#and a right to keep their particular list of identities to themselves

[buggywiththefolkmagic]

Scams Within The Witchcraft Community

This is by no means a complete list, but here is a rough couple of examples and methods for figuring out what's legit and what's a scam! TW: Mentions of death, blood, and threats below. Today I’ll be going over key things to look for, things to avoid, and how to deduct if someone’s services are legitimate! Unfortunately scams are everywhere and that includes within the Witchcraft community. There’s quite a few different scams floating around out there, below I’m going to list some of them and then list different things to notice and be skeptical about. The most common scam is readings via DM/PM on instagram, tumblr, social medias like that. They’ll contact you via DM/PM and claim their ancestors, guides, intuition, etc, etc called them to contact you for a reading. The reading itself might be free...but the information they nd will not be. They’ll claim you have something attached to you, a curse, evil spirit, tar spirit, demon, Djinn, family curse, a curse from an ex, etc, etc. And that you’ll need to pay them in order for them to get rid of it for you. In short: They seduce you into conversations by promising something free, and then pressure and scare you into paying them to ‘make this bad thing’ go away. If this ever happens just block and report them and move on. ALSO: If you do want a reading from a reader you follow...make sure it’s not a copied account! Big follower base instagram accounts get copies made of them all the time, do your research before reaching out! How can you tell a reader/practioner is fake? Just one of these warning signs doesn’t mean it’s fake, use intuition. Does the reader/practioner have any sort of personal information on their page? Where are they from? Are there photos of themselves and not stock-image photos? Did you find the practitioner through a youtube comment? Did the comment seem...super copy and pasted? Like so? What sort of reviews do they have elsewhere? MASSIVE RED FLAG. These are comments leading to what we like to call the ‘African Priest’ scammer. More info on them below! When you talk to them...do they ignore your comments or questions about them? Do they seem a little...botlike? Below is an example of a scam-bait youtube comment found on a witchy influencer's video.

SPELL SCAMS: Below is a screenshot of some obvious spell scams available on Etsy right now.

How much is the spell? If it’s an ungodly amount, like above...it will likely be a scam. What does talking to the spellcaster sound like? Are they applying pressure or stating that they need more ingredients than what you already paid for? Also a scam. Have they asked you for personal information? A full name/date of birth/photograph/mother’s maiden name/etc, etc? This is an identity fraud, they will likely sell it to the highest bidder or use it to apply for things. Please remember to be safe and keep personal information...personal. If the spellcaster insists that you don’t talk about the spell, don’t go to anyone else, or that if you back out they’ll send their ‘spirits’ or ‘demons’ after you or even harm you spiritually? Cleanse and GTFO. Block them with every method available, and don’t worry or fret. It’s a classic scam tactic, and you can see it within other groups of people as well.

The African Appropriating Priest Scam:

The person will make very outrageous claims for what their magic can do. Sometimes they’ll go to the extremes of faith-healing...get you out of a wheelchair, or they’ve brought the dead to life. Most of the time they tend to say they’ll get your ex to be obsessed with you, make you into a millionaire, get you that dream job or funds with no effort, etc. Usually the African Appropriating scammer will claim to use Vodou or some ‘ancient practice’, but yet have no knowledge on the practice if actually asked about it.

They’ll then state the cost of the spell, usually a couple hundred dollars, and that they’ll need to buy specific ingredients from particular African countries, send you pictures that are easily traceable of a hut with bones in the ceiling or something vaguely aesthetic like that, and claim this is their workspace.

The usage of over-familiarity, love, dear, precious, is also common instead of using your name. Then they’ll give you specic instructions, sometimes it’s payment via gift cards, or it’s ‘avoid driving for a week’ or other off the wall commentaries that don’t make sense in the grand scheme of things. Afterwards if you back out, they’ll claim they are sending spirits, Djinn, demons, or even whole deities after you for ‘breaking a pact’. This is a lie, and just a scare tactic. Again...just block and move on. No need to fret! Selling Entities/Changes to Your Person Scam:

This one’s a bit on the odder side, but stick with me! This is actually a pretty big scam right now. I am also not saying you can't buy a VESSEL that houses a spirit such as a porcelain doll, haunted object, etc, etc. This is a bit different you'll find.

Some people in some discord servers or communities will claim to sell you entities. The same groups may also claim they can change you from masc to fem, or visa versa, or give you an ego death. Below is some examples of one of these servers/offering up for sale:

Now that you’ve seen some examples, it shouldn’t take much for you to realize how scammy this seems. Not only is there stolen artwork being used...but frankly the descriptions of what will happen are...unbelievable at best. Some of these ads can even seem like they’re just selling you some sort of original character cooked up for a fantasy novel...you would be very correct on that last part. Do yourself a favor and just...don’t buy things you can’t tangibly touch or get proof of in some way, shape, or form, okay? Let me be abundantly clear: If witchcraft could change your gender in a snap, or heal all of your mental wounds, trust me, it wouldn’t be some long kept secret somewhere. Same goes for healing or even in some cases...turning you into a werewolf, vampire, demon, etc, etc. How to tell a legitimate spellcaster/reader:

The reader or spellcaster will be willing to go outside of DMs for readings or work. They’ll be willing to send photographs, videos, instagram stories, or meet with you via skype or zoom. The spellcaster will have distinct methodologies, and will likely explain what will happen step by step instead of being vague or just saying to ‘let the magic work’. A real worker will likely show you their labor for you. The prices seem reasonable. A few dollars or a few tens of dollars for a reading or work is quite reasonable. If they’re willing to work with you on prices is also a very good sign. Has the practitioner set boundaries or asked you questions about what you’re comfortable with? If you set boundaries are they willing to work with that? What is setting up an appointment with them like? Are they giving you options but making it clear they have books already? Is the practitioner or reader willing to talk with you one on one and make a personal connection? Do they seem reasonable? Now that we’ve gone over some things to look for and look OUT for, hopefully this will help you in the future if you start searching for practitioners to interact with and support. Don’t be afraid to ask others if something seems off or weird!

Edit: Edits to this lesson have been made with thanks to @artinvain who was kind enough to point out some problematic language being used. I am always learning and appreciate anyone who points that out to me.

[shadowonwater]

MP100 Fic Recs: Reigen Gets Possessed and has a Bad Time

A collection of fics about Reigen getting possessed and having a bad time. Most of these are about a random spirit possessing Reigen and trying to pass themselves off as him.

The fics are complete unless I mention otherwise.

Feel free to recommend more fics to add to the list!

Mother by Sunlolli

Reigen's got some mommy issues. His mom dies and starts haunting him. The espers in Reigen's life don't want to get rid of her without Reigen's permission but she's really messing him up and he just wants to get some approval from her. Story is a bit depressing but very good.

In Quicksand by SpiritusRex

Reigen gets possessed and gets sick. Unreliable narrator Reigen. Don't worry, the spirit gets caught pretty quickly, and Reigen ends up fine.

Use Your Words by CowardlyBean

Reigen gets possessed by a spirit that hates espers. He's stuck in the backseat of his body while it pilots him around, pretending to be him. It's an ass towards Serizawa and Mob. Of course the other characters figure out something is wrong.

symbiosis by ruthwrites

AU in which ???% is a separate entity from Mob and it's made of energy and jumps from esper to esper. When Mob gives Reigen his power during the 1st Claw arc, ???% goes with that energy. Problem is that it didn't go back to Mob, it got stuck in Reigen. I recommend the whole series, the series is kind of depressing though. Reigen really goes through it in this series. I don't want to give too much away but... Reigen isn't gonna come out of this very... human. Each entry in the series is completed, however I can't help but feel the series itself isn't completed, it seems to end on what would be the start of this AUs version of the Separation Arc. It's a bitter ending.

