#and also learn that like...... that's an option????? you can do that?????

[ifishouldvanish]

"I just use xyz browser instead" - Edge, Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, etc, etc are all Chromium-based browsers. Just about every other browser is using Chromium (a Google product) under the hood. Firefox is one of the exceedingly few that does not (uses Gecko). Safari uses Webkit, Apple's proprietary engine.

"I don't want to lose all my bookmarks/passwords" - Virtually every browser will prompt you to import this stuff upon installation, Firefox included.

"It's (visually) clunky" - When is the last time you actually used Firefox? It has effectively the same UI as Chrome. You control whether or not to show the bookmarks bar, which shortcut icons to display in the corner, etc.:

"It can't handle my 239829 tabs" - There countless extensions available for managing large numbers of tabs: Sidebery, Simple Tab Groups, Panorama Tab Groups, and Container Tab Groups, just to name a few. (But also maybe learn how to use bookmarks effectively instead of relying on tabs?? your hardware will thank you)

"I like to have my bookmarks and history synced with my phone/other devices" - Firefox can do that. You just need to create an account with an email and password. That's it. Once you've logged into the browser on a device, it's set-and-forget. You will NOT have to log back in every 30 days or anything like that.

"But the browser search bar does a Google search anyway" - You can configure this. Don't like any of the options? You can add more.

"The performance isn't as good" - By a few metrics, sure. But as someone whose job it is to literally build websites and apps, I can assure you that for the vast majority of people there is no noticeable difference. I use Chrome for one (1) mobile web app where Firefox struggles and that's it.

"YouTube/[insert website here] blocks Firefox" - You can trick any website into thinking you're using another browser with a User Agent Switcher extension.

"But can I do all of this on mobile?" - If you're on iOS, you're shit out of luck. But otherwise, yes. All (or at least most) of these extensions can be added to the Firefox mobile app for android, including our beloved uBlock Origin.

"Firefox sucks" "firefox is clunky" "firefox doesn't work" with all due respect what the fuck are you talking about

[lilliankoo]

play you like a game, boy.

antagonist jungkook x princess reader

0/8🗡️ satin ribbon.

pairing: antagonist! tribe leader jungkook x princess reader.

trope: "he's mean to everyone but worships the ground you walk on", will absolutely do anything for you, strangers to lovers.

synopsis: he looks like an angel but is a devil- well that's what your kingdom thinks. he is also the blessed leader of tribe "lav"; even a leaf cannot move without his permission but here he was in-front of you on his knees. while the whole tribe bows to him- he only bows to you. now, there are two paths presented to you- marry him & return his love or refuse & watch him conquer your father's kingdom. power is an evil yet a tempting apple-and now its in your hands- are you going to take a bite; taste the sweet poison or will you use it to tempt others? its an evil world with evil options.. do you think you can handle him?

warnings: tbd, different for every chapter. overall, smut, age gap (jk is 25 and y/n is 23), blood, rituals!!! (not too bad but still) threats, power dynamics, use of power, tribes, tribe rituals (i made them up :p), weapons, lovesick puppy heart eyed insanely in love jk, possessive jk, slightly controlling jk (not too bad), him spoiling his princess aka you, will add more as series progress.

—————

While humming one of the lullabies she used to sing to you as a child, your mother finishes tying the pink ribbon in your hair. She reaches for the brush on the dresser and runs it through your hair one last time. She gazes at you, more like your reflection in the mirror, before placing her brush-clad hand on your shoulder. As you stare at her, your brows are furrowed, and your lips are pursed.

Your mother makes eye contact and adds, "You dread me now, but trust me, you’ll thank me later." "How can you treat your own daughter like this?" you ask her, grief heavy in your voice. Yet, for some reason, you've given up fighting. You’ve made the choice not to yell or cry about your mother's heartless decision.

Being the only daughter of the King of Mir Konvo, you truly have no other choice. Yesterday, you learned that you are being "offered" to Jeon Jungkook, the head of the Forest Tribe, who is more powerful than your father's entire empire and known as the most formidable man alive.

The Lav Forest completely encloses your kingdom of Mir Konvo. While Jeon Jungkook rules the entire Lav Forest, your father reigns over Mir Konvo, which is also known as the "heart of Lav" since it's nestled right in the middle of the forest. For hundreds of years, your kingdom and Jeon’s forest were tied by a pact—an agreement that allowed your people to use the forest trail to conduct trade with other kingdoms, with no involvement from the Jeon tribe. In exchange, the Jeon tribe requested only grains and gold as payment. This arrangement has held for years, but Jeon Jungkook, the current head of the tribe, has shattered it. He now demands your hand in marriage. If you refuse, he will seal all pathways leading to Mir Konvo, seize control of your kingdom, and assassinate your father.

The entire country is aware of the Lav Forest's goddess blessing on the Jeon tribe. Centuries ago, when an enemy tribe destroyed Lav, the Devti goddess blessed the last surviving members of the Jeon tribe, declaring that no man would ever be able to defeat or oppose them. Naturally, your father signed the treaty and began the "preparations" for your marriage out of fear.

Now, back to your question: Your mother sighs and stands before you. She holds your shoulders and whispers quietly, "Listen to me, and listen very carefully. No man can resist a woman in this world. There is a reason someone as powerful as him would want to marry you. Take advantage of this, dominate him, break him, and make it impossible for him to live without you." The venom in her words is palpable. Her jaw is clenched, and her hands are digging into your shoulders. You understand exactly what she means. You pay close attention to her words, thinking about them over and over. Looking at your frightened expression, your mother asks, "Do you understand?" You take a cautious breath and nod hesitantly in agreement.

————————————————————————

The entire palace is adorned with white flowers. The orchestra plays a light tune—the atmosphere is serene, yet tense. Everyone displays their fake contentment, but in reality, everyone is scared—even you. Your father stands near the window, looking outside. His crown is absent, and his royal mantle no longer hangs on his shoulders. From his disheveled hair to the dark circles under his eyes, it’s clear he is distressed. You walk over and stand by his side.

"What’s on your mind, Father?" you ask.

Your father sighs deeply and looks at you. "He is an evil man. Your mother is not seeing this—"

His words are abruptly cut off by your mother's voice. "I’m doing this for the safety of the kingdom! No man can defeat him. You’ll die if you stand against him!" she shouts at your father. "You’re not seeing this through my eyes. Nothing will happen to Y/N," your mother adds, maintaining eye contact with him. You stand there, confused, watching the encounter unfold between them. Your father drops his head and nods at your mother. He doesn’t speak but looks at you.

The moment is interrupted when a soldier runs in to inform your father that it’s time to leave. Another condition Jungkook proposed was that the marriage would take place in the forest lav, with only three people allowed to attend—your father, your mother, and you.

That's how you find yourself in a carriage with your parents. Your mother is impeccably dressed, while your father dresses modestly. The commute to the Lav Forest isn’t long, and within three hours, your carriage reaches the entrance gate of Lav village. You step out, and your mother quickly helps you adjust your skirts and dresses.

There’s no man in sight to receive your family. Your father scans the area, searching for any members of the Jeon tribe, but he sees no one. The atmosphere is unnervingly quiet and serene. The leaves rustle, and the wind lightly breezes through the air.

"The carriage stays here. Come," a sudden voice calls from behind you. You turn to see a man, no older than 25, dressed in leather and furs, with a spear in his left hand and long hair reaching his back. He is incredibly handsome—you can’t deny it. He looks at you, then motions for your father to follow him. You and your parents follow him into the village. The path is smooth and clear, as if it were purposefully prepared for your comfort.

After ten minutes of walking, huts and houses begin to appear. You can see people peeking at your family through their windows—some whispering, others cryptically smiling in your direction. In the distance, you see a platform surrounded by a crowd. The stage-like platform is only a few feet higher than the ground and has two chairs at its center. Some people stand on it, engaged in serious conversations, while others laugh.

You and your parents stand a few feet away, waiting for instructions. You intertwine your hand with your father’s and squeeze it.

Suddenly, the voices of people laughing and talking around you halt- everyone around you kneels, including your parents. Thats when you see the leader, your future husband, jungkook walking towards you. Out of instinct and fear, you bend your knees to bow as well. But then, someone grabs both your shoulders, forcing you to stand upright. You look up in confusion and meet his eyes. The anger is gone, replaced by something softer—love and affection. Without warning, Jungkook drops to his knees in front of you and bows. The entire village was bowing to him while he remains on his knees for you.

your just about to speak when Jungkook speaks up: "The first time I saw you, I was entranced. Seeing you made me lose sleep, and I chanted your name like a prayer. You are educated, beautiful, and I knew your father would never marry you to someone like me, i did not have any other choice, don’t hate me for this, I’m just a man in love."

Your breath hitches because you don’t know what to do. Having a powerful man like Jungkook on his knees in front of you, confessing his love, is overwhelming. Your hands shake as you reach for his shoulders, gently guiding him to his feet. Jungkook rises to his full height, towering over you.

