This is a long post. Buckle up.
Recently I've been thinking a lot about how the dark academia aesthetic, whilst rich in aspects such as literature, music, and material beauty, is lacking in things such as activities.
So I've compiled a list of activities that I would personally deem as befitting the dark academia aesthetic (please do add to this list, as it's far from complete).
Sports:
Rowing (it's in literally every dark academic approved movie.)
Fencing
Tennis
Cricket
Croquet
Rugby (contrary to popular belief, women, men, and everyone in between can play this sport. It's not just for the boys.)
Polo
Equestrian sports
+ Figure/ice skating
+ Running (sprinting is handy for catching your lover when they fling themselves from a tower or something, and long distance is great for running alongside carriages that you want to rob.)
+ Boxing
+ Javelin, discus, wrestling covered in oil, think ancient Grecian Olympics.
+ Archery (how could I have forgotten.)
+ Ballet, ballroom dancing, traditional dances
+ Climbing
+ Snooker/Pool (either professionally or just for fun.)
Or, if you prefer the Oscar Wilde approach, no sports at all. That's cool too.
Games:
Chess (of course)
Backgammon
Cards (rummy, poker, blackjack, speed, whist, any game really, maybe with the exception of snap.)
Cluedo (I think it's 'Clue' in America. Don't argue with me, it counts as dark academia. It's got murder in it.)
+ Scrabble
Crafts:
Knitting (I knit socks, scarves, and am attempting a jumper. I find that it's far easier to knit your own jumper, scarf, socks, or whatever than hunting for one suitably 'aesthetically pleasing'.)
Embroidery (monogrammed handkerchiefs and shirts are so in.)
Weaving (sweet mother, I cannot-)
Making lace
Gardening
Cooking (not sure if this counts as a craft, but I'll throw it in just in case.)
Sewing (making clothes for yourself through sewing is a great way to make sure that your clothes fit perfectly, and are styled the way you want them to be. With practise, it becomes easier, and is definitely a useful skill to have.)
+ Calligraphy
+ Painting, of course. (release your inner Basil.
Outings:
Museums
Art galleries
Places of historical interests (in the UK, this might be more easily accessible with things like the National Trust. If you visit often, it might be useful to invest in a membership card with English Heritage (England), Cadw (Wales), or a National Trust card. I have a Cadw card, and I've found that it's accepted all over the UK, in the same way an entrance card specific to whichever country you're in would be too. I hope that makes sense.)
Public executions
Pubs
+ Go to a Café and sketch the people around you (I hear that charcoal or graphite is preferable here.)
Parks
Gardens
Churches, quaker meeting houses, graveyards, synagogues (sometimes the only places that are quiet are places of worship, and a lot of the time, they will be very welcoming in letting people in just to sit and think. Just remember to be respectful: don't insult people for their faith; don't scorn the place of worship; respect people buried in graveyards; don't take pictures, tempting as it may be, just to be on the safe side.)
The theatre
The opera
Concerts (classical music or otherwise)
Social events (memorial services, tours of your local university, open days, anything. It's an opportunity to learn, and spark intrigue because of your darkly mysterious and alluring demeanour.)
Things to do when you're bored.
Writing essays (it's really nerdy, but I find writing essays really interesting if they're on a topic I'm passionate about. It doesn't have to be an intellectual masterpiece, it could be 'The Top Ten Sexiest Classical Writers' for all I care. Just make it fun. Plus it's always an added bonus to that pile of messy papers that aesthetify your desk.)
Research (as above.)
Daydream about how you could have prevented the burning of the Library of Alexandria
Plan a murder / heist. Thoroughly.
Read something light (Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, Wilkie Collins or Colin Dexter novels are really good for relaxing. Murder mysteries are always good for winding down a little, whilst still keeping an active mind, so I would recommend those, but really, read whatever you want.)
Dress up
Read aloud
Perform a play alone (or to a pet, if you have one)
If you play an instrument, play through all of the pieces in your repertoire
More daydreaming
Take baths
Fake your death (by murder, of course)
Draw or paint something (no, it doesn't have to be good. Just do it to relax. See what kind of things you can create, like designing Frankenstein's monster)
Write a narrative piece
Watch a movie. A whole movie. Just sit down and watch a movie, no getting up and walking around, no flicking back and forth, no checking your phone. Just enjoy a movie without distractions.
