we need more love for the silly little creatures in Ninjago like. Treehorns??? Starteeth???? those alien bugs??? THE GIANT LEVIATHAN???? theyre so cool I'm gonna stuff them in tiny glass vials and put em on my shelf.

Hello everyone, This isn't the kind of post that I normally make, but its a special day for me and I've been trying to parse what I've wanted to say for the better part of a week, so uh,,,, here goes.

@grahamnesspayser, happy almost one year anniversary <3

Okay. We are under the read more I get to ramble now /lh

I have a hard time making connections with people, but with you it was different. We bonded almost immediately when we met almost 3 and a half years ago. It's really been that long? It feels like I've known you all my life ... and in a way I have, all our kin timelines that intersect in familial and romantic ways prove that.

I loved you for way longer than this year, and I know you know that, but I just want it written out too. I've been by your side in the ugliest of times and the most energetic of times, through all the emotions known to man (and shrimp. I think you finally reached shrimp emotions at some point this last year). I think about the time I wanted to boycott my old college's community action committee for calling me from a number in your same area code while I was waiting for information on you and scaring me half to death thinking something happened to you.

I care for you so fucking much. I've seen you grow so fucking much since we met, seen you through your first T shot and every single crisis your mind spiraled up and there's nowhere I would rather be than by your side. My worry when you were on the plane was an unconscious worry I didn't even know I would have until I desperately sluthed out what flight you were on to calm me down.

It's not just you either. It's all of the system. I care so much for each and every one who talks with me. From me and cathals sandwich sharing and platonic-familial bond, to storm's friendship bucket i gave them, to ceecee and I separate relationship, which has an anniversary coming soon - but that isn't the point. The point I'm trying to make is that we as partner systems are so intertwined that it warms my heart. We have made a family between the two of our systems, whether we've noticed or not.

I'm getting tired of talking so I want to share some screenshots then I'll get into more mushy things. If people who aren't Graham are reading this, these are direct from our greatest hits google doc. For Graham, yes these are from the doc but they make me laugh so hard so I want to share them with the world.

( ^ that one especially, I remember this so clearly like it was yesterday. we were in call when you sent that message and i couldn't stop laughing )

okay uhhhhh I promised that I was gonna be sappier now. I don't think I can get sappier actually. but,,,,

Graham, the other week you said something that I think is absolutely true. We often forget to explicitly say "I Love You" unless we are going through a crisis. Even if its true, we still say it without saying it. It's constantly checking in on each other, It's the sharing in each other's special interests and streaming them at the same time to each other. It's you listening to me ramble about genshin men and me listening to you ramble about the toontown cogs and finding joy in listening to it all. It's our stimming back and forth in an otherwise silent call.

We are both aro-slanted; it is difficult for us to say "I love you" and mean it a hundred percent of the time. Even so, what we can't say we make up for in our actions and time with each other. I can't wait to see you again and just lay together cuddling you, scratching your scalp until you fall asleep in my arms and knowing you are safe and calm.

I love you, my little pacesetter. I love you so fucking much.

Signed with the most sincerity,

Your Shining Aether

oh my dear pretty boy... ☆SPOILERS AND TW!! grim real name, spoiler for "sealed with a kiss" ending, dirty talking, Dacryphilia, creampie, hair pulling, male reader, dom reader, sub grim (if i worgot anything please tell me!)

a/n not proofread

☆.。.:・°☆.。.:・°☆.。.:・°☆.。.:・°☆

casper did ended up coming to you. running away from his job to be with you. with love of his life. he would never guess in the life of his he would fall in love with a some mere mortal. after all, hes the grim reaper he shall be feared! but... it ended up in love. in something he never felt before. he was confused at first. oh so confused. he didn't knew what to do. but he did ended up confession to you. and even left his job because he couldnt get himself to collect a soul of his precious mortal. his newfound lover.

"kiss me then, sunshine" he said as he closed his eyes. he was laying on your bed with you on top of him. his hands looking so tempting to just grab and hold... but maybe later. his lips slightly parted waiting for the kiss. his first kiss. you smirk and lean down connecting yours and his lips together in a soft and loving kiss. you didn't wanted his first to be harsh after all. you don't want your pretty boy to have bad first impression on such an important thing after all.

"so, how was it?" you asked after a kiss pulling slightly away. "it... it was great" he replied as he cannot speak such a things like lie. why would he even lie in situation like this?

"i'm glad" you replied and peck his cheek. "but i'm not done, caspy" you chuckle and caress his soft cheek. casper skin care routing really paid off, huh? "well, i have in mind... to help you forget about your awful job, you want me to help you pretty boy?" you asked with teasing tone as he blushed and cleared his throat. "what do you mean by that, sunshine?" he asked blushing. "you will see, cutie" you chuckle. kissing his lips once more. "dont worry, nothing bad" you wink and laugh softly playing with his hair. "dont worry pretty boy... you will loooove it" you smile as he look no so sure but agree anyway. hes curious what might be on your mind even if he can guess alredy.

after a small kissing and talking you pulled away. but he wasnt surprised with it quickly pulling you back into another passionate kiss. his hands wrapped around you neck as his hand is on the back of your head pulling you closer and closer. his breath rapid and hitching as small whimpers leaves his lips as they connect and disconnect from yours non stop. he wanted more. he needed more. he wanted you and you only. his one and only sunshine.

and that's how both of you ended up ex grim reaper face pressed into a pillow as he bite on it to silence his loud moans and whimpers. it's so embarrassing... laying in mortal bed getting fucked dumb from behind by a mortal... but it was his mortal after all.

