#without also apparently righting a thesis
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If you remove Wyll's relation to Ulder from the situation, I think immediately exiling Wyll was not only harmful but fucking stupid. Imagine Wyll's exact scenario but with the child of a separate politically important person.
Ulder returns to Baldur's Gate and a politician's child is now owned by a demon. They cannot speak of the extent of control said demon has over them, and there is no evidence to verify their testimony of events. There is very little to see and at first glance the scene is pretty damning.
Now if you look at things for two additional seconds, which honestly any politician should default to doing, there are many things wrong with the picture being presented.
The first one being the politician's kid has never displayed any behavior to make someone believe they are anything but good. The child was raised by a well respected, level-headed person, and they have a spotless record free of evil tendencies. This child loves Baldur's Gate, wants to make it a better place, and was doing everything in their power to become a worthy political heir. For them to suddenly align themselves with evil is inconsistent with their history and completely out of their character.
The next factor being the demon herself. Demons cause harm both directly and indirectly. They are infamous for not only lying, but manipulating the truth to make something look like the opposite of how it truly is. Demons are evil entities that know how to make you see what they want you to see.
Another factor is total lack of any evidence. It would be one thing if there was proof contradicting the child's testimony, but there is NO evidence AT ALL. This child is known for their honesty yet there is nothing to verify their story. This makes it appear they're lying, but there is also nothing proving they are. Additionally, they DO have proof in the form of scars and a newfound disability. They acquired them somehow but oddly enough there is nothing that explains them either. Finally, when you ask for details about the demonic contract, they physically cannot make words detailing anything come out of their mouth.
Look at everything we discovered from not jumping to conclusions! Combine all these factors and the once simple scene is more complicated than you first thought. Now to be fair, the result of the mystery scenario is still the main problem. The politician's child is now a threat to the city, and that issue needs to be resolved. With everything to consider however, could the best solution be made quickly?
Once again, there is a demon involved. Regardless of how straightforward a scenario may seem, is one involving a demon not always suspect? What if their goal was to get the child exiled? Maybe making a politician's child a threat is part of a larger, more dangerous plan. Even if the politician's child is the threat, isn't any threat involving a politician's child also a threat to a politician? Is a threat to a politician not also a threat to the city? Isn't any threat that involves a person with political power a threat to the city too? Is a threat involving the city not a threat that needs to be assessed before determining the best solution? A solution that might not be as easy as throwing the child out?
Ulder is anything but irrational. He analyzes and considers all possible angles of anything. Ulder wants to make the right decision, the best decision when it comes to the well-being of the city. He is not quick to come to a conclusion or decision unless necessary. Is it not in the best interest of the city that something involving a demon and a politician's heir is to maybe take a second look? To slow down and consider other potentials? To look at things objectively? To maybe get input from a third party? To perhaps reevaluate the situation?
Is that not part of the duty he carries out everyday? Is that not how he regularly handles situations? Is that not his typical thought process? Is a thorough investigation not the best for the city he swore to protect? Is that not standard practice? Is that not the most rational thing to do? Is there not a million different factors to consider? Why does everything and everyone else need consideration unless they're Uder's son?
#baldur's gate 3#bg3#wyll ravengard#ulder ravengard#bg3 wyll#mine#*thinks about why Wyll has self worth issues*#*has to think about Ulder*#*is filled with rage over a fictional father*#this was NOT supposed to be this long#but my brain cannot think about Wyll#without also apparently righting a thesis#🎮 bg3
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i need a full time job SO bad
#not right now but like. in three months after I've had time to rest and get my life in order#thankfully i don't need it for the money i need it because having so much free time is kinda driving me insane#keep in mind I've spent the last two years without a true day of rest because i was always supposed to be working on my master's thesis#so i just. forgot what it's like apparently#and it makes me so mad because when i was busy i was always making plans for all the things I'd do once would be done with grad school#and now i just can't do them!!!!#so yeah if anyone's hiring. hi#also im spending WAY too much time on social media and i can literally feel how it's rotting my brain so i need something to keep me#off my phone expeditiously#zai.ez
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you know what makes enid such a lovable character? she’s deceptively complex, and the specifics make her so fucking precious. LET ME PROVE MY THESIS.
when enid is first introduced in the show, we might be inclined to think that she’s merely a shallow representation of the polar opposite of wednesday—colorful, peppy, social, loud. but she’s so much more than just wednesday’s antithesis. and you see that from their very first interaction.
enid, clearly excited and optimistic about meeting her new roommate, rushes up to greet her with a huge smile and outstretched arms (already, a sign of her kindness). but the very second she realizes wednesday doesn’t want to reciprocate, she holds off. this might not seem like a big thing, but it’s extremely telling. for one, it shows us that before everything, enid respects wednesday’s boundaries. wednesday, who she doesn’t even know yet. and she continues to honor wednesday’s disinclination to hugs, repeatedly, until the final scene. it also indicates that she’s not ditsy or cluelessly abrasive like some other characters who share her disposition. enid is genuinely, thoroughly kind, and it’s striking.
however, as the scene continues and enid gives wednesday a tour of nevermore, it becomes clear that even though she is kind, she isn’t a one-dimensional people-pleaser. she doesn’t hesitate to give wednesday’s attitude right back to her. like when wednesday expresses annoyance over the name of the quad and enid tells her that “the whole snarky, goth-girl thing might’ve worked at normie school, but here, things are different,” and when wednesday shows disinterest in “participating in tribal adolescent cliches,” enid tells her to “use it to fill your obviously bottomless pit of disdain.” is enid sweet? yes. and is she (not so) subtly trying to impress her cute brunette roomie with her knowledge and interests? also yes. but what she’s not about to do is let wednesday sass her without matching her energy. it’s almost a playful kind of banter (i would say borderline flirtatious), and it’s one of the reasons wednesday is instantly drawn to her; enid isn’t afraid of her, or uncomfortable around her, or put off by her unfriendliness; instead, she’s able to interact with her in a way that keeps wednesday on her toes. this, combined with the way enid continuously respects her boundaries, is a dichotomy that wednesday finds irresistible, and it’s why she can’t not treat enid differently than everyone else. and it’s a big reason why she falls for her.
enid’s complexity only deepens when we discover that she can’t wolf out. we find out that she’s terrified of being alone, and as we get to family weekend, we see the dysfunctional dynamic she has with her parents. it becomes apparent that enid herself is a dichotomy; she presents herself to her peers as confident and bubbly and full of optimism, but the second she’s alone with her family, we see a glimpse of her truest self, who she is behind the mask—weary, sad, almost demure, responding to her mother’s criticism with a tired kind of acquiescence, “that’s me, a huge disappointment.” enid isn’t at all what we might have initially thought her to be, and to see her deal with not measuring up to her family’s standards makes her all the more authentic and relatable.
considering all of this, enid’s duplicity contextualizes her delicacy with wednesday in a way that is uniquely captivating. because enid has every reason to close herself off to other people, especially to her roommate who doesn’t even seem to like her, but she doesn’t. in fact, she goes above and beyond trying to befriend her—promising to keep her secret about nero, seeing her off with tyler at the harvesting festival, inviting her to multiple social events, expressing an interest in “bonding” when she took her dress shopping, organizing a birthday surprise for her, knitting her a snood in her signature colors, and even pulling one over on weems so that they could have a girl’s night out. so when she finds out that wednesday has deceived her, she’s rightfully upset and extremely hurt. during the fight scene, all of this comes out, and for the audience—much like for wednesday—enid’s anger is pain-inducing. we see the strength of her vulnerability in that moment, we see her reach the end of her rope, as it were, because deep down enid is just plain exhausted. and that’s what makes her really real. i see the humanity in her so clearly, and it makes me want to cry. it makes me want to reach through the screen and comfort her like wednesday couldn’t in that moment.
but as we know, enid comes back for wednesday. why? because even after everything, even after the betrayal and the snide remarks and the silence, she still wants to take care of wednesday. she still wants to be there for her, to protect her and be her friend. without waiting for an apology from the person who wronged her, she came back. and if that doesn’t make you love enid sinclair with all of your heart, nothing will.
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in re: “cas knows dean better than sam”
“cas sees dean as a whole person and sam just sees dean’s façade as his big brother slash parent” but like how and where. outside of your fanfiction. season and episode. scene and line. if it’s so obvious and apparent you should have at least 3-5 concrete examples right? “sam doesn’t know dean carried him out of the burning house” yeah but did cas? outside of a footnote in the angelic manila folder they gave him between seasons 3 and 4 so he could better manipulate him and sam into doing heaven’s bidding? like if you’re going to say “cas knows dean better than sam” than you need to show how cas succeeds where you perceive sam to be failing at the very least. but even your perceptions of how sam doesn’t measure up are so warped, blinkered, and moronic that it wouldn’t even be worth much if you could provide the textual evidence, but at least you’d have a semblance of a point. like say anything without going “as an eldest daughter…” “well my relationship with my sibling isn’t…” please say anything without fucking projecting your own self-pitying crybaby bullshit onto your little woobie dean and using the actual canon text of the show. I’m literally begging you.
like the thing of it all is and always has been that you’re so hell-bent on twisting the sam and dean relationship to fit into this narrow and almost entirely inaccurate mold which is the basis upon which you build the entire Destiel Mythos that you literally lose all sense of media literacy. you don’t even miss the forest for the trees, you miss the trees for like, the pretend invisible things you’re seeing in between the trees, the forest is a whole long way away from your current level of perception. because the Destiel Mythos is based entirely on the fact that dean is Not Seen and Not Appreciated and Not Loved and Cannot Be Himself until cas comes along, and that Family (read: sam) Is Only A Burden on Him That He Must Be Freed From In Order to Flourish, so you keep trying to warp the sam relationship into something that is only one dimension of it – and keep ignoring the ways in which dean is seen, loved and understood within it, because you need to keep lying to yourselves that there is a narrative need to emancipate dean from something that he has never wanted emancipation from because it is ultimately a net good for dean in the particular circumstances of their lives. it’s also profoundly unhealthy, codependent, evil and toxic etc. (a lot more dean’s fault than sam’s but I will nawt be getting into all that right now) but that doesn’t change the fact that sam and dean both know and understand and feel deeply that they are each other’s person – that they know the best and love the most in the world. but that – which IS true canon fact – is incompatible with the Destiel Mythos so it must be ignored and all good sense must be thrown out the window in order to do it.
anyway i digress there are two main categories of Bad Thinking that i will be addressing below
childhood/ “parent/child” / blah blah blah
every single thing people are saying in favour of the deeply stupid thesis in the title of this post is proof positive of the very silly form of ‘analysis’ I just described. a few things:
“wah sam didn’t know that dean carried him out of the burning house :( this means that dean withholds things from sam to protect him because he is a PARENT and sam can only know things about him in the context of him being a PARENT to him” – what the fuck are you on about genuinely. first of all reducing the sam/dean relationship exclusively to parent/child is in itself foolishness for so many reasons that I don’t have time for right now. but also, it’s clear that this is just something that happened when sam was a baby that just never came up. in the scene (1.09) where this is brought up, dean is mildly surprised that he or john never mentioned that detail and then states that sam knows the rest of the story (i.e. the actual traumatic stuff) just as well as dean does – which is true, demonstrably whenever they talk about it.
obviously there are some things that happened to dean in their childhood that sam doesn’t know about (or didn’t know about, until told in whatever episode they come up in). equally, there are things dean doesn’t know about sam’s childhood, e.g. the fact that he was so lonely he needed a zanna (11.08). or how dean didn’t remember that sam was friends with barry cook until he mentions it when they go back to their old school (4.13). or about the nature of sam’s relationship with amy pond (7.03). these don’t mean that ‘sam withheld these things to protect dean out of parental love’ lol, it’s just that there are details and events in each of their lives that the other happens to not have been told about.