He cradles your jaw affectionately in both hands and kisses your forehead. You’re confused and scared—confused because he isn’t as terrifying as he’s made out to be, and scared because he’s too close. You avoid his gaze and look around. Everyone is still kneeling, and you feel uncomfortable. You glance at him, then at the others still bowing. Surprisingly, he understands.

"Everyone, stand up!" he commands, and the crowd quickly rises to their feet.

He turns to you and your parents, smiling. "Shall we begin the rituals?"

————————————————————————

NEXT: chapter 1: posting on march 2nd

————————————————————————

💌: yalll haiiii, yes its me, yes i deleted this fic previously, yes im posting it again. yes.

[psychhound]

announcing spiritkeep: a therapeutic ttrpg

howdy all! some big announcements!!!

first, im nearing the end of my master's program, studying rhetoric and writing, games, and educational psychology. im about halfway done with my thesis, and figured it was time to make an announcement …

my thesis, entitled "designing ​spiritkeep​: therapeutically applied RPGs as a discourse community" is … about what it says on the tin :) in it, I look at the practice of TA-RPGs, which are TTRPGs run for the express purpose of inducing therapeutic growth. TA-RPGs are usually run by a clinician, like a therapist or counselor, or a certified therapeutic game master. my thesis is looking at the needs of therapeutic game masters as a community and asking … what do they need from TTRPGs that isn't currently available?

the thesis takes concepts from rhetoric, linguistics, game studies, literature studies, psychology, and more to ask the question … what would a TTRPG specifically designed for therapeutic use look like? i examine concepts like bleed, close to home characters, dramatic rehearsal, performative speech acts, fixed vs growth mindsets, information processing theory, and more. i also look at criteria set forth by current TA-RPG practitioners for what makes a good TA-RPG, and examine five current games against those criteria. then, i put together the research into a foundation for spiritkeep, a dedicated TA-RPG

spiritkeep is designed around the goal of helping teens and adults heal from complex trauma

that said, its perfectly suitable for a homegame as well, as long as everyone is on the same page and approaches it with the mindset of collaborative growth. all in all, it's still going to be a fun game and a good TTRPG!!

in spiritkeep, you play as a smalltown taskforce with the shared goal of restoring your currently struggling community to a thriving state. you go out on missions like finding resources, diplomacy with neighboring cities, researching ecological problems, and more, while you slowly make your town a better place to live. spiritkeep includes collaborative worldbuilding, a large assortment of playbook options like the Wayfarer, the Knight, the Ghost, or the Shepherd (all designed to hit where it hurts, at least a little!), and a brand new system inspired by PBtA, FitD, BOB, WoD, and more. while the game is designed around grappling with identity and learning how to grow, it can also get a bit tactical and crunchy!! the new dice mechanic makes you think on your feet with every roll

this announcement is also to say that i am beginning the initial crowdfunding of the game through itch. right now, im trying to raise funds to pay the fee to my school to make my thesis open access, meaning anyone can read it. then, remaining funds will go towards things like resources, consultants, art for the kickstarter, and everything else i need to get this project off the ground. ideally, ill be able to team with a publisher to cover the logistics of business while i can focus on the game itself. once the game is finished, there will still be plenty of playtesting, consulting, and other work to do. but!!! this post marks my first steps towards what has been my dream for years now

this sale is how im starting the funding process. it includes the zine preview of my thesis, covering my chapter outline and big concepts, and also my first TA-RPG: with breath & sword, a solo game to help players calm down from anxiety. both items have community copies available: please feel free to grab one if you can't contribute !!

questions, comments, or partnership offers can be sent to psychhoundgames @ gmail(.)com

thanks y'all!!! wish me luck!!!! 🥰🥰🥰

[a-d-nox]

how can you glow up: your 7h - relationships and balance within them

still following my hypothesis of how you can glow up using your venus persona? it's time to take a closer look at your 7h!

paid reading options: astrology menu & cartomancy menu

enjoy my work? help me continue creating by tipping on ko-fi or paypal. your support keeps the magic alive!

7h aries (1°, 13°, 25°), 7h mars, and/or mars aspecting 7h ruler

setting and maintaining healthy boundaries

avoid asserting dominance: being direct is fine, but ensure your heard and understood shouldn't mean overpowering your partner’s needs.

balance independence with being a team: i know you value your freedom, but healthy relationships require mutual consideration and everyone's favorite word *compromise*.

don’t rush into commitment: often this energy can led towards being impulsive - take your time to evaluate whether any relationship you enter aligns with your long-term needs.

recognize when conflict is unnecessary: not every disagreement has to be a fight - learn to pick your battles wisely.

how to improve communication

express your desires without aggression: your passion is your strength, but delivery matters; approach every conversation with clarity, not force.

practice active listening (and patience): "aries goes first" - not necessarily... let your partner fully express themselves before you respond; avoid interrupting out of impatience.

be mindful of reactive tendencies: slow down before responding to avoid saying things in the heat of the moment that you might come to regret.

embrace vulnerability: not every conversation has to be a debate - sharing emotions openly builds deeper connections.

how to attract balanced partnerships

seek partners who match your energy but also ground you: a mix of excitement and stability creates the healthiest dynamic.

avoid overly passive partners: you need someone who can keep up with you, not someone who lets you full on take control of every situation.

seek relationships built on mutual passion and respect: you thrive in partnerships where both people are equally invested and independent.

be open to different love styles: just because someone expresses love differently than you do doesn’t mean they are less devoted.

how to become more confident in relationships

own your assertiveness: you know what you want, and that’s powerful - your confidence will come when you embrace this without fearing this power will ruin your relationships (that being said balance assertiveness with control (don't succumb to being overly controlling within your relationships)).

let go of the need to prove yourself: you don’t need to be “the best” in/at relationships; love isn’t a competition.

trust that the right person won’t see your fire as “too much”: your intensity will be attractive when matched with the right person.

learn to identify what you deserve

relationships where you feel free yet supported: you need both your autonomy and a deep connection.

a partner who values your drive, not one who competes with you or tries to put you down: someone who encourages your ambitions rather than challenges your authority.

excitement without unnecessary chaos/fights/argument: love can be passionate and spontaneous without being dramatic or unstable.

a partner who respects your strength but also sees your softer side and knows when to support you: emotional security is just as important as adventure.

7h gemini (3°, 15°, 27°), 7h mercury, and/or mercury aspecting 7h ruler

setting and maintaining healthy boundaries

avoid superficial connections: it’s likely very easy for you to keep things light, but deeper emotions/conversations are necessary for real intimacy.

balance social time with personal time: you thrive on interaction, but ensure you’re not overextending yourself in relationships.

set limits: make sure both you and your partner respect each other.

be clear about your expectations: ambiguity can lead to misunderstandings, so express your needs openly and directly.

how to improve communication

be mindful of overanalyzing: not every conversation needs to be dissected.

avoid deflecting with humor or distraction: playfulness is one thing, but true communication requires depth and honesty. so focus and try to read the room.

practice active listening: immerse yourself fully instead of thinking about your response.

express your emotions clearly: love isn’t just about words - allow yourself to feel your emotions, not just explain them.

how to attract balanced partnerships

look for partners who stimulate your mind but ground you: lntellectual chemistry is key for you, but emotional security is equally important.

avoid partners who are too rigid or overly possessive: you need freedom given this airy influence to explore ideas and connections without feeling confined.

choose relationships that allow for variety and spontaneity: routine-driven partner may not suit you long term.

look for someone who communicates: these people's relationships thrive when both partners are curious, expressive, and engaged.

how to become more confident in relationships

own your adaptability: your ability to see different perspectives makes you a dynamic and engaging partner - you are anything but boring. know that.

trust that depth doesn’t mean loss of autonomy: real intimacy can exist alongside independence and exploration. just because you feel locked in doesn't mean you aren't your own person.

commitment doesn’t equal monotony: long-term relationships can still be exciting and full of surprises especially if you are with the right person.

learn to identify what you deserve

communication and mental connection: deep conversations and shared curiosity keep your love alive - there is nothing wrong with that.

freedom to explore: you deserve space to express yourself without feeling boxed in.

someone who understands and embraces your duality: you deserve a partner who appreciates both your playful and serious sides.

