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princeescaluswords · 2 years

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Your teen wolf writing is seriously incredible. Among the best content out there

To be quite honest, I have a lot of good material with which to work.

I love Teen Wolf. I love it's aesthetic. I love it's morality. I love the fact that since its focus characters are teenagers, it doesn't create shortcuts where suddenly those characters are occult scholars or professional espionage agents. I love the way it responded to the strengths of the individual actors embodying their characters. I love the way it takes risks, from the fractured narrative of Frayed to the inscrutable menace of the Dread Doctors to the fact that there was no way to stop the Wild Hunt. I love the way it employs recursion, parallelism and narrative foils without restraint; it is a show aimed at teenagers and young adults but doesn't treat its audience as simpletons.

Most of all, I love Scott McCall. I love that he wasn't a Chosen One. He didn't learn how to fight by the end of episode 3; there were still better fighters than him at the end of episode 100. I love that he didn't act like a professional operative or a seasoned military commander by the end of the first season. He remained a teenager throughout. I love his resilience, his insistence that people were more important than power, and his refusal to allow what others had done to him to change him into something jaded or damaged. Most of all, I love his determination, arising both from principal and emotion, to preserve life by ending cycles of violence. Too often in modern culture, individuals who reject lethal force as a political tool are presented either as 1) Useless Pacifists Who Must Learn an Important Lesson in Putting Success Before Principle by being forced into situations where 'killing is the only option' or as 2) White Knights Who Value Their Own Moral Integrity and Succeed Without Soiling Their Uniforms. Scott never sought out danger; the villains threatened him or those he loved, yet he never allowed those villains to determine his response. Scott endured suffering, humiliation, weakness, failure, and betrayal, but he never abandoned the motivations that made him fight in the first place. What's not to like?

Of course, when you love something, you have to be careful not to let that love blind you to its weaknesses. I wish that the writing had shown Scott more sympathy for what he went through; while I don't think that this was the show's intention, I think its decision not to have Scott spend any time on the agonies he endured eventually lessened their impact. I have also been convinced that the show runner, Jeff Davis, suffered from problems with attention and self-discipline. He was so concerned with the Big Things that he didn't pay enough attention to the Little Things that make the Big Things meaningful, and it resulted in things like the show's nonexistent chronology or the degradation of the relationship between Scott and his mother (did you notice that Scott and Melissa never had a conversation about his romantic interest or his grades after Season 2? That they never had a discussion about Scott and Rafael?)

This inattention also allowed the problems plaguing the greater culture of the United States to seep in. A character's chances of surviving were heavily influenced by whether they were a good-looking white male or not. There is literally no greater example of poor behavior of a production leading to a racist impact than Vernon Boyd's death scene. When Boyd told Derek that the feelings he experienced during the full moon, it's obvious that the character is being used as a prop for Derek's journey. Boyd experienced two full moons -- the one in the dirty train station in Party Guessed where he was chained in a rusty car and beaten by Derek or the one when he was murderously insane and then trapped in a boiler room. Which feelings exactly made it worth it? To me, the writers were either so disinterested in Boyd's character that they forgot that he couldn't feel the full moon while trapped in a bank vault or, more likely, they were aware that the audience was so fundamentally invested in Derek's sob story that they wouldn't notice.

As you engage with a phenomenon which you love, these things begin to stand out, and you have to grapple with them, but if its truly quality, the flaws -- even the egregious ones -- don't sully your enjoyment. I still love the show, and I'm still going to be writing about it. I look forward to the movie with great anticipation.

#teen wolf #scott mccall #teen wolf problems #teen wolf fandom racism #teen wolf racism #scott mccall defense squad

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yellowyola · 2 years

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I feel emotions because of this show

So yeah some pictures for u all

#my art #blackbeard #ofmd #blackbeard ofmd #edward teach #ed blackbeard #artists on tumblr #digital art #pirates #our flag means death #our flag means gay #i suffered lethal emotional damage from this show

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queenofmalkier · 2 years

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Okay, finally re-watched episode four enough to have Some Thoughts about the end. Book AND show spoilers below.

I’ve also seen some reactions, things like that. Namely, I saw some discussion about how Nynaeve healing everybody in the scene was too much and pulled away from the moment, that it should have just been one person (Lan) to build up the emotion... I understand that point of view, but I disagree.

The thing about Nynaeve as a character is she is extremely offended by the concept of suffering, especially when it’s pointless - we’ve seen her now in a few situations in the show where the option to heal was there but violence was chosen.

Her village under attack, her home, and she’s trying to save whoever she can but it’s not enough. She’s not enough.

The trolloc, killing the injured trolloc. Senseless.

When she’s being hunted by the trolloc, she runs, but more importantly she avoids engaging with it until she’s given no choice and then she kills it as quickly as she can. It’s lethal, but it is a mercy as well. Trollocs might be monsters, might have violated everything she finds sacred and wants to protect with the whole of her heart, but she waits until she’s backed into a corner before choosing violence.

Alanna sending back the arrows, driving them at the army. Throughout this fight scene she’s afraid, and it’s building, but she’s also angry about it. She only attacks when forced to really defend herself up close. But she’s seeing everything, clearly and in great detail. She’s watching them hurting, bleeding... she’s watching them die. (The choice to set the battle in the middle of the day has also been criticized, but I think it’s important because Nynaeve had no choice but to see everything. No obscuring rain, no shadows, only the reality of war, of everything that’s coming.)

When Stepin feels Kerene die, we as an audience are really drawn in and focused on the damage that’s done to him - wounds that cannot be seen, but you can’t tell me Nynaeve isn’t also watching that happen in horror.

It caps off with the scene in the cave. Again, more and more people are dying, only this time it’s people she knows, people she’s begun to trust, it’s Lan.

Nynaeve has had enough.

So she makes it stop.

I get that they’ve gone this route because they likely want to set up Nynaeve learning to heal the unhealable, to see the effects of madness and also gentling and do so with a character we’re now familiar with.

But in the books Nynaeve didn’t need an emotional connection to heal anyone. She’s compulsively driven to do so and it is a core part of who she is - it doesn’t matter who she’s healing. So having her save a room full of people, half of them Aes Sedai she has no cause to trust? I think that was the best way they could have summed her up and set up her arc as a powerful wartank of a healer.

#wheel of time tv series #Nynaeve al'Meara

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rufousnmacska · 3 years

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I have a lot of thoughts about A Court of Silver Flames, and since it helps me to write them out, I thought I’d share.

It’s behind a cut because SPOILERS and it’s long lol!

Nesta

I had expected we’d learn that Nesta had suffered some type of abuse or trauma as a child that Elain and Feyre were not aware of. I wasn’t expecting it to be so subtle, for lack of a better word. Abuse comes in a lot of forms, which I think SJM is good at showing. Emotionally manipulating your daughter for power, ignoring her in favor of your business and money … those may not be as visible as physical or verbal abuse, but they still cause damage.

I’m not sure how to convey it properly, but I thought it was important to show how the parts of her that were born from the abuse and trauma, while dark or not always healthy, were still useful. The wolf she became to survive her childhood helped her survive the cauldron. Not being able to “turn it off” is what hurt her. My favorite quote:

“So Nesta had become a wolf. Armed herself with invisible teeth and claws, and learned to strike faster, deeper, more lethally. Had relished it. But when the time came to put away the wolf, she’d found it had devoured her too.”

And as Amren said later “That’s the key isn’t it? To know the darkness will always remain, but how you choose to face it, handle it … that’s the important part. To not let it consume. To focus on the good, the things that fill you with wonder.”

I’ve seen a lot of fans upset that Nesta gave up her cauldron powers at the end to save Feyre and the baby. Although I’d initially hoped (post acofas) that her training would be more about her magic than physical training, I’m okay with how it worked out. She never wanted that power and she never liked having it. She stole it as revenge and she fought constantly to suppress it. Was she a badass when she wielded it? Absolutely! But ultimately, her giving it back was the final big step in her healing arc and acceptance of herself. (That doesn’t mean she’s “cured.” This will be an ongoing battle for her. I only mean this in terms of the story in this book.)

She chose to sacrifice it, unlike so many other times in her life when things were forced on her or happened to her. Unlike the future her mother had set out for her. Unlike when they were poor and her father did nothing to get them through. Unlike when she was thrown into the cauldron and then a war. Even unlike when she was forced to move into the House of the Wind, and her apartment – the one place she had chosen for herself no matter how run down it was – got demolished. I’m not going to go into the intervention too much. It was poorly done, but I doubt any of them had experience in doing one. A conversation acknowledging that might have been nice. And I’m not ignoring Feyre and Rhys’s hypocrisy of Nesta being confined to a place where she effectively had no way to leave on her own. The stairway at that point was not an option. But the bottom line is that Nesta needed help and was not in a position to willingly accept it or seek it out.

Regardless, she is still a lethal badass. She still has some of her powers, along with her fighting skills, which will only get better and better. So, the idea that she gave up what made her strong, or ended up as some meek housewife … I don’t agree with that at all. She has the intelligence and potential to become a force in leading armies. Not to mention her skill as an emissary. (Which Cassian finally learned how to imitate lol!)

On a personal note, I’m intimately familiar with the depression and self-loathing Nesta experienced in this book. Although I don’t necessarily react to those feelings in the same ways or exhibit the same coping mechanisms (I tend to turn my anger inward rather than outward), I could still relate to her journey. Her stubbornness and feelings that she didn’t deserve love or anything good or kind were presented accurately in my opinion. Parts were hard for me to read because of that. But I loved that she was able to make her way through the pain and finally begin to accept and love herself. And I especially loved that she was helped not only by Cassian, but by her friendship with Emerie and Gwyn.