A Mirror Darkly Shattered by BinaryDreams1010

Reigen gets possessed after a failed exorcism. The spirit gives him nightmares about not being important in the lives of those that Reigen cares about in an attempt to break his spirit to make it easy to take over his body.

you are coming down with me (overwhelming identity) by destituteDenouement

It started with a morning smoke and forgetting to water his plant. It's a slowburn of a possession. The spirit really loves smoking. Falling into bad habits was what caused Reigen to be susceptible to this particular spirit. Serizawa and Mob realize something is wrong when Reigen has stayed holed up in his home for two days and won't answer any of their calls. After all his said and done Mob and Reigen talk about how neglecting yourself is a spiral and that everybody has parts of themselves they don't like.

miss me (love me) or you'll miss me (lose me) by BinaryDreams1010

A spirit that feeds on souls/misery jumps from a customer into Reigen. He decides to let Serizawa handle the spirit the next day but he finds himself unable to work up the energy to leave his apartment the next morning. The spirit keeps trying to make Reigen upset by saying stuff like "will anybody miss you when you're gone?" Serizawa visits to check up on him, right on time to save Reigen and get the spirit to let go of his soul.

did you get hurt? by afjakwrites

Reigen gets possessed and tries to call in sick to get away from the espers. Of course the espers show up at Reigen's apartment anyway. The spirit ends up knocking over Mob because it's scared of him. But Reigen's worry over Mob knocks the spirit out of his body.

Black and Red Smoke by Kirii_Kitten

Reigen catches a possession off a customer who he didn't realize was actually possessed. The spirit causes hallucinations. (Story is unfinished.)

The Possession and Bad Time are Only Sort-Of Related

There is possession, and Reigen having a bad time. They are related but the possession isn't the only problem and IS also the result of another problem.

Area Hysteria by c_c_cherry

Reigen and Dimple visit a worn down building slated for demolition to get rid of a spirit. The building collapses with them in it. Dimple is fine, Reigen isn't. Dimple posses Reigen's body to help keep him alive and hope for rescue soon. Reigen gets rescued... eventually. But this isn't the end to the problems because Reigen ends up in sort of supernaturally-induced coma that Mob has to get into his head to get him out of. Long story. Marked as unfinished but ends at a really good stopping point. (Update: It started updating again)

Temporary Accommodations by Originia

Mob's body gets his stolen and he uses his astral projection power to wing up in Reigen's body to protect Reigen because some guys who want to kill him don't realize that he's not the psychic they're after. They also were the one's to still Mob's body as bait to get Reigen.

Dead Reigen Possessing his Own Body

Wasn't sure whether or not to count this. I guess his body is getting possessed and he is having a bad time.

Haunting My Own Skin by Kirii_Kitten

Reigen dies and then posses his own corpse to pretend that everything is normal. Dimple is concerned that Reigen's spirit is going to corrupt, his fears are well-founded. Reigen gets found out of course and things go to shit, but there is a happy ending.

Present but Not Main Focus

A longer work where various things happen in it, including an instance of Reigen getting possessed and having a bad time.

In Other Words by nozokao

As a whole, this fic is focused on Reigen and Serizawa's relationship and them getting together. In Chapter 7, Reigen gets very briefly possessed by a spirit he and Serizawa were trying to exorcise. Also in chapter 3 and 4, Reigen gets cursed by a spirit that makes him cold (not exactly possession but I thought I'd mention it).

[alexisnoir]

Funko POP fakes – What to look out for

Original vs fake – the differences

As someone who owns original Good Omens Funko POPs, I’ve noticed that recently, fakes have started to appear. If you don’t know what to pay attention to, you might get scammed into buying them for a much higher price than they’re actually worth.

The versions with the apple and the book are also being counterfeited!!!

Below, I’m showing you pictures – originals are on the left, and the fakes are on the right.

Let’s start with Crowley. The original comes with an apple, the fake one with an ice lolly.

The hair color in the original is darker, and the paint is neat. In the fake, the color is lighter, more patchy, and the paint is sloppy. The outfit details are very similar, but the color scheme is different. The details like the scarf are painted poorly and the shade of the trousers in the fake are a lighter shade.

The eyes in the fake Crowley are a much brighter yellow and the pupils are badly painted. The glasses don’t have the special filter that turns them into sunglasses depending on the viewing angle. Additionally, the head mold is different – larger, which makes the head look out of proportion compared to the body, and the hair details are different.

Aziraphale. The fake comes with an ice cream, the original with a book.

The hair color is very close to the original, but the paint job is messy. The eyebrows are slightly darker in the fake, though the shape seems to be the same as in the original.

The body mold seems similar to the original, but as shown in the pictures, the fake is shorter (the head is placed lower). As for the coat color – it’s lighter in the original, but to be honest, I actually like the color of the fake better. Details like the golden pendant are painted differently – the original uses shiny gold paint, while the fake is matte, darker, and less eye-catching. The button colors on the back of the coat are also different. The color of the vest and bowtie is, in my opinion, nearly identical in both figures. The trousers are very similar in color, though the fake has a cooler tone. The shoes are also close in color, but once again the paintwork on the details is poor.

Boxes.

It’s becoming more and more common for fakes to come in boxes that are near-exact copies of the originals, including the serial number printed both on the box and the figure itself.

However, there are still fakes without any serial number. This is the case with both fake Crowley and Aziraphale – the boxes have no serial number, although the figures themselves do.

The box coloring is different, and the biggest giveaway is the cutout around the character and the POP! Television logo. On the original, the gap is small – on the fake, it’s large, which can be clearly seen in the photos. Don’t pay attention to the box of the original Aziraphale – I bought it second-hand from someone who had it exposed to sunlight. The figure itself was stored separately.

To sum up: It’s clear that different paint was used for the fakes – they feel less smooth to the touch, more matte, and the details aren’t perfect. The proportions of the figures themselves are also different. These flaws become visible only when you place a fake next to an original. Someone who’s never dealt with fakes before might not notice the difference right away. I bought them on purpose so I could show you what to look out for, because there’s a flood of fakes out there and some sellers might try to sell them for ridiculous prices to unsuspecting buyers. I’ve noticed a real flood of Good Omens Funko POPs in particular – something that wasn’t happening a year ago, when they were really hard to find.

Remember! Just because a listing has a photo doesn’t mean you’ll get the original. Always check how many of the same figure the seller has sold. If someone’s sold hundreds in a short time, it’s suspicious – these figures are no longer in production. Sure, some people sell them privately, but if a seller keeps relisting the same figure right after a sale, it could mean they’re selling fakes. Check if a photo isn’t being used in two different listings – two different sellers shouldn’t have the exact same picture.

I know there are people who don’t mind buying a fake – and that’s totally fine – but I also know there are people who want the original. So be careful and stay alert so you don’t get scammed!

[pinkshiftbites]

2024 is over but not without....

December's blog post. I've honestly been spending all month trying to come up with something, anything, to write. I even stopped journaling for a couple weeks, save for the few entries I made to take notes on my astrological youtube tarot readings.

2024 was honestly... I don't quite understand it still. Yes, I am still currently sitting in that, even as I type this out, on New Years Eve, on the floor of my apartment. I have certainly grown, both as a person, and an artist. 2024 was our longest period of time at home and off-tour since before the pandemic. It bent me and broke me and tested me and stretched me and showed me that I was capable of things that scared me. Sometimes, it stretched me too far, and broke me in half - like when a friend of mine suddenly passed at the beginning of summer. I thought there would be more time, and suddenly there just wasn't. Sometimes, it presented me with opportunities that I never thought possible - like when I sang our songs to thousands of people every night opening for the largest tour we had ever done.

This year twisted my guts, over and over, and yet, time kept moving forward. Time keeps moving forward. Tonight it will be 2025, proving that time will never cease to move forward.

I gained a healthy fear of how temporary my experience on earth truly is, and everyone else's - I still fear that the things I love could be gone at any moment. What's hilarious is that this fear is absolutely true. In fact, nothing is permanent. Every song I've written this year has been part of my journey to unravel this truth. I want to be at peace within this truth, I want to move and morph and speak and heal in tandem with the movement that is always moving in nature of this truth.

If you are reading this far, thank you. I love you. Thank you for your support this year, and for making Pinkshift part of your world. Next year, we plan to guide you into a new world - one of growth, mourning, change, peace, and confidence. I cannot wait to share more of this world with you.