7h cancer (4°, 16°, 28°), 7h moon, and/or moon aspecting 7h ruler

setting and maintaining healthy boundaries

recognize emotional enmeshment: your relationships may feel deeply personal, but ensure you’re not absorbing your partner’s emotions as your own.

avoid mood-based decisions: your emotional status influences how you approach relationships, so take time/space before making major commitments.

separate past wounds from present situations: your attachment style will be shaped by past experiences, so aim to heal (or learn coping techniques for) any unresolved emotional patterns prior to relationships if possible.

how to improve communication

express emotions without fear: emotions are strength; don’t suppress them to "keep the peace".

avoid passive-aggressive tendencies: if something bothers you, say so instead of expecting your partner to guess at your feelings.

communicate beyond emotions: all feelings are valid, however, logical discussions are also necessary for resolving conflicts effectively.

recognize emotional triggers: be mindful of how past wounds and insecurities influence your reactions. make your partner aware of these potential triggers.

how to attract balanced partnerships

seek emotionally mature partners: you need someone who understands deep emotional connections and at the same time doesn’t rely on you for all their emotional needs.

look for nurturing but independent partners: a healthy relationship supports emotional depth while allowing for both partners to maintain their own identities.

how to become more confident in relationships

trust your intuition: your emotional intelligence helps you read people well - don’t second-guess yourself. "a spade is a spade".

embrace vulnerability without fearing rejection: the right person will appreciate your emotional openness rather than see it as weakness.

learn to self-soothe rather than seeking constant reassurance: trust yourself to navigate tough emotions independently.

learn to identify what you deserve

someone who respects and values emotional depth: you need someone who embraces emotional intimacy, not someone who avoids it.

a safe space to express feelings without judgment: emotional security should be number one in your relationships.

7h aquarius (12°, 24°), 7h uranus, and/or uranus aspecting 7h ruler

setting and maintaining healthy boundaries

allow for freedom without creating distance: you value independence, but emotional closeness is just as important.

avoid impulsive decisions: the urge to seek (or create it if you get too bored) excitement may lead to relationship instability, so take time before making major decisions.

define what “commitment” means to you: you definition may be unconventional to say the least, so ensure you and your partner are on the same page.

balance personal space with connection: too much distance can create instability in relationships, so maintain open communication at all times if you can't be in each other's space.

how to improve communication

be clear about your need for independence: your partner should understand that love for you doesn’t mean constant togetherness.

avoid being emotionally detached: deep emotional discussions are essential for intimacy - i know i know that's likely tough to swallow for logic loving aquarius.

recognize when you’re being obstinate just because: not every disagreement needs to be a challenge for authority...

how to attract balanced partnerships

seek partners who enjoy change and excitement: you need a dynamic relationship that allow room for growth and new experiences.

avoid overly controlling or possessive partners: you need both respect and autonomy - make that very clear.

look for intellectual and energetic chemistry: mental stimulation and shared passions are essential to holding your interest.

how to become more confident in relationships

own your uniqueness: your unconventional approach to relationships is a strength, not a flaw. love is changing in today's world and you are well suited to step into this new romantic era.

stability doesn’t mean boredom: you can have a committed, fulfilling relationship without sacrificing your excitement for life.

find confidence in flexibility: your adaptability allows you to thrive in various relationship dynamics without fear.

learn to identify what you deserve

someone who appreciates your unpredictability rather attempts to tame you: you deserve someone who enjoys change and spontaneity - they will complement you well.

excitement without chaos: you deserve a love that is thrilling but also emotionally secure.

mutual respect in an unconventional relationship dynamic: whether it’s non-traditional roles, unique ways of expressing love, or alternative commitments (open relationships, polyamory, long-distance, etc.), you need a partner who understands and/or is willing to try your approach.

7h ruler in 1h

setting and maintaining healthy boundaries

avoid losing yourself in relationships: your identity can easily get deeply tied to partnerships, so make sure you maintain your individuality and fight against codependency.

set clear expectations from the start: your relationships will impact your self-image; make suee they align with your values and needs.

balance personal desires with relationship dynamics: avoid over-prioritizing your partner’s needs at the expense of your own.

how to improve communication

be direct about your needs: relationships influence your sense of self so have clear and honest communication to prevent misunderstandings.

self-reflect before reacting: your responses in relationships can be immediate and personal; take time and space to process emotions.

make sure conversations are 50/50: since you likely take the lead, make sure you are allowing space for your partner’s thoughts and perspective.

speak from personal experience, don't make assumptions: avoid projecting your thoughts and beliefs in the relationship; focus on understanding both yourself and them.

how to attract balanced partnerships

look for partners who complement you rather than define you: a good partner will enhance your identity, not "wash you out".

avoid overly dominant or passive partners: you thrive in relationships where you both stand strong.

seek someone who values your independence: a partner who respects you as an individual creates a more overall fulfilling relationship dynamic.

how to become more confident in relationships

embrace self-sufficiency: you don’t need a relationship to feel whole; your strength lies in your own identity. love with come when you aren't looking for it.

recognize that relationships reflect your personal growth: how you engage with others mirrors your self-awareness and growth.

by empowered by love, not dependent on it: partnerships should support your autonomy rather than diminish it.

learn to identify what you deserve

you should be valued and respected: you need a partnership that acknowledges and respects your individuality.

partners who inspire self-growth and confidence: relationships should encourage your personal development rather than limits it.

love is a choice, not a chore: you deserve a partnership where both you and them choose one another, not out of need but out of genuine connection.

have ideas for new content? please use my “suggest a post topic” button! 

return to nox’s guide to metaphysics

return to nox's hypotheses

© a-d-nox 2025 all rights reserved

[cvntroach5000]

Lads with Command Evol reader

pairings: LaDs men x reader (separate)

no use of y/n, reader is gender neutral

content warning: mind control, brief descriptions of sexual activity (Xavier, Sylus, Caleb) 🔞

Xavier 💫

He mostly likes your Evol

Because he can think of a million ways to utilise it for something kinky

But at the same time, he can become pretty pouty if you use it on him to stop him when he's either horny or jealous

You can coax him out of his little fit easily enough, but it doesn't make him any less prone to get pissed the next time you do it to him

Your Evol is meant to be used for good! Like edging him during sex! Not stopping him from beating up a child for saying they want to marry you when they grow up. That kid needs to learn a lesson, okay

Zayne ❄️

He doesn't really have a problem with it, but he's not necessarily fond of it

Simply because you have a tendency to abuse it to force him to take breaks

And although the breaks feel nice, he's too much of a workaholic to properly appreciate them

He does find it convenient though when you use it to make problematic patients sit still

Granted, he wouldn't actually make you do that for him at a hospital

But when trying to rescue an injured stray animal, he's grateful for your Evol's utility

Rafayel 🪸

He doesn't really care much about your Evol

But he's developed a habit where he'll use it as an excuse

"I only did it cause you made me with your Evol!"

"I literally didn't even activate it"

At some point you shift between using it and not using it on him just to fuck with him

You're not proud of abusing your Evol like that, but someone has to put this guy in his place from time to time, and that someone can only be you

Sylus 🥀

Oh he's into this shit

He finds the ability to be very versatile and loves crafting strategies around it

Seeing the creative ways you utilise it is a pleasure, he loves seeing you destroy your enemies with your power and wit

After your bedroom antics develop into more freaky territory, using your Evol during sex also becomes an option

Now, Sylus will do whatever you ask, Evol or not, but something about not being able to resist even if he wanted to gets him really hot and bothered

Helplessness isn't something he's accustomed to, but the vulnerability of it during intimacy is pretty addictive

Caleb 🍎

He has a bit of mixed feelings about your Evol

On one hand, he likes how profficient you are with it and he thinks that kind of power is hot

On the other, it makes you far more slippery than he'd prefer

His Gravity Evol is very convenient, but that means fuckall if you just order him to let you go with your Command Evol

He can deal with you firing back at him when he tries to tease you, but you resisting him when he's just trying to protect you is incredibly frustrating

He does become much more amicable to the idea of your power after you use it to edge him and order him around during sex though

To be fair, it wasn't your intention to do so, it kinda slipped out when you told him not to cum yet and it went completely downhill from there