similarly “sam didn’t even know dean wanted to be a firefighter L” girl did dean know sam wanted to be a lawyer? in 1.01 he’s pretty surprised that sam has a law school interview. the point here isn’t “neither sam nor dean know each other well,” these are minutiae that aren’t relevant to how well you know someone as a whole, and very poorly demonstrate the bad and inaccurate point that dean withholds things from sam the way a parent does a child (on a constant or regular basis). obviously the way they were raised, sam was deemed too young to know about certain things until he got older and dean had to keep that secret, but as shown in 3.08 flashbacks, most if not all of this is eventually revealed throughout their childhood when sam is still fairly young.
or possibly the dumbest one is that “wah sam doesn’t even know that dean reads books L” whenever that was he was also obviously joking because in more serious moments (e.g. 8.14) he admits that dean is smart/a better researcher than he is, literally remembers dean reading to him as a kid (8.21) so like. clam down
one of the extra annoying variants of this type of ‘proof’ covers things that are very clearly novel pieces of information about dean that dean, sam, and the audience are learning about dean in real time. like if you’re actually watching the show to comprehend it as it was intended to be comprehended, instead of funnelling everything through the Destiel Machine until it’s unrecognizable slop that fits neatly into your pre-ordained molds that Make Destiel Necessary In the Narrative (when it actually isn’t, at all) it’s abundantly clear. the top two worst offenders:
“sam didn’t even know that dean is good with kids :( he doesn’t even realize that dean raised him :(” first of all you people need to understand that parentification does not literally create a parent-child dynamic between siblings but I digress – this doesn’t make any sense bro. in 1.03 dean admits he doesn’t know any kids as an adult. dean being good with his own kid brother when they were both kids is to any reasonable person not necessarily linked with him being good with other random kids when he’s an adult. in 1.03 it’s clear that dean himself is a bit surprised that he’s able to connect w/ lucas so well because he’s clearly not dealt with a lot of kids since sam grew up. the whole point of this is that dean, sam, and the audience are all sort of seeing a new side of dean. who again is just 26. after this very early episode, there’s no question from sam that dean is able to connect w kids. sam being a bit surprised by this also has absolutely zero connection with him not understanding or realizing that dean looked out for him when they were both kids – sam is standing there at 22 years of age talking about adult dean and children – of fucking course he doesn’t mean himself are you stupid.
from the very first season, sam is very clearly aware of everything dean ~did for him~ when they were kids, see e.g. 1.21: “Dean...ah...I wanna thank you. […] For everything. You've always had my back you know? Even when I couldn't count on anyone I could always count on you. And I don't know, I just wanted to let you know, just in case.”
and 1.06: DEAN: Well, I’m a freak, too. I’m right there with ya, all the way. (SAM laughs.) SAM: Yeah, I know you are.
and then possibly even more stupidly, the one where it’s like “wah sam doesn’t even know dean can cook :( he doesn’t even know that DEAN was the one making him food as a babe in arms :(” – when sam is surprised that dean made something fairly gourmet and from scratch literally the first time they have ever had a permanent living space with a functional kitchen. in this VERY scene (8.14), dean himself points out that they haven’t had a kitchen before and when sam remarks on the irregularity of him doing serious cooking, he says “I’m nesting”, clearly showing that this is a novel development because they now have a kitchen, and that it’s irregular relative to past behaviour – both of them acknowledge this. because real proper in-depth cooking and making box mac and cheese for sam until he was like 11 and old enough to be left alone are two different things, which sam understands because he’s smart, unlike whoever chooses to make this point. dean never showed significant signs of liking to cook before this, which is what the exchange is about, but he did have to prepare food for them both when sam was too young – of course sam knows he had to, there are childhood memories referred to (e.g. 14.11) where sam is mentioned to literally help dean do the cooking as kids lol (and yes, genius, sam says ‘I didn’t know you knew what a kitchen was’ or something to that effect, but if you think he’s being 100% literal there I have an oceanfront property in Kansas to sell you)
again, obviously there are pieces that sam doesn’t know about dean, e.g. when he’s talking about his response to mary dying in 1.03. but again, Sam is 22, dean is 26, the last time they were in regular contact was when sam was 18-20, these are things that happen when people grow up, they’re able to reflect and share on childhood experiences if they’re close with their siblings as adults. it’s clearly not something that 26 y/o dean wanted to hide from 22 y/o sam. yes sam didn’t know everything about how dean felt when they were young, but that’s equally true in the other direction, and it’s such an irrelevant point in this discussion when, crucially, sam does learn these things about dean mostly fairly early on in the series (i.e. when they’re really not that deep into adulthood yet). cas was also not magically blessed w/ knowledge about dean, he also had to learn whatever it is that he knows, but somehow sam has to know everything about dean from age 7 or it doesn’t count when it’s sam lol.
“sam doesn’t know the One True Dean / doesn’t see through his facades”
the next branch of defending this flawed thesis is invariably that sam has little idea of the fronts and facades that dean puts up and is content to just believe them, whereas cas digs deep and sees the One True Dean that stupid sam always misses. there is nothing in the text that demonstrates this is true. multiple times, we see sam being very knowing of the fact that dean puts up fronts and facades. sam is also knowledgeable of the way dean perceives himself, and – demonstrated in multiple episodes before such sam lines were very poorly recycled and regurgitated into cas’s dialogue in 15.18, but keep acting like that was the first time anyone ever showed that they knew the One True Dean.
Obviously there are times where sam teases dean when he’s being more touchy-feely than usual, but 9.99 times out of 10 (as a conservative estimate in case there's something i'm forgetting otherwise i would say every time) that’s very clearly coming from a place of knowing the real dean vs. the façade he puts up because that’s the whole joke. and it’s allowed to be a joke because they’re siblings and that’s what siblings do lol. esp since sam and dean have touchy feely moments at the end of like every episode.
examples of all of the above off the top of my head (there are more than these, but these are the ones I can think of):
2.02 (about John’s death)
Sam: “I mean this ‘strong silent’ thing of yours, it's crap. […] I'm over it. This isn't just anyone we're talking about, this is Dad. I know how you felt about the man.”
Dean: “You know what, back off, all right? Just because I'm not caring and sharing like you want me to.”
Sam: “No, no, no, that's not what this is about, Dean. I don't care how you deal with this. But you have to deal with it, man. Listen, I'm your brother, all right? I just want to make sure you're okay.”
2.03 (Sam to Dean, also about John’s death): “You know, you slap on this big fake smile but I can see right through it. Because I know how you feel, Dean. Dad's dead. And he left a hole, and it hurts so bad you can't take it, but you can't just fill up that hole with whoever you want to. It's an insult to his memory.”
Note that Dean essentially admits that Sam is right in these two instances in 2.04 bc I know yall have stupid shit to say about john too that has nothing to do with how anyone actually felt about him in canon
3.07 (about Dean’s demon deal – also proven true in later episodes)
SAM: Dude, drop the attitude, Dean. Quit turning everything into a punch line. And you know something else? Stop trying to act like you're not afraid.
DEAN: I'm not!
SAM: You're lying. And you may as well drop it 'cause I can see right through you.
DEAN: You got no idea what you're talking about.
SAM: Yeah, I do. You're scared, Dean. You're scared because your year is running out, and you're still going to Hell, and you're freaked.
DEAN: And how do you know that?
SAM: Because I know you! […] Yeah, I've been following you around my entire life! I mean, I've been looking up to you since I was four, Dean. Studying you, trying to be just like my big brother. So yeah, I know you. Better than anyone else in the entire world. And this is exactly how you act when you're terrified. And, I mean, I can't blame you. It's just […] I wish you would drop the show and be my brother again. 'Cause... (can't find words; tears in his eyes) just 'cause.
5.18 [Sam figures out what Dean is doing re: his plan to let Michael possess him, tracks him down, and eventually is the catalyst for Dean ‘making the right call’, which he predicts] – e.g.:
SAM: No, you won’t. When push shoves, you’ll make the right call
DEAN: You know, if tables were turned…I’d let you rot in here. Hell, I have let you rot in here.
SAM: Yeah, well…I guess I’m not that smart.
DEAN: I—I don’t get it. Sam, why are you doing this?
SAM: Because… you’re still my big brother.
8.14 (basically the o.g. version of whatever went on in 15.18 + sam intrinsically understanding the trials are a death wish for dean): “I'm closing the gates. It's a suicide mission for you. I want to slam hell shut, too, okay? But I want to survive it. I want to live, and so should you. You have friends up here, family. I mean, hell, you even got your own room now. You were right, okay? I see light at the end of this tunnel. And I'm sorry you don't – I am. But it's there. And if you come with me, I can take you to it. […] I AM smart, and so are you. You're not a grunt, Dean. You're a genius – when it comes to lore, to – you're the best damn hunter I have ever seen – better than me, better than dad. I believe in you, Dean. So, please – please believe in me, too.”
10.22 (understanding how much dean has ~done for him~)
SAM: I'm saving my brother.
CASTIEL: You told Dean—
SAM: —I know what I told Dean. Cas, look. I've been the one out there, messed up and scared. And alone. And Dean—
CASTIEL: He did whatever he could to save you.
SAM: Yes. I mean, it's become his thing. I owe him this. I owe him everything.
10.23 (basically the o.g. version of whatever went on in 15.18, x2 – from Sam to Dean): “You were also willing to summon death to make sure you could never do any more harm. You summoned me because you knew I would do anything to protect you. That's not evil, Dean. That's not an evil man. That is a good man crying to be heard, searching for... some other way. […] You will never, ever hear me say that you -- the real you -- is anything but good.”
11.13 (Sam understanding exactly how Dean feels about Amara being his ‘deepest desire’, and confirming that it doesn’t make him a bad person)
Dean: Why? Because if she is that means that I’m…
Sam: Means you’re what? Complicit? Weak? Evil?
Dean: For starters, yeah.
Sam: Dean. Do you honestly think you ever had a choice in the matter? She’s the sister of God, and for some reason she picked you and that sucks, but if you think I’m gonna blame you or judge you…I’m not.
Dean: You know that I want her ass dead.
Sam: Yes. Of course. And I know you’ve also probably beaten yourself up a hundred times over it, but where has that gotten us? (Long silence) Just how bad is it?
13.02 (Sam perfectly explaining Dean’s psyche to Jack)
JACK: Is that why Dean hates me?
SAM: Dean doesn’t hate you. It… Look, sometimes the wires in Dean’s head get crossed and—and he gets frustrated, and then he mixes frustration with anger, and—and fear.
JACK: Why would he be afraid?
SAM: Because Dean feels like it’s his job to protect everyone. And right now, we need to protect you. But we may also need to protect people from you.
14.03 [Sam assesses Dean’s psychological/emotional response to the Michael possession; end of episode, Dean confirms that Sam’s assessment was fully accurate]
14.10 [Sam is the only one able to snap Dean out of his weird Michael mind loop by using their code word]
14.11 [Sam figuring out that something is troubling Dean just based on the fact that Dean hugs him]
15.17 (self explanatory at this point)
DEAN: Chuck has to die. He has to! Otherwise he'll keep us tap dancing forever, and I can't live like that, man! I can't live like that! I won't!
