#I just want to actually participate in something of real significance to the world or nation as a whole

[trans-xianxian]

I'm enjoying the fontaine storyline so far I feel like it's progressing the plot forward a good amount and we're getting some rlly cool and important lore info but I Am sort of like. can we solve an insane crisis now. can we have a boss fight please. I enjoy that we're learning a bunch of stuff but it feels like we're Only learning a bunch of stuff and not actually Doing anything of monumental plot importance we're just sort of watching all of the other characters do it

[physalian]

10 More Character Types the World Needs More of

Part 1 was specifically character dynamics, but I’m considering this a sequel anyway.

1. Fiercely independent character’s lesson isn’t to “trust people”

I’m not projecting. You’re projecting. There is a divide wide enough to fit the Grand Canyon between “trusting that someone isn’t lying” and “trusting someone to follow through on a promise”. Most dumpster fire attempts at these characters (almost exclusively women) rely solely on mocking them for the former because “not all men” or something.

Being consistently let down in life makes you hesitant to a) gain friends, b) pursue romantic interests, c) maintain familial relationships, d) get excited about any event that demands participation from someone who isn’t you. None of this is simply a bad attitude—it’s a trauma response. There is no lesson to be learned, and not even exposure therapy can help because it’s a real, legitimate, and common stunt people pull, whether they mean it or not.

So write one of these characters and legitimize their fears, give them someone who proves the exception to the rule, but do not let the lesson be “well they just haven’t found the right person yet”. Even the “right person” can let them down. It's about not becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy by sabotaging a good thing to prove it will inevitably go bad.

2. Conventionally attractive men who aren’t horndogs

I’m going to find every way I can to tell you to write more aces. This is to fight the stigma that attractive people must be attracted to people. Give me gorgeous aces and demi’s, men, women, enbys and everyone in between, who put a crap ton of effort into looking their best, and yet happen to not have a very loud libido. They look good for themselves, and not to impress anyone else.

Give me someone who could have anyone they wanted, gender regardless, and just simply has no interest. Or, they do actually have a significant other, but sex, how hot their partner is, or how horny they are, isn’t their internal monologue. I don’t even care if it’s unrealistic, it’s annoying to read.

And, you know, giving men male characters who aren’t thinking about sex all the time can be good, right? Right?

3. Manly warrior men who also write poetry

A.K.A Aragorn, Son of Arathorn. Just give me more Aragorns, period. This dude is either covered in filth, blood, guts, and the last 30 miles of rugged terrain, or singing in Elvish at his own coronation while pink flower petals fall. A man can be both, and still be straight.

A man can also drink Respect Women juice, you know? He ticks off all the boxes—he’s gentle when he needs to be, not afraid to hide his emotions, kind to those who are vulnerable and afraid and need a strong figure to look up to, resolute in his beliefs, skilled and knowledgeable in his abilities without being arrogant or smug, and the first boots on the battlefield, leading from the front.

4. Characters who are characters when no one is watching

This is less a specific type and more a scene that doesn’t get written enough. This whole point comes from Pixar’s Cars. I. Love. This. Movie. It’s not Pixar’s best, for sure, but this is my comfort movie. The best scene, one that’s so unique, is when Doc (aged living legend) thinks he’s alone when he rolls out onto the dirt race track and comes alive tearing around the oval.

This character’s unbridled, unabashed glee and euphoria at proving to himself that he’s still got it, when he’s completely unaware of his audience, is perfection. Not enough credence is given to characters to just… enjoy being themselves. He’s not doing it to prepare for the climactic race, he’s not doing it for the plot, he’s doing it just to do it, not even to prove Lightning wrong—just for himself.

Give your characters a “Doc Racing” scene. Whatever their skill is. Maybe they’re a dancer, a skater, a swimmer, a painter, sprinter. Just let your character love being alive.

5. Characters whose neurodivergence isn't “cute”

A.K.A. Lilo Pelekai from Lilo and Stitch. Really, her relationship with Nani is peak sibling writing. But Lilo herself is just so realistic with how she interacts with the world, how she interprets her relationships with her so-called friends, how she organizes her thoughts and rationalizes what she can’t quite understand, and how friggen smart she is for an… 11-year-old?

But she’s not “cute”. As in, she wasn’t written by generic Suits who were trying to cash in on the ND crowd by writing what they think will sell, but also making her juuust neurotypical enough to still be palatable by the rest of the audience. Lilo’s earnestness is what endears her to everybody. But also, she doesn’t get a free pass for her behavior, either. Her “friends” aren’t forced to accommodate her and Nani isn’t written as the cold-hearted villain for trying to discipline her.

6. Straight male characters with female friends

Am I double-dipping a bit here? Yes. While I completely understand how tempting it can be, this type of character is in dire need of exposure and representation to prove it’s possible. No weird tense moments, no double-glances when she isn’t looking, no contemplations about cheating on his girlfriend (and no insecure jealous girlfriend either). Just two characters who enjoy each other’s company and are able to coexist in a space and be in each other’s spaces without hormones getting in the way. Peak example? Po and Tigress from Kung Fu Panda.

Let these two rely on each other for emotional strength in times of need, let them share inside jokes, let them have a night alone together at a bar, at home, cooking dinner, getting takeout, talking on the patio in a porch swing… with zero “will they/won’t they.”

7. The likable bigot

I’m actually on the fence with this one but it’s something I also don’t see done often enough and I’m adding it for one reason: Bigots aren’t always obvious mustache-twirling villains and the little things they do might seem inconsequential to them, but are still hurtful. So showing these characters is like plopping a mirror down in front of these people and, I don’t know, maybe something will click. They don’t have to be MAGAs to be dangerous, and only writing the extremes convinces the moderates that they aren’t also the problem.

Example: I have a “friend” who recently said something along the lines of “I have lots of gay friends” followed up shortly by “I don’t think this country should keep gay marriage because it’s a slippery slope to legalizing pedophilia.” You know. The quiet part being that she *actually* thinks being gay is as morally abhorrent as being a pedo. But she totally has lots of gay friends. Including one who was driving her during that conversation. (It’s me. Hi. I’m apparently the problem, it’s me.)

She’s absolutely homophobic, but the second she stops announcing it, she’s a very bubbly person. She’s a ~likable~ bigot and thus thinks she can distance herself from the more violent ones.

8. The motherly single father

I say “motherly” merely as shorthand for the vibe I’m going for here. “Motherly” as in dads who aren’t scandalized by the growing pains of their daughters, and who don’t just parent their sons by saying “man up boys don’t cry”. Dads who play Barbie with their kids of either gender. Dads who go to the PTA meetings with all the other Karens and know as much if not more than they do about the school and their kids’ education.

Dads who comfort their crying kids, especially their sons. Dads that take interest in “feminine” activities like learning how to braid their daughter’s hair, learning different makeup brands, going on nail salon trips together. Dads who do not pull out the rifle on their daughter’s new boyfriend and treat her like property. Dads who have guy friends that don’t mock him and call him gay. Dad who does all this stuff anyway and is *actually* gay, too, but the emphasis is on overly sensitive straight men’s masculinity here.

Wholesome dads: a shocking amount of single-parents to female anime protagonists.

9. The parent isn’t dead, they’re just gone

Treasure Planet is an awesome movie in its own right, but what’s even better? This is a Disney movie where the parent isn’t dead, he’s just a deadbeat who abandoned his son and isn’t at all relevant to the plot beyond the hole he left behind for Jim to fill. The only deadbeat dads Disney allows are villains and those guys are very vigorously chasing an aspiration, that aspiration just doesn’t include quality fatherhood. Or motherhood. Disney has yet to write a deadbeat mom, I’m almost certain.

I just wrote a post about the necessity of the “dead parent” cliche, but what is perhaps more relatable because it’s more common, and what earns even more sympathy and underdog points for the protagonist? The hero with the parent who left. Then there’s a whole extra layer of angst and trauma available when your hero can now plague themselves with the question of if the parent leaving is their fault. Death is usually an accident. Choosing to abandon your kid is on purpose.

10. Victim who isn’t victim-blamed or told by their friends (and the narrative) to forgive their abuser

Izuku Midoriya lost so much support from me the moment he told his friend, bearing the consequences of domestic violence across half his face, that Midoriya thinks he’ll be ready soon to forgive his abomination of a father. I am firmly in the “Endeavor is a despicable human and hero” camp and no I’m not taking criticism. I audibly gasped when I heard this line and realized Deku was serious. Todoroki needs friends like the Gaang to remind him that he's allowed to hate the man who's actions caused the burn scar across his f*cking face.

I understand that the mangaka apparently didn’t anticipate the vitriolic backlash toward Endeavor during his debut and reveal of his parenting tactics but the tone-deafness of telling a fifteen year old with crippling emotional management issues and a horrible home life that his abusive dad in any way deserves and is entitled to forgiveness on the grounds of being related is disgusting.

Take it back further to a more famous Tumblr dad: John Winchester. Another despicable human who got retroactively forgiven by his sons after his death in a “he wasn’t so bad, he really did try” campaign. It’s one thing if the character believes it, it’s a whole different matter if the narrative is also pushing this message.

Katara is a perfect example: She lets go of her grudge for her own peace of mind and stops blaming Zuko for something he had no hand in, stops blaming him simply because he’s a firebender and he’s around to be her punching bag. She doesn’t forgive the man who killed her mother, because that man doesn’t deserve her forgiveness. Katara heals in spite of him, not because of him, and had she let him off the hook, she would have gotten an apology for getting caught, not for what he did (which is exactly what happened).

[bwabys-scenarios]

Heya! Just thinking about Kurapika cuase he my fav. Since Kurta culture is such a big deal to him, how would he try to teach his significant other about it? Would he try to teach them as they go along or would he try to distance himself from his past culture? Thanks for writing these Headcannons, they get me through my busy work week lollll

Kurapika and his culture, thoughts and HCs

!!REBLOGS APPRECIATED!!

A/N: This is less of an x reader and more of Kurta tradition HCs! Also, these are all made up and not inspired by anything specific, so any likeliness to actual cultural practices is not intended. The only tradition that is inspired by real culture is the last one, which is inspired by Dia De Los Muertos(which is obvious but I wanted to give credit where credit is due!!)

Thoughts

Absolutely! As the only Kurta left alive, he’s the only one that can keep his culture and traditions alive. It’s one of the reasons he wants children so badly, he wants to have his clan again!

I think Kurapika isn’t the type to force you to learn or expect you to participate in his culture, after all it’s not your own, but he’d very much appreciate it if you did. You’re his everything, all he has left in this world and the future mother of his children, and he’d be over the moon if you wore the traditional tabards on special holidays and practiced the traditional dance that the Kurta people would preform on their wedding nights.

He also won’t be overbearing with having his kids participate, but will be filled with joy when the little ones ask why daddy is wearing something different and praying on certain days.

Kurapika will bully his friends into celebrating with him, though. Gon and Killua have their own Kurta tabards that they have to wear when then come over during holidays. And no, Gon’s isn’t green. You’ll see why later on in this post.

HCs

-I think the Kurtas had many different traditions, which I will list here.

-One tradition I already mentioned, which is the bride and groom performing a specific dance on their wedding day. It’s a sign of devotion and love that lasts a lifetime, so it’s one of the only things Kurapika really wants you to do.

