#But Quentin is and we support that

[nosidekickspod]

The World in the Walls, entirely told in Taylor Swift songs.

[spoonyruncible]

I'm not gatekeeping, I just have some gates and I've sort of vaguely known they're there, I haven't kept them and the hinges are so rusty i doubt they'd close if I tried. But, like, for ages all that came through those gates were stray geese and a dog I think belongs to a neighbor but might just belong to himself and of course there's the hunching afflicted wrathbeast. That's just having a garden. Things grow there and random folks stumble in sometimes, mispronounce the names of my favorite varietals, say stunningly inaccurate things about them, and wander bemusedly back out.

As a surprise to probably no one I was a deeply lonely child. No one really got me or what my deal was, so when I found something I loved it was mine and mine alone to treasure. As I got older I found other people who liked 'my' things. Some of those people were horrible! But there was a kinship and it was okay to be a bit horrible so long as we could be odd together. Gardens are resilient things, they tolerate mistakes and abuse. It's absolutely wonderful to share, to dance to the same music, that imperfection becomes part of the joy of it, becomes a unique thing unto itself.

So imagine my shock when there is a garden party that rapidly becomes a festival. No one has ever really been here before, it's been me and the geese and that one dog and a few other weirdos. Suddenly my things, things people beat me for loving, are things everyone loves. All at once the landscape is unrecognizable and if I acknowledge that then I'm being a hipster. I don't mind the festival, it's nice, now it's much easier to get things I need without having to put on my trekking gear and hike out to the one obscure location that has The Supplies. It's not bad, it's just weird. It feels like there is something wrong with me instead of something wrong about liking what I like.

I'm not really talking about one specific thing here, there have been a lot of these moments where what used to be unusual or even shameful is now the big thing. And it's good, it's can be great sometimes even with the unforeseen bizarre bad parts. But there is this selfish little part of me that wants to cling to my unloved love, to put a raggedy LP on a barely working record player and lay on the wooden floor of my childhood home staring at a painting of a ship in a storm that is right beside a picture of a young man in a cap and a too large jacket and listen to sea shanties belted out by people not very good at singing while I drift and drift and drift away on the sound and the whitecaps to a place where there is only this. I love the new versions like a drowning man loves air, I am happy that people have found this beautiful thing and can enjoy it, but there is a tinge to it I don't like. A prick of pain every time I see this joy over my joy, over my joy that I was punished for, humiliated for, shamed for. I'm glad people can love these things without suffering but it makes my suffering seem so fucking stupid.

There is a certain temptation, a bitter agony, that makes me want to hiss like an abused cat and cling jealous to my silly little toys. It's not that I want them all for myself, it's that I can't let go of that little kid with a bruisy eye sulking because no one wants to play with him. It's the whisper of, "We can be friends but only in secret. I don't want people to know I'm like you." It's the enthusiasm that rapidly becomes muted because the whole world is demanding to know why you can't just be normal for once. But that same temptation to lash out is the one that makes me reach out my hand instead, especially to people who are like, "Wow! I've never been to a garden before. I'm gonna screw this up. How do I not screw it up?" because now they're that bruisy eyed kid no one wants to play with. I can't protect the person I used to be by becoming the exact thing that hurt me. Gotta keep the gate open, gotta get used to new things even if it takes noise cancelling headphones and an entirely rational amount of backsliding, gotta wake up every day and keep trying even though the world keeps throwing curveballs that no sane person could anticipate. It's all okay. We're in this together and we're all gonna be okay,

[alexandrafxx]

authors notes: sorry it’s taken so long for me to get this out, ive been busy with my tennis schedule. ill try to get to my inbox either tn or tmrw!! ily all 💗

theacademy

liked by yourusername, leonardodicaprio and 502,667 others!

theacademy Y/n Y/l/n takes home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’

tagged: yourusername

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user12 she’s an angel

username99 her acceptance speech brought me to tears 😭

user03 the way nicholas looked at her as she was on stage tho omg

user35 y/n deserves all the awards

theacademy @user35 we agree 🥹

florencepugh the best winner 🤍

liked by yourusername

user09 she looks so good omg

username27 GUYS NICHOLAS WAS THERE

user89 she’s his gf ofc he’s there lol

yourusername

liked by nicholasalexanderchavez, bellahadid and 1,267,009 others!

yourusername grateful beyond belief to have been able to stand on that stage and accept this award.

id like to send thanks to my family and friends for showing me nothing but support, i love you all! id also like to give my deepest gratitudes to Quentin for allowing me this opportunity.

lastly, nicholas, you’ve been my rock through long nights - reminding why i love this industry. i’m only where i am today because of your love and care and i cannot wait until it’ll be my turn watching you on that stage.

this award is mine as much as it is all of yours. i love you all! 💗💗

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bellahadid forever proud of you 😘🦋

username21 STOP im sobbing

user99 the most genuine and real celeb in a WHILE

username34 can they just get married alr????

