#(also not to be too hopeful but it really feels like Brothership is doing a LOT of things that i enjoyed from the first three games)

[thoughtpeek]

I'VE FINALLY FINISHED BROTHERSHIP IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!

[illdothehotvoice]

It think it's so funny how much I hype up Superstar Saga like objectively she isn't even the best game in the series I just think she's really neat

[tangjiali-purpleyaohua]

Qiu Qingzhi and Li Bing back in the days : You look at me who loves looking at you.

ISTG the way Li Bing looked at Qiu Qingzhi who was looking at him was more like a shy junior who looked at his senior he had a crush on. A part of him secretly hoped that Qiu Qingzhi wouldn't know his feelings towards him, yet another part of him also hoped that his secret crush would share the same feelings as him and then would make the first move on him. He plastered a shy smile as if he tried to pretend that he didn't have any butterflies flying in his stomach.

The drama wasn't about bromance, but really they just skipped the B and jumped into romance. LOL. Qiu Qingzhi x Li Bing boldly crossed the line of mere brothership. There's no way in Hell you would treat your brother as an adult like that. Not a million times.

Note : They didn't cut the scene where Wang Qi jumped on Cui Bei's back, but they cut the cute scene where Qiu Qingzhi called Li Bing to come over and Li Bing ran to him happily. He jumped on Qiu Qingzhi's back. Qiu Qingzhi was more than happy to give him a piggyback ride for free. He carried him like the most precious thing he wished he could have.

Qiu Qingzhi and Li Bing now : I'm just a little too not over you. Just a little! You hear me? But how are you so fine without me? I've been crying for you since the day you went away! Am I that unimportant? Am I so insignificant to you? Fine! I'm going to show to the whole world that I'm also fine without you!

But of course, who could stop our Vice Minister Li from the Court of Judicial Review to act cute towards General Qiu from Jinwu Guard? Li Bing could do whatever he wished since it's Qiu Qingzhi. 撒娇 full mode was activated!

I'd never be a fan of hetero romance drama. I admit that I even always tried to avoid it like a plague because I had a great issue with the FL's half baked 撒娇 (acted like a spoiled child or coquettishly). It never failed to annoy me to the moon and back to the point that killed my mood and gave me a headache. It's the main reason why such a talented actor like Ding Yuxi managed to escape from my radar (my BL-dar, LOL).

White Cat Legend was his first drama that I watched. To be honest, at first, I didn't expect him to be that good, but just a pretty face to help selling the drama. I heard that antis said that his face was just too ordinary. Excuse you, but I had to disagree! I really had no idea which beauty standard that they used to judge Ding Yuxi's exquisite appearance. This guy surely had a pretty face and a pair of equally beautiful expressive doe eyes. His laughs were so addictive. He has fair skin and a pair of cute elf ears that made his face look smaller and innocent.

He's indeed one of the most beautiful men I've ever seen, but his acting skill was on par with his pretty face. He was so detailed in micro expression, voice, quirks, and body language. He used his real voice! I was so glad for that since I could tell his changing mood faster based on his voice. In White Cat Legend, I wonder if he merely relied on what's written on the script or more on his personal interpretation to portray Li Bing. Most of the time when Li Bing gazed at Qiu Qingzhi, it wasn't for a bestie, but a lover. It was understandable if it was a BL or B-romance drama, but it wasn't. I jumped on the QiuBing ship and then sailed, sailed, sailed, to the BL sea.

When they met again after the 3 years of separation & a bitter 'breakup', Li Bing looked at General Qiu with glassy eyes as he was so ready to burst into tears at any moment. His voice tinted with emotional; anger, sorrow, desperation, and unbearable longing. But sometimes his voice became more childish just like when he was younger. He did it only to Qiu Qingzhi, especially when he felt like testing Qiu Qingzhi's patience in every chance that he got. I wonder how Qiu Qingzhi could suppress the urge not to jump on that naughty cat and attack him. By 'attack', I meant wringing Li Bing's delicate neck, not that typical +18 'attack' deflowering him in bed.

Gotta admit that Ding Yuxi's 撒娇 skill is really a top-notch 撒娇! He's not exaggerating. It was just so natural. Damn, he's so cute! When I said cute, it was purely boyish cute. I wouldn't dare to describe him as unmanly. He's a versatile actor that could act as a male character with a feminine traits, just like his role as Dongfang Bubai back then. FYI, Dongfang Bubai was a male character who castrated himself in order to master a martial art in the Sunflower Manual. I didn't watch the drama, but I watched some short videos of his version of Dongfang Bubai. IMHO, he's the best Dongfang Bubai that I've ever seen. They mostly used an actress to play the role of Dongfang Bubai. Ding Yuxi managed to balance masculinity and femininity for Dongfang Bubai. Dear a bunch of half baked 撒娇 skilled actress, you guys better learn that skill from this xiao-Dingding, so your acting can be less annoying.

Ding Yuxi as Dongfang Bubai

Tbh, I wouldn't mind if the MUA (makeup artist) dolled him up like Dongfang Bubai as Li Bing. Li Bing in his big white cat mode got red eyeshadow under his eyes! Why couldn't he get it in his human form? It would be so epic and undoubtedly look so good on him.

Was the GCI version of the big white cat actually modeled after Ding Yuxi? They really looked alike! Da lizi was just like a mirror image of Ding Yuxi. Look at their eyes and lips!

I wonder if he used a certain method as an actor; shaping himself into the character or blend the character into himself. Whichever he used, it was the best way to understand the character, but also a dangerous way since it's possible that he couldn't get rid off the character even after the drama was over. It was so tricky. However, as an adult, I believe that he was over the fragile stage to find his identity. He was already on the safe side.

As for Wei Zheming, his acting really surprised me. The first time I knew him, he acted as Jing Beiyuan or Qi-ye (Lord Seventh) in Word of Honor. In White Cat Legend, he really surpassed my expectations on him. He nailed the role as Qiu Qingzhi; the left General of Imperial Guard, the General from Jinwu Guard. Most of the time he kept his face stoic and expressionless, but if you paid more attention to it, he clearly had a lot of emotions, especially for Li Bing. I was so glad that they didn't dub his original voice. Unlike when Li Bing addressed Qiu Qingzhi by his title so coldly; damn that was so cold, when Qiu Qingzhi addressed Li Bing by his title, it was full of respect. But when he addressed Li Bing by his name, you could notice the fondness in his voice. You could also sense the air of arrogance and authority whenever he used '本将' (this General) to address himself. Somehow he managed to sound so arrogant even when he used '邱莫' (this humble-self Qiu). Dude, you're not humble at all! However on the contrary, you would notice his modesty when he used '我' (I, me). He's a real two-face guy. He was so different in his monstrous mode and his Saint mode.

