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#tension versus conflict
ahb-writes · 1 month
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Writing Problem: The Ending Is Completely Anti-Climactic
Problem: The Ending Is Completely Anti-Climactic
Solution: Endings can be dramatic. Endings can be a little ambiguous. Endings can be bittersweet. Endings can be simple surprises. Endings can be unique and unresolved. Endings can reverse motives, reverse perspectives, or reverse fortunes. Endings can be complex webs that tie up every single loose end. Whatever the author's preference, endings shouldn't read as if the last 10 pages were cut off.
But knowing how to end a story is not an isolated challenge. To end a story properly and effectively, the author must know how the story begins, how its characters evolve, and how these dynamics transform over the course of narrative's varying points of tension and conflict. Recall, how does the story begin and why? How, specifically, do the characters evolve? And what compels them to do so? Where and how do the story's internal and external conflicts converge? Endings follow a few essential rules: endings require context, endings must be plausible, and endings must connect to the narrative's key elements.
Writing Resources:
Figuring Out Where to End a Story (Writing Questions Answered)
Writing Great Beginnings and Endings (Writing Questions Answered)
Feeling Overwhelmed by Plot Points (Writing Questions Answered)
What Is the Dénouement of a Story? Your Guide (With Tips) (Jericho Writers)
How to End a Story Perfectly (Jericho Writers)
Story Climax Examples: Writing Gripping Build-Ups (Now Novel)
How to End a Novel: Writing Strong Story Endings (Now Novel)
Tension vs. Conflict (Hint: They Aren't the Same Thing) (September C. Fawkes)
Utilizing 3 Types of Death (September C. Fawkes)
10 Signs Your Plot is Weak (and How to Fix it) (September C. Fawkes)
❯ ❯ Adapted from the writing masterpost series: 19 Things That Are Wrong With Your Novel (and How to Fix Them)
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novlr · 4 months
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I've read your post on manipulative characters, and it helped a lot! Could you explain how to write manipulated characters?
Creating a character who is under the influence or control of another is a challenging feat for any writer. To effectively portray this dynamic, it’s crucial to understand the manipulator’s goals and the methods they use to exert their influence. Let’s explore how a character’s dynamics might change when they are being manipulated.
Behaviour
Behave inconsistently with the decisions they would usually make.
Second-guess themselves or hesitate before acting.
Gradually change their behaviours to align more with the manipulator’s interests.
Show confusion or self-doubt.
Rationalise or defend the manipulator’s actions even when they are harmful.
Suppress their true desires to please the manipulator.
A declining interest in hobbies or activities that they once loved.
Signs of stress or anxiety, especially when the character is around the manipulator.
Increasingly isolating from their support network.
Making excuses for the manipulator’s behaviour to others.
Interactions
Unequal power dynamics, with the manipulator often interrupting or speaking over them.
A lack of reciprocal communication – the manipulator talks, the character listens.
Physical touch that seems controlling or guiding rather than comforting.
They are asked to keep secrets or lie on behalf of the manipulator.
Receive subtle threats or backhanded compliments from the manipulator.
Show an obligation to tend to the manipulator’s needs.
Are willing to compromise their morals under manipulative influence.
The manipulator may use personal information against them to keep them in line.
Have other characters note changes or express concern about their changed behaviour.
Have moments of realisation or clarity that are quickly squashed by the manipulator.
Body language
Closed off, with crossed arms or averted gaze.
Physical withdrawal or flinching.
Display nervous habits, like nail-biting, or fidgeting.
Make themselves smaller or trying to go unnoticed.
Have trouble maintaining eye contact.
Forced smiles or laughter to mask their true feelings.
Physical tension that doesn’t ease, even in supposedly relaxing environments.
Mimicking the manipulator’s body language subconsciously.
Physical exhaustion due to emotional strain.
Contrast in how they act around the manipulator versus others.
Attitude
A gradual erosion of the character’s optimism or hope.
Displays unwarranted hostility towards others.
Is overly apologetic, especially for things not their fault.
A shift from self-assuredness to self-deprecation over time.
A sense of helplessness that they struggle to overcome.
A fatalistic or defeatist outlook on their future.
A growing reluctance to make decisions independently.
Show internal conflict between their beliefs and the influence of the manipulator.
Repetition of the manipulator’s opinions as if they were their own.
A lost sense of identity through a disinterested or detached demeanor.
Positive story outcomes
An eventual recognition of manipulation as a moment of empowerment.
A journey towards reclaiming agency and self-worth.
Forming new, healthy relationships that contrast with the manipulator’s treatment.
Using their experience with manipulation to help others in similar situations.
The development of stronger personal boundaries and assertiveness.
Creative or professional achievements as they break free from manipulation.
Gaining insight and wisdom from their experiences.
Finding support systems that validate and uplift them.
A renewed sense of hope and direction in life post-manipulation.
Finds resilience and new strengths.
Negative story outcomes
Continued struggles with self-esteem and trust issues.
Setbacks and challenges in the aftermath of manipulation.
Potential for downward spirals as a result of the manipulative relationship.
A lasting impact of manipulation on the character’s relationships with others.
A psychological toll, such as anxiety or depression, that may linger.
Becomes wary of future relationships, romantic or otherwise.
Inadvertently emulates manipulative behaviours learned from the manipulator.
Might sabotage their own success due to ingrained beliefs planted by the manipulator.
Struggling to regain autonomy and make independent choices.
Increased tendency to isolate themselves to avoid being hurt again.
Helpful vocabulary
Coercion
Gaslighting
Subjugation
Compliance
Devious
Subtle
Undermine
Exploit
Domineering
Manipulate
Discredit
Influence
Contrived
Obedience
Suppression
Dependency
Guilt-trip
Intimidation
Passive-aggressive
Psychological warfare
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sugar-grigri · 9 months
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It's all about the number 2 
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Asa and Yoru, Nayuta and Denji, two Chainsaw Man, two camps of worshippers versus detractors, two protagonists, a second part, the two identities of Denji, a high-school student and a hero himself, both demon and human: Chainsaw - Man. 
But before we balance all that, let's take a closer look at this chapter.
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First of all, I'd like to say how rich chapter 140 is. I see a lot of people criticizing Fujimoto's writing as someone who simply sets up absurd situations when absolutely nothing is left to chance. We're reading a manga by a film buff, so get your head around Chekov's rifle. 
I'd like to remind you that Chainsaw Man is set in Japanese society. 
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Ejecting a sect from a building, or even belonging to a cult that has nothing to do with a dominant, ancestral religion, is more common than in the West. 
I've seen plenty of people wondering who could be at the head of the church for making people believe such a stupid story as a violet-ray weapon that would make adults stupid.
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When it's the other way around, the church is exploiting the fact that high-school students are just thinking too much. And if there's one thing that saves Denji, it's that he thinks less. 
Let's put things in context: this is the '90s, and even if the idea of nuclear weapons has been erased by Pochita, meaning that the Cold War has surely taken a different form in Chainsaw Man, Fujimoto has never denied geopolitical tensions. 
Whether it's the mention of the USSR with Reze, Makima's instrumentalization of Japan, the history of weapons, the fact that the American government sought to eliminate Makima or that countries share the remains of the weapon demon...
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Countries are in tension. The church exploits this atmosphere of anxiety among teenagers who are beginning to form opinions that dissent from their parents. 
Adolescence means coming into conflict with your parents' ideas, so come up with a story about how a gun makes them stupid. It's simply targeted manipulation that exploits the vulnerabilities of individuals in the midst of an identity crisis. 
Becoming a teenager also means freeing oneself from a certain carefree attitude and better understanding of the world around us, hence the mention of Americans on the same level as adults. 
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I'd like to point out that this is not just a collection of absurdities. But for that, a bit of history... I hope I'm not teaching anyone that Japanese society has been turned upside down by the United States.
Without going into too much detail, during the 19th century, Japan went through the Meiji era. The Meiji government pursued a policy of modernization with the ultimate aim of bringing Japan up to the level of the Western powers. 
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To compete with Western powers such as the United States, the government relied on centralized power to control citizens as much as possible... and this involved reforming the matrimonial system. With the popularization of "love marriage", the Meiji government changed tactics: the polygamous system was replaced by exclusive "love marriage". 
The church used the same method of control as the Meiji government: reforming the matrimonial system by overturning institutions. From now on, it's no longer sex after marriage, but before it.
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It's this kind of talk that just digs into the cracks that allows them to be brainwashed. But talk has never worked with Denji, who thinks concretely with what he can grasp. A date with a pretty girl, steak, sex, feeling the buttocks when he does the chair. What one would point to as perversity is what saves Denji. He thinks through his senses, his literal needs, not the abstract. 
We can't say that Miri, who thinks he's free when he's being instrumentalized, repeating that it's the Americans' fault again, or asking Chainsaw Man if he's sure he hasn't picked up any ultraviolet weapons... that he’s stupid. Because weapons have lost their memory, they have no loved ones, no stories to refer to. 
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Miri convinces himself he's free, filling the void of his own forgotten history with false stories. The lack of education, of pillars, of history is what had tortured Denji, who was so easily manipulated. I'd go so far as to say that Reze is the most striking example of this. 
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It's impossible to determine Barem's psychology, but he still demonstrates a third reaction to manipulation: while Denji evolves, Miri locks himself in denial : Barem manipulates in return. Revenge, reproductive mechanism, any number of reasons could explain why Barem exploits one of Denji's weaknesses: Asa. 
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Now you're thinking, yes, that's all very well, you talk a lot... but what's that got to do with the number two?
The scale is the very image of dichotomy, of a relationship between two forces, two weights, two entities. And what does it have to do with manipulation? Several things.
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First of all, manipulation also means taking on ideas that are not our own. It means no longer questioning them, confronting them with dissident ideas that would contradict them, or balancing them. 
To balance is also to confront two options in a dilemma. Something that's come up several times, first initiated by Yoshida, then taken up in his own way by Barem: embrace his identity as Chainsaw Man or continue his normal life as Denji?
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The manipulation since the start of Part 2 has been to split up Chainsaw Man. To have separated what constitutes his essence: human and demonic. To have split his nature, which has always been that of two beings in one. 
And what if I told you that the answer lies in chapter 2 (yes, man). Here, Makima clearly explains to Denji that Pochita is not dead but continues to live with him, that he has two smells.
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Fami's project is openly to separate Chainsaw Man, to cut its essence in two: the reunion of two beings. 
That's why this chapter talks about marriage, which refers to the reunion of two individuals. 
Barem would have us believe that these two choices are antinomic, that they are contradictory and cannot be fulfilled together. Only Denji can have both choices, he had already answered that. His sign of strength is two fingers. Two is Denji's strength. Becoming two is what literally allowed him to be reborn. 
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Of course, Denji doesn't want to marry; he's already one with one being through a contract: Pochita. 
Pochita had merged with him so that he could live a normal life. It was never a normal life, but the life Denji wanted to live. Chainsaw Man is literally the means, a better life, the end. 
The secret to surviving the manipulation then lies literally in Denji's heart. 
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owlhousetarot · 8 months
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Five of Wands: Covention Duel!
Upright: Conflict, competition, rivalry, disagreements, tension, arguments, difference of opinion, clashing ideals
Reversed: Avoiding conflict, mutual understanding, peace, cooperation, truces, healthy competition, release of tension
The Five of Wands is the card of conflict, clashes, and competition. It could signify a literal physical fight (like the duels between Lilith and Eda or Luz and Amity), or more internal conflicts like differing worldviews or clashing priorities. In Lilith and Eda's case, their conflict derives from their opposing lifestyles and beliefs about magic and social systems; Eda practices wild magic and refuses to conform and join a single coven, while Lilith upholds and enforces the coven system and strives to get Eda to join her side by any means necessary. Their rivalry also stems from disparities of raw magical talent between them. Luz and Amity also show clashing priorities in this episode: Amity's diligence improving her Abomination magic to maintain superiority versus Luz learning magic from scratch to protect her loved ones.
When reversed, the Five of Wands symbolizes an end to a conflict, often through clear communication and trying to understand differing opinions. After their botched duel, Luz and Amity communicate their motivations and admit their failings in behavior towards the other. They both recognize a bit of themselves in each other, and are able to come to a mutual understanding and make a tentative peace—the first brick in the foundation of their relationship.
Deck Order:
< Previous:  Four of Wands | Next:  Six of Wands >
Show Chronology:
< Previous: Ace of Pentacles | Next: Three of Cups >
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sendothetaurus · 24 days
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How to write good dialogue
Almost every story needs dialogue - obvious right? Well, this post is about the not-so-obvious sides of conversations. I've struggled a LOT with snappy and realistic speech, so I've made it my mission to collect some handy directives. Here is what I found:
Contents
Information Dumps
Setup And Payoff
Characterization Through Dialogue
Three Simple Questions
Four-Sides Model
Depth
About Answers
Sources And Credits
⮮ Let's go! (^▽^) ⮯
Information Dumps
Everybody knows them, everybody hates reading them. But how do we avoid them? Something really clicked for me when I understood context. If your character talks about something that happened in the past, they don't need to explain what happened. They were there. Here's an example:
"It would be nice if we at least got a B for that paper. Since I will go to college next year, I feel that this is important to me."
