On Jakku Giving People Food Freely (i.e. As A Gift With No Expectation Of Return) And Saying Its A Gift

What is a magic system?

When writing speculative fiction, one of the writer’s most important jobs is to establish the new rules for their world. In many branches of speculative fiction, especially fantasy and even horror, this is magic, though it can also be technology and alternate scientific rules for science fiction. Whatever alternate fact(s) or reality you utilize to make your fictional world possible, that qualifies as a “magic system.” Your magic system is most often defined by what it can’t do rather than by what it can.

Why do I need a magic system?

When writing speculative fiction, it’s usually assumed that something about your world is different than ours. That can be a small tweak or it can be a complete dismantle-and-reassembly of physics as we understand it. Whatever system you choose to implement, it needs to have internally consistent rules. If, throughout the course of your book, magics begin to contradict each other, then it will disturb your readers suspension of disbelief. You don’t want your awesome magic to yank your readers from the believability of the story. But…most important of all…you have to establish some sort of rules and limits in order to prevent yourself from pulling a deus ex machina. No one likes a poorly executed deus ex machina. Few people like a well executed one (is there such a thing?). If you have rules, limits, cost, built into the magic or technology of your world, then you establish something that is not only nuanced and interesting, but believable.

But…but…it’s magic!!!

Why write speculative fiction if I have to create and follow all of these tedious rules?! The real world has rules enough.

It’s true. But following your own rules and following real worlds aren’t the same thing. Lots of you have probably heard the little saying, “Give your world a Flux Capacitor.” If you think about it, Back to the Future’s Flux Capacitor doesn’t make a lot of sense. It’s not explained. But we accept it because it’s magic. And when Doc says, “Here’s this thing. It makes time travel possible.” We accept it because it’s a simple alteration. He doesn’t try to use it to do more than what is initially established. It never breaks that rule. It’s not used to get Marty out of an impossible situation, defying any previous understanding of the technology. That’s why it works.

So where you do start?

First, you need to probably choose what type of magic you will use. Will be elements based? Or energy based? Spirit? Physical? Time and Space? What things is your magic summoning/manipulating/drawing from?

Now you’ll want to focus on the parts that make your magic yours. Sure, elemental magic has been used half a zillion times, but it can still be interesting if you do something new with it. The best way to do something new is to alter its limits, change the cost, give it a new spin that makes your regular ol’ fire magic something intriguing.

You can do a little bit of research into ancient forms of magic, into other literary uses of magic. See what those before you have done and use it as an inspiration.

If you’re having trouble knowing where to start, I’m here to provide you some thoughts concerning the skeletal-assembly of your magic system! Use these prompts as you see fit!

What does magic use/alter/manipulate?

visible energies

gravity

laws of physics

light

thought

water, only, in all of its forms

fabric of space

elementary particles

items of specific color or texture

perception

plant life

the dead

blood

magnetic forces

demons

vibrations

earth

emotions

Who possesses magic?

scholars

children

random lucky people

anyone

everyone

the elderly

anyone who’s ever petted a dog

specific animals

deities

How is it acquired?

at birth

intense study and training

gifted

through random action

through a ritual

as one ages

stolen

From where is power drawn?

internal mana

heat energy

alignment of the stars

physical contact with _____ (the earth, another life force, a drawing or rune)

kinetic or potential energy

the moon(s)

other realms

movement of tectonic plates

spiritual energy of those nearby

consumption of specific foods/drinks/elements

Check out the rest of the Brainstorming Series! Magic Systems, Part Two New Species New Worlds Cultures Civilizations Map Making Politics and Government Belief Systems & Religion Guilds, Factions, & Groups War & Conflict Science & Technology Wildlife & Ecosystems History & Lore

You bring me caffeine or you bring me disappointment

Okay, but like—imagine with me here:

It’s Mabel and Dipper’s 21st birthday, and as a celebration Stan and Ford take them to a interdiemensional bar that just ABOSOLUTELY HUGE and it’s a bar that exists inbetween universes, so in the bar that night of Dipper’s birthday—

There’s a ton fuck of Dippers there.

Turns out, they rented the entire place out.

There’s a bunch of them from different AUs—Monster Falls, Transcendence AU, Fight Falls, Reverse Falls, Zero Gravity, even a few of the Dipper’s from the fanfics the fandom makes. Some of them are monster hunters, leaders of the criminal underworld, interdiemensional backpackers, professors—and they’re all just drinking.

To the surprise, shock, confusion and horror of the Canon Pines, they’re all talking about Bill and complaining about their Pines families.

Like—

“But why is Bill so hot though?”

“I dunno man, ask Mr. I-Was-A-Triangle.”

“But why was he a triangle in your universe?”

“Beggars can’t be choosers y’know.”

“Maybe it’s the freedom and chaotic appeal. Beats our families.”

“Oh yeah, they’re pieces of shit. Like all the times Ford looked down on me—“

“When Stan used me for a money schemes—“

“And all the times Mabel just left us for fucking dead.”

“Yeah, what were we thinking? That asshole literally almost threw the entire Multiverse into chaos, just for another day of summer, that little—“

“I, for one, enjoy the chaos.”

“Yeah, yeah, we get it, you insane maniacal bitch. You like Weirdmageddon. Stop with the torture stories dude. I’m trying to drink my problems away here, not gain more.”