Caleb kinda wishes your Evol would work only during sex but oh well

[kcdarchives]

my kcd2 experience

in the following post, i am going to describe my kcd2 experience and how it bred brainworms that have drilled into my grey matter and turned it into ye olde swiss cheese

i think one of the big reasons why i latched so hard onto kcd2 (and hansry) is: i actually went into kcd2 almost completely blind. the main reason i started playing was i read in a news article that there was a gay relationship in the game and i was like "oh! fun! i'm in the mood to play a new rpg anyways!" i had no idea who it was you could romance, or what form it would take. after the opening scenes, i was of course squinting VERY hard at hans. but after the stocks, he fell to the wayside for me as a player. i made henry as reasonable and conciliatory as possible and he still left? for me, as a player who hadn't played the 1st game, i shrugged and said "ok then! fine!" they let me loose and the world was my rpg oyster! i spent over 30 hours wandering around the map, doing side quests and having a generally wonderful time because the game is, above all else, a very well-made game with a ton of attention to detail, fun NPCs, and systems that i still hadn't fully learned even after a few dozens of hours in the game. as i finally attended the semine wedding, i FINALLY ran into hans again (i hadn't found him prior to this) and was reminded "oh! henry's buddy! he's here!" i went from having a funny silly carefree time at the wedding to the plot escalating so suddenly and severely. henry and hans finally reconcile. as a player, i've forgiven hans. his apology was really genuine and heartfelt and i could tell he was also probably a little lonely without the only other survivor from their company. after over 30 hours in the game, i'm VERY attached to henry, and this i am attached to hans, who he so clearly is also attached to. i can celebrate henry finally having a companion again only to have hans wrested away from henry in one of the most distressing ways possible. for whom the bell tolls was an amazingly stressful quest, and definitely one of my favorite main story segments i have played in a video game in recent memory. after this, when the first romantic dialogue option with hans appeared, i was honestly a little stunned. i felt so vindicated with my initial eye-squinting during the opening part of the game, but also, at this point i understood just how much hans was a part of the game's main plot. i was like "oh...this is a romance with...someone actually really relevant and showing up a lot!" when the second romantic dialogue option eventually showed up, that's when i really realized that their romance was going to be tied to progress in the main plot and thus i spiraled into taking several days off of work just to make progress. i was so happy whenever hans showed up and henry got to interact with him. romance aside, their friendship is well-written and it was difficult for me to forget that, besides godwin, hans is the only other person henry really knew before kcd2 that he has with him over the course of the game. so much of the main story is directly related to hans, and the consequences of both henry and hans' actions. i was constantly amazed, thinking "wow, hans is REALLY relevant to the plot! i love to see him involved!" after over a hundred hours in the game, i finally reached the culmination of their romance. and i was paralyzed. as soon as they started talking, i started yelling. i couldn't believe this was happening. it was SO romantic, so emotional, and felt like such a natural progression of their relationship over the course of the story. as soon as the "kiss him" option showed up, I stood up and had to take a minute to collect myself because i couldn't believe it was really happening. and when i finally pressed it.

the screen faded to black.

I was confused. the screen faded back in to a shot of the fireplace. i immediately started cackling uncontrollably. i had a mental breakdown. i thought "oh! they're not gonna show the kiss! that's so incredibly funny! that's so funny i'm going to die." then the shot transitioned back to them sitting on the bed. i had assumed "ah ok, they kissed offscreen. this is what i get after playing through the game for over 100 hours trying to nurture their romance. this is what all of the anti-woke gamer warriors were getting up into arms for. this is so funny. this is so monumentally hilarious." and i could not stop cackling until - wait - henry puts his hand over hans. so sweet! i gasped. perhaps now they will actually kiss? was i wrong? but then he gets up. and i'm once again given whiplash, assuming the scene is over and now he's leaving. do i have to play even further into the story? do they make progress after he comes back from his mission? only for hans to pull henry back to him and my "i sink hundreds of hours into RPGs to eat the little gay romantic breadcrumbs they leave me in relatively unimportant side conversations" brain BROKE.

every single movement elicited a scream from me. i almost couldn't understand what was happening. henry pulls away, he looks like he's going to leave. he's going to leave and they'll resolve this when he comes back? but then he LOCKS THE DOOR!!! HE LOCKS THE DOOR!!! he power walks across the room and I CANNOT STOP SCREAMING. i have to pause the game every 5 seconds so i don't have an aneurysm. the passion!!! i hadn't imagined such passion in all of my years of gaming!!! yes, the fire in the hearth was burning, but not nearly as hot as the flames of their relationship!!!!

the screen faded to black once again after they made it to the bed, and i thought "ok...it's over...i can breathe again...my god...that was crazy...that was so much more intense than i was expecting for a 'kiss him' dialogue option" only for it to fade back in to THEIR NUDE BODIES EMBRACING?? I PLAYED THIS GAME EXPECTING MAYBE A KISS OR TWO???? I was pounding my fists into my beanbag, screaming and yelling, what was HAPPENING ON MY TV SCREEN RIGHT NOW??? then the screen panned over to the shot of the two crossed swords in the foreground and I tell you, I let out the loudest, ugliest, most delighted cackle i have ever made in my life. whoever came up with that shot is so DIABOLICAL. warhorse may actually be the funniest game studio i have ever seen in my life. thank you warhorse for my life. i was exhausted by the biggest emotional rollercoaster a video game romance had ever put me through, but also simultaneously re-invigorated by, i think, perhaps the best video game romance cutscene i have ever had the pleasure of playing through in all my 20+ years of romancing fictional characters.

i ended up staying up all night finishing up the rest of the main story, and then i spent the next couple of days trying to just. absorb everything that happened and process my experience. i know its very early to make this kind of declaration but kcd2 might literally be my favorite game of 2025, and it was SO unexpected for me as something that i just arbitrarily picked up because i was just looking for a new game to play. I was seriously expecting just a kiss at the most, some not particularly important dialogue options that develop a small romantic relationship with a few conversations. maybe a fade-to-black, not much else. the kind of stuff i've grown used to in the games i've played. i think going in with no expectations made its iron-fisted grip on me that much stronger because when it delivered, it did it by crashing the airplane that is hansry into the twin towers of my heart and brain. both the main story and the gameplay just made everything feel so RIGHT and had me so emotionally invested in them, i felt like I was going insane.

for those of you who haven't actually played kcd2 for yourselves, please do try playing for yourself if you have the ability to, or at least watch a playthrough. experiencing how their relationship slowly develops over the course of the game makes the conclusion of it that much more satisfying (i still have to watch/play the 1st game, which i do intend on doing). but also the side quests are so fun and interesting!!! and the other characters are SO charming and likeable.

i am #1 janosh fan!!!

anyways my big rant is over, i feel much better now ahaha

[revcleo]

Something which I also think would be useful for people to understand is that they have to strategise their speech.

Right wing people know this, because they speak differently among themselves than they do on social media and such because they want to appear reasonable in their use of dog whistles and such, that make people who know what they're talking about either seem crazy or unable to remove their schostastic terrorism or such.

But what I think a lot of left wing people think is that being correct and on the good side of history etc means that people will always agree with them, or be evil. Never mind that there's the stereotype of leftist infighting, a lot of people seem to be either ashamed of their past and less informed behaviour, or copy the behaviour of their favourite posters (who are usually irony poisoned and sarcastic at the least, and angry warriors of truth otherwise).

The things you've got to do when you come across someone who you disagree with is first think: What do I want out of this encounter?

Do you want to change how anyone thinks?

This can be no, if you just want to let off steam or shout at people, instead think "Is this the right person to shout at?" Will you make yourself look like an idiot?

Shouting at someone can be fine, like shouting is used to either get people in line or get people to fuck off.

Shouting works when it's either someone you largely agree with who is doing something fucked up and you go "what the fuck?" and talk to them, but mass shouting when it's someone you largely agree with does not work in that way. I've never seen a lot of people shouting at someone who they agree with 99% on things, ending up productive. It just creates divides and ends up as a form of harassment.

If you want to shout at someone for catharsis, the best way to do this is to do a sort of preaching to the choir about something fucked up you've seen, or shouting at an in person protest.

Since this is also an option for if you don't want to change someone's mind, if you find someone so entrenched and fucked up in their beliefs that they are unlikely to change, so long as you aren't going to repost their beliefs to shout at them, then shouting at them can be a way to let off steam. It won't do anything else, and may make you more angry, but it's an option.

But what if you want to change someone's mind?

First like, who are you talking to? Let's put them in a few groups:

Fellow leftist, problematic liberal, typical conservative, outright fascist

Starting from the fascist: You will not be able to change their mind and make them realise the folly of their ways.

They can change their own minds, but arguing with them will not do that. It's a special job to deradicalise fascists. The best things you can do are either:

A. bait them into saying something which they can be reported for/look into their blogs to see if they have anything reportable

B. block them, spreading their hate speech just to debunk it is still spreading their hate speech, you can debunk things without sharing the original

C. humiliate them. What you do is you need to make them look stupid by baiting them into showing their ass while you just show calm facts and logic. They often rely on appearing to be the sensible and calm one to appeal to people who are less fascist than they are, because they are irritating and cherry-pick facts it can be easy to get angry, so if you get too pissed off to do this then just block them.

Now on the typical conservative, sometimes they can be the fascist sort, where they're too deep in whatever hole, and you can just treat them as above, but if you learn to tell the difference between people who are just out to waste your time and people who are actually curious and have just picked up fucked up information (such as the example above) then if you just take your time and target your speech to align with some of their preconcieved ideas, you may be able to get them to doubt themselves on something.

You will not be able to make them suddenly a leftist, you also will probably not be able to make them even centrist, but pushing seeds of doubt is fine. Just don't spend too long, and make sure you're definitely able to tell if someone has curiousity or not. People who lack curiosity are often time wasters and will not care at all about what you're saying.

It can also be useful to get a bunch of responses to their thought terminating clichés and channel your inner MCU or something, such as "I thought the left was supposed to be tolerant" "you're confusing tolerant with a doormat/no that's the liberals/of what? assholes?"

