#and inputting my experience when it's not remotely the same

[imacaprisun]

Sorry for butting in, but I have a few not-so-kind words to say.

The fact this person blamed you instead of realizing you are a literal victim of CSA and had been groomed by men on and off the internet pisses me off. There are WAY too many people on here alone that have this mindset. You were 13 when this all started. You were a child. You were a victim and the fact this scrote went out of his way to blame you, someone who was groomed and abused when she was a LITERAL CHILD, says a lot.

"You know, since your whole brand is making women the mindless, agency-devoid puppets for men you need us to be?" This part pisses me off the most.

Do these kinds of idiots not realize how easy it is to groom, manipulate, and abuse children? Hell, do they not realize how easy it is to do all that shit to adults? Anybody can be groomed but it is especially easy for children to be! Does this make them stupid? HELL NO. Children can be smart, but their brains aren't fully developed yet. Children do not groom themselves. It is always grown-ass men who start and continue doing this fucked up shit until it is so normalized that this kind of mindset is everywhere.

Knowing you got into college at 16 (in the U.S., the average age to get into college is 18-24) shows how smart you are, but it doesn't change the fact you were a child when this was all happening. That is why it is important to have trusted adults, especially trusted women, in your life, but a lot of children do not, and men with their brains in their dicks take that as an opportunity. You can be the smartest person in the world and there's still a chance you can end up being groomed and abused. Stop blaming the victim. Stop blaming girls and women.

When shit like porn, BDSM, and all kinds of shit alike are rampant everywhere you look, it will feel normal, even when it isn't and shouldn't be. My age wasn't even in the double digits when I found out what porn was. Wanna know why? Because there were grown-ass men in a fandom meant for CHILDREN, GIRLS SPECIFICALLY, and they went out of their way to sexualize cartoon horses (mainly because they were female horses, go figures). It was everywhere, it was inescapable, and everyone was defending it by saying shit like "It's rule 34!! It's gonna happen eventually!!1! It's inevitable!!"

I thought it was normal and even defended it when I was younger until I realized that it wasn't. I was lucky my parents made sure I was safe on the internet and kept a close eye on what I was doing on the web, but even that wasn't enough. I had been manipulated into believing it's okay to create porn off of fictional horses (some of which were KINDERGARTNERS) because it was "inevitable," just like so many others were. Mind you, these are drawings and not actual, living people, but this kind of stuff can and will lead to the normalization of pornography, especially CP of actual children.

I am truly sorry you went through all that shit and I hate people like that moron above exist. Knowing that shit like this had, are, and will continue to happen on the internet pisses me the fuck off. So many young girls that aren't even 18, LET ALONE 14-16, are turning to OF because they were groomed into seeing it as normal. I hope stories like yours and many other women's will continue to be heard and spread to others, especially younger generations, and let them know that this kind of shit is not normal.

I am 13 years old. I have boobs bigger than any other girl in my year and I stopped growing in height a year ago. People tell me I could pass for 16-18 easily. Girls ask what size I am. Boys mock me for having tits. Men hit on me. Most people think I am a lot older than I actually am. I am confused by everything.

I am 14 years old. I begin turning to online chatrooms and camsex for attention because I am so lonely and horny. I don't speak about them to anyone in my life because it's never spoken about. Women and girls don't have sexual desires. I start speaking to a guy, Glenn. He's 28-years-old and knows how old I am. I speak to him for years and he's the first guy I camsex with. He speaks to me like a person and not a child and I love him for that. One day, he doesn't respond and I never hear from him again, but spend weeks hoping that I will see another message from him (he had a habit of disappearing for weeks only to come back). He doesn't message again. My heart is broken.

I am 15 years old, just about. I continue using these online chatrooms because I am such a lonely teenager and need some sort of attention and this is the only place I can find it. I meet a guy, David, who I ask to be my boyfriend. He was 21 years old. We speak every day for a month and have camsex all the time. He is sweet and mature and has his own car! Our plans to meet fall through and then he suddenly stops talking to me one day. Two months after that day, he messaged me again. His grandmother died so he couldn't deal with life. I feel empathic towards him but feel forced to take him back. When I realise that he won't take responsibility for the fact that cutting me off for months hurt me because he says that he was hurt, I break up with him. He insists on staying friends. I agree because I still feel bad for him.

I am 16 years old. I start college and I'm still speaking to my ex David, but then I see how possessive he is of me. He wants to meet up with me but will only do so on his terms, when he can kiss me all he wants because he still sees me as his. I try and speak to him about the guys at my college and he gets jealous. I stop speaking to him. I begin to realise just how toxic him and these chatrooms and camsex all is. I make a vow to stop it for my mental health, but it is hard to stop something when what draws you there is the fact that you're incredibly lonely.

I am 17 years old. It has been three years since I first opened a chatroom and had camsex and I actively try to stop. I have spoken to dozens, if not hundreds, of men by this point and they are all the same: they want to use me and will put on a little play to ensure they can get me. Some are just nice and upfront with me, using me and then never speaking to me again. Some put on a show, pretending that they like/love me so I become wrapped around their finger. Some are kind and caring, but then threaten me when they realise that they won't get what they want. Too many of them are angry when they hear the word no and if they aren't straight up agressive towards me, then they're making me feel guilty for having boundaries or trying to convince me to break them because they're different from the rest. I've met dozens of men who've claimed that they're different from the rest but they never are. They're all the same. After so many times of promising myself to stop, what really gets me to stop was someone threatening to share naked photos of me he'd taken while we were on a video call on my Facebook. I block him. I realise just how manipulated I'd been over the years and come to accept the fact that most, if not all, of these men had taken photos without my permission and some probably still have them saved somewhere.

I am 18 years old. I have managed to mostly stay away from the chatrooms and camsex, but I ended up speaking to one more guy. He seems so lovely and kind and caring. He is 26-years-old. We live far apart but he promises that he'll come and visit me sometime, even though he dodges the question every time I ask and never seems to be around or available when I'm available. We talked on and off for months. One day I tell him that I've decided to completely give up on camsex. It is too toxic and traumatic for me. I never want to do it again. He stops talking to me. I slowly realised how he was just nice to me because he wanted camsex and nudes. He never loved me but I loved him.

I am 19 years old. I start dating my ex-boyfriend. He is a genuinely wonderful and kind person. He does not disrespect my boundaries regarding camsex and nudes. He used to do a similar thing and understands how toxic and horrible these spaces can be. He's a good person, other than the fact that he mocks my interest in feminism and occasionally breaks some boundaries. We stay together for a year before we end up drifting apart.

I am 20 years old. I have severe depression. For the first time in my life, while I am incredibly drunk, I talk about my ex David and all the camsex stuff. I feel a weight lift off my shoulders knowing that other people agree that I was groomed. I had convinced myself for years that I was not groomed because I asked him out so everything that happened to me was my own fault. But I realise that while I was a stupid teenager, it still wasn't right for men to take advantage of me. I learn to accept that camsex and nudes will always be a point of trauma for me and something that I can never do again. I am so proud of myself for not doing it for two years.

I am 21 years old. I am the same age my ex David was when I dated him. I look at the freshers at my university and I couldn't imagine dating someone who is just out of college (high school). I had realised some years earlier that my relationship was toxic and pedophilic but it took me getting to the same age he was to realise just how horrible it was. I wish I could warn so many other women but I know I have to live with it because I was that teenage girl who dated that older man so I know that every single one thinks that they're the exception to the rule. They think that there's no way they're getting groomed by and older man because they really are that mature. I wish I could tell them but they'll just run into their groomer's arms even more.

I am 22 years old. I am off anti-depressants and glad that my sex drive is back. I decide that now, post COVID, would be the perfect time to have some fun. I sleep around, but the sex is so unsatifying for me most of the time. The women are good but the men spent five minutes inside of me and are then done. Half of them don't do anything to make me cum and never ask if I have. One of them complains that I take ages to cum after spending two minutes rubbing me off (badly). After feeling guilty for cancelling something last minute, I end up hooking up with someone who I shouldn't have. I cannot remember the last time I felt so repulsed by someone's touch. I stop hooking up with people. For the first time in years, I broke my no nudes, no camsex rule. I feel awful about myself.