SAM: I know you feel like that right now, okay. I know you do. But you gotta trust me. My entire life, you've protected me— from Dad, from Lucifer, from everything. I didn't always like it, you know, but... it's the one thing in the whole world that I could always count on. It's the only thing I've ever known that was true. So please... put the gun away. Just put it away, and we'll figure it out, Dean, we'll find another way, you and me. We always do.
like maybe there are some cas moments w dean along these lines too. i don't know, i don't remember what the guy says or does anymore it's been too many years and he is not memorable. but the point is where and in what capacity and based on what metric other than the amount of bad fanfic you've read does cas exceed sam in these respects.
so basically just. genuinely, what are you people literally ever talking about. go watch the show instead of saying stupid wrong stuff about sam on the hellsites all day. or watch another show (please for the love of god watch any other show this one is absolutely lost on you and it’s such a stupid one too i'm embarrassed for you)
#sorry i wasnt gonna be able to sleep otherwise my blood pressure got too high#sam winchester meta#sam winchester#anti destiel#sam and dean#whatever else my tags are#haven't done this in a minute#i'm sorry for being a cunty sam stan (tm) in this but have you considered we'd be nicer if you ppl were less dumb#this is not proofread it's not real meta
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Heyy! I love your writing and was wondering if you could write a piece where Mike thinks Harvey is a loner so he goes and asks Donna, but Donna tells him he’s been in a super serious relationship for a while. Mike doesn’t believe her so she tells him to go see for himself. Mike goes to Harvey’s place and sees him being super domestic and fluffy with reader.
Aww thanks! And also thanks a bunch for the request. I'm sorry it took so long. But here we go and enjoy!
Note: I'm really sorry for others who already sent me other requests, it might take me some times to post again since I'm in the middle of writing my thesis. Thanks!
Sunny Disposition
Pairing: Harvey x Reader
Mike walked with spring in his steps. It's been approximately 10 hours since Harvey snapped in his face and gave him a direct order to not leave the building unless he found anything they needed for the hearing next Monday. Mike was bummed that he had to cancel tonight's dinner with Rachel. They made an agreement to always have dinner somewhere new every Friday. But here he was. Stuck with piles upon piles upon piles of documents. Nevertheless, he found it. This could be a breakthrough in court. They could win easily with this. But as he got closer to Harvey's office, he slowed down. Frown graced his face. The door to Harvey's office is closed, lights off. Donna was the only sign of life near Harvey's office. Even Donna was getting ready to leave. He walked faster to Donna's desk before she got the chance to leave. "Where's Harvey?" Mike asked, confusion apparent in his voice. "He left at 6," Donna said nonchalantly as if the information wasn't odd at all. It was odd to Mike. Harvey left at 6? Was his place on fire?
"He left at 6? Why did he leave at 6? I have a girlfriend at home, who had dinner alone because Harvey told me not to leave this building. He had a cactus you left him, just that." Mike said in disbelief. Donna chuckled and got back to gathering her things, ready to leave. "Why has Harvey never been in a serious relationship?" Mike asked, all curious. "Last was with Scottie, right? But it wasn't that serious. Though Harvey snapped at me over a pencil after the breakup. But it wasn't that serious from what I see." Donna watched the younger guy rambling. "I can't imagine being Harvey, get home only to a cactus." Mike closed his eyes and shook his head, imagining his home without Rachel. "Harvey is in a serious relationship, Mike." Mike opened his eyes so fast, his hand covering his mouth. "Get out," Mike said in disbelief. "He's been in this relationship for over a year. In fact, he just proposed to her last month, on her birthday, in Florence." Mike's brows knitted together as he tried to remember if there was anything different from Harvey last month. He did take a week vacation, and he dodged questions about his holiday. When he got back he brought with him a beautifully hand-carved pen for Mike. It did creep Mike out. Harvey and souvenirs just don't bode well. He shook his head. "Lies. You said that just to make me feel bad for getting pissed at Harvey because he went home early." Donna rolled his eyes, "If you don't believe me, why don't you give him a visit, and see it for yourself." Donna said as she left her desk.
Mike knocked after he tried the door and failed. He was ready to face Harvey with a glass of whisky in his hand. What he didn't expect was a woman opened the door for him. She dressed in Harvey's dress shirt, black leggings, and an apron. The smell of deliciousness came out as she opened the door. She smiled brightly at Mike. "I'm sorry, can I help you?" she said in all friendliness. Mike snapped out of it and offered his hand, "I'm sorry, I'm Mike Ross. I work with Harvey, I'm here to drop some important documents." Mike explained, confusion still thick in his head. Was Donna telling the truth? Before none of them could say anything, he heard Harvey call from inside. "Sweetheart, who is it?" Mike looked at her in surprise. Sweetheart? Now, sweetheart and Harvey Specter doesn't bode well even more. The woman in front of her ignored Harvey and instead of shaking his hand, she hugged him. "I've heard so much about you! Harvey won't shut up. It's great to finally put a face to a name, and please come in. We are just cooking dinner. Harvey must've confined you in the office. Come in, please," she moved aside to let Mike in. "Harvaroooo" she called out as they entered the kitchen. Harvey turned from the stove and locked eyes with Mike. Harvey frowned and seemed caught off guard. Mike almost laughed at the sight of Harvey standing over a stove, bare feet, holding a spatula. "Harvey baby, look who showed up on our doorstep!" she walked past Harvey as Harvey stood there in confusion. She retrieved a wine glass. "Harvey, why don't you sit down with Mike while I finish up dinner? He mentioned important documents," Harvey nodded, "Mike, you fine with red?" she brought the bottle over her head for Mike to see. "Yes, of course," Mike said slowly, eyes still locked on Harvey's. She brought the glass over to Harvey. "Here, go sit down with Mike," she said, and again, Harvey nodded. This woman can order Harvey around and she's not Jessica, Mike thought. "You sure you don't need help? I can help you finish dinner. Mike can wait. Right, Mike?" Harvey called out. "Yes," Mike answered shortly, still in a daze. "No, baby. You and Mike go out sit on the balcony, and talk about..." she trailed off then smiled, "Talk about whatever you need to talk about while I finish dinner. It shouldn't be long anyway." Mike saw Harvey look down at her. He whispered sweet nothings in her ears as she giggled. He pecked her lips before turning to Mike, he handed him the glass of red and gestured outside with his head. "Wow," Mike said in amazement as he leaned on the railing of the balcony. "Perks of being successful, I can afford this view," Harvey said, leaning on the railing beside him. They both have the view of the kitchen, with the mysterious woman taking an extra plate for Mike. "When are you going to tell me that you're actually engaged?" Mike asked, turning his head to look at Harvey. "I don't mix her with work. When I pissed people off and they found out about her, they will use her against me. I won't let that happen on my watch," Harvey said solemnly. A small smile crossed Harvey's lips as he looked inside at his girl. Mike didn't miss it. "She's beautiful," Mike said, patting Harvey on the back. "Congratulations," Mike said as he pulled him into a hug. Before Harvey could say anything, she opened the sliding door to tell both men that dinner was ready.
Harvey put his hand on his lower back as they walked to the dining table. "You should've told me to help you set the table," Harvey said and she waved him off. "It's fine, Harvey." Harvey pulled the chair for her and kissed the top of her head as she sat down. Mike smiled at the interaction. No matter how much Mike denied it, Harvey is his friend. Mike cared a lot about him and to know that Harvey found her, put Mike's mind at ease. "Oh, I hope we knew you'd come. I hope you're fine with ravioli?" she asked and Mike shook his head. "Please, if anything I'm the one ruining your night with Harvey." Mike gave her a reassuring smile. "It's not like Harvey is an angel and didn't keep you in the office away from your girlfriend," she looked at Harvey and swatted his shoulder, "You should stop doing that, Harvey!" Harvey laughed as he caught her hand and gave it a kiss on the inside of her wrist before letting it go. "Harvey never told me about you," Mike started as he took a bite of the ravioli, "Damn, this is the best ravioli I've ever put in my mouth." Mike closed his eyes as he savored the flavors. "My girl here is the best cook," Harvey said proudly and smiled at her and she laughed. "Harvey never told you about me because I'm a mere mistress," she shrugged as Mike laughed. Mike glanced at her ring finger, adorned with a huge diamond ring. Harvey must've spent a fortune on that. "Sunny, can you pass me the pepper?" Harvey asked her as she passed him the pepper. "Sunny?" Mike asked, eyebrow raised. "Sunny is his silly nickname for me," she waved him off. "Just like Harvaroo?" Mike joked and Harvey choked on his food. The two of them laughed at the even sillier nickname. "It's not a silly nickname," Harvey said after he regained his composure. "Harvaroo?" Mike asked, amusement glinting in his eyes. "That's a silly nickname," Harvey scoffed. "Sunny is not a silly nickname," Mike looked at Harvey, asked him to continue. "She's the ray of sun amidst my storm. I wouldn't know simple happiness without her." Harvey said as he leaned forward to kiss her. Mike watched the two of them and smiled. Relieved washed over him, knowing Harvey, the loner he thought, was actually very much in love.
MASTERLIST
#harvey specter#harvey specter fan fiction#harvey specter imagine#harvey specter fanfic#harvey specter imagines#harvey specter x reader#suits harvey specter#suits tv
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ʜɪꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ᴘʀᴏꜰᴇꜱꜱᴏʀ!ᴊᴏʜɴ “ʙᴜᴄᴋʏ” ᴇɢᴀɴ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴄᴀɴᴏɴꜱ
Today is your first day pursuing your Master of Arts in History, and the first day you meet your advisor, Dr. Egan, Professor of History.
pairing: professor!john "bucky" egan / fem!reader
warnings: none
author’s note: peep the somewhat grey hair edit of bucky I made lol, this is such s elf indulgent au because I am a history major looking to go into my master's and also I want to be a history professor so yeah ((: I will either write this as an actual fic but idk yet!! enjoy (:
masterlist | divider credit: @cafekitsune
this fic has been cross posted to ao3.
ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴘʏ, ʀᴇᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇ, ᴏʀ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀs ᴏɴ ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ, ᴀᴏ3, ᴡᴀᴛᴛᴘᴀᴅ, ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ᴡᴇʙsɪᴛᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ɪɴ ᴀɪ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀs ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴄᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀʏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ᴛᴏ sᴇʟʟ ғᴏʀ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ.
✦ It’s your first day on your path toward your Master of Arts in History. You’re meeting with your advisor today, who will help you on that very path and hopefully guide you to its end with success.
✦ Apparently, your advisor is prevalent around campus despite you never having a class of his. Your university is quite large, so even though your focus is American History, and so is his, it’s not unheard of to never have met him.
✦ He wasn’t too into social events held by the history department, which is understandable. You loved attending them in your later years of being an underclassmen. But they can be overwhelming at times.
✦ You wrap your knuckles against the wooden door before you, and before you can finish knocking, a tall, salt-and-pepper man swings the door open with a dazzling smile.
✦ “Welcome, I’m Dr. Egan. I’ll be your advisor for the rest of your time here on campus.” He offers a hand for you to shake, which you happily take. His grip is firm, but so is yours. You were taught to look someone right in the eye while shaking their hand firmly- but not too firmly. Dr. Egan picks up on this.
✦ You’re one of three female history majors in the entire department going toward a Master’s and one of about twenty altogether in the major. So, of course, you’re going to need a firm handshake and steady eye contact to get ahead in your field.
✦ “Quite a handshake you have there,” Dr. Egan says, taking a seat behind his desk. He waves a hand for you to sit in one of the chairs in front of it. “Thank you,” you say, “My grandfather taught me always to have a perfect grip.” “Your grandfather was right,” Dr. Egan nods, “because in this major, being an equal with the males will take you far.”
✦ Your grandfather and father were history buffs and even lived through major historical moments, like the World Wars. So your goal in life is to teach others about what they loved so dearly and went through so harshly.
✦ Your mother had you just a few years before your father was shipped off to England, so you spent the beginning of your school years without him. Your grandfather filled in the gaps you missed from your father, thankfully. Sadly, your grandfather passed just last year, but you aim to carry his legacy and intelligence.
✦ “I’m aware, unfortunately,” you grimace at the thought of the male-dominating discipline, “But I’ve made it this far, and I’m not backing down.” “Great, I’m glad to hear that. Especially since you’re the first student I’ve ever advised for a Masters.” “Really?” you ask, a little surprised, “Then we’ll do this together.”