his hand gripping on the sheets. "s-sunshine" he moan out as you hit his prostate. small tears of pleasure slipping past his eyelids down his cheeks and onto a long time ago drenched pillow. "oh god.. r-righht here!" he arch his back as a pearly white drop of pre cum falls down his dick onto sheets underneath him. your hand massaging and kneading on his ass before sliding up his back and into his hair wrapping them around you'r hand and yanking them to yourslef making him look back. "hey, look at me, pretty boy. i want to see you" you say as his glossy eyes look at you. small sob escaping his lips but soon gets forgotten as slutty moan takes it place and his eyes close.

your thrusts getting sloppier and sloppier as you're close to your finish. you dont even remember what time he will get filled this night. not like it matter. you can fill him up once more.

your hips thrusing your cock in and out hitting casper sweet sweet spot all the times. your balls slapping against his ass making wet clapping sound but its mixed with grim sweet moans anyway. "sunshine.. ah! oh my~ d-dont stop i beg!" he moaned in erotic way gripping the sheets even harder. his brain a mush and heavy blush covering his face from all the crying. "i love you... i- i lohve youh sho sho muchhh" he stutter out as his words are getting slured with every new word he speak until you can no longer tell what hes saying. small 'i love you's sleeping past his lips with various moans, whimpers and squeaks. air getting kicked from his lungs with every hard pound into his now streched out hole. his walls clamping on your lenght as you can feel how they are squeezing even harder.

you didnt even had time to blink as another squirt of cum escaped casper cock head onto the small puddle of cum on the sheets. your moves gently slowing down before you pulled out of him and finished on his back. you leaned down massaging his bruised hips and kissing his cheek. "you did great, casper. such a good and pretty boy for me" you smilled and started the after care.

is it. actually a body. or is it fake

RALPH DEVLIN: Can you tell if this is a…real body? That’d really help Mr. Devlin, okay kid?

CASPI MAXILLA: OK I KNOW HOW I CAN TELL

CASPI MAXILLA: ITS REALLY EASY

It moves the wrist to its mouth. It opens its maw with an ‘ahh’, and it’s lined with surprisingly sharp teeth for such a little creature. It positions a finger near its gaping mouth, but doesn’t bite down. Yet. You panic inside.

It speaks with its mouth open.

CASPI MAXILLA: IF ITS FAKE THEN IF I BITE DOWN NOTHING WILL COME OUT

(Do anything to stop Caspi?)

Well, good for you, I guess you moved on really easily//You found a new girl, and it only took a couple weeks… - Jackie Sharp/Eliana Caspi, Heather Dunbar/Eliana Caspi, Heather Dunbar/Jackie Sharp.

A/N: God this got out of hand... anyways, surprise @storiesofsvu​ written as part of the Birthday Bingo.

Jackie had always known she was risking her heart by letting herself love Eliana Caspi, enough so that she pushes away the feelings, turns from it and into Heather. Heather, of course, proves headstrong and smart, too smart. A fight turns into fucking then leaving. Heather throwing her out. It had been a relationship that left it’s mark on Jackie, even when she didn’t want it to… Then she had walked in on Eliana with Heather, Eliana’s grip tight on Heather’s waist, her lips brushing Heather’s ear as she whispered something to her. It’s clear, in that moment, just what is happening and Jackie turns to leave, anger raising in her blood even as she walks away. “Jacqueline…” “Eliana.” Jackie turns to face the other woman, hands curling into fists. Her voice is low and rough, angrier than she wants it to be. “You won. Congratulations. Good for you.” “Jackie…” “Just go… she’s waiting.” “I asked Elia… to find you.” Heather’s voice dips as she moves to join them. “There’s room for you, with us…” “Don’t…” “I mean it. Just… think about it.” Heather’s voice softens. “It doesn’t have to be just good for us… but we could be good for you?” “No. You chose…” “Us. Jackie. She chose us… both of us.” Eliana speaks softly, her voice slips and her accent thickens. “Or I can leave…” “No.” The word breaks free of Jackie and Heather as one and Jackie sighs. “Fine. Fine. We’ll try…”