And the House! Holy shit. The magic houses in this world piss me off to no end because they are not real and I will forever need to clean my own place LOL! Her relationship with the house was beautiful and funny and I love that she Made it! She needed a friend, someone to understand her, not only what she wanted but what she needed, and boom! The House of the Wind came alive for her.

So, overall, I loved Nesta’s journey. I’m happy she ended in a place that brought her inner peace and the ability to better deal with her problems in the future.

Nessian

I loved them before this book and I love them more after. The smut was a little shocking at first lol but I’ve read the Black Dagger Brotherhood books, which SJM loves, so really, it wasn’t that out there. I loved that Cassian showed that even with the mating bond, he could give Nesta space and freedom. In that respect, their relationship felt more mature to me than feysand. Their banter and the sexual tension was great! (The book is about a book.) They had some not great moments, as they have in past books. But those were realistic. People argue and say things they regret. But they also talk through it and apologize. This is a good time to point out – NOT ALL APOLOGIES INVOLVE EXPLICITLY SAYING I AM SORRY. There are other ways to show remorse and ask for forgiveness.

I don’t know if I had one favorite moment as there were quite a few. I think the most emotional for me was when they reached the lake. I know firsthand how difficult it is to speak aloud the things Nesta said. And I am also lucky to have people in my life who responded the way Cassian did – with love and support and kindness.

The nightmare scene, the prison scene, the dancing, the mating bond, Cassian turning the knife on himself … I loved them all!

The Valkyries

I fucking loved them! Gwyn and Emerie were absolute delights and I’m so glad Nesta made good friends of her own who she could be herself with. Their bonding over books, training, and their pasts was wonderful. Nesta urging them on and defending them from the Illyrians in the Blood Rite was a beautiful step in her healing. Before this book, I was hesitant about the foreshadowing that Nesta would take part in the Rite, fearing it would become some sort of white savior trope to help the female Illyrians. But I enjoyed the way it ended up happening. I know it seemed unrealistic for Nesta, Emerie, and Gwyn to get that far against warriors who’d been training for years. But part of the point was the males were arrogant as fuck. They underestimated the trio, to their detriment. Nesta and her friends used cunning as much as strength and skill to get where they did.

And I loved the image of Emerie and Gwyn just sitting back, sipping tea and admiring the river after going through a week of pure hell and winning the Blood Rite.

I hope we get more of them all together in the next books.

ETA - I can’t believe I forgot! Gwyn writing their story because their stories deserve to be told 🥲💕

The sisters

Overall I liked how things turned out with them.

Elain is still a bit of a non-entity to me. I don’t feel like I really know anything about her. Which, to some extent, is the point I think. There will be a lot to reveal in her story and she has a shitload of healing to do. She may have the appearance of adjusting and fitting in, but I don’t buy it. Nesta telling Elain to fuck off was awesome and long overdue. But Elain was also right in pointing out how others treat her and the trauma she’s experienced. I think there is still more to be dealt with between these two in the next book.

Feyre and Nesta were the more interesting relationship to me. The eldest and the youngest tend to butt heads in my opinion (and personal experience). So I was glad they came to an understanding. And very glad that Feyre did not get angry with Nesta for telling her about the baby. Rhys deserved the wrath for that.

One thing I would have liked to see discussed was the role of their parents in their lives. Nesta holds a lot of guilt for how she reacted to their poverty and I think that is understandable. I think Elain does too. However, I do not think any of the sisters should harbor blame for what happened. Their father was responsible for them. Period. Even if he was physically unable to work or help around the house, he still could have been a father. Yes, Feyre stepped up and fed them. Nesta and Elain didn’t help. It was his role to make them. Not in an abusive way. But step up and tell Nesta and Elain to do something, whether it’s chop wood or gather food from the wild. I don’t know. In my opinion, it is wrong to place blame on young girls who had a parent that did nothing. His actions in acowar were noble, but they don’t erase his failures. That all of this was glossed over disappointed me. I think this was something Nesta needed to be told explicitly by both her sisters. She had things to apologize for and feel guilt for, but she was not the one who should have protected Feyre. All three of them should have been protected by their father.

The Inner Circle

It’s kind of funny to me how blind they all are about each other. I don’t even know what else to say about their dysfunction.

Amren’s sudden desire for Rhys to become High King was weird, and though I should know better, I still really hope the series doesn’t end that way. The IC tends to have good intentions about things, but I don’t think they know how to handle a problem without some kind of force. And controlling all the other courts is not something that would happen easily, especially with perceived allies.

Amren and Mor thinking Nesta belonged or should be sent to the Court of Nightmares was a spectacularly shitty take. The lack of awareness and acknowledgement that Nesta was suffering from multiple traumas was just … unbelievable.

But considering how much this group does not see about each other, I guess it’s not a surprise. I don’t know how much is willful ignorance or just really, really poor people skills. I understand how this all makes for good angst and drama, I really do. But I’m just at the point where it’s grating. They need to sit the fuck down and talk to each other. It’s been five hundred years for fucks sake. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Rhys

Okay. I liked Rhys in acotar and acomaf. But the sparkly exterior wore off big time for me in acowar and acofas. I honestly could have done without him in this book. But I wasn’t foolish enough to expect him to not be in it. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that SJM has her favorites and Rhys is at the top of the list.

Having said that, he annoyed the shit out of me in this book. Someone really needs to explain to him that a choice between two awful things, one of which might be deadly, is not really a choice. I don’t have the energy for it, but better writers than me could write a thesis on the illusion of choice in these books. Which is, in my opinion, pretty clearly tied to the brand of feminism presented.

Not only is the choice given to Nesta at the beginning not a choice, Rhys doesn’t seem to consider Elain at all in his argument with Az. All other issues with that bonus chapter aside, he saw them. He saw the mutual attraction and consent. What happened to not forcing females to accept the mating bond? What happened to respecting her choice and autonomy? I considered the possibility that maybe since he knows Az, there’s a reason he thinks they wouldn’t work. But then, that pretty much flies out the window by him asking Az about Mor. Sure, Az is still hung up on Mor, but she is pretty fucking clear about her opinion.

The whole thing about not telling Feyre about the risky childbirth was awful. And not that I would expect it to happen, but not even mentioning abortion as an option was frustrating. That plot line was not good in any way. There were plenty of other things that could have gone wrong with the birth to push Nesta to act at the end. To be honest, the feysand dynamic is not great. While I appreciated her standing up to him about Nesta and other things, he very deliberately uses sex as a distraction to get out of arguments. Yet another way he never really seems to suffer consequences of bad behavior.

I will say I was really glad he got the opportunity to experience the full trauma of what Nesta went through. And my petty ass loved him kneeling before her at the end!

Miscellaneous

Where was Illyria?? My one serious expectation for this book was that we’d learn more about Illyria and deal with the revolution that was hyped up in acofas. To be written off in one paragraph was disappointing. It makes me think that if we are to ever get more details about the Illyrians, it might be in Az’s story. It was mentioned a few times that he hates them (with good reason) and would wipe them off the map if it was up to him. So I’m guessing his arc will require him coming to terms with that.

Elriel-Elucien-Gwynriel

I’ve never been super invested in this story line but I admit I’ve leaned more towards Elriel in the past. Partly because I like some of the complementary symbolism associated with them, but mostly because I’d really like to see a story about rejection of the mating bond. Even with the extra chapters, I feel like we still don’t know much of anything about who Elain truly is. And the same can be said of Az. So, those chapters didn’t sway me that much. With the exception of Az interacting with Gwyn. I agree with a lot of others saying Az has a lot of work to do on himself before he can be with anyone. I think Elain and Gwyn also have a lot of healing to do. SJM can take this in so many directions that I just don’t know what to think.

I will say that originally I was expecting the next book to involve a love square of Elain, Az, Lucien, and Vassa, because I did see a connection between the last two. But now … Was Lucien annoyed by Jurian and Vassa because he’s jealous? Just annoyed? I don’t know. I still think Vassa will be in the next books if only because of Koschei. But I’m not so sure about her involvement with Lucien. I think we’ve got enough people in this love polygon lol! Jesus, what a mess. But maximum angst 😂

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rhiannonindigo · 3 years

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Is that RHIANNON GAIA? Wow, they do look a lot like KRISTINE FROSETH. I hear SHE is a NINETEEN year old SOPHOMORE who is studying MUSIC at Luxor University. Word is they are a SCHOLARSHIP student who is AGAINST The Unhinged. You should watch out because they can be FICKLE and DECEITFUL, but on the bright side they can also be DREAMY and BUBBLY. Ultimately, you’ll get to see it all for yourself.

