Latest Posts by violetispersephone - Page 2
Blood Meridian by violet_persephone
Chapter 5: Interlude I: Across America, Seasons Change
A jerk of movement pulls her into consciousness. She’s no longer on the ground; she’s in someone’s arms, Inej realizes with a start. Her fingers twitch, seeking out one of her knives, but so much pain is radiating from her arm that she can’t move.
Whoever is carrying her isn’t doing so gently. With each staggering step, Inej is wrenched against the person’s chest.
“Inej? Are you awake?” says a rasping voice.
Kaz. Kaz is carrying her.
“Kaz?” Inej says. Her voice is hoarse from the vomiting and the drinking.
“Yes. It’s me. We’re almost there.”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/56463739/chapters/163618366
Blood Meridian by violet_persephone
Chapter 5: Interlude I: Across America, Seasons Change
A jerk of movement pulls her into consciousness. She’s no longer on the ground; she’s in someone’s arms, Inej realizes with a start. Her fingers twitch, seeking out one of her knives, but so much pain is radiating from her arm that she can’t move.
Whoever is carrying her isn’t doing so gently. With each staggering step, Inej is wrenched against the person’s chest.
“Inej? Are you awake?” says a rasping voice.
Kaz. Kaz is carrying her.
“Kaz?” Inej says. Her voice is hoarse from the vomiting and the drinking.
“Yes. It’s me. We’re almost there.”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/56463739/chapters/163618366
There are so many scenes that I want to see reinterpreted in this universe I've created, but then I remember that I have to write it to make it happen :') I'm currently working on a double chapter situation, one being a chapter entirely dedicated to these types of scenes that I couldn't figure out how to shoehorn into the main plot, but I wanted to see Kaz and Inej navigate them in the Wild West. The desire to daydream about my fic and not actually write my fic has been so strong fr!
the most fun a girl can have is finding parallels, noticing patterns, making connections, contemplating
Slowly but surely I've been making progress on Blood Meridian. Junior year of college is kicking my ass but semester ending means more time to write! Very exciting!
The loss of life and impact on the communities in Helene’s path is unfathomable — and both the immediate and long-term needs are vast.
If you’re reading this, it’s likely because you want to help and care about making a difference for those who’ve been impacted by Hurricane Helene.
You’re in the right place. When we see tragedy like this happen in the news, it’s important to not tune it out. Instead, pay attention and truly feel the heartbreak of it — then, look for and be inspired by the people stepping in to help, and use that energy to make a difference ourselves.
Looking for the helpers
Instead of turning away from tragic events like the devastation from Hurricane Helene — we look closer for people stepping in using what they have, where they are, to make a difference for others.
Inspired by Mister Rogers’ famous quote, we call them the “helpers,” — and they’re usually found wherever there’s bad news in the world. Hurricane Helene is no different. Here are some people, businesses, and organizations helping right now:
Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen teams are serving thousands of meals to communities in need — from Mexico, and the Big Bend of Florida, and into Appalachia.
Volunteer pilots with the Port City Aviators Flying Club are flying supplies to storm victims in western North Carolina.
The national Disaster Distress Helpline is providing free multilingual crisis counseling to those in need.
Southern Smoke Foundation, an organization that supports food & beverage workers in crisis, is providing financial support for groceries, medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Volunteers with veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon are on the ground in Greenwood, South Carolina clearing roads of trees and debris.
A local library branch in Asheville, North Carolina served as a hub for community members in need of internet service.
Workers at Waffle House were “unlikely heroes” providing food to people in need.
A local Fox News correspondent stopped his live broadcast to help rescue a woman trapped in her car in rising floodwaters.
Emergency response teams rescued more than 50 staff, patients, and caregivers from the roof of a hospital in Erwin, Tennessee.
The SPCA of Brevard rescued 20 animals from Hurricane Helene’s path — and it’s now helping them get adopted.
