#and winter represents loss for a lot of people | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 5 months

Text

Since we're heading into winter...

The Supreme Court of Texas narrowly decided Friday that sovereign immunity, which largely shields government agencies from civil lawsuits, also protects the operator of the Texas electric grid.

The 5-4 opinion will likely free the nonprofit corporation from lawsuits filed by thousands of Texans for deaths, injuries and damages following the deadly 2021 winter storm, unless lawyers find another way forward.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the power supply for most of Texas, qualifies for immunity because it “provides an essential governmental service,” Chief Justice Nathan Hecht wrote in the majority opinion. State law intended for ERCOT to have the power of an “arm of the State government,” Hecht wrote. If anyone is going to hold ERCOT accountable for its actions, Hecht wrote, it should be state regulators or the Legislature, not the courts.

Freezing temperatures gripped the state during the 2021 winter storm, straining the power supply so much that ERCOT called for cutting power to millions of homes and businesses to prevent the grid’s collapse. More than 200 people died. Experts estimated afterward that financial losses totaled between $80 billion and $130 billion, including physical damage and missed economic opportunity.

Thousands of residents accused ERCOT, power companies and distribution companies of failing to prepare for the freezing weather.

Lawyers expect the high court’s decision will allow ERCOT to be dismissed from the litigation, although it does not shield other defendants.

Attorney Mia Lorick, who represents some of those plaintiffs, said she sees only a slim possibility that lawyers could keep claims against ERCOT alive by arguing that their cases have differences that somehow skirt the sovereign immunity finding.

Majed Nachawati, whose firm is representing other plaintiffs in the related cases said, “The Texas Supreme Court’s decision is disappointing to say the least. People lost their lives and the only recourse to the citizens of Texas is to be able to go through the judicial process, and the judicial system, to try to remedy or right the wrong that occurred in this case. And if you can’t count on our judiciary to protect its citizens, I think we’re in a lot of trouble.”

Justices Jeff Boyd and John Devine, along with two others, disagreed that ERCOT has sovereign immunity. Purely private entities are clearly not sovereign, and making them so undermines the public trust, they wrote. The justices argued that “no statute designates ERCOT as a part of the government” and that courts should not be barred from hearing claims against it.

The ruling sprang from two cases filed against ERCOT. San Antonio’s municipally owned utility, CPS Energy, alleged that ERCOT mishandled the soaring price of power during the 2021 winter storm. And private equity investors at Panda Power Funds alleged that 10 years earlier ERCOT issued reports that misled them about how much power the grid needed.

ERCOT spokespersons issued a statement saying that the organization was pleased with the decision. CPS Energy said in a statement that it was disappointed but thankful that four justices agreed with the utility as it sought relief for customers. The utility said the litigation still led to “critical discussions at the highest levels that are necessary to improve our power grid and energy market.”

#us politics #news #texas #texas supreme court #ercot #the texas tribune #2023 #Electric Reliability Council of Texas #Chief Justice Nathan Hecht #Mia Lorick #Majed Nachawati #Justice Jeff Boyd #Justice John Devine #CPS Energy #winter weather #power outages #freezing #winter

46 notes · View notes

jedimaesteryoda · 8 months

Note

Do you find the Ironborn an interesting part of GRRMs story and/or world building?

The Ironborn are clearly inspired by the Vikings with the revanchist Confederate sympathizers. The tradition of the kingsmoot where they elected kings is a unique development, but only lords and men with enough property (a ship) get a vote. It's a society effectively controlled by pirates. They also have slavery in the form of thralls, and yet refuse to call it slavery with an attitude of "yeah, but it's not like those people" despite it still involving kidnapping people, and forcing them into a life of unpaid, forced labor and sexual violence for women.

As someone who supports anti-colonial movements in real-life, I find them interesting. They are the westernmost kingdom with a history of using their technological advantages in the form of iron when the mainland used bronze, as well as longships, to colonize and plunder the mainland and enslave the greenlanders under a Manifest Destiny doctrine. After they lost those advantages and lost their independence, they kept the Old Way going by appealing to an imagined past. This effectively makes them the most easily despised society in Westeros with a steady mix of the worst impulses: racism, misogyny, hypermasculinity and slavery and liable to turn on each other.

The Old Way is represented by the Greyjoys, a family with systemic abuse, few real relationships with one another other than with Balon, and a lot of infighting living in a literally crumbling castle falling into the sea. Balon launches a rebellion, fails, suffering big personal losses and is then "don't worry, it'll totally work this time." He is an old man clinging to the past, brooding alone in his tower as his house figuratively and literally crumbles around him. Victarion personifies the Old Way as is: an unhappy, hypermasculine dumbass warrior with his imagination constrained by the limits of his ideology, making him a tool easily manipulated. Euron is the Old Way as it appeals to the Ironborn: appealing on the surface but a predatory monster beneath who promises an impossible dream destined for disaster. The Ironborn take it given he is offering them emotion, and Ironborn are deeply unhappy as a people. The Old Way doesn't give them the happiness it promises, but plenty of disaster when their victims inevitably fight back.

The Old Way is riddled with hypocrisy with Victarion saying the Shield Island ships fleeing battle ceased to be men when they retreated when he did the same thing at Fair Isle. Aeron disdains maesters for choosing a life of service when he did as a Drowned Man. They begrudge Robert's forces' invasion and destruction of the Iron Isles when they glorify doing the same to others.

There are however those who support a New Way like The Reader and the three Harmunds before him.

There is clearly a struggle between the Old Way and the New Way within Ironborn society going on for centuries. The three Harmunds encouraged friendly relations with the greenlands and trade as well as literacy with Harmund III trying to outlaw the Old Way. The Shrike led a rebellion against Harmund III and it resulted in an invasion of the Iron Isles and the Famine Winter after that starved, impoverished and depopulated the Iron Isles with the New Way rebuilding the Iron Isles.