nicholasalexanderchavez I love you more than you’ll ever know! 💗 so very proud of you, my winner 🏆

liked by yourusername

user81 she deserves this so much

username23 i literally screamed when they announced her name

user88 were in the era of y/n

user56 MOTHER IS MOTHERING

bestfriendsuser she’s a ⭐️

yourusername im flying you out here RN

nicholasalexanderchavez

liked by yourusername, user23 and 745,109 others!

nicholasalexanderchavez winner winner chicken dinner 🍗

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user23 i love how the majority of their posts is just each other now

username89 HOW DOES IT FEEK TO LIVE MY DREAM??!😭

yourusername my 🌎

liked by nicholasalexanderchavez

user67 im never gonna stop talking abt this

user45 THEYRE SO PERFECT KMG

username00 i want what they have

user39 when am i gonna find a man like nicholas 😔

username92 that’s my wife

nicholasalexanderchavez 👎

username92 HELP OMG ILY

user68 when’s the wedding??????

user01 hopefully never

user67 girl bye he don’t even know who you are

bestfriendsuser fiyeeee 🔥

liked by yourusername and nicholasalexanderchavez

bestfriendsuser posted a story!

caption: guess who she was waving at (it wasn't me) 💔

[posttexasstressdisorder]

California’s oldest and most infamous prison, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, is undergoing a groundbreaking transformation into a Nordic-inspired rehabilitation hub. Spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the $239 million renovation is expected to be finished by January 2026.

Once home to notorious figures like cult leader Charles Manson and serial killer Richard Ramirez, the prison is now at the forefront of California’s evolving approach to incarceration. This new direction was solidified by Assembly Bill 1104, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Mia Bonta and signed into law by Newsom in October 2023, redefining the purpose of incarceration as “rehabilitation and safe and successful reentry back into the community.”

The project draws inspiration from Scandinavian incarceration models that prioritize dignity, autonomy and reintegration. This approach has been linked to lower recidivism rates, as Norway’s two-year rate is 17.6%, compared with 61.5% in the U.S.

Jesse Vasquez, executive director of Friends of San Quentin News and the Pollen Initiative, told SFGATE he supports a shift in the prison model from punishment toward rehabilitation. “For the first time in California history, the governor decided, ‘OK, we’re gonna change the penal code. We’re gonna change the mission of the Department of Corrections, and we’re gonna solidify it with a monumental structural investment,’” he said. 

Unlike more remote prisons, San Quentin’s location in Marin County — just outside San Rafael — offers close proximity to Bay Area resources and a well-established volunteer network, enabling a wide range of rehabilitation and educational programs. Mount Tamalpais College, which operates within San Quentin, offers an associate degree in liberal arts, with courses taught by volunteer faculty from top Bay Area colleges and universities.

A view of San Quentin seen from a ferry boat on San Francisco Bay.Susanne Friedrich/Getty Images

Central to the transformation are three new buildings replacing former industrial facilities that will house vocational training areas, multimedia education centers and restorative justice programs. The 2024 report from the San Quentin Transformation Advisory Council outlines plans to reimagine the prison environment through additions like a library, grocery store, cafe and communal spaces reflecting life outside prison.

“If you can imagine like a college campus vocational training center inside of the institution,” Vasquez said, emphasizing plans for open-access programming.

Additionally, the renovation includes significant improvements in inmate living conditions, particularly advocating single-cell occupancy — a direct response to inmate requests, Vasquez noted.

“The incarcerated first and foremost wanted single-cell living,” Vasquez said, noting that renovating existing facilities wasn’t viable. With the new model, the prison can better accommodate more humane living conditions aligned with rehabilitation goals. 

Newsom’s San Quentin initiative is part of broader criminal justice reforms, including his 2019 moratorium on California’s death penalty and the dismantling of San Quentin’s death row announced in January 2022. These foundational changes paved the way for the current rehabilitation-focused transformation.

According to a 2023 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation report, nearly half of California inmates released in 2018 faced reconviction within three years.Vasquez hopes San Quentin’s new approach will serve as a replicable model nationwide to reduce recidivism.  

“We’ve tried incarceration in terms of warehousing with no programming or minimal programming and minimal investment for more than 180 years, and it hasn’t worked,” Vasquez said. “This is the one time that we have a chance to provide investment and create opportunity so that the thing does work.”

Local editor Kasia Pawlowska contributed to this story. 

[holylulusworld]

Jerk next door (9) – Lives to live

Summary: You move in next door to a jerk after a bad breakup.

Pairing: Andy Barber x fem!Reader

Warnings: angst, mentions of past domestic violence (implied), mentions of divorce, mentions of past physical abuse, scared reader, mentions of past alcohol abuse, rueful Andy, mentions of murder

Jerk next door (8) - Lies to tell

Jerk next door masterlist

Chris and Syverson left the place in the dead of the night. They couldn’t get caught sneaking around Andy’s or your house. If so, the cops would get suspicious and doubt your story. Andy said his goodbyes and thanked them again for their support.

