win or die

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Name: Sophia
How did you find out about the community? If it's through an LJ user, please tell us who it is (individual user if possible, not just a community name!): Several people on my friendslist have mentionned it, but I think the first person who told me about it is lilith_morgana
Age: 32
Location: Athens, Greece
Occupation: I'm currently unemployed and looking (not exactly uncommon where I am given that my country's undergoing a complete economic collapse). My first degrees were Humanities and I worked for a while as a journalist, which I gave up for various reasons, the main one being not getting paid. I just completed an MBA and am currently looking for work in either PR or Marketing, and primarily outside of Greece (see my above comment on Greece's economy).




All About You

1. Describe your ideal house/home. Please go into as much detail as possible, and be sure to include your ideal geographical location in the description!.

That answer tends to vary sometimes. I live in an apartment right in the city centre, in a neighbourhood that has the dubious honour of being the most densely populated area in Europe, and while certain aspects can be frustrating (the noise, pollution, its rep as a “rough” area), I can't deny I appreciate being right in the thick of the city, within walking distance of most things (though I should note my idea of walking distance is not most people's-there are times when I'll go for a “quick drink”, only to end up walking the cobbled streets of the old quarter around the Parthenon, and climbing a rock right opposite the Acropolis to gaze at Athens' night lights, and this all works out to a couple of hours' walk. But the view makes it worth it) the fact that I can go out at 3AM and buy cigarettes and there are still people walking the streets (mostly rather shifty-looking people, but my point stands). So as much as I appreciate nature and smaller towns (I'd be happy to just camp in the middle of nowhere for a month), for a permanent basis, I'm too attached to some of the possibilities a city offers.

I would love to live near the sea, or really any large body of water I can swim in, ideally combining proximity to the water with proximity to a mountain, but within driving distance of a city. I would love a house that's large enough to be comfortable/have friends visit/throw the occasional party, but not so large that I'd get overwhelmed or end up worrying about who's going to clean it. I've love to have a garden with some trees (especially any trees that bear fruit-nothing beats freshly-plucked fruit for breakfast), enough space to keep a large dog (I adore the larger breeds, but it would be cruel to keep one in my an apartment) and a relatively isolated area where I can decompress, drink my morning coffee, and read. In terms of the house exterior, I like the traditional stone finish, with huge windows and balconies to let in the light. The interior would look...not unlike where I currently live, with white marble floors, lots of art and photographs on the wall, and various bronze and stone knick-knacks (things like old leather chests and rustic village 19th century fireplace tongs), a fireplace, and a LOT of shelve space for books (which I currently have, but it still doesn't seem to be enough. Hell, a room just for the books would be ideal).



2. Imagine you’re given the classic opportunity: a genie granting you three wishes. What would you wish for? Please be as elaborate as you can. Wishing for more wishes is not permitted!

-While I can't imagine that three (or possibly three hundred) wishes would be enough to fix the ecological devastation, wars and social inequality plaguing the world, I guess what I would ask the genie would be to imbue those in power to make decisions with wide-reaching consequences (be it politicians or corporate heads) with a genuine desire to work towards the good of the world as a whole (call it empathy, wisdom or foresight). It wouldn't necessarily lead to a global utopia , but it would definitely be a step in the right direction compared to how they currently operate.

-On a more selfish note, I'd love to find of job that I find both fulfilling and stimulating, and that allows me financial comfort (in terms about both not worrying about bills and be able to afford luxuries like frequent trips).

-I'm probably too old to be asking for superpowers, but hey, I'm a comics geek at heart and we are talking about a scenario that involves an honest to God genie. ;) With that in mind, I'd wish for the ability to pick up/master any mental or physical skill set by merely observing it, be it a new language, a dance, a martial art or, hell, even advanced algebra (doing a business degree just reminded me that Math Is Not My Friend). There's so many things I'd be interested in learning, but only so much time or money I can invest-one could have so much fun with this ability!

3. In your life so far, what accomplishment are you the most proud of? Why? You can list more than one if you have trouble deciding. ;)

Completing three degrees in different disciplines (I'm especially proud of how well I recently did on my MBA, because I didn't think going in I have a “business” type of thinking). Mastering three foreign languages (currently working on number four). Generally sticking to my life choices and not taking what would seem like the easier or more comfortable path.

4. Which of the following is most important to you: Love, Money, Knowledge, Family, Friendship, Adventure, or Pleasure? Which is the least important to you? Please explain why for each choice.

Depending on how I interpret these words, I can think of several combinations of answers, but I'll go ahead and say I place the greatest importance on pleasure, because the things that personally give me pleasure (from the bigger things like work satisfaction and a great trip to smaller things like reading a good book or having drinks with my friends) would mean I'm pretty covered in all the other areas.

The least important to me I guess is money. Financial hardship would certain prevent me from having several items on that list, but as long as I'm comfortable enough to have more options in life than making ends meet, I'm not interested in money for money's sake or any of the more extravagant offerings of wealth like designer clothes, fast cars or other status symbols.