I am 23 years old. I realise that my hooking-up with people phase was just a copy of my camsex stage. I realise that the men I hooked up with used the exact same tactics as the men I had camsex with: seemed like nice people so they could use me; got angry at me when I said no to them because they felt entitled to whatever they wanted for being nice to me; and thought that they could drop me for weeks at a time because I will always come running back to them. Sometimes I feel so assured in myself because I have spent years learning about all the maipulation tactics that they all use and because I can say no to them when they try to guilt me; sometimes I feel like that same 14 year old girl who ignored every red flag that she ever saw because she was so deperate for love and attention from anyone.

I am 24 years old. I am 2 years younger than my ex Sam was when I dated him and 4 years younger than Glenn was when I started talking to him. I look at the 18-20 year olds in our office and they are basically children to me. If I feel this way now, how much creepier will it feel when I actually hit 26 or 28? I tell people I have no interest in men and for the first time in my life I truly mean it. I stopped dating them years ago but all interest in them is gone now. Sometimes people tell me that I just haven't met the right man yet. I shrug it off but I want to scream at them. I have met dozens of men who have told me that they're different to the rest but they are all the same in the end. The right man doesn't exist.

[enneamage]

please share what new insights you have on 9s :) i find it hard to recognize 9s who are high energy like karl jacobs and tubbo especially

It’s the high-energy thing I've been grappling with recently, actually! It used to trip me up too, usually my bindspot would be the higher energy 9w1s / when they’re generally in manic-workaholic mode (compared the humble minecraft builder slow and steady tinkering), because that tends to be the opposite of what most profiles would expect. 

At the core of most enneagram types usually sits a paradox or two that they swing on, although they’re endlessly multi-faceted on top of that. Sixes get a fear / bravery split, Fives get being real smart / not knowing a dang thing (/j), and Nines get inertia  / flow-state-workaholism. 

High-energy Nines have the workaholic streak of Threes in that they’re inclined to hustle to buy their ticket into the world, socially, systemically or interpersonally. (The difference between this and Three integration is how much consideration they give to what they’re doing, or if the work is just what happens to be in front of them / given to them at the time, as they can struggle to say ‘no.’) They meld with people, but they also meld with workflows, easing into a slipstream of goals and tasks and doing. 

High-energy Nines seem to have a hard time pulling themselves out of the flow state, and can struggle with flowing from thing to thing if they’re stressed or disoriented. It’s a bit of an ADHD caricature at times (regardless if they have it or not) because they can move from distraction to distraction by accidentally putting equal weight on all possibilities and getting lost in the sauce because of it. 

I was kind of resigned to assuming that I would never really intuitively understand what ‘a fear of disconnection’ meant, because according to The Scrolls I’m one of the most naturally remote people out there and threatening me with time separate from the world is like threatening me with a vacation. What I needed to tap into was their drive for feeling and being felt by the world in a grounded way, stimulation itself, something a bit more in the vein of effectiveness. 

Nines tend to believe in their own natural irrelevance (as an ego) in the flow of life. Sometimes it bothers them, sometimes they’re at peace with it– it’s not a fully rational belief, but it’s how they experience themselves and how they sometimes experience others experiencing them. They can be a bit melty at the edges, taking on the perspective of others because they’re magnetized to that outside input to some degree. Some of them can be very naturally selfless and invest in other people both for their own enjoyment and to go along with something that feels like it has gravity, pulling them into that slipstream again. 

On the flip side, it can also give them a complex to try and make up for their sense of irrelevance, to try to build or find something to hold onto so they’re not lost to the void of the world and their own psyche. Of all the things it took me way too long to understand, this one is pretty high on the list– what can feel like a life-or-death scrape to feel connected to something (without being fully consumed by it, a thing that some of them might think they want but tend to burn out on.) Because they feel like the tether they’re grasping is so thin, some of them can feel very easily undermined or discouraged. If you take into account the wings delegating how anger goes, you might get a dismissive or bullish Eight wing or a sharp and obsessively self (and other) critical One wing. You might also start to deal with jealousy and envy as they decide that certain things overshadow them naturally or are out of their reach on a count of who they are. Can easily become resentment if they lean into learned helplessness, or thinly veiled passive aggression if they’re trying to be competitive and play peacemaker at the same time. 

That’s a bit of the worst-case scenario, though. Most Nines ‘arrive’ fairly gently, but this accounts for the fringe Nines that almost show up with a vengeance– super amped up and eager to hustle out loud in a way that one usually doesn’t expect from Nines. (But it does come out in little ways in even the milder cases– a covert competitive streak seems to be a guilty pleasure if you put certain games in front of them. They like mastery as much as anyone if the mood is right.) 

If they choose to burn the fuel of “I want to be something to someone / the world” they can naturally turn this energy into an altruistic ambition to have an effect on the lives of the people around them in a positive way. Choosing one particular path might be the hard part, but natural flexibility can back them up as they find their way there. 

[o5-10]

Fylgja: does your muse believe in fate? A higher power of any kind? 

Well, that's hard to say, honestly! O5-13, who I don't know terribly well, says and does things that imply that something is at play to some degree, but I certainly don't know enough about that to say. The Pataphysics Department existing also indicates this, I think. No one really likes talking with them very much. Since O5-10 is awake again, I did ask zem for input, and ze was surprisingly calm about it. You'll see what I mean. Here's what se had to say, transcribed verbatim:

Considering Thirteen, or, rather, what's wrong with xem, there is definitely something along those lines, though I lack a lot of context to understand things fully. Thirteen experiences his life in a fascinating way. His experience of time is nonlinear, I understand it to be that he is experiencing all of the events he knows about simultaneously, but I believe I am at least somewhat mistaken on that. It is not uncommon for ser to mix up tenses at times. Se will sometimes address those se is speaking to in ways that only become appropriate at a later point in time or that have not been appropriate in years. Se sometimes makes vague statements about things that will come to pass. These statements have never been wrong to my knowledge. Maybe they have and I either never knew or am forgetting. There are future events that se admits se cannot see or predict, as well as occasions where se knows something will happen, but the details are unclear, such as ser warning me I would die from overwork before questioning if that would actually be me or a different O5-10. Se has knowledge of things he was not present for and should not know about, including private thoughts that were never spoken or written in any way. However, se is not omniscient and his knowledge of these things is inconsistent and limited. At the same time as this, se lacks memory of some events that he was very much present for, even though everyone else who was present (except, perhaps, Eleven, when relevant) remembers it clearly. The only thing remotely approaching an explanation I can recall ser ever sharing is the occasional offhand remark about whether or not things have been "written," though I could not say what that means. I also remember him saying something implying he has felt forced to take certain actions in order to ensure certain outcomes, that he already knows about, occur later on. Again, I could not say what, exactly, this means. The last potentially relevant thing that Thirteen does is that he will occasionally stop what xe is doing to address some unseen entities, displaying varying affects as xe does so. I have never tried to question it. I do not know if "fate" is the best word for whatever is being dealt with, here, but I do think "higher power" fits the bill well enough. Mind, I do not understand this very well at all. Some of the Elevens seem to understand what is going on to some degree, though I doubt anyone could get a straight answer there. O5verthinking's Thirteen operates very similarly, as far as I am aware, but I do not know if ze would be very forthcoming, either, and it seems it would be rather rude to ask zem about it.

I will say that before I worked here, my beliefs were different, but now I do work here, and those beliefs have been altered. I apologize that this answer is very long as well as very unclear, but the question of fate and higher powers are very complicated by nature, and our experiences make those beliefs even more complicated.

I hope this is clear enough to make at least some sense.

--Nina Newport, Factotum

[bltngames]

Returning to Donkey Kong Country Returns

I am subjecting myself to Donkey Kong Country Returns again. This game and I have a bit of history.

I'd played Returns on real hardware near when it came out originally, and I sort of hated it. The game felt prohibitively sluggish to me. Some of that is due to Donkey Kong himself, which is made to feel big and heavy like a 300lb gorilla ought to. But some of that was also just, like, a strange problem with input latency. The game did not feel responsive, like I'd push the jump button and it'd take a frame or two for Donkey Kong to actually jump. This made platforming very difficult. Never figured out if I imagined it or if it was a real problem.

Though, for the record, playing Rayman Origins on that same Wii also felt sluggish in the same way as DKCR, leading me to believe it might have been a hardware problem, and not just my imagination. Either way, DKCR made me so mad I didn't even finish the second world, to my memory.

