Defender of Fluff

For all my love of running this blog as I have for nearly ten years now, I generally don’t get into the fray or to put forward my thoughts. I value privacy for myself and others, and I l feel I don’t need to expose who I am as a person to encourage others find ways to better themselves or to find ways to tell stories about people doing their best against the darkness with whatever light they can find.

But there are times when the light is hard to find, and I am afraid of the more immediate future and its consequences than I care to admit. My choices and my encouragement of others to live a virtuous life feels hollow in the face of a humanity that will forever conflict with itself over what these even mean or if they even matter in the face of more basic day to day needs or the promise of fortune. Or that the very real consequences that will permanently affect lives or end them are not something that we can wait out with grace for the days things get better, when there are people who will not share those days with us.

It’s hard to find light in the face of that. By its nature, it illuminates but cannot be held. We need only close our eyes to it and it is gone. And if enough doors are closed, and shutters slammed shut, we can even block out the sun. But these are things we choose to do to ourselves and others. We can just as easily choose not to do them.

In the face of that, I can only decide to keep reaching for light and encouraging others to do the same. In the immediate, this is a small consolation, even for me. It’s hard to see history repeating itself and not despair. But in the long run, we do more good by continuing the fight regardless, both to ourselves and the world around us. To the world beyond, it’s because absent our efforts, things can only get worse. To ourselves, it’s the quiet fire that can sustain against any winter darkness. The soul deep assurance that you were true to our better selves in the face of it all.

the bad boy in question...

🖤🩶🤍💜 Affirmations for Asexual people this Asexual Awareness Week 🖤🩶🤍💜

🖤 You are a valued and important part of the queer community

💜 Your asexuality is valid, it is not something that needs to be changed

🩶 You are worthy of loving and healthy relationships, if you choose to have them

🖤 Asexuality is a spectrum, it is okay if your asexuality is different to someone elses

“I see. What is the nature of the plot?”

The raven, ruffles his feathers in agitation.

“He spoke of leading the cursed HOA to thine door, my lord.” It pauses, then adds, in a more hesitant tone: “Though I am but a raven, so I am unsure what that is, other than a hostile flock. We heard you speak of them in utter disdain oft, and so we dared speak. My Lord.”

“Fucking Brent. Thank you for bringing this to me,…” er, what do you call- Fuck it, you’re dreaming, remember? “My good raven, although you need not have bothered. Mr Jones will get her comeuppance.”

The raven looks somewhat crestfallen. Your heart melts a little. You sip your coffee to buy time. Your hair stands on end as you realize something.

You’re not dreaming. You can’t smell things in creams, and the coffee you were sipping before this malarkey started is tickling your nose with its pleasant aroma. Well, fine. How?

You look at the raven and try to look cool.

“I am pleased by your care, though. You need not hesitate to speak to me. Come, let us speak of lighter things, to pass the time. How did it came that you specifically were chosen to speak?”

The raven’s eyes shine, and it croaks excitedly.

“I have studied the heraldry of your house since forever! It’s so cool to have a real Fae in the neighbour- ugm. I mean, I mean,” it ruffles anxiously. “Forgive my strange speech, Lord, I am but an simple-”