#AND change what projects are getting worked on IF they change

[poorrichardjr]

Look, I want to believe the next four years, no matter how bad will just end in four years. As if the country will continue as it always has, no matter who is in control. I really want to believe that.

But, there is no way you elect an authoritarian fascist with as much backing as he has from the right-wing theocratic nutjobs and just see him walk away in four years. They are already telling people they are going to change the laws so they can elect Trump a third and fourth time, or just take the case to the solidly right-wing supreme court and argue that it is illegal to limit terms of presidents. You know what, as much as it takes to get an amendment through, why do you think the republicans in power won't decide they can do what they want despite the Constitution? They are already planning massive changes to how the government works including eliminating positions that are currently staffed by intelligent and seasoned individuals for political lapdogs.

That same mentality will trickle down to the way the House and Senate work. Once you start gutting one branch of government to work more like a tyranny, there is no reason to stop there, especially if the guy in charge is telling them they have to. The republicans are spineless little weasels, and if they believe they can get away with something so bold, they are absolutely going to do it.

We are not going to just have four bad years. Unless something drastic happens, we have just waved goodbye to the system we have lived under for nearly 250 years. I suggest people read project 2025, and then tell me how they plan to get away with it without breaking the government. They know it and wrote it down as to how they are going to break the government.

I don't say these things to be a downer or a doomsayer. I know what they are planning isn't going to be easy, but they are absolutely moving ahead with the foundations laid out in project 2025, which tells me, they never plan to have another consequential election. I hope and pray you are right and I am wrong. Until I see the system hold up against the coming assault, I will continue to believe we have willingly walked into the firing squad.

If it makes any of you feel better, Donald Trump will have an uphill battle to change the constitution. He will need:

-2/3 of Senators (67)

-2/3 of the House of Representatives (290)

-3/4 of the states (38)

In 2026, 33 senate seats will be up for grabs, and we’ll be able to vote for people who are against Trump and his ideals.

Breathe and remain hopeful because it’s not over. We can still fight and make Trump’s last four years hell.

[macgyvermedical]

Moving vs Fleeing (and what you need to flee)

I was on a call last night with a very reputable LGBTQ+ organization in my state that discussed the difference between moving and fleeing.

Essentially, moving is planned. You get an apartment and a job in another city- hopefully you visit that city to scope it out. Then you move your life. It takes, at minimum, months.

Fleeing is unplanned. Something is happening that is so bad in your area that you have to cut and run. It may not be police at your door. But it might be legislation that prevents you from using restrooms without the risk of being killed or arrested. It might be lack of access to medications and something that makes it illegal to get those medications in a different state. It might be the classification of your life (as someone gay or tans) as a sex crime, and sex crimes being punishable by death (a goal of project 2025).

And, they recommended, get things together before it gets to that point, even if you aren't sure that it will happen, so fleeing is as easy as possible if you need to do it.

Here's what you can do:

Pick a location you can get to either by bus, train, or car that has a good track record for your needs and that you think you could live. Do your research- are there jobs there in your field? Housing?

Then get yourself a bag or large backpack.

Get a file folder and put your documents in it. I mean things like your passport, your birth certificate, your social security card, copies of any professional licenses you have, a checkbook, name change documentation, copies of financial documents like mortgages, copies of insurance cards and policies, copies of marriage licenses, and a copy of your driver's license. These are things you might need if you have to prove your identity or get a job or apartment. Then print out maps of several routes to your destination. Put the file folder in the bag.

Add to that: a couple of changes of clothes for each person including a hat and a cloth or disposable face covering (people don't question them as much since the pandemic, and they're convenient to hide your face). Lightweight, caloric foods for at least 3 days that don't require cooking (protein bars work great for this). A month of medications and an emergency script for each medication for each person (get a paper prescription from your doctor that is good for a year or the max allowed for each medication) if you can get it. Pay out of pocket with a coupon card if your insurance won't cover your refill early. 1-2 containers of baby wipes so you don't necessarily need to shower. An empty water bottle for each person. A phone charger.

Buy a gift card that can be used for anything. I won't say how much because I don't know your situation, but make it enough that you can pay for gas or bus/train/airline tickets to your destination and (if you can) temporary lodging/food once you get there. Gift cards are less traceable than debit/credit cards and aren't easy to cancel. An alternative is cash, but that can be an easier target for theft if people see you with it.

Finally, bring something of comfort, like a blanket or memento or stuffed animal.

[l-artemisia-del-secolo]

You almost missed the meeting regarding the new exhibit. You had to validate a few showpieces. Books mostly this time. On one of them... what was it... runes... Red cover with rubies, one could think it was painted with blood itself.

Your own reflection in the stones was teasing you. This object was powerful, it was alluring, it was dangerous. You didn't notice how others left.

You were left with the book in the storage. Who created it and why? You were not new to artifacts of presumed witchcraft. But this... it was different. As if the blood on the cover was instantly flowing changing the shades.

Oh, it was one of those days. Time didn't matter.

"Fascinating, isn't it?"

"Oh yes, it is." You didn't even look up. "Have never seen anything like this."

"Oh, I did. A very long time ago. This book belonged to ruthless people."

"What?"

She was a foreigner in this brightly lit room. Nonchalantly sitting in one of those uncomfortable chairs. When did she come in?

"We need to close the storage. All your colleagues left a few hours ago."

Hours? Really? What was she even talking about? You checked your phone. A few missed calls and messages.

Brunette was smiling at your confusion.

"Have we met before?"

"No, I'm instead of Jeff."

"What happened? I saw him yesterday."

"Oh..." Brunette was kinda lost for an instant. "He had to leave. You know. Another department. My name's Rio".

She stood up and very officially offered you her hand.

"Pleased to meet you. My name's..."

"I know everything about you."

Rio was still holding your hand. Maybe you did see her before. Those green eyes. They were mesmerising.

______

A few days passed. You didn't have time to examine the book, but you kept thinking about it. Weirdly your thoughts were coming back to it. In what circumstances something like this could be created? What was written there?

You wanted to feel that book again. Sharp edges and ancient pages.

From the book your mind wandered to the stranger. You asked your colleagues. They knew Jeff was gone, but who was instead of him - no idea. You wanted to see her again. you wanted to lose yourself in those gentle touches again.

___

A few more days. You were giving a lecture. Confident and charming you were in your element. Until you noticed those green eyes amongst the audience. Rio was catching your every move, your every word.

"You were amazing." Brunette caught you after the class. "Truly a master of your craft."

"Well, I do have a certain area of expertise."

"What a tease."

Oh, now you were definitely blushing.

"I haven't seen you at the museum." You tried to find a more safe subject.

"I was busy with other projects. I'm kinda like a consultant for confused people."

You nodded. Why was looking at you like this? As if expecting something, as if waiting for the answer.

"Well, you did find the time for the lecture."

"I found the time for the lecturer."

"I appreciate both the time and the effort."

"Yeah, you have no idea how determined I can be."

Rio winked at you. She was busy, she had to go. She chose to leave you with just a hint of satisfaction.

"Oh, and the book., It is waiting for you."

____

Rio was right. You had to concentrate on your work. Exhibit was approaching, your input was needed. You were spending more and more time with the remains of the old times. You were spending more and more time with that damned book. Those runes were not known to you. As the symbols. Looked like an interpretation of the maiden-mother-crone myth, but there was a green halo around them.

"You need coffee."

That wasn't a question. With Rio nothing was.

"Thanks." You took a sip "Oh, double espresso. How did you know?"

"Had a feeling, you like it... intense."

"Sure."

"So..." Rio nudged your shoulder to get all the attention she always required. "How is this thing going?"

"Good."

"And this?" She pointed at the book.

"Waiting for the answer from a few colleges."

"Well, I'm sure the answer is going to be fascination. But..." She took your phone and bag without asking. "you need to be someplace else."

___

Why did you even let her command? You just blinked and suddenly you were near an old theater.

"Magic show?"

Rio had tickets for the first row.

"What can I say? I was always fond of illusions."

It was noticeable. She was cheering even for the simplest tricks. She adored theatricality and tension. Except for maybe the tricks that involved cheating death. Yeah, Rio huffed in annoyance a few times.

"Well, this is not how I expected my evening to go."

Street was completely silent. You and Rio were the only ones who decided to enjoy the autumn night.

"I can tell you how all the tricks worked."

Oh, for sure Rio knew.

"It's your hobby?"

"Let's say, I've seen these shows quite a few times."

"That would destroy all the magic part of the performance, don't you think?"

Rio stopped, snapped her fingers and in the other hand a flower appeared.

"Oh, you're smooth." You laughed at the present. "So, you're into tricks."

"No, I'm more into magic."

______

It was a book of protective spells. It was supposed to save from evil and wrong, from hungry and desperate. And not protect, it was supposed to hide from the sight of darkness. Someone was supposed to be hidden in the blood of the killed. You spend hours trying to find the recipient of this protection.

"Well, that's an interesting observation." Rio put her legs on the table. You were having a dinner at your office. "Amazing."

"I'm glad you're happy with my research."

"I truly am. Do you know how those spells are supposed to be activated."

"I assume by the blood of the protected."