Until then, I have put together a list of my own favorite albums this year. Many of them were not released this year, and I did not finish this list, so I am looking forward to listeing to more next year. If you have any favorite albums this year, albums that left you obsessed - please drop them in the comments. I'll make this post available to all tiers this month. From now on- blog posts will be snack tier and playlists will be breakfast tier. Thank you.

ALBUMS I'VE LOVED IN 2024 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

In Rainbows - Radiohead: October 2024; I listened to this album a lot during my 14 hour flight between here and India. I listened to this album because I read a Birds in Row interview where they said they were very influenced by Radiohead. Mostly becase the sound is so different I didn't expect that. But I am glad it made me give Radiohead a chance. I liked this album because each song feels like it has a unique color, vibe, groove, and identity. It inspired me in groove based structure that's primarily atmospherically driven rather than lyrically driven. Favorite song: Reckoner (I like the wet sound in this song. Reminds me of Otherside by RHCP)

Gris Klein - Birds in Row: July 2024; I listened to this record after coming back home from our shows in Germany & the UK, where we opened for Birds in Row and La Dispute in Berlin. I didn't know them at the time. When I heard them play, I was immediately inspired by the way their songs abandoned the typical Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus structure that I felt so chained to at the time. Pinkshift had just started writing songs together again for LP2 right before that tour, and structure was my biggest creative block. I felt that the typical verse/chorus structure was really diluting the new music we were writing, but we didn't know where to go from there. Watching BIR, I was very inspired by how every song felt like a feeling, and how those emotions built themselves up through the songs. Plus, the lyrics were so punk - they were talking about real shit, real issues, and the way they presented them was so moving. Their lyrics were cathartic, well written, poetic, and meaningful. Their record has inspired me (and the rest of the band) a lot and put us back into a creative flow with our own art. Favorite Song: Noah & Cathedrals

When The Pawn... - Fiona Apple: February 2024; I really got into this album early in the year. It was my go-to album for a long drive or flight. I have a memory of going ot our old practice space and cleaning it out, sitting on the drum kit, and trying to play along with this record. (I don't play drums). I got pretty into it and I remember it being fun. Favorite Song: Love Ridden

Empathogen - WILLOW: May 2024; I got super into this record when it came out this year. I felt like the themes of nature and magic and self realization were the themes that I was writing about myself in my art, but I hadn't yet heard a modern artist speak to those feelings in the way that she did. I really related to this album. It was great timing for me. I kept wanting to scream from the rooftops that I was writing songs about the same things! I really felt at peace when flipping this on, I feel like I got to know this record really well. The instrumentals and melodies were also interesting and captivating. Listening inspired me to wish more about what I could create, and I carried those small wishes into my own writing. Favorite Song: Symptom of Life

BRAT - Charli XCX: June 2024; I really loved this album pretty much the day it dropped. I remember listening to in full and immediately sending it to an old friend I had recently reconnected with. (girl, so confusing coded). Then after like a week or two, the album blew up and it was suddenly everywhere, and everyone was having a "BRAT summer". The album itself was such a pick-me-up, lyrically very real and explored stuff about growing up that I related to. It was so danceable & dynamic. It brought up an undercurrent of club that I was hearing at all the best clubs and parties in Baltimore and Berlin, and immortalized it. Favorite song: Von Dutch

So.... to be continued, this is getting pretty long <3 I'll come back to ya in January with the second half of this list. See you in 2025!!

December's blog post. For just $5/month, you can buy me a cup of coffee through patreon, and have access to exclusive material every month. Cheers <3

[bluedalahorse]

Earlier today I alluded to the fact that Young Royals has some interesting stuff to say about heterosexuality. Let me elaborate.

One of the many intriguing moments in Young Royals season 2 (in my mind, anyway) is the phone call where Jan-Olof asks August a lot of questions and ends with the question “Are you heterosexual?” To which August replies that he is. It’s only ever been girls! (I think that’s how the line goes, anyway.)

What intrigues me about this is the way it puts the emphasis on heterosexuality as a label—or, to put it more colloquially, on the idea of being heterosexual as a “thing.” After all, the whole notion of being straight or hetero is a fairly recent one in human history. The word heterosexual hasn’t been around too long, first appearing in German in 1869 after being coined (along with the word homosexual) by Karl Maria Kertbeny. In the late 19th century, western culture saw a shift in how people understood sexuality, and people started describing sexual orientation as more of an identity thing (who you are) than a behavior thing (what you do.) If Wilhelm’s family has been on the throne at least as long as the IRL Swedish monarchs, then the current Swedish monarchy in Young Royals predates the ideas of heterosexuality and homosexuality. The Swedish monarchy as an overall institution definitely predates heterosexuality as a concept. Social constructs, baby!

That said, Jan-Olof, the show’s keeper of tradition, still asks August if he’s straight. What he’s really asking, given the uncomfortable reproductive subtext of the conversation, is whether August is willing to produce a legitimate heir to keep the monarchy going. This is interesting because of the way it conflates heterosexual identity with reproduction. We know there are plenty of straight people who choose not to have kids and use various contraception methods to prevent pregnancies from happening or being carried to term. (Heck, August and Sara themselves have a whole conversation about condoms.) We also know that there are plenty of non-straight people who have biological kids. Ultimately, straightness doesn’t matter for that kind of thing! And yet, by including a question about heterosexuality in a series of questions that’s really about reproduction, wrapped in an even longer list of questions about fitness for the throne, this conversation is putting forward the notion that heterosexuality isn’t just about sex and romance. It’s also a political stance.

And that’s… that’s kind of fascinating. Usually it’s queer people who are said to be inherently “political.” Straightness, of course, is just as political. It’s just that no one calls it that. So I’m struck by the reversal of that dynamic in the show.

I’m also struck by how August’s heterosexuality is a matter of attraction, performance, and labeling, and each of these is addressed separately and a little bit differently by the writing. We know he has heterosexual attraction toward Sara (and possibly Felice, depending on how you read that relationship) based on the fact that he has ~those kinda feelings.~ But there’s also the public performance of heterosexuality, where we see August hitting on Felice in a very overt and aggressive way. In those moments, August’s performance of heterosexuality becomes an expression of power and privilege. This is further reinforced by some of the crude sexual jokes he makes about women. Even the softer stuff toward Sara puts him in a protector role that lines up with gender roles by the end of s2. If the performance of heterosexuality is an attempt to claim power, then what does claiming the label of heterosexual mean? I think perhaps we’re supposed to see it as August declaring his alleged right to power, within this particular social system where heterosexuality means something specific.

Labels can confer power on a person by giving them the power to define themself, but labels can also be limiting, in a way. August is, for the most part, straight in terms of his identity, behavior, and personal politics. He’s willing to claim the power and privilege that straightness gives him. However, there are times where his heterosexuality gets a bit fuzzy around the edges. That time where he’s (fakely) singing Simon’s praises and out of nowhere kisses him on the forehead comes to mind as kind of a weird moment. Like, where did that come from, August? The fact that August has watched the video of Wilhelm and Simon a few too many times also hasn’t escaped fandom’s notice. Finally, the fact that August labels himself as hetero in a scene where he’s lying through his teeth about other things, and when the palace is trying to fabricate a perfect princely persona for him, really shows how much of a social construct sexual orientation labels are. They describe something real, but they can’t describe all the nuances of it.

My point here is not that August is some sort of hidden bisexual representation sleeper agent—he really isn’t! (Like I said he is functionally straight, and also these moments above still involve him behaving in aggressive and dysfunctional ways.) Rather, I’m more interested in the way August ignores his own fuzziness-of-orientation (however minute) when claiming the strict heterosexuality label, and therefore cuts himself off from the possibility of empathy for Wilhelm and Simon, as well as enlisting himself in a system where he wouldn’t really thrive. Sure, there’s lots of other aspects of his personality that play a role in this as well. But I wanted to talk about this one today, so I did.

Anyway, binaries are harmful and divisive and reinforce weird power structures. Regardless of our orientations, we would all do better if we all embraced a degree of queerness in the world and in ourselves, don’t you think?

