#13TH Street event | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

whereimnotme · 1 year ago

Note

Photo taken during climate action protest in Canberra, January 2020, featuring another of ScoMo’s tone deaf quotes - ‘thankfully we’ve had no loss of life’ - from that ill-fated small town PR tour.

"Yes, two, that's quite right. I was thinking about firefighters really," said Morrison, before expressing his "sincere condolences" for the 27 lives lost during the ongoing disaster.

Officially, 33 people were ultimately killed directly by fires that summer with another estimated 445 people dying from smoke inhalation.

Meanwhile the PM fucked off to Hawaii on holiday.

I am still incandescent with rage.

I just spent some time scrolling through this blog and am suffering from sever laughter. Thanks so much for collating the countries craziest moments. One of my favourites is when Scott Morrison was in Hawaii while the bushfires where burning.

December 2019: As Australia's east coast is engulfed in the worst bushfires in living memory, rumours begin to circulate that Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison may have secretly fucked off for a holiday in Hawaii.

Keep in mind, this is what is going down in Australia at the time:

The Hawaii rumour is initially written off as a fringe conspiracy, because surely nobody could be that fuckin tonedeaf, and it was quickly forgotten about... until an Australian man visiting Hawaii UPLOADED A SELFIE ON THE BEACH WITH THE PM THROWING A SHAKA.

At which point all hell broke loose.

Overnight the formerly popular "Scomo" became the most despised man in all of Australia. Think "firefighters shouting out of their windows to news cameras" level of despised.

After about two days of radio silence and pretending like he was still at home running the country, the Prime Minister's handlers finally dragged him onto call with an Australian radio station, where he pinky promised to return to Australia as fast as he could in an attempt to calm things down.

Unfortunately Scott's empathy consultant (a real job) then had to watch Scott pour more gasoline on the dumpster fire by uttering the now famous phrase "Look I don't hold a hose mate" when asked by the radio interviewer why the fucking fuck the fuckhead wasn't fucking in Australia doing his fucking job during a massive fucking crisis.

Testing just how much worse things could get, Scomo then proceeded to NOT rush back to Australia as promised, instead attempting to complete the rest of his holiday, a fact that was exposed when a passerby snapped a picture of him still lounging on the beach two days later.

Eventually, holiday complete, Morrison did reluctantly slink back to Australia, and in an attempt to calm things down, he decided to pay a visit to a small town that had been destroyed by the fires.

Which was a big mistake.

Scomo still had not registered how absolutely and totally he had screwed the poodle with his Hawaiian beach vacation, and he walks into what is now taught in PR classes as one of the greatest examples of "what not do do in a crisis" in all of history.

Scotty from Marketing, as he is now dubbed by the nation, spends a painfully cringe-inducing hour wandering around a burned down town with TV news cameras in tow, having to FORCE PEOPLE TO SHAKE HIS HAND in what is some of the most awkward footage you will ever see.

At this point it's probably also worth mentioning that, before becoming Prime Minister, Scott Morrison's biggest claim to fame in politics was being the guy that was so far up the coal lobby's arse that he literally brought coal into parliament and waved it around, claiming it doesn't hurt people.

So when a protest was organised it turned out to be one big national fuck you to the Prime Minister, the likes of which the world has never seen before or since.

Needless to say, at this point Scomo's career was dead in the water, but thanks to the rules brought in to stop Australian political parties from knifing their leader every two weeks (a popular Aussie passtime) Morrison basically couldn't get fired until after the next election.

And so, when the election rolled around in 2022, we decided that was an opportune time to travel over to Hawaii to erect this bad boy tribute to the Prime Minister, on the very beach where Scomo had sat and drank margaritas that one fateful week in December as Australia burned (thanks to @chaser for funding the ticket)

#I hope he fucking chokes #I feel like the rest of the world didn’t and still doesn’t really understand what we meant by ‘australia burned’#like literally 2/3 of the country was on fire #I cannot articulate or overstate the scale and just how devastating these fires were #I lived through the 2003 Canberra bushfires (when 70% of the ACT burned to the ground)#and my understanding of bushfires has been shaped by that event since I was eight years old #Back then I had closeup view of the flames encircling our home from all directions as burning leaves fell from a midday sky dark with smoke #and mobs of kangaroos fled the flames down our suburban street in droves #standing on our deck with my mum watching flames creep into the valley before of us while simultaneously racing down the hill behind us #and asking her if we were going to die while my sister's ill-timed 13th birthday party was ensconced inside #all glued to the emergency broadcast radio. Trapped in our home as their own families were evacuated without them #every one of those 13yr old birthday party guests' families were ordered to evacuate that night.#that is one experience of one bushfire that lasted 5 days 20 years ago—#and in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires I am telling you that 2/3 OF THE COUNTRY WAS ON FIRE FOR MONTHS.#that is millions of people going through that same terror and horror #supply chains were broken up and down the east coast.#for foreigners: the East Coast has the highest population density in the country #there was barely any food on the north-nsw/south-qld coast for weeks. What was there was extremely expensive #my brother (a poor student) in Brisbane told us he was living off dry cornflakes and carrots because it was all he had left #petrol couldn’t be transported safely to the effected regions (because... highly flammable liquid) even when the roads weren't on fire #so when people were told to evacuate. to get out because it wasn’t safe.#that they would lose their homes and livelihoods and if they didn’t get the fuck out of there right then they might also lose their lives #— and then there was no petrol to fuel their cars.#There was no way out without carrying what few belonging they could in their arms and literally running #and that’s not including fuel for generators when the powerlines burned down.#Hospitals given priority to fuel but still with rolling brownouts #Last bastions of community huddled together in evacuation centres in the dark without power #sometimes without running water when the pumps/pumping stations lost power #admist THIS crisis Scott Morrison - Prime Minister of the fucking country - decided to take a holiday to Hawaii #because he ‘didn’t hold a hose mate’

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antifainternational · 1 year ago

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January 13 - Global Day of Action for Palestine

Here is a list of protests in solidarity with Palestine for January 13th. If there's no protest on saturday near you, take a look at this site (where we got this list from) to see if there is one near you on another day.