✦ Dr. Egan winks at that and dives into what research will be required for your first paper. The topic is based on the thesis statement of your final project, a little warm-up, as Dr. Egan called it- to the real deal at the end of your two years of studying. You go on to tell him that you want your thesis to be about the pilots of World War II, but you don’t elaborate on why.
✦ Dr. Egan tilts his head at you when you don’t explain why you chose that exact topic but let it go. He’s had to learn that everyone has skeletons in their closet, as well as personal things, and not just him.
✦ You can’t help but take in his appearance. His outfit consists of a brown tweed blazer and a white button-up with black slacks. His hair is curly and graying on the sides, and he has a faint stubble with a notable mustache on his upper lip. Dr. Egan held himself carefully but confidently, like he’d been hurt by something but still had an ego of sorts. It reminds you of your father and grandfather. You weren’t sure why. But you’re going to figure it out.
✦ Dr. Egan is in his 40s now and picked up college again after leaving the military due to PTSD. He eventually got his Ph.D. in History and is now a professor, and has been for a few years now. He enjoys his job. Dr. Egan (or Bucky, as we know him) loves that he can focus on American History without living through it, so he teaches it. Bucky tries to avoid WWII as a topic because he doesn’t want students and staff to know he served. He thinks it will hinder their outlook on him.
✦ Bucky has only known you through letters and now an hour of talking, but he already expects a lot from you. He knows you are skilled and passionate about history. When you look at him, though, he feels you can see right through him. Bucky doesn’t know how to gauge that quite yet.
✦ You bid farewell to Dr. Egan after about two hours of getting to know each other's basic info as well as what’s expected of your MA in History. You leave, letting out a deep breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding as you walked out of the office. You’re still nervous, but not about your Master’s anymore- it’s about how you’re going to manage the next two years with a man like Dr. Egan.
#john bucky egan x reader#john egan x reader#john bucky egan#john egan#mota#masters of the air#callum turner x reader#callum turner#headcanon#John Bucky Egan headcanons#mota headcanons#floralcyanide writes
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Hypnosis vs Trance
Here's my thesis: there is no hypnotic trance, it's hypnosis AND trance. Hypnosis and trance are often correlated, but they're not same.
Hypnosis is an intention to believe and follow suggestions automatically, an activity of phenomenological control. We can see this intention at the very beginning of the Elman induction, during the eye lock.
The Elman eye lock goes "Close your eyes. Imagine that your eyelids are so heavy that they just won't open. When they are so heavy that you know they won't open, then go ahead and try to open them." Right there is the core principle of hypnosis: believe these things are true, and behave accordingly.
Another variation is seen with the automatic imagination model, which asks the hypnotee to imagine not imagining through willing suspension of disbelief.
The format of these sessions resembled a normal conversation where the hypnotist simply asked a series of questions and gave clear instructions, and the subject remained awake and fully alert throughout. "Can you imagine that your hand is stuck to the table?" - "Can you continue to imagine that and also imagine that you’re not aware that you’re imagining that, like it’s happening by itself?"
and all people need is a context saying "we're doing hypnosis, here's how it works" to get started. Likewise, post-hypnotic suggestions imply that people can follow hypnotic suggestions without being in an explicit trance.
And because there's a thing called "waking hypnosis" in which the hypnotee responds to suggestions while being apparently fully conscious, without an induction or a trance... all that's left is hypnosis.
As an example, Martin Taylor is a hypnotist who does not use inductions. He does just fine.
youtube
There's no question that you can really zonk people out with hypnosis, whether you call it trance or not. Cardeña has a paper on deep hypnosis states and neurophenomenology but I'm not going to dig too much into it here. It does seem like hypnotic coma and plenary hypnosis are the same thing. I'm not going to go into what trance is, or exactly what zonking/deepening entails. Honestly, I think trance by its nature is subjective, and so is up to individual interpretation.
Instead, what I'd like to dig into are the attempts of Kirsch and Lynn to remove the brainworm of trance from the conversation in a series of papers over the years.
It's 1995. Kirsch & Lynn are not thrilled about the word or concept of trance, and detail the "state vs non-state" positions.
At one end of this continuum are scholars who espouse the concept of hypnotic state in its strongest possible form, as a condition that is fundamentally different from normal waking consciousness and from other altered states, such as daydreaming and relaxation. [...]
At the other end of the continuum are theorists who use the term state to describe hypnotic phenomena but deny that it explains or causes those phenomena in any way; those who acknowledge allegiance to the state construct but then ignore it entirely in their theories of hypnotic responding; and those who explicitly reject the hypnotic state construct as inaccurate and misleading. Surprisingly, this latter group now includes some prominent Ericksonian clinicians (Zeig & Rennick, 1991) who maintain that the concept of trance has little explanatory value and claim that it only distracts from their preferred emphasis on hypnosis as an interpersonal process.
Between the two extreme positions on the state issue, there is a concept of trance as an altered state, one that is not unique to hypnosis. [...]
The problem with these definitions of trance is that they are too inclusive, loose, and imprecise to be subjected to empirical study. Without some means of determining whether a person is in trance, it is impossible to test any hypotheses about the effects of trance.
The paper continues in this vein, finally arguing that trance is not a useful way to think about hypnosis.
There are two sets of data that have led to a convergence of opinion on the state issue among most researchers. The first is the very modest effect of hypnotic induction on suggestibility. Most people are almost as responsive to so-called "waking suggestions" as they are to the same suggestions given in a hypnotic context (E. R. Hilgard, 1965). The second is the consistent failure to find any reliable markers of the hypothesized state. Erickson's (1941 /1980) hypothesized behavioral markers (literalism, catalepsy, and amnesia) have either failed to distinguish hypnotized from nonhypnotized participants (Green et al., 1990) or have been shown to be products of participants' perceptions of the hypnotic role (Orne, 1959; Young & Cooper, 1972). Similarly, no physiological or even self-report markers of a hypnotic trance have been found (Dixon & Laurence, 1992; Kirsch, Mobayed, Council, & Kenny, 1992).
[...]
Having failed to find reliable markers of trance after 50 years of careful research, most researchers have concluded that this hypothesis has outlived its usefulness.
It's 2000. Kirsch takes aim at the loose conceptualization of trance in this beautiful piece of snark.
A second point of agreement is that many hypnotized subjects experience themselves as being in a special state of consciousness denoted by the term trance. Nonstate theorists do not reject the proposition that these experiences are real , although in many cases they may merely be deep relaxation interpreted as a hypnotic trance because they happen to be occurring in a hypnotic context. [...]
There is yet another variant of the trance position that must be considered. Some writers see trance as an altered state, but not as one that occurs only in hypnosis. Trance may be identified as a state that often occurs in nonhypnotic contexts, such as daydreaming, absorption, focused attention , or concentration. Spiegel (1999), for example, has identified the hypnotic trance as "just a shift in attention." This very popular type of definition is consistent with nonstate formulations of hypnosis. It may indeed be true that responding to suggestion requires absorption or concentration. But if the hypnotic state is merely narrowly focused attention or absorption, then most people are in a hypnotized state when studying for or taking an exam, driving a car, watching a film, or engaging in any other absorbing task.
What is accomplished by calling these instances of hypnosis? It tells us nothing new about studying, driving, responding to suggestion, or any other activity that requires focused attention, and I cannot imagine us ever convincing the larger scholarly community that research on attentionally demanding tasks is by definition research on hypnosis . The term focused attention has the virtue of being more descriptive than the term hypnosis, and it has less surplus baggage associated with it. So if hypnosis is nothing more than a state of focused attention, perhaps we should consider names like American Journal of Focused Attention and American Society for Clinical Focused Attention as more accurate labels for our journals and organizations.
It's 2007. Lynn and Kirsch take another shot in Hypnosis And Neuroscience: Implications For The Altered State Debate. There's some pushback on their earlier papers.
Gruzelier (2000) proposed that an integration of neurobiological and socio-cognitive perspectives could promote the understanding of hypnosis and its humanistic applications. He further stated, ‘… hypnosis is an altered state of brain functional organization …’ (p. 51). Under a heading ‘The death knell of neurobiological investigation: the rush to judgment’, Gruzelier (2000) states, ‘Kirsch and Lynn (1998) and Wagstaff (1998) claim that no marker of a hypnotic state has been discovered after decades of investigation, and that the search for one should be discontinued. A neurobiological explanation does not exist. Neurobiologists may rightly wonder how such an unworldly view exists’ (p. 52).
And while they admit that they did say "trance should go live on the big farm up state" they also say that maybe if it could be measured in something other than handwavey feels it might be more useful.
In our 1995 review (Kirsch and Lynn 1995), we did state that after the failure to find reliable markers of trance after 50 years of careful research, ‘most researchers have concluded that this hypothesis has outlived its usefulness’ (p. 853). However, we went on to say that this state of affairs did not preclude the possibility that such indicators would eventually be discovered, and we underscored the importance of identifying the physiological substrates of hypnosis. Far from declaring the issue dead, we identified three ways in which scientists could usefully approach the question of identifying the physiological substrates of hypnosis: (1) identify the physiological substrate of the hypothesized hypnotic state; (2) identify the physiological correlates of differences in hypnotic suggestibility; and (3) determine the physiological substrates of responses to suggestions.
And it turns out that as of 2007, technology has advanced to the point where poking at brains does show that hypnosis does do some things.
The present chapter is written in the spirit of fostering a congenial dialogue between state and non-state theorists (Kihlstrom 2003). We will review studies relevant to each of the three ways we proposed to address the question of the physiological substrates of hypnosis, including studies that Christensen (2005, p. 286) identified as representing ‘replicated research over the past 2 decades supporting state-based theories of hypnosis’.
However, there's a problem. Trance is subjective, and trance itself may be a product of suggestions in the hypnotic induction.
The design also fails to address the critical issue of the causal role of the trance state in producing other suggested subjective experiences. Hypnotic inductions are suggestions to experience a trance state. [emphasis added] For that reason, they should produce altered subjective states in many people, and these altered states should possess neural substrates (Kirsch and Lynn 1995). It is not clear that the experience and neural correlates of trance would be the same for all hypnotized subjects or even all virtuosos. Having different pre-conceptions about trance might lead to different subjective states and therefore to different neural substrates. In any case, the altered state hypothesis does not concern the existence of these altered states, but rather their hypothesized causal role in producing other hypnotic phenomena.
And the paper's conclusion: those studies are just showing evidence of suggestions, rather than of a base hypnotic state.
[...] Research in this area has succeeded in finding baseline correlates of suggestibility, effects of induction procedures and effects of other specific suggestions. Perhaps the most important finding to date is the specificity of neurological effects in response to the specific wording of suggestions. The neural concomitants of suggested analgesia, for example, seem to depend on the specific suggestion that is used (Rainville et al. 1998). This finding, however, also points to one of the weaknesses of some of the research. In particular, there has been a tendency to confound induction with suggestion variables, i.e. subjects either receive or do not receive a hypnotic induction and then are given a suggestion to experience a particular effect. However, the wording of the suggestion following a hypnotic induction differs from the wording of the suggestion given without the induction. This confound renders it impossible to ascertain what is responsible for obtained differences, and this problem is compounded by the finding that neural activity may be exquisitely sensitive to suggestion wording.
It's 2010. The Clinical Handbook of Hypnosis has two chapters. One says that state might be a thing. The other one (Wagstaff, David, Kirsch, and Lynn) points to the first chapter and says state has still not been shown to be a thing.
No specific physiological markers of the hypothesized hypnotic states have been found (Lynn, Kirsch, Knox, & Lilienfeld, 2006; see also chap. 4, this volume)
It's 2016. A new book comes out, Hypnotic Induction: Perspectives, Strategies and Concerns. It says that trance is a thing, much to the consternation of Kev Sheldrake in his review.