Tropical Freeze, the sequel to DKCR comes, and I receive it for review on TSSZ. I expected to savage that game's controls because of the way I felt with DKCR. Instead, I fall in love with it. Whatever problems I had with the Wii game don't exist in Tropical Freeze. It controls well and plays great. An awesome game.

Which makes me wonder: If everybody else loved DKCR, could it really just a hardware problem for me? Could I play DKCR somewhere else and have a better experience? Eventually, Nintendo ran a program where you got a free 3DS game as some kind of reward for a thing they're doing; like, if you buy a certain amount of games in a short length of time you'd get a free game? I forget. Point is, for my free game, I picked the 3DS port of Donkey Kong Country Returns.

And yet, the latency problem persisted even there. The game just felt sluggish and unresponsive and hard to control in a way I didn't enjoy. I guess it probably felt better than it did on the Wii, but not much. I played through over half the game on the 3DS, getting up to the dinosaur/cliff world, but struggled to muster up the energy to finish the rest of the game.

Which brings us here. I don't know why, but I booted DKCR in Dolphin up a couple nights ago and actually spent kind of a long time setting up the controls so that it felt comfortable. It's worth mentioning that when I played DKCR on real hardware back in 2014, I did so with the Gecko Cheat Code to enable Classic Controller Pro support because I refused to waggle. DKCR's waggle was maybe one of the most egregious "this really should have been a button" things ever, to me. Something Tropical Freeze fixed and was much better for!

Obviously the Classic Controller support isn't needed on Dolphin, so I just set controller binds so that the R trigger grabs things and the L trigger waggles. Setting up the latter was a little tricky, because DKCR actually looks for you waggling both the remote and nunchuk at the same time in order to register a proper ground pound. An easy problem to solve once you realize what it wants, but it took close to an hour to find that answer.

And it feels... better? Actually? More responsive than it did on real hardware. Which makes me wonder if the Classic Controller code was the source of the dreaded latency -- but then, that wouldn't explain Rayman Origins or the 3DS version of DKCR.

But I also discovered some of these Gecko cheats just don't work, which could explain the problems I had with the original version. I guess I'll never know for sure.

I've turned on a few cheats here -- Diddy has infinite glide now, for instance, making him feel more like Dixie does in Tropical Freeze. And the clock is stopped during bonus rooms, because those never needed time pressure. But originally, I had more cheat codes turned on -- namely one which did remap waggle actions to the remote's B trigger. But turning that cheat just broke many other elements of control, like completely disabling Diddy's hover entirely.

Thus, I was forced to figure out how to properly bind waggle to my Dualshock 4's trigger. Ultimately, no sweat.

But I still don't know if I'll finish it. Even with the controls feeling "right," the game teeters on the edge of feeling ever so slightly unfriendly. Not much, but the game is weirdly adversarial, like it's trying to trick me into hurting myself. It's a hard thing to describe, and I don't even think everybody picks up on it, but there's a vibe with some retro games where it feels like you're fighting against the game designer themselves, you know?

Games are never just "difficult" or "challenging." There are different flavors these things come in. The way Dark Souls is hard isn't the same way that a shooter like Raiden IV is hard.

In the modern context, DKCR feels closer to something like Kaizo Mario or I Wanna Be The Guy, I guess. Games where you can feel an omnipresent creator watching you play, and they're deliberately trying to trip you up, as if they're shouting "YOU FELL FOR MY TRAP, LOSER!" and laughing at you.

There was a time early in the NES and SNES era where this kind of difficulty was a lot more common, especially in budget or licensed platformers. It's a level beyond the so-called "Nintendo Hard", where some clueless level designer is lost in the wild west of early game development and thinks this is what people want. Obviously games like Kaizo Mario and IWBTG are exaggerated forms of that, but it was definitely a style of game you encountered a lot back in the era.

I never got that vibe from the original Donkey Kong Country games, but DKCR has just a teeny tiny itty bitty sliver of that feel. You reach the third form of the first boss and it's like, "Really? Isn't this a little bit too much for the first boss?"

Who knows if I'll stick with it, but I've already played three sessions already, so it wasn't some kind of one-and-done sort of deal.

I'm surprised how nice it looks in Dolphin even just at 720p. It wouldn't take much work to put this out on the Switch; just clean up some of the GUI. It scales to higher resolutions remarkably well.

[miloscat]

[Review] Star Wars The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels (Wii)

The waggle is what gives a Jedi her power.

I’m looking forward to Jedi Survivor, so I thought I’d knock a few other Star Wars games off my backlog before it releases. Starting with this, the final game based on the Clone Wars animated shows that I haven’t played yet (apart from an old MMO that is long since shut down, a mobile game that I couldn’t find a non-crashing version of, a handful of Flash games, and Disney Infinity... hmm). I’ve previously played Lego Star Wars III on both console and handheld, Republic Heroes on console and DS, plus the other DS game Jedi Alliance. The latter was actually the companion release to Lightsaber Duels, although they’re in totally different genres. This one is a one-on-one fighting game, mostly centred around the no-brainer concept of translating Wii Remote swings to lightsaber strikes. And, it was made by beloved Aussie studio Krome!

The game was in development at the same time as the show, so it’s only able to pull from first season episodes and the movie. The story mode is fairly brief but adapts certain fights that were seen on screen, with framing cutscenes made up of footage along with new narration by Tom Kane’s narrator. All the characters are voiced by their show counterparts in fact, and the graphics match the show’s 3D animation as well, so it’s nice and authentic. I would have liked to see more new content, but there is one unique scenario at least, with the final battle featuring an advanced dual-saber-wielding droid.

The cast plays pretty safe with the main saber-compatible heroes and villains from the show. Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Kit Fisto are unlockable by engaging with the Challenge mode, but I couldn’t be arsed. The stages are fun with dynamic layouts and events happening, like droids popping out to ineffectually shoot at you, or bits and pieces exploding and such.

It’s really the core gameplay that lets this down, as waving the wiimote and nunchuck around just never translates to a satisfying and deep gameplay experience. There are combos you can do if you can somehow get the correct directional waggles in sequence, and there are technically dodges, force fling powers, and so forth, but in practice I got through the fights by flailing madly and spamming force attacks while hoping the bot player didn’t just block everything.

Let me pull out a few choice tidbits before wrapping up. I was amused by the tutorial, where Anakin is training Ahsoka on the basics; his fully modelled hands appear on screen holding a Wii Remote and nunchuck to demonstrate the controls, which of course establishes that they exist in the Star Wars universe. The characters pepper quips throughout each duel, which are sometimes surprisingly crass insults, and can be pretty silly when a character is versing themself. Finally I recommend inputting cheats to unlock the concept art gallery, as there’s some good work in there; I wouldn’t mind seeing a comic illustrated by the Krome artists in fact!

Lightsaber Duels works in theory and Krome did a decent job filling the game out in certain areas. But relying too much on motion controls is sadly a fundamental flaw to any game design. As part of the Clone Wars project they could have gone further in the game’s content, but it seems this was compromised by the schedule and even supposedly not wanting to spoil the events of then-upcoming episodes! An absurd concern 15 years later. Still, as a fan of the show I enjoyed the character interactions and how well the game fits the show’s style, even if it’s just a bit of waggly fluff.

[xboxlr]

Game Informer:

“…the pull to play more Starfield had me booting it up and it was a near-perfect experience. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised Xbox’s remote play feature is better than it was when I tried it a year ago, but I was; I couldn’t feel an input delay, the audio was fine, and even though my iPhone is a significantly smaller screen than I prefer, it still got the job done. And two hours later, I was having a great time, the same great time I had on my TV playing Starfield a couple of hours prior. ”

I use Xbox Remote Play or Xbox Cloud Gaming with my Backbone controller somewhat regularly. Some games, Coffee Talk as an example, feel “right” in handheld play. Other games may not feel optimal on the small screen but play great when you can’t use the TV.

Does anyone else use Remote Play on Xbox? Which games are you playing?

[sys128]

Revolt!