Andromeda McKinney *Supporting character

Voice Claim: (Michelle Monaghan) https://youtu.be/Y2tTCxwkBzA?t=31

Partner(s): None. Parents: Iona McKinney & Christopher Garrick. Kids: None. Siblings: Alrick McKinney Age: Immortal but translates into mid-late 30′s Birthday: 1st of November. Height: 170 cm (5.5ft) Body type: Slim and slightly toned. Eye color: Warm brown and pale purple. Classification: Immortal/Demon. Known powers: Destruction (The power to cause so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired.) Cosmic Energy Absorption (The user can absorb cosmic energy, while removing it from the source, into their body and use it in various ways, gaining some form of advantage, either by enhancing themselves, gaining the drained power, using it as power source etc., either temporarily or permanently. Various applications include channeling absorbed energy into strength, durability, regeneration or simple release of the energy from their body.) About: Blunt, Stubborn, Disrespectful, Argumentative, Outspoken, Careless, Disobedient, Amoral, Fiery, Skeptical, Destructive, Intolerant, Playful, Extreme, Dominant, Impatient and Provocative. ~ Has short black/purple/magenta hair.  ~ Sexuality: Omnisexual. ~ Irish/American. ~ Speaks with an American accent but once in a blue moon a slight Irish accent kicks in. ~ Have lived most of her life in America, but often visits both the Irish and Scottish McKinney Castles. ~ Is extremely provocative, and never shuts her mouth when she should. ~ A bit of a lose canon and has too much power for her own good. ~ Often gets in trouble cause she keeps breaking McKinney clan rules. ~ Absolutely hates authority. ~ Has a hard time fitting into society boxes and often gets arrested. ~ Has never been in her demon form, and it’s said she’s one of the few McKinney’s who doesn’t have one. ~ If she doesn’t like you, you become disposable. ~ Smells like: Dark rose and leather. ~ Terrible cook. ~ Is quite close to her brother. ~ Her best friend is Gael McKinney. ~ Is one of the McKinney’s who uses her powers the most. ~ Parties way too much. ~ NY is her favorite place on earth. ~ Was original named Fiadh (Meaning wild) but changed it to Andromeda several decades ago, as she believed it simply suited her better. Her mom and brother is the only ones who still calls her Fiadh. ~ 10/10 will knock you out if you look at her wrong. ~ Wild sex or no sex. ~ Has a lot of energy, and finds it hard to stay in one place longer than a couple days max. ~ Neon lights are her jam! ~ Will without exception stay outside even if she’s soaked when there’s thunder. ~ Eats chili on everything! ~ Hates Garlic. ~ Would never eat salad unless it’s on a sandwich! ~ Would honestly like a pet shark. ~ Watches a lot of alien conspiracy programs, as pure entertainment. ~ Can be rather aggressive at times, but is usually more on the chill side. ~ Will break your jaw if you tell her she has a temper! ~ Is pretty good at mixing drinks. ~ Can’t carry a tune - doesn’t care! ~ Has a large black horse named Ghost. It lives at the Irish McKinney castle, so when she’s not around, her family takes care of it. ~ Loves: Thunder, her brother, Ghost, sex, iridescent shit, Aliens, partying, alcohol, space-shit, purple, studs, leather, latex, fighting, cinnamon rolls, chili, pizza, NY, dancing, graffiti, trouble, chaos and disorder! ~ Her style is: 90′s/00′s club-wear? ~ Don’t ever expect her to wait for you in any sort of way!

Andromeda’s tag Andromeda’s house/home Andromeda’s moodboard Handwriting/ask answer pic:

One song to describe her: Matan Caspi - Rainbow (Original Mix) Personal Playlist: 1. Cid Inc. - Ground Control 2. Stan Kolev - Fury 3. Kiman - Eclipse 4. Nicholas Van Orton - Phantom 5. Cherry (UA) - Lunar 6. Soa Dreams - Equanimity 7. Levitone - Republic 8. Danny Darko - Last To Fall (Original Mix) 9. Alphadog - Questions (Original Mix) 10. Monologue - Time Machine 11. Aykut Bilir - Helix 12. Dextrose - Horizon (Mark & Lukas Remix)

Reset

By Rona Caspi

Some days I want to reset my life, and only if I could, I'll only choose to retain all the happy days I'm with my trusted friends. They said that the more peace I received through their presence, the more I should make time with them, so I would, and I had been so happy since then.

Some days, I want to reset the way how they knew me. I wished they'd somehow forget how jealous I get, how unreasonable my acts were, and how impulsive I can ever be when trapped in an unlikely situation. Before, I believed that honesty and connection pays for the price of judgement. I'm so scarred and scared that whenever I speak out, they can leave me hanging, unable to find good friendship ever again. I even dared not to show how selfish I am to share them and build another friendship outside walls where I firmly built such idea that their connection with me matters most and nowhere than mine.

Some days, I felt overly betrayed by the thought that I enclosed myself in the idea that they'll somehow finds me off, so that there were things I should partially remove before opening up, not because I'm lying, not because I am embarrassed, but because I anxious to be judged. Lately, I am more than glad that for there are just pure sincere moments that they'll left me with no choice but to be honest and appreciative. They're constantly reminding me to feel great about my decisions, big or small, that even though it brought me so much hurt by doing so, I'm way better be in pain, than regretful of things I might not be able to handle after. Everything can happen and I'm not in control of that.

Some days I want to be more sorry but thankful, there might be things they'll be hearing so late that it might sound untrue, however, they'll be still listening and comforting me with gratitude that somehow I got the chance to tell them what I truly feel. Every time that happens, I cherished the moment, learned with them unabashedly, and guiding me to move forward with pure intentions.

To Nica, Jayviegar, Christian. Thank you for the years you've made me feel that friendship also bloom in days we're not at best versions of ourselves, and get stronger in the days that we're together being best.

To Apyiong. That night has given me truckloads of laughs and reflection. Thank you for keeping me comfortable everytime I'll attempt to feel more like myself. I'll always wish I was born to be one of your biological sister.

To Altea. Thanks for listening. I've never been so honest with myself than that night alone. I'll never forget that.

Part 16, Are you not what your parents are?

Casper stomped through the wood, Bunny barely able to keep up behind him as they made their way to the outpost where Kelly was healing. Kelly was smiling next to Donavan, speaking excitedly about different tools and how to build them. Axe, hoe, shovel, all within her knowledge. Donavan smiled as he watched light dance in her eyes, lifting a finished piece as if it were the holy cup of wine from long ago legends.

Casper, despite having said he is absolutely speechless on Bunny's recklessness, has been ranting for the past hour chose wrong when it came to the care of the wounded Kelly.

Bunny, done with Casper's shit, decided to just walk ahead of him and rant about his own problems. The trees cut down and regrown every day. The upkeep on that stupid fence. You name it, Bunny had to deal with it one way or another.

Which only made Casper yell louder about Kelly also being Bunny's responsibility and how Casper had caught Bunny slacking off under a hill.

This made Bunny very upset.

The entire outpost could hear them yell at each other like an old married couple who got married as teenage sweethearts.

Donavan even heard them yelling past his dorky blushy smiles at Kelly's kind words and cute giggles.

Kelly was annoyed that she could hear him, but ended up walking up to interrupt their argument.

