I love David Graeber.
Unfortunately, he's not alive anymore but he was a great anarchist, antropologist and professor. I look up to him so much and I hope that I can spread his word as much as possible.
He has a brilliant essay called Bullshit Jobs. It basically discusses what you and I were all thinking - one of the very, very noticable problems with capitalism, which is for example, what the fuck does efficiency mean? He tells an anecdote in a podcast (I don't remmeber the name anymore) about when he was 15 and worked his first job: a dishwasher. Him and his colleagues, also boys his age, were eager to get working and become the best, quickest, and most diligent dishwashers ever. So, of course, they set out to succeed, doing the dishes in no time and then sat down to have a chat.
Despite the sparkling dishes, when their boss came and inquired why they were just sitting around, their enthusiasm was quickly curbed and they were told to do things that didn't need to be done, such as wiping the already clean towel. I hope it's clear what I'm trying to imply.
Why do so many of us need to do jobs that have no point?
Why do we pretend to work when there is nothing to do?
Sorry to David Graeber for the topic jump, but up next are my stories - as in fanfics
I’m a tulip, you’re the spring bloom
Fandom: Genshin Impact
Ship: Alhaitham/Kaveh
Words: 8,269
Chapters: 1/1
Description:
“I’m so powerless, aren’t I, Haitham? All that I’ve left is my dream and my name. Relying on you of all people for help. Is this what pursuing your dreams gets you? ‘The Light of Kshahrewar.’ Not so radiant, am I?”
“...Dream big, they say, and only the Gods may stop you.”
“I shan’t be stopped by the Gods. I shall become one.”
////
Alhaitham starts having nightmares
omg. So, this is my magnum opus, basically. Of course, only until the next one comes along, but still. I love it and I poured my heart and soul into it! Usually I just write of the cuff, but this time I had a plan and it turned out great. Every time I read people's comments on it I cry, because I can't even fathom people ACTUAL, REAL PEOPLE being affected by my art, it feels soo good.
I've been feeling foolish (you should try it)
Fandom: Harry Potter
Ship: Regulus/James
Words: 9,049 (so far)
Chapters: 5/10
Description:
“... am sorry, brother. For how much I disappointed you, too. And for how much I feel I will disappoint you still. I hope you know that it was never my wish to cause you harm. Or for mother to cause you harm. I suppose we simply both see duty as a different concept. Yours was the duty to go. Mine was the duty to stay. You reap your rewards accordingly. And I reap my punishment.”
////
James realises a lot of things. For example, that Regulus is not at all like what he'd thought. No, he's much more broken.
James also realises that he's a habit of trying to help whomever and, more importantly, trying to heal broken Black Brothers.
Well, one down, one to go.
This one I was really inspired for since I've been in the fandom a long time and wanted to make a contribution started it in 2023, but life and stuff has said no, so my updates are quite slow. Also, this has less of a plan than my new one, so I need to be in the headspace to figure out details and whatnot. Otherwise, unfortunately (and like I know, I know) is Joanne Rowling herself cause as you grow up you start to realise like "What the fuck was I reading?" But anyway, I'm still working on making it into a positive thing, it just takes a bit more effort than I might like.
All I Have Is My Love Of Love
Fandom: Stranger Things
Ship: Will/Mike
Words: 858
Chapters: 1/1
Description:
There is a split second where both of them wait for the other to say something. Will half wants Mike to run over and hug him and maybe kiss him. He half wants to do the same things himself.
Recently edited because I just had to go back and reread it :D
This was my first ao3 post! I say that because I did write fanfic even before this, but that shit was so embarassing, I don't even want to talk about it. I remember watching the latest season of Stranger Things and then there was that moment, you know (or maybe you dont), where there's a secene that's just calling to you like a siren. Well, Will's moving out scene was my siren and so I tried to do it justice by exploring what he might have been thinking at that moment. This is absolutely the most 'ugh' part of cinema, by the way, is not knowing what the characters are thinking. So, I solved the problem for myself, haha!