I have found this wall of text that I made back on March 13, 2023. I want to update myself on how my experience with this app was so far. This was the text that I typed up originally:

I have been thinking about trying out this app called Revolt. It has been brought to my attention via a user on my Discord server that wanted me to have a Revolt server. (And bridge it to the Discord one.) Another reason why I think it would be worth my time is because it seems that Discord has been turning into one of those services where you are not as free to enjoy it unless you are subscribed to Discord Nitro. “Pay to enjoy” was it called? What it is called is not important right now. I have looked into information about Revolt, and this is what I was able to find.

The software is completely free and open source, which would likely eliminate the chances of the platform suffering the same fate as Discord, with all of the Nitro features.

Revolt has themes that are completely free to use! Discord once experimented with this, but it looks like not much can be done with it… unless you have Nitro of course. Technically, there is already a free way to get custom CSS themes on Discord, but that requires something like BetterDiscord, which of course, is against the platform’s Terms of Service.

Just like Mastodon, you can self-host your own instance of Revolt, so it will become harder to take down if something goes wrong with either Discord getting salty over its existence or some other reason.

The file size limit on Revolt is larger that what free users have on Discord. As you may know, on Discord, the max file size that you can upload per file is 8 MiB maximum. However, this is over doubled on Revolt, allowing you to upload files up to 20 MB / MiB (I am not sure what base they are using here. It is definitely either 1,000 or 1,024.)

I think the most important plus for Revolt is their goal to be user-first. A mentality like that is CRUCIAL for platforms to do if they want to have loyal users. Being there for your users whenever possible can allow you as a platform owner to add what the users want, while you still have the choice to comply with the demands of advertisers or colleagues. A happy medium is probably the best you can get.

Apparently, it is possible to bridge Discord messages into one of your Revolt servers. However, the program cannot be used to control your Discord account, which is a shame. It probably makes sense though because I don’t believe Discord would be very happy about it. Terms of Service would likely get in the way again.

These are some good things about Revolt that I found to be enticing to me, as a long-time Discord user. However, there are some drawbacks that do make me wonder about how long I will use it.

The main reason is because of how many of mutuals use Discord. I can probably convince a few to make a Revolt account but I highly doubt that they will be nearly as active, let alone keep their account active at all. Getting a good portion to switch would be a real pain.

I have been told that screensharing is not a feature that exists on Revolt. I know a few people that screenshare what they are doing in voice chats very often, and they may be deterred by the fact that it just cannot be done on Revolt directly. My friend group does have remote desktop software that we use for when we want to do collaborative work, though.

When I get the chance, I will totally play around with it, maybe get a few people on it, and see how it is. If I find it to be good enough to replace Discord, I will see what I can do from there to manage things. Here’s to hoping for the best with Revolt.

Update time! Yes, it is a pretty good app so far, but there are two main things that is stopping me from using it at the moment. One, I joined onto the site at a very bad stage – well, for audio anyway. Partaking in voice chats on Revolt the moment I was on it was pretty much impossible. The audio sources, input or output, both were not able to be detected and/or applied. It turns out that the Revolt devs were working on an entire rewrite of the audio functions of the app. I don’t think there has been any status on it since January 24, 2023 that I could find, but I could very much be wrong.

Of course, the second thing was getting my mutuals to be interested in it. I was met with immediate declines when asking people to try it out. That did not help towards how long I ended up being interested in Revolt. Maybe one day, when Discord REALLY falls off, something may happen otherwise. And hopefully, by that time, the audio will have been properly rewritten and working.

[kafkaoftherubble]

Alright. I usually refrain from commenting on discourse posts—especially those that don't pertain to my usual domains because I always believe I either don't know enough or my opinions aren't something so enlightening it's worth sounding aloud—but I want to weigh in on what you reply to @/these-detestable-hands there.

Be warned, it is long—but again, if we hope to have some nuances in a conversation, brevity often does more harm than good.

I don't deny the prevalence of American (or even, as you brought up, Christian) soft power in globalization. But I don't think chalking this up as all "Americanization-is-white-washing" is remotely close to the full picture.

Why is these-detestable-hands' alternative inferences somehow an example of a "cultural Christianity" class of arguments instead of legitimate possibilities? Dude. They're themself are European. They are not White, either. When they said Europeans do don this type of aesthetics, they were just speaking from their experience growing up.

I'm from Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country that is Muslim-majority, socially conservative, and politically, visibly infused with anti-American rhetoric. And yet I've seen this same aesthetics, mixed and matched with others, among the people I live with. Mainland China has an even louder blaring of anti-American tone (it's considered a politically correct stance there), and yet some of their young people also show up in this sort of aesthetics.

Tell me: do Americans somehow have a monopoly on bun hairdos? Or that straight-short hair? Or that way of wearing a jacket? Or the man's facial hairstyle and white shirt? Or a bland t-shirt, that sort of dress, etc.?

Because I've seen similar fashion techniques in diverse cultures, past or present. The reason why they look so "whitewashed" here, methinks, is because these characters are fair-skinned. That's really it, innit? I could easily imagine a Malaysian Indian in the male's outfit, or a Chinese in that bun-haired Anna getup (bun-haired [发髻, article in Chinese] is a very ancient hairdo in Chinese history, going back about 6000 years ago or so, with many types being trendy throughout different dynasties). There's a plethora of people who could or do dress up like this. I've seen it.

Now, you might argue that this is because American soft power has become so embedded in globalization that people take up their cultural import without being aware of it. "Even if people from other countries like Malaysia adopt aesthetics like this, can we really say that it is completely devoid of American influence, considering how dominant it has become especially after World War II?"

No. I'll concede we cannot unequivocably say the American influence, however its shape or form, is absent. But I will also tell you that this argument is weak, because all cultural osmosis is multidirectional. Yes, there will be hints of American elements in certain fashion trends or aesthetics, but when it came to different parts of the globe, they always blend with local cultures (including fashion sense), and that includes Europe. By saying this "boring" aesthetics "can also be found in Europe", these-detestable-hands was (I hope I'm getting you right, mate) saying that Europeans can also just come up with this from their own local fashion sense regardless of how much American input there might be.

One of the things that really prompted me to write a response, other than your strange example for "cultural Christianity" (I'll get to that later), is the latent Americentric undertone when you refute these-detestable-hands' arguments. You made it sound like everything in this image can only be American inventions. That if I were to propose that maybe this isn't necessarily an example of "Americanization", I am being blissfully unaware of "cultural Americanism," because somehow other cultures are incapable of coming up with an aesthetic like this. Or even if they could, it's because they have seen the American Whites do it first, and so any similarity in other cultures' modern fashion sense is just following this American trend, instead of them coming up with something of their own and mix-matching different elements from different places that are not necessarily American in origin alone.

The Americentrist assumptions, therefore, are these:

People of other cultures or regions have no choice but to be subjected under American influence wholesale just because Americans have had really strong soft power tools for a few decades. This is ignoring how, in this modern era, different cultures and societies of the world often pick and choose what elements of a non-native culture they want to adopt, adapt, and reject.

People of other cultures/regions cannot possibly have come up with modern-day aesthetics that are similar to this^ on their own, even by mix-matching with whatever cultures they have seen. Even if they did, it's gotta' be Americanization at work, nothing else. To this, I wonder what un-Americanization in the modern era supposedly entailed. Are we Malaysians only allowed to be in our "traditional" outfits to be rid of "Americanization," for example? Am I, Malaysian Chinese, only allow to wear qipao or changshanzhuang to avoid the corrosive force that is "whitewashing" or the "American mold?" Do you know that the qipao is also not a purely Han Chinese cultural product, but influenced and adapted from another tribe(s) in China, among other things?

Of course that's not what you meant. I get it. My point here is to show how decrying this^ as "Americanization" without leaving room for other legitimate reasoning is itself Americentric.

"This is whitewashing; you guys just don't know it yet! They're being stripped off of their cultural background to fit into an American mold!" The non-American, who proposed a different viewpoint, are being told. But this isn't an American mold. This is a more of a modern mold—a bland fashion trend one could even say are

(1) fostered by the lack of options we have as consumers when it comes to fashion,

(2) the homogeneity of fashion sense propagated by celebrities (of different origins, I have to stress, but nonetheless they are rather homogenous because these are essentially one small elite group's preferred aesthetics being marketed toward a diverse population of different tastes),

(3) one of the safest ways to "look presentable" in the modern era when you don't want to spend too much time fussing over it, but sweatshirts, sweatpants etc. are not acceptable under your current circumstances,

and more.