"Yeah, guess it could work." Rio shrugged. "Witches were never that imaginative."

It became some kind of a routine. At the beginning you didn't see Rio at all. But now she was always near. With lunches, coffees, books and affection. And whatever she was calling magic.

Rarely you could feel comfortable with someone so close. For years you preferred to be on your own. It just never clicked with anyone. But Rio... she knew you. Your tastes, your dreams, your desires. Her affection was a given, just a fact that you stumbled into. It was a weird feeling. Like you were continuing to live something you never had.

____

"I don't think you're doing it right."

You could feel Rio was close. Her hair was almost tickling your neck. There was no need for her to stay right behind you. But it apparently was the best spot to watch you translating the text.

"You're being a little distractive, Rio."

"How? I'm helping. This sign here. It clearly doesn't mean death."

"Well, that's a woman with a skull instead of a face."

"I'd say she's more about the natural order of things.'

"Maybe."

___

You were working more, you were sleeping less. You were distracted. Your dreams changed, in them you could freely read the spells. Voices without purpose were helping you. Sometimes even Rio couldn't have you all for herself.

"I brought you something."

"Huh?"

Rio was holding a dagger. Black stones, same runes.

"Just don't play with it often."

"Where did you get this?"

"It was here all the time. Kinda lost in the mess."

"Yeah."

You didn't care whether she was lying or not. Was it the other part of the story? Was it the threat or help?

You took it. Heavy with cold and sharp with pain it fit your hand properly.

"Every witch was supposed to have such a dagger." Rio took the knife. "Usually it was carved with the symbols of a greater entity, You know for protection."

She was holding your hand, caressing the palm with the cold of a steel. Still dangerous, still deadly. You didn't dare to look at her movements.

"And what entity protected this blade?"

"I think you know. You read the spells."

You could feel your skin almost succumbing to the blade. But it was so much more unbearable to have Rio so close. She was the perfection itself. You didn't care about the blade, you leaned into her.

"Fuck." you muttered under your breath. But it was too late. Your blood was spilled.

You were her prey, Rio pushed and you and the blade cut deeper, but you didn't care. She was kissing you, she was hurting you.

Dagger fell on the floor. Without breaking the kiss Rio guided your hands to the support of the table. Your wound touched the book.

Suddenly the pain shot through your whole body. You wanted to scream, but Rio didn't let you. Holding you, making you feel her passion, brunette was only deepening the kiss.

You opened your eyes. The room was on fire. Games of the primal flame were everywhere. Everything was melting away. Instead another reality was forming.

You groaned into the kiss. It was familiar. It took all the strength you had to push Rio away. She was breathing heavily.

"What the..." you looked at your palm. It was healed. "What... what happened..."

Those voices were right. Rio. It was all because of Rio.

"It was the only way..."

Her voice was trembling. You heard this already. Her plea, her apology.

"I know you." You took the book from the table. Now those spells made sense. "Rio Vidal."

"I thought... " She was choking on her regret and doubt. "I thought I wouldn't be able to find you."

"I remember..."

Rio gently touched your cheek. You didn't feel it. Suddenly there was a wall with the thickness of centuries.

"My love..."

"It was always you, wasn't it?" Your fingers were tingling. "You were always the reason."

"I don't..."

"They died because of you."

"What? No."

You grabbed her wrist. You were strong, stronger than you remembered. Purple magic was pouring from your veins. It didn't let Rio move.

"Because of you all those people were dead. You attacked innocents."

"No."

"My coven tried to hunt you. And in return you destroyed others."

'"No, no, no. These are not your memories. It's an illusion your coven gave you."

You pushed her. Rio was the plague. You remembered it. Your sisters warned you.

"I will banish you from here."

Rio didn't even think about defending herself. She needed to let you be closer.

You grabbed her by the throat. Rio only obeyed. You needed to cut out her black heart.

You waved and the dagger appeared in your hand. You were calling for your weapon. It returned to the magic that created it. But the second you were ready to swing, it burned you.

You were holding the same knife Rio gave you. It wasn't possible. Your enemy was protecting you.

"No. It's not true..."

Yes, you didn't remember. But what if... you were holding a piece of your old life. Rio was in every cell of your body. How long were you like this? How long were you far from her? You were still washed over by hate. But not because of Rio. No, you couldn't hurt her.

"I can help you..."

You shook your head in disbelief and disappeared in purple smoke.

_____

You didn't know where to go. The life you remembered wasn't yours, just as a life you were living for the last who knew how many years.

Your sisters betrayed you, they were not the only ones. Such strong magic required the assistance of the sorcerer supreme.

It doesn't matter what you were thinking about, you always were coming back to Rio. She saved you, she broke the spell. But if she was the one lying. What if she forged the blade? No, no, not possible. Not your Rio. Your Rio? What these weeks meant for you? Were you in love?

Not only your head, your blood was boiling with magic. You forgot this feeling. You were trying to control the shaking in your hands but it was just getting worse.

"Rio." you whispered.

"Yes, my love."

She appeared in front of you. Her crown was glowing in the dark. No point in playing pretend anymore.

"This blade belongs to me."

Rio nodded.

"You're the entity that is protecting me."

Nod again.

"What happened?"

"They wanted to separate us. They were afraid that you would have special treatment. And with that become too powerful for them to handle."

"Special treatment?"

"Yes." Rio hesitated. "You were the only one who could have my... favor."

"I don't understand."

"You could be invincible. I wouldn't let anything happen to you. You were one of the more powerful wielders of magic. And that was a dangerous combination. So they hid you. Sealed you in the book. It took me centuries to find you."

Your heart was aching. If it was true, your life was taken by those whom you considered family.

"And we..." You blinked away a memory. "Did we ever have a garden?"

"Oh, yes." Rio dared to come closer. "I created a pocket dimension for us. Just us. We could do whatever we wanted."

"I also remember that Rio is not your only name."

She was dreading this moment. For her only hope was left. But for you it was finally the beginning. Not the memories, but affection was guiding you. All those memories of Rio's betrayal. You had to trust your heart. Hate wasn't yours, it wasn't real.

 Yes, it was the truth. It was always Rio. The only thing you wanted was for her to be your reason for existence. And it only could be explained with memories that you couldn't fathom.

You were gravitating towards her. It was easier for you to believe in the ghost of ancient love than lose Rio. Your Rio.

"No, it's not."

For the first time Rio wasn't looking you in the eyes. You had to lift her chin. She was barely breathing, she was barely even functioning, waiting for your sentence. Regal entity reduced to a mortal.

"I'm in love with Rio, but Lady Death..." You pulled her into a kiss. This time your powers entwined with the glow being almost unbearable to be around. "...is a part of me."

"I will help you remember. I will help you return everything they've stolen from you."

"Oh yes." You smiled into her skin. "Right after I punish those who separated us."

[felassan]

The Art of Dragon Age: The Veilguard preview pages Part One, under a cut due to spoilers. Preview pages come from Google Books.

[Foreword]

[Part Two]

Life in the Tevinter Imperium.

Part One: Post-Inquisition

Top: Returning to Rivain with a precious quest object. Middle: Exploring Par Vollen, the home of the Qunari. Text: Halfway through the development of Dragon Age: Inquisition we created a series of illustrations we called “beat boards” (intended to cover a major moment or “beat”, they are more polished than a storyboard). They proved to be helpful as we brought the game together. As Inquisition was coming to a close, and a sliver of attention was being paid to the next game, we wanted to try doing beat boards right at the start of the game, rather than the middle. With a few general ideas like “We’re going north” and “Maybe there are Titans” and a sense of story momentum, we started creating exploratory beat boards, asking ourselves the simple question: “What would be cool?”

Top: On a secret mission in Tevinter. Bottom: Receiving an assignment from the Inquisitor

The Red Bride's grave.

Top: An old Warden that was avoiding the Calling. Bottom: The first attempt at designing Weisshaupt Fortress. Text: Northern Thedas - Designing the cultures of northern Thedas was like a fun speculative-archaeology project. We were starting with fragments. There were occasional props, characters, or journal entries that hinted at these cultures, and we had to reverse-engineer living, breathing societies from those fragments. The most important aspect was to design them in a way that respected our fans’ engagement with the material but also attempted to exceed their imaginations (or at least do them justice).

Top: In an ancient magical city, some buildings that would have collapsed centuries ago are kept frozen in time. Bottom: Infiltrating the Archon’s throne room.

Middle: One of the first ideas for a player base was a secret lair in Minrathous’s forgotten undercity. Bottom: The very first concept art of Minrathous. Trying to capture the elegance and pride of the Imperium.

Top: The Divine sends out ships to hunt Solas in the hopes that his capture will restore peace to Thedas. Bottom: A Tevinter magister, a Chasind witch, and a Ben-Hassrath commander plot against the player.

Top: A war room in the captain’s quarters. Bottom: We explored making the player base mobile. It would give us water access to most of the regions in northern Thedas.

Top: Early on we explored the return of the griffons – in this case, using them as mounts to hunt dragons. Bottom: Something in the depths has scared the dwarves enough that they’re fleeing to the surface by the thousands.

A coastal town in Rivain.