It's a looong list so it's under the cut here:

AUSTRALIA

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 5 pm, Parliament House. Info: http://www.afopa.com.au/afopa-events/2024/1/13/global-day-of-action-for-palestine

ALTONA BEACH, VIC, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 11 am, Altona Beach (Kites for Palestine). Info: https://bukjeh.org/etn/fly-a-kite-for-gaza/

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Garema Place. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Tmi9jyT6x/

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 5 pm Nightcliff Foreshore. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C13PZfQyx6P/

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 3:30 pm, Surfers Paradise Esplanade. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1vvY_kpjkM/

HOBART/NIPALUNA, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Davey Street in front of Grand Chancellor. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/877061687400715/

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 12 pm, Civic Square. Info: https://friendsofpalestinetasmania.org/

MOSS VALE, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13 (Weekly), 1 pm, Leighton Gardens, 127 Argyle St. Info: https://apan.org.au/event/weekly-moss-vale-vigil-for-peace-justice-in-palestine/

MPARTNWE, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 9 am, Cars meet at Telegraph Station, 9:30 am Bikes meet at Snow Kenna Park. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C10iKLbSjU-/

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Newcastle Museum. Info: https://facebook.com/events/s/protest-end-the-genocide-in-ga/351713430807807/

PORT MACQUARIE, AUSTRALIA – Sat Jan 13, 10 am, Oxley Beach (Kites for Gaza). Info: https://apan.org.au/event/port-macquarie-fly-a-kite-for-gaza/

AUSTRIA

GRAZ, AUSTRIA – Sat Jan 13, 4 pm, Grazer Hauptbahnhof. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1xAHAstgtj/

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Alter Markt

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, 1070 Platz der Menschenrechte. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C12dm9itpPv/

WIENER NEUSTADT, AUSTRIA – Sat Jan 13, 2:30 pm, Herzog Leopoldstr. 32 beim BORG.

BELGIUM

BRUGGE, BELGIUM – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Burg. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1413973119327402/

GHENT, BELGIUM – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Stadshal. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1xNF3Drkr4/

BRAZIL

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – Sat Jan 13, 2:30 pm, MASP. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1uPIywL3Ch/

CANADA AND QUEBEC

COBOURG, ON (CANADA) – Sat Jan 13, 11 am, Victoria Hall (every Saturday). Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1050719572872023/

WINNIPEG, MB (CANADA) – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Winnipeg City Hall. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C12TvRUgZr5/

DENMARK

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – Sat Jan 13, 5 pm, Sundbyoster Plads to Amagerbro Station. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C141sIFsEyb/

ENGLAND

HALIFAX, ENGLAND – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Savile Park (Kites for Gaza). Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1rcDm1M-bN/

HALIFAX, ENGLAND – Sat Jan 13 (every Saturday), 1 pm, Wilkos on Southgate. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C14Vb4wMgI_/

HEBDEN BRIDGE, ENGLAND – Sat Jan 13 (every Saturday), 3 pm, Roadside Rally, Holme St; 4 pm, Vigil, St. George’s Square. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C14Vb4wMgI_/

LEEDS, ENGLAND – Sat Jan 13, 12:30 pm, Leeds Becket University to City Square. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1zmlUvMtUE/

LONDON, ENGLAND – Sat Jan 13, 12 pm, Bank Junction. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1uiCejM9U7/

NELSON, ENGLAND – Sat Jan 13 (every Saturday), 1:30 pm, Nelson Bazaars. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1745872575916888/

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – Sat Jan 13, 12 pm, St Peter’s Church. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/895516721895213/

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – Sat Jan 13, 10:30 am, Ellesmere Green. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C131K5OqywW/

FINLAND

HELSINKI, FINLAND – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, Central Railway Station. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1zWU7JtCWt/

FRANCE

LYON, FRANCE – Sat Jan 13, 2:30 pm, Place des Terreaux. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C12BHiDoyBT/

PARIS, FRANCE – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Republique. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C12Kx3hIFnC/

TOULOUSE, FRANCE – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Jean Jaures to Arnaud Bertrand. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1wtkVPiTaC/

GERMANY

AACHEN, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, Hauptbahnhof

AUGSBURG, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, Moritzplatz

BERLIN, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Neptunbrunnen. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1uWAoUMYgr/

BRAUNSCHWEIG, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Schlossplatz 1

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Hauptbahnhof

FRANKFURT, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 1:30 pm, Hauptwache. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1xJbX7tDbH/

FREIBURG, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, Konzerthaus. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1wmG5TKy0H/

JENA, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Holzmarkt. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C15Gvxyse7n/

KIEL, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Bootshafen

MAINZ, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Hauptbahnhof

MUNICH, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Odeonsplatz. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1vDFzfsviF/

SAARBRUCKEN, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, Landwehrplatz

STUTTGART, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 5 pm, Schlossplatz. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1uhwaBs1OB/

TUBINGEN, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Holzmarkt. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1uiIwVooMj/

ULM, GERMANY – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, Marktplatz

IRELAND

CARRICK-ON-SHANNON, IRELAND – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, The Bridge. Info: https://www.ipsc.ie/protest/emergency-protests-for-palestine-around-ireland

CORK, IRELAND – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Grand Parade

DERRY, IRELAND – Sat Jan 13, 12 pm, Derry Waterside Train Station. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/379355981136459/

DUBLIN, IRELAND – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Garden of Remembrance. Info: https://www.ipsc.ie/protest/emergency-protests-for-palestine-around-ireland

SKIBBEREEN, IRELAND – Sat Jan 13, 12:30 pm, Aldi Carpark. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/884577173028746/

ITALY

FIRENZE, ITALY – Sat Jan 13, 2:30 pm, Corteo da Piazza dei Ciompi.

