There was a time, when she still wondered if her life would always be so full of loss, that Lena clung to her father tighter then she’d ever clung to anything else.

Lionel was the strongest man she had ever met— with big muscular arms that could lift her up and spin her around as if she were weightless. He was like a superhero; kind and strong. When he went on business trips, Lena would wait up on the night of his return in anticipation of fancy monogramed chocolates from whatever country he’d resided in. She’d listen for the sound of his footsteps— the familiar creak of steady penny-loafers sinking into the wood.

Lena was sure he’d live forever.

There was a time, when Lena still wondered if she’d always feel so inside out, that she tried to create mental formulations to determine which version of her father she’d get at the end of the day. She’d cower in her room with one ear pressed against the door— waiting to catch the sound of sloppy footsteps against the carpet. She knew that muscular arms were dangerous when uncoordinated and though her father still picked her up and spun her around it was no longer in the way she used to look back on so fondly.

Lena was sure he’d live forever. And the thought of it terrified her.

There was a time, after Lena had learned the only way to become untouchable was to become so prolific and accomplished that she no longer aligned with her peers, that Lionel spent more weeks away on business than he did at home. Loose skin hung from arms that had once been stiff as stone and his hands were too quivery to lift her. But her palms still slipped protectively into her arm pits, even though his suits reeked of alcohol and his snores filled the manor. When she listened at the door, Lena hardly heard anything more than her own heart beat.

But the day she saw her Superman passed out on the couch before school— that was when Lena truly started to believe she was dumbest person on Earth for ever thinking her father might live past fifty.

thinking about how lena has to be so formal and put together all the time, how she always has to wear her mask. but when she's shown in kara's apartment, she's got her feet on the couch like she lives there too. and when she stays with sam, she sleeps with her arms above her head, exposing all of herself, because she trusts that nobody is going to hurt her there. and god I am unwell about this

this is a true story about all the lies you fantasized about you and I

• “La liberté guidant le peuple” by Eugène Delacroix

and

• “13th attempt to break the Gaza blockade by sea”. Photo by Mustafa Hassouna (Andalou Agency for Getty)

Update!

The guy in this photo is called A'aed Abu Amro. Shortly after this image went viral, he was shot by Israeli Army but someone close to him said he was fine. I couldn’t find anything else about him, not even ways to support him directly. So I’m adding some relevant links to help as many people as we can:

Here’s a thread on twitter with GoFundMe links for Palestinians in need

The Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF)

Medical Aid for Palestinians

You can find more links to support organizations here!

Please, if you can’t donate, consider taking 5 to 10 minutes to learn about the situation. I know is hard, but you don’t have to do it all at once.

Do you remember Mohammed El-Kurd? His interview with CNN went viral recently. His instagram is linked and you can find ways to support Sheik Jarrah through his linktree. Here’s a direct link for donations.

sure Cardan loves when Jude is firm with him...but when she's tender?? and gentle?? and runs her fingers through his hair or along his tail while they lay together in the privacy of their room after a long day and their armor is shed??? Or when she removes his many earrings and necklaces from him patiently (bc the High King loves his jewelry) and he just watches her as she does so admiring her focused expression....AHHH

this man is forever undone by her

This one sent me.

— If the meds were switched, then when I got them mixed up, I… I accidentally switched them back, so… I gave Harlan… — The correct doses, yes. But not accidentally.

KNIVES OUT (2019) dir. Rian Johnson

I love this moment, not just because of the twist, but also because Marta has been dying the whole movie with not only fear and grief, but guilt at having caused the death of her patient, her friend.

For Benoit to take the time to reassure that this was not her fault, in way that is so kind and so clear, was lovely.

“You are a good nurse.” You can tell when he says that the he truly understands what is paining her the most. Just beautiful.

I have so much love for this film, and for the moment following this where Benoit tells her that, if Harlan had listened to her, he would still be alive. The blame is taken from her, in the kindest possible way, by someone she trusts. After all the goalpost moving and ‘ah, gotcha!’ and obsession with spoilers in cinema over the last decade, with characterisation abandoned and plotlines left unresolved, knives out is a kind film. It isn’t obsessed with tricking you or catching you out, just wants you along for the ride

anthony literally bouncing on his feet while kate insults him: i do not like this woman btw

“‘I fell in love with you, and then I knew (…) I'm not doomed.' He leaned forward and brushed a feather-light kiss on her lips. 'I have you,' he whispered, 'and I'm not going to waste a single moment we have together.'" - Anthony Bridgerton

Julia Quinn, The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons, #2)

kathony + the five love languages:

ii. acts of service

what is it, truly, to admire a woman? to look at her and feel inspiration. to delight in her beauty. so much so that all your defenses crumble, that you would willingly take on any pain, any burden for her. to honour her being… with your deeds and words.

i coukd write a better album about being a tortured poet than tswift i think. Im not a poet but im tortured as fuuuuuck. on account of my ailments. and im gay with better taste in music. and id design better album art while im at it too.

Percy and Annabeth are one of the best fictional relationships for many reasons… but I’ve narrowed it down to two big ones I feel people forget.

1. THEY ARE BOTH SMART!!

Percy may be goofy sometimes, but he’s outsmarted numerous monsters and people with words and knowledge alone. Annabeth is obviously a genius, but she’s also competent in reading people and thinking on her feet.

2. THEY WORRY BECAUSE THEY LOVE EACH OTHER!

No matter what danger is being presented, Annabeth and Percy never doubt each other’s strength and power. They worry because they care, not because they think the other is incapable or weak.

i blame the mouse for the deradicalisation of luke castellan

[Image text: there's actually no political label or identity that absolves you of doing harm.]

Remember "don't let identity trump ideology"? I do. Let's follow that axiom.

probably a huge reach but I do wonder if percy’s refusal to explain his plans to anyone was influenced by him telling bianca his plan and then her getting herself killed trying to execute it