HELLO, RHIANNON !

basics

name & pronunciation: rhiannon indigo gaia. ree - anne - non en - de - goe guy - ya

gender & pronouns: cisgender female. she/her

date of birth: february 27. 19 yrs.

zodiac: pisces sun. libra moon. sagittarius rising. pisces mercury. aries mars. pisces venus.

place of birth: bergen, norway.

nationality: norwegian. america. dual citizenship.

sexuality: pansexual

social class: lower class (formerly). upper class (under the table). scholarship student.

occupation: student. escort.

language: english. norwegian (mothertongue). has a slight norwegian accent which she is constantly trying to hide/downplay.

physical

height: 5′9 ft.

weight: 115 lbs.

hair: chestnut brown naturally. mostly straight, thick, coarse hair. dyed a silvery platinum blonde. slightly damaged, even though she obsessively tries to counter its dryness.

eyes: sky blue.

style: ridiculously short crop tops. oversized hoodies & sweatshirts. ripped stocking and fishnets. fitted cardigans. flowy dresses and maxi skirts. shoes ranging from mules to wedges to doc martens. think grunge lil shirt big pants girl, but also with delicate, elegance sprinkled in. lots of bright red. white, blacks, greys. natural spring colored for her more dainty pieces. blush pink, olive, baby blue.

faceclaim: kristine froseth.

traits

choosing to live amongst the clouds, rhiannon coasts on her natural charisma and easygoing nature. she is a fun-loving, thrill-seeking type that strongly values her independence. she has deeply instilled morals which she abides by, although her beliefs are considered quite radical. rhiannon is an active pacifist, practicing vegetarian, and meditation guru. while she may seem unbothered on the surface, rhia struggles to find adequate balance in her life. when it comes to what she’s interested in, she may become obsessive and overly idealistic. she suffers from issues with codependency, often tying her self worth too heavily into the opinions of those she values. rhiannon has passion and a magnanimous vision for her projects, but she lacks the discipline and confidence to follow through with her plans. often times, her crippling periods of self doubt are cast off as her peaceful demeanor. she is inauthentic, hiding imperfect sides of herself to appeal to whomever she is attempting to impress. however, her imagination and spontaneity are cornerstones for her character.

the base of what she shows the public is inauthentic, a face fabricated to appeal to the nature of the other’s attraction. rhia is more keen than she more let on, strategically highlighting admirable traits while concealing the negative. she is observant in matters that she’s curious in, though most of her interest is spontaneous and emotion-driven. she suffers from an internalized inferiority complex, one that she doesn’t readily make noticeable or concerning, but it is ultimately a driving motivation in most of her actions. she is self-critical and undisciplined, a lethal combo for such a fragile soul. rhiannon is secretive, never forthcoming with her desires or her intentions, though she has a tendency to be overly trusting in untrustworthy individuals. rhia is self-centered and indulgent, though she would never dare admit so, nor allow for herself to be viewed in such a light.

mbti: ENFP. extroverted. intuitive. feeling. perceiving.

hogwarts house: hufflepuff.

alignment: chaotic good.

mental conditions: borderline personality disorder (not diagnosed). social anxiety disorder (not diagnosed).

hobbies: playing literally almost every instrument including, but not limited to: piano, guitar, bass, drums, violin, flute, tambourine, ukulele. gardening, yoga/meditation, writing, dance, tarot, modelling.

history

kristoffer and acacia gaia met on the weekend of a drug-fueled musical festival in bergen, norway. kristoffer was immediately swept back the irreverent, fierce spirit of acacia, a well-bred but notoriously irresponsible socialite with a chip on her shoulder. she let the younger gentlemen dote and treat her for the duration of the festival, though she hadn’t expected him to ask her to leave for an impulsive roadtrip getaway in his clunky van. considering she was on poor terms with the rest of her immediate family, acacia agreed and the two disappeared on a month-long romantic getaway across northern europe.

eventually, kristoffer invited acacia to live with him on a rural communal deep in the countryside of norway. the two married, despite acacia's hesitation to give into the societal expectations of women of her status. she grew up with an abundance of privilege and acclaim, though her fierce energy was never efficiently utilized anywhere. acacia constantly cut ties with people and places she grew bored of, yet it was the humble and passive, tortured artist that won her faithfulness and affection. she was content with her simple life with kristoffer off the grid, free from her social and familial responsibilities, while still being revered and idolized. acacia never wanted children, claiming the contemporary woman's desire for one simply stemmed from her submission to biological and sexist standards. she had taken many preventive measures to ensure she would never have children, all of which were hidden under kristoffer's nose.

when rhia was conceived, acacia went two and a half months before realizing her afflictions were morning sickness and her mood swings were hormonal changes. she fell into a deep depression, convinced this was the world's punishment for her occasional adultery and drinking problem. kristoffer was ecstatic, on the other hand, as he always envisioned having a large, thriving family, but he had stuck by acacia's side regardless of her "infertility". acacia struggled to stop drinking after the discovery, though she was largely unconcerned, as she was already planning an appointment to prevent the pregnancy from continuing. however, her new lifestyle did not bring in much income, and thus she was forced to confide in her younger sister for help (and a loan). acacia formulated some grandiose story about kristoffer's desperate need for rehab, and while her sister, sigrid, met and disapproved of kristoffer, she held enough attachment for her sister to agree to give her the money. however, sigrid made an unannounced visit to acacia's residence a few weeks later, and became belligerent upon being greeted by her sister's gentle-natured husband.

it was only after being caught in the lie that acacia was forthright with her plan, though she had already spent the bulk of the money before scheduling a doctor's appointment. sigrid vowed to cut off all ties with acacia from then on, fed up with her manipulation and guilt tactics. the revelation caused a strain between acacia and kristoffer, both of whom had invested too much to simply walk away from their relationship. so, they compromised, they would continue their life like normal, but kristoffer made his wife swear to let her pregnancy carry to full term. thus, rhia has born seven months later, and was instantly adored and coddled by the other communal residents. she grew in the close-knit community, attending to livestock and crops during the summer, and learning from the local ministry which also served as a small school for the communal children. she developed a fondness for nature, living in the middle of a prairie that would burst with life come the summer solstice. around rhia's fifth birthday, kristoffer reached out to his wife's sister and her new husband, inviting them both over to meet rhia. the two would drop by infrequently, leaving gifts and knick-knacks for their kind-eyed niece. on her eigthth birthday, she recieved her first instrument, a small, maple violin. rhia excelled in the music program in her community, though most of the other studying was left neglected. she was raised in the communal for eleven years, and she became completely immersed in the natural world and its gifts.

in the late winter of her eleventh year, the communal caught a rampant case of diphtheria. with the population being mostly traditionalist, countermateralist, anti-vaxxers, the virus disseminated the community and dwindled its numbers in a matter of a couple months. it was then that acacia and kristoffer decided they would test out a new life in america. rhiannon was reluctantly taken from her hometown and thrown into the populous coast of washington. within the next three years, the gaia's would jump from trailer park to trailer park, attempting to outrun overdue bills and predatory loans. the family eventually settled in breckenridge, colorado, a small, lumber town where rhia could begin attending high school. the girl struggled to fit in with the schoolkids, too bizarre and radical for any of them to see her as anything but the foreign weirdo. as a social pariah, she was only motivated to become likable and as a result began seeking things she knew would earn her approval. she quickly became wrapped up with the wrong crowds, resorting to partying and molding and pampering herself to get where she wanted.

at the age of sixteen, rhia was scouted by an older woman named ava. the other proposed rhia weaponize her beauty, she offered rhia an easy money-maker. the young girl had been naive enough to see this as an authentic act, and while she recognized the dangers of her decision, the payoff was far too significant for her to pass up. a few days later, rhia was accompanying the older girl on her nights out, flaunting her fake i.d. and flirting with men completely out of her age range. eventually, rhia began to establish a loyal, but demanding clientele. she saved the bulk of the money from her night job, keeping it a secret from her parents as she prepared for college acceptances. at the end of her senior year, after having been awarded a scholarship to luxor, rhia packed her bag and snuck off to the other side of the country. she has not reached out to her family since.

relations & wanted connections

romantic

crush - (crush.) nate shaw. lennon winter. hunter rockwell. jack kelly. liam teixeira. rhia’s extensive collection of crushes. intensity varies, but she is usually a lot more bashful around these folk.

slighted lover - (0/1, open.) rhia never claimed to make a good girlfriend, but regardless she either agreed to it to please this person or for the clout that came with being associated with them. however, rhia eventually grew bored of the girlfriend act and began acting out in ways that violated her relationship with them. so maybe she cheated once or twice, maybe even a few times, but that doesn’t make her a bad person.

complicated ex - (0/1, open.) whoever said you can’t hookup with your ex ?? even if there’s still some unresolved feelings left ...

ex - (0/2, open.) she’s a hopeless romantic, it’s in her nature to start passionate flings only for them to fade out in a month or two. we can work out specific details, but she was probably so happy and affectionate until she wasn’t. rhia has a tendency to straight up ghost or cut off people who get to close.

past/current flings - (open.) liam teixeria.

the other one - (open.) objectively speaking, it may not have been right for rhia to sleep with adam while she had technically still been together with her ex, but that relationship was dead anyway. she failed to own up to being taken, and when adam found out sometime afterwards, he was furious with rhia. the two have had limited contact since, though rhia desperately wants to earn his affection back.

friends/acquaintance

parent friend - (open.) kenzie horton. rob ioane.

party friend - (open.) lennon winter. savannah grey. hunter rockwell.

platonic soulmate - (1/3, open.) jackson king.

close friend - (open.) kenzie horton. lennon winter.

bestie - (0/2, open).

fake friend - (open.)

friend - (open.) kai harrington. richard smith. dawn sherman.

bad influence - (open.) jack kelly. usually it’s rhia who is the bad influence, but even bad influences can be influenced by someone worse.

teammates - (open.) juliet reign. lennon winter. morgan reyes. gelly devers. she does cheer.

enemies

rival - wren bailey. okay, so maybe rhia flirted with her boyfriend and maybe she got a little carried away... but rhia still doesn’t understand what the other girl’s problem is.

liked, but not reciprocated - marcello de rosa.

school

major: music

minor: dance

year: sophomore

classes: creative writing, poetry, yoga, music, ballet (advanced).

extracurriculars: concert band (violin). cheer (base).

misc

playlist

inspo

#luxintro #tw prostitution #tw pregnancy #tw abortion #tw drugs #tw death

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twstheadcanons · 3 years

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Usage of Incantations in TWST

Thoughts on the use of incantations in TWST, the ancient incantation class, and students’ UM incantations

What is an Incantation? Magicians believe that words have a power of their own, and that strong intent and concentration can manifest those words’ powers. Through a special, intentional use of a word of phrase, Magicians can cast basic and advanced spells. These words and phrases form incantations.