5. What's one quote (or passage, song lyric, etc.) that effectively describes you and your values? Explain.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.”- Dr Seuss

I spent some time pondering this one. There were a number of quotes I could have gone for that speak to me to an extent, but for some reason I didn't feel right to pick a more serious and thoughtful passage, as much as I might agree with the gist of it. So I went for a quote that both I both reflects my general attitude (which has not served me well at times, but I find myself incapable of living any other way) and that's irreverent in a way that anybody who has met me can tell you pretty much perfectly suits me (for reference's sake, my runner-up quote was Joss Whedon's “Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck”.)

6. How do you manage your money? On that note, how important is money/financial security to you? Go into as much detail as you can.

I'm generally good at managing my money and keeping the impulse purchases to a minimum, though it's fun to occasionally indulge. I've never owned a credit card, nor do I intend to-the temptation to spend money I don't actually have would be too great, and I'm horrified at some of the stories of how easily people get into debt.

Though I try to be careful with how I spend, I'm not a penny pincher. I love buying gifts for my closest friends and relatives, or getting a round of shots (I should say that my general common sense about money seems to evaporate when there's tequila involved).

Like I elaborated above, financial security is pretty damned important to me, though wealth isn't.

7. Name (and elaborate on) some of your hobbies. What are your favorite things to do outside of school/the office?

-Reading: I think that one goes without saying in this community. But yes, I love to read. Whether fiction or non-fiction, books, articles, blogs or fanfic-I pretty much lose track of time when reading, and on more than one occasion the sun has gone down and up again without me realizing, because I was too engrossed in a book.

-Travelling: Possibly my favourite thing in the world. I moved around quite a lot as a kid, and as a result I always get bored when I stay in one place too long and love to go and experience different countries (or even different places within Greece). Typically I have the most fun in a country if I already know someone there (and I have friends scattered all over the world), because I get to avoid the typical tourist activities and get a feel of what people who actually live there do.

-Hiking: I've only gotten into it for the last few years, and don't get to go nearly enough, but I love it because it combines two of the things that relax me the most: walking, and nature/wide open spaces. I'm not yet experienced enough to attempt any of the more difficult hikes (the ones involving ice, ropes and some actual climbing), but I hope to get there this year.

-Other things I need to do frequently (or I start climbing up walls) are going out, dancing, working out and going to the movies.

8. Name three things you are afraid of. Explain.

-Illness. And I don't mean illnesses that are merely an inconvenience, like a cold or the gastritis I'm currently having, but anything physically or mentally debilitating that would affect my quality of life or leave me dependent.

-Cockroaches. Yeah, it's a silly answer, but it's the only phobia I really have. I'm not afraid of most animals and insects (well, within reason, obviously I wouldn't be thrilled to be mauled by a bear in a hike), but roaches are the only thing that causes an “OMG, kill it NOW” reaction in me. And for the record, I'll kill one if I have to, but in a much more terrified and unnecessarily dramatic fashion than required.

-Ending up with regrets at roads not taken. While some of my decisions when I was younger make me roll my eyes or squirm with embarrassment (or, hell, some of my decisions last week), I generally have no real regrets on how I lived my life. I'd hate to become complacent, influenced by others, or fundamentally changed in a way that causes me to live my life in a way that's not true to myself.

9. Name (and elaborate on) your top three BEST and top three WORST qualities (personality-related, not physical). Please answer as fully as you can, as this is an important question.

BEST:

-My sense of humour. And I don't mean it in terms of making my friends laugh or writing a humorous post, though I certainly don't mind it when I do, but in terms of managing to maintain a sense of humour and general optimism even when things go rather wrong on a personal or professional level. Between wallowing in my own angst and laughing at disaster, I'd rather take the latter.

-My confidence. I don't mean as in thinking I'm the shit-I'm perfectly aware of my flaws and shortcomings, though for the most part accept them (and only try to change reasonable things, like procrastinating less). But in terms of knowing my own mind, capabilities and general worth as a person, I'm more confident in who I am than at any other time in my life, and that belief is (within reason) not influenced by what others see and expect.

-My willingness to move outside my comfort zone. Whether it's changing career paths, being willing to move to another country or even re-examining a previously held belief, I not only can handle the challenge of trying new things and adapting to them, I relish in it. If nothing else, it keeps things interesting.

WORST:

-My restlessness. It can manifest in ways ranging from lack of patience (I should be kept away from glitchy computers, ill-behaved small children and people who act like jerks in public transport, as I can't be held responsible for my reactions), to constantly feeling the need to be doing something (I've been told going on holiday with me is an exhausting experience), to constantly being dissatisfied with my country/ work/ fandom, and always on the lookout for something new and shiny.

-My big mouth. Like I said, I do like to generally make a joke of things, and my friends generally are fine with it, but I can also take sarcasm too far and unintentionally offend someone, whether because they don't know me that well, or because they don't appreciate me taking it quite that far. And that's not even getting into me deliberately trying to offend, which has been known to happen (see above comment about lack of patience) and I'm not exactly known for being demure. Which is fine and all when you're confronting some creepy dude in a bar or your friend's asshole ex, less so if the person you so thoroughly insulted is your boss, professor, or racist/homophobic uncle over Christmas dinner.

