#cities and towns in this country and elsewhere
Note
https://at.tumblr.com/kingcasanuva/what-if-i-dont-want-to-leave-texas-the-only/fqnsirguz2h4
Is this not dean from spirit of the west. Sawry I’m obsessed
no it is! in reference to this post about wanting the south to be safe for LGBT+ folks and not just shuffling us all off into the liberal cities
this is a HUGE part of "spirit of the west" and I'm really glad you shared it because it's on purpose that it's there. because there's this narrative of "oh you poor country queer who isn't like your peers, one day you will go to The City and maybe they won't hate you there?"
but you love your fields and animals and 200 acres between you and your neighbours. and yes the city has drag nights and spacetime lectures, but you don't actually Belong there more
and there are good people in the country. there are queer people in the country. and you don't have to give up your queer identity to be here and you don't have to give up your rural identity to be queer because neither of those things is ALL of you anyways
in "spirit of the west," this was really important to me. it's a coming-of-age story where Dean learns a lot and loses a lot. there are some things he has to let go of, even if they aren't easy, but it's all so that he can be MORE himself than he was before. when he's talking to Cesar about it, there's an undercurrent of fear in him that if he's gay, he'll have to change who he is to fit this stereotypical mould of metropolitan queerness. but he doesn't! he's gay and he's who he always was
this came up in "our lights in ashes" as well because, again, this topic is kind of important to me. when I was writing about Morgan and Loretta, a trans couple living in small-town Tennessee, it was important to reflect that "the South" isn't one monolithic cesspool of bigotry. it was also important to me that these are older trans people, both into their fifties or sixties, because being trans wasn't invented by today's young people
like, Morgan literally says: “Some people asked why she didn’t leave and go to a city where she wouldn’t be so noticed, wouldn’t get talked about. But I think she was like me. I never could leave the small towns behind; the quietness, the country. Couldn’t help wanting a little bit of farm to look after.”
what I'm saying is that I have Many Feelings on this topic so thank you for the ask, my friend
#spirit of the west#ask#this isn't to discount the challenges that come from being queer and rural#or how unsafe one can feel in certain communities or pockets of the world#I come at this as a rural Canadian who has lived in many many places#cities and towns in this country and elsewhere#but who is now back in the area I grew up in#where there is a local Pride group I work with#who hold a Pride parade where half the town marches and the other half watches and cheers#my high school self never would've believed it
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Is könig the type of guy to put a picture of sneaky in his wallet?
Because I feel like he is🧍🏻♀️
After the whole removing his shirt fiansco it might as well be a spicy-but-not-too-spicy-because-he-is-protective-like-that picture yk?
Ok so I know you've literally said that it could be something spicy *right* there, but for the sake of this super cute idea we're getting something fluffy ✨ with a hint of Sneak being naughty
You could hardly believe your luck. It was incredible, but you'd managed to find a day that both you and König were free after work and the rest of your team were too busy to question your absence from base. Price was dealing with something that required he and Gaz out of the country and Ghost and Soap were sent off on a mission elsewhere. None of them could track your movements and no one else was nosy enough to bother.
That left you and König time to wander into the city together, riding the bus like a couple of teenage runaways giggling to yourself in the stuffy shuttle, uncaring of the few nicotine addled people that rode with you. König leaned against the window and held you close to his chest, stroking your arm as he filled you in on the team’s antics. Apparently, despite heavily warning the 141 off of messing with their least favourite KorTac operator, the shits had decided to go ahead and do it anyway.
“MacTavish tried to jump out at me the other day, but I heard him blabbing to Ghost about it from way down the hall, so unfortunately for him it didn’t work! After that Price had tried to give me a telling off, but I ignored him of course, at which point I get assaulted by Ghost and Garrick when I walk out and-“
“Assaulted?” you groaned, cutting him off as he was in the midst of telling you.
Ghost had informed you that he’d had a polite word, but neglected to mention any kind of ‘assault’. At the time, you’d taken his lack of bloody knuckles to be a good sign, though according to sharp bitter tones in your lover’s voice - that wasn’t the case. You could only imagine what Ghost had done to König in the heat of his anger.
“He pinned me against the wall and practically strangled me, talking all this nonsense about ‘if you don’t leave Sneaky alone, you’ll find more embedded in that back of yours than nails’ as if he’s capable of that,” König snorted.
“König that’s awful!” you moaned, wrapping your hand around his arm.
“What was awful was the punch to the gut I gave him,” he said with a grin. “He let me go pretty quick after that.”
“He just let you go? Just like that?”
“Well, I might’ve run from him and his little companion, but that’s neither here nor there,” he said with a chuckle.
A whoosh of laughter burst free before you could stop it, but nevertheless you’d slapped König’s chest playfully and told him not to do stuff like that. It wasn’t worth riling Ghost up any more than he already was, he could be quite formidable when he felt slighted and the last thing you wanted was permanent damage on behalf of your so called ‘protection’.
Then, after the long winding journey had rolled to a close, you stepped out into town and grabbed something quick to eat. At which point you’d demanded to trawl the streets in search of a decent bar, looking for somewhere quiet to grab a cocktail. It was important you not go anywhere too crowded, but at the same time you knew that most of the old fashioned quiet places that König had pointed to were unlikely to make you anything nice if at all under the basis that cocktails ‘weren’t real drinks’.
Eventually, after a lot of discussion, sore feet from all the walking around, and whining on your part, you agreed to venture into a quirky little place with ocean themed decorations, ironically called ‘the dive bar’, that had a few customers and a relaxing vibe. The inside was lit by blue neon and dim yellow halogen bulbs and all the tables were made from old wood, like something off of a ship’s hull. It was cheesy, but it did a great Daiquiri and most importantly König wasn’t crawling out of his skin with crowd anxiety.
“I like this place,” you’d declared, looking around at the kitschy décor while you sipped your fruity drink. “It’s cosy.”
“It’s not so bad I suppose,” König replied, picking at the dewy label on his beer bottle.
“Oh c’mon, admit it, it’s fun!”
“If you think pirate decorations and hardly being able to see is fun,” he shrugged. “Then yes. Very fun.”
“Don’t be a spoil sport! Plus look, they have pool over there and foosball and… oh my god a photobooth!”
He groaned at that and narrowed his eyes, giving you a look as if to say not in a million years.
However, never one to deny you, he’d dutifully marched over for a game of pool (which you’d let him win of course, just to butter him up a little) and watched as he smiled victoriously when he’d potted the black ball. Though, he wasn’t so easily convinced into your next suggestion. Apparently getting König into a photobooth was harder than any other feat you’d accomplished yet.
“Those eyes won’t work on me,” he shrugged, taking a gratuitous sip of his beer. “I’m not falling for it.”
“But…pleeeeaaasseeeee,” you whined, dragging out each letter like it was molasses pouring from a tin.
“In case you’ve forgotten I can’t have pictures of my face floating around, Sneaky, you know this.”
“But you can put on your neck warmer!”
“I don’t have it,” he sniffed.
“Liar! You always keep it in your back pocket if you’re not wearing it,” you challenged, poking at his chest.
“Been staring at my arse much, hm?”
You felt your cheeks heat up, but nevertheless stood your ground. You were determined, you weren’t going to let him change the subject. You were high on the light buzz of overly sweet alcohol and you desperately wanted something to hold onto when you couldn’t have him near.
“You know I have been,” you winked, recovering quickly and embracing him. “And look – I’m right.”
He growled out and snatched the cloth from your hands, his eyes narrowing down at your ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ face. If you were anyone else, you’d be dead or held up by one of the decorative nets on the ceiling, but by virtue of being you, you were allowed to remain standing. Hell couldn’t beat the heat firing from his eyes, but even despite that, he broke and started to put the neck warmer on.
“You’re paying.”
You could hardly believe it, but you weren’t going to waste time standing there contemplating where the depths of König’s devotion lay. You followed him into the booth and planted yourself on his lap, excitedly slotting the coins into the machine, listening to them rattle, watching as the screen flashed and presented you with your options. Apparently you could choose a range of different filters and frames, though, ever a fan of the classics, you opted to go for a black and white filter and no frame.
“Look happy, grumpy man,” you chastised, looking over at him while preparing for your first photo and fixing your hair.
“This is me happy.”
“Don’t seem to recall you looking like that in the hotel room,” you whispered, brushing your lips against the side of his neck. "And I seem to remember you were very happy then."