-Another is celebrating the coming of fall and harvests, alone with spring, summer, and winter. Each season has a different celebration and traditions, like dancing in the snow and leaving your favorite preserved fruit in the windowsill as an offering.

-You give that fruit during winter, a time where the fields are barren so when the fruit is ripe again, the gods give back tenfold.

-In spring, there are always flowers decorating doorframes, most families represented by a specific flower(marigolds for Kurapika’s family!), which is said to strengthen the spirits of each household.

-During summer, the children all made little dolls out of straw(or clay if their family works with it) and fill them with sweets, then leave them in the forest. This is an offering to the forest spirits so they can continue to coexists among each other. The Kurta people have a lot of respect for nature, always giving back what they take.

-The most important tradition takes place during late fall, right before winter. It’s a day to remember your loved ones who have passed, and obviously this holiday is especially rough for Kurapika. Before the massacre, it was a day that was spent celebrating the lives that once were, but now it is full of grief. He wears all green. Brown and earthy tones are used for grieving too, like for widows that are in states of mourning, but green is reserved for funerals. The earthy times symbolize the deceased giving their bodies back to the earth, and the inevitably of returning to dust.

-Because their scarlet eyes are treasured in the clan and green is opposite to red, green is seen as a color of morning. Fun fact, the first time Kurapika saw Gon, he assumed he was in a deep state of mourning because he was wearing an entirely green outfit. Of course he soon learned that the Kurta way of mourning was different than the rest of the world, but that didn’t stop him from being more gentle with Gon for a while.

-Kurapika prefers to pray alone when he’s in mourning. He gets choked up and cries sometimes, and needs time to collect himself and process the tremendous loss he feels.

[idesofrevolution]

Let’s talk honestly

So I just wanna share where I’m at these days with Tumblr, the community, and some concerning developments as of late. Firstly, I want to thank all 5k of you for supporting me for almost a decade on this platform. It has been a wild ride with ups and downs but this community has really given me an overall positive impact on my self image, bettered my writing skills, and helped to come to terms with who I am as a person and as a kinkster. So above all, I have so much gratitude for y’all, thank you.

Over the last couple of months, I have taken notice to some difficulties on behalf of Tumblr and their censorship efforts against queer erotic writing. I have had to fight more flags and community labels than ever before, and it has really affected my desire and motivation to publish more stories. If only certain folks with their mature censor turned off can read my posts, that fuckin sucks. But I admittedly got rather stoned last night and thought about why Tumblr is cracking down so viciously on our content. I think I’ve come to my own conclusion there.

I am and have been extremely alarmed by a number of tropes that have become relatively commonplace in recently posted tf prose. As I have mentioned countless times before, underage people have no business being in your sexual fantasy fiction whatsoever. The amount of writers I’ve seen recently posting stories focusing on 12-16 year of children being erotically transformed is disturbing to put it delicately. Especially those which maintain the children’s psychological age intact, but even without that trope it is inappropriate, unacceptable, and should not be platformed on Tumblr.

In addition, I’d like to touch on another trope: homophobic tf. Now I have no issue whatsoever with Gay to straight, as being straight is a valid expression of sexual orientation. There is nothing wrong with featuring characters from a wide array of identities. That being said, this new content of lib to con, MAGA tf, gay bashing tf… it’s disgusting. In the current world we live in, these types of archetypical characters do exist in the real world and are causing real significant harm to queer folks. These groups of people are actively, in their own words, trying to eradicate the LGBT community in America. These types of people exist all over the world as well, and queer identifying people live in legitimate, actual fear for their lives. I question why we fetishize individuals who seek a literal genocide of an entire peoples, and whether it is acceptable to do so. I point to the fetishization of Nazism as an apt comparison: a hypermasculinized group of people who sought eradication of a group of people based solely on concrete identities which could not be changed. I believe we as a community have rightly deplatformed such content, and I cannot fathom why this current iteration is in such a Renaissance.

These are just two examples of obvious reasoning as to why Tumblr might righteously suppress tf erotica on their platform. Can I blame them? No. Frankly, I understand completely. If the community refuses to monitor and moderate its on content, then Tumblr as the platform most certainly will.

I’m unsure as to what the future looks like for Ides, as this current trajectory is not something I’d like to participate in. I’m hoping like minded writers will be a bit more critical in choosing the tropes and prompts for their stories, but in all honesty, I have significant doubts. Rest assured, I will touch base with y’all before I do anything drastic. But in my opinion, the writing is on the wall.

[sprolden]

What's the ultimate ranking of all parabatai pairs in your intellectual tmi-spiral opinion

thanks for acknowledging the fact that tmi is making me a bit crazy 💛 without further ado, parabatai pairs from worst to best at being parabatai:

luke & valentine - they get some points for participating in a Parabatai Love Triangle (tm) which we all know by now is an essential part of all parabatai pairs but i think it's literally mentioned once that they were parabatai and then it's never brought up again. clearly this was the parabatai equivalent of an embarassing teenage relationship. 1.5/10

lucie & cordelia - they at least take the whole parabatai connected-souls things quite seriously but they forgot the most important part and thats that you need to actually be friends. 3/10

jace & alec - these two however absolutely did not take it seriously enough lmfaoooooo there's real love between them but they hate communicating, talking and speaking to each other SOOOO MUCH. however i kind of have to respect it? sometimes a joint parabatai slay is that they both dont actually give a fuck ab being parabatai. they were kind of real for that. 5/10

james & matthew - i acknowledge that they tried but they werent very good at it were they. i think they kind of suffer from the same thing as lucie & cordelia in the sense that they interact too little to come off as besties even though they both want to be besties. however they did have quite a few moments of unwavering homoerotic loyalty and i do love that. didnt live up to their potential though. 5.5/10

robert & michael - yeah they ended on bad terms but at least they gave us the drama and the completely insane intensity i'm LOOKING for!!!! like i said earlier, almost 20 years after his death michael was still the person robert loved the most in the entire world and michael literally came back from the dead to attend roberts funeral. perhaps robert failed to notice michael dying but thats iconic in and of itself imo do you know how deep you have to bury your emotions to not notice your parabatai's death?????? complete emotional rollercoaster i love it. 7/10 no wonder jace & alec are Like That

simon & clary - they rlly just became parabatai because they could. overhated and underrated parabatai duo i think they lack a certain je ne sais quoi that other pairs do have but i'm obsessed w their friendship so i love them anyway<3 have we considered that more ppl should just become parabatai with their besties simply because they can? besides at this rate simon will be a werewolf or something in 3 months' time anyway so we can't ever blame them for jumping on the opportunity! 7.5/10

jonathan shadowhunter & david the silent - literally invented the parabatai bond. bestie goals. couldve made it more feminist and included a woman though 🙄 8/10

emma & julian - do i even need to explain. they burned down a church. objectively awful at the whole parabatai deal though but in such an iconic life-changing culturally historically and aesthetically significant way that i dont even care. 9/10

will & jem - our souls are knit. we are one person, james. 10000000000000/10

[caluski]

again, a brief moment of self-reflection :-)

turning a little older yet again, i think its funny to see myself changing still. i wont lie that my life feels that much different from what it used to be - but other than boring things such as employment or housing or the lack of relationships, something has perhaps shifted in a bit quiet way, one you usually notice upon retrospection much later.

i think im still pretty much a hopeless romantic, in that stupid, proud, dramatic way that makes me absolutely fucking insufferable. everything must be either grand or tragic. obviously, its not a bad thing in itself, but it does make me far too self indulgent for my own good. i know i have to learn patience towards others, and domesticate my solitude, otherwise soon life will drive me even madder... there is a lot to reconsider when it comes to what i expect from life and people in my life, even if it feels like i overthought everything to death and back already.

the big goals for 29th year is definitely going back on meds. or should i say, finding meds that actually work for me. theres a lot that i want - such as moving out and becoming independent, having a stable job i dont have to worry about losing, or finding companionship in my daily life - but i want to be realistic just once. last year, i remember finding out about the layoffs right before summer ended, and i thought - my next job will be the one that fixes everything. obviously, its not, not yet at least. even the minimum wage aside, im annoyed with lots of aspects of it, so its far from perfect. i wish i could land a safe, corporate job that pays enough to keep me afloat on my own, but, well.

but like, other than all my actual flaws, i dont think my attempt to romanticize everything is that bad in itself. it does make good-but-normal things seem far too good to be true (like having friends, being loved, having a safe home - how can it ever be real for me, if its so beautiful???), but other than that, i do like the way it makes me feel. i like treating every coffee like the biggest blessing of the day. i like how good music makes me tear up. i like it when days are so good, theyll feel like a dream when i look back at them. i just have to keep it under a little bit of control. i have to get used to the thought that the world is not out there to cater for me, that i am not in fact the center of the universe, that everything goes on no matter what. i always liked the thought of being not the main character of life, but more of a best friend or love interest; youre still there, you can participate, you can be significant if you put your mind to it, but the world wont stop for you. also, i do like the sentiment of someone's main purpose in life being both giving and receiving of love. i might lack the brains and beauty for much more, but love, i think everyone is capable of, no matter what - and it includes me, in the end.

i want to spend more time taking pictures and listening to music. going to cafes and having long walks. i want to try going back to drawing. i wanna get better at writing - god, if this wall of text alongside all my other silly little posts arent a proof of that...... - which of course, means reading more, too. i wanna hear more live music. local, or maybe the big performances, if artists i like come over to warszawa or kraków or something. also, i wanna travel a little more. even if just to sit in a local cafe and watch the traffic. i wanna visit żmija (if youre reading this, i swearrrrrrr im not trying to invite myself over - but maybe if im in kraków or something, we could see each other closer to your home. which could also be fun because its such a big city, so much to see, so many cafes to experience. maybe a gay bar to visit? are there any worth dancing in?). and i do wanna continue collecting vinyls - slowly, as they are so costly, but still. and i do wanna become more outgoing, i want to take more risks, even if it leaves my stupid little heart sore and exposed.... rejection is inevitable, right? and i do want to catch up with romantic experiences, too. i want to feel something for someone again, even if its one-sided and desperate and miserable. but i miss it so badly, so so badly. i want to have someone to pour out my affection on - consensually. i want someone to want to be loved by me as i am, with all this mess of loud, intense feelings, without being freaked out. or maybe getting freaked out in a good way.

anyway. such a gloomy day calls for love & food playlist promo. have a good evening everyone! mwah

[spontaneousglitterbees]

It's been mentioned that Kokichi has some phantom pains and he has clear mobility issues (love that btw as someone who uses a cane), so I was curious how the rest of the class is doing in that regard. Does Kaito ever struggle to breathe or have coughing fits? Do Rantaro and Angie get migraines?

[Talent Acquisition Pilot Program AU Masterpost]

This one. This one got away from me.

tl;dr: Absolutely, Anon, we are on very similar pages! This ask really got me thinking about how the whole TAPP!cast is doing fresh out of the Killing Game. Every student in Class 79 is going through something, about now, be it physical or mental; in fact, it’s usually both.

Also: for sure, I want to try and be relatively true-to-life with their struggles, especially Kokichi’s. I write from personal experience living with chronic pain, but haven’t used a cane before. Apologies if I miss the mark at any point.

Obligatory disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional of any kind and the AU’s premise is largely sci-fi, so there may be inaccuracies. That said, I am fascinated with biomechanics and always looking to learn, so I’m trying to keep things at least semi-plausible.