Incantations are words or phrases that evoke a Magician’s magic. If one considers magic gems to be to casting magic that a key is to starting a car, then using an incantation operates as the accelerator. Even a simple, single-worded incantation can trigger a simple spell, just as a light press of the accelerator moves the car forward a small amount. As such, single-worded phrases often trigger simpler, basic spells, whilst chants ‘build’ a spell’s power, with the Magician’s intent behind the phrase influencing the spell’s manifestation. Considering the personal nature of magic, a Magician’s imagination and emotional/mental well-being heavily influences an incantation’s effect over more complex spells.

‘Universal’ and Advanced Incantations The more appropriate the phrase for a spell, the better the effects. For some spells, a random word or phrase has no effect. Typically, these are ‘universal’ incantations, such as for simple spells like summoning a ball of fire. Throughout history, the effective nature of “fireball” for the incantation became the standard, and thus the most effective incantation for summoning balls of fire. More complex spells, like large pillars of fire or fire constructed into specific forms, require more advanced incantations. Although uniform incantations do exist for more advanced elemental magic, many Magicians opt for their own incantations.

Considered both an art and science, incantations vary from ‘universally’ accepted concepts, to those more personal to individual Magicians, with the emotion and intent behind phrases influencing the spell. The ‘science’ behind ‘universal’ incantations links traditional incantations to specific, well-known spells. The ‘art’ behind other incantations develops from certain phrases having a unique meaning to each Magician, allowing them to tailor more complex and elaborate spells to their needs.

In a class such as ancient incantations, students study both ‘universal’ and historically significant incantations of past Magicians. The study of ‘universal’ incantations emphasizes how language and jargon evolved throughout history, whilst analyzing known meanings behind past Magicians’ unique incantations both help students understand the complexities of advanced spells and guide them to reflect on their own style of incantations, especially those for Unique Magic.

Mental Incantations It is possible to cast spells without audible incantations, especially for basic, simple spells. That said, a Magician must at least recite the incantation in their mind, considered a mental incantation. Given their practicality and time efficiency, mental incantations became a basic and generic skill of even novice Magicians. It’s easier to cast mental incantations for simple, basic spells that require a small amount of words than it is elaborate spells or longer phrases.

Incantations for Unique Magic As opposed to other spells, Unique Magic tailored to a Magician requires a unique incantation. In other words, the incantation behind Unique Magic must have a personal connection to the Magician. Depending on the Magician’s skill, their incantation can be as short or long as they need, but it’s generally accepted that phrase is more effective, as it can ‘communicate the true intention of one’s Unique Magic better than a few words, both to the Magician and the spell. Of course, exceptions always exist, such as a Magician tying their incantation to the name of the Unique Magic.

For the sake of conserving magical energy and minimizing blot, strong Unique Magic often discourages using an internal incantation, as a verbal incantation ‘gives life’ to the spell, and shows stronger intent than keeping the incantation to oneself. A clever Magician may find a way to bypass this if necessary.

Incantations of Students’ Unique Magic All translations of the incantations courtesy of @twstarchives To an extent, a discussion such as this requires knowing whether or not a Unique Magic develops as a result of a Magician’s personality and overall circumstances, or a decision and spell shaped by the Magician intentionally. An argument for both sides exists, but for the sake of this post, we’ll just shrug and leave that for another day.

[Speculative] Riddle Rosehearts – Off with Your Head Ever the advocate for efficiency and skill, Riddle could have tied his incantation to his Unique Magic’s name. This saves him both time and energy for casting his Unique Magic, and its personal meaning gets across just as well – a Magician without their magic becomes helpless, and acts like a chicken with its head cut off. It’s historical significance as a favorite phrase of the Queen of Hearts communicates exactly how serious and severe his Unique Magic is, and anyone with passing knowledge of the Queen of Hearts recognizes it. Not only does linking Riddle’s incantation to his Unique Magic’s name make for easy casting, but that historical significance gives it a ‘universal’ meaning as well, if only in theory.

Leona Kingscholar – King’s Roar “I am your hunger, I am your thirst. I am what steals your tomorrows. Kneel before me! King’s Roar!” Leona’s Unique Magic and its incantation are the perfect mix to intimidate others. It’s important to understand that Leona’s hang-up goes beyond him not becoming king, that’s more or less the surface of his issues. His issues lie in feeling that his place in life stems solely through his birth, and probably growing up watching Farena gain more attention and favoritism than Leona given his future as king. Alongside that, he developed UM that could literally endanger lives, even though, with his intelligence, Leona may have considered it an advantage in dire situations, but others ended up fearing it instead, which loops back to Leona’s perspective on when even one’s best isn’t enough. Leona’s pessimism drove him into a corner, knowing others feared him for his dark attitude, but his desire of acknowledgement morphed into something genuinely terrifying. He understands the dangers of King’s Roar, be its potential to be lethal and the fact that it represents drought, one of the last things a savannah wants. Through his own aggression and intelligence, Leona uses fear tactics to give himself a place of control. Essentially, if people were intimidated by him, he’d give them a real reason to be.

[Speculative] Azul Ashengrotto – It’s a Deal Azul’s Unique Magic has some drastic effects, such as redirecting another’s magic to himself in return for a special effect or exchange he can provide. It’s understood that his golden contracts act as a safety net for It’s a Deal to prevent excessive blot build-up, and the same way an incantation specifies the intention and personal meaning to a Magician’s Unique Magic, Azul’s golden contracts have special stipulations that he knows inside and out. It’s possible he found a loophole against spoken-word incantations via the contract’s stipulations acting as the incantation itself. He knows it by heart, making it a simple ‘mental incantation’ in the loosest terms, all while bore witnessed by (often inattentive and unwitting) students affected by his Unique Magic.

Jade Leech – Shock the Heart “There is no need to be afraid; I only want to help you. Shock the Heart.” Jade’s all about disarming individuals to his presence, which is easy when he’s around someone as volatile as Floyd, making Jade seem the more reasonable of the two until you’re unfortunate enough to catch their ‘interest’. His incantation, as well, holds ‘reassuring’ words and a calm tone, and considering how unnerving eye contact can be with him, the incantation may work in his favor to minimize the risk of someone looking away too suddenly. That aside, Jade’s Unique Magic ultimately helps himself – much like many of his other actions, by giving him control of the situation, which in general is easy to do when he frames his actions as accommodating others and swaying them in his favor.

Jamil Viper – Snake Whisper “The one reflected in your eyes is your master. If I ask, you shall answer me; if I command it, you shall bow to me. Snake Whisper.” For how secretive he is, Jamil’s incantation has the most straightforward meaning. He wants full control of his target. As someone born into servitude, he leaves no room for free will nor error when casting Snake Whisper. Practically speaking, if he developed it at an early age, it would make keeping watch of Kalim easy, as both a way to deter Kalim from more troublesome manners, or using it other people to minimize a risk of danger or violence and leave the situation as soon as possible. Ironically, Snake Whisper isn’t the most flattering name, but it shows Jamil understands the nature of his Unique Magic, since the aftermath and intention of it requires some damage control and being able to keep it under wraps.

Kalim Al-Asim – Oasis Maker “Unwind on the hot sands. An endless party. Sing, dance! Oasis Maker!” Contrasting Jamil’s, Kalim’s Unique Magic has a straightforward name and incantation with a more poetic meaning. Living in a desert climate, Kalim understands the importance of safe, clean water, and no one can have any fun or enjoy life when suffering dehydration or a drought. His incantation, by extension, shows Kalim does understand, to an extent, that his Unique Magic is extremely practical, even if told otherwise by others. It’s much easier to enjoy singing and dancing when you have the means to do so, and a refreshing rain or literal oasis makes that all the better. The incantation both demonstrates his carefree nature and desire for others to enjoy themselves.

#twisted wonderland #twst

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tomorrowimjustdirt · 3 years

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“If a culture is measured by how it treats its weakest members, then the handling of people with cognitive disabilities in our criminal justice system reveals American justice at its basest.” [Professor Joan Petersilia from a 1999 study for the California Policy Research Center]

At the age of 12, Wanda Jean Allen was knocked unconscious and suffered a concusion after she was struck by a car. This incident, coupled with being stabbed in the temple a few years later caused mild brain damage in Allen. It was noted after testing years later that the left side of her brain which controls comprehension, her ability to express her emotions, and her judgement of outcomes of situations was severely dysfunctional. Also at 15, Allen was given an IQ test where she only scored a 69.

By 1981 Allen was living with Dedra Pettus who she had grown up with and now was romantically involved.

On June 29th, Allen, Pettus, and Pettus' boyfriend began arguing which led to Allen shooting Pettus dead.

Allen claimed she was defending herself against the boyfriend when she accidently shot Pettus. In reality, evidence showed Pettus was shot at point blank range and had been pistol whipped.

Allen was sentenced to four years for manslaughter but served only two of those years.

While in prison she met Gloria Leathers. Leathers was serving time for stabbing another woman at a night club.

Once both were out of prison they began a volatile relationship.

