formulas, checking out every single book related to Quantum Physics, sweeping certain zones in the Earth, using some pods, when suddenly…

            I’ll just end with my pain! I can’t deal with all of this! Let’s just give up! – said one peer of the scientific staff.

            LISTEN! I KNOW IT’S HARD TO BE DRIVEN AWAY IN A SATELLITE, WITH A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS THAT SHOW OFF A LOT OF SKILL, BUT STRUGGLING WITH THE FACT THAT WE’RE THE ONLY SURVIVORS IN THE VAST ABSURDITY OF EXISTENCE, BUT PLEASE… - I yelled when I – suddenly – was interrupted.

The good thing is that we’re able to find out the necessary variables, when we check that great church, full of books, art, and even encyclopedias.                 

Later, we gathered some raw materials, in order to develop the structure of the machine. At the end, we were able to set up everything!

So… which should be the name? – said someone.

Apostles? – suggested a scientist

Logos? – someone else suggested

And what about Zarathustra? It’s the name of a prophet, even mentioned by a German thinker – I suggested.

You mean Nietzsche? – a scientist said

Indeed, the Father of the Übermensch – I replied

They agreed at the end. So, we called the project… “Operation Zarathustra”

 The problem was that all the scientists had existential fears, regarding time traveling and modifying everything. So… I was the only one that traveled to the past! As a prophet, I told every government strategies about how to preserve Nature, without reducing production, like using water steam generated in factories to generate drinkable water, or photovoltaic energy rather than fossil fuels, etc.

         And it worked! Now I’m here, staring at my planet alive, again!

“How did it work?” - asked me a scientist in my team.

“DOESN’T MATTER HOW! LET’S AVOID THE MISTAKES FROM THE PAST, REUSE, REDUCE, RECYCLE!” - I answered him with tears.

How did I save water yesterday? 💧👀

Most of the people believe that our actions, regarding saving water, are per se meaningless. However, there was someone which said once that one small action could lead to great changes. And saving water is not the exception, let's just imagine all the citizens doing the same actions to protect water... That cooperation will generate - categorically speaking - a great effect. In my case, I cooperated yesterday, reducing the amount of time spent in the shower. Indeed, a shower per se consumes a lot of water. So... Please, let's begin our odyssey to protect water, with small actions that generate big consequences! 😎🌌🌍

Zarathustra Manifesto 💧🎓

How did I create the AI images? 👽🤖

In fact, it seems that's difficult to create the images. Nevertheless, basically you need to find an AI generator via Internet. Next, the UI will show you where you need to write down as input, the details that are going to be shown in the image. As a tip, please, be specific! In that way, you'll get a keen image. Furthermore, you have other extra options, they're optional - for me - though. And finally... Just click on "generate"! And you get your image! That's all! 🧐🤓

Webgraphies 📰

AI Art Generator (n.d.). Retrieved in October 13, 2023 from: https://hotpot.ai/art-generator

Science fiction (n.d.). Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved in October 13 / 2023 from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction

story [sic] (n.d.). Dictionary.com. Retrieved in October 13 / 2023 from: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/story

Tale (defined) (n.d.). Hawaii. Retrieved in October 13 / 2023 from: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~davink/MYTHOLOGY%20CLASS/DEFINITIONS/tale.html#:~:text=A%20tale%20is%20a%20comparatively,%2C%20marvelous%2C%20or%20even%20supernatural.

OK, this Dawn of Everything book has really got me going. I'm only up to page 63, out of 526 plus notes. Already, this exchange between Lahontan (a Frenchman) and Kandiaronk (of the Wendat people in the Great Lakes area) is gold.

Lahontan: Try for once in your life to actually listen. Can't you see, my dear friend, that the nations of Europe could not survive, without gold and silver - or some similar precious symbol. Without it, nobles, priests, merchants and any number of others who lack the strength to work the soil would simply die of hunger. Our kings would not be kings; what soldiers would we have? Who would work for kings, or anybody else? ... It would plunge Europe into chaos and create the most dismal confusion imaginable. Kandiaronk: You honestly think you're going to sway me by appealing to the needs of nobles, merchants, and priests? If you abandoned concepts of mine and thine, yes, such distinctions between men would dissolve; a levelling [sic] equality would then take its place among you as it now does among the Wendat. And yes, for the first thirty years after the banishing of self-interest, no doubt you would indeed see a certain desolation as those who are only qualified to eat, drink, sleep, and take pleasure would languish and die. But their progeny would be fit for our way of living. Over and over I have set forth the qualities that we Wendat believe ought to define humanity - wisdom, reason, equity, etc. - and demonstrated that the existence of separate material interests knocks all of those on the head. A man motivated by interest cannot be a man of reason.

The book authors' intent here is to show how many ideas we consider foundational now, especially from the so-called Enlightenment, actually had their roots somewhere other than Europe - specifically, in this case, among North American native people. The above is from 1703. Already we see a clear precursor of themes addressed by Adam Smith and Karl Marx. Smith wasn't even born until 1723, Marx until 1818. Their best known works were published until 1776 (Wealth of Nations) and 1867 (Das Kapital) respectively. Kandiaronk beat them by 73-164 years!

Elsewhere, on issues of freedom and equality, Kandiaronk and his peers seem to have been ahead of European thinkers like David Hume (born 1711) or Jean-Jacques Rousseau (born 1712). And those were the vanguard of European thought on such issues. Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan had been published in 1651, John Locke's Treatises of Government in 1689, but it still seems like they were barely ahead (if at all) of those "savages" across the sea.