Quellon Greyjoy tried similarly until he died and Balon reversed his reforms. The Reader himself is an intellectual in a society that frowns upon literacy and scholarship, yet it's what allows him to effectively challenge Euron by pulling back the curtain on his tricks. He knows the dreams of reviving the Old Way is a pipe dream.

The attempts to revive the Old Way keep ending in disaster, taking more Old Way ideologues with them. And even without that, reaving had been on decline for a while and replaced with trade with men "returning with treasures their forebears had never dreamed of." Rather than driving them forward, the Old Way holds them back and has been slowly dying.

The current generation of Greyjoys just may be the last gasp of the Old Way.

#asoiaf #ironborn #iron islands #house greyjoy #balon greyjoy #victarion greyjoy #rodrik harlaw #euron greyjoy #aeron greyjoy #aeron damphair

49 notes · View notes

sarcastic--metaphor · 8 months

Note

I’ve read your Winter’s Night fanfic on AO3 before it became private for members only

(you you are literally the person that has made me but the effort to finally send my email for an invite just to continue your work)

Reading your work and my long experience as a reader of many fics I felt that my feral likings could match up yours some way.

Sadly due to issues I’m unable to fully write my own fics but as you can see I can lay some good ground works and idea paths. So I tend to, if I accidentally find a fav author on here, and they ask ideas slip a lil something and scuttle back into my corner.

Idk tarot cards but I think when it comes to how the show uses it OGMarcy and STAR!Marcy are perfect example of right side up and upside down. So if those cards are right then I agree.

And for some reason I just believe in my heart of heart, that Simon’s blood after the many many years of Ice King May have a special tasting blood, maybe a satisfying chill after feel with a sweet or minty kick to it. So when they do manage to run away and VK managed to survive (if they tried killing running away and he could still drain blood from Simon) he’d want the special blood back and his daughter but also the blood.

Cause Bonnie DID say the vampires have hunted their food to near extinction so changing Simon probably won’t be in his best interest if he thinks rationally. But judging by the situation it can be said VK seems to be ignorantly impulsive to literally have his peoples food source dwindle like that and it obviously rubbed off on Marcy based on how she described her killing of Martin.

lmao my fic was never supposed to be publicly accessible because (for weird and convoluted reasons) making it locked helps prevent AI scraping, but im glad u got an Ao3 account its actually so worth it

Marcy being the Star is interesting to me as someone who is kinda familiar with the tarot cards. Upright it (loosely) represents hope, healing, and purpose. Inverted it means (again, loosely-there's lots of different interpretations) loss and arrogance... which is pretty in line with Star!Marcy lmao

((Fun fact- I first wanted to name Vamp!Simon The Hanged Man bc it represents wisdom/sacrifice, but thought it was just a little too much of a mouthful and a little too on the nose. The Hermit is also a great fit for him thematically but it feels mean to call him that lol. So I think I'm going to stick with calling him Temperance bc it represents patience, but more importantly the inversion of it means conflicting interests. It's also a fun bonus for literally just me to have Simon be the only vamp named for a virtue and not a tarot figure, to imply he's different from the rest))

I don't actually want to say much about your ideas with the VK bc I feel like once i get started, I'lll just ramble and give away all my ideas about the fics I have planned 😭 but VK being cruel and possessive is good food

#fionna and cake #simon petrikov #the vampire king #vampire au #someone help me i can't stop writing F&C fics #ramblings

48 notes · View notes

millipedish · 11 months

Text

Signature tapes, for your companions in Cassette Beasts. Spoilers below.

Kayleigh/Sirenade/Decibelle: Decibelle is a mythical air dragon that has no need to touch the ground. It could represent having one’s head in the clouds, as the Mournchildren cult kind of do at the beginning of the game. It’s also interesting to note that Dorian refers to Mourningstar as a ‘serpent’. But Mourningstar is lurking in the subway and Decibelle fly free. Ultimately, Decibelle represents Kayleigh’s freedom from the cult. Also it's a singing monster, and Kayleigh is a musician.

Eugene/Clocksley/Robindam: The toy soldier. Eugene has adopted the persona of a fighter, but only because he doesn't know how else to define himself. He's acting out a role he thinks he's supposed to take on. That being said, I feel like I would love if Eugene, of all the companions, got an affinity for another beast at the end. Maybe Dandylion, because of the flowers. Eugene realizing that he could put good into the world by creating instead of fighting was very moving for me.

Felix/Brushroom/Fungogh: Thanks @tallgirlpetunia for figuring this one out for me! Felix is a painting and his signature tape is a painting beast, but also mushrooms need dead things to start growing. His signature tape aligns with the loss of his past career, and being OK with growth, and moving forward. Meredith/Kitelly/Cat-5: Meredith defines herself with the media she likes, so a tv-faced cat is perfect for her. Also cats are considered more stand-offish than dogs, which parallels her introversion and difficulty making friends. Also of note, cats are very loyal companions to people who earn their trust. At the end of the game Meredith does not become a social butterfly, but she does open herself to a small, trustworthy group of friends.

Viola/Spirouette/Regensea: Spirouette is a dancer. Viola is more into acting, but they both touch on the performing arts. A lot of her story is already told in The 12th Night, but it involves taking on a disguise. Spiroutte’s face is slightly obscured and it’s kind of androgynus - unlike Regensea which is more overtly feminine. At the end of The 12th Night, Viola is out of her masculine disguise.

Barkley/Ice Pombomb/Spitzfire: Barkley is a pupper but he came here in the winter place. A good boy!

#cassette beasts spoilers #cassette beasts

33 notes · View notes

hershelchocolate · 7 days

Note

How about one OC for each month of the year 😏 If that's too many, just the months with major holidays!

Oh I'm doing all of em babey

January:

(Art+design by hotchocolategalaxy on toyhouse)

Glace! The prince of the Winter Kingdom, constantly using the kingdom's resources to search for his parents, who had been lost in a blizzard. He keeps his head up though, and is a beacon for others who are also grieving the loss of their rulers

February:

(Art+designs by @arcaneyouth !)