(Hey, are there other characters in the series where you want me to talk about their relationships to heterosexuality? Let me know with an ask or something; I’d be happy to ramble.)

[angelasscribbles]

Coup D'état

Series: Insurrection

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Liam x Riley

Word Count: 1,021

Rating: MA

Warnings for this chapter: None

A/N: So a little over a year ago I wrote a one-shot called King Breaker. Almost everyone demanded a follow-up. I did not give them one. Until now. I always had some vague ideas for it, but no real inspiration. Then one day I heard this song and suddenly all kinds of ideas were in my head.

My other stuff: Master List.

The soldiers searched the room, upending furniture and destroying priceless art. Muddy boots marred the previously pristine marble of the throne room.

The commander strode through the door, his steps heavy. He paused as his eyes scanned the empty room. “Status report!” he bellowed.

“Sir, there’s no one here.”

The rebellion leader shook his head, “Multiple witnesses saw them both enter this room. There must be a hidden chamber or something. Keep searching!”

The new, self-appointed leader of the Cordonian government strolled through the historic hall, taking in the ancient tapestries and formal portraits before stopping in front of one particular gilded frame.

A young Constantine Rys stared sternly out at him, classically handsome in full Cordonian regalia, golden crown gleaming on his dark blond head. His fingers ran across the canvas as he stared into eyes that were identical to his own, “You should have acknowledged me when you had the chance, old man.”

When he had circumnavigated the room, he approached the throne and lowered himself onto it. Lost in thought, he didn’t see his co-leader approaching until a voice pulled him out of his reverie.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

His eyes snapped to the other man’s face, noting the disapproval in his tone, “Sitting.”

“Well, can you find another place to sit? That thing needs to be ripped out and destroyed. It’s a symbol of the oppression we vowed to end.”

The dark-haired young man with ocean-blue eyes and the signature Rys jawline let out a noncommittal, “Hm,” as he regarded his partner.

Anton Severus, the bastard son of the late king had enticed The Liberation Core to join forces with The Sons of the Earth to increase their odds of success against a common enemy, but the Liberation Core was full of idealistic idiots. The common people weren’t fit to rule themselves and Anton had no intention of giving up his newfound power. This was what he had spent his life working toward.

They had used the Liberation Core’s contacts, intel, and technology to stage a successful coup, but the vast majority of the forces currently sweeping through the palace were his. Once the capital was secure, his men would turn on their compatriots. Members of The Core would be given the choice to swear fealty to their new and rightful king. They could join his guard, or they could die. It made no difference to him.

He had offered Constantine a chance to meet his unacknowledged son. A chance to claim him, publicly, to insert him into his rightful place in the line of succession, but the old man had refused, sealing his fate.

Anton’s mother might have been a lowly palace maid, but the royal Rys blood ran through his veins.

Leo’s abdication had spurred him into action. Anton was older than Liam by six months. He was next in line, not that spoiled, coddled brat.

Leo and Liam had been given every advantage that had been denied to him. Even Drake and Savannah Walker, commoners, had been given a royal upbringing, a private education, and full access to the crown’s funds for their every whim while he had languished in the backwoods of Krona.

In response to the announcement of her pregnancy, his mother had been given five years' severance pay plus a bonus for ‘exemplary service’ and sent on her way.

Constantine might have meant for the money to provide for his illegitimate child for quite a few years, but the money and his mother were gone in two leaving his grandmother to raise him.

Anton watched his grandmother struggle to make ends meet. He grew up under the yoke of extreme poverty and felt the sting of deprivation. That is until an elegant and mysterious red-haired woman showed up on their doorstep, taking him under her wing and funding his education.  

Anton sat at the best table in the most expensive restaurant in Vallenheim. Across the table was the woman who had funded his entire private education at the elite and prestigious Vallenheim Oaks Preparatory School.

“I’m sorry about your grandmother, Anton.” She was saying.

“Thank you,” he replied stoically, “for everything. Thanks to you her last years were more than comfortable, and she had the best medical care the world has to offer.”

“I’m sure it was some amount of comfort to you both that you got to spend her last days with her.”

“Again, thanks to you. I know I was allowed to take a leave in the middle of the term because you spoke to the headmaster on my behalf.” He fidgeted nervously in his seat, toying with his food.

“What is it, Anton?” she asked sharply. “Say whatever it is that’s on your mind.”

He licked his lips as his eyes met hers then dropped his gaze to his plate, “I…I don’t mean to sound ungrateful but…why? Why have you done so much for us?”

It wasn’t just his education. It was a new house for his grandmother and all of her living expenses. Her medical care at the end and all of the funeral expenses.

Lucretia Nevrakis sat her wine glass on the table in front of her and leaned forward, “Anton, lift your eyes and look at me. It’s time you learned who you really are.”

Instead of responding to his co-conspirator, Anton turned his head as his second-in-command approached, “Claudius, there you are! Status report.”

“No sign of the king, Commander.”

“He’s not the king anymore,” Anton reminded him.

“Of course, sir.”

Ignoring the leader of the Liberation Core who was still glaring daggers at him, Anton asked, “And my traitorous ex-girlfriend?”

The world knew Riley Brooks as the king’s fiancée. She was meant to marry a king alright, but she had chosen the wrong man. He had planned to make her his queen, but that was before she had disobeyed direct orders to rid the world of his younger half-brother and tipped him off about the attack, giving him the time he needed to escape.

“Sorry, sir, nothing yet.”

“Well, when you find her, bring the backstabbing whore to me.”

[jake-fieldsrp]

Dribble drabble: mArDi GrAs fOr jAke & SaV2025

Happily two track minded, in the mood for a big brass band and a bowl or ten of red beans and rice, Jake was practically whistling up the community center stairs— of course until like a horror movie, Jaz (of the sister version) flashed by the window like a jump scare, and forced a thought of Mena...maybe too much feminine rage or divine, the list went on, in one place. No doubt it'd be a family affair with Mateo too and Jake let the idea of prying eyes and whispered talks win. But just as Jake made his full body turn to make his decent down the stairs—whistling right on down, there was Sav. And when he nudged her at the shoulder, she barely moved, acknowledged with the slight of a glance, "Eh, leissez lez...roulette and something seriously sexy am I right? You know what I mean. Ba da tiss." symbol hands drummed against air.

"— did you take the wrong meds?" she asked Jake, all seriousness shot. She did laugh though, no way he was being serious and if so well, he was even stupider than she previously thought. Well aware he knew about her and Lou, New Orleans and the whole thing as memories from one particular blackout night coming back to her in fragments months later that made her want to puke, "I'm so fucking tired of this. Mardi Gras, and New Orleans." It felt like a part of her identity at this point, unable to shake, be it curious minds who heard from another and another, when the reality of the backdrop was much more painful, dirty, and heartachingly stunning. — "I just wanted some beignets."

He wasn't about to press, because whether she remembered or not, they'd found themselves in obliterated states before. Holiday sentiments and liquor - she'd broken fully once before a couple months ago when it was the two of them, about Lucie Newman. And he thought he was seeing double. Though he'd never tell. "Alright, bad joke. Lazy joke." He'd conceded. A nudge again to her shoulder, reinstating they were in the same boat today, no unwanted small talk, and no unwanted small talk with the few that were well passed that with. "I'm gonna grab my dinner. Your beignets, fifteen tops. Still need that mattress moved?"

"—found a couch too. If it's still there, in the burbs." Relieved, as long as he was offering. Two birds and all that. She'd gotten the keys a couple days ago to the new apartment, newly broker than broke and with literally nothing to fill the space, she'd been itching to get in, and start fresh. "I've got a rooftop now too. Lady who died had a garden going. Kinda cool. If I keep it up, I'm this much closer to hermit life. The dream."

