#I don't blame people for aiming higher

[ensemblesongs]

at this point i think it's rather unlikely that they'd kick ibuki from akatsuki, seeing as how they're already selling merch of the new akatsuki and such. i think a lot of people *are* asking specifically for ibuki to be removed from the unit, but do you think there's another approach we could take to try to reach a sort of compromise? like asking for specific parts of the writing to be fixed rather than undoing the whole thing? do you think they'd listen to us more that way? genuinely asking

It's definitely unlikely now, you're right. It was already too late the moment Happy Elements doubled down by posting the pre-recorded stream discussing his addition to AKATSUKI. After all, these sorts of things—cards and events themselves—are planned years in advance. Personally, I would scrap them all, but I know that isn't realistic. I just don't know how they thought it was a good idea whatsoever. But, you see, this is a flaw within Ansta itself that I've been aware of for a long time. To fix the core issue, we'd need a total reform, but that would be an insane amount of work and I'm not sure if they're willing to do that.

This ask reminds me of how they attempted to make amends in a way in regard to their somewhat unfavourable portrayal of the Amagi Village as cult-like and lesser-than (that often gets made even more egregious by ignorant fans via doujinshi and fanfiction that takes place there, which some argue to be alright—if you want to take creative liberties—as long as you aren't claiming it to be a depiction of Ainu people specifically. This is actually what HE sought by removing the traditional patterns from their assets like Live2D models and BGs, allowing even Ansta's writers themselves to pretend that it's a random, fictitious village rather than the very real indigenous group that they were actually based on down to their very designs, especially Rinne's, because being normal about the people your ancestors oppressed is too difficult, I suppose. Personally, I wouldn't do so.) by turning it into this Wakanda esque, sci-fi setting instead. Which was really stupid of them. I think they meant for it to be flattering somehow, for them to be more advanced than the majority... to get to be like, "see, they aren't cavemen after all!" In the end, most people don't like this decision or downright ignore it or tried to deny it and say Rinne was lying when that's... not how story-telling works even when it comes to unreliable narrators, and in some ways, it was detrimental when it comes to the uneducated person's perceptions of them.

Anyway, the entire event story or major chunks of it would have to be rewritten. Some AKATSUKI fans actually liked the first half, while others felt despair due to the mischaracterization I mentioned prior. Many fans have already lost all hope and quit altogether, but the remaining ones, and the protesting ones, deserve some form of acknowledgment or compensation. When it comes to the racist elements, Ansta is racist at its core, so there would have to be an overhaul of the entire plotline they had planned and partly executed for Ibuki and AKATSUKI already. From the start, it had unsavory undertones, but it could have been salvaged to the point of even being good if they hadn't done this or at least done it in a different way. Like I said, it is the reality for many Ryukyu, but I just don't trust them with a narrative like this, especially if they do not educate themselves, get sensitivity readers and receive input from real-life Ryukyuan people. Even the person writing Ibuki's solo isn't someone who can understand his struggles whatsoever. It's just some guy.

Not to mention, Ibuki seemed to be set up for this from conception, since even his name is a reference to the Meiji restoration, from a period that AKATSUKI's current direction has been referencing, as people have discovered recently. Ibuki also seems to tie into !! era's "Okinawa arc", which some have been keeping up with for a while. I think it started in Submarine, if I'm not mistaken. The Okinawa arc is littered with underlying anti-indigenous sentiments whether they meant for it to or not, ones that are hardly challenged by the cast (and, less importantly, also sort of muddied up the Shinkai cult lore. Some like it, others have mixed feelings).

!! era should have taken an entirely different direction From the Start if they didn't want this to happen, I fear. Because they couldn't do interpersonal drama with a few real-world effects (the suicides caused by the war) and a dilemma surrounding morality now that the scale of their world is larger, and it would have been repetitive regardless, they had to give characters like Eichi something bigger and eviler to do, such as his "idol colonization" affairs. A character who's meant to be a loveable albeit morally grey idol is campaigning for the destruction of the environment via the Atlantis project, silencing indigenous voices, etc... I love Eichi, and this isn't unrealistic of a continuation for his character. He's meant to parallel Godfather, after all. Nonetheless, it's painful to watch and more so to acknowledge when something like this is happening, which makes me wonder if it'll even be contested any further at this point.

Sorry for rambling about how flawed this era is at its core, I just think people should be aware of it... Back to the main topic, I think one possible alternative is that they could make Ibuki depart from AKATSUKI at some point down the line, not now, but sort of like graduating after having grown with his seniors, a dabufe-esque situation where he finally finds himself 💭 Ibuki was always meant to be kept off the path Esupuri is on, he would be solo, then.

To actually answer your question, I do think that they might listen to us if we ask that way. Even if it was an infinitely smaller change, just fixing up one line, they did that much after the revolt caused by the leoizu retcon during Sena's center event. I think a compromise could be good.

Semi-relatedly, I agree with the sentiments shared by our-ensemble:

[creature-wizard]

So, I just read It's Not Impossible: Healing from Ritual Abuse and Mind Control by Svali.

For those who don't know, Svali is a conspiracy theorist who popped up in the early 2000s claiming to be a former Illuminati/New World Order programmer. Her claims are based on the stuff put out by the likes of Mark Phillips/Cathy O'Brien and Fritz Springmeier/Cisco Wheeler, which in turn derives from stuff like The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, blood libel, witch panic, Michelle Remembers, and Alexander Hislop's anti-Catholic conspiracy theories. It's full of your typical Project Monarch psychological pseudoscience that can effectively be used to blame literally any symptom or behavior on programmed DID, whether or not someone actually has DID at all. It's got all the usual stuff about an alleged global cult that practices the most absurdly complicated, messy, and risky forms of mind control instead of just using the regular ol' indoctrination and manipulation tactics that work just fine for your more typical authoritarian assholes.

She is regarded as a ritual abuse/alter programming expert by people such as Ellen Lacter and Alison Miller, and if you search through the citations on many ritual abuse/RAMCOA websites, you'll often find her name. If you didn't have any familiarity with Svali's outlandish claims before, I think after reading this you'll agree that no sensible person should ever be citing her as an authority on anything. Here are some of the weird and ridiculous claims she makes in this book:

Fetuses are tortured and programmed in the womb. They are capable of making choices presented to them in-utero. (Yes, according to Svali, fetuses can fully understand language and process questions.)

Children can be forced to forget things by threatening them with death if they don't. (Literally not how memory works. If anything, death threats would make it harder to forget.)

Toddlers are trained as assassins and sent to kill wealthy targets, because wealthy people tend to have, shall we say, a predilection for children. (Yes, some wealthy people are child molesters. But claiming they're all into this as a group is absurd. It's also two antisemitic conspiracy theory tropes with the serial numbers filed off.)

Alice In Wonderland programming includes games of croquet where the balls are the decapitated heads of children. (Always with the absurdly over-the-top programming methods.)

The conspiracy programs people from birth to have a visceral fear and hatred of Christianity. (The function of this claim is to deny the traumatic impact of Christian religious abuse.)

"Many occultic groups" hate Israel and aim to destroy its national security through infiltration. (Of course we're going to get Christian Zionism in this conspiracy theory.)

"Higher occultic groups" round up Christians "from prisons and camps in third world countries under oppressive regimes" to torture and crucify them. (Typical oppression fantasy of white American Christian conservatives.)

Genetically enhanced individuals were first produced in the 1940s. (Quite unlikely, given that DNA's role in inheritance wasn't even determined until 1943.)

Claims that "The Light of The World" is an occultic painting that depicts the Antichrist. (Actually, it just depicts Christ.)

Theta systems are trained to psychically kill from the time they're in the womb. Theta assassins have sex with the target, then use the resulting soul tie to demonically kill them. (You know you're into some deep far right shit when they're talking about "soul ties" like this.)

Chi is a demonic power. (Always with the racism.)

Kabbalah is used to open portals to install demons. (And of course, the antisemitism.)

Druids can shapeshift into animals and trees. (This is how druids work in modern RPGs.)

Mages can shapeshift into various animals. (So many occultists WISH this was true!)

Cult children are genetically enhanced for intelligence. (Meanwhile in the real world, not a single alleged survivor has ever demonstrated said intelligence.)

Saturn, Prometheus, and Vulcan are demonic deities. (Pure religious bigotry here.)

Mothers of genetically enhanced fetuses are brutally tortured and gradually dismembered throughout the entire pregnancy. Supposedly, miscarriage is prevented with the cult's "state-of-the-art technology" that's "at least 50-75 years ahead of what's publicly known."