Cabriel (blue) and Darciel (pink)! You get two for this one because You Cannot Separate Them. Not only were they from a valentine's themed adoptable set but they are also the gods of love who gained the title through how pure and wonderful their love for each other is. They would literally tear apart the universe to protect each other

March:

March makes me think of plants, and plants make me think of Raven! The leader of the mind control monsters, who uses vines/seeds/plants as their method of control. Very stoic and hardly ever shows emotion, but actions speak louder than words and sometimes they fuck with people for fun and it's awesome. In some sort of genderqueer toxic relationship that's lasted centuries that even I don't know all the details of and will refuse any knowledge of it if asked

April:

(Art+design by minuhime on toyhouse!)

April! Yes yes it's her name but she's also a cute bunny! She went with all her friends on a school field trip and had such a wonderful time until monsters started attacking and she was one of the first to be transformed into a creature representing her deepest fears. She was simply too sweet and soft and absolutely refused to believe she was in a horrored game

May:

(Art+design by @arcaneyouth !)

SURPRISEEE ITS EYUMIE AGAIN! She makes me think of May because that was one of the months where I was making my Junior Film starring her! Springtime always makes me think of her because of this tbh alshfgskg

June:

Daniel and Jade Hillston! Daniel is the main character of the murder mystery story that doesn't have a name yet, working hard to find the killer so he can free Jade, his daughter, who has been arrested for the crime. He knows she wouldn't do it. She would never. It HAD to be someone else. But he's always worried that person might be himself. I did a lot of the development for this story in summer and that's the time of year it takes place in so it always makes me think of it c:

July:

(Art+design by @arcaneyouth !)

Jubilee! They teleport using fireworks and are a minor deity in the Locked Love universe! Not sure what they do yet but they're definitely besties with Mirri and Ulrick. Treats checking in with them like a trip to their grandparents house

August:

(Art+design by @arcaneyouth !)

Aurelius! The final boss of a metroidvania-type game I started developing after playing Hollow Knight in the summer. They have taken on the role of antagonist simply because they didn't think the previous main antagonist was doing a good enough job to earn the role. They are dedicated to the theatrics, but always holds back when actually fighting. What kind of story would it be if the hero dies?

September:

This guy needs a name if anyone has any suggestions! One of the few humans in The Hallowed who is dedicating his time to trying to figure out what the FUCK is going on in this town. Makes me think of early fall where things are cold and chilly and just a little rainy but the trees still have leaves and there's a mist in the air. Thats his gender tbh

I'm gonna continue this in a reblog in hopes of being able to add the last two images give me just a moment

4 notes · View notes

moonsporemoth · 8 months

Text

Adventure Time Rant

I find the story of Adventure Time (and Fionna and Cake by extension) so immersive, not only because of the queer representation but also the representative undertones about depression and loss. Like all Simon's story centers around his loss of Betty and what his grief led him to do. Even in the main Adventure Time series, it's constantly alluded to him grieving her. As the Ice King he's obsessed with finding a princess. And he called Betty his princess. Even if a princess married him (because let's be honest, he's still attractive as Ice King) he wouldn't be happy cause he'd still subconsciously be searching for Betty. In Fionna and Cake (especially in the beginning), he tends to wonder who he is (which is a common thing people with depression struggle with). He wears the Ice King clothes when he first changes back. Not only is he grieving Betty, but he's also grieving the loss of his identity and obliviousness to the loss of his fiance. He doesn't miss being the Ice King, he misses having a constant identity and not remembering Betty. He loves her so much, but the constant grief is driving him crazy. That's also why the Winter King is the way he is. He hasn't thought of Betty in a long time, hence his utter refusal to think of others. Ice King, even though he was framed as a villain in the main series, was still kind in some aspects. He even helped the people (Finn and Jake in this case) whom he was often beaten by. Winter King doesn't have that constant subconscious anchor. Simon knows Betty did what she did for him and it kills him. And even while taking care of young Marceline while slowly changing, he remains kind and sweet, even risking his happiness (in this case taking care of Marceline) to protect people. Idk I just like him a lot…

17 notes · View notes

spawnofdeath · 8 months

Text

The Twin Kings' Backstory

The twin princes of Rivendell grew up being very close to one another, despite their obvious differences in both appearance and behaviour. Scott, being the apparently more studious of the brothers, readily losing himself in books of all kinds, and seemingly content to gain knowledge that way, if not his sibling dragged him into a different idea, was regarded by observers as more calm and more responsible, while Xornoth's curiosity was of a more practical nature, and they liked to go on adventures, wether or not the schedule imposed by teachers and governesses actually allowed for such excursions, gaining them a reputation as a bit of a troublemaker.

In truth, of course, it often took Xornoth a lot less persuasion than the surrounding adults might have liked to believe to convince his brother to join him in his various escapades, as Scott was simply less likely to come up with such ideas of his own accord, but hardly ever actually opposed to them.

And so, much to the chagrin of their parents and caretakers alike, it wasn't all too often you could find the princes in the palace, nor mostly even the town, but rather exploring the surrounding woods, or flying in the cold mountain air as soon as their wings had full adult plumage. If they were in town, they could usually be found playing with children of the common folk, or any kinds of animals that roamed the streets, both those kept for food, and pet or stray cats and dogs.

From earliest childhood on, the two brothers were told at every opportunity of their responsibilities to the Great Stags. The blue-haired Scott the chosen representative of Aeor, God of snow and ice, and the healing sleep and rest most life falls into in the winter months, and Xornoth's purple hair and eyes the mark of Exor, God of flames and heat, and life and growth during the warmer seasons.

There were many tales of the Great Stags.

That when they struck the mountains with their hooves, Aeor would cause avalanches, Exor volcanic eruptions.

That when they fought, as stags are wont to do at certain times of year, they would cause thunderstorms.

That while Aeor brought the winter snow and Exor the summer heat, they had to work together to bring rain, Exor's flames melting Aeor's ice to liquid water.