Full spoilers for Danganronpa V3 (and some for the end of SDR2) ahead!

Very Long Loredump (~6.2k words) under the cut:

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

Everyone is traumatized. That much is obvious, sure, but the Talent Acquisition Pilot Program (TAPP) is a virtual reality simulator based on the bones of the Neo World Program (NWP). In much the way SDR2’s NWP is purported to replicate death in the simulation in the players’ real bodies, the TAPP simulation is built to alter the brain chemistry of its participants. TAPP builds muscle memory and ‘burns’ new neural pathways to a participant’s Default Mode Network (DMN), a collective term for parts of the brain responsible for letting us “autopilot” common tasks like riding a bike or typing on a keyboard. The V3 cast’s experiences in the simulation impact their real bodies in a very literal sense to ‘speedrun’ them through orientation at Hope’s Peak and mainstream them in the curriculum as quickly as possible so its researchers can start collecting useful data on the merits of HPA for investors.

The problem is, nobody programming TAPP anticipated they would start killing each other.

Class 79 were the first human test subjects for the program with zero peer review or board approval, of course, because HPA is morally dubious and can pass off “dude, trust me” as genuine credentials to several world governments. Even if this massive oversight was not noticed until after the fact, V1 of TAPP did at least include one quasi-safety feature: if any player became “significantly injured”, that player would be ejected from the simulation. Everyone else would be locked in the simulation (in case one of them was involved and tried to evade consequences) until an administrator could come and manually assess the situation. In theory, the physically-unharmed student could rejoin the simulation once the conflict was resolved.

But TAPP was built to write data to the brain. It was not built to identify what data it’s actually writing, and cannot differentiate between playing the piano and getting smashed in a hydraulic press. Data is data.

It does not help that Team Danganronpa (the group of Reserve Course kids, including Tsumugi) are foolish teenagers entirely unaware of this, assuming that “none of it is real, so none of it will actually matter! we’re just scaring them!” While skimming through the code and thoroughly Knowing Not What They Do, they manage to remove any defined cap for what constitutes ‘significant injury’ before player ejection. The only flag that can set it off is a lack of any other player flags. Virtual death.

This is where Rantaro earns the title of “Ultimate Survivor”. The shotput ball put him down too quickly for the damage to be fully reflected in his physical body, so he managed to get ejected with post-concussive symptoms, short-term memory issues, and persistent migraines instead of fully dying. Were his method of death much slower, he’d likely have been screwed (and wouldn’t have Komaeda’s luck cycle to save him).

Time scales differently in TAPP than in the physical world; while Rantaro’s been at the virtual Academy for several days, the students have been strapped in their pods for a few hours at most. Between the Responsible Older Sibling Energy seared over the person he may have been before and an extant knack for escape room puzzles, Amami is The Man with the skills and motivation to call in backup.

It’s a good thing he did, too! Their “observer”, having tired of watching a bunch of students play the piano and run around outside, only figures out something has gone horribly wrong the moment Rantaro practically busts down the door. The next tense hour-plus is spent doing damage control and imposing limits on the code of the simulation to prevent TAPP from letting the students actually die. Unfortunately, the TDR kids and their takeover took a sizeable chunk out of the spaghetti code holding the whole thing together in their haste. TDR, with proposed talents like Ultimate Cosplayer on their side, are primarily concerned with artistry and are only competent-enough programmers. As a result, there is no obvious way to manually override the lock completely and just let the students out without significant defragging, even as TDR members are still actively messing with the code, and who knows how long that will take. (About 6-ish chapters)

Instead, for now, they’ll have to settle for putting as many programming-adjacent talents as possible on the case and exploit a loophole that panicking overseer managed to write: if the remaining students are systematically ejected, the program will bypass the lock and let them out. During the rescue operation, the main objective is first to minimize the physical damage TAPP can inflict by lowering the tolerance required to eject the students (which is easier said than done) and by dampening its neural-carving functions, then to get everyone left out of there.

It is a very good thing they sprung into action as quickly as they did, as it doesn’t take long for Kaede to arrive.

KAEDE

The first thing Kaede notices coming out of the simulation is that she can’t hum the notes to get back on-pitch after the worst rendition of Der Flohwalzer she has ever heard. The second thing she notices, because it is far easier to be angry about something trivial than face the slow-dawning realization you are having, is that she can only barely speak. It hurts.

I think Kaede learns to sign early on, but still finds herself trying to speak aloud anyway since she’s so used to having her hands busy already playing piano. Shuichi often reminds her to take it easy, treat it like a vocal rest, and steadily she begins to improve. She is as exuberant as ever, with determination fitting of our protagonist. Kaede is the Class 79 representative, though with his renewed confidence Shuichi often accompanies her. Not only are they best friends (though it is strange, at first, to see her alive after spending so long grieving. Kaede last saw him, like, yesterday.) and Kaede will inevitably tell Shuichi all about the meeting anyway so why not cut out the middle man,  but Shuichi initially came specifically to speak at meetings so Kaede wouldn’t strain her voice. She is immensely proud.

RANTARO (PT. 2)

Rantaro doesn’t hold the shotput ball against her; desperate times, and all. It made sense her proactive attitude would make her first to act for the ‘greater good’. She aimed to end the whole thing, not just comply. Even if she swung and missed, he (an older brother with faint recollections of failing to protect the people depending on him and guilt knowing he doesn’t have the stomach to take a victim and thus will be failing people in need of protection again) can’t fault her for swinging. She is confused when he asks her how she launched the ball that hard, though. Odd.

TENKO

Tenko has neck pain issues like Kaede, but hers are more acute. The seesaw effect was heinous but relatively precise; as the magnum opus of TDR’s homebrewed serial killer, they un/fortunately made him pretty good at it when he has a plan. Tenko has some of the least devastating lingering physical injuries of the class. Given the severity of her classmates’ injuries, though, that still leaves her with minor vocal strain, susceptibility to sore throats, and severe neck pain, among other things.

A lot of Tenko’s lingering trauma is mental: she isn’t quite as willing to immediately throw herself into the fray to help her friends, and certainly doesn’t want to leave her back exposed (a tendency she shares with Kokichi, of all people). While it did numbers on her perception of men again for a while, hearing about the trial left her with a lot to reconcile. In a ‘cool-motive-still-murder’ way, she does not forgive Kiyo (nor is she obligated to) but doesn’t hate him as much as she expected, either. Processing the idea that a girl could be horribly abusive, especially to a guy, and catalyze a cycle of violence… gets to her. She’s more wrapped up in the tragedy of the entire situation than the righteous indignation that’d fueled her for so long. Everybody lost that day.

She’s pleasantly surprised to see Himiko trying to lift her spirits now. Those two have a lot to talk about and boundaries to set, yes, but Tenko is still touched Himiko took her words to heart and seems to be benefiting from it.

ANGIE

Angie had bit more complicated situation than Tenko, getting KO’d before the fatal blow. Her migraines come on more often than Rantaro’s with high light, which is a special kind of awful for the SHSL Artist, but they’re generally closer to a dull ache. Once she gets going on a project she sets out to grin and bear it; Tenko and Himiko often check up on her. She does her best to stay just as upbeat as in the simulation, and if anything it seems more genuine now. She can actually relax, rather than mind-game her way to relative (unsteady) peace under duress.

(Angie is really interesting to me for many adjacent reasons to Kokichi, since they’re both willing to get morally gray and manipulative if it’ll keep everyone from killing each other. Angie-Kokichi compare contrast essay when?)

She hasn’t “forgiven” Kiyo either, but isn’t hostile while she evaluates whether or not his conviction in getting help and being better is genuine. She was pretty heavily affected by TDR’s “character rewrites” as well, after all, and empathizes with the feeling you’ve been used as a glorified dress-up doll. To some unknowable extent, she is a different person now, and it is frightening.

She’s trying to step back and re-analyze her sense of spirituality, particularly how it relates to her art. It’s existentially harrowing, having been made to toe the line between faith and fronting to either get people to either listen to her or not see her as a threat. She’s not even positive “Kami-sama” (not going with the localization here, my understanding is the Japanese version was deliberately more generic and at least a bit less disrespectful towards real people and their beliefs) is the same deity she’d believed in before TAPP, but it’s difficult to try and reconnect with your roots when none of you have any information on your previous lives.

They do, at least, have a resident anthropologist that might have a clue how to even start looking.

Hah. They sure do, huh.

I think Angie is the type to nominally forgive and never, ever forget. She holds the kind of grudge that lives beyond logic as all the compartmentalized emotions you don’t want to admit you have. A grudge that co-exists with an active desire to move on and seeps into her art.

KOREKIYO

Kiyo got burned.

Alive.

Also dead, somehow, an extension of the Ultimate Placebo Effect we have going on in the simulation; Kiyo was so certain ghosts were real and he’d be one that, through earnest conviction, the simulation made it so. I think this is how Komaeda’s luck works in SDR2 as well; the original Neo World Program was developed for therapy, and in doing so assesses whether or not it would be completely devastating (do more harm than good) to actively disprove something about the patient’s worldview at that time and adapts the environment accordingly. Hence you get a reality-warping luck cycle and ghosts are Definitely Real. Is either true in the outside world? No idea! Komaru talks to a ghost in UDG, once, but considering it’s unclear if Kiyo’s sister was ever a living person to begin with there are bigger fish to fry.

Or not. He’s pretty damn-well aware much that hurts. Or at least being boiled and seasoned does. Going by that kind of simulator-logic, I think in a technical sense it was the salt that killed him, not the torture. There’s probably something to unpack there I haven’t fully explored yet.

Rumors start going around campus that Kiyo is a vampire. It makes enough sense for watercooler gossip, the mask covering up fangs and an aversion to lingering out in the sun; Class 79 knows it’s actually because sunburn, for him, is a new brand of Unfun. He prefers to hole up in the library or his lab anyway, so it could be worse. He’s honestly kind of into becoming a school cryptid. It helps transition him from “avoiding my classmates and other people because they hate me, i also hate me, and we are all correct to do so. i am an extension of her so it does not matter what i want” towards “i am not my past, i cannot make up for what ive done but i can move forward and be better, i am forging a new self and it is mine this time and it always should have been”.

(Kokichi is particularly proud of having kickstarted the cryptid thing. Of course Shinguji would love to watch the evolution of new local lore in real time! Now he doesn’t mope in the corner half as much. He’s still in the corner, granted, but its probably reading while Rantaro sits next to him on his phone instead of moping!)

Kiyo’s also in therapy now. They all have therapy scheduled into their school weeks, but Kiyo has a session besides. Fabrication or not, everyone’s backstories are functionally now ‘real’ and need to be dealt with. Kiyo, Maki, and Kokichi got hit particularly hard on that front. Those scars run deep, but are starting to heal.

Of the students with whole-body injuries, Kiyo probably has the most manageable physical symptoms at this stage. He has to have long sleeves and generally keep as covered as he can so that he can subdue the part of his mind that expects the skin is still raw and flaking (it isn’t, but phantom sensations suck). Overheating pushes him toward a panic state like the end of his trial, which doesn’t exactly gel with the first point, but he’s working on it. Rantaro and Kokichi, occasionally Shuichi, tend to notice and start to defuse the situation. Part of me wonders if he’d have a black lace parasol on sunny days to lean in to the ‘mystery’ around him, plus for the sheer Aesthetic of it.