-My procrastination. Seriously, I am incapable of completing anything without a gun to my head (or failing that, a deadline). I should crown myself queen of procrastinators, and I totally will. Next week, if I find the time. Probably.






A Song of Ice and Fire Related

1.Who are your favorite three characters in the series? Why?

-Arya. I love all the Starks, but Arya was pretty much the character I immediately latched on too when I first started reading GoT, and remains my favourite to this day. Of course, the qualities that most drew me to her (her stubbornness, fearlessness, her resourcefulness) have been twisted into one of the worst possible outcomes because, hey, it's Martin. But I love how she's essentially broken inside, the fact she's above all a survivor and the way she's essentially turning into a cold-blooded assassin. If she ever returns to Westeros, she'll be as terrible and destructive force as her wolf is currently being (seriously, does anybody think the man-eating She-Wolf they all keep referring to is anyone else?).

-Jamie Lannister. It's funny to me, because I initially hated Jamie in the books, with of burning conviction some reserve for Cersei. But his character development was so brilliantly and gradually done, I can't even pinpoint the exact moment when he went from “That ass who threw Bran out of a window” to “JAMIE!<3”. He starts off as kind of an ass, but an ass who is forced to change by having all that his most essential to him taken away, while still being perceived by everybody else, with the possible exception of Brienne, still see him ass little more than The Kingslayer persona, including those ostensibly on his side. And I love how reluctantly he embarks on that journey-even as he saves Brienne from the bear pit, his words reflect his sheer disbelief at finding himself in that situation.

-Brienne. Despite my attraction to morally ambiguous characters, I love Brienne for being a brave, honourable and fundamentally decent person, despite the shitty world she lives in and everything she's got going against her (being a woman, and a strikingly unattractive one in a world where a woman's worth as a potential bride is her only coin). I love how stubbornly she kept resisting Jamie's charm for the longest time, and her fierce loyalty to him after finally seeing him as a person worth knowing. I love that she's still plagued by insecurities, hesitation and “what ifs?”, but that she stubbornly persists despite those doubts.

2.Who are your least favorite three characters in the series? Why?

Ramsay Bolton. Do I really need to elaborate on this one? A lot of characters commit atrocities in the books, but the things Ramsay does are so imaginative and elaborate, it suggest that he's the kind of psychopath who'd be skinning/mutilating people even if he didn't live in that particularly cruel medieval setting. He made me feel sympathy for Theon, and that's no small feat.

Joffrey. Aka Could Have Been Ramsay If He'd Lived Long Enough. Except there was also a huge helping of “spoiled brat” along with “budding sociopath” in his characterization, which made him even more annoying (the fact he committed some of his worse acts against characters I love like Ned and Sansa isn't helping with the hate). I have some issues with Littlefinger, but I'll forever be thankful he rid us of that little shit.

Walder Frey. The character repulsed me from his first interaction with Catelyn, groping his child-bride and his attempts to trying to blackmail everybody into marrying his spawn. After the Red Wedding though...look, I know Tywin encouraged him in that plan, but oddly enough, I'm not pissed off at Tywin. Tywin acted out of ruthless self-interest, while Walder's motivation was that he was insulted about the broken engagement. So he essentially committed what in his culture amounts to the gravest crime against gods and men, massacred a roomfull of unarmed people and ensured nobody would be in a hurry to marry his progeny anytime soon because he was having the world's bloodiest temper tantrum? That's worse than merely evil, that's pathetic.

3.#1 Favorite moment in all of ASOIAF so far? Why?

Everything starting from the moment Sandor grabbed Arya until their confrontation with Cregor's men. I love odd couple situations, and their interaction filled me with joy, especially since they seemed to have more in common than either one of them would admit. I would happily read a whole book of Sandor And Arya's Excellent Adventures, complete with foiled murder attempts, back and forth insults and leaving a trail of corpses in their wake.

4. In your dream-world, how would you like to see the series end, and why?

Since we're talking dream-world, I would like it if most of the characters I'm attached to were alive at the end of the series, and I would love if certain characters were reunited (like the remaining Stark kids, or Arya and Nymeria). I can't even say who I'd prefer to sit on the Iron Throne (as much as I adore Dany, I'd prefer her not to, and none of the other current candidates inspire confidence). It would be kind of brilliant if it was someone complete random (King Samswell!), and I'd also be happy with a split of the Seven Kingdoms.

Mostly I want the finally Battle with the Others to be really epic and involve most of the major players in some way, and not be let down by too much set-up with an unsatisfactory resolution.

Comments

Martell

[lady-theta.livejournal.com]

O__o
Where are the Targaryen votes coming from??!!? I don't see it. Martell
Just your approach to life screams Martell to me.
And I totally get the whole initially hating Jamie thing. He evolved over time.