Relena’s Friend: So How Do You Think You’ve Changed Since High School?

Actually, now that I'm thinking about the concept of revolutions:

Many, many (probably most) revolutions/toppling of governments fail, either because they don't have the ability (military strength, finances, support, etc.) to meet their goal, because their goal is unclear to begin with, or because they can't maintain their success once they've reached it.

January 6, 2021, for example, was a small-scale attempt at overthrowing the U.S. government--but they didn't have the ability to succeed at killing members of the U.S. Congress or stopping the vote to ratify Biden as the new president.

In Egypt, they did manage to depose Hosni Mubarak, and the Muslim Brotherhood then took power, but they was removed from power by the military about a year later, and the current leader, el-Sisi, has shifted the Egyptian government back towards authoritarianism, which is at least in part what the original protests were about.

Many revolutions in stories end with them taking power (just as many romance novels end with them getting together), which is fine, but if you want to write past that, think about what actually makes a post-revolution government succeed or fail. Is it disagreements about who should be in charge or the type of government? Is it other political infighting? Is it the lack of an effective, respected leader? Is it a lack of ability to provide civil services? Is it lack of support by average citizens? Is it a slight towards authoritarianism?

But also think about the impacts of the revolution itself, especially if it was violent. Has infrastructure been destroyed? Who has died? Are services still being provided, and if so, is the provision of those services equitable?

Let's say the revolution in your story ends with a grand battle in the capitol building--can they still use that building to legislate from? Where do people literally go to work the next day? Do necessarily files still exist?

Are civil servants willing to work for the new government? Can they be trusted?

Who from the old regime is still around, and what happens to them? Do they go to jail? Are they banned from working in the government? Are they needed in the government because they make up the vast majority of the institutional knowledge? Are they likely to form an insurgency to try to take back the government (see: the Taliban)?

Is the revolution tied to a specific ethnic or religious group, regional group, caste, etc.? If they were previously marginalized or shut out of power, do they implement oppressive or discriminatory policies against the previous ruling class (e.g., exclusion of many Sunnis from Iraqi politics/government following de-Ba'athification)?

Will the revolution spawn (or continue) an ongoing cycle of violence?

At this point Relena is like 1,000% done with Milliardo’s shit.

Words to describe someone's voice

adenoidal: if someone’s voice is adenoidal, some of the sound seems to come through their nose

appealing: an appealing look, voice etc shows that you want help, approval, or agreement

breathy: with loud breathing noises

brittle: if you speak in a brittle voice, you sound as if you are about to cry

croaky: if someone’s voice sounds croaky, they speak in a low rough voice that sounds as if they have a sore throat

dead: if someone’s eyes are dead, or if their voice is dead, they feel or show no emotion

disembodied: a disembodied voice comes from someone who you cannot see

flat: spoken in a voice that does not go up and down. This word is often used for describing the speech of people from a particular region.

fruity: a fruity voice or laugh is deep and strong in a pleasant way

grating: a grating voice, laugh, or sound is unpleasant and annoying

gravelly: a gravelly voice sounds low and rough

gruff: a gruff voice has a rough low sound

guttural: a guttural sound is deep and made at the back of your throat

high-pitched: a high-pitched voice or sound is very high

hoarse: someone who is hoarse or has a hoarse voice speaks in a low rough voice, usually because their throat is sore

honeyed: honeyed words or a honeyed voice sound very nice but you cannot trust the person who is speaking

husky: a husky voice is deep and sounds hoarse (=as if you have a sore throat), often in an attractive way

low adjective: a low voice or sound is quiet and difficult to hear

low adverb: in a deep voice, or with a deep sound

matter-of-fact: used about someone’s behaviour or voice

modulated: a modulated voice is controlled and pleasant to listen to

monotonous: a monotonous sound or voice is boring and unpleasant because it does not change in loudness or become higher or lower

nasal: someone with a nasal voice sounds as if they are speaking through their nose

orotund: an orotund voice is loud and clear

penetrating: a penetrating voice or sound is so high or loud that it makes you slightly uncomfortable

plummy: a plummy voice or way of speaking is considered to be typical of an English person of a high social class. This word shows that you dislike people who speak like this.

quietly: in a quiet voice

raucous: a raucous voice or noise is loud and sounds rough

ringing: a ringing sound or voice is very loud and clear

rough: a rough voice is not soft and is unpleasant to listen to

shrill: a shrill noise or voice is very loud, high, and unpleasant

silvery: a silvery voice or sound is clear, light, and pleasant

singsong: if you speak in a singsong voice, your voice rises and falls in a musical way

small: a small voice or sound is quiet

smoky: a smoky voice or smoky eyes are sexually attractive in a slightly mysterious way

softly spoken: someone who is softly spoken has a quiet gentle voice

sotto voce adjective, adverb: in a very quiet voice

stentorian: a stentorian voice sounds very loud and severe

strangled: a strangled sound is one that someone stops before they finish making it

strangulated: strangled

strident: a strident voice or sound is loud and unpleasant

taut: used about something such as a voice or expression that shows someone is nervous or angry

thick: if your voice is thick with an emotion, it sounds less clear than usual because of the emotion

thickly: with a low voice that comes mostly from your throat

thin: a thin voice or sound is high and unpleasant to listen to

throaty: a throaty sound is low and seems to come from deep in your throat

tight: a tight voice or expression shows that you are nervous or annoyed

toneless: a toneless voice does not express any emotion

tremulous: if something such as your voice or smile is tremulous, it is not steady, for example because you are afraid or excited

wheezy: a wheezy noise sounds as if it is made by someone who has difficulty breathing

wobbly: if your voice is wobbly, it goes up and down, usually because you are frightened, not confident, or are going to cry

Duo: Hey, do you know how to play the trumpet?