NAPOLI, ITALY – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, Piazza Garibaldi. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C11jF13IMfk/

ROME, ITALY – Sat Jan 13, 3 pm, Via dei Fori Imperiali to Largo Corrado Ricci. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C12TtZUNVDn/

KOREA

SEOUL, KOREA – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Zionist embassy. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1wWJ2WJvMn/

MEXICO

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO – Sat Jan 13, 4 pm, Rambla Cataluna to Plaza de la Liberacion. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C13FY23uHH_/

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – Sat Jan 13, 4 pm, Angel to US Embassy to Zocalo. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C126FgtOh2y/

NEW ZEALAND

TIMARU, NEW ZEALAND – Sat Jan 13, 2:30 pm, Face of Peace, Caroline Bay. (Kites for Gaza). Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/351982744232340/

WHANGAREI, NEW ZEALAND – Sat Jan 13, 10 am, Town Basin. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1062868608192188/

NETHERLANDS

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Museumplein. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C14bgz6skSe/

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Sat Jan 13, 5 pm, Dam Square to Museumplein. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C15I-anI-lc/

LEEUWARDEN, NETHERLANDS – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Leeuwarden Station. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1rgX_OoVe4/

ZWOLLE, NETHERLANDS – Sat Jan 13, 3:30 pm, Starbucks station. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C11cUhjsyFd/

NORWAY

OSLO, NORWAY – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Youngstorget to Zionist Embassy. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/876776784142252/

PERU

LIMA, PERU – Sat Jan 13, 3:30 pm, Plaza 27 de noviembre, San Isidro – Parque Kennedy. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1r3BHZrSSM/

PORTUGAL

PORTO, PORTUGAL – Sat Jan 13, 3:30 pm, Praca da Batalha. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C14UrYhs-hB/

PORTO, PORTUGAL – Sat Jan 13 (every night), 10 pm, Camara Municipal (Vigil). Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1mWoJ0srwr/

ROMANIA

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Universitate to Victoriei. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C11qxxuIlKe/

CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA – Sat Jan 13, details TBA. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1tsmB2ojCq/

TIMISOARA, ROMANIA – Sat Jan 13, details TBA. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1tsmB2ojCq/

SCOTLAND

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Foot of the Mound. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1od7QsNlCM/

INVERNESS, SCOTLAND – Sat Jan 13, 12 pm, The Spectrum Centre. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C15ggmFtNyg/

ORKNEY, SCOTLAND – Sat Jan 13 (every Saturday), 1 pm, St Magnus Cathedral Steps. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/899757958430523/

SOUTH AFRICA

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Mandela Glasses, Sea Point Promenade. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C14N2xlqjyK/

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Sat Jan 13, 11 am, US Consulate, Sandton. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C13qpzSNbYt/

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA – Sat Jan 13, 9 am, N2 C/O Main Service Rd and Wagtail St, Sedgefield, Western Cape. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/910931826901335/

SPANISH STATE

A CORUNA, GALICIA, SPAIN – Sat Jan 13, 5 pm, Praza de Lugo. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C14lQvascZx/

BETERA, VALENCIA – Sat, Jan 13, 5 pm, Ayuntamiento de Betera. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1ISqjUN2ir/

COMPOSTELA, GALICIA, SPAIN – Sat Jan 13, 12 pm, Praterias. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C14lQvascZx/

MOLINA DE SEGURA, SPAIN – Sat Jan 13, 12 pm, Plaza de Ayuntamiento. Info: https://twitter.com/LibreRegion/status/1743912944612540608

VIGO, GALICIA, SPAIN – Sat Jan 13, 12 pm, Porta do Sol. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C14lQvascZx/

SWEDEN

KARLSKRONA, SWEDEN – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Klaipedaplatsen. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/7004450806289059/

KRISTIANSTAD, SWEDEN – Sat Jan 13, 2:30 pm, Stora Torget. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C15GIWbNI_K/

MALMO, SWEDEN – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, St Knuts Torg. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1348ATC6Uq/

VARBERG, SWEDEN – Sat Jan 13, 11 am, Varbergs Torg. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1piXtgLGYj/

SWITZERLAND

BASEL, SWITZERLAND – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Theaterplatz. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1m6lOxLDI-/

UNITED STATES

EUGENE, OR (US) – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Federal Courthouse, 405 E 8th Ave. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1jOAiXiUJ0/

FORT COLLINS, CO (US) – Sat Jan 13 (every Saturday), 3 pm, Old Town Square Stage. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1n9pmNOGFd/

FORT WAYNE, IN (US) – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, MLK Bridge.

KALISPELL, MT (US) – Sat Jan 13, 12, Main and Center by Depot Park (Every Saturday). Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1puNa1ucrm/

KANSAS CITY, KS (US) – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Granada Park, Roeland Park. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C10Y27LJ1EO/

LANGLEY, WA (US) – Sat Jan 13, 11 am, Bayview Rd and Hwy 525. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/373235975254744/

MIAMI, FL (US) – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, University Metrorail Station. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C15V1BXLyc-/

NEW YORK, NY (US) – Sat Jan 13, 12 pm, NE Corner 5th Ave and 44th St, Brooklyn. (Vigil, every Saturday). Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0KsY8PvCwp/

NEW YORK, NY (US) – Sat Jan 13, 5 pm, Bryant Park Library Steps. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C145mA_Jido/

OAKLAND, CA (US) – Sat Jan 13, 5 am, West Oakland BART, Port Shutdown for Palestine. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1qpwPaLsLY/

OLYMPIA, WA (US) – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Heritage Park, 5th Ave SW. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1xUYlRPtRc/

PETALUMA, CA (US) – Sat Jan 13 (every Saturday), 12:30 pm, Petaluma Blvd and East Washington. Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/362661229552435/

PORTLAND, OR (US) – Sat Jan 13, 6 pm, Protest Michael Rapoport, Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th Ave. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1nDhO7vNM4

SACRAMENTO, CA (US) – Sat Jan 13, 1pm, State Capital, West Steps. Info: https://sac4palestine.org/january-3-2024-solidary-rally-with-national-march-on-washington/

SAN DIEGO, CA (US) – Sat Jan 13, 11 am, Plaza de Panama, Balboa Park. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C13b08grRj2/

ST PAUL, MN (US) – Sat Jan 13, 2 pm, Western District Police Dept to MN State Capitol. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C12sMuQJHeh/

VIROQUA, WI (US) – Sat Jan 13, 11 am, Main St and Decker St, Weekly Vigil by Driftless Solidarity. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1fWWvKNJlI/

WASHINGTON, DC (US) – Sat Jan 13, 1 pm, Freedom Plaza, 1325 Pennsylvania Ave NW Info: https://march4gaza.org

BUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY to this national march from CT, FL, IL, IN, MA, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA and WI – get at the website

PRE-RALLY – WASHINGTON, DC – Sat Jan 13, 7 am, National Mall. Info: https://twitter.com/_FRFP_/status/1742706175114661946

HEALTH CARE WORKERS MARCH – Sat Jan 13, 10 am ,Dept of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Ave SW. Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/C10DXDiADMK/

#palestine #free palestine #gaza #antifa #antifascism #antifascist action #solidarity #end the occupation #ceasfire now

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justwinginglife · 12 days ago

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Double The Trouble

25 Days of Simpmas: Day Thirteen December 13th: Manjiro Sano(Mikey), Rank 13 Anime: Tokyo Revengers Event Masterlist

Ironically, this is a Mikey fic and Draken stole lots of screentime lmaooo, whoops, my bad.