"Will you two shut up?!" She asked, stomping up.

"Kelly-" Donavan started, "Bunny mad is not something you wanna get caught in-"

Bunny and Casper both looked to Donavan, not Kelly, and yelled at him. "YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!" before returning to their bickering.

Donavan gave Kelly her his axe and a frown. "Give em hell, dear."

"I plan on it..." She mutters, waving it before shoving herself between them and slamming the axe on the ground between the two. Casper jumped back and Bunny barely got his foot out of the way of the axe. Kelly spoke again, low. "Are you both dense? I said shut it!"

It wasn't even twenty minutes later both were set into a corner, staring at the wall on their knees with their arms up. Casper's arms shook from how long he had kept them up, but Bunny still seemed a bit unbothered.

Bunny glared at Kelly, but she didn't even flinch.

"So what's it like knowing you're a witch?" He asked, his voice smooth and easy. It was like asking how's the weather.

Kelly flinched. "I'm not a witch."

"Your mama and Conway there both say otherwise. Your mother is a witch, so are you."

Kelly huffed. "I'm not. I'm a tools smith."

"And Caspie here shares your parents... Does he know or should I tell him?"

"How the hell do you even know?" She asks, raising a brow.

"Both of you are greyer than the other villagers, as well as the fact both of you have spots on his thighs..." He says, turning his head back towards the walls.

"How did you know Casper has spots-" She then gasped.

Bunny coughs and blushes, no longer answering.

"You've seen them?!" She asks, turning to Casper

Casper, who put his hands over his face, very red, started to speak. "I-It was just sw-swimming- swimming and... And my shorts went down a bit..." Bunny stayed quiet, his face inside of his own shirt. He looked like he had no head and a lumpy chest, which was a very funny sight.

"I swear nothing happened, Kelly-" Casper started before Donavan burst out laughing, interrupting him.

"Oh my god if he saw your thighs when your shorts went DOWN-"

"SHUT UP, PILLAGER-"

If matchups are still open, may I have one? 🥺👉👈 I prefer to be matched with a male! I’m 5’2 and I have pink hair! I’m a cosplayer and I love crafting. My friends have described me as soft and sweet—I always do my best to make others smile! I’m pretty soft spoken and hardly speak my mind, I’m non confrontational and would probably be a healer but I also rly love swords. I’m big on physical affection (I LOVE cuddling!) whether it be PDA or not. If I were in a house, I’d probably be blue lions?

I’m sorry ahaha

I ship you with Caspar!♡︎

The two softest sweeties ever together? Unstoppable

Like... you two are attached at the hip and the difference in houses doesn’t affect that. He might even switch houses to be with you yk

PDA is more than okay with him

He thinks it’s so incredibly sweet that you wanna be around him and touch him

He’ll initiate it too sometimes, but often gets distracted or just doesn’t think about it. But he’ll never be opposed to you holding his hand or giving him a hug or kiss

We all know Caspie can be pretty reckless, so he’d benefit from you being a healer and stuff

But he’d feel so guilty if you were worried about him- he tries to be careful but just gets caught up in the midst of battle

Watched the true Potential episodes again.

Hi friends! I humbly bring you Cordelia Du Pont, aka Lady! Her info is under the read more but she’s pretty well-adjusted/nothing traumatic has happened to her really. She’s just living her life as a nurse in Grimmbrook, sister to Casper, overall good vibes sooo let me know if you’d like to plot! 

i began in the light –

NAME: Cordelia Lucille Du Pont

GOES BY: Cordelia, Cordy, Del  

AGE: 33

BIRTHDAY: April 26 , 1986

FATHER: Howard Du Pont

MOTHER: Irene Du Pont

BROTHER: Casper Du Pont

HOMETOWN: Grimmbook

JOB: Nurse

OTHER IDENTIFIERS: Taurus, Enneagram Type 1 (The Reformer), ENFJ (The Protagonist)

and found, we are all stories anyway,  

GROWING UP (tw: drug use)

She up with a well-to-do family and that set her up for a good life tbh 

Her dad wasn’t around much but, as his little girl, he doted on her and that made big bro Caspy Casp resent her even more. Their mom loved her valium because life was just so rough and nannies helped raise the kiddos.

She was put into basically every extracurricular activity possible: ballet to piano to soccer and gymnastics, to art classes and being forced to sit still and learn new languages –– Cordelia had a great aptitude for learning most things but being the best at any one thing was never her main concern, like it was her parent’s. 

They were absent but around enough to care that she got the gold, or first place or the best grades, and she often did but when she didn’t, Cordelia never understood why it upset them so much. Being the best wasn’t everything so long as a) you were enjoying yourself and b) you weren’t hurting anyone else and c) maybe you were even helping someone out.

These things, combined with her general disposition to care and want to make things right made her the prime candidate to get excited about a nurse’s speech during career day one year in high school.

YOUNG ADULT LIFE

Her parents were NOT a fan but she did what she wanted, which was to, ya know, be a nurse and not a doctor. 

She was salutatorian, which would’ve made most parents happy and hers were “proud” but they just wondered why she hadn’t made valedictorian. Still, she’d lived with this dynamic for long enough that it just didn’t phase her as much (or so she said) and she focused on her goals.

She got into the nursing residency program at Grimmbrook Memorial Hospital and loved the fact that she got shuffled in with everyone else, nothing special about her. It made life better, she felt, when you weren’t trying to get to the top of the class or program. When you tried to do your best, the rest usually followed.

PRESENT

She’s been a nurse for over a decade now and still loves her job. She’s made some of her closest friends because of it and is constantly learning.

