#I don't have much faith in the system; it's just you might as well use it as one avenue to attempt change even if you doubt it'll work

[medicinemane]

I'll tell you what I advise you to do when it comes to voting

Look into if there's vote by mail in your area, and if they have any bullshit qualifications for it or if they're sane

Then register to vote by mail

Was doing that even when I was still in a decently sized area, and it was way more convenient to just drop something off at some county building than spend all day in a line

Now I'm out here I straight up wouldn't be able to vote if not for vote by mail

Voting in person sucks ass, if you've got the option in your area make your life better and easier by making it so you can vote from home. Don't wait in line, sit in front of your computer able to research stuff (had a ballot measure that looking into it, it seemed to do basically the opposite of what the phrasing on the ballot made it sound like it did... researching it totally changed how I wanted to vote)

So that's my thoughts. You should vote, you should make it as easy as possible on yourself to vote

See what you can do to get a mail in ballot to avoid any craziness next year. Do it before the primaries come so you can maybe vote in a decent candidate

That's my voting advice

[anyroads]

How to actually support small businesses on Etsy

With Christmas approaching and people starting to look for gifts, I thought it might be useful to let people know how to best support Etsy sellers, since we get a lot of sales this time of year! Etsy has a lot of policies that affect sellers which they don't really disclose to customers, and often there's a communication gap that can be damaging to sellers without customers intending them to. Hopefully this post helps more people avoid this kind of thing.

A while ago Etsy implemented the Star Seller program. When you go to an Etsy store, you can see badges at the top of the page, denoting if the seller has done well in three main categories:

Speedy replies

On time dispatch with tracking

Good reviews

If you clear the bar for all three as a seller, you're a Star Seller. This is an important badge for sellers, which I'll get to in a bit. Etsy evaluates your stats monthly, and bases them on three months' worth of data:

Each has specific determining factors, which also advantage large operations like dropshippers over small businesses, but we'll get to that too:

As you can see, the criteria is really demanding. You have to respond to 95% of first messages (ie. the first time someone contacts you) within 24 hours or you lose your Star Seller status. This can be really damaging to a small store.

You also have to dispatch 95% of orders on time, ie. within the set timeline you've chosen for an item listed, and you have to give tracking info. This, by the way, is frustrating and disingenuous; I ship my product in envelopes because they're small and thin, but the mail service in my country doesn't offer tracking for envelopes. I'm not going to spend up to 3x as much on shipping just to have a tracking number (shipping would cost half the price of my product if I did), but if I don't include tracking info I don't get a Star Seller badge even if I ship all my orders on time. I get around this by writing "unavailable" in the field where tracking info goes, but this still poses a transparency issue to customers and rightly so. I end up compensating by issuing a lot of replacements for delayed orders, which I can recoup costs of through my mail service which is a lot of extra work and time.

You also must have an average of 4.8 star reviews or higher. There are no adjustments made for small stores, and this is a big one where dropshippers have an advantage.

As you can see in my stats here, I had 11 reviews in 3 months. That means if just one person gives me a 4 or 3 star review, I lose my Star Seller status for 3 months unless I get a ton more reviews quickly. A dropshipper who makes hundreds of sales a week won't be affected by one middling review. And you'd be surprised how often people who leave 3 or 4 star reviews actually meant to leave better ones but clicked the wrong button without noticing, or just don't understand how the system works.

Because Etsy doesn't explain this to customers. So people will leave a damaging review in perfectly good faith. The number of times I've gotten an "excellent product, would buy again!" review with 3 stars is astounding. I always message customers to ask what I could do better and explain the system, and the response is almost always that there was nothing wrong, they just usually don't give anything higher than 3 out of 5 stars unless the product radically improved their lives or was transformative (and to their credit, most customers change their reviews after this exchange but again, it takes time and effort).

3 stars is average, and what customers rate is their experience receiving and using a product. What Etsy uses these ratings to gauge, however, is whether a customer was satisfied dispatch timelines, craftsmanship, and if a product met the expectations set in the listing.

As an added bonus, Etsy hoses money off sellers by offering to advertise for them. The way this works is that if a seller opts in, Etsy will advertise their store in relevant searches on search engines like Google, and in exchange they take a percentage from any sales made from clicks on these links. And then some. Because if a customer clicked an advertising link once, then Etsy will keep taking that cut from any further purchases from that IP address. So if you click a Google link to an Etsy store and then purchase from that store, and then bookmark that store and go back six months later to get another item, Etsy will keep taking their advertising cut with each purchase you make.

Depending on whether or not you opt in to advertising, Etsy can take up to 30% of your earnings in fees alone. That means if I sell, say, bookmarks for $10, I only get to keep $7. Hopefully that covers my operating costs, but if I charge more for an item that takes me a lot of time and work to make, I have to factor in that Etsy offers free shipping on orders over $35 whether or not sellers agree to give it. So if I sell a product that costs $35, not only do I only get to keep $24.50 of what I was paid after Etsy takes fees, I also have to cover the cost of shipping. And if I'm selling a product for that much, it's likely shipping will cost $5-10, so now my profit is down to $15-20 for an item I sold for $35.

Why is the Star Seller status so important? Because it's the main way the average Etsy store gets onto the algorithm and has visibility, and without visibility you don't have sales. Drop shippers can afford to purchase advertising space, so they'll always show up in searches. They can also afford to have a variety of products, high-end professional photos of their products, and because they have a lot of sales, the occasional bad review or delayed shipment won't cause a blip on their rating system. In comparison, the average Etsy store who makes, let's say, 50 sales a month (and that's a small store that's doing well), is going to feel the impact of a handful of 4 star reviews and one day of delayed orders/message replies due to a family emergency. If you contact Etsy customer service to explain your legitimate reason for having a delay, they're unable to intervene. They can't give you back your Star Seller status, which means you're dropped from the algorithm for the three months it takes for those delays to stop counting towards your averages, and you then have to work your way back up into the algorithm once that time passes, which is even harder to do. (And while you can put up an auto-reply, there's a time limit on how long it'll be up, which is usually 24-48 hours. Which may not work if you have a personal emergency that the average small business would understand and give you time off for in ways Etsy refuses to accommodate.)

So what can you do to support Etsy sellers?

- Give good reviews. If you have problems with a product, message the seller and give them the opportunity to fix the problem or send a replacement/refund. Unless you feel the need to leave a scathing 1 star review, don't leave one unless it's a 5 star. Etsy counts anything under 5 stars the same as it does one star. (This goes for Amazon, Uber, Deliveroo, etc. too. Review kindly.)

- Message sellers during the week. It's harder to get to messages during the weekend, and not everyone remembers to put on their auto-reply.

- Don't click advertising links. If someone promos their Etsy store on their own social media account, it's fine. So if you click a link from an instagram profile or a tumblr post, that's fine. But if you see a link on Google or in a dedicated advertising space, even if it's a sponsored spot on Etsy, don't click on it. Instead, search the shop name on Etsy and go to it through that search. This way the seller won't lose more fees to Etsy.

[tteotlma]

Blurred Lines & Bright Screens

— movie night shenanigans turn into almost-kisses.

(Wolverine/Reader) 2.3kw

a/n: i couldn’t find the right gif i was looking for — also i hope this makes sense ALSO i wanna write sm*t SO bad but all i can think abt rn is domestic/mutual pining/slow-burn HUGH JACKMAN

TW: mild sexual tension, implied violence, mentions of alcohol, snoring if u think it’s an ick.

Btw: i wrote this at work enjoy! also pls reblog so i can share my writing w more people !!!

"I'm so glad you finally agreed to watch this movie with me!" You exclaim, giddy as you set a giant bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. Settling onto the plush velvet sofa, you rest your back against the armrest and pull your knees up, watching Logan trudge into the room.

"Well, it's only 'cause you kept buggin' me about it," he mumbles. Nonetheless, he plops his thick frame onto the sofa, the weight of his body causing your sock-covered feet to slide under his thigh.

You tense a little, giving him a quick glance before turning to the TV. He doesn't say anything, so you leave your feet under his warmth. Silence falls as you flip through the streaming apps.

"Um," you speak up, trying to cut the one-sided tension. You're pretty sure Logan is unfazed, but you want to be wrong. You mumble to yourself, filling the silence for your own comfort.

The room goes dark as the movie starts, and you try to settle in. Grabbing a giant blanket, you drape it over your legs, the fabric pooling where you touch Logan. You hope he might grab the blanket too, but he doesn't.

You scoff at the embarrassment creeping up your throat and try to focus on the movie. As you open your mouth to comment, Logan cuts you off.

"You don't gotta do that," he grumbles.

Sinking further into your seat, you bring your legs a little closer and grab the popcorn, attempting to pay attention to the screen. It works pretty well until you feel Logan shift beside you, and suddenly all you can think about is him.

You and Logan have been "friends" for about a year now, but have known each other for three. It took you two years to befriend the guy. Granted, your first year at the school was spent interning with Storm, and you were as timid as a mouse, always hiding behind her - especially when Logan came around.

It wasn't until the end of your first year that Storm felt confident enough in your abilities to loosen the lead. She began letting you go on missions with other people. At first, you avoided missions involving Logan; he was still too intense at times, and your self-confidence wasn't as strong as Storm's faith in you. But after a few big missions, you began to grow into yourself, and your confidence skyrocketed.