KIRUMI

Speaking of full-body injuries: Kirumi. She has similar ‘got-to-keep-covered’ issues to Kiyo, particularly wearing heavier work gloves now just to minimize any potential for cuts (and, in the back of her mind, ropeburn). Breaking several bones on impact was rough, though fast enough that she’s had remarkable improvement in a relatively short period of time. She started out on crutches, which made it difficult for her to keep up with her workaholic inclinations, but unlike some of the other students she has at least an idea of “when to quit” as not to make things worse. She’s still genuinely lost some bone density resulting from her treatment and coping methods, finding that she really does need to lean on her friends on occasion, but she is still resolute she is a care-giver, damn it. On both physical and mental fronts she’s dealing with reclaiming her agency and independence.

Kirumi is one of the few, with Maki, whose talent courses actively discourage the kinds of behavior they need for personal growth and mental health maintenance. Kirumi is still reconciling her “rewrite”, the encoded passivity in her and clash of her “selfless devotion” against her own will to live and thrive, a nightmarish reminder that You Are Not Your Own. The “Ultimate” maid needs to be agreeable, to follow orders, and hasn’t the tampering just improved her proficiency at her craft? Why be so upset? Never mind having to reconstruct her proper ability to tell people “no”, having to re-learn it’s okay to do things for yourself; according to her programmed instinct, her classes, those very things are antithetical to her talent. And everything relies on that talent, doesn’t it?

Kirumi and Kokichi are the two in Class 79 who were discharged with mobility devices that got students in the other classes… more than mildly concerned about what the hell happened to all of these freshmen (well, first year at HPA anyway), but luckily for HPA administration they’re also probably the two people least likely to offer details.

THE RIBS

There are enough students who have chest pain and associated issues that they made a club about it. It started out as Miu, Ryoma, and Kaito all independently concluding there was no way in hell they were making it through a mile run and sitting on the bleachers. Once they’d had an opportunity to gather themselves again, they do as teens are wont to do and started talking to each other. Hypoxia is an oddly effective experience to bond over. They call themselves the RIBs, standing for “Respiratory-Issue Beleaguered” (students), mostly because it made Miu laugh and for as irritating as the sound could be they’d missed it.

Kaede, Tenko, Gonta, and Kokichi also stop by from time-to-time, meaning precisely half of the 14 active Class 79 students revolving-door through this unofficial student group. HPA took notice. Class 79 has its own gym class, now, taking into account the state of everyone. One could argue that should have been the case from the onset. They would be correct.

RYOMA

Ryoma is fairly elusive. He generally keeps to himself and remains a Fairly Chill Guy with a cool temperament everyone wants to emulate (he doesn’t see what they see in him) and some Complicated Feelings now knowing he hasn’t killed anyone in the certified Real World and, by logic, should not have to have the memories of a hardened prisoner. He still does.  The persistent rasp in his voice now surprises nobody, but it took a few days for everyone in the class to stop flinching a little hearing it. He frequently hangs out in the animal shed with Gonta, Gundham, and Peko to take care of the cats.

MIU

We’ve seen quite a bit of Miu in the AU so far, but to recap a lot of her deal:

She loathes having to “take it easy” but will do so reluctantly

She tries to talk less to stretch out her working time as much as she can (even if she can’t resist just a little banter when Kokichi swings by)

She’s trying to approach her death with a sense of humor. A choker with a huge heart-shaped buckle replaces her usual necklaces with full awareness of the irony. Ha-ha, a choker. It’s a dare for anybody to bring it up, ‘I’ve said it before anyone else could’. The first thing she did waking up was try and make an autoerotic asphyxiation joke. It did not make her feel better like she thought it would.

Miu spends most of her time in her lab, now. Granted, she did that already, but she’s particularly fixated on re-creating a certain Ultimate Robot, ground-up if she has to. Fortunately, she has a team assembled (re: two upperclassmen and the Ultimate Supreme Shit-for-brains). We’ll see how this pans out soon enough.

When not re-building Kiibo outright, she ““takes a break”” innovating in other areas (re: prototyping potential features for kIIbo, usually testing them on a bored Kokichi. He usually complies because Miu is one of the few who doesn’t look at him with a patronizing amount of pity she’s Not boring. Mm-hmm. All there is to it.)

Miu does not resent Gonta (or Kokichi, for that matter) for killing her. There's a small extent to which she's a little relieved she was stopped from going through with her plan to kill Kokichi, and a much bigger disconnect between her idea of reality and her memory of Chapter 4. Miu died in a VR game within another VR game. Having messed around with the programming and guts of the nested simulation personally, it still seems fake. She didn't really die, no matter how real it felt; they were in a simulation. Logically, she's well aware of how it works and the consequences, but it doesn't feel like it was more than a glorified fever dream on an emotional level. Both Gonta and Kokichi are more outwardly traumatized by her death than Miu as a byproduct of how she's processing it. She's not "better off" or "less impacted" so much as "disassociated from the whole thing and very much wanting to put it behind them before it catches up with her", thus burying herself in work and trying as hard as she can to bring back the one person she wants to comfort her.

Kiibo's absence is not great for her abandonment issues. It is hard to blame him when he never had a physical body to begin with, though. 

GONTA

Gonta is also with the RIBs, and reeling from it the most visibly of everyone on account of just how. Much, his death was. An allergic reaction blocking off the air, puncturing at least one lung for certain, and living long enough to feel the shrapnel of the laptop lodge into the wound alongside the scythe, the fire quickly eating away any oxygen, any hope of gasping another breath… yeah no he acts as much the gentleman as ever but he is not okay. As Resident Buff Nature Boy Gonta tanked it better than anyone else in the class could have, but the sheer excess of the thing gets to him. Fond memories of setting a campfire in the woods with his adoptive family are overwritten, vespidae in general… hitting differently. But Gonta is kind, to a fault. More resolute than ever to make himself into a kind of person not perceived as ‘too intimidating’ to be friends with, acknowledging the capacity he has for violence is difficult. Somewhere deep down he knows that everybody does, especially in their circumstances, but still acts as though his case is exceptionally bad (nobody else does. This does not deter him, becoming a little less gullible when its least helpful).

He is also not as disconcerted by the occasional spontaneous sensation that your insides are going to lose structural integrity, even with no stitches to pop, that with only the damaged wake and no piercing sharp pain to focus on and blame for the mess could potentially be perceived as a bizarre, abstracted kind of crawling feeling from the inside-out. Things in motion, displaced from where they are meant to be. He knows it isn’t bugs, isn’t glass and metal and plastic, that it isn’t anything but himself. A teeny-tiny part of him wishes it were. At least being shelter for a hive of some sort would be helpful. Aren’t gentlemen helpful, they improve life for people, make things better and how could anyone even look at you again knowing what you’re capable of, who in their right mind would talk to you, you’re going to end up alone again talking to stray cats in the alley since not even the wolves would stay—

Gonta also has extra therapy. He already had to work out self-worth issues, but the game pushed them to interfere too much in daily life not to actively work on.

KAITO

Kaito has made several background and supporting appearances without much central attention just yet. It's not that I don't like him or anything (I do!) but I guess because it seems like well-worn territory in V3 fic to me? Kaito is endlessly proud of Maki and Shuichi (Himiko too, less personally) for "winning" in the face of the killing game, and the training trio of them meet back up again regularly. Only.

It's different, now. 

He's no longer sick and dying, but his lungs 'top out' at a certain level of activity and refuse to take in more air, this burning sensation that leaves him only able to huff and wheeze and brings his training regiment to a dead stop. He treasures those last moments in his failed execution where he got to see the stars, because a lingering anxiety in the back of his mind won't let him forget that he never will again. Not the way he'd dreamed of, the way he'd planned to, the way he'd centered his identity around. There is no way, as things are, that he will pass all the physical exams to become a proper astronaut. 

The drawn-out deterioration of his health during the simulation chipped away at his physical lungs at a rate too gradual for the countermeasures the rescue team implemented; TAPP did more overt physical damage to Kaito than anyone else. It could certainly be worse and he is gradually improving, but some degree of it is permanent. It haunts him. He's trying not to think about it.

It does, though, drive a wedge between him and his sidekicks; the survivors are planning their futures, and Kaito is not too far from a slight tailspin without any idea what his might look like for the first time he can recall. Space has been the dream since he was a kid (as has getting there in this specific role) and it almost feels like a rejection. Like he got too cocky, and the cosmos decided it didn't want him. 

It starts to make a little more sense, then, that he starts willingly hanging out with Kokichi. They went through the hangar together, of course, but even besides the traumabond (and a need to, after he woke from his coma, make sure the little brat is still alive, damn it, you can't run away anymore it counts now) but. If anyone else gets having such drastically shifted circumstances that life as you'd imagined it no longer makes logistical sense, it's probably the leader without an organization. There's no need to explain the feelings of inadequacy, or the aimlessness, going through the motions of classes and formal education because what the hell else am I going to do, right now? It's familiar. 

Kokichi needs someone willing to chase him, no matter how circuitous the route becomes. Kaito needs someone willing to shake him by the shoulders and snap him out of his own head, so sure it's all-or-nothing and that if he can't be the Luminary as he'd dreamed of it whatever happens next is immaterial in comparison. Kaito needs to adapt and roll with the punches, Kokichi needs to double back from his logical leaps from point A to point Q and articulate his thoughts clearly to other people (at least some of the time.) The two of them concoct little daily and weekly rituals, like Kokichi stealing Kaito's notebook and drawing in it, just because the consistency of company reminds them both that they aren't the only one going through this. 

None of the other students quite get it, but have come to accept it.

KOKICHI

Then there’s Kokichi.

Ah, Kokichi, whose whole deal in this scenario inspired me to write about this AU at all (and who manages to weasel his way into every comic and a other entries in these notes) . I’m biased, I know, but there are also a few reasons he’s singled out in-universe as well:

A) So a hydraulic press does not slam down quickly. The pause-and-play of the video deliberately makes it look much faster than it was; watching enough of the hydraulic press channel makes it abundantly clear that it was not instant. Kokichi was impaled with two crossbow bolts (the one in the back being bad enough already), poisoned by those bolts, and then pressed. He had to have felt non-zero of the Pressing, which, considering it already had to be agony before bones started breaking… the rest of the class might not have been fond of him, sure, but he’s right there with Gonta on “sheer level of excess.” Not even Maki is at a point of wishing that on him. Not after finding out how drawn out and excruciating it was. Veering into headcanon, I’m going to add “sleep deprivation” on the pile as exacerbating the whole thing, given his conspiracy whiteboard and everything after the concussion, honestly.

Combined with the World’s Worst Placebo Effect, King Horse takes the crown for top “my entire body hurts most of the time” severity. It’s not a desirable one, but when your previous life is all but erased there is exactly one choice available between Big and Home. Let it be said Kokichi Ouma has never half-assed anything he’s set his mind to, ever.

B) Ouma is paranoid and distrusting, which adds the psychological angle of “you literally shot me in the back” to a poison-laced crossbow bolt in his mind. TAPP will very literally never let him forget the bolt burying itself in the muscle of his back, barely kept from severing his spinal cord; he won’t forget the shivering and shaking from the poison, or the bile rising in the back of his throat handing Kaito the antidote. (He still wanted to live. He forfeit the right, he thought, after getting Gonta and Miu killed, but he still wanted to. That was all the more reason to quadruple-down on the press idea and making their three deaths mean something, damn it. Three, because Kaito could live. If the killing game ends there is no execution. It’ll be over. Can’t take back the past, but at least one of the pair of you has to walk out of this forsaken place!)