So yes, that's a very interesting perspective. That said, I still have some reservations. These now-familiar ideas about individual freedom might be an improvement over the monarchist/feudalist sentiment that had prevailed before, but they're also part of the "every man for himself" attitude that so afflicts the modern US. Did we just take some parts (rejection of arbitrary authority) and jettison others (mutual aid) that should have been kept together? Perhaps. Further reading might tell.

In particular, the ableist tone in the middle part of Kandiaronk's reply is troubling. "Only qualified to eat, drink, sleep, and take pleasure" might have been intended to mean the aristocracy, but it also cuts a bit close to the lot of the disabled. That seems insensitive, at best. What sources I've been able to find suggest that Wendat (and other Native American) treatment of mental disability was much more progressive than is common in Eurocentric society even today, but those same sources are disturbingly silent on what happened to people with physical disabilities. Kandiaronk's "fit" remark suggests a grim answer (though no grimmer than in other societies at that time).

That's all for now. More later, I'm sure.

7 Undeniable Reasons Why You Should Write Just After Bed

Do you wonder which is the best time to write and struggle to beat procrastination?

Then hold on. Today I have concrete news that will remove all of your dilemmas and bring you to active mode without thinking much.

You might be heard of the “miracle morning”, but it’s not just a name. There are science and philosophy behind the thinking that morning is the best time to perform something you need to create a habit.

If you are an unbeatable procrastinator, then morning is the best time for you to perform something challenging like writing.

In the book “Eat That Frog, “ the Author Brian Tracy has described that we procrastinate those works that seem difficult for our minds.

And for avoiding procrastination you need a lot of will power which you will get maximum at the start of the day.

Not just this, there are several other reasons which will prove you why morning writing is best. So, let’s understand all of them.

Table of Contents

1. You have high willpower and less external stimuli.

We all know, what is the role of willpower in our life. Creating a new habit requires tons of willpower. Can you generate willpower of your own?

Well, willpower is like the battery on any device. That means it is limited. We all need a good night sleep to charge our battery. And therefore, just after bed, our mind gets its highest potential.

And writing is difficult. No, I’m not telling about myself. Writing is difficult for professional writers as well. That’s not about gaining expertise in writing, but about how much willpower it requires to start a task.

Now you might be thinking, what about our day naps? Are they also work as a charger of our willpower? Fine. That’s a bit true. Whenever we take a nap in the afternoon after heavy energy-draining work, we feel refreshed and charged.

Yah, that time can also be utilized for creative writing, but there are many other points why you should write first after you wake up.

2. It can increase your imagination power.

Yes, writing can improve your power of imagination. Remember, when you were at school, you were told to write an essay or a story to publish in the school newspaper.

How creative you feel at that time. You create a clear picture of your story within your mind. Isn’t it?

Well, if you’ve never participated in those events, you can’t deny your experience on the exam. What about the question you don’t know the exact answer but the story. Don’t you try to force your imagination to write that comprehensive answer?

Writing improves our power of thinking. Indeed you can say writers are the most influential thinkers of the world. This is true. But, here we are talking about writing first thing in the morning. How can writing in the morning can improve our imagination?

According to a study on dreaming and imagination mechanism, our brain collect, process, organize and further create new fragments while sleeping. Some theories also relate the memory consolidation process (transfer of active memory into long-term memory) with sleep.

Writing in the morning means forcing your creative part of the brain to utilize its complete power. Creativity makes us influence our brain for something unique in our way. And that requires a clear imagination.

Utilizing our power of creating, imagining and thinking every morning can take us to the depth of any story. Doing things regularly that means improving it a bit every day.

3. Best time to come up with new ideas.

Do you know writing and editing uses our different parts of brain? And that’s the reason professional writers advise not to edit while writing. Writing uses our creative mind, and editing or proofreading utilizes our analytical brain.

According to neuroscientists researching on a different part of our brain in morning and evening, our ‘diffused’ brain is more active in the morning right after bed. And writing is an activity that is more diffused.

Thus, writing in the morning will help you create more pictures of your story rather than focusing on the perfection in writing.

But, this is not the point here. How writing in the morning will help us in brainstorming fresh ideas?

MRI scans showing brain functionalities in different time frames.

Well, based on the previously discussed research, several MRI scans show that our brain has more functional connectivity in the morning rather than in the evening. And more connectivity means the activation of our creative part. That will ultimately help in constructing unique ideas.

4. Best time to win over your inner critic

When I tried to write in the afternoon or the evening, sometimes it seems impossible. That’s because I’m an expert in procrastinating things. And if writing were a part of my hobby, I would not do it.

However, writing first thing in the morning helps me fight against my evil spirit, which always provokes me for more dopamine rather than performing the essential but difficult tasks.

As procrastination and willpower are the enemies, I put my willpower in front of my habit of remaining within my comfort zone. And guess what, I’m no longer a procrastination campaign for writing.

5. Get a high level of focus.

Sometimes, we love a task, but unable to focus on that for a more extended period. We get motivated and start working on it; however, we found ourselves in web surfing or even scrolling Facebook or Twitter a few later.

Yes, in this case, there is nothing to do with willpower. For intense focus, we must remove things that have a significant role in changing our mood like social media.

But you can have a better concentration on complicated tasks like writing if you do it first in the morning.

According to Cal Newport in his book “Deep Work”, challenging tasks needed a high-level focus, which can be gained by a clean distraction-free environment. And at the early morning, there is less distraction, even inside yourself (inner distraction).

(If you get anxious after waking up and can’t understand what to do, try a few minutes meditation and just after your sessions start writing.)

So, locking yourself within a room in the morning is enough to reach the “flow” or getting onto the writing zone after which you can’t be distracted anymore.