On December 2, 1988 while at the grocery store, Allen and Leathers got into an argument and Leathers left the store. She called her mother to come back with her to her and Allen's home so she could get some personal items and then she planned to go to the police station to file a complaint against Allen for abuse.

When Leathers arrived, Allen was waiting there for her and shot her in front of the police station.

Gloria Leathers died three days later.

Allen was charged with first degree murder.

While she and her defense team fought this sentencing claiming Allen feared for her safety because of Leathers violent past, the court drew comparisons to the previous murder of Pettus and found that Allen was remorseless in both murders.

Allen was found guilty and sentenced to death.

While on death row in 1991 Allen's defense team stated in an affidavit that at the time of the trial they did not know of Allen's previous brain injury and they "did not search for any medical records or seek expert assistance for use at the trial" regarding Allen's cognitive ability.

During the twelve years on death row, Allen pleaded several times for clemency which was denied.

She also became a "born again Christian" and renounced being a lesbian. Reverend Robin Meyers stated, "I always suspected that Wanda's renunciation of lesbianism had more to do with helping to revamp herself in the most palatable way for her clemency and appeal processes."

On January 11, 2001 Pettus and Leathers families gathered to watch the execution of Allen.

While waiting for the lethal injection, Allen stuck her tongue out and then smiled at her lawyer, with whom she had become close and stated, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do."

#true crime #true crime community #true crime research #tcc #wanda jean allen #women in true crime

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thecreaturecodex · 4 years

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Desmodu

Image © Wizards of the Coast, by David Roach. Accessed at the Monster Manual II Art Gallery here

[So at the time I’m enqueuing this post, Furtober has been going for a while, and I’m afraid it has not been terribly successful. My thought was to post a bunch of furry monsters, because people seemed to like them and October is traditionally a theme month for internet creative types. But my average notes count is actually lower than it has been! Maybe I’m over-saturating the market. Maybe it’s because I haven’t tagged them with “furry”, instead using “furtober”, which is a tag people don’t search for or follow (I’ve since rectified this). Maybe I was mis-estimating my audience in general, but whatever the reason, Furtober feels like a bit of a failure.

You know what else feels like a bit of a failure? The desmodu! These batsquatches were Skip Williams’ baby, having appeared first in Deep Horizon, a module he wrote all about them, and then reappearing in Monster Manual II and Savage Species. Basically, they showed up in one book per year of the entire 3.0 product line, and nobody ever seemed to like them. Maybe it was because they had a lot of special abilities and gimmicks (sonic attacks! wounding! alchemy! double weapons!). Maybe because the creature misses out on what people want from an anthro bat monster--flight. Maybe because that illustration isn’t great. (Incidentally, two images by the same artist appear in Deep Horizon, and are much better. I didn’t use either of them because I only have access to very low-res versions). My version streamlines their abilities a bit and removes the double weapon gimmick.]

Desmodu CR 9 NG Monstrous Humanoid This hulking creature resembles a cross between a bat and a gorilla, with reddish fur and a wrinkled face. It does not have full wings, but a membrane connects its oversized arms to its somewhat stumpy legs. It wears a harness and leather armor, and carries an oversized hook.

The desmodus are intelligent, bat-like giant humanoids. They were once common throughout the Darklands, but warfare with the drow pushed them into the deepest, most remote corners. Desmodus have relatively poor vision, but compensate for this by an incredibly keen echolocation sense. Their language, Desmon, extends into frequencies above and below that which humans can hear, and their voices tend to jump in frequency dramatically when speaking more common languages. They are omnivores, feeding primarily on fungi and giant insects, but they require the blood of vertebrates regularly in order to stay healthy. Most desmodu obtain this blood by feeding non-lethally on giant bats and lizards kept as livestock.

Desmodus favor the use of weapons in warfare, such as crossbows and their signature hooked staves. They also craft alchemical items, and use these intelligently to disrupt enemy tactics—charging into enemy formations with a lit smokestick in their belt is a common desmodu gambit. Their sonic abilities can be honed into weapons, firing bolts of stunning sound or filling enemies with despair-causing vibrations. As most desmodu are good, most of them will accept surrender, and most would prefer to flee or surrender themselves instead of fight to the death.

Most desmodus live in small enclaves, and community is dearly important to them. Desmodus wear “kinship badges”, which are metallic bell-like structures that resonate when struck with echolocation, the pitch revealing the family and enclave of the wearer. They trade with other enclaves or with other Darklands species, but material goods are not considered valuable for their own sake. Many desmodus are proud of their animal husbandry, breeding new strains of livestock suitable for food, as pack animals, or even as mounts. Desmodus worship a small pantheon of gods and empyreal lords devoted to darkness, earth and kinship. Some clans have fallen to evil, however, serving powers of war and blood.

A desmodu stands between eight and nine feet tall. They walk bipedally with a rolling gait, but when they need speed drop down on all fours. They favor leather as material for armor and clothing.

Desmodu CR 9 XP 6,400 NG Large monstrous humanoid Init +3; Senses blindsight 120 ft., darkvision 30 ft., Perception +17 Defense AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +6 natural, +3 armor) hp 114 (12d10+48) Fort +10, Ref +11, Will +10; +4 vs. sonic Defensive Abilities soundproof Offense Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft. (40 ft. when galloping) Melee ogre hook +16/+11/+6 (2d8+7/x3), bite +11 (1d8+2 plus bleed) or 2 claws +16 (1d6+5), bite +16 (1d8+5 plus bleed) Ranged screech bolt +14 touch (5d6 sonic and stun) or light crossbow +14 (2d6/19-20) Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft. Special Attacks bleed (1d4), subsonic hum (12 rounds/day) Statistics Str 20, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 15, Wis 15, Cha 11 Base Atk +12; CMB +18 (+20 vs. trip); CMD 31 (33 vs. trip) Feats Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Improved Trip, Quick Draw, Vital Strike Skills Acrobatics +19 (+14 jumping, +23 jumping w/ gallop), Climb +20, Craft (alchemy) +17, Handle Animal +12, Heal +10, Perception +21, Stealth +14; Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics, +4 Perception Languages Desmon, Terran, Undercommon Ecology Environment underground Organization solitary, pair, company (3-7) or troop (8-20) Treasure standard (Large masterwork studded leather armor, Large ogre hook, Large light crossbow with 20 bolts, other treasure) Special Abilities Blindsight (Ex) A desmodu’s blindsight is hearing based. They cannot use this ability if deafened or in the area of a silence spell. Gallop (Ex) A desmodu can move at a speed of 40 feet if it travels on all four limbs. It cannot hold an item in hand or draw an item when it gallops. Screech Bolt (Su) As a standard action once every 1d4 rounds, a desmodu can fire a ray at a range of 60 feet. A creature struck by this ray takes 5d6 points of sonic damage and must succeed a DC 22 Fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution based. Soundproof (Ex) A desmodu gains a +4 racial bonus on all saving throws against sonic effects. Subsonic Hum (Su) A desmodu can create an area of sonic vibrations in a 30 foot radius around itself. It can use this ability as a standard action, and maintain it on later rounds as a swift action. A desmodu can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to its Hit Dice + Charisma modifier. It gains access to the following two abilities: Despair All enemies in the area must succeed a DC 16 Will save or be struck with despair, suffering a -2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill and ability checks and weapon damage rolls for as long as they remain in the area of the hum. Hope All allies in the area gain a +2 morale bonus to attack rolls, saving throws, skill and ability checks and weapon damage rolls as long as they remain in the area of the hum. A desmodu can switch between effects as a standard action. This is a mind-influencing emotion effect, and the save DC is Charisma based.

#desmodu #furry #D&D #pathfinder 1e #batsquatch

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embarrassingresultofmyfreetime · 3 years

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2020 Masterlist

Here’s a list of all the fics I’ve posted this year! (Listed by category, then chronologically:)

Link to my ao3 where you can read all of these: embarrassingresultofmyfreetime

Currents wips:

And They Were Quarantine Mates

An old disease has resurfaced on Earth- one which most humans recover from but is permanently lethal to Time Lords.

Because of this, the Doctor stays on Earth to make sure her humans make it through okay.

And because of the Doctor, the Master- against his better judgement- also chooses to stay.

Reluctant to leave the safety of the Doctor's Tardis, the Doctor and the Master find plenty of ways to pass the time but it can be difficult to enjoy each other's company with so many things left unsaid.

Good thing they have plenty of time in isolation to work it out.

Word Count: Currently 88,172

Spyfall: Battle For Humanity

This is a little number I like to call: Roleswap AU with Dhawan!Doctor and Whittaker!Master

It's sort of a rewrite of Spyfall p2 but it's better.