How to make a difference
After we’ve allowed ourselves to feel the weight of the pain and heartbreak associated with bad news, and look for hope and helpers in the midst of it — we always have the opportunity to join in and make a difference, too.
Here are some ways to help — whether you’re local or far away:
Donate to national organizations
Here are just a few large-scale organizations that have helpers on the ground in the region.
American Red Cross
World Central Kitchen
Feeding America
United Way
Salvation Army
CARE
Donate to local organizations
Local organizations, recovery funds, and mutual aid groups have been deployed across the states impacted by Helene. Find donation links and updates below:
All States:
GoFundMe Hub for Hurricane Helene Relief
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief
Southeast Climate & Energy Network
Convoy of Hope
Appalachia Funders Network
Americares
Organizing Resilience
The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Tennessee:
East Tennessee Foundation
First Aid Collective Knoxville
RISE Erwin
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee
North Carolina:
North Carolina Community Foundation
Hearts With Hands
Manna Foodbank
BeLoved Asheville
Foothills Food Hub
Haywood Christian Ministry
Samaritan’s Purse
Forsyth Humane Society
Hope Mill
Volunteer locally
Organizations in the affected area are seeking volunteers to help distribute resources and support crucial aid efforts. While many of us are not local to the region, those who are nearby are encouraged to join in a myriad of volunteer opportunities.
(Note: If you aren't in the area, the best way you can help is by supporting local efforts with a donation. Keeping roads clear for rescue crews and local relief agents is vital in maintaining safety in these already devastated regions).
For local volunteers, check out:
World Central Kitchen
Operation BBQ Relief
Marco Patriots
Operation Airdrop
Baptists on Mission
Contact your elected officials and ask them to take climate action
Climate scientists agree, the intensity and extent of the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene was made worse by climate change.
While we can’t go back in time and burn less fossil fuels — we can make a difference now to secure a safer future and prevent future climate disasters.
In addition to talking about how this disaster is connected to climate change in our own conversations and holding media outlets accountable for how they talk about climate change — this is a great time to tell your elected officials that you want them to take meaningful climate action.
We’re making incredible progress in the U.S. and globally in reducing emissions, but we need to work even faster — and incorporate climate mitigation efforts into our plans — to limit the most severe impacts of global warming.
A list of (realistic) things you can do to be more environmentally friendly
(from an earth-loving horticulture student.)
— COSMETICS
Use bar soap instead of soap bottles
Use old toothbrushes for cleaning surfaces
Try exploring and researching some homemade face/body/lip products
Use ice sleeves, sunglasses, and caps instead of sunscreen (Edit: I’ve seen people say that it is safer and even necessary to wear sunscreen at all times so try to use eco friendly sunscreen instead! In my country it’s pretty uncommon to wear sunscreen often as we usually wear ice sleeves which is why I did not know this oof)
Use coffee grinds or homemade tumeric masks instead of cosmetic products with exfoliator beads
Invest in a metal ear cleanser instead of cotton buds
Try placing more importance on skincare instead of contributing to exploitative beauty companies by buying makeup
Use cosmetic products that do not contain palm oil
— CLOTHING
Try as much as possible to rewear your outfits at least twice before washing them
Actually WEAR your clothes! I know some of y’all just wear them once for your Instagram post and let it rot in your closet forever. Stop doing that!
Thrift, stitch up holes in your clothes, and use second hand clothing instead of supporting fast fashion companies like SHEIN, H&M, Zara, etc.
Cut up your old clothing into yarn and do macramè with it
Cut patches of old clothing to turn into reusable cotton pads
Learn how to knit, crochet or stitch your clothes!
