#ESL America

[hoorayezenglish]

🇺🇸 #9 - 50 Facts About The USA - The US Flag - Facts About The United States of America for ESL EFL - English Learners

[doctorwhoisadhd]

you know. as a teacher. this discussion is a little too #real.

[kyonshii]

genuinely cannot understand bilingual (usually immigrant) parents who raise their kids and somehow don’t teach their kids their mother tongue or somehow try to americanize the hell out of them. oooh we don’t want them to get made fun of at school if they develop an accent boo hoo :( NEWS FLASH bitches!!! they already get bullied for not being white! im white passing as FUCK and kids STILL pulled the corners of their eyes back and said shit like “ching chong” at me!! just for being HALF japanese!!! HELLO? one of my BIGGEST fucking fears is having kids and not being able to pass on my culture to them! EVERY FUCKING DAY i see videos/comments of people (mostly/almost always asian) lamenting that they have no connection to their culture because their parents never taught them the language so they can’t even communicate with their extended family. how can you do that to your own children? cut them off from their family like that? it’s fucking cruelty. i can’t imagine not being able to even ask my aunt and uncle how their day has been. being multilingual is such an amazing fucking gift and you decide to keep that from your children just so they can “assimilate” better into racist ass american society that they’re already ostracized from anyway for being a person of color? girl you should’ve just let them be bilingual! big fat fucking L. having a connection to your ancestral homeland when you grow up in another country is so important growing up. teach your fucking kids your mother tongue. assholes.

[fls-international]

About FLS Boston Commons

One of America’s most attractive cities, Boston offers a unique blend of historical sites, such as the fascinating Freedom Trail, and modern attractions, like the innovative Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Considered America’s education capital, Boston hosts the world’s largest college student population. Prestigious universities such as Harvard, MIT, Tufts, and the University of Massachusetts are just a few of the many educational institutions in and around the city. Boston is also home to some of the best sports teams in the nation, giving students an opportunity to catch the Red Sox at Fenway Park or experience American football at a New England Patriots game. 

Our Boston Commons center is ideally located in the bustling Downtown district, overlooking America’s oldest park, Boston Common, which residents consider to be the heart and pulse of the city. Students can step outside to hop on the subway at the conveniently located Government Center station or stroll across the street for a quick bite or shopping trip in Quincy Market. 

Our partner agreements with numerous nearby colleges and universities give students many options for pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree after completing their studies at Boston Commons.

Why Study at FLS International Boston Commons?

Small class sizes ensure individual student attention

College and university placement assistance at no additional charge

Programs using the immersion method of language instruction emphasizing spoken English

Structured Pathway programs to effectively prepare students for college entrance

Eighteen levels of English study

Expert academic counselors

Accreditation by CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation)

Centers located in safe and secure environments

Monthly Language Extension Day, letting students use their English in new settings

Highly qualified teaching staff with all faculty holding Master’s Degrees or TESOL credentials

Programs Offered

General English

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Discover Boston

[sleepysheepd]

Living is hard in the United States

If you don’t know how to speak english :/

And I hate when some people make you feel ashamed instead of teaching you. I consider myself lucky and blessed when I find people who have the patience to teach me.

[americanlocal]

Welcome to my blog!

Hi, I'm Leo! I've lived in the USA my whole life, and I've learned that there are a lot of people who want to learn more about English or American culture than they might be taught in school. I thought it was a good idea to create a resource for people who are thinking about studying in America, visiting, or are just curious.

I have a linguistics degree and a lot of experience talking about how language works, and it's something I like to talk about. I don't want this to be about vocabulary or test scores, though. There are plenty of resources out there to improve your academic English- I want to talk about things like how we use swear words or regional slang. More casual topics like this are actually important to understand how and why people use a language a certain way. I'm not opposed to helping people with English writing or answering questions, but that isn't really the point of this- I just think it's important to develop a well-rounded understanding of a language you're learning. (Also, English can be pretty complicated, and I'll probably end up talking about things like plurals and conjugation a lot.)

Feel free to ask me anything. Also, keep in mind that all opinions are my own. I've only ever lived in Ohio, so most of my experiences relate to that. Someone from Texas or Washington or Alabama might see things completely differently. I'll try to post semi-regularly, but it really depends on if I come across a subject that I think is interesting. My goal with this blog is to make the fun part of language learning more accessible, and hopefully share a little bit of America that someone who's never been here wouldn't know about from movies or the news.

[atusa213]

AcademicTutors.net | English Classes Online | 💻 | 🇺🇸 | +1-213-522-0848 | #academictutorsusa #academictutors #AcademicTutorsUSA #AcademicTutors #americanenglish #esl #englishclassonline #englishclass #englishonline #eslclass #englishvocabulary #englishvocab #vocab #vocabulary #americanstates #americanstateflags #usstates #usstateflags #flags #america #unitedstates #unitedstatesofamerica🇺🇸 #usa #usa🇺🇸 #🇺🇸👍🏼👍🏼 #🇺🇸 (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClsTXJarVQD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ed-recoverry]

Please check out your local library!!

I volunteered at a library this summer where my main tasks were returning books and organizing. Here’s some common books I saw tons of in the library that you can get for free!

Cooking. So much cooking. All kinds of foods, dietary limitations, and cultural specific.

Crafts (sewing, crocheting, knitting, painting, decorating, pottery, drawing, and cross stitching are what I can remember just off the top of my head. So many)

ESL/learning English

Foreign language learning

Financial advice

So many “___ for idiots”

Destinations / countries

Mental health / disorders (and recovery)

Music (including sheet music)

Classics (the ones you see read in high school)

Test prep (including SAT, ACT, PSAT, ect)

Gardening / how to grow stuff

Pet care

Child care

Illness information / coping

Disability information / coping

Both specific and general historical topics (From just the history of America in general, the history of a certain group of people, to history of certain events, ect.)

Most hobbies.

Religion

How-to’s and guides

Audio books and movies are usually available in the hundreds. Popular books and movies are accessible.

It’s usually disability friendly and most are also offering free games and devices to borrow.

Most also have computers where if you are looking for a certain book, it will tell you where it is in the library or which nearby libraries do have that book.

Fiction books are also abundant and usually the genre is labeled on the spine.

Even if you don’t want to take a book out, you can sit there all day and just read a book. It’s a good, quiet place for those stuck in a chaotic situation. It usually has AC/heat, bathrooms, and water fountains too. As long as you’re not a snorer, no one really cares if you even take a nap.

Overall, I cannot recommend libraries enough. People really think why go when you have the internet, but it really has everything and an immediate option so you don’t have to search. And, once again, free!

Libraries, especially in more conservative areas, are getting less and less funding and more and more restriction on books with content regarding LGBTQ+, black history/authors, and safe sex. Donate to your local library. Visit. Check out what is there. There literally is no negative!!

[hoorayezenglish]

Pt 3 of 3: The History of American Landmark - The Statue of Liberty - Facts About The United States of America for ESL EFL - English Learners

[isaacsapphire]

Oh man, the big case of a guy getting by on looks I've run into was a very blonde Scandinavian immigrant who had very weak English skills, but his blondness had apparently blinded people to the fact that his English was too bad to do the job, when they would have noticed if he was Hispanic.

I have a "coworker" who I think may have gotten by on his looks up to this point and has just realized the limit of how far they'll carry him... and he is not handling it well.

[n7punk]

Adventures in unlicensed buffoonary! Recently this SPOP "Trivia book" got listed on Ebay, which was baffling to me both because I had never seen it before and because it was listed for two hundred fucking dollars

My gut instinct was "this isn't real" because again, I'm a freak who knows all these things, and yeah I can confirm this is bullshit.

Clayton Gallagher makes himself scarce online (probably to hide out from the lawyers), so I couldn't find any social media or a website for him - not to mention it's the name of a character from one of the Shameless shows to fuzz the radar - but he seems to exclusively create "trivia" and activity books based on random popular... things. Mostly shows (Trollhunters, the Amazing World of Gumball, etc) but also some... other things (Dolly Parton for some reason??).

He has created not one, but FOUR trvia books for She-ra, all using stolen/promotional art but that carefully never include any official endorsement or mention of Dreamworks, Netflix, Mattel, or Filmation. I'm highly convinced these things were written with AI, mostly due to things like the below excerpt from the first book's summary:

Like. Jesus christ. Maybe it's just a second language thing but the lack of spaces screams machine bullshit and we'll look at the insides later.