Supposedly, "all videos, CDs, computer games and other digital media now have subliminals embedded, that are fed at 0.03 microseconds." She claims that you can't pause the video to see the message because the images will be blurry, as they're only visible when the media moves. How very convenient, Svali. (By the way, conspiracy theorists have been claiming media is full of dangerous subliminal messages for years, programming children to turn into mass murderers and whatnot. So far there is zero evidence that rock music turns you into a killer.)

Direct quote, "It is amazing how desensitized our population has become to sex, violence and the occult due to this mind control technology that sits in everyone's living room." (Literally your old-time Satanic Panic rhetoric.)

Direct quote, "I personally believe that we are very close to the “end times” of Revelations, and that the Occultic messiah (or antichrist) is alive." (Always with the End Times mythology with these people.)

Yeah, so this is one of the people that therapists pushing this idea that alter programming is a real thing regard as an authority. They're citing a far right conspiracy theorist who claims toddler assassins are sent to kill wealthy targets and that druids can actually turn themselves into trees.

I'd like to reiterate here that the type of alter programming people like Svali claim exist is not something there was ever any real evidence for, and the whole idea originated among conspiracy theorists. This was not a case of something that actually existed just being co-opted by bad faith actors. It is very literally a witch hunt, and one way we know this is that the early modern mythology of satanic witches and today's mythology of alter programming use many of the exact same tropes. And we also know that people can be coached into confabulating memories of events that never took place (you can see very obvious examples of this yourself here and here).

None of this is to say that human trafficking, sex abuse, religious abuse, institutional abuse, and so on aren't real; they very much are. But the kind of stuff that people like Svali push is not, and it's so full of pseudoscience and far right bigotry that it will harm survivors of extreme abuse even more. The function of this mythology, and the quack psychiatry that goes along with it, is to push people into hyperconservative Christianity and scapegoat the religious trauma it causes.

[ehh-is-the-name]

reposting this from Pinterest 'cause it makes me ill.

This dynamic makes me AOUGHHH. I will say after the show ended I haven't thought too much about them, aside from the passing "thank fuck they're free," but I feel like this isn't quite it.

As an angst lover, tearing these too apart would be, a chef's estranged kiss, but as I break down what 3gs is saying here. I just can't help but feel like it wouldn't stay like this. At some point, maybe between learning what Mephone has done and everything, 3gs might feel this way. The anger of being forever in the mental shadow of someone who could be considered worse than you is real...They're both technically pretty fuckin bad now that think about it. One aided in colonizing and destabilising a whole society and the other created and traumatized like 30 people. Both are pretty bad.

I love this and hate this dynamic for them- I love the meeple plot point so much you don't understand oh my fuckign god

Text from img under the cut:

As I delve deeper into your activities, I realize more and more how immersed you are in your grief. I feel anger towards you, because you had the opportunity to be saved, unlike me. Fear is the only thing I live by. I am the consequence of a deep fear of mistakes, I erased my sanity for the sake of your existence. You are the logical outcome of my sacrifices. You and I are alike. Both shells with an artificial soul, our emotions and feelings are not caused by chemical reactions of the mind, but are predetermined by a built-up program inside us. We are the product of experiments conducted by Meeple organization under the leadership of Steve Cobs. Our creation is aimed at ensuring his future and success. But the perfection of our creator is limitless, he will never be able to admit to himself that he is weak. Easily get influenced by your fears, your hatred. Steve Cobs is afraid to look at me after my failure, because my failure is his burden. He was responsible for ensuring my capabilities, he trained me and guided me into action. But I failed and felt the disappointment of Cobs. Looking at me, our creator comes up with the idea that he is not perfect, because he left me to suffer mental anguish in the dark places of his office. I literally became the embodiment of his nightmares. But you are a gift from heaven, a godlike creation. Your capabilities are equal to the higher powers. Steve Cobs is obsessed with the fact of your existence, he feeds on everything you live on. You are perfect, truly perfect with your embedded qualities. You have directed your gift to compensate for your emptiness, and your emptiness is due to your stay in Meeple. There you realized what it feels like to think that your existence is meant for the well-being of your creator, you are just a goal, a thing and a machine. All conscious Meeple products have survived this devaluation of their own importance. Everyone had to put up with it, except you. You've got the same rotten fate that guided Steve Cobs. You created people, conscious people, and cursed their lives for years to come. They didn't even know that you were the cause of their troubles. You condemned them to torture in order for them to fulfill the purpose of playing the role of participants in your show, which you organized to prove to Cobs that you are something more than just a machine. You continued the activities of your tormentor, completely copying his behavior. You... you selfish asshole have never been able to comprehend the full weight of the damage done to your own reality. You and I are both doomed, but I am doomed because my mental integrity was destroyed not by my will. And you are a careless infantile and a victim of your own troubles, you are to blame for your moral ruin. It is sad to see that you will never, again, never be able to rely on reality, you disgusts me. You are driven by fear, just like your creator.

[cherrychilli]

18+

AFAB reader, P in V sex, unprotected sex, semi public sex, outdoor sex, exhibitionism, slight blood play

A/N: Felt ✨inspired✨ by this poem.

"Normally I tend to choose my words carefully when it comes to such delicate matters. However, seeing you now, standing here in the moonlight, all I can think about is pulling your panties down and fucking you with your socks on" -- Michael Faudet

"You're insane"

"So you're saying you don't want to?"

"You're insane", you avoid the question like a dart aimed in your direction, repeating yourself with added emphasis.

Steve's smile turns cocky, hazel eyes lowering to rake over your body. "If you didn't, you wouldn't have come out here to meet me dressed in that", he points out, more than sure of himself.

Your lips purse. No comeback fighting its way through. No retort on the tip of your tongue. Nothing but the trill of unseen crickets and wind sweeping through leaves overhead to punctuate your silence.

Your moonlit skin must have turned transparent without you sensing it because he's seen right through you, effortlessly seeking out the stray thread that held your coy façade together. "Gonna come clean or are you gonna keep pretending?", and just like that, he unraveled you with a single smooth tug in the form of a wry smile.

The truth was you had lured him there into the woods behind your neighboring houses in your skirt and thigh high socks and a text that started with 'I miss you' and ended with 'come find me'. On the surface it all seemed innocent enough but he was right. You wanted him in places you shouldn't.

You wanted him in the front row of empty movie theaters, just you and Steve and a forgotten movie illuminating your tangled figures. You wanted him inside lonely train compartments going nowhere, nothing but the the sound of your hometown whipping by and breathless cries of each other's names filling the air.

You wanted him where bedsheets and locked doors couldn't conceal your ecstasy. Alone together in places where people weren't meant to be that way.

What you didn't want however, was for him to figure you out so easily. To realize so quickly that the crisp weather wasn't to blame each time you rubbed your thighs together and take smug pleasure in reading you so well.

Being thought of as predictable. It made you want to spit.

You shrink further, your uncharacteristic silence beckoning him closer, the corner of his lips tugging higher.

He's within your reach now - lured again only this time he doesn't know it.

You're going to bite those smirking lips bloody and enjoy kissing them better.

"You like knowing that it's kinda wrong, don't you? 'sthat what gets you so wet?"

Caged between Steve's arms, back against the trunk of an aging red maple, fingers gripping the hem of his shirt, you tip your chin up to run your tongue over his bottom lip and collect the blood that's beading there.

"I like being bad with you", you tell him honestly, swallowing the metallic tasting drop before pressing your lips to his, careful not to worsen the little tear you've made there. He hisses quietly when you part, the sting of your bite becoming more faint with each wash of your tongue and soft peck of your lips.

"My sweet girl...who would have known", he humors with the tone of someone whose known all along.

His fingers slip down to squeeze around the plush exposed skin between the tops of your thigh highs and the hem of your skirt, groaning at how soft and warm you felt in his cold, calloused hands.

"D'you like them?", you wanted to hear the obvious answer in the gruff of his lowered voice, pulse quickening when his fingers dip underneath your skirt. "Wanna take your panties off and show you how much", he finds the lacy waistband, hooking his fingers in and tugging them down.

Dead leaves and dry twigs crunch beneath you as you shift, balancing one hand on his shoulder while you shimmy your hips to help him slide the garment down your legs and over your shoes. You haven't told him yet how good he looks under the silvery moonlight, even when fresh blood bleeds through the split in his lip as he grins at the wet mess in your panties. You hold on to the thought like a secret, ready to threaten him with another bite when he brings the damp panties up to his nose, inhaling you deeply and stifling your almost warning.