While your neighbor helped Sy and Chris sneak out, you paced your kitchen. Andy assured you that nothing would happen, but he also told you that your ex-husband would never find out where you are living.

“This will end badly,” you gasp while pacing. “We will go to jail. Quentin is dead; he’s dead.” You don’t know how many times you imagined Quentin to end up dead. Sometimes you dreamed of the day that one of his colleagues would come to your house and tell you he got killed.

Most of the time, you felt awful having all these dreams about the death of your husband. You’re not a bad person, but what he did to you for as long as you’ve been married was unbearable. Broken bones, split lips, and bruises all over your body are the smallest of your battle wounds.

“Y/N, did you hear me?” Andy asks again. He carefully places his hand on your shoulder, making you jump. He flinches too, gasping as you start to shake. “I’m sorry.” He murmurs. “That was stupid of me.”

“No, it was my fault.” You show your palms, afraid Andy will get mad at you. Falling into old patterns is not new to you. Whenever something happens, you apologize, even though it wasn’t your fault.

“Hey,” he speaks to you like you’re a scared animal. “It was my fault. After everything happening over the last few days, it’s only natural you’re jumpy and…” Andy takes a deep breath before he says. “And I don’t want to imagine what this monster put you through.”

“It’s…” Your voice fails you. “What will happen now? I don’t think the detective will just call it a day. What if they investigate his death further? What if they find out that Quentin contacted you?”

“Well then,” Andy replies, “I will tell them that your ex-husband came to me, asking about my girlfriend. I didn’t want him anywhere near you and lied about your whereabouts.”

“There—” you throw your hands up. “If you admit that you met Quentin before, they’ll assume you killed him on purpose.”

His features soften, and he nods. You’re as smart as he expected. “Y/N, I did kill Quentin in self-defense. He broke into my house, a gun in his hands. Quentin fired at me, and I fired back. If only he would’ve stayed away from you and my house, nothing would’ve happened to him.”

“They won’t care,” you sniffle. “They never did before. No matter how many times I ended up in the hospital. The nurses, the doctors, even the cops, one of the volunteers once called. All of them sided with Quentin the moment he waved with his badge.”

“Quentin didn’t tell anyone he’ll come here. He did not come to my office as a cop, but a crazy ex-husband,” Andy explains to you. “Sy is on his way to my workplace to delete the footage. My assistant has been on maternity leave since yesterday. They won’t have proof that I met Quentin before he died.”

You shake your head. “Things are never that easy. One forgotten detail, a wrong step, and we are all going to jail for murder.”

Andy gently places his hand on your shoulder. He shakes his head as fat tears roll down your cheeks. “Y/N, it’s still self-defense. Even if they find out Quentin came to my office, there’s nothing they can do about it. No one asked if Quentin contacted us before he broke into my house.”

You nod weakly; still, you’re terrified for the first time since you left Quentin. “Self-defense…”

“It was a long and exhausting day,” Andy finally says. “You should get some sleep. Tonight, nothing else will happen. I’ll lock the door and get some sleep too. I swear, nothing will happen to you or me. Quentin got what he deserved. More men like him should end like this.”

Exhaustion wins against anxiety. You slowly get up and allow Andy to guide you upstairs and toward your bedroom. “I’ll be in your guestroom. If you need anything, just wake me. I won’t mind.”

You appreciate his offer but won’t follow it through. Andy Barber is still the man treating you like shit not weeks ago. It’s worse enough you have him at your house, your home. Asking him for help is the last thing you want to do.

You wish him a good night and retreat to your bedroom. The moment you close the door behind you, you sink to your knees, starting to cry again. Not out of sadness or fear. This time, it was because you felt like a weight had been lifted off your chest.

Andy wakes to screams, followed by low wails. He pushes the covers off him to get out of bed. While the screams stopped, Andy makes his way out of the guestroom and toward your room.

“Y/N?” He whispers before knocking at your door. “I’m coming in. It’s me, Andy.”

Andy opens the door, sneaking inside your room. He watches you rock back and forth on your bed while gasping for air.

“Hey, you’re safe,” Andy softly speaks to you. “It’s going to be alright. I’ve got this. Chris and Sy will help us too, okay?”

You nod, still shaken from the nightmare. Quentin was back, and this time, he killed you.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Andy sits on the edge of your bed.

“No.” You choke the word out. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Do you want me to sit here for a while? I can sit here while you try to get some sleep.” Andy watches you lie back down. You snuggle into your pillow as he just watches you close your eyes. “Everything is going to be alright.”

[zundely]

One thing that annoys me to no end about how Aveline's involvement and inaction im "Prime suspect" questline pans out is that they basically took the worst of both worlds.