The speaker and the listener should be aware of the exposition (regarding their last year at high school). During dialogue, these conditions go without saying.
Setup And Payoff
Instead of dumping everything at once, let the reader guess what's happening. This is done by mentioning something that is not answered right away. Also dropping hints can increase tension.
Scene 1 "Why do you always carry that with you?" she asked and pointed at the box cutter. Her friend eyed her with suspicion. "For cutting." "Yeah, but why?" "Might come in handy sometime." Scene 2 An ice cold shiver ran down her spine as her fingers felt around the bag, searching for the familiar shape. There was nothing. The other tossed the thing onto the floor between them. "Care to elaborate?" She couldn't have known. "How could you!"
Someone definitely has a secret here that they don't want uncovered. It makes the reader speculate: Does she carry the knife to defend herself or does she plan on hurting someone with it?
Characterization Through Dialogue
The general rule of thumb is: Show not tell. If a character is shy, self-absorbed or chaotic, make them act like it. Also, readers take part in the characterization of your protagonists. Make them guess why a character acts a certain way.
"C- can I have your pen?" She twirled her thumbs and looked at the ground. "What the hell, no!" Disgusted, he brushed off his hands on the front of his jeans. "I'mma better disinfect that."
Notice how the girl is stuttering and the boy has a loose tongue. Mannerisms help identifying traits in a character. Everyone has a distinct way to speak (e.g. relaxed, polite, malignly) which makes it easier to tell them apart. Sometimes there is a difference between speech and behavior. This can be quite useful to highlight conflict inside a character.
Three Simple Questions
Who wants what from who?
Why now?
What happens if they don't get it?
These questions ensure plot consistency. For question 3 the only other outcome is conflict. Conversations thrive off of conflict and it is of benefit to have a supplicant and potential provider for a solution. It's basically intention versus obstacle.
1. She wants to be his wife. He doesn't want a marriage. 2. She is pregnant. 3. She needs to provide for a baby all on her own.
Tadaa, a conflict ensues.
Four-Sides Model
The four-sides model is a theory on communication. It assumes that a message has four distinct ways of being conveyed:
Facts -> data, facts, truth and relevance
Self-Disclosure -> explicit and implicit information about the own mindset; likes, dislikes, opinions
Relationship -> information about whether the person is liked or detested; approval and disapproval; "I assume you have [this] opinion of me"; body language
Want -> a direct attempt to influence the behavior of another person; advice, desire or instruction
Since this is highly technical stuff, I'll provide you with an example:
Customer: "I always drink my coffee black." 1. Fact: The coffee I drink is black. 2. Self-Disclosure: I like black coffee. 3. Relationship (POV of the waiter): Did I do something wrong? OR It's their fault! They ordered the wrong thing! 4. Want: Bring me black coffee.
Controlling the message through sender and receiver gives a new level of influence to an author. The relationship-level is the bottleneck in a conversation that holds the most potential for misunderstandings. I'm trying to be aware of it when I write subtext (see below).
Depth
On the nose dialogue is what we want to avoid at all costs. For this reason subtext is created in stories. Read this:
Scene 1 A: "I like you." B: "Nah, I don't like you back. You're so annoying." A: "Ouch, that hurts. I'm not sure if I heard that right." B: "We were never friends. Go away."
This is not how conversations work. Thankfully, dialogue like this is not entirely useless. It conveys what the characters really want to say. The challenge is to think of a way to not say the thing but keep a similar meaning.
The true meaning behind the dialogue is called subtext (scene 1). If I don't know how to continue after a certain line, I write down the subtext first before I decide on how to paraphrase it.
Finally, I add a fitting description of expression and body language if needed. I try to keep it short and simple.
Check this out:
Scene 2 She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I need a ride home later. Are you free?" -> I like you. "Sorry, all seats' re taken," he said without looking at her. -> Nah, I don't like you back. You're so annoying. "Uhm, okay. But I'm small. You could fit me in the footwell, honestly." -> Ouch, that hurts. I'm not sure if I heard that right. He leaned forward as if he had the urge to stand. "Ha, funny. But no, I'm not planning on doing something illegal tonight." -> We were never friends. Go away.
A character's action depends on their own intention and the other's response. I feel it is easier to keep track of what's happening behind the curtains when it's written alongside the dialogue.
Simultaneously, you can keep habits and traits in check. Does the the character apply all criticism to themselves? Are they disregarding or constantly marginalizing others? Do they worry only for themselves or solely for others? Subtext truly is the most powerful tool in conversation-writing.
About Answers
Did you know that you don't have to answer every single question? In fact, there are two other ways to show an emotion without telling it.
The first one is called sidestepping. The character ignores the posed question and carries on with an entirely different topic.
A: "Do you still love me?" B: "We should get going."
It's very obvious, right? By sidestepping the question, we can assume that the character is uncomfortable or angry with the other person.
The other way to answer is actually a bit paradoxical. Through silence, a great variety of emotions can be displayed. It is recommended to refrain from actually describing silence with words like "he remained silent", "he refused to say anything", "he never responded".
- The laptop hummed. - The birds chirped in the trees. - She felt her legs going numb from sitting in an uncomfortable position. - His eyes wandered around, searching the parking lot for a familiar face.
It feels more natural to explain the things that grab our attention when we sit in silence.
This is it, folks. That's all I could find on the topic - for now. If there's anything missing, I'd love to hear it.
‧͙⁺˚*・༓☾ Anyway, thanks for reading, I hope this helped ☽༓・*˚⁺‧͙
My sources are this and this video as well as this article.
Also a big thank you to @zoropookie for helping me with the colors ⸜(。˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
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astrojulia · 11 months
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Opposition in the Natal Chart: Part II
~ Outer Planets
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Navigation:   Masterlist✦Ask Rules✦Images
       Part 1✦Sources [10][12]✦Paid Readings
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Jupiter ☍ Saturn: The Jupiter-Saturn opposition creates a conflict between expansion and limitation in your life. You often struggle to find a balance between control and trust, discipline and spontaneity. This internal conflict leads you to gravitate towards one extreme or the other, causing rigidity or a lack of responsibility. You may yearn for more joy and freedom but feel trapped in a structured mindset. It's important to overcome this tension by embracing both polarities, finding a harmony between spontaneity and order, effort and grace. Balancing these opposites will lead to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Jupiter ☍ Uranus: The Jupiter-Uranus opposition represents a conflict between progress and understanding in your life. Jupiter symbolizes conventional growth within societal boundaries, while Uranus represents radical change and a departure from social norms. This opposition creates internal conflict regarding individual freedom and social responsibility. You may lean towards individualism and reject conformity or adopt a defender-of-society stance, suppressing your own eccentric traits. In terms of understanding, Jupiter seeks a grand design that aligns with established paradigms, while Uranus challenges those paradigms with revolutionary insights. This opposition also impacts your concept of well-being and philanthropy, leading to conflicts between merit-based and equitable approaches. Finding balance between these opposing forces is crucial for personal fulfillment and harmony.
Jupiter ☍ Neptune: The opposition of Jupiter and Neptune requires you to find a balance between conflicting forces. Jupiter represents tangible growth and understanding, while Neptune symbolizes expansion into the ethereal and dissolution of formed structures. These opposing forces create a sense of uncertainty and impermanence, leading to increased insecurity and potential neuroticism. You may distrust established systems, craving absolute truth amidst compromises. The key to resolving these conflicts lies in embracing ambiguity, recognizing its positive role in understanding and organizational dynamics. It is important to deflate excess and incorporate boundaries to navigate both the manifested and unmanifested realms. Balancing form and void allows for harmonious functioning in both domains.
Jupiter ☍ Pluto: The opposition of Jupiter and Pluto creates a conflict between the known and the unknown aspects of your psyche. Your stable worldview clashes with your subconscious, destructive, and power-seeking tendencies. This internal tension can manifest as hidden anxiety or be externalized in destructive behavior. Feelings of paranoia, insecurity, and mood swings may arise. Externally, events like death, abuse, financial crises, or powerful opposition can threaten your well-being. The challenge lies in restoring equilibrium and well-being after such crises, aiming for personal growth and a higher level of understanding.
Jupiter ☍ Part of Fortune: The opposition of Jupiter and the Part of Fortune initially suggests a conflict between taking risks and seeking growth versus experiencing good fortune. Choices may seem unfortunate, and desired affluence may be blocked. This aspect also indicates a struggle between pursuing fortune and personal growth. However, by recognizing the commonalities and reconciling opposites, this opposition can be resolved. Understanding that both fortune and growth can complement each other allows for the enjoyment and development of both aspects in life. Ultimately, this opposition presents an opportunity to find fortune and well-being through a balanced approach.
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Jupiter ☍ Ascendant: With Jupiter opposed Rising, you exhibit a polished and refined demeanor, but others may question your motives. You prefer confident associates and have a talent for attracting fortunate individuals. Commitments are only made if there is a future benefit, and you handle people's resources, focusing on their potential and accomplishments. Although you pride yourself on common sense, you tend to be more of a taker than a giver, except when it aligns with your long-term goals. Rootedness is challenging for you as you prioritize seizing opportunities. As an idea-oriented person, you excel in uplifting conversations and strive for achievement due to unsatisfactory home circumstances.
Jupiter ☍ Imum Coeli: With Jupiter opposed Imum Coeli (4th house), your childhood was marked by positive attention and benefits from one or both parents, who are esteemed individuals in society. Your talents were nurtured, and you had opportunities to explore various paths in life. As you grow, you feel a strong urge to explore the world through travel, education, or meaningful work that contributes to your growth and leads to a fulfilling career. You receive blessings from benefactors and recognition for your abilities. If you choose early parenthood, you'll find a supportive partner who enriches your life. Despite setbacks, new opportunities come easily. Practice restraint and discernment with your good fortune and seek ways to share it for the benefit of others.
Jupiter ☍ Descendant: With Jupiter opposed Descendant, caution is advised in partnerships, particularly in commercial agreements. You may attract individuals who appear optimistic and have long-term business visions, but their intentions may be misleading or focused solely on substantial profits. Romantic relationships may be numerous, as commitment may not come easily. Challenging life lessons can lead to maturity and the potential for a deep connection with a spiritually enriching partner. Your spouse or marriage partner may exhibit impulsiveness and eccentricity, eventually appearing moralistic, dull, and fanatical about certain causes within the relationship. Vanity may blind you to the true factors contributing to your well-being. Disputes and misunderstandings can harm partnerships, potentially resulting in legal issues. Deceit and lies should be recognized and guarded against. Traveling offers an opportunity for self-reflection on existing partnerships and future prospects. Remember that happiness is not solely dependent on money or pleasure.
Jupiter ☍ Midheaven: When Jupiter opposes the Midheaven in a birth chart, it creates tension between personal growth and societal expectations in terms of the individual's public image and career aspirations. This aspect highlights conflicting desires and values, as Jupiter represents expansion and exploration while the Midheaven symbolizes reputation and professional goals. Balancing personal fulfillment with societal standards can be a challenge, but it also offers an opportunity for growth and integration. By aligning career aspirations with personal values and embracing both the adventurous nature of Jupiter and the practical realities of the professional world, individuals can find a fulfilling path that combines personal growth with professional success and recognition.
Jupiter ☍ Chiron: When Jupiter opposes Chiron, you may experience a sense of incompetence and inferiority, driving you to overcome these feelings. Success provides relief but can lead to detachment from reality, while failure prompts reflection on life principles. You possess foresight, vitality, and insight into others' actions and motivations, excelling in observation and teaching. Disappointment arises when people don't meet your high ideals, causing emotional pain. You may grapple with religion or become a fanatic, but the lesson is to seek answers within yourself and find balance through dedication to a meaningful cause. Reflecting on experiences can lead to wisdom, though beliefs may be adjusted based on individual needs rather than ideals.
Jupiter ☍ Vesta: When Jupiter opposes Vesta, you may face a conflict between your core beliefs and the desire for exploration and progress. Sexual confusion could arise, as your personal beliefs may differ from societal or familial traditions. You might oscillate between indulgence and asceticism, or explore this dichotomy within a relationship. Fanaticism, either in yourself or mirrored by others, can emerge, often involving issues of self-sacrifice. Your perception of a higher power may be excessively negative, requiring moderation to see universal truth and find inspiration for fulfilling your life's purpose. By cultivating self-awareness and conscious effort, you can achieve a balanced approach to sexuality and faith, incorporating both devotion and adventure in your life.
Jupiter ☍ Pallas: When Jupiter opposes Pallas, there is a conflict between your artistic and intellectual inclinations and the teachings or beliefs of those around you. Your traditional side may suppress your creative freedom and risk-taking nature. Choices arise regarding challenging conformity, urging you to examine your belief system and its origins. A desire for power, whether spiritual or sexual, can manifest negatively if exaggerated. Finding a balance between tradition and creativity is crucial. Projecting an attribute onto a close relationship can reconcile the dichotomy. With effort, you can cultivate a balanced approach to sexual expression and faith. This aspect offers an opportunity for personal growth and wisdom.