Missions evolved from involving handfuls of students and professors to solo projects as things got more serious. Then came one particular mission where Charles and the team felt it best that Logan accompany you. You protested right up until you left.

"Y/n," Charles stared at you intently as you stood by the door, Logan's footsteps thudding around the corner. "It's not that we think you aren't capable. We need your full focus on decoding the encrypted system."

"And I can-" You feel yourself getting fussy, as childish as it sounds. Scott grabs you by the shoulders, cutting you off mid-sentence, shocking you.

"Listen, Y/n," he sighs. "As much as you hate it, you're one of us now. The information you're going after is too valuable to risk doing it on your own. We need you to be one hundred percent focused on that, because once Sebastian Shaw realizes we're trying to get into his system, he will rain hellfire on whoever gets in his way. Logan is the only one who can be of service to you right now, so please." His voice softens as he begs. You see the worry sewn into his eyebrows and look at Charles, who is staring right back at you.

You sighed, just as Logan walked up behind Charles.

"Okay," you give a tight smile, and Scott taps his knuckle against your chin, trying to cheer you up. You let out an airy laugh and shove his hand away.

"You'll be fine," he tousles your hair before turning to look at Logan, who's staring intently at you both. Logan doesn't say anything and begins walking out the door.

"Professor," he grumbles as his figure fades into the dark of the night. Charles watches Logan walk off, then turns to you with a smirk on his face.

"Don't worry, everything will work out as it's supposed to." He gives you a wink, leaving you confused about his meaning.

"Uh, alright," you say, giving him a small nod as you head out following Logan.

After that mission, you and Logan became an oddly almost inseparable pair, which you deem as "friendship" even if he doesn't agree. Although you weren't glued to the hip, Logan was almost never far behind, and neither were you. Over the past couple of months, though, your relationship with Logan has evolved into something... complicated. There's an undeniable closeness between you, but it's hard to define. Sometimes, it feels like you're the little sister he never had - he's protective, gruff, and occasionally teases you mercilessly. Other times, there's a crackling tension in the air that makes you wonder if there's something more.

Like the time you were reaching for a book in the library, and Logan came up behind you to help. His chest brushed against your back as he grabbed it, and when you turned, you found yourself trapped between him and the bookshelf. For a moment, neither of you moved, your eyes locked, hearts racing. The air felt charged, and you could've sworn you saw something flicker in his eyes before he stepped back. You whispered a shy "thanks," avoiding eye contact by pretending to wipe dust off the book jacket. Logan straightened up, muttering "No problem, kid," as he walked away.

Or the time you were bantering in the garage while he worked on his bike. What started as playful teasing about him being demanding turned into something more when you challenged his ability to intimidate you anymore. He stood up slowly, moving close until you were almost nose to nose, growling softly, "Wanna bet?" The tension was palpable until Scott's voice broke the moment.

Then there's how you've fallen into these little routines without even realizing. Like how Logan always saves you a seat at briefings, or how you automatically grab two beers when heading to the kitchen after a long day. Or especially when, on every second and fourth Sunday morning of the month, both you and Logan have brunch (that's right) at this one diner that you insisted was to die for. It wasn't until Beast commented on your "domestic routine" that you both seemed to realize how couple-like you'd become.

And who could forget those late-night talks? Like the time you wandered into the kitchen at 2 AM, plagued by mission nightmares, only to find Logan there. What started as a few words of comfort turned into hours of conversation, sharing fears and hopes. As dawn broke, Logan squeezed your hand and said, "You're stronger than you think, kid." The look in his eyes made your heart skip a beat.

Moments like that leave you wondering if there's something more brewing between you and Logan, something beyond the boundaries of friendship or family. But neither of you has been brave enough to cross that line... yet.

You've tried to convince yourself it's nothing more than a close friendship, possibly a mentorship even. But there are moments - fleeting and intense - that make you question everything. You're stuck in this limbo, too afraid to push for more, yet unable to ignore the possibility that there might be something deeper brewing between you and Logan.

A guttural roar rips through the air, startling you out of your focus. Your head snaps towards Logan as another snore cuts through the silence. You don't know whether to laugh or look adoringly at the giant man sitting beside you.

He's sunken deeper into the sofa than when the movie first started. His arms are crossed over his chest, and his head lolls to the side, chin resting uncomfortably on his chest. His arms and head rise and fall with each breath, obviously so far gone at this point. You feel heat creeping up the back of your neck as you watch the usually stone-faced and stoic man sleeping beside you.

He's clad in comfortable clothes: black sweatpants, a zip-up hoodie, and his usual wifebeater clinging to his skin underneath. Your eyes focus on the bare skin that peeks out between the fabric of his sweater and the sleeve of the tank top. His hair is tousled and fluffier than usual, the air conditioning giving you occasional whiffs of peppermint and eucalyptus — his signature shampoo. The scent is never overwhelming, rather a subtle reminder of his presence.

You find yourself studying his face, softer now in sleep than you've ever seen it. The perpetual furrow between his brows has smoothed out, and his lips are slightly parted. Another snore rumbles through him, and you can't help but smile. It's rare to see Logan so unguarded, so... human.

A part of you wants to wake him, to tease him about falling asleep during your favorite movie. But a larger part revels in this moment of vulnerability, this glimpse of Logan that so few get to see. You wonder what he'd do if you gently brushed that stray lock of hair from his forehead, or if you repositioned yourself so you were closer.

The movie plays on, forgotten, as you lose yourself in contemplation of the man beside you. You're hyper-aware of every point where your bodies touch: your leg against his thigh, your arm brushing his as you shift slightly. The warmth of his body seems to seep into yours, and you find yourself leaning closer, drawn in by his presence even in sleep.

It's in quiet moments like these that the line between friendship and something more blurs dangerously. You know you should look away, should focus on the movie, but you can't bring yourself to break this spell. Instead, you allow yourself this stolen moment, committing every detail to memory, all the while wondering if Logan ever has moments like this about you. 

All of a sudden, Logan jolts and his head falls back against the headrest, another loud snore coming from his mouth and physically shaking your chest.

Alright, that's enough.

You shift closer to him while grabbing the pillow from behind your back and swing it towards his face. He instinctively grabs your wrist before you can make contact and pulls you in closer. He opens his eyes, staring at you threateningly as if asking "what the hell do you think you're doing," but when he realizes it's you, his gaze softens.

"What," he says, his voice deep with sleep. He unconsciously pulls you closer so your chest barely brushes against his shoulder.

"Get up, you're snoring and I can't hear the movie," you quip, trying not to let your voice falter - as if being this close to him had no effect on you whatsoever. Not like you were paying attention anyway. Logan sighs, lowering your hand from his face but not letting go of your wrist. Instead, he continues to hold it in his hand as he rests it on his stomach. Your hand tenses against the warmth of his body and - god, you hope he didn't feel that.

"Then turn it up louder," he says, closing his eyes and trying to make himself comfortable once again. You don't move. Instead, you... maybe... lean in closer? Logan doesn't notice.

"What, so you can yell at me for waking you up?" You give him a little nudge with your leg. "I don't think so."

Logan's eyes remain closed, but his grip on your wrist loosens, his thumb absently tracing circles on your skin. The gentle touch sends shivers up your arm.

"You woke me up anyway," he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that you feel more than hear.

You try to steady your breathing, very aware of how close you are. "Well, someone had to save you from choking on your own snores."

His lips quirk up in a half-smile. "My hero," he says dryly, finally opening his eyes to look at you.

The intensity of his gaze catches you off guard. There's something there, something beyond his usual gruffness. Your breath hitches as his eyes roam your face, lingering on your lips before meeting your eyes again.

"Logan," you whisper, not sure what you're asking for.

He shifts slightly, turning his body towards you. Your knees dig deeper into his hip and thigh, and he still hasn't let go of your wrist. With his free hand, he reaches up, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear. His fingers linger on your cheek, and you instinctively lean into his touch.

"Yeah?" he responds, his voice rough and low.

The air between you feels charged, electric. You're hyper-aware of every point of contact between you - his hand on your face, his fingers around your wrist, your legs pressed together. Your heart is pounding so hard you're sure he can hear it.

Logan leans in, slowly, giving you every opportunity to pull away. But you don't. You can't. You're frozen, caught between anticipation and disbelief. Is this really happening?

Just as his lips are about to brush yours, a loud explosion from the forgotten movie makes you both jump. The spell is broken. Logan pulls back, clearing his throat.

"We should, uh... finish the movie," he says, but he doesn't move away. His arm comes to rest on the back of the couch behind you, not quite touching but close enough that you can feel the heat radiating from him.

You nod, not trusting your voice. As you settle back to watch the film, you're hyper-aware of Logan beside you. The almost-kiss hangs in the air between you, unspoken but impossible to ignore. Every now and then, you catch him looking at you out of the corner of your eye, and you know that something has fundamentally shifted between you.

The movie plays on, but neither of you are really watching anymore. You're too busy wondering what might happen when the credits roll, and secretly hoping that maybe, just maybe, you'll get another chance to finish what you started.