“Let’s just be glad we all left those losers for Bill!”

“And Wirt!”

“And whoever the fuck Wirt is! Here’s to fucking our families over!”

“And pulling our heads out of our asses!”

“Cheer—“

“What in the actual fuck?”

All the Dippers just turn to see the Canons and they’re all like—

“Well if isn’t the straight, bitchy loser of the group!”

“Ugh, and he’s still hanging with them.”

“LETS ALL POINT AND LAUGH AT HIM!” (And yes, that was probably Alcor).

The Canon Pines get called out for their bullshit, Dipper gets explained the messy batshit the fandom calls Billdip (and Pinescone/Cipher Pinescone) and meanwhile, in another room of the bar—

There’s just the Bills and Wirts from the Dippers’ universes.

Most of the Wirts are having civil conversations and making small talk and comparing universes.

The Bills, on the other hand, are literally congratulating and patting themselves on the back for being so hot and amazing and getting Pine Tree (and Music Note/Pilgrim, in some cases). Like—

“Ah yes, we’re so amazing.”

“And hot.”

“And we have great personalities.”

“And Pine Tree is ours.”

“And Music Note.”

“Ah, we’re so great.”

“Here’s to our beautiful, legendary asses.”

“Cheers!”

Knowledge is empowering

Well done my Friend …

Share it Like you care it ..

Billy is kidnapped often. Nothing serious. The villain just wants to tell his monologue of hatred towards a certain hero. All the villains have noticed how the heroes listen to or discuss Billy Batson, the host of a small radio station. That's why the boy is kidnapped. At least once a week. The villains vividly describe their hatred, some even say a spoiler for future crimes. Billy then tells it vividly the next day and jokingly asks the villains to at least feed him, because of their kidnappings he cannot eat normally.

The villains listen to him!

Lex Luthor brought him a whole steak! The Riddler bought him fries, a burger, and a large Coke!

So Billy, being a good person who loves his job, thanks them for the lunch and repeats their monologue word for word, even overacting a little. (But the villains are delighted by this)

Meanwhile, the League is panicking because they are the reason Captain Marvel's son is constantly being kidnapped! Marvel always looks at them with a disappointed look the next day if Billy is kidnapped. But there is nothing they can do! But they tried! Honestly! Captain stop looking at them like that! They didn't know that talking about Billy would turn out like this!

Flash and Superman feel very guilty. After all, it is their villains who often kidnap the boy. Batman tries not to look disappointed at his villains when he finds out that one of them kidnapped Billy, again.

Billy, meanwhile, made a list of villains who treated him very well. In first place was Captain Cold, in second place was the Riddler and Lex Luthor, and in third place was Scarecrow, to the surprise of Batman and Billy himself.

Yes, Billy showed this list to the superheroes so that they would know who was treating him how. As a result, Flash spilled the beans to Snart, and as everyone knows, villains are the best gossips. The news about this list spread like wildfire.

Now the goal among the villains was to get at least into the top five of this list.

Let's just say that Billy started getting kidnapped much more often.

Jokes on Carrie I dropped out before prom checkmate

i woulda survived the movie Carrie because i simply wouldn’t have bullied her.

What even is life insurance. Like a totem of undying from minecraft

What's this productivity tonight

Unheard of

Anyway I really like the way this sketch came out and they just look so done with everything and everyone. M̶o̶o̶d̶

Lately I've had problems sleeping I've found that I can't actually even feel tired until past 5am which suck bc by the time I'm awake which is like 5-7pm I can't really socialize and it kinda sucks so idk maybe I'll actually do something productive I guess

Bad mental health tings (☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞

you understand that johnny as he is a product of systematic failures and injustices, right? failure, after failure, after failure, thorough his entire life.

johnny never should've been in the military. he was a child. he might've lied about his age, but it was the job of the adults around him to ensure he be barred access; it honestly wouldn't surprise me if they purposefully allowed him through with no regard for his real age because they were more consumed with desire for any and all soldiers they could find than regard for putting a child though hell that even the most well adjusted adults find intolerable.

according to the timeline, johnny was born in 1988, and he was apart of the military in 2003 - additionally, johnny has a late birthday, in november. throughout most of 2003, and likely throughout his time in the military, johnny was just 14 years old. i tend to think about this a lot, because it has got to be one of the most agonizing things possible to really consider for his character. i do not say that lightly. to be a 14 year old boy, barely even a teenager, suffering through some of the worst horrors of the world at an age where you are incredibly vulnerable and just beginning to try to grow into the person you'll become. it puts things into perspective in a way that truly paints a picture of the life he lived from then on, especially knowing he formed his life around identification and the impact and symptoms induced by his cybernetic arm.

as someone who's been through my own fair share of being failed over and over by every kind of system that should have protected me when i was so young myself, i get why he is the way he is. to really consider his life, the way he's lived, the place he's lived, the circles he's been surrounded by; anyone would become exactly like johnny, really, you can even see it in the other characters, too.

night city continuously produces incredibly violent and manipulative people who are fighting tooth and nail just to survive because the cards they were dealt in life were all trash. johnny's tragedy there is not particularly unique, and that's horrifying.

i don't blame him, not one bit.