#No abortion

[cozzzynook]

can we plz have some dratchrod where roddy actually DOES know he's sparked?

I want this to be a long post which is why I waited so long to start it.

“You okay there Roddy?”

“Hm? Oh yeah, I’m fine,” he assured not looking up from the computer screen as he picked up the twisted sweet metal covered in tungsten shavings.

Drift looked at the snack in complete disgust but quickly hid it when he thought Rodimus was about to look up at him. He shivered in absolute repulsion when Rodimus hummed and added more tungsten to the sweet metal twist and happily ate the disaster not paying him any attention.

“Are ya sure?”

“Yeah, why?”

Rodimus still hadn’t looked up at Drift and the mech was pouting at that. He wanted Roddy’s attention and he was going to get it.

“Oh just, just checking on you,” Drift said wrapping his arms around Rodimus’s neck cables, placing a suggestive kiss to his flare that was oddly cool.

“Are you cold Roddy?”

The words were said with questioning accusation and that made Rodimus look up.

“Its nothing serious Drift, don’t go dragging Ratchet in here on his day off over nothing,” he couldn’t help but stress that last part as his words were falling on deaf audials. That and well, his emotive balance was so out of wack.

“There’s no way you’re fine when you’re cold Roddy, cold. You are never cold. We’re going back to our hab where Ratty can look you over,” Drift hauled Rodimus up by his under arms and that made the mech stumble.

He felt his tanks shifting and he gagged almost purging from the sudden movement.

It did not go unnoticed by Drift whose optics widened before he grabbed the waist bin with unfair speed and held it at his upper chassis where he promptly grabbed the bin and purged the contents of his tanks.

Drift was pinging Ratchet waking the mech from recharge telling him the situation.

Rodimus tried to speak through the purging but he couldn’t even lift his servo up.

He needed Drift’s help lowering back into the chair where he managed to sigh from relief before his last roll of nausea emptied his tank and he was rubbing the plump area with a shaky servo.

“Roddy I swear if you’ve been sick this whole time and have been keeping it from us I will throttle-”

“Leave the threats to me Drift, I’m more than ready to give them,” Rodimus glanced at Ratchet who was looking half well rested as he made his way over to the two.

‘Well there goes my time to myself and the surprise,’ he grumbled before stilling as he rubbed a tender spot on his plating that was trying to make him purge again.

He rolled his optics at Ratchet and Drift completely shocking the two at the sudden shift in attitude.

“I’m not sick, I already know whats wrong with me. So kindly let go and don’t scan me without permission. I’m in my right mind so no actually you can’t,” he frowned towards the end of his statement. Pulling himself free of Drifts hold as he kept a servo on his tank and sat back in his chair.

He was too weak to do more than that, emotive imbalance really took a lot of him when he was upset and so did purging.

“And do kindly tell us just why you haven’t said anything or how you found out without me diagnosing you?”

Ratchet did not take well to being out of the loop on their medical charts and for a moment he remembered the time he fell out because his medicine dosage was wrong and his spark didn’t get the stimulants necessary to regulate it.

He had an audial full from both mechs and wasn’t allowed from their sights for months.

Thats kinda how he ended up in this situation he was in now.

All those months spent bending him over when they were alone..with more than a few times wearing no spike sleeve definitely did it.

He should’ve been more careful.

‘Damnit,’ he tried sniffling discreetly but those two always saw everything. ‘Stupid roller emotives,’ he felt anger flaring again and Drift and Ratchet were looking concerned for him again.

“Roddy? We promise, it’s okay,” Drift assured him bending down putting a servo on his shoulder, “whatever it is we’ll still love you.”

He turned away looking up and had to rush his words, “it’s not..i’ll tell you later. It’s not..bad..I don’t think..its..I’ll tell you later okay? I promise. First Aid already knows he checked me over and yes Ratchet I trust you but sometimes its easier going to First aid since I’m not fucking him.”

He was glad he put it so bluntly. It made Drift laugh and it made Ratchet his usual grouchy self.

“I’ll meet you guys in our hab later? Please?”