All this and more the twins were taught over the years of their growing up. One day, they would rule this land, and when that time came, they had better do right by the gods, or else disaster would strike.

The princes were barely of age when disaster struck. People would later claim that someone had to have angered the gods, for the earthquake was far worse than any before it. So much was destroyed, so many lives lost. More than half the kingdom in ruins, more than half the people gone. Even the royal palace collapsed almost entirely, and very suddenly, the twins found themselves not just without a home, but without parents, too.

In the earthquake's aftermath, the brothers had a falling out, of sorts, both handling the sudden loss of home and parents very differently and both considering the other's reaction to be inappropriate.

It wasn't so bad they'd have fully started hating each other, but it was enough for the conviction to form that ruling together wouldn't go well, and they'd both be better off going out on their own and founding their new kingdoms separately. Besides, they'd have to rebuild either way. It wouldn't really matter where, right?

And so they each gathered whichever survivors wanted to come with them, the people who preferred the warmth following Xornoth, the prince of summer, those who liked the cold going with Scott, the prince of winter, and the two groups struck out, in different directions, to find their fortune elsewhere.

Of course, at that time, neither of them could have known what kind of consequences leaving their place of birth would have for them.

When later the two kings and their followers lost the connection to their homelands and their gods, and settlement after settlement failed without apparent reason as a result, they started unknowingly gravitating back towards their birthplace in the mountains.

King Scott and his followers arrived there first, and decided to rebuild the old ruins they discovered near the mountain's peak. Among the rubble was a border stone, the name of the old kingdom still intact and legible: Rivendell. The decision was made to keep it, in honor of the people who had previously lived here.

Not very long afterwards, King Xornoth and their subjects settled by the mountain's foot, more comfortable there in the warmer climate, and founded the Kingdom of Erewyn. An alliance with the King of Rivendell was easily established, and soon, the two unknowing brothers became fast friends once again.

Find The Codfather's Backstory here or through Recollections of the Past or read the story on AO3

#scott smajor #xornoth empires smp #empires smp #empires s1 #two sons of rivendell au #two sons of rivendell au writing #tsorau

11 notes · View notes

tumblezwei · 1 year

Note

You know, for as much as I hoped we didn't have to wait ANOTHER volume and god knows how many more years to see rest of the cast and as much as the "team rwby are the only characters who should have any development or focus at any given point" takes annoy me, I am really glad they're taking every single moment of this volume to focus on the girls. Actually seeing the volume as is makes me realize that continuously cutting away would've weakened it significantly. So sorry for coming into your inbox and going "But the others!" a few months back.

That being said, I do think that not following up on them before the big reunion would be a bad move, especially since they set up the "half my friends and family are dead" angst for many different characters, and I think the big reunion would be cheapened if we didn't follow up on that at least a little. How do you think they should handle that?

Another thing I wanted to ask is what you think Weiss' arc is gonna be based on what we've been getting so far? I'm really intreged on what we might get based on the tiny scraps we got today.

(Also the Penny doll in the jar representing Ruby's hope and Ruby's big speech destroyed me emotionally)

I'm asking a lot of different people these questions cause I'm curious. (Sorry if I accidently asked you twice)

Tbh with the way that the volume has been progressing, cutting away at all to the others would feel like too much time wasted on things that aren't developing the main focus of the volume. Like, as much as I'd like to see ONR, Emerald, and Winter in Vacuo, spending time on them would waste the limited time we have to really explore what the fuck is going on with Ruby lol. What we've gotten so far has been great and I can't imagine it's be even half as a effective if, in maybe the first 5 minutes or so, our attention had been taken up by a completely separate conflict happening a literal world away.

And we don't really need to cut to them imo. The journey that RWBY is going through in the Ever After is fairly self-contained from we can see. There's nothing going on in Vacuo that would give us better context for ever After or vice versa, and it's not like we can't fill in the gaps or just. wait.

As for a reunion, given my experience with CRWBY's writing style, I wouldn't put it past them to have team RWBY drop into Vacuo somehow in the middle of whatever ONR+WE are dealing with. And I'd be fine with that. Maybe volume 10 could spend a little time on ONR+'s feelings, but again I just don't think volume 9 has the time.

As for Weiss, it seems like her arc is going to focus on her feelings of failure toward Atlas. We only have a sliver of it right now, but I could see it developing along her path to rebuilding the SDC (if that's what she wants to do) and trying to create a new legacy on the ashes of her father's and her society's. Just like Ruby is feeling like a failure of a hero, Weiss might feel inadequate as a partner and as someone who can be trusted to lead others into an uncertain future. Everything they've done feels like a loss, and the loss of her entire home came from it. I can't really give many specifics because I'm terrible at predicting what CRWBY will do in the future, but that's what I've been guessing at.

#ask #armenianwriterman #rwby9

32 notes · View notes

georgefairbrother · 1 year

Text

On the 22nd of January, 1979, life for the already beleaguered Callaghan government got a whole lot worse as tens of thousands of public sector workers joined crippling national strike action as part of the Winter of Discontent. Four major public service unions were incensed over the government’s policy of attempting to impose a ceiling on pay rises at 5%, as a means of inflation control, while workers at the privately owned Ford plant at Dagenham had recently negotiated a 17% rise. Ford had openly defied the government’s wage-restraint policy, despite the fact that the government was one of Ford’s major clients.

The public service unions represented a total of 1.5 million members, and argued that their members' pay, particularly for manual workers, was falling well behind private enterprise. They called for a minimum wage of 60 pounds and a 35 hour week.

The previous autumn, Labour Prime Minister Jim Callaghan had made the fateful decision not to call an early election, despite his minority government’s tenuous grip on power, stating, "The government must and will continue to carry out policies that are consistent, determined, that don’t chop or change and that brought about the present recovery in our fortunes…We can see the way ahead."

Opposition leader Margaret Thatcher was not best pleased, referring to the government as ‘chickens’ and stating, “The real reason he isn’t having an election is because he thinks he’ll lose."