Warning: very slight mature scene??

“Let’s trade.”

Two simple words, and yet, they were anything but.

In truth, Mikey had been eying you for a while now, but out of respect for his closest friend, he hadn’t been very active in his pursuit of you. Then, when Draken suddenly expressed his interest in Mikey’s sister, well, Mikey just smirked and said it was only fair that they trade off; Draken was allowed to date Mikey’s sister if Mikey was allowed to date his sister.

Draken almost beat him to a pulp.

He felt he’d been pretty respectful in asking for Mikey’s permission to date his sister, but he did not like the way Mikey was turning this whole situation into a damn transaction. If that’s what it took, he would just give up on Emma.

But then you walked in. His baby sister. His whole world. The only thing more precious to him than the entirety of Toman, than the entirety of his life.

And your eyes lit up like the goddamn stars when you saw Mikey. “Hey, silly, watcha doin here? Isn’t it a little early to be up for you?” You walked over to him and ruffled his hair before giving him a hug that was much too long for Draken’s taste. “It’s good to see you.”

Draken sighed. This was terrible. You liked Mikey back, didn’t you? How could he have missed it before? Had the signs always been there, sitting right in front of him? He thought he’d done a good job at keeping you away from the gang life, but Mikey must’ve visited just a little too much, gotten just a little too close, because now you were just a little too fond of him to ever let him go. Now you looked at Mikey like he was the one who put the sun and the stars in the sky, and you looked at him like he’d done it just for you.

And Draken wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

On the one hand, Mikey was his best friend and he knew Mikey. On the other hand, Mikey was his best friend… and he knew Mikey. He couldn’t be sure that Mikey’s recklessness wouldn’t get you killed one day. He couldn’t be sure that Mikey’s childish behavior wouldn’t break your heart one day. Sure, Mikey was loyal to his friends, to his gang, but he’d never been in a romantic relationship before. Would he know the difference between love and a passing fancy? Would he even know love if it hit him over the head with a spiked baseball bat?

Now that he thought about it, Mikey hadn’t even expressed any notions as grand as love and romance. He’d only expressed interest in you. Interest as in what? As in you were as interesting as a kid's meal? As in you were as interesting as a buy one get one free coupon he’d found on the street? As in you were as interesting as the newest episode of a TV show that just aired? Was he merely intrigued or was he intoxicated? Was he merely amused or was he affectionate? What were the depths of his feelings for you? Was there no depth at all? Was it simply as shallow as physical attraction?

He grit his teeth at the thought.

Draken always knew the time would come when he’d have to fight off waves of suitors, of men who thought they were good enough for you, but he never imagined that Mikey would be first in line. He never imagined that maybe the reason Mikey came over so much in the first place was you.

He wondered if he denied Mikey your hand, would Mikey respect his decision? Or would he go berserk, and steal you away with him? Would he simply sigh, pout a little, and then forget about you the next day? Draken wasn’t sure what pissed him off more, the thought of you being so valuable to Mikey that he’d kidnap you, or the thought of you being so invaluable to him that he’d forget you. But he had to remind himself that he held all the cards here. Mikey was still waiting for his decision. Maybe Draken would just pretend to think on it, buy himself some time. Maybe by then you’d get tired of waiting and just fall out of love with Mikey. Yeah, that’s what he would do. He’d just wait it out. This was just one big waiting game and Draken held all the cards.

But if he held all the cards, you held all the chips. And you were going all in. You knew your brother better than anyone else in the world, so you already knew that he’d never let you date Mikey. You also knew that his eternal pining over Emma would drive you crazy if left alone any longer, so you thought you might do some of the heavy lifting and kill two birds with one stone.

“Kenny! I want to go to the fireworks festival tonight. I bought a kimono and there’s NO WAY I’m letting the summer end without using it once.” You declared suddenly.

Draken rolled his eyes. “So just wear it here. What’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is, I wanna wear it to the fireworks festival and I wanna wear it tonight. And you’re coming with.”

He raised a brow. Him? You’d just been hanging onto Mikey’s every word like he’d been hand feeding you oxygen breathed by the gods, and you were asking him to go to the festival with you? Not Mikey? He didn’t know what you were playing at, but he knew it wasn’t good. “Okay… what’s the catch?”

“Why’s there always gotta be a catch with you?” You whined. “Can’t I just want to hang out with my big brother?”

He crossed his arms, waiting.

“Fiiiiiine. Catch is, I wanna see Emma too. You’ll bring her along, won’t you, Mikey?” You turned your big brown eyes on poor Mikey. Now, he hadn’t been intending to resist in the first place -in fact, he’d been too busy imagining how good you would look in a kimono to properly contribute to this conversation at all- but when you gazed at him like that, like he held the world in his hands, there was no way in hell he would ever deny you anything.

“Of course. I’ll drop her off by-”

“Drop her off? But what if Emma wants you there with us? What if she gets lonely?”

He chuckled. Somehow he didn’t think you were talking about Emma. “I see. Well, I wouldn’t want my dear Emma to be lonely. So I suppose I’ll have to come with. Make sure she’s alright.”

If Draken had caught on - and he most definitely had- you were not going to give him the chance to counterattack. “Great! So it’s settled. You, me, Ken, and Emma will all go out tonight! We’ll have so much fun, can’t wait!”

—---------------------------------------------------------

Emma got here quicker than you thought she would, and thank god for that.

You’d made the excuse that you needed her to help you get ready so you had Mikey fetch her immediately, but you’d really just wanted to get Draken away from Mikey long enough for him to stop his glaring. He was going to scare your future boyfriend away if he kept this up. Stupid brothers.

When Emma finally arrived, it was even better than you could’ve expected. She was already dressed up, wearing a floral patterned kimono, with flowers weaved into her curled hair, a slight blush applied to her cheeks, and a light gloss applied to her lips, looking like an absolute goddess. It was almost like she’d read your mind and was doing her part to charm the pants off of your brother like you’d intended her to. And boy did it WORK.

Draken had been stunned into simple sentences.