Like you could want Aveline's inaction to be part of her development and a character flaw- which is very consisten with how she usually prioritizes the guards safety and overall image over literally anything else including their duty to protect the people. Like the investigation wasn't going anywhere and it made the guard look bad so she is dropping it because to her the smallest chance that Emeric is in fact right and people are in danger isn't worth the damage to the guard in case he is wrong. This is also good foreshadowing for when this worst trait of Aveline results in Qunari invasion. The only thing that makes me doubt this was the intention is that Aveline never gets the "Oh shit, I am not meant to protect the guard- I am meant to make sure the guard protects everyone else" moment, which was dierly needed if that's what they were going for. It was direly needed in Aveline's case in general because considering all the characters get their "Questioning beliefs" moments... Aveline's questioned beliefs are the most vague.

So lets imagine this is not what they were going for for a moment which honestly I find plausible considering the game tends to frame Aveline as mostly reasonable and how the talk afterwards goes if you do point out it was her fault. Lets imagine that Aveline wasn't supposed to be the one to blame here, the game just needed a reason for why Hawke got mixed up with the investigation- I still to this day do not get why they didn't use the perfect reason we later learned they had.

The investigation was constantly being poisoned by Orsino. Since we learn in the end that Orsino was aware of Quentins existance but keeping it under wraps to not justify Meredith's methods, he could also do what he can to make sure he was untraceable. And obviously he wouldn't know exactly what Quentin was involved with, he wouldn't believe the rumors that were cirrculating- they make every other apostate sound like a bloodthirsty killer after all.

Aveline would notice something is off and official ways of investigating are being stopped in their tracks. So she goes to Hawke with "listen this may be nothing but I feel someone really doesn't want us to find out anything in this case, and I have a bad feeling."

This way you kill two birds with one stone- you absolve Aveline of all the responsibility for what happens and you give a hint Quentin had some powerful friends.

Now I know this would put Orsino in a worse light were in the game he just turns the blind eye, but at least to me it doesn't make him necessarily a bad person? Just a man under immense amount of pressure who is very aware of how one bad thing a out one mage puts all of them in danger. I think this would also potentially make his relationship with Hawke absolutely heartbreaking especially if Hawke supports the mages. Like how do you tell the one most powerfull ally you have that you are indirectly responsible for the worst thing that happened to them.

While I personally think having Aveline be responsible for what happened and take some time to think on it would be better for the story and for her character growth I think the second option also had a good narrative potential- but instead they sort of took both of those but not really. Aveline's inaction hurts the one she swore to protect... but not really. Orsino knew about Quentin and is therefore to some extent responsible for what happened... but not really. Hawke's mother is dead and we didn't even get a churro out of it.

[rei-ismyname]

X-Men #6 FROM THE ASHES

Last issue is starting to make a lot more sense - I think Jed McKay might have strong feelings about the Morrison era. Spoilers, obviously.

Hi Xorn! Hi Magneto! Good to have you join us. It's nice to see Magneto is progressive, polite and welcoming. It's still an ideological regression from where he was at in X-Men Red/RoM/Uncanny X-Men #700, but I guess he's mostly scenery in this comic sadly. As a fellow disabled burden on society I empathize with him, but I'd like to see him still be a character of focus. Otherwise, why put him in the book? It's a shame his moment makes Xorn look like a fool - is that really his first question? Dude is a fucking monk and these people are right there.

He's wearing his Morrison/Quitely uniform too, which is not a great comparison to be drawing imo. He was last seen hanging out with his brother and Legion in Way of X, but I suppose this is as good a place as any for him to be now. Hopefully we see more of him.

Look how much Quentin has grown since Riot at Xavier's. Or maybe he's depressed. Either way he's definitely looking sharp. Idie notices one of the protesters throwing up the M.

People want Beast to solve their problems but he doesn't have the same experience and knowledge as old Beast, not that X-FORCE Beast did any of that. It's a character beat, but one we've seen before. Maybe he'll learn magic again! Magik is still very defeatist it seems, and perhaps her determination is waning. Can't say I blame her.

Quiche is dope but jokes about it aren't. Not this millennium. The Glob/Quentin dynamic is another Morrison callback. Don't worry, there's plenty more this issue 🙄. One pitfall with light-hearted quippy nostalgia is it undermines serious events happening next to it and gives mood whiplash. Somehow Idie knows Ilyana is communicating secretly with her brother. It doesn't come up again. Based on how McKay has been seeding beats we'll find out in issue #10.

Okay, so we know Magik is smart and now Idie does too. It'd be nice if more of this team started acting like friends - maybe this is the start of something beautiful. I can't say I buy Magik undermining Cyclops on a whim but she lays out the dilemma then puts Idie in charge.

They walk into the trap by putting Cobb Sr to sleep. Idie's secret is pretty cute and an effective 'cost of magic' shorthand. I am wary that it refers to nostalgia about a time that was already hyper nostalgia, but I'm getting used to it. We get to see the Cobb family dynamic, utterly predictable.

I enjoy everything on this page.

- Cyclops and Psylocke sparring

- Expanding on Hank and Mags' budding relationship with reference to their history.