6. It will help you to build a habit.

Did you know, writing comes automatically when you follow a ritual. Even all writer have their specific or unique routines they perform before start writing.

This helps them get directly into the writing zone, and that’s why they don’t need much willpower to start the process.

I’ve learned this from a course “Productivity Hacks for Writers” by Jessica Brody, where she explains productivity habits for writers.

And after that, I also start a few small rituals before writing like doing ten jumping jacks and plugging my headphones with some focusing music.

Most of the writers have their rituals before beginning to put their thoughts on paper, and they often advise to create morning rituals to make writing a habit.

Another vital thing to create writing a habit is timing. No, I’m not telling about the time on the clock. But another clock remains within us that’s known as our biological clock. If you get my point, then experiment it with your pets.

Have you ever noticed, they started begging for food at the same time of the day without even watching the clock? This is due to their biological clock.

So, the point here is creating a morning ritual can help your mind trigger the thoughts of writing, and you can achieve your state of flow quickly.

7. Calm your mind out of the clutter

Alright. In this point, I’m not talking about writing contents, but if writing is your hobby, but still you feel it hard to do every day. You can start journaling.

After waking up, write down your thoughts and your mood. Besides, you can write about five things you are grateful for and five problems you want to solve.

Writing your long term and short term goals in your morning journal help you visualize success and clear your mind.

You can further remove chaos from your mind by writing contents right after bed. Don’t worry these are not useless stuff, but sometimes you will find something recreational you don’t have in any part of the day.

This is because our mind processes thoughts and information during sleep. Thus, after waking up, putting all thoughts onto a paper can help you create a well-structured content.

Final words!

Lastly, if you want to create writing a habit for either improving it or any other reason, you should write consistently and daily. And writing just after bed will help you to do that. Just keep your goal small like writing 500 words or less, as much it’s feeling like climbing a single stair and not an entire mountain.

This way, you will minimize the resistance with your mind and easily focus on the task by beating procrastination.

Now let’s recap, why we should write in the morning.

Challenging tasks require a high amount of willpower, and at the start of the day, you have full of it.

Writing in the morning can improve your imagination power.

Morning is the best time to brainstorm ideas.

You can quickly calm your inner critic.

At early morning there is less distraction, and you can get a high level of concentration.

Writing first thing at the day will help you to build a good habit.

By writing just after rising, you can calm your mind from all the clutters and start your day actively.

Are you still feeling nervous? Let’s follow these steps to make writing habit as smooth as butter.

Think of the most comfortable writing ritual, e.g., drinking coffee or one push-up. Write it down and attach it to your PC or laptop.

Set your mind the night before for writing just after you wake up.

Think of the topic you will write about. Brainstorm ideas, research or take notes one day before to make writing easier.

Wake up, do your ritual, sit down and write. Simple, isn’t it? 

Not only in the morning, but you can also write all around the day by following your ritual.

Do you take steps and start writing? Let me know!

If you found my content useful, buy me a tea (it keeps me motivated to write and contributes to my education)!

Goooood morning. Morning good.

I slept very late and am kind of off but it’s perfect because today is my Shabbat the day devoted to rest. Rest rest rest.

And sports. And grateful thoughts! It’s lovely.

And blog! The blog gets a bit tough…

That I watched a football player drop dead on the field last week is horrible. He basically dropped dead. Was resuscitated twice. More than 200 athletes have dropped dead in fields in the past 2 years. Thankfully I did not watch it live; it would have shocked me profoundly. I could have, it was last week’s “game of the week”, the Bills Bengals game. It was suppose to be a great game.

That it happened on National Television in front of America’s eyes at the start of 2023… that the player basically resurrected twice…that a lot of people are questioning what happened….that the collision prior to his collapse was a normal, light, safe hit. …. that doctors are talking about this… that the first words the player wrote out of his comma were: did we win?… that he is out of harms way…that he had the entire country praying for him is absolutely astounding. I couldn’t have written a more dramatic story. Hmm, strike that, I could:

Why did he fall?

Was he vaccinated? Does the vaccine have severe effects on athletes? Why all these sudden deaths? If it does we need to know it.

I kind of followed the election of the new Speaker of the House last week. I saw that it took them a LOT of debate to get the votes. I bet the media and the opposing party mocked it entirely, the fools. DEBATE is healthy. Censorship is not. Labeling anyone who thinks differently than you a conspiracy theorist is the real Supremacy. That this White House wanted to banish doctors who warned about the mass vaccinations it wanted to IMPOSE on us is Supremacy, it is dictatorship. Initially they said one shot then two then three than every 6 months. Initially they said that if vaccinated you wouldn’t get covid then that you wouldn’t go to the hospital than that you wouldn’t die. Most people that go to the hospitals because of covid these days are vaccinated. They answer to it that they did such a great job with mass vaccination, most people are vaccinated so it’s only normal that the people in the hospital for covid symptoms are vaccinated. Duh- they shouldn’t been in the hospital for covid if they are vaccinated.

I’m not anti vax. I’m anti lies. Take as many shots as you’d like. It’s your life your freedom to choose. And please not tell people the vaccines are free when the people paid 36 billion dollars for it. Because 36 billion dollars is a whole crap of money. By whole lot I mean Galaxy size. 36 billion dollars … 1 billion dollar would take you 2.000 years to make with a 500K annual salary. Yeah, very free indeed. 2.000 years, that bring you back to Jesus’ time! Imagine that, just in time to watch what they did to a free thinker, free speaker.