“You… you look, uh, good. You look good. So…so good.”

You snickered and Draken shot you a warning glance. Then, mockingly, you gave him a thumbs up to which he responded by flipping you off. “So smooth,” You mouthed to him.

“Don’t you have to go get ready or something?” He glared.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m going, I’m going.”

Emma called after you, “Hey, didn’t you need my help?”

“Nah, not anymore. Seems my brother’s enjoying the show. You may as well give him a twirl.”

Draken chucked a decorative pillow at your head. “You’re lucky a pillow was the closest thing I could find!”

You laughed as you made your way up the stairs. “Love you, Kenny!”

“Brat.”

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Wow. You look-”

“Gorgeous? Stunning? Dazzling?”

Draken rolled his eyes. “You can’t feed him the compliments you want, dipshit, it won’t count anymore.”

Mikey laughed. “Incredible. I was going to say you look incredible.”

You nudged your brother with an elbow (more like jabbed him). “Seeeee- Mikey knows how to treat a woman. He can think of better compliments than just ‘you uh you look good, so good.’” You teased, mimicking Draken’s earlier speech.

He nearly strangled you with your own hair.

“Not in front of Emma, cmon, are you trying to scare all your love prospects away?”

Draken sighed, exasperated, before turning to apologize to Emma about your meddlesome behavior. She only smiled and offered her arm. “Shall we go on ahead of them? No reason we can’t have our fun too.”

You almost snorted as you watched them take off down the street. Seems Emma is as impatient as I am to get the ball rolling. Fine by me.

“My turn.” You wrapped your arm around Mikey, just like Emma had done to Draken.

He laughed but obliged you. “Not trying to be sneaky anymore?”

“I never sneak.”

“Mmm, sure you don’t.” He grinned, pulling you closer to him. “I meant it, by the way. You do look incredible. I can’t believe I get to see you all dressed up like this.”

“Dressed up aaaaand wearing your favorite color.” You chimed in with a wink.

His eyes gleamed at your words. “Don’t tell me you picked this one specifically for me?”

“What gave me away?” You gasped in mock shock.

He shook his head, laughing. “You’re really something, know that?”

The two of you continued to talk and joke as you walked through the festival booths together. A couple boisterous laughs later, and you earned yourselves some wary glances from Draken looking over his shoulder. You’d emphatically point to Emma, reminding him who his attention was supposed to be fixed on, and he’d narrow his eyes at you and Mikey before finally turning back to smile at her like you’d never set him off in the first place. It was lucky for you that her presence seemed to be enough to dilute his protective big brother act -at least for the time being- because even the few, minor minutes she spent distracting him was enough for you to take advantage of.

You pointed out a soba booth to Mikey and after you’d found a secluded corner of the festival to share your spoils, you went in for the kill. “I have an idea,” You said slyly.

He raised an eyebrow. “Go on, tell me.”

“I’m gonna eat from this end, you from that end, and we’ll see who can eat the fastest and take all the noodles.”

Mikey smirked. “You’re on.”

Everything was going according to plan. Your mouths were slowly working their way towards each other, as you both devoured your share of the food. Soon enough, there was one noodle left and you were both inching your way towards a cinematic kiss.

And then he bit down on the noodle and severed it before your lips touched.

You let out a slight audible whine.

Even with kids running around squealing and food sizzling on grills, he still made out the sound of your displeasure. And he grinned.

“Now, don’t tell me you were planning to kiss me right then? What, did you see that move in a movie or something?” He teased, pinching your cheek.

You swatted him away, grumbling, “So maybe I did. What of it?”

“Such a mastermind, and yet, she really is just a simple girl sometimes.” He tucked a hair behind your ear, brushing his finger along its curve, and you held your breath.

“Well? All my plans are foiled. How do you intend to make it up to me?” You crossed your arms in a slight pout.

He laughed. “Ah, my apologies. I’ll get right on that.”

His fingers tangled in your hair as his hand began to cup the back of your head and pull you towards him. His eyes darted down to your lips, then back up to your eyes. You were impatient and the evidence was made clear in your smoldering irises. He laughed to himself softly before running a thumb over your lower lip.

“My little mischief maker.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to yours.

At first, he was gentle. At first, it was your childhood friend who had kissed you. It was the boy who bought you popsicles on sunny days and blew on your hands on wintery days. It was sincere and sweet and soft. And then, all at once, you were kissing the ferocious leader of Toman, and he was commanding your mouth to open in an instant, invading and laying claim to you with his tongue. His hand hooked around your waist, yanking you closer. He groaned into the kiss, biting down on your lower lip. A whimper escaped your throat and he swallowed it down with a fierce hunger. Any longer and you might-

“And what do you kids think you’re doing??”

You froze.

Mikey sighed and released his grip on you. “Found us, huh?”

You sheepishly turned to face the wrath of your now-seething sibling. “Hiya…Ken.”

He yanked Mikey off of you and Mikey held his hands up in surrender as he allowed himself to be removed. “And here I thought you said we were here to enjoy this thing together.” He turned to glare at you.

“But you and Emma were having so much fun, I thought-”

“You thought what? That you could distract me and run off with Mikey?”

You bit your lip. “Um. Yeah. Pretty much that.”

“Idiot.” He flicked your forehead. Then he turned on Mikey. “And you, dumbass. I didn’t give you permission to go around kissing my kid sister. In fact, I seem to remember telling you that I didn’t give you permission to ask her out at all!”

Mikey shrugged. “But I didn’t ask her out though. And you didn’t say anything about kissing her.”

You looked from Draken to Mikey then back to Draken. The realization finally dawned on you that after all this time you’d spent with Mikey, dancing on the line between friends and something more, Draken was the reason you never knew where you’d stood with him. “Hold up- you told him he couldn’t do what now??!”

Now it was Draken’s turn to flinch.

You stood up to stare him down, placing a hand on your hip in annoyance.

Draken sighed. “No, cmon, don’t be like that. You look like mom, god. It was for your own good.”

“Let me get this straight. You told the guy I’m in love with not to ask me out. Did I get that right??”

Mikey coughed. “Love? I’m sorry, love?”

Draken shifted awkwardly, but he still stood his ground. “Yeah, and so what if I did? It was only to protect you.”

You jabbed his shoulder with your finger. “Yeah, well, I can handle myself.”