- Building on Beast's fear of becoming a monster again.

- Magneto being emotionally supportive.

No new information here, though I love a jab at Fabian Cortez. This is more of a reference than anything else, though it's good to see some self awareness from Max. Although, Cortez showed a lot of growth on Krakoa.

This is a nice moment too. This version of Hank was a massive horn dog. Not saying that's where it's going but he's gregarious and it does make sense to have him be welcoming to another non-passing mutant. Glob too, though he comes off as massive dork. We still don't know much about Jen or Ben which makes it hard to get invested. If they do stick around they'd be inflating a cast that's already being covered unevenly.

Okay, Piper is here and Scott isn't pleased. Idie would have a point but it would have taken 2 minutes to talk about it. Yeah she asked for help and came willingly but as Scott says she's a minor. Her home life looks miserable and tracks closely enough to many queer experiences, but society unfortunately says children are property. It sucks, but she needs support. Nobody wins when her mother calls the cops. Is this about Piper or Idie here? I would love to see Idie being the moral core of the team but this just makes her look naive and impulsive - which is at odds with her 15+ years of characterisation. She was in jail last year!

Piper reveals that the 'Wild Sentinel' was after her and the Iron Night was her 'fault.' It's left on a cliffhanger but let's hope this doesn't torch the X-Men's relationship with Merle, Alaska.

The Morrison thing - Psychic rescue, Quentin and Glob, scientists making mutants, Cassandra Nova, Xorn is still in his uniform from the time, wild sentinel mention (which is super bizarre and out of place.) It's a lot and I'm probably missing stuff. My question is who this is for? New readers will just be confused. Morrison super fans are more likely to roll their eyes, judging by responses to last issue.

Overall this issue was pretty good. It progressed the plot, gave us time with the 3 characters who'd been ghosts, introduced new information and setup conflict with the town for next issue. I really wish the creative team would get their batting average a little higher in terms of solid issues. 33.3% is low enough in the abstract to make me drop the book - and this is one of the better ones. I know we can do better than this and it disappoints me how aggressively mid the X-books are right now.

I'm starting to recognise the formula they're working off, with information dribbling out at a snail's pace to the point that any issue becomes skippable then ending on a cliffhanger that's rarely paid off quickly. Uncanny has the same issue, which makes me think it's an editorial problem. Hell, solicits usually give more information than issues do. I'm not talking about tropes, I'm talking about the narrative tricks that allow them to publish issues that move at a glacial pace and use nostalgia to disguise the characters not being developed. One can hope :)

[theasimovzineproject]

Asimov fans, we're excited to announce the contributor lineup for Ephemeridia Galactica!! We have amazing artists and writers who are participating in this project, and we can't wait to bring this zine to life 🌟

Check out our contributors' socials below ⬇️

🪐 Artists 🪐

Amaryllis: @the-l-spacer @cringe-but-freee

Arthur Rose: @knightotoc

Cotimodi: @cotimodi

Dasha KO: @/dasha_komixmaker (taplink.cc)

Diane Ramic: @dianeramic @/dianeramic (IG) @/diantimony (Bluesky)

Dominic de la Rey: @kaiju-kin @/pauli_tau_ (IG) @/paulitau (Bluesky)

gnezdovie: @gnezdovie @/gnezdoviee (Telegram) @/gnezdovie_ (Twitter)

Haze: @hazeism @/ghostwit (AO3)

Letoscrawls: @letoscrawls @/letoscrawls (IG) @/letoscrawls (Twitter)

Mirta Brkulj: @/mirtadraws (IG) @/mirtadraws (Cara)

Nuggetelli (Page + Merch Artist): @/nuggettelli (IG) @/nuggetelli (Twitter) @/nugget3122 (TikTok)

Panini: @yeastpanini @/swallownini (IG)

SilviShinyStar (Merch Artist): @silvishinystar @/silvishinystar (Twitter) @/silvishinystar (DA) @/silvishinystar (Bluesky)

Spinyoctopus (Merch Artist): @/spinyoctopus (Twitter)

Sylvelios: @elios-sylvelios @/sylvelios (IG)

Tai: @taijahfern

Twig of Fir (Cover Artist): @twigoffir @/hasaetis_twig_of_fir (Telegram) @/hasaetis (Twitter)

☀️ Writers ☀️

Ana M: @antinael @/analilgrey (IG)

Arthur Rose: @knightotoc

Fla: @larmegliamori @/NConcubia (Twitter) @/doublephidraws (IG) @/ilsennonelvetro (IG)

Haze: @hazeism @/ghostwit (AO3)

Quentin R: @aidenwaites @/luxurygnoll (IG)

Thank you as always for your support!

💫 Info Doc 💫 Linktr.ee 💫 Instagram 💫

@zineapps @all-zine-apps @zine-scene @zinefeed

[kalinara]

(X-Men First Class Finals #2)

One of the many things I hold against Charles Xavier is how little he seems to have tried to prepare his surrogate son for life outside of being a superhero.