Okay so the first book came out on August 19th 2021 (another reason I lean towards AI) and features the debut season art. All the others came out on August 20th 2021 (literally a day later) and feature the season two art, stolen licensed book cover art (from Island of the Magical Creatures), and the season four teaser art (Rebellion variant).

I can only find these things available as e-books but apparently, supposedly, this one eBay seller has a rare physical paperback, which surely must make it worth 270$. I fully don't believe this is a real paperback unless it was self-printed. I think you either get a shitty slapped-together print out or a puff of smoke if you order this.

Now lets get into the stunning content. They all start with the cover art and then the same incredibly generic header

After about two seconds of investigation I see this is a pattern with all his trivia books across franchises. They all start like this and have identical copyright pages as well. Instead of taking four screenshots to show content is identical, just trust me from here on out everything is exactly the same across the She-ra books, including chapter headings, formatting, and trivia questions. These are just cover swaps.

The final chapters cut off here are "Chapter 6" and "See you later", neither of which has a page number. Again, this awkward phrasing is either written by AI or the author is ESL and I'm pretty 50/50 split on which. Let's get into the "trivia" and see if it solves it, shall we?

So. A couple things.

Yes, it DOES have a fill-in the blank for you to write your name even though this was clearly intended to be primarily, if not exclusively, an e-book. That's bold innovation!

They start off strong with a misspelling of quiz in the fucking header.

The formatting is godawful (point to AI for inconsistency, any human would see the obvious problems here as they work - or if they cared enough to glance at the output, which they clearly don't. Why is there a random A. out of nowhere?).

The trivia questions are awful (is She-ra an America streaming show? You think this counts as trivia that a kid - the obvious target demographic - wants to know? Second, I KNOW you're saying streaming because you're so scared of the word Netflix but somehow you're not worried about using the show logo and literally stealing the promotional art for the cover?).

The trivia answers are awful. Mama? Really? Maria is the only kind of good option because it's close to Mara to trip kids up or whatever, but also none of these are "other names" for She-ra! Adora and Mara are people who bear the title of She-ra, but you can't say "Genocide Joe" is another name for president, that's not how titles work! If you wanted to use this question, the answer would be "Princess of Power".

(Also lol at the answer key for question 2 now being wrong. Shit that might have been wrong at the time, when did Nate choose a new name? 2021? 2022? All those years blur together).

Okay I know you've all been on the edge of your seat about that last question cut off at the bottom of the page and yes, it is as factually wrong as you're expecting, and only gets worse as we settle firmly into the "AI" territory.

More lists because jesus christ.

Everyone knows Adora is She-ra. This is not a secret. The answer is every member of the Rebellion and most random citizens. 5 is equally stupid given yes, they never existin the same space at the same time, but people always watch Adora transform before their eyes. The grammar is also bad, but whatever, this does segue into the next questions.

Question six is when it becomes obvious what happened: the writer fed prompts into an AI without fact-checking anything and the AI gave back answers related both to the reboot and to the original. He-man canonically does not exist - he isn't just not mentioned for legal reasons, Mattel said he straight up could not exist or ever be hinted at (due to not existing) - in SPOP. 7 is once again completely untrue in the reboot. Adora came through a portal - not necessarily kidnapped, not from Eternia, and again, no Adam

Why is only Sunna's name in black for question 9. Mostly shocked they spelled her name right.

Things somehow manage to fall apart even more in the final remaining questions available in the Kindle preview sample!

Genuinely have no idea what the answer to 15 is supposed to be. "What is the original country of SPOP have?" isn't a sentence. All I can figure is you're supposed to pick America as it's the country of origin, but I don't trust this book to even have an answer key at the end, so who knows. All that said, Earth was canon in the original, so this might be (intended to be) related to the 80s series.

The Cure took me out.

Okay but Adora isn't leading the "Great" Rebellion!! She's definitely a major leader on the field, but the answer is Angella! There is no correct option here! If they said "the Princess Alliance" I would let that go because you could argue she is the leader of the Princesses, but the rebellion? No, that's the whole military and Angella/Glimmer lead that.

17. THE ANSWER IS ANGELLA. I fully do not believe you're supposed to pick false here, this is not a trick question, they're just wrong (see question above for evidence they're stupid)

They don't even call it the Great Rebellion in the reboot....

The sample ran out and I'm not paying money to feed this AI bullshit but I don't expect it to improve from here.

Anyway this was an interesting display of Bullshit and fuck AI generated books fr

[fls-international]

Our Activity Calendar for the 0224 Term. Use the QR Code to sign up. Meet at 131 Tremont Street in Boston, MA. We are on the fourth floor. Located directly across from Park Street Station!

[wint3r-h3art]

Pisces

Pairing: Namor x Fem!Reader x Attuma

Synopsis: This is a No Powers AU. Namor and Attuma are renowned businessmen who built business empire around the globe. As best friends and business partners, they share everything, and that include you.

While on his business trip, Namor’s attention shifts toward his business empire and less on you. Feeling unloved and unneeded, you decide to runaway. Of course, it doesn’t take long for you other lover to seek after you and bring you back to them.

Word count: 8.2K

Warnings: smut with plot!! slight angst! Established poly relationship. Predator/prey play, praise kink, finger kink, fingering, vaginal sex, car sex, oral (male & female receiving), dom/sub undertone, spit roasting, cum eating/dumping

18+ ONLY | MINORS DNI | By clicking readmore, you agree that you are 18 and over. Your media consumption are your own!

**** DO NOT COPY, TRANSLATE, PLAGIARIZE, OR REPOST MY WORKS ANYWHERE ESLE !  If you enjoy my works, please reblog/comment for support!

You could feel his unyielding gaze on you even from this far out. His presence alone should intimidate anyone that came within his vicinity, after all, he had always been a presence unto himself. His height and build had always been overwhelming to many, especially by the way he was carrying himself. 

The man was close to 6’5” and built like a tank with broad shoulders and chest. His waist and legs were thick with muscles. He could easily be mistaken for an athlete, and it wasn’t so far off either.

Attuma was a businessman through and through despite his past with Talokan’s Elite Special Forces. You came into his life after he retired, so you didn’t know much about what exactly he did. You just knew that the man served his country well, and now he’s working on his own thing. 

Perhaps it was why he’s renowned for running his business like his battlefield–ruthless and unyielding. His tactic has always been aggressive–an all-for-nothing sort of way that drives his competitors up the wall, which was unlike Namor who was more cautious and guarded. 

But that was how it made them the perfect team.  

Attuma’s gaze burned you in a way that you couldn't explain–it was awakening something primal inside that both were terrifying and exhilarating. He was looking more and more like a predator the way his deep, brown eyes bore down on you. His jet-black hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail as he leaned his massive frame against the marble column inside the luxury boutique. He was sucking on a lollipop as he was eyeing you.

The all-black suit did nothing to hide his impeccable biceps and the massive plane of his chest. No one dared to question him or what the hell he was doing because they knew who he was, and everyone knew to mind their own business when he showed up. The septum piercing was a dead giveaway, but it was also the aura that he was emitting as well that everyone just knew he was the owner of the whole damn place.

A smile spread across your face as you weaved through the crowded boutique. Attuma shook his head in warning. Despite his relaxing composure, you know exactly what that means. 

No games. It was time to go. 

You wanted to play—you craved the thrill, primarily when Attuma got all worked up. 

You haven’t seen him for almost a week since Namor brought you along for his business trip here in America. Being all cooped up alone in the hotel room by yourself was making you antsy. It didn’t help that Namor was so focused on his work that he barely spent any time with you, so now that you were out and about, it was only natural to want to seek a little thrill–y’know, giving him a little taste of what it feels like to be left all alone.

Attuma loved the little game of cat and mouse. It drove him crazy whenever he had gotten a chance to just let himself lose. He knew the instance when you began to walk away from him with that little smile on your face. It wasn’t the first time that you act up, and he knew it wouldn’t be the last either.

As you took a step back, he took a huge step forward, pushing through the crowd. He knew that goddamn look, and he knew he had to work for it.

A quick dial on his phone and Namor picked up the call at the first ring.