After learning how selfless and sincere Qiu Qingzhi was, my first reaction was; I insulted him so much behind his back. I shouldn't have done that. Oh, same, Wang Qi, same!

It was so sad that they killed Qiu Qingzhi in the drama. But it couldn't be helped since that character was too good. Qiu Qingzhi >>>>>>>>>>> Chen Shi + Wang Qi + Cui Bei + Sun Bao + Alibaba. Once he was back to Li Bing's side, the Mingjing Hall people were basically useless compared to Qiu Qingzhi. Looking back at Qiu Qingzhi x Li Bing in their past, I thought that he was actually the '妖' (demon) in duo '妖饼' (demon Bing). Oh, come on. Li Bing was a frail Young Master back then due his incurable illness. Basically he was like a beauty lamp that even a faint cold air could extinguish it in seconds. Qiu Qingzhi, on the contrary, was a strong and reliable man with wisdom. We know how capable and effective Qiu Qingzhi was in a battle. Capturing a small fry like thieves or bandits was like just a piece of cake for him. He also could make sure that Li Bing was safe and unharmed when he played detective with him.

Maybe it's because he was a slave (servant), even if Li Bing would never treat him like one, no one really would bother to pay attention on him. He was like the shadow of Li Bing who was born with silver in his mouth and so much privilege as the Young Master of an aristocratic family.

Back to the topic. If Qiu Qingzhi was still alive or managed to escape from death, he would single handedly outshine Mingjing Hall people so easily to the point Li Bing no longer needed anyone, but him. I meant it. Wanna bet? Whenever Li Bing needs someone to pamper him, just go get Qiu Qingzhi. Sorry, Chen Shi. Whenever Li Bing needs someone who's highly intelligent and is a sly fox with so many tricks in his sleeves, just go get Qiu Qingzhi. Sorry, Wang Qi. Whenever Li Bing needs someone who's so dedicated to a case and can memorize the detail of each case by heart, just go get Qiu Qingzhi. Sorry, Cui Bei. Whenever Li Bing needs a protection, just go get Qiu Qingzhi. Heck, Qiu Qingzhi could catch and tame the original Demon Cat; Yi Zhihua by himself. He can be a real monster once he puts his heart in it. Sorry, Sun Bao. Whenever Li Bing needs a translator or someone who has a lot of connection in the city, just go get Qiu Qingzhi. He's the left General of the Imperial Guard, he will be a big help with his influence. Sorry, Alibaba.

In short : It absolutely will be the supremacy of the Qiu Qingzhi era!

See? He was so good that they 'better' killed Qiu Qingzhi.

After Qiu Qingzhi's tragic death, I felt like it's Li Bing who's drapped in moonlight, lonely, and sad since no one can replace Qiu Qingzhi. It's definitely a losing game to compete with a dead man. Therefore, it's only Li Bing who remains in the tragedy. Even though in the end, he has Mingjing Hall people who stay on his side, things will never be the same.

Now what? Even though the drama was over, I couldn't move on! Help! 😭😭😭

[ikamigami]

Remember that I wanted to make a post about Moon's computer? That motherf-er!!?

So here it is!

But first things first. Eclipse isn't going anywhere. I might be the only person who truly believe in his intellect. Because others seem to fall for that whole "Eclipse doesn't have a plan" thing. Why I'm talking about Eclipse all of a sudden? Because this has more to do with Moon's computer than it may seem at first glance.

We know that Moon's computer has his personality. So that's why it acts like an ass sometimes like New Moon had said. So it seems completely normal that it was mean to Sun, right? And it's also normal that it prioritised Moon over Sun, right? But sometimes, not really.. way too often computer seemed to go overboard with how it treated Sun. We didn't have this sibling dynamic between computer and Sun, like we have with Moon and Sun. (I have a similar feeling that there was lack of brothership between Sun and Moon when Lunar was pretending to be Moon for the week. Lunar meaniness seemed more uncaring and cold than Moon's usual behaviour towards Sun.)

I don't like computer. Because it often acted like complete jerk towards Sun (and even in today's episode what a f-er). It has some good comedic moments but that's it.

Anyway, remember when it turned out that the one who pushed Sun over the edge and whole "incident with Kill Code happened" was actually Eclipse who was pretending to be Moon's computer? Because I do. And you know what I realise about that situation. That Sun and Moon never found out that Eclipse pretended to be Moon's computer! Later Moon found out that Eclipse had an access to his computer but he wasn't able to do anything about that because there was a lot going on back then. And now Moon can't do anything about it because he doesn't remember that. He doesn't remember that Eclipse has an access to his computer.

So I believe that Eclipse made himself a backdoor in Moon's computer during his and Lunar takeover in October. That way it was possible for him to go undetected even by computer itself. And let's not forget that Eclipse has the same intellect as Moon. So he was probably able to that.

So, because I'm paranoid af, I think that Eclipse probably still has that access and that he uses it to his advantage. Because why not? So bare with me here! I think that Moon's computer is in cahoots with Eclipse!! Completely unknowingly.. or let's better hope that that's the case! See, I said I'm paranoid!!

Anyway, let's get back to my first point. Let's take aside whether Eclipse was shocked by Sun's words or not or if these words upseted him or not because it doesn't matter in what I'm going to say. So I think that Eclipse didn't say anything to Sun then because he wanted to force a reaction from them. With computer's input our boys know that star is basically killing Eclipse and we saw that Sun wanted to think that through because it didn't sit well with him. Sun might feel a little bit of pity towards Eclipse (or maybe a lot cause I'm pretty sure he'll blame himself even for this isvsjdbsjjzbsj). And if we take into consideration my post about Eclipse gaslighting and abusing Sun into believing that he's evil, it starts to make sense.

Because if computer didn't say that about Eclipse, Sun wouldn't go of to think that through. So what I think that happened in that episode was another well crafted Eclipse's scenarios. It could have even been played on a bat, in a spur of moment. I understand that Eclipse probably didn't know and 100% wasn't expecting Sun to say all those things to him. And it probably really hurt him, mostly his ego but I don't deny that. But I think that he thought to himself that he may take that as an opportunity and use it against Sun. With computer's help of course. Because it wouldn't work other way. And like I said computer is probably unaware of that. It was probably Eclipse pretending to be Moon's computer and manipulating situation as always. Or that's what my paranoid ass is thinking about that situation jsbsjdk!!

And in today's episode Moon's computer had to send Sun to a void. Because why not? He's complete jerk! And I hate him for that! (And I know that Davis doesn't feel well so that's why there was no Sun and Monty in today's episode of sams and mgafs btw.)