They looked beyond hesitant and now that he’s not swinging on anger he completely understands.

‘This is going to be such a long two years, got damnit.’

He vented deeply to calm his nerves and smiled when they agreed.

They were slow to leave and he was glad Ratchet didn’t scan him in secret and that Drift didn’t try any weird techniques to get a reading on his vitals and internal logs.

He laid back in his chair and looked down at his tanks where he sighed again and put a servo on the bump.

He closes his optics and just let himself rest for a while.

He was so thankful the two trusted him and believed him, gave him space to think and relax even after he purged in front of them and got weak.

He didn’t know how they would take him being sparked but he did hope the reaction wouldn’t be bad.

Cleaning his office and turning on a scent cleanser Rodimus left his office and wandered to the upper decks where they kept a large array of things. He wandered until he made it to the door that was always unlocked and stepped inside.

Trying to calm his nerves, he went past the heavier items and moved towards the smaller things. He looked around wondering what would best describe why he was in his current predicament that was easiest to understand.

He couldn’t decide between a stuffed toy, a bottle, a clothing item, or a pacifier.

He wondered if he should just grab it all and hope for the best?

“No..it should be special right?”

He didn’t want to regret telling them, this wouldn’t be something he could do over and thats a big reason he didn’t want to tell them earlier when they were all in bad spirits.

Deep down somewhere within he wanted this. A major part of him was afraid and didn’t ever want to have a sparkling because he disliked so many things about himself and didn’t want to damage another being. But he also use to dream of little pedes waking him and tiny optics opening after a big yawn.

He wanted this, he just..knew it wasn’t fair for someone else to have this with him.

He was not the viable option to have a sparkling with and thats why he struggled so much in keeping them. He still has a minor window to extinguish the new spark but now he would have to explain that to Drift and Ratchet and it would be hard to write that off or dodge them when he was recovering.

Sure he could keep it private since it was his frame but..he didn’t want to do that to them.

He vents a little too hard, rubbing his tanks to keep them from getting too upset and he continues his search.

“Maybe I should just go with something like the stuff toy and bottle? Drift will like the toy and Ratch will say the bottle is practical, he’ll like that.”

He could easily find things they’d like but he doesn’t know or see anything he’ll like.

He just sighs and grabs the two items ready to turn and leave when he spots something.

Walking over, he feels anticipation thrumming and he lifts the small item.

It’s a sparklings blanket.

The blanket has the old stitchings of Nyonian stars and he drops the bottle and stuff toy on top of something else as he holds the blanket close.

He feels his optics watering and he holds the cloth close, crying fluid into it as static sparks in his vox.

He stays there for a good while, just holding the blanket he feels a connection to.

Its not his.

Everything of his was destroyed during the fall of Nyon but this. This is a piece of history that can’t be forgotten or recreated.

Old servos made this for a loved one and while he feels guilty its not his loved one they made it for he feels honored being able to use it.

Looking at his chronometer, Rodimus leaves the room, taking the galaxy themed pacifier with him before leaving towards their hab.

When he quietly enters, he glances around to see the two recharging on the couch with the tv on.

They were waiting for him it seems.

He feels bad and carefully shifts them so they’re more comfortable laying down as he moves the pillow and puts a blanket over them.

He turns the tv off and cleans the area, holding the blanket in his arms with the pacifier inside.

He places the blanket between them so it rests on their touching chassis and he gazes at them before going to their berth and laying down.

He hopes that in the morning when the two wake they’ll be happy with the news.

He’s not sure they’ll even get it.

But he does know one thing.

He’ll do this.

With or without them.

And when morning comes and he wakes to Drift excitedly shaking him awake with Ratchet smiling as he feels on his tanks, he knows everything will be okay.

[mostly-funnytwittertweets]

[animentality]

[ladychlo]

Motaz Azaiza interviewed by Ajstream after fleeing Gaza, please do watch the whole interview...