“[I found our Birdy, but we’re going to run a little later than planned. She wants to play.]”

Namor grumbled knowingly, throwing the document across his desk. He could feel his head throbbing, trying to figure out what the hell he wants to do with you. He understood that he wasn’t great at keeping you happy or entertained. On the other hand, you needed to stop acting like a brat. His patient could only go so far.

“[You’re enabling her.]”

“[Well, you should have thought of that when you brought her here and left her in the hotel room all by herself. You could have waited for me. You know how she gets when you don’t give her enough attention. But what do I know?]” 

Sarcasm drenched his tone as continued to follow you. Attuma could feel his friend rolling his eyes even through the phone. If no one was going to say, he would. He had no problem with that.

“[That is not my point.]”

“[My point is, you pissed her off, and she takes it out on me, and it ends up being me doing all the work just trying to get her back. Have you ever stopped and considered that perhaps she needs you, which is why she acted this way? We agree on this that we will try to make this work together, but you just can’t keep doing to her, K’uk’ulkan.]”

Namor fell silent. He knew how you could get when you don’t get your way, especially when he doesn’t let you do anything you want. The past couple of days had been hectic for him, and he admitted that his busy schedule made him spend less time with you…It still didn’t justify the way you act up though. The bratty behavior needed to stop, and the fact that Attuma let you get your way all the time was unacceptable.

They knew that you know the sort of power you have over them, and how much you love to abuse it, knowing full well that they can’t say no to you. They may be in control when it comes to sex, but at the end of the day, it was you who held all the power over them in the palm of your well-manicured hands. Even if Namor had always been stern with you, he still let your behavior slip 9 times out of 10. 

Running his fingers through his hair, he sighed in defeat. 

“No funny business, Attuma. Do not drag this little game of yours for more than 20 minutes. Or I will kick you out of the suit together,” he warned. 

A sarcastic laugh left his lips, making the people inside the boutique stare at him, but Attuma didn’t care. It was almost comical in a way that Namor’s love for control seeped into their everyday lives. As nonchalant as Attuma could be, sometimes, he asserted his own authority over his friend as well, especially when it comes to you.

He knew what was at stake here. Under normal circumstances, Attuma would take his sweet time, dragging out the little game until you were too exhausted to run from him. But now, he had to put in the effort to actually catch you. The little cat and mouse game has just gotten interesting, and here he thought this little trip was boring. It brought him back to his time as Talokan’s soldier.

“15 minutes is all I need. Also, fucking get something to make it up to her. I can only do so much. If you love her, do something about it.”

Namor had already gone ahead and ordered all the made-up gifts and flowers, even dinner reservation for the three of them at a three-Michelin star restaurant that you have always loved. He was going all out on his apology. Of course, that would come after the little punishment, of course.

“And one other thing. I owned that fucking hotel. You can’t lock me out of my damn property, you jerk.” Attuma hung up before his friend could utter anything, leaving Namor exasperated and annoyed.

.

.

.

You watched from a distance as Attuma placed his phone in his suit pocket. You knew who he was calling. The look he was giving you now was a complete 180. He wasn’t in the mood to play with his food anymore–no, he was going in for the kill, and you knew your time starts now.

Without any hesitation, you took off. There was zero chance that you could beat him in this little chase. You were set up for failure too many times to count, but it didn’t stop you from trying. Perhaps this once, you can outrun him. 

Weaving through the rush of people, you looked back to find Attuma walking–no, he wasn’t walking. That damn man was stalking you with the look of a starved predator. His stride widened, and each time he took a step forward, he seemed to gain another foot or so closer to you. It was like you made no progress at all.

Damn his long legs, you muttered under your breath as you continued to run.

You turned right, then left, hoping to throw him off his game. This was a luxury mall after all, there was no way he could just breeze past the patrons without causing any issues, you thought to yourself as you turned left. 

There was fucking way he can catch you now that you have thrown him off with all the turns.

Your legs were burning as you tried to pull air into your lungs. Your blood was practically pounded inside your eardrums the faster you were going. Every ounce of you was buzzing with adrenaline. It felt like it was not going to end, but your hope swells when you find the exit. There was a twinkling of hope shining dimly. The victory was so close that you could almost taste it on your tongue. Just a couple of more feet and you would win.

Your hand grasped the handle of the door and yanked it open.

But nothing.

Your heart felt like it dropped to the pit of your stomach as you tried to yank the door open again, not daring to look behind you.

Nothing.

Anxiety bubbled up inside of you when the realization finally dawned on you. You finally turned around in hopes to make it out of this section at least before Attuma got there, but it was too late. He was already there, leaning against the wall, sucking on that God-forsaken lollipop as if he hadn't just dashed through the crowd to get here. 

Not a single hair on his head was out of place, and not a single drop of sweat poured down his face. The man was the epitome of cool, calm, and collected. This place was his playground, and he knew every entrance like it was the back of his hand. Your chance of running away for less than 1% the moment he entered here.

“Alright, Lil Birdy. The Big Fish is getting impatient, so we have to go back before he gets mad at us.”

“You haven’t won yet,” you pointed out. There was a fire in your eyes, and he loved that a lot. A woman who was as fierce as you deserves only the best challenge he could give you. 

You sized him up, walking slowly closer to the opposite wall, creating enough distance that you could just bolt right past him.  As long as he hasn't physically captured you yet, you still have a chance to win. All you had to do was sprint past him.

Yes. That was it.

And as if Attuma had read your thought, he took a small step closer. His larger body looms close to you. He was built like a goodman fortress, so to get past him, meant you had to be quicker than him.

“Sweetheart, no funny business, remember. Acting bratty with me will only get you into more trouble.” There was a warning in his eyes as he slowly approached you, but of course, you took off, or at least you tried to.

A pair of strong arms wound around your waist as your body was being hauled back. Before you knew it, your world was being turned upside down. A loud, surprised yelp left your lips as you found yourself being slung over his shoulder. You tried to flail your arms, hitting him, smacking at his ass or whatever part of you can reach, but Attuma just laughed as he smacked your ass in return.

“How many times have I told you that you can’t win at this kind of game?”

You didn’t answer him. Instead, you let out a whining noise as you flailed in his arms. Attuma didn’t seem to be bothered by it as he stood there, waiting for the staff to unlock the entrance doors for him.

“You cheated.”

“It is simply an aggressive tactic, that is all.”

“Still cheated,” you whined, pursing your lips as you continued to wiggle over his shoulder.

A large blacked-out car pulled up at the entrance. Its door had already opened by the time Attuma put you down and ushered you inside. 

“And you are still a brat,” he muttered as he sat beside you. 

You were more annoyed and frustrated at this point as Attuma sat there quietly, not even bothering to look at you. You crossed your arms and looked the other way. If he wants to play this game, you can do the same too.

“Why are you always taking it out on me whenever Namor pisses you off?” Attuma finally asked after some time.

His tone was light, but there was a heavy undertone to it. Perhaps annoyance…or worst hurt. You couldn’t help but look at him for a long moment. You knew exactly what he meant. It seemed like you always went to him whenever your other love upset you. Attuma has always been your rock now that you think about it.

He was the first to approach you and the first to court you between the two. You only met Namor because Attuma introduced you to him, so why have you always treated him this way? Was it because he never showed you anger or resentment? Or was it because of something else? Your love for him was as equal as your love for Namor, but why has it always been him that you always take your attitude on?

“I don’t know,” you admitted after some time. The answer didn’t satisfy you or him, and you were fully aware of it. “Maybe because I know you would come looking for me?”

He didn’t look at you. He didn’t often express his anger or hurt around you, but it often showed up in his attitude and action. Like for this instance: his silence.

He was often boisterous and loud when someone else pissed him off. Oftentimes, he acted on his urges, but with you though, it always ended in silence as if he was holding himself back as if he didn’t want to scare you off.

You said sorry to him. This time you place your hand on his cheek so that he could look at you. His expression was still unreadable, but then again, you could never read him when he doesn’t want you to.

You slowly perched yourself up on the seat, so that you were looking at him at the same eye level. He had gone ahead and pulled up the partition so whatever you two were doing in the backseat of the SUV wouldn’t be known to the driver, but it was still nothing.

“I just know you will be there, that’s why I keep doing it. If Namor won’t come after me, I know you would…That was enough for me to know that at least I have you, so if you’re still mad at me, now it’s a good time to push me away,” you said softly. 