Trowa: Why?

Duo: I wanna wander around the safehouse playing it to annoy Wufei.

Trowa: Technically, you don’t need to learn to play it to do that.

Duo: ... you have opened my eyes, Tro.

prompts

compilation of prompts by me, and many others to hopefully inspire you♡

cute/fluff:

“I’ll feel much better if you let me walk you home.”

“I wanted to say “I love you” for the first time without stuttering, but that failed.”

“Apparently all our friends have a bet going that we end up together.”

“you make me feel alive. for the first time ever, i feel like i can breathe”

“i fucking love you” “hang up, and tell me this when you’re sober”

“i really want to kiss you right now” “do it then”

“Are you flirting with me?” “You finally noticed?”

“i’ve been falling in love with you since the first day we met”

“Sorry… your hair was in your face… thought I should move it so I could see you better.”

angsty/sad:

“i dont know how to exist in a world without you”

“The worst thing is, that even after all of that, I’m still in love with you.”

“did you at least think of me, when you were having sex with her?”

“no. the moment you saw me as a bet was the moment you fucked up.” 

“If you don’t hug me right now I think I might fall apart.”

“i swear, if you say another word, i’ll leave.”

“that ship has sailed. i’ve had my one great love already”

“Would you just shut up and listen to me for two goddamn seconds?!”

“if i asked you to stay, would you?” 

“i don’t know who you are anymore”

“of course i still love you. but i hate myself for it.”

“We’re not just friends and you fucking know it.”

“i can’t have this argument with you again” “but-” “no. i’m done”

filth:

“Seeing you between my legs is so hot.”

“I may or may not have left some….marks.”

“I think we were a little too loud last night.”

“Really? You wanna have sex….here? Now?”

“the noises you make are incredible”

“You’ve been giving me bedroom eyes for the past half an hour - time to show me what, exactly, was on your mind.”

“we’re just…friends.” “friends don’t do this type of shit!”

“she may be all lollipops and candy bars, but I bet behind closed doors she’s hand cuffs and gags.”

“bite your lip once more, i dare you”

“what you gonna do about it, stud”

“I could just pull your bikini bottoms to the side, no one will notice.”

“god i love your hands” “lets put them to good use then”

“i know you can be louder than that.”

“come on. i want the neighbours to hear you scream”

“do you like that? like being in control?”

funny/miscellaneous:

“Never trust a man whose smile steals the breath right from your lungs.”

“Did you just slap my ass?” / “Actually, I firmly grasped it.” / “Did you just quote Spongebob?”

“I’m not a damsel in distress. i’m a damsel doing damage.”

“You couldn’t handle me even if i came with instructions.”

“where have you been all my life?” “hiding from you”

“shut up with all that soulmate shit”

“I’d punch you, but that’d ruin that pretty little face of yours.”

“sorry, is that supposed to impress me?”

“Maybe you should leave the cooking to me.”

“so it’s a date?” “nope. not a date” 

“it’s because i’m so attractive isn’t it?” “i say this. and i cannot stress this enough. i find you completely repulsive.” 

“alright daddy long legs, next joke please”

credits to some of the accounts whose prompt lists inspired this one: @connorshero, @starman-thorsus-canos-jock, @glitterquadricorn, @calumsendgame, @alloveroliver, @justforshitsandcackles, @whcczes, @hellsdemonictrinity, @poeticparker, @dresupi

Heero, upon seeing Duo and Wufei: oh good you guys managed to escape

Duo: the moon’s haunted

Heero: what

Wufei, grabbing a loaded pistol: the moon’s haunted

Writing Traumatic Injuries References

So, pretty frequently writers screw up when they write about injuries. People are clonked over the head, pass out for hours, and wake up with just a headache… Eragon breaks his wrist and it’s just fine within days… Wounds heal with nary a scar, ever…

I’m aiming to fix that.

Here are over 100 links covering just about every facet of traumatic injuries (physical, psychological, long-term), focusing mainly on burns, concussions, fractures, and lacerations. Now you can beat up your characters properly!