I think that's all. I'm really paranoid af lol xd

[blazehedgehog]

Thoughts on the Last Nintendo Direct for the Switch?

It was alright. A lot of people are very excited by what was shown but, I dunno.

A lot of modern Mario RPGs are pretty hit-or-miss, so Brothership isn't necessarily an instant win for me.

Nintendo World Championship could be interesting. It's probably a better take on the NES Remix idea than previous games, and the way they're doing online multiplayer could prove to be pretty cool. It's a shame it isn't live, but I suppose racing against ghosts means you don't have to worry about latency.

The thing is, with both NES Remix and this, I also want the option to just... play the full versions of these games. No timers, no competitions, just the raw games. But Nintendo's not going to do that. They'd also rather have you subscribe to their NSO service, too.

Fantasian is mostly interesting to me for the fact that a lot of the backgrounds are effectively pre-rendered -- but not using CGI. They apparently made realworld dioramas using actual model making material and photographed them. That's cool. The rest of the game seems like generic JRPG fluff.

I've tried over and over to like Donkey Kong Country Returns, both on the Wii and the 3DS, and it just rubs me the wrong way. I've said it's something weird with the controls feeling sluggish, but I think it's also the level design. It feels like it stretches some of its ideas pretty thin. Like we did not need a whole world dedicated to minecart levels. I'd hope the DKCR remaster is the version I'd finally enjoy, but I don't have my hopes up.

It's cool to see the "HD-2D" Dragon Quest games, at last. Those old phone versions they have on the Switch are awful. But also the only DQ game I've ever connected with was the demo for DQ8, so I dunno how much this tickles my fancy. But I've also never given a real one of these games a chance.

Hearing "timed exclusive for the Nintendo Switch" for Denpa Men is weird, given that was a 3DS game. I always thought it was first party. Is this also coming out on PS4? PC? Very strange.

Glad to hear about the Marvel Vs. Collection. I was just scrolling through my XBLA library on my 360 a few days ago and lamenting how I only own MvC2 and not MvC1, even though I like MvC1 better. Weird it's apparently only coming out for last gen; there aren't native PS5/SX versions of this or the Ace Attorney Collection. Just PS4/Xbone/Switch. With backwards compatibility I guess they don't have to bother with a native version, but still. Weird.

Zelda looks good and is a long time coming but I wish it wasn't so different. Like I have faith it'll be interesting but it does disappoint me it's going to be more puzzle-y and not an action game. After so many years of asking for the ability to play as Zelda, for them to say "well she CAN'T swing a sword like Link!" feels a little compromise-y. I'm sure it'll be fine.

That was not enough Metroid Prime 4. They picked the most unceremonious, least exciting way to show it, too. I actually thought it was them announcing remasters of Prime 2 + 3 like they did with Metroid Prime 1, because it's just generic "shooting nameless space pirates to metroid prime music" footage until the end.

Rewatching it, I can definitely see how people are saying it's a Switch 2 game, though. Like that Metroid Prime remaster seemed like it looked really pretty, but this feels like a step above what the Switch is normally capable of, at least as far as 60fps goes. Like compare for yourself. Prime remastered on the left, Prime 4 on the right.

Look at the ridges in her shoulder panels, and how they're a 3D modeled groove with inset detail in Prime 4. That detail is probably just a texture in the Prime remaster. And just, like, how much better the material work is overall.

I could see this being 1080p 60 on Switch 2 but only 30 on the OG Switch.

Also please show me new guns or mechanics or something next time.

[komoriyui]

The Sakamakis as Keshi songs ♥︎

I'm bored so I'm going to start posting my things on this blog (>_<｡) Keshi is one of my favourite artists, and I was listening to some songs when I realized how much space their lyrics have to analyse the diaboys with... I hope you can realize you don't need to have heard these songs before or read the full lyrics to understand my comments! I'm using the ideas and general meaning of the songs to prompt my little analysing (›´ω`‹ )

୨୧┈┈┈┈┈┈ · Start · ┈┈┈┈┈┈୨୧

Shu - atlas

❝ Do not disturb, lost when I'm dreaming

Kick to the curb all my angels and demons. ❞

It seems obvious at first, when these lyrics talk about sleeping through your problems and being too tired to deal with anything, but even acknowledging this, I'd really like to show a link between Shu's story and Atlas - the Greek God this song is about. Atlas was punished to hold the weight of the heavens/the sky on his shoulders, and this just reminds me of Shu. The way Shu was born into the pressure of being the eldest son, he was forced to take on responsibilities he doesn't care about, and now just wants to rest. When Heracles tricked Atlas into thinking he was free from the weight of the heavens, but afterwards he realized he had to hold it once again, I really think of Shu seeing a glimpse of freedom and life when he was a child and played with Edgar. However, as we know afterwards, he was forced back into square one by losing Edgar, and his temporary escape from his responsibilities was broken forever.

Reiji - drunk

❝ All my friends are drunk again

And I'm stumbling back to bed all by myself. ❞

Reiji's song was a little hard to decide, because they're mostly a lot about love and I don't think I know him well enough to use lyrics like that to analyse how he loves to how he is. Even though this song seems unrelated to his character, it reminds me of his loneliness. I think a lot about how, even though he wasn't born to be the eldest, he took the position to keep everything together, and it probably takes a lot of loneliness and dissociation from his brothers to continue caring about the state of things. Where it says "all my friends are drunk again", in a really light-hearted way, I think of how Reiji must view his brothers as helpless fools who couldn't get anywhere without his leadership - and I do have to agree (>ㅅ<) He isn't appreciated enough for being the bread and butter of their brothership.

Ayato - LIMBO

❝ I am a fraud, I am the shit

Hoping that nobody notice ❞

This song is very loudly an Ayato song - talking about how he is the mightiest and the best, but it kind of links to this huge analysis I remember writing ages ago where, even though Ayato is shown to be an exaggerated self-centered person with a huge superiority complex, I believe he pretty much has an inferiority complex instead. I can't remember exactly what I wrote, but his extreme possessiveness really makes me think of how he probably views everyone as a threat or competition for being the best, and needs his ego to be inflated to the max to reassure him that he will never be powerless ever again. I feel too shy to post the full analysis now... but, take his backstory as the support for this. His abuse only made him someone desperate to have control and power, and he learned the hard way to stop himself from being vulnerable if he wanted to keep it.