If you use tampons, try menstrual cups or discs instead. If you use pads, try reusable pads or period underwear. (Trust me, it works). Also, use reusable panty liners instead of disposable ones. They may seem expensive but you will end up saving a lot more in the long run
— GARDENING
Plant seeds/cuttings in your old bottles, jars, and containers
Propagate your plants and exchange cuttings with your friends instead of buying new plants
Make your own soil mixes instead of buying soil mixes
Better yet, don’t use soil for your indoor plants and try getting into hydroponics or semihydroponics instead. This saves so much water and doesn’t contribute to mining of soil
Fertilise plants with fruit peels, coffee grinds, and tea leaves. (DO NOT use chemical fertiliser on soil)
Plant more legume plants in your garden instead of using nitrogen fertilisers. (Look up the nitrogen cycle if you need an explanation on this)
Avoid pesticides unless really needed. Try sprinkling cinnamon powder on soil or spraying neem oil on plants and soil to keep away pests.
If you have a lawn, try looking into rain gardens and consider making one
Let the (non invasive) weeds in your lawn/garden grow! They are there for a reason!
Stop killing earthworms and millipedes in your garden. This also applies to snails native to your region. They are there for a reason.
Water used to wash fruits and rice can be used to water plants
— REDUCE, REUSE
Use the caps of jars as soap holders
Use recycled paper/notebooks
Wash and dry your glass/plastic items before throwing them in the recycling bin
Keep any plastic bags for future use
Use eco friendly or reusable dish sponges
Use reusable straws and cups
Invest in a fabric cup holder
Bring a water bottle with you wherever you go
Drink more water and less sugary drinks
Bring reusable bags for buying groceries instead of using plastic ones
Always keep a folded up tote/shopping bag with you in case you spontaneously decide to buy something
— ELECTRICITY
Set a timer on your air conditioning instead of letting it run throughout the night
Better yet, use a fan instead of an air conditioner
Open your windows! Aerate your home!
Allow natural light to enter your home during the daytime, so as to avoid turning on your lights
Switch to LED lightbulbs instead of regular lightbulbs
Turn off any switches in your house when they are not in use
Collect the water from your air conditioner/dehumidifier condenser and use that to water plants, clean surfaces, steam ironing, and flushing toilets. Do not drink it though!
— INTERNET
Delete your all of your unwanted emails
Delete your inactive social media accounts
Try not to post excessively on social media and stop scrolling excessively too. This not only reduces energy usage but also improves your mental health and productivity
Try to keep to one social media app instead of having so many
Reduce your internet usage
Save your eBooks on a thumbdrive instead of on cloud
Use Ecosia instead of Google
Stop being influenced by social media trends that only just contribute to consumerism
Download music instead of streaming
Reduce online shopping
— FOOD
Reduce intake of processed foods
Reduce intake of fish, beef, and dairy
Try eating vegan or vegetarian foods at least once or twice a week
Cook your own meals instead of eating out
Bring your own food containers when taking away food from stores
Beeswax wrap instead of cling wrap!
Buy loose-leaf tea or plastic free tea bags instead of regular tea bags
Eat more mushrooms, vegetables, and fruits and drink more water
Support local farmers
And finally, educate yourself more about ecology and the environment!
I feel really uncomfortable in media when the Earth is just left behind. Interstellar, Elysium, Starfield, Lost in Space, Wall-E (which is kind of an exception) all just pretend this planet has the potential to lose all meaning for us. This place is full of history and life and culture and plants and animals. But as soon as we have the ability to leave, as soon as our tiny speck of green and blue in the universe coughs a little bit we leave it to become a planet of dust. There's not even an attempt to save anything that makes this place special. The animals and plants, who are our neighbours and roommates? They can all go extinct, who cares, as long as we survive. The buildings, the paintings, the architecture and art? It's all meaningless rubble, as long as we survive. I can't tell if everyone really thinks this planet is nothing to us except a place to infest, or it's just an unfortunate pattern in science fiction. I've never seen the movie but I watched the ending scene of Don't Look Up with Leonardo DiCaprio. What a beautiful scene, I watch it a lot. This planet is everything.