Currently, she still wishes she were closer to her big bro but they have that dynamic where no one can mess with their sibling except each other no matter how annoying she is to him or vice-versa. Du Ponts are Du Ponts are Du Ponts.

With Madison’s death, she feels horribly for the Redding family. She always thought Little Red was a horrible site but she wouldn’t have wished that on anyone. She knows Chad a bit through his work as an EMT but was never really closer than that but she can tell the family’s suffering. 

Things feel off in town but she’s doing her best to focus on work and the people she can actually help.

we are all characters on a page;

PERSONALITY TRAITS (+): encouraging, intentional, charming, loyal, intrepid, altruistic.

PERSONALITY TRAITS (-): stubborn, opinionated, overly-idealistic, overly invested, hasty.

OVERALL:  Cordelia is the type of person who, if you met her on the street and told her you were going to be running a marathon that weekend, she’d be there cheering you on just because everyone deserve to have someone who pushes them to do their best, who helps them believe in themselves a little more today, than they did yesterday. She’s a loyal to those she calls friend and is quick to defend even those whom she doesn’t know, if she sees them in need. 

She can be a bit stubborn when she believes in something. Getting Cordelia to give even an inch when she’s fully invested in something is like trying to move a mountain. Still, her investments aren’t always healthy and sometimes she gets overly invested in helping people, to her own detriment. Cordelia’s learned over the years that people can’t be rushed and that not everyone wants to be helped, and that’s alright. She doesn’t mind waiting until they do. S

She’s a shoulder to lean on and someone who will help you up again. She remembers birthdays, sends cards for literally any accomplishment, and goes to any performance/event/speech someone’s giving to support them. Overall, a classic good bean™, lionhearted and bold, Cordelia Du Pont is a good person to know, and an even better friend to have. 

HEADCANONS

Volunteers at the animal shelter in town – loves animals. Has resisted adopting one because she’s hardly home and little friends deserve to have more attention than that.

Has family dinner at least once a month: it’s always an interesting time.

Bikes to work when she can, otherwise catches a ride with coworkers who drive along her route. 

Doesn’t use her car that much, always has to get it jumped in the summer months because she’s biking/walking everywhere.

Salty snacks are her go-to saving grace, especially when she’s working an overnight.

Professional napper – girl can fall asleep anywhere. She’s learned to take rest when she can get it. 

Did gymnastics until she was seventeen and can still pull out a trick or two.

Speaks French but is a bit rusty from lack of use lately

Ace gift giver –– finds the perfect gifs for all occasions. 

our paths weave together.

childhood – hs friends – they’ve been in Grimmbrook their entire lives

college friends – they met in college and hit it off

hs exes  – can work out details

college exes – also can work out details

colleagues at the hospital – self explanatory, if your character works at the hospital, we can have them know each other!

previous patients – people she’s helped over the years

biking partner – someone she goes on weekend bike rides with 

other – let’s talk about it! 

see if you can convince capsi to stand back while you investigate the body. maybe offer candy?

You move to see this… ‘body’ Caspi speaks of.

It is, with upmost certainty, a body. One resembling Jerald. It is sprawled out on the floor, it's eyes closed, its chest still. It has all the hallmarks of a corpse, but there's a strange quality about it that isn't letting your head process it as one.

It is hardly touched by the fire, appearing oddly pristine. A few charred bits of skin remain consistent in an unnatural, almost strategically planned way, and even then the flaying patterns are sparse. This is not how a body caught in a blazing inferno should look. Not this… clean.

Caspi approaches it without any qualms or signs of disturbance.

It leans in and sniffs the body’s hands, and it’s snout gravitates up to its wrists.

CASPI MAXILLA: SMELLS…

CASPI MAXILLA: FUNNY

(What do you do next?)

Hussein Aboubakr loves Israel. This is always a welcome sentiment, of course, but it is twice as moving when it comes from an Egyptian-born Muslim, and even more so when you consider that Aboubakr is one of the most outspoken activists fighting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement in Los Angeles.

Aboubakr, 30, defines himself as a Zionist. His sympathy for Israel forced him out of Egypt and in the last seven years he has been living in the United States. He moved to Los Angeles after getting a job with Stand With Us – a non-profit pro-Israel education and advocacy organization, seeking to bolster Israel's image among the American public.

Our interview is conducted in Hebrew, which Aboubakr speaks fluently and with a barely detectable accent.

"There's a new generation today of Western Arabs who grew up in the US, speak English and understand how to take advantage of the system," he said. "They were brought up to honor the edicts of Islam even though they are completely secular. People like that are, in fact, the driving force behind BDS. They run an anti-Israel campaign in American academia, but they also have an anti-US campaign.

"They think I'm a traitor. They come to my lectures to heckle me. They won't hear of anti-Semitism in the Arab world and they accuse me of racism."

i could sit around here for the rest of my life

the coffeeshop/college au nobody asked for. casphardt week day 4: au day. read on ao3 here or below the cut.

“Caramel macchiato for Caspar?”

With a heavy sigh in anticipation of just how hideously Linhardt will have butchered his name on the cup today, Caspar heads to the handoff area and picks up his paper cup. The boxes are ticked and marked in his boyfriend’s easily recognisable scrawl, and just above the siren’s head, Cazpar is scribbled with a crude heart and what might be a butterfly, or might just be a mistake that’s not been crossed through all the way. From the register, Linhardt beams at him, and just for a moment, Caspar feels sixteen again, his heart clenching just a little, the way it always does when he gets to see that smile. It’s part of the reason why he acts so dramatic over the misspellings - because if it makes Linhardt grin and giggle like that, it’s got to be worth it.