The first photo flashed and you sniggered as you saw it dissolve into view, you looking sultry and pleased with yourself while König looked flustered under the mask. That one was a keeper for sure, no matter the protests that he made. He didn’t have much of a chance to put it down though. In a matter of seconds the timer was counting down again and you tried to do a silly pose, sticking up peace signs until König broke you by tickling your side.
“Hey! That’s not fair,” you said, half giggling half groaning.
“You got me, so I got you. Fairs fair, Sneaky,” he chuckled.
“You’re such a meanie!”
“Yeah, and you love it,” he said, his eyes glinting with a smile. “Otherwise you wouldn’t have stuck around this long.”
The third and final photo was taken when you were looking into each other’s eyes, locked in a gaze that betrayed the sickly lovebirds you were underneath all the playfighting and cool exteriors you both tried to preserve. Neither of you said a word as it came and went on the display, both admiring how the other looked, stuck in your adoring silence.
Though soon the screen went dark and König sighed, petting your thigh so you’d stand from his lap. You obliged and wandered out, going to fetch your paper strip of photos when you were beat to your prize. König snatched them first and held them up at a height, inspecting them again while you jumped and screeched like a Tasmanian devil.
“Hey! I paid for those,” you growled, trying to grip onto his shoulders for leverage.
“Maybe so, but I’m afraid I have to confiscate them,” he said in a fake somber tone, easily batting your hands off of him like a kitten. “They’re classified, you don’t have the clearance for them.”
“But they’re mine!” you whined.
“Mine now,” he grinned, slipping his temporary mask down so that he could stick his tongue out.
You huffed, but eventually you vowed to steal them later, not missing König sticking them in his wallet and making sure to secret it away in his front pockets away from your sneaking reach. You would get those photos somehow, someway, you’d told him. His bullshit arm span couldn’t protect him forever!
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Chevalier Michel - Sequel Chapter 3 Summary
Fan translation only. Not 100% accurate. Please expect grammatical errors. This is a SUMMARY of each chapter. However, some scenes may be translated within a summary if time permits. Cybird owns everything. Feel free to re-blog, but please do NOT post my translations elsewhere. Also, feel free to ignore my random commentary.
Translation notes are marked with ***
Alternate translation is marked with///
The day after the heavy welcoming party that felt like a psychological battle, the Rhodolite delegation was informed by Roderic that the alliance talks can not begin because Gilbert has gone missing.
Yves rolls his eyes, Leon is upset and Chevalier never breaks his normal face. Chevalier asks Roderic if they can move up the inspection since Gilbert is missing, and Roderic says they can tour the city as it has no restricted areas as the castle does. (Remember, they can only tour those areas once the alliance is signed). Now they are stuck in Obsidian until the search parties find Gilbert. However, when Leon asks what Chevalier thinks of this situation, Chevalier says it’s all within his purview. Clearly, it's a trap.
Chevalier tells “Black and Show-off” to checkout the industrial sector, while he and Emma check out the commercial district. The guys are bummed out, so Chevalier asks if they have a problem with his instructions. They tell him it’s disappointing that Emma is called by her name, but they are still called weird nicknames. Yves wants to at least be called his name while in another country. Chevalier says if they offer him equal value that Emma holds to him then he’ll consider it. They both reply: "Impossible". (LOL.)
Chevalier asks Roderic who’s standing behind him and he introduces Walter, who remains silent and stern looking, but offers a simple bow. Roderic says that as they both remain at Gilbert’s side, so they can ask them for anything if need be. Chevalier’s icy blue eyes probe Walter. (He has caught on.)
Chevalier changes into everyday clothes and takes Emma to town, who is excited, but due to the crowded and bustling market is easily bumped by many people. Chevalier leads her into an alleyway and as she says sorry for making trouble for Chevalier, he drops a kiss on her lips calling her a simpleton. As they watch the people pass in the alleyway Chevalier mentions that their population is easily 100 times more than the main town of Rhodolite. Emma notices that everyone is thriving despite rumors of war, heavy taxes and food shortages. Chevalier notes that the sanitation and security is up to par as well, though the outskirt towns are less so, the centralized areas are better off.
As they discuss who is responsible for the positive changes in Obsidian it’s obviously Gilbert, since the Emperor has no care for such things other than war. The way Chevalier speaks about Gilbert causes Emma to hesitantly ask if Chevalier knew him before? Chevalier admits that it was long time ago, but now they are enemies, and despite the alliance, he is a threat to Rhodolite. So, they can never be how they were before 🥺 Since they are a country that invades other they must stay on their guard.
Emma mentions that these people are just like the ones in Rhodolite and she doesn’t want something like an invasion happening again. Chevalier clumsily strokes her head and tells her that’s why he’s there in Obsidian. Emma says she’ll do whatever it takes to support him, and he tells her that first she needs to learn how to walk through the crowd. He grabs her hand to walk with her even though they are on an official tour.
At first Emma wonders if it’s okay to do this, and she THANKS HIM, at which point, Chevalier kisses her again. She’s shocked since she didn’t say sorry this time, (he’ll kiss her each time she apologizes), and he said this time it was because of the stupid look on her face. He tells her what to look for when they inspect the shops and other businesses for the inspection. He also tells her to let him know what catches her eyes personally, so he can be sure to introduce those things into Rhodolite.
Emma asks Chevalier to let her know if there is anything he sees that interests him, but he tells her there wouldn’t be anything because he’s only interested in her. That evening at the castle, Gilbert’s “trap” takes shape when he still hasn’t reappeared. Apparently, this is different from one of his “normal” disappearances. Roderic and several soldiers appear at Chevalier’s room with the decision from a council that had been held. It was concluded that foul play may be at hand and the delegation is asked that they each remain in their own rooms until they are interrogated. Soldiers begin to surround Emma, but Chevalier quickly wraps his hand around her waist and asks, “Why must I be separated from my fiancée?”
Intimacy check: Chevalier’s Sequel Gold Eyes.
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[Master List]
#Chevalier Michel#ikepri Chevalier#Ikémen Chevalier#ikepri jp spoilers#Ikepri Sequel#ikepri act 2#ikepri act 3#ikepri translations#cybird translations#Chevalier Michel Act 2
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Here's a lil funny story for you:
My 'first' familiar, that I met when I was a very young teen, gave me his full name, his place of death, and his occupation. He also gave me a time period in which he lived. Straight up just handed me all of that info clear as day.
I was able to verify that the city existed back then (and still does) since it's on maps (as in paper ones at the library), but was never able to validate the other parts until "looking stuff up online" got a lot better. 'Cause we're talking closer to 20 goin' on 30 years ago y'all.
I naturally assume "Well... I could be making it up."
Eventually within the last decade or so, I found a digitized book about the region where he lived and died that included references to him BY NAME, and to his dwelling place and his profession. Yeah. Where he said he was. Who he said he was. When he said he was.
And my dumb ass goes "Well... sure... right... BUT... this is probably still just me imagining shit."
One day I do a last name search to see where that name is the most numerous. And it's most numerous in the region of the country where that aforementioned town was/is, and basically absent elsewhere in the country.
BUT SURELY it's just much more plausible that I somehow knew EXCESSIVE details about the economy and produce and surnames of a specific random region of a specific random country during a specific time period without ever having been ABLE to research it until maybe eight years ago, right? Surely that's more plausible than: "He literally told me because I asked him nicely."
#At some point having the dual positional belief/disbelief moves from dynamic tension into just being fucking annoying honestly#I don't really have impostor syndrome I'm just a fraud at that too
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Friends Don’t Fall In Love
For Rowaelin Month day 4: Friends Don’t Do This
@rowaelinscourt
Masterlist
Word count: 2.5k
Warnings: we got a little angsty up in here. But happy ending, I promise!
It started as a typical night, the night that Aelin’s world came crashing down. She’d been out with her friends, huddled together in one of the sticky red booths that dotted the crappy dive bar in their college town. She was two drinks in when he decided to make the announcement that would change everything.
They were graduating in a month, of course Aelin realized that. She realized that they probably would all go somewhat separate ways. But she always thought they’d all stay in Terrasen even if it was in different cities. Aelin already had a job lined up in Orynth, the biggest publishing firm in the country already hiring her for a paid internship as soon as she graduated. Elide was going back to her home in Perranth and wherever she went, Lorcan was sure to follow. Lysandra found out she had some family in Caraverre and always wanted to visit, though she wasn’t sure about after that. Aedion would be working for her families firm, Galathynius Enterprises, in their marketing division and, even though he hadn’t admitted it yet, would probably be spending most of his weekends in Caraverre. Fen was a wild card. She wasn’t sure what his plans were but she was sure they’d be dramatic and exciting.