"You're not getting these back", he informs you needlessly, tucking the pair into his back pocket for later. You suppose it's fair. A tradeoff for both wounding and underestimating him. "Fine", you utter indifferently but if he were to frame your face with his palms you're sure he'd feel you burning up under his stare.

You need to regain some control. You don't want to give him the satisfaction of having you beg too.

Reaching out, you pull him closer by the belt before he has a chance to reach under your skirt again. Steve makes an abrupt noise of surprise but makes no effort to stop you, watching you unbuckle it before popping open the button on his jeans. You lick at blood again as you work a hand underneath his boxers, clearing his lips of the crimson droplet when you grasp at his hot, stiff length.

"Fuck, you're beautiful", he breathes out, eyes trained on your face as you pull him free, thumb brushing over his silky, leaking tip. That playful arrogance he wore so brazenly only moments ago has drained from his features and you grin back wickedly in triumph. "You always get so sweet when you've got a hand on your cock?", you tease his almost immediate shift in demeanor, stroking a pretty whimper out of him.

He'd make himself into honey if it meant that you'd keep touching him like that - looking at him like you had your fingers held over his pulse, ready to push down and watch his eyes roll back whenever you pleased. He mirrors your earlier struggle, nothing smart or sharp on his tongue to lob back at you, surrendering to your touch with a thick gulp. You stroke him while his forehead presses against yours, the two of you exchanging the same shaky breath back and forth as your fingers grow tacky with precum.

"Stevie"

"Yeah?"

"Does it still hurt?"

It takes him a moment to realize what you mean, the sting in his lip having completely faded now.

"No- uh. No it doesn't hurt anymore", he croaks out his reply, cheeks all pink.

"Good".

And then there's a pause. It's hard to tell, even with how close you're pressed together but he swears the marrying of your brows and the little hitch in your breath means that you're working up the nerve to say something.

"Kiss me".

Something vulnerable flashes behind your sultry eyes. A plea underlying your soft command. Words grasping for some romance to undercut the blood.

And he gives it to you.

Wounded lips on yours, tongue delving into your mouth, a groan that makes your spine spark with fireworks. You feel like you're only burning brighter in the night.

You notice another bead of blood pulling to the surface of his pink lips but the chance to swipe at it with your tongue is stolen from you when Steve dips down to lick over your bottom lip, surprising you. "Got some on you", he says, thumb coming up to rub the remaining red tinge off of your mouth. "Leave it", you manage to stop him before he can wipe it away. "Please", you whisper but when you're this close together it hardly feels like one. You couldn't stand the thought of him erasing the bloodstain. Not when you wanted to wear it on you like rubies.

"Shit, really?", he holds your face in his palms, hazel eyes going wide with a mix of awe and exaltation.

"Yeah... I like it", you confess and suddenly he's reminded of your hand still wrapped around his twitching cock.

"Need to feel you", he breathes out urgently. "Turn around, baby please? gonna cum if you keep talking like that".

The need pervading your body feels so potent that if he were to ask, you'd get down in the dirt on your hands and knees and let him take you like that - rutting into you from behind with your cheek pressed to the earth.

Next time, you promised yourself.

You uncurl your fingers from his cock, pressing both palms against the coarse bark of the red maple, back arching to press your ass out for him.

His fingers squeeze over your thigh highs again, just below the curve of your ass, cock streaking precum on your skirt.

"Fuck- you're so sexy...you gonna put these on for me again, huh baby?, he flips your skirt up, eyes darkening at the sight of your pretty dripping cunt.

"You- ah- you like them that much?", his hand grips your hip, cock teasing your entrance.

"Gonna show you how much", he growls just before pushing in.

If the sounds of your cries carried through the darkened woods, you didn't care who else heard them. The sounds of Steve's grunts and moans muffled by your hair set your belly alight, hips pushing back in a frenzy to meet his rough thrusts.

"You feel so good- you feel so fucking good, angel- fucking soaking my cock-shit"

Your nail polish chips at your filed edges as you rake them against bark, toes curling inside your shoes when his fingers find your clit.

It's all a delicious, dizzying mess under the night sky. Blood and sweat, slick and seed, you and Steve.

Walking back to your door, hand in hand with Steve, his release warm between your legs, you're satisfied now but that tug deep in your chest will make it self known again, need beckoning you back.

The next time you ring his door bell he finds you in a new skirt and thigh highs to match. Knowing smiles exchanged in place of words, he takes your hand as you lead him back to the woods.

[polygonal-trees]

So I'm fresh off watching EarthSpark season 2 part 1 and I have to say: most of the criticisms about the writing, animation, and characterisation are correct. Season 2 pivots sharply away from a lot of the really good stuff established in season 1, and it lost something special. As well as money lbr.

But I also don't think anything I saw was worthy of the level of hate and vitriol people are aiming towards this show.

Yes it's a shame that it wasn't as good as season 1, but at worst, it's fine. It's fine, you guys. I was dreading some War for Cybertron or Prime Wars tier shit but I found season 2 perfectly enjoyable, if just on about the same level as most other children's shows a lot of the time.

And I'm going to be honest: I'm fine with Optimus, Elita, Megatron and the others not featuring as much. Yes I really like them, they were some of my favourite parts of seasons 1, but this isn't their show and I think their presence was honestly a negative at times. They are not the main characters, ES shouldn't shift focus onto them at the expense of Robbie, Mo and the Terrans. I do agree that Bumblebee should have featured more because he was established in season 1 as their mentor, but again: not his show.

The lack of Nightshade was far more obvious and disappointing, but I think we can thank the bigots for that - I blame them and the higher ups at Hasbro, not the ES team. There's still a chance Nightshade will get more focus in part 2. I'm hoping Hasbro is just letting the drama die down.

But now for the big one. The Starscream.

I prefer him as a villain! Like I was interested in seeing where a good guy Starscream arc might go but… I just prefer him as a villain! He's so perfectly nasty and it's so much fun to watch. Let him be evil, it's like his natural habitat.

That being said, I still don't think it's entirely too late for a redemption arc. The thing is, we know that Starscream can be a horrible person because we've seen him before - but the viewers who are new to Transformers haven't. You can't have a redemption arc without a character doing something terrible first. Will Starscream actually get one? I dunno, it seems unlikely at this point, but I think there's still a chance, and I'd rather see a character try to come back from something truly atrocious than just hear vague stories about how horrible they used to be. Yes that goes for Megatron as well.

I hope that part 2 is better. I think there's hope for more nuanced Decepticons with Shockwave (and presumably the others) turning away from Starscream at the end. I hope we get more focus on characters who didn't get to shine this season. And I hope that Hasbro gives the team more money. But if part 1 is anything to go by, I expect I'll enjoy it.

[txttletale]

i'll actually in a limited capacity defend the overwatch league's regional teams gimmick but the execution was bad. having regional teams could have been hype. like--during astralis' 2018-2019 csgo run, danish esports fans went fucking insane for them. and like of course they did. there's inherently something exciting about having a team you can in some way 'identify' with. and geography does create natural sports rivalries and pre-writes your stories.

there were two glaring bad problems in the dumb way blizzard did this though. one is forcing teams to come up with brand new branding. this was a horrible idea. it forced well-established esports organizations with strong fanbases across different games like cloud9 and optic to try and build new brands up from scratch. they realized this with their call of duty leage where they let teams play as 'atlanta faze' and 'optic texas' but yknow. kind of too little too late

the other one (and this is also the glaring fatal flaw in the overwatch league's entire silly, silly business plan) is the idea of a global league. now if you don't know much about esports you might think 'wait whats wrong with that. its gaming you can do it online players can be anywhere'. however that's not true! first of all, esports--well esports doesn't make money, esports when managed correctly is essentially a loss leader for the game it's an esport for--but esports makes a lot of its money on live events. yeah, people go to see esports games:

much more importantly, ping is a huge factor in esports. the higher the level you're playing at, especially in a game like overwatch that's full of twitchy hitscan aiming, the more a 10ms latency difference can make or break a game. you need to be running in-person events in order to have a competitive esports league and to make a good chunk of your revenue.

and that means that a global esports league runs into the exact same problem a global normal sports league would run into and the reason why that doesn't exist, which is travel logistics. the overwatch league has a london team, a san francisco team, and a chengdu team. these cities are very far away from each other [citation needed] and although overwatch league people will often blame covid for ruining their plans, i honestly think it actually saved them by preventing the horrible idea they had for how the league would work from actually happening. imagine all the problems that travel causes in a league like the NBA--jet lag, exhaustion, the obvious budgetary expenditure. now imagine that the travel itinerary also includes flights across the atlantic and/or pacific.