Fic Commissions for Hurricane Relief
Hi friends! So, I've never done anything like this before, but I've seen plenty of fic writers/artists on Tumblr and beyond offer commissions and prompt-fills as a fundraising venture. Maybe no one will be interested, and that's totally fine! But if you've enjoyed any of my fics in the past and have (literally) a dollar to spare, I invite you to keep reading. :)
If you're not from the United States like I am, you might not have heard as much about it, but the southeastern U.S. was just hit with the deadliest mainland hurricane since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Given the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, I wanted to offer up my own fic-writing abilities for the cause. I personally donated to BeLoved Asheville, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit which was recommended to me by @carolinawrenn, a member of the fandom who's been personally affected by the Hurricane (e.g., literally has no running water at the moment, just like many thousands of others in the region). The American Red Cross is also taking donations for Hurricane Helene relief specifically.
If you're looking for a way to help out and receive some sweet sweet kanej content at the same time, here's what I'm proposing:
If you email me a receipt of your donation to BeLoved Asheville or the Red Cross, I'll write a Six of Crows drabble or fic of your choosing with the following minimum lengths (all dollar amounts in USD - I am happy to look up the conversion rates if you donate in another currency though, and I would round up to the nearest dollar in that case):
$1-5 donation: 100-word drabble
$6-20 donation: 500-word ficlet
$21-50 donation: 1,000-word fic
$51-99 donation: 2,000-word fic
$100+ donation: 3,000-word (or longer, who knows?) fic
If you've read any of my fics, you know that I primarily write kanej, but I'm willing to try my hand at any of the canon ships (e.g., wesper or helnik) and/or general, non-romance fic.
Please consider donating! I would be THRILLED if I got a bunch of $1 donations and had to write a bunch of 100-word drabbles. Every little bit counts. <3
If you're interested in participating, please submit to this form: https://forms.gle/kDG16K2Gr1TBEQFx6
And if you have ANY questions or concerns, feel free to reply below or message/ask me directly. :)
Made this for u 💝
Blood Meridian by violet_persephone
Chapter 4: July Heatwaves in Nebraska
“I told you. I told you it was part of the job. What did you think was going to happen, Inej? I didn’t take you from the Menagerie so we could all be one happy fucking family, did I? I wanted you to be dangerous. You were, and now you’re whining about it.”
“And I told you that I didn’t want to kill innocent people!”
“Then why did you?”
“He was about to kill you!” Inej cries, and springs to her feet. Her face is flushed, from crying or from anger, Kaz isn’t sure.
“Inej, don’t listen to him,” Nina spits over Jesper’s unconscious body. “Kaz is just a bastard. Don’t listen to him. Kaz, leave her alone.”
“Would you rather have been killed?” Inej asks, her palms outstretched, as if Kaz can package up the answer and place it in her hands. “Would you rather have been killed than have me cry?”
Writing References: World-Building
20 Questions
Basics: World-building ⚜ Places ⚜ Imagery ⚜ Setting
Exploring your Setting ⚜ Kinds of Fantasy Worlds
Editing
Setting & Pacing Issues
Writing Notes
Animal Culture ⚜ Autopsy
Alchemy ⚜ Creating a Magic System
Art: Elements ⚜ Principles ⚜ Photographs ⚜ Watercolour
Creating Fictional Items ⚜ Fictional Poisons
Cruise Ships ⚜ Dystopian World
Culture ⚜ Culture Shock ⚜ Ethnocentrism & Cultural Relativism
Food: How to Describe ⚜ Word Lists: Part 1 2 3 4 5
Food: Cooking Basics ⚜ Herbs & Spices ⚜ Sauces ⚜ Wine-tasting
Food: Aphrodisiacs ⚜ List of Aphrodisiacs