And that left him. She always thought that as her best friend, they were a package deal. She thought that he would be coming to Orynth with her, working at the Terrasen National Museum while getting his masters and eventual PhD in Historical Artifacts. He once told her that Terrasenian history was some of the most interesting he’d ever studied and that’s why he came to Allsbrook for college. That had been all he could talk about for the last few months.
So why was he all of a sudden saying that he accepted a two year position as a research assistant in Wendlyn? Not only was it a different country, but it was across the damn sea. It’s not like she could drive to him or even call him late at night when she was going to bed. Because by that time, it’d be early in the morning for him and he’d be living his best life as a Wendlynite. He’d forget all about her, she knew.
Even though Lysandra and Elide were moving away, it didn’t bother her as much as it did with him. He was supposed to be her best friend. He was supposed to always be there for her, her partner in crime with whatever came their way. He hadn’t even told her he was looking elsewhere. Maybe she didn’t mean as much to him as he did to her, after all.
The thought sent a pang of hurt that ran deeper than she wanted to acknowledge in the middle of a dive bar.
Of course, she knew she was in love with him. She would have been an idiot not to have realized that her stomach flipped every time he walked into the room. That every time he held her hand, she wished it wasn’t in comfort or reassurance but rather because he simply wanted to. That she wanted to kiss him so badly that sometimes the ache was unbearable.
But it didn’t matter. Because he was moving away. He would start a new life in Wendlyn, where the weather was always warm and he didn’t have to worry about commuting in the snow. Where the people were known for their friendliness and the women for their beauty. Where he was only two hours away from the family he grew up with.
Why would he want to come back here after the two years were up? She sure as hell wouldn’t blame him for staying.
A wave of nausea that had nothing to do with the alcohol washed over her. It was all she could do to not hurl her guts up on the table that was surrounded by her friends. She could feel Lysandra’s side-eyed gaze burning a hole into her face. She could feel Elide’s pity. She could feel that he was starting to wonder why she hadn’t said anything after his announcement.
She felt as though she was going to crawl out of her skin. She just needed to get home, throw up, take a shower, and cry it all out. That’s what she told herself, at least. Then she’d be over him. She’d make peace with him being a passing ship in her life and nothing more. She had to.
She rose from the table, not meeting his eyes. “I’m not feeling well, guys. I’m going to head out. I’ll call an Uber, don’t worry.” Her voice shook even though she tried her damndest to procure some sort of levity from the pit growing in her stomach. She met Lysandra’s gaze, who gave her a sad, knowing smile. And with a wave, she walked out the door.
Once outside, she forced herself to take a few deep breaths of the still-cool Terrasen air. It was April yet it still felt like winter. Point to Wendlyn. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts so she could call her Uber. The alcohol certainly wasn’t helping her coordination as she tried to type her address into the search bar but ended up dropping her phone. Tears prickled the corners of her eyes and her vision started to blur from the quickly swelling liquid.
Before she could bend down to pick up her phone, a familiar hand was in front of her, holding her phone.
“Rowan!” Her hand flew to her chest, “Gods, I didn’t see you!” She went to grab her phone from his grip yet he held the device like his life depended on it.
“Fireheart, what's wrong?” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, trying to wrap around her back to pull her into a hug.
She shimmied away.
His brows furrowed. “Did I…did I do something?”
Her vision was starting to blur even more but the only thing she could do was shake her head.
“What can I do? Do you really not feel well? Or I can just get my keys and–”
“No!” She didn’t mean to shout but it was all too much. “No,” she tried again, this time voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t need help. I just…I just want to go home.”
“Let me drive you. You were out of there before I could even offer. I’m ready to call it a night anyway.” He was trying to get her to smile but she wouldn’t. Couldn’t.
“Please don’t. Please.” She turned away from him, hoping that he couldn’t see how badly she was hurt. She never should have let him in, never should have come to rely on him so much that even the thought of him being taken away from her left her without any air to breathe.
The stubborn ass rounded to the front of her, placing a hand under her chin to bring her gaze up to his. “Fireheart, please. Tell me what’s wrong. You’re scaring me.”
She jerked out of his grip again, noticing the hurt that crossed his face. The hurt, vindictive part of her was pleased that perhaps he feel even a fraction of the hurt she was. But the better part of her, the one that was wholly in love with him, hated the way she was being with him. She never, ever wanted to hurt him in any way.
Her voice was barely a whisper when she asked him, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
His eyes were wide and she would’ve thought he was a statue for how still he was standing. “I wanted…wanted to surprise you. I didn’t even know if I’d get the job since they only hire two people in the entire world every year. My shot was pretty slim and I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.”
“You didn’t even tell me you were thinking of it. I thought the plan was to come to Orynth?”
“It was. It still is. This is temporary, only two years. I’ll be back before you know it. Is that why you’re so upset?”
She shook her head. “You got the job because you’re amazing. Because they’d be stupid not to hire someone as smart and passionate as you are. And in turn, they’d be stupid not to offer you a permanent position after the two years are up. Can you honestly tell me that there is a 100% chance of you coming back here after the two years are up if you’re offered a position?”
“Well–I…no? Nothing is ever 100%. But the plan is still to come back here.” His voice was getting desperate and she could tell frustration was taking over. They were going around in circles and everything Aelin wanted to say to him all these years was finally coming out- just not in the way she wanted.
“You’re close to your family, Rowan. You’ll have beautiful weather, beautiful views, new friends.” At the last part, his brow furrowed.
“Is that what this is about? You think I’m going to make new friends and just drop you?”
“I–yes. No! I don’t know!” She felt like crying again, the intensity of the need to just scream building and building. She knew it would come out soon, one way or another.
“I thought you’d be happy for me! I’ll still text you and call you. I’ll come visit, of course. I’m not dropping off the face of the earth!”
“I am happy for you!”
“Then why are you so upset!?”
“BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, you asshole!” And there it was. The floodgates finally opened, the final plank that boarded up her heart broke completely. While the feeling of her heart breaking was awful, she also felt like a weight was released. She only had the energy to whisper a repeated, “I love you.”
Rowan stood there, frozen and mouth gaping. It looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t know what. Didn’t know how. She knew rejection when she saw it. At least it was out there, at least she wouldn’t let him go knowing that she had hidden something so amazing and terrifying and beautiful from him. Even if he didn’t feel the same way.
Aelin hardened her gaze after a few moments of no-reply. “Don’t worry, it’s a common mistake. I’ll get over it.”
At that, Rowan seemed to awaken. And he looked angry. “Falling in love is not a mistake.”
“It is when it was with you. Friends don’t do this.”
“Then I guess I’ve been making a mistake the last four fucking years, Aelin!” She swore her heart stopped. “Because I’ve been in love with you since you sat next to me in Freshman Seminar and opened your damn mouth. And I never dreamed that you felt the same way. You never gave any indication that you felt the same way.”
She scoffed. “I flirted with you all the time.”
“You’re flirty with all of your friends. We’re best friends. It’s just what we do, how we are. And I was fine with that. With thinking that you never returned my feelings. Even if it hurts like hell all the damn time.”
They both were silent for what seemed like hours. She didn’t realize how close they had gotten. If they were the same height, their noses would probably be touching. Rowan seemed to realize it at the same moment because he took a small step back. But to her surprise, he brought his hands up to cup her face. With a gentleness that made her heart want to explode, he rested his forehead against hers.
“Fireheart. I love you. I have loved you for years and I will continue to love you for many more. You have to know that. It’s only you.”
Tears were freely flowing down her face and she wasn’t ashamed. Gently, slowly, she brought her lips to meet his. The kiss was sweet and exploratory, no heat or passion. No, this kiss was meant to heal, to shape, to show how much they cared. How much they loved.
“I love you, Rowan.”
He pulled her into a hug that felt like it slowly mended her back together. For the first time in a while, she was absolutely content. She had nowhere to be other than in this moment, in the arms she felt safest in. He was her home and perhaps that’s why she reacted so badly to his news. Gods. She was an ass.