I want to know why these athletes are falling dead. I love sports. And when I love something, I really love it. I want to know why athletes are falling dead. I want to know why athletes are suddenly falling dead.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY ATHLETES ARE FALLING DEAD ON THE FIELDS.

And shove that Ministry of Truth up the appropriate asses.

Slowly but surely

Felinette, Felix/Marinette, Felix/Ladybug [Felix appears a little smitten in this one, but I hope it isn’t too much out of character. And if it is, let's blame teenage hormones... 😅😇]

Ao3 8. Emergency

Marinette wasn’t at school. No one knew why, not teacher, and not even Alya. And the worst thing was that Marinette didn’t answer his calls and messages.

Felix was done worrying without knowing what he was worrying about.

The physical education class ended, and he was walking through the corridor towards the dressing room, fully intended to escape from the last lesson to see Marinette, and find out what was wrong with her, when something caught his attention.

Usually Felix didn’t pick up objects from the ground, but this time he had a special feeling that it needed to be done. And he trusted his intuition.

So Felix banded over to the floor to take a small round object from almost under the rack.

It was a black ear-ring.

His eyes widened when the ear-ring became red with black spots in his hand and a small red creature appeared in the air in front of him.

“Hello! My...” The creature started.

“Hide!” He whispered immediately, interrupting it, showing to his pocket, and looked back to make sure his classmates were far enough not to see the scene.

Felix was a quick thinker and momentarily recognized Ladybug’s earring. And the creature must have had something to do with the miraculous powers, obviously.

It didn’t take a genius to guess that Marinette had lost her earring and that’s why she didn’t get in touch. And it was necessary to prevent the possibility that someone else saw the little red animal-thing.

Felix hid in the bathroom before letting the creature out again.

“My name is Tikki.” The thing said, when it floated in front if Felix again. “I am the qwami of Creation. Nice to officially meet you, Felix.”

Felix was stunned by the talking thing. It had some gentle, but strong manner of speaking, just like Ladybug had. It even had big blue eyes, like Marinette’s.

Felix had a feeling that Marinette wasn’t an accidental choice for this creature to belong to. Whoever picked her for Ladybug’s role knew their thing well.

“So, you are connected to her miraculous, right?” Felix asked, narrowing his eyes.

Tikki nodded.

“Does it mean that Marinette doesn’t have another earring either?” Felix clarified. The creature wasn’t with Marinette and appeared here, so it could mean a lot of troubles for her owner.

“No, actually my chosen has another earring with her.” Tikki responded.

“How comes you are here and not with her then?” Felix narrowed his eyes.

“Ladybug’s miraculous is tricky.” Tikki smiled. “Because it is very powerful, it was created this way in order to protect the world should it fall into the wrong hands.” She explained. “Who ever possesses only one earring cannot transform. So it would be possible for me to hide one earring and prevent a bad person from using it.”

“Did you hide the earring from your owner?!” Felix asked in disbelieve.

“Of course not!” Tikki exclaimed. “She is good in hiding things from herself without my help.” She smiled fondly. “But when she couldn’t find the second earring, we decided that she’d renounce me, so I could appear next to the second earring once someone touched it. And bring it back to her.”

“But people would see you!” Felix argued. The idea of this flying ball moving through the school alone, carrying a powerful magical artifact was disturbing. “I saw you!”

“Well, this was better then a lost miraculous...” Tikki answered embarrassedly. “And it was indeed very lucky that you were the one to find the earring.”

“My name kind of implies possession of a certain level of luck.” Felix smirked. “But I’ll bring both the earring and you to Marinette myself. It would be safer.” He insisted.

“Don’t you have some classes to attend?” Tikki blinked worriedly at him.

“Maybe.” Felix admitted. “But I was gonna go check on her anyway. And now, knowing that she is probably worried as hell, I’m not gonna let her remain in this state any longer.” He stated.

“You care about her a lot, don’t you?” Tikki smiled softly at him.

“I... uhhh...” Felix didn’t discuss his feelings towards Marinette with anyone, even with his mother.

Though Amelie didn’t need any conformation from him to just see it herself. But it was unexpected to have someone asking him about it directly.

Probably the qwamis didn’t particularly take into account the boundaries of personal information...

But for some reason Felix didn’t feel like someone broke into his personal affairs without an invitation. Tikki was so sweet and friendly, and it (she?) seemed to really care too.

“I do care about her.” He admitted finally.

“Perhaps your unconventional approach would be a boon to her.” Tikki said thoughtfully. “Sometimes even I think she is too soft. And she definitely doesn’t take good care of herself.” She looked at Felix again. “I think you would perfectly complement her!”

“I... uh... not that I mind.” Felix was even more stunned with this conversation. “Although I don't think Marinette sees me as... uh... as someone who could complement her.”

The qwami grinned.

“If reading someone's letter every morning and every evening, even when she knows it by heart, doesn’t count, then I don’t know what does!” Tikki smirked at him.

“She... uh... really?” Felix didn’t remember when was the last time he allowed himself to be open with all his insecurities in front of someone. Maybe the fact of Tikki being a magical creature made it possible for him? But it didn’t feel wrong. “Do you think she likes me?” He asked. “Or does she perceive me only as a friend?” When did he get so pathetic to ask for love advice from... a qwami?

“I think any denial has its limits.” Tikki smiled.

*

Marinette’s parents were busy at the bakery, as per usual, so Felix was sent upstairs by himself.

“I’m not hungry, mom!” He heard after knocking at Marinette’s door.

“What I brought isn’t eatable, but it greatly improves the mood.” He said through the door in response.

The hatch opened and an agitated Marinette in her pajamas with loose, slightly tousled hair looked at him perplexedly.