Jupiter ☍ Juno: When Jupiter opposes Juno, you tend to attract an overly optimistic partner who relies on your "stroke of luck" to improve their circumstances. Conflicts may arise over religious or philosophical differences, and there could be a tendency towards extramarital affairs. It is important to regularly review joint finances to avoid excessive indulgence, debt, and household difficulties. You seek a deep connection with a partner who shares your core values and spirituality, but obstacles may hinder this connection. Feeling spiritually aligned is crucial for a lasting bond; otherwise, you may become disillusioned or seek solace elsewhere. Taking these factors into consideration can lead to healthier relationships.
Jupiter ☍ Ceres: When Jupiter opposes Ceres, you may face a conflict between independence and caring for others, as well as between adventure and safety. There is a recurring theme of letting go and finding a balance between nourishing yourself and nurturing those around you. Experiences of separation and loss shape your beliefs, and finding a tradition that supports your spiritual exploration is beneficial. Resolving this dilemma requires recognizing and meeting both needs within yourself to avoid turbulent relationships and power struggles. Be mindful of overfeeding others or indulging in excessive eating as coping mechanisms. Finding a fulfilling work commitment that allows for self-expression and nourishment can turn this conflict into a strength. Embracing a belief system can provide nourishment and self-expression.
Jupiter ☍ Vertex: When Jupiter opposes the Vertex, you may face opposition to your plans for education, travel, or expanding your horizons. Compromises might be necessary, and it's crucial to listen to others' ideas, especially when your judgment is questionable or emotions cloud your perspective. Legal matters could also encounter objections. You're drawn to global narratives that inspire philosophical thoughts, but relying solely on abstract ideals may hinder progress and escalate crises. Defending your beliefs can be challenging if you're uncertain, unless you have clarity about your spiritual purpose. Seek balance between exploration and practicality to navigate this aspect effectively.
Jupiter ☍ Lilith: When Jupiter opposes Lilith, hidden forces can hinder your happiness and make it challenging to accept affection or allow others to bring joy into your life. Despite this, you still maintain an interest in social interactions. Your desire for power can be intense, driving you towards new ventures and ideas. However, it's important to exercise caution and avoid becoming carried away by abstract and illusory goals. Impulsive actions may lead to spiritual and financial difficulties. Prioritize thoughtful planning and utilize your intellectual power to create something meaningful. Managing unpredictability and embracing careful planning will help you navigate this aspect successfully.
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Saturn ☍ Uranus: When Saturn opposes Uranus, you experience a conflict between the energies symbolized by these planets. This conflict manifests as a struggle between established ways of life and the changing times or new ideas. You may feel that your principles and standards are being threatened by rebellious forces or the established institutions. The conflict between change and stability may seem irreconcilable, leading to a dilemma of loyalty and a desire for personal ideals. Finding a balance is important, recognizing the need for stability within change and for change within stability. You may have a strong vision for the future but encounter resistance, both internally and externally. By embracing change while maintaining stability, you can resolve this conflict and avoid fueling negative forces.
Saturn ☍ Neptune: When Saturn opposes Neptune, the conflicting forces of structure and transcendence come into play. Saturn represents stability and discipline, while Neptune represents chaos and escapism. This opposition can lead to feelings of insecurity and a fear of collapse. You may question the solidity of your life and experience a blurring of reality and illusion. There is a tension between aligning with the transcendent qualities of Neptune and facing self-criticism from the Saturnian side. The opposition can also manifest as a desire for control or difficulty fitting into practical realities. Balancing structure with flexibility and recognizing the interdependencies between the two is important for harmony. Mindfulness of limitations and consequences is necessary in exploring the unknown.
Saturn ☍ Pluto: When Saturn opposes Pluto, the inherent conflicts between Saturn and Pluto intensify. You face challenges in maintaining a rigid status quo while subconscious forces seek to dismantle your psychological foundations. There is a clash between external discipline and your desire for power and sexual drive. You feel torn between rationality and irrational urges, restraint and breaking free from constraints. These conflicts can be painful and lead to destructive behaviors. You face choices between rules and indulgence, self-control and dominance, and the tangible world and intense emotions. Regardless of the choice, the unchosen option continues to haunt you. This tension can drive you towards transformation or destructive outcomes.
Saturn ☍ Part of Fortune: The opposition between Saturn and the Part of Fortune presents a challenge in finding a balance between seeking happiness and enjoyment, and the need for hard work and self-discipline. It can feel impossible to have both simultaneously, leading to guilt and a sense of continuous obstacles. Good fortune may seem elusive, and even when achieved, its meaning and adequacy may be questioned. To find peace and happiness, it is important to recognize and appreciate the good fortune in your life while embracing the need for planning and effort. Finding satisfaction in the process of pursuing goals is key to cultivating positive qualities.
Saturn ☍ Ascendant: The opposition between Saturn and the Ascendant reflects a defensive nature in your interactions with others. You often feel the need to exert pressure to elicit a response but question its worth. Prioritizing others' concerns is challenging as you're absorbed in your own affairs. Paradoxically, you accuse others of indifference while projecting a secretive and superior demeanor that keeps them at a distance. Doubting your talents, you hesitate to offer services and fear competitive situations. Seeking approval, you cautiously gauge reactions, often drawing conclusions prematurely. Modest beginnings and a lack of praise contribute to self-doubt, hindering your exploration of ideas and desire for positive feedback.
Saturn ☍ Imun Coeli: In the opposition with Saturn, you exhibit a determined and ambitious nature, evident from a young age. Popularity is not your priority; instead, you value respect and strive for expertise in your chosen practical and concrete profession. Fields like construction, engineering, accounting, or computer development suit you well. Though setbacks may arise during your apprenticeship, you persevere, eventually making progress and earning the respect of others. As you advance, you may have the opportunity to mentor and train others in your area of expertise. Your diligence and responsibility contribute to your success.
Saturn ☍ Descendant: When Saturn is opposed to the Descendant in your love life, you are likely to face significant challenges in your relationships. Restrictions and complications may arise, such as your partner having another family or dealing with legal issues. There can be a lack of flexibility in marriage or partnerships, leading to fragile friendships and social agreements. The immaturity of your partner may hinder personal growth and the development of strong relationships. Your spouse may be overly serious and conventional, stifling your creativity. Impulsiveness and reckless actions may lead to distance and coldness between you both, potentially even leading to divorce. It is important to minimize the restrictive effects and burdens within the relationship.
Saturn ☍ Midheaven: When Saturn opposes the Midheaven it creates a significant dynamic impacting career, public image, and authority. This aspect brings challenges and lessons related to professional goals and how one is perceived. It signifies a tension between structure and discipline (Saturn) and success and ambition (Midheaven), leading to pressure and conflict in the career realm. Setbacks, criticism, and self-doubt may arise. Balancing personal aspirations with societal expectations is a struggle. However, with determination and hard work, individuals can overcome obstacles, develop professionalism, and earn respect. This aspect offers growth, maturity, and the potential for long-term success in one's chosen field.
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Saturn ☍ Chiron: When Saturn opposes Chiron it reflects a diligent search for a stable and discomfort-free life, but conflicts arise between expectations and reality, leading to confusion. Moral principles may differ from societal norms, resulting in challenging circumstances and a price for success. The subconscious drive for compensation and insecurity can lead to disregarding contradictory information and viewing others as enemies. Struggles with authority and restrictions may stem from a challenging childhood. Confronting emotional pain is crucial for finding personal authority and wisdom. This aspect can manifest as alchemical wisdom or advocacy for humanitarian causes, while conservatism often characterizes beliefs.
Saturn ☍ Vesta: When Saturn opposes Vesta there is a deep-seated conflict between personal beliefs and cultural traditions or authorities. Striking a balance between practical concerns and spirituality becomes challenging. One may struggle to apply beliefs consistently due to a lack of discipline. These beliefs can involve denying or restricting sexual activity, causing difficulty in living within those limits. On the other hand, one's beliefs may challenge traditional boundaries, leading to conflicts with authorities. Desiring others to share these commitments can create tension, as acceptance of their lack of responsibility becomes conflicting. Finding harmony between personal beliefs and societal expectations becomes a focal point.
Saturn ☍ Pallas: Saturn opposed Pallas creates a dichotomy in your life between your creative intellect and cultural ideals on one side, and practical concerns and material/social success on the other. Balancing your personal and social responsibilities with your creative interests is challenging, as obligations can hinder your creativity and involvement in social matters may lead to authority conflicts. However, it's crucial to realize that you don't have to choose between them; instead, make room for both aspects in your life. Facing fears and seeking therapy can help overcome conflicts and manage day-to-day practical issues. Exploring chiropractic as a potential option may help you find balance.
Saturn ☍ Juno: Saturn opposed Juno creates difficulties for you in finding a serious and committed relationship. Despite your efforts and love for others, it's challenging to establish the stable connection you desire. Settling for a lesser commitment in the hope of future happiness can complicate matters, especially if you enter into a marriage prematurely or without the necessary emotional maturity. It's possible that you're surrounded by people interested in casual flings, but it may also be a matter of timing or searching in the wrong places. Pushing for commitment prematurely can hinder relationship growth. Instead, allow things to unfold naturally, embracing and learning from romantic experiences. Love will come when the time is right.
Saturn ☍ Ceres: Saturn opposed Ceres creates a conflict between nourishment and fulfillment in your life. This may stem from contrasting dynamics between a nurturing mother and a demanding father or experiences of loss and reunion in parental relationships. The fear of loss and abandonment can make you hesitant to form intimate bonds. In pursuing your dreams, you may resort to unrealistic strategies such as authoritarianism or emotional detachment. Balancing achievements and emotional well-being becomes a challenge. Even with privilege, your parents' emotional distance or strict discipline can shape your adult life. Effective time management and creating plans for self-care and relationships are crucial. Balancing both experiences can make you a source of wisdom and strength for others while fostering enduring relationships for yourself.
Saturn ☍ Vertex: Saturn opposed Vertex places you in a role that may not align with your true self, with others opposing your efforts. Avoid excessive desires for power, authority, and social status, as they can lead to conflicts with authority figures. Childhood experiences with a demanding father may resurface through encounters with similar figures. Your sense of responsibility helps maintain balance and diffuse tension. However, navigating sexual desires and connections can be challenging, especially when not seeking a meaningful connection. When in love, you possess the qualities to be a responsible and steadfast partner, supporting mutual fulfillment even if it takes time.
Saturn ☍ Lilith: Saturn opposed Lilith reflects a strong denial or rejection of authority, revealing your rebellious and insubmissive nature. This behavior can lead to moral disorder, depression, but also moments of exceptional awareness. You tend to dominate others, particularly those perceived as fragile, but be cautious not to underestimate them or incite unnecessary conflicts. Desiring control and authority, you often face resistance, especially from authority figures or your father, triggering anger and physical ailments like depression. Letting go of grudges is crucial for cultivating positive energy and achieving goals. It's important to moderate and balance excessive ambition and the thirst for power.
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Uranus ☍ Neptune: The Uranus opposed Neptune aspect occurred from 1904 to 1912, impacting a generation that reached adulthood in the 1920s and 1930s. Only a few individuals today have this aspect in their natal charts (and probably none of you). Sensitivity to outer planets and personal planets in aspect to Uranus or Neptune intensify its effects. The aspect brings conflicts between hopes and disappointments, individuality and a longing to be part of something greater. While having a positive vision of the future, it can crumble in the face of a confusing and uncertain reality, shattering faith in progress. Struggling to regain optimism, a desire for transcendence and maintaining individuality arise. Balancing individuation and surrender becomes a spiritual conflict.
Uranus ☍ Pluto: The Uranus opposed Pluto aspect occurred from 1900 to 1904, affecting a generation that reached adulthood in the aftermath of World War I and the early 1920s. Few individuals from this cohort are still alive today. It won't happen again until 2043. Sensitivity to outer planets and personal planets in aspect to Uranus or Pluto intensify the effects. The aspect brings conflicts between a desire for visible and open change and a resistance to overt change. You may lean towards private transformation or resistance rooted in fear and attachment to outdated forms.
Uranus ☍ Part of Fortune: The Uranus opposed Part of Fortune aspect reveals a perception of change and good fortune as incompatible, despite their complementary nature. Nonconformity and individuality are seen as threats to good fortune, creating resistance to change. However, you encounter change through individuals and groups embodying nonconformity, triggering fear and a defensive reaction. A hidden desire for change and individuality may conflict with the pursuit of good fortune. Negative influences can diminish hopes for good fortune. Internal tension arises between embracing stability and convention versus expressing individuality and embracing change. Externalized conflict may lead to sudden changes or loss of well-being. Balancing comfort with change is key for a fulfilling life.