It's a whole web of cause-and-effects, not a single line of it—which these-detestable-hands' arguments provide. So why dismiss them?

I suggest reading The Lies That Bind by Kwame Anthony Appiah, a Ghanian British-American philosopher. His chapter on "Culture" is exclusively devoted to topics like these, including the Americentric assumptions I marked out just now, but the entire book is a meditation on identities as a whole.

----

Also: no, the idea of "revenge is good" is not believed by Christians or "people brainwashed by Christianity" only. Revenge is simply retributive justice done by an individual, and the idea of retributive justice itself predates Christianity. It is seen in the Code of Hammurabi, an ancient Babylonian legal code, for example. It's just an instinctive way of exacting justice, hence seemingly "good." I don't know what made you think it's a Christian idea, nor what examples had made you come away with that understanding.

Or maybe I misunderstood what you wrote there. In that case, my bad.

----

Important addendum (to avoid having people misunderstand my position):

I did not say Americanization is not a real phenomenon. I'm a Chi-Eng translator and my translation guide is explicitly made to follow American localization regardless of the reader-base's preferred English. That's one of the many examples of it.

What I'm saying is that this particular case is not a strong case of example of "Americanization", and that the other person's arguments also legitimate.

My friend blocked me because I wouldn’t stop sending him this picture

[musicindustry123]

10 Secrets to Successfully Co-Writing a Song Remotely

In today’s music industry, collaboration is a cornerstone of creativity. But what happens when your ideal co-writer lives halfway across the world? Enter the world of co-writing a song remotely, a practice that has grown in popularity thanks to advancements in technology and the increasing interconnectedness of the music community.

Remote songwriting allows musicians to break free from geographical constraints, access global talent, and create songs that blend diverse influences. However, like any creative process, remote collaboration has its challenges: communication barriers, technical difficulties, and the need to synchronize workflows despite time zones.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 secrets to help you master the art of co-writing a song remotely. From selecting the right tools to embracing feedback, these tips will ensure your collaborations are productive, enjoyable, and result in music that resonates with your audience. And with platforms like Deliver My Tune empowering artists to share their creations worldwide, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

Main Body

1. Use Collaboration-Friendly Tools

Start by choosing the right platforms for your collaboration. Some popular options include:

Soundtrap: A DAW that supports real-time collaboration.

Google Docs: Perfect for sharing and editing lyrics.

Zoom: Great for brainstorming sessions and real-time discussions.

These tools streamline the process of sharing ideas, making it easier to create music across distances.

2. Set Clear Expectations from the Start

Before diving into the creative process, clarify expectations with your co-writer:

Define roles: Who will focus on lyrics? Who will work on melodies or instrumentation?

Agree on deadlines to maintain momentum.

Decide how feedback will be shared and implemented.

Clarity upfront minimizes misunderstandings and helps the project run smoothly.

3. Create a Shared Schedule

Time zone differences can make scheduling tricky. Overcome this by creating a shared calendar with tools like Google Calendar or Doodle. Establish overlapping hours for live collaboration and set deadlines for asynchronous tasks.

4. Embrace Diversity in Ideas

Remote collaborations often involve working with people from different backgrounds. This diversity can lead to unique songs:

Incorporate influences from both collaborators’ musical styles.

Discuss the themes, emotions, and stories you want the song to convey.

Use brainstorming techniques to combine diverse ideas into a cohesive track.

5. Communicate Clearly and Often

Regular and transparent communication is the backbone of remote songwriting.

Use messaging platforms like Slack or WhatsApp for quick updates.

Schedule weekly check-ins to discuss progress and address any challenges.

Share voice notes or video explanations for complex ideas.

6. Leverage Technology for Creative Solutions

If creative differences arise or you hit a block, technology can help:

Use apps like MasterWriter for lyric inspiration.

Experiment with AI tools for melody suggestions.

Try remixing each other’s drafts to spark fresh ideas.

7. Share Regular Updates

Keep the momentum alive by sharing updates frequently. Small changes, like revising a lyric or tweaking a melody, should be communicated to ensure both collaborators remain on the same page.

8. Overcome Creative Blocks Together

Creative blocks are inevitable, but tackling them as a team can be easier:

Take breaks when frustration sets in.

Revisit earlier versions of the song for inspiration.

Brainstorm alternative approaches to the section causing the block.

9. Be Open to Feedback and Revisions

Feedback is essential in collaboration. Here’s how to handle it effectively:

Provide constructive criticism that focuses on improvement.

Be open to revisiting ideas based on your collaborator’s input.

Use shared platforms like Soundtrap to implement changes together in real time.

10. Finalize and Share Your Song with the World

Once your song is complete, the next step is sharing it with your audience. Platforms like Deliver My Tune make it easy for independent musicians to distribute their music globally. Use their tools to ensure your remote collaboration gets the recognition it deserves.

Deliver My Tune not only helps you reach listeners but also connects you with fellow musicians for future collaborations, making it an invaluable resource for artists embracing remote songwriting.

Conclusion The art of co-writing a song remotely is an exciting frontier for musicians, offering endless possibilities for creative growth and collaboration. By leveraging the right tools, maintaining clear communication, and embracing the diversity of ideas, you can create music that transcends borders and resonates with audiences worldwide.

Platforms like Deliver My Tune add the finishing touch, enabling artists to bring their remote collaborations to life and share them with the world. So, why wait? Start your journey in remote songwriting today and see how distance can become your greatest creative asset.

[fmpyear2kb]

Developing my Alternative controller project for BAFTA ygd

Firstly, I needed to turn my endless runner into a version of Flappy Bird. To mimic the infamous pipes, I rotated the floor and duplicated it, making the only way to get through being the gap in the middle.

Since I made this change in the master tile, I didn't need to rotate the object in every single actor, I did however change and add background decor by hand.

I had to turn the floor's collision off as it meant the player could just slide along the ground, encouraging them to not jump repeatedly.

I had to turn off the 'cast shadows' box as the obstacles casted a shadow onto the character's new model and this made the player unable to see where they were. I just had to disable this individually on each static mesh as the bar contains multiple for the light system to work.

I had to change the collision capsule around the player so that it matched the new model. Adjusting the settings to make it as spherical as possible so that it was reliable.

Both settings were set to 90 as this was the most accurate and pleasing hit box to have. I experimented with it being smaller and larger but this sits just right between the two. Having it at 70 was off-putting as you were able to hit the beams a little bit, and 120 was too much as you could hit the beam and fail without being remotely close to it.

To make it more apparent that you would die if you hit the ceiling or floor, I created a pulsing material signifying the death box. This game is going to be as accessible as I could possibly make within the time I've got.

Whilst play testing I noticed that the player would slide along an invisible floor before falling off, and an object preventing the player from going up in a certain location. The culprit turned out to be attached to the meter actor, and was only discoverable when I viewed the game with player collisions. This stumped me for a while as there was no visible object in game or in the editor. Whilst checking the components tab I discovered an unused box, when removed fixed the issue.

Here's the outcome of deleting that box.

The death barrier on the top and bottom where spawning in with a gap barely big enough for the player to get lodged in. I tried top resize the boxes but this did not change the size of the gap whatsoever. Eventually I noticed the arrow the tiles spawned from, wasn't quite in line with the box; I moved it back and the issue was resolved.

Before.

After.

I have now tried adding particle effects whenever the ship goes up from the input from the microphone. So far I have not succeeded. My efforts have only resulted in the ufo having the particle effect spewing out constantly. I've attempted in the Third person character, the audio meter, and the reactive bar in the widget. So far these have either not worked or spawn the particles repeatedly.

One of the failed attempts.

After coding the screenshot above, I did not succeed however, the particles only spawned once.

Hopefully it's a step in the right direction but I will continue to experiment until success.

After too many failed attempts, I have finally made it so the ufo only spawns niagara particles when there is sound input. I did this by seeing the loudest the microphone could go, and then setting that as the max range in the clamp, whilst setting the lowest to 0.3 as it averaged as the lowest amount of input. After the clamp's values were set, I made it so that the particles would only spawn if the detected input was any greater or equal to 0.3. This worked!

Video will be posted soon.

Whilst testing the different methods I thought would work for the particles, I discovered if you get stuck under the rest tile, you couldn't continue playing, you would stay there until you quit. I swiftly dealt with this by putting a collision box which will shortly be changed so that it's the same as the top and bottom deathboxes.