[spacelazarwolf]

That post you keep reblogging from nothorses about TERF radicalization is not only wrong in many points, but dangerously wrong, in a “this will actually create more TERFs” way. That’s what telling people that simply believing gender socialization is real is a “dangerous TERF idea” or whatever is. TERFs are wrong about gender socialization: there are not two universal, black and white kinds of it, it is complicated by a lot of other factors, including internal gender identity. But it’s a well documented sociological fact that gender plays a role in the socialization messages we get, and you can observe this even without reading that sociology: as an AFAB nonbinary person who did not get this particular socialization myself, I’ve noticed that pattern in just the amount that men vs women talk in my classroom — along with other factors that complicate socialization, like race/ethnicity, and likely ones I can’t read from my students, like parents’ political background. I first noticed that though as a college student myself reading about feminism. And I’ve been told by friends that indeed they were discouraged from asserting themselves while their brothers were not: that’s socialization. It’s very easy for me to imagine who is ignorant about trans issues, but trying to learn more, but sees a viral post like that claiming that “thing I’ve observed in reality with my own eyes” is wrong and hate-group-rhetoric and going “ok, well this person is denying something I know is true, so they can’t be right.” Do you see why that’s a problem? I know you’re just one person but you keep reblogging that post, about which this point is just one example among many similar errors in that list and… idk, I just thought you were better about this sort of thing, that you could see how ceding that much ground to TERFs does nothing but hurt us

tldr also i've literally talked abt my views on "socialization" before like 10 times.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alaina Demopoulos at The Guardian:

For Mikyla Page, keeping a three year-old daughter healthy is serious business. Before eating anything, the stay-at-home mom reads an ingredients list, staying away from artificial colors, flavors, dyes, and excess sugar. She doesn’t support vaccination, instead believing that “bathing in sunlight” will keep her family healthy, making sure her family gets outside every day to soak up vitamin D. At first, Page felt alone in her choices. “You’re called crazy for even questioning the medical field,” she said. “My intuition was telling me one thing, but the world was telling me something else. My husband was like, ‘Are you sure this is where you want to go?’ I just went with my gut.”

Now, with Robert F Kennedy Jr tapped by Donald Trump to oversee the Department of Health and Human Services, Page, who is 26 and lives in Utah, feels vindicated. Kennedy is well known for his history of pushing baseless health claims that sometimes veer into tinfoil hat territory – he’s said that chemicals in the water supply affect a child’s gender identity, and that Covid was “ethnically targeted” to spare Ashkenazi Jewish and Chinese people. He has also long advocated against vaccines, repeating the debunked claim made by the discredited British doctor Andrew Wakefield that the vaccines cause autism.

Kennedy’s supporters include an army of self-identified “crunchy moms” like Page, who are especially drawn to one proposal in particular: improving Americans’ diets and reeling in the processed food industry. In November, he accused major manufacturers of “poison[ing]” kids. Moms on social media adopted the hashtag #MAHA, which has been used in over 224,000 TikTok videos (Kennedy has promised to “make America healthy again” – a play on Donald Trump’s trademark slogan that’s often shortened to Maha). Anyone can consider themselves Maha, but mothers in particular have become its fiercest evangelists online, where they post videos explaining their politics while cooking dinner or resting a swaddled baby in their arms. Maha can be seen as the alliance of multiple health-focused subcultures. Along with crunchy moms, there are influencers and entrepreneurs who use the movement to peddle supposedly non-toxic brands of baby wipes or moisturizers. There are the chronically ill, who feel failed by the medical establishment. There are the yogis and wellness bros who believe that it’s possible to optimize your way to a better life, to heal oneself without the help of mainstream medicine. And then there is Trump – famously a McDonald’s lover, and not exactly the picture of health – and his supporters, who politicize Maha as a rallying cry against science-based elites.

But moms have a special place within the movement. They are the kinds of voters that the Democrats thought they had locked up when Kamala Harris ran on a history of prosecuting sex offenders and a platform of abortion rights. But, Page says, it was Kennedy who mad her feel legitimized for the first time. “It’s nice to have somebody backing you up, especially a male [such as Kennedy], because I feel like sometimes men take longer to catch on to these things since they don’t have a maternal instinct,” Page said. “It’s nice to have someone like Robert Kennedy and Trump to see these issues.” Page says she’s most excited for Kennedy to “crack down on dyes in food and helping the [Food and Drug Administration] regulate that”. One specific dye, the petroleum-based red 3 that’s ubiquitous in American junk food, may be banned by the FDA soon for use in food – it’s been banned in cosmetics since 1990 – since it has been found to be carcinogenic in animals. A number of Democrats, including the New Jersey congressman Frank Pallone, have sought to have the dye banned. The FDA’s current review is not related to Kennedy, though he is in favor of a ban.

[...] The past decade-plus has seen the rise of the momfluencer, women who project an impossible image of soft, mess-free, domestic bliss. They sell new mothers a fantasy – as well as promoting the products they say are required to attain it. These brands are always “non-toxic” or “organic”. Kennedy also uses this language, and his audience is primed to respond to it. Kennedy has also declared war on the “chronic illness epidemic”. Women are disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses such as depression, endometriosis, and Alzheimer’s, but doctors are less likely to listen to them. Kennedy’s promise to overhaul systems like the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention takes on a common enemy: the idea of a traditional doctor in a white lab coat. Maha women might have felt dismissed or gaslighted by this figure, so they root against the status quo and look for alternatives – no matter how untested, or potentially dangerous.

The Guardian has an informative story on how crunchy mom influencers are embracing the MAHA vision for America, but they aren't the only health-related subculture that has joined the RFK-MAHA ride.

[itwoodbeprefect]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 🤍

thank you!! ❤ sooo @actingcamplibrarian also sent me this one, and i'm going to take this opportunity to cheat (shamelessly!) and just. give another five fics. because there are more than ten of them on ao3, and because i can.

so again (mhuahaha), from five different fandoms, in no particular order:

-

Silly wrong but vivid right [sga, john/rodney]

i adore this now, but i went through a weird thing while writing it where i really loved the first half, and then i had to end it somehow and i came up with something that i didn't like very much, and i ended up posting it anyway because i still liked the first half a lot and felt it deserved to see the light of day. which is interesting to me because when i reread it now it doesn't feel wildly out of balance at all, and it all fits just fine, and i just still really really like the idea of 1) gay john getting some freedom and actually taking it, 2) rodney on the sidelines having Weird Feelings about it and drawing a very wrong conclusion, and 3) both of them still being idiots, at the end of the day.

-

Tell me the sky is falling now [starsky/hutch]

i like the way i opened this! and the way it ended too, and nearly all of what's in the middle. most of all though i like starsky Finding Out and being confused and maybe trying to freak out but hutch is right there, and he loves hutch, and he doesn't want to freak hutch out, and then he comes to some other conclusions, because it's hutch, and he's starsky, and that's the important part. this is one of those fics that i keep sort of almost rewriting in the sense that i have very similar ideas for a story and then have to try to figure out how to bend that new idea into a shape that's at least slightly unique so i don't actually end up writing a pale imitation of this one.

-

Cause if we’re all gonna die (Now’s the time to be alive) [h50, steve/danny]

in terms of my h50 fic this is definitely on the older side, but i still firmly stand by the headcanon behind this, i like that it has a good dosis of team banter, and it has some lines that i think of fondly from time to time, like this: He tumbles until he’s kissing Danny, awkwardly boxing Danny and his soft heat in against the cold and rough wall, not quite sure yet if this big bang is a creation myth or a mass extinction event. and, of course, taking the sappiness a step further still: Everything that comes after this point in time will forever be witnessed by eyes that have to send images off to be processed in a brain that also stores the memory of this kiss, which logically and inescapably prevents anything from ever being experienced the same as before.

-

Coming Up Aces [911, eddie/buck]

i don't know if i'd call this one a favorite writing-wise (at least overall - there are definitely parts that i do really like), but it does rank on a list of favorite fics i've written in the sense that, just. the way people connect with fic like this means something to me. and one of the things it means is that there should be more ace rep in (mainstream) media so people don't have to have these huge epiphany-like moments only while reading fic, but another is just feelings, big and warm and human.