Uranus ☍ Ascendant: The Uranus opposed Rising aspect indicates a need for unconventional relationships and prioritizing freedom over commitment. You seek a unique life partnership with a partner involved in unusual occupations or possessing genius in their field. Freedom to pursue independent activities is crucial. Engaging in lively and unconventional business partnerships or projects is beneficial. Conflicts and unmet needs may arise if a partnership restricts freedom. Caution is advised to ensure a compatible need for freedom in a partner. Relationships that hinder freedom can be bothersome. You attract individuals who prioritize their own freedom, and you admire those who challenge authority. Your ingenuity and creative talents are appreciated by peers.
Uranus ☍ Imun Coeli: The Uranus opposed 4th house aspect emphasizes the significance of freedom in your life. You believe in contributing something unique to society, whether through work or parenting. Your mother's influence ideally fosters independence and a strong mindset. However, clashes with your mother or her family may lead to rebellion and a sense of being lost. Nevertheless, these experiences provide valuable lessons that shape your professional life. As you mature, you desire the freedom to express your unique ideas and make a meaningful societal contribution. You embrace change, seek variety, and may undergo sudden career transitions. Science, innovation, and technology are likely to feature in your career. Authority is met with rebellion, as you strive to carve your own path and avoid conformity.
Uranus ☍ Descendant: The Uranus opposed 7th house aspect reveals your inclination towards unconventional relationships that allow for independence and avoid rigid commitments. This preference has presented challenges in matters of love from a young age. You are attracted to the new and eccentric, surrounding yourself with independent individuals who either support or discourage your own independence. Marriages may encounter problems if rushed or lacking careful planning, as you prioritize individuality over deep partnership. Conflicts with friends are also possible, as you navigate platonic attractions or friends proposing romantic involvement. Your magnetic nature attracts people effortlessly, desiring constant change and an independent, creative love partnership. You may even consider a non-traditional, fictitious marriage arrangement. Exploring new technologies online appeals more than traditional romantic activities.
Uranus ☍ Midheaven: The Uranus opposition to the Midheaven aspect impacts your career, public image, and life direction. It creates a tension between your need for individuality, freedom, and unconventional approaches, and the desire for stability, recognition, and conformity. You resist traditional career paths, seeking independence and expressing your unique ideas and talents. Restlessness and frequent career changes are common as you align your work with personal freedom. Your public image is unconventional, attracting both inspiration and resistance. Balancing freedom and stability is essential. Embrace change, combine innovation with practicality, and navigate risks for success. This aspect invites you to forge a unique path integrating individuality and creativity into your professional life.
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Uranus ☍ Chiron: The Uranus opposition to Chiron aspect creates a conflict in your life, leading you to choose challenging paths or face conflicting principles. In relationships, you struggle with commitment and may vacillate between staying or ending them. Personal space is essential for you, providing freedom without consequences. This aspect enhances your activity and curiosity, making it ideal for an astrologer. You strongly desire voluntary freedom and make sudden changes when hindered. Unresolved emotional wounds contribute to your longing for freedom. Honoring intuition, finding creative outlets, and exploring esoteric matters are important for you. You reject societal norms and seek alternative frameworks for true freedom and belonging.
Uranus ☍ Vesta: The Uranus opposition to Vesta reveals a conflict between your need for freedom and exploration, and your spiritual ideals. This creates a dichotomy within you, where traditional beliefs clash with the value you place on individuality. Sexuality becomes a focal point, as sacrifice and celibacy contradict your desire for radical freedom. You may become a fanatic opposing spiritual traditions or zealously trying to convert others. Your intellect, devotion, and longing for freedom are polarized, creating tension. Finding balance through meaningful work or dedicated commitments is crucial to avoid projecting this dynamic onto relationships. Strive for harmony between freedom and spiritual ideals.
Uranus ☍ Pallas: The Uranus opposition to Pallas indicates a struggle between social and cultural sensitivities and a desire for radical revolution. You feel torn between traditional societal norms and your strong urge for significant change. Feminist ideals inspire you, and you challenge gender roles that restrict personal freedom. Your social engagement often leads to opposition and tension in relationships. It's important to honor both your desire for change and the need for social harmony, finding a compromise between the two. While you aspire to create something new and exciting, you may face resistance from within yourself, as well as from society, friends, or the community.
Uranus ☍ Juno: The Uranus opposition to Juno creates a conflict between the need for freedom and the need for intimacy in your relationships. You fear that commitment might hinder your spiritual exploration or the expression of your highest ideals. On the other hand, if you do commit, you may feel trapped by traditional roles and constraints. Conflicts arise when one partner desires a traditional bond while the other seeks independence. Finding a compromise is key instead of choosing between these opposing needs. You attract partners who challenge your desire for freedom, and your existing relationship may experience ups and downs. The question of commitment is always present, challenging your desire for personal fulfillment and partnership.
Uranus ☍ Ceres: The Uranus opposition to Ceres creates a conflict between your need for freedom and individuality and your need for attachment and intimacy. You may see close relationships as obstacles to personal liberation or spiritual growth, while feeling threatened when others seek independence. This can lead to a sense of detachment in loving partnerships and difficulty in nurturing and expressing care. In childhood, you may have experienced inconsistent nurturing, impacting your ability to provide support as an adult. Balancing both needs is essential, embracing personal growth while maintaining intimacy. Finding compromises and reconciling this dichotomy will help you establish meaningful connections and contribute to society.
Uranus ☍ Vertex: The Uranus opposition to Vertex highlights your need for freedom and individuality, leading to rebellion when your autonomy is restricted. However, finding a balance between your needs and the expectations of others is more productive. This aspect offers the opportunity to connect with new and exciting friends, particularly in astrology groups. Learning to effectively work in groups is important, as you tend to do things your own way. Cultivating tolerance for those with different perspectives is crucial, as opposition and conflicts may arise. Once you become more flexible and tolerant, you can actively engage in community groups and harness the power of teamwork for learning, innovation, and creation.
Uranus ☍ Lilith: The Uranus opposition to Lilith in your life brings continual dramatic changes and a struggle to find your place. Inner peace eludes you as you constantly commit to various things, making it hard to relax and live in the present moment. Your talent for keeping yourself in constant motion creates imbalance. However, as you heal your darker aspects, you can gain the freedom to revolutionize your life without necessarily needing external changes. A recurring theme is your tendency to reject or ignore danger, often feeling invulnerable. This may lead to a higher exposure to failed actions. Acknowledging and addressing this pattern is important for your growth.
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Neptune ☍ Pluto: The opposition between Neptune and Pluto creates a conflict between your spirituality and idealism on one hand, and the need for transformative inner work on the other. Pluto pushes you to confront and discard outdated emotional material, while Neptune prefers to avoid delving into the darker aspects of your nature. This inner dichotomy can be painful for your sensitive disposition. Failing to recognize and accept both needs can lead to projecting this conflict onto your relationships, causing tensions. Finding a balance that honors and embraces both aspects of your being is crucial to avoid further discord.
Neptune ☍ Part of Fortune: The opposition between Neptune and the Part of Fortune presents challenges if you strongly attach your sense of good fortune to material manifestations. You may fear the loss or instability of your perceived blessings. Your perception of good fortune differs from Neptune's qualities, as you prefer the concrete and predictable. However, subconsciously, you recognize life's unpredictable and intangible nature. This fear and preference for the tangible may lead to a dislike of the spiritual and fluid aspects of life. By embracing the intangible, developing sensitivity and intuition, you can expand your concept of good fortune and experience a deeper sense of abundance and fulfillment.
Neptune ☍ Ascendant: When Neptune opposes your Rising sign, you may struggle to distinguish between genuine friends and those who may take advantage of your sensitivity. This vulnerability to emotional manipulation can lead to disappointment and a sense of obligation. It is important to prioritize self-protection when offering help, ensuring that it is genuinely needed. Your caring nature can overwhelm you with concern for others, stemming from a desire to fill a void of loneliness. Channeling your imaginative and creative talents into pursuits like writing or the arts can provide purpose and personal growth. Challenge self-limiting beliefs, seek guidance, and cultivate your independence to shape your own destiny and pursue happiness.
Neptune ☍ Imun Coeli: When Neptune opposes your 4th house, you yearn for a career that aligns with your soul and allows you to pursue your true passion. Your imagination plays a crucial role in shaping your chosen path. While daydreaming about unconventional professions like being at sea or working in remote locations, practicality may require you to make sacrifices and seek more conventional sources of income. Regardless, focus on serving others and contributing to the community to find meaning in your work. Nurture your imagination and infuse creativity into your profession, thinking outside the box and embracing opportunities that allow you to express your unique gifts and talents.
Neptune ☍ Descendant: When Neptune opposes your 7th house, your hypersensitive nature makes you vulnerable to deception in matters of the heart and forming partnerships. You attract manipulative individuals due to a dreamlike state that hinders your perception of reality. It's important to exercise caution and discernment, as you may overlook genuine love while encountering those who bring turmoil into your life. Be vigilant against deceit and manipulation, nurturing your intuition to identify unworthy partners. Trust your instincts and develop discernment to avoid relationships detrimental to your well-being. Take time to recognize and appreciate those who deserve a genuine and fulfilling connection in your life.
Neptune ☍ Midheaven: When Neptune opposes the Midheaven in your astrological chart, it creates tension between dreams, illusions, and spirituality (Neptune) and career, reputation, and public image (Midheaven). This aspect influences your professional path and public standing, causing ambiguity and confusion regarding your true calling. You may yearn for creative or spiritual work but struggle with practicality and maintaining a clear direction. Blurred boundaries between personal and professional life and vulnerability to external opinions are common. To navigate these challenges, find a balance between imagination and practicality, trust your intuition, and integrate dreams and spirituality into your career. Strive for a fulfilling path that aligns with your purpose and benefits society.
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Neptune ☍ Chiron: When Neptune opposes Chiron in your chart, you face the challenge of navigating the real world and may seek to escape its perils. This inclination can lead to drug or alcohol use and various forms of escapism. Health issues may also arise. Your lesson is to express your sensitivity and caring nature in a spiritually constructive way. You have conflicting needs: to confront your wounds and reclaim spiritual power, and to avoid the darker aspects of life and focus on ethereal realities. Nurturing kindness and compassion is important, but avoiding challenges can lead to destructive behavior. Recognize that these needs can coexist and make choices accordingly.
Neptune ☍ Vesta: When Neptune opposes Vesta in your chart, you may experience conflicting emotions and beliefs regarding spirituality and sexuality. The tension between the desire for physical relationships and the pursuit of spiritual development can lead to disappointment and disillusionment within a religious context. It's important to honor your need for transcendent experiences while recognizing the sacredness in all aspects of existence, including the physical realm. Focus on spiritual connections and integrate both spirituality and sexuality into a harmonious approach to life. Transcend limiting beliefs, stay true to yourself, and seek like-minded individuals to navigate this dichotomy and find fulfillment on your spiritual path.
Neptune ☍ Pallas: When Neptune opposes Pallas in your chart, you navigate a dichotomy between intellectual and social sensibilities, and spiritual conscience and intuitive knowledge. Challenges may arise in validating spiritual experiences within intellectual or political contexts. You feel a constant call to develop a skill that recognizes unity in people and things. Your sensitivity can lead you to become a spiritual mentor if your intuitive understanding remains clear. However, you may struggle with balancing your yearning for transcendence and mysticism with social engagement and activism. Finding a middle ground that honors both can integrate intellect and intuition, unlocking creativity and artistic expression in your life.
Neptune ☍ Juno: When Neptune opposes Juno in your chart, you experience a profound dichotomy between spirituality and committed relationships. This creates a conflict between the demands of marriage and the desires of your artistic, romantic, or spiritual nature. Infidelity may be a temptation as you seek to discern what is real. You may rush into relationships, attaching intense emotions and expectations to potentially unworthy partners. Alternatively, you may choose to prioritize your inner life over committed relationships or marry someone who doesn't support your artistic or spiritual side, leading to incompatibility. Navigating this requires introspection, open communication, and finding partners who appreciate and support your unique inclinations. Balancing your spiritual journey with relational commitments can lead to fulfilling connections.
Neptune ☍ Ceres: When Neptune opposes Ceres in your chart, you experience a significant polarity between your nurturing and spiritual sensitivity and your longing for heightened awareness. Those who play a nurturing role may feel threatened by your sensitivity and spiritual quest. You may struggle to validate your subtle perceptions and artistic expressions. Nurturing your soul through imagination is important, but beware of detachment from reality. Spending time near water can provide solace. Imbalances arise from a lack of emotional support, leading to feelings of helplessness. To overcome this, nurture your sensitivities while establishing emotional foundations and harness your intuition practically. Strive for a harmonious integration of nurturing and spiritual growth.