Her eyes were a little red, but all her wild view, so real and natural, made Felix froze with cut breath and forget the goal of his visit for a moment.

“May I come in?” He asked finally, when the silence became too long and his eyes began to beg to explore her figure in pajamas...

Marinette seamed to realize that she was keeping him at the door — she was probably too deeply immersed in her worries — and made a step back automatically, letting Felix in.

“Felix...” Marinette sighed, when the door behind him closed. “Whatever you came for, now isn’t the best time...”

“I heard you’ve lost something valuable.” Felix said calmly, looking in her eyes, and opened his jacket.

“How did you... Tikki!” Marinette exclaimed, rushing towards her qwami. “But how can you be here?! And the ear-ring!.. did you find it?!” She asked Tikki worriedly, grabbing her in her hands.

“I found it... with some bonus!” Tikki replied, looking at Felix.

Marinette looked from the qwami to the boy behind her, who slightly blushed on Tikki’s words.

“I’m afraid the bonus would be me.” He said, holding out the earring on his outstretched arm and looking away, not to make the situation as awkward for Marinette, as it was for him.

But it seamed Marinette had different perception of the situation, as the next moment she threw herself into his arms, wrapping her own arms around his neck.

Felix was slightly taken aback.

He didn’t expect such a manifestation of emotions, nor such closeness to the girl, which he spent a lot of time thinking about. Felix would call it dreaming, but dreams weren’t real, and Marinette definitely was.

Especially now, snuggling up to him so hot in a thin pajama top...

“Thank you, Felix!” Marinette whispered, moving even closer to him.

Felix felt his muscles tense against his will and took a deep breath before holding her back, just a little, just to give her some comfort. NOT to push her closer to himself and feel all her warmth and softness...

In response Marinette hugged him so tight, as if he was the lost and found miraculous himself, and she couldn’t live without it...

As it was written in one great book that Felix read few months ago: ‘I dream of feelings that have gone out of fashion, and then my hormones start to play!’ That was exactly the situation he got himself in...

“Marinette...” Felix croaked in a low voice. “You are very attractive young woman.” He hinted, hoping that the girl would stop squeezing him, or realize that she could get an appropriate reaction behaving like this.

“Thank you.” She said obliviously, taking his words as a compliment and ignoring the actual meaning of them.

“Marinette...” Felix tried again. “Men of my age are extremely sensitive to physical intimacy with the subject of their sympathy.” He said, and not seeing any reaction from the girl, continued. “So if you don’t let me go, then i'm afraid that i will soon be the one who can no longer let go.”

Which was true, as Felix could hardly maintain his will to hold her back for real... But it would be totally inappropriate, giving the circumstances of their first encounter!

Felix’s words seamed to finally have some effect on Marinette, as she stopped squeezing him and froze, probably realizing how close they were entangled...

Then she jumped away and covered his eyes with her outstretched hand.

“Don’t look!” She exclaimed. “I'm in my pajamas!”

“I... uh... noticed this fact.” Felix spoke, forcing himself to turn his back to Marinette. More for his own sake... “I had no intention of invading your... privacy...” He added. “You must forgive me for my rudeness. But I wanted to make sure that Tikki arrived here safely and wouldn’t be noticed by others.”

“Of course she forgives you!” Tikki’s voice intervened. “Right, Marinette?!”

“I’m sorry to... meet you like this, Felix!” Marinette hastily explained with growing concern in her voice. “I was desperate and couldn’t think about anything else! When Tikki was renounced... I...”

“Marinette, please, calm down.” Felix interrupted her recurring tantrum. “Don’t make me turn back to comfort you...” He swallowed. What it cost him to remain a gentleman and not take advantage of the situation of her emotional vulnerability. But that wasn't the way he wanted to get this girl. “Everything is fine. Tikki is here.” He reminded. “And I’m leaving, so you two could have your reunion properly.”

Felix made a step towards the hatch-door.

“Felix!” Marinette called.

He stopped, expecting her goodbyes.

“May I...” Marinette swallowed, probably choosing her words. “Would it be inappropriate if I hugged you again, just for a moment?” She asked in a begging voice.

The feeling of her need for him was so clear in her voice, intoxicating him, and hitting him in the head.

But Marinette was a girl. Besides, she was in a stressful situation, about which she couldn’t even tell almost anyone. So, her weaknesses were forgiven to her automatically.

But Felix couldn’t make a mistake on his part... and hugging a girl in pajamas in private in her room was not an exemplary behavior... but the need to be her support got the better of Felix’s efforts to be a gentleman.

Felix closed his eyes and sighed.

“What ever you need, Marinette.” He spoke in a low voice, feeling the full truth of his own words.

Marinette became very dear to him. And if before he broke down barriers only for his own sake, today he was ready to break down walls for her.

Marinette came up to him from behind and put her arms on his shoulders, pressing her head against his back. Though Felix couldn’t even see her or hold her back from this position, for some reason Marinette’s touch felt even more intimate to him, then when she held him tight few minutes ago.

“Thank you, Felix.” She said and sighed, sending waves of heat down his back. “I can’t imagine what I would do without you!”

“I...” Felix swallowed. “I was glad to help you, Marinette.” He replied, drowning into the sensation.

It seemed that at this point he couldn’t imagine it either.

[master-list]

[7. Bright future] ... [9. Movie night. Part 1]

[more MLB/PV/Felinette/Maribat fanfic]

[January 2022 posting schedule]

Felinette Tag list (ask me to join)

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@turiankitty

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Poison Paradise.

Requests were sent in for fratboy!Bucky, tattooed Biker!Bucky and modern Bastard son!Bucky so here’s everything, in one. 