-

Abandon your sad history (and meet me in the fire) [top gun, iceman/maverick]

top gun is A Movie, for sure, and i'd been trying to write some fic for it for a while when this finally came together. i loved playing with identities here, and the extended metaphors pretty much wrote themselves (iceman!), and every time i reread it and come to the line that mentions iceman is drinking an old fashioned while trying to fend off maverick's very queer advances i give myself a little pat on the back for subtle jokes.

[coraline-jones353]

Coraline Jones Headquarters 🐈‍⬛

Hey, Welcome to my blog! I just go by Coraline on here.

Requests

Henry Danger Master list

Henry Hart

Your ink adorns my skin Henry x reader soulmate au

Summary: In which the reader is an inspiring tattoo artist and draws on themselves for practice when bored in class. One day Henry has to switch classes mid period and sees them drawing exactly what is appearing on his skin, his favorite animal.

The Hottest guy on the team Henry x teammates sister!reader

Summary: What happens when Henry sees a competor flirting with his y/n. Will he finally admit his burning crush for his teammates sister or will he let her get flirted with right in front of him.

Wall dogs world Henry x walldog!reader

Summary: In which Kid Danger finds his soulmate in a rough wall dog. Will she give up her status on the team for her soulmate or will her soulmate force her away from him in an attempt to keep his identity hidden.

The true parents Ray x reader

Summary: At Henry's graduation party Y/n, his god mom comes to his party from out of town. Henry comes in late to his party and ofc his parents aren't worried, but Ray and Y/n are. Henry seizes the moment to get his actual parents off his back and to make them both happy, together.

Campsite Love Part 1 Henry x Reader

Summary: On a family trip to a campsite, you romanticize having a campsite love story. But this time it ends up coming true.

A Ceo's World Ray x CEO!Reader

Summary: Y/n is a single mother of a lovely young lady, melody. She's a big CEO in Swellview. She needs a particular object that can only be found at Junk n stuff for her daughters 10th birthday, or so she thought.

In the works...

Was it all a joke to you Henry x Mitch's sister!reader

Tournament Henry x Reader

My life with the Walter Brothers Masterlist

Alex Walter

2 part series: I'd love to dance with you (named reader)

Summary: After Jackie moved in with the Walters she really missed her best friend Evangeline. After hearing from Katherine that Jackie is having a hard time adjusting she thinks it's a good idea to pay her best friend a visit.

Part 1

Part 2

Cobra Kai Masterlist

Tory Nichols

The First Confession Tory x reader

Summary: Tory and Y/n have been dating for a year now. Y/n decided to invite Tory over to their house for a sleepover.

In the works...

Just get rid of him Tory x f!reader

My Body Guard at School Tory x f!reader

My Body Guard at a Concert Tory x f!reader

Holes Master list

So guess who's back? Lol

Last Chance Squid x f!reader

Summary: In which y/n was caught dealing on the street and sentenced to a camp for delinquents.

Only Girl in D cabin Squid x f!reader

Summary: In which the guys at first give her a hard time, but her and squid share some cute moments.

Shovel Exchange Squid x f!reader

Summary: In which Squid gives her his shovel since it's smaller. Him taking care of his girl.

First Day in the Hole Squid x f!reader

Summary: In which reader needs help because she can't get out of her hole. Squid comes to her rescue, though.

Brain Storm Squid x f!reader

Summary: In which the guys try to come up with a name for you. They start to pry into why you were sent here. And you read some of your book with squid.

I Call Dibs Man Squid x f!reader

Summary: In which Squid calls dibs on fairy, and has a long conversation about what's his.

[fencecompanynj]

Elevate Your Business with Effective Fence Installation

One of the most important ways through which a safe and professional business environment can be ensured is through proper fence installation Fairfield for your commercial property. While providing a sense of security, it maintains clear boundaries, and safety, and beautifies the surroundings of the business altogether. Whether it is a retail store, an office complex, or an industrial site, most of the investments in good quality fencing pay for themselves as added merits in the form of enhancement in the property value or peace of mind.

This blog will list out some common materials for commercial properties, some customization options that give you the flexibility to meet your specific requirements for the fence, maintenance requirements for various types of fencing, and the best way of securing your fence installation in Fairfield.

Exploring Fencing Materials for Commercial Properties

Now when it comes to your commercial property and the kind of fencing material you would like to have installed, you'll find a great number of choices. Each one comes with a set of advantages and considerations, so you can choose the right one that fits well with your needs and requirements. Chain link fencing is very common for most businesses because it's cost-effective and visible. It provides security yet contains clear views, which is pretty ideal for industrial areas or sites where monitoring is essential.

Wooden fencing is more conventional and aesthetically pleasing. It offers excellent privacy features and can be molded to match the architectural style of your business for a great appearance. But, you must continue to spend money on maintenance. Vinyl fencing is low maintenance. Vinyl fades and cracks slowly, and the material can offer durability for years.

Aluminum and steel fencing will entail maximum security with a classy outlook. The materials used are robust and resistant to rust. They also contain various designs that can further beautify the structure. Electric fencing may also be installed depending on the property requirements and needs to perform the highest level of security, especially in risky areas.

Customizing Your Commercial Fence

Commercial fencing can be very flexible. Any company that wants to have an identity may achieve it using a customized fence. Any favorite color, the particular height you wish, and even your preferred style can be met using different materials. For instance, a wood fence can be stained or painted to fit in according to the colors your brand uses; aluminum fencing can be designed in different ways that would fit your business's aesthetic.

For one, personalization can be taken to more functionalities in security. Adding gates, access control systems, and even ornamental decorations would not only serve this function but also beautify and functionalize it. In working with a professional fencing contractor, one could go through every available option to ensure that the fence will blend well with your brand identity as well as serve its practical purposes.

Maintenance for Different Types of Commercial Fencing

Regular maintenance will preserve the integrity and look of your commercial fence. The materials also come with varied upkeep requirements. Chain link fencing is minimal upkeep but does require a regular check on rust and wear for longevity. On the other hand, wood fencing is pleasingly beautiful but comes with a cost that has to be stained and sealed regularly to keep out moisture and pests.

Vinyl fencing is one of the easiest options to maintain. A simple wash with soap and water can keep it looking fresh, and it does not require painting or staining. For aluminum and steel fencing, occasional inspections for scratch Vinyl fencing are perhaps the least demanding to maintain. It can be kept looking fresh by a simple wash of soap and water, with no need for painting or staining. For aluminum and steel fencing, one should periodically inspect for scratches or rust spots in order not to forfeit their appearance and prevent corrosion.es or rust spots are recommended to maintain their appearance and prevent corrosion.

By committing to a maintenance schedule tailored to your fencing material, you can prolong its life and enhance the overall appeal of your commercial property.

Enhancing the Security of Your Commercial Fence

Security is among the biggest concerns for most entrepreneurs, and one can further the security of your business fence in several ways. This begins with the height of the fence and its design. A taller fence will keep trespassers away, while designs that do not allow for easy climbing will add to the security. Installing barbed wire or razor wire can add greater protection to your industrial sites.

Another very effective approach would be incorporating access control systems, such as gates with locks or keypad entry. Strategically mounted security cameras throughout the property could monitor the activity while working as deterrents against criminal behavior. Proper lighting is also important to illuminate the fence line so that, in addition to making it uncomfortable for intruders to arrive without notice, it fosters a safer and more secure environment for employee and customer utilization.

Investing in quality fence installation in Fairfield will enhance the security, safety, and beauty of your commercial property. Diversification of fencing material, customization of the fence design, knowing the maintenance requirements, and security upgrades will create a solution for you that fits your business needs. A well-installed fence is not just a boundary; it is a critical investment in the success and safety of your commercial operations. Best Gate and Fence specializes in providing quality solutions in fencing according to client needs, making sure that their business is secure and well-groomed.

For more insights on how to protect both your commercial and residential properties, be sure to check out our next article, Secure Your Business and Home with Expert Fence Installation in Fairfield. It offers valuable tips on choosing the right fence for all your needs—don’t miss it!