I’ve been operating under the assumption that the induction was just a suggestion to enter an imagined hypnotic state, but I had to read this book to realise the ferociousness with which some academics still (and I mean still) imagine that state to be real. As a final thought, if there isn’t anything magical going on during an induction, and an induction is just made up of words (no mesmeric fluid or invisible energy passing from hypnotist to participant), and practically anything can be used in place of an hypnotic induction (placebo pill, for example), then what else could the induction be, other than a series of suggestions? And what, other than a suggested state, could those suggestions suggest?
It's 2020. Lynn & Kirsch are frustrated that papers are still turning up discussing "trance" as being inextricably tied to hypnosis.
Surveys of students from various countries (Green, Page, Rasekhy, Johnson, & Bernhardt, 2006) document the wide prevalence of a number of myths and misconceptions we review. A powerful engine driving these myths is the popular media, including movies, television, and the Internet, which capitalize on the core myth that hypnosis is “an altered state of consciousness quite different from normal waking consciousness” (70% agreed, Green et al., 2006); termed by many, a trance. The myth of trance is arguably the mother of all myths [emphasis added] and has birthed many related myths that we will discuss.
The idea that hypnosis brings about a trance state was first popularized in Du Maurier's blockbuster novel, Trilby (Du Maurier, 1894/1999), in which Svengali—a name now synonymous with a brutal manipulator uses hypnosis to ply the ill-starred Trilby to his will. De Maurier portrayed hypnosis as a sleep-like trance state that produced amnesia, loss of control and willpower, and special abilities (e.g., Trilby became an opera diva). The term “trance” is still featured in titles (and contents) of articles in influential hypnosis journals (e.g., Wickramasekera II, 2016) and unfortunately still carries the baggage of its historical roots.
Again, the paper points out that trance is either not defined or defined so broadly as to be useless.
Hypnotic trance is rarely clearly or explicitly defined by researchers or clinicians, and the nature of this hypothesized state has been described in a plethora of contradictory ways (see Kirsch & Lynn, 1995). One definition is that hypnotic trance is “the cognitive end state produced by a hypnotic induction procedure” (Halligan & Oakley, 2014, p. 111). While the authors are among the few to actually define “trance,” broad definitions place no constraints on the nature or constituents of this state, which is often the case when this term is used. In the absence of reliable physiological markers, it is generally operationalized by self-report of its presence.
The paper then goes on to break down some myths that you can reliably test for a hypnotic state. It's a great overview, you should check it out.
Despite concerted attempts, researchers have not succeeded in finding purported markers of the hypothesized hypnotic state. For example, Lynn et al. (2008); see also Lynn & Rhue, 1991) found no reliable evidence that hypnotic and nonhypnotic conditions differ in terms of (a) literalness of response to a series of questions (e.g., saying “no” to the question or negative shaking of the head in response to the question, “Do you mind telling me your name”); (b) trance logic (i.e., heightened tolerance for logical incongruity/saying a hallucinated person appears transparent), or the hidden observer phenomenon (i.e., a hidden part of consciousness directs behaviors/experiences, while another part, separated by an amnesic barrier, is unaware and responds in a manner consistent with suggestions). Either no differences are evident across hypnotic and nonhypnotic comparison conditions (e.g., nonhypnotized imagining participants or individuals who role play or simulate hypnotic responses: literalism, trance logic) and/or the findings are determined to be the product of suggestion or experimental demands (i.e., hidden observer) rather than an altered state unique to hypnosis (Kirsch & Lynn, 1998).
[A larger study] failed to find support for the claim that eye behaviors index a hypnotic state.
It's 2024. The Routledge International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis just came out. Lynn argues that hypnosis is independent of trance explicitly.
A cornerstone of our theory is that hypnosis unfolds independent of a background “trance” or special state of consciousness unique or specific to hypnosis. We argue that such a state is rendered irrelevant by findings that different hypnotic suggestions (i.e., direct imaginative suggestions) elicit diverse experiences and attendant alterations in consciousness (e.g., sensations, cognition, emotions, perceptions, memories), behaviors, and psychophysiological responses (Landry et al., 2017; Lynn et al., 2007), and no special state is required to experience a gamut of suggestions.
Let's hope it takes this time.
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Stop Making Sense (1984)
This isn’t a concert, it’s a celebration. Jonathan Demme’s collaboration with the Talking Heads unfolds in its opening statements as a long crescendo, starting from nothing and capping in a roar of triumph. We rarely if ever glimpse the crowd, but from the start the artifice of the experience is apparent, just a barren, slightly cluttered stage without so much as a backdrop curtain. David Byrne’s introduction is similarly understated, just his shoes visible at first, and his music is simple: voice, guitar, and boombox beat. As gear rolls in and ensemble members join the concert, this bare skeleton begins to gain flesh and blood. This textural, impressionistic approach to both the concert and its taping underscores Byrne’s apparent thesis that music is something which is felt rather than thought about, at least at first. This is apparent in the lyrics of some of his songs, words freely associated. But it’s also present in Demme and crew’s fluid camera work, ebbing and flowing with the tunes, flitting about to find moments where band members stand out as featured voices or banter with one another through music or movement. It’s impossible not to dance along. At the height of it all, Byrne brings the audience into the fray, offering the microphone to the camera to sing along. We may not see the audience itself until the very end of the film, but we’re right there alongside them.
David Byrne could have had a brilliant career as a Zumba instructor. His singularly eccentric physicality defines the performance, again getting back to the importance of music being felt. His body is taken over by the emotional roller coaster he’s guiding the audience along on, whether through his choreography, or with the ever-larger suit that threatens to swallow him up. He’s a Buster Keaton type of figure, always off-kilter but ever in control. Dancing by himself or with a lamppost, he always seems surprised that something works but never fails to land on the beat.
THE RULES
SIP
A song begins.
Band members join the concert for the first time.
Camera crew are visible in the shot.
BIG DRINK
David Byrne costume change.
Shot of the audience.
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7 for Jance and 29 for Bojere please? :)
Thank you so very much for these TWO prompts :) It really gets the juices flowing. It's a little imbalanced in terms of length, but I hope you enjoy <3
7…to shut them up. (Jance)
When Jan was interested in something, he liked to understand everything about it. When Nace was interested in something, he liked to tell people about it. They were a good match, a talker and a listener.
Talking was a sign that Nace was comfortable. He usually spoke for a little bit and then, as if hyperaware of the fact that he might bore people, would clam up sharply. If the listener wanted to hear more, they had to ask. And Jan did ask, not because he had any great interest in turtles or Pokémon, but because Nace was so happy when he did. After they’d been together for a few months, when he seemingly felt confident that Jan wasn’t going to tell him to shut up if he was overly enthusiastic about all the little facts he knew, he started to talk for longer without being asked.
“Oh, and there’s also this thing…”
“I just remembered something else…”
“That reminds me, did you know…?”
Jan didn’t really understand a lot of it, but Nace’s eyes were so bright and his smile was so wide when he spoke about his interests, and he was always the picture of attention when Jan talked about his thesis or tried to explain the workings out of a maths problem. It was only fair to give the same courtesy in return.
That being said, Jan did have his limits.
Nace had recently discovered the joys of online Pokémon games and was spending entire afternoons on his laptop, going through round after round. Jan had tried to be a good boyfriend and ask questions, because showing an interest seemed to be the only way to get the pleasure of Nace’s company, but he was really struggling to understand how the game worked. Nace had been explaining it for several days – the different creatures, their abilities, their strengths and weaknesses against each other – and Jan had been trying not to let his fatigue show, but really, there was only so much he could listen to when he had no actual interest in any of it.
Nace had been talking about it throughout breakfast this morning, throughout washing the dishes, and Jan had just walked into their bedroom to find him on the laptop again. He glanced up with a sunny grin.
“Jan, come see, I got my Eevee to evolve.”
Jan was vaguely aware of Eevee. It was very cute and apparently very versatile with its evolutions.
“Well done,” he said, hoping Nace wouldn’t try to explain it any further. No such luck.
“I’ve been trying to get an Umbreon for ages,” he said, turning the laptop screen around to face Jan. “Look, it’s a black cat. And do you know they’re really protective of their trainers as well? It’ll be like having a Pokémon version of you.”
He looked at the strange alien-feline creature and then at Nace, who was visibly excited at having a Pokémon that reminded him of Jan. Or maybe just a Pokémon that had good stats. Hell if he knew, and he didn’t care, but Nace was being irresistibly cute right now. He crawled across the bed, forcing Nace to put the laptop aside to make room for Jan in his lap, and held his face between his palms. Nace’s eyes were fixed on him, as if an invisible string had looped them together, and Jan savoured the unbroken attention before the string pulled taut and he leaned in for a kiss.
He could feel Nace still smiling against his mouth while his arms circled Jan’s back, pulling him in and parting his lips. Maybe Jan wasn’t the only one who’d missed the togetherness, the way he often didn’t realise how hungry he was until he actually ate something.
They were parted only by the need for air and Nace blinked up at him, less excited now, more contented and a little bit dazed. “What was that for?”
“You’re adorable and I wanted to.”
Nace turned a little red and tried to hide his face. Jan grinned and pressed a kiss to his cheek, continuing to the sensitive spots beneath his ear, on the side of his neck, in the hollow of his collarbone. “How about you leave the Pokémon version of me for a while and play with the real thing?”
“Mm…” He felt Nace’s hand slide under his shirt even as he pretended to think about it. “Okay, let me save the game and then I’m all yours.”
All mine. Yeah, he liked the sound of that.
*
29…as a promise. (Bojere)
There have been a lot of promises made over the few months since they met.
“I’ll come to Finland,” an easy promise said with a kiss on the cheek, an affectionate expression of pure delight.
“Everything is going to be alright,” whispered in between dozens of hard kisses pressed to cheeks and brow and mouth and temples, not sure whether the tears were for the loss or the impending separation, but trying to be an anchor even as his own emotions threatened to spill over.
“I’m here,” said as arms wrap around the shorter frame, planting a kiss on top of black hair.
“I’ll see you soon,” said all too soon afterwards, a gentle press of lips as Jere’s head tilts upwards, eyes closed.
And then again, like deja-vu, the same promises made all over again, the same hellos and goodbyes with a kiss to mark each one.
And then the promises stop.
The vague suggestions start. “I’ll try. Maybe. If there is time.”
The kisses no longer find their way to warm skin, instead flying and dying against the cold plastic of a webcam.
What are they? Officially nothing has changed, but how can this be sustainable?
Bojan asks the question. “When do you think we can meet up again?”
“Hmm, you tell me.”
He asks again.
“I don’t know. What do you think?”
And again.
“No, we are not doing this today.”
And again.
“Not this question again.”
Again.
“Last time you ask about this, we argue.”
He stops asking. He doesn’t give up, but he lowers his expectations. Long distance was always going to be difficult. He was always the one to make promises. A part of him is scared that if he stops trying, Jere will do the same, and losing him is worse than having him for only short periods of time. He loves him. Even despite the distance, even despite the feeling that he’s no longer an important part of Jere’s life, a piece of his heart still lives in Finland and keeps calling him back.
He goes back, mainly to capitalise on the success of their last visit, because he is a professional before anything else. But when he sends a text to say the band have a couple of Finnish dates and he hopes Jere will be able to see them – just to say hello, just for a little while, he’s not trying to make demands on his not-quite-lover-but-still-kiss-and-have-sex-sometimes friend’s precious time – he can’t concentrate from nerves until the reply comes through to say that Jere does have time, that in fact his schedule is miraculously empty for those exact dates, and Bojan breathes and wonders if it’ll be okay after all.
It’s okay. It’s always okay with Jere. Time and distance have allowed Bojan to forget how good it feels to be around him, but now he remembers and forgets how he learned to be okay without him.
It’s the part that comes afterwards which kills him.