With problematic liberals, they may be generally nice people who just say something a bit fucked up, or might just not know about something. Like let's say there's a link you post with saying "White people should read this." and they respond defensively with "Why do I need to read that?" the wrong response would be "Are you some sort of racist or something?" which is starting a fight. Whether they're a racist or not, they are less likely to engage with the information. Instead it's possible to just answer the question, which might be something like "It might be some interesting information you've never thought of before, which can help you treat other people better."

Some people can just be very annoying, feel free to block whoever whenever, and sometimes the way people brains work are different, so you can't figure out what each other means, feel free to say "Sorry, this is just frustrating and I don't think we're going to resolve anything." but someone not being as left as you doesn't mean they are inherently going to go rightwards. You can help them on a journey by giving them suggestions and telling them facts that they might not know.

Saying things like "just fucking google it" really doesn't work nowadays especially, since google is so full of shit. So having a bunch of useful bookmarks might be an idea if you want to try and convince people who are almost leftists to give it a go, rather than telling them to fuck off.

Liberals are much more appreciative of a bit of truth and facts and maybe a podcast recommendation than many leftists think. There's even many liberals who you might talk to when you are out and about IRL, you can convince them of things like sensible nuclear policy and how more bike lanes are good for everyone.

With fellow leftists, there are many different but similar sorts of arguments. Maybe someone is having a bad day and is fighty, maybe someone is just an asshole who loves to pick fights, maybe you have the same thing but from different angles and just need to work out where it is, maybe someone is just frustrated with the way how they feel powerless and has found one thing they can shout about which is unfortunately wrong but makes them feel good about themselves.

You gotta see where people are coming from on things, sometimes you just gotta block people, not that they're even bad, but just like you know fundamentally you're going to find some of the ways they think to be really irritating, or some of their comparatively harmless jokes just piss you off and it's not worth fighting about.

With leftists, sometimes taking the argument on head on is not the best way to go about things, the best thing to do is try and find where the argument comes from. Check in with your comrades, see how they're doing. Try and keep things in plain language if jargon seems to obfuscate your meanings, and try and rephrase things and see if the other person is willing to also rephrase things. Try and reach a stage where you both understand the other person's argument. Maybe you can reconcile?

Also maybe the other person just doesn't know about some information you have as well? Try keeping things cheerful. If someone really is a dickhead then you can just block them.

And one thing I've gotta say with all of this:

If you don't feel up to it, then don't do it, but don't make it worse. If you don't want to talk to someone, then don't. Also don't take this as tone policing, if someone demands politeness when they've not given it, they can fuck off.

Might I give some advice:

Not everyone has (or needs to have) the energy to thoughtfully respond to republicans on the Internet. You do not have to do that.

But some people do, and can. And I think we gotta let them.

An example:

I have a former teacher, I'll call her Grace, who is an incredibly kind woman in her 70s. Devout catholic, had voted for various parties over the years, but has been pretty strictly democrat over the past 15-20 because that aligns with her values of kindness and service.

She shared a post about the pope's recent letter and expressed that she agreed with his concerns about how trump is treating immigrants. A friend of hers commented a long paragraph basically saying "dear Grace I care for you but I don't understand how you can be a Christian and a democrat. Blah blah abortion blah blah gender blah blah drugs."

Grace replied "I'm very busy right now but I am going to respond to you soon with my thoughts". When she did it was an incredibly generous, rational monologue that connected with this person's humanity, their shared religious values, and made a beautiful case for why she supports who she does. I didn't agree with a good half of what she said as I am not a Christian, but the result was an expression of values that I think put her on the side of justice and compassion.

The person replied and thanked her and said she had a lot to think about. It was probably the best case scenario for a Facebook politics conversation

You know what came very close to ruining it? A bunch of (mostly younger) people piling on with "fuck you you racist maga pos" and "no one has to explain anything to you, go to hell" etc etc. Even after Grace wrote that she intended to reply herself.

I watched this republican respond to all the easy, quick insults by saying "this is why I don't think any democrats can be Christian, this is how you all speak to me." If Grace hadn't put so much work into writing her response in a way that was tailored to fit this person, I would not be surprised if that person left Facebook doubly certain that Christian nationalism is the way to go.

I'm not saying we can't cuss out jackasses. I'm not saying everyone needs to respond to bad faith arguments like Grace did or use their time like she did.

But this was on Grace's Facebook page, and interrupted the work she already volunteered to do. Just so these individuals could feel like they "did something" and got a shot off at an enemy.

I think that's selfish and childish and unproductive. They could have said anything they wanted in their own space, but they made grace's job harder for no fuckin reason. And then "loved" her reply and said "that was beautiful Grace, thank you for sharing your thoughts"

Like... Buddies. Pals. If someone volunteers to scrub the toilet fucking let them.

[honey-bitch]

Astro Observations ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

౨ৎ NN and SN conjunction is synastry is magical, as you both learn truly invalueable from eachother.

౨ৎ Virgo and Cancer energy just give mommy enegry like 'let me take care of you'.

౨ৎPluto sqaure venus can experience nightmares about people who they are obsessed with.

౨ৎ Moon conjunct saturn native can be quite reserved even if they have alot of gemini/virgo energy.

౨ৎ Mars conjunct Venus natives can be into more intense/ toxic types of relationships, even in a cute sign such as libra.

౨ৎ Capricorn Jupiters can be very resiliant, especially when opposing anything.

౨ৎ Sag moon conjunct pluto natives may tend to physically crash out becuase they can't handle the pressure.

౨ৎ If pluto is aspecting mercury this makes a person very quite, they're less likely to express their thoughts

౨ৎ On the other hand is mercury is aspects or in pisces and saggitarius and is not mitigated. OMG these people are yappers, love u guys but you are yappers.

౨ৎ A way to a virgo's heart is to take and value their advice.

౨ৎ Aries moon are resillient and strongg, yes they do have that crazy energy but when an aries loves u they stick to ittt.

౨ৎ If you have saturn in the 9th house, higher education may be a stuggle for you, however saturn also rewards endurance. Just know it's not u it's the planets and try a bunch of different career options to see what works out.

౨ৎ Lilith in the 1st house/conjunct asc espcially in a fire sign are quite open about smexual matters.

જ⁀➴°⋆I sell astrology readings on my page if u want one check it out.

[haxyr3]

Hello, as someone who is studying Russian casually as a hobby, I don't know how to put it. Why are some Russian words adorable? The Russian word for Potato is SO cute and I can't explain why I find it cute. Most words that rhyme with this, I find them cute (like cat. Koshka. But not the word for grandfather, for sure) and so, I was wondering if other Russian learners find some Russian words cute for an inexplicable reason. 😂😂

Also why do many words end in those same letters that kind of make the word sound adorable? I have started extending the names of my cats with the -shka ending because of that particular sound making their names sound cuter. I hope this entire ask makes sense.

Thank you and have a nice day/night!

Hi there, Anonymous! I love that you’re having such a blast learning Russian—it’s awesome to hear how much joy it’s bringing you!

Let’s dive into your second question first. Russian is one of those languages where words like to wear little grammatical outfits—endings that tell you about gender, number, or case. That’s why you’ll notice lots of words ending in similar sounds, like -шка in картошка (potato) and кошка (cat). They’re both feminine nouns, and that -к- in there? It’s a diminutive suffix—it’s like Russian’s way of sprinkling some cuteness on things, making them smaller, sweeter, or more endearing. So, it’s no wonder you find them adorable! As for дедушка (grandfather), maybe it’s that drawn-out -у- sound—like a little howl—that throws off the cute vibe for you. It’s funny how just one sound can shift the whole feel, right?

Now, about you adding -шка to your cats’ names—genius move! You’re basically speaking fluent Russian pet-parent now. Native speakers do this all the time, not just with pets but even with people they adore. You’ve got options galore: -ушка, -ешечка, -енечка—the list goes on! My cat’s name is Фишка, and depending on my mood, she’s Фишечка, Фишенька, or even Фишушка. Somehow, she totally gets that I’m piling on the love with every extra syllable. Do your cats seem to notice the extra affection too?

So, fellow language lovers out there—what words or sounds in Russian (or any language!) make you smile for no reason? I’m dying to know!

Have a fantastic day/night, and keep enjoying your Russian adventure!

[datvtranscripts]

Regrets of the Dread Wolf Pt. 1

A Rising Rebellion

The Lighthouse Masterpost

Solas: You cannot do this, Elgar'nan! You swore that we would give up our commands when this horrific war was over.

Elgar'nan: Our people need our leadership. If you're unwilling, leave.

Mythal: Our people must rebuild. And we must help unite them.

Solas: So, we did not fight for freedom, but to conquer this land and our own.

Elgar'nan: We fought to win, and now the Evanuris are as gods. I do not answer to Mythal's annoying lapdog.

Mythal: The people are afraid. They must believe in something.

Elgar'nan: They need strength.