I mean presumably, Xavier's school does count as an actual school. The kids do go on to college or university after (though I don't believe Scott actually finished. And Jean, honestly, is questionable). Bobby at least learned enough to become an actual accountant and Warren can run his family businesses well enough.

But like, emotionally, what has Xavier actually done to prepare these kids for adulthood?

And it's particularly notable in Scott's case, because at least the others had their families (awful as they could be at times) to provide some measure of support or direction. Scott had a mad scientist's orphanage/laboratory, and then a petty street criminal wanting to use him as a living cannon. That's it.

(I suppose, eventually, he has Alex. I suppose I should give credit to Xavier there, since in the earliest issues, Scott very explicitly had NO ONE. He spent holidays at the mansion, with nowhere to go and no one to contact. All New X-Men Scott is delighted to reunite with his older-younger brother, but there's no indication there that he'd been having semi-regular contact with him. So we can assume contact was made AFTER issue #8.)

But anyway, Xavier has this kid, who has nothing, dropped in his lap, and the closest thing he does to any kind of guidance counseling is make him team leader and then skip town. (And later fake his death.)

It's just a little horrifying when you think about it. What kind of prospects does Scott actually have, career wise, if he does leave the X-Men. (Maybe piloting? Presumably he does have a license. And if his grandparents are still alive, he might be able to take Madelyne's old job?)

For that matter, how many of the various teachers at either the New-X-Men era Academy, or the Jean Grey School actually have the credentials to teach anyone?! (I'm not really bringing up Scott's post AvX "school" there, because that was less a school and more of a specialized training facility held in a secret bunker. No one was even pretending to learn how to pass the SATs.)

And honestly, it didn't seem like there was ANY organized school structure on Krakoa. I mean, yes, it IS mutant paradise. But still, kids ought to be learning math and shit, right?

And now what do we have? Emma and Kitty's students do still seem to be attending regular school at least. Scott's team are already adults (or maybe emancipated in the case of Idie and Quentin?). I don't know what the fuck is going on for the folks living in the swamp though. Maybe that'll come up after the crossover.

(I also doubt they have any real health insurance or work history that would qualify them for social security later. Being part of a millionaire/billionaire's private child army isn't really great for future prospects, I notice...)

[bullet-prooflove]

I realise I might be picking from the wrong list, can we pick from any of the prompt lists of just the the most recent one?

May I please have, 5. There’s a rumor going ‘round about me and you

With Dean Winchester or Will LaMontagne, your choice.

Thank you 💗💗💗

Tagging: @kmc1989 @yourfellowmarzipan @daydream-wordflow @the-gotham-zone @solar-raccoon

There’s a rumour going around the precinct about you and Will. He hears about it when Stawaski asks him if he minds him taking a turn with that hot piece of ass up in Sex Crimes. Will nearly slugs the son of a bitch there and then because no one talks about his girl that way. The only thing that stops him is his partner Trudeau getting in between the two of them.

“Heard you nearly got into a fight in the breakroom.” You say when he stops by your desk at the end of the day.

It’s quiet up here tonight, everyone else has either gone home or is out on a call so it’s just the two of you illuminated by the light of your desk lamp because the fluorescents give you a headache. It still surprises Will how conscientious he is of that, of the accommodations you make for each other. He lists them off in his head.

He likes to sleep with the windows open and you need the lamp on in the hall. You can’t stand mushrooms in your food, and he prefers honey in his tea. There’s more, so many more and it’s just further proof of just how deep this thing between the two of you goes.

“The cat is definitely out of the bag.” He says as his ass comes to rest on the edge of your desk, his hands clasped together.

“Is that a problem for you?” You ask, closing the report you’ve been working on and Will shakes his head.

“Nah.” He says, his palm rubbing over the back of his neck. “I’m tired of sneaking around, it’s not us. We deserve to give this a shot, a real one and we can’t do that if we’re worried about whose going to find out.”

He pauses then because yea, it’s not a problem for him but he’s not the one whose going to be labelled as fair game for other cops. Frigid is what they call you behind your back because you refused to go for a drink with Diego, or spend the night with Quentin, he hates the fact it works that way but it does. The tide is already turning in the opposite direction, Stawaski is just the start of it.

You must see the concerned expression on his features because you raise to your feet, your hands slipping underneathe the confines of his suit jacket to rest on hips. He exhales then, because the feel of your hands on him, there’s nothing else like it.

“You worry too much.” You murmur, your lips brushing over his. “The two of us, we’re gonna be just fine.”

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[darkmaga-returns]

There have been extensive postmortems on Kamala Harris’s failed campaign and the absolute drubbing she received from Donald Trump.

Democrat strategist James Carville said the moment he knew the campaign was doomed was when ‘The View’ co-host Sunny Hostin asked Harris, “If anything, would you have done something differently than President Biden during the past four years?”

Kamala answered, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.”