Word Count: Currently 5,688 (will be about 12k when finished)

~~~

Main fics (completed):

Please Tell Me Why Do We Worry

Summary: After learning about the final loss of Gallifrey, the Doctor takes some time to grieve and finds herself with surprisingly mixed feelings about the whole ordeal.

To her surprise, a knock at her Tardis door soon reveals the Master not only alive, but in uncontrollable mental agony as he reveals that the Doctor's suffering has been amplifying his own emotions via their telepathic bond.

Note: (After so many kind and positive comments on this fic, I finally gained the confidence to start posting more! A huge thank you to so many people it means so, so much to me!)

Word Count: 5,068

Second Chances

When Graham finds a teleportation cube offering an all-expenses-paid vacation, he, Ryan, and Yaz take up the offer and give the seemingly-distant Doctor some time to herself.

After the events of Skyfall 1&2, the trust between the trio and a certain timelord is shaken. However, when their vacation quickly becomes a nightmare, it's up to the Doctor to bring about peace on an upsettingly familiar planet.

Note: (A rewrite/fix it of S11 episode Orphan 55)

Word Count: 7,130

All’s Fair In Love And War

Having escaped alive and alone, the Master dwells on his failure and uncertainty at what to do next.

Purely by accident, he runs into a version of the Doctor he's never met before and she gives him a much needed perspective on their relationship.

Word Count: 4,653

Truth and Reconciliation

“I... I destroyed a lot of things, but not this... trove of secrets. This is what started it all.”

Missing Scene where the Master goes to Gallifrey and discovers the truth of the timeless child for the first time + alternate ending to The Timeless Children episode

Word Count: 7,563

The Doctor Finally Gets Some Rest

(Ch2 update Missy pov)

The Doctor promised to guard Missy for 1000 years, but Missy doesn't mind returning the favor.

Word Count: 5,671

I Wouldn’t Wish It On My Best Enemy

"Just deserts appeared to finally be served for the Doctor. All her running had come to an end, all the lives she's taken or caused had finally been assigned a numerical value, and all the morals she had once believed in seemed to crumble to dust right before her eyes.

A life sentence.

She had JUST BEEN TOLD she would never die, and the first thing the universe does is give her a life sentence.

What kind of cruel joke is that?"

Basically: The Doctor reflects on herself while in prison, the Master rescues the Doctor and actually helps her, and idk read the tags

Word Count: 4,629

Brand New Reality

In an alternate timeline: The Master is killed in the Time War but the Doctor finds a way to salvage his oldest friend's mind by binding it to his Tardis and building him an android vessel as a way to interact with the physical world.

The Doctor also manages to save the Time Lords from their war- but he is still a renegade in their eyes. As punishment, the High Council uses the Doctor- and by extension the Master- as their personal diplomats/field agents.

The Master isn't too happy about being trapped on the Doctor's Tardis, the Doctor is fed up with being the equivalent of a dog on a leash to the Time Lords, so in a moment of anger and also pure luck- they break out from their world and end up on a parallel one with a very different version of their universe and very different versions of themselves.

(Shalka!Universe Doctor and Master meet their modern counterparts- the Thirteenth Doctor and Dhawan!Master)

Word Count: 10,148

The Imposter(s) Among Us

The Doctor has been searching the universe for the Master, but it's only when she takes a break to help a damaged space vessel that she runs directly into him!

The Doctor has a hundred and one things to ask him, but there's no time for any of that now. The ship is barely functional and if the mysterious murderer doesn't get to the Doctor first, then the trigger-happy crewmates might throw her out the airlock before the killer gets a chance.

Word Count: 12,655

My Dear, Doctor…

The Doctor investigates an anomaly to find that her previous self has stood up their oldest friend for the umpteenth time.

Confused as to why the Doctor can't recall ever receiving Missy's invitation in the first place, the Doctor goes searching for answers and ends up finding far more letters than just one…

Word Count: 6,657

~~~

Series:

And They Were Happy Au Parts 1-4:

Part 1: Dinner and a Show

All his lives, the Master had always believed that he and the Doctor could hold on for about the same amount of time. He always imagined that when they reached their last lives, they would both give all this up and spend their retirement years bickering and raising bees or whatever. The Master didn't particularly like bees, but he had always imagined that the Doctor did and as long as they were together, that was enough to satisfy him.

What he had discovered in the Matrix had proved his ideal endgame impossible.

The revelation that the Doctor was The Timeless Child meant that the Doctor would always live on. They would always evolve and survive no matter what happened. The Doctor would always race to people in need; and now, they would never have any reason to stop.

(AU where the reason the Master wanted the Doctor to kill them both in The Timeless Child is bc he's on his last life)

Word Count: 5,120

Part 2: Dinner and a Show One-Offs

"The Doctor did her best to space out her visits with O. For every couple adventures she had with her 'fam', she would stop by his home once or so. Sometimes she let months slip by, because she knew that the longer she waited, the less of O's limited time she used up.

She felt guilty to calculate it, but if O was already in his mid-thirties and he lived a full human life...

Suffice it to say, she wanted it to last for as long as possible. She had never had a situation as stable nor as safe as she now had with O. After everything they had both been through to get to this point, she refused to jeopardize a single moment.

For all the pain the Master had caused her, O was well worth the wait."

(By popular demand, a continuation of 'Dinner and a Show')

Word Count: 10,926

Part 3: Unjustifiable

O- having no recollection of his actions as 'The Master'- returns to being Earth's Horizon Watcher.

O is proud of his work and he cherishes the Doctor's frequent visits, but it's becoming increasingly apparent that she's been keeping more secrets about his past than he had theorized.

To make matters worse, the arrival of an advanced species of aliens on his doorstep brings with it a whole new plethora of problems. Something terrifying resurfaces when O hears they're searching for a Tardis and things go terribly wrong.

Word Count: 23,870

Part 4: Found Family

The Master finally gets around to seeing the universe in a more peaceful way and runs into a young woman looking for her father.

Word Count: 3,663 (Will possibly be updated at a later date, but complete for now)

~~~

Oneshots Inspired by others (specific inspiration in the beginning notes of each):

All Alone In The Dark

While heading back to Earth, the Doctor hears someone calling for her help.

She tracks it back to the Master- injured yet alive- and finds him trapped in his own head, reliving his last confrontation with The Time Lord Council before the destruction of Gallifrey.

Word Count: 1,926

You Again

The 10th Doctor and Missy each escape their last canon appearances believing that the other is dead for good.

So imagine their surprise when they run into each other at a party in the 1920's.

Word Count: 6,943

Sick Day

The Master has everything set up for his latest evil scheme but when he tracks down the Doctor, he realizes his best enemy is in no condition to fight. So the Master does what any good nemesis does and takes care of him.

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

Word Count: 2,807

Prompt: "Right now, I don't know if I want to kiss you or shove you off a bridge!" "Can I pick?"

The Master’s Tardis had traced the call seven minutes in advance to this exact time and location. He pushed open his Tardis door to find himself in front of some no name bar with graffiti scrawled on the side, situated in front of an empty ravine. He was on Earth, and there was probably a similarly ramshackled city around him, but he didn’t so much as spare it a glance.

The Master’s steps were determined, his jaw clenched, and his hands shaking despite his signature device in hand.

He had been on the other side of the universe, licking his wounds like any old villain would when disappointed by their latest nemesis showdown. It all made his blood boil to have caved so soon. To come back and HELP the Doctor.

The Doctor still had O’s number and her call was scheduled to be made in exactly seven minutes. A hysterical, agonizing call that begged the Master to intervene. He wasn’t sure what was worse, hearing the Doctor in so much despair, or the disappointment that hearing her in such agony somehow didn’t lessen his own.

Word Count: 2,410

The Beginning and The End

Prompt: First Doctor, Dhawan!Master, Gallifrey, and the dialogue: "I know my words mean close to nothing for you. But I do, in fact, love you very much."

Basically Theta (Academy Era Doctor) accidentally runs into the Master on a burning Gallifrey

Word Count: 4,499

Kisses Like That

The Doctor's never understood why humans enjoy kissing so much- but a certain, somewhat familiar woman piques his interest.

(Missy goes back in time to give 10 a lil kiss)

Word Count: 1,885

Spyvember 2020

Collection of short fics I did inspired by Spyvember prompts (from Tumblr)

Word Count: 15,506 (6 separate chapters)

~~~

Thank you to everyone who has inspired me, commented on my work, read any of my writing, and overall has just supported me in any way this year!! Thank you for keeping me motivated and helping me improve as a writer!

My best wishes to you in the new year! <3

#here's a version w a break for mobile users lol #otherwise its the same #doctor who #dw #doctor who fic #doctor who fanfic #thirteenth doctor #dhawan!master #dhawan master #yasmin khan #ryan sinclair #graham obrien #thoschei #spydoc

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reading-writing-revolution · 4 years

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"However bad things are for most other rich democracies, it is hard not to feel sorry for Americans. Most of them did not vote for Donald Trump in 2016. Yet they are locked down with a malignant narcissist who, instead of protecting his people from Covid-19, has amplified its lethality. The country Trump promised to make great again has never in its history seemed so pitiful."

(Thank you to David Lerigny for forwarding this article)

Here is a brilliant Op-Ed From Irish Times writer, Fintan O’Toole.

April 25, 2020

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Over more than two centuries, the United States has stirred a very wide range of feelings in the rest of the world: love and hatred, fear and hope, envy and contempt, awe and anger. But there is one emotion that has never been directed towards the US until now: pity.

However bad things are for most other rich democracies, it is hard not to feel sorry for Americans. Most of them did not vote for Donald Trump in 2016. Yet they are locked down with a malignant narcissist who, instead of protecting his people from Covid-19, has amplified its lethality. The country Trump promised to make great again has never in its history seemed so pitiful.

As the American writer George Packer puts it in the current edition of the Atlantic, “The United States reacted ... like Pakistan or Belarus – like a country with shoddy infrastructure and a dysfunctional government whose leaders were too corrupt or stupid to head off mass suffering.”

It is one thing to be powerless in the face of a natural disaster, quite another to watch vast power being squandered in real time – wilfully, malevolently, vindictively. It is one thing for governments to fail (as, in one degree or another, most governments did), quite another to watch a ruler and his supporters actively spread a deadly virus. Trump, his party and Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News became vectors of the pestilence.

The grotesque spectacle of the president openly inciting people (some of them armed) to take to the streets to oppose the restrictions that save lives is the manifestation of a political death wish. What are supposed to be daily briefings on the crisis, demonstrative of national unity in the face of a shared challenge, have been used by Trump merely to sow confusion and division. They provide a recurring horror show in which all the neuroses that haunt the American subconscious dance naked on live TV.