Kanato - War with Heaven

❝ Feel like everybody's telling me I'm doing too much

And I know I can be dramatic when I want, but so what? ❞

Kanato is obviously known for being dramatic and having his outbursts and instabilities. I think the whole story of this song, where the speaker says he will go to war with heaven for being away from his love, makes me really think of Kanato. His possessiveness is also something I think formed from childhood. His invisibility as a child caused him to have a need to always have his needs met - and those needs are always fluctuating because he doesn't know his own self well enough to understand when or how a balance can exist. His balance comes externally, when the one he can control is there for him to control, otherwise he falls back into helpless disaster as he fights to never let himself fall back into a place of powerlessness and invisibility.

Laito - onoffonoff

❝ I want you next to me

You want to see me bleed ❞

If there was a song to capture really well the inner turmoil from the abuse (specifically from his HDB route) that you would have to endure when being under Laito's spell, it would 100% be this one to me! Being a human, you would be played with and toyed, isolated into craving care from someone who only wants to hurt you and watch how many different ways they can ruin you. You might think there is nothing like a human's capability of abuse, but what is worse is Laito's abuse. You think that you can fix this person because of their willingness to stay by your side, but you know they just find amusement in entertaining those thoughts. One of my favourite aspects of this game that I could talk about forever is Laito's abuse in HDB and I think this song captures it so well. It's the way the most intimate and comforting acts of love are twisted to become demeaning and hurtful that causes you to confuse yourself into being hopeful. But the hope will always fail you.

Subaru - blue

❝ I don't know myself

Not like the time I did before. ❞

Subaru's outer shell being built from his inner self being completely twisted growing up is one of the most devastating things to me... He appears to be this strong and tough person and believes he doesn't need any love or help, because why would he ever think that he needed it? He wasn't taught what love could do to him, he had to learn to create himself from what he had. I'm really fond of the genuine way they made him learn to love as well as love himself at the same time in HDB. On the inside, he can fish out what he realizes he needs for himself and live through the love he deserves, even if he's so used to dismissing it and pretending he is still an independent person who doesn't need anyone's sugar-coated attention. In the hands of his corrupted parenting, he had no nurturing or recognition for himself, and couldn't have been able to learn differently until the right person showed him that maybe if he looked on the inside instead of creating an exterior from his trauma, he could see the true beauty of himself.

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[randomgentlefolk]

CPC Chapter 126

I warned you

*inhale*

oh. my. goodness.

OKAY THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHAPTER BECAUSE UM, DO I NEED ANY EXPLANATION???

Anyway

I knew the sunflower balloon is gonna disturb Frederick eventually!! Or maybe he took it off so that the bullies can't find him.. maybe

AND I'M SO HYPE FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER BECAUSE BROTHERLY LOVE WOOP WOOP

SKIWNWJSNDUEJ

Those bullies are sooooo gonna get it

I wonder what Blaine and Lance will do to them. You can't really start a physical fight in the middle of dance floor ya know :') that would be cool tho.

Those brother support advice!! Again, I'm a sucker for brothership. Blaine and Lance always care about Frederick and I found that so wholesome.

What I learned today is your strength may not always seem 'cool' or 'powerful', but that doesn't mean it's useless. Everyone have strength, they just haven't realize it. Take as an example : Blaine said Frederick is good at military logicistic such as stocking foods and fuels for the militaries. At first it doesn't seem cool compared to the military itself who fought and all, but if you take a look at it from different angle, you can see that they complete each other. Military people need food after they work. If the food suply is not enough, they're done for. (Why did I write this)

I hope Frederick know now that he always have people that care about him by his side :)

When he immediately try to protect Gwen fearing his bullies are gonna hurt her. That, guys, gals, and pals, is what I call a character development

I'm sooooo excited and I couldn't stop smiling while reading this episode the brothership moment is too adorable like Lambcat who allowed you to stab my heart with wholesomeness like this 😭

Hhhhh can we please talk about how adorable Frederick look in this panel

Like. C'mon. Look at his shiny eyes. He better watch out for Monika lol xd

Speaking of faces..

Why is Lorena making this face when Gwen is talking about how people have been complimenting her look? If you don't get what I mean, her eyebrows doesn't look happy..

I wonder if she knows something..

Why am I always suspicious of Lorena's expression???

Ugh I'm worried about Gwen getting alot of compliments.. I'm happy for her! I do! But something feels odd.. And I couldn't stop thinking about the ugly duckling...

Are people actually complimenting Gwen OR are they complimenting someone near her? Such as Prez and Maria or Lorena

They are probably gonna get married!! :D

I'm happy but at the same time I'm sad because that means the series is gonna end kinda soon T_T

I feel bad for Isolde. Now I understand why she's against the marriage. But I'm also sure once she saw the development between our couples, she will at least change her mind a little

I wonder if I should copy a little bit of these and comment it on the chapter so that lambcat can see.. because creator appreciation is hot❤

See ya later guys, gals, and pals!

[circumstellars]

002 | for Kliego please :D

OOOOOOoo, thanks for the ask anon, and I’m sorry I’m late!

Ask game, 002 | send me a ship and I will tell you:

when of if I started shipping it: Surprisingly, not until I saw some other fans and their angles on their relationship! I won’t lie - I *thought* about it, during S1, but then the hiatus came and I wasn’t invested in joining the fandom then. When I came back, though, it didn’t take much convincing. I absolutely see the merit to this sexy-ass ship. my thoughts: Didn’t I just give you my thoughts!?!? Listen, I may be a slave to my baser instincts, being hella thirsty for Rob and David makes this a breeze - but it’s not a superficial ship. The connection is strong and easy to fall in love with, their personalities extremely challenging and super fun to read and watch. What makes me happy about them: Their bickering. I mean, all the siblings bicker, but you know, they’ve got their own flavour. I love seeing or reading their back and forth, always busting the other’s balls. What makes me sad about them: Nothing really makes me sad about them, I just hope they get enough screentime together in S3. things done in fanfic that annoys me: I wish I could say I’ve read enough fic to answer this, but I haven’t yet. It’s not a ship problem, it’s a me problem - I have read very few fics still! I’m so busy. I suppose the only thing that grates me is hyper-feminisation of Klaus in stories, but that’s not unique to the ship. things I look for in fanfic: With these two? Hot as hell sex, is that even a question? I feel like these two are very intense and a little dysfunctional, and not the gentle super romantic type of connection - at least not at first. Their friendship and brothership being apart of this relationship is very important to me! My kinks: Rob’sKlaus’ tiny, delicate waist. >______> Also, where these two are concerned, a little roughing up and horsing around is ...good. Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: Well I think we can be resolved in knowing sadly, this won’t happen. I don’t know if I see them with anyone outside their siblings at this point (sorry Klave fans!), but I wouldn’t mind seeing Klaus have an on-screen relationship with a woman, just to mix it up and show his full spectrum of attraction. Funny enough, I’d like to see Diego release the bisexual agenda and show some interest in boys. Interesting, that! My happily ever after for them: At this point, in the shippiest recesses of my brain, I’d love if they had a romantic subplot. Sure, tumblr would have a meltdown, but why can Allison and Luther do it and not Diego and Klaus? Smdh. In the reality of canon, I’d love for it to end without any outside relationships, and maintain a solid platonic (or otherwise, in All/uther’s case) dynamic between the 7 sibs.  who is the big spoon/little spoon: It goes back and forth. I think Klaus enjoys being the little spoon (he’s such a ridiculous bottom after all), but definitely they switch it up on occasion. My headcanon is Diego loves to be touched and held, he loves skinship and hugs. what is their favorite non-sexual activity: That’s too bad, ‘cause these two are hypersexual together. Ah, I think these two have a solid broship that goes way back. You can tell in S1, even if Klaus annoys the fuck out of Diego, and he grumbles to hell and back, Diego is always willing to take care of Klaus. I think they were close as kids, and have a number of inside jokes and games they share. I definitely see them taking trips to the ocean together, keeping Klaus sober and happy, and Diego clam and peaceful.