But legacy media keep gaslighting voters with polls showing Harris neck and neck with Trump and even leading in some surprising places.

Recently, Harris campaign advisor David Plouffe sat down with fellow Harris campaign alums Jen O’Malley Dillon, Quentin Fulks, and Stephanie Cutter on Pod Save America to discuss what went wrong.

The junk polls pushed by the legacy media were an overt gesture to help Democrats and influence the mindset of the electorate.  Case in point:  Ann Selzer’s shocking poll suggesting that Kamala Harris was leading Donald Trump in Iowa by 3 percent.

Leftwing outlets used the Iowa poll constantly in an attempt to embolden Harris supporters and suppress Trump supporters.

Selzer’s poll was precisely as it appeared: junk. Ultimately, Selzer was 16 points off. President Trump won the state of Iowa by +13.

Despite all the polls legacy media used to gaslight Americans, Plouffe admitted during the podcast that the campaign’s internal polling never actually had Harris ahead of Trump.

“We didn’t get the breaks we needed on Election Day,” he said.

“I think it surprised people, because there was these public polls that came out in late September, early October, showing us with leads that we never saw.”

The Harris campaign knew what was likely coming on election day.  Legacy media knew.  If they were actually journalists rather than the unpaid marketing wing of the DNC, they would have reported the facts.  But their motivation to shill for leftists outweighs their desire to deliver the truth.

[biqueuerious]

Wanted to share a part of the cameo I requested from Noshir Dalal for the Mysterio fans out there, but also for anyone who is a fan of his or who needs a bit of support.

Noshir shared a behind-the-scenes moment of his role as Mysterio aka Quentin Beck and how the character relates to him personally. After watching the game’s story I fell head over heels for Mysterio, especially for this version of him. Quentin’s determination to put himself out there time and time again and demand to be seen despite all the challenges he faced with really clicked with me. I’ve struggled to be seen by my family as the person I want to be, and faced backlash for standing firm in what I believe in. Sometimes I wonder if the fight is worth fighting. Now more than ever I believe it is.

Noshir’s message was very kind and heartwarming. (I must admit, made me cry a little, but in a cathartic way!) He goes on to say that the most important thing right now is finding a sense of community. I hope to find more people like me and that we can stand strong together. I cannot summarize his words in any way that will do him justice so I hope this posts just fine. If not, the full video is on Noshir’s Cameo page. If you can, please support him!

And if you see this, hi! 👋 Thank you so so much for your response. I keep this video close to my heart and will for years and years to come. The way you approach your roles resonates with how I approach any of my creative endeavors. I hope to bring that sort of life into something that others can be inspired by one day. (and if you’re still on cameo in May, I’m coming back to get a silly birthday video)

[coraniaid]

Other than a few seconds of dialogue in Season 5's Checkpoint -- in which Buffy demands the Council reappoint Giles as her Watcher and he be "reinstated at fall salary ... to be paid retroactively" -- is there any indication that Giles was being paid to be a Watcher?

I have asked this before, and nobody has provided any, but surely there must be, because the fandom seems convinced that all Watchers are paid despite the fact that almost nothing else in the show supports it.

If Giles is being paid to be a Watcher, why does he repeatedly talk about it as a "duty" and a "calling" comparable to Buffy's calling as a Slayer in the first two seasons of the show? Why did his father feel the need to make "a tiresome speech about responsibility and sacrifice" when he told him he was "destined to be a Watcher" (as Giles describes it in Season 1's Never Kill A Boy On The First Date), if said "sacrifice" came with direct fiscal remuneration? Why does nobody suggest at any point that being fired by the Council might cause him any financial hardship; why doesn't Quentin Travers make any mention of no longer paying him?

Why does he all but explicitly tell Buffy (in Season 2's What's My Line?) that he isn't being paid to be a Watcher? In that episode, Giles reminds Buffy that she [like him] has a calling which is "more than a 'gig', it's a sacred duty ... one that shouldn't prevent you from eventually procuring some more gainful form of employment, such as I did". The reading is very obviously meant to be that Buffy has a calling (as the Slayer) but could still get a paid job later in life, in much the same way that Giles has a calling (as a Watcher) but could still get a paid job as a librarian. If Giles is actually being paid to be a Watcher -- anything more than a pittance, anything that makes school librarian seem like a "more gainful form of employment" --- then this simply doesn't make sense for him to say!

So why has the collective fandom decided it must be canon that not only Giles, but all Watchers ever, are paid to be Watchers? Surely there is far more evidence that they are not, and that that one line of dialogue in Checkpoint is just a continuity error? Do we ever get any further reference to the Council paying Giles, after that episode? What is everybody else seeing that I'm not?

[verdammtwirlebennoch]

Just when I thought I had a half-way decent grasp on all this timeline bullshit. What the fuck is going on?

Okay first of all. Marina, If Alice hadn't brought Quentin back you still would have all died via Beast. This isn't her fault.