[starburr]

Another thing that I think about is despite we see Orion pushing D-16 to imagine more, to strive for it, he ultimately means well. He says "I did this for us" during the race even if what comes next is to D-16's annoyance, or the way he looked over to wait for D-16 to catch up during their quest to find the matrix. Orion is impulsive and selfish at times but makes sure to try and figure out what to do next instead of just internalizing it, because he knows he wants others to succeed with him. He dreams big because he wants to be more, and wants what he reaps to give to others because of how they "can be so much more."

On the other hand, D-16 is easily hurt and angry, selfish. It makes sense given his entire life was built on lies, and even before that he felt frustrated but ultimately resigned himself to the fact that they're "just miners. We mine, that's it." He put his faith in Sentinel and the system they lived in that was built on lies, believed in it, but blames others for it. Notice when he lashes out at Orion that he blames him specifically, not even questioning himself on why he believed Sentinel for so long or what he could do to change their lives now. He projects that Orion is constantly thinking about himself and no one else, and yet he still thinks about Sentinel's deception towards him, not his people. He's realistic because he reacts to his first taste of power with a willingness to fight back (maybe too willing), but with the added philosophy of "might makes right" no matter the consequences. Even as he's aiming to kill Sentinel, he's desperate to get it done. He doesn't want to think about the consequences as much as he knows there are, because that's for him to figure out later once he achieves his satisfaction. I'm not calling Orion blameless and perfect for the rest of their interactions in the movie leading up to their falling out, but he at least is thinking of the bigger picture and how it is they can be better.

D just wanted Sentinel dead, I don't fault him for that. But if you are to cement that philosophy that only the strong should rule in front of your entire people, it will make everything inevitably worse as far as overthrowing corrupt governments go. You've replaced your sell-out two-faced fake prime of a leader with an even worse one, one who demands you stay on protocol or else you face the consequences. He believes that others are as selfish as him, even as he was breaking down after having shot Orion, he still blamed him. "Why did you do that why?!?!" Not once did he try to comfort Orion or the others after the revelation that Sentinel betrayed the Primes, this leads him to further becoming cold and intimidating because he believes he can only trust himself. He is right to want Sentinel to pay for his actions, but wrong for not thinking of the consequences of killing him and applying this 'might makes right' mindset right after he's still projecting his selfishness onto others.

D-16/Megatron is a complex character, a tragedy that makes you wish he wasn't so selfish because ultimately, he was still Orion's friend, something that Orion never forgot. Even in the final battle, where both of them were still relying too much on their new-found abilities, Orion wasn't trying to hurt him. Well, I should say Optimus, but where D-16 saw another Prime to be crushed after renouncing them, Optimus still saw the same miner bot he cared for so long.

[softerglow]

how to create a good morning routine

in comparison to a night routine, a good morning routine should be a bit more intensive. the morning should be the time of day where you get the most important or off-putting tasks on your to do list out of the way. there's two different approaches i would take to creating a morning routine, depending on if you're used to waking up on time, or if you have trouble getting out of bed.

the big question:

what do you want to get out of your morning routine? do you want more productive hours in the day? do you want more time to spend with yourself? find your answer and make sure it's a good one. if you don't have a reason that's good enough to get you out of bed, you won't.

the benefits of a morning routine:

starting the day off on the right foot. you have time to regulate yourself and get ready without missing any steps. feeling organized and prepared for the day will help your overall mood as the day goes on. a good morning routine should reduce the stress you feel in your daily life.

punctuality. you know what you need to do, what order to do it in and you're leaving the house on time. many of us have a habit of running late. it's rude and gives the impression that you're unreliable. being on time should always be a priority.

more free time later in the day. you could have more time for self improvement, leisure or picking up new projects if you set up your morning properly.

how to plan a morning routine:

how much time do you have? make sure you have a clear picture of how long you have to run through your morning routine and how much of that time it takes to get ready.

choose what your first activity of the day is. once you've turned off your alarm, you need to stay out of bed. if you have faith in your discipline already, exercise or chores should be first on the list. if you're still adjusting to early mornings or you just prefer a more laid back morning, make yourself an easy breakfast and watch a show or a youtube video. make sure your first activity is something that will get you out of bed, and is not so overwhelming that you're tempted to press snooze.

choose what the last activity of your morning routine is. this needs to be something that will take pressure off the rest of your day. it can change from day to day too, as long as you know what it is by the day before. if you're behind on emails, this is your chance. if you have a speech that's not well enough practiced, practice it. use this time slot to change the mood of your day for the better, get the worst out of the way.

write out a schedule. this can always change later, but you need an idea of what you're aiming for. be realistic in how long it takes to get things done.

example morning routine:

6.00am - 6.30am: yoga

6.30am - 7.30am: shower, skincare, get dressed, do hair and makeup

7.30am - 8.00am: breakfast

8.00am - 9.00am: revise for quiz

9.00am: leave house

other tips:

try to stay off your phone for the first hour of the day. this is to minimize distraction and to make you less dependent on social media. you don't need a rush of dopamine first thing in the morning.

try to drink a glass of water before you go for coffee. being well hydrated helps you stay awake and alert and is a lot kinder to your digestive system than coffee. in addition, caffeine is a diuretic so it's important to drink a lot of water with it.

make sure your breakfast is satisfying in order to maintain energy levels throughout the day. go for protein and fats over carbs first thing in the morning (fats especially if you're taking supplements, several nutrients absorb better when taken with fat). that being said, don't avoid carbs. add a low gi option such as fruit, steel cut oats or certain breads (most grocery stores have low gi options for bread).

most importantly, cater your morning routine to you. being productive might be less important to you than curling your hair just right, or taking your dog for a walk might improve your mood better than getting ahead of your emails. it's your day and you know what will make it good. honour yourself and enjoy your morning.

~*

hi there, thank you for reading this far. this is a follow up post to how to create a good night routine. i'm glad you're all enjoying my blog so far. wishing light, love and prosperity to all <3

[respectthepetty]

I love this little yellow menace, and he deserves the world!

So that "blank letter" business better not come back and haunt me later.

I know all these adults mean well and are being realistic that Moo having a relationship, especially a queer one, will hurt his chances in the industry, but if another queer musically-inclined youth taught us anything, it's that when the world is cruel to kids, you don't join in the cruelty; you become the peace, you become the safety, and you become the home.

PROTECT 👏🏾QUEER 👏🏾YOUTHS👏🏾!

And don't hurt the best Blue Boy on these BL streets like that!

Because I want Moo to get what he wants and next week he is wearing his boy's color, so *fingers crossed*

He is also wearing his own color in the music video, so he is very much embracing exactly who he is.

I don't care what anybody is telling him! If he wants to tell the world he is in a committed relationship with an amazing boy who loves and supports him with their colored lights behind him (and that tiny dash of red and pink), more power to my boo!

While his boy admires him in the green, might I add!

Because even if Tae isn't ready to explore his feelings,

He is the ally Moo needs in his corner who is willing to fight for his friend at the slightest hint of disrespect instead of all these adults who are actually continuing oppressive behavior by proxy.

Which is the second time Aun has played the unlikely ally ready to throw hands in the name of justice.

Kang and Boo are in the most adorable domestic bliss.

They are figuring out what is comfortable FOR THEM!

And it's all in their colors!

The color-coded boys ARE in love.

And even the subway system is rooting for them in Moo's color.

So can't these adults just have a little faith and lend their support to these color-coded boys in love?

And if not, be there to protect them and hug them when the world has wronged them!

These PFLAG Awards ain't gonna win themselves, so GET IT TOGETHER MY FELLOW ADULTS!

[yuurivoice]

i swear i ask this genuinely and in complete good faith, but stemming from the bit where you talked about systems of oppression and your allyship with those oppressed even if you can't completely relate to them, what do you take into account when making the decision to not talk muchhh about politics and current events as someone with a bit of a larger platform? Is it just because of the nature of YuuriVoiceTM, like fandom and escapism, and, consequently, not because people go somewhere to hear political takes?

For reference, the line for me was the election.

I think, largely, my work is so intertwined with the soul I put into it that the characters people are falling in love with are incompatible with hate. My bottom line can take a hit if someone finds those beliefs opposed to their own, I am okay with that.

My personal and professional approach has been, for the most part, speak on what I directly am impacted by and support those voices who are better suited to tackle that which is beyond my scope.

I think an example of where big creators have sorta gotten themselves into a quandary is Critical Role, where they've unintentionally or otherwise created an expectation for them to be very loud and active as a whole unit, and segments of the fandom have mistaken silence for indifference. But that's because they set that expectation and are held to it, and fandoms rarely have patience or make a good faith assumption off the rip. They do a lot of great stuff, but also because internet, if they do not take immediate and direct action via fundraising, making statements, etc. there's going to be someone who assumes the worst.

Side bar: You could write a whole thesis on the way CR is under constant subject to purity tests, despite showing clear growth and genuine effort to learn and grow from past failings. I'm not even a viewer, just intrigued by the business and those involved.

Obviously, asking for nuance and patience online is a dead end conversation, but...ya know.