[yeahiwasintheshit]

[politijohn]

Source

Phenomenal choice

As a former teacher, MN Governor Walz has:

Signed legislation protecting abortion rights

Signed an executive order protecting gender-affirming care

Banned conversion therapy

Restored voting rights to Minnesotans who are on parole, probation or community release due to a felony

Signed voting rights legislation

Signed legislation legalizing recreational cannabis

Signed legislation guaranteeing free school lunches to students

Expanded workers rights and is supported by unions

[ralfmaximus]

With no national support or attention, Arkansas women (and a few good men) did what everyone said couldn’t be done. On July 5, organizers turned in enough signatures to qualify an amendment to restore access to abortion in Arkansas.  The amendment will restore access up to 18 weeks for any reason and thereafter has exceptions for rape, incest, fatal fetal anomaly, and life and health of the mother.  The amendment had no support from national groups like Planned Parenthood or the ACLU because it didn’t allow for abortions up to the point of viability.  However, polling showed that anything over 18 weeks simply wouldn’t pass in deep red Arkansas, and the amendment will cover 99% of abortions that do occur.

Abortion rights will be on the ballot in Arkansas, thanks to a 100% unfunded volunteer effort! Amazingly good news.

[archi-pelago]

maybe never forgive. but things are different now. so we'll use maybe.

[evilkitsch]

"Interstate 55 carries 10s of thousands of abortion seekers out of southern states to Illinois, where abortion is legal. I-55 is covered with horrific, shaming billboards. Shout Your Abortion put up 6 good ones, to show love & affirmation to those making the journey." x

[bunnie-the-idiot]

the kids online safety act passed the u.s. senate.

long story short (for anyone who hadn't heard of this before) the kids online safety act, aka kosa, is a bill that will censor online content and resources for lgbtq+ matters, reproductive healthcare, activism (INCLUDING PALESTINE AND LIKELY OTHER CRISES GOING ON LIKE IN CONGO OR SUDAN), mental health, etc. everywhere--its effects likely won't be contained to just america.

today, july 30th, 2024, the senate passed it 91-3. it has officially moved to the house of representatives.

is this a pretty massive setback? yes. do you have every right to be scared, sad, angry, or whatever else about this happening? absolutely. but should you give up hope completely? NO!

even though kosa passed the senate, the house is on break/august recess at the moment. we have around an entire month to get emails, calls, and faxes in to house reps, maybe more depending on when they decide to vote on it.

should it pass the house and get signed into law, we still have a whole 18 months before it actually goes into effect. this is plenty of time for digital rights orgs (e.g. fight for the future, the electronic frontier foundation) and other groups that oppose it to file a lawsuit against it. even if, worst-case scenario, it flies through the house immediately after the recess ends, we can still fight this up to march 2026.

so, yes, remember what's at stake here, but also remember that it's not over yet. we lost a battle, not the war.

below are some resources to learn more about kosa and how to contact your reps (first link) + a page that lets you directly contact progressive house reps, sign an open letter opposing the bill, and view others' testimonies against it (second link):

FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT.

[mostly-funnytwittertweets]

[animentality]

[destielmemenews]

source 1

source 2

[ladyorlandodream]

Yes, Spain!!!!

[Image descriptions: 1. Tweet by AJ+ @AJPlus [gold check verified] that says: Spain became the 1st country in Europe to offer paid menstrual leave, for 3-5 days. It also gave final approval to laws that: [bullet point] enshrine rights to abortion for people over 16 [bullet point] let trans people over 16 self-identify gender by simple declaration, one of the only places to do so [Attached to the Tweet is a photo of a group of people with trans flags gathered on the steps of a building with large stone columns.]

2. A headline from DW that says: “Spain passes laws on trans rights, abortion, menstrual leave – DW.” The visible part of the article says, “The new laws expand transgender rights and abortion access, as well as give workers paid menstrual leave. The approval comes ahead of…” \End descriptions]

[liberalsarecool]

Pete Buttigieg is a next-level public speaker.

A third-trimester abortion has to be the most devastating moment in a person's life.

Too many opponents of abortion will never process these situations. They will put themselves in someone else's shoes.