Draken scoffed. “Handle yourself? You suck at cooking, you don’t know how to change a tire, you never wake up on time, you barely know how to fight, and you say you can handle yourself?? You can’t walk down the street without some bozo trying to scam you or skin you alive!”

Mikey raised his hand slightly. “Sorry, bad timing, but could we go back just a bit- did you say love?”

“Well I can handle this, dummy! And the rest of that stuff is what you’re here for!”

“Oh, so now you get to pick which things you need me for? That’s not how family works, dumbass.”

“UGH, why are you being so stubborn? For crying out loud, he’s your best friend. If he’s not enough for me, than no one else is.”

Draken crossed his arms. “Now you’re starting to get it- no one is good enough for you.”

“And what if I said no one is good enough for you, huh? What if I said you couldn’t date Emma?”

His eyes narrowed. “I’d say mind your own damn business.”

You punched his arm. “Oh great, so I can say it too then- mind your own damn business.”

He scowled as he rubbed his aching arm.

You stared each other down, stewing in heated silence.

Mikey waved on the sidelines. “Still on the love thing, guys.”

Finally, you sighed. “I know you’re always going to be there for me when I need you. I’ll always be there for you too. But this is something I have to do for myself, just like your relationship with Emma is something you need to do yourself. I appreciate you taking care of me all this time, and I’ll always love you, but you gotta let me live a little. And besides, you can always just kick Mikey’s butt if he hurts me, right?”

Mikey coughed. “I’m sorry, what? We went from loving me to kicking my ass?”

A smile tugged at the edge of Draken’s lips. “Fine. Have it your way. But if he cheats on you, I’m breaking his limbs. If he makes you cry, I’m breaking his limbs. Hell, even if he just doesn’t make you smile enough times for my satisfaction, I’m breaking his limbs. That's the deal, you got it?”

Mikey stuck a finger into the air. “Can I ask, why does everything have to end with my broken limbs?”

“Shhh, it’s fine, baby.” You waved him off.

Then you turned back to Draken. “Yeah, I got it, it's a deal. Now, we’re going to go finish our date. Don’t interrupt again or I’ll kick your ass. Kay, bye, have fun with Emma!” And with that, you looped your arm around Mikey and took off with him, humming happily the whole way. He was finally within reach, the fireworks were finally lighting up the night sky, and you were finally alone together. Everything was perfect. You peeked over at him, and saw his brows were still furrowed, deep in thought.

What could he be thinking about? Was he wondering how he should go about asking you out? Was he waiting for you to ask him out? Was he still worried about Draken? You knew you said that Draken could beat him up, but that was knowing full well that Mikey could handle himself so you hoped it wasn’t that. Or perhaps.. Maybe he was thinking… Your cheeks warmed as you thought about your earlier kiss. Maybe he was planning to try again. Maybe you should encourage it.

You inched towards him, closer and closer.

Finally, as your breaths were on the verge of intermingling, he opened his mouth to speak. Here it comes, you thought to yourself excitedly.

“So… is this the part where we talk about the love thing now, or?”

Taglist: @pixelcafe-network @minasfwoopyponytail @ouiouimochi @inkytypewriter

#sano mikey manjiro #manjiro sano #manjiro sano x reader #tokyo revengers #draken tokyo revengers #toman mikey #mikey x reader #han's library #ken ryuguji #mikey sano

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cheritzteam · 2 months ago

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[Mystic Messenger] The Sparkling Night Sea 🎆 and Us Who Shine Even Brighter, November 2024 Rika’s Birthday Event

Hello, it’s Cheritz.

Trick or Treat!

Halloween has arrived with the last day of October. While Halloween comes every year, I'm sure I'm not the only one excited to see what this year's trends are for costumes 😝

Around this time, we can feel both the end of fall and the beginning of winter. As fall seems to get shorter each year, we feel winter approaching through the chilly weather, warm clothing, and winter snacks on the streets.

But! Various autumn festivals are still in full swing to make the most of late fall that hasn't completely ended yet.

With the start of winter, Halloween, and not much left of this year, Rika's birthday has also arrived!

Curious about what Rika's birthday will be like this year?

Then please check the details below~ 😉

< ① Rika’s Birthday Event >

When the weather gets a bit chilly, various festivals featuring lanterns, flowers, food, and fireworks are held everywhere to make the most of this short autumn.

But it seems unavoidable that everywhere is crowded as people have waited for this cool weather 🤔 While going to the fireworks festival would be nice, Rika suggested that spending her birthday together quietly by the sea would be more meaningful than being among crowds, even without fancy fireworks 🎆

Unlike summer beaches visited to escape the heat, this will be their first time at a nighttime beach in chilly weather, so they're preparing thick blankets and heat packs while waiting for their fireworks night.

(If you're curious about the picturesque sparkling night sea and their cozy private fireworks show, please wait a little longer!)

Also, there will be a repost event on X for Rika's birthday.

Selected participants who repost will receive 50 hourglasses⌛ through a drawing♥ (15 winners)

Additionally, a Bonus Event has been prepared to celebrate Rika's birthday!

Use the hashtag #Happy_BDay_Rika to celebrate her birthday,

and don't miss the chance to win 50 hourglasses⌛ through the drawing♥

Lastly, there will be a discount event for some Rika-related merchandise,

so those who have been hesitating to purchase, please don't★ miss this opportunity!

Cheritz Market Discount Period : November 1st(Wed) 2pm ~ November 8th(Wed) 2pm

< ② In-Game Login Event >

During the event period below, you can check out Rika’s Birthday Commemorative Title Image by logging into the game! Enjoy the game with the beautiful title image and celebrate her birthday.

Also, don't miss the Halloween login rewards!

Title Image Period : October 31st(Thurs) ~ November 13th(Wed)

Halloween Login Reward : October 31st(Thurs) ~ November 3rd(Sun)

Did you receive our November Event News well?

We would like to thank the coordinators who will join us for Rika's birthday this year.

With only two months left in 2024, please leave your worries and concerns here, and may only happiness and good things await you going forward coordinator!

Thank you!

Sincerely, Cheritz

#mysticmessenger #mysme #mm #cheritz

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vilsoo · 1 year ago

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‎ VILSOO PRESENTS…

‎ 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 ‎ ‎ 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧… 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫!