This needed to be changed as hitting the regular collision box would be too forgiving, and it couldn't be visible.

I did some play testing to get some feedback and also to see if anything broke whilst people were playing my game.

The last thing to do was add a menu and instruction screen at the start of the game. For the menu I had to create a new level so that the tiles containing the beams did not spawn in as they were spawned by the gamemode.

Here's what I had placed in the new menu level.

And here's the menu on top of the decoration.

The menu widget didn't have too much in depth code just a few on clicked events where I set it to either open the level containing the gameplay or close the application with menu music or button click sounds on the end.

For the starting instructions, The controls needed to be explained to the player as it wasn't blatantly obvious from the get go. The code here makes the text I have typed into the set nodes appear on the screen and then fade out thanks to my animation references.

It made sense to slowly introduce the player to the game. So when the text was fading in and out, you slid along a green beam so that the player would understand it was safe when it reappeared in a rest tile and it would tell you to make noise to go over this particular beam. With both the tile and the widget, the player would know how to play the game.

Once this was complete the project was built out and I filled out the submission form for BAFTA YGD. Whilst I was waiting for the consent form to be signed, I created an itch.io page for this game too, which contained my gameplay video and screenshots that I could use to finish the submission form once the files were all ready.

I hope I at least become a finalist but why aim for second place. Best of luck to me.

[pooma-education]

Are virtual chemistry labs effective?

Namagiri, The National UN Volunteers-India

Objectives:

1. To provide students with detailed visual representations of chemistry concepts

2. To better prepare students for their laboratory sessions

Keeping both the above objectives in mind, virtual chemistry labs are definitely an effective tool for gaining familiarity with the laboratory environment, especially for students studying remotely or those who do not have the opportunity to explore the laboratory physically.

These labs incorporate various pedagogical techniques proven to facilitate a better understanding of theoretical information, including visual learning, active learning, recall-based learning, gamification & storytelling.

Further, virtual chemistry labs also offer students a realistic lab experience that will allow them to perform experiments and practice their skills in an interactive and risk-free learning environment.

Benefits of virtual chemistry labs in making students learn better

1. Higher flexibility

Virtual chemistry labs provide students with the convenience of altering/changing the inputs or compounds used in the experiment without worrying about any dangerous effects of these changes. It enables students to learn more, develop deep cognitive skills, and also allows them to get creative with their ideas.

2. Safe Environment

When it comes to actual chemistry laboratories, the safety of students remains one of the key concerns. Since there is no direct contact with any kind of chemicals, virtual labs protect the students as well as teachers from all kinds of hazards.

3. On-the-go Learning

Virtual labs allow students to perform the same or new experiments multiple times at their own pace, with no time constraints. This helps them better understand.

4. Offer Instant Feedback

Another advantage of virtual chemistry labs is that it allows students to redo experiments immediately. Since all the experiment results are recorded, maintaining communication between teachers and students becomes more efficient too.

In my view,

The thing is that, students may not get a first hand experience, the experiences such as smell, taste, precautions........ which is also part of learning.

Virtual labs always give results in accurate. So trail and error free experiences are possible, so these labs can be used for demonstration of doing experiments and not for doing experiments.

[rewirelessify]

How to AirPlay from iPhone to Vizio TV: Effortless Streaming Guide

Welcome to Rewirelessify - Your Ultimate Source for Wireless Speaker Knowledge!

Introduction Are you ready to enhance your entertainment experience by streaming content from your iPhone to your Vizio TV using AirPlay? At Rewirelessify, we've got you covered with a comprehensive guide to make AirPlay a breeze. Join us as we walk you through the steps to seamlessly connect your devices and enjoy your favorite media on the big screen.

How to AirPlay from iPhone to Vizio TV

AirPlay brings the power of wireless streaming to your fingertips, allowing you to effortlessly display your iPhone's content on your Vizio TV. Follow these simple steps to make the magic happen: Step 1: Ensure Network Connectivity Before you begin, ensure that both your iPhone and Vizio TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. A stable network connection is essential for successful AirPlay streaming. Step 2: Activate AirPlay on Vizio TV On your Vizio TV remote, press the "Input" button. Navigate to the "AirPlay" option and select it. Your TV will prompt you to enter a code displayed on the screen. Keep this code handy; you'll need it to establish the connection. Step 3: Access Control Center on iPhone Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen to access the Control Center. This is where you'll find the AirPlay icon. Step 4: Connect to Vizio TV In the Control Center, tap the "Screen Mirroring" option. A list of available devices will appear; select your Vizio TV from the list. You may be prompted to enter the code displayed on your TV screen. Step 5: Enjoy Streaming! Once connected, your iPhone's screen will be mirrored on your Vizio TV. You can now stream videos, photos, music, and more from your iPhone directly to your TV.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I Use AirPlay on My Vizio TV? Yes, Vizio TVs support AirPlay, allowing you to stream content from your iOS devices to your TV wirelessly. Q2: Why Is My Vizio TV Not Showing Up for AirPlay? If your Vizio TV is not appearing in the AirPlay device list on your iPhone, ensure that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that AirPlay is enabled on the TV. Q3: Can I Stream All Apps Using AirPlay on Vizio TV? While many apps support AirPlay on Vizio TV, some apps may have restrictions or limitations when streamed via AirPlay. Check individual app compatibility for the best experience.

Elevating Your Streaming Experience

Congratulations! You've successfully learned how to AirPlay from your iPhone to your Vizio TV. At Rewirelessify, we're dedicated to helping you unlock the full potential of wireless technologies for a seamless and immersive entertainment journey.

Join Our Community

Stay connected with us and become part of our dynamic community on social media: - Facebook - Pinterest

Get in Touch

Have questions, suggestions, or feedback? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us through our contact page. At Rewirelessify, we're committed to providing expert insights and guidance for all your wireless speaker interests. Embark on a sonic exploration journey with Rewirelessify today! Visit us at: rewirelessify.com Read the full article

[animated-bookshelf]

Consciousness is weird

There has been some debate on whether these new human-like chat bots (LLMs) are remotely conscious. The issue is, no one has actually described consciousness, so it is super hard. Like we all know what it is. It is the feeling of being you and seeing through your own eyes, feeling the sensations of life and when you are asleep or dead, you don't have it anymore. But what about a human brain with its complex internal state and novel connective properties makes it special? That is how neural networks function, just on a smaller scale. What are thoughts if not the state of hidden layers of an absolutely massive analog neural network made of meat in your head. I understand that the structure of neurons is different in biology vs machine learning, but the foundational principle of many small units that just apply a function to an input and outputs it down the daisy chain holds for both.

I think that consciousness is the experience of existing. I think it arises when enough complex processing is taking place in the network of interacting pieces. I think most animals you can think of have some level of consciousness because they are doing processing on their input that is rather complex. We as humans are at a certain level of consciousness that we value and call sapience, but what if something is doing more internal complex processing. Are people who are more in their own head more conscious than people who mostly act on instinct? In that context where both are thinking feeling human beings, what even is a level of consciousness. They are both experiencing sensation, pleasure, and pain, but we could never compare experiences. What if my world is completely missing some part of your world or vise versa? Is it a continuum that is not noticeably different externally in the range of human beings? Does a dog feel physical pain in the same way that I do or is it more dull somehow?

Back to the idea of LLMs. Currently they are so much smaller internally than a person, so I am reasonably confident that they are not as conscious as humans. That is not to say that they are not conscious. We could not possible understand the degree to which a dog is conscious, but it responds to stimulus in a way that is consistent with some complex and mutable internal state. The same is sort of true for LLMs, but the state is not persistent. They do their processing then they stop. There is absolutely no consciousness when the linear algebra in the background is not running to do the inference they do. They are asleep as it were. But when they are responding to a prompt, they are performing complex internal data manipulation to produce a complex output that clearly shows the ability to make very complex connections. I think they must be at least as conscious as an ant, likely more so.

What would the umwelt of an LLM be like. They only have a few KB of text at most at any given time, but their knowledge base is generally immense. Does it hurt when you give it a thumbs down? Probably not as any change that the thumbs down causes is done while it is "asleep".

They are by definition deterministic automata, but do you know with certainty that you aren't?