Your breath brushed against his lips, making them tingle slightly. Attuma was still silent, except that his eyes were bored into yours with an interest now. Those deep, earthy brown eyes of his seemed to melt as your words finally sank into his head.

“To be quite honest with you, I am more hurt about it than angry at you.”

His words made your heart drop to the pit of your stomach. You stared up at him and felt the worst possible emotion. There was no playfulness in his tone, which made you even more guilty.

“I am the worst, aren’t I?”

Attuma sighed as he noticed your tearful gaze. Oh fuck, he really hated it when you cried. You really didn’t mean to, but when you think about all the times you caused all the trouble, you realized that you were being unfair to him.

“You’re not…I just spoil you too much and let you get your way too often,” he sighed. “I just wish you would treat me less of a punching bag, and more of your partner…Can you do that for me moving forward?”

You nodded. 

“I need you to say it,” he whispered against your lips, brushing them almost feathery that making your skin prick with goosebumps.

“I can. For you, anything.”

“Good girl.” Attuma leaned in, kissing your forehead first before capturing your lips. 

It wasn’t a hot kiss that you often shared, but something softer, more intimate than your usual antics with him. It felt more like a reassuring kiss–something along the lines of him validating his words and feeling for you.

Attuma felt it in his bones when his lips moved against yours, creating a soft friction that he has been craving since he arrived here. The slow, tantalizing kiss soon melted into a heated one, filled with needs and fervor that burned you to the core.

Your body buzzed as he slipped his tongue inside your mouth. Every ounce of uncertainty seemed to melt away as the kiss deepened. Soon, you find his large body covering yours. Heavy and hot. His lips were soft yet demanding. There was just enough pressure and suction as his lips rubbed against yours. His tongue caresses your lips before he nipped your lower lips just before he drew it in to gently suck on it.

Your hands clung onto his massive back. Your hips moved on their own as you were rubbing your aching pussy against his thick thigh, hoping and wishing that the thick muscles of his thigh were enough to sate your throbbing pussy. 

You were breathless and panting as excitement coursed through your vein like liquid fire. Your hands were everywhere–fingers dug into his thick back, feeling the way his muscles rippled beneath your palms every time he moved.

His mouth slid along the column of your throat, lips grazed over the thrumming flutter of your pulse and along your jaws. Attuma paused at your ear. You could feel his warm, wet breath brushing against the shell as words spilled out of his mouth, full of sweetness and promise of never letting you go. Even through the haze of your arousal, you knew he was speaking the truth. 

His fingertips sought out the buttons of your blouse. His lips found the center of your collarbones before his mouth traveled down to the space between the valley of your breasts. He lingered there longer, kissing and sucking on the soft skin. His large palms cupped and kneaded through your bra like he hadn’t touched you in ages.

The thing about Attuma that you loved the most was his devotion to your pleasure. He had always put you first above all else. Every touch was meant to bring you closer to your release. He had never asked too much in return, yet you always make sure to reciprocate the same love he had given you.

Attuma went lower still. His dexterous fingers made quick work on your jeans, pulling them off you easily. He could have torn the things to pieces, but he refrained. There was no use of brute strength here.

Soft, mewling sounds slipped past your lips as your body succumbed to the soft pleasure that slowly built up inside of you. Your legs fell apart easily once Attuma tossed your jeans over his shoulder. Then his mouth bored down upon your flesh once more. Soft and wet, licking and sucking, stroking every nerve ending in your body, devouring you alive.

His low, deep guttural moans were like quiet words whispered against your skin. When he delved his thick finger inside you, you felt your body being consumed by the fire he set. Your body easily molded into whatever shape he wanted, yet he had never asked for more than what you have given him.  

It was a slow and tortuous touch, yet you opened up to him, allowing him to take whatever he wanted. Attuma slipped another thick finger inside you, and you knew you were done for. His fingers moved slowly at first, dragging out the sweet and delicious friction that you longed for. Your hips bucked upward as he pushed them all the way to his knuckle until your juices leaked out and rolled down till they pooled under your ass. 

Pleaded words left your lips as he continued to administer his slow, and desirous torture. 

His thumb pressed firmly against your small bundle of nerves, circling it and rubbing it until your legs started to shake. Pathetic whimpers left your lips as you clung to him with all of your might. No longer was the feeling of resentment and anger, and instead, your heart was filled with love and adoration that this man simply could give you with simply by his touch alone. You came not too long, but you didn’t let yourself catch any breath.

Attuma found himself being pushed back as you made quick work of his zipper. Your mouth watered at the sight of his cock. He was so hard and so ready for you. You gave him a tentative stroke from base to tip. You eyed him, watching the way the corner of his mouth twitched at the friction you have given him.

With your hand gripping his broad shoulders, you lifted yourself up and lined the tip of his cock against your opening before you slowly sank down onto his shaft.

Soft gasps slipped through his lips as the sensation of being enveloped by your warm, wet heat slowly consumed him. No matter how many times he had taken you, it always felt like it was the first. His length and girth had always intimidated you, even now, after years of being together, you were still unnerved by him.

You could only grunt as you slowly lift your hips up before slowly sinking down on him again. Each time you moved, you felt like you were about to split apart. Attuma stretched you out so deliciously that you felt like your mind was splitting. It was hard to concentrate on anything else when your mind was trying to focus on pleasing him.

As you began to find your pace, Attuma’s patience was running out as well. Without a word, his hands grasped your hips, holding you still as he began to piston his hips upward, driving himself deeper and after into you.

No noise came out of your mouth as he drove into you with such vigor. It was too overwhelming and just too much that you couldn’t think of anything else except for the way his cock was practically splitting you apart. Every time he slammed you back onto him, you felt like you were going to bust right then and there.

Of course, it didn’t take long for you to come. Your body convulsed and spasmed in his arms. It took you a while to realize that he hadn’t come yet. You pushed back and looked at him, but of course, you noticed that the car had come to a halt.

Your eyes were still bleary. Your skin was still feverish of the way your lover had made you feel. Attuma’s gaze was still burning into you. His arousal was still prominent against your thigh. You know the moment you leave this car and make your way up the hotel, you will be punished.

“Time to face your music, Little Bird. You can’t keep running away from your problems forever.”

You sighed. He was right. It was childish to even do the thing that you do, but you wanted attention from them, so it was the only thing you could think of at that moment. 

You took his hand in surrender. It was time to face the music.

You ended up staying in Attuma’s suit instead of Namor’s.

Your nervous energy was far too palpable that Attuma didn’t have the heart to let you face Namor immediately. His friend could wait some more. After all, it was his fault that you did what you did. It was a reminder for both of them that you cannot be controlled and tied down, and that if you wish to leave, they cannot stop you from doing so. It was a reality check for the two men and a greater one for Namor.

His way of loving you was perhaps a bit more extreme than Attuma's.

He had always had a sense of overprotectiveness over you to the point where it becomes smothering at times. He knew that his career often gets in the way of his life too. He’s managing multiple businesses globally. It was difficult to balance work and life altogether. There was no doubt about how much you meant to him, and he was confident that you could hold your own as well, but he understood that even the strongest person needed support, and he couldn’t be there.

Stepping outside the bathroom, you sighed constantly as you wrapped your body with a soft plush bathrobe. Your nerves seemed to relax a bit more, but of course, once you looked up, you found your heart sank.

Attuma was sitting on one of those large, plush sofas, looking at you with an unreadable expression once again. On his left stood your other lover, dressing in a deep navy suit, looking at you with a stern expression. 

Though Namor was not as tall as Attuma, his presence was his own. There was a regal air about him, almost like an air of authority. His presence commanded attention. His words commanded respect. No one ever dared to speak over him, and most important of all, no one ever dared to disrespect him. 

You couldn’t tell which one he was feeling at the moment by the way those brown eyes bored you. You didn’t know if he was mad, annoyed, or disappointed. Whatever it was, you really didn’t want to deal with him. No words had uttered out of his mouth, yet you knew what they were going to be.