Neptune ☍ Vertex: When Neptune opposes the Vertex in your chart, you possess a hidden aspect that may not be immediately evident to others. You exhibit traits of indecision and compassion, which can lead to misunderstandings. You may attract individuals struggling with substance abuse, requiring strength to avoid getting entangled in their problems. Your true energy shines in spirituality and artistry. You have a strong urge to help others, but it's important to recognize your limitations and seek clarity through spiritual contemplation. Seeking support from Neptune or Pisces individuals can be beneficial. Embrace your hidden nature, navigate spirituality and artistry, and unlock your full potential by exercising discernment and embracing growth opportunities.
Neptune ☍ Lilith: When Neptune opposes Lilith in your chart, you are deeply influenced by the darker aspects of your emotions, often becoming absorbed in them. It is crucial to reflect on how your emotions may affect others and consider if you are neglecting your own feelings. Self-reflection reveals valuable insights. Despite any disbelief, your heightened sensitivity leads you to navigate life through emotions, sometimes overlooking rational thought. Embrace the present moment and fully experience your emotions. Differentiate between reality and imagination, seeking clarity amidst the shadows. By acknowledging the power of your emotions while staying grounded, you can gain profound insights and find inner harmony.
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Pluto ☍ Part of Fortune: When Pluto opposes the Part of Fortune in your chart, you approach relationships with seriousness and prefer waiting for a committed connection. Shyness and difficulty in establishing rapport contribute to this approach. Family dynamics and past experiences may impact your ability to accept and build a loving relationship and start a family of your own. Avoid nurturing fears and resentments, focusing instead on personal power and pursuing happiness. Embrace self-discovery, letting go of lingering fears. Cultivate inner strength and resilience to attract and maintain a fulfilling partnership. Approach relationships with an open heart while maintaining self-worth and boundaries.
Pluto ☍ Ascendant: When Pluto opposes the Rising (Ascendant) in your chart, you tend to attract individuals with powerful egos and strong tempers, craving deep connections. However, be cautious of those who mold themselves to please you. You may also exhibit the same behavior. You place demands on others but resent when the same is asked of you. Your strength lies in shaping people, making fields like public relations ideal. Your expressive nature captivates others, but be mindful of power struggles and maintain healthy boundaries. Seek balanced and respectful relationships, honoring autonomy and fostering growth. Navigate complexities for harmonious connections.
Pluto ☍ Imun Coeli: When Pluto opposes the 4th house in your chart, you possess a natural inclination towards power and resourcefulness in your chosen career. Leadership roles suit you best, as you have a transformative impact on others. You excel in delving deep into the core of matters, whether in practical fields like plumbing or in exploring human behavior through psychology. Your intuition and analytical mindset allow you to uncover hidden truths and navigate complex situations, making meaningful contributions in your field. Embrace your leadership qualities and curiosity, pursuing a career that aligns with your passions and analytical skills. Leave a lasting imprint on your professional sphere and the lives you touch.
Pluto ☍ Descendant: When Pluto opposes the 7th house in your chart, you have a natural inclination towards taking the lead and maintaining control in your romantic relationships or business partnerships. However, it is important to recognize that complete control may not always be attainable, especially in intimate partnerships. Transformative relationships are likely to shape your life, attracting individuals with enigmatic and unconventional qualities. Be cautious of excessive control, as it can lead to powerful adversaries and aggression. Taboo concepts and power struggles may arise in your relationships, and you may be drawn to unconventional and risky connections. Strive for a healthy balance, respecting boundaries and fostering stable and fulfilling connections that allow for growth and mutual support.
Pluto ☍ Midheaven: When Pluto opposes the Midheaven in a natal chart, it brings profound transformations to one's career, public image, and life direction. Power struggles and personal growth are common, leading to significant shifts in the individual's professional path. This aspect signifies a strong desire for power and control in the chosen field, but it can also result in conflicts and challenges with authority figures. The individual may experience radical changes in their career, letting go of outdated ambitions and embracing a new sense of purpose. Authenticity and integrity in the public image are crucial, as hidden agendas can be exposed. Navigating this aspect with self-awareness and integrity allows for personal growth and a lasting impact on the professional path and public image.
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Pluto ☍ Chiron: Individuals with Pluto opposed Chiron possess a strong and introverted nature, often plagued by self-doubt and subconscious insecurity. Childhood experiences and conflicts with parents intensify these inner uncertainties. They exhibit a fierce competitive spirit and an unwavering desire for success, driven by a need to prove their intrinsic worth. Intense emotions such as envy, greed, lust, and jealousy overwhelm them, and attempts to suppress these feelings only amplify them. To embark on a journey of personal growth and healing, they must confront their past, acknowledge past rejections, and transform their understanding into positive attributes. By embracing their emotions and engaging in self-reflection and healing, they can emerge as resilient forces for themselves and others.
Pluto ☍ Vesta: Individuals with Pluto opposed Vesta navigate between rugged individualism and fear of decision-making, often developing an aversion to authority. Harmonizing these energies and applying self-discipline unlocks their immense abilities for the greater good. They intuitively recognize transformative power within destructive forces, transforming inner demons into allies. This process clears unconscious patterns and beliefs that separate them from the divine. They are then prepared to embrace their true calling, providing solace to others in personal crises, illness, or loss. Triumphing over inner demons grants them balance and influence, enabling them to impact many lives through business, politics, or art. Their journey of self-discovery empowers them to inspire and uplift others with strength and empathy.
Pluto ☍ Pallas: Individuals with Pluto opposed Pallas may face challenges in expressing their creative side due to a lack of discipline or confidence. They yearn for transformative experiences and may explore taboo and psychological realms, which can clash with societal norms. This may create adversarial dynamics unless they integrate their yearning with cultural context. Embracing their creative nature, valuing their unique perspective, and finding a balance between personal exploration and societal expectations allows them to navigate this dichotomy authentically. Trusting their creative instincts, exploring passions, and expressing their artistic self aligns them with their true essence and brings harmony and fulfillment.
Pluto ☍ Juno: Individuals with Pluto opposed Juno possess great personal power potential, yet a lack of emotional security influences their behavior. They may exhibit dictatorial tendencies due to a conflict between their desire for security and the power they can wield. In committed relationships, power dynamics become a significant issue, leading to destructive patterns, sexual obsessions, possessiveness, and abuses of power. Addressing these dynamics openly and honestly is crucial for fostering a healthy relationship. Cultivating emotional security, open communication, trust, and mutual respect allows for a balanced expression of power, transforming conflicts into opportunities for growth, empowerment, and deeper connection.
Pluto ☍ Ceres: Individuals with Pluto opposed Ceres face a significant polarity in their lives, balancing their creative and emotional bonds with their transformative journey of self-empowerment. Loyalties may feel divided between their mother and spouse, as care and closeness can require compromising power. Inner negativity and a lack of confidence in love hinder their expression of emotional care, leading others to control and withhold support. Striking a balance is crucial to avoid constant power struggles that hinder personal growth. They have a need for sexual nourishment but must maintain a healthy balance of power and avoid seeking it solely for personal gratification. Asserting personal power, setting boundaries, and open communication can navigate these complexities and foster fulfilling relationships.
Pluto ☍ Vertex: Individuals experiencing Pluto opposed Vertex are undergoing a purging process, releasing what is no longer necessary for personal growth. Power struggles and opposition arise, leading to regeneration and transformation. Challenges in sexuality, taxes, and insurance may emerge, but integrity and moral values help overcome them. There is a tendency to stay in the comfort zone for personal safety, yet supporting fragile individuals and advocating for spiritual practices becomes important. Emotional fluctuations between love and hatred require understanding and resolution in relationships. Embracing these challenges fosters personal transformation and creates a moderately happy life that integrates material and spiritual aspects. Prioritizing integrity and well-being is key.
Pluto ☍ Lilith: Individuals with Pluto opposed Lilith have a deep fear of control and react strongly to perceived threats to their freedom. This fear can lead to secrecy, manipulation, and hostility as defensive measures. They also experience shame, guilt, and fear, and may take pleasure in others' suffering. Their taboo desires, particularly in sexuality, feel uncontrollable. While driven by individuality and liberation, this obsession ironically impairs personal freedom. To find a healthier path, addressing these fears is crucial. Self-acceptance, self-compassion, open communication, and therapy can help develop healthier coping mechanisms. Releasing the need for constant defense allows for greater inner peace and authentic individuality.
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355 notes · View notes
artbyblastweave · 1 month
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So one thing that irks me about discussions of the NCR is the idea that "they're flawed because they're trying to be America again. And Being Too Much America is what caused the War" without differentiating between the vast buildup of Nuclear Weapons and Geopolitical tensions, versus, like, being a republic and having a large-scale central state.
What's your thoughts?
I think the NCR circa New Vegas is textually intended to be repeating the USA's downward spiral. They're in the process of recreating the core dynamics of pre-war America- overconsumption of resources driving imperialist expansion, capture of the government by moneyed interests, and a prolonged conflict with a peer power that's suffering under similar expand-or-die pressures- but they're constrained from a one-to-one recreation mainly by the fact that they're working with a post-apocalyptic resource base, with the scraps left over from the last people who went down this path. Peanuts compared to the Sino-American war, but likely as close to that situation as the post-war-world is logistically capable of producing.
You see bits of this from the NCR perspective all throughout the game. There Stands the Grass is propelled by projections of incipient famine in the NCR due to rapid population growth, and you see the beginnings of this in Flags of Our Foul-Ups- O'Hanaran was sent to the Army by his family to lessen their food burden. Chief Hanlon's very first line is about how the NCR is overtaxing most sources of freshwater within the core territory, and he recounts how tiny groups of settlers backed by NCR logistics were able to take and hold a well in Baja against scores of locals; IIRC there's a cut event at Camp Golf itself where you'd see NCR rangers doing the same thing to Mojave locals encroaching on their water supply. The White Wash demonstrates that the NCR's sharecropping setup in outer Vegas operates at the expense of the locals, who can only get the water they need to support their own crops via subterfuge. If you assume that Heck Gunderson's underhanded Brahmin-farming empire in Beyond the Beef is supposed to parallel the real-world problems with the sustainability of beef farming, you start to get a sense of where all of that water is going and what structural problems (Heck Gunderson) might be in the way of allocating those resources more sustainably. There are likely more examples of this storm on the horizon that I'm forgetting.
As a result of all this, there's a level on which I think introducing the Tunnelers in Lonesome Road as a dangling White-Walker style Looming Apocalyptic Reset Option hanging over the west coast was gratuitous, not because it's Avallone grinding his axe with the idea of society rebuilding, but because it's simply redundant with the political situation already depicted in the base game- If you want the NCR to have collapsed by a future installment, just establish that they weren't able to put the brakes on in time and devolved into a completely dysfunctional oligarchy that collapsed under its own weight!
(Now, as a final note, one thing preventing me from fully committing to this take is that we honestly don't have a fantastic sense of what day-to-day life looks like for the average citizen in the NCR heartland, which I feel is kind of important. Because if the textual situation is supposed to be that the resource crisis is due to misallocation due to interests capturing the government, I like that a lot better than if the situation is genuinely intended to be that there are Just Too Many Goddarn People, because that's like. Lazy and Malthusian and leads to the usual ugly conclusions pretty quickly. More and more it's looking like the upcoming Fallout TV show is leaning into the recent decline of the NCR as a plot point, so, uh, fingers crossed they stick the landing when it comes to fleshing that out?)
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panlight · 5 months
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Breaking Dawn has always read like a fanfiction to me. I'm aware this has probably to do with the fact, that Forever Dawn was written before New Moon and Eclipse, and SMeyer just rewrote some pieces of it.
But this made me think - most fans probably have an idea of how they would have liked the story of Bella and Edward to end and those endings might all be a little, or even very different. What would your perfect ending for the Saga look like? You can place it after any point of the story - just after the first book, in the middle of New Moon, around the end of Eclipse, wherever you want.
It really does have a lot of fanfic-y tropes. The big wedding. The over-the-top tropical honeymoon. This is an 18-year-old middle class girl getting married here. Sure the Cullens are rich but she's not an actual princess or something, this always felt hugely over the top to me in a fanfic-y way. And then the baby, of course. It does tick a lot of boxes of the sort of fanfic that imagines what happens after the book/movie/show where the main couple get married and have a kid.
For me, vampirism without consequences is just completely uninteresting. Bella getting to have her cake and eat it too not only undermines all the themes in the earlier books and makes Edward's brooding about being a vampire seem like unnecessary whining, it's also just boring.
So my ideal ending is an actual follow up to Eclipse. Bella and Edward follow through on their compromise plan: wedding, sex, and vampirism in that order. There's no baby; Bella is turned on Isle Esme and spends a few months there on a secluded island with no people (the groundskeepers are given time off FFS Edward can clean the house) eating wildlife and adjusting to vampirism.
But she actually has to like, adjust. It IS has hard as people told her it was. She can still do well at it, but with struggle. I mean, Carlisle never killed anyone either but he did it by banishing himself to the woods and starving to the point that he unthinkingly attacked some deer. I believe it was hard and he struggled and so his triumph feels earned. Bella can still control herself better than average but I wanna see her struggle with it, versus like, one tense afternoon with Charlie and then totally being fine around humans and going to see lawyers in a sexy outfit, no problem. That felt anticlimactic.