(… Can you really believe that? Or is it just another lie.

A lie you want, with all the heart they’re so sure you do not have, to blithely believe. There has to be a cure for whatever the hell has gotten into Kaito once the game ends and they can look for it, it might even stop cold the moment the game ends. That dumbass space cadet can go back to his sidekicks and he better appreciate it, the comradery you’ll never have, because he is the designated Hero and Heroes get happy endings. You want-want-want-want to trust in that lie, to trust him with the collected thoughts and notes and pieces of you spilled across reams of paper that have been so pointlessly important for you to keep secret this whole time. For once in your life, you want to believe you will not be betrayed. You want to believe in the closest thing you have left to a friend.

It will, in fact, be the last thing you do.)

C) Ouma is paranoid and distrusting. Again. Only this flavor has more to do with his persistent denial anything is wrong, in turn making things a lot worse for himself. Mental trauma and impressions of physical sensations can have physical effects. Clinging to his persona and trying to keep bouncing around like nothing ever happened turned a very difficult but potentially manageable condition into small amounts of permanent nerve damage within the first day of waking up. It screws with his coordination; just what he needed at a school that prizes talent above all else, when he is a leader with no organization and proficiencies in sleight of hand, forgery, lockpicking, and generally evading anything that might threaten him because he can’t take very many hits.

Whoops.

D) Kokichi was last of the class to wake up from the simulation, even after the survivors. They thought he was actually dead for a bit. Just when they were thinking of  giving up on him Kokichi Ouma, SHSL Stubborn Son of a Bitch, refuses to stay down for the count.

HPA already knew Class 79 would need accommodations on account of their negligence, but it became much harder to sweep things under the rug when they thought they’d actually killed a student. Even worse, thirteen witnesses have been actively fraternizing and scaled the flashback-gaslighting required to cover it up to easily exceed what their current technology is capable of.

Half the class was positive Ouma was playing dead specifically to fuck with them and light the fire under them to act. He and Kaito are the only ones to know without a shred of doubt that he was not. He still gladly takes the credit, though.

E) Class 79 as a whole already adapted to Ouma Being Ouma, so when the definition of ‘Being Ouma’ expanded he’s still pretty distinct. He hangs out around the people closest to him often, particularly Miu, Kaito, and Rantaro, but the entire class knows now that he’s pretty much beyond the point of perfidy. Even if he were to lie about being in more pain than he is at a given moment, there’s constantly enough underlying truth in how vulnerable he is that it’s not strategically worth trying to use as a manipulative tactic. It’s too real. Plus, he knows better than to boy-that-cried-wolf his way out of help from his classmates after getting lost on campus once and fainting before he found his way back.

K1-B0

K1-B0, as far as has been established, is being re/built. Miu is spearheading the project. Presumably, he is currently hanging out on at least one computer in the school, somewhere. Per the AU, though, Chapter 6 did go a bit differently than canon, so we’ll catch up with him soon.

TSUMUGI

Nobody is exactly certain what happened to Shirogane. Or, at the very least, nobody in the class knows. Admin is certainly not about to tell them. Wouldn’t it be just like the Ultimate Cosplayer to Theseus her way back into their lives following a single loose thread…

THE SURVIVORS

Shuichi, Maki, and Himiko each emerged from the simulation minimally physically harmed in a lasting sense beyond initial fatigue from being hooked up for so long. Each is still moving forward on their established character arc: Himiko is finding her motivation, Maki is learning to open up, and Shuichi is becoming more sure of himself and his detective abilities.

I think Himiko begins embracing the 'stage' side of her magic, considering that TAPP was blocking my mana, and you know what? I survived a killing game, and I didn't even need it. What else can I do without my mana? As time goes on, she'll likely value her own practical skills more rather than relying on her want of more fantastical powers. Not to say she'd disown them, but more that she could admit to herself it's more for fun than a need to affix something exceptional to her identity. She is enough as she is.

Maki enters HPA and immediately requests transfer out of 'Ultimate Assassin' classes. She hates fighting, per canon, and after going through the simulation she is no longer afraid of any authority figure that may deny her because she has certifiably seen worse. She initially tries to pivot and become the Ultimate Child Caregiver, for Real This Time; she is genuinely pretty good with kids. After a little incident nearly choking Kokichi, though? It confirms what she'd been afraid of all along: her patience is too thin, her instinct to defend too heavy on the trigger. She talks to Peko about it, among other people, Mukuro and Sakura chief among the other classes. She'd made their acquaintances during combat training in the first few days at HPA. She especially confides in Kaede, who carries a more-domestic-less-battlescorn perspective on it she can't help but appreciate. Kaede takes her to not-Claire's, playing with accessories and make-up and generally reclaiming some of the girlhood Maki has effectively never been allowed to have. In the whole process, Maki realizes she wants more than anything to protect the ability to have that kind of frivolity, that freedom: she changes tracks again, to become a SHSL Bodyguard.

Shuichi is a difficult one to place for me, exactly. He's in a state of becoming significantly more confident in the wake of the simulation, but the deviation from canon has turned the main conflict away from ending a destructive cycle and towards fighting the idea of predetermination by an external force. Shirogane was predetermined to stay in the Reserve Course despite her skills and aspirations, and railed against it; Kiibo was predetermined to be an AI helper and not a person, but embraced the role so hard he developed a soul of his own; Maki denies her talent and changes her destiny, Himiko embraces hers.

I suppose Saihara must fall somewhere in the middle, then. An observer steadfastly declaring that yes, there were aspects of life shaped for them beyond their control (entry into the simulation if they wanted a taste of success, the killing game, the "character rewrites" overriding the people they were before...) and yes they cannot control everything. What happened has happened. There are always going to be things you can't control (like how severely you burn in the sun, or whether you get headaches with the lights up too high, or even if your dream life rockets away too fast for you to catch unless you want to lose what you still have) but you can adapt to it. It's tempting to give in, to consider it all a lost cause, to submit to the forces you feel are puppeting you, but see. You keep living anyway, because you have to. The only way forward is through. Even if you were a puppet, you're still an independent you, and that means something. Maybe you can't snap your strings, but you can sure as hell stretch them out and bend them in a way you like better than this one.

Not having total control doesn't mean the control you do have doesn't matter.

So Shuichi is taking up cases as a detective, now. Seeing how he likes it. If not? Well. Skills are transferable. 

He'll be okay.

They all will.

----

(The first screenshot I took of this ask to begin drafting vs. the last one:

I'm sorry I am bad at timely responses but I hope they are Good.)

[quietwingsinthesky]

Oooh religion! I think for a Buddhist companion, the idea that time lords can regenerate pretty much regardless of what they did while they were alive would be difficult for them to really understand.

Like the Master committing war crime after war crime and still coming back?? Or even the Doctor in certain instances

Would the Doctor understand and respect their religion and the significance it has to the companion?

exactly exactly! it would be fascinating for doctor/companion conversations. new perspective on regeneration!

i think the ideal scenario for the doctor having a religious companion would be like. we’re past the point, i think, of the doctor as a character being judgmental about beliefs that don’t cause people harm, you know? they regularly reference meeting historical religious figures, they know a baseline in human religions, so i think the vibes would really be “curious, if occasionally clumsy.” which would also be good as a storytelling tool as an invitation for the audience to learn about the companion’s religion as well.

i think it would be unfortunately extremely easy for the doctor to be written as like. An Atheist Asshole, even if that was well-intentioned to carry a message of them learning respect or something. It’d be a lot better and more meaningful to give them the same energy that they had in Demons of the Punjab. she wanted to participate, and there's even the fun detail that, while the Doctor herself didn't really get why her current presentation precluded her to being a part of one ritual instead of another, she rolled with it, she was delighted to get to take part in something in a new way. that's how i think the doctor is best written in relation to religion: clearly apart from it, as they are with everything else, genuinely interested, liable to say something they shouldn't because they're overeager and misreading the situation, but respectful.

(there's actually another moment too in that episode i'd call attention to in order to illustrate the doctor's relationship to spiritual beliefs. this time, with something alien, when she confronts the Thijarians, she goes in guns blazing and accusatory, and then. god it's such a good scene, it really is. the minute they are allowed to explain their actions, to explain their loss, she's immediately able to relate to it and adopts the same hand gesture they're making to honor their planet. and like, it's such a small detail, they could have easily just written her relaxing, but she specifically mirrors what they're doing back to them. and she does it so fast. it's the little moment of apology and also understanding.

sorry i'm getting off topic, but i also think this was very clever just in general. the doctor is in the middle of a historical tragedy, and it would have been easy to have her directly draw a comparison between that tragedy and her own losses. it also would have been a mistake, would have done a disservice to real history. it was much better to give the doctor the Thijarians as a fictional mirror to remind the audience that she has personal experience with losing her home, her everything, and that her perspective is affected by that without directly comparing it to real world tragedy. i feel like that was a very good episode actually for a lot of reasons akdsjaldjs)

but yeah, that's my thoughts on the doctor interacting with a religious companion. someone a hell of a lot smarter than me would have to write deeper about it for specific religions. but i would love to see it just being like. a factor that the doctor and their companion have to take into account while traveling together. both the philosophical, something to incorporate into the larger sci-fi morality tales of the show, but also the practical. it'd be neat!!!

[bilbobagginsomebabez]

@paindragon re: free speech & these tags on this post because god do I know how to talk--

I'm going to use Naziism as an evocative example of obvious hate speech throughout and because the ACLU's dedicated attention towards protecting nazis has built a significant portion of american case law surrounding free speech as a whole. the nazis also built their eugenics laws based on US eugenics laws and movements and while Germany literally outlawed it, the united states had to develop critical race theory to suggest that we start removing the eugenics shit from our social and legal systems and fox news told americans that it existed to teach their children to "hate america," which they did absolutely believe and agree with which launched the current book banning spree. (weird how free speech laws aren't protecting any of those books, huh. what are they for again?)

it's possible for a government to neither outlaw nor protect something. it can be left to informal or nonlegal systems. you do not actually have to give nazis or the cultural fascist equivalent legal protections for societies to work. societies do not need to go out of their way to keep fascists legally safe from social or financial retaliation to keep functioning or to be healthy. this is just one obvious option between protecting nazis and making any speech actively illegal. there's a whole world of options between those two points.

part of the reason we TELL OURSELVES we do is because our society is extremely fascist and we don't want to address it. or have never been not-fascist-enough to address it. american and american-centric political scientists struggle to define fascism as a political phenomenon and practice not because it's that confusing but because any clear definition obviously indicts settler-colonialism, slavery, and segregation. which have to be different in some way because the US is incredibly powerful and has some of the most brutally violent history in the world with all three that it has never remotely addressed and does not want to.

the idea that by legally protecting nazis because they're the most bad, everyone else is automatically included and protected under that umbrella is just. not real. it's not real in practice--see jewish people arrested for 'antisemitism' while participating in unfree-speech protests against US support of the palestinian genocide & aforementioned cop city RICO charges, which use unfree-speech of the term mutualism to indict participants of unfree-speech protests against our government. protecting actual literal anti-semites did not protect use of "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free". and it's not real in theory for the same reason that tolerance is not a paradox but a peace treaty. "I won't punch you if you don't punch me." =/= "everybody does whatever they want and we just kind of have to accept it, punches included."