Top: Elves from all over Thedas answer a mysterious call to Arlathan Forest. Bottom: Exploring a possible endgame scenario where Solas has summoned a Titan in the middle of Minrathous.

Top: Solas returning like a regal figure out of the distant past. Bottom: What if we return to the Fade and rescue whoever was left behind? How would their time in that alien landscape change them, and what insights could they offer into Solas’s plans?

Top: The part runs into their Tevinter counterparts, and they have to work together to survive. Bottom: Solas interrupts your mission, wiping half your team off the board and forcing you to make an unlikely alliance.

Top: Your ship is stolen, and you have to sneak into enemy territory to get it back. Middle: Journey to the heart of darkness to find Colonel Kurts… er, Solas. Bottom: We created piles of sketches and line work to explore story beats. We could iterate quickly and throw things away if necessary.

Top: There are multiple factions in Veilguard. To make sure they were always recognizable, from their buildings to their belt buckles, we began with shape.   Middle: We had explored Tevinter’s shape language in Inquisition, so in their case, it was a matter of expanding on what was established. Some shapes just felt right (like Wardens and the pointed arch). Bottom: A residential Tevinter interior.

Various captions on this page: An upward-pointing triangle for the mages’ college. We explored some sturdy shapes for the dwarves. The Wardens’ pointed arch could be turned upside down into a shield. Rivain has a been a neutral faction, so the circle worked well. The Necropolis factions started with a half-circle “crest”. A downward-pointing triangle for Tevinter. Ben-Hassrath started with an X shape language.

[no captions]

A wealthy Tevinter mansion. To show off, most of the house is built on top of a floating stone slab veined with lyrium. Visitors try not to think about what would happen if the magic was interrupted.

Slice-of-life illustrations like this weren’t prescriptive, but they helped to explore the feel of certain regions we had only ever heard references to.

Rivain is a trade center. It’s one of the places where you’ll see the greatest overlap of cultures.

[no captions]

Tevinter is a complicated place. While there are lofty towers and powerful magisters, we also wanted to explore what the daily life of Tevinter might be.

Top: Peaceful beginnings, gentle giant gardeners, and curious spirits. Middle (1): The spirits saw the dwarves as they tended to the Titans, and they wanted to try making bodies for themselves. Middle (2): The spirits made physical bodies for themselves from the “flesh” of the Titans. The first elves were born, and the first war began. Bottom: A brutal war raged on between the elves and the Titans, only ending when one elf (Solas) rendered the Titans “tranquil”, capturing their souls.

Top: The elves brought a powerful war trophy home. Middle (1): With the Titans rendered tranquil, dwarves lost their connection to magic. They fled into the bodies of their fallen homes. Bottom: With the power that came from the captured Titan souls, the elves built the greatest empire Thedas would ever see.  

Top: Solas fought against the self-proclaimed gods, earning the title “the Dread Wolf”. Middle: The gods drew upon the power of the Titans’ souls to gain more power. The imprisoned souls became twisted with rage. This became the Blight. Bottom: To contain the Blight outbreak, Solas performed a desperate blood-magic ritual. He bound up the magic of the world behind a Veil and powered it with the blood of the evil gods. Text: Black Codex – There was a top-secret document on BioWare’s network that contained the objectively true history of Thedas called the Black Codex. Each culture had its perspective, its own emphasis and style, and over time more was added and taken away. It was decided to reveal a lot of truth in this game, so early on we wanted to illustrate the Black Codex. This would help to act as a visual guide to the events that formed Thedas as we know it.

Top: What remained of the elven empire collapsed. The early human empire of Tevinter discovered it in shambles. Bottom: Eons later, the Blight reached out to power-hungry Tevinter magisters through their dreams. They were lured to the Golden City, but the magisters found it already blackened by the Blight.

Various captions on this page: At this stage, just about anything goes. Writers and artists both have ideas for what kind of characters they’d like to try, so we dump them all out on the table. We created some comics to explore the tone of the story. Some of these characters were designed specifically for that purpose. The Heir of Andraste: Finding the last living descendant of Andraste, a rough-around-the-edges warrior living among the barbarians. The Gladiator: A Tevinter gladiator that has earned her freedom. Her arm’s protected by mail made of keys from all the slaves she has rescued. She wears her former shackles as rmor: a reminder and a threat.

Various captions on this page: The academic and the mage college scholar forced into the field. Initially we work from very simple premises, often only a couple of words, like “happy necromancer” or “Qunari assassin”. An awakened darkspawn mercenary. Text: Early on we thought about creating a new set of advisors for your ship. It’s satisfying to revisit characters from previous games, especially if time has passed. It’s a chance to try and make their story visible. In this case, we see a Morrigan that has embraced her new gift, who can offer insights into the mysteries of magic and the ancient elven world. This version of Dorian is like Mathis from Casino Royale, someone who can advise you through all the ins and outs of Tevinter culture. Smuggler Admiral Isabela can get you into and out of just about any port in Thedas.

[mitigatedchaos]

Sigh.

If your definition of "alt right" includes Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan, then your definition is too broad. You can disagree with both of these men without them being "alt right."

"Race conscious" policy is contrary to the interests of the vast majority of Americans and also the liberal project. Racial issues need to be handled with care, and flat "corrective" discrimination against particular racial groups is not that. There's no evidence it would work, so voters were right to reject it.

Being able to censor, limit, or restrict social media depends on trust, because it's "letting politicians and interest groups decide what you're allowed to say," and due to Democrats' low-quality identitarian turn, people don't trust them. You need to learn to let go and let people make decisions for themselves.

Not noticing that racial "privilege" theory sounds an awful lot like what antisemites say about Jewish people is both intellectually lazy and shows a lack of empathy. There's also a lack of understanding of men and masculinity that views all men as oppressors unless they are subservient as well, the correction for which is too lengthy to get into here.

One solution for Russian operatives trying to stir up trouble is to adopt higher epistemic standards. This is a nothingburger.

AI was not a notable or significant factor in this election. It destroyed search results for how-to projects - it did not tilt the board for one side or the other. There will be further problems in the future, but the answer is to earn voters' trust, and that means not pulling stunts like "Kamala is the border czar / Kamala was never the border czar," and not promoting theories of collective identity guilt and associated policies.

The idea that you could lose something by trying to exercise more control over it may seem counter-intuitive, but it's the kind of thinking documented in the Dao Dejing, which was written over 2,000 years ago in ancient China.

You must learn to think at a higher level of abstraction, and consider second and third order effects.

Did voters reject racial minorities, or did they reject racial discrimination?

Did voters think they were rejecting the existence of transgender people, or did they think they were rejecting the imposition of a flat binary on confused young people by unaccountable state bureaucracy? If you disagree with their perception, how could you reach them?

Did voters reject all immigration, or did they reject having so much unfiltered immigration that it overwhelmed government capacity even in New York City?

Did voters reject dialogue, or did they reject censorship?

America will soon have its 250th birthday party, which will be headed by the famous celebrity Donald Trump. America is the greatest force for liberalism that the world has ever known, and possibly will ever know. Under Democrats as they are now, it would be a national day of penance, of apology for the existence of the country. Under Donald Trump it will be a great celebration, and one of optimism, to the point that (at this rate) it might be capped off by a replay of America's signature achievement - the Moon landing.

What would Democrats have had to change to be the party that could lovingly celebrate America's 250th birthday with a tremendous smile, a party that could acknowledge both the benefits and the contradictions of America and act as a proper steward for the country's people and its mission?

things we need to address:

gen z men getting pulled into alt-right pipelines through andrew tate, joe rogan, elon musk, jordan peterson etc

the gullibility and stupidity of half the country voting against our collective best interests

the broad effect social media has on public and common good

lazy minds and lack of empathy

outside-country interference (trump and elon’s connections to russia and the amount of bots from other countries spreading misinformation)

the long-term effects of AI and rampant disinformation

[coolunspokenforname]

My Take on the Reverse Gravity Falls AU

Mabel Pines/Ms.Mystery/Auntie May

She and Dipper didn't fall out like Stan and Ford

She was the first one Dipper asked to help with his investigation on Gravity Falls

While Dipper wrote the journals, she was the one to set up and organize them

She set Dipper up with Pacifica (after they had an amicable breakup)

Was the one to get most of the information about Gnomes and Mermaids

Narrowly missed becoming the gnome queen; they're still trying to marry her

Is pen pals with Mermando, and they still hang out occasionally

Didn't push Dipper into the portal, but blames herself

Can't trust most people after what happened the last time she misplaced her trust

Raised Dipper and Pacifica's kid after Dipper disappeared and Pacifica was unable to care for them

Spent most of the first ten years of Dipper's disappearance trying to be a good parent

Was heartbroken when Dipper's kid emancipated themself at sixteen (telling her they blamed her for both Dipper's disappearance and Pacifica's state)

After she was cut off she refocused on bringing Dipper back

Was surprised that Stan and Ford were put in her care, but obviously said yes to taking care of them over the summer

Dipper Pines/'The Author'/Grandpa

Decided to study the anomalies in Gravity Falls because he and Mabel spent their summers in Gravity Falls

Was never good at drawing/scrapbooking so he invited Mabel to join him

Didn't believe Pacifica had changed when Mabel first set them up, but quickly realized he liked her (headcanoning that he's greysexual in this au, and the only other person he's wanted to date was Wendy)