Watch every single 'Greek Gods as vines' video on YouTube and count it as studying.
+ Listen to some classical music! I have a post on getting into classicl here:
Congratulations! You made it through!
Please, add to this list. I really want this to be expanded on, as I'm interested to see whether or not I've missed things, and if people agree.
Snow falling, bittersweetness, dancing in the dark on nimble feet, stillness and unsettling quiet with your mind beginning to become curious
It was a hit and run type thing, her apartment had been broken into. But, as criminals go, once you become one the police don’t particularly like to help. Alara gave a broken, raspy cough. Panicking would do her no good now. She wasn’t afraid of death, almost welcoming it. But she didn’t want to leave him alone to clean up her mess.
“What kinda problem exactly?” He sat up, swinging his legs off of the bed and rubbing the bridge of his nose. Normally he wouldn’t be quite so concerned about why she was calling at whatever godforsaken hour this was, but this time... this time something was different.
Her breathing grew shallower, and she bit her lip trying to hold back a whine of pain before completely breaking down in sobs, curling around herself. She pulled her hand away from her stomach and watched the drops of blood fall off of her fingers onto the floor.
“Alara?” His voice was sharp, all of the warning lights going off at once. “Alara what’s going on?” He flicked the light on, wincing at the brightness as he began the search for his jacket.
“Something happened...”
“I know that already.” He growled. “So help me tell me what’s wrong.”
“Someone broke into my apartment.”
He stopped dead in his tracks for one split second, before shaking himself out of it. She lived only a mile or two away, it would be alright.
“Are you hurt?” He asked carefully.
She hesitated in her answer.
“Y-you’re... Evan you’re not going to make it in time.” Her voice was soft, soothing. As if it would help.
A sat crying, finger hovering shakily over the call button. B would be asleep, and they didn’t want to wake them- they were a bad enough morning person as it was. But they needed help, and desperately. They didn’t think they had much time left.
The phone rang for a while, the tone echoing throughout the stone walls of the room they were in, before B’s croaky voice answered.
“What sorta time do you call this?”
“Hey, B…” A said, their voice small, “I’m sorry to wake you up… I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important…”
“It’s… it’s okay,” B replied groggily, “what’s up?”
“I have a slight problem…” said A, “I’m uh… in a little bit of trouble-”
“Oh…? That doesn’t sound good.”
“No…” A sobbed, looking down at the blood beginning to seep through their shirt. “It’s really not.”
Want to create a religion for your fictional world? Here are some references and resources!
General:
General Folklore
Various Folktales
Heroes
Weather Folklore
Trees in Mythology
Animals in Mythology
Birds in Mythology
Flowers in Mythology
Fruit in Mythology
Plants in Mythology
Folktales from Around the World
Africa:
Egyptian Mythology
African Mythology
More African Mythology
Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
The Gods of Africa
Even More African Mythology
West African Mythology
All About African Mythology
African Mythical Creatures
Gods and Goddesses
The Americas:
Aztec Mythology
Haitian Mythology
Inca Mythology
Maya Mythology
Native American Mythology
More Inca Mythology
More Native American Mythology
South American Mythical Creatures
North American Mythical Creatures
Aztec Gods and Goddesses
Asia:
Chinese Mythology
Hindu Mythology
Japanese Mythology
Korean Mythology
More Japanese Mythology
Chinese and Japanese Mythical Creatures
Indian Mythical Creatures
Chinese Gods and Goddesses
Hindu Gods and Goddesses
Korean Gods and Goddesses
Europe:
Basque Mythology
Celtic Mythology
Etruscan Mythology
Greek Mythology
Latvian Mythology
Norse Mythology
Roman Mythology
Arthurian Legends
Bestiary
Celtic Gods and Goddesses
Gods and Goddesses of the Celtic Lands
Finnish Mythology
Celtic Mythical Creatures
Gods and Goddesses
Middle East:
Islamic Mythology
Judaic Mythology
Mesopotamian Mythology
Persian Mythology
Middle Eastern Mythical Creatures
Oceania:
Aboriginal Mythology
Polynesian Mythology
More Polynesian Mythology
Mythology of the Polynesian Islands
Melanesian Mythology
Massive Polynesian Mythology Post
Maori Mythical Creatures
Hawaiian Gods and Goddesses
Hawaiian Goddesses
Gods and Goddesses
Creating a Fantasy Religion:
Creating Part 1
Creating Part 2
Creating Part 3
Creating Part 4
Fantasy Religion Design Guide
Using Religion in Fantasy
Religion in Fantasy
Creating Fantasy Worlds
Beliefs in Fantasy
Some superstitions:
Read More
INFJ / Math
Either worst or least favourite
I have a theory I want to test
INTJ / English
okay so if you need more veggies/fruit, protein or fibre (bc most people do NOT eat enough) in your diet but you struggle to do so, hear me out:
look up recipes (especially snack recipes) that are child/toddler/baby-friendly
i can guarantee there is a woman with a cooking blog out there who has found away to pack a bunch of vegetables into a surprisingly delicious little snack for her kids. this process has never failed me when i feel like i am not eating enough fruits and veggies. my entire flat is eating spinach muffins at the moment, which doesn’t sounding particularly appealing to most people and yet somehow. they’re delicious.