“A fucking Z? Really, Lin?” He clutches his chest theatrically, pretends to stumble, and in the process, spills hot coffee all over his hand. “Ow!” “Idiot,” Linhardt scolds fondly, beckoning him over to the counter again and taking his hand. He mops at the coffee with a bit of blue paper towel, but Caspar knows that it’s just an excuse to touch him. Linhardt likes to be touching him. It’s just the way he is, especially now he’s got the Starbucks job at weekends and the football season is in full swing, it’s like they hardly see each other any more.

There’s no line, so Caspar lets Linhardt take him by the collar of his varsity jacket - it’s red and black, the Eagles colours, with his initials stitched on the left side of his chest and his jersey number embroidered on the back, and it might just be his most prized possession after Lin’s heart - and pull him in for a quick kiss. It tastes like coffee, obviously, because Linhardt always has a cup of something on the go, usually a weird secret menu creation or something topped with far too much whipped cream. Today, though, it’s something iced and black, and yet, Linhardt still hides a yawn in his sweater sleeve.

“You are not sleepy right now.” The disbelief is evident in Caspar’s voice. “Oh, but I am so sleepy right now, Cas,” Linhardt almost whines. “How much coffee have you had already?” His coworkers chime in, as if on cue, all bright-eyed as ever. “He’s on his third cup?” Ferdinand guesses. “Fourth, actually. I am surprised his heart is not stopping.” Petra sounds unamused.

Linhardt kisses Caspar again. It’s definitely just to distract him. “How could my heart stop, when you’re here? It beats only for you. And besides, I think I’ve become immune to caffeine,” he adds mournfully, gazing at his cup. Caspar rolls his eyes. “I don’t think that’s a thing. Please drink some water. And call me when you get off.” He leans up for one more kiss, standing on tiptoe, because Linhardt is just that slightest bit too tall, and has taken to wearing a pair of thrifted, thick-soled Doc Martens that Dorothea says are the perfect compliment to his oversized knit sweaters and torn jeans, but Caspar just thinks they were picked out to make his boyfriend an inch too tall to kiss unexpectedly. The only time he can surprise Linhardt with kisses now is when they’re laying in bed, and it’s annoying to need him to bend down every time Caspar wants to show off how fucking cute and how in love they are.

“I promise I’ll drink water. And I promise to at least text you.” Linhardt practically lies across the counter to hug him. “Have fun at practise, okay? Don’t get hurt.” “I never get hurt. I’m fine. I’ll see you tonight.” Caspar reluctantly detaches himself, waves to Petra and Ferdinand, and leaves, the door chime jingling after him.

If he has to run to make practice in time, and his coffee is cold enough to chug by the time he gets there, it doesn’t matter so much when he’s seen Lin.

~~~

“Gingerbread latte for C-Caspar?”

The first snow has fallen on campus, and Caspar has finally given in to Dorothea insisting that he needs to wear more than a hoodie so he doesn’t freeze. He thinks, though, that it isn’t him anyone needs to worry about.

It’s Linhardt, shivering in his Christmas sweater and red apron even among the heat of the coffee machines, his hair coming down from its usually neat half-bun as he flits between bars, grinding beans and steaming milk and pouring hearts and roses in the foam. Petra’s working the register, so Caspar’s name is spelled right for once, and as he goes to take the cup, Ferdinand comes out of nowhere behind Linhardt and pats his shoulder. “Take your half-hour, while you can.”

Caspar beams, and practically drags Linhardt around the handoff, coffee forgotten as he wraps his arms around him. “A whole half-hour? We’re getting spoilt, Linny.” He’s already gently untying the apron strings so Linhardt can take the stupid thing off, so they can commandeer a low table in the corner of the room and Caspar can actually hug Linhardt for the first time in a few days. They’ve been so busy with studying and working that they haven’t had the chance for one of their impromptu sleepovers, both squeezed into a dorm room bed, or even to catch up at lunch. Caspar has been wholly deprived of boyfriend time, and judging by the way Linhardt pulls him down onto an overstuffed couch and buries his nose in the crook of his neck. His face is hot, but his hands are freezing, stained with tiny splatters of mocha and espresso and soon firmly curled in the folds of Caspar’s parka.

“Feeling okay?” Caspar asks softly, nosing into his hair and then deciding to fix it for him. Gentle as ever, he twists the mess into an uneven braid, so at least it won’t get even more tangled as he works. The smell of coffee always clings to Linhardt’s hair, like his personal brand of perfume. In reply, Linhardt sneezes into Caspar’s shoulder. “I fucking hate winter.” A pause. “It’s cold. I want to nap. And I’d happily never see another eggnog latte for as long as I live.” “Aw. C’mon, it’s not that bad, right?” Caspar asks hopefully. “You’re just being a drama queen because you have a cold?” “My blood is ninety percent honey citrus mint tea and cough syrup. And it’s not just a cold. I’m dying.” “Sure you are, babe. Sure you are.” Caspar kisses his head fondly. “You have half an hour and my undying attention. That makes things better. Right?”

When he doesn’t get a reply beyond the softest of snores, his heart melts and breaks and swells all at once. It’s the mark of someone being comfortable, when it only takes a moment for them to fall asleep in your arms or your lap. And it hurts to wake him, when their precious half-hour is up and he has to get back to work, red-eyed and disoriented. Petra takes pity on him, and sends him to do dishes.

If he takes the next day off, and spends it in bed watching Hallmark movies, with Caspar petting his hair and bringing him tea and toast and NyQuil, who is anyone to judge?

~~~

“A pink drink, Caspar? Really? I expected better from you.”