Was still friends with Wendy, but they grew apart while he was at University; before the accident he was 'boyish' Dan's godfather

After a couple years of studying Gravity Falls he grew frustrated at the lack of answers and summoned Bill from a cave painting he and Mabel had found as kids

Bill convinces him to build the portal

After the birth of His and Pacifica's child he looses momentum on the portal, so Bill convinces him to give him his body while he sleeps

While Bill considers stopping the annoyance permanently, he realizes that it's in his best interest to let the Northwest-Pines' play family while the portal was still a long way from complete

Tries to help Pacifica after the first portal incident, but isn't able to

After he finds out what Bill is doing he becomes paranoid, unable to sleep and distancing himself from his child, afraid that now he knows what Bill is doing he might use them to manipulate him (or worse)

He doesn't blame Mabel for getting stuck in the portal

Pacifica Northwest/Old Mrs Northwest

Everybody in town uses her married title but most don't remember her being married

Kept her last name for the prestige in town

Was the stereotypical mean girl growing up

After getting out of her parents' influence during university she became a better person (though she did still have her moments)

Dated Mabel for a couple weeks before they had a mutual breakup

Was hesitant about dating Dipper for a while, but when Mabel herself set them up she decided to just try it, not expecting it to work out

Well, it did, and she joins the portal building (while also working on her own projects); she's the main financer of their work after the grant money runs out

She and Dipper weren't planning on having a child, but both were ecstatic when they found out

She was the one to get her head stuck in the portal and tries to forget about it

She was already working on the memory gun before joining the twins, hoping to get the town forget about how terrible she was as a kid

After making up with Mabel (and later Dipper) the project was put on the backburner

At first she only used it occasionally, but after Dipper's disappearance she used it way more, to the point of not being able to remember anything

Has moments of lucidity where she does try to get into contact with her child, but without the memories she took out they don't last long. She often thinks her child is still 6 (their age when Dipper disappeared)

When she was still okay she set up funds for Dipper, Mabel, and her child. Mabel only uses hers to fix the portal, the child's was used when they emancipated themself to get a house and shop. Dipper's has been left unused.

Stanley and Stanford Pines

I haven't thought much about their part yet, tbh

They actually do know that their grandpa went missing, but assume he's dead

They don't know Old Mrs. Northwest is their grandma (Mabel isn't hiding it, she just assumed they would know)

Mabel actually isn't hiding anything, the boys are just so caught up in the mystery of the falls they don't notice the obvious

Like, there's very clear references to Mabel's relationships with the gnomes and Mermando, they just don't connect the dots (these boys have never heard the term 'Occam's razor')

They were sent there for the summer after Stanley 'borrowed' the necklace from the pawnshop (and their whole adventure with the Jersey Devil)

Ford immediately forms a rivalry with another kid visiting Gravity Falls. When he tells Stan and Mabel this both worry it's a bullying situation. That is, until they meet Fiddleford

Ford is caught between having a burning hate for the kid and great admiration.

Stan befriends a bunch of kids, but as soon as he meets Gideon (another of Mabel's exes) he makes it his mission to ruin the man's fake psychic career

He does this mainly through pretending to be Ford and showing up at his shows. After Gideon catches on Stan starts having Ford go in his stead. Mabel finds this hilarious (her breakup with him was less amicable than the one with Pacifica. While they don't exactly hate each other, she does enjoy seeing him brought down a peg or two)

I am trying to figure out this au, but I really like what I have so far. Any questions are welcome, and I'll try to answer them.

[misseviehyde]

A LEAP IN FAITH

"Come on guys, we only get one chance to make this work. Let's jump back and show that slut who is boss."

You and your three girlfriends had been bullied relentlessly back at school by Faith and her bunch of bitches. Even now ten years later it still hurt.

One night the three of you had been talking about how if you could go back in time with what you know now, there is no way you would have put up with the bullying... how you would have stood up to Faith and put an end to her cruelty.

Your friend Jessica was the one who had suggested you try astral projection. She claimed it was possible to project your consciousness back in time and possess your younger bodies. Then the four of you could stand up to the evil bitch.

Jessica made you all lie down in her room and she lit some weird smelling candles. You went through the exercises she had taught you and as you let your mind relax you felt reality shimmer and waver around you.

You were free of your body and drifting through time and space. Jessica, Annie and Kate were with you though and together you focused your efforts on reaching 2014 and being back at school.

Suddenly you found yourself floating in a familiar classroom. With a jolt you recognised your old school and it was a fresh as if it were yesterday.

Faith, Ashley and Chloe were hanging out in their matching outfits doing their makeup and gossiping. Looking around you could see the other girls floating in the air around you too. Each of you had a different aura colour. Green for Jessica, Yellow for Annie, Purple for Kate. Looking down you saw you were blue.

You were invisible to your former bullies and Jessica grinned as she floated over to Faith and the popular girl continued applying mascara and lip gloss obliviously.

"Let's find our old bodies and get some payback on this bitch," gloated Jessica spinning around in the air.

As she did so, her spirit form brushed against Faith and there was a green spark instantly connecting them. "Hey... what the?"

Jessica's face suddenly turned to panic as Faith convulsed and fell to the floor. A green tendril of energy now anchored her to your bullies body and she screamed as she began to be dragged down into Faith.

Jennifer could immediately feel Faith's evil soul starting to merge and blend with her own, leaving her in control but changed. She had to get free and she looked at you imploringly.

Unfortunately at the same time, Chloe and Ashley rushed forward to help their fallen leader. Unable to see the invisible spirits of your friends they ran right through them.l and there was a crack as they too were spirit tethered.

"Noooooo! Ughhhh help me!" she failed trying to tear herself free.

Faith's tanned bitchy body was sucking her greedily in, and as she sank deeper and deeper inside it obviously began to feel good. Jennifer's eyes rolled up in her head and she groaned. She began to feel Faith's personality and confidence surge into her... making her head spin and making her want more.

You were paralysed in fear, but Annie and Kate surged forward to grab her spectral arms and try to help.

"Ahhhhh," they screamed as they too fell to the floor and convulsed. Now tethered to Faiths friends, Annie and Kate screamed as they too were pulled into the bullies bodies, unable to get free.

Kate's face was a mix of horror and ecatasy as she sank into Chloe. "Unnnngggg it feels...."

"Amazing!" groaned Annie finishing off Kate's sentence as she moaned like a whore, and her spirit was sucked a whole foot into Ashley.

"Yessss. It feels... mmmmh good," groaned Jennifer as she stopped fighting and with a grin began to sink willingly into Faith's body. She shivered, feeling Faith's evil changing and transforming her as she eagerly slurped up the other girls soul.

"Yesssss, give it all to ME," orgasmed Jennifer as she ate Faith up and absorbed everything. She began to scream in pleasure and with a cry of ecstasy she was dragged fully into Faith's body.

Your friends moaned and squealed in delight as they sank fully into the bullies bodies. Green, purple and yellow energy crackled around Faith, Ashley and Chloe as the souls and spirits of your friends melted and merged into them permanently bonding with their new bodies.

"Ohhhh fuck yessssss," hissed Kate as she too allowed Chloe's body to begin dragging her in.

"No. I have to resist," panted Annie as she battled to escape Ashley's body. Suddenly a hand was forced down onto her head and Jennifer, now fully in control of Faith, laughed demonically as she pushed Annie deeper into Ashley's body.

"No Annie go deeper. Fucking take it all. Become Ashley."

Annie screamed in pleasure as her friend forced her deeper into the bully and a smile of pleasure flickered over her once innocent features. "Ohhhhh fuck yes. Why am I trying to resist! Give it to MEEEE!"

Whilst the new Faith watched approvingly, Ashley and Chloe began to move, mouths opening in groans of pleasure as long nails flexed, tanned limbs writhed in pleasure and busty chests were thrown out.

Ashley's eyes opened and she slowly sat up giggling as she grabbed her tits and tossed back her silky hair.

"Oh fuck yes, this feels PERFECT."

Chloe groaned and rose to her feet too. "Are we... are we the bullies now? I feel powerful," purred 'Chloe' as she vainly and excitedly examined her body.

"Yessss. Mmmh all of Ashley's memories and knowledge is mine," giggled the new bitch as she blew a kiss to herself in the compact mirror she was now admiring herself in.

"Girls, contain yourselves," purred Jennifer now masquerading as Faith. "We mustn't let anyone know about this. I fucking love how this feels, but we have to acclimatise to being bratty bitches. Being Faith is sooooo fucking delicious. What better revenge than to steal her life and BECOME the bully. Let's assume these new identifies and have some real fun. I always fancied Bobby Green and now with this body I can do something about it."

"What about her?" pouted Ashley, suddenly pointing and with horror you realised the girls could still see you!

"Ooooh yeah. I can't wait to fuck the popular boys too, and we get to bully all our old friends and even ourselves. I don't know why, but that makes my pussy wet." giggled Chloe.

The three girls hugged, grinning wickedly as they finished settling into their new bodies and accepted their improved personalities.