Mythal: And wisdom.

Elgar'nan: They need gods who can protect them.

Solas: We are not gods. You will learn that.

Elgar'nan: Every lapdog hides a wolf inside.

—

The party meets to discuss.

Harding: That was strange. They were speaking elven, but I understood it.

Emmrich: I believe we have experienced a memory in each of our native languages.

Neve: Not just any memory. One of the Dread Wolf's.

Race dependent dialogue:

Elf Rook [1]

Non-Elf Rook [2]

1 - Elf Rook: Bellara: And the mages who declared themselves my gods. Well, mine and Davrin's. And Rook's.

Dialogue options:

Sarcastic: Revelatory, and also bad. [2]

Sad: Yeah. [3] +Bellara Approves

Angry: They betrayed us. [4]

Stoic: Not mine. [5]

2 - Sarcastic: Revelatory, and also bad. Rook: It's not every day you witness the start of a religion. I wonder if they're all this disappointing. Bellara: I wish they were monsters. Something grand and terrible. Seeing them like that, they're no better than Tevinter nobles. Neve: But no worse, either. They were people—and people can let you down. Rook: All right. What else can we take from this memory? [8]

3 - Sad: Yeah. Rook: There they are, the elven Creators.

Veil Jumper Rook: Rook: You know how many Dalish legends I learned? Parables I was supposed to learn from? Kinda hard to take them seriously now that I've seen all the politics.

Non-Veil Jumper Rook: Rook: I used to be jealous of the Dalish elves, because they got to learn all these stories I only barely knew. Now I get to see the truth of it, and it turns out the truth is awful. Bellara: Awful is an understatement.

Bellara: I wish they were monsters. Something grand and terrible. Seeing them like that, they're no better than Tevinter nobles. Neve: But no worse, either. They were people—and people can let you down. Rook: All right. What else can we take from this memory? [8]

4 - Angry: They betrayed us. Rook: They were supposed to protect people. Instead, they seized power. Assholes. Bellara: I wish they were monsters. Something grand and terrible. Seeing them like that, they're no better than Tevinter nobles. Neve: But no worse, either. They were people—and people can let you down. Rook: All right. What else can we take from this memory? [8]

5 - Stoic: Not mine. Rook: They're not gods at all, much less my gods. Davrin: I'm with Rook. Bellara: I wish they were monsters. Something grand and terrible. Seeing them like that, they're no better than Tevinter nobles. Neve: But no worse, either. They were people—and people can let you down. Rook: All right. What else can we take from this memory? [8]

2 - Non-Elf Rook: Bellara: And the mages who declared themselves my gods. Well, mine and Davrin's.

Dialogue options:

Affable: It was a bit of a letdown. [5] +Bellara Approves

Stoic: What does this get us? [6]

Sad: I’m sorry. [7]

5 - Affable: It was a bit of a letdown. Rook: Given what we've seen them do, I was expecting someone to do something epic. Bellara: Right? It was so mundane. Nothing grand or cosmic. No setting fire to the sun. It was just talking. Politics. I wish they were monsters. Something grand and terrible. Seeing them like that, they're no better than Tevinter nobles. Neve: But no worse, either. They were people—and people can let you down. Rook: All right. What else can we take from this memory? [8]

6 - Stoic: What does this get us? Rook: Anyone see anything in that memory we can use? [8]

7 - Sad: I’m sorry. Rook: That can't be easy, Bellara. Bellara: It was so… mundane. Nothing grand or cosmic. No setting fire to the sun. Just talking. Politics. I wish they were monsters. Something grand and terrible. Seeing them like that, they're no better than Tevinter nobles. Neve: But no worse, either. They were people—and people can let you down. Rook: All right. What else can we take from this memory? [8]

8 - Scene continues.

Bellara: Elgar'nan was hungry for power. Did anything he could to get it. And to hold on to it.

Emmrich: Then Solas, furious at Elgar'nan installing himself as a despot, started his rebellion.

Neve: There's another moving part in this. Mythal. She was keeping the peace.

Harding: Mythal and Solas were close. The Inquisition found a temple to Mythal, and there were wolf statues everywhere.

Lucanis: Then she sides with Elgar'nan over him. A betrayal.

Dialogue options:

No wonder he was angry. [9] +Bellara Approves +Harding Approves -Neve Disapproves

I see Mythal’s reasons. [10] +Davrin Approves +Emmrich Approves -Bellara Diapproves

9 - No wonder he was angry. Rook: It sounded like Solas was loyal to Mythal. What did Elgar'nan call him? Mythal's lapdog? And then she grabs power alongside Elgar'nan instead of standing for her principles. I'd be angry, too. Neve: Angry enough to start a rebellion? Davrin: That's not how he'd see it. He didn't destroy the world. Elgar'nan did. Solas did what he considered necessary to stop him. Harding: Solas would try to justify what he did. But he'd also blame himself for what happened. [11]

10 - I see Mythal’s reasons. Rook: I think I get where Mythal is coming from. Bellara: Really? Rook: You've just finished some big war, everyone is exhausted, and now Elgar'nan won't give up power. Rook: If Mythal sided with Solas, would Elgar'nan have backed down? Davrin: Not a chance. Harding: It would have led to another war. Mythal tried to keep the peace. Rook: And Solas must see that, but still can't accept that she chose peaceful politics over his ideals. [11]

11 - Scene continues.

Emmrich: Perhaps… these murals aren't simply memories. They're what Solas wishes to forget.

Lucanis: His regrets. That means they're a way to learn his weak points.

Taash: Why are we worried about Solas? He's trapped.

Bellara: Right. But the Dread Wolf was the god of trickery. He's looking for a way out. Bet on it.

Rook: Meanwhile, keep your eyes open in the Crossroads. If there's a way to restore the rest of these murals, Solas would have kept it in his hideaway. It'd be nice to get inside his head for a change.

Next: The Threat of Blight

[ily-no-romo]

I also worry that if everyone uses AI for assignments then the benchmark just keeps moving. I've heard people at my university say that AI is really useful if English isn't you're first language but you have to read and produce scholarly work on the same level as everyone else, and that's honestly an understandable excuse but it just makes it easier for teachers to enforce equally high standards for all students, regardless of their experience with the English language. And if people use AI when they just don't have time to get work done then it's easier for teachers to stick to difficult schedules when they might have been willing to listen to concerns and adjust deadlines for their classes

So there are situations when I can understand feeling like there's no other option but if that solution is chat gpt rather than a candid conversation with teachers then nothing is going to change, and actually the expectations are being cemented or even raised for other people facing the same challenges, and you're just making it more difficult to learn to do the work yourself

(so mad i can’t see straight) Yeah i just don’t think chat gpt is a good classroom tool

[resident-idiot-simp]

The Avengers reactions when they realize that Bucky and Steve our friends with Logan (and Wade because You can't have one without the other)

Ft: @orcadork4ever

Or another option they're hanging out with Laura in the Avengers are very confused because who is that child?

Clint walking into the tower

"Guys Bucky and Steve are hanging out with some kid in the park. I am confused because they act like they know this kid. Have any of you seen them with a kid?"

Tony: no??? How would they know just a random kid?

Clint: That's what I'm asking!?

However long later until Bucky and Steve come back

The other Avengers sitting and waiting for them: So who was that kid?

Steve and Bucky:??? What are you talking about

Clint: I saw you hanging out with a kid in the park.

Bucky: OH you mean Laura.

Tony: Laura???

Steve: Yeah Laura she's an old friends kid

Natasha: You two have friends?

Od: Bucky: She’s Peter’s friend and just so happens to be out friends’ kid

Tony: Wait Peter knows her?!

Steve and Bucky: yes? Did you guys not know about her?

Avengers: NO!

Steve: ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯ I don't know what to tell you Laura's great

Bucky: She's hysterical she's just like her father... For better or worse... Usually worse

Steve: usually worse

Bruce: Wait so who is her father?

Bucky: Logan

Avengers: ?????

Steve: You guys know Logan

Clint:... Are you sure about that?

Steve: Yes I'm confident he's Logan

Bucky: laughs yeah that's about right

Tony: okay I give up who exactly is Logan since apparently we know him

Steve and Bucky: Wolverine

Avengers: ?!

Bucky and Steve: It's not that big of a deal

Tony: It is though!

Clint:... Wait If you know Wolverine....

Natasha:......do you know...

Steve: sigh He's not actually that bad

Clint and Natasha: Yes he is

Bucky: Really he's not. If you just talk to him long enough without being actively hostile

Bruce: backup who are you talking about

Od:

Bucky: Wilson. Wade Wilson.

Steve: Wade’s an acquired taste.

Bruce: Okaaaay. But what’s his other name.

Steve: sigh ….. Deadpool

Tony: HOW THE HELL DOES KNOWING WOLVERINE RELATE TO KNOWING DEADPOOL??