“I’m so sorry.” She broke the tight embrace so she could meet his eyes. “I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I am happy for you. Gods, I’m so damn proud of you. I always knew you could do anything you ever dreamed of.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m glad you said what you did.” He cupped her face once more to place a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’m going to Wendlyn. I’m going to call you every damn day and visit as often as I can. We are going to make it work and it will work because it’s us and we’re inevitable. And when the two years are up, I’m coming back home. To you, Fireheart.”
The smile he gave her was so sweet she could have melted into a puddle.
A slow half smile crossed his face. “Ask me what I’m researching in Wendlyn.”
She was confused at the abrupt change but decided to play along. “What are you researching in Wendlyn, research assistant Whitethorn?”
He chuckled and brought his lips close enough to hers to share breath as he whispered, “Terrasenian artifacts that somehow ended up in Wendlyn’s museum.” Oh. Oh. “The plan was always to come home, Fireheart.”
A fresh wave of tears poured over her as she buried her face in his chest. “I love you so much. I love you. I love you. I love you.”
He chuckled again and placed a few kisses to her hair, her forehead, her nose, and finally, her lips.
“Just think Aelin, you always wanted to visit Wendlyn and now you’ll have the perfect reason to.”
“I think maybe you’re giving yourself a little too much credit here. I’m only coming to visit Wendlyn for the fabulous food.”
“Mmhm, says the woman who just confessed her undying love for me in the middle of the sidewalk where anyone could hear. Keep telling yourself that.”
She loved when the playful side of Rowan came out. “Hmm, I don’t think those were quite the words I used.”
“Close enough.”
She laughed as he brought her face to meet his once more. Maybe falling in love with your best friend wasn’t such a bad idea.
A/N: Me?? Writing a bit of angst!??? I know, it’s a shocker but I couldn’t end it badly. They needed to have a happy ending.
Tagging:
@violet-mermaid7 @euphoric-melancholyy @kritical24 @rubyriveraqueen @dealfea @wellofnothing @ayaashryver @moonknight-spector @leiawritesstories @whoever-you-choose-to-love @holdthefrickup @heirofflowers @thecrispypotatochip @shanias-world @rowanaelinn @bruiseonthefaceofhumanity @hanging-from-a-cliff @fantacysoup @swankii-art-teacher @thegreyj @fromthelibraryofemilyj @westofmoon @lovely-dove-zee @books4eva04 @cookiemonsterwholovesbooks @backtobl4ck @dreamer-133 @elentiyawhitethorn @writtenonreceipts @shyvioletcat @aelinchocolatelover @captain-of-the-gwynriel-ship @athena127
#rowaelin#rowaelin fanfic#rowaelinmonth2023#rowaelin month#rowaelin fanfiction#rowaelin fic#throne of glass#tog#throne of glass fanfiction#aelin galathynius#rowan whitethorn#my fics#my fic
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Anthony van Dyck (Flemish/Spanish Netherlands, 1599-1641)
Portrait d'un homme de qualité avec son fils, 1625-50
Musée du Louvre
The Spanish Netherlands, (c. 1579-1713), Spanish-held provinces located in the southern part of the Low Countries (roughly corresponding to present Belgium and Luxembourg).
As Holland represents only a portion of the Netherlands, or "Low Countries," a brief account of the greater includes the less. The Low Countries were included in the empire of Charlemagne and christianized. During the latter part of the Middle Ages the cities of the Netherlands rose to a very high state of prosperity, and some of them became independent republics. Charles V of Spain formally added the Netherlands to the Spanish crown. In 1555 he resigned his rule over the Low Countries to his son Philip II. Charles had persecuted the Protestants, but Philip outdid him in bigotry and cruelty. He was resisted by the Dutch, led by William of Orange. In 1567 the Duke of Alva came from Spain with a large army. Alva's Bloody Council condemned the Netherlanders by wholesale, merely for the sake of their religion and patriotism, and in 1568, sentence of death was pronounced against all the inhabitants of the Netherlands, with only a few exceptions, as heretics. The bloody struggle continued many years, and the Prince of Orange gained ground, but lost it through the terrible massacre of St. Bartholomew. The little town of Alkmaar withstood a great Spanish army and finally drove the besiegers away by cutting the dikes and flooding the country. In 1573 Alva was recalled by Philip II. Leyden, the seat of the ancient university, was also besieged, held out for five months, and was delivered by cutting the dikes. The Dutch navies were nearly always victorious, and the heroic Netherlands, after many struggles and severe trials, made their country a refuge from religious oppression. The Puritans, driven from England, found freedom there, and left Holland only to found colonies in America and elsewhere. The struggle with Spain had to be carried on for centuries. After many ups and downs, the Republic of the Netherlands had another William of Orange, a Stadholder of Holland, until he was called to the English throne, in 1688. The thrifty Dutch established successful colonies in all parts of the world. William I, II, and III were kings of the Netherlands nearly all the 19th century.
#Anthony van Dyck#art#flemish art#flemish#spanish netherlands#1500s#fine art#fine arts#classical art#man#european art#europe#european#oil painting#mediterranean#europa#spanish history#european history#netherlands#netherlandish#netherlands history#history#holland#spain#1600s#1700s#world history#hispanic
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Modern Story in Fictional Country
Anonymous asked: Hi! I'm writing a book where the action takes place in our modern world, but I don't want to specify the country my characters live in, although it is west-european and it's quite obvious.
So, I've made up a big city, gave it a name, described it and so on, but some characters will have to move elsewhere (same county, different city), my mc will have to live and study in other, completely different city far away from the original one (for a chapter or two, before they are back).
So my question is do you think it's fine not to give such details like the name of the other cities, country, university, ets.
(Ask edited for length)
Actually, you can go ahead and create more fake towns and cities, fake universities, etc. That's absolutely fine and makes sense given that your story's whole country is fictional.
If your story takes place in a fictional city, and you write something like:
Leo clutched the letter to his chest, his cheeks rosy with anticipation. "I... I did it... I got accepted at the University of Kwiaza!"
It won't be a leap for the reader to know that Kwiaza is also a fictional city and that the university is fictional, too. If you want to, you can even carve out a place on the map where your country would be, much like Genovia in The Princess Diaries which is carved out of a little bit of Italy and a little bit of France. You don't have to do that, or if you do it can just be for your own benefit, but it can help to have some idea of exactly where it is on the map. That way, you can use surrounding countries to orient the reader if you want to. Or, it can just help you imagine your fictional country more clearly.
I hope that helps!
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The muwahideen are finding marriage difficult, among a lot of things. And I want to say, the path of the Ghuraba isn’t paved with roses. Being from the Ghuraba isn’t an aesthetic. It’s is a path that Allah blessed us to be upon. So remember it , when things became difficult. When marriage isn’t easy, remember this. Make dua and tie your camel.
And when you make dua, consistently do it. Day in and day out. Tahajjud shouldn’t be a once every 2 week thing. Make it part of your routine. Raise your hands to the heavens and beg Allah. Show humility to and tell Allah honestly. If you want companionship, tell Allah that. If you fear falling into zina, be honest about it with Allah. When it rains, make dua. Between the adhan and iqaamah, make dua. In Sujood, make dua. The last hour of Friday, make dua. The dua made at tahajjud is an arrow that never misses its target. So where are you, o you who has a need that needs fulfilling ? Where are your who wishes to have that which they desire? If you are sleeping at that time, do you really want it? You truly don’t want it if you know you have a Lord that descends and seeks to fulfill the need of His slaves.
Ask family, friends and people at the masjid. Do something new and look outside of your town, city or even country. There has been plenty of brothers and sisters on the manhaj who have traveled elsewhere for a spouse or maintain a long distance relationship as a temporary before they are united . If you have a preference, look outside of that and expand your options. Ask those online and if the online route is taken, do your due diligence. It shouldn’t be the first choice but after asking Allah, go for it (for sisters, please always seek permission from a wali and have him every step of the way, online and in real life). Even if the your surroundings are mainly liberals and madkhalis for example, don’t ever underestimate Allah. Allah can send somebody to you when you least expect it in a way that you could never imagine. So have good thoughts of Allah. He is how we think of Him. Do you think He will never give you a spouse? Believe your Lord will answer you and that you will be pleased.