Also there should be some fallout with Jake, and she should probably have to cut ties with Charlie and Renee. She MADE this choice to become a vampire knowing she was giving these things up, so for Breaking Dawn to be like "Nevermind! Haha!" about it was deeply unsatisfying. It killed the conflict and tension for Jacob and Charlie to still be part of her life and accepting of the weirdness of it.
For me, the whole point was Bella was sacrificing a lot to be with Edward. That is where the romance and angst lies. Getting to be beautiful and immortal and rich and powerful AND with the person you love AND keep your father and best friend AND get a perfect baby who never cries and sleeps through the night AND conquer the bloodlust in like 2 seconds was just . . . boring. All the stuff I had been interested in seeing how it would resolve was resolved in just the easiest, least interesting way possible. A perfect example: the wedding. We're told that Renee is going to freak out about this early marriage and even THAT relatively unimportant conflict is just instantly resolved with "actually, Renee's totally on board!!!!" Snore!
So yeah. Bella is turned on the honeymoon. It's hard. She cuts off ties with Charlie; maybe she fakes her death, maybe she just disappears. Jacob refuses to talk to her, but Sam is like "whatever she made her choice we're not going to start a war over this." And in this way Bella is actually cut off from her human life and has to start over with the new family and new life she chose. We probably have to resolve the Volturi situation somehow; maybe a trip to Volterra to prove she's been turned and some conflict with the Volturi comes into play.
But ultimately I just want an epilogue where she comes back to Forks with Edward to check in on Charlie and Jacob from a distance. She watches Charlie with Sue (or someone else) playing with step-grandbabies, she sees Jacob, who has stopped phasing and is aging and married with kids of his own, and it's hard. It's sad to see them going on without her. And Edward looks at her like he's about to apologize for the 239470242th time for robbing her of a human life and she's like, "No, the life I have with you is worth it," because THAT's the vibe! That's where the romance is! Her being happy in BD means nothing because it was all so easy for her! Her being happy despite the downsides of vampirism is where the romance lies!
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writerthreads · 2 years
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How to write a gripping fight scene
By Writerthreads on Instagram
Context
Provide the readers with preliminary details about the basics:
When is the fight? Where is the fight? Who are the characters involved in it?
Before you write the scene, it would be helpful to pre-plan the events and know the basic "itinerary" of the fight. This could be how it was initiated, which characters fight each other and how, and the way the fight ends.
Identify the backstory
The key to how to write a fight scene or battle scene is Goal, Motivation and Conflict (GMC). 
Ask yourself:
Why is this fight or battle taking place? (This supplies motivations, what each fighter or army has to gain or lose)
What each party wants (the goals). Goals may differ for the same conflict. One soldier may want to prove themselves worthy of promotion, for example. Another may just want to survive to see family or a lover back home. In a battle scene, what does the unit want, versus the individual?
What are the potential conflicts in the scene? For example, an argument might break out within ranks, or a sadistic leader might find themselves without aid at the peak of battle because their troops secretly despise them. A single, larger conflict could have smaller, breakaway conflicts that add further, lesser tensions to an already dramatic scene.
(From NowNovel)
Use characterisation in action
A fight scene can seem long and boring. To spice things up, you can provide readers with a bit more insight to the character as they fight.
Why does the character make the choices that they make in the fight?
How does each choice reinforce their characterization?
How does each choice impact their internal and/ or external goals?
Is this conflict getting the character closer or further away from their goals? How?
What are the stakes for each character? What do they stand to win? What will they lose?
What type of fighter is the character? What are their physical or mental abilities? (Remember that not every protagonist will be a trained assassin, so they’re prone to make sloppy mistakes during a fight.)
Use the fight scene to reveal necessary information about the characters. Be sure to give the reader a glimpse into the character’s soul and not just into their fighting skills.
(From NYBookEditors)
Use all the senses
To make the scene truly gripping, you have to make it visceral. Hit the readers with all the senses other than just sight. Sounds and textiles are particularly helpful and make the scene much more memorable.
So, next time you want to write one person's sword hitting another, you can describe the clang of the two steel pieces hitting each other, the smell of fresh blood in the air, and how heavy the sword welder's arm feels after parrying for ages.
Know the limits of each weapon and magic (if applicable)
Before you start writing, do some research about the "code of conduct" fighters in your time period had and how the weapons work. If you're very dedicated, you could try some classes in martial arts or fencing to get a rough idea of what the specific fight scene should feel like.
The ending
Let the readers know what the results of the fight are. Did one side clearly win? Were the results unclear (not in the sense of bad writing but of a draw-like scenario), or was it a Pyrrhic victory that incurred so much loss that it wasn't worth it?
One pet peeve of mine is a fight that ends when a Super Boss Weapon is revealed and ends the fight immediately. It's a quick way to finish the scene with no hassle, but in my opinion, it seems lazy and makes me wonder why the Super Boss Weapon wasn't used in the beginning. Unless it's justified, eg. the Super Boss Weapon had to be charged up, I get very mad when it happens. (But this opinion is very personal and you can obviously ignore it!)
Conclusion and disclaimer
Hopefully these tips will help you pen the perfect fight scene! I have minimal experience in fight scenes and all the fighting I do in real life is fencing (badly).
And as always, our tips are just tips and not rules -- you obviously don't need to follow them since they're just a guide to make your writing better! Good luck in writing your fight scene! :)
Sources: NowNovel, NYBookEditors
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gvfgal · 1 month
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6. Everything That Becomes Us.
Barbarian. Biker!Jake
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18+ Story, Minors not welcomed.
A/n: Here’s chapter 6! As always, enjoy, and please let me know if you’d like to be added to the Taglist! 🍾
Content Warnings: drinking, smoking, mentions of criminal activity, mention & depiction of serious illness, allusions to violence against reader, weird father relationships… think that’s it!
Word Count: 3.5k
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The following morning ushered in an unexpected sense of domesticity that was a stark departure from the chaos that often defined Jake’s past. While you maneuvered in the kitchen concocting breakfast, Jake wrestled with the obstinate washing machine that had rudely interrupted the tranquility of the morning hours earlier.
A formal breakfast was a rare luxury in his tumultuous upbringing, reserved for occasions shadowed by his mother’s fleeting presence and often marred by the underlying tension of impending departure or discord with Rex. Thus, the simple act of someone preparing breakfast for him purely out of kindness struck a chord within Jake, hinting at the semblance of stability and care he had secretly long yearned for.
However, that morning stuck out to Jake for an entirely different reason. He’d be replaying the small series of events over again in his head later, as he’d do with a lot of different instances surrounding you.
He remembered the details vividly:
As he meticulously pieced the washing machine back together, the mundane task was punctuated by the shrill ring of your cell phone echoing through the trailer. Each passing moment seemed to elongate as Jake strained to discern your hesitation before you finally answered.
Jake, unaccustomed to eavesdropping, initially dismissed the snippets of conversation drifting from the kitchen. With the task completed and a bead of sweat wiped from his brow, he eagerly made his way towards the promise of breakfast. However, his steps faltered mid-stride as the tone of your voice shifted to a secretive whisper, one tinged with an urgency that seized his attention. A sense of unease crept over him, an inner conflict warring between respecting your privacy and the compulsion to understand the weight of your words.
Frozen in the hallway, Jake grappled with the dilemma of intrusion versus ignorance. Though he had never been one to eavesdrop, the gravity of the situation left him with no choice but to linger in the shadows to silently bear witness to the conversation unfolding behind closed doors.
“Look mom,” you sounded sincere yet assertive, “I get that you’re sick, but I can’t come back there, you know that. Not after what happened…”
Jake’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of concern crossed his features as he continued to listen, grappling with a sense of guilt for intruding on the private conversation.
"Mom, you know I don’t have that kind of money… Yes, but… If I give you everything I’ve saved up, I'll be back at square one, and all the progress I've made here would be for nothing..."
A whirlwind of questions stormed through Jake's mind as he lingered in that hallway, overhearing snippets of your cryptic conversation.
What dark chapter from your past barred the doors to your childhood home? Why were you secretly stashing money away?
Caught in the grip of curiosity and discomfort, Jake sought refuge in the kitchen, a feeble attempt to escape the weight of the revelations unfolding before him. You deftly flipped the last pancake on the stove as he entered, your phone still pressed against your ear.
Sensing his presence, you turned, a smile adorning your face. Your voice shifted to a tone of casual innocence as you swiftly wrapped up the call, doing your best to conceal the true gravity of the discussion from Jake's prying ears.
"Yeah, so anyways, mom, I'll, uh, get back to you on that as soon as I can… Mhmm… yeah, love you too… Bye."
Relieved that Jake's attention was elsewhere, you poured a glass of orange juice from the fridge, masking the discomfort that churned within you.
You set your phone down on the counter and focused on the task at hand, plating the pancakes alongside the sizzling bacon, eggs, and an array of fruits. Relieved that Jake’s attention was elsewhere, pouring a glass of orange juice by the fridge, you swallowed down the tumult of emotions stirred by the conversation, and made a conscious effort to maintain a façade of composure until Jake's departure.
"That was your mom?" Jake's casual inquiry floated across the kitchen as he leaned against the counter, his gaze fixed on you as you busied yourself with the breakfast preparations.
"Yeah," you chirped, forcing a veneer of cheerfulness into your voice, though your back remained turned to him, "she, uh, just needed help with something."
Sensing the weight of his stare boring into your back, you turned to meet his gaze, mustering your best grin in an attempt to deflect any further probing into the nature of the call.
Clad in a black tank top that accentuated his tattoos and the muscular definition of his arms, Jake leaned against the counter, his hair cascading loosely around his shoulders. As you admired his relaxed appearance, a gentle smile graced his lips, but the subtle furrow of his brow betrayed the wheels turning in his mind. You couldn't help but wonder how much of the conversation he had overheard.
A heavy silence settled over the kitchen until Jake finally broke it, his voice tinged with concern.
"You okay?"
You nodded hastily, perhaps a bit too eager to dismiss any lingering tension, "I'm fine."
You could sense Jake's desire to delve further into the matter, but a silent understanding passed between you, a mutual agreement to let the conversation rest for now. There was a palpable tension in the air, a recognition that some truths were not yet ready to be unearthed.
He pushed himself off the counter and began crossing the kitchen with purpose. Your heart quickened its pace in response, and you flinched, which Jake noted and tucked away in the recesses of his mind before he enveloped you in a gentle embrace. A tender kiss planted on your forehead ignited a surge of protectiveness within him, reinforcing the depth of his affection.
His hold on you was firm, as if he believed he could shield you from the world's troubles simply by holding you close in that moment. Though countless uncertainties loomed regarding the nature of your conversation with your mother, Jake couldn't shake the unwavering conviction that whatever skeletons resided in your closet, they wouldn't deter his feelings for you.
As your eyes locked in a silent exchange, a myriad of emotions passed between you, punctuated by Jake's warm smile.
You felt a deepening attraction towards him, a desire to nurture this burgeoning connection with each passing day. You wanted to cook him breakfast for a million days to come.
“I’m hungry,” he lilted.
With a playful peck on his lips, you turned to retrieve the plate you had prepared, inviting him to partake in the breakfast you had lovingly prepared, “come and get it.”
Jake chuckled at your playful demeanor, his eyes alight with affection. "Don't talk to me like that, woman, you know what it does to me."
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After breakfast, Jake was on the move, headed to the Tavern for a crucial meeting with the club members. The objective: devise a complete strategy to infiltrate Bobby's casino and seize control of his finances.
Fortuitously, Jake had already sketched the framework of the plan; now it was up to the gang to flesh out the finer details.
Sequestered in their private room at the back of the bar, the men engaged in a marathon brainstorming session, fueled by copious amounts of alcohol that seemed to defy the limits of Riley's inventory.
The hours proved mentally taxing for Jake, who found himself thrust into a leadership role, given that the plan had sprung from his initial idea. As the group delved deeper into the intricacies of their scheme, Jake navigated the delicate balance between guiding the discussion and fostering collaboration.
The overarching objective of the plan was straightforward: infiltrate and establish a foothold. However, the devil was in the details.
The Barbarians, armed with their financial leverage over Bobby's casino, planned a direct and aggressive takeover. Prior to this, Alejandro's financial experts would conduct an internal audit to scrutinize the casino's financial records. Concurrently, 8-ball, their reliable reconnaissance expert, along with a team of Barbarians, would meticulously examine the security protocols, identifying vulnerabilities and discrepancies. They would also gauge the loyalty of key staff members to anticipate potential challenges or cooperation during the takeover. Once these preliminary assessments were complete, the Barbarians would be briefed on their specific roles and responsibilities for the impending operation.
This part of the plan was a strategic power play, a calculated display of authority designed to assert the Barbarians' dominance over Bobby Thompson. That, and it left little room for resistance. If they didn’t see it coming, they wouldn’t have time to retaliate.