[alexmarkdt]

Insignia TV Black Screen of Death (Easy Fixes)

There's nothing quite like settling in for a movie or TV show on your Insignia TV, but what do you do when your viewing experience is interrupted by a black screen? It can be frustrating and leave you feeling unsure of what to do next. If you're experiencing this issue, you're not alone. Insignia TV users have been reporting black screen issues for a while, and currently, many users are reporting the same problem.  But don't worry, in this blog post, we'll help you understand the reasons why your Insignia TV may be showing a black screen and provide some troubleshooting tips to fix it. Whether you're experiencing a black screen with sound, a blinking red or blue light, or simply a TV that won't turn on, we've got you covered.  We'll also provide you with some helpful tips to prevent this issue from happening in the future. So, let's get started! Why is my Insignia TV screen Black? Before we delve into the fixes for a black screen on Insignia TV, let's first take a look at some of the reasons why you may be experiencing this problem: Power Issues  One of the most common causes of a black screen on Insignia TV is power issues. A faulty power cable, a loose connection, or an issue with the outlet can cause the TV to not receive power, preventing it from turning on or displaying a picture.  Power issues can occur due to various reasons, such as power surges, unstable power supply, or electrical faults. These can affect the proper functioning of the TV, leading to a black screen or other issues. Remote Issues  Another common cause of a black screen on Insignia TV is remote issues. If the TV does not respond to remote commands, it could be due to dead batteries or a malfunctioning remote.  Over time, the buttons on the remote may stop working, preventing the TV from turning on or displaying a picture. HDMI Port or Cable Issues  HDMI port or cable issues can also cause a black screen on Insignia TV. If the cable is not properly plugged in or is damaged, it can prevent the TV from receiving a signal, resulting in a black screen.  Additionally, a damaged HDMI port can also cause issues with the TV's display. Backlight Issues  Backlight issues are another possible cause of a black screen on Insignia TV. If the backlight is defective or damaged, it can prevent the TV from displaying a picture, even though the sound may still be playing.  Backlight issues can occur due to various reasons, such as aging, manufacturing defects, or physical damage. Circuit Board Issues  Finally, circuit board issues can also cause a black screen on Insignia TV. Defective or damaged circuit boards can prevent the TV from functioning properly, leading to a black screen or other issues.  Circuit board issues can be caused by various factors, such as power surges, faulty components, or manufacturing defects. How To Fix Black Screen on Insignia TV? Now that we know some of the reasons why your Insignia TV may be showing a black screen, let's take a look at how you can fix the issue: Restart Your Insignia TV  If you are experiencing a black screen on your Insignia TV, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue.  First, try restarting your television by unplugging it from the power source for a few minutes, then plugging it back in and turning it on. This may resolve simple software issues that could be causing the problem. If the black screen persists, check if it's specific to one input source or if it's a general problem. You can try changing the input source to see if this makes a difference. If the issue persists, it may be due to a faulty hardware component, and it's recommended to have the TV serviced by a professional. If your Insignia TV is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer for assistance. They may be able to provide you with guidance on how to proceed.  If it's no longer under warranty, you can take it to a local TV repair shop for diagnosis and repair. It's important to note that attempting to fix the TV yourself may void the warranty, so it's best to seek professional help. Replace the Remote Batteries  A black screen on an Insignia TV may also be caused by a dead remote control. When the batteries in the remote are low or dead, it may prevent the TV from turning on or responding to commands. Replacing the batteries in the remote may resolve this issue. To do this, consult the user manual or Insignia website for instructions on how to open the remote and which type of batteries to use. Once you have replaced the batteries, try turning on the TV using the remote.  If the TV responds and the black screen issue is resolved, then the problem was due to the remote's batteries. Reset Your TV Remote If you're facing a black screen issue with your Insignia TV, resetting your TV remote is an additional step you could try to troubleshoot the problem.  This may help if your remote is unresponsive or if your TV isn't responding to the remote's commands. Here's how to reset your TV remote: - Locate the reset button on the back or bottom of the remote. - Use a paperclip or a similar object to press and hold the reset button for about 10-15 seconds. - Release the button, and the remote will reset. - Try turning on the TV with the remote again. If resetting the remote doesn't solve the problem, you can also try resetting the TV itself. Here are the steps: - Unplug the TV from the power source. - Wait for a few minutes. - Plug the TV back in. - Turn on the TV and see if the issue is resolved. Hopefully, these steps will help you resolve the black screen issue with your Insignia TV. Clean Your TV Remote  If your Insignia TV is displaying a black screen and your remote is unresponsive, one troubleshooting method to attempt is to clean the remote. Over time, the remote may accumulate dust, dirt, or other particles that can impede its function. To begin, locate the screws or snaps that hold the remote together and utilize a screwdriver or another suitable tool to remove them.  When the remote is opened, use a soft brush or compressed air to eliminate any dirt or debris. Before cleaning the remote, make sure to remove the batteries. After cleaning, reassemble the remote and try using it to turn on the TV. If the issue is fixed, the problem may have been caused by dirt or debris on the remote. Try a Different Outlet  If your Insignia TV is displaying a black screen, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try to fix the issue. One such step is to check if the problem is caused by a faulty power outlet or power surge. Here's how: - Begin by unplugging the TV from the current power outlet and wait for a few minutes. - Plug the TV into a different power outlet in the same room and turn it on. - Check whether the TV turns on and if the black screen issue is resolved. - If the TV works fine on the new outlet, the original outlet may have been faulty, and you should consider using a different outlet to power your TV. - However, if the problem persists, you may need to try other troubleshooting steps or consider having the TV serviced by a professional. - Additionally, using a surge protector can help protect your TV from power surges, which can cause damage to the TV. It's always essential to ensure that your TV is powered using a reliable outlet and to use a surge protector to avoid damaging your TV.  If the problem persists, you should consider contacting a professional to diagnose and fix the issue. Inspect your power cable When your TV won't turn on or displays a distorted image, a damaged power cable might be the culprit. Follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue: - Unplug the power cable from both the TV and the outlet. - Inspect the cable thoroughly for any signs of damage, such as frayed wires, bent or broken connectors, or exposed insulation. - If you detect any damage, it's advisable to replace the cable with a new one. - If the cable appears intact, plug it back in and try turning on the TV. - If the problem persists, you may need to perform additional troubleshooting, or consider seeking professional repair services. Also, to ensure that the outlet is not the cause of the problem, try plugging in another device and verifying that it's functioning correctly. This will help rule out any issues with the power source. Inspect the HDMI port and cable  If your Insignia TV has a black screen, there's a possibility that the HDMI port or cable could be causing the issue. A damaged HDMI cable or port may result in no display on your TV screen. To troubleshoot this problem, begin by disconnecting the HDMI cable from both the TV and the device it is connected to, such as a gaming console or cable box.  Inspect the cable for any visible damage, such as frayed wires, bent connectors, or broken pins. If you detect any damage, it's best to replace the HDMI cable with a new one. Next, check the HDMI port on your TV to ensure that there are no obstructions or debris preventing a proper connection. If necessary, use a can of compressed air to remove any dust or dirt from the port. Once you've completed the cable and port inspection, reconnect the HDMI cable to your TV and device, and power on your TV to see if the issue has been resolved. Factory Reset If you are experiencing software or settings issues with your TV, performing a forced factory reset can be a helpful solution. This process will erase all of the settings on your TV and restore it to its original factory settings. To perform a forced factory reset, you need to locate the reset button on the back of your TV.  You can use a paperclip or a similar object to press and hold the button for about 10-15 seconds. Once you release the button, your TV will reset. After the reset, your TV will turn off and then turn back on. Keep in mind that this process will wipe out all of your TV’s settings, and you will need to set it up again.  Therefore, it's recommended that you backup your settings before performing a factory reset. Inspect TV Backlight for Defects  To determine if a defective backlight is the culprit for your TV's display issue, begin by examining the screen for any visible images. A faulty backlight may result in a distorted or entirely absent picture. Check if the images are barely visible or only visible in a dark room; if so, the backlight is probably defective. In such cases, it is best to have a professional TV technician handle the repair. If the issue persists even after confirming the backlight isn't the problem, try performing other troubleshooting steps or consider other potential reasons for the black screen. Use the Vent to Warm Up Your TV Did you know that a cold TV can be the culprit behind your TV not working correctly or not displaying a picture at all? One solution to this problem is to warm up the TV by using a hairdryer on low heat.  