So when it comes to me, I try to let the themes, heart, and voice of my writing speak on where I stand. For example, I've never publicly said anything about Palestine, but you can definitely infer how I feel without even a single episode of Evalas stuff being out. And this story existed before current events unfolded, it's not reactionary, but reflective of the heartbreaking truth that for whatever reason in this world there is wickedness that convinces someone to rob another of their dignity, home, and life.

And I can't pretend I'm a super educated dude, I'm not, there's so much I don't know. A decade ago, I had no clue what it meant to be a trans person. A decade before that, I was terrified of queerness. It took me a while to figure out, but every time I was faced with situations beyond my scope, I tried to light my path forward with love instead of fear. I wanted to go forward instead of shell up.

So I'll always try to humble myself and listen with an open mind, and always strive to be empathetic. Not because I want to be "the guy who gets it" or somebody's savior, or be right. I just recognize that I've been wrong, and learned, and grew. And that's...like, really cool? It's cool that people can do that.

With time, I hope that's the sort of thing that lets people know where my heart is and where I stand. To the point that I don't ever get questions like "why haven't you talked about xyz" because...well, people know how I get down, even if I'm not super public about it.

I think I don't have so much of a fear of times where I might have to be vocal or the work might make some bold statements someone may disagree with, because I also try to afford that grace to those who might be where I was when I was ignorant or confused. There are lines drawn, of course, but in general I try to hold on to hope that everyone is born with the right parts to live a life where they lead with love and understanding instead of fear. And just like the systems that oppress us, that same wickedness tries to indoctrinate the scared and confused. This isn't a "but guys, don't be mad, they just ACCIDENTALLY voted away your rights!" type of thing, but more of a...

...if we can't fix the brokenness, we're doomed. If we can't speak with people and show them the way, we will lose, and continue to lose. And maybe that's like...some hippie pie in the sky bullshit philosophy. It probably is. But I have to believe that words can heal, that love can mend, that there's actually something in this fucked up universe that can redeem us. It has many names, and has come in countless forms. Just like the wickedness, there is some unnamed thing that works in the opposite direction. It's love, it's hope, it's light. And I don't care what you want to name it, or what form speaks to you the most, or if you don't think it's there at all.

If it doesn't work like that, if it's all just fucked, then I'll keep dreaming of worlds where it does and sharing them with those who want to dream with me, until I can't anymore.

This is probably the best thing I've written today. Thank you for the question.

[mcflymemes]

PROMPTS FROM BETTER CALL SAUL *  assorted dialogue from season 1 of the show, adjust as necessary

oh, to be nineteen again!

me, personally, if i were held accountable for some of the stupid decisions i made when i was nineteen...

i bet if we were in church right now, i'd get a big "amen!"

they did a dumb thing. we're not denying that.

nobody got hurt. not a soul. very important to keep that in mind.

so... trespassing? that's a bit of a reach, don't you think?

call me crazy, but i don't think they deserve to have their bright futures ruined by a momentary, minute, never-to-be-repeated lapse in judgement.

you're bigger than that.

thank you for restoring my faith in the judicial system.

son of a bitch. fine.

what did you do to my brother?

why don't you look where you're going?

listen! it was an accident!

somebody call the cops!

how are you gonna fix this? what are you gonna do to make things right?

you have meddled with the primal forces of nature, and i won't have it!

do you want me to call security?

isn't that what you wanted?

you know i'm gonna beat this.

you proceed from false principles. your argument is built on quicksand, therefore it collapses.

i might as well head down to skid row and sell plasma!

money is not "beside the point," money is the point!

hand to god, i wasn't gonna say this, but you are broke.

this is what has you all worked up?

i'm the rising tide that raises all dinghies.

it could happen to anyone.

wow. you got a mouth on you.

you know what i smell. i smell lies.

i'm undercover, okay? you got me.

you already beat the living hell out of them.

i'm gonna break their arms. and i'm gonna break their legs.

i'm the best lawyer ever.

it takes ten minutes to walk down here!

you're like a troll under a bridge.

hey, you asked for me, and i have come.

what they were telling me... it's problematic.

you want to tell me your thoughts and weigh in?

you miserable piece of shit. you set me up.

you think you're funny?

i was never in the house.

you didn't... oh god, you didn't. you didn't do the sex-robot voice, did you?

that's why people hate lawyers.

how come you let me off the hook back there?

i'm going back to work. why don't you quit while you're ahead and go on your way?

finally, someone believes me!

it's human nature to want to stay close to home.

please, just don't tell anyone about the money.

you expect me to believe that shit?

i'd cut the cute attitude right about now if i were you.

you ratted on me. there will be consequences.

you know how much trouble you caused me?

i get that... but this? you're better than this.

i refuse to consider myself a victim.

are you ready for that?

i may have seen one of these before.

it's a little... sexual, maybe?

you're completely disgusting, you know that?

oh, here's your coffee. hope it's good to the last drop.

i'm asking you to take a few ounces of lukewarm coffee and spill it on him.

i'm very sorry to hear it.

anything else you wanna ask?

what exactly did you tell them?

how could you possibly think that?

why didn't you ask me? why didn't you come to me?

a deal? i hate that terminology.

you're telling us there are drug dealers and murderers walking the streets, but instead of going after them, they want to put an innocent man in jail.

you broke into a nursing home?

what number exactly did you have in mind?

so... what are you packing?

how do you not pack a gun?

what are you talking about?

the lesson is... if you're gonna be a criminal, do your homework.

i thought you were proud of me.

just save your breath, okay? you're gonna be fine.

this was the greatest week of my life.

i know what stopped me. and you know what? it's never stopping me again.

[mulderscully]

been thinking about some peoples complaints about how the movie handled alex's coming out as opposed to the book.

part of me understands because the movie did sort of neuter this as well as the depth of henry's mental illness, but at the same time i understand why. the movie is already two hours long and tbh if they wanted to do a fully faithful adaptation (which imo is not necessary) it maybe should've been a mini series.

and aside from taking out liam, tbh i still think that all happened just wasn't shown, and the fact that this is why alex has always known he's "lowkey into dudes" i feel like people don't fully grasp what alex goes through in that time after new years in the movie.

not every bisexual person has the same experience, but i can relate to alex pretty well both in the book and in the movie in terms of his sexuality cause they actually are pretty similar.

a lot of times when you're bisexual you just feel like everyone feels this way. you sort of feel like being straight is what being bisexual is, because the idea that others do not experience attraction to the same and different genders sounds... fake. like. i'm not even joking when i say i have a hard time believing straight people exist. i fully, of course, believe gay people exist, but people being straight and not queer at all makes me ??? sometimes, even now that i have identified as bi for over ten years.

then, there is a pretty big difference between knowing you experience same gender attraction from time to time and actively identifying as a bisexual person, as a queer person, a member of the lgbtq community.

bisexuals, to this day, are made to feel like we do not belong by both heterosexual people and our own community (which is why ellen telling alex the b in lgbtq is not a silent letter realllly matters) so sometimes you really do just shut out that part of yourself and choose to see yourself as straight because it's not worth fighting all the biphobia that you face, but it's still a part of you that you are shutting out and repressing, which is what alex was doing with henry the entire time and where his alleged dislike of him comes from in the first place. henry hates how much he loves alex so he's mean to him, alex doesn't understand why henry is mean to him because he wants henry to like him because he ALSO has feelings for him and those things clash.

during the time that henry ghosts him alex has time to evaluate himself, his feelings and his identity. he has the time to say "this is not something that i am going to ignore about myself anymore" and it may not be as magnified as it is for henry because they're in different positions in terms of support systems, it's still powerful.

when he comes out to henry, you can tell he is getting used to thinking of himself as bisexual but you can also tell that he is nervous to say the word, because telling someone you're bi is ALWAYS terrifying because you don't know what they might say to it. on top of that, you can feel that it is important to him to say it, to tell henry who he is now that he understands it.

being bisexual and identifying that way, and that being part of who you are and carrying it in your heart is a different thing than being like "yeah, whatever i'll make out with someone at a party" even if the latter is still a valid way to be queer. and sometimes you just look back and realize that [x] experience was NEVER straight.

and the best part of the movie to me is henry's complete acceptance of this. henry never ever questions alex's attraction to him, he never questions if alex will be able to stay committed to him, if he will leave him for a woman, if he's confused, or any of the things that STILL happen in media with bisexual characters as leads and as a bisexual person that has been one of the most freeing things to watch.

so yes, alex's bisexuality is still very important and handled as such in the film, in my personal bisexual opinion.

[thecoolerliauditore]

There was like, a very brief period where there was a few 'jimmy cheated on scott' fics. I guess I know why now. Personally it makes me uncomfy for two mains reason: 1) Its a wholly made up scenario just to make Jimmy the toxic one. 2) I can really only personally see it as a Scott narrative. You know, That Type of Ex who says 'no' when someone says they want to break up. (And 3) they tend to tag the cheating ship as the ship and personally it's a bit upsetting to be looking up a ship and get a fic where they're cheaters and its all about this other character overcoming them, but that's a personal ick thing and they are using the tagging system correctly technically, its more a problem with there being no way to differentiate those types of ship tags from each other. It's just a bit personally upsetting to see a fic tagged with your ship and also 'happy ending' but the happy ending is them falling apart and unhappy which makes the cheated on party happy with no warning that's what it meant. Rambling, sorry...)