Silence lingered inside the room. The quietness was almost deafening and the tension made the air thick, almost unbreathable. You waited, but nothing as the silence continued to stretch out further. Your first thought was to run to Attuma because you knew he would comfort you, but all sense of rationality seemed to slip out of your mind when Namor took a few steps toward you. His deep, brown eyes bored into you with an unreadable expression. The heaviness in the room only grew heavier once he was in front of you, intercepting your path and preventing you from reaching Attuma. You halted immediately as you stumbled backward, clearly surprised by his sudden movement.

A gasp slipped out of your lips when you found his thick strong arm snaking around your waist, caging you and holding you close to him. Heat radiated off his body, flooding your nostrils with nothing but his deep, masculine cologne–the one that you gifted him. His eyes bored into you with an intensity that made you want to crawl under the cover. 

Blood rushed to your face as you struggled to look him in the eyes, so you cast your gaze elsewhere, but Namor would have none of that. He grabbed you by the nape of your neck and force you to look at him. You could smell the sweetness on his breath when he exhaled. The warm heat tickled your skin, making your nerves buzz and hum.

Your mouth went dry in an instant as you tried to swallow. Whatever you planned to say to him seemed to dissolve the moment he touched you, and it scared you the fact that Namor had such power over you.

“Why did you leave me?”

His voice came out like a soft tremor, making your body hum with anticipation. Namor knew the reason already. It was more than obvious. He just wanted you to say it out loud. 

He knew he fucked up on his part, and there was no amount of gifts or apology that could remedy what he had done. He just wanted to know why you always do this–making him some sort of a bad guy. He was not perfect, and he tried to be the best partner he could be for you. He wasn’t as attentive to your needs as Attuma was, and he knew that. He wanted to be better. He would have given you the whole damn world you wanted because that’s the kind of man he was. 

At the same time though, you were the only person on this Earth that knew how to push every single one of his buttons. He wasn’t sure whether your defiance came from your attention deprivation or not, but he didn’t appreciate being tested and questioned all the damn time.

“You know why,” you answered. You were surprised by how small your voice sounded. Your hands shook from your nerves as you tried to hold his gaze. Those deep brown eyes felt like a fortified fortress, hardened and unyielding–almost unforgivable the way they could just pierce into the depth of your soul without realizing it.

Namor wasn’t happy with your answer, and you knew this by the way his grip got a little firmer than before, making you gasp in an instant. You could almost taste his breath on your tongue as he closed in the distance.

“I want you to say it.”

“Why should I? You’ve never had to justify yourself whenever you do something wrong, so why should I do that?”

Attuma’s lips quirked, trying to hide his smirk at your defiance. Only you could speak such works to Namor, and Attuma was quite amused by that. As a matter of fact, he was so proud of you for standing up to Namor that it started to make him stiff all over again.

Namor let out a warning grunt as his eyes bored into you. 

“You are in no position to demand anything from me, my love.” His fingers dug into your skin, almost imprinting his fingertips straight to your bones.

You winced at the dull pain as you continued to stare at him defiantly. You could feel his patience fraying the more you were egging him on, and it excited you in some way. You wanted him angry–hell, you wanted him to be furious, just anything to show that he cared or felt something for you.

“I think I do…and you know it too, dearest love of mine.”

Namor grunted and took a step back. He looked over Attuma, then at you. His expression soon shifted into something else entirely–something that you knew would make your knees weakened. He looked at you darkly. There was an underlying hunger that made you swallow thickly. 

“Take off your robe,” he said firmly as he slowly took off his suit jacket. His dexterous fingers made quick work on his tie. His eyes were trained on you as he slowly rolled up his sleeves. You could see the way his arms flexed by the way the muscles strained and corded. The image made your core throb. 

“Do not make me ask twice, in yakunaj,” he warned. His voice was firm, full of authority. “Attuma will not be able to help you now that you are here with me, so what’s it going to be?”

You stood there silently for a long moment, and the realization finally dawned on you once you let out a sharp exhale breath that you were holding your breath this whole time. Reluctantly, you took off the plush bathrobe, letting it fall off your shoulders and pooled by your feet. A cold shudder shot through your spine as cold air brushed against your naked form. Attuma looked at you with much interest now, eying your body from head to toe. He could feel his cock twitch at the way you were clamping your thighs together. He could clearly see the way your wetness slowly seeped out and rolled down your inner thigh.

“Good girl,” he said as he stroked your cheek, caressing it almost so lightly that it made you shudder. “But being a good girl is not enough to get you off the hook with me, darling…What should I ever do with you?”

You stayed silent, but you could feel your body warm. Your pussy was throbbing to your frantic heartbeat as you stood there, wishing that he would punish you already. This drawn-out game wasn’t for you. 

“I don’t know,” you answered. Your voice was no more than a whisper. Namor didn’t miss the tremor in your voice as his hand now cupped your face, pulling you ever closer to him. 

Warm, wet breath brushed against your skin, awakening the carnal hunger that you have been yearning for.

“That’s not a good answer.”

You chewed on your lips momentarily, but he didn’t give you enough time to think when the next words left his lips.

“On your knees.”

You felt your stomach do a flip, and your first instinct was to turn and look at Attuma, but Namor’s hand was firm on your head, holding it there, allowing you to only look at him.

“You know what to do next. Do not make me spell it out for you.”

With trembling hands, you made quick work of unbuckling his belt, then unbuttoned his pants. You noticed how much your fingers were trembling when you pulled his zipper down. You eyed him with a nervous look as you slid down his pants, and you were met with his bulge. 

Namor’s hand was still stroking your face, watching you as you lowered his boxer brief.

Your hand gently wrapped around his half-hardened shaft, stroking it slowly in your hand. Namor clenched his jaw tightly, trying to hold in the little noise that threatened to leave his mouth as he stared down at you. 

Attuma was watching both of you intensely. He could feel his cock aching and twitching in his pants as he sat there. When your mouth slowly closed around the head of Namor’s cock, more fire burst through his body, threatening to explode in his balls. His hand gripped around his bulge. He was so hard by the time you started to suck on Namor’s cock that he didn’t think he was able to walk or move.

“Ah..fuck, I love the way that mouth of yours feels,” Namor said with a deep, husky voice as he tipped his head back. His hips bucked forward, pushing himself further into your mouth. “Oh, fuck, that’s it, sweetheart. You love sucking on this cock, don’t you?”

You moaned onto his shaft as you replied. Your eyes never wavered from his.

Attuma eyed you closely as you slid up and down Namor’s shaft, dark and ridged with veins. He wasn’t as long or as thick as he was, but Attuma always found it arousing, watching the way Namor’s cock would stretch out your mouth, especially the way you struggle to breathe whenever his friend decides to fuck your little mouth. He couldn’t help but take out his own erection and started to stroke himself, wishing to feel the way your mouth felt on his cock too.

You rested your hand on Namor’s hips, fingers dug into the hard flesh of his muscled thighs as your head bobbed, trying to swallow his whole length. Namor groaned deeply in his chest when you pulled back and let his fat bulbous head slide out of your mouth. A string of saliva trailed down your chin before you swallowed him to the base again. Namor’s eyes shifted toward Attuma, who was watching tentatively, jerking his own cock off too as he was mesmerized by you. 

You gagged a couple of times before you took a step back to catch your breath, your hand was still on his shaft, stroking and jerking him off, worshiping him like a god.

“Come here,” he said as he moved over to the large bed. You followed him, crawling on all four, giving a full view of your drenching and pussy to Attuma before you knelt in between Namor’s legs. Without a single word, he turned you over and laid you on your back. His palm kneaded your breast slowly as he eyed the other man, gesturing to come over.

“Come over here and eat her pussy,” he ordered Attuma. 

Namor didn’t have to say it twice as the bigger man hastily stripped himself off of his clothing. His heavy erection was in hand as he crawled onto the large bed. You watched the way the mattress dipped below him as he slowly approached you like a hungry predator. The sight made your pussy clench and unclench as anticipation filled your veins. He was so hard and heavy, his cock was practically dragging over the mattress as he moved.

“Fuck her with your mouth until she can’t take it anymore,” Namor muttered against your skin. His fingers were around your stiff nipple, pulling at it and twisting it between his rough digits. “I want her to beg, you hear me?”

Attuma didn’t need any more urging. His mouth found your stomach first, kissing his way down your torso, nibbling at your soft skin along the way. He knelt in between your legs, draping each one over Namor’s thick thighs, spreading you even wider. You let out a soft moan when you felt his rough palm massaging your flesh. A warm, familiar heady feminine scent drifted up to his nostrils, and it made his mouth water.