Upon successfully infiltrating the casino, the real work would commence. With assistance from Alejandro's operatives, the Barbarians would assume control of all operational facets. They would take charge of security to neutralize any potential resistance, gain access to the casino's financial systems, including the vault and registers, and begin discreetly redirecting funds through covert channels to avoid detection.
Given Alejandro's insistence on receiving his share in cash, an additional layer of complexity was introduced to the operation. All diverted funds would be funneled into the Barbarians' club account, covertly managed by their trusted accountant and stored securely until the time of transfer.
It was a solid plan, meticulously crafted to minimize the risk of detection. If executed with precision, they could execute the entire operation within the six months window without raising any red flags with law enforcement. After all, the federal authorities were unlikely to be overly concerned with a medium-sized casino tucked away in the middle of Nowhere, Nevada.
With the plan finalized, the meeting came to a close, leaving the Barbarians to await the right moment to set their scheme in motion.
Ace couldn't help but notice Jake's natural leadership qualities as he contributed to the formulation of the plan. Despite all Jake's modesty, there was an undeniable aura of authority that seemed to emanate from him effortlessly.
However, the meeting had taken its toll on Jake, leaving him feeling mentally drained. Having left Riley's a few hours earlier, Jake was eager to head home. Yet, as he approached the exit, Ace intercepted him, his grip firm on Jake's arm. Without uttering a word, Ace produced a thick wad of cash, all in hundred-dollar bills, and displayed it before him.
Aware that the Barbarians always had various revenue streams, however minor, Jake surmised that this must be the source of the money. His gaze shifted from the cash to Ace and back again, estimating the sum to be around five thousand dollars, if not more, leaving him puzzled.
"What's this for?" Jake queried, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Leaning in, Ace responded, "consider it payment for your contributions."
Jake scoffed, "but I haven't done anything."
Ace met his gaze knowingly, "your role in shaping that plan was more than enough."
Jake's eyes lingered on the cash, but his thoughts quickly veered in a different direction.
It was curious how you managed to permeate his thoughts at the most unexpected moments. Now, with five thousand dollars in hand, his mind was consumed with only the desire to give it all to you.
Recalling your earlier phone call, Jake felt an overwhelming urge to ease any burdens you might be carrying, even though much about you remained shrouded in mystery.
Almost impulsively, Jake turned to Ace and blurted out, "what do you know about Cherry?"
Ace chuckled, having anticipated this question would eventually surface, but he had always assumed it would be on Jake's terms. While Ace harbored his own questions about you, he suspected his insights might not fully satisfy Jake's curiosity. Nevertheless, he was willing to share what he knew.
As they stood by the bar, Ace gestured to the nearest stool. Sensing the impending conversation, Jake took a seat beside him.
A nod to the bartender was all it took; she immediately began preparing Ace's usual drink without the need for words.
"To be frank, kid," Ace began, turning his full attention to Jake, "I don't know much. None of us do. But I'll share what I do know."
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Two Years Ago
A raspy cough echoed from Riley's frail form as he stepped outside his trailer, watering can in hand. The relentless cancer that had taken hold of him intensified the pain of the smoker's cough he had developed over the years. With each passing day, his strength waned, and after undergoing treatments that had proven futile, he had decided to forego further interventions, opting instead to focus on managing his pain and comfort as he neared the end of his life.
At sixty-three , Riley had lived a life marked by resilience and dedication, spending over half of those years as a formidable member of the Barbarians. He had seen and experienced more than most would in two lifetimes, yet it was cancer that proved to be his final adversary.
As he looked at his reflection, the gauntness of his features and the pallor of his skin made him appear as though he was already a shadow of his former self. Despite this, he found himself standing outside the trailer he had called home for the past forty-five years, tending to a flower garden that would more than likely outlive him.
Riley's thoughts drifted to his cherished Tavern, a place that held as much importance to him as his allegiance to the brotherhood. He wondered about its fate once he was no longer around. While he trusted the Barbarians to care for it, the uncertainty of not being there to oversee its well-being troubled him.
Lost in these thoughts, the sound of approaching tires caught his attention. Initially dismissing it, he grew curious as the idling engine came to a halt outside his home, revealing a Nevada cab at the end of the dusty driveway.
Observing a middle-aged cab driver assisting an unfamiliar visitor, Riley's attention was immediately drawn to your face. A rush of emotions surged within him as he recognized you, a sensation he had never felt before. He was stunned; the last he had heard from you was when you were just five years old, and the last time he had seen you in person was when you were merely two, before your mother had taken you away to Texarkana.
Confused and intrigued, he couldn't fathom why, after all these years, you were suddenly standing at his doorstep.
He watched as the man retrieved a couple of duffle bags from the trunk, while you struggled with a crumpled wad of cash in your hand before completing the exchange. He wondered how much you had to pay to get a cab to bring you all the way out there.
As you approached, the details of your appearance became clearer. Riley's gaze immediately landed on the remnants of a black eye on your right side, accompanied by several smaller bruises along your forearm. Though you wore jeans, Riley suspected there were likely more bruises hidden beneath.Despite his concern, he chose to remain silent on the matter, sensing that, like him, you probably didn't want to discuss it.
As you made your way up the driveway, you took in Riley's appearance as well. He looked even more unwell than you had anticipated, a stark contrast to the stories your mother had shared about him. The ravages of cancer were evident.
Setting down his watering can just as you reached him, Riley greeted you with a simple, "Hey, kid."
The reunion between father and daughter, after over fifteen years apart, was surprisingly subdued. Both of you seemed to have too much on your minds to make a fuss about it.
"Hey, Dad," you replied, your voice trembling slightly, offering him a tentative smile given the circumstances.
An awkward silence hung in the air as you both assessed each other's worn appearance, yet also noticed the shared features that confirmed your relationship.
"What are you doin’ here?"
Riley's question made you second-guess your decision to come without even a phone call. The risk of showing up unannounced suddenly seemed more apparent, but you also knew the alternative was far worse.
"My mom told me you were sick, terminal," you stammered, avoiding his eyes as you looked towards the blooming flower garden he had been tending, "I came to help. You know, take care of you."
Riley could see through your words, recognizing that caring for a man battling terminal prostate cancer was likely not high on your priority list. However, he sensed that you had come for a reason, possibly running from something—or someone.
The fear that consumed you was palpable, evident in your posture and demeanor. You had become fear.
Realizing that he had not been the best father during your formative years, Riley felt compelled to offer you refuge from whatever troubles you were facing. As a Barbarian, he was no stranger to trouble, and he believed he could shield you from it.
In addition, your presence would provide him with much-needed companionship in his final days, rather than sporadic visits from club members. With you, he would have the company of genuine family.
And of course, if you were willing, you could take over the operations at the Tavern.
It seemed like a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Finally, a grin spread across Riley's face, and you couldn't help but notice how eerily similar his smile was to yours. "Come on in, we'll get you settled."
You tightened your grip on your bags as Riley gestured for you to enter, feeling a glimmer of hope that being there might offer you the sanctuary you so desperately sought from the looming darkness.
"Watch out for my flowers. Don’t step on ‘em," Riley chided, adding a touch of normalcy to this unexpected reunion.
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"That's the only story Riley ever shared with me," Ace admitted, taking a sip of his beer and studying Jake's reaction. "After that, he didn't talk much about her."
Jake nodded, realizing this might be the extent of the information he'd receive, leaving him with conflicting feelings.
"It's not that Riley was secretive or malicious," Ace elaborated, reminiscing about the times when Riley was still with them. "He was just protective, and we respected that. Even after his passing, we still do."
Jake understood the protective sentiment, feeling a similar urge to shield you, albeit not in the same paternal manner as Riley. His feelings for you were complex and puzzling.
"She was incredible for Riley during his final months, by his side when he passed, helped organize his funeral, and has been managing the hell outta this Tavern," Ace recounted with a chuckle. "So, we just leave it at that."
The story left Jake with more questions than answers, yet he found himself strangely content with the information provided.
Ace extended the folded hundred-dollar bills to Jake once again, and this time he accepted them, tucking them into his front pocket before finishing off his beer.
"Thanks, as always, you're appreciated," Jake said to Ace, making a beeline for the exit.
Ace chuckled softly, shaking his head. "That boy is in way deeper than he thinks."
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Jake found you just after you’d finished showering, your hair wrapped in a towel and wearing a faded Kentucky Derby t-shirt that he remembered once belonged to Riley. Your face lit up with a smile at his arrival, which only fueled his determination to carry out his plan with the money he had obtained.
"Hey, handsome," you greeted, visibly relieved by his presence.
In response, Jake pulled the money from his pocket and handed it to you, mimicking the gesture Ace had made with him earlier. Your confusion mirrored his own when Ace had done the same to him.
"Jake, what the hell is this?"
"I heard you on the phone earlier," he explained, the words tumbling out as if he couldn't hold them back any longer.
You felt a familiar tension creep back into your muscles at the mention of the phone call, but you remained silent, waiting to see what else he had to share.
"Save your money," Jake said softly, his tone filled with care, “use this to help your mom, and if you need more, just let me know, okay?"
Stunned, you found yourself unable to accept the money. You knew the funds were likely from Barbarian activities, but that was the least of your concerns. You couldn't comprehend why he was so willing to give it to you. His generosity was unfamiliar and overwhelming. First, the truck, and now this.
You were certain Jake wasn't expecting anything in return; his generosity was genuine.
"Take it," he urged gently, “please, Cherry?"
Reluctantly, you reached out and accepted the stash, noting that the bills were mostly, if not all, hundreds.
The money was providing a lifeline for you in ways Jake couldn't possibly understand, making you feel as though he was the catalyst for positive change in your life.
Still holding the money, you wrapped your arms around his neck and placed a tender kiss on his lips, savoring the taste of beer and tobacco. "Why are you so good, Jacob?"
Hearing you call him by his full name sent a shiver down his spine. He looked down at you, shaking his head slightly, and admired the way your still-wet lashes clung together. "I'm no good, Cherry. I'm just good for you."
You kissed him again to keep yourself from saying what you wanted to say next.
You’re not good for me, Jake. You’re too good for me.
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Taglist: @edgingthedarkness @earthgrlsreasy @wetkleenex-gvf @hollyco
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comradekatara · 6 months
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hello! I’m rewatching atla atm, and I’m on the s1 finale. I was wondering if you’ve ever imagined what an extra northern water tribe ep could look like? personally I feel like they could’ve easily scrapped the great divide and added another ep to this mini arc, after the ep where katara slays paku. I’m just not sure what the conflict would be. a sokka ep would be great, maybe some of his warrior training & socializing with the average nwt man. the way this could contribute to sokka & masculinity & protection I would Die. ofc more time with yue. but anyway, I’m interested in your thoughts
oh this SUCH a good question!! the nwt is my favorite mini-arc in the show (yue being the absolute scene-stealer that she is) and i have always secretly wanted an extra episode set there, whether by removing “the great divide” (objectively bad episode apart from the aang lying stuff which is great) or by simply adding one extra episode to s1 at no cost.
if i could rework those episodes as self indulgently as possible, i would make “the waterbending master” more katara (and kanna) focused and then make the extra episode more sokka (and yue) focused. yue could still be introduced to us and sokka in that episode, but time spent on sokka’s subplot could instead be afforded to flashbacks of kanna in the nwt. we only get very limited glimpses of kanna, in flashbacks or otherwise, and i think seeing more of her, especially in an episode that sheds so much illuminating light onto her character & thematic role as she informs katara, would have been really cool to see. kanna as a child, giggling with baby yugoda as she would later do with hama. kanna at age 16, looking like a slightly older katara, hesitating over her marriage to a younger pakku, ultimately making a difficult choice. katara’s arc in that episode wouldn’t change (i mean, it’s already so perfect), but for the audience, seeing kanna would help contextualize that chiasmus and further move us.
a common criticism i see from detractors of sokka/yue’s relationship is that it feels too rushed, and i agree to an extent, but we also know that they did develop a sincere friendship during the timeskip between “the waterbending master” and “the siege of the north.” we simply do not know for how long that timeskip actually lasted. we can assume that it was a not insignificant amount of time, considering that katara basically mastered waterbending in that interim, but we never actually see that friendship develop, so to some, it can feel cliched and insincere (because they simply do not understand the power of uhaul lesbianism). so on a very self-indulgent level, i would love to see more of sokka and yue’s relationship development, since we are only privy to the most essential beats (which, granted, we can extrapolate from, but im being selfish rn shut up).
an episode where sokka and yue (both separately and together) comprise the a and b plots (and the c plot can be katara and aang adorable training montage) would be really nice to see, especially, as you said, wrt the gender politics of the nwt. it would be cool to see yue directly interact with arnook and/or hahn to provide a starker contrast between the burdens placed on her as a girl/daughter/wife/princess versus how sokka treats her (because that implication is already crucial, but framing it more overtly would be nice). and then seeing sokka in the throes of his “warrior training” being like “i don’t think any of these dudes have ever actually seen battle…” and having to deal with the tension of being denigrated and disrespected as a southerner, but also clearly having more experience than them and being frustrated by their myopia (realizing that not too long ago, he also had no experience, and oh god is that what he sounded like??????? yes.) .. and then of course sokka and yue together, flirting as “just friends” (over pai sho perhaps????) and being in their own little totally platonic rom com world. but sokka and yue’s relationship is obviously very thematically significant on top of just being lovely and adorable, so using that extra space to explore their parallel commitments to their (patriarchal) Duty, the burdens and expectations placed on them, and how it reflects their societies and the role colonialism plays in shaping them. would love to see it!!!!