Nobody does disappointment quite like Ferdinand, nose wrinkled in disgust as he holds the cup at arm’s length. “I thought you were an adult.”

Caspar pouts and takes the cup for Caspie. He is going to kill Dorothea for that one, especially as he spots Linhardt’s smug smile. He’s been saving that one up ever since he overheard a tipsy conversation between them at Edelgard’s New Year’s party, one that involved Caspar “waxing positively lyrical”, apparently, about just how much he adores Linhardt. A drunk mind may speak sober thoughts, but drunk Caspar is a sap, and drunk Dorothea is a giggler who likes pet names.

He realises he hasn’t answered Ferdinand. “I am an adult. An adult who likes strawberries, and coconut, and uh, acai. Whatever that is.” “I like the pink drink!” Petra chirps, waving her own almost-empty cup. “And I like a man who is so sure of his masculinity that he isn’t afraid to drink something baby pink,” Linhardt adds between sips of what looks like an iced latte. Caspar narrows his eyes at him. “I thought you made a resolution to drink less caffeine this year. All it does is make you anxious, it doesn’t even keep you awake. You’re broken.” He sidles over to kiss Linhardt anyway. “It’s decaf!” his boyfriend protests. “No it’s not. Decaf lattes are lighter in colour.” “Fuck you, Ferdinand von Aegir.”

Caspar tugs at a lock of Linhardt’s hair where it’s come tumbling over his shoulder. “I’m just trying to look out for you, Lin. For your health. And perhaps a little for my own sanity because your caffeine crashes are fucking awful .” “I don’t have caffeine crashes. This stuff doesn’t even touch me,” Linhardt scoffs, then yelps and lunges for the cup that Caspar has snatched from under his nose. “Give it back!” “If it doesn’t affect you, why do you need it?” “I don’t need it, I…” Linhardt pouts. “I want it. My coffee. Please, Cas.” Ugh. Caspar is absolutely powerless when it comes to Linhardt’s pout and his kicked-puppy eyes and his whining. “Ugh. Fine. You’re hopeless.” “I’ll quit tomorrow?” Linhardt blinks at him, feigning innocence. “I really will?” “No, you won’t.” Caspar rolls his eyes. “I will! From tomorrow, no more caffeine.” “I dare you.”

To his credit, Linhardt lasts until just after lunchtime, head aching with the withdrawal. It takes falling asleep on a cafeteria bench before Caspar relents and drags him back to Starbucks on his day off. He orders a quad-shot espresso and drinks it without a pause, gazing intently at Caspar all the while.