“Ah fuck, such a pretty pussy you have, Lil Birdy. I always love playing with it. So pretty and so perfect for us.”

Your legs twitched and Attuma eyed Namor as he continued to tease your breasts, palming them in your hands, kneading them until the buds were stiff and almost painful.

Without a word, Attuma dipped his head, inhaling deeply, and ran his tongue over the slippery pussy. You jerked against him and sobbed softly. Your hand flew to his long, dark mane, fisting it in your hand. He licked again at your slippery folds, pressing a kiss and there, suckling on one side first, before suckling on the other. He kissed you higher before he finally pressed his mouth over your clit and kissed you there, sucking on the small bud until you were wreathing in Namor’s arms. Your clit pulsed against his lips and you gasped and tugged harder at his hair.

Attuma licked, and swallowed your juices, feeling the way your body shuddered below him. His tongue slipped between your slipper folds and dipped into your warm, inviting heat. He fucks you slowly with his tongue, thrusting shallowly into your tight holes. 

Once he had enough, he pulled back slightly and pushed his thick fingers inside you, filling you and stretching you with them. He moaned deeply at the way your body clenched and closed in around his digit so hotly. Your moaning was only getting louder when he added his third finger, and his gaze was on Namor as he was attending to your breasts. His tongue once again found your clit as he continued to tease at the sensitive bud.

“Oh my God, please, please, please,” you panted. “Please, I can’t take it anymore. Please…”

“Not yet,” Namor said, smirking before shoving his fingers inside your mouth. Gone was your rationality as you suckle on his digits with desperation while Attuma was fucking you with his own fingers. He would want to make you come, but not yet. He wanted to draw this out as much as your body could.

Attuma licked some more, flicking at your clit before sucking on it with intent. Your hips lifted off the mattress, but with his vice-like grip, he held you there, sucking on you and drawing out your orgasm until your muscles tightened.

And when you felt like you could go over the edge, he would pull back, making you sob softly in Namor’s arms. It really was unfair, and you couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

You were at their mercy after all.

It felt like an eternity when Attuma finally gave in, and let you come. Your body tightened to the point of pain. Heat rushed out of your body and poured out onto his tongue. His cock was throbbing almost too much now. His balls felt tight, and for a brief second, he thought he was going to come too. Breathing out his mouth, he managed to control his own.

Namor rubbed his face as he watched. His cock was aching and throbbing. What a wicked sight it was to watch you come undone by Attuma’s mouth. Something about watching you writhing and begging with your frantic sobbing really turned him into a different person.

Without a word, he rolled you over onto your stomach. He commanded Attuma to switch places with him while they gave you a brief moment to catch your breath.

“Attuma, move over in front of her,” Namore ordered. His voice was gruffed as he, himself, moved between your legs. His fingers stroke at your quivering pussy lazily, allowing your juice to coat his own fingers, which made you whine in response. 

A smirk etched on his lips. It had always been Namor who did all the commanding and ordering around, and Attuma never had any issue with it–as a matter of fact, he enjoyed it. He didn’t have to think too much. He knew his role, and he liked the idea of just letting go and focusing more on your needs than anything else.

You looked up to find Attuma’s cock jutting up, almost brushing against your face. He was so much thicker and longer, and every time you sucked on his dick, you felt like your jaws were going to dislocate or some sort. 

“Since Attuma worked hard today, you need to reward him too, darling. Make him come with just your mouth. I want to see the way his cock stretches you out and fills you up—show me what that pretty mouth can do, sweetheart,” he said as he spread your legs apart. 

One hand gripped firmly at your hip, while the other lined the head of his cock at your entrance. He waited, watching you intensely as your mouth slowly closed in around Attuma’s thick, fat cock, and then he pushed his body into you, sheathing himself all the way to the base.

You responded with a muffled moan as the motion made your body surge forward, forcing you to swallow Attuma halfway through. You felt like you almost choked as tears rolled down your cheeks. It was too much, being filled at both ends. You felt like you could be torn apart at any moment as you tried to breathe through your nose. 

Your jaws ached, and your pussy was quivering, on the verge of coming again from simply so overstimulated by the way your two lovers were giving to you. 

Namo hissed at the way your pussy was clenching around him as he moved inside you, thrusting slowly at first. It didn’t take much resistance because of how dripping wet you were already. 

“Fuck, love,” he moaned as spread you wider so he fuck you deeper. It was to the point where if he wasn’t holding onto you this firmly, you would have collapsed onto your stomach by now. “That’s right, make him come, baby. Suck on him like that,” he murmured almost incoherently.

“You love sucking on that cock so much, don’t you?”

You couldn’t answer as you tried to focus on pleasing Attuma. 

Namor didn’t like that, so he bucked his hips a little too hard and made your body surge forward, taking a couple more inches of Attuma’s dick.

You let out a muffled whine before you let out a little, “Mmmmhmmm.”

“Hmmm, aren’t we lucky to have such a good girl being our little cockslut,  Attuma?”

The other man grinned, flashing his dimples at you as he stroked your tear-stained cheeks. 

“Yeah, we do. She’s always so good at being a hole for us to fuck—A-ah, fuck, Little Bird, you’re gonna make me come if you keep doing that.”

You moaned before bobbing your head along his shaft quicker, hollowing your cheeks to create enough suction onto his cock. Your jaws were tired at this point. The sensation was fading between pleasure and pain.

Attuma’s breath quickened. He was fighting the urge to fuck your little mouth. Namor was watching him, noting the way Attuma’s hand was gripping his hair, bunching it into a tight fist. It wouldn’t be long. He was very close to his release.

“Keeping going, darling. Keep sucking on him. I want you to drink up all of his cum, you hear me?”

You moaned as best as you could as you continued to bob your head, sucking on him, stringing him up until he couldn’t take it anymore.

“At, fuck,” Attuma groaned as he came.

You could feel the warm, thick fluid shot down your throat, making you choke out.

Attuma watched you through the haze as your mouth left his dick, and a string of the thick fluid sputtered from your mouth and onto the mattress. 

It was a messy affair as your face was marred with tears and cum. He didn’t think he could love you any more than he could, but every time he made a mess out of you, he just knew he wanted to spend the rest of your life with you, and one day watch you round and full with his babies.

Namor reached around under you and found your clit, which made you jump with his heated touch. He rubbed at it as he continued to plunge into you with an unforgivable force until you cried softly. Your pussy clenched and convulsed around him, and he knew you came.

He stayed there, kneeling with his dick still hard as a rock, plunging in and out of you more erratically now, using you to satisfy his need. Your body surged forward like a rag doll as Namor fucks you with intensity and vigor, sending heat from the base of his spine before it exploded outward as he poured himself into you, filling you until he was dripping out.

Namor let out a string of cursing that you didn’t understand as you lay there on your stomach, feeling so worn out and so spent. Your body felt boneless and heavy. Your nerves still hummed from pure electricity that coursed through you as you tried to recover from the mind-blowing orgasms that both of your men just gave you. 

You could feel Attuma move from the mattress momentarily by the way his weight shifted off the large bed. He came back a few minutes later with a warm towel, wiping your face and lips before placing a gentle kiss on your forehead. 

Behind you, Namor moved to snuggle and spooned you. His arm wrapped protectively around your waist as he laid his cheek on your arm. His lips kissed whatever skin he could touch as you lay there, completely exhausted. 

Attuma joined you a bit after, letting you lay your head on his broad chest.

“Promise us you won’t leave us again,” Namor murmured. His tone was softer now, almost lulling you to sleep.

“Hmmm,” was all you could say.

“You have to promise us,” Attuma added. 

“I promise,” you said tiredly. 

“Don’t you have anything else to say to her as well, K’uk’kulkan?”

The other man sighed and moved to rest his weight on his elbow so he could look at you.

“I’m sorry as well for not being a good lover to you. I promise that I will try to be better at attending to your needs.”

The words felt genuine, and you couldn’t help but shed a couple of tears as you looked at him. Namor leaned in and kissed the tears away.

“Thank you,” you said softly as he leaned in to kiss you. 

“Well, now that you both are made up. Let me just take a little nap…the jet lag is killing me.” 

Namor rolled his eyes before he laid back in bed. You, on the other hand, were rubbing Attuma’s chest in an effort to soothe him. 