that's not even all! the thing about esports is that, because practicing for ten hours a day doesn't physically destroy your body like it would for regular sports, esports players and teams... do that. if you spend seventeen hours on a plane from paris to hangzhou for a match that's seventeen hours where you're not practicing. when you arrive, you can't just stay at a hotel--you need to be able to practice in the days leading up to the match too, especially because it's esports, which means the game can change. if you miss some practice as a sports team, you're gonna be rusty--if you miss some practice as an esports team, the rules of the game might have literally changed since your last practice session.

the result of this, by the way, is that the london and paris teams have never been actually based in europe--and that right now the dallas team is based in korea. it is very silly. every other multinational esport ever invented has created regional leagues--league of legends has a league for korea, china, europe, north america, pacific, vietnam, brazil, japan, and latin america. but blizzard entertainment are god's special little gamers and they weren't going to let something like 'the ocean' get in the way of their global league dream.

and ultimately this means that the entire local team concept was pointless. most of the teams aren't locally based. and even if they were -- the madcap way they play against each other mean that those city affiliations don't matter. when manchester united play liverpool f.c., even if you are not a big football fan, if you're from manchester you presumably have an opinion of liverpool and liverpudlians, and vice versa. there is an emotional hook to latch on to. if manchester united were to play khon khaen united, you would probably say 'where the fuck is khon khaen'. for the localisation to work, the overwatch league's london team needed a manchester or glasgow or dublin or amsterdam or brussels team (etc.) to play against. if you're invested in the esport itself and the players, you can get invested in a philadelphia-london or chengdu-houston rivalry--but the localisation aspect of it isn't doing the work it should there.

tldr: the overwatch league was a bad idea ever since the moment it was announced. people are too harsh on the team localization idea but the way it was executed was hot garbage and it's no wonder this entire venture failed badly

[epickiya722]

I'm new to the JJK fandom, and after one month of interacting with the fandom, I noticed that many view Gojo as a womanizer. I believe it to be false.

Maybe it's because of that one time Gege commented that he doesn't see Gojo being faithful to a woman (that man looks like a twink, so I don't blame you, Akutami). Nonetheless, I do not believe it means that Gojo is a playboy/ fuckboy.Let me tell you: while Gojo got the looks, it does not change the fact that he got no hoes He's a hoe repellent no matter the gender.

He is that type of guy that is really handsome, but the moment he opens his mouth, your perception of him changes so much that you would find Deadpool's left ass cheek more attractive. Hell, even Toji's worm. My dude is annoying as hell. He is rude, tactless, and privileged. Add to that the fact that he might also have mommy and daddy issues  because I'm sure he was not treated like a normal kid (but that is another discussion for another time).

Gojo might also have a lot of trust issues combined to the fact that he tends to isolate himself by not letting himself get too close to others. Like this guy is the strongest sorcerer, and his birth caused a shift in the Jujutsu world. Since his birth, people have been trying to kill him. Even the higher up in Jujutsu, see him as a nuisance and are waiting for the opportunity to do him dirty and you to tell me that he doesn't have trust issues? He has infinity on all the time, to the point that he does that subconsciously, and you want to tell me that he's gonna drop that just to get laid? So that he can get  a cursed technique aimed right at his balls?

And even if he is a playboy in the sense that it's not sexual and it's just emotional cheating. The dude feels like no one can relate to him. No one understands what it's like to be at the top, to be the strongest. So what would be the point?

I like Gojo, but in real life, being in a relationship with this man means you'll probably be his therapist because I know this guy has a lot of issues. At least he got money, so you'll be compensated I guess?

I'm rambling a lot, and it's not structured, but I also do not want to write a whole essay in your ask box.

In conclusion: It must be the cash cause it ain't your personality or whatever Beyoncé said.

What do you think?

When I tell you that "womanizer Gojo" is one of the characterizations I hate that some of the fandom has given him I HATE IT.

This is why we take the time to reread something and better understand it because in what world does a womanizing Gojo fits? Especially, in canon when it would be hard to maintain a romantic relationship given the risks Jujutsu sorcerers take? And with the description you gave are other reasons why Gojo wouldn't have a significant other.

Let's be honest, if there was one person who could handle Gojo it was Geto. This isn't me saying this as a shipper, but just stating a fact.

Like, if he would have a romantic partner, it would have him. Shoko's their friend, yes. But that is the most that she sees herself as. Chapter 220, she states hell would freeze over before she falls for any of those two. She's aware of the flaws they both have, but that doesn't she didn't want to be there for them.

One thing I like about Gojo is that despite the reputation he has as a sorcerer, he got his flaws that make him human. Just me, but I don't see the point of adding more flaws to him if I like him already as he is. Like, come on. Just make an OC, at this point.

I know sometimes canon can suck, but fanon? Is worse sometimes.

It's like how some people will depict Yuji drinking and eating anything because "Oh, he's a total dumbass".

I hate that. Yes, Yuji states he's dumb, but he has displayed he does have intelligence and sometimes even he ain't with the bullshit with others. When he said he'll eat anything, it was more on the lines of "I'll eat a cursed object to save people" not "I'll drink gasoline because I was dared to".

Like, damn, he ain't that careless! He ain't that stupid! (Just giving him the Kaminari treatment, huh?)

Just... I wish more people actually stop and think about what they're reading instead of running with it and going with a depiction that others say is "canon" (it's not) or "better than canon". Especially, with a media that isn't from your native country.

[otori0]

Ho, Bam and consequences | ToG rant

SPOILERS AHEAD !!!

Disclaimer - I'm reading the manhwa at the same pace I watch the anime so I won't miss anything, and I'm enjoying both equally, I think there's value in both of them. Both will be referenced on this post. Also I haven't finished S1 yet so of course I'm open to changing my mind later on. I might also write a full analysis later on (probably on Ho because as you can see I'm very invested in his writing...such a shame he had little screentime). Additionally, this was written on discord so it's not as fleshed out and coherent as my usual posts.

I loved episode 9 of the anime to death. I loved it, but it feels to me like Ho's death had more weight narratively than for the characters. Especially, I expected his exchange with Bam and Rachel to affect them a lot more than it did, at least so far. Ho's death is important to the narrative because it showcases the gap between the powerful and the powerless, the chosen and the failures, in a more extreme way than the previous dropouts had. Ho's immediate response to his (very naive) plan failing is to kill himself, which hints that he might have thought about it beforehand- Ho saw his plan as his last chance to regain some self-esteem, pride and to show himself that he isn't wrong (and of course, to pass the test). This episode also strengthens Endorsis' despair to survive and aim higher, Khun's arrogance, and in general gives us a more empathetic view of how it feels to climb the tower for a Regular. I think Ho should have lived a bit longer and actually faced his plan failing (might actually write a fic about this), but it's something that would have happened sooner or later to someone, and a pivotal moment that involve two of the most important characters Bam and Rachel and also forces them to interact. At least, that's how it feels, that it should have been pivotal.

It undeniably is, but I can't help but feel that it should have affected specifically Bam more, especially the things Ho says to him. Him saying that the friend list is just lip-service and never meant anything to him should make Bam question the rest of his friends. It's one of the first times, if not the first, that Bam is directly confronted with someone lying to him like that, spitting on his good intentions, and showing him the darker side of people and the tower. Ho directly blaming him (''It's your fault for showing off your power'') should make Bam doubt himself and his power. Ho telling Bam that he's a monster, that he's going to become the same as the one who attacked his family? village? (i don't think we know the details), and that Bam is sure to grow up that way should make Bam reflect on himself, or feel shocked. But here is the thing- through his death and afterwards, Bam doesn't seem all that affected by Ho himself. Instead, the small bits we get of how it reflects on him are much more self-centered.