I think if you wanna interpret Jimmy as toxic y'ought to focus on the post-relationship period (honestly I feel this way about fh in general, nothing in their brief time together is nearly as interesting as their time after reacting to their ex to me) cause you could make a case for Jimmy being unnecessarily hostile and not wishing Scott well at all. (This I think works best if the relationship was toxic cause then you have a guy going to the opposite extreme in reply to a bad relationship, but works just as well Jimmy being That Ex that always says their ex was crazy that Scott also play in DL)

Personally I don't think there's a good faith way to dig into the thing Jimmy might have done wrong while ignoring the more obvious things Scott did wrong, but exploration is the point of fanfics and AUs. And I've read fics where people make Scott out to be Jimmy's only supporter in DL while everyone else bullied him and completely rewrote entire scenes to make Scott the hero, so you know, clearly a market for rewriting Scott's character specifically.

But my go to for toxic Jimmy in the context of fh is him being neglectful. Jimmy's always been half-hearted about the dynamic, including reframing it in his e1 pov, I think it isn't much of a stretch to elaborate that into full on getting into a relationship he wasn't enthusiastic about to begin with and the few things he does to contribute being token gestures. Maybe Jimmy tends to think the worst of the things Scott does and assume he's being condescended to (I think this works especially well if you want to make one or both autistic, cause it's very easy to read Scott's tone as such if you aren't on his wave length and Jimmy is very easily offended especially later on). I think maybe some wouldn't like that just because it requires having Jimmy not be enthusiastic about being with Scott, though.

If you interpret Scott as Aro and Jimmy as Ace, also, you can make an argument for them just doing all the wrong things and that building up resentment between them where neither want to do anything the other wants to do and that barrier of miscommunication only growing until it collapses in on them both.

But yeah, I personally have trouble not making both of them toxic if Jimmy is going to be toxic, but again most exploration fics focus in on one thing, so...

^^^for the other anon

I actually don't read much fic but yeah this makes sense to me. FYI i think the "cheating" read comes from people interpreting him and Scott as not fully broken up during the events of post-3L because there's never really a formal "we're not together anymore" announcement. But yeah looking for something for your ship and having it turn out to be a cheating fic is WILD LMAO

I don't vibe with a lot of this because I'm not fun BUT the aro scott/ace jimmy part is awesome I'm glad that seems to be catching on.

[lani-heart]

|| series masterlist || next // previously

parings -> sim jaeyun x reader genre -> non-idol au, school au, hyrbid au warnings -> neglected, running away, arranged marriage, replacement word count -> 1.5k

abstract -> Don't you wanna make those dreams come true?

y/n’s perspective

“How’d it go?” Hyunsuk asked and I smiled. “Well, they didn’t agree at first but I got them to understand and even accept my little favor,” I said and he nodded. “I can’t believe your running away worked in your favor,” he said and I scoffed. 

“Just because you ran away to study music doesn’t mean we would turn out to be the same dear brother of mine,” I said and he laughed at me. “Just tell me the next time will you?” he asked and I shrugged. “Maybe I won’t, you didn’t tell me at first after all,” I said and he shrugged. 

“I guess this was payback huh?” he asked and I chuckled. “Whatever… How's Asahi doing? Already missing my presence?” I teased and he scoffed. “He’s happy you're gone~” he sang and I stuck my tongue out at him. “Immature,” he said while doing the same. He never changes. 

“I can’t believe you decided on–” “y/nnie!” I heard and faked a smile. “Hello, e/n” I said and she smiled. “Hello, oppa!” she said to my brother, making a gag… or at least in my head. “Hello, Jay,” I said and he bowed.

“Ah! Speaking of him, I finally found the perfect hybrid–”

She was such a materialist and rude bitch. Jay was one of the best hybrids I heard and yet no one wanted to keep him because he wasn’t a presentable breed. Unlike a panther, pretty fox, dog, cat, bunny, or whatever exotic hybrid out there. A bird... From the United States, he technically was exotic but… not a generalized hybrid to bring around. 

“Ah, so you’re done with your free trial hybrid?” Hyunsuk said and I elbowed him. “OW!” he said and e/n smiled. “He’s sweet but I finally found the perfect one, so if you know anyone who needs an obedient hybrid tell them to look for me. He’s for sale” she said and I had to force a smile. Jay only looked down with a sad look in his eyes. 

I really hated people like her. 

“I hope everything turns out well, I would love to see him back here,” she said and I nodded while taking his files when I ran into Jay again. Probably for class… 

“Jake? The stupid golden retriever?” he muttered and I sighed. “You know him?” I ask and he shrugs. “You want to adopt him?” he grimaces and I smile. “Yeah… he’s sweet and he needs a home,” I said and it seemed to make him sadder. “Jay, I promise there's gonna be someone who’s gonna keep you forever and they’ll probably not be from this world you’re so used to,” I said and he scoffed. 

“I’ve had too many owners I might as well be in a foster system…” he angrily muttered and I sighed. “Jay, don’t lose hope now,” I said and he scoffed. “Why? Everyone proved me otherwise… Why are you even adopting a hybrid? I never thought you would?” he asked and I pet his head. He really was a touch and loved-deprived hybrid. The desperate look in his eyes even brought him close to tears.

“It’s a complicated story to explain… but I promise, don’t lose faith,” I said and he nodded. I soon heard laughter from the other side of the lecture hall. “Sunghoon acting out again?” I said and he nodded.

“He’s been picking on that deer hybrid since the beginning of classes” he explained and I sighed.

“He can’t take out his own insecurity and anger on other people… his owner, she’s in critical condition. She’d be disappointed to see him acting this way” I said and he sighed. 

“I’ve heard him say to the other hybrids and owners say bad things about her… I wonder if he’s given up on her?” he asked and I sighed. 

“He’s just hurt… this world seems to have a lot of hurt hybrids' ' I muttered and he nodded. “There are some good ones… like Riki, he’s always been nothing but trouble but his owner loves him for who he is… it’s annoying” he confessed and I smiled. 

“I wish you lots of luck, Jay. I know there's someone for you… just don’t give them too much trouble”

“You’re such an idiot…” I said to Junghwan who was officially back in Korea. “Come on, you’re gonna talk that way to your ex-fiance?” he taunted and I flipped him off. “You’re only here 'cause you’re nosy and you’re a reference for me,” I said and he pouted. 

“So mean! I just wanna meet the hybrid who robbed me” he said teasingly and I rolled my eyes. Junghwan was taller than Jake, so that trench coat he wore was a little bug on him, otherwise I picked out a lot of stuff for him. 

“How sure are you that someone won’t adopt him before you get there?” he asked and I glared. “Cause I talked to them a few days ago when I took him back about adopting him. They’re putting him under hold for me and doing exams before letting him go” I explained and he nodded. 

“I heard rumors, you know? e/n wants to adopt a stray golden retriever?” he said and I glared at him… “Something about pissing off certain competition~,” he said and I scoffed. “Are you being serious?” I asked and he smiled. “My sources are never–” “Don’t make me call Yoshi right now,” I said and he sighed. 

“Yeah, he overheard her say that on his way back from class,” he said and I scoffed. “I know you hate her… but if he’s on hold then you’re good right?” he asked and I nodded. “Yeah, he shouldn’t even be on display so it's fine… what a bitch.” I said and he laughed. 

“Ooh isn’t this cool!” he said as he started trying out clothes for himself. He was… unserious. 

What else do I need? Clothes check… cologne check… jewelry check… accessories check… hygiene stuff check… “Did you get his collar yet?” he asked and I sighed.  “That’s what I’m forgetting” I muttered and he chuckled.

“Ooh! Can I help! I wanna help!” 

I was now sitting down waiting for him to come out when I saw a group of people I absolutely detested… “Sorry miss, but like we said Sim Jaehyun is a hybrid already adopted–” “But he’s still here!” she whined and tantrumed. “I know, Miss, and we apologize– Ah Miss y/n! Jake will be out in a bit but we need some last-minute signatures if you don’t mind” she said and I nodded. 

“How dare you steal my perfect hybrid?!” she tantrumed and I smiled. “Too bad,” I said and she scoffed. “Did you see that?! Who does she think she is!?” she yelled to her friends and I laughed. “What? Already sold Jay? Brats like you don’t deserve hybrids like them” I said and she scoffed

“Whatever! He’s not even a purebred… and he’s probably a mutt!” she insulted before stomping her red bottom heels else were… bratty girls like her with daddy’s money annoy the hell out of me. They’ll marry rich and never work… not like I’d judge but to be such a bitch makes her disgusting in my eyes. 

I already saw how she treated Jay… nor doubt she’d treat Jake the same way. As much as I felt bad for Jay, I couldn’t help myself with Jake, especially with how he acted pretending to be human. 

He’s my hybrid now… whether my parents, her, or anyone like it. 

jake’s perspective

I don’t know when I was gonna be moved but I was already away from the facility. I was no longer up for adoption… I'd never get that opportunity. 

He said I’d see her again… I really wanted to. 