Food: Uncommon Fruits & Vegetables
Greek Vases ⚜ Sapphire ⚜ Relics
Hate ⚜ Love ⚜ Kinds of Love
Medieval Art & Architecture: Part 1 ⚜ Part 2 ⚜ Some Vocabulary
Mystical Items & Objects ⚜ Talisman
Moon: Part 1 ⚜ Part 2
Seasons: Spring ⚜ Summer
Shapes of Symbols ⚜ Symbolism
Slang: 1930s
Symbolism: Of Colors Part 1 2 ⚜ Of Food ⚜ Of Storms
Topics List ⚜ Write Room Syndrome
Vocabulary
Agrostology ⚜ Architecture ⚜ Art Part 1 2 ⚜ European Renaissance Art ⚜ Fashion ⚜ Gemology ⚜ Geology Part 1 2 ⚜ Greek Art ⚜ Law ⚜ Literature Part 1 2 ⚜ Poetry ⚜ Science
Writing References: Plot ⚜ Character Development
Writing References: Character Development
50 Questions ⚜ "Well-Rounded Character" Worksheet
Basics: How to Write a Character ⚜ A Story-Worthy Hero
Basics: Character-Building ⚜ Character Creation
Key Characters ⚜ Literary Characters ⚜ Morally Grey Characters
Personality Traits
5 Personality Traits (OCEAN) ⚜ 16 Personality Traits (16PF)
600+ Personality Traits
East vs. West Personalities ⚜ Trait Theories
Tips/Editing
Character Issues
Character Tropes for Inspiration
Tips from Rick Riordan
Writing Notes
Allegorical Characters
Binge ED
Childhood Bilingualism ⚜ Children's Dialogue ⚜ On Children
Culture ⚜ Culture: Two Views ⚜ Culture Shock
Emotional Intelligence ⚜ Genius (Giftedness)
Emotions ⚜ Anger ⚜ Fear ⚜ Happiness ⚜ Sadness
Facial Expressions
Fantasy Creatures
Happy/Excited Body Language ⚜ Laughter & Humor
Hate ⚜ Love
Health ⚜ Frameworks of Health
Identifying Character Descriptions
Jargon ⚜ Logical Fallacies ⚜ Memory
Mutism ⚜ Shyness
Parenting Styles
Psychological Reactions to Unfair Behavior
Rhetoric ⚜ The Rhetorical Triangle
Swearing & Taboo Expressions
Thinking ⚜ Thinking Styles ⚜ Thought Distortions
Uncommon Words: Body ⚜ Emotions
Voice & Accent
Writing References: Plot ⚜ World-building
I feel personally victimized while writing this chapter. It is attempting to kill me. Send help.
how to outline a story:
write a bullet point list of everything that happens
realize it doesn’t make sense
cry
start writing anyway
Your writing skill is not gonna run away from you. It's fine to write only when you feel like it. It's fine to have a writer's block. It's fine to rest for a while. Writing is a passion that burns eternal fire, it can be lit up again when you try. It will always remain in you.
I promise I've been making progress on Blood Meridian. It is definitely not being abandoned! Going back to college has made life very hectic. Chapter Four coming soon!
Thank you so much for answering! I had no idea what Wiktionary (though i probably should since i took german for 5 years and took linguistics as one of my college courses) and it looks so much better than google translate! Don’t worry, i didn’t think you were representing these languages in that way, i’m just amazed how you combine sorta real words to make your dialogue so interesting. i too would like to bastardize some languages for my own works, but wasn’t sure how to get the ball rolling on said bastardization! this has helped a lot! you’re the best, linny! :)
hello! quick question: how do you conduct your research regarding languages? Like which sources do you use to find accurate translations of different words in different languages? i so admire the way you use languages in your fics; it’s so impressive! please share your wisdom, linny, i would greatly appreciate it! :)
(aka a struggling writer that has found that googling just doesn’t cut it)
I am flattered by this ask but feel the need to emphasize that much of the language stuff in my fics is totally made up! Like, I do often use real words, and try to mimic the sounds of some real words sometimes but especially in the case of Suli I am imposing a pretty much entirely fictitious grammar. I also take real words and declare them to have alternate meanings. I am neither doing pure conlang nor representing authentic languages.