In the manhwa (and I'll never forgive them for skipping this line), when Ho kills himself Bam says ''Why must everyone always try to run away?!''. This line, this one says a lot. Bam seeing suicide (something he surely has or should have little knowledge of, all he knows is that Ho is dead by his own volition) as running away, something he has never considered of doing but he knows that other people do... He might see Rachel's avoidance as running away too. He might like Khun and Rak because they're two pretty straightforward and ambitious people. ((Or at least, that's how they look from his perspective- We however know that Khun is all but straightforward in his ways and he actually struggles with changing)) Endorsi is the same way. It gives us insight on how Bam sees other people, although so far he always tries to see the good in them. But it also just seems rooted in pure frustration, and I don't believe Bam is blaming Ho here. Once Ho's dead and they do his funeral, it seems like Bam immediately forgets and focuses on the most important thing: Rachel. In a sense, Rachel being injured is the perfect excuse for Bam to again shift all his attention to her. But the thing is- this isn't an inconsistency. I don't know how much SIU has planned this beforehand, but this makes perfect sense, which makes it frustrating. Bam really has mainly only thought about Rachel. Sure, he likes his friends, he cares about them, but he's lacking a basic empathy that people seem to miss, and once Bam actually loses Rachel, he's going to find that he's an empty person because he couldn't see the bigger picture. He's only seeing her and his own goal. His altruism is selfish from the very first episode, and that actually makes it interesting, but it's also sad because it kind of confirms Ho's fears. Ho is forgotten and meaningless and a failure. Up to now, the other dropouts also received this treatment from the cast, so it's not surprising, but it's still upsetting (not to mention, the only person who actually seemed affected by it left...which i completely understand).

We don't see much of Rachel's point of view, so I'm unsure on how she approached this whole matter mentally speaking, but we can tell that she either: 1. Didn't care if Ho actually killed her (most likely option), or 2. Was confident enough to think that she wouldn't die in that situation (can also be likely because there's many reasons why Ho's plan could have failed anyways without Bam being there). She might also be used to experiencing that sort of thing/her negative outlook might influence this.

((Adding to Bam's lack of empathy, there's the fact that he didn't hesitate to fight a Ranker after Ho threatened that he'd kill Rachel if Bam didn't. I won't go as far as saying that Bam would have tried to kill Quant, but I don't think he would have minded it if that meant Rachel survived. I wonder how much does Bam know and internalize about life and death.))

Some other small details that stood out to me that I might include if I write a Ho analysis: It's interesting that Ho brings up God a few times. I wonder how does God work in a universe like ToG's. Him assuming that God must have taken something from Bam in exchange of his powers is also interesting (''What did God take from him in exchange for that talent? I lost everything and all I got was enough power to do some parlor tricks.'') and it makes me wonder if he'll be proven right on this too...

It's upsetting because, in real life, you could argue with someone with this mindset that people's talents aren't given by god, that instead they're a lot of times the result of a lot of hard work. But in the ToG universe specifically, it does work that way, people are chosen and more than once one's hard work doesn't mean anything. So it's really interesting that we could see a character with this mindset.

All in all I really enjoyed that episode, I'm really curious to see if and how will this situation affect them in the future (the lack of effect is also an effect on itself, which was the main point of my rant), and to see how the cast develops. I'm very intrigued so far by the writing, it's very interesting, and I feel like every scene or line tells a lot about each character giving them a lot of personality.

Forever sad that Ho doesn't have more lore or scenes, but I can change that......

[followmetoyourdoom]

So the Megamind movie/TV show announcement came out yesterday and there's such a divide within the fandom and so much anger directed at both sides and I just, can't understand why?

People are allowed to have different opinions, people are allowed to be super excited for it and people are allowed to be disappointed in what the trailers are showing.

It's been so long since we got content and you've got people who are so excited to get what we're getting and that's great! That's awesome! We're getting content! But there's also people who wanted more than this, who wanted DreamWorks/Peacock to put more money into this and that's understandable. People who wanted the original voices bc that's what's familiar, that's what they fell in love with. And it's okay that the show is different, but it's also okay for people to be upset at it being different.

I don't think it's greedy or ungrateful. I just think this shows how much people care and how optimistic they were and how hopeful they were. And yeah, some people are being rude about it, but those are very specific cases and generalising either way isn't helping.

Let people love the new content, let people be disappointed. It's okay. We're all going to watch it, and then there will be more divided opinions and that's also okay!

I think keeping hate out of the main tag, especially when Megamind is so big these days, is pretty unavoidable, but adding extra tags to things isn't. Discourse and criticism for the show could be tagged as such (maybe under 'MegaRant'?), and then those who don't want to see that, blacklist those tags. If people aren't tagging things, gently asking them to, and if then they're a dick about it, well the block button is there.

As someone who often loves things others hate, I get the instant defence mechanism, I really do. My URL/Tumblr name is from Button Of Doom, and we all know how well that was received, but I genuinely love that silly little short. And that's okay.

For people who are blaming the animators or blaming those who worked on this at a lower level, aim that disappointment higher if you can, at CEOs and those who just care about shareholders. The film industry at the moment is not a pretty picture and the people with passion are often working as hard as they can with very little time and very little budget.

It's okay to be disappointed, just know who's to blame for it. It's okay to be really excited and then upset at the people shitting on that thing you're excited for. But let's find a way to live in harmony rather than getting angry at each other. And if people don't want to, you're allowed to curate your own experience and block/step away/blacklist, whatever you need to do.

[nemolfc]

𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨? - 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬

・𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬

( 𝐀 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦 )

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

He didn't mean to eavesdrop, much less catch the tail end of her conversation with Luka yet when he heard his name, he couldn't help but stand there and listen in.

" You have to tell him at some point! " Luka advises her.

" He's probably dating someone " He hears her respond with a dejected tone, " I wouldn't blame him though, why on earth would he look at me like that when there are thousands of women more attractive than me? "

He hears Luka sigh then say, " First of all, you're very beautiful and if you don't believe me, ask Marco because that boy was crushing on you for a while before he realized you wouldn't be interested, second of all he definitely noticed you "

He raises a brow, surprised by the fact that Marco had a crush on her which then wasn't really a surprise given that she was in fact very beautiful yet he couldn't comprehend who they were really talking about, up until he hears her response.

" Luka, we're talking about Sergio here ... he's the perfect package and I'm just a measly photographer aiming for a higher shot, while I work here, when people think of Sergio, they'd definitely imagine him with a model, an actress or a singer, not a photographer "

He tilts his head, attempting to absorb and comprehend what he had just heard, was she ...? no way. he shakes his head.

" Stop undermining yourself draga " Luka sighs once again, " I'm telling you that he noticed you and if you ask me, you'll never know if he feels the same way until you speak to him "

He stands there with a wonderstruck expression across his features, Y/N likes him, Y/N actually likes him; the thought finally sinks in.

" I love him Luka, it's the first time I've ever felt like this around anyone, and I'm scared that he'll reject me, or worse, think that I'm only interested cause he's popular and rich "

It didn't take long for Luka to say, " Listen, why don't you come over tomorrow for the dinner party Vanja and I are hosting? it's only a few of the players and Sergio will be there, you can take the chance and talk to him, better yet I'll tell him to talk to you but I won't tell him, you will "

" Are you sure it will work? "

" Positive, now relax and don't overthink it ok "

" Ok, thanks Luka "

" You can thank me when you and him finally get together "

He makes a beeline for the canteen before they can notice him, and to say he was struck by the new revelation would be an understatement, he'd always held an affinity for her, admiring her skill set as well as her ability to hold her own during the training sessions cause the team wasn't easy to deal with, yet never did he think that she felt anything towards him, especially since she seemed so far ahead in life when it came to her career.

Before he can comprehend things further, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the plate being placed next to his followed by a smiling Luka sitting next to him, " Hermano, you ok? "

" Yeah, yeah I'm fine " He forces a smile, as he is now anticipating what tomorrow might hold.

____________________________________________________________

Y/N smoothes out the front of her white maxi dress before ringing the doorbell of Luka's home, the door soon opens and Vanja welcomes her in with an embrace before leading her to the living room where most of the players and their significant others were seated, she greets everyone with a smile before taking a seat in the empty spot on the couch, right next to Sergio who gives her a soft smile she reciprocates.

Throughout the dinner party, several people were chatting about the upcoming fixtures about football while the WAG's chatted amongst one another about other topics, Y/N would pitch in whenever she can, however she remained silent over all until suddenly,

" Y/N .. can we talk for a moment? "

She looks up to meet Sergio's gaze, " Oh " she echoes.

" Go " Vanja whispers with a soft smile.

Y/N stood up then followed him out to the balcony, " Is everything ok? "

Sergio nods, " Yes but I want to confess something " he said with a soft tone.