tolerance feels like a paradox to a fascist in a fascist society, for whom it is real that equal rights are a threat to 'their way of life'. allowing advocacy against racism in a racist society feels like a threat to them personally because their way of life is racist and challenging racism does actually threaten it. a slave-owner actually for real believes their rights are being taken when the enslaved are freed. segregation was fundamentally fascist, and despite that obvious and clear evaluation, I doubt Joe Biden or most other americans consider him/self in any way fascist despite strongly advocating for segregation for like the first 10 years of his career. christians (everyone from the Mormons to the Catholics) consider it an insult against their entire religion and a violation of their religious rights to demand that they cease exploitative conversion practices internationally and evaluate the ethics of "missions" which offer aid to the vulnerable and displaced in exchange for attending religious services.

when bigotry and white supremacy are the widespread norm, it feels like protecting bigots the same as radicals is creating equal protections for "violent" words. but is it? it should not be surprising to anyone when i say white supremacist christofascism is alive and well in the United States and remains its dominant political ideology. is protecting nazi-ism, homophobia, xenohobia, bigotry actually creating equal protections for the residents of a country or is it emboldening and protecting the most violent members of its most powerful class?

the idea that actively creating legal protections for bigotry somehow protects the marginalized from civil infringement because both things use similar verbiage sometimes is a weird fairytale/bedtime story that americans tell themselves in order to cater to their worst instincts and avoid addressing a deep and disgusting reality about our supposedly freedom and equality loving culture. it lets white americans rest easy by saying the most violent white supremacists aren't something to be fought anymore, they're actually legally necessary to protect the marginalized from... white supremacy.

does that actually make any sense? or maybe is this all some bullshit mental gymnastics to avoid admitting that identifying and counteracting social violence of this nature would indict most powerful people as well as most systems of power in this country. acknowledging the reality of fascism would immediately require acknowledging how pervasive it is in our society and how deeply it's sunk into the walls. so instead we protect its worst excesses and pretend that somehow does anything other than perpetuate it

the idea that protecting the violent speech of the nazis protects the marginalized or government critics or political radicals or leftism is also more about settler colonialist self-projection than any real or common similarities. the idea that landback means indigenous americans will kick everyone out or that Black people will massacre white people during the "great replacement" is projection because WE DID THAT. we literally got here and just started killing everyone and taking their shit. so we iMAGINE that eventually they're gonna want to 'get even' and it will look something like our worst violences (nazi-ism). but it doesn't, does it? it turns out the leftists who are challenging systems of white supremacy don't sound like white supremacists and aren't protected by case law built around protecting white supremacists. "mutualism" isn't protected free speech, but "kill all jews" is. "social solidarity" isn't protected free speech, but (real trump quote) "No, they're not humans, they're not humans, they're animals" is."

it also propagates the myth that all violence is the same because america has solved for equality and the impartial government just needs to mediate. there's no difference between nazis and militant civil rights leaders because we got rid of all of ours and cleaned it up, so they're baaasically as marginalized 'as an ideology' as Black, Indigenous, queer people with radically leftist politics fighting for equality. like i think people forget that most americans literally believe racism was solved during the civil rights movement, a confidence which was temporarily shaken during BLM and the George Floyd protests but has settled back in nicely after biden promised more money to cops but only for increased diversity trainings (and also because everybody started shoplifting for no reason?!?!? so we really need them to reinforce Law and Order right).

[mswhich]

20 questions for fic writers

Tagged by the marvelous, magical @elder-flower! Exactly the thing I needed to keep procrastinating on my WIP! edited to add I just noticed that Tumblr turned all of the numbers into the number 1. IDK, I'm not gonna fix it, just roll with it.

How many works do you have on AO3?

56.

What's your total AO3 word count?

675,992

What fandoms do you write for?

Lots and lots. Lately, 2001: a Space Odyssey. But also a lot of original works, plus Formula 1 RPF, Harry Potter, Teen Wolf, occasionally some Taskmaster RPF.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Unforced Error (Harry Potter), 3798 Forged in Flames (Harry Potter), 3722 (my first fanfic!) No Secrets (Teen Wolf), 2738 Bondmate (Original Work), 1326 The Frontier Spirit (Original Work), 1280

Do you respond to comments?

God, I try, but I'm so bad at it. I always feel so awkward about comment replies. I wish I could just click like on them and leave an emoji or something. I do try to get to as many as I can, though.

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I dunno if you'd call it angst exactly, but I've written a fair amount of noncon where the "bad guys" win. Probably Experiment XB-20, which ends with someone finding out they've been getting repeatedly memory wiped and then nonconned, shortly before getting memory wiped again.

What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I write a lot of happy endings, tbh. Let's just say that the large majority of my fics end reasonably happily for most participants involved. (With a few notable exceptions.)

Do you get hate on fics?

You would think I would. I write a lot of unrepentant noncon, often with underage characters. I write RPF. I write incest. But apart from the occasional "wtf" comment, I've so far managed to avoid attracting significant hate. If I did get a hate comment, I would just delete it. I am too old for drama.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Fuck yes. All kinds! I have been writing smut since I first started writing fiction. Stephen King once said, in response to a question about why he wrote horror fiction, that if he and Louis L'Amour both visited a lake, Louis would write about cowboys herding cattle near the lake, whereas King would write about a creepy lake monster; that's just how their brains work. Well, I would write about people having weird, power dynamic-y, kinky sex near the lake. That's how MY brain works.

Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Not really, but wouldn't rule it out.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I have occasionally had people report to me that my fics were stolen and nameswapped. AO3 has been pretty good about taking them down quickly though.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Many times, yes. I hope the translations are good! I have no real way of knowing.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I have not, and have no real plans to do so.

What’s your all time favourite ship?

Ugh, I ship so much. SO MUCH. Honestly, probably Peter Hale/Stiles Stilinski. It just works for me. Age gap, characters who are smart as fuck and morally gray, power dynamics, and werewolf powers. It has everything.

What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have most of a novel-length fic written in the Harry Potter fandom. It's post-War and Snape comes to stay at Grimmauld Place while they're rebuilding Hogwarts. Ginny Weasley is the only person there at first, and they kind of circle each other warily at first and then come to a cautious detente, which turns into a bit of a friendship. There's something weird going on with the portraits in the house, though, and when Snape notices it, there's an action sequence that ends with him getting them the fuck out of Dodge and going on the run. I actually love this story, it's entirely drafted and 80% written, and I just had to work out a couple plot issues at the end. And then the HP fandom kind of blew up and the creator turned out to be one of the literal worst people in the world, and I just don't know if I can ever bring myself to finish it. We'll see.

What are your writing strengths?

Uh. I....don't know? People seem to like my fics for the most part, but I'm not sure I could nail down exactly why.

What are your writing weaknesses?

I repeat myself too much. I say the same things repeatedly, over and over again, reiterating on a theme. But joking aside, I swear I spend half of my time in editing removing stuff like this.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I'm fine with it, if it fits the characters and it works. I prefer it if there are either a lot of English cognates so you can kind of work out what they're saying, or if the author translates it in the author's note.

First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter. I found a shitload of Hermione/Snape fic, read as much of it as I could find, and then thought, you know, I think I could do at least as well as some of these? So I tried my hand at it and have never really quit writing fic since.

Favourite fic you’ve written?

I'm saying two. One is Crown of Neon Lights, because I love the characters and story so much. And the other is Bondmate, same reason. But really I love most of my fics. They are like my precious babies and I adore them all. tagging (pls feel free to ignore) @whimsicalmeerkat @jammerific

[tytypos]

Improving Splatoon 3 Big Run

The first Big Run has come and gone in Splatoon 3.

It …sure happened!

As someone who already enjoys the mode (despite its need for better balancing), I played Big Run a good bit and mostly had a blast. And I got the impression that people who hadn't played much Salmon Run gave this a try and had fun, too. But by the event's end it was clear to me that Big Run in its current form comes off as a bare-bones affair – mostly a special invitation to try Salmon Run – and nothing more. And it could be so much more – especially given that it appears to be replacing half of Splatoon 3′s Splatfests.

I couldn't help but try to articulate for myself why Big Run fell flat and how the Splatoon dev team could improve it for the future.

No Stakes: It doesn't matter if you participate or not

In Splatfest, your participation directly benefits your chosen team, both in how much and how well you play. If you're at all invested in having your team win (and if you’re playing Splatoon, you likely are), there's plenty of incentive to continue showing up at the event and giving it your best.

In Big Run, everyone is on the same team, which in itself doesn't seem to be a problem. What does seem problematic is that technically none of us need to participate in order to influence the event's outcome. No matter what, at the end of Big Run the salmonids go home. As it stands, the event carries no real weight for the world of Splatoon or its players.

I don't know much about Splatoon lore, but I get the impression that Big Run is supposed to be a big deal from a world-building perspective. It has a direct connection to this bit of Splatoon 2 sunken scroll lore, which basically equates salmonids creeping onto land as a sign of the apocalypse (if not the apocalypse). So then, why doesn't it matter if we participate or play well in Big Run? From a lore perspective, Big Run is a much bigger deal than Splatfest, and yet in practice it's the total opposite.

Even if the devs wanted to keep Splatfest as the most important recurring event in Splatoon 3, Big Run could stand to see some changes to make it feel more impactful to players. Some ideas:

At the start of each Big Run event, all players get an announcement from either Grizzco or a local Coast Guard stand-in: We're in a state of emergency and need a certain significant number of power eggs to ward off the salmonids by the end of Big Run. (The power eggs …power some sort of funky device that reverses the salmonid water flow or something and sends them back to sea.) The total number of eggs needed could be millions, hundreds of millions, or even billions, and it's up to all players globally (or regionally) to collect the total number by the deadline. Grizzco can still collect golden eggs as usual, but the Coast Guard takes the power eggs, which Mr. Grizz would of course treat like some major altruistic act on his part.

Similar to Splatfest, halfway through the weekend players get an update from Deep Cut and the Coast Guard on how things are going. Shortly after the event ends, there's another update with a final tabulation. If players collected enough power eggs, the salmonids are sent away and everything returns to normal. (And next Big Run, the required power egg total increases.)

But if they didn't hit the goal, there are actual (though purely aesthetic) changes to the world that players are stuck with until the next Big Run, changes that reflect how the salmonids are still on land. Maybe there are streams of green salmonid ink flowing through the streets and (non-harmful) salmonids and boss salmonids roaming about. They could be hanging around in the backgrounds of regular battle stages making a mess.

Ultimately the impact of a failed Big Run would be just for show, which when you think about it isn’t really so different from Splatfest. But at least this way, the framing of Big Run would better reflect whatever lore the devs are trying to build and hopefully create a stronger sense of shared investment and camaraderie among all players against the salmonids.

Few Rewards: There's little to show for your participation

On top of it not making a difference whether you participate in Big Run, just showing up for the event nets at all you half of all available spoils: a trophy for your locker. Performing in the top 50% or above of all players also gets you a badge. The color of these items changes based on your top score compared to all other players. Oh, and doing runs during the event also nets 1.2x catalog experience. It's not nothing, but it's not very much either.

Compared to Splatfest, which offers 1.2x experience, regular shells for the gacha machine, special shells for tweaking gear, and potentially multiple badges (and maybe other things I'm forgetting?), Big Run rewards don’t come close to equal standing.