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taurussoulastrology · 5 months
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Angular Houses of the Zodiac
Angular houses 1, 4, 7, 10 (AC, IC, DC, MC) are Cardinal sign houses and correlate to the equinox and solstice seasons. They catapult us into action and are associated with generating and releasing new energy. They represent the spheres of life.
1h personal identity; 4h home, family background, roots, ancestors; 7h personal relationships; 10h career and public life.
Having planets in any of these houses will oppose or square one another
(depending on degree of planet of course). Even if they don't exactly square or oppose one another, you still have the push and pull of polarity between these houses, with said planets, causing tension or friction as the houses automatically square and oppose each other.
This is generalized as planet roles play part in fully describing the aspect.
Planets in:
1h/7h opposition this can give a dilemma of personal will & individual identity versus relationships. How much of one or the other do you sacrifice to keep the balance? Too much towards the 1h you become self-centered to much in the 7h you give away part of your identity.
4h/10h opposition is a conflict of staying home or establishing a career. Childhood conditioning plays a huge role in how we function later in life and our roles in society.
1h/4h square, we are born unique, but to what degree does the home life(4) support or diminish our growing individuality(1)? We might want and like to be independent and free but the security and comfort of what we know and what was instilled in us may inhibit us.
4h/7h square is where we project a parent(4) onto a partner(7). This arises from a complex we grew from parent that didn't give the emotional support needed during our formative years. Typically this is the father, sorry guys but history shows it is typically daddy issues that projected.
7h/10h conflicts arising between career(10) and a relationship(7), giving us less time to form our keep important relationships. Too busy forming a career(10) gives less time for a relationship(7). Or vice versa. It can even have you seeking a relationship that's contingent on social status.
1h/10h square, society approval and validation may place restrictions on what we're naturally inclined to do professionally. Self-discipline is needed to create a career(10h) and this could limit your personal freedom(1h).
#Astrology #AstrologyPost #AstrologyCommunity #angularhouses #opposition #square #Cardinalhouses
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prodigal-explorer · 2 months
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AN OPEN MINDED VIEW OF THE ISRAEL PALESTINE CONFLICT: NOT ANTI-ISRAEL, NOT ANTI-PALESTINE, BUT ANTI-HATE.
i’m gonna start by saying this:
the sheer amount of anti-jew hate i’ve seen on my tumblr dash is absolutely abhorrent.
and now, let’s get into the specifics of my view:
i recently went to two events that my college hosted. one was an event in which a guest speaker discussed antisemitism and how it is running rampant lately due to the israel-palestine conflict.
and the other event i went to was an israeli man and a palestinian man who are CLOSE FRIENDS, and them telling their stories and how the animosity between palestine and israel have affected their lives, killed members of their families, and yet, they were friends. because they knew that they shared two things: their birthplace and their grief.
after attending both of these events, this is what i learned: BEING PRO ISRAEL OR PRO PALESTINE IS NOT REMOTELY HELPFUL. zionism is not inherently evil. the conflict is NOT ABOUT RELIGION. it’s not the muslims versus the jews. it’s about politics. it’s about fear and trauma and hurt.
the land doesn’t belong only to israel.
but it doesn’t belong only to palestine either.
the land is land, and it’s a gift from the higher power that created this world.
if the israeli people weren’t constantly discriminated against or expelled everywhere they went, maybe they wouldn’t feel the need to cling onto the one tiny piece of land that they managed to claim as theirs.
if the palestinian people didn’t get kicked out of the place they lived in first, and weren’t treated unfairly in israel’s social climate, maybe they wouldn’t feel the need to cling the exact same way.
israel has money and power from america and other places. and israel has done some terrible things. i know that. but so has palestine. and this post isn’t meant to excuse the bombings, the killings, the genocides. that’s not what this is about.
but people are dying on BOTH sides. countless people. in the usa and in many other places, people are getting hate crimed just for being jewish because people are so pro-palestine that they became anti-israel and anti-jewish. and the same is happening to muslim people who are pro-palestine.
can you see how being pro/anti just fuels the fire more and creates more war and violence and conflict and killing? what feeds a war is the possibility of winning or losing. being on one side or the other side does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help the people. it HURTS the people. because they are having their homes destroyed due to the polarization that WE are causing due to our need to fit things into one box or another. jewish or muslim. good or evil. israel or palestine. it shouldn’t be israel or palestine. it should be israel AND palestine, finding a way to come to an agreement. to SHARE or to compromise. if not, then the war will destroy them both. two beautiful nations with such rich history and such amazing potential.
my point in writing this post was not just to express my opinion but to spread knowledge based on what i learned from accredited experts as well as people are literally IN israel and palestine and facing the effects of the conflict. most of us on the internet are just sitting back and watching, choosing to be either anti-jew or anti-muslim just to feel helpful, to feel progressive and woke and hip and in-control.
wearing a “from the river to the sea” t-shirt isn’t helping anybody. all it does is create more tension and polarity.
comparing zionism to evil and saying that all zionist’s want palestinians dead is incorrect and hateful and lowkey antisemitic.
and this goes for all the anti-palestinian hate as well, but honestly, most of my dash on here is filled with “pro-palestine” stuff that acknowledges the suffering the palestinians are going through while entirely ignoring the israelis going through something extremely similar.
before you get angry in the reblogs and accuse me of supporting a genocide (i’m not), or accuse me of being complacent (i’m being the opposite), or just any sort of hate, maybe take a deep breath and read what i wrote again.
it’s about the PEOPLE. every single person on this planet has inherent worth and dignity, and nobody deserves to be diminished to one trait of their identity.
“oh, you’re jewish? that means you’re a zionist and that means you’re pro-israel and that means you support bombing and killing innocent civilians!”
that’s actually genuinely logic i’ve seen on this website before, and it’s that sort of thinking that i want to combat. that’s the thinking that the israeli and palestinian friends want to combat.
being jewish isn’t the same as being pro israel. being muslim isn’t the same as being pro palestine. there is SO MUCH MORE to this conflict than what is being put down on social media. i beg of you guys to read a book about antisemitism. look for resources that actually dig deep, primary sources, interviews, multiple news sources so you get a nice collection of perspectives. don’t just read one article and make an assumption about an entire group of people.
and it’s so unfair to blame an entire country for decisions that are being made by the government. it’s like saying “oh everyone in america supports banning abortion” when the abortion bans were choices made by a few powerful people. not the entire country. so when critiquing a country for their choices in war, it’s so important to express that it’s the government at fault. not the people. not the religion that most of them happen to believe in. again, it’s the politics of the situation. not religions.
there that’s all. please don’t kill me or dox me or tell me to kill myself or accuse me of being a jew or a muslim (i am neither) who has control/power over any sort of media influence (i am a disabled, gay, filipino, autistic young gender-non-conformist. i have basically no clout in this society 😂). i am just stating my opinion which is a perfectly fine thing to do online.
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Hi there, could I please request some yandere Blackmore headcannons?
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Alright finally let’s do something for this guy, I rather enjoyed his character the little bit he was in SBR. Little bit of speculation on my part of how I think Blackmore works Yandere, hope you don’t mind!
Yandere! Blackmore
Being the calm analytical type, he starts off casually remembering little things about you. Frivolous details most others wouldn’t pay much mind to, such as your hand writing. How you might write a letter versus the next person he sees in the room. Which he finds pretty important considering how loyal he is to Funny Valentine. Although your style of doing things seems to stick out to him.
It builds up over time as he keeps note of more things that don’t seem very pertinent to his work. (You don’t even have to be working for the government either). When Blackmore has more free time on his hands he spends his time unraveling his feelings towards you, perhaps he should do research just to see where you’re around.
He’ll dig up anything immediate family or cousins, friends, acquaintances, and eventually he finds himself popping up somewhere you might need to get supplies from. Something casual no matter whether you stay at home or work. From there, he might overhear a conversation or two. Something clicks once again and he finds another quirk about your voice. Whether you have a lisp, an accent, or mispronounce something he finds it cute.
He’s certainly a stalker type taking his time to get to know all your strengths and weaknesses. Blackmore is careful to not make you aware of his presence completely, and most certainly takes advantage of utilizing Catch the Rainbow when the weather is fitting for it.
As for anyone else you interact with, he is rather blasé about their relationship with you. No, they’re not really all that interesting to be talking to you in the first place. Though he does keep in mind how often they interact with you, and where they place relationship wise, platonically or romantically. If it’s the later he may see to it, that he may have to intervene eventually if he truly wants to pursue you.
He’ll catch you out in the rain one day, making it appear as if he had crossed paths with you for the first time. Did you perhaps slip and fall in the mud that had formed during this unsettled weather? Or perhaps you needed a reprieve from the sudden downpour with his umbrella. He can give off an unsettling disposition as he softly offers to help you out, but personally tries to encourage you to take him up on his offer.
Since he’s stalked you for long enough to get a soft profile of your personality, Blackmore is firm to strike a casual conversation that piques your interest. All while being unassuming to a stranger or even a close family member.
He won’t hesitate to take out anyone he believes to be a threat to his pursuit of you. The way he does it, he will find a way to frame it as a mere accident or a conflict with a different person they may have had tension with. Keeping in mind your reactions and your emotions all while doing so.
Even if at the slightest possibility of you getting cold feet and running off, he refuses to let you get away. It takes a lot of tact and patience, but he’ll find a way to manipulate things to his advantage. Somehow getting authority to look after you depending on how he plays his cards. He doesn’t mind if you start having chills at his ‘scuse me when he ends up saying it. This man adores you either way, but he simply won’t have it of you going off to someone else. So there is a small chance he might use Catch the Rainbow against you but merely for subduing you (pending on the situation).
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ireneaesthetic · 1 year
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Simon and Micke: S1 - E1
Discomfort is the first word that comes to my mind when thinking about this scene. it's our first time getting to see simon's dad and give him a face, but it takes so little to read the room and understand where ayub's previous words of concern come from.
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The difference of approach is the most noticebale thing: simon's caution and distance - physical by sitting on the opposite side of the couch and emotional by directly asking him the favor he's there for - versus the excitement of micke in cleaning up the messy table, bringing him coffee and starting a random dad-son conversation, just like any father would welcome his child home after a 'long time no see' period.
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The point is, no matter how much micke's good intentions are in caring enough to create a cozy space and show interest in simon's life, the tension is much stronger than whatever attempt to overcome it. he really tries to make it right, but it all seems so out of place anyway.
Simon feels that too, right when he steps into his father's apartment: he acts politely while every. little. thing in his body language speaks for the discomfort he's in, from his eyes costantly wandering around the room to keeping the hands busy to relieve his anxious state.
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side note: simon's flustered reaction at the "a cute guy then" is the one and only sign of relief throughout the scene, he's able to let his guard down for an instant and it's, in fact, the most adorable shot of him.
There's also the stiff posture in reciprocating micke's hugs to prove simon's conflict of acting son-like but not really feeling ready or in the position to do so. he's well aware of the way his father's presence and physical contact affect him, yet still allows him to step closer.
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It's simon and his attitude, manifested more than once, of worrying about people he loves, hoping for them to change, putting aside his emotions to be there for them and showing he cares. breaking boundaries to let be hugged by micke and hug back, even if it's clearly not something he's comfortable with, shows a very vulnerable side of him, the first one we audience get to know of simon's character actually.
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amemoryofwot · 8 months
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In the books, Barthanes remarks to Rand he’s heard that the Andoran royal line has almost Aiel colouring. Tigraine certainly blended right in.
I had the thought this reflects another Cairhien social stratification in the show. Rand, trying to hide in the impoverished Foregate, shaves his red hair off to avoid attention. However, the traumatized war veteran still recognizes him as Aiel. We know that the Foregate has a significant population of refugees from the countryside ravaged by the Aiel war. These are people who were more impacted by the Aiel, who fought them or were displaced by the conflict, so that is their first assumption. It would be obviously unlikely for an Aiel to actually be hiding in the city, but it’s a trauma response versus a logical one.
However, in a fancy coat and snuck into a party of rich nobles their assumption is he is a lord. Rand remarks they’re starting to realize he wasn’t at the dinner, but surely with the tensions in the city there would be security to escort out trespassers. Cairhienin would be familiar enough with the Andoran nobility to assume he might be a minor branch of Trakand or Mantear with his reddish hair. This would be more their frame of reference than the Aiel.
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