I kept on having delusional dreams of her… waking up only to feel disappointed. I don’t think I'll ever see her again. Why would I? I got her in trouble… I always make a mess of things. It's why I never got adopted. I would embarrass myself or just make mistakes. Besides… I wasn’t the sweet puppy most people go for anyway. Hybrids get adopted young or… if they're exotic, purebred, or just pretty…

“You look lonely” I heard and I felt myself freeze. 

“What… are…” I was confused seeing her in front of me. She was dressed differently than when I met her and thought she wasn’t another student in that school for rich kids or scholarship students. 

“I’m sorry to cause you so much trouble” I apologize… I had to, it was my– “Huh? You didn’t cause me any trouble… you probably helped me with giving my parents a scare of their lives but, it helped me a lot” she said… I felt confused. 

She smiled and slid a paper through the kennel door. It was… my file and it said– 

“You’re adopted by me, Sim Jaehyun if you want me to?”

@ilovecheese09 @gudkc @nikisvanillaccola @blossominghunnie @mheretoreadff @k1ttylvr @starzniiky @kibs-and-bits @b3tt7boop @in-somnias-world @lol6sposts @xiaoderrrr @jihyosgfremade @b-a-nshee-blog @mimisamisasa @katsukis1wife @eggomi @thunderous-wolf @tinyteezer @lilactangerine @starfallia @sousydive @bearseulgs

please don't be a silent reader !! reblog, comment, and like <3

[fictionfolk-safehaven]

Welcome to our little haven.

This is a cozy blog for some potentially not-so-cozy people.

This blog is run by the fictives of what we'll call "The Haven Keepers" collective for the sake of anonymity. This is a blog focused around being a safe space for problematic fictives (or factives), fictionkin, fictherians, hearthome havers, and any other fictionfolk. All are welcome here, regardless of their source actions, level of separation from their source, or their relationships. As long as you don't threaten the safety within our blog, you're welcome.

This blog is both for others to send in asks, and a safe space for us to talk about our own experiences with insys relationships and problematic sources as fictives. After seeing so much negativity around "proship" in the plural commmunity with absolutely no regard for how that might apply to fictives, we wanted to create this. That being said; dark topics will come up! Everything we can think of will be tagged, and there's no shame in asking us to tag something we missed. This blog is ultimately intended to be a positive space, so anything that could risk that for someone will be tagged.

The Haven Keepers

We intend to be 100% open about our source here. I am Kaeya, my source media is Genshin Impact. We have quite a few fictives who will want in on this, though I can't say who for sure so this section will be a bit barren for a while. We're bodily in our early 20's, trans, and auDHD. We have many nonhuman members so things like that will be posted here as well.

Charlie: it/it's, just a funny goopy guy. I've got bones. (That's a lie.)

Kaeya: he/him, idk what to put here he can change it.

Asks we do/don't accept.

Do:

As a side note, please know that you should specify if you want your ask posted with no response! We're happy to do that but we tend to feel it's safer to assume that someone wants input than to not give any and leave them feeling rejected. We also are happy if you want to send us multiple asks, or another after our response!

Source talk regardless of media

good faith questions about our experiences, system, sources, etc. We don't bite!

Properly warned dark/triggering content (ex. TW: [insert thing] with the content below it). If it's triggering to us, we won't be posting it, however.

Any thoughts about your experiences you don't want to post elsewhere.

properly warned and relatively mild NSFW. (Just don't go in depth, use your own discernment. If you're unsure, just say so at the beginning and we'll post it or we won't!

Vents + asking for advice

if you need to ask something to follow your own DNI, go ahead.

Dont:

For our comfort, any in-depth description of topics such as SA or SH are off the table. Mentions are perfectly okay if properly warned.

NSFW that is just literal smut at that point.

Blatant Anti-endo rants (asking questions in good faith is okay, fakeclaiming is not.)

Shipcourse of any kind. Duh.

Generally, if you're being an asshole to someone.... don't.

BYF/"DNI"

We don't have a set DNI for this blog, we believe that a safe space should be accessible to everyone regardless of their stances on whatever. So long as you play nice. This is the key here. We block freely. But, if you'd like to know our stances on things to follow your own DNI, then:

Systems of all origins are welcome, we don't give a single fuck I assure you.

This is a safe space for any queer label. Contradictory, niche, xenogenders and nepronouns- whatever your experience is. "MAPS" are not included in this.

We are a primarily nonhuman collective! Alterhumans of all kinds are safe here.

We don't support radqueer/transIDs but we won't stop you from interacting.

Dark topics will be talked about here. We feel the need to say this again. This is safe for people regardless of source actions or relationships with sourcemates. Yes, even that. Whatever "that" is when you think of it. If your relationship with your sourcemates is healthy now, or if you're not hurting people now, we don't give a shit how bad it was in your source.

If you judge anyone based off source, or don't want to interact with fictives from a specific source, don't bother.

Anon sign-offs:

- 🌀🪷

As a final note: If you think you know us from somewhere else, feel free to DM, otherwise no you don't shhhh.

[david-goldrock]

Hey, I'm sure you've been inundated with hateful messages since a fairly large blog pointed you out as a proud zionist. I don't think that's helpful for anyone and it speaks poorly of those who sent it. I'd like to ask you some questions though, and I won't call on you to answer them publicly but you may wish to reflect on them in private.

First, do you believe all the citizens of Palestine are guilty for what Hamas has done? If so, I might ask you why collective punishment was outlawed under the Geneva convention.

Second, why did the Israeli government need to make up a story about 40 beheaded babies, and why is that now debunked story worth so much more than the babies that have been killed by bombs or starved to death in Gaza now?

Third, why might the people of Gaza support Hamas? Even if you believe every single Palestinian does, why would such an awful terrorist group be so popular? Do you believe it is because they are just savages, frothing at the mouth to kill Jews and queers?

Fourth, what justifies the Nakba of the last century, the killing and displacement of 750,000 people?

Fifth, what of the documented cases going back decades of Israeli soldiers killing journalists, medics, and peaceful protesters, including non-Palestinians like Rachel Corrie? Why do you think she protested so vehemently?

Sixth, if you believe Israel has the right to reclaim the homeland of two thousand years ago, do you believe Native Americans have the right to violently take the land of the USA?

Finally, why do you think the Israeli organization Breaking the Silence exists, and what do their testimonies mean to you?

I see you enjoy Percy Jackson; those books were very dear to my heart when I was younger, specifically the messaging of compassion for others and standing up against unjust systems. There is no angry message that anyone could send that will make you change your mind, but I hope this, sent in good faith, might help you at least reflect.

Imma answer out of order, going from stuff that's related to the war, to stuff related to the conflict, to stuff pretty unrelated

Hey, I'm sure you've been inundated with hateful messages since a fairly large blog pointed you out as a proud zionist.

So that's what happened! that explains it, thanks

First, do you believe all the citizens of Palestine are guilty for what Hamas has done?

I guess you mean the civilian population as Hamas never declared independence. I do not consider them all guilty, but I consider many responsible, so let's break it down:

Guilty: any hamas memeber, any person who helps hamas (funds, weapon stashes, kindapee holding) and any person who volunteers or sends volunteers or incourage volunteers to serve as human sheidls. all of them are directly guilty

Responsable: reponsable is those who could have responded but don't. those who had information about the war and didn't share it with Israel, anybody who knows the location of kidnappees, terrorists or weapon stashes, etc.

The remaining, mostly children, are neither guilty nor responsible, and I am sorry they are in the crossfire. I wish hamas surrenders soon, but I am not very hopeful

why collective punishment was outlawed under the Geneva convention

collective punishment is outlawed because hurting those who aren't guilty is not okay, any child can tell you that. but this war isn't collective punishment. on the contrary: hamas members use the immence humanitarian support for the civilian population in gaza to remain afloat.

Second, why did the Israeli government need to make up a story about 40 beheaded babies

let's begin by saying that many babies were brutally murdered on Oct. 7, just so nobody gets any ideas

beheading specifically? well see, I was one of the people talking about the beheaded babies, so while I can't speak for my government, I can speak for myself

This was at a time things were pretty uncertain, and It wasn't clear what had and hadn't happened, and an esteemed journalist from abroad had made the claim, not the government, who only defended it. It felt like the horrors we saw were denied before we even got the moment to mourn for them. this is one of the few times in this war that Israel had shared false information, so I can see how one might get caught up on it, but this is 1 detail which was wrong, a few days after the horrific massecare.

babies that have been killed by bombs or starved to death in Gaza now?

I didn't see any proof for starvation, though I wouldn't be very surprised (even though gaza now gets almost twice as many humanitarian aid as it did on Oct. 6, much of the support goes to hamas, so maybe it did happen). About the bombs? I am not very glad about gazan babies and children dying by bomb strikes, but with all due respect, I prefer that the soliders we send into gaza stay alive than gazan children, so if a trapped house with a hamas base and a few children is standing, I prefer we bomb it than risk the lives of our soliders. you may disagree, that's an opinion, but I have friends in gaza at the moment, and I cannot go to another funeral, my heart has had enough

Third, why might the people of Gaza support Hamas? ... why would such an awful terrorist group be so popular?