Finland is only the start. The rest of the tour beckons and after that…Bojan doesn’t know what’ll come after that. A holiday, he hopes, and where will he spend it? What does the rest of Jere’s year look like? They haven’t talked about it very much lately, haven’t really talked about anything that would risk upsetting the joy they find in each other. Their lives are so stressful and both of them want the other to be a source of relief, not another worry, so they never touch the difficult topics.
He doesn’t know how much longer he can ignore it.
He is not watching the TV, focused more on the feel of Jere’s hair through his fingers and the hands of the clock in the corner. The guys are in the hotel and Bojan is here, a guest in Jere’s apartment. It was never a question that they’d spend every available second together. The knowledge that it’s all temporary is torturous.
“Do you think you’ll have time to meet up again this year?” he asks.
“For you, yes, always. Tell me when is good.”
He sighs deeply and Jere pulls away from him, sitting up. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing.” Everything.
“You sigh like this when you are sad. Why?”
“I’m just…” He rubs his hands over his face. “I’m tired.”
“Okay,” Jere turns the TV off. “We go to sleep?”
“No.” Yes. He can’t be exhausted tomorrow, but sleep is an admission of defeat. He’s back to being a schoolchild on a Sunday night. “Why don’t you tell me when is good next time?”
When he turns, Jere looks confused and a spark of anger ignites. Is it such a foreign concept that he might take initiative instead of waiting around for Bojan to come to him?
“I am busy…”
“Yes, I know you’re busy. I know you’re a lot busier than I am.”
“I do not say this. You are busy too.”
“I am. Do you have any holidays this year or is your calendar just packed all the way to December?”
Jere blinks and looks at Bojan like a kicked puppy. “My holidays maybe don’t match yours.”
“You can make them,” Bojan suggests. “After our tour, we’ll be in the studio for a while. You can take time off and stay with me in Ljubljana. I know I’ll be working, but we can still hang out.”
Jere shifts uncomfortably. “It is difficult.”
“You promised you’d come to Slovenia,” Bojan blurts out. “Why have I come to you three times and you’ve never bothered to come to me? Why is it always me who has to get on a plane?”
“I have no time.”
“You had time to go to Thailand!”
Jere’s mouth falls open and Bojan knows that was a low blow. “I go with my family, Bojan!”
“I know…”
“I know you know! You leave your boys for family. You know it is important.”
“I’m sorry…” He leans forward and grips his hair in both hands, taking a few deep breaths before he speaks again. “I just want to know, will you ever come to Slovenia? I understand if it’s not a promise you can keep anymore, but I’d like to know so I’m not waiting forever.”
He feels an arm rest around his shoulders and Jere’s face against his, the ends of his hair tickling a little. “I mean it when I say it and I still do, but maybe not now. Maybe when all is less crazy.”
“Things will always be crazy if you keep doing so much.”
Jere sighs. “I maybe need you to make me take holidays. It is hard, always too many things and not enough time, but then you tell me you are coming here and nothing else matters. Only you. Then it is easy to say no. Nobody else can make me do that. Even Mikke has to book Thailand first to make me go or else I keep putting it off.”
Bojan lifts his head, something painfully close to hope stirring in his chest. Jere’s face is so close to his, peering at him with concern, and then he cups Bojan’s cheek and wipes away a tear that he didn’t realise was there.
“If I create some free days, can you do the same and fly over?” he suggests.
Jere nods. “I would like that. Then you can have fun time cancelling things and not me for once.”
Bojan giggles, realising he’d never considered the situation from that perspective. “It’s a deal then.”
He offers his hand to close the agreement. Jere looks at it dubiously, and then takes Bojan’s hand in his and presses his lips to the knuckles, staring up at him through his eyelashes.
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The way that ZaneChan/Zana was handled in canon is so disappointing looking back on it. Zane and KC literally only have maybe 4 significant scenes together before their kiss in the haunted house which leaves the ship feeling so rushed. Sure there's some build up during Aphmau's Year which was nice but again, it was maybe only 1 or 2 scenes. I also very much get the impression that after they kissed and got together, Jess really didn't know what else to do with them aside from having them make out constantly (which is very ooc for Zane imo) or not communicate with one another which is so frustrating to watch. And I feel they would've benefited from more scenes together before their kiss as well as after. Set up the mutual crush they could both have with small outings and them just spending time together. And once tensions begin rising in the relationship, let them actually talk it out! When push comes to shove Zane hits a breaking point and talks stuff out! And since s4 he seems way more willing to set boundaries and establish communication even with those he cares about. So why didn't he do this with KC? We don't need KC accidentally kissing Garroth to make any of that happen! (God I could write a thesis on how absolutely idiotic that writing choice was). Like it's actually so frustrating because a good relationship is right there but no we need to have more Aarmau moments bc Aarmau is our Lord and Savior apparently 😮💨 (and I'm mostly indifferent to Aarmau but man the fact it's literally everywhere gets on my nerves sometimes). It's just disheartening because I think aside from DanChan and some other relationships here and there, ZaneChan had the opportunity to become one of the best relationships from Jess' series. Also we never got that subplot with Ghost really resolved in a meaningful way? It was definitely in character for KC to be jealous of her flirting with Zane but why didn't we ever have a moment where she confronts Ghost and tells her to buzz off? Also,, I think it's so so icky that they made Emmalyn so obsessed with Zane enough to the point she kissed him without his consent :/ I have yet to understand why the characters continue to let Ghost hang around them when Zane has been clearly very uncomfortable around her in multiple scenes. Sorry for the essay I can get carried away lol.
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#aphmau#aphblr#aphverse#aphmau confessions#aphmau mystreet#mystreet#I agree#don't apologize for the essay it was v well written#also this was sent during the character hate rush but it's been queued because it doesn't concern a particular character#in case u were wondering what took so long
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I am sending the greekified names here because replies are weird
Mondstadt - if we go by literal translation Σεληνούπολη or Φεγγαρούπολη (latter feels really cute and nice and home-y). But for the funny version that is closer to what the english (well german ig) Μονστάδια (female because cities are mostly female named)
Now for characters
Albedo - Αλβίδος (I think literally his name means like whitening right? That in greek- Λεύκανση- is a female noun, so I guess White it is, Λευκός)
Amber - (literal Κεχριμπαρία) Αμβήρα (? I prefer the literal translation)
Barbara - Βαρβάρα (an actual name used here actually)
Bennett - Βενέτης/Βενέτιος (suuper rare name)
Diluc - Διλούκης but i will be calling him Λουκάς (for literal name I think Diluc means dawn right? so uhhh listen, Αυγή is a female name without a male equivalent so I would go for the next best thing, Ανατόλης (male version of sunrise and east, which i think is an actual name, but it is super rare) which can be nicknamed as Τόλης!
Diona - Διόνα/Διόνη. But she shall be renamed as Δανάη by me because i like the name.
Eula - Her name is Ευλογία. In my heart.
Fischl - Φισλ, because that's the name she got from a character in a book. Her real name is Αμαλία.
Jean - Ιωάννα.
Kaeya - Κάεγιος. Next question
Klee - Κλειώ I think. I this this is how it is spelt. If we go by literal translation, Τριφυλλίτσα? I think this would be super cute. Then we can go a step further and take how that sounds and name her Φιλίτσα (etymologically very different but it sounds similar)
Lisa - Ελίζα from Ελισάβετ.
Mika - Μιχαήλ
Mona - Μοναχή; I doubt this is a name but at this point if Παρθένα is an actual name that is used, why wouldn't Μοναχή belong to a very obscure saint?
Now for each of the potential etymology origins of her name (taken from her wiki)
English name "Mona," which is derived from Gaelic "muadh" (noble). - Ευγενία
Northern European name, an alternative form of "Monica." - Μόνικα
Old English "mona" (moon), which possibly stemmed from her career as an astrologer. - Σεληνία, or hell if you are willing to go several layers of abstraction Άρτεμης/Άρτεμις (I have seen both spellings being used, with the latter being more archaic)
From "Mona Lisa" with the first element derived from Italian "madonna," which means "my lady." - Κυρία. If you wanna be a little funny about it make it Κυριακή (Dominica) (KYRIAKI MENTION!!!! LET'S GO)
Noelle - Νωέλλη (Έλλη as a nickname, cute). For etymology, this means Christmas. Christmas (Χριστούγεννα) is not a name here. So I guess the closest would be Χριστίνα.
Razor - Ραζόρης. For a name with a similar meaning uhhh Ξυράφης LOL. But based on the vibes of the meaning of his name I am naming him Αλέξανδρος. My thought process is Razor - blade - fighting - fighting men - alexandros (lowkey what the name means)
Rosaria - Ροζαλία
Sucrose - Σακχαρόζη (lol, the literal translation). But for a close name that has a similar name I would go for Ζαχαρία.
Thank you for sitting through my insane thesis
Kye I literally love this so much….. You literally have a Galaxy Brain TM
Aaa both names for Mondstadt are super cute, I was unaware of Φεγγάρι meaning moon until now, (I only knew σελήνη bc of Greek mythology-)
Also yeah Albedo literally just means White. Bro is pallid. Making him Λευκός would be pretty similar to Diluc’s Λουκάς, I wonder what the ship name would end up being lol-
There’s nothing much I can think of to say about Κεχριμπαρία, although I find it funny how many more syllables it has compared to Amber.
I guessed that Barbara was probably Greek in origin, but it’s cool that Βενέτης/Βενέτιος exists in Greek as well, I hadn’t expected that :0 apparently the online etymology for ‘Bennett’ says it comes from Benedict/ the Old English word beonet (bent grass???) but that sounds a bit bullshitt-y when Βενέτης is right there and way more similar.
I really like all the names you came up with for Diluc, and I guess that’s where Anatolia must have come from! I like when places to the east of a country get given names to do with the sun rising in the morning, the word ‘Orient’ in English now has (understandably) bad connotations due to colonialism, but it came from Latin ‘orior/oriri’ (lit to rise) to do with the sun rising from the east. Ανατόλης being an actual name is super cool, it sounds really pretty :o
Haha I hc Diona as Welsh for literally no reason, and in my brain she’s Dian- Δανάη sounds really cool as well, like a regal name
Ευλογία. You are literally Galaxy brained that’s so gorgeous. ‘Eula’ just makes me think of Euler (which I know is actually pronounced like ‘oiler’ or something, but the UK most people just say it like ‘eula’. So I can’t help but associate her with Maths now fml). Ευλογία is actually so beautiful, it feels also like it could be thematically related to her character? I don’t know enough about Eula lore (still not a Eula Hager orz) but I think it could be a ~deep~ name for her.
Haha apparently Φισλ means ‘whistle’, but I think it the job as being a transliteration. Apparently Fischl literally just means fish or fishy or little fish (I don’t know about German diminutives but someone said it is) so if anything it’s less silly than the German lmao. Giving Poisson vibes. Imagine if Fischl’s outfit was not based around ravens but fish instead… beta Kokomi lmao-
Ιωάννα is nice, it seems a little more feminine than ‘Jean’, but I still like the vibes it gives off, it suits her a lot I think!
Κάεγιος made me realise that the true Latin equivalent would probably be something like ‘Caius/Gaius’ but I think if I was ever going to write it, I’d keep their names as close as possible.
Τριφυλλίτσα IS SO CUTEE AAA. I think it’s cuter than both the English and German omg. I hadn’t thought of doing a literal translation of her name for the Latin, her story quest uses ‘trifolium’, but there’s also ‘cytsium’ but lets be real neither of those sound that great lmao. Φιλίτσα is actually so cute as well auuu. I can just imagine Albedo/Alice saying it TwT
I didn’t know that Eliza/Ελίζα and Elizabeth/Ελισάβετ existed in Greek, that’s pretty cool. Lisa is one of the words I don’t really have to change for the Latin versions, bc she’s at least semi-implied to be Italian anyway
Μιχαήλ makes a lot of sense, and it makes me think of Mello/Mihael Keehl from Death note-
The whole section on Mona is so interesting I didn’t know any of it. I’m guessing that ‘Monica’ also might be derived from moon/mon, but I had never thought about that before, ‘Mona’ is perfect for an astronomer! Σεληνία/Άρτεμης are pretty cool, but I was wondering, is ‘Artemis’ still a name that the younger generations use? Bc I thought it was something that older women tended to be called.