“Never, ever take my coffee again.”

~~~

“Cas?”

Linhardt slips into the changing rooms long after all the other players have gone. He hates it in here, it smells like Axe and sweat and dirt, but Caspar didn’t show up in the stands with the others, so it falls to Linhardt to come and find his boyfriend. The game was close, but not close enough - getting knocked out of the running so close to the final was pretty brutal.

One of the showers is still running, and Linhardt stops in front of it, hand on his hip. “Caspar. I know you’re not still showering. Come out for me.” And then, softer, “Please?”

Caspar always takes the team’s losses as a personal loss. He relies too heavily on himself for the outcome of the games, the actions of his teammates. He may be a captain, but he likes to forget that he’s a human, too. “No. Go away.” “You aren’t made of sugar, as sweet as you are. You won’t dissolve under the hot water. And besides, it can’t still be hot.” “It’s f-fine…” The chatter of his teeth betrays him, and he turns off the water, the cold air of the locker room immediately assaulting his skin. His hair drips down his neck. Maybe this was a stupid thing to do. “Come out, Cas. Come on. It’s only me.”

The curtain twitches aside, and Caspar more or less tumbles right out, into the towel that Linhardt has already grabbed from his bag and proceeds to wrap tight around him. “That’s it. Well done.” Linhardt ignores how wet he is, and kisses his forehead. “You played beautifully. You always do.” “Not good enough,” Caspar sighs. “We suck. We got so close.” A bruise is blossoming across his cheekbone, and when he walks to where he left his clothes, the ankle that got twisted beneath a bad tackle leaves a slight limp in his step. He can feel Linhardt’s eyes on him, concerned, pitying, pained. “You don’t suck. You’ve worked so hard this season. You’ll get to the finals next year,” Linhardt tells him, far too much confidence in his voice, or so Caspar thinks. “Whatever.”

Caspar dresses quietly, and doesn’t complain when Linhardt pulls out his scarf, and gently winds it around his boyfriend’s neck, finishing the gesture with a kiss to his nose, then his lips. “You don’t have to comfort me,” he protests, but it’s weak. For once, he wants the comfort Linhardt always so willingly provides, so he lets his boyfriend zip up his jacket, and towel dry his damp hair even though, outside, he can hear that it’s beginning to rain. “I’m going to anyway,” Linhardt murmurs. “I always will.”

As soon as the fussing stops, Caspar buries himself in Linhardt’s chest, in his layers of wool and his vintage pea-coat, in his embrace. Linhardt holds him there, steadying him, until he’s ready to face the world.

“I brought you hot chocolate,” Linhardt remembers, when Caspar breaks the hug. “Although, it’s probably more like cold chocolate now.” A small smile flutters across Caspar’s face. “We can make more at your place?”

Some things in life are constant. Highs come with lows, wins come with losses. Linhardt comes with sweet hot drinks and the scent of freshly ground coffee in his curls. With icy hands, and holes in his sweater sleeves for his thumbs to poke through. With paper cups and heart-wrenching smiles, and most importantly? Linhardt comes with Caspar. Always.

CTECH: Latest Israeli technology and Innovation News Mar. 24, 2022

CTECH: Latest Israeli technology and Innovation News Mar. 24, 2022

CTECH: Latest Israeli technology and Innovation News Mar. 24, 2022 Mind the Tech London 2022 Shlomo Kramer: “Governments will need to increase their cybersecurity budgets.” The Cato Networks CEO and former co-founder of Check Point was speaking at Calcalist’s Mind the Tech London 2022 conference. Read more Guy Caspi: “The solution to cyber attacks is AI.” The founder and CEO of Deep Instinct…

View On WordPress

THE POSITION ON POSITIONALITY?

Positionality is vital because it forces us to acknowledge our own power, privilege, and biases just as we are denouncing the power structures that surround our subjects’. (Madison, 2005)

When starting my career as an occupational therapist student, I was oblivious as to how positionality would affect treatment. Little did I know that over the years, positionality tended to form a vital part of the foundation of intervention, especially now so in a community setting.  So, what is positionality to me and how is it relevant in the community?

The factors that have contributed to my positionality would be widely attributed to my upbringing in my home context. Being an Indian girl of the Islamic religion, I was always taught to not be directly confrontation to my male counterparts. Due to this, I found myself always gravitating toward female clients and upon receiving a male client I would tend to be more reserved and not as ‘hands on’. When being found with a male client, initially I tended to be more conservative and respectful of boundaries, however found that my intervention as an OT was suffering and made an effort to do be more professional. Secondly, my academic schooling career focused highly on English and Afrikaans as primary languages and therefore I did not know enough isiZulu. This resulted in me not providing thorough assessment and intervention for the Zulu speaking clientele without the use of a translator. Building on past experiences, I recall in my third year as an OT student, a client of mine in a private hospital setting refused to receive treatment due to me not being fluent in isiZulu. It was this experience that really made me understand the importance of being able to converse in the language that is dominant in a client context, and I then made an effort to learn the language. Thirdly, personality forms a big part of positionality. Personality traits are any patterns of ‘thoughts, feelings and behaviors that distinguish individuals from one another’. (Wood and Caspi, 2008). In reference to this, part of my personality trait would be the desire to help people in need, and this would build on my positionality at the Inanda community in the sense that I would screen, through observation, for people who have physical deficits and would need OT intervention.  (For more information on what positionality is, please click the following link: https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/queering-the-marianist-charism/23040).  The picture below highlights factors that can both determine and influence positionality

Currently, my positionality in the Inanda community setting would be that I am a female Indian occupational therapist in a predominantly African community. In the Inanda community, having this positionality is not very common in the community. Due to this I found myself being the destination of many gazes, some friendly and others not so. Being a female, I am well aware of the oppression that females face and how this can be exacerbated in a poor socio-economic community like Inanda. Due to this, I tend to go up to females in the clinic and provide more in-depth questions as the basis of my assessment to ensure I cover bases of gender-based oppression. I have also noticed a certain degree of positionality in my clients themselves. A particular experience that stood out to me happened at the community creche, when a child of mixed race started following me around and refused to go to my other colleagues. Upon enquiring, I was told that due to the child’s mother sharing the same race as me, the child tended to familiarize herself with me and made this as the point of commonality. It just goes to show that positionality is not something that we are born with, but something that is imbedded with us that influences not only how we see the world but how we interact with each other.

Following this, it raises the question as to why, as an OT, it is important to consider one’s positionality when assessing conditions and creating programmes for the people of the community? In terms of assessing conditions, it is important to consider one’s positionality to ensure that the assessment and intervention conducted has no biases/stereotype/discrimination toward the client as well as this ensures that the client receives optimal intervention. In order to do this, it is important to therefore completely having an understanding of the factors that determine your positionality. By doing this, it also allows to assume holistic acceptance of your client and their own positionality, culture their background and also contributes to the occupational therapist achieving a sense of their own cultural humility or the ‘self-awareness of personal and cultural biases’. (Waters and Asbill, 2013).

In terms of working in a community setting like Inanda as well as creating programmes for the people of the community, it is important to consider one’s positionality for the following reasons. My home background is that of a higher socioeconomic background compared to that of Inanda. Therefore, when working in a community and establishing community programmes, it is important to ensure that the programmes developed are context relevant to the Inanda community setting, feasible in terms of affordability and accessible. It is also important to ensure that the therapist does not go into intervention with the preconceived idea that the people of the community would have the same lifestyle as that of the therapist. This is where humility enters the picture. An example of this being: I have a access to a gym in which I use to improve my mental health. This does not mean the community members would also have access to a gym. Community programme planning should then  also be specific and centered around uplifting the community using their resource availability and capabilities.

It can be concluded that whilst positionality has a major influence on the way an OT carries out assessment and community intervention, the awareness of positionality can influence the way intervention and community programmes are conducted. A good question to then ask is how positionality affects a client’s acceptance of OT intervention especially in a community setting like Inanda?

REFERENCES:

Igi-global.com. 2016. What is Positionality | IGI Global. [online] Available at: <https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/queering-the-marianist-charism/23040> [Accessed 13 August 2021].

Sexuality, G., 2018. What's Positionality & What Does It Have To Do With You?. [online] Dictionary.com. Available at: <https://www.dictionary.com/e/gender-sexuality/positionality/> [Accessed 13 August 2021].

Psycnet.apa.org. 2008. APA PsycNet. [online] Available at: <https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2008-11667-014> [Accessed 13 August 2021].

Waters, A. and Asbill, L., 2013. Reflections on cultural humility. [online] https://www.apa.org. Available at: <https://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/newsletter/2013/08/cultural-humility> [Accessed 13 August 2021].

Coulter, K. and Ingram, M., 2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7308474/> [Accessed 13 August 2021].