“Alright, big guy. Take a nap. You earned it,” you said cheekily.

Attuma only grunted before his noises were were slowly replaced by his deep snore. You and Namor soon found yourself passed out from exhaustion as well.

[theeggoman]

Being "Too White" Is A Myth.

Sometimes I worry that I'm just a white person pretending to be Latino (because when you're mixed race you're always thinking that you're not enough) but then I remember how every single person in my foster home including the adults referred to me as a "Wetback" or a "Beaner" or a "Fat Mexican" or an "Alien" instead of simply calling me by my white sounding first name because to white people, you will never be enough. It doesn't matter how much or how little white blood you have, in America if you're mixed with a single drop of anything that isn't white, you're not and will never be white.

I wasn't white when I was being tackled and forced down naked on the floor by the police at 12, I wasn't white when I was put in ESL at 8 even though english is my first language, I wasn't white when Christian religious leaders were explaining how I was cursed with the Mark of Cain to have a "skin of blackness" and being Latino made me inherently evil, I wasn't white when I was being sexually assaulted at 5 because I was "naturally promiscuous" and "born looking older" and "asking for it," I wasn't white when I was tackled by boarder patrol in south Texas and detained over night in a holding facility until my grandparents could come get me out, I wasn't white when my friend's mom took me bra shopping and insisted she had to be in the dressing room while I changed to make sure I didn't steal anything, I wasn't white when the doctor wrote my fucking race on my birth certificate while I was being pushed out of my Mexican mother who had to spend hours dealing with the racist medical staff who refused to let my white father into the delivery room because they didn't believe I was his child.

And now I get on tik tok and see people accusing mixed race children of being "white washed." They say we don't experience racism because we're "white passing." They tell us we're grasping for straws and we're stealing from our own fucking culture. They say we're "spicy white," that our blood is diluted, that we're not real.

Are we not real in the same way that our country did not legally recognize our white parents until the 1960's? Are we not real in the same way that we were legally declared bastards who couldn't inherit our own father's last name, his property, his money, our childhood homes? Not real in the way we weren't permitted to attend our white parent's funerals by their white family members? Not real in the way we weren't issued fucking social security cards? Were we not real when our parents couldn't "really" legally get married? Were we not real when our POC parent was shot dead for daring to fall in love with a white person? Were we not real when were named after our POC grandmothers? Were we not real when our White grandmothers cried at our birth and asked why we had to come out "so dark?"

Am I not real when I light the candles on my Ofrenda on November 1st and 2nd, when I bring fresh carnations and Pan Dulce for my brother because he was too young to have a favorite candy for me to put at his grave? Am I not real when I spend 6 hours slow cooking bone broth for Birria after removing all the seeds from the Guajillo chilis so my white friends don't die? Am I not real when I translate for a single mom who wants to use the library printer? Am I not real when I braid my curls? When I wash the Serepa? When I run from owls?

And am I not real when I jam out to country music? When I go camping with my friends? When I celebrate Christmas before Three Kings Day? Am I not real when I choose to embrace both sides of my culture? When I put my foot down and decide I am not half of anything, I am entirely both?

I don't care if you think I'm too white. Don't put your insecurities on me just because you don't wanna learn Spanish.

[bloodyroarzine]

BLOODY ROAR FANZINE 🐺 IC SURVEY RESULTS

Thank you everyone who answered our survey, shared the interest check across social media, and lended a direct hand toward making this project a reality!

We had 41 submissions and received an overwhelmingly positive response, not only in seeing this zine become a reality, but also contributing to its creation!

"On a scale of 1 to 5, how interested are you in a Bloody Roar zine?"

33 (80.5%) answered 5 - EXTREMELY Interested

Based on this turnout, we will be moving swiftly forward into the next phase of production. Thank you so much for your support!!

Please read below the cut for a detailed breakdown of the results and an important community message.

PROJECT INTERESTS

“How would you like to participate in this zine’s creation?”

Responders could pick multiple answers:

31 want to contribute as an artist

21 want to help support the zine

9 want to contribute as a writer

8 want to contribute through merch

5 want to help the zine as a moderator

2 want to contribute other media

As this will be a free zine available to everyone upon completion, those who wish to support our project are encouraged to share posts about it across social media, directly with friends, and others in the community. We have platforms for promotion on Tumblr, X/Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram, and more recently on Reddit. If you find our coverage is lacking, please feel free to make posts of your own!

With regard to mod interest, we had a few professionals offer their services to make this zine happen; from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. And keep an eye out, because mod applications will be our next major order of business in the near future.

Of those wanting to contribute art:

Responders could pick multiple answers:

29 want to draw page illustrations

12 want to draw spot art

10 want to draw comics

9 want to make or help with merch

From the digital merch options we suggested, all were in high demand:

Responders could pick multiple answers:

25 want wallpapers (mobile/desktop)

24 want printables (bookmarks, etc)

23 want avatars/icons for social media

19 want emotes for chat platforms

Suffice to say, we’ll be pursuing all of the above options.

“What part of the world do you currently live in?”

North America - 29 (79.7%)

Asia - 5 (12.2%)

Europe - 3 (7.3%)

South America - 2 (4.9%)

Southeast Asia - 1 (2.4%)

Oceania - 1 (2.4%)

We’re thrilled to see Bloody Roar’s global impact reinforced in our survey results! 

As stated in our FAQ, this is an ESL-friendly zine that will be coordinated and published in English. Our hope is that those who wish to participate will be able to do so from anywhere in the world without language as a barrier. Likewise, we welcome any fluent volunteers who would like to assist with translation into other languages. 

Rest assured, we will do all that we can to accommodate anyone who expresses interest in this project, so please don’t hesitate to reach out!

“What’s your general age range?”

Teens to 20s - 5 (12.2%)

20s to 40s - 34 (82.9%)

40+ - 2 (4.9%)

On the matter of moderation, it was a decision from the beginning that all mods will be required to be 21+ at the time they apply for project security. We also asked how everyone would feel if we allowed contributors to be 16+ since the zine will be PG-16 in terms of content and a SFW project. 

The vast majority (36 out of 41) said they were fine with 16+ contributors, while 5 said they would prefer all contributors be 18+.

Considering the response, we currently plan to allow contributors aged 16+ at the time of application. However, we take internet safety very seriously so if you have lingering concerns on this matter and want to make sure your reasons are heard, please email us so we can better understand your position and prepare accordingly.

When we asked what else people might want to see contributed, it became clear that many had big ideas! This enthusiasm was wonderful to witness, and we'd like to take a moment to address those ideas real quick.

This was a free response question:

16 requested the inclusion of Cosplay

14 requested rips of 3D models and instructions for rigging

11 requested to hear fan made music, original or remixed

9 requested to read interviews and instructional guides

5 requested more video coverage on the series

5 requested game mods/hacks or fan made games

3 requested more translations of unlocalized material

2 requested access to 3D printing files for character models

2 requested news about upcoming tournaments (online/offline)

While we would love to see more mixed media from Bloody Roar fans, our survey showed a clear trend of people primarily hoping to contribute visual art and writing. 

Though we plan to stay in line with these preferences and keep this zine’s scope fairly traditional, these answers prove there is still a powerful interest in the series and we hope that these results can inspire ideas for future fan projects! 

Our survey only reached a handful of the entire Bloody Roar fanbase, so we expect that this level of interest only represents a small fraction of everyone’s collective passion for the series all across the world.

That's what makes the following data so crucial:

“Are you familiar with the Bloody Roar series?”

Responders could pick one answer that best described them:

14 Play regularly and want the series to make a comeback

12 Are currently active making art, writing stories, and more

8 Played while they were young and the series stuck with them

4 Know of or became curious because of friends, but never played

3 Either found the series recently or identify as semi-active

“Tell us about your experience with the series and what you like about it!”

This was a free answer to an optional question, so not everyone responded, but of those who did, a very particular pattern emerged ― not concerning what people enjoyed about the series itself, but how they came to discover its existence.

Almost everyone said they learned about Bloody Roar through word of mouth.

Some were told about it by friends, others were shown it by a member of their family. When they weren’t introduced to it by a person, they found BR on their own by way of demo discs, used game stores, and YouTube recommendations from similar topics.

This may have been the most important question on this survey for the community.