Surely there could be other event-specific rewards, maybe based on the total number of power eggs you earn over the weekend. A few ideas:

A Salmon Run 3-piece slopsuit for use in modes outside of Salmon Run, with each Big Run offering a different color

Special color variations of the gear you can earn through regular Salmon Run

Variant lifesavers to equip during Big and normal Runs

A unique banner for each Big Run

For those who are struggling to succeed in Big Run or don't care about the lore, extra rewards like these could create more compelling reasons to stick with the event longer. Splatfest already does this well, so why not use a similar model for Big Run?

More of the Same: It's… basically just Salmon Run

While your participation in Big Run doesn't matter and the rewards are skimpy, the event does mix up the standard Salmon Run formula a little – but only a little. Big Run takes place on a map that's normally only available for non-Salmon Run play. This definitely adds novelty, as any new map would. Additionally, available weapons are randomized, but this already happens once or twice a month in regular Salmon Run. That's… about it.

Again, compare this to Splatfest, where there's special ink colors, 10x, 100x, and 333x battles, and of course tricolor turf wars. Ultimately, once the dust settles on the novelty of the new Big Run map, there's not much to differentiate the event from regular Salmon Run. It seems like another wasted opportunity.

I'm not sure how many gameplay changes the mode could accommodate before losing what makes it Salmon Run. That said, here are some ideas:

Updates to the Square: emergency vehicles and officials in slop / hazmat suits roam the Square in a panic.

Cinematic flair: a few key cutscenes throughout the event that featured Cohozuna and boss salmonids terrorizing the Splatlands would add to the sense of drama and in-world stakes. The kaiju reference is right there just begging to be tapped.

Lots more Cohozuna: speaking of king salmonid, have the Cohozuna gauge fill up much faster than normal, to help highlight the other big addition to Splatoon 3's Salmon Run. This would give another incentive for scale-hunting Salmon Run players to play as much Big Run as possible.

Variant boss salmonids: devs could get creative (and devious) here, devising unique takes on the existing bosses with different colors and a new spin on how they operate or are defeated. Either swap the variants in 100% for their normal counterparts, mix them in here and there, or make their appearance a special wave like mudmouths or mothership.

Players bring their own weapons: Big Run is cast as a desperate all-hands-on-deck affair where you don't have to be at level 4+ to participate like in regular Salmon Run. It would make sense, then, if players were allowed to bring weapons from their existing inventory. If devs wanted to limit this, players could be restricted to one chosen weapon per day or one set of four that would be randomly shuffled for the player each run.

Players bring their own gear: similar rationale as above, though I'd be more inclined to see this brought over to regular Salmon Run as a weekly / monthly "casual Friday" thing.

That's a wrap!

Even just seeing a subset of these changes added to future Big Runs would make me (and I suspect plenty of other Splatoon 3 and Salmon Run fans) much more excited to return to the event. As it is I'm feeling decidedly meh about the next one.

My pessimistic theory / concern is that the dev team doesn't actually want to divert players from turf wars / anarchy / X battles and so has intentionally put minimal focus and effort behind Salmon Run, beyond getting it up and running in the first place and addressing only the most essential kinds of upkeep.

Then again, Big Run does exist as a recurring event, a new stage and weapons have already shown up in regular Salmon Run, and there has been at least some balancing. So maybe it's not totally hopeless. We'll have to wait and see!

[starseedfxofficial]

Mastering Volume Profile for EUR/AUD: Insider Trading Tactics Unlocking the Secrets of Volume Profile in the Euro Australian Dollar Market Imagine this: trading without understanding the true volume behind the moves is like trying to figure out a magic trick while blindfolded. You see something happening, but you have no idea why. Welcome to the world of the Volume Profile and its application to the Euro Australian Dollar (EUR/AUD). Today, I’m going to pull the curtain back and give you some insider knowledge that’s rarely shared. This isn’t about just looking at pretty charts—this is about understanding what those candles are hiding, and why the volume behind them is key to unlocking the market’s secrets. Volume Profile: Not Just Another Tool on the Shelf Let's get this straight: the Volume Profile is one of the most underrated tools in Forex trading. Sure, there are a lot of people who’ll throw around fancy terms like Bollinger Bands or Ichimoku Clouds—but volume is where the real action is happening. Think of the market like a bustling auction house—it’s not just what’s on sale that matters, it’s also how many people are yelling out bids, and how aggressive they are. The Volume Profile gives you a visual representation of trading activity over a particular time at specified price levels. It lets you see where the market participants are placing the most interest, and that, my friends, is where momentum is born. When analyzing the EUR/AUD, you can use volume to detect key levels where price action is likely to pause, reverse, or explode with energy—and isn’t that what every trader is secretly hoping for? Why Most Traders Get EUR/AUD Wrong (And How You Can Avoid It) The Euro Australian Dollar is a quirky pair. It doesn't move like the major players, and its fluctuations can sometimes feel like a bad sitcom where nothing makes sense. Many traders get caught out because they don’t understand the volume dynamics behind EUR/AUD. They’ll see a breakout and think it’s time to load up only to watch their trade head south, leaving them scratching their heads like, "Did I just buy shoes I’ll never wear again?" But here's the catch—the Volume Profile can tell you where the big money is sitting, and knowing that can make all the difference. By tracking the high volume nodes (HVNs), you can spot areas where price is likely to consolidate, and where false breakouts are most likely to occur. Spoiler alert: high volume often means price will stick around like that friend who always stays too late after the party. The Hidden Patterns That Drive EUR/AUD When applying the Volume Profile to the EUR/AUD, you start to notice patterns that other traders simply miss. For instance, this pair tends to form "volume shelves" at major price levels, which act as resistance or support. If you can spot these shelves, you’re able to predict whether price is likely to bounce or break through—giving you a serious edge. Take a look at any recent EUR/AUD chart, and you’ll notice something interesting: areas of high volume are often followed by strong directional moves. This happens because once price manages to leave a high volume zone, it typically does so with significant momentum. It’s like the market is finally bored of that price and decides to hit the road, and you want to be in the car with it when it does. Real Example: EUR/AUD Breakout Using Volume Profile Back in March 2023, EUR/AUD saw a significant breakout after a period of tight consolidation. Many traders saw the consolidation as a range trade—but those using Volume Profile saw that the high volume node had shifted upwards, suggesting accumulating buying pressure. When price finally broke above the resistance level, it wasn’t just a weak breakout; it exploded. Traders who were ready with their volume analysis got in at the right time, while others were left wondering what they’d missed. Using Volume Profile to Predict Key Levels So, how do you actually use Volume Profile to get the edge? Here are the steps to apply this ninja-level tactic to your EUR/AUD trades: - Identify High Volume Nodes (HVNs): HVNs show you where the market has decided to hang out. These are areas of comfort for price. Typically, if the price is approaching an HVN, expect a stall or even a reversal. - Spot Low Volume Nodes (LVNs): Low Volume Nodes are like barren landscapes—price doesn’t like to stick around here for long. If price reaches an LVN, it’s likely to keep moving through that area quickly, giving you the opportunity for a momentum trade. - Confirm with Price Action: Volume Profile is most effective when combined with price action techniques. Look for rejections, pin bars, or engulfing patterns at key volume levels to confirm your entry. - Watch for Breakouts from High Volume Zones: When price leaves an area of high volume, it tends to do so with conviction. This is where you find some of the best breakout opportunities. Expert Opinions: Why Volume Matters According to trading legend Linda Raschke, “Markets move due to orders, not just because of ideas.�� And that’s where Volume Profile really shines. Understanding where the big players are placing their bets can guide your decisions on whether to stay in, get out, or double down. Peter Brandt, another trading legend, often mentions that the “volume behind the move” is key to understanding the sustainability of trends. By watching volume spikes at critical price levels, traders can better judge if a breakout will stick or flop like a poorly cooked pancake. Avoiding Common Pitfalls with Volume Profile in EUR/AUD A common mistake traders make is assuming that all volume is created equal. EUR/AUD has its own rhythm, driven by two very different economies. High volume doesn’t always mean the price will explode immediately. Often, it’s a buildup—like water behind a dam—until the market is ready to burst. Be patient. If you jump in just because you see a volume spike, you might find yourself holding the bag as the market takes its sweet time to move. Another pitfall? Ignoring the context. Volume needs to be read in combination with support and resistance levels. High volume at a support level might mean the buyers are stepping in to hold the line, while high volume at a resistance might indicate an incoming breakout. Ninja Tactics for Volume Profile in EUR/AUD - Use Volume Profile with Fibonacci Retracements: Combining Fibonacci retracement levels with Volume Profile can help pinpoint confluence areas where price is more likely to react. If a high volume node aligns with a 61.8% retracement, you have a high-probability setup. - Set Alerts for High Volume Breakouts: Use alerts to notify you when price reaches a high volume area and begins to move away with momentum. This way, you’re always ready to jump into action without staring at the screen all day. - Observe the Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP): The VWAP is another volume tool that can complement Volume Profile. VWAP acts as a benchmark for institutions, and if price moves significantly away from the VWAP while staying near a high volume node, you might see a reversion trade. Take Your Volume Profile Skills to the Next Level Want to really master using Volume Profile in trading? Check out our advanced courses at StarseedFX Forex Courses where we dive deeper into how to apply these principles across multiple pairs and timeframes. And if you’re serious about stepping up your game, join our community at StarseedFX Community for exclusive live sessions and insider tips. Understanding the Volume Profile isn’t just about getting another tool in your trading toolkit—it’s about gaining an edge that most traders overlook. By applying volume analysis to the Euro Australian Dollar, you’re able to see beyond the price action and understand where the big players are making their moves. Remember, it’s not about just knowing where the price has been—it’s about knowing where it wants to go and being ready to follow it there. If you found these insights useful or have your own tricks for using Volume Profile, drop a comment below or join our community to keep the conversation going. Let’s keep mastering the Forex market together! —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

[anjakecman]

˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖BaLMUN school club ˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖

🌐Activity title: BaLMUN- school Model United Nations club

🌐Duration and date: long term activity; 1-2 hours a week

🌐Activity type: creativity

Activity description

BaLMUN stands for Banja Luka Model United Nations, which is our school's model United nations club. This club simulates UN conferences and students have the chance to be either a delegate of a certain country or chair (lead) the conference. Just like in the real UN, there are multiple committees and the topic is always an actual current world problem.

We meet on Saturdays, and the big BaLMUN conference will be held in April, with students from the whole region coming to participate.

Reflection

I first heard about this school club last year, when my friend asked me to keep her company since she did not want to attend it by herself. I had no expectations, and no idea that I would fall in love with it.

As someone who is really interested in politics, likes to keep up with ongoing world events and issues, and loves debate, I couldn't have found a better club. An amazing thing about Model United Nations is the fact that I get to work on my English language, and debate skills. Especially since I do not always get assigned a country whose stance I agree with, but I still have to defend its interests. Also, it is because of BaLMUN that I met some great people, and the big BaLMUN conference is something that I truly look forward to every year!

Learning outcomes

🌐Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth.

🌐Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.

🌐Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.

🌐Show commitment to, and perseverance in, CAS experiences.

🌐Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.

🌐Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.