[ravenspeakrp]

Welcome to Raven’s Peak, Dusto, we’re excited to have you. Victor Morgrave (Paul Wesley, Original Vampire) has been accepted. Please be sure to stop by the CHECKLIST for the follow list, tags to track, and other reminders.

FULL NAME: Victor Morgrave SPECIES: Original Vampire AGE: Old old old DATE OF BIRTH: November 13th GENDER IDENTITY: Cis-male NEIGHBORHOOD: Hidden Hills OCCUPATION: Vineyard owner and winemaker WORKPLACE:  The White Willow Winery and Vineyard POSITIVE TRAITS: Compassionate, Generous, Loyal NEGATIVE TRAITS: Stubborn, Burdened, Discontented LENGTH OF TIME IN RAVEN’S PEAK: For longer than vampires have walked the earth FACE CLAIM: Paul Wesley 

BIOGRAPHY

TRIGGER WARNING: Death, war

The time before the change to his family that would go on to have a ripple effect on the rest of the supernatural world doesn’t feel like it belongs to Victor Morgrave. The parts that he remembers, which are almost exclusively limited to the moments shared with the people who are still around from that time, namely his siblings, are hazy and indistinct. He remembers particular feelings he had better than specific instances, but even those are merely echoes of what they were at the time, and really, it’s understandable; when one has been alive so long that they lost track of just how long it’s been several lifetimes ago, well, it’s difficult to keep in touch with who you used to be.

For Victor, that’s probably just as well, because who he was back then isn’t someone he would want to remember being today. A brash, arrogant young man with the power of divinity in the palm of his hand made for someone who could be less than pleasant to deal with. Certainly he could be charming when he wanted to be, but he really only was when it suited him. Behind closed doors, he believed himself and his siblings to be better than all others, champions of the divine, and he was prepared to go on a crusade of faith to take control of everything when the time was right, even if his siblings weren’t yet convinced of his mission. Of the four Morgrave siblings, it was he who lobbied hardest to go through with the plan to split the stone and take a portion of its power all for themselves, hoping to use it to make his vision for a world ruled by faith a reality; it was a decision that would ultimately bring him an unbearable amount of guilt in the centuries that followed.

After the change, Victor was left with nothing. The god, who he had believed himself so completely to be a chosen champion of, had shunned him and taken everything away, not just from him, but from his entire family. The power he had been so arrogant in being the master of was gone, and had been replaced by new power that was dark, and unnatural. But worst of all, was what it did to his siblings. As selfish and arrogant as he had been, Victor had always cared deeply for his siblings, and to see what the change did to them, particularly his elder brother, was worse than anything that had happened to him. And when his brother left town and left a trail of bodies in his wake, Victor was quick to follow, desperate to repair the damage he’d played such a big part in causing.

In the time that he was in pursuit of the elder Morgrave, Victor underwent a significant change. His guilt drove him to do better, to be better, and as he found himself cleaning the messes that his brother had left behind, he also found himself wanting to do whatever he could to help those who needed it. When he did finally catch up to his brother, it was as a person that was almost entirely unrecognizable from the person he had once been, and though it was far from easy, he was able to bring his older brother back into himself, before they went their separate ways again.

After so many years spent chasing down his brother, Victor found himself not knowing what to do now that he had achieved what he’d set out to do, and so he returned home for the first time since he’d left. What he found was that, in his absence, war had broken out between the supernatural species that had come to be from the Original Families, and he was all too willing to step in with the others to bring peace back to the region through a truce. He had no desire to watch the world be torn apart by the creatures he’d had a hand in bringing into existence, and so he stayed in Raven’s Peak to help maintain the peace. 

These days, Victor finds himself growing tired of eternity. He’s been alive for so long that there is very little left that he has yet to experience. Within the last century, he’s traveled all across the world, having taken in each and every new experience that he could find. Before that, he spent several centuries mastering every conceivable skill there is to master, and while he found his true calling in wine making during this process, even that has lost some of its luster from doing it for as long as he has. And even after all this time, he still carries the guilt with him, though he can hardly remember why he feels it by this point. He spends less and less time in Raven’s Peak all the time, and more and more time searching the world for one of two things: either something that will undo the curse of eternity that has been placed upon him, and allow him to finally move on, or else something that will convince him that living for eternity is still worth wanting.  

EXTRAS.

FILLING CONNECTION: yes - Morgrave Family Original Vampire INSPIRATIONS: N/A. 

[lorbanery]

Not me subtweeting another youtube video

Listen

One of the things that I really really appreciated about Hbomberguy's plagiarism video was his pointing out that sometimes people lie because of the attention it gets them. Which is something that a lot of people seem to, like, willfully ignore.

Like, back in the mid-00's there was a common phrase people threw around on the internet: "Why would anyone lie about being [oppressed identity]?" Usually followed up by a sarcastic list of the "benefits" of being said identity, which was just a list of the bigotry people with said identity face.

This argument always rubbed me the wrong way, for two reasons. 1) Pretending to be something you're not on the internet is (and was especially back then) really easy, as easy as saying "I'm [identity]". Any bigotry they might face online is, under normal circumstances, much easier to disengage from. And, crucially, just because they're presenting themselves in one way online doesn't even come close to meaning that they're doing the same thing IRL. 2) In the right circles? It actually does come with benefits! Folks with marginalized identities are often given a bit more grace, they're given sympathy, they're treated as experts in subjects surrounding that identity, and, in some cases and again in the right circles, they might be treated as just a little bit special or unique. And like yeah, that's kind of rooted in bigotry, the idea that being something other than cis, het, white, able-bodied makes you ~*Special*~, but that's beside the point.

This attitude that, unless money was involved somehow, there's no possible thing that anyone could get out of lying is so prevalent to this day that hearing HBG push back against it even gently even briefly was a huge breath of fresh air.

Because of course it's not about money! Or at least not entirely. If all Somerton had wanted to do was become rich off of low-effort content, he could've just started a shitty reaction channel where he just watches Tiktoks and makes the :O face the entire time. But no, the other thing he wanted was community and more than that, to be a respected figure in said community. He fashioned himself an intellectual with a lot of community-specific knowledge and Correct Opinions. He specifically courted an audience who would look up to him for that and brutally attacked anyone who threatened it. It was the status and respect as much as anything else that he sought out.

Now why am I rehashing all this.

Because I was watching this video about a guy who was considered one of the greatest players in the world of a particular video game until people caught him cheating.

I don't really want to go into too many specifics because it's not important. But the narrator of the video wrapped it up by wondering why the cheater did what he did, why he spent 4 years and so much time and energy faking his play footage. Because he only made a couple thousand dollars and it isn't a very popular gaming community.

And while I was listening to this, I was just sitting there and wondering if the narrator had actually listened to his own script, because it seems so obvious to me.

The cheater was a teenager when he posted his first legit video and it garnered a lot of attention from some very high-level players in the community. He spent the next few years legitimately collabing in person with some of those people, and uploading faked game footage. It barely took any time at all for him to be declared the greatest player in the world.

You see where I'm going with this, right?

Like, being a teenager is fucking lonely for a lot of people. It's isolating on a profound level, even for those of us who actually had a relatively good experience in high school. I don't find it odd at all that a teenager who was suddenly inundated with excited comments from a small but passionate community telling him how great he was and inviting him into their spaces would then start fudging some shit to keep their attention and praise until it gets way out of hand.

The fact that the second he was caught without a shadow of a doubt, he deleted his videos save for the explanation video he made, deleted his social media, refunded the money he did "earn", and just left the community. Because what's the point when he's clearly lost all of their respect. Because if there had been any other reason for him doing it, he might have tried a little harder to come up with reasons why the oddities that were noticed were actually just video glitches or his software acting up or whatever.

But no, the community and the support were what was important, so when he lost that, of course he just disappeared.

And you know what? I might be completely wrong, at the end of the day neither I nor the youtuber knows what was going through this guy's head.