For the same reason the rest of the arab world and some of the western world does: they kill jews. every time hamas does a terror attack, it's value in the polls skyrockets all over the middle east. they like to see dead jews. I genuinly wonder what other reason could it be in your mind? hamas and groups like it operated from before 1948, they are terrible for every infrastructure and chance for peace one might ever wish for, they call for the creation of a palestinian state on the entire land west of the jordan river, and for an Islamic caliphate, if you belive it's about land you understoon nothing

Even if you believe every single Palestinian does

Well, here is a poll from after Oct. 7

tell me yourself

Do you believe it is because they are just savages, frothing at the mouth to kill Jews and queers?

I do not think of them as savages, (hamas are worse than that, the rest are just misled by an awful culture that's filled to the brim with fundamental islamism), but yes, absolutly, they like hamas because they kill jews. they prefer them to fatah because fatah dares to talk with Israel. they support terrorist attacks, by the majority, they share candies when jews are slaughtered, yes, they like hamas because it is the main palestinian group killing jews.

Finally, why do you think the Israeli organization Breaking the Silence exists, and what do their testimonies mean to you?

This is the easiest question you could have given me, thank you. BTS, the extreme-left organization that supposedly devotes themselves to testemonies about IDF misconduct, are cowards.

I have seen their testemonies, and I have reviewd their cases, and I have 2 problems with them:

they generalize specific cases. one of their favorite stories is the story of how once a few soliders (I think in Hebron) were on duty on the time of the world cup, so they evacuated a family from their house for that day, confiscated their TV, and watched the game, what they tell you is that it's a common occourance, what they don't tell you is that It happened once, and the soliders were heavily (though not heavily enough) punished

they prefer to act as social justice warriors than doing the hard work. BTS has dozens of cases of solider misconduct, but many of them has never seen a court, military court or general court. they gather a bunch of evidence, and instead of acting as an increadible organization that keeps the sanctity of the weapon and take misbehaving soliders to court, they exagurate and publish those stories abroad, to get a pat on the back, give bs for antisemites to spew, and leave the soliders out in public. Instead of making both palestinians and israelis secure (because I don't want the guy who thought he can take sombody's home to watch the world cup to walk with me on the street either), they prefer getting a bit of praise from the enemies of the country and leave things be

>Sixth, if you believe Israel has the right to reclaim the homeland of two thousand years ago, do you believe Native Americans have the right to violently take the land of the USA?

That is less like '48 and more like the bar-cokhva revolt... there is an empire there and not an ungoverened body, the violence comes from the people and not the colonising force etc. but let's answer this quesiton anyway because of all of your questions, this one made me think the most

Yes and no. If the first people of the american continent wanted to reastablish governence they never had over empty streaches of land to have it, this is insane. But if the first people organized in a movement to reclaim some of the USA and establish independent states where they once lived, and at first tried a peaceful solution for years, I think I'd support their struggle, yes. That said, it would be suicidal. the time we tried to do something simmilar (the bar cochva revolt) it ended in 2000 years of diasporah, so while I'd support the cause, I'd not support a war against nuclear america, and neither would I support giving back times square or D.C, a settlement would have to be reached. I think many americans would support it as well, particularly from the left

Fourth, what justifies the Nakba of the last century, the killing and displacement of 750,000 people?

I think you were lied to about the nakba... the "nakba" is the event in which right after the establishment of Israel (the day after) a war broke out with 7 arab armies attacked the newform state. in this war, the arab leaders of the time told many arabs in the area to evacuate and return after the war is done and there are no more jews in Israel. in the mixed cities fights broke out, and the army that got there first expelled the population they didn't support (Hadera went jewish, Hebron went arab). lastly, a few (though very few) operations under plan D got arab out of their homes. remember: the jews in the entire arab world, including judea and sameria, got the same treatment, often worse. now for those so called "refugees" (calling the decendent of a person fleeing from a war he started and getting a foriegn ID or returning to live in the same land under a different governance "refugee" is absurd. by that defenition I am a judean-polish-czechoslovakian refugee, even though I was born here) that UNRWA talks about now? they don't have "a right to return" any more than a roman or greek person does. the latest coloniser thinks they can get special treatment. for their property? they can get compensation once the entirety of europe and MENA gives Israel the tens of bilions of dollars worth of property that was stolen from them in '39 and '48.

Fifth, what of the documented cases going back decades of Israeli soldiers killing journalists, medics

I have seen none, I have seen, many, MANY, cases though, of "medics" and "journalists" with guns and suicide bombers.

and peaceful protestors

whats peaceful to you? throwing rocks at soliders? many die from these attacks each year. crossing the border? that would get you arrested or killed in any country except in europe

Rachel Corrie

Well, I am sorry that she died, there certainly was a better way to deal with the situation. The supreme court of israel (which is very left leaning) determined that her actions constituded an act of war and such the soliders are not guilty. I disagree, but you cannot pretend like this is either A. a common occourance or B. a clear case of non-violent proccess. her actions were, and I quote the surprmeme court:

I see you enjoy Percy Jackson; those books were very dear to my heart when I was younger, specifically the messaging of compassion for others and standing up against unjust systems.

Well, I see percy jackson as more about acceptance and breaking cycles of violence, but idk. I do think we should stand up against bad systems, and believe me, I could fill a book with the troubles that I have with the IDF. it often puts things under the rug, sacrafices Israeli lives to look better, and many other problems, but I don't think it is unjust. on the contrary, I think any army in the world, and epecially the US's one, would have flattned gaza on the 8th. the IDF is the most moral army in the world (it is the only one even trying)

Hope you agree with me, and even if you don't, how did you say? "I hope this, sent in good faith, might help you at least reflect"

This is the first civil ask I got since, I think, december. thank you for being civil

[horizon-verizon]

I’m so tired of people claiming that Targaryens would hate Daenerys. I mean, obviously, Maegor, Jaehaerys I, Aemond, Aegon II, Baelor I would despise her, and I don’t think Daeron II would see her as an important person (he would probably sell her off into marriage if it was up to him as well). But her ancestors show up in her dreams to cheer on her and her eldest brother told her the long held dream of their dynasty, transcending space and time.

Maester Aemon wanted to break his vows for her and weeped because he couldn’t reach her. Even Viserys III loved her and tried to protect her before he lost himself to his madness. Not to mention the repeated parallels the text explicitly makes between her and Aegon the Conqueror.

And they’re telling us that Rhaenys and Alysanne, two queens known for loving the smallfolk, women and children, wouldn’t like her ? Alysanne who lost her own Daenerys ? Or the dragon twins, Rhaena so sweet and romantic, and Baela who is fearless and scrappy ? Bold and audacious Targaryen women like Visenya, Alyssa, Rhaenys the queen who never was, Daena the Defiant, and Elaena ? Targaryen women accused of practicing witchcraft and bathing in blood, like Rhaena the Black Bride and Shiera Seastar ? Rhaena the BB, Rhaenys, and Rhaenyra should have ascend the Iron Throne but were usurped but they wouldn’t see Daenerys as their revenge ?

Aegon V wanted to bring dragons back to force the high lords to accept his radical reforms for the smallfolk. Why wouldn’t he like the girl who brings them back and terrorizes slavers with them ?

Aegon III spent his days visiting the sick and sat with them for hours, holding their hands in his own, soothing their brows with damp cloths, wanted to give the smallfolk “peace and food and justice” and claimed that “full bellies and dancing bears shall be [his] policy”. But he would hate Daenerys ? Seriously ?

Anyway maybe this is a long ramble, but House Targaryen isn’t a monolith. Each era is different, each person is different. I think Targ antis need to read ASOIAF and Fire & Blood, not just watch HOTD before making these claims.

I don't think most Targs would "hate" Daenerys, but many could be puzzled by how she is a lot more selfless or family-focused than not, like Visenya. Those men you mention, absolutely, but that just hammers in how none of them are really worth my respect. Jaehaerys, for ruling through choosing good council people and "listening" to Alysanne, sure, but eh 🤷🏿‍♂️. Rhaenyra might not have liked her but neither do i think she'd necessarily despise her. You make great points.

The house isn't a monolith as much as the flip a coin quote and how far the fandom//D&D ran with it to "explain" the Targs and Aerys II. It's not just HotD, it's has been a thing ever since people watched that episodes with Viserys' abuse (without the context of his losses and exile and possible selling himself), how exactly Aerys fell out with Rhaegar, Tyrion citing that Targ kign who said that quote, etc. And since the Targs were leaders in the feudal system, some fans are just never going to like them and fantasize about Westeros becoming democratic under Daenerys' rule or at least just get smashed into a "reset". Or they use Targ-madness to denigrate and diminish any sort of faith in Dany's rationality and compassion/leadership.

[rubylarkspur22]

Blood Demon Arts: Mirrored Sunset(🔄)

This is basically just me spitballing my ideas for the Kizuki!Hashira, specifically their BDAs. Some are set in stone(*looks at Butterfly girls, whose powers have been set in stone since I made this fic*), some are subject to change(*looks at Mitsuri, who's already gotten hers changed twice, and is still subject to alterations because this woman is strangely hard to pick a demon power for*). It might change again when I create everyone's designs, but this is what I got for now!

Also, the ranks aren't in order of strength or anything, I just kinda picked. Some of these demons will be ascending as others die off. At least Kanao and Tengen will be getting promoted and powered up before they're decapitated, others are subject to this as well.