Even Liberal leader David Steel, whose party had propped up the minority government through the Lib-Lab Pact, wasn’t happy, stating that the country was due for change and that an election was the only way to breath life into the four-year-old parliament.

As winter closed in, a nationwide transport strike created shortages of many essential commodities. NHS hospitals, ambulance services, rubbish collection, schools and even funeral and burial services were caught up in stoppages that created nationwide chaos. At one point 200 000 workers were temporarily laid off, and rubbish piled high in the streets.

Into this chaotic atmosphere returned Prime Minister Callaghan from a summit with US President Carter, French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing and the West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

The meeting had been held in the sunny Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe. Callaghan, looking 'relaxed and unconcerned' according to reports, said, "I don’t think that other people in the world would share the view that there is mounting chaos.”

He was rewarded by a famous headline in The Sun;

By the end of January, 1979, the strike ended with employers conceding to almost all of the various unions’ demands.

Opposition Leader Margaret Thatcher soon seized a golden opportunity to take command of the agenda. She introduced a motion of no confidence against the Government on March 28th, which passed by one vote, the first such successful motion since 1924. Jim Callaghan had no option but to go the country and an election was finally called, paving the way for 18 years of Tory government.

Following the inevitable election loss, Jim Callaghan stayed on as Opposition Leader until 1980 when he was succeeded by Michael Foot. He subsequently served in the Lords as Baron Callaghan of Cardiff and passed away in 2005, aged 92.

#winter of discontent #social history #working class history #british culture #trade unions #industrial action #uk government #uk politics #1970s #dagenham

42 notes · View notes

shadowqueen402 · 2 years

Text

Iben Bia Novel Headcanons (And How I Think It Should Have Been Written)

I'm writing this because this had been on my mind since the day I first read the novel.

In the novel, when Leo, Attilio, and Cass make their way to Iben's stage and tell her about the visions, it's implied that she had seen both Balan and Emma too.

But from what we know, she's never revealed if she's seen anything else in her visions. And if so, then what?

I have four possible theories as to what else could have been in Iben's visions:

Two shadowy people— This would make a lot of sense. Especially since those two shadowy people would just so happen to be her late parents. Everytime she would see them, she would probably feel a sense of grief, symbolizing her loss. She wouldn't be able to see what they look like, but she would just… know that one of them is male and the other is female.

A hooded figure— This one would be interesting for one reason only: the hooded figure would represent death. After all, the Grim Reaper always wears a hood over its head and he is responsible for death. Since Leo realized later on that the objects in the others' visions represented their worst fears, Iben's worst fear would be death. Specifically losing her loved ones.

A crystal— At first, this may sound a bit confusing. But there is a reason why I believe that this was probably what else Iben saw. That crystal would actually be a snowflake. And what season do snowflakes come in? Winter. This would remind Iben of the exact winter that her parents died in the accident.

Nothing else— There's also a possible theory that, like Leo and Bruce, Iben didn't see anything else in her visions. In Part 2, Balan explains to Leo that 'The lack of something cannot be shown'. This could mean that, deep down, Iben still wanted to love others and let others love her. And the lack of love cannot be shown in her visions.

As for how I would rewrite the scene where she is asked about the visions, I would put something like this:

Iben: So what if I have?

Attilio: Everyone else has seen them in their visions. But they would see something else.

Iben: Like what?

Attilio: I saw a woman with long, silver hair. Clocktower Kid saw a scary creature with pointy ears. Scarecrow saw dancing trees. Bugsy sees a creature snaking towards her. Watcher sees a giant beast that wanted to destroy everything. Sentinel sees a man that looks like him. Skygazer sees a flying machine. Seagazer saw a sea monster trying to kill her. Madam of the Mansion saw a pitch black wall. Checkered King sees a golden chalice.

Leo: We just came from Invisible Custodian's stage. Like me, he didn't see anything else in his visions. If you had seen them, what else did you see?

Iben: Hmm… In my visions, I saw a hooded figure.

Cass: A hooded figure? What could it possibly be?

Iben: I wish I knew. Everytime I see that figure, I would get this strange sense of…dread. But I'm completely convinced that I've never seen this figure before.

Attilio: That's why I say that something bad is happening to Wonderworld.

Iben: *Looks up at them* Does Lance know about the visions?

Leo: He does, but… *Explains Lance's warning to Iben*

Iben: Hmm… *Closes her eyes in deep thought* Lance may be onto something. Especially with how he's acting as soon as you told him about the visions. The first time I had these visions, I recalled asking him when he came to my stage. He instead just changed the subject and the look on his face… *Trails off*

Leo: So Lance is hiding something, but what?

Attilio: Well, everybody else is meeting up in Clocktower Kid's stage. We can all talk about this together and hopefully get the answers we're looking for.

Iben: How can I get to her stage? I never set foot on anyone else's besides mine.

Cass: Just follow me! *Leads the others to her stage*

Let me know what you guys think!

#balan wonderworld #iben bia #headcanon #novel #spoilers

6 notes · View notes

talesofealdancynedom · 2 years

Photo

Preview Illustration: Princess Sunaeth Feiry Robe redesign.

For more on this character, see Tale 10: Loss at the Wolf Gate. She makes a minor reappearance in a couple other stories.

I’ve been having a lot of trouble deciding how Sunaeth’s mage robes should look. I did a lot of concepts for Aliki Wolves and Fairy Robes for Wolf Kingdom mages; But Sunaeth is a princess, and her robes needed to be extra. This rendition, thus has a story to it.

Each Fey Kingdom has a specific silhouette. Many are aimed at making the wearer look like an animal, and are inspired by real traditional clothing and textiles. Each of the nations, and fey kingdom, in Ealden Cyendom represents places where my favourite folk-tales originate. I dedicated the Far North to the indigenous peoples of Canada.

Thus, in my ongoing journey to learn more about First Nations communities, due to a poor education, I found their amazing contributions to the arts!

Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina, has excellent first nations exhibitions; Which have inspired me, by providing a space for Canadian creators. They recently had an exhibition entirely dedicated to beading, from nearly thirty artists from across Canada; and it was magical! I have no patience for the intricate work I had the honor of seeing in person. I love the use of shapes and colours, as well as the creative ways modern issues are expressed.

This design, is inspired by both the beauty of canids, winter, midnight, and the art of beading.

#art #sunaeth #fantasy #tales of ealden cynedom #Character Design

1 note · View note

quentinxjames · 10 months

Text

THE HANGED MAN

The Hanged Man represents ‘the waiting game,’ often a part of life progression. Although we are rarely happy about being stuck in limbo, there are times when nothing else can be done, and we are forced to be still, according to the Hanged Man. This often requires sacrificing people and things we would rather hold on to. The Hanged Man tarot card wants you to know that sometimes, we must accept a loss for the greater good. Acceptance and letting go are key if you ever want to move forward.

STATISTICS

FULL NAME : Dr. Quentin Parker James ALIAS : Tin, Tin-Tin, Quinn. AGE : 43 DATE OF BIRTH : December 19, 1980 RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Divorced, dating Julieta Alvarez HOMETOWN : Kismet Harbor, OR, USA TIME IN KISMET HARBOR : Since 1980. RESIDENCE : Cresthill Meadows. FACECLAIM : Jake Gyllenhaal trigger warning: death, addiction, drug use.

EDUCATION : University of Pittsburgh. OCCUPATION :Orthopedic Surgeon/ Prosthetist GENDER : Cis-Male PRONOUNS : He/Him SEXUALITY : Straight. HAIR COLOUR : Dark Brown EYE COLOUR : Blue HEIGHT : 6′0″ BUILD : Athletic ACCENT : American LANGUAGES : English, Spanish. TATTOOS : None SCENT: BOSS The Scent Absolute ZODIAC : Sagittarius LOVE LANGUAGE : Physical touch, words of affirmation. CLOTHING : Sweaters and pantaloons in winter. Shirts and blouses with pantaloons in summer. He wears blouses under his work uniform. HAIR STYLE + BEARD: ( x )

CONDITIONS : Recovered addict ALLERGIES : Pollen. EATING HABITS : Quentin values a healthy diet with variety. Mexican cuisine is his favourite. EXERCISE HABITS : low-intensity interval training, boxing. SLEEPING HABITS : Quentin sleeps from 10PM til 5 am on weekdays. He’s more varied in his sleeping pattern when he’s off work and the kids are off school. ADDICTIONS : painkillers DRUG USE : Fentanyl and barbiturates. (not actively) ALCOHOL USE : none.

POSITIVE TRAITS : Adaptable, humorous, curious. NEGATIVE TRAITS : short-tempered, blunt, sarcastic. PHOBIAS : lilapsophobia (fear of storms and tornadoes), phasmophobia (fear of the supernatural) FEARS : Relapsing, losing his children, losing his father and/or siblings. HOBBIES : Boxing, hiking, camping. HABITS : smoking, doesn’t drink enough water, double checks. USUAL DEMEANOUR : Affable.

FATHER : Dale James MOTHER : Susan James † SIBLINGS : Wesley James, Bridget James. PARTNERS : Summer Cassidy (divorced), Julieta Alvarez (dating) CHILDREN : Sadie and Lucas. PETS : none.

BIOGRAPHY

Quentin just about wasn’t born with a bow, an early Christmas present for expecting parents. A cold December day with snow covering the pavement outside the hospital. He was a spirited child, the kind that struck terror into a parent’s heart every time he asked why, and wanted to do what the grown-ups were doing. As adorable as he might be as a little boy, just as terrible his tantrums were, something that would be a thread throughout his entire life. Whenever something went wrong, or he felt trapped he would lash out. Behavioural issues was something that was often stamped on his school reviews. Therapy sessions were becoming the new normal for Quentin, learning to cope with his anger issues.

He set most of his tantrums aside when his baby brother was born when he was eight years old, taking the role of older brother very seriously. He would keep his mother company whenever she was tending with the baby, making his homework in her bed, sometimes even getting to feed him with the bottle. The same was when Bridget was born and Quentin was older, taking up more responsibilities and helping around the house. Yet his parents always made sure he was a kid, going outside to play.

High school was a learning ground, a place to further explore himself and who he wanted to be in life. He had a bright and humorous personality, making a lot of friends but two friends in particular he spent a lot of his free time with, Callum and Harry. The two were often goofing around, but Quentin did not let that ruin his education. He had a clear idea of what he wanted to do, mostly thanks to Callum, whose situation inspired him. He also had extra motivation to get good grades and go to a good college because of the promised graduation trip his father had promised him when he graduated: backpacking through the states and meeting great landmarks, learning more about their country.

The trip however was the last of his worries when his parents divorced at the age of 16. His mother's cheating hit Quentin hard, as he had always adored the woman and the ground she walked on. The sixteen year old felt like he had to choose sides in the divorce, and he chose his father's side. With his father gaining custody over all three children, Quentin grew into the responsible role, taking care of his siblings when his father was still at work, making sure to cook dinner when his father could not. It took him a long time to forgive his mother, despite her attempts to reconcile. By the time his university acceptance letter got in, Quentin decided to take a gap year to help his father around the house, informing the university of his decision. With the prospect he could reapply whenever, Quentin found himself taking time with his family, even going on that backpacking trip with his father, making sure Wesley and Bridget were being responsibly looked after.

University was a fresh start in more than one way. He thrived during his medical studies and also rekindled a relationship with his mother. As the semesters passed however, Quentin began to notice discrepancies in his mother's stories and ways of acting. When he visited without a heads-up one day, his suspicions were proven to be right. He discovered his mother had developed a serious alcohol addiction which she had been trying to hide from her ex-husband and children. Quentin told her to sober up before it was too late or he would tell his father, knowing that that would mean she would no longer be trusted with her children. She promised she would, yet Quentin had his doubts.