All that said! Wiktionary is my best friend. I often use an online dictionary (Cambridge has a good selection of languages and will often save you from, for example, wanting a translation of “give up” and unwittingly getting words that mean “[hand over] [opposite of down]” instead of “surrender” or “leave off”) to get either a word I want or a close relative. Then I take the word the dictionary gave me to Wiktionary to see things like its grammatical construction, its etymological root, or its cousin words, and then I fuck around until I get a sound I like.
(For example, the Dutch word “to fuck” is “neuken.” I didn’t like the sound of that, so I took it to Wiktionary and found the slang synonym “batsen,” which also means to bounce or slap. I wanted to mimic the hard sound of the English “fuck,” so I switched the s and the t, and so when Kaz is talking dirty in the Ballads fics, he uses a lot of words with the root “bast-” including “verbast” to mean “fucking” in the sense of a gerundive intensifier, though literally meaning something like “befucked.” (Actual Dutch doesn’t use profanities as English-speakers think of them as intensifiers.) The ver- prefix as a gerund is parallel to when Kaz asks Inej not to leave him— “jet kennet me verzaken,” with the last word breaking down literally to ver-zak-en, something like “do leaving to, make left.” But also cognate to the English “forsaken,” which is really why I did it.)
I hope this confession of my tangled and honestly somewhat whim-and-aesthetics-driven methodology doesn’t diminish me too much in your eyes! I am so, so serious about my apologies to languages.
I have now edited this twice for clarity; I am so bad at this; I’m sorry.
Great news for Missouri.
Women will turn out. Grab them by the ballot!
Facebook reminded me that today it's three years since I finished this sculpture. So this is probably a repost. Should make more like this though. It was a lot of fun! I'm feeling like smaller projects that bring more of an instant satisfaction now. My big moss wall project is very satisfying now, but has been such a slog.
Okay…. Just how tortured are these fuckin poets
If nothing else, as a historian every time I get scared at the state of the world I have to remind myself that "uninteresting times" is a myth.
The world has always been in the throes of chaos and violence and fear, just in different ways and to different degrees. The anxieties of the past are no less real than our own, and we can learn from them. Normality and peace are fleeting, but we can always strive to increase those moments. We have to keep hoping and working for a better future. It's all we have. We may not succeed, but if we don't try, what are we living for?
“Criminal” Fiona Apple
8/07/97
"Kaz would have ripped off Tolya´s eyes for liking Inej"
🤮 🤮🤮🤮🤮
why do you want Kaz to be the Darkling so bad? Inej is not his property
Also is reducing the problem to just Kanej and not
a)Tolya´s very much implied asexuality/aromantic being erasured just for the sake of a random love triangle
b) the implication that Inej would rather skin contact (supported by the director) despite her being also trouble with contact is a big deal , therefore erasing her trauma
c) The fact that if the show had continued with this in mind, they would have recicled the storyline of a love triangle where the east asian man gets rejected by the white man TWICE. If you remember the only important shu male character is Kuwei and both he and Tolya and noticably one of the few living male characters without a romantic storyline
But no...lets center on the shipping issues, Inej has to be with Kaz because she is his property she is NOTHING without him, everyman who even looks at Kaz´s property much perish because he is the alpha man,ug ug so superior
Like, Kaz like...wouldn't do that, he is canonically jealous Jesper can touch Inej but he reacts with more melancoly than anger and he doesn't have this entitled to have you actitute towards Inej. He only gauches eyes of men that actually hurt Inej or threaten to do so, i don't know why you want to add more yandere male characters when they are already too much
You gotta read and watch some old books and films that aren’t 100% modern politically correct. I’m not saying you should agree with everything in them but you need to learn where genres came from to understand what those genres are doing today and where media deconstructing old tropes is coming from.
Also, more often than you might think, they’re not actually promoting bigotry so much as “didn’t consider all the implications of something” or just used words that were polite then but considered offensive now.
Kill the censor in your head.