Themes: smut, biker!bucky, fluff

This is how I picture Bucky for this   

Bucky Barnes is the most popular guy on campus. He’s arrogant, and proud and somewhat of a bad boy. He’s loud, and a well-known troublemaker. He’s every professor’s nightmare. But he’s also drop dead gorgeous, with the kind of charm which made him hard to resist.

He was beautiful, but also dark and dangerous, like a poisoned paradise. 

Frat house parties, getting wasted and then getting in trouble with his friends, always on his notorious loud bike which made all the girls almost worship the ground he walks on. 

You always kept a safe distance from him and his friends. However, little did you know that he always kept an eye on you. After all, you were his step brother’s best friend. 

Bucky hated his step brother with a passion. Mainly because the latter was the only legitimate child to their dad and due to that, Bucky sort of became the black sheep of the family while everyone else idolized his step brother - Steve. 

Bucky always tried to stay away from Steve; never wanted to get in his business, stayed away from his friend group, and vowed to never talk to any of Steve’s friends. But that was until the day he saw you at a party. With Steve. 

He managed to find a way to come up and talk to you. And he was aware that the whole room stared as he made his way over to you. Sleeves of tattoos on both arms, ears pierced, dogs tags dangling and bringing more attention to his broad, muscular chest and tan skin. 

You had to admit, although an incorrigible fuckboy, Bucky Barnes was gorgeous. And those steel blue eyes of his made you weak in the knees. “So, are you Steve’s girlfriend?” He asked, all cocky as he leaned against the counter, facing you in the crowded kitchen. 

You blinked a few times, got over the fact that the most popular guy on campus was just here having a conversation with you. “Uh, no. We’re just good friends.” 

Bucky nodded, and smirked. “Good.” His answer made you frown. He took a step or two and leaned in to whisper in your ear. “Because else I’d have to get rid of him to make you mine.” 

His words sent shivers down your spine. And once you recovered, you pulled away and faced him confidently. Cocky little shit. “In your dreams, Bucky.” 

He chuckled, “Trust me babygirl, you don’t wanna know about what we do in my dreams.” he winked and gave you that smile which won over all the girls in a heartbeat. And although he was hard to resist, you found the courage to push him off and walk away. 

Since that first interaction, it began - the chase. Bucky loved it, because most of the time the girls threw themselves at him. But not you, you on the contrary were pushing him away. But even he hit his limit eventually. So when he found you walking back to campus from your shift at the bakery one night, he decided to give you a ride. You were walking on the side walk when you heard the roar of his engine, you walked faster but he was beside you in no time, causing you to stop and stare even though you tried hard not to. 

Fuck... he always looked so, delicious. The right amount of mysterious and hot. Bad boy charm which no one could resist. “Come on doll, it’s cold out. I won’t let you walk alone.” He persisted. 

You glared at him and tightened your jacket around you. “I’m not getting on your bike.” You had always feared his mean, dark and dangerous looking bike. 

He took his black helmet off and faced you again. His deep blue eyes looking deep into yours. “You’ll be fine doll, there’s not need to be afraid. All you have to do is hold me tight.” he spoke with a smirk. 

To be honest, he looked like he was warm too. Plus it began drizzling a little and if you didn’t accept to take a ride with him, you’d have a cold by the time you made it back to your dorm. “Fine.” you muttered and Bucky quickly handed you the other, matching, helmet he always kept. 

The ride back to campus was just how you imagined it would be; quiet with just the sound of the cold wind and light rain. Your arms wrapped around his torso instinctively and your heart raced as how close he was to you. His warm, hard and firm back pressing against you. You hated that you enjoyed the ride. 

“So can I take you out?” he asked, out of nowhere once you got off his bike. 

You eyes widened at him. “Give up Bucky. I won’t date you.” 

He smirked, like he had been ready for this. “Why? ‘Cause you like Steve?” He sounded all cocky again. 

“What? No. He’s a good friend.” 

“Prove it.” Bucky scoffed. And you raised your eyebrow at him. He spoke again, “Go out with me and prove it. Else I’ll just lie and tell everyone that you’re in love with Steve.” 

You sighed, annoyed and lowkey blushing. “What are we, five year olds?” 

Bucky smirked and parked his bike and got off. Watching him get off that mean bike of his and removing his helmet was no less than watching a strip show. It excited you just the same. The way his arms flexed, and how he secured that helmet under his arm and how his dog tags looked all shiny in the dimmed lights and the look in his eyes... oh the look in his stormy blue eyes... 

He approached you, leaned in closer, grabbed your chin in between his cold fingers and pressed his lips to yours. You were surprised, but once you got a taste of his lips, you couldn’t help but kiss him back. 

He kissed you deeply, taking his time and savoring you. His tongue stroking the top of your mouth and making you all crazy. He placed his hand at your waist gently, pulling you closer. He kissed you until the taste of his mouth was branded in your head.

Moments later, when he pulled away he looked at you and mumbled, “Gotta say, you taste sweeter than the goodies at the bakery.” He winked and left. Left you standing there and admitting that yes – you were indeed falling under his spell and you were diving in head first.

Fuck, this is gonna be messy.

First date, he came to pick you up and took you to a cozy, warm diner not far from campus.

Second date, at a beach just in time to catch the sunset.

By the third date, you began realizing that actually Bucky wasn’t as bad as everyone thought he was. Sure he was cocky and arrogant, but he was also a deep thinker and a little bit of a space nerd. He had conspiracy theories on almost everything.