‎ 𖤐 ENTRY TICKET HERE 𖤐 ‎ ֺ [ taglist ]

𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐘; 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘… Inspired by Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, indulge in sex and horror galore at our premiere Kinktober event, HORRORLAND! Would you dare venture our haunted houses, experience our exhilarating attractions, and uncover the scandalous, deadly mysteries of Horrorland?

OPENED OCTOBER 2023 🕸️

fandoms: jujutsu kaisen, fnaf, re4, spiderman atsv, codmw2.

⚠︎ Beware that event may be too intense for parkland guests and is NOT recommended for minors. Horrorland will explore darker and extreme contents that may be triggering. ⚠︎

ㅤ ↓ VIEW PARKLANDS (KINKTOBER MASTERLIST) ↓

MANEATERVILLE FRIDAYS🩸we feed your fear from the thirst for blood, flesh, and lust that terrorizes the handsome men in town! can you survive the vastly evil sensuality of maneaters, femme fatales, witches, and vampires?

𖤐 OCTOBER 6TH: ❝ SEASON OF THE WITCH ❞ starring GETO SUGURU (jjk)

“love spells aren’t enough to make you mine forever…”

��︎ CW: witch disguised as sex therapist, implied homewrecking, slight yandere, witchcraft, seduction, impersonation, bodysnatching, body/soul possession, kidnapping, eventual smut, horror/thriller themes.

𖤐 OCTOBER 13TH: ❝ MY GIRLFRIEND IS A SUCCUBUS! ❞ starring MICHAEL AFTON (fnaf)

“an insatiable lust for flesh, gore, and sex…!”

⚠︎ CW: established relationship, modern au, halloween setting, malewife himbo bf/girlboss demon gf dynamic, succubus!reader, revenge, murder, flesh eating, tentacle bondage, msub!michael.

𖤐 OCTOBER 27TH: ❝ LUST AT FIRST BITE ❞ starring LEON KENNEDY (re4)

“i’ve always wondered what you tasted like, your highness..”

⚠︎ CW: historical royalty au, duchess!reader, coercion so dubcon warning, seduction, hypnosis, eventual smut, bathtub sex, marking, neck biting, blood drinking, mentions of killing, loss of innocence, multiple orgasms.

ㅤ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

S&H CITY SATURDAYS🍷a dark and gloomy city bound to corruption, sin, and immorality known as the devil’s playground. lurking within these streets beholds the prurient reigns of terror that which may also arouse parkland guests…

𖤐 OCTOBER 7TH: ❝ DEATHGASM.COM ❞ starring SIMON “GHOST” RILEY, KÖNIG (codmw2)

“never go too far in the dark web…”

⚠︎ TW: dubcon, kidnapping, sadism, voyeurism, drugging, bondage, impact play, sex toys, livestream sex, manhandling, exhibitionism, forced creampie, double penetration, mind break, mask kink.

𖤐 OCTOBER 14TH: ❝ FREAK NEXT DOOR ❞ starring TOJI FUSHIGURO (jjk)

“i love watching you every night from my window...”

⚠︎ TW: noncon, drugging, stalking/voyeurism, murder threats, perverted neighbor, kinda yandere, forced cuckolding, minor gunplay, bondage, degrading, dark obsession, kidnapping, eventual smut, forced creampie.

𖤐 OCTOBER 28TH: ❝ BREAK MY MIND ❞ starring WILLIAM AFTON (fnaf)

“it is not your flesh that sustains me; it is your fear…”

⚠︎ TW: dubcon, mind control (glitchtrap virus), sadism, kidnapping, murder threats, fear play, manipulation, predator/prey dynamic, implied age gap, degradation, eventual rough smut, mentions of vanny mask.

ㅤ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

HALLOWEEN DAYS ❤️‍🔥 these dark woods satisfies those with teratophilia… deadly creatures preying on their victims, serving their lustful fantasies with wild, animalistic urges! your arousal and fear may provoke them further, so beware…

𖤐 OCTOBER 30TH: ❝ SATAN’S PLAYTHING ❞ starring SUCCUBUS!GOJO SATORU (jjk)

“you look so pretty getting stretched out like that…”

⚠︎ TW: dubcon, female!gojo satoru, tentacle trap in the woods, tentacle bondage, rough tentacle sex, mindbreak, double penetration, subplot from god’s whore, throat fucking, degrading, 1980s setting.

𖤐 OCTOBER 31ST: ❝ BLOODMOON WHORE ❞ starring WEREWOLF!MIGUEL O’HARA (atsv)

“your perfect little body is all mine to breed tonight…”

⚠︎ CW: established relationship, miguel in heat, rough sex, soft sex, marking, biting, possession, breeding, knotting, impregnating, degrading/praising, power struggle, multiple orgasms, semi-public sex.

ALL WORKS BELONG TO VILSOO © 2023 . please do not steal my kinktober prompts/works/themes! reposting any of my works outside tumblr that minors can access is strictly prohibited. will be cross posted on my ao3 soon.

#( 🩸 ) — horrorland.#kinktober 2023 #jujutsu kaisen smut #fnaf smut #resident evil 4 smut #spiderman atsv #miguel o’hara smut #call of duty mw2 smut #codmw2 smut

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mostlysignssomeportents · 10 months ago

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Catch me at San Francisco Public Library on Mar 13, discussing my new novel "The Bezzle" with Robin Sloan!

At long last, the San Francisco stop of the book tour for my new novel The Bezzle has been finalized: I'll be at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch on Wednesday, March 13th, in conversation with Robin Sloan!

The event starts at 6PM with Cooper Quintin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, talking about the real horrors of the prison-tech industry, which I fictionalize in The Bezzle.

Attentive readers will know that this event was finalized very late in the day, and it's going to need a little help, given the short timeline. Please consider coming - and be sure to tell your Bay Area friends about the gig!

Wednesday, 3/13/2024

6:00 - 7:30 Koret Auditorium Main Library 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102

#the bezzle #martin hench #san francisco #public libraries #libraries #sfpl #san francisco public library #robin sloan #cory doctorow

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chex-appreciation-week · 4 months ago

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Chex week will be happening from October 13th through the 19th!

And with that, we also get the official announcement of the prompts!

There are no limits or rules to how these can be interpreted. You can go as literal or as artsy or silly as you want with them, the skies the limit!

Day 1: Memory

As they always say: memory is the key. Maybe it’s a simple reflection on the past, maybe it’s the fact that they’re the literal manifestations of someone else’s memories, a reflection of a once great love… or perhaps Church just forgot to close the damn cabinet again.