General resources

WebMD

Mayo Clinic first aid

Mayo Clinic diseases

First Aid

PubMed: The source for biomedical literature

Diagrams: Veins (towards heart), arteries (away from heart) bones, nervous system, brain

  Burns

General overview: Includes degrees

Burn severity: Including how to estimate body area affected

Burn treatment: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degrees

Smoke inhalation

Smoke inhalation treatment

Chemical burns

Hot tar burns

Sunburns

  Incisions and Lacerations

Essentials of skin laceration repair (including stitching techniques)

When to stitch (Journal article—Doctors apparently usually go by experience on this)

More about when to stitch (Simple guide for moms)

Basic wound treatment

Incision vs. laceration: Most of the time (including in medical literature) they’re used synonymously, but eh.

Types of lacerations: Page has links to some particularly graphic images—beware!

How to stop bleeding: 1, 2, 3

Puncture wounds: Including a bit about what sort of wounds are most likely to become infected

More about puncture wounds

Wound assessment: A huge amount of information, including what the color of the flesh indicates, different kinds of things that ooze from a wound, and so much more.

Home treatment of gunshot wound, also basics More about gunshot wounds, including medical procedures

Tourniquet use: Controversy around it, latest research

Location pain chart: Originally intended for tattoo pain, but pretty accurate for cuts

General note: Deeper=more serious. Elevate wounded limb so that gravity draws blood towards heart. Scalp wounds also bleed a lot but tend to be superficial. If it’s dirty, risk infection. If it hits the digestive system and you don’t die immediately, infection’ll probably kill you. Don’t forget the possibility of tetanus! If a wound is positioned such that movement would cause the wound to gape open (i.e. horizontally across the knee) it’s harder to keep it closed and may take longer for it to heal.

  Broken bones

Types of fractures

Setting a broken bone when no doctor is available

Healing time of common fractures

Broken wrists

Broken ankles/feet

Fractured vertebrae: Neck (1, 2), back

Types of casts

Splints

Fracture complications

Broken noses

Broken digits: Fingers and toes

General notes: If it’s a compound fracture (bone poking through) good luck fixing it on your own. If the bone is in multiple pieces, surgery is necessary to fix it—probably can’t reduce (“set”) it from the outside. Older people heal more slowly. It’s possible for bones to “heal” crooked and cause long-term problems and joint pain. Consider damage to nearby nerves, muscle, and blood vessels.

  Concussions

General overview

Types of concussions 1, 2

Concussion complications

Mild Brain Injuries: The next step up from most severe type of concussion, Grade 3

Post-concussion syndrome

Second impact syndrome: When a second blow delivered before recovering from the initial concussion has catastrophic effects. Apparently rare.

Recovering from a concussion

Symptoms: Scroll about halfway down the page for the most severe symptoms

Whiplash

General notes: If you pass out, even for a few seconds, it’s serious. If you have multiple concussions over a lifetime, they will be progressively more serious. Symptoms can linger for a long time.

Character reaction:

Shock (general)

Physical shock: 1, 2

Fight-or-flight response: 1, 2

Long-term emotional trauma: 1 (Includes symptoms), 2

First aid for emotional trauma

  Treatment (drugs)

WebMD painkiller guide

  Treatment (herbs)

1, 2, 3, 4

  Miscellany

Snake bites: No, you don’t suck the venom out or apply tourniquettes

Frostbite

Frostbite treatment

Severe frostbite treatment

When frostbite sets in: A handy chart for how long your characters have outside at various temperatures and wind speeds before they get frostbitten

First aid myths: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Includes the ones about buttering burns and putting snow on frostbite.

Poisons: Why inducing vomiting is a bad idea

Poisonous plants

Dislocations: Symptoms 1, 2; treatment. General notes: Repeated dislocations of same joint may lead to permanent tissue damage and may cause or be symptomatic of weakened ligaments. Docs recommend against trying to reduce (put back) dislocated joint on your own, though information about how to do it is easily found online.

Muscular strains

Joint sprain

Resuscitation after near-drowning: 1, 2

Current CPR practices: We don’t do mouth-to-mouth anymore.

The DSM IV, for all your mental illness needs.

  Electrical shock

Human response to electrical shock: Includes handy-dandy voltage chart

Length of contact needed at different voltages to cause injury

Evaluation protocol for electric shock injury

Neurological complications

Electrical and lightning injury

Cardiac complications

Delayed effects and a good general summary

Acquired savant syndrome: Brain injuries (including a lightning strike) triggering development of amazing artistic and other abilities

Please don’t repost! You can find the original document (also created by me) here.

by REI

Unpopular opinion time: Relena Peacecraft is my favorite character in Gundam Wing. By far.  I like her better than the pilots, the villains, and her brother with the unusually long and glamorous hair for a soldier.  I’ve been re-watching GW recently and my love for Relena’s character has only grown. There’s a lot of dislike for her out there, and I have to say I’m not entirely sure where it all comes from. Yes, it is a little ridiculous that someone with Relena’s young age and limited experience can fill all of the roles she inhabits in the series, but it’s also a bit odd that young teenagers are allowed to pilot multi-billion-dollar killing machines, so you have to suspend your disbelief somewhere. This is anime, after all.

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[sharing a safehouse]

Wufei: What’s the name of the man who lives two houses down?

Trowa: His dogs’ names are Walter and Rose.

Wufei: That’s not what I asked.

Trowa: That’s the information I have.