But it also leaves a bad taste in my mouth for the subject of this video — a guy who was a teenager for the majority of his transgressions — to be treated the same as a grown ass man in achiever of their videos who appears to lie like it's his favorite hobby that he can't put down and has been lying about his video game accomplishments for like forty years and has garnered things like professionally produced documentaries about him because of those alleged accomplishments.

[trothplighted]

it’s very easy to go “you can be in the fandom but [list of things that OP has deemed Too Problematic]”, it solves the problem instantly in people’s minds.

but it’s not actually that simple.

first, as mentioned above, most people who are anti-HP-fandom hold that position because they have been personally hurt by HP fans including anti-Joanne fans. most of them are very clear that they don’t think “I like the books but I hate her” is a reasonable position to hold, and that they see us as just as transphobic, and they want us to completely remove all evidence of our fandom from our lives out of respect for their feelings. even fandom conversations criticizing Joanne’s choices is bad, by this metric, because it’s continuing to engage with a thing that they perceive as irrevocably tainted.

this is to an extent a reasonable boundary - people you associate with shouldn’t talk about things that hurt you. I don’t talk about HP on my main blog except to vent, because I don’t want people engaging with me there to be hurt, and I have friends and acquaintances who do not ever want to see anything to do with it ever again and who do fully believe that continuing to associate with it in any capacity even as a fan is the same as supporting Joanne. I don’t agree with them, but I respect their pain and their positions and I am somewhat private as a result.

but it’s also creating an environment where people feel they have to have a degree of guilt if they’re going to keep being in the fandom, and I don’t think that’s helpful at all. I like a book series from about 20 years ago written by a woman who nosedived into open hatred and bigotry over a decade after she finished writing those books. I am choosing for myself what that means and what my personal responsibility is. If the fandom were smaller, I’d definitely be a lot more overt in my “DO NOT ENGAGE” stance, but there are hundreds of millions of fans who never consider Joanne’s transphobia when they consider HP (sometimes because they’re bigots themselves, sometimes because they don’t know, sometimes because they’ve decided that liking a thing isn’t supporting the author’s positions). I am therefore choosing how to act for myself, and my responsibility to my own community, not for the sake of assuaging guilt. If I’m guilty I’m going to stop engaging. If I think that what I’m doing is materially harmful, I’m going to stop engaging. I ask myself that all the time, and I’m all right with the answer changing.

I spend money all the time for necessity and for entertainment and most of that money goes to pad the pockets of people who are equally as transphobic as Joanne, and are far richer. I like books written by people who are more prejudiced than she is, and feel no guilt paying for them and taking the good along with the bad. I don’t go out of my way to spend money on Joanne’s stuff in ways that will benefit her (fan merch and thrifting/secondhand is another story, and I’m particular about that kind of thing) and won’t encourage or allow others to buy things for me. I don’t want my dollars going to her. But I’m not interested in apologizing for liking what is unfortunately her world. I’d still choose to live in it over this one. I’m also not guilty over the prospect of anticipating some of the new show being good or interesting.

the postscript is, I suppose, that I am forever reminded that white people are brand new to navigating the question of “this author/filmmaker wants everyone like me dead, and actively advocates for my destruction, but fuck, that story slaps”. I’m really uninterested in waving my Identity Labels around because I’m too old for that and fundamentally uninterested in proving myself but lol. lmao even. this is not a new problem. L. Frank Baum’s Oz stories are written by a guy who was really really in favor of manifest destiny and indigenous genocide and Civilizing The Savages. don’t even get me started on basically every English author ever and their overt antisemitism. You just have to live with liking something written by someone who wants you dead. Sorry. No escaping that. You can’t outrun the world’s brokenness no matter how hard you try, you can only fix it with your little pot of spackle and your roll of FlexTape.

ultimately the problem I personally have with a lot of the collective shaming and guilt-tripping re: engaging with/discussing/possibly watching the upcoming Max series by my fellow Joanne-critical or anti-Joanne members of the fandom is that for a lot of people, who all have very valid points, “I’m in the fandom but I’m twisting myself into knots to avoid direct association with Joanne and here are all my lines in the sand but I’m not dumping this story for you” isn’t actually a reasonable position to hold

I’m not personally ashamed of my decision to engage with this imperfect text made by a deeply problematic woman (across multiple axes), and I don’t think I’m behaving in a way that’s harmful to my trans siblings, but it would be unhelpful and hurtful for me to act as if people who will block this blog for discussing HP at all are wrong. I’m talking about a thing that hurts them. Now, I take care to avoid going out of my way to cause undue harm - I keep my discussion on a dedicated sideblog, only reblog from people who are all right with HP blogs discussing and discoursing with them, I tag all of my stuff, and I’m clear that I don’t like or support Joanne. But for a lot of people that isn’t enough, and won’t ever be enough, and I’m able to respect that. I don’t agree with some of the positions they hold, but I respect their pain, and give them a wide berth. I’ve made my choice and they’ve made theirs; who’s right in this situation is less clear-cut than many assume.

I see a lot of fans, especially younger fans, acting as if they can personally distance themselves from Joanne. “I’m not an HP fan I’m a Marauders fan, it’s it’s own fandom by now,” etc. First, no it’s not, and second, even if it were its own fandom it’s still tied and rooted to Joanne’s books. It wouldn’t exist without them. You can like Star Trek: The Next Generation without liking TOS but TOS must exist for TNG to exist. You are going to be doing harm to someone by liking this stuff at all. (I don’t think that harm is always a rational one - I think plenty of emotions are valid, and understandable, but I think a lot of conclusions reached by the more determined anti-HP-fandom people on this site are motivated primarily by those emotions and not by an objective measurement of harm (if I didn’t think that, I wouldn’t be comfortable having a whole fan blog about these books). As a result my primary focus wrt those people is to avoid hurting them and letting them block me and disengage from me without making that a question of personal guilt.) You aren’t necessarily “better” than someone choosing to pirate (or even legally watch) the upcoming show if your concern is avoidance of a problematic thing or personal innocence. We are all engaging with something that’s tainted forever by association, and can only rely on ourselves to settle our consciences. Unlike HP there is no measurement of morality that centers on who you are, there’s just good things and bad things and things that are somewhere in between.

[halfbakedpolymath]

At the risk of hitting a hornets nest, here is my two cents about the whole who-can-use-crip-punk debate.

To the 'physical only' side: Yes, you are gatekeeping. The desire is understandable but it's really not a good idea. I can't put my finger on it right now but so much of the stuff I've seen from this side makes me feel very uncomfortable. The line between physical and mental disorders does not exist for starters. Someone who needs mild glasses is technically physically disabled but imo has waaaaay less right to the term than say, someone who is schizophrenic. I think splitting things up is unhelpful especially if you start policing, but if you're gonna go for divisions then you need to be more accurate and talk about mobility impaired or chronic illness or chronic pain. What about memory problems? Dexterity problems? Learning difficulties?

Also like, infighting harms us all? Even if you're right what are you gaining by this discussion?

To the 'ND can reclaim crip punk' side: You need to be respectful and you need to self police. The movement is not about you. You are welcome at the table! But depending on the discussion and depending on where you exist along the physical Vs mental spectrum (because it's not black and white) you need to take a back seat and decentre yourself. Realise that you're here in part as the target group and in part as a sibling invited to the table. You can and should listen to our perspectives! You can and should use that to inform your insights into your own disorders! You can and should feel welcome and safe! BUT. You should know your experiences aren't universal. You should know the discussion is centred on physical disability and that there are other spaces more focused on mental health, and you should act accordingly. You should not talk over the people who the space is for. You're an ally, a sibling, a partial member, and you need to use judgement and tact. As for reclaiming the word itself? Honestly just use your best judgement. Even I, a physically disabled person, only feel partial ownership over the term, because I'm not the type of physically disabled it would traditionally have been used for.

Imo your personal us of terms and how they relate to your person is individual. But you do have a responsibility to not derail the original purpose, not centre yourself, not change the meanings involved.

The movement is centred on physical disability. If you feel you belong here, you belong here. You (and others) don't need to know specifically if that's as a full or partial member, or as a sibling or ally. But you need to be aware that those distinctions are floating about and try to be respectful of them.