If the plague is a test, its ruling political nexus ensured that the US would fail it at a terrible cost in human lives. In the process, the idea of the US as the world’s leading nation – an idea that has shaped the past century – has all but evaporated.

It is hard to remember now but, even in 2017, when Trump took office, the conventional wisdom in the US was that the Republican Party and the broader framework of US political institutions would prevent him from doing too much damage. This was always a delusion, but the pandemic has exposed it in the most savage ways.

Abject surrender

What used to be called mainstream conservatism has not absorbed Trump – he has absorbed it. Almost the entire right-wing half of American politics has surrendered abjectly to him. It has sacrificed on the altar of wanton stupidity the most basic ideas of responsibility, care and even safety.

Thus, even at the very end of March, 15 Republican governors had failed to order people to stay at home or to close non-essential businesses. In Alabama, for example, it was not until April 3rd that governor Kay Ivey finally issued a stay-at-home order.

In Florida, the state with the highest concentration of elderly people with underlying conditions, governor Ron DeSantis, a Trump mini-me, kept the beach resorts open to students travelling from all over the US for spring break parties. Even on April 1st, when he issued restrictions, DeSantis exempted religious services and “recreational activities”.

Georgia governor Brian Kemp, when he finally issued a stay-at-home order on April 1st, explained: “We didn’t know that [the virus can be spread by people without symptoms] until the last 24 hours.”

This is not mere ignorance – it is deliberate and homicidal stupidity. There is, as the demonstrations this week in US cities have shown, plenty of political mileage in denying the reality of the pandemic. It is fuelled by Fox News and far-right internet sites, and it reaps for these politicians millions of dollars in donations, mostly (in an ugly irony) from older people who are most vulnerable to the coronavirus.

Trump embodies and enacts this mindset, but he did not invent it. The US response to the coronavirus crisis has been paralysed by a contradiction that the Republicans have inserted into the heart of US democracy. On the one hand, they want to control all the levers of governmental power. On the other they have created a popular base by playing on the notion that government is innately evil and must not be trusted.

The contradiction was made manifest in two of Trump’s statements on the pandemic: on the one hand that he has “total authority”, and on the other that “I don’t take responsibility at all”. Caught between authoritarian and anarchic impulses, he is incapable of coherence.

Fertile ground

But this is not just Donald Trump. The crisis has shown definitively that Trump’s presidency is not an aberration. It has grown on soil long prepared to receive it. The monstrous blossoming of misrule has structure and purpose and strategy behind it.

There are very powerful interests who demand “freedom” in order to do as they like with the environment, society and the economy. They have infused a very large part of American culture with the belief that “freedom” is literally more important than life. My freedom to own assault weapons trumps your right not to get shot at school. Now, my freedom to go to the barber (“I Need a Haircut” read one banner this week in St Paul, Minnesota) trumps your need to avoid infection.

Usually when this kind of outlandish idiocy is displaying itself, there is the comforting thought that, if things were really serious, it would all stop. People would sober up. Instead, a large part of the US has hit the bottle even harder.

And the president, his party and their media allies keep supplying the drinks. There has been no moment of truth, no shock of realisation that the antics have to end. No one of any substance on the US right has stepped in to say: get a grip, people are dying here.

That is the mark of how deep the trouble is for the US – it is not just that Trump has treated the crisis merely as a way to feed tribal hatreds but that this behaviour has become normalised. When the freak show is live on TV every evening, and the star is boasting about his ratings, it is not really a freak show any more. For a very large and solid bloc of Americans, it is reality.

And this will get worse before it gets better. Trump has at least eight more months in power. In his inaugural address in 2017, he evoked “American carnage” and promised to make it stop. But now that the real carnage has arrived, he is revelling in it. He is in his element.

As things get worse, he will pump more hatred and falsehood, more death-wish defiance of reason and decency, into the groundwater. If a new administration succeeds him in 2021, it will have to clean up the toxic dump he leaves behind. If he is re-elected, toxicity will have become the lifeblood of American politics.

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

You can follow Fintan O’Toole @fotoole on twitter.

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chloes-yellow-cup · 4 years

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Copied and stolen in full from a friend on FB.

This reporter sums the entire dire situation here.

Powerful piece from the Irish Times’ political reporter. Hard to read, impossible to put down. Should be required reading for every American. In fact, they should hand out copies at the polls before letting anyone vote.

———

Irish Times-April 25, 2020-By Fintan O’Toole

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Abject surrender

Fertile ground

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

#the irish times #fintan o’toole #long post #it’s scary when people you used to think were rational post things that are’t logical #like ‘no vote by mail’ when they did it for years living in oregon #all because 45 says it would increase voter fraud

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ameryth74 · 4 years

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From The Irish Times: very well-written yet heartbreaking. "Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again."

——————-

April 25, 2020

By Fintan O’Toole

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Abject surrender

Fertile ground

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

#fintan o'toole #the irish times #us politics #2020 election #2020 elections #trump

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scripttorture · 4 years

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(1/2) I am writing a fantasy story and I wanted to have a character who undergoes a type of solitary confinement but not really? They would be isolated from practically everything except to analyse data and send reports but never receive any form of communication other than orders. But I was on the fence of whether or not I wanted to have them have a magical "bond" with their twin, meaning they would be able to sense each other and know they were alive but be unable to communicate anything else

(2/2) Solitary confinement cont: though, I guess they could sometimes be able to communicate emotions if they were feeling it really strongly. would this still be considered solitary confinement? Would the symptoms be lessened? I’m planning for them to stay in that situation for at least ten years if not more. Would it even matter if they could sense their twin, or would they be affected just as “strongly” as if they were alone? Also, what /would/ be a realistic reaction to this kind of torture?(3/?) Solitary confine cont: sorry for being such a bother. but i’m also not sure if this will be a factor in predicting symptoms in my character, but they would be forced to sit in one place and be unable to move anywhere else other than the desk they work at. They will still be fed and such; the food will come to them.(4/?) solitary confin cont: sorry i forgot to ask in the last one: would the character still be close to the twin after they got out? With or without the bond? Would further isolating themselves except from the people they used to be very close to before the confinement be a reasonable reaction to this experience? Would social isolation be a feasible reaction period? Would it still be possible for them to get better and heal? Would it be realistic for them to continue living instead of suicide?

OK so there are a lot of complicated and interrelated questions here. Given the story you’ve described I think the best thing I can do is start with the problems in the scenario as it is, then suggest some changes and then talk about long term effects for a survivable, altered scenario.

What you’re describing is solitary confinement and you’re also describing other forms of torture. You’re underestimating the damage of both by a really large degree.

And that’s not your fault. It’s hard to find good information on this stuff; that’s why I’m here.

Honestly I think this would kill your character in under a year even if they didn’t attempt suicide.

You’re not describing a stress position. But being forcibly confined to a chair 24/7 is a recipe for pressure sores. Combine that with whatever solution they have for basic excretion and- well even the best scenario I can think of (regularly changed adult diapers) would lead to serious infection.

Combine that with the sleep deprivation being trapped in this position would cause and you have recurrent, serious infections that would probably lead to death.

I haven’t factored in solitary confinement at all yet. The ‘safe’ period for solitary is about a week. Anything after that is prolonged. Ten years is incredibly extreme.

And the research we have on solitary clearly indicates that the effects are even worse when the victims are children (which includes teenagers). It’s also worse when other tortures or elements of neglect are present.

And I’ve only really mentioned one possible injury that a long term restraint torture like this could cause.

I don’t want to go overboard hammering this home. We’re taught to underestimate the damage ‘clean’ tortures like solitary confinement and the restraint tortures you described do. You get the idea.

You can read more about solitary confinement over here.

You can read more about sleep deprivation here.

First of all I really think you need to reduce your time frame by at least a factor of ten. Very few people survive ten years of sustained abuse.

Yes it is possible. People in forced labour scenarios or slavery do sometimes survive this long. But your scenario is inflicting constant physical damage over that time period. A year in captivity is a much more reasonable time frame.

If keeping the characters separated for ten years is important then you can still keep that separation while making sure the character is only tortured for a year or less.

This character’s effectively enslaved and it sounds like a modern or sci fi setting.

That often involves moving people across state or national boundaries and taking their documentation away. Establishing someone’s identity and getting replacement documents after they’re released can take a very long time. Especially if the country in question has policies that require paying for documentation.

It can get even more complicated if there’s a language barrier in play.

If slavery victims are rescued by police and are willing to testify that often requires staying in a particular area. If the survivors are in a witness protection program of some kind (not uncommon because a lot of these people are under threat from other slavers) then the survivors might not have much control over where they’re staying or for how long.

If this is big enough that national security might be brought up then they might not even be allowed to contact anyone.

Court cases involving slavers and gangs can easily take up several years.

Add on top of this the severe symptoms that any torture survivors suffer from which can lead to people being institutionalised and you have a lot of reasons why these twins might not have been able to contact or see each other for ten years.

This isn’t just more realistic, I think it would give you a stronger story as well. Because it gives the survivor twin things to do, allows them to develop as a separate person and you can use the things they choose to do to tell the audience about them.

When your character’s alone in a strange place and they’ve just been through hell what they do next tells the audience a lot. You can show their beliefs, their personality, their goals or priorities. You can show whether any of those have changed as a result of abuse.

Their core beliefs, the things they hold most dear, are unlikely to change. But torture can cause big changes in personality and perspective. The key thing to remember is that this change can’t be controlled. Torturers and slavers can’t ‘make’ a victim change in a way they want.