Because of this, he tried to keep his residency as close as he could, and was offered a spot at the hospital in Kismet Harbor, making it his goal to in the future become a prosthetist and help people on their new path of recovery and way of life. He hadn’t expected however that through his time as a resident, he fell in love. It was a simple introduction, Wesley dragging him over to a certain blonde and there was an instant connection between the two. She had aspirations like him and they both understood that they would have shared focuses each, leaving less room for miscommunication in their newfound relationship, one that ended up being tested on one fateful evening. Quentin had been driving back with Callum and Harry from a high school reunion at a location outside of town when Harry lost control of the vehicle. Quentin remembers flashes, Callum’s groaning in the backseat, Harry silent on the hood of the car while he couldn’t move himself, his muscles cramping up entirely, pain shooting throughout his body. His recovery was nowhere near as painful as having to bury his friend, blaming the seasonal weather that caused the car to slip over the ice, but admittedly would have swapped places with Harry, knowing that he wouldn’t have left behind a wife and son. The pain Quentin found himself in made him more irritable, more on edge, and when he discovered his mother had not kept her promise to him, he delivered on his word and told his father about his mother's drinking problem, which resulted in Dale keeping his sons and daughter away from their mother. Quentin had hoped that this would cause her to wake up and go to rehab, instead a few months later, he was woken by his father who told him his mother had passed away.

The emotional pain enhanced his physical pain, and before he knew it, Quentin had more dependent on the painkillers he'd received for his shoulder and back injury, even if that was the last thing he intended to do. He couldn’t function without the painkillers and realised he had hit a new low when he had been tempted to stealing medication from the hospital’s pharmacy. It was then that he confided in Summer who told him they could wait it out, not wanting to risk his career. Cold turkey. He remembered every moment of it, agonisingly counting the hours. It took him a while after, at least a month before he was ready to come clean to his father, not wanting to keep secrets from him. From that moment on, he would never let anyone down again.

He went on the straight and narrow, working his shifts, passing his tests and eventually he married the girl. It wasn’t an easy decision, but helping her in her path to success, he agreed into moving along with her to Los Angeles as soon as he could find a place to further his career. Everything went as they should. He had no difficulties reaching his attending years and eventually become a full fledged doctor. He had everything he thought he always wanted. He had the job, he had the wife and he had the kids. With Sadie and Lucas born, his world got a whole lot richer. Yet the more his life became successful, so it did for his wife. And it didn’t take much longer before she had to sacrifice shared family time. The more popular an actress she became, the more she started missing out on school functions, birthday parties, recitals and soccer matches. They argued whenever she was home and sober, a flaw he ignored so he did not make his own issues hers. When the paparazzi started bothering them at their home, Quentin lost it. They ended up at the children’s schools and daycare, as well as his job. As extroverted as he was, he valued his privacy. He hated having his picture taken, even in a personal or professional setting. When Summer’s assistant failed to communicate his latest message to her, he decided having to wait up for her was the only thing to do and try to talk things out that this could no longer work, not with it impeding their children’s daily life. When she came home drunk from one of her parties, it was the last drop.

He wasn’t someone to give ultimatums, and instead he confronted Summer with the fact he had four tickets to Kismet Harbor, where he was going to raise the children in peace and quiet, and that she could come along if that was what she wanted. He packed up suitcases of clothes, arranging a moving company for a few important belongings to ship to Oregon. With a broken heart, Quentin boarded the plane with his two children, leaving his wife behind in Los Angeles, with that ending their marriage. Divorce papers sent soon after.

Settling in Kismet Harbor again came easier to the two youngsters while Quentin struggled. He was offered a position at the local hospital through his old mentor, yet found his thoughts to be with Summer all the time. She hadn’t objected with him wanting the children to be with him throughout the year, having them go to Los Angeles every other year during the summer and Christmas, with Summer coming the other times. It was even more confusing when him and Summer had unfinished business and ending up in bed together. It would always end up with her leaving back for Los Angeles soon after. At some point, he made the decision to move on, getting back into the dating pool, but mostly focusing on raising his two children, making sure they had everything they needed in life and from him, functioning as both a father and a mother, which still had its challenges. But he’d be damned if he wouldn’t try his hardest.

When Summer made the move to Kismet Harbor, Quentin had hope that this meant they could rekindle their relationship as well as the relationship between mother and daughter. For a while it seemed to work. They got along great, had a fun time together and even spoke of moving to somewhere they could both live and be happy. When however Quentin learned she had used being back with her family as an opportunity to get good press, even tipping off the paparazzi. Quentin saw red, letting Summer try and explain her way out of things before permanently ending things between them with the threat that if he saw a paparazzi photo of her playing the good mother, he would take further steps. Luckily it didn't get that far and the children got to keep seeing their mother. Quentin stayed true to his word however that him and Summer were done and moved on, entering a relationship on Christmas day which seems to flourish as time went by, even having her support and company after he broke his leg during a storm that raged through the city. Quentin is recovering without the use of painkillers, having to make use of a cane while looking at surgical options to improve his leg so that he can make fully use of it yet again.

TIMELINE

1980 – born december 19 1988 – Wesley is born 1992 – Bridget is born. 1996 – Quentin's parents divorce 1998 – Graduated high school. 1998-2000 – Quentin takes a gap year. 2001 – started at university of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. 2005 – graduated university. 2005 – Had an accident with Callum and Harold, his childhood friends. Harold died. 2006 - Quentin's mother passes away due to alcohol abuse 2006 – met Summer 2006 – Relapsed from pain medications given to him for his injuries. Ended cold turkey with Summer’s help. 2008 – moved to LA with Summer. 2008 – started working at LA General. 2009 – married Summer 2009 – birth of Sadie 2012 – birth of Luke 2013 – Quentin left for KH to support Callum after his wife’s disappearance. 2017 – Quentin and Summer divorced 2017 – moved to Kismet Harbor 2017 – started working at Kismet Harbor hospital as an orthopedic surgeon and prosthetist. 2023 – Sadie starts high school 2023 - started rekindling a relationship with Summer, but broke up within the month 2023 - started dating Julieta at Christmas day.