With a movement like a snake, Faith snatched at you and suddenly you were tethered in her grip. You couldn't enter her body as Jennifer was already in control, but you longed to be inside it and felt a surge of jealousy consume you as she yanked you down to hiss into your face.

"Don't worry loser, you'll love being our victim."

"To deal with this loser, we just need to find the appropriate body to force her into. What about that fat little nerd Raymond that everyone used to pick on?"

You begged and sobbed, but the girls laughed as Ashley and Chloe went to find him and Faith prepared to push you inside him.

***

It was a week later.

At the back of the bike sheds an orgy was going on. Cocks in mouths, or rammed into tight pussies. Chloe, Ashley and Faith were living their best lives, panting and moaning with wet slaps as they rode the bad boys.

"This is like SO fucking hot," groaned Ashley rubbing a cock between her tits. "We can do whatever the fuck we want and no one is strong enough to stop us!"

Faith giggled as she rode Bobby cowgirl. "After we've had fun, let's find Jennifer, Kate and Annie and make their lives a misery again. We need to make sure we don't create a paradox. We need those dumb bitches to hate us so they will travel back in time to become us."

You wisb you could return to the future where you were a woman... but that future no longer existed and now it never would...

Meanwhile you grovelled in the dirt, a jocks foot on your head as they made you watch what you could never have. Your new tiny dick twitched pathetically in your fat body as you wished you could escape and return to the future.

You were Raymond the loser. An incel simp who could barely remember what a pussy looked like anymore.

[brighteststarz]

I was thinking of writing a muggle AU fic where James gets paired with Sirius’s estranged younger brother for a history project in class, not just any project though it’s the end of the year final and it’s worth half their grade so if they don’t make it work they both fail. James doesn’t like him at first just going off of what Sirius has told James about their family but one day regulus comes to school and he’s clearly hiding a black eye and a couple more bruises under small sunglasses. Eventually regulus has to take the sunglasses off due to school policy and he uses the excuse he fell down the stairs. James can’t get it out of his head because that’s the same excuse Sirius used before he was able to tell James,Peter,and Remus about the abuse he was going through at home.

So James being James makes it his mission to help regulus get out just like he helped his best friend.

He goes from being hostile about working with regulus to being empathetic and caring and the sudden overnight change overwhelms regulus but he tries to ignore it because he just wanted to get this history project done so he can get a good grade for the final so his parents won’t be upset and then he will never have to see them again.

I haven’t figured out how I want the story to end yet but it would be endgame Jegulus, side pandalily, acesexual Peter/demisexual Sybill, wolfstar(slowest burn possible with mutual pining since they won’t be the main focus), Marlene/dorcus/mary as well

I want feedback first though if anyone thinks this would be a good fic idea or tell me if it’s been done before so I don’t waste my time lol??

I would be using the American highschool system because I have no clue about the British schooling system 😅

[lucygraysboy]

“seven? please, if it had been seven, you wouldn’t be standin’ here now.” there’s a gleam of playfulness in his eye as he pulls her toward the elevator. the lobby’s bustling with life, and a few people turn their heads in their direction, but he’s pretty sure that it’s got nothing to do with his growing popularity. it’s all lucy gray. she’s really that beautiful. “don’t ask me questions like that. you don’t want to know.” he had to keep her from pulling his pants down and sucking him off. handsy might be an understatement. “manuela is quite the chatterbox. she’s from mexico, have i told you that? she and your mama will have so much fun collaborating on this project.” he can barely wait to share the news with manuela, show her mama baird’s works. “oh, these are all so good! how do we pick just one? you’ll have to show me more pictures of this little lady. or go back home, say each of these names in front of her and see which one she takes a likin’ to. maybe she’ll react to one.” an s name would go so well with spirit and sundance, too, now that he’s thinking about it. “have some faith in me and my cat-like reflexes. i’m quick and vigilant. i’ll be alright.” he curls his pinky a little tighter, squeezing hers three times, trying to tell her that he’s not planning on letting an eighteen-wheeler run him over. the feel of her small hand in his, their tiniest fingers laced together, it has a wave of warmth spreading throughout his body. “oh, so…” he’s tempted to trick her and tell her that they’re here because he’s rented them a room so they could get some privacy and finish what they’d started last night, but decides against it. “there’s a steakhouse, based on the reviews probably one of the best restaurants in nashville, up there on the 34th floor. they have real good food and this 360-view of the city skyline. and i know this isn’t a date, but…” he blushes, shrugging shyly as he presses the button on the elevator. “i just wanted to take you someplace nice for a change. you know, not to another waffle house or mcdonald’s.”

“course.” figuring she could be harsh if she wanted to, act out on all those years she held against him for not doing better with joe, but thinking that’s not contributing to anything besides a split family staying split apart so she decides completely against it. “mmm, i’m thinkin’ it was more like seven. you’re lyin’.” tapping her chin in thought, denying it. “what do you mean handsy? why am i handsy?” laughing a little in embarrassment, this one she’s genuinely unaware about. “my mama will be excited to ask her all about the details on how she wants her quilt for her nursery, so that works out great.” the brunette grins, sending a link of her mom’s social media page to billy through text so he can send it to his friend when he wants. “starlit? starlight? starla? sunbeam?” adding to the celestial names, smiling amusingly. the horse’s mom is moon because she’s an all white horse with a few spots on her coat that look like craters. “mhm, cause like i said— it’s the other driver’s who’ll run over you or injury you.” and people get hurt on them everyday of every second, he’s more likely to than she get hurt by a horse. holding his pinky is comforting, like she’ll somehow protect him from motorcycles now by holding onto his pinky. “where’s this leadin’ us to?” she wonders as curiosity begins to itch at her once noticing this is the marriott when they enter through the doors. “bambi doll… well, i like it.” a smile begins to play on her lips, enjoying the nickname a lot and wondering how he came up with it.

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

Why did Galadriel allow the Three Elven rings to be forged, in 1x08?

Despite knowing, for a fact, Halbrand is Sauron, and he has been working at Eregion, alongside Celebrimbor, all along, in 1x08? It’s because she knows the Three are truly free from Sauron’s influence, like she tells Elrond in 2x01?

Because her own statement in 2x02, seems to contradict this: Sauron... sees himself not as master of a barren waste, but of all Middle-earth. He seeks to rule it not only through conquest, but by bending the minds and wills of all its peoples to his own. And for that, he needs not armies... but Rings. And he cannot craft them without Celebrimbor.

Galadriel is not naïve, nor is she stupid, quite the opposite. Tolkien describes her brilliant in mind and swift in action. And, in Season 2, we saw her lying to hide the true nature of her connection to Sauron: to Gil-galad, in 2x02, she denies Halbrand was her friend; in 2x06 she tells Adar, Sauron promised her an army.

Galadriel’s entire plot in Númenor, in Season 1, was her trying to get herself an army to fight “Sauron” in the Southlands, and to persuade Halbrand to reclaim “his” throne.

Halbrand: I'm afraid you're short an army. Galadriel: Leave the army to me. 1x02

Halbrand: How? You're stuck on this island. And you're still short an army. Galadriel: That is all about to change. 1x03

Halbrand: You used me. After I all but begged you to let me be. Galadriel: I have just convinced Númenor to send five ships and 500 men to aid your people and place a crown upon your head. Many might assume you used me. Halbrand: Find another head to crown. 1x05

1) Galadriel knows Sauron’s reputation

As are all Elves, and that’s why they feared him so. They know Sauron is a powerful sorcerer, and very much so. He’s known as the “great deceiver”, a trickster, who employs deception and illusions.

2) Galadriel was aware of Sauron’s goals

Galadriel was, also, perfectly aware this was Sauron’s plan and goal, all along. Adar revealed it to her, in 1x06:

After Morgoth's defeat, the one you call Sauron... Devoted himself to healing Middle-earth, bringing its ruined lands together in perfect order. He sought to craft a power not of the flesh... But over flesh. A power of the Unseen World. He bid as many as he could to follow him far north. But try as he might... Something was missing. A shadow of dark knowledge that kept itself hidden, even from him. No matter how much blood he spilt in its pursuit.

3) She knows the rings were Sauron’s idea

And hearing Celebrimbor speaking about a “power over flesh” was what made her suspect Halbrand was lying about his identity and had hidden motives to be at Eregion, in the first place:

His [Halbrand] suggestions were but the key that unlocked the dam. We are on the cusp of crafting a new kind of power. Not of strength, but of spirit. Not of the flesh, but over flesh. This is... This is a power of the Unseen World.

4) Sauron’s request

Persuading Galadriel into allowing the rings to be forged was the entire point of Sauron’s first illusion, when he takes the form of her brother, Finrod. 

He [Sauron] was seeking a power not to destroy Middle-earth, but to heal it. Just as your fellow Elves are seeking to do this very moment. You needn't lie to them. Simply let the work proceed.

This alone should “ring the alarms” in Galadriel’s mind that something is “up” with this whole project. And Sauron is talking in the past tense, which indicates he already found the power was seeking (as he tells Galadriel himself before the reveal: “we found it!”).

However, this is exactly what Galadriel does. She only doesn’t reveal to Elrond and Celebrimbor Halbrand’s true identity, but she allows the rings to be forged, anyway. But instead of two, she makes it three. For balance.