You two kept your… close bond, if you will, a secret. Especially from Steve. How could you tell your best friend that you had been going on dates with his half-brother whom he doesn’t quite get along with?

“Why do you hate Steve?” you dropped the question one night, as you and Bucky sneaked out and went to get ice cream.

“He’s always had it easy. Too easy. He’s perfect, everyone loves him. For once, I… I just need to have something that he can’t have.” His answer rubbed you the wrong way a little.

“Is that why I’m here? Is that why we’ve been hanging out, just so you could show off to Steve?” you asked, and he got quiet. “Bucky?” you called out, ready to leave if he didn’t answer right away.

He looked up at you sheepishly. “In the beginning, yes. But then falling for you wasn’t in the plan, it just sort of happened.” He continued, lowering his eyes. “You’re amazing. You’re kind, and warm and you don’t sugarcoat shit. You say it as it is. You’re not afraid to point out my mistakes. I need that. I need you.”

Oh…

You initially thought you’d be pissed off, but instead, you felt really confident and cocky. “So you like me?”

From that day on, things changed between you and Bucky. You began meeting and going out more frequently. Whenever your roommate was out, Bucky would sneak in and stay the night. He was quite an affectionate guy, much to your surprise.

Lots of hugs and kisses

Even more bike rides.

Dating fratboy/biker/bastard son!Bucky would include;

Realizing how much cleaner and tidy Bucky’s room was compared to the rest of the boys at the frat house

Always being invited to the frat house parties

Eventually telling Steve about you and Bucky. He wasn’t the happiest person when he heard it, but he did tell you that if Bucky hurts you, he would kick his ass and would enjoy it.

Not talking about his family, especially his dad, because it upsets him.

Him ditching ‘the boys’ to come hang out with you.

Him scaring away any potential new friends of yours with his tattoos, dog tags and stand-offish manner.

Movie nights would mainly be him watching the movie while cuddling you, but all your attention would go to his sleeves of tattoos and you could spend hours and hours just admiring them.

Playing with his dog tags whenever you’re napping together and he falls asleep faster.

Stealing his leather jackets, thinking he doesn’t notice because he has LOTS of them. Him noticing but letting you take them anyways.

Him picking you up and dropping to wherever you needed to go on his sexy bike. Oh you loved it.

You being a positive influence on him, and encouraging him to get his grades up and stop messing around so much. He was still just as mischievous, only a much better student as well.

And lots of sex; Bucky Barnes was insatiable…

“Babe come on,” he’d whine each time he’d come over to find you studying. “You can study later.” Making his way over to where you were sat in your bed. He’d make himself comfortable beside you, pushing his face into your neck and kissing your skin until you could no longer focus on homework. He’d smirk each time, knowing he was successful in distracting you and that now he’d have you all to himself for the rest of the night.

Bucky was also very jealous. Territorial, he preferred to call it.

“You’re mine, and I don’t want you around other guys.”

“Steve’s my friend! He’s your brother for fuck’s sake!”

“Half brother! And no, he’s not your friend. He wants you.”

“Bucky, shut up-,”

He’d cut you off with a kiss, pushing you against the wall and pinning your hands above your head. Kissing you hard, and making you moan a little. “I don’t wanna argue. You’re mine, and that’s that.”

He’d undress you in less than a minute; his lips and hands never leaving your body. He’d have you gasping and begging for more before he even touches you properly.

His hand would find it’s way in between your legs, fingers slipping past your wet entrance. You’d whine and hold on to him as he finger-fucks you. “Whose making you feel this good, huh baby?” he’d ask, all cocky and being the little shit he is. You’d moan his name and he’d chuckle. “That’s right, I am.” He’d lean in to whisper, “You belong to me. Your sweet, pretty little cunt is mine, you hear me?”

Okay but imagine him fucking you right there against the wall because he just needs to hear to scream his name and he’s too impatient to walk to the bed.

Legs wrapped around his waist, his tattooed arms holding you up, his cold dog tags pressing against your bare chest each time he spreads you open and pounds into you; each thrust deeper and harder than the last.

He’d moan right in your ear, growling each time your walls clenched around him, fucking you hard and fast. “You’re all mine, you get that?” he say through gritted teeth as he rams his cock in and out of you; making you tear up and moan at how well he filled you up and stretched you out.

After making you cum around his cock, he’d probably take you to bed and fuck you again. Pinning your sensitive body down on the bed and pounding into you until you came again, and again. Or maybe he’d eat you out; gently teasing you with his tongue and tasting you until you were so sensitive and overstimulated that you’d have to push him off or beg him to stop.

“Will you be mine?” he asked one night as the two of you were tangled in bed, bodies warm and damp due to fucking like animals just minutes ago.

“Thought I already was.” you teased.

He chuckled and kissed your forehead. “I meant, my girlfriend. Officially.”

You looked up at him and leaned in to kiss his jaw. “Yes.”

✗ khan requested the prompt :: "i’ve never been kissed before so you volunteer but i decline, we’re best friends and it would be weird, but a couple hours later i lay awake in my bed and i can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss you and suddenly i regret what i said" + getou THE BRAINROT IS REAL RN 😭 [ also sending u kithes mwah mwah <333 ]

✗ pairing :: geto x gn!reader

✗ xetou's note :: khan if you're seeing this ily muah muah. I forgot your new @ 😭 I could've sworn you just followed me lmfao. but thank you for the request, I hope you enjoy it. sorry that it's a month late (─.─||）

"You've never kissed anyone before?" Geto cranes his head towards you, bewilderment written in his features.

"No." You shrug nonchalantly even though your body thrums with high harmonies of embarrassment. You bury your head further into your book but the words are a blur. To your dismay, only murky, undecipherable letters form.