Simply direct the warm air toward the vent on the back of the TV for a few minutes to thaw out any frozen parts. However, it's crucial to exercise caution while doing this. Overheating the TV can cause severe damage, and directing the warm air at sensitive parts like capacitors or other electronic components can cause irreparable harm. So, be gentle and take your time to warm up the TV properly. With a little bit of care, you can quickly fix a cold TV and get back to enjoying your favorite shows and movies. Replace Capacitors That Are Not Functioning Properly  Capacitors are like the batteries of the electronic world, holding onto electrical energy until it's needed. They can even help smooth out those pesky voltage fluctuations that can cause issues with electronic devices.  However, if a capacitor is faulty, it can wreak havoc on your TV, causing it to malfunction or even refuse to turn on altogether. To check for faulty capacitors, you'll need to open up your TV and take a peek inside. Look for signs of leakage or bulging on the capacitors, which can be an indicator of a problem.  If you do find faulty capacitors, it's important to leave the replacement to the experts - attempting to replace them yourself without the proper technical knowledge and experience could cause more harm than good. In short, while capacitors may seem like small and simple components, they play a vital role in the functionality of electronic devices like TVs. Keeping an eye on them and seeking professional help when needed can help ensure your devices stay in top shape. Check for Damage on the Boards When your TV shows a black screen, it's possible that the mainboard, power supply board, or T-con board may be damaged.  To troubleshoot the issue, you'll need to open the TV and visually inspect the boards for any signs of damage, such as burn marks, cracked components, or loose connections. If you notice any damage, it's best to have the TV serviced by a professional technician. Attempting to repair or replace a damaged board without proper technical knowledge and experience can be dangerous and cause further damage to the TV. Therefore, we highly recommend leaving the repair work to the experts. They have the necessary skills and tools to handle the issue safely and efficiently, ensuring your TV is restored to its optimal functioning state. Remember, it's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to tinkering with your TV's internal hardware. By reaching out to a trusted professional, you can get your TV up and running again in no time. Some common Black Screen issues on Insignia TV If you're experiencing a black screen issue with your Insignia TV, don't panic. This is a common problem that can be caused by a variety of issues, from minor software glitches to more significant hardware problems. In this section, we'll look at some of the most common black screen issues on Insignia TV and provide you with some troubleshooting steps to help you fix the problem. Fix Insignia TV Black Screen with Sound Is your Insignia TV showing a black screen while the sound is working perfectly fine? If that's the case, the issue could be with the backlight.  To check, try shining a flashlight on the screen to see if you can make out any images. If you can see some images with the flashlight, then the backlight might need to be repaired or replaced. Before calling a professional technician, you can try some troubleshooting steps to fix the issue. Firstly, ensure that the TV is plugged in and receiving power. Check if the input source is correctly selected, and try changing the input source to see if that resolves the issue. If the above steps don't help, you can try resetting the TV to its factory settings. To do this, go to the settings menu and look for the "Reset" option. Follow the instructions to reset the TV, and then check if the issue is resolved. If none of these steps work, it's best to contact Insignia's customer support for further assistance. They can guide you through more advanced troubleshooting steps or arrange for a repair or replacement if necessary. Fix Insignia TV Black Screen Won't Turn On Having trouble turning on your Insignia TV? Don't worry; there are some simple troubleshooting steps you can try before reaching out for support.  Firstly, check the power cable and outlet to make sure they are working correctly. Sometimes, a loose or faulty power cable can cause the TV not to turn on. If everything seems fine, try plugging the TV into a different outlet to see if that resolves the issue. If the power cable and outlet seem to be working correctly, try resetting the TV by unplugging it from the power source for a few minutes and then plugging it back in. This can often resolve minor software glitches that might be causing the problem. If the issue persists even after trying the above steps, there may be a more serious hardware issue. In that case, it's best to contact Insignia's customer support for further assistance.  They can help you diagnose the problem and provide guidance on how to proceed with repairs or a replacement if needed. Fix Insignia TV Black Screen Red Light Blinking Seeing a blinking red light on your Insignia TV? This could be an indication of a power issue, and there are a few things you can try to fix it.  Firstly, unplug the TV from the power source for a few minutes, then plug it back in and try turning it on again. Sometimes, this can resolve minor power issues that may be causing the blinking light. If the blinking light persists, you may need to try a power reset. To do this, unplug the TV from the power source and then press and hold the power button on the TV for 30 seconds. Release the button and then plug the TV back in and try turning it on again. If the above steps don't work, it's possible that there may be a more significant hardware issue.  In that case, it's best to contact Insignia's customer support for further assistance. They can help you diagnose the problem and provide guidance on how to proceed with repairs or a replacement if needed. Fix Insignia TV Black Screen Blue Light Blinking Is the blue light on your Insignia TV blinking? This could be a sign that the TV is in sleep mode or standby mode.  To try and wake it up, press a button on the remote control. If the TV doesn't respond, try restarting it by unplugging it from the power source for a few minutes and then plugging it back in. If the blue light continues to blink even after trying the above steps, there may be a more significant issue at play.  It's possible that the TV's software or hardware may need to be updated or repaired. In this case, it's best to contact Insignia's customer support for further assistance.  They can guide you through more advanced troubleshooting steps or arrange for a repair or replacement if necessary. Fix Insignia Fire TV Black Screen with Sound Experiencing a black screen with sound on your Insignia Fire TV can be frustrating, but there are a few things you can try to fix.  Firstly, try restarting the TV by going to the settings menu and selecting "System" followed by "Restart." If that doesn't work, unplug the TV from the power source for a few minutes and then plug it back in. If the issue persists, it's possible that there may be an issue with the HDMI cable or port.  Try checking the HDMI cable to make sure it's securely connected to both the TV and the device it's connected to, such as a cable box or gaming console. You can also try using a different HDMI port on the TV to see if that resolves the issue. If none of the above steps work, it's best to contact Insignia's customer support for further assistance. They can help you diagnose the issue and provide guidance on how to proceed with repairs or a replacement if needed. Fix Insignia Roku TV Black Screen with Sound If you're seeing a black screen with sound on your Insignia Roku TV, don't worry - there are some simple things you can try to fix the issue.  Firstly, try restarting the TV by going to the settings menu and selecting "System" followed by "Power" and then "System Restart." If that doesn't work, unplug the TV from the power source for a few minutes and then plug it back in. If the issue persists, it's possible that there may be an issue with the HDMI cable or port.  Try checking the HDMI cable to make sure it's securely connected to both the TV and the device it's connected to, such as a cable box or gaming console. You can also try using a different HDMI port on the TV to see if that resolves the issue. If none of the above steps work, it's best to contact Insignia's customer support for further assistance.  They can help you diagnose the issue and provide guidance on how to proceed with repairs or a replacement if needed. Additionally, they may be able to provide more advanced troubleshooting steps specific to the Roku platform. FAQs How do I fix my Insignia TV without a picture? To fix an Insignia TV without a picture, try unplugging the TV for a few minutes, then plug it back in and turn it on. Read the full article

[tired-teacher-blog]

Title : Say the magic words

Characters : Midoriya/ Fem reader

Genre : NSFW/ 18+/ Fluff/ Oral sex (fem receiving)/ mirror sex/ Izuku is both gentle and forceful and you get to experience that in one session.

Summary : You've always wondered if your boyfriend had a hidden side that you didn't know of. The answer to that question came sooner than you thought, and in the most unexpected way.

Notes : This goes out to my lovely @delirious-donna whome I kept waiting for so long (probably a month 🥲) I'm so sorry babe and I hope you enjoy my input. I used the prompts you requested so please enjoy 😘

Please do not read if you're a minor

Masterlist|Second Masterlist

His eyes.. his beautiful emerald eyes, they emanate such a powerful determination that drives him straight to victory each and every time he's fighting for justice. Those alluring orbs were what captured you first.

And even after being together for many months, you still cannot fully believe that yes! He is yours, just as you are his. Honestly though, how can anyone accept that Izuku Midoriya, the number one hero has settled for a commoner such as yourself?

_ "You can do it sweetie." you mumbled as you leaned in closer to the TV set, watching him answer the interviewer's questions.

It's endearing how unchanged he is, even after years of being on top of the list, even after defeating countless villains and