Her heart thumped, she then nodded slowly. " Ok "

Sergio inhales a deep breath before he begins, " When you first started working at the club, I was um .. I was enchanted by your infectious energy, the way you worked and handled yourself as the photographer for the club, and honestly I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way with anyone since my last relationship ended but the truth is … I like you, a lot "

She looks at him with wide eyes, " I … "

" I know, shocking " He chuckles, " But I mean it, I really like you and it would make very happy if you, let me take you out on a date "

She grew silent for a moment before nodding with a smile, " I’d love to "

Sergio beams before he closes the distance between them, placing one hand over her waist while the other rests on the back of her neck, " Can I kiss you? "

She nods, a shaky breath escapes her lips which shifts into a whimper when he placed his lips over hers, gently moving them against hers, he then pulls back and whispers. " deliciosa "

[doubleddenden]

Yeah no, this was absolutely rigged. The shithead party that cried and screamed and shat and vomited and pissed and COMMITTED TERRORISM BY STORMING THE CAPITAL ON JANUARY 6TH absolutely cheated like they always try to do.

The Nevada signatures

People in places like NC suspiciously being unregistered to vote

The call to end voting in places like Georgia before mail in ballots could be counted

The fire bombing of ballot boxes in a couple of states like Oregon

And Muskrat and Twitter. Election gambling promotion via ads by claiming the orange bastard had a higher chance to win- that's just one of the MANY ways Muskrat is suspected of election interference.

Give it a few days and they'll say there was foreign interference like with Russia in 2016. There are too many places with too many agendas to be met by having an ego maniac sociopath dumbass in office.

Oh I'm not saying nobody voted for him- no, I live in MS, I'm well aware of cult minded, ignorant people voting that simply choose not to believe or delve deeper into the orange man's own words regarding Project 2025 and making it so his "beautiful Christians never have to vote again," or fools who still believe inflation is caused by democrats. My vote is probably the closest you can get to worthless- a match in an ocean.

That stupid fucker that couldn't aim for shit (and I'm still suspicious of for a number of reasons) definitely did not help by painting the reds as heroes with victim complexes. God that stupid photo had to have been planned.

And lastly, if there's anyone else to blame besides racist misogynists or the severely ignorant, I'll point my middle finger at third party voters, people who abstained, or the absolute morons that actually voted FOR HIM thinking it would somehow help Gaza despite him saying he wanted to help get its destruction over with (and Ukraine too, if i remember correctly, because he loves Putin). Congratulations on your morality, bros. If you can't save everyone, you may as well speed run killing millions more than the other option, right? Despite the clear warnings that 3rd parties do not win anymore, despite the clear messages that this was about keeping the LESSER of 2 evils from winning, despite the very real threat of Project 2025 taking away any future right to vote and hand over our rights to neo nazi christo fascist dictators, you get to feel warm and cozy as you sip your pumpkin spice lattes and read fics with your cat while some of us lost progress to getting affordable healthcare or more children needlessly die. Because your morals are more important than lives, obviously, because you're the main character, obviously, because bots on Twitter or chat gpt or the tumblr user with a Hazbin Hotel pfp told you we deserved to lose our rights- and you believed them because you don't like critically thinking, obviously. Thank you guys specifically for making it even harder for women to receive needed abortions, thank you guys specifically for allowing the monster that fired the pandemic response team back in office after covid killed millions, thank you guys specifically for undoing any progress made in the last 4 years and healing from him the last time. Thank you, for signing the death warrants of innocents, because you can't comprehend the fact that EVERY POLITICIAN IS EVIL and that your job is to vote for the LESSER evil that has an actual chance of winning, because we don't get to toss out the options available for a new set because any time we get close to any sort of progress it gets REVERSED. I hope you're happy with the outcome, you stupid pieces of shit, and I can only hope that it's you instead of an innocent child that gets hurt because of your actions or inaction to vote.

God I hate this fucking shithole country. Why couldn't I be at least Canadian?

[mdhwrites]

To be fair the excuse of Disneymeddling to excuse quality was also aimed at the first season of "boo hoo Dana was forced to make it episodic to appease Disney so SECOND season will be all her ☆ " as an excuse for anyone who didn't dig it at all s1. which i took seriously for like half a second before giving up on the show mid way s2 [sorry I know you like s1 but I found it so boring and s2 as an all her! season did not inspire faith that with or without meddling she could make a solid base for herself at all] Disney however should always be on the hotplate for atrocities against their cartoon creators in general

What sucks is that you apologize... But I also don't blame you. S1's biggest sin is being boring. There are stand out episodes but the majority of the fandom either hates or forgets about half of the episodes in S1. Even of the ones they do remember, how many people are talking about King's stage fright or his plushie boot camp?

But at the same time... Those episodic episodes are some of the most charismatic of the series. The 'version Disney forced on her' is frankly when a lot of the characters are at their best. It's when Willow and Gus are more prominent, it's when Eda is a real criminal, including more often how she's treated by the world, it's while Amity is still trying to figure out who she is. There are GREAT episodes still in S1A despite any Disney meddling.

But admittedly, it's also the introduction to things. They haven't established enough stuff to contradict it and that just highlights that it's really easy to present ideas with possibilities but it's a lot harder to execute on them. When TOH is introducing an element, it does it very charismatically and with a lot of strength honestly. Even a late addition like Vee is given a great introduction to the audience with plenty of wiggle room. Executing on ANY of it though... TOH almost always fails. Eda's curse in S1 is the ONE element TOH introduces, keeps consistent and sticks the landing for and even that then gets much shakier with the redefining of effectively how the curse is ENTIRELY for Eda by the end of S2A. The next closest is Lumity which only doesn't feel rushed because they butchered Amity's potential and character and then only has one episode that takes any real advantage of them being in a relationship. Everything else is half assed or done in some of the worst ways when effort is put into them that don't fit with the tone, story, setting etc.

And again, that's probably part of why S3 nuked the fandom as hard as it did. S3 is a VERY unsatisfying payoff to almost everything in the show. It had to wrap things up and so showed that the writers simply don't know how to do that. Not well at least. Hence why they're STILL introducing elements like the Wittebane Lore and Stringbean so that they can still have the higher points even though some of those elements will NEVER get a real payoff to them. Did we REALLY need to meet the Hexide resistance besides the fact that we could reintroduce characters who hadn't been part of the show for effectively half a season, minimum?

Eventually, you have to work with what you have already. At least in a serialized work. S2A doesn't do that though because it would mean having to follow through on its narrative elements and TOH just can't do that, not for the most part at least, despite always knocking down the episodic payoffs that other shows would go for.

It's in a deadman's land between two identities even in its narrative styling and while Disney is evil, don't get me wrong, it's also still just a company and I doubt they wanted to spend the time or money it would have taken to fight with one of their content creators to make them permanently decide one way or another.

So it never did. About anything.

[lal-ffxiv]

Prompt #12: Quarry

The young lady approached the Keepers of the Moon with a proposal of work in dispatching some vilekin, and it would be easy enough to just take the money in a confidence trick. However, she made claims of hidden treasures in the abandon city of Gelmorra.

"... I do not mean be babbling on about history of Twelveswood to you, but it is quite interesting. Don't you believe?"

"It will believe it if have any proof on where to find these treasures."

"Well, of course. I came across this map in my grandfather's library. He is so old. He might as well be one of the first that came out from the underground, and see here this is marked as sacred place, so I believe any relics would be stored there. I plan to make a collection of the relics as I am sure I am not the only one to be fascinated by the citystate's origins. Unfortunately, my father not one of those people. He refuses to lend his men for my expedition. As a business man, he can only understand the words of money. I tell him he is inviting the wrath of The Elementals upon himself by logging. Although, without his sacrilegious lumber mill then I would not have this opportunity. It is with my allowance from him that I fund this venture, which is just enough for two guards. Are you interested?"

Epokhan's head spun by time the long-winded maiden had stopped talking. He was afraid of giving her an answer as it would allow her to start talking again.

Luc was quick on her feet and tongue. While tedious in her speech, the young lady was trusting and optimistic, so a perfect pigeon. Since Luc loved birds, she made the choice on the deal. "This sounds like a very meaningful venture, and we would please to undertake it, but sounds much to dangerous for you come along. My partner and I have to insist on half payment now, and the rest once we have returned with your relics."

"And due to danger, we will need to double the price." Epokhan added.

The girl took her head violently like a child throwing a tantrum. "No, no, no! First, I am not paying you to stand prettily while I search. I need to be able discern the relics of value. I want none of gaudy relics of any precious metals or jewels. Second, I need to see the place were my people toiled for my kind's survival under the harsh rule of The Elementals. I must go to the underground city myself. I will pay the higher price, but I can not be denied this wish."

She had more than just earnesty. She had a fire in her eye that Luc would not argue with. Instead Luc looked to her partner. If the treasure were true then they could make more profit with her along, if they weren't the couple could still rob her and leave her in underbelly of the earth on their merry way.