Second of all. If we kill the Beast now, it means no reset and timeline 23 for ever. But that would also somehow need to change the past because the one who gave Jane the Time Key was 40 Quentin. Who apparently became the Beast in 23. But, to be fair, maybe she was like "Yeah, the Beast is dead. But so is everyone else AND magic is gone. This is kind of a bummer. Okay, time for another round I guess!"

And why do these time loop timelines even still exist? None of them, like, actually happened, right? It was like groundhog day with Jane and the dean as the protags, who live every loop, while everybody else still perceives time as linear?

And it can't be that every loop is a new reality, because of the aforementioned fix-points of Jane and Dean Fogg. So am I supposed conceptualize this all as a string of linear time?

And while I'm at it, Eliot called the Mosaic Quest an "alternate timeline we never have to live now" as if this isn't literally what the entirety of season one, and with that, every subsequent event, hinges on. Like it literally needs to have happen in this very timeline for everything to work (as I already mentioned). He doesn't know that, granted. So it might just be him talking out of his ass, now that I think about it. And him remembering what happened seems to support that theory, actually.

I'll have to re-watch this whole show and write up an essay on the complete timeline of The Magicians.

[bi-astolfo]

My Wishlist for Marvel Rivals Heroes

I’m not including anyone I think is a shoe-in (like the other main x-men or avengers) but here’s my picks:

Black Bolt- we need some inhuman rep and the king is a great choice; total powerhouse

Lockjaw- would be a great support character and his teleport would open up new opportunities for the team (plus he’s best boi)

Karnak- another inhuman and a cool character; could have some debuff skills that help his team where he hits the enemy in their weak spot

Nova- specifically Sam Alexander but Richard Rider is probably more likely; just another flying space hero who would work well in game

Deathlok- very unlikely but he’s one of my favorite heroes (specifically Michael Collins, the second Deathlok) he has a ton of gameplay potential but he’s not well known (neither was Luna Snow though…and some variant of him appeared on Agents of Shield)

Fantomex- I liked him in X-Force and he’s got a lot of abilities that are neat. I would love to see E.V.A. (his ship) floating above the map too. He’s got cool psychic abilities and can make people not see him or see him and others as teammates. If you don’t know who he is, he’s basically french Gambit except he’s not really french (it’s a whole thing)

Moon Girl- probably likely but still want to see her. She’d be like Banner and Hulk, swapping out with Devil Dinosaur for her ultimate. Plus cool science gizmos too.

Quentin Quire- my favorite psychic. Total ass but fun potential. I like when he creates psychic shotguns and stuff. Plus he tamed the phoenix force so he’s uber powerful.

Ka-Zar- Marvel’s Tarzan superhero! Been really into his old comics lately and he’s a cool character. Give him cool abilities that include Zabu (his sabertooth tiger brother) and let him go to town on the competition.

Man-Thing- Anything that feels fear will burn under the Man-Thing’s touch! He’s Marvel’s Swamp Thing (but he came out first!). He’s also the keeper of the Nexus of All Realities, so that could give him some cool powers.

Solo- another unlikely pick but his use of guns paired with his teleport would make for fun gameplay. He can also teleport just part of his body making him harder to hit. Very cool potential.

Armor- ngl, mostly want her because I like her abilities. Creates a suit of energy armor that looks super cool. She’s probably too similar to someone like Colossus or Juggernaut, two more famous X-Men characters so I don’t see her making the cut.

Doctor Voodoo- Loved him on Cap’s Unity Avengers team. Really cool character, speaks to the dead, bunch of cool spells. My pick if we get another mage.

[watership-clown]

If i can be an autistic dragon age fan for a moment: this is insane and shows an incredibly poor understanding of the material.

I'm not going to argue with Lily that the mage/templar conflict in the series isnt extremely one-sided because it is. This has been talked to death in the community since 2009 and is news to absolutely no one. However, Quentin is an exceptionally poor example to use to prove templar abuses for one simple fact: he wasn't from the Kirkwall circle.

Quentin was from Starkhaven, a neighbouring city-state. Meredith, the templars, even Emeric who was investigating the murders had no idea who Quentin was, let alone that he was a mage. They weren't even sure there was a killer on the loose in act 1, just that two women had gone missing. By act 2, they fully suspect someone else, Gascard (who is only later revealed to be a blood mage, again not of the Kirkwall circle), of being the culprit.

Rather, Lily paints an unfortunate picture because there was someone powerful in Kirkwall who knew and supported Quentin's actions against the citizenry: Orsino, First Enchanter of the Kirkwall Circle of Magi. (For my non-Dragon Age readers, basically he's the leader of the Kirkwall mages who is shown directly opposing Meredith, leader of the templars, throughout the game. He is often depicted as standing up for the rights of all mages, but in moments like this we a shown a far more ruthless, far more self-serving side of him)

Lily's argument in this portion of script is almost entirely nonsense and proves that she is either entirely unwilling to actually engage with what this series is or is more than willing to make stuff up if it supports her argument.