Don’t forget to look into your self. How is your heart with Allah? How much are your sins? Are they greater than your good deeds ? How many sins are you willingly indulging in that you can easily cut off? You want a righteous spouse but are you striving to be from the righteous ? You ask Allah for a spouse and you feel as if your dua isn’t being answered , but what is the amount of sins?
Are you fulfilling your obligations? Are you praying on time , giving zakat, forbidding the evil and enjoining the good , maintaining ties with kith and kin, staying away from the haram? Brothers, are you defending the Ummah and securing the release of the captives? Look into yourself. There could be things that are delaying the response to your dua. Also, think of how you’re close to Allah right now on your state. You’re begging Allah consistently in Tahajjud, your mouth is constantly moving with dua, you’re in a state of hope and wanting a need fulfilled. Yes it’s not easy being patient upon something you’ve been wanting for a long time, but take advantage of how close you are to Allah now. Maybe Allah wants to keep you near Him. Maybe He wants to hear your voice just a little more.
Purify your intentions. The spouse you desire isn’t just for yourself. Have the intention when you get married it is to aid the deen of Allah. It is to bring victory back in the earth and to raise children who will uphold the banner of Tawheed high in the lands. A righteous spouse is part of your enjoyment but remember the bigger picture.
As a last note, work to keep your heart attached to Jannah. We may not get everything we want here but what is with Allah is much better and greater. Dunya isn’t final. It’s just a bridge. Keep your eyes in the prize and your heart connected to heavenly matters. Ask Allah to grant you contentment with your Qadr and to make it easy for you to be grateful in all situations. والله اعلم
May Allah grant all the muwahideen righteous spouses sooner rather than later. May Allah grant us patience and protect us from falling into fitnah. May Allah answer your Adiyah in beautiful ways. آمين
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National Poutine Day
In Canada, particularly in Quebec, poutine is a staple food, if not also an iconic one. It has become a popular food in America as well as in other countries, and we celebrate it today, on National Poutine Day. Standard poutine is made up of fresh-cut french fries, squeaky fresh cheese curds, and brown gravy, but there are many variations of the dish. Among other possibilities, the name may have come from the word "pudding," which is spelled pouding in French, or from poutine, which is slang for "mess" in Quebec. It is pronounced "pou-tin" in the French-dominated regions of Quebec and New Brunswick, but as "poo-teen" elsewhere.
According to the most widely known and accepted story, poutine was first served at L’Idéal (Café Ideal)—a restaurant that later changed its name to Le Lutin Qui Rit (The Laughing Elf)—in 1957, in the small town of Warwick, in Arthabaska County, Quebec, a town known for producing squeaky cheese curds. A usual customer, Eddy Lainsesse, requested curds on top of his fries. The restaurant owner, Fernand Lachance, supposedly replied, "Ça va faire une maudite poutine," which roughly translates to "That's going to make a dreadful mess." A variation of the story says that Lainsesse asked for the curds and fries to be thrown together in a paper bag, upon which Lachance looked into the bag and said, "This is poutine." The dish started being sold in a bag and soon caught on. Patrons began adding ketchup and vinegar to it. In 1963, Lachance began serving it on plates. Customers soon noticed that the fries got cold quickly, so Lachance added gravy to keep them warm.
According to another story, poutine was created by Jean-Paul Roy, owner of Le Roy Jucep, a drive-in restaurant in Drummondville, Quebec. He had been serving a dish of gravy and french fries called patate-sauce since 1958, and in 1964 noticed that some of his diners were adding cheese curds to it. He soon added a dish that contained all three ingredients and named it fromage-patate-sauce.
No matter how poutine got its start, it soon could be found being sold as street food in Canada. By 1969 it was being sold in Quebec City at the Ashton Snack Bar food truck on Boulevard Wilfred-Hamel, and it was being sold in Montreal by 1983. By the early 1980s, it had become a widely popular street food in Ontario and Quebec.
It made its debut in Canadian chain restaurants in 1985, appearing on the menu at Frits, a now-defunct Quebec-based chain. By the 1990s, poutine had reached mass popularization in the country, after its inclusion on the menus of other chains. It first appeared on a Burger King menu in 1987 in Quebec, and soon spread to other locations of the chain. The same happened with McDonald's in 1990. Canadian fast-food chain Harvey's debuted it on menus across the country in 1992.
But poutine wasn't to remain only as street food and fast food. By the early 2000s, it was appearing in high-end Canadian restaurants. It was put on the menu at Aud Pied de Cochon in Montreal in 2002, where it was topped with foie gras. Other high-end Montreal restaurants followed suit. Garde Manger began serving an Iron Chef America-winning lobster poutine, and Pub Quartier Latin put poutine made with steak, truffles, and red wine demi-glace on their menu.
Some Canadian restaurants have made poutine their main focus. La Banquise in Montreal began serving it in the 1980s. They started with the standard version and an Italian version with bolognese sauce instead of gravy. They have since expanded to serving 30 types. Smoke's Poutinerie was started in Toronto in 2008, the first poutine-only restaurant in that city. Other poutine-only restaurants that followed in Canada are Poutini's House of Poutine, La Poutinerie, and Poutineville.
Poutine made its first foray into the United States in New Jersey and New York, where a variation of the recipe called "Disco Fries" became popular. This version substituted mozzarella or cheddar cheese for the curds. Poutine has since become relatively common in the States, and took hold in other countries as well, such as the United Kingdom and Russia.
As mentioned, there are various types of poutine besides the usual french fries, cheese curds, and gravy combination. Different types of potatoes, cheese, and sauces can be used. Italian poutine may use spaghetti sauce instead of gravy; veggie poutine is made with mushroom sauce and vegetables; Irish poutine is made with lardons. La galvaude is from Gaspésie and is made with chicken and green peas. A variation in Montreal uses smoked meat.
Festivals devoted to poutine are held across Canada throughout the year. Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto are some cities that hold them. On National Poutine Day, events are held and specials are available at restaurants in countries like Canada and the United States. For example, My Meatball Place in Toronto has given away free samples of meatball and vegan poutine, and The Hops Spot in Syracuse has offered half-price poutine. With so many types of poutine—and so many restaurants that serve it in some parts of the world—there is no reason to remain hungry on National Poutine Day.
How to Observe National Poutine Day (Canada)
Here are some ideas on how to celebrate the day:
Make your own poutine. You could make the original version or another variation of the dish. You could even make Disco Fries, the Americanized version of the dish.
Check if there is a place near you that serves poutine.
Enjoy poutine at a Canadian restaurant that specializes in the dish, such as La Banquise, Smoke's Poutinerie, Poutini's House of Poutine, La Poutinerie, or Poutineville. Smoke's Poutinerie also has some locations in the United States.
Have poutine at a restaurant in Warwick, Quebec, the town where the dish is said to have originated, or have it at Le Roy Jucep in Drummondville, Quebec, the other location where it is said to have gotten its start.
Eat some poutine at Harvey's or at another fast food restaurant in Canada.
Enjoy poutine at a high-end Canadian restaurant such as Aud Pied de Cochon, Garde Manger, or Pub Quartier Latin.
See if there are any specials on poutine today at restaurants such as My Meatball Place in Toronto or The Hops Spot in Syracuse.
Plan a trip to an upcoming poutine fest, such as Montreal's Le Grand Poutinefest, Ottawa Poutine Fest, or Toronto Poutine Fest.
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#Poutine 911#Le Roy Jucep#the original one#Drummondville#Québec#travel#summer 2015#food#fries#cheese curd#gravy#restaurant#Poutine the Works#Bacon Double Cheese Poutine#Pulled Pork Poutine#Butter Chicken Poutine#Meat Lovers Poutine#National Poutine Day#Canada#NationalPoutineDayCanada#11 April#street food#vacation#2018#2012#Montréal
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Russia's new offensive gained momentum Wednesday around Ukraine's second-largest city, the latest gut punch for Kyiv as it struggles to contain this new front in the war following delays in crucial military aid from the United States.
Even as Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the country to reassure it of allied support and announced a new $2 billion arms deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy canceled all upcoming foreign trips — a signal of how seriously the country is taking the advancing Russian military.
Ukraine's army said it had withdrawn some of its forces from more areas around the crucial northeastern city of Kharkiv, while local officials said Russian troops had taken up positions inside the key front-line town of Vovchansk.
It’s part of a new, armored assault launched by Russia last week, which risks stretching Ukraine's army to breaking point. And Kyiv fears Moscow may also be massing troops for new border incursions elsewhere.