Are the Rings really free of Sauron’s influence?

Yes and no. The Three Elven rings are free from “Sauron’s influence” in the sense he doesn’t enslave its bearers to his will, but they not free from his power, they feed off of it, all the same. We know this from Tolkien lore; after the One Ring gets destroyed, in the Third Age, the Three lose their magical properties, and become mere pieces of jewelry.

What is most likely to have happened is that Sauron infused the mithril with his intentions in 1x08, as he did in 2x03 (for the Seven), and this was him attempting to replicate what he did before (in 1x08), but now he wants control and dominion, too, so his intentions are tainted with greed (which will be what the Seven rings of power will do to the Dwarves’ Ring-bearers):

The rings of power are Sauron's masterplan, after all. He sees himself as their creator and their master, like he says to Celebrimbor in 2x08:

And this strengthens the theory it was Nenya that stopped Galadriel from joining him, and compelled her to fall down the cliff, in 2x08. The ring resisted his command. Which might indicate these rings have a will of their own, like the One Ring, and Nenya chose Galadriel and sees her as its master:

Having a ring of power desobey him (his very own creation) would give Sauron not only the motivation but the idea to forge a “master-ring” to control all others:

"They worked wonders"

And this is why Sauron wants Nenya, and other Two of the Three. He needs them for his masterplan, because these were the only rings that actually worked. They heal Morgoth’s corruption. And he wants to know what he did different with them.

And 2x08 answered to that, too:

I’ve already talked about this on several posts: the Three contain OG Mairon’s essence and the qualities he was created to have by Eru himself (perfection, order, beauty), plus his desire for healing Morgoth’s corruption. And this idea is also present in 2x01:

But this is not Celebrimbor’s doing, at all. This is powerful Ainur magic, that only one of the Ainur (Vala or Maia) could accomplish: and that's Mairon.

Through Adar in 2x08, we got confirmation that the mithril can cure Morgoth's corruption in every sort of way. But this effect is only temporary, and that’s probably why Sauron/Halbrand wanted to forge two (one for himself, and the other for Galadriel, because he recognizes the same yearning for healing in her).

Then why, knowing all of this, did Galadriel allow the rings to be forged, anyway?

Galadriel herself answered to that, in 1x08:

Indeed, the Elves were running out of time (Gil-Galad gave them three weeks to find a solution), soon they would have to leave Middle-earth, otherwise they would fade, and die. And Galadriel refused to return to Valinor, in 1x01, because she wants to destroy Sauron. And Elrond failed his mission in Khazad-dûm in getting more mithril (like she said to his face in 2x01):

She knows Sauron is an ancient and powerful sorcerer, and if anyone can pull something like this off is probably him. And, subconsciously, Galadriel is aware she needs his power, because he tells her so, himself, 1x08:

Sauron: You have no choice. Without me, your people will fade. And the shadow will spread and darken to cover all the world. You need me. Galadriel: I should have left you on the sea.

And to “the sea” he returns her in the next vision, to the moment when he saved her in the Sundering Seas, to make this point across.

And it worked. Because Galadriel is willing to take that gamble and allow the Three to be forged, because there’s no other way for the Elves to stay in Middle-earth. And, in order to do that, she has to keep Halbrand’s true identity concealed from Elrond and Celebrimbor, otherwise they would never agree.

And Gil-galad himself agrees with this idea (“it’s the only way”), in 2x01, as he compels Elrond to surrender the rings:

Elrond: He worked with Celebrimbor for weeks. We know not the depth of his influence Gil-galad: Soon, the last Gold-leaf will fall, and it will be my task to inform all Lindon our time here is ended, and the Elves must abandon these shores forever. Now, you inform me our most cunning enemy is rising again. If we leave now, the peoples of Middle-earth will be left to suffer under the tyranny of a new Dark Lord. Those Rings are more than our last hope, they may be the last hope for all Middle-earth. It is a risk we must chance to take. Give them to me.

Because of you, we've no choice but to test the virtue of the Rings.

And Galadriel sort of says this to Elrond, in the same episode: I did what I felt was right. And time alone will reveal whether that was folly or wisdom.

Now, the irony of all of this is that Galadriel and the Elves, by keeping the rings for themselves, instead of destroying them and returning to Valinor, are enabling Sauron to continue his masterplan. Because had the Elves left as they were meant to, Sauron wouldn’t had the means to see his plan through (because Celebrimbor would be out of his reach), nor had they condemned Middle-earth to the tyranny of the a new Dark Lord. Which means: Elrond was right.

[vxnuslogy]

▸ THE SECRET OF US ↺

a xiao x f!reader smau.

synopsis:what was once a petty and unspoken rivalry between you and your ex now spirals into a full on war. songs, lyrics, performances, all sharpened to point at the other’s throat in hopes that they bleed. but overtime, after 4 years of this constant exchange of hurt, lines of love begin to bleed into the mix. amidst the tours, charts, and concert lights, the question still remains: have you actually moved on?

genre: social media au, band au, exes to rivals to lovers.

warnings: female reader, unrealistic/inaccurate depictions of the music industry, , angst, misunderstandings, miscommunication, swearing, toxic industries, will be updated as the series continues.

status: wip/ongoing

concert reminders:

cheers to another genshin smau project i thought of on a whim

timestamps do not matter

apologies in advance for any grammatical errors; english is not my first language

pacing might be very wack

written chapters will be marked with "၊၊||၊"

fan art used for the banner is from @xuzhi2207 on twitter.

masterlist is best viewed in lightmode!

▷ MUSIC TEASER 

0.1 – breakup anniversary 

▷ MEET THE RIVAL BANDS!

ghost flower ⇄ fading lanterns

▷ ACT I – BATTLE OF THE BANDS.

01 – audacious fuckers

02 – what is love?

03 – don’t know, don’t care

04 – say your sorrys

05 – crawling back

06 – welcome to music theory!

07 – next stop: fontaine

08 – working overtime

09 – moving on 101: block

10 – do you get deja vu?  ၊၊||၊

▷ ACT II – FEELINGS FROM THE VAULT.

tba!

▷ ACT III – JUST KISS AND MAKE UP?

tba!

▷ ACT IV – THE SECRET OF US.

tba!

▷ ACT V – LAST VERSE.

tba!

▷ taglist  – @https-sourlimes @mikashisus @ryescapades

— the taglist is open! if you’d like to be tagged, don’t hesitate to shoot me an ask (off anon) or just comment on this masterlist! please remember to change your visibility settings. if your user is in bold it means i cannot tag you.

[jasvtsc]

young!jensen x reader. ex-bf!jensen x reader.

discreet glances.

small smiles.

mouthing things you couldn’t say aloud.

secret touches under the table. 

your pinky finger rubbing his as he had his hand on your knee.

all of that? it turned into complete ignorance.

you were confused about what caused your breakup with jensen. you both were fine. everything was fine. up until one night, it wasn’t anymore. you came back home, where he was already waiting for you, his head hung low as he kept his hands clasped tightly together. you could see a small tremble in them as if he was holding back his sadness. or anger. you couldn’t tell. 

you dropped your bag and tilted your head to the side, slowly approaching him. you were quiet. he was quiet. the whole apartment was quiet except for the clock, slowly ticking in the background, and some white noise coming from the kitchen. you felt your heart slowly coming up your throat as he finally lifted his glossy green eyes to look at you. once so full of life and love, now replaced with sadness and heartbreak.

exactly 38 minutes and 16 seconds later, you and jensen broke up. he said it was distance and work. you both were young, freshly rising stars. you had your projects — most of them abroad, and he had his stuff here. it wouldn’t have worked, that’s what he said. dnd you just agreed. 'cause what else was there? if he didn’t want to fight for the two of you, why should you? two people make a relationship. not one.

so, once cheerful looks turned to avoidance of eye contact whenever your eyes met.

once quiet chuckles turned to sternness and ignoring each other.

once intimate touches turned into keeping distance as if one of you had some kind of disease.

you tried to move on. you tried. after spending countless hours crying yourself to sleep and wondering what you did wrong, you finally stepped out into the world again. slowly, you were regaining your spirit, that gleam in your eyes you lost due to the heartbreak. but most importantly, you finally let go of your past. of him. 

maybe one day your paths will cross again.

jensen also tried to get back on track. but the looming feeling of guilt and realisation that he had lost the best things in his entire life hung heavy on his shoulders. he knew he made a mistake. he should’ve never chosen his career over you. you were always supporting him, you were there for him and he went and dumped it cause what? a young heartthrob like him would lose fans if others found out he was in a relationship. he knew he should’ve never listened to his manager. but now? it was too late. you were gone. 

now, whenever he saw you, his eyes were full of longing.

his heart was crying for you.

he knew that he had to talk to you again. no matter if you hated him. he had to see you.

you were in your assigned place at some awards show. and you weren’t sure if it was just your luck or he did that on purpose, but jensen was sitting next to you. at first, you were thinking about changing your seat, but then again, there was no bad blood between the two of you. you could act like adults, right?

“baby, listen to me, i’m sorry— “ he started, turning his head to look at you with those green eyes that had so much depth to them. and again, you could see that love in them. fuck, you were crumbling. you weren’t over him as much as you thought that you were.