You might want to have a look at this post here on the common stereotypes around survivors and torturers.

Next I’d suggest you don’t describe the character as being constantly at a desk.

The majority of the lethal problems that could cause would be reduced hugely if the character can move around relatively freely for an hour or so a day. Even if this time is while they’re asleep.

I’d suggest a scenario where the character is removed to a cell for the night everyday and allowed between 6-8 hours rest every night.

Keep in mind that 6 hours would still be sleep deprivation with all the short and long term effects that causes.

The cell should be at least big enough for them to lie down comfortably, with appropriate bedding. They should also preferably have access to a bathroom with at least a toilet.

This would still be solitary confinement. The definition is less then 1-2 hours of human contact daily (some academics and law systems use less then 1 hour some use less then 2).

It has to be social contact. Being in the same room as someone who doesn’t respond doesn’t help and may actually make things worse. It doesn’t necessarily have to be based on verbal communication; based on what I’ve read it seems as though positive interaction would still help despite a language barrier.

But a nebulous magical connection that only really says ‘your twin is still alive’ doesn’t sound like social contact. There’s no communication, non-verbal or otherwise. So I don’t think this would be a protective factor. I think it has the potential to have a negative effect actually, making symptoms worse.

Because I think it sounds like it could be similar to being in a room with someone who refuses to socialise, constantly. And for someone in solitary confinement that’s a little like the equivalent of leaving a meal just out of reach of someone whose starving.

I can’t say that definitely for obvious reasons. So I’d suggest assuming that at best it has no effect on the situation.

The realistic reaction to the scenario I’ve suggested is lifelong mental illness and possibly physical disability as well.

The majority of tortures produce the same symptoms. Not every survivor experiences every possible symptom but the possible symptoms are pretty consistent.

Solitary confinement actually causes some unusual symptoms. So do starvation and sleep deprivation. I suspect this is because they’re all a systematic deprivation of something we need to function.

You can find the possible symptoms of solitary confinement, along with a few statistical estimates on the likelihood of different symptoms, in the solitary confinement masterpost.

If you’d like to know more about what those symptoms look like in practice there’s a source linked to in that masterpost by S Shalev which contains a lot of different accounts from survivors. I think you’d find it useful. It’s available for free online.

We can’t predict who will be prone to what symptoms. Right now we just don’t know why individual survivors develop particular symptoms.

So I suggest consciously picking the symptoms you want your character to come based on what you think will add to your story and character.

If a symptom creates interesting problems in the narrative, increases tension in the plot or lets you show the audience something about the character, then it’s probably a good pick.

I’d strongly suggest picking physical symptoms for solitary confinement as well as psychological ones. Most people don’t know it can cause physical symptoms and it’s important to include multiple aspects to capture the experience.

Once again, I suggest you read the survivor accounts in Shalev’s Sourcebook. Personally I’ve found reading what survivors say to be the best source for understanding their lived experience.

In this particular case after a year of restraint torture and limited opportunity for physical activity I think physical weakness, chronic pain in the legs and back, and possibly difficulty walking are all likely.

I’m not sure how good the chance of physical recovery would be because I’m not a doctor. The survivors who report these sorts of injuries after extremely long periods in restraints are often denied medical treatment after release. And appropriate medical treatment could make a lot of difference.

I suspect the chronic pain at least would last a long time. Possibly for the rest of the character’s life.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to have them using a cane or finding it difficult to walk long distances.

Now I want to stress that recovery is possible.

Torture survivors are not passive objects forever ‘broken’ by what they survived.

They’re ill. They’re often disabled. But they do often go on to live full and happy lives.

It’s a long process and it’s often about finding a way to live with mental illness.

But it’s possible. Torture survivors go on to do all sorts of things. They’re artists, teachers, home makers, religious leaders, cooks, philosophers, scientists, historians. They do build fulfilling lives.

If reconnecting with family and friends seems like it would be a part of that for your character, then yes that’s probably something you should include in the process.

Would it be easy? No.

Recovery is long and difficult. And people change when they’re apart from each other for long periods, especially if they’re still growing up.

Family and friends of survivors often say they don’t recognise their loved ones any more. Especially if they’ve been held for a long period of time (ie months).

That’s understandable. Mental illness changes people. It can feel like a survivor comes back as a ‘different person’.

I think, for reasons that have nothing to do with solitary confinement, rebuilding the relationship would take a lot of time for these characters. Perfectly possible, but hard. There’d be a lot of miscommunications, arguments and problems along the way.

Because suddenly having to navigate severe mental illness is hard. And because dealing with healthy people who don’t understand when you’re severely mentally ill/disabled is hard.

Torture generally can result in social isolation in the long term. This isn’t always the survivor’s choice but yes, sometimes it can be.

For some survivors their symptoms and triggers are such that they find avoiding people the ‘easier’ option.

It’s not a good solution. In the long run it makes mental health problems worse. But it’s understandable. Society isn’t set up to accommodate people with mental illnesses and socialising can be very difficult.

So, yes. Depending on the symptoms you pick for the character a certain amount of withdrawing would be normal. However this is not the same as some kind of voluntary solitary confinement.

As for the final question-

Whatever the torture and the time frame suicide is always possible. Depression and suicidal ideation are common symptoms.

You’re proposing an impossibly extreme time frame. If the scenario was ‘just’ solitary confinement I’d say suicide was incredibly likely.

Even with the shorter time frame I’ve suggested we’re talking about an extreme period of time. It’s over fifty times the safe period. Suicide attempts are incredibly likely and sometimes the difference between failed and completed suicide is just how attentive the guards are.

I think that in a year of solitary confinement, forced labour and torture- Well it would be surprising if someone survived that and had never once felt suicidal.

Acting on it is a different thing.

I wouldn’t suggest a scenario unless I thought there was a decent chance, realistically, of a character surviving. And I do that while keeping in mind that suicide is a factor.

I think if you want to write this in a way that means the character has never ever felt suicidal then a more reasonable time frame is 1-3 months solitary and the removal of every other torturous or neglectful element from the story.

Even then, some people feel suicidal after a month in solitary confinement.

The realism of suicide depends on more then what a character survives. Their options for professional help, medical attention they receive, community support and practical things like whether they can get a job that pays enough to feed themselves all make a difference. So do cultural attitudes to suicide and policies in place to prevent it.

At the end of the day though, you’re the writer. You control these elements. And you can set every single one of them up in a way that makes suicide less likely.

I hope that helps. :)

Availableon Wordpress.

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#writing advice #tw torture #tw suicide #tw child abuse #Effects of Solitary Confinement #clean torture #solitary confinement #restraint torture #sleep deprivation #time frames for solitary confinement #writing victims #writing recovery #fantasy ask

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everyendeavor · 4 years

Text

Irish Times

April 25, 2020

By Fintan O’Toole

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Abject surrender

Fertile ground

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

Copy and paste text to share

#irish times #opinion #fintan o’toole #toxic america #america may never be great again

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longwindedbore · 4 years

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Trumpianism: Made America Grotesquely Incompetant

The “Trump Era”. A warning to Posterity.

What does the world see when they look at the USA now? Here’s what Ireland’s most respected mainstream political writer says. Brace yourself! 🇮🇪 ☘️ 🇮🇪

Irish Times

April 25, 2020

By Fintan O’Toole

THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Abject surrender

Fertile ground

Either way, it will be a long time before the rest of the world can imagine America being great again.

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place-de-lies-st-tropez · 4 years

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Irish Times April 25, 2020 By Fintan O’Toole THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT

Will American prestige ever recover from this shameful episode? The US went into the coronavirus crisis with immense advantages: precious weeks of warning about what was coming, the world’s best concentration of medical and scientific expertise, effectively limitless financial resources, a military complex with stunning logistical capacity and most of the world’s leading technology corporations. Yet it managed to make itself the global epicentre of the pandemic. As the American writer George Packer puts it in the current edition of the Atlantic, “The United States reacted ... like Pakistan or Belarus – like a country with shoddy infrastructure and a dysfunctional government whose leaders were too corrupt or stupid to head off mass suffering.”

Other than the Trump impersonator Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, who is now looking to the US as the exemplar of anything other than what not to do? How many people in Düsseldorf or Dublin are wishing they lived in Detroit or Dallas? It is hard to remember now but, even in 2017, when Trump took office, the conventional wisdom in the US was that the Republican Party and the broader framework of US political institutions would prevent him from doing too much damage. This was always a delusion, but the pandemic has exposed it in the most savage ways.

Abject surrender What used to be called mainstream conservatism has not absorbed Trump – he has absorbed it. Almost the entire right-wing half of American politics has surrendered abjectly to him. It has sacrificed on the altar of wanton stupidity the most basic ideas of responsibility, care and even safety.

It draws on a concoction of conspiracy theories, hatred of science, paranoia about the “deep state” and religious providentialism (God will protect the good folks) that is now very deeply infused in the mindset of the American right. Trump embodies and enacts this mindset, but he did not invent it. The US response to the coronavirus crisis has been paralysed by a contradiction that the Republicans have inserted into the heart of US democracy. On the one hand, they want to control all the levers of governmental power. On the other they have created a popular base by playing on the notion that government is innately evil and must not be trusted.

Fertile ground But this is not just Donald Trump. The crisis has shown definitively that Trump’s presidency is not an aberration. It has grown on soil long prepared to receive it. The monstrous blossoming of misrule has structure and purpose and strategy behind it.

#facebook post #i wonder if this was actually in an Irish newspaper tho #us politics

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