The delay in new U.S. support has offered the Kremlin a window for a summer offensive that was threatening to make crucial gains on the battlefield while its forces bombarded Kharkiv from the air.
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Disney Dreamland - Part 5: Create-It-Land
Quite possibly the most visually eclectic of all the lands. This land embodies creativity and the arts, and quite frankly there is no one way to be creative or artistic, so I think the motley visuals are perfectly on theme.
That said, I decided to tie the land together by having giant objects themed to each area. For this reason, I specifically wanted Wonderland and 100 Acre Wood next to the border of Fantasyland/Create-It-Land, so that the giant plants and cards of Wonderland and the giant book facade of Pooh would help transition to the giant toys of Toy Box Land and/or the giant art supplies of Toontown.
The parade route exits down here.
Showtime Boulevard
The entrance street of the land from the hub. Dedicated to the performing arts. Would resemble a city street, like a small town version of Broadway, but then transition to include giant objects. Giant instruments of the music playground. Giant sheet music. The ballet house could look like a giant music box. Even the normal buildings could have giant props on them, like giant comedy and tragedy masks, or giant film reels and clapperboards.
There would also be a decent amount of performers to bring energy to the area, so that it doesn’t feel like a regular city street. Living statues and street musicians.
Journey Into Imagination: If EPCOT isn’t going to put back Dreamfinder, I’ll gladly take him. Heck, I’ll even settle for a pseudo-sequel with an older Figment now taking on the role of Dreamfinder in honor of his friend. Sets and scenery from the original incarnation are mandatory.
There could be a path leading off the boulevard to an area between Create-It-Land and Discoveryland where this ride could be placed, since it does reflect the spirit of both lands.
Fantasia Music Hall: In the spirit of Walt’s original idea for Fantasia, certain classic segments would be permanent fixtures of the show (such as Sorcerer’s Apprentice) and performed by Animatronics on instruments and as dancers in the same vein as the former Mickey Mouse Revue show, while other segments could be animations shown on screen and switched out throughout the year (such as the segments originally planned for Fantasia 2006 that were later released individually). I would love it if the Animation Studio could create new unique animated segments exclusive to the attraction.
Permanent animatronic segments would include characters from Pastoral Symphony, Rhapsody in Blue, Dance of the Hours, Night on Bald Mountain (though I could also work with it being a seasonal segment during Halloween), and The Firebird.
Playing the full versions of every song would take too long, so the show would feature abridged versions in a medley.
“Music Playground”: Interactive playground of giant musical instruments. Think of the piano scene from Big, but on a grader scale. Piano slides, trampoline drums, xylophone bridges, brass instruments the size of trees.
I’ll admit, I don’t know if the audio results of this attraction would be wacky fun or pure tortuous chaos. I was originally imaging this as an outdoor attraction, but it might be better if this were indoors with each type of instrument given its own room with soundproofing.
“Russian Animal Ballet House”: I just wanted an excuse to see animals in fancy costumes performing ballet. Could be costumed actors or animatronics. Nutcracker performances during Christmas are mandatory. Building would resemble a giant music box.
Alternatively, the stage could also be used for any original cultural performances from countries not already featured elsewhere in the park (Greek dramas, Bollywood dances, etc.).
Muppet Comedy Theatre: Would have the same mixed media techniques as Muppet*Vision 3D (a screen movie, actual puppeteering, and costume characters), but features a new original story. Could also feature a small meet-and-greet area with Kermit and friends.
Hollywood restaurant: American cuisine. Themed to the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.
Toontown
I want this area to have the same energy as Seuss Landing from Universal’s Islands of Adventure, which I personally feel makes for a better Toontown than Disney’s actual Toontown. The buildings would be slightly more distorted and more stylized. I’m wondering if it would also be possible to put some buildings on a moving platform so that they could tilt back and forth for a squash and stretch illusion. Maybe even have a few with giant faces that can emote.
This area prominently features giant art supplies that are implied to have brought the land into existence, including giant paintbrushes that are poised in the middle of putting “finishing touches” to the buildings.
The entire area would have lots of kinetic sculptures (think of the new Super Nintendo World at Universal) to make the land feel alive. Interactive gags like the Post Office and the Fireworks Factory would of course be included.
I would remove the residential area and have the area only themed around Maroon Cartoons Studio, and the downtown area. Characters that don’t fit in any other area of the park could walk around here.
“Mickey Mouse presents…”: Guests would take on the role of camera crew with Mickey as director. The star of the movie is late and we follow Mickey as he accidentally crashes various movie sets looking for the missing actor, who turns out to be none other than Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
The various movie sets would portray different genres of cinema. Based on the Mickey short cartoon Roll ‘Em (which, by the way, would have been a more appropriate replacement for the Great Movie Ride than Runaway Railway).
While I intended for this to be part of Toontown, I am also okay with this being the last building on Showtime Boulevard to help transition into Toontown.
Backstage Meet-and-Greet: Again, I personally do not care much for meet and greets (With the exception of Goofy. Goofy is the best.), but for the people that do, here you can meet Mickey and Friends including Oswald, Roger and Jessica.
Maroon Cartoons Studio Tour: Based on Roger Rabbit Cartoon Spin but using the art style of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (but with actual sets, not screen projections), as well as an interactive element (partially inspired by Monsters Inc Ride & Go Seek in Tokyo).
Guests would interact with the sets by “spraying” paint or thinner from the paintbrushes attached to their vehicles. Based on the video game mechanic from Epic Mickey, where paint brings objects into existence, and thinner erases them. For example, a guest could “paint” an anvil that would drop onto Roger’s head. Even spraying the animatronic characters would elicit funny dialogue, “Hey! Watch where you’re spraying! I just got a new paint job yesterday!”
While the sets would be physical, the paint and thinner effects could be projections. The trickiest part is projecting a physical object to look like it’s been erased, and since it would set off chain reactions, the projections would have to hide certain objects’ movements. It would be very difficult, but I insist that this ride does not follow the Toy Story Mania route (I’m looking at you, Web Slingers). Please consult actual engineers.
Art of Animation Academy: History of animation exhibit, with animation from all over the world. Japanese anime, Soviet animation, stop-motion, etc. With acknowledgements that Quirino Cristiani and Lotte Reiniger’s films actually pre-date Snow White as the world’s first animated features. Drawing workshops included.
Happy-Go-Lucky Merry-Go-Round: In the same wacky spirit as the Caro-Seuss-el in Seuss Landing. Like the Caro-Seuss-el, the music could speed up and slow down when it operates. Rather than just having wacky versions of real animals, this carousel would have hybrid animals, like the Wuzzles! Also, what if the carousel could run backwards?
Jolly Trolley: The vehicles would run on an elevated track to solve the problem of crowds blocking the way. The track could wind around Toontown, the same way as The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! does in Seuss Landing.
Originally I was only going to have it stay in Toontown, but then I realized the wind-up key on the roof could make it pass for a toy, so why not have it travel through Toy Box Land too, for an even more scenic route.
Goofy’s Bakery Studio: Decorate your own cupcakes and cookies with edible paint.
The Art of Disney: Disney prints, paintings, figurines, and other art. Get your caricature drawn here.
Minnie Mouse Fashions: Disney apparel and headgear. Design and customize your own ears.
Handwich cart: I dunno about you, but I think the Handwich is pretty neat.
Toy Box Land
Yes, Toy Story Land has been both overused as a land and under-utilized as a proper theme, but I simply love the giant toy aesthetic. It feels like being inside an I Spy book (does anyone remember those books?). I probably could have just made this land fully original with no ties to IP (like I did with choosing not to theme Winter VIllage to Frozen), which I am still open to, but also found it too irresistible to include everyone’s favorite lovable rascals.
The movies’ existential themes of jealousy and self-worth, moving on and letting go would be difficult to adapt into attractions, so Toy Story’s inclusion here is to embody reconnecting with your inner child and creativity through play. The name change is just my attempt to make the IP sound less in-your-face.
The giant art supplies from Toontown could transition into giant crayons in this area. Also, like Toontown, the entire area would have kinetic sculptures to bring energy to the area, like giant windup keys and pinwheels.