“hey, it’s okay. it’s fine. we’re fine.”

“we’re not, ‘kay? i regret my decision every single fucking minute of the day. i’m a fucking idiot. i should’ve never break your heart like that. i love you, baby. please, i— ” he sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “i’m sorry. about everything.”

you didn’t know what to do. your heart was yearning for him. you missed him, so much. but he broke your heart, there was no going back from that.

so, you sat in silence, just staring at each other as people around were clapping and cheering for the person on stage. but you didn’t care nor did jensen. his whole world was sitting right in front of him.

a/n: okay so yeah i wrote a little sth and tbh im not sure how i feel about it lmao i just hope that you enjoy it guys <3

༄♡ tags: @internetitgirl17 @beausling @deanswidow @deansbite @aileenunfiltered @fitxgrld @figthoughts @angelicp0etry @hrtsoldierboy @titsout4nicholas

[beef-brisket]

((It's been a hot second since I've seen the description of what the Adarians look like- so please forgive me if I'm way off the mark 😂))

Lucifer and Adam stood to the side as the nine Adarians sat at a table listening to Charlie. This was their third lesson in their training.

Charlie: Alright! So, today, we'll be discussing what people with mental illnesses need to cope and heal! Okay lets start-

Adam snickered when the tallest one raised her hand. Myrna had short brown hair and Lucifer's red eyes. She had short black horns and dark red skin.

She was the most like Adam. Within a few hours of her being fully grown, she forced Adam to get her a tailored suit.

Charlie: Uh- yes, Myrna?

Myrna: At what point do we consider the humans at our hotel to be lost causes?

Charlie: L-Lost causes?

Myrna: Yes. Surely, there will be a point where if they are not making any progress or show any determination to change we will force them to leave.

Saivth: She's right. Humans aren't eternal, not like sinners. There will have to be a point where we cut the sick leaves so the green ones thrive. And also free up rooms.

Charlie: I... we... aren't kicking anyone out. It'll be like the Hazbin. All are welcome!

Aata sticks his hand up. He has blonde hair and pale red skin, with long, thin white horns.

Charlie sighs: Yes?

Aata: That sounds a detrimental, doesn't it?

Charlie: Detrimental? How?

Aata: We are only as good as our patients. They have to work with us, not against us. We can't take resources away from patients who are making progress to focus on one that are only there for a free feed and a place to sleep. That'll be causing harm to those who are trying and not only need our help but are basically screaming for it.

Myrna: We shouldn't waste time on humans who aren't trying.

Charlie: ...okay- I see your point but-

Rawiri, the tallest male, scoffs: "But" what? They've made good points. Come on, princess, even you have to agree with some of the things my siblings have said.

Lucifer turns to Adam. He's starting to get a bit agitated: I feel like their ganging up on her-.

Adam: Their not ganging up on her, love. This is a debate. And it's good. They need this. They need to reach a conclusion they all can agree on. But we'll mediate. Just keep in mind that these are good questions.

Lucifer nodded: They kept interrupting her. She can't share her thoughts! That's not fair.

Adam nodded: Everyone! Please keep this civil, and give Princess Charlotte a chance to answer your concerns. This is her project. Try to be fair and responsible, please.

They siblings nod, and Charlie gives him a smile.

Charlie: T-Thank you, Adam.

Adam: You're very welcome, my dear.

Lowkey want an au where Adam has Alastors' powers.

The tentacles

The eyes

The changing size

The shadows

The sass

The deal making

Him owning Husk and Nifty

The musical numbers

The radio control

The tentacles- have I mentioned that before?

The rivalry with Lucifer

Maybe he replaces Alastor entirely. No Alastor. Only Adam. It's always been Adam.

Thanks for coming to my tedtalk.

Only Adam lol This is good! His Husk and Nifty could be Lute and Peter.

He doesn't have to smile all the time does he?

Yessss, and he plays rock instead of jazz lol And yes of course there is a rivalry lol

[ceaselesswatchersspecialboy]

Okay here we go

Does Stanfraud's eye still bleeds, like when Bill was possessing Ford or doesn't because of his bigger connection to Ford's body?

Is Stanfraud an uncle/big brother figure to Soos, like Stanley is his dad figure? Does Bill even care about him even a little😢

I know that the main focus of this au is on Bill, but since Stanley didn't try to pretend to be Ford, how did Stanley's and Filbrick's first meeting went after the whole "getting kicked out" thing"? Especially since both Stan and Ford were definitely broke at the time

You mentioned that Bill still has access to a little portion of his powers, what are they exactly?

Anyway your au is genuinely awesome and seeing it on my dash is always a huge treat 💛💛💛

Okay the first question I really want to answer because I’ve been thinking about this:

— His eye definitely bleeds on occasion. Even though he is far more connected to Ford’s body here, he’s still a demon possessing a host. He shouldn’t be there. There’s some outer force keeping him trapped. So I have thought about the fact there would probably be some lasting impacts on the body due to possession exposure for so long, such as the eye bleeding becoming a regular problem and gradual loss of vision in that eye. There may also be other physical impacts, but I’ll work on those when I manage to get down an official design for him.

— Great News! He is like Soos’ weird uncle! That may be where he learned to be somewhat decent around kids, honestly. He absolutely tried to mess with him at first, make jabs, tell him the date of his death, attempt to drive him to madness just a little (this is why Stan had to get rid of the last handyman), but Soos proved to be incorruptible and took all of Stanfraud’s weirdness in stride. Bill does end up caring about him. He goes as far as to liking their conversations. Soos keeps up with his chaos! Even Bill isn’t sure what’s going on in that head of his (when he gets his own body back he’s going to find out).

— Though Bill is the main focus of the plot-change, the other aspects are equally as important and so I’m glad they also have people’s interest! Their first meeting is… tense, to say the least. If Filbrick has any regrets, which I think I’ll leave up to interpretation, he’s far too stubborn a man to show them, and would rather dig himself further into a hole than admit he made a mistake. Stan desperately just wants to ignore all the scathing comments and get this little reunion over with, until Filbrick makes a comment about Ford, then Stan snaps. You can insult him, he probably deserves it, but not his brother. Sure, they may not be his brother right now, but the intent is there, and that’s what counts.

It cuts everything short, with Stan grabbing Fraud and telling him they’re leaving (He doesn’t complain).

With Filbrick, I do kind of want to explore their dynamic over the years while he’s still alive, especially with Stan, but also with how he’d treat ‘Ford’ and his odder behaviour. I don’t want to just make Filbrick a one-dimensional character though, as I think there’s a lot to be said about the cycle of abuse and parental projection so. While the AU may be based around the question ‘what if Bill got stuck possessing Ford?’ The answers it has lead me down a lot of different paths to explore — such as this!

— The powers he has access too lessen over time, but currently he is somewhat capable of seeing potential future outcomes (ciphervoyance), pyrokinesis, telekinesis, faster healing factor and teleportation. Note that all of these are in a much weaker state and drain Ford’s body and by extension Bill heavily — especially teleportation. Doing that once can cause him to pass out, so it’s more of an emergency thing, most his abilities are honestly. Too much focus is required.

And I’m so happy to be a little treat on your dash!! I hope you enjoy all this just as much!

[dragonnarrative-writes]

KinkVember 11 - Knife Play

Slasher Simon "Ghost" Riley x Bambi x Transferrable Skills Simon

Read on AO3

CW: Knife play, blood mention, CMNF, explicit consent, check ins, abrupt ending

Notes: This is from a project that I'm percolating on with @sentientcave. All you need to know about that, right now, is that for Good and Plot Relevant Reasons, the various versions of the 141 I've written, and some of their darlings, have met and are in an interesting Liminal Space, where they are passing the time.

This is not cannon to either Slasher Handler or Transferrable Skills at this time.

PS: Haha, yeah, it's late. I feel a little bad about it, but I am also being nice to myself about it. Happy KinkVember!

Ghost is not as big as your Simon, but his presence is… overwhelming. He sits on the couch, bare faced, the way he never is around the other versions of himself. His blue eyes burn into yours, before he flicks them down to take in what you've worn for this experience. Simon's shirt hugs your curves and sits lightly on your hips, the only thing you're wearing other than a pair of lacy panties. You clench your toes when he looks at your bare feet, inexplicably shy.

He unsheathes the knife.

When you take a reflexive step back, Simon is there to catch you. One of his large hands rubs your shoulder, the other caresses your throat. "You're safe, Bambi. You trust me?"

"I trust you," you answer. "You won't let me get hurt, you won't get mad, you won't punish me."

"'m gonna hurt you," Ghost says. He cocks his head. "You know no one stays dead here?"

"You do anything she doesn't want," Simon rumbles above your head, "and I'm going to make you wish you could die."

Ghost sits back, cocking his head. "Never said anything about doing anything she don't want. Just said the truth of what she's asked me for. To hurt 'er. And that I can't kill 'er."

You feel a lot less brave, now that you're looking at the unsheathed knife in his hand. "What if I change my mind?"

"Then we check in," Simon answers, fingers pinching your earlobe. He nudges you forward when Ghost holds his empty hand out. "You chose him. I trust you."