Day 2: Fluff

Our favorite doomed duo is no stranger to angst and tragedy… so let’s give them a break! Let them enjoy some domestic bliss for once, and spend time in each other’s company without the overbearing burden of being doomed by the narrative. Just this once.

Day 3: Family

These two found their own little family inside of a box canyon, consisting of idiots and morons but they are their idiots and morons… or perhaps you want to go further back in time to when there was just Leonard and Allison and a beautiful baby girl and the future seemed so much brighter… or maybe Church and Tex just adopted a cat

Day 4: AU

Now they’re medieval knights fighting to save the kingdom! Or maybe Church is the super grumpy coffee shop barista with a crush on the cool tattoo artist across the street! Or maybe it’s the same story we all know… but that one moment played out differently… the universes are infinite!

Day 5: Cycle

History repeats itself, time is a flat circle, however, you want to put it there’s no denying the cycle of Leonard Church and Agent Texas. A story destined to be repeated again and again until it finally breaks… or perhaps they’re just teaching Caboose how to ride a bicycle, who knows!

Day 6: Goodbye

Don’t say goodbye… I hate goodbyes… but at the end of the day, you have to let go and say those dreaded words. You have to accept that some people are truly gone. Or sometimes you just don’t get to say those words at all… or maybe… well actually I don’t know how to make this one silly

Day 7: Free Day

Make whatever you like! It can be anything and everything, maybe expand on a previous idea, create a whole new world, or make something sad or silly or soft! This is your day to shine!

As said before any and all content is welcome in this event! Art, fanfic, meta, analysis, playlists, memes etc! If it’s Chex I’ll take it! My only rule is NO AI GENERATED CONTENT!

The tags for this event will be #chex appreciation week and #chex appreciation week 2024

#agent texas #leonard church #red vs blue #rvb #rvb chex #rvb church #rvb tex #rvb Allison #allison church #rvb the Director #the director #rvb alpha #rvb beta #rvb epsilon #Chex appreciation week #Chex appreciation week 2024 #info post

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mariacallous · 5 months ago

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Lame-duck periods are meant to be inconsequential, but on Thursday afternoon at the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden got a chance to present one of the most important breakthroughs of his time in office. In what was the largest U.S.-Russia prisoner swap since the Cold War, involving at least seven countries over a period of months, a total of 24 people moved across borders as pawns in a game of global 3D chess.

Eight Russians are returning home in exchange for a combination of 16 Americans, Germans, and Russians. Within an hour of confirmation that U.S. prisoners were safely out of Russia, Biden assembled family members of the freed Americans at the White House and addressed a gathering of journalists. As he looked into the cameras, he no doubt knew that he was being closely watched by his counterparts in Beijing and Moscow, by millions of people around the world, and by history.

Even in his moment of triumph, Biden found a way to focus on the human reality of the moment. He singled out Miriam, the daughter of the released Russian American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. It was one day until her 13th birthday, and Biden put an arm around Miriam, leading a chorus of the world’s most popular song. The joy was obviously precipitated by a major international development, but it was also the day a teenage girl would see her mother again after more than nine months in prison, convicted for the crime of writing about Russia’s army.

There’s a long list of prominent names involved in Thursday’s prisoner swap, including Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter sentenced to 16 years in prison under false claims of conducting espionage, and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine who was in Russia for a friend’s wedding and accused, again, of espionage. There were German citizens and even Russians, including Oleg Orlov, a human rights defender and co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning group Memorial, in prison for speaking his mind about his country’s war in Ukraine.

Journalists, tourists, and activists went one way in the prisoner exchange; on the other side was Vadim Krasikov, a former colonel in Russia’s Federal Security Service serving a life sentence in a German prison for a hit on a former Chechen fighter, conducted in broad daylight in Berlin. Others included a Russian citizen involved in international money laundering, a hacker, a credit card fraudster, and an actual spy.

The historic exchange instantly evokes imagery from the Cold War, when such transfers of prisoners were more common. But rather than the historical parallels, it is the contrasts drawn by Thursday’s events that will be remembered. There was Washington, fighting for the freedom of not only its own citizens but also Russians who dared to criticize their own government, and in stark relief there was Moscow, openly trading journalists for criminals and Nobel winners for fraudsters. The Kremlin has gleefully applauded knocks to U.S. soft power, from the misadventure of the Iraq War to the botched U.S. departure from Afghanistan in 2021, but the symbolism of the moment will have not been lost on Russian President Vladimir Putin: This exchange isn’t a great look for him. And even though Biden’s claims of a grand battle between democracies and autocracies are often criticized for being too black and white for the modern multipolar world, the lame-duck president now has a moment to mark his favorite reference in the history books.

It’s an election year in the United States, so contrasts will also be drawn around the alternate visions of Washington’s role in the world—currently being debated by surrogates for the Democratic and Republican campaigns. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has long argued for a more transactional approach to geopolitics. In such a world, there are two players—one is a winner, the other a loser. The Trump worldview prioritizes singular might over alliances; values don’t matter as much as the value of the hand of cards a player is clutching to their chest. Biden, while careful to focus on the humanity and history of the moment, couldn’t resist pointing out the difference: “For anyone who questions whether allies matter, they do.” He was referring in particular to the role of Germany, which had reportedly been reluctant to give up Krasikov. Biden personally spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in January and February, arguing the importance of the prisoner exchange.

Speaking a short while later to reporters, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan built on his boss’s message as he detailed the roles played by Germany, Turkey, and others in the prisoner swap. “There is no more powerful example of the importance and power of allies,” he said. “This was vintage Joe Biden.”

Supporters of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris are also pointing out her role, visiting the Munich Security Conference a few times as vice president and building relations with German and European leaders.

Sen. J.D. Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, was quick to offer an alternative view: “We have to ask ourselves, why are they coming home? And I think it’s because bad guys all over the world recognize Donald Trump’s about to be back in office, so they’re cleaning house. That’s a good thing.”

And so the race for the White House rolls on, with both sides seeking to score points and spin their version of events. Thursday will be a historic study in contrasts—between Washington and Moscow and between rules and impunity. It will also be a moment that could play a part in an American referendum on Washington’s role in the world and whether the electorate favors the slow, painstaking diplomacy of Biden or the instant gratification and drama of Trump’s dealmaking.

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