The empath let the pain run through them, embraced how it made them feel and let it sink in. They screamed as it sank through their bones, not allowing the knowledge of their plan act as a comfort.
Then, when the villain came in close to gloat, they did it. They quickly moved to touch their captor and transferred all of the pain to them.
It was all a mistake. A misunderstanding. Another day, another fight. Except...this time Eclipse had won. The alleyway was dark, abandoned. The girl ripped off her own mask, letting even more tears trace their paths down her face. “Stay with me- no, don’t you dare. Not now- not yet...” She clutched the body of her love, shaking in horrible cries. Small fires burned, not yet having burned themselves out. The villain didn’t care if the coals burned her, what did it matter. It had all been a game, of some sort or another. They had started out as friends, and then she would merely pull pranks on him and he would do them back. Until one day a line was crossed. After all, when two people are special and have powers, eventually it all goes downhill. Her sister died because of him. She still remembered his stunned face, even through the mask. He tried to say he was sorry, looked down horrified at himself. He tried to make it better. She shoved him away, snarling that she didn’t want any part in it. Sorrow and anger were easier to justify than mercy and remorse. That’s when it stopped being a game. She wanted his death, and she had gotten it.
There were times when she didn’t have to be different. Days when she could just be herself. Narah. Days when she could just sit in a coffee shop and people watch, or walk her dog in the park, or attempt to do yoga for fun. But when her sister died, someone new came into her life.
Ronan. Tall. Funny. He had freckles on his nose that scrunched when he laughed, and red-gold hair. They met at the funeral. He had come up to her and said his condolences like everyone else. She gave the same response as she gave anyone else and moved about the room. But when they ran into each other again, in the park, that’s when something started. He asked her how she was doing, and she was honest. That was when their friendship started. He was the only one who knew, truly knew who she was. He found out when he knocked on the door of her apartment after she hadn’t talked to anyone, or left in days. All of the rooms had ice dripping from them, drawing into their source. Her. She had been sobbing for days, her grief unquenchable.
As months went by, the line blurred between friend and lover. They did everything together, and he knew all of her faults and loved her for it. He never tried to stop her from fighting her nemesis. Once, and only once, he asked her why. She stopped by his apartment and found him nursing a deep gash on his face. He just said he got in a fight and left it at that. But then, later on, while they were talking over coffee, he asked her softly why she fought her nemesis like she did. After a long time she answered, "Because if I don't, I feel like I will forget her."
But that was all gone, her future with him dripping through her fingers just like the blood did. She pressed herself to him, clutching his body and curling into it. Her sobs echoed against the stone in the ally, her body shaking.
“Don’t go.... don’t leave me alone.”
He didn’t answer.
“No,” they whimpered. “N-no, not you, anyone but you.” They slumped to their knees, cradled the hero’s face between the hands that had killed them. “I never knew- never even guessed- oh god, oh god. [Hero] was just my nemesis but I love you, loved you.” They choked on their own sobbing, their lover’s skin going cold under their fingers. “Don’t leave me, please, god, just don’t leave me-”
Watercolor painting, trying to do a Hades and Persephone type thing. Took me about an hour and a half, and I had a lot of fun doing it :)
Hello! Just your local chaos gremlin. Twenty year old lesbian figuring things out.
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