"You just said you'd make him wish he was dead."

"'e said the same thing to Roman," Ghost chuckles. He catches your wrist with surprisingly gentle fingers. He moves so fast, you don't have time to flinch. The knife is just there, against your hip, lifting the hem of Simon's shirt to expose pink lace.

"Aren't you pretty?"

"It's all I could find," you whisper as the sharp edge of the blade plinks through rayon and elastic.

"Price is a demon, an' he likes pretty girls," Ghost rumbles. "'s true in every reality."

The panties barely make a sound as he slices through one side, then the other. You don't even have to step out of them, they just flutter to the ground. He uses the sharp tip to poke through the hem of the shirt, but simply lifts it. At your puzzled face, he raises an eyebrow until you get with the program and pull it off all the way.

Ghost gestures with a finger for you to turn around. You gulp as you do, looking up into Simon's concentrating face. Ghost's hand on your hip pulls you back, until you're plopped unceremoniously in his lap, Simon following to tower over you both.

"You know it could scar?" Ghost asks, perfunctory.

"I know," you whisper.

"You say stop, it stops. Acknowledge," Simon prompts, taking one of your hands in his. Ghost pushes your shoulder forward until your chest is pressed against Simon’s front, your other hand braced against his hip.

You gulp. "Acknowledged."

The first bite of the knife against your left shoulder blade is a shock. You can tell it's a small cut, but it stings, and you're not sure why you're surprised. You don't really have time to brace before the knife is back.

Ghost moves so fast, so methodically. You imagine it's like getting a tattoo as he works his way across your shoulders. Eventually the sting seeps into you and turns into a warmth that flows down your spine until Simon is holding you up.

The pain makes things a little fuzzy and warm around the edges. The little knicks lose their edge, and you nuzzle into Simon’s belly with a hum.

Beneath you, Ghost is hard, but you kind of expected that. His hand doesn't waver, though. He just pauses when you squirm against him and resumes his work when you settle again.

You are surprised when you feel Simon getting hard against your breasts. Ghost pauses as you tip your head up to look into Simon’s dark eyes, then resumes his methodical work.

“Sits like a dream,” Ghost says behind you.

“She’s perfect,” Simon says, stroking gentle fingers over your cheek. When you catch his thumb between your lips, he groans. “Color, Bambi.”

You’re still lucid enough that the words come easy. “Green. Please.”

“Good girl,” Simon rumbles, and his other hand dips down to touch the top of your back. You can’t help but shiver as he brings the red tips of his fingers up to his lips.

[felassan]

The Art of Dragon Age: The Veilguard preview pages Part Two, under a cut due to spoilers. Preview pages come from Google Books.

[Foreword]

[Part One]

In Inquisition you had your advisors in the war room. We liked the idea of bringing the whole team in with you and the opportunity for friction it provides.

Part Two: Joplin

Top: Solas continues to taunt you and guide you through dreams. Middle: The suggestion of romance at sea. Bottom (1): Solas is nearly triumphant, but you reveal that you know about the last elves. Bottom (2): A stealthy, aquatic infiltration in Tevinter. Text: Story Art – After Dragon Age: Inquisition shipped, and all the DLC was complete, we focused our full attention on the sequel. It was going to have a fantasy spy theme, which was eventually modified to “covert commandos”. We were travelling to a new part of the map to hunt down the most dangerous man in the world. The beat boards continued. As the story started to take real shape, we asked if the artists could be moved into the same room as the writers. We could then get real-time updates to the story and create quick storyboards. Previously, most people working on the game didn’t know the full story until all the pieces had been put together in a take-home build (months from shipping the final game). For the first time ever, we could show the whole team what the story was intended to be near the beginning of the project, rather than the end. The biggest benefit of this was that the story could received feedback from a wider cross-discipline audience and could then be iterated on more than ever before. This also helped unblock the art team in an unprecedented way. Being able to look at the whole story in one glance meant that we could begin to prioritize our efforts. For example, we could tell which locations would feature most heavily, so we could spend more time designing their architecture, props, and clothing. It also forced us to do quick first-pass designs without overthinking, knowing that later we could come back and refine things if they changed. This method also takes a lot of pressure off and prevents things from feeling “overbaked”.

Top: The team is at its lowest. Middle: Sparking an uprising. Middle (2): Ghilan’nain is defeated. Bottom: In a dream, Solas is furious with you.

Top: You meet with the Archon of Tevinter. Middle: You stop Solas’s ritual, but something (or someone) escapes. Middle (2): Elgar’nan. Bottom: The patchwork team doesn’t get along at first. Bottom (2): Exploring the Anderfels.

Top: Solas reconstructs the lyrium dagger from the idol. Middle: The team discovers the body of Elgar’nan’s Archdemon. Middle (2): Ghilan’nain. Bottom: Tranquilizing himself, Solas recloses the Veil around himself and the Blight.

Top: This sequence was an early fail state. Solas succeeds in his ritual, life as Thedas knows it comes to an end, and the ancient elves return. Middle: Storyboards had played a critical role in the development of Inquisition. We wanted to integrate them into our process even earlier. To that end, we created an interactive storyboard. Starting with the early drafts of the story, we sketched it all out, including any major choices. These boards were then stitched together into a playable choose-your-own-adventure-style game. It meant that years before the real game was up on its feet, an early draft of the entire story could be played from beginning to end. This was invaluable in receiving early feedback from the team and planning out what visuals would be needed to support the game. Bottom: A rather covert entry into Tevinter remained a consistent element in the story right to the end.

Top: Rook and a team track a mysterious idol to a black-market auction. Middle: You’re not the only team that has been tracking the idol. Bottom: The remnants barely escape. Text: While we worked quickly, these sketches helped reveal where to best spend our efforts later. It turned out we spent far more time in particular locations. Some factions were over- or under-represented. In one case we discovered a unique creature that would have taken ages to build but would have only appeared for ten seconds before disappearing forever (it was cut).  

Middle: These quick sketches are often used to approve new ideas as fast as possible. In this case, exploring a “hidden in plain sight” meeting place in a Thedas nightclub. Bottom: Icons from the interactive storyboard, where you could decide whether your Inquisitor had disbanded or preserved the Inquisition, and whether they stood opposed to Solas or not.

Top: Solas reaches out to Rook in dreams. Middle: Exploring new sections of the Deep Roads. Bottom: With the help of the Wardens, you defeat Elgar’nan. Text: After a round of feedback, the story was revised. For the next batch of drawings, we added more polish. This helped us design the game before designing the game. At this stage, we weren’t too precious about anything, so we could make visual design decisions quickly, purely to tell the story. Many designs made during this stage remained largely intact.

Top: A version of the deserts of Nevarra. In this case, trying something with very high contrast: white ash and sharp black obsidian.   Bottom: The eastern Tevinter town of Ventus. This Tevinter location is a little less oppressive than the megapolis of Minrathous. You can see the hanging gardens, and in the background are magical statues keeping Arlathan Forest from encroaching any closer.

Top: Another fail state was that if you couldn’t find a way to block Solas from your dreams, he would be able to kill you remotely. Bottom: Solas lures his greatest threats to one location and wipes them off the board.

Top: Some visual backstory for Solas’s cut “bad cop” right hand, Reva. Middle: In disguise at a fancy Necropolis ball, waited on by the undead.   Bottom (1): As you sneak into the ball, you sneak into the host’s office, only to find Reva one step ahead of you. Bottom (2): Reva reports back to Solas.

Top: In one draft of the story, Solas manipulated Tevinter and the Antaam into open war, with the goal of performing the biggest blood-magic spell since the creation of the Veil.   Bottom: Rook would have to covertly approach both sides of the conflict to plead for peace. Should Rook fail at diplomacy, Solas also planted magic-collecting orbs around the battlefield. Sabotaging them would be Rook’s last option.

Top (1): Solas’s magical ritual in Arlathan Forest has already begun. Top (2): Elves loyal to Solas’s cause stand in your way. Middle (1): You finally reach Solas, just as he plunges his lyrium dagger into the Veil. Middle (2): Reva reveals a monstrous “Dread Wolf” creature. Bottom: Solas is stopped, but you begin to learn that you’ve unleashed something far worse. Bottom (2): The biggest advantage to working like this is turnaround time. You can show someone a drawing and say, “Like this?” and then quickly revise it.

Top: Imshael, having previous joined Solas, turns out to be a loyal double agent. Middle: Kal-Sharok dwarves perform a ceremony in the grip of an ancient Titan. Bottom: Solas tranquilizes Ghilan’nain (above) and, as his last act, performs the same procedure on himself.

Ghilan'nain reveals herself to the world.

[no caption]

Top: A final message from the Inquisitor. Bottom: Defeated, Solas enters the Black City alone.

Top (1): Team members betray you. Top (2): A sacrifice opens the Black Eluvian. Middle: A happy ending with your love interest. Bottom: Secret instructions from Charter.

[no captions]

The ship was a great backdrop for the interpersonal conflict of the team. We enjoyed thinking about how to make it unique, like including the collection of curiosities seen above. We also liked including the idea that Isabela procured it for you, but as a fixer-upper. Nothing like a scrappy but lovable ship to call home.

Preview pages end here.