I did not know about the ‘Mona’ of Mona Lisa being from Madonna, that’s really cool. I think we should call her Κυριακή for the lols though, it would be funny-
Νωέλλη/Έλλη is so cute omg…. Naming her Χριστίνα reminds me of how people were saying ‘Barbara’ is like the Mondstadt version of ‘Christina’, named after Barbatos instead of Jesus Christ.
Ραζόρης sounds cute, but I like the idea of Αλέξανδρος. If we wanted to put him through more layers we could make it the Arabic equivalent Iskandar which would be funny (bro is literally Iskandar Puteri)
Ροζαλία is nice, it would be cute to keep Razor as Ραζόρης and have them be kind of similar, I forgot that Rosalie is a kind of a name in English. And also Rosaria keeps the religious connotations (or the weird Mondstadt Pseudo-Christianity at least) by sounding like ‘rosary’.
Omg yeah I internally refer to Sucrose as Sacarosa (the Spanish ver of her name) bc ‘sucrose’ is really weird for an English first name lmao. Although it does fit her (she is a weird girl after all /pos), and she does seem like the person to name herself after a disaccharide lmao. Σακχαρόζη is cute, but Ζαχαρία sounds a bit more natural I think.
I LOVED THIS TSYM FOR SENDING ITTT. Sorry it took me a while to respond, it was quite late at night when I received it, so I waited to dissect it the next day :3 thank you again, your insight into Greek stuff is so cool and I always love to hear it
#Languages tag#Mondstadt tag#Greek tag#Genshin impact#For a really horrible moment I thought it all got deleted 😥#mossy rambles
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Meant to Be Yours
Llyod Hansen x Doctor! Reader and Six x reader
Hi, I finally was inspired to write. And yes I may or may not have seen Gray Man and may or may not have gotten some inspiration from that and all of the science classes I'm taking. Sorry for the lack of updates, I just wasn’t motivated to write and didn't want to make myself hate writing these stories and driving myself to not enjoy writing them. I really do intend to write more but life seems to have other plans (one of the reasons for my new name lol). But this story idea slapped me in the face and hopefully gets me back in the swing of things.
(Will have two separate endings) Also, sorry in advance, this is a love triangle, but hopefully I keep it interesting.
Trigger Warnings: I mean it has Lloyd Hansen in it, torture, gore, noncon/ dubcon, cursing, stalking, power imbalance
‘I’m not getting paid enough for this shit.’ You thought to yourself. The dank hallway smelled of blood and there was an ominous dripping sound behind you somewhere. ‘When I get back I swear to god I’m chewing off Greenway’s ass.’ When you came into work today you hadn’t expected the CIA of all goddamn agencies to be short staffed. You were beyond pissed when your manager approached you that morning with a chintzy first aid kit.
“We need you on patch up duty today.” You recalled rolling your eyes. It wasn’t that you were too prideful to help others, it was just that you never actually did anything around the lab. And for someone hired straight out of graduate school it was disappointing to say the least. You had been ecstatic when the CIA itself approached you about your thesis on biochemical warfare, and stunned at the opportunity to join their research team. You didn’t come from money and worked your ass off to get through all of the necessary schooling and now you were playing Dr. MD.
“I’m not even that type of doctor.” You grumbled to yourself as you approached two armed guards in front of an old rusted door.
Clearing your throat, you felt nervous as the two of them looked at you. “Um- Someone requested a Dr. I’m Dr. Y/l/n. I think I’m in the right place.” Although you’d much rather be anywhere else, this place gave you horror movie vibes.
The guard on the right nodded curtly and opened the door without a word.
“Thanks.” You said slowly, walking into god knows what.
“About time you showed up.” A cocky voice echoed through the room. You raised your eyebrow at a man leaning against the wall in a crappy porn star stache, tight polo shirt, and white pants. He seemed out of place looking all put together next to the man tied to a chair and gagged. You eyed a few wicked looking medical instruments warily.
“Didn’t know they had docs that pretty.” The man continued. Not even trying to hide the way he looked you up and down.
“What is this?” You asked hesitantly as he rolled up his sleeves and walked over to you.
“Standard protocol.” He rolled his eyes at that. “Apparently Carmichael needs this guy alive and you…” He slapped a hand on your shoulder causing you to flinch. “… are gonna make sure he stays that way cupcake.”
“This is not what I’m trained for.” You let out an uneasy laugh and turned towards the door. “I’m sure there’s someone else who can-“
You froze as two strong hands gripped your arms and spun you around roughly. “You’re not going anywhere sweetheart. I’ve been waiting to start and you would want to leave poor Mr. Jackson here waiting any longer huh?” He shoved you forward and you stumbled towards a small wooden chair. “I think he’s a bit nervous.” The man whispered in your ear as he shoved you down. You tried not to let your hands shake as he strode over to the tied up man and dropped a car battery on the metal table next to him.
The man started sobbing as the table rattled next to him and the man started tapping two jumper cables together. You hated how he smiled at the sparks they produced.
“Now.” He paused with a smile. “Let’s get this party started huh?” He waved the clamps around with a wicked smile and ripping off the gag.
“Please I swear I don’t know what you want! I-I’ve got money! Ummm and- and cars, whatever you want, just please don’t do this!” The man tied to the chair begged.
“You see, I would, but I’m already getting shit load of cash and I have plenty of nice cars. Speaking of, you and I can go for a ride after I finish up here.” The man shot you a quick wink as he said that.
“So.” He continued slowly. ‘He seems to have a flair for the dramatic.’ You feel your hands grow clammy as he yanks the man’s chin closer and places the clamp on his cheek. “Let’s not draw this out longer than it needs to be. There’s a lady present.” He clamped the other cable to his other cheek and the man shook his head nervously.
“Where is it?” His joking expression dropped as he crouched down to be eye level with the man.
“I-I don’t know what you’re-“
You jumped in your seat as the man flipped a switch and sent an electric current through the victim. You felt your lungs start to heave as you watched him seize around uncontrollably. “Boring.” He heaved out a sigh. “You know what I’m talking about.” The man in the chair slumped down as he released the switch. “Where is it.”
“I swear it don’t-“ The man in the chair was cut off by a loud scream as the other man upped the voltage and flipped the switch.
“Maybe that’ll help jog your memory.” He smirked and then turned to you. “Italian or French?” He asked, toying with the switch, flipping it on and off.
“W-what?” You stuttered out as the man in the chair kept writhing in pain.
“Where do you wanna get dinner after we finish up here? I know this great new Italian place but it’s up to you.”
You blinked at him in shock. Was he actually flirting with you?
“I really think I should be heading back after all of… this.” You stared at the floor, trying not to listen to the man’s screams.
“No need.” The man scoffed. “I’ll let the boss man know and you’re off the hook. You know I’m thinking we should do Italian. I’ve got a craving for some lasagna.”
You scoffed at that and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “You can’t be serious.”
He shot you a smile and flipped off the switch to pull out a phone. “Sure am. I can call now. Carmichael and I are close.”
“Wait, you don’t mean…”
“Hey Denny.” He paused as the voice on the line responded back. “No, he hasn’t cracked yet, but we’ll get there. Anyways I’ve got a favor to ask. Once I’m done here I need you to let Dr…” He strode over and yanked up your official badge, smiling as he read the name. “Y/n y/l/n off for the rest of the day.” You yanked the badge away from him and shoved it in your pocket. ‘The nerve of this asshole.’
He chuckled at something the other person in the line said before responding. “She sure is. Anyways, think you can swing it? Thanks man you’re the best.” He gave you a thumbs up as he paced in front of you still listening.
“Uh huh. Sure. He wants to talk to you.” He handed you the phone, which you took gingerly. He couldn’t actually be talking with THE Denny Carmichael, the man who had discovered you in your program and gave you your job offer.
“Hello?” You asked softly.
“Dr. Y/l/n.” A familiar voice answered. “Perfect, now I need you to listen very carefully.” Holy shit it actually was him. This psychopath had the Chief of the goddamn CIA in his contacts list as Denny.
“I- I can do that.” You looked up at the man still watching you with a predatory smile.
“Whatever my friend Lloyd wants you to do, do it.” He said bluntly.
“I’m sorry? I don’t understand.” Your forehead scrunched at that.
Carmichael sighed across the line. “Fine, let me put it this way, whenever he inevitably finishes up whatever shitty play he’s doing to get you in his bed, get in it.”
You paled at that. “You can’t expect me to-“
“I can and I do. Hansen is too important of an asset to lose because you’re a prude. You can choose not to, but you’ll have to have your desk cleared by Monday.”
“I-“
“Yeah you heard me right. Fuck him, or your fired.”
#fanfic#reader insert#llyod hansen#lloyd hansen x reader#lloyd hansen x y/n#lloyd hansen x you#the grey man#court gentry#court gentry x y/n#court gentry x reader#court gentry x you#court gentry x female reader#sierra six#six x reader#sierra six x reader#sierra six x y/n#sierra six x you
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Me and my teacher have been talking about Robespierre and he told me that there are rumors that he might've been homosexual. He then asked me if that would've affected his reputation. Who made the rumors and who is the subject that made people think that Robespierre was possibly homosexual?
I don’t get how Robespierre being homosexual can be called a rumor when it’s really clear as day? I mean, Robespierre openly admits he’s got a boyfriend in this letter to Maurice Duplay:
Okay, jokes aside, I don’t know when exactly the claim that Robespierre could have been homo first showed up, but as far as I’m aware it wasn’t one that circulated during his life nor one that was among the slanders thrown against him in the aftermath of his death. So if today, the idea of him possibly being gay is not unheard of, I don’t think it was one that affected him and his reputation during his lifetime.
When trying to find exactly from where and when this idea originates, I actually only found somewhat recent works (that said, I know it dates back far earlier than that, I just don’t know who first came up with it). According to Peter McPhee, Jean Artarit presents the following thesis in his Maximilien Robespierre ou l’impossible filiation from 2003:
The psychoanalyst Jean Artarit is at an extreme, offering the insight that Robespierre’s misspelling in an electoral pamphlet of a shoemaker’s name Lantillette as Languillette (“baby eel”) shows a longing to cut off the penis. For Robespierre was apparently a repressed homosexual with a castration complex, a misogynist and pathological narcissist constantly searching for a good father and an all-powerful mother.
There’s also this passage from The Alyson Almanac (1989):
Although Robespierre may have never acted on his homosexual feelings, his strong attraction to members of his own sex is indisputable. His attachment to the handsome Saint-Just, known as "The Archangel of the Revolution,” was the source of frequent rumors.
There’s basically the answer to your question regarding who (most often?) is the subject who made people think Robespierre was homosexual — his nine years younger co-worker Louis Antoine Saint-Just. Although, again, I’m pretty sure the author is mistaken here and that no rumors regarding them being a thing are proven to have existed while they were still alive (right @frevandrest…?)
What makes up the idea of Robespierre and Saint-Just as a couple is mostly a bunch of circumstantials which to be boring fair can be interpreted in a bunch of ways that aren’t romantically and/or sexually linked as well. These include (but are not limited to) both Saint-Just and Robespierre being unmarried (the latter even allegedly shouting ”I will never marry!” in an anecdote, and this despite the fact that we have clues of marriage plans between him and several women, none of which ended in a wedding), contemporaries admitting a certain closeness between the two (examples: 1, 2, 3), Robespierre’s host claiming Saint-Just would go straight to Robespierre’s chamber without talking to anyone else in the family, later allegations of Saint-Just being super handsome (despite the fact that contemporaries just appear to have described him as average looking) and finally the fact that Saint-Just stayed with Robespierre until the bitter end, going out with the aim to defend him on 9 thermidor and dying with him on the scaffold one day later.