To keep with the playful and friendly energy of the land there should be plenty of characters walking around interacting with guests. Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Bo Peep should preferably be characters that can talk, not just silent costumes, and there would not be any giant static statues of them in the land. Bullseye and the Green Army Men are okay to keep as silent costume characters. Potato Head, Hamm, Rex, Slinky, and Wheezy are talking animatronics, preferably mobile animatronics that can roam the land alongside costume characters. I think the Little Green Aliens and Bo Peep’s sheep are the only characters that are okay to portray as static statues.
Sid’s toys could be available characters during the Halloween season.
“Rube Goldberg Machine roller coaster”: Dual track wild mouse roller-coaster, based on a classic, over-convoluted Rube Goldberg design. One track has guests ride in giant toy karts, the other has guests inside giant marbles for a giant marble run track. Vehicles would set off chain reactions, possibly help other vehicles move forward, or create “obstacles” for others. Pulleys and wheels and dominoes galore.
This is another one of those ideas where I only know how I want it to function without knowing how to accomplish it. Please consult actual engineers.
“Andy’s Playtime Theater”: Basically Mad Libs / Choose Your Own Adventure. This could either be a show or a ride, but I personally prefer the ride idea.
If it were a show it would be part improv, involve guest participation, and have lots of giant props and gags. The Toy Story gang would mingle with the audience and be on stage at the same time.
If it were a ride, guests can choose the path their vehicle takes. Andy narrates and has his toys act out a story. At several points, Andy offers two options on how the story can proceed. Stories would have wacky scenarios, like that of the opening scene in Toy Story 3. Multiple endings. Would have plenty of animatronics, and NOT just be screen-based.
“Giant Toy Playground”: Build with LEGO bricks the size of your head, climb actual towers made of alphabet blocks, play on a chessboard with human-sized chess pieces.
“I Spy Scavenger Hunt”: I absolutely loved looking at Walter Wick’s I Spy and Can You See What I See? illustrations for hours, and this activity is basically that come to life. I really want this land to be super detailed (and I mean absolutely LOADED) with lots of toy props hidden everywhere. The search criteria can change everyday for different routes. Winners can earn exclusive pins.
Pizza Planet restaurant: Customize your own pizza. Mix your own slushie.
Gluten-free and vegan options. Also serves the Alien Mochi from Tokyo.
Would follow the retro space building design of the movie .
“Build-A-Toy” shop: Inspired by the former Toys R Us Times Square location. Would include things like a Build-A-Bear Workshop, “Build Your Own Potato Head”, a LEGO play area, a nuiMOs plush modeling studio, and a mini indoor Ferris wheel.
Disney Dreamland Railroad Create-It-Land station: “Built” out of blocks and tinkertoys.
World Galleria
Adventureland
Mysteryland
Fantasyland
Discoveryland
#disney parks#disney dreamland#armchair imagineering#journey into imagination#disney's hollywood studios#toontown#toy story land#theme park design
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Letter from Napoleon to Junot, December 1807
Milan, 23 December 1807.
I have received your letters of 6 and 7 December. An aide-de-camp to the viceroy, who left two days ago, is bringing you letters from me. I am pleased to see that my troops have occupied Peniche; but you do not tell me whether the fortress of Almeida and the other fortresses in the kingdom are occupied by my troops. I do not need to tell you again how urgent it is for you to take them, and for there to be a French commander and garrison in all these places.
I think that the course you are following is not a good one, because it is not far-sighted. You are acting like men who have no experience of conquests, you are deluding yourselves with vain illusions: all the people in front of you are your enemies. As soon as the sea is tenable, you will have the English on your coasts and intrigues in your provinces. Then all the resources you have left to the Portuguese will turn against you, for the Portuguese nation is brave.
I therefore reiterate that my positive intention is that,
1° the country be occupied by my troops ;
2° the country be disarmed;
3° all Portuguese troops be directed to France, in columns of 800 men, after removing everything that is out of service; it is not that I wish to have many of these men, but I wish to rid the country of them;
4° all the princes, ministers and other men who can serve as rallying points should be sent to France.
I regret to see that you have put the first division into Lisbon. Your reserves are sufficient to guard the forts. All the troops must be camped out in squares and be available at the first event. You have your second division, which is the worst, camped out; it should be just the opposite. It is not enough to have troops to launch a few marches from Lisbon, but they must be available to go anywhere without being noticed.
That's the advantage of camps.
[…] I repeat, do not keep any Portuguese troops. The legion of police, for policing the city, is far too strong; but you can mix in a few French men to find out what is going on. All the cannons and rifles must be removed, whether from the arsenals or from elsewhere where they would be available to the people.
[...]
There is no doubt that you must confiscate all English goods whatever they may be. Everything is easier in the first moment than afterwards. Do not seek popularity in Lisbon, nor the means to please the country; that would be to miss your goal, to embolden the people and to prepare for misfortune. At the moment it is impossible to do anything for them that would be equivalent to the state of tranquillity and trade in which they were; they will complain, but above all your army must lack nothing.
[...] I assume that my troops have field supplies in Lisbon and are very well fed. It is your first duty not to let them lack anything. I would like you to be able to pay the salary and supplies of the 2nd Corps of the Gironde, which has been ordered to come to Valladolid in order to be in a position to support you.
The large number of troops that I am obliged to raise makes my expenses enormous. I have set the extraordinary contribution at one hundred million; all the towns must pay according to their means, and with that you will not lack what is necessary; but, I repeat to you, the Portuguese troops must be sent back and the country must be disarmed. [...]
This letter was written rather shortly after French troops had occupied Portugal, and in many aspects it reminds me of the instructions Napoleon would send to Murat once Murat had occupied Madrid a couple of months later.
I can’t help but wonder what the recipients were thinking on receiving them. Had they already known what was going on? Were they in on Napoleon’s plans? Had they, when they set out on their journey, fully understood that this in truth was nothing but a scheme to occupy two countries that had not taken action against France in any way?
Considering how often Napoleon has to reiterate the same things to them (Don’t occupy yourself with the well-being of the people, get your hands on anyone and anything that might become dangerous, be brutal, etc.), my gut feeling is no. So I wonder, how do you react when you figure out that the person you’ve always admired like noone else, whose friendship you’ve treasured, starts acting like a scoundrel?
Or did they agree with Napoleon’s plans? And if the two men who were executing them only learned about their full scope once they were in the midst of it all and had no means to protest – who were the people Napoleon had concocted these plans with?
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Fuck it. Take some dsmp countries worldbuilding for an AU I'm working on.
Snowchester. originally it was l'manberg's industrial sector of claimed land, including a nuclear research lab (not limited to weapons but mostly yea, i like to think they had a decent physics department and were trying to figure out nuclear reactors to help power the city when things started getting worse) but ofc it turned into an industrial town since workers migrated there. you have small farms of hardy vegetables and their own traditions and such. it ends up gaining independence of lmanberg as like a separate country but it's still a colony yk since they wanted to be allow the people of snowchester to be seen as their own people whilst being able to easily keep their lmanberg citizenship and such given they're all first generation migrants basically. snowchester's main things are engineering (electrical, mechanical, anything they can get to do with mechanics), physics and nuclear physics. they've got some primary industry in extracting natural materials required for the nukes (the specific area is where there's a lot of very deeply buried inactive nuclear ore) and ofc secondary industry in the processing of those materials too since they're refined there too. snowchester has very little tertiary industry, and quite a bit of quaternary in terms of engineering and designers and such. meanwhile l'manberg has quite a bit of quaternary and tertiary industry but not nearly as much secondary (they mainly export food products, however, and often jewellery too) and basically no primary industry.
snowchester remains one of the more populated areas on the server after the egg, with how it's self sufficient and a bit too cold for the vines still. some are creeping up the shore though and nobody's too sure how long they have til the town is uninhabitable.
the dsmp specialises in primary industry and tertiary. all its manufacturing is either outsourced to lmanberg or the badlands. cause like. the badlands is an extremely good place to have a lot of manufacturing and quaternary as well, and they just do fuck all everything. they are THE manufacturing specialists (also cause sam would definitely like that kind of thing and help out with it).
kinoko exports agricultural goods and has one of the most popular brewing industries on the server, as well as being renowned for the general quality of ingredients and the amount of cafes. also has a lot of builders, there's a decent amount of construction done there due to the materials used in most of the buildings, it attracts a lot of carpenters and construction workers who want to test their skill working with mushrooms sturdy enough to build a house with. las nevadas is entirely tertiary and quaternary industry, they outside a lot to lmanberg and the badlands. basically after el rapids dispersed they created las nevadas so the few people who lived there moved to las nevadas, and people probably migrated from elsewhere too, but el rapids was planned to have a decent entertainment industry. las nevadas has lots of builders and carpenters and jewellery sellers but it's all bespoke stuff, and a lot of it is high end or hand made goods too. it's where you'll go to find the best restaurants and hotels and night clubs and casinos. it's where you meet the big business execs and where there's a lot of cramped office buildings, and the food is quite lovely since it's so close to kinoko they get fresh ingredient imports every day.
also foolish's summer home is a tourist attraction and resort. you've also just got foolish there. he's always seen building smth.