"Alright. We'll take the venture."

"Excellent! I am so excited! Truly I did not believe I would find a pair so brave as yourselves. Father also warned me about ... that is end of that. I will meet you both at Camp Emerald Moss on the morrow then." The young lady beamed, and sadly walked away with her full coin purse as Epokan's and Luc's stomach growled.

Epohkan, a well-learned hunter, would blame the hunger on addling his mind. No other reason would he walked into such an obvious trap.

As soon as the trio entered the underground, they were overrun. Not by seedkin or vilekin, but by duskwight bandits.

Luc held the line while he cut his way from the net. He would have thought their client lost in the confrontation as he became Luc's sole concern aside from her own life. From his hovering position though he could see maiden go from green to grey, and raided the bandit's stores appearing as bandit herself. Epokhan fell from the net, and lost sight of her. For now.

He is a trained tracker too after all. Side by side the two of them made a quick show of incapacitating the bandits to chase their quarry.

The arrow scraped the tip of her nose. It would have gone straight through her head, if the arrow had been aimed for it. She took the hint and walked backwards to face her attackers.

"What have I done to deserve this greeting?" Asked the duskwight from the keepers.

"Drop the act. We know its you." Epokhan said as Luc let another arrow fly towards the elezen.

"Oh caught on to me and my tricks did ya." A wave of the hand and in front of them was young lady over the bandit.

"Leading us to our death was the whole plan was it?"

"I haven't killed anyone, nor do I plan to. Only I thought a mob of bandits would distract you longer while I got farther away from here is all."

"Like how we were meant to distract the bandits while you stole from them."

"It it really stealing when you take from a rob-"Luc fired an ice core tipped arrow with the idea of freezing her mouth shut for good. It would be well worth the tipped arrow as to never hear the elezen's voice again.

Instead the sprite core reacted to the active glamour prism. Then, a Seeker of the Sun stood before them.

Ri'anni Tia felt naked without a glamour over her, even worse than that. She was being perceived wrongly in this very moment. After a lifetime of that, she wasn't going to take another second of it.

Arianni dropped the item she sought to activate another glamour. Then, faced her attackers anew. "That was more embarrassing than being caught in my smallclothes, so let forget about it."

The Keepers of the Moon were stunned though. Luc had lowered her bow, and Epokhan stood mouth wide.

"Why disguse yourself was a woman?" Epokhan asked

"You sound like my mother." Arianni groaned. "Because I like to, why else?"

"How does it work? Can you show us?" Luc asked.

The skill every criminal should hone is being able to find the object a person wants and promising it to them.

"Oh is dressing in eachother's clothes not fooling the amount of people you want?" Arianni found the thing that might save her life from the Keeper with the bow and arrow.

"I learned from some imps, but I can only teach you if you have the talent." She offered and waited.

The Keepers shared a look between themselves. Arianni was quite jealous of the intimacy the two shared. To know eachother's thoughts without words, that was something she could never have with another.

"We'll considered forgiving you if you teach us the way to be disguised." Epokhan started

"As if you weren't planning on leaving me there for dead either." Arianni interrupted. Luc lifted the bow again. Arianni sewed her mouth shut quick.

"But your debt is separate, and for that we will go along with to where you'll be fencing that." Luc pointed at the trinket Arianni had dropped in her desperation. Split three way the reward for retrieving the noble's personal property was going to be small, but living another day is worth more.

"Then, you will stay right by us until we've learned." Luc finished.

"Fine, but then we never speak another word to each other after."

Arianni crossed her hands to shake each one theirs, so the three shook hands on the deal.

[metalheadsforblacklivesmatter]

No one hate me for asking, because I'm genuinely curious what some of you think we should do with people who are mass murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and serial killers. And I'm not pro prison, but where would we put someone like John Wayne Gacy and would it even be possible to rehabilitate them at that point. I've also seen people safer because their abusive partner went to jail or prison, so what should we do to these people to make sure they don't harm others.

Thank you for submitting this question! I wanted to respond via post but it wouldn't let me tag you.

It's a valid question and though a very very VERY small percent are violent offenses, it is important to ask "How can we help these people?"

So first of all. A number of the violent offenses are mental health related, and therefore rehabilitation would focus on treating the inmate for their mental health issues.

This study also states that a lot of the violent offenders WANT to be rehabilitated and KNOW something is wrong.

Furthermore here are the stats of people that are incarcerated that are mentally ill. (For comparison 21% of the general populace is mentally ill).

For incarcerated people, those rates are much higher; the American Psychological Association reports that “64 percent of jail inmates, 54 percent of state prisoners, and 45 percent of federal prisoners” have reported mental health concerns.

Why is mental illness a problem? Well a lot of mental illness can cause violent behaviors, but a lot of mental illness can result in behaviors that may seem violent, but aren't inherently so (speaking in a loud voice, big gestures, non-compliance with the police, and distrust of authority).

And on top of that 85% of inmates either have an addiction or were arrested for drug and alcohol related crimes. Why is this important? Drugs and alcohol can cause anger issues, bad trips, paranoia, etc. Which can resort to violent crimes. ESPECIALLY alcoholism which often goes unnoticed and untreated.

This includes situations for violent serial killers because psychopathic violence is often caused by a lack of empathy, and you'd be suprised that there's actually people walking around today with a lack of empathy. This doesn't excuse the crimes, mind you. But it feeds into the fact that this is mental illness and treating said mental illness can decrease rates of reffending.

Okay, but what about rapists?

Recent research published by the American Public Health Association suggests that focusing on punishments rather than positive goals can actually increase the chance of recidivism. In 2006, the Department of Justice endorsed more progressive methods such as the Good Lives Model, which aims to teach people how to fulfill their emotional and physical needs without hurting others. That includes challenging sexist behaviors and skewed social views that lead them to hurt other people.

It's not so much "rehabilitation helps reduce chances of reoffending" so much as "punishment increases risk of reoffending".

It's important to know that rape is about a power play, and as such I believe there's ways to deal with that perceived loss of power without increasing chances of reoffending. I AM NOT DEFENDING THEIR ACTIONS. I am simply saying as a person that's experienced sexual harassment, I would prefer the option that's more likely to reduce the chances of reoffending over the option that's probably going to increase it.

And lastly child predators. I'd like to state I'm not apologizing for child predators. I'm not saying they're okay. I'm not advocating for them. I do not feel safe around them and I don't blame anyone that does. However. I'm looking at this as a "You look at the numbers. What does science say is the best way to protect children from them?" This is a very emotional topic and has to be viewed as straight facts and numbers to get the best results.

First, listening to people with minor attraction. I do not support these people. However, listening to them, many of them understand their desires are wrong and want to be rehabilitated. And why do we not provide that? I'm not throwing them pity. I'm just saying "If it'll protect children by treating them, why do we not provide treatment options." If people with this issue know it's an issue and want to fix it. Why can't they seek medical help? All I'm saying. From the "this makes sense to protect children" perspective.

Second. The pure statistics. If the child predator believes in it and actually wants to get better, it is proven that therapy and treatment can decrease the chances of them offending again. (If they don't want to get help, that's likely an empathy problem which I've already discussed).

And if these people are deeply struggling and want to seek help, is it not their right as a human fucking being to seek help? Like if they really want to get better and they are deeply disturbed by their thoughts, is in not their right as a human to seek treatment?

And Norway specifically has rehabilitation based prisons and the stats are ridiculously positive. They show real results from rehabilitation-based systems.

For the record. I'm not saying ANY of these people deserve sympathy. I'm saying it's our duty as a humane and just society to treat them like human beings, and not animals. And it's our duty to potential victims to choose the path that reduces chances of reoffending.

-fae

[nancydrewwouldnever]

I don't know if it was a form of overidentification, or if people truly did believe he was so riddled with anxiety that the merest whiff of public censure would undo him. Still can't figure out if that was the aim of the way he and his PR team presented his anxiety in interviews, or just a happy accident./

To me it was not only the anxiety that led fans to defend him like they personally knew him but also the way he and his team created his image. The perfect dog dad, RL Captain American so fans thought he could do no wrong and when he did it wasn't treated like a human mistake. It was treated as though he was this higher, that he suffers from anxiety so he can't be held responsible, can't hurt his feelings because he'll be up all night thinking about it, and that everyone else but him is to blame. I think the last two years really popped the bubble for a lot of his fans. But it's not his fandoms that was or is like this, there are so many fandoms like this, which is the problem. These celebrities are treated like god by fans and they go defending them sometimes to the point they are attacking others viciously, but they don't even know these humans personally to defend them to that level.