Bucky: Well, they’re married. That’s the wedding up in Westchester we went to last fall.

Me:

Tony horrified: THEY'RE MARRIED?!

Steve: to be honest they were made for one another

Bucky: They really were. You should see them together it's.... I don't think there's a better match

Natasha: I still have a hard time believing it

Clint: Yeah I mean considering Deadpool is.... Deadpool

Steve: If you've seen them together you'd understand. I don't think I've seen two people more in love.

Tony: You're joking right This is a joke where are the cameras we're being filmed right like haha.

Natasha and Clint: no he's not joking This is common knowledge in the underground

Bruce: What do you mean this is common knowledge?

Clint: Everyone has a story of seeing them with a tongue down the others throat or something.

Natasha: or you know someone who's seen it.

Clint: Or that

Bruce:....have you seen it

Clint: I haven't

Natasha: I definitely have. Was scoping out someone that they had a hit on. I never want to see that again

Tony:.. I hate this can we go back to before I knew this

Steve: hahaha it's funny that opinion comes from all angles Laura also hates it

Bucky: why might should clarify that. She hates She's subjected to it as much as she is.

Steve: oh no yeah she, Vanessa, and Althea are all very happy for them. It's just since she has his mutation they can't really hide stuff.

Bucky: shutters imagine having to go to that mansion of teenagers and being able to smell everything

Tony: I'm horrified about everything I've just learned

Od:

Bucky: Wade said that even if they air out the house for a full 48 hours she can still smell it. So they’ve compromised on designated areas where she just Doesn’t Go.

Peter: swinging in Hey everyone. What’s up?

Tony: WHY ARE YOU HANGING OUT WITH A MERCENARY?!

Pepper: Tony just found out about Laura, Logan, and Wade and is about to have a heart attack. Tony. Breathe. You’re fine. Peter’s fine.

Tony: HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?!

Peter: Um. I’m really okay, Mr. Stark. They’re really cool. So is everyone at Xavier’s.

Me:

Peter: oh I have a picture I took of them cuddling on the couch. Honestly they are I've of the healthiest couples I've seen. Shows Tony the picture

Tony:.... I'm dreaming this is a dream

Bruce:... Honestly that's not as surprising as I thought it would be to hear

Steve: Honestly yeah it's wild just how good they are to each other

Bucky: except for the stabbing

Steve: Honestly I'm not convinced that's unhealthy.

Bucky: Good point

Natasha and Clint sharing a look before speaking: You guys have no idea what they did to the underground when they got together

Bruce: oh?

Clint: It's like they've gotten better. Which is insane to say considering it's Deadpool and Wolverine

Natasha nodding: they're more efficient now. People just got up and left gave up completely at being a mercenary.

Od:

Peter: And they’re really good with the kids.

Bruce: I thought they only had Laura?

Peter: No, no, they do. But they kind of like half-adopt everyone? Like, the Professor built extra housing near the mansion for them and a lot of the students hang out there instead of the school because it’s quieter. I’m a kit as far as Logan’s concerned. Laura says I was one of the first people he decided was Pack.

Tony: Kit? Pack?

Peter: Oh! He and Laura are Ferals. Mutants who are more animalistic. I kind of fit into that category but not entirely since I’m a mutate.

Me:

Bruce:.... Ok I'll admit this is fascinating want to elaborate more. What does it entail exactly to be a feral

Peter smiling: Ok so there are a spectrum of them in two separate categories, pray and predators. It's pretty much what you expect each group has traits that are more predator like or more prey like.

Tony:... ok

Peter: Now This is a very small subsection of mutants about 5%. Of that only 1%-1.5% survive to adulthood.

Clint:... Okay I didn't know that's statistic what the hell?

Peter shrugging: They usually die when they're kids and first mutate. Normally the more extreme or higher on the spectrum the more likely they die. Specifically predators because of the fight or flight instinct.

Natasha: that makes sense kid with claws or teeth get corner cuz they have no idea what's happening?

Tony: It's like cornering a wild animal.

Peter: If they lash out and kill someone you think they care about taking their life considering they are a mutant?

Bruce slightly horrified: and if they ran off a kid that young can't survive by themselves

Peter: Exactly that's why most of them don't survive. Logan is an anomaly. If it wasn't for his healing factor he would have died when he was a child. He and thus Laura are pretty much the most extreme you can get on the predator side.

Tony: Wait pause what is Laura get lumped in there? Doesn't mutation not carry alone genes? Isn't it just randomized and luck of the draw if you're like your parents?

Steve and Bucky: She's a clone

Tony and Bruce: What?!

Peter: Yep just didn't end up quite right She's got three claws but the middle one of each hand is in her foot. Also she's a woman.

Steve: She really is his clone though down to her personality

Peter: Anyway ferals usually take on traits of a specific animal though there are some general things. Logan in general though really is a Wolverine. He growls, purrs, scents people and things, and has fangs to name a few things.

Natasha: It's a bit freaky

Od:

Peter: No more freaky than me walking on the ceiling and having Velcro hands

Natasha: Touché

Tony: Okay. Okay. deep breath Summing all of this up to make sure I’ve got this right. Cap and Buck served with Logan in World War II because he’s like 200 years old now. He’s also a feral mutant who has animalistic tendencies and claws that come out of his hands. Laura is a clone of him except her claws are two on each hand and one on each foot and she’s female. Logan is somehow married to THE most notorious and inappropriate mercenaries in the world who is “not that bad and is good with kids.” And they both think of you as part of their family.

Peter: nodding Yeah, pretty much~ Got it in one, Mr. Stark~

Pepper: calling out from the kitchen And Peter has been hanging out with them and the students at Xavier’s.

Peter: Yeah? Is… that a bad thing?

Pepper: No, sweetie. It’s great that you’re getting to talk with other mutants your age.

FRIDAY: Boss, your blood pressure and heart rate are elevated far above your usual values.

Tony: I’m well aware of that, FRI. shaking like a chihuahua

It won’t hit for him until he sees them interact and sees Wade with their shared kid

Tony: You better not be killing anyone around him.

Wade: He already asked me not to, don’t need you cock blocking me too Iron Dad

Me:

Tony:... Are you insinuating you get off on it

Wade: You do not want to know the list of things that get me and Peanut off

Tony: I hate you

Wade: Love you too

Tony is truly surprised though at how good Wade is with kids. He turns down his personality quite a bit to accommodate younger ears.

Wade had caught him steering dumbfoundedly and had just shrugged. "You know I always wanted kids"

Tony wouldn't have believed that before but he does now

Od:

Wade: My exie bestie Vanessa and I tried. But it didn’t work. And then I got El Super Cancer so that pretty much wiped out any chance there. And that was before the experimentation and torture. So… takes a drink They’re not mine by blood. But they’re mine, y’know?