Lower 6, Zenitsu

Most of his power goes into speed, but his official BDA is a form of electrokinesis. He prefers to use it on himself for a quick escape, but will use it on humans if they get too close for comfort. And he can control the output, allowing him to either stun or kill.

Lower 5, Kanao

You all know this one. Mind control butterflies. It continues to terrify me, but that's what makes it fun!

Lower 4, Genya

He actually kept his demon eating ability after turning, so he gains nutrition from both humans and demons. But when he eats Demon Slayers and demons with Blood Demon Arts, he can get their powers or the element of their Breathing Style and turn their own attacks back on them. The only one he wouldn't get any power from is Sun Breathing. For obvious reasons.

And he still has his gun. Because it's Genya, and he deserves his shotgun!

Lower 3, Shinobu

Shinobu can administer poison via either her claws or her butterflies. It's potent, so one would die from even the tiniest dose, but it's also a long and painful death. This woman is a little sadist, don't get hit.

Lower 2, Tengen

Tengen's BDA revolves around sound. He can mimic sounds and voices, or produce lethal sounds that can make heads explode. For mimicking, he just needs to have heard the sound or voice once before, and he can create a perfect copy.

Lower 1, Mitsuri

Mitsuri's Blood Demon Art is similar to Kanao's, in that it dulls her victims' ability to think and fight back. However, Mitsuri keeps hers fully conscious. Her Blood Demon Art, a hypnotic aura emitted by either scent or eye contact, is surprisingly simple. Under the hypnosis, her victims fall so in love with her that they can't bring themselves to even raise their weapons to her. And sometimes she'll draw it out, toying with her food by keeping them alive and near her, treating them as an entertaining plaything until she gets bored or hungry.

It works better on some than others, and the specifics aren't determined. But know that this power makes many humans easy pickings for both her and her husband. Speaking of which!

Upper 6, Obanai

If Mitsuri doesn't kill her victims, Obanai certainly will. And he doesn't play with his food like his beloved wife does.

Obanai creates snakes from his flesh, all with a powerful venom that can completely incapacitate the average human in seconds, and kill them in minutes .

But that's not their only purpose. They also act as his eyes, especially to watch over Mitsuri so he can protect her. He won't let the Slayers kill her again. The only snake that isn't his flesh and blood is his faithful companion, Kaburamaru.

Lower 5, Muichirou

Don't let his short stature fool you. Muichirou is at his rank for a reason.

Muichirou can create mist by either turning himself into mist, or using his blood. And best not to inhale it, or it's not going to end well. This mist will do one of two things once it enters your system.

Either you will be forced to relive your worst memories, trapped in the endless cycle until you're put out of your misery, or you will forget. How much you forget is unknown. Just the last few minutes? Days? Months? Years? Your entire life? How to even breathe? You never know. Best to avoid the mist.

Upper 4, Kyojurou

As a former Demon Slayer and Breath User, Kyojurou's Blood Demon Art comes from his Flame Breathing. Much like Kaigaku in canon, as well as Michikatsu/Kokushibo both canonically and here. He technically has full pyrokinesis, but is most often seen using it to create a flaming sword to use with the Flame Breathing forms he had not forgotten in all his years as a demon. A deadly demon, indeed.

Upper 3, Giyuu

Giyuu's blood becomes water that he can manipulate. Be careful not to get any one you, or your own body's water may very well be turned against you.

Upper 2, Sanemi

Sanemi's power comes from his ruthlessness and bloodlust, but his power is just as vicious. With his blood and wounds, he can create wind currents under his total control. From a small breeze to knock you off your feet to a relentless cyclone to rip his victims to shreds, it's all up to him. And if his blood touches you, or he gets a decent scratch in? Well, many have learned the hard way that Breathing Techniques are named so because it's necessary that you breathe to use them, and that fighting is rather difficult without air.

Upper 1, Gyomei

When his blood spills on the Earth, Gyomei has complete control over it. From turning stone to sand, or moulding projectiles from the ground, even encasing his enemies in rock, this power is versatile and Gyomei has spent centuries perfecting it and his control.

[soft-pine]

Hey hey, I saw you said you don't get many asks. I have one! Can you do any freeform thoughts about Pastor Jim? (What he represents, his skillset, how long John's known apparently him, how John cried for him, etc? Whatever you feel like, really.)

I'm fascinated by the fact that by your timeline, it seems that the once John starting leaving the kids with others, those folks started getting picked off pretty early, perhaps inflaming John's sense of paranoia and isolation in parallel to how Azazel isolated Mary and picked off her support systems.

And I'm curious how Pastor Jim fits into this. :-)

hi Shal! that's so nice!! sorry it took me so long to reply!

i love the connection you made with the timeline and people getting "picked off" as you say! yeah i think that would have certainly fueled john's paranoia and stretched him and stressed him even more!

also i apologize in advance because i know you're maybe not a self-described john-anti. and, though i find his character complex and fascinating and sometimes even sympathetic, i do have mostly harsh criticism for him. and also sorry cause your posts are so tidy and well formatted and this is gonna be kinda a spill out. i can pull up citations for anything here if needed though!!

but okay jumping in! i'm really fascinated by the people john had connections to while he was raising sam and dean and i'm interested in the two main subcategories of that group - people he had a falling out with versus people he didn't. pastor jim falls into that second category, along with martin, travis, fred jones, deacon, jefferson (?), and caleb. (the first category includes elkins, bobby, tara, ellen, etc).

i think that part of the reason john kept his family separate from the hunting community at large is because hunters tend to tell each other that kids shouldn't be involved. at least that is the kind of hunter dean became. and i think it's possible that some of the fallings out john had with other hunters was over that issue. that certainly is a contributing factor to the strain in his relationship with bobby.

so what does that say about the hunters which john remained in community with? we don't know much about jefferson or caleb. but martin has a black and white view of monsters and isn't worried about harming civilians himself to get results. travis also is impatient and cruel in his methods. fred jones gave both dean and sam alcohol before they were 10. and deacon is a physically abusive prison guard. maybe this is me being too harsh but those actions stick with me as they overlap with john's own black and white views and in contrast to bobby or ellen for example. none of that says anything specific about jim himself i guess but the general pattern of hunters who didn't have a falling out with john is interesting to me!

unfortunately, the other reason i have a somewhat negative view of pastor jim is i was raised evangelical and ... i did not care for all that. as best as i can tell jim is some form of protestant minister... and one whose denomination has some kind of liturgical tradition. one of my early fic chapters is kinda about him actually. or i mean about the kind of person/pastor that he strikes me as and about the comradery and tension between him and john.

i tend to think of john as somewhat of an atheist. a "nothing up there's gonna save you, you gotta do it for yourself" kinda guy. so i think he kinda puts up with jim's beliefs and faith because jim has a very safe base of operations and seems very well equipped. i also imagine that jim is someone who can offer the kind of emotional support johh might need. from his brief conversation with meg at the beginning of 1.21, it seems like he's used to offering kind of talk-therapy-esque conversations. here's a little excerpt from my fic that shows that kinda?

Dad must have wrapped up his hunt cause he's back in the morning when Dean goes into the house to brush his teeth. “I just don't know how to do it,” Dad's voice is saying, low and quiet from the kitchen. He sounds like maybe he's crying. Dean crouches down low in the front hall. If he walks past the kitchen door, they're going to hear him. “I know, John,” Pastor Jim says. “I know.” “You know, I... I try to do right by those boys... not lay it all on them. But I just. I miss her so much.” Dad is crying now. “You're doing the best you can, John.” “Sam's too young to really understand all this stuff and I know Dean tries,” Dad lets out a long sigh. Dean digs the tips of his fingers into the coarse hallway rug. He doesn't want his Dad to feel like this. He hates that his Dad is sad and he hates that he hasn't done a good enough job making sure Dad knows he can talk to him if he needs to. That he'd do anything. “I've got to hold it together for them, Jim. And some days I feel like I can't.”

(rereading that chap and it's possible i put a bit too much of my own knowledge of and baggage about evangelical issues in the late 80's into it... oopsie)

i really am inclined to think john knew jim for the longest of most of his contacts. i mean in the semi-canonical john's journal, he meets him at the end of the month that mary dies! but even by the show's timeline, jim is trusted enough for john to have him as a backup safehouse for the boys as early as 1988 which suggests he's known him at least some time by that point.

from all the conversations sam and dean have with travis, martin, fred, and deacon, it doesn't seem like they or john have seen any of those people for a long time. but in s1, they're still very in touch with pastor jim. is he perhaps john's oldest and most consistent friend?

which tracks with john's deeply emotive response to jim's death. i would argue the most grief he shows in the show besides for mary. i think that tracks with the loss of a support and confidant of decades. certainly both caleb and jim's death show a devotion to john beyond a care for their own lives.

i'm sorry i don't know if i have much to say about jim's skill set! some of the specific mechanics of hunting and the supernatural are not quite in the purview of the way my spn-special-interest shows up im sorry! but i think the church as sacred ground and jim's familiarity with the concept of demons would both protect him somewhat from azazel's lower level minions and also probably endear john to him.

and what he represents!? oh gosh! i think your narrative analysis is on another level from the one im dabbling around in.

thanks for the ask!! and thanks for all your amazing analysis!