🌐Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions

[aaaltea]

I Have What It Takes

Student entrepreneur? As for now, I don't anticipate becoming one anytime soon. If the proprietor of my business lacks financial restraint, I'm afraid it will fail. Anyway, there are a ton of young entrepreneurs today. It's nothing new. I'm tempted to join this elite group of people. I am not a risk-taker, though, and an entrepreneur needs someone like that.

Students who study entrepreneurship get a variety of skills and abilities that are useful in both their personal and professional lives. It teaches them how to recognize and solve problems, think critically and creatively, and take prudent risks. In this subject, it aids in shaping my thinking to be more business-oriented. I suppose I want to understand how business people think. A mindset that is entrepreneurial enables you to recognize possibilities where others perceive challenges. It is a method of thinking that emphasizes opportunity and possibility rather than constraints and barriers. A person with an entrepreneurial mindset always seeks out opportunities to add value.

We've been doing a lot of socially interactive exercises that force me to rise to the situation. In the early days of rejection therapy, people would actively seek out social rejection in an effort to become more accustomed to the pressures of rejection. The essential rule is that you must experience rejection from someone else at least once per day.

So does rejection therapy work? I believe that self-led rejection therapy can be beneficial for individuals who are just trying to step outside of their comfort zones a little more, even though rejection therapy may do more harm than good for those who require additional support and resources from mental health specialists.

Who, of course, would forget this? The Marshmallow Challenge. A straightforward design exercise and team-building activity is the marshmallow challenge. To create the highest free-standing building using spaghetti, tape, and string with a whole marshmallow on top, the participants are divided into smaller competing groups.

We undoubtedly constructed the tiniest tower among the other groups. Although the task appeared to be simple, it was actually tough! But it was fun. It really calls for excellent teamwork and brainstorming. The process also demonstrates how success frequently depends on close cooperation while encouraging group creativity and innovation.

Moreover, I named this activity 'Do You See What I See?'. It was the most chaotic activity our class had ever engaged in. Do you think you can draw something without seeing it first? Can you work in a team or pair, where one draws a picture without the other one seeing? Will their pictures look the same?

Hence, I never thought entrepreneurial study could be fun. When you have an effective instructor, everything will be easier. The activities have opened my eyes to the fact that even someone who takes risks might benefit from perseverance. Additionally, asking for advice from others is essential.

Furthermore, our final product will be the safety pin device. The findings from conducting interviews with various persons of various demographic backgrounds show that most of them think the device can benefit a range of people, particularly students. Undoubtedly, there were concerns and doubts about our invention, but this inspired us to study and find solutions so that we could develop and provide people a gadget that can save lives with a single click.

Therefore, entrepreneurial courses help students develop real-world skills and prepare for their careers. I can remark that although students taking entrepreneurship courses may face significant challenges, their determination to push through them might help them develop character and stamina. What's the best part, you ask? If you think you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, you can learn how to do it too!

[mostly-delusional]

like rhaenyra has become such a passive character. she's done nothing so far in the show except going on that stupid trip to king's landing (another decision that makes absolutely no sense from a writing point of view and the way it was executed is so ridiculous. she had no security, nothing and she was able to smuggle herself into the sept without any problem. and alicent let her go? just like that? why? because they were best friends? what about the animosity that has been building between the two characters for years upon years? what about alicent's resentment towards rhaenyra that was being built up during the first season? you're telling me she goes from believing rhaenyra will be the death of her children and wanting to usurp her to suddenly all of it just being some silly misunderstanding? the way the writers have been going back and forth with these two characters' relationship is so infuriating. completely erasing their dynamic from the book to promote some childhood bond between the two when that was never true. they could've added rhaenyra's relationship with leana. you know, something that was actually canon? but they shoved in this hypothetical relationship between them to further push the idea that they're just a pair of peaceful women who want nothing more than to reconcile with each other and end the war because love 🥺🫶🏼). they've reduced rhaenyra's motivations for taking back her throne from it being her birthright to it being because of a prophecy that's nothing but a joke at this point. because god forbid women be ambitious and selfish and want something for themselves. the whole thing with mysaria last episode (before you come after me with your pitchforks and call me homophobic and all sorts of stuff, i don't care what someone's sexual preferences are, be they real or fictional. you do what suits you. it has nothing to do with me so it doesn't bother me. what i care about is the story we're being told. the story that has already been written by an author who has put years worth of hardwork into it. the least you could do to respect that author, his world and his characters, is stay true to the source material. the fans who have spent years loving his books have the right to see those books come to life instead of being given something that barely resembles what they love. and they have the right to be mad when the showrunners fuck up). if the writers were so considerate of representation why not give us the actual canonically queer characters? why was leanor's character treated the way he was? why is he not mentioned again? why do we not know what the hell he's been doing? is he alive? is he dead? no, the viewers have to fill all those holes themselves.

mysaria is turned from a devious, self-serving wench into a rhaenyra sympathizer because god forbid evil women exist.

nettles, a very significant character in the story, is completely erased. she was a nobody who came from nothing and claimed a goddamn dragon. the impact her character has on the story cannot be replicated with someone else. but they're still choosing to give that storyline to rhaena, who herself plays an important role in claiming morning which in itself represents something significant in the story.

rhaena and baela are just props at this point. where are their personalities from the books? what do we know about who these two characters are except their names?

rhaenys was barely a husk of who she was in the books. the same goes for corlys.

they've completely made a joke out of alicent. her character is so lost at this point, we have no idea what she wants. she went from actually taking a semblance of control over her extremely caged life by wanting to put her son on the throne and actively participating in the war to being the complete opposite. the way the writers did a 180 with her character is so ridiculous it almost makes me laugh (I've got so much to say about her character, I'll have to make a separate post).

what the hell has daemon been doing? it's been 6 episodes. what has he done? except being stuck in harrenhal in a yet another stupid storyline the writers pulled out of their asses.

the show spends more time on unnecessary sex scenes. what was the point of the 3 alicent x cole sex scenes? why was watching aegon jerking off on a window important? the daemon and alyssa hallucination? (I'm fucking pissed at that because the DISRESPECT. we know incest is bad and that daemon is bad, you don't have to take it a step further by showing us...that. it felt awful watching that scene. and i loathe the writers for including it. i don't care what mental gymnastics you go through to justify the necessity of it, you are wrong.) why not add scenes where you build other significant parts of the story and fix the pacing of the show? why not build characters to better convey their arcs and motivations?

hotd isn't about adapting grrm's world anymore. it's just a horrible fucking joke. the writers care more about appeasing the fans than creating something meaningful.

the more i think about the show the more i get mad at the writers. you want grrm's story but you don't want his characters that complement the story so well. instead you'll create your own version of those characters that barely resemble the original ones and make no sense to the overall plot and essence of the story. not a single main character in the show is as they should be. they've ruined almost every single woman in the show. everything is just a bloody misunderstanding at this point. they've pulled absurd storylines out of their asses instead of adapting the source material like they were supposed to. the timelines are fucked up, character motivations have been altered. house of the dragon as a whole feels like the later seasons of game of thrones did. but it still cannot manage to pull me in and make me want to watch it. the show has become a joke and I can't wait for it to be over so i can forget about its existence like i did got's.

[soliloquyepistolary]

Me: So you're saying that that happened because you wanted me to start recording my dreams?

You: Do you want the truth?

Me: Yes. I see what you mean. I ask questions with answers that I'm not really ready for because I want to keep this shell in place but I think I'm done with that now. I'm ready for the next step.

You: The next step involves trusting yourself, it means that you finally see that going within is all that there is. It means you stop look outside for answers, even Clea's information and especially her information because although we are one and the same, you do see that a part of you is hoping that you do not contradict her. We are talking about this feeling that you have, not that this can actually be the case since we are one and the same.

Me: Okay. Give me a glimpse.

You: You have never been completely inside of this game. You have never. You go inside of yourself and then you know that you are going outside into the external world with a mask that is not you. You have known it all along and you have thought that there is something wrong with you because you could not participate as others have but this is by design. This has made life hard for you but you knew it would not be for long. It was going to be a relatively short life.

You played with George yesterday and noticed that the dog is more withdrawn than usual and you felt so sorry for it. You thought of how good it would be if your brother came home soon so it could have some real company. And then today, your brother shows up at home, out of the blue and unannounced. Coincidence?

There is no difference between this reality and a dream. No difference. Not only do you know this intellectually but also emotionally and your direct experience is starting to reflect this truth. Time flies, nothing is real and you are giddy. You are creating fun moments with NPCs. You feel nothing and then too much. You entertain believing that you have lied to but you know it is just for fun and you write off moments as quickly as a rich person finds a scratch on their car. Like it's nothing. Not because you're a billionaire but because in your arsenal you know it was not real the moment you retract your focus from it. You were worried that this meant that you were becoming numb and that eventually you would feel nothing at all and turn into a sociopath but it is not like that at all. What is happening is you are clearing things very quickly and this is a testament to the amount of work you have done to reach this awareness level. You are not better than anyone else but simply put you just have chosen to extricate yourself from a game the HS no longer wishes to play. So by 3D standards, you are very detached but do not forget that you are also experiencing a wide array of emotions in regards to the work you are doing behind the scenes. This is where you focus is supposed to be, not on 3D reality. So no wonder, someone makes a complaint and you do not care. No wonder, rejecting invitations, declining conversations, and your general air of passivity in the 'real' world, no longer has you up in airs internally. There is no one to offend. The world in which these emotional reactions were normalised, no longer exists. So you are okay, never doubt that you are never not okay.

And we had you writing garbage so that now you can write the truth. So that you can feel the difference. Do you see? Do you feel it? The amount of work you had to do to get to this point, means that you will do less work when you get to new earth.

There are three other lights surrounding you (the time says 11:11). Who would you reply to straight away right now, without hesitation if they were to message you? What would your body feel? Imagine it. A rush of energy. Anticipation and excitement. Connectedness, not boredom.

Me: What is the significance of 3?

You: Three's a crowd. Third-wheeling. 3 is not an even number, it makes things awkward. 3D, the third dimension. 3 lines create a space. You are processing what it has meant to live in the 3rd dimension n this lifetime. It is part of your life review to integrate the number 3 from a simple numerical standpoint because that is how it starts, that is how the creation of this dimension began. With that number.

Me: How are we going with the progress of the V recall?

You: It is still something that needs to happen, you have not changed your mind about that. But you need to realise it is up to you. You, personally. Not anyone else. Ask yourself if you feel that you have finished what it is you stayed behind to do. Do you feel that you have had enough, learnt enough? Because right now, you know that answer is no. You know you are not ready to leave. That is not to say that you emotionally do not want this all to end, but right now ask yourself. If you could step through a door, RIGHT NOW AT THIS VERY SECOND, go to the new earth and leave this all behind. Would you? No. And when the answer is yes. That is what it will be time. And you will walk through that door with a feeling of satisfaction and contentment, and not anything else. Right now, it would feel like you left home to go somewhere but forgotten something important at home. It would feel like you left to go to the Bahamas but there's an opened project on your computer desktop at work that's unfinished. So it has taken you 5 months to get you 60% of the way there so theoretically it will take you approximately another 3 months to get you 100% of the way there but remember this is just an estimate. You do not know how long the remaining 40% will take you because emotionally it could take you twice as long, or half as long and anything in between. It is up to you. But basically we will let you know that you are on par with how long you suspected it would take you from the beginning.

Me: How many essences are left here?

You: There are 7 million left. 500,00 left on the side of the dark.