Tony: nodding slowly, watching Peter across the room I think I do…

~~~~

(Addition because I fucked up posting this originally and you deserve more for that)

*Much later after they meet and someone asks a question about another feral existing (I'm not copy pasting anymore I'm so tired you have no idea it is almost 1:00)*

Bruce: okay what was the deal with asking about another feral mutant?

Peter:... I don't know the whole story and I hope I never hear it....but. Do you know who Sabertooth is?

Tony: The other big mutant with claws?

Peter: That's Logan's brother

Everyone out of the know: I'M SORRY?!

Steve:... Yeah Creed, depraved monster is what he is. Shit he said? The shit he did?

Bucky: I still shudder to remember that.

Bruce: What exactly did he do?

Bucky:.... He fuck...he was abusive to say the least.

Steve: abuse is a very nice word for whatever the hell that was.

Bucky: IS he's still alive

Peter: shutters

Tony: Okay so it was worse than abuse? And you guys saw it?

Bucky: They both served we only saw Victor once. It was... It was bad

Steve: He was physically abusive at the minimum and Logan just allowed it.

Clint: I have a hard time picturing that

Bucky: You have to remember that they've known each other for 200 years.

Clint: and in that time he still allows it?

Steve: You don't know the whole picture. I don't think any of us do except for maybe Wade. But it's more complicated than you're thinking.

Bucky: The physical abuse was negligible to literally everything else. I mean there's no good way to put it besides the fact that he was groomed by Victor since he was a child

Tony: holy shit that's disgusting! What the hell?! What the hell?! You mean like... You don't mean like that.. You don't right?

Steve: I mean... I don't think it ever went that far but.... The stuff he said to Logan?

Bucky: and Logan's reactions? Logan hated it he was horrified. But he just...let Victor say what he did with minimal backlash.

Steve: Victor's older than him. I'm pretty sure he helped raise him from what I've learned

Natasha:.... Jesus Christ

Clint: never mind fuck dude

Bucky: yeah the one time we saw them together we couldn't separate them. And trust me we tried

Steve: we really did but Victor is possessive. I wonder genuinely how he sees Logan.

Bucky: I fucking don't

Tony:... I hate everything I have learned. You should have left me in the dark actually.

Bruce: You're saying he still alive? Wade is allowing that?

Peter: I'm pretty sure if he pops back up he's not going to be able to take another breath

Od: Bucky: before he had Logan alone. Isolated. He wasn’t close with anyone. But now… now he’s got people in his corner. He shows his face again and I’ll help Wade rip his head off myself.

Peter: I have a sneaking suspicion It's the pack instinct that made Logan go along with it. It's some skewed sense of loyalty

Steve: I'm inclined to agree Logan was fully aware I know that and he hated every moment of it. I feel like you also have to remember that any person that got close to died of old age eventually. It's not like he had options

Bucky: Also didn't help that whoever he got close to miraculously died

Steve: and there's that sigh Logan never had a chance

Peter: He has one now though. He has a family now The core of which is as immortal as him

Clint: And as capable as him. Is it weird that I want to spar with them?

Peter: grinning Nah, it’s fun~ and it’s fun to watch them spar. Logan moves like it’s natural and Wade has this grace in how he fights. I’m surprised he was never a dancer and that he never took it up.

Bucky: snorts

Peter: You know somethin

Bucky: I know something

Peter: which one of them

Bucky: which one do you think

Peter:.... Wade

Bucky: yep

Peter:... There's more to that

Steve: Vanessa

Peter: OH! NO ACTUALLY THAT MAKES SENSE

Tony:????

Od: Tony: Do I want to know whatever you’re about to tell me whether I want to know it or not?

Peter: Vanessa was a stripper

Tony: slow blink

Natasha: OH her yeah shit he tore the underground apart that one time someone kidnapped her

Clint: Yeah she's on the don't touch list to this day because of that

Bruce: who exactly is she?

Steve: Wade's ex fiancé. Their best friends still. Hell I think Logan might like her more than Wade does

Bucky: how can you not love her? She's great.

Peter: Oh she's wonderful.

(This will probably become a fic)

Tag: @secretmarvelsideblog @amethyst-loves-bucky

[ms-demeanor]

Look into creating an IRA - Individual Retirement Accounts are not connected with your workplace and can be set up through your bank or through a brokerage; if you are able to join a credit union, look into getting an IRA set up through the credit union. The disadvantage of an IRA (or 401k) is that you will be penalized for withdrawals if you take them too early.

Look into zero cost high yield savings accounts; they exist and will net you more interest than a regular savings account even if it's less interest than you might get with a retirement account. Do this with a bank that is not your bank, don't keep a debit card for the bank with your HYSA - you do not want to treat this as a spending account. A major advantage of HYSAs is that they are liquid; if you need to get the money out you can, and you aren't going to be fined or taxed for it (CDs and other very stable investment tools are extremely low risk but they tie your money up for a set period of time and they may have a higher minimum amount than you can afford - most HYSAs don't have these limitations). Another advantage of both of these kinds of accounts (and a 401K) is that if you don't add to it there's no downside. If you lose your job or you switch to a job that doesn't pay enough to contribute the money doesn't go away.

Do not, if you can avoid it in any way, use a credit card or payday loan to make up for the shortfall if you're in the red at the end of the month. Doing so is costing you more money and it becomes a cycle that traps you in debt; you run up the credit card because you're broke, the interest charges go up because the balance is higher, you pay the same amount as before because that's what you could afford, the amount you pay doesn't go as far to pay down the principle because you're paying down interest, you stay in the red at the end of the next month, you borrow (via credit card or loan), your interest charges go up because the balance goes up, etc. If you are *already* in that situation, don't prioritize saving at 7% interest, prioritize paying down whatever debt has the highest interest as fast as you possibly can. There's no reason to focus on getting a 7% gain on $20 when you're paying 24% interest on $20 on your credit card. This is, basically, the situation that I was in until literally last month. I made up for the shortfall by selling blood and put all the money that I made selling blood onto my credit card to pay it down. It was debt that collected as the result of a medical emergency with my spouse after years of having been tremendously underpaid by my boss. (And all of that would have been MUCH better if I didn't have stupid 'I'm a college student and I'm using my credit card to treat my friends to dinner' debt sitting around on that card in the first place).

Also check out r/personalfinance, r/povertyfinance, and r/beermoney. The first one is a good resource for learning the basics of how money works, the second one puts a lot of the information from the first one into the context of people who are struggling financially, and the third is a place to find possible ways of earning extra income. And if you're in the US or someplace that it's legal, consider visiting r/plassing and seeing if selling plasma is something that's an available option. I don't recommend that lightly, and I don't recommend doing it for a long time, but selling plasma can dig you out of a hole if you need to pay down debt to find solid financial ground. (It's one of the things that I've been doing, and it's as grim as it seems)

But also don't let yourself get into the mindset that what's happening now is what's going to be happening forever. Look for different work. Look for ways to build your skills. Look for side gigs. Look for state rebates. You are probably not going to be in the exact same financial state forever, opportunities for improvement will likely come along, and you should have plans in place to take advantage of those opportunities AND how to take care of the money if you are able to make a positive change or happen into a windfall.

unfriendly reminder to open a pension fund/retirement account.

[gedwimora]

i will say about robb--

things he has discovered: he's kind of a slut things he hasn't discovered yet: boys

[bumblingbabooshka]

Thinking about marriage/women's rights on Vulcan Some may think that T'Pring not being allowed to divorce Spock was because he was going through the pon farr but if she were allowed to divorce him at all she probably would have done that a long time ago, confirmed by T'Pol when she's speaking with Koss, who isn't suffering from the pon farr. She says that he can choose another mate (without invoking a fight it seems: note the difference between a 'mate' and a 'challenger') and after he makes it clear that nothing she says will change his mind about marrying her, she finally threatens to declare a kal-if-fee. It's clear that Vulcan women cannot divorce/refuse to marry a man they've been betrothed to under any circumstances if A) He himself doesn't consent to ending their marriage or B) She doesn't have someone else waiting in the wings to be given to in his stead. Though, if the challenger she selects fails to win the fight, she'll have to marry her betrothed anyway unless (again) he decides he doesn't want her after the challenge. That seems like an incredibly unfair system, heavily biased towards men. SNW is an alternate universe in many obvious respects but most egregiously in that T'Pring has a lot of non-canonical agency over her relationship with Spock. It's interesting to me that Vulcan society has women in many positions of power and treats women as equal to men from what I've seen despite these laws. We don't really see Vulcans exhibiting a misogynistic attitude towards women in general but in TOS (perhaps because of its general writing style but it's still interesting to note) both Sarek and Spock take on patriarchal attitudes specifically regarding wives. Amanda says that 'of course' Sarek commands her because "he is a Vulcan and I am his wife." It's worthwhile in my eyes to note that she specifies 'wife' instead of attributing this attitude to women as a whole. Again, with TOS' writing style it wouldn't be out of place for her to say "he is a man and I am a woman." Spock, while in a pon farr induced irritation, states that it's "undignified for a woman to play servant to a man that isn't hers" - again implying that there's something specific about being a Wife in Vulcan society which is different from being a woman in general and demands subservience to a husband. This could perhaps stem from the extreme sense of ownership that Vulcan law has permitted men to have over women. A woman legally cannot point blank refuse marriage. There is no option which guarantees she won't have to marry her betrothed other than death. When T'Pau speaks of T'Pring she refers to her as being 'property' and Stonn, before being interrupted, states he's made 'the ancient claim' - we don't know what this is because he gets cut off but it's obvious they're both using the language of Vulcan law. Men are permitted true freedom to choose. If a woman wants to choose someone else to be with there is no option available to her other than the kal-if-fee which might result in the death of the one she wants to be with. And, if her lover fails, her husband can still just decide he wants to marry her and she'll be forced to. T'Pring gives two scenarios: One where Spock 'frees' her and one where he doesn't - it's still ultimately his decision which is clear when he ends the conversation with "Stonn, she is yours." This again isn't just because of the pon farr as T'Pol also goes through this. Koss can choose another mate and when the option is talked about there's no implication that this would result in any sort of fight (both by the casualness of its mention and by the fact that there's no formal word for it unlike the kal-if-fee.) Also, the fact that Koss does eventually grant T'Pol a divorce and it's all fine means that T'Pol isn't lawfully required to have another man waiting if her HUSBAND doesn't want her. It's ONLY required if SHE doesn't want her husband. Tradition must take precedence over individual desire UNLESS!!! You're a man. Then it's fine. Like, your parents might not be happy but legally you're golden.

[starry-bi-sky]

pouring one out for luo binghe in my disciple SQQ fic, poor guy has taken a backseat here. we're nearly 30k words deep and he hasn't even shown his face once. it'll be much longer before he even actually talks to Shen Qingqiu.

(i say im pouring one out but in reality im sitting in my director's chair chewing on a cigar and wearing a beret as he tearily and unsuccessfully pleads with me for more scenes with Shen Qingqiu)