the sky is looking back

I took the cargo ops class at school but my teacher explained that it doesn't give a certification and I'd only be okay for ship's crane and the school forklifts. she said I could take an online exam and get my cert. I paid 60 bucks.

I'm googling and I'm seeing a lot of resources saying that the online programs cover the classroom part of the exam but not the in person practical aspect.

29 CFR 1910.178 (l)(2)(ii)

Hello~ I don't usually do prints, but I did a test print on inprnt and it came back looking really nice?? The House dellamorte does not kneel, colours look sooo gooodddd. Anyways all this to say that with renewed faith I've released a couple of these prints!

and everyone is posting their 4th of july manis

except this year its very few american flags and red white and blue and stars.

and a LOT of pond scum inspiration

So I wanted to write a post about Thimble because I've looked into the Thimble tag and found a lot of posts about Occtis, and Julien, and Bolaire.

I'm a big fan of Laura-Fuck-the-Healing-I'm-Doing-Damage-Bailey. I've talked before about how much I loved Jester as someone who, when they were younger, felt like they had to distance themselves from all the girly bits of fantasy because it was a genre of big important heroes and girly stuff marked you as firmly a side character, and often an obnoxious love interest who, the second she walked away, all the REAL characters would shrug their shoulders and shake their head and be like "who can understand women?" Because Jester WAS girly and silly and naive and all of that, but she was a whole character and one of the most interesting ones in the show, and everyone around her just wanted to be around her more.

There's still a part of me that feels absurdly bouyed by the cast saying "well, Vox Machina doesn't have a leader, but also the leader is Vex".

This season Thimble has been the absolute best for stand up and cheer hero moments. She's an absolutely filthy build that maybe shouldn't have been allowed when she only had 3 strength, nevermind now at 19. She is a rogue who is able to disengage and move vertically. She has a spell like ability that grants her automatic advantage against everyone of her choice in 60 feet, and as a swashbuckler she also gets sneak attack as long as she's fighting someone on her own. She's got a misty step according to the wiki.

I love that she's been consistently willing to, well, swashbuckle. To be this daring front line person with the understanding that others are behind her to support. That she makes decisions like "I'm staying behind for Teor." I love that she's been right up there in taking desperate measures.

I have definitely enjoyed the situations her small size has put her in. Grates, bags, some dude's pants. Might get accidentally stepped on while stoned. No one will be able to find her if she hides.

I love that she is as connected as she is to this part of Araman that's inaccessible to a lot of the other characters. I love that, while she's not making a huge deal about it, her body has become uncomfortably mortal, and it's possible that's the fault of her best friend in the whole world. I enjoy that, while she fits comfortably into adventure-genre expectations about heroic violence, she's also a commentary on how hollow revenge can sometimes be. I think there's a good chance her tininess and air of whimsy are mitigating some of horror of the murder lust- though also it helps that she's mainly been going after absolute ghouls (sometimes literally). I mean, that's the genre too, isn't it? There are things that are actual evil and they have to be stopped.

Everyone writes: “We’ve known each other for years!"

But we can do better than that—let's make things actually interesting.

Here are some quick tips for writing two characters with history (without saying, "we've known each for years"):

• They reach for the same object at the same time without looking

• One of them uses a nickname no one else is allowed to use

• They start arguing mid-conversation like the first half already happened

• They move closer when the other looks uncomfortable

• One of them says, “Don’t start,” before the other has said anything

• They know exactly which buttons to press (and press them immediately)

• They unconsciously drift toward each other in crowded spaces

• They anticipate each other’s reactions before they happen

• One quietly moves something (a drink, weapon, chair) because they know the other will reach for it

• Someone might say something, and the other immediately responds with: “You’re still doing that?”

• They suppress laughter at the same time over something no one else noticed

• One character still treats the other based on who they used to be

• A certain place, smell, or song causes them to exchange a look

• Their arguments sound rehearsed, like they’ve had them before

• They touch each other casually without asking (fixing clothing, nudging, taking something from their hand)

• They stand closer than strangers normally would

• They borrow items from each other

• They bring up something embarrassing from ten years ago

• They sit in silence together and it’s either very comfortable or extremely tense

• One of them automatically orders the other’s drink

• They interrupt each other and still somehow finish the same sentence

• One starts a story and the other finishes it automatically

• They argue about the details of shared memories

• They mention people or events without explaining them

• A simple phrase or nickname triggers an entire inside joke

• They notice tiny things about each other no one else would catch

Real history sounds like unfinished conversations, old habits, and arguments that never really ended. When you show shared history (instead of telling) your characters seem that much more alive and believable.

On a similar note: Not all shared history is comfortable. Sometimes shared history means unresolved tension or an old rivalry:

• They refer to something only as “that” or “before.”

• Someone says “You know why.” without explaining further

• Standing slightly farther apart than expected

• Fingers drumming or fidgeting when they’re forced to talk

• Avoiding eye contact for just a second too long.

• A small disagreement suddenly becomes heated.

• One character reacts sharply to something that shouldn’t matter anymore.

• A casual comment triggers silence or defensiveness.

• One character starts explaining themselves but trails off

• One character makes small, cutting remarks disguised as jokes

• They still know each other’s preferences or weaknesses

• They speak in fragments when the past comes up

• They fall into familiar conversations and then awkwardly break them

If you enjoy digging into character dynamics like this, my printable novel planner has detailed sections for relationships, character arcs, and story structure. It’s perfect for organizing a fanfic or mapping out an entire novel!

WHAT ABOUT DOOMED SIBLINGS