Unfortunately, many fans do start falling into the "hero worship" trap over time. I suppose it doesn't help if the object of your interest has PR being spun off a literal hero character. It's always good to be realistic about celebrities you like being just normal humans with feet of clay.

[anime-dreams]

Gojo's and Geto's thoughts during the KFC breakup HAHAHHAHAHA

Theme: SatoSugu mwah

Warnings: none, angst??? (i mean it's SatoSugu so what do yall expect besides angst i hope my writing can bring out the angst thou) not proofread!!

Authors note: hi beautiful people, this is my first time trying this out so my sincerest apologies if i did smt wrong that caused any kind of inconvenience for yall. SatoSugu broke my heart and i havent felt the same way since i read that darn In Another Life fanfic (i loved it thou anyone who watches Haikyuu and ships BokuAka should go check it out). Anyways my ultimate goal here is to make yall cry over SatoSugu again cuz i cant seem to get over them :/ hahahaha

Gojo's POV:

I heard what Yaga said. My brain could not process it in time. “Huh?” 

The only thoughts running through my mind was “No. it must be a mistake. No, Suguru would never.” Denial, denial, denial. I was confused. I was mad. Not mad at you, but at those damned old gits that tried to blame this on you. It had to be a misunderstanding… right? My mind told me you’ve changed. But my heart and soul still holds onto that last shred of hope. I tried everything to reach you, and eventually got ahold of your whereabouts through Shoko.

I recognised your figure amidst the busy streets of Shinjuku immediately. “Explain yourself, Suguru.” you paused. Your reply was stark.  “You heard it from Shoko, right? That’s all there is.” You didn’t even bother to turn, didn’t even bother to look into my eyes to say those words. I grind my teeth. “So you’re just gonna kill everyone who’s not a jujutsu sorcerer? Even your parents?” That shred of hope was slowly sliding out of my grasp. “I can’t allow my parents to be a special exception.” You sounded crazy. Your words were insane. I feel like i don’t understand you anymore.

When you told me that there was a point to kill, and that you were aiming to eliminate all non-sorcerers from this world, that hope disappeared completely. Who are you now? I was looking at a familiar face, yet it was clouded in a shroud of unfamiliarity. It was impossible to do so. I yelled at you, to try and get you back to your senses.

I tried, so you won’t leave, although a part of me already knew how this would end. Every cell in my body rejected that inescapable truth. Every nerve in my body rejected that inevitable outcome. You finally turned, and my eyes locked with yours. My heart skipped a beat, and my breathing hitched. Those dark eyes were like nocturnal oceans, with secrets shimmering in the depths. Those dark eyes that once had the light of life, those dark eyes that turned steely when they met mine.  “Are you the strongest because you’re Satoru Gojo, or does being the strongest make you Satoru Gojo?” What sort of a dumb question is that? You’re not making any sense. “What are you trying to say?” “If I had your powers, don’t you think that chances would be higher that my foolish ideal would become a reality?” just for a split second, sorrow flashed in your eyes, and it was gone so fast I couldn’t be sure it was even there in the first place.

Your eyes hardened into solid obsidian. “Satoru, I have decided how to live my life, and what's left is doing the best I can to achieve it. Goodbye, Satoru” I was stumped again. No. No. No, no, no, no. We didn’t come this far just to come this far. The words that cursed you crawled up my throat, but I couldn't find my voice. You turned your back firmly on me, and reality came crashing down. You were leaving. There will never be ‘us’ again. I will never be the same again. Was I nothing to you? Was I someone you just used, and throw away? How are you able to turn your back so easily on me?

I don't even know which pain is worse. The shock of what had happened, or the ache of what never will. I stood there, wanting to run after you, shout at you, beg you to stay, but I know, even if I do catch up to you, you will still fade into the crowd. Even if, by some miracle, you do stay, we will never be the same again. I swallowed, my hands trembling as I raised them up. I had to do it. I'm not born strongest for nothing. I'm strong enough to do this. You are a criminal after all. I should do it, I must do it. Your silhouette blurred each step you took, walking away from me, just like my future, how i cannot visualize without you in it, foggy and unclear. My hands paused, then fell back limply to my sides. I am…  not strong enough after all. Because it's you. Suguru, truth is, I think I already felt you leaving even before you left, but don’t you think I at least deserved a better ‘goodbye’ than this? Now I have to remember you for longer than I've kept you. No more riding on your shikigamis to school. No more going on missions together. No more joking around and annoying everyone else. No more…you, just the memories. Yeah, I think I can live with that. I should be able to. I'm the strongest, after all.

Geto's POV:

"Explain yourself, Suguru.” I recognised your voice immediately, and stopped in my tracks. I couldn’t turn, I couldn't face you without betraying my emotions. I knew you would confront me sooner or later. And I wasn't ready for that yet. “You heard it from Shoko, right? That's all there is.”

I could see your facial expressions in my mind’s eye. Your eyebrows knitted in frustration and anger, your teeth grinding together. The urge to turn and see you with my own eyes grew. “So you’re just gonna kill everyone who’s not a Jujutsu sorcerer? Even your parents?” “I cant allow my parents to be a special exception.” I know I must sound insane to you now, Satoru. But I promise you will understand. Once I achieved that ideal future for us. 

When you yelled at me that it was impossible for me to wipe out every single one of those non-sorcerers from this world, I heard it in your voice. The pain, the betrayal, the hurt, the anger, all directed at me. I braced myself, and turned, and I saw your face, twisted with rage and anguish. My gaze locked with yours. Your eyes that once held the most beautiful blue of the deep sea, had now became icy crystals, sharp and cold, but still breathtaking and pristine.

My front almost melted right there and then and I almost ran right back to you. But I held my ground. Because I knew that I had to be the one to do it. Because you won’t. I knew that the odds were against me, I knew that the chances of me succeeding were far and few between, but I had to try. For a better future for you, for us. And i blurted out my thoughts. “Are you the strongest because you’re Satoru Gojo, or does being the strongest make you Satoru Gojo?” Those beautiful blue eyes darkened with confusion. “What are you trying to say?” “If I had your powers, don’t you think that chances would be higher that my foolish ideal would become a reality?”

Exorcise, absorb, over and over. Who am I doing this for? Who are we doing this for? After seeing Nanami’s breakdown over Haibara’s death, I just cant let it go on anymore, Satoru. If the only thing waiting for us sorcerers at the end of the climb is a mountain of our friends’ corpses, then…  “Satoru, I have decided how to live my life, and what's left is doing the best i can to achieve it. Goodbye, Satoru” I didn't know what else to say, except that it tore the heart out of my body saying goodbye to you.

Before i could allow myself to see the pain already beginning to seep into your face, and let my cowardice take over me, I memorized your features and turned my back on you. It was the hardest thing I've ever forced myself to do. It was excruciating, like carrying a heavy boulder up a steep, endless mountain, each step I took that increased the distance between us was an agonizing struggle. Satoru, you have no idea how many times I wanted to let go of that boulder, and make my way back to you. That would’ve been too easy, a much too comfortable feeling. But for the sake of our futures, I could not.

I'm sorry, Satoru. Part of me hoped that I would hear your familiar footsteps running after me, part of me hoped that you will tell me to stay. But I'm glad you didn't, because I'm sure, if you had done that, I will not have the strength to resist anymore. Because it’s you. 

I could feel it in my bones, your arms reaching, and I braced myself for the incoming reversal red. It never happened.

Actually, Satoru, I think I knew. I knew from the moment I met you that I'll spend an entire lifetime missing you. I know you deserved a better goodbye, I'm so sorry. But I promise our paths will cross again, maybe a few years later, and I promise then, I'll bring a better world to you. Satoru, between the moon and stars, I'm glad that I stepped onto the same land and dreamt, played and lived under the same sky as you.

-I WAS REALLY NERVOUS WHEN POSTING THIS HAHAHA BUT THANKS FOR MAKING IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!!! IF YOU ENJOYED THAT PLS LEMME KNOW IDK IF ILL MAKE A PT 2 BUT IF I DO, ILL PUT SHOKO INSIDE AND IF YALL HAVE SUGGESTIONS ILL BE MORE THAN HONOURED TO HEAR!! 💕💕-

****pls dont be a copycat and photocopy my work without permission or else im coming after u after i go after Gege

******pls only repost with permission

*****some quotes used in this are also not mine credits to google and tiktok haha