Relationships:

1994-1997 (OPEN) 1998 (Senior year) (Adriana Vazquez-Hatcher) 1998-2000 (OPEN) 2001-2003 (university) (OPEN) 2005-2017 (Summer Cassidy) 2019-2023 (OPEN) 2023-present (Julieta Alvarez)

#( intro. )

0 notes

santhiplants · 1 year

Text

HIBISCUS

The Hibiscus is also known as rose mallow. Hibiscus flower is vibrant in color, has a beautiful appearance, and is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. And also, a variety of colors represent a lot of meaningful words. People offer red flowers for the goodness of kali it essence of women's power.

HIBISCUS PLANT

The plant is an evergreen shrub, perennial, or annual herbaceous plant and good for vastu houseplants. Sembaruthi plants is usually to grow indoors, outdoor, balcony, and garden.

HIBISCUS TREE

The Sembaruthi tree is small and has a woody, upright stem and an ideal stand-alone hedge. It can grow upto height of 8 to 16 feet tall. Some are considered lucky plants and they grow in the garden or outdoor.

HIBISCUS FLOWER

Hibiscus flower is attractive in color, large, and bell-shaped with five petals. In this flower filaments and stamens are united to form long tubes surrounding the stigma and style. In the spring season, flowers continuously bloom and light up your garden with colorful flowers.

HIBISCUS LEAVES

The leaves are long, simple ovate, glossy green, and palmately veined. It has beneficial properties to prevent colds and toothaches. Leaves are highly rich in antioxidants like vitamin C which help to destroy harmful molecules.

HIBISCUS ROSA-SINENSIS

Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis is the scientific name of the hibiscus plant it belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is under the category of ornamental, outdoor, and flowering plants.

HIBISCUS COLOR

Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis have various colors and double-flower varieties. Flower colors like red, orange, white, yellow, pink, and multicolor. It all is attractive and stunning appearance to light up your garden outside.

SOIL

It prefers slightly acidic and well-drained soil like sandy loam and is highly rich in organic content and it helps to produce a lot of flowers.

SUNLIGHT

It needs adequate direct sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours per day. In the summer season keep the Sembaruthi plant in a green shade net.

WATERING REQUIREMENT

To water the plant daily especially in the summer season to deep water and reduce the water level in winter. So, don’t worry about overwatering if you have a proper drainage hole and well-draining soil mix.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION

REPOTTING

PRUNING

PEST AND DISEASE

BENEFIT

Hibiscus whole plant part has highly beneficial properties like antioxidant, anti-cancer and antiseptic properties.

Sembaruthi also used for medicinal, decorative, and landscape purposes.

Hibiscus used for hair growth, cancer, blood sugar, high blood pressure, and weight loss.

Growing plants the natural and organic methods is an excellent technique. To promote healthy flowering plants, and improve soil health and fertility to make your surrounding green, fresh, and stress-free. “Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul”.

Hibiscus eco-friendly plant

Blog creator by Santhi online plants

#hibiscus #color flower #planting #growing #flowering

0 notes

philodendrongenus · 1 year

Text

HIBISCUS

HIBISCUS PLANT

The plant is an evergreen shrub, perennial, or annual herbaceous plant and good for vastu houseplants. Sembaruthi plants is usually to grow indoors, outdoor, balcony, and garden.

HIBISCUS TREE

HIBISCUS FLOWER

HIBISCUS LEAVES

HIBISCUS ROSA-SINENSIS

Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis is the scientific name of the hibiscus plant it belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is under the category of ornamental, outdoor, and flowering plants.

HIBISCUS COLOR

SOIL

It prefers slightly acidic and well-drained soil like sandy loam and is highly rich in organic content and it helps to produce a lot of flowers.

SUNLIGHT

It needs adequate direct sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours per day. In the summer season keep the Sembaruthi plant in a green shade net.

WATERING REQUIREMENT

FERTILIZER APPLICATION

REPOTTING

PRUNING

PEST AND DISEASE

CONTROL

BENEFIT

Hibiscus whole plant part has highly beneficial properties like antioxidant, anti-cancer and antiseptic properties.

Sembaruthi also used for medicinal, decorative, and landscape purposes.

Hibiscus used for hair growth, cancer, blood sugar, high blood pressure, and weight loss.

Hibiscus eco-friendly plant

Blog creator by Santhi online plants

#hibiscus #plants #flower #forming

0 notes

philodendronleaves · 1 year

Text

Hibiscus

HIBISCUS PLANT

The plant is an evergreen shrub, perennial, or annual herbaceous plant and good for vastu houseplants. Sembaruthi plants is usually to grow indoors, outdoor, balcony, and garden.

HIBISCUS TREE

HIBISCUS FLOWER

HIBISCUS LEAVES

HIBISCUS ROSA-SINENSIS

Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis is the scientific name of the hibiscus plant it belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is under the category of ornamental, outdoor, and flowering plants.

HIBISCUS COLOR

SOIL

It prefers slightly acidic and well-drained soil like sandy loam and is highly rich in organic content and it helps to produce a lot of flowers.

SUNLIGHT

It needs adequate direct sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours per day. In the summer season keep the Sembaruthi plant in a green shade net.

WATERING REQUIREMENT

FERTILIZER APPLICATION

REPOTTING

PRUNING

PEST AND DISEASE

CONTROL

BENEFIT

Hibiscus whole plant part has highly beneficial properties like antioxidant, anti-cancer and antiseptic properties.

Sembaruthi also used for medicinal, decorative, and landscape purposes.

Hibiscus used for hair growth, cancer, blood sugar, high blood pressure, and weight loss.

Hibiscus eco-friendly plant

Blog creator by Santhi online plants

#hibiscus #flowering #forming #plants #color

0 notes