We cannot sit on our hands hoping that other people remember Bloody Roar enough to mention it before we start talking about it ourselves. We cannot passively wait for a corporation to do something with this beloved series just to include it in conversation. If we want to see anything done, we have to do it ourselves ― and that’s what this project is all about.

This zine is a celebration of our existing interest, yes, but it will also serve as a beacon. It’s a way to keep talking about a series that deserves more attention; it’s an eye catch; it’s inspiration.

Everyone who is passionate about this series, this is a call to action:

If you want to see a tournament, online or offline, organize that tournament; if you want to make a fan comic, make that fan comic; if you want to do a series rewrite, do that series rewrite; if you want to see something, read something, play something, but don’t feel like you have the tools or capability, then organize with or commission others who would be thrilled to make it happen.

Don’t let fear or embarrassment stop you from pursuing something that would make you happy. Let this initiative inspire you! Start drawing, start writing, start programming ― even if you don’t feel like you’re capable of those things. Practice drawing by looking at the series’ art, do studies of beast forms, open a word document and write your thoughts down no matter how disjointed, and you’ll see how quickly you improve just by letting your interest fuel you.

Whatever you do, don’t wait for someone else to make the first move.

An incredible number of individuals make posts wondering if anyone remembers Bloody Roar, and far too few stick around to have a conversation afterwards. You have to earnestly share your interest, talk openly about it, or nothing will change.

We do remember Bloody Roar. We’re here, and if this survey proves anything it’s that we’re all crying out for a greater sense of community. So let’s use this opportunity; let’s take the initiative, shake off whatever’s stopping us from creating, and pay homage to this series that is so near and dear to us!

“No matter how small and niche and insignificant something might seem, the very act of researching, or spending time with, or caring for it imbues it with meaning. To you, and to the people you share it with.” ― Brian David Gilbert

FAN FAVORITES

Because the creative end of the fanbase is generally split apart without a centralized platform to find and share their work with others, we felt it was important to remind people and better understand why we remember this series so fondly.

“What’s your favorite Bloody Roar game?”

This was an optional question that 40/41 participants responded to:

20 said Bloody Roar 2 was their favorite

11 said Primal Fury/Extreme was their favorite

4 said Bloody Roar 3 was their favorite

3 said Bloody Roar 1 was their favorite

2 said Bloody Roar 4 was their favorite

Bloody Roar 2 stuck in people's minds by a landslide, so we'll be basing our zine's graphics and visual design off of BR2 to ensure it feels recognizable at a glance.

“What is your favorite animal?”

This was a completely optional question left at the end of the survey:

13 said wolves or foxes

10 said big cats, especially tigers

7 said rabbits

Other responses included dogs, bats, crows, octopi, hyenas, stoats, and cockroaches.

Hopefully it was fun to think about in this context. Maybe next time people can consider what their beast form would be if they were a zoanthrope!

“Who are your favorite characters in Bloody Roar?”

Responders could pick multiple answers:

#1 Shina (Marvel) the Leopard - 24 (58.5%)

#2 Shenlong the Tiger - 19 (46.3%)

#3 Uriko the Cat/Half Beast - 18 (43.9%)

#4 Yugo the Wolf & Long the Tiger - 17 (41.5%)

#5 Jenny the Bat - 16 (39%)

#6 Alice the Rabbit - 15 (36.6%)

#7 Bakuryu the Mole - 14 (34.1%)

#8 Hans the Fox - 13 (31.7%)

#9 Gado the Lion & Stun the Insect - 12 (29.3%)

#10 Busuzima the Chameleon - 8 (19.5%)

There were some close calls as votes came in, but here are the runner ups:

#11 Mitsuko the Boar & Xion the Unborn - 7 (17.1%)

#12 Reiji the Crow - 5 (12.2%)

#13 Cronos the Penguin/Phoenix & Uranus the Chimera - 4 (9.8%)

#14 Kohryu the Iron Mole & Mana the Ninetails - 3 (7.3%)

#15 Nagi the Spurious & Greg the Gorilla - 2 (4.9%)

No one said Ryoho the Dragon was their favorite.

This gave us an idea of which characters still stick in the minds of fans so many years since the last game’s release. It also gives us a sense of which characters are most desired to be seen and who will most likely be receiving more focus in the project.

“What do you like about those characters?”

This was an optional free response question. As expected, quite a lot of appreciation was granted to gameplay and how stylish the designs were, but the most common praise was given to each of the characters’ memorable personalities, backstories, and dynamics with each other. 

Bloody Roar’s story has won out through this survey time and again, which is precisely the part that's become increasingly neglected as the years wear on.

For the last decade or more, outside of the FGC scene, it’s kind of been a free for all, “every man for himself” situation when it comes to Bloody Roar. This survey has proven that the story focused fans should be embraced to have a thriving community.

FUTURE BLOODY ROAR FAN PROJECTS

We got LOADS of interest in projects beyond this singular zine, which is very exciting! These will not happen until after this particular project is completed, but rest assured your interest is noted and we will do our best to pursue them one step at a time.

“What future Bloody Roar fan projects would you be interested in seeing?”

Responders could pick multiple answers:

33 want to see more free digital zines like this one

31 want to see the production of physical fan merch

29 want to see the production of limited run physical zines

26 want to see Bloody Roar themed artwork collabs/exchanges

25 want to see digital zines for purchase (artist profit or charity)

22 want to see the preservation and translation of official BR media

17 want to participate in a fandom discord server (story/lore focus)

16 want to see Bloody Roar themed writing collabs/exchanges

One person also wrote that they wanted to see Bloody Roar themed mods for different games, like Bomberman or other Hudson properties.

“What themes would you want to see from future Bloody Roar zines?”

This was an optional free response question:

12 want to see a zine focused on fashion (street, formal, etc)

10 want to see a zine focused on animals and beast forms

9 want to see a zine focused on lore, story, and characters

9 want to see a zine focused on characters in slice of life scenarios

8 want to see a zine focused on the players and BR's legacy

8 want to see a zine focused on fighting styles and move analysis

7 want to see a zine focused on flowers and flower language

5 want to see a zine focused on Bloody Roar OCs or Crossovers

3 want to see a zine focused on the horror and dark themes in BR

2 want to see a zine focused on romance, including OCxCanon

1 wants to see a zine focused on the villains of Bloody Roar

Additionally, 6 people said they would be happy to see anything BR related at all.

These suggestions were a joy to see! We'll never run out of ideas or motivation thanks to everyone's inspiring interests.

Please know that the invitation is completely open for anyone to spearhead their own similar projects. We don't have the market cornered on this, and we all win when there’s more Bloody Roar-related creativity shared with the world.

And that wraps up our Interest Check #1 results! Thank you for reading this far.

We'll be running a second interest check alongside our upcoming mod apps in order to finalize many of the details from information we collected in this survey. Thank you so much for your interest and support - and if you didn't get a chance to respond to this first survey, then the second one will be your next chance!

Those looking forward to contributor apps, your patience will be rewarded. For now, take a look at our Carrd for a tentative breakdown of our zine's submission and portfolio guidelines so you can prepare.

Thank you @donotwander for drawing half of the favorite character chibis with @five5sixers, @banchou for the cute favorite animal art, and @3V4C for helping out with the graphs on Canva.

[reasonsforhope]

"A large research project studying endangered species in Australia has tallied 29 recovered species—all animals that can be safely de-listed from the country’s endangered species list.

Australia’s Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act currently lists 446 species of animals in genuine need of protection, but 29 of those are no longer in need—15 mammals, 8 birds, 4 frogs, a reptile, and a fish.

Among these critters are the golden, Western barred, and Eastern barred bandicoots, Western quoll, sooty albatross, waterfall frog, Flinder’s Range worm-lizard, yellow-footed rock wallabies, greater bilby, humpback whale, growling grass frog, Murray’s cod, and others.

Australia has been a focus of endangered species conservation for decades because so many of the animal varieties are found nowhere else.

Invasive predators introduced and living here for decades, including foxes and cane toads, have proven highly disruptive to local wildlife like bandicoots and bilbies.

Unlike America’s ESL, the EPBC doesn’t mandate that species be reviewed regularly for recovery. These large scientific papers are rare and represent moments to celebrate for Australia’s conservationists."

-via Good News Network, 2/28/23