"Why's that? You're not ugly or anything, far from it." His voice is gravelly, formally set. He truly didn't know the effect he had on you.

When you sigh and tense, the air grows stagnant, your best friend's gaze on you doesn't help. You refuse to meet it, you're convinced that if you were to meet his eyes, he'd probably let out a laugh.

Geto had probably kissed a surplus of people, he was more of a playboy then Gojo was — just more gentlemanly.

Before you can utter your words of reason, you sense him shuffle closer to you, the bed you're both laying on creaks in protest.

"Is it alright if I kiss you?" At his words, your breath hitches in your throat. You sneak a glance at his face to gauge his seriousness. Geto rarely ever did anything upon instinct — unlike Gojo — he was a logical thinker. Immature at times but never to the extent. (The extent being Gojo Satoru)

But when you note that he was indeed genuine, your mouth runs dry as you hiccup out an answer. "S-sure."

His eyebrows raise, almost as if your previous words weren't expected. With one last nod and a lick of lips, Geto inches closer to you. When he invades your space, you're suddenly thrown into a state of hyperawareness.

You nearly short circuit when you're reminded of how good he smells, it's a mix between being woody and cedar-like with peeks of citrus. Nonetheless, it's warm and familiar. Albeit, a symbol of friendship between you two.

A feeling of hesitance crawls within your chest as you slowly pull away. It'd been through a brand of cologne you'd gifted him for his birthday when he was still a first year, an entity to reference the bond between you two, a platonic one. Not this. Not a kiss. Kisses wouldn't mean anything to Geto but frankly, it made things awkward, you'd seen how things like these morphed in the movies.

Coincidentally, the ones you watched with him.

"Uh — Suguru?" His brown eyes flutter open and meet yours. He hums in confusion. "I-I don't think we should do this..." You'd treasure this friendship with delicacy, even if it meant furling your feelings into dust.

"Why? It's just a kiss." His head tilts once you turn away, a heavy sting piercing your chest as you curse internally.

Of course it was just another kiss to him.

Whilst you fiddle with your fingers, you're tempted to go through with it, to feel an inkling of what it meant to feel his lips on yours but you shake the thought away.

"Reasons." You purse your lips as an air of awkward silence settles over you two.

Sensing it as well, Geto rolls over and turns to leave but not before ruffling your hair. "I'll see ya later, I need to catch some Z's."

You wave back, a dull ache zapping through a specific area in your chest as you watch his retreating figure. "See ya."

When you hear the door click shut, you flop back onto your bed and cover your eyes with the palm of your hands. You will yourself not to cry then and there but your internal chants are useless. Your vision blurs as your eyelids tense, your chest pathetically heaving in. Small sobs stagger out from your lips as you stuff your face into your pillow.

Love was so damn annoying. For now you'd just focus on exorcising curses, that's all you were destined to do anyway.

It was harder said than done, you decide hours later as you peel your covers off of your body. The little hope Geto had planted into your mind had sprouted into something else entirely; snapping jaws from vines that seeked closure.

You'd maybe get a kiss in, pour out your feelings and call it a night. Crazily, you snicker into the dead of the night as you place your slippers on to your feet. Things like these wouldn’t end a friendship, right?

As you stand face to face with Geto’s door, you’re convinced that it most definitely could. If basking in the aftermath, you wouldn’t be able to avoid him, ever. The amount of students — or the lack thereof — wasn’t an aid to your growing anxiety.

“Y/N?” Your eyebrows shoot up in confusion. Did he somehow sense you at the door?

“I was just about to go to your dorm room.” He states, an almost shy look clouding his usual proud demeanor. 

Your tongue feels thick as you stare up at his figure. 

“Did you need anything?”

“Y-yeah. Uh–” You nod your head as you worry your lip between your teeth. “Just wanted to say that I kinda like you?” Your eyes nearly pop out of your sockets as you slap a palm over your mouth. Your eyes dart from his face to your feet.

“Oh yeah. Me too.” Skeptically, your gaze finally finds rest on his face.

"W-" you start.

"Y-"

You both laugh. His is hearty and causes your gut to tug. You had always liked his laugh. 

"You go first." You point at his chest.

Slightly, he shakes his head and nervously rubs at his neck. “I’m not good with these kinds of things.” A curtain of hair falls from his futilely tied bun to obscure most of his vision. By your sides, your hands twitch. A want to run your fingers through his medium-length locks encasing your senses. 

“Me neither.” You agree, shuffling side to side. 

“Is it okay if I kiss you?” Your head whips towards him in shock, he places his hands up in defense.  “I-I-If your okay with i–”

“Yeah, please kiss me.” Your words contrast with your actions as you're the first one to pull closer. His large hands find purchase on your waist whilst yours find it on his jaw. With closed eyes you brush his lips past your own.

They’re soft, just like you imagined. Deciding that it’s not enough, your hand inches higher to settle in his hair. You sigh as his lips finally slot over your own. The kiss is slow and endearing, almost dream-like. You wouldn’t put it past you, the dream-like feeling that is.

You take note of the soothing circles he plants on your back and his mint breath that mingles with yours. 

Before the kiss can go any further, he’s pulling away. Though he doesn't move that far, his breath still fanning your face.

“For this being your first kiss, you're not bad...” His hands are still on your waist, his eyes digging into your shy ones. You identify the adoring look in them, you're sure that if he looked closed enough he could probably see the same through your gaze.

“Thank you?” 

“You wanna touch lips some more?”

You snicker, his rare humor always shone through at the weirdest times. “Yeah, something like that.”  

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