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Would you ever consider leaving London? I moved from London to Margate in Kent and I can’t believe how much better my quality of life is. I can afford my rent, and even have a small garden, I spend much more time outside etc. it was really difficult for me to come to terms with the prospect of leaving London, but now I wish I had left earlier. I love this blog and relate so much to so many of your posts! Take care of yourself! ❤️
Yes, but if I had the opportunity of moving I wouldn't want to stay in this country! Also the only things I like about this country (my friends, my history, places I love, the creative communities, job opportunities) are in London so I'm trapped here for now haha. I loved Dory's in Margate! It's such a cute place and I'm glad you realised that about London, it's really not for everyone and I have known quite a few people to leave. I hate when people talk shit about this city though, like when they say there's no community here or that its only rich people etc. I have such a different experience of the city.
Personally, I need a city to live in. I don't really find I need a garden or loads of time in nature to be happy (nature to me is parks and pavements lol), and the issue of rent is something I think needs to be controlled in cities because working class people need a decent quality of life here, and people deserve to not have their communities uprooted. Gentrification has been killing every working class London neighbourhood. I see how moving out of London is a practical, but I would never leave here voluntarily. If I was, like many people are, forced to leave London because of rent prices I would be absolutely devastated. I get why people see moving out of the city as a viable option for happiness, but so many of us have homes and lives and communities here, that the solution to high rent cant be destroying our lives! That's what the Conservative government wants, the neoliberal attitude introduced by Margaret Thatcher has been devastating us for decades and I always feel anger when people (not you, but others) have said to me "just leave London" like the city is the problem - I've never once said I was unhappy in this city or that it was part of my struggles, people have always inferred/projected that - instead of the way the country is being governed or that its the individuals responsibility to change and upheave their lives.
But yeah, no cities are cheap and London has always been my home. I guess that's it, that I can't really comprehend moving because I feel at home? Not everyone feels such an affinity with where they are born, but I do. I think if I had been born elsewhere I'd come here. I wonder if the 10 years I was away not living in London that were the worst years of my life made me long for it more. I'd love to live in New York, Paris, San Francisco, Hanoi, Tokyo, etc but that's not on the cards for me. Never say never and I hope my prospects change radically in the next few years lol, but those are the only places I am drawn to. I have considered Toronto because it's got a music scene, but having spoken to friends in bands from that scene its not anything to move for. I just know my world and life would collapse if I left everything I've worked so hard to build for myself here, all the roots I've got here. If I was just interested in writing and didn't socialise or have any aspirations in fashion, photography or music I actually think I'd still be in a city.
I love being able to leave my flat and walk to 3 or 4 different independent bookshops and the most amazing secondhand bookshops. I love that I can be in the same city but feel in an entirely different place and still get home in the evening. I love feeling loyal to the area of London I've spent so many years in. I love all the different food and cuisines I can get here. I love all the different people and cultures I can meet. I hated being away from multiculturalism when I lived in a British seaside town. Maybe one day London will feel too small to me, it's definitely possible because I've spent almost 20 years here, but hopefully if and when that happens I'll be in a position to move to another country. I think if I left, in some ways it would just be a way of prolonging coming back. So ultimately, if I was able to yes I'd move to a different city but for the experience because I choose to sacrifice financial security for pursuing a creative metropolitan lifestyle (which has got harder because of David Cameron, George Osborne, Theresa May and Rishi Sunak etc), but London is always going to be my home.
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To solve the dilemma of an indisputable phonetic evolution but an incomprehensible semantic one, one must ask how the same word can have three meanings as varied as "peasant," "civilian," and "pagan." I shall begin with the first two, which are also the oldest. A paganus is the inhabitant of a pagus, a country district, a man whose roots, unlike a soldier's, are where he lives. A peasant is thus the paganus par excellence, although the term, from Cicero on, could denote towns people (Pro Dama, 74). If one takes that factor into account, strange locutions become clear. When the poet Persius, out of genuine or false modesty, calls himself a semipaganus in poetry, he implies that he is only a partial member of the fraternity of poets (prologue to the Satires, v. 6). And when a father, on his daughter's epitaph, praises her for having been "faithful among the faithful, pagana among pagani," he does not mean that she proselytized with paganism, but that she remained faithful to her origins.
Pagani or pagans are quite simply "people of the place," town or country, who preserved their local customs, whereas the alieni, the "people from elsewhere," were increasingly Christian. This explanation was proposed by another Godefroy, Jacques, at the beginning of the seventeenth century, and corresponds to the etymology of the word, referred to by Christian writers who used it in its new meaning. 5 It also fits the predilection of pagans in Late Antiquity for everything that belonged to the legacy of their ancestors, patria in Greek. It defines paganism as a religion of the homeland in its narrowest sense: the city and its outlying countryside. And it predicts the diversity of pagan practices and beliefs
Chuvin, A Chronicle of the Last Pagans
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Character Name: Nolan Jackson
Character Age: 35
Faceclaim: Oliver Jackson Cohen
Neighborhood: Orchird Park
Occupation: High School Teacher
Birthday: Sept 22 1989
Sexuality: Heterosexual
biography below the cut
Biography: tw: munchausen by proxy.
Nolan Jackson was born in Sheffield, UK to parents Brian and Alicia Jackson. He is an only child. The Jacksons were a well-known, religious family in their community. Nolan was frequently ill as a child, in and out of hospitals with mysterious symptoms that doctors struggled to diagnose. At age 8, it was discovered that Alicia had been intentionally poisoning him by overdosing him with salt. He was sick from sodium poisoning. Alicia was sentenced to 12 years in prison for child abuse. Nolan's father Brian refused to divorce her, and wanted to save face in their religious community. This deeply hurt him, who felt betrayed by his father choosing appearances over protecting his son.
At 13, to escape the aftermath of his mother's crimes, Nolan moved with his father to Salt Lake City, Utah. The move gave distance but did not improve the relationship between Nolan and his father. As soon as he graduated from high school, he left home and cut ties with his father. Alicia was going to be released soon and would be moving to Salt Lake. He wanted nothing to do with her. He moved to San Francisco to attend university, putting as much distance as possible between himself and his dysfunctional family.
In San Francisco, Nolan met his best friend Brandon Anders at university. The two were inseparable, sharing everything with each other. He finally had the close friendship he had always wanted. Brandon was like a brother to him. During a spring break trip to Atlanta in his Junior year, Nolan was introduced to Brandon’s girlfriend, Harlow. There was an instant connection between them. Harlow was kind, funny and genuine. For the first time, Nolan felt true chemistry with another person. But the trip ended and they went their separate ways.
Shortly after the trip to Atlanta, Nolan discovered Brandon had stolen a large sum of money from him. When confronted, Brandon denied taking the money but later, the truth came out. Brandon stole the money to spend on girls. Not only was he a thief, he also was cheating on Harlow. Despite Brandon's apologies and promises to repay him, he felt betrayed that his closest friend would violate his trust like that. It damaged their friendship irreparably. He cut off contact with Brandon entirely.
Nolan poured himself into his studies and eventually obtained his teaching degree. He got a job at a prestigious private school in San Francisco a few months after graduation and stayed working there for a number of years. After a while he felt unfulfilled by the work. It had been years and he decided to look for positions elsewhere. He found an opening at a high school in Covington, Georgia. On a whim, hoping to make a fresh start, he took the job and moved across the country.
On his third day living in Covington, Nolan stopped at a local cafe called Bread & Butter. When he went to order, he froze - the woman at the counter was Harlow. He could not believe their paths were crossing again. She did not recognize him though.
Through chatting with people in town, Nolan later learned Harlow was single, though the reasons were unclear. Like a moth to a flame, he visits the cafe every day. He was unsure how to tell her they had met before. He agonized over the situation. Should he confess he recognized her? Why had fate brought them back together?
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