#saint-just#robespierre#maximilien robespierre#louis antoine saint-just#ask#a shame altarit’s book doesn’t appear to exist for free online#bc it sounds cursed as f#did someone actually write that look it over and go ”yes this seems indeed like the most likely scenario”#not so sure how i feel about having to share the ”things that came into existence 2003 list” with that book…
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TDP Book 5: Water
So this apparently dropped almost a week earlier than what was announced and I binged all of it at once as usual. Since I only just finished it I can’t quite tell if I like it better or worse than previous seasons (for summary: I loved the first 2 because it looked like they were heading somewhere really interesting, I hated season 3 because it completely dropped the ball and season 4 was starting to head back in the right direction). I feel like I should write a few things down to sort them out. Lots of spoilers below.
I think it was the right decision to split the party up more than they were last season because it no longer feels like Ezran is just hanging around for the sake of it and gives Rayla and Callum more time to interact and rebuild their relationship. I still don’t care one iota about said relationship because they are boring MC-shipping, but at least it doesn’t feel like it is actively eating up others’ screen-time.
The detour to Lux Aurea feel superfluous. It is very disconnected from the other subplot involving Karim and Kim’dael and the one lasting consequence (Zubeia’s wound) is apparently healed by the end of the season with absolutely no input from the main cast. Obviously this is setup for next season and this mysterious mushroom-mage but I can’t help but feel that there had to be a more convenient way to get there.
As usual, Claudia remains the very best part of the show and I will not hear a bad word about her. Her worry for Viren is so absolutely palpable it hurts and for once I think they dodged all the pitfalls of framing it as a sin. Having Terry around proves to be the best change to the show as a whole since the timeskip and he keeps being a positive influence on Claudia without being judgemental about it.
This also makes it pretty jarring when we get to Claudia’s final confrontation with the gang and after a full season of humanizing her and proving that she will listen to reason instead of going for the kill, she goes into full villain-mode from the start with crazy ranting and “I will destroy you all” speeches. All so that the gang can feel uncomplicated in dealing out the most graphic violence in the show so far. I used to joke that I would be ok with Claudia reducing elven cities to ash, I now think I would be fine with her ripping out Ezran’s spine while making Callum watch. As a treat.
Side-note: I am very ok with the trend of Claudia transforming into monster-ladies for big fights.
Please keep that up.
Viren also continues his positive development from last season, but unfortunately it is the exact kind of “redemption” I didn’t want for him and Claudia. The kind where it is all about him agreeing with everyone else that everything he ever does sucks and that dark magic is unambiguously evil. Sorry to people who like this development but I don’t see a lot of moral complexity in doing a 180.
Callum actually has a pretty interesting arc this season. After being convinced last season that it was his curiosity that would make him susceptible to Aaravos’ influence it instead draws direct parallells between him and Claudia by having love for his friends and especially Rayla be the reason he breaks his own moral code. It still relies heavily on the show’s nonsensical policy on dark magic for his guilt to make sense but it is something.
Unfortunately the show seems committed to its policy of character-centric morality. Ezran can make a speech to Callum about how they should focus on containing Aaravos instead of killing him because violence should be a last resort, and yet make no attempt at anything but violence when stopping Claudia.
Overall I just find it ironic how a book called “Ocean” manages to drive home how shallow this whole show is. It paints its main thesis on its forehead but has absolutely nothing of interest to say about it. “It is bad to do bad things for good reasons”. No shit Sherlock. Come back when you actually have something to say about what makes something bad in the first place or how to deal with the things that made someone think the bad thing was necessary.
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OKAY BUT. LAYLA SCARA FRIENDSHIP RIGHT. mmmmmmmgnmgnmbgnbgmm
starts with the wisdom seelie and other layla. scara does some investigating at nahida's request it all seems to come back to her but he can't manage to get actual proof, and it's not like she's doing harm? which is the important part. the advice she gives is good, pointing lost students in the right direction without doing all their work for them, and the pranks on students looking to take advantage of her are pretty funny. he leaves it alone.
students hide in the house of daena to stay and study after the doors are locked ALL the time. what they don't do very often, if ever, is break in to the house of daena at night. except for other layla and now hat guy, both of whom have very questionable schedules and plenty of reason for stealth. it's all well and good until they try breaking in at the same place, at the same time.
cue the split second of EXTREMELY awkward eye contact, immediately followed by the silent shared sentiment of i won't tell if you don't. so neither of them says a word about it, even as they run into each other more and more often. they're busy people. they can't exactly be bothered.
but there are rumors about hat guy, just as much as there are rumors about layla. and as much as scara has heard (and largely ignored) about the human calculator, other layla has heard the whispers about hat guy. how brilliant and well articulated his papers are, how he showed up out of nowhere, the fact that academically speaking he's kind of an asshole who refuses to soften the truth or hold anything back.
and here's the thing: as much as she doesn't want layla to be stressed out, as much work as they already have on their plate, other layla wants to learn. she wants to challenge herself and push through it all and get better and learn more with every passing day. and that's a lot harder to do alone than with help.
people at the akademiya are logical, sure, often to a fault, but apparently hat guy is ruthless and that's perfect. she is, of course, completely willing to be ruthless right back at him, something she's sure other students (at least, those who don't have their heads shoved up their asses) are far too afraid to attempt.
the next time they run into each other, she asks him to critique her thesis. which is fucking baffling. he doesn't know a damn thing about rtawahist's studies and he tells her as much. to which other layla points out that SHE doesn't know more than the basics of vahumana's studies, but it's not like it would be hard to learn. she's not asking him for a favor. it's equal exchange, obviously. now is he going to read her paper or not?
and it's a little annoying on hat guy's end, but there's also a begrudging respect there. and, admittedly, it would be useful to have someone to look over his own shit who wouldn't waste time or hold back.
the single night very quickly turns into routine, meeting twice a week or so to viciously tear each other's papers to fucking shreds before swapping back and reworking whatever is necessary. it's easy and it's useful and it works for both of them, and neither of them ever ask for more than studying together at night, which is a relief for them both in more ways than one.
hat guy finally running into or even seeking out daylight layla for a last-minute question about one of his papers only for her to stare blankly at him, stammering out something about not being familiar with vahumana's studies followed by an even more cautious im really, really sorry, but have we met?
and she seems so genuinely apologetic and uncharacteristically nervous and her posture and even her voice are different and as much as he wants to get pissed off at her for very likely pretending not to know who he is when they're around other people, he remembers some of those first rumors. the human calculator, the heaven-sent thesis, the sleepwalking eccentric. leaves it be, at least for now.
the next time they meet he stares at her for a long, long moment, and she stares right back until he goes 🤨 sleepwalking? and she blinks and flashes him the most brilliant smile and goes yeah, actually. layla is asleep right now. she won't remember any of this in the morning. and he fucking gapes at her because That's Not Sleepwalking. you KNOW that's not sleepwalking, right??? and all she does is shrug and ask if they're gonna study or what
snowballing from there. hat guy seeking layla out during the day because he's kind of pissed, kind of suspicious, and really curious, only to grow more and more certain that yeah, there are two of them. and neither of them are a danger in the slightest. could be if they chose to be, sure, but they couldn't be further from doing that.
coming to respect daylight layla a lot, too, because akademiya students are usually entitled fucking assholes but she's unsure of herself and she's quiet and isolated and she doesn't feel she belongs or deserves to be here but she also hasn't quit, not once, hasn't given up or ever taken the "blessing from the stars" for granted.
joining her sometimes for commissions and eventually teaching her how to use a catalyst because he knows her, knows that when she really wants to learn something she learns it in and out, if she actually gave a fuck about using a sword she wouldn't be swinging it around like a baseball bat.
(learning, eventually, that layla flourishes with a catalyst but other layla is damn good with the sword and it's probably in her best bet to keep them both on her person)
them becoming actual friends and layla slowly becoming more and more confident and them being able to tease each other and being really good influences on each other in terms of believing in themselves and feeling like they might actually belong her and the potential for layla to have a really fucking long lifespan without really knowing it and them navigating that and
all of these are from my notes for a layla-centric fic that i desperately need to write so i have the layla side of it much more thought out but oughghghghgh wanderer making normal friends and just having fun and fucking around and being able to do stupid shit but also being respected and cared about and thought of even when he's not around and and and and and and
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Death Stranding & Asexuality
I only ever played the Director’s Cut so I didn’t realize the log An Asexual World didn’t always contain the addendum and I wound up reading this article about it and wanted to share this excerpt.
This change, although slight, is incredibly impactful and represents a redemption arc for the story of Death Stranding's portrayal of asexuality. It acknowledges the past data log and does not attempt to bury it. Instead, it carefully explains the issues with the data log and why it can be considered discriminatory. It decouples the connection between asexuality and the Death Stranding, and in doing so asexuality is no longer presented as a pathological condition, but rather as a normal identity.
Through this change, Death Stranding has transformed itself from a piece of media containing a harmful representation of asexuality to one that serves as a teaching tool that facilitates a greater understanding of the identity. Rather than resort to insincere public apologies or simple deletion of the data log, Death Stranding instead learned from its mistakes and rectified them in a way that shows respect for the asexual community. However, this addendum is done in a way that does not break immersion from Death Stranding's narrative.
Death Stranding Director's Cut's handling of asexuality illustrates a good template for how video games can deal with social issues, and how they can acknowledge their own mistakes when they misspeak on these issues. Such moments need not be occasions for cover-ups and defensiveness. Instead, developers can engage the concerns of their player-base, genuinely understand their viewpoints, and have the courage to correct themselves when necessary.
I’ve included the text from the original log + the addendum (ripped from fandom.wiki) below. Also apparently a common right-wing talking point in Japan is that all these young queer people are to blame for Japan’s declining birth rates (when obviously there’s other factors like Japanese women entering the workforce in large numbers in the 90s and delaying marriage, more people living in urban areas and having only 1 or 2 kids etc.)
Also Sam is canonically demisexual!
Records suggest that the widespread aversion towards physical contact and intimacy was a phenomenon that had been observed even before the Death Stranding. One contemporary report, for example, details the increasing popularity of the "sexless lifestyle" among young people. A growing percentage of the younger cohort were self-identifying as asexual, claiming to be incapable of feeling desire or attraction. Accordingly, such individuals were less likely to have children or engage in sexual activity.
It should be noted, however, that many other unique sexual identities were being recognized during this period, such as demisexuals, who are incapable of sexual attraction without an emotional connection, and panromantics, who profess an attraction unrestricted by sex or gender—albeit one not necessarily sexual in nature.
One theory posits that the Stranding accelerated the proliferation of these sexualities. In a terrifying new world in which BTs roam and annihilation is an everyday occurrence, people have grown reticent to form emotional connections with others.
Although there has been no measurable decrease in human fertility, the birth rate has nevertheless dropped dramatically. Incidence of sexual harassment and assault have also seen a sharp decrease, which seems to suggest that sex could not be further from our minds, for better or for worse. I must preempt myself by admitting that I do not have any empirical data with which to support the following claim. That said, it is my contention that, based on the aforementioned observations and others, the vast majority of the population could be categorized as asexual.
FLAGGED FOR ARCHIVAL REVIEW
Article advances a controversial thesis widely regarded as unsubstantiated and discriminatory. Prevailing theory is that increased self-identification of aforementioned sexualities is due to increased societal awareness and acceptance. Historical records indicate individuals asserting identities falling outside cisgender heteronormativity faced significant discrimination and persecution, leading to suppression and concealment as survival strategies. It is generally accepted that a variety of factors contributed to reduced sexual activity and birth rate pre- and post-Stranding. Studies are ongoing.
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