[idjwithshades]

SUPER SONS #12

Ok, so I want to talk about this issue/storyline that really kinda recently fucked me up! I normally, don’t go on rants like this, so be prepared for a long one. Also, SPOILER ALERT for anyone who isn't caught up on "Super Sons of Tomorrow".

OK, so first thing’s first. I didn’t really get what exactly Future Tim did to sacrifice himself, only that whatever he did saved Jon’s life and the lives of everyone else in that situation (I think...). Perhaps someone with more DC comic knowledge would like to explain this a bit to me. But whatever happened, the whole event made Damian become like the protective older brother toward Jon, which I totally and completely approve of!

Yo, remember back when Damian first met Jon and he hated the poor kid! And even just before this storyline, Jon was more like an annoying acquaintance in Damian’s eyes, with some good parts here and there. But this one really fucked it all up! Damian had to save Jon from Tim AND potentially the Teen Titans. That hurt. But he rose up and said “friends help each other, right?” and I thought THAT made my heart melt. Remember this? Remember when I ranted about this?

And now Damian has shown even more character progression than I originally thought could be possible in the foreseeable future! May I introduce to you, the reassuring of the father....

There are some Tumblr users out there that ship Damian and Jon, and I am kinda one of those. (Nothing drastic of course, they’re just kids. For the record, I do not support the sexual encounters of children, nor do I support the “change the age in the story so they can have sexual encounters fan fiction). I could see them slowly working their way towards a great (or SUPER; sorry...) partnership, and maybe, yes, maybe, that could lead to romance if it’s natural. But I love this line because if there is never any romance, there’s at least a brothership forged between them. Think about it. Damian is an only child, who for ten years of his life was in the custody of his psychopathic mother, who could probably use a friend close to his age. Jon, too, is an only child, who probably feels like an outsider when he’s not wearing the S, because he’s so different from everyone else (much like Clark at his age). This is the start of something beautiful. Now, onto this moment...

Damian is so fricken confident! Look at this child! He’s ready to let Jon join the Teen Titans, when just a few issues ago, he would literally make up every reason Jon couldn’t join. And I was ready... but then this happened...

And I get it, to be honest. I mean, half of the Titans were ready to throw Jon under the bus after they saw his possible future. They have a lot to work out as a team before they can have any new members. Damian was on cloud 9 though, so why did you have to bring him down like that??? But no, I get it. 

And finally, what I want to discuss is this...

Damian comforting Jon. Again. Look how Damian is willingly touching Jon, and in a CARING manner, not in a “get the fuck out of my way” manner. This right here REALLY  shows character development like we’ve never seen from Damian. This shocked me, so bad. I only hope that whatever writer takes over in the next issue doesn’t fuck it up (assuming it’s a different writer... DC can hardly ever seem to keep the same ones...)  A digression: why must DC constantly switch up the artists? What’s wrong with keeping one artist for at LEAST a whole story line. AT LEAST. Marvel does it. Marvel does it even longer! Marvel also keeps the same writer for a series, with varriations on One Shots and Annuals. Dan Slott has literally been writing Spider-Man for forever. Nothing wrong with that... Can we get one writer/artist duo to just focus on Super Sons? Thanks!

[the-last-magpie]

“Lincopia, You’ve Got Mail” A Ghost Fanfiction, Chapter 2

More rantings, some malice, some phantom of plot, and the Papas are in town. More or less.

Rating: still not M

Genres: General, Humor, Romance, Friendship

Based (mostly) on phone/Whatsapp chats

Hope you enjoy!

-          1.46 am

WhatsApp Lumia/Maery

Lumia: Maery.

Maery: hey

Lumia: Are you hearing this.

Maery: hearing what

Lumia: Like someone is running on the roof?

Maery: don’t hear a thing. why are you up?

Lumia: …because there’s someone on my damn roof?

Maery: probably just mist and air clearing the area

Lumia: ?? Excuse me?

Maery: didn’t you hear that

Lumia: I asked first.

Maery: we are haunted for real

Lumia: No shit Sherlock. We have been haunted since Papa I.

Maery: thanks god elizabeth is gon

Lumia: DON’T SWEAR

Maery: i hated that binch

Lumia: I was talking about god

Maery: better about than to

Lumia: What kind of creatures are we talking about here?

Maery: mh a bit of all

Lumia: Fucking Ghostbusters better be on their way.

Maery: you are aware of the existence of the band Ghost aren’t you

Lumia: Look, I just hate this whole hierarchy thing. Ghouls are always treated better than us. We can’t even know if we have to die because of a ghost or the bitchiest demon in hell.

Maery: unlikely, that just got up from the throne last month

Lumia: I liked Papa II. He was strict. He was smart. He was intimidating. He was tall and handsome.

Maery: a one woman fan club

Lumia: I don’t think so, a lot of people loved him.

Maery: i meant, you could do his whole fan club alone. also sounds like you like to suffer

Lumia: He was very kind to me.

Maery: KIND

Lumia: SHUT UP

   -          2.17 pm

WhatsApp Omega/Alpha

Omega: Are you ready.

Alpha: For what?

Omega: To finally see Air losing his shit.

Alpha: You sat on his keyboard?

Omega: Uhm. Yeah?

Omega: Actually no, I jumped on it.

Alpha: …

Alpha: Why.

Omega: You should have seen it bro. Keys exploded everywhere.

Alpha: A lot like your teeth when you are going to tell him. Again, why?

Omega: I fell.

Alpha: I made my best to understand logics and physics of this. I have no idea why someone would fall on a freaking keyboard.

Omega: I was… let’s just say I was dusting cobwebs from the beams?

Alpha: Of course. Look, just make sure to be at the rehearsal. We won’t have any piano, but who cares, it’s not like Meliora has a shit tons of it in it.

Omega: It’s not that much…

Alpha: Absolution is gonna sound so flat man.

Omega: I’m going to cry for it then. Eh eh. You got it.

Alpha: This was the cringiest thing I ever heard.

Omega: I’ll dust the piano down in the dungeon.

Alpha: Make sure to tell Papa of that, so he can slam the door right behind you and then throw the key.

Omega: He loves me.

Alpha: Yeah. Must be that the reason why he suddenly forget how to crack a smile when you enter a room.

Omega: This Emerituses are so butt hurt. You can never joke around them.

Alpha: This would be the third idiocy you throw at him man.

Omega: Excuse me? And what would the second be? Also first time I was very much justified.

Alpha: Maybe that one time you loudly whistled at him to get his attention?

Omega: HE WAS VERY FAR AWAY IN THE HALLWAY.

Alpha: YOU DON’T FUCKING WHISTLE AT A POPE. I SAW THE SKIES DARKENING.

Omega: Alright, I’ll behave. You know, it’s not that easy of a moment. Every new papacy is hard for everyone of us. We have to learn anew how to comunicate with them.

Alpha: I’ll give you a tip in this troubling times: shut your trap.

Omega: Thanks dad.

   Mitra was essentially a nosy person. Just pretending to mind her business, most of the time she appeared collected, diligent, and to some extent extremely bored. That was the reason why, when confronted with something out of the ordinary or simply suspiciously odd, she completely lose it.

Looking out from the second floor of the cloister, almost hidden behind a column, she peered below to look better at black vestments now almost familiar. That wasn’t the only thing she was seeing: the owner of said vestments was almost giving her his back, a back where two entwined hands met, shaping an embrace. Mitra stared, searching for details: the other person seemed to be a woman. There was the hint of a black and white tunic, with a large skirt that almost reached the ground. At a movement, a shoe came into view, and she recognized the bright yellow, another familiar signature of a very specific person. When this woman seemed to wrap more tightly one of her arms around the pope, she rested her head on his shoulder, a really contented, gentle smile on her lips brightening her angular features.

Mitra suppressed a gasp and very quietly moved away from the edge of the balcony, comically pursing her lips.

She now had some gossip to share.

   -          12.36 pm

WhatsApp Chat Group: Feels Ya Sista

Mitra: LADIES i just saw Fairy Feet with Papa!!

Ambrosia: what do you mean by that?

Rita: OH NO

Lumia: Is this nsfw?

Rita: OH NO

Rita: NO NO NO DAMMIT I HAD TO BE THE FIRST

Valeriana: HEY CALM DOWN YOU GREMLINS

Mitra: it wasn’t nsfw but maybe it is at closed doooooors

Maery: who cares

Ambrosia: you are being vague, what did you see?

Rita: I WAITED LONG ENOUGH

Valeriana: Rita I’m going to kick you out of the group. You unholy little shit.

Maery: why all this fuss papa II fucked half the women in here

Maery: and honestly i thought III was gay

Maery: have you seen him moving his hands that’s totally gay

Mitra: she was embracing him, very INTIMATELY

Ambrosia: that doesn’t makes sense

Lumia: These are the times when I see clearly how tired we all are.

Ambrosia: what kind of public embrace is so intimate to suggests that kind of relationship

Maery: maybe she was grabbing his ass

Valeriana: This conversation is hands down killing me, oh my god I’m snorting, you goblins

Lumia: Ok but what about Imperator? If she finds out…

Ambrosia: You’re taking this for a fact, it’s probably just Mitra imagination

Mitra: DO YOU WANT TO BET?

Maery: i bet he gay

Valeriana: hfhgkdksh

Lumia: What about bi? SISTERS I’M TELLING YOU ALL I’M SIGNING UP FOR THE HAREM THIS TIME

Lumia: I LOST MY CHANCE LAST TIME, IT’S NOT GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN

Lumia: Can you imagine an harem with a bi Papa? HHHHH EVERYONE FOR EVERYONE

Valeriana: I’m so tempted to invite Imperator in here, you have no idea, I would die seeing you all implode from shame

Maery: what a party buster

Valeriana: I just long for unlimited fun.

Ambrosia: I’m not betting, good for her if it’s the truth

Rita: i’m taking my chance tonight.

Ambrosia: oh for fuck’s sake…

Mitra: WELL I’m going to investigate.

Valeriana: Good, see if you can find a couple of minute for work too while you’re on that

Lumia: Eheheheh

—

Chaos: …what the hell happened in here?

   WhatsApp Chat Group: Ghouls with the Most

Alpha: Family reunion.

Earth: what’s up?

Alpha: We need to figure out things. And honestly, I need the advice of my brothers.

Omega: Someone has to inform Mist @KittyKat

Air: I will be there.

Omega: We didn’t even decide time and place Air

Air: I will be there.

Omega: ‘k.

Water: What’s the matter?

Alpha: The same as last papacy. Assessment of the new Papa.

Omega: Well looks like there’s indeed a lot of ass in there.

Earth: lmaoooo

Water: What’s there to asses? He’s… fine. I mean, I don’t have that much of a problem with him.

Alpha: Look, we did the same for Papa II, and I understand that that was war zone, but I can’t figure out this dude. At least II was an old grumpy bastard and that was it. I don’t know what to make of him. He seemed so ready to be all over us with that first supper thing together last month, and then he disappeared. One moment he is all kindness and jokes and the next he raises a fist. I don’t understand what runs through that head.

Earth: ??? did he struck someone?

Alpha: It was a metaphor

Water: Are we discussing it now, here?

Alpha: No. I was just stating what troubles me.

Omega: Bro, it’s not that difficult. You piss him off, like I do, you get a stern look. You do your job, he pats you on the back.

Alpha: Doesn’t look that clear to me. Also weren’t you complaining the exact same way just last week?

Omega: I took your advice.

Special: I’ll tell Mist @OHmega. But, Alpha, actually I think you should go talk to him personally if these are the facts.

Alpha: I’m not saying I have troubles with him. Also I want to understand if it’s just me, or if he really is shady.

Earth: this doesn’t sound very good bro

Water: Should we present this to the other group chat? Maybe the other ghouls have some problems of their own

Alpha: I DON’T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HIM

Air: Sounds like you do.

Alpha: Damn

Omega: Look, let’s just grab a cold one and crack it open over a nice chat all together. I could use some brothership… in this troubling times.

Alpha: You are so sensitive.

Omega sent  00083546589_22_nop.jpeg  to Ghouls with the Most

Earth: lol

Water: So? When and where?

Alpha: Tonight, 10 pm, rooftop terrace. @Lowmega very mature.

Omega: You know I love you.

Earth: gayyyy

Omega: Well, I am.

Air: I’ll be there.

Omega: Thanks for your contribution Air.

   Message from: Loose Ass (received at 5.35 pm)

Hey. Sorry to disturb, but actually not sorry. I tried to call you. Obviously you didn’t pick up. I need some intel on those assholes. If you can find some time to answer between a daiquiri and an heart attack I’d be very glad.

Message from: Loose Ass (received at 7.17 pm)

Of course you’re not answering.

Message from: Loose Ass (received at 7.59 pm)

Just call me when you’re free.

Message from: Bald Hitler (9.03 pm)

Get lost.

Incoming call from LOOSE ASS…

Missed call from LOOSE ASS.

Message from: Loose Ass (received at 9.05 pm)

Pick. The Fuck. Up.

Incoming call from LOOSE ASS…

 “What?”

“Hallelujah. Shouldn’t your blood pressure be lower while on vacation?”

“I’m perfectly calm. It just sounded like some strings remained attached. It is your problem now.”

“I’m not asking you to do the homework, genius. I just want you to answer a very simple question.”

“And that is?”

“Do you trust them?”

“…I wouldn’t trust them with an empty gun. Are they giving you troubles?”

“No. Not yet. But I’m going to.”

“What?”

“Since I have been elected some weights have shifted. I already knew they were backstabbing bastards, but I’ve never seen so many teeth and flashing smiles in all my life. It felt like Hollywood, but more on the side of Sharkwood.”

“Don’t make a mess. Don’t do stupid things.”

“Worried?”

“What the fuck do you think.”

“I’m not. I’m not going to turn the Church inside out. Just wanna open some windows for stale air.”

“Can you wait until I come back?”

“I don’t need you to babysit me—”

“For advices. That’s what you wanted, no? I’m going to take High Priest role after all. If you are going to make a mess at least I want to witness it with my own two eyes.”

“Look. There’s no way for me to do anything in a couple of week. I’ll need a couple of months probably. To… see through things. And then probably another couple to make some plans. And then another couple—”

“I GET IT, you need time. When I’m back we are going to have a chat… Sven was really too kind to you, you spoiled brat…”

“Why complain, we had our father to counteract that.”

“You don’t know a fraction of that.”

“These are the kind of arguments that always get us in a fight. Let’s just drop it.”

“I’ll be back in a week. Don’t do stupid things.”

“Don’t die over white stripes.”

“Idiot.”

“Venom-spitting butthole.”

“Loose ass.”

“AH!”

“It’s true.”

“See you at the gate.”

“ahAH!”

“I’m short but I can beat your ass.”

“I’ll see you in a week big baby.”

“Are you hanging up on m—”

 Call ended

[wolvesdevour]

From Russia With Love

[Title is taken from one of the protest signs I saw today.] There’s a post I’ve been thinking on writing for awhile, and it’s a mix-bag of things, which makes it even harder for me to write. Also, by this necessity, it is very long. Sorry :/ I want to talk a little on American-Russian relations, and not simply on a White House-Kremlin scale, but on a citizen-to-citizen scale.

I think I first should say why Russians. My great grandparents moved to the USA during the first Russian revolution. They were nobility and fled, rather than be killed. They were hands the Tsarina. Upon reaching American shores, they quickly, purposefully destroyed their family culture. It is difficult to really research it through family, because no one  wishes to talk much about it. This isn’t the first I’ve heard of this tactic. In order to appear “legitimately American,” sometimes people attempt to erase all traces of their immigrancy. This is very depressing to me. From what I understand, they were Prussian-Latvian, although they also lived in Russia, of course.  A second reason for why I am interested in this is because, from an early age, I realized that even if a country has a dictator in place, that does not mean the people are supportive of the dictator. My grandmother spent time in Germany during the 30s and she often spoke to me about it. She was a tourist and student to Germany, young, and not fully understanding the trouble brewing. She was often a dark and gothic individual, yet strangely positive and naive at the same time. I think she believed the human species better than fascism and Nazism. I like to think she’s right, in the end, and that we may at times enter these states, but that as a species, we are inherently fascist.  My grandmother’s friends were some of the first to go into the CCCP and take photos and report to Americans about their troubles--starvation, oppression, imprisonment. As a child, I’d leaf through these photos, but in college, I finally got more appreciation for what was happening to the Russian people at this time. Everyone I have known has said that they hate Russians. They hate Russians because of Soviet Communism and their desire to rule/control the world. They hate Stalin, Khrushchev, Gorbachev, Putin. They call them thugs, thieves, and look down upon their women as mail order brides. They call them hackers and spies. They call them oppressors and criminals. These are not the people I saw in the photos; these are not the people I have met. I do not disbelieve that there are bad Russians. There are bad Americans, too. Russia and the USA are brothers. Since our time in WWII, we have been strange brothers. We gave them aid, and Stalin used that aid to fund his gulags--to oppress his own people. They helped us win the war against fascism. We have always been both at odds and at help to each other, but we’re a brothership with a rocky relationship. I think that is Stalin’s work most of all. I do not think the Russian people should have reason to hate us--the American people; we do not have reason to hate them--the Russian people.  Russia, similar to the USA, has made bad actions. We have both warred and oppressed people. This is difficult to hear about one’s own country. This isn’t unusual for a country--I can think of many others who have harmed others that seek to deny their harm. It is particularly difficult for a people to know that their country did terrible things under the peoples’ noses. I went to a film event set by the Ukrainian embassy about the Crimean Tatars. There was a time when Crimea was occupied by the Nazis, to which  they could do nothing. However, they had fighter plane pilots who continued to fight for the Russian side against the Nazis. They Nazis left, then the Russians moved in. The CCCP then decided that the Crimean Tatars were all Nazis because they were occupied. So, they shoved them in cattle cars and sent them on the railroad. Many died in transit, packed shoulder to shoulder, unable to sit or lie down, with no food or water. They traveled through Moscow. No one knew. The trains were marked with symbols of cows. People did not think their government was deporting and imprisoning people like this. There were Russians who spoke against Stalin, but they often found themselves in gulags, killed, or sent abroad. I have friends whose family were ostracized to Kazakhstan until they eventually fled to the USA. Many poets or writers dreamed of winning clemency to flee to the USA. Some, such as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, spent time in the gulags. People died in those camps. Some prison camps formed prison camps. I cannot remember the name of the city at this time, so I apologize, but there is one prison camp that effectively became a prison city. It had its own prison. It had children and women. Life was prison. Poets wrote of their pain on rolling paper--used for making cigarettes--and burned them away. They memorized stories, unable to write them down, for manuscripts do not burn* and they hoped for a time when they could speak freely again. But what about modern times, right? That is all history? The first that I notice from people is that they say every modern Russian they have met has been overbearingly in love with their home country. Russians are in love with Russia. Which puts a lot of Americans off. After all, we are taught that Russia is the Soviet Union. That Russia is the spy-thug enemy. So we see that they are proud of being bad. Most Russians I have met? They love their country because they are Russian. Americans love their country because we are American. It is a very similar love.  From childhood, we are told to love our country. I think there is a line between love of country and nationalism--the bad, obsessive and oppressive love. Many may love their land, their people, their culture--all of which is what makes up a country--and there are others who think we must hurt and destroy others with that love, to be blinded in their love and see no faults or what harm their country is doing. We can love our land, people, and culture. As Americans, we can love it. As Russians, I think they can love theirs too. Indeed, Russians should love their land, their people, their culture.  Why should they, despite the issues their country has caused, should love their country? I do not think Russians should love their for the harm their politicians, the Kremlin, or their country--as a political entity--have caused. Do not ignore the harm, but do love for the good. There are lessons that the German people learned that I think we Russians and Americas both need to learn.** Post-Nazi Germany, they felt great shame and despair for the actions that they committed. And yes, they should feel shame for that. People within their country committed such great crimes against each other, against the world. For much time post-WWII, Germans felt shame and self-hatred. Yet, there was a time when the Germans were facing a major football/soccer cup win. My German professor gave a lesson on this, because in part, it takes a little understanding. The people were effectively afraid to be proud. The German people were scared to love themselves.  Because loving themselves too much led to the Nazi Party. After all, that’s what Nazism was. It was nationalist pride. It’s literally there in the title. Germans were scared because if they started to be proud, to say “YES! We are German! We won! We are amazing!”, they would instead be saying “YES! We are German! We are Nazi! We are proud of our atrocities and terrible past!” But this was also something the Germans needed. They needed to realize that there was good about Germany, too. There was bad, but there is always good as well.  This is what nationalism runs on, however. Germany turned to the Nazi Party largely due to great depression as a nation. They had lost their war. They were poor and in great debt. Their leader had promised to return their people to greatness and failed. Some of their economic oppression had been long term, other parts short term. There were good things happening in Germany. Except people couldn’t see it. They were unhappy and a man began to promise them a new way. He promised them to make them great again. He promised and was not part of the old guard--he was not nobility. He was from poverty, too. He was a common person. He could help them, and he knew there were people to blame. They were the wrong people, but this made the Germans feel better. It made them feel like they could do something. And they did. The wrong things, of course. Although some had their limits, and then they became the enemy, too.  So what I am saying is that even if there are bad things that a country is doing, the people are not bad. I think our generation should understand this. After all, do I enjoy the wars in the Middle East? Do I enjoy how we handled Syria? How we’ve handled our relations with African countries? Because we have also helped cause economic troubles there, too. This is the same with South American countries and Latin American countries. I hate how we have treated the First Nations and native peoples.  But I think we have done good as well.  This is the same as our brother, Russia. There is great depression there, too. And there is a feeling that no one cares about them. I used to talk to the vendors in D.C. about this, strangely enough. Those little flag pin sellers? In the metro stations? Many I met were Russian. I would talk to them, in my mangled awkward Russian, and they would typically say “Alright, let’s speak in English,” because my Russian was very crappy, but I think they were excited, too, to speak in English and practice it. They always would say “YOU are learning Russian? YOU have interest in Russia? You must be crazy. Why would anyone care about us?” 

When I spent time at the Russian embassy film events, I got a similar reaction--despite there being a lot of American students, just like me, most of the waiters, bartenders, and general staff assumed that the only people to have an interest in Russian films and culture were Russian.

This probably only fueled me to care more. It is not pity that I care for Russia, or want others to understand why we shouldn’t villainize the Russian people. It comes from sympathy. I have always hated myself, after all, and eventually learned that maybe, even if I hated parts of myself, I should recognize and love the good parts, too. This is why I do not support loving the good parts of Russia despite being transgender, bi/pan, queer, and a feminist, but because of it. There are Russians who are transgender. There are Russians who are LGBTQIA+. There are Russians who feminists. There are Russians who are good people. Being Russian doesn’t make you a bad person. Being a bad person makes you bad.   As our country heads into its Trump presidency, I think we need to keep this in mind, too. We are who we make it to be. I think there will be a lot of fight, but no matter how depressed we get, we need to remember that there are good parts to our country, but there are and will be many bad parts. We need to understand and talk about those bad parts. We need to make sure that those bad parts do not lead us to make further terrible decisions.  I think, as an American, our best bet isn’t to further ostracize ourselves from the Russian citizens. From citizen-to-citizen, we have tried a cold war. I believe this only made everything worse. From citizen-to-citizen, I think if we help each other, learn about each other, we can better both our countries.  Also, there are Russian immigrants as well as Russian students and tourists to the USA. I’d rather make them feel welcome than to continue villainizing them and their culture. Are there people who come here and do stupid, rude things? Eh, yes. I think this is a human condition, not a country-specific one. We should not be shy about telling them or talking to them about this, although perhaps patient or learn how to delegate--that is literally the reason why we have ambassadors, but even as citizens, I think we should learn about other cultures, considering that we’re a country of immigrants. Of course, we also go to other places and do stupid, rude, terrible things, so we need to check ourselves, too. This isn’t a new idea. This is seen in stories--Star Trek, Man From UNCLE. The more we work together, the better we are. I could probably write a lot of posts about stories where Americans and Russians work against each other and why that is terrible when they could have done so much better by working with each other--such as Iron Man 2--and about movies where Americans and Russians work together and why that is awesome, but that’s another post. You can love your culture, your land, your country and not be a fascist.  ________________ *This is a Mikhail Bulgakov reference. He was strangely beloved by Joseph Stalin. Bulgakov despised him and constantly applied to leave the CCCP. He was never granted this. The police had raided his home and kept record of his work. “Manuscripts do not burn” is a quote from The Master and Margarita and is a bit of a warning--there is nothing you can do that isn’t noticed or recorded. **There are other countries that I am not mentioning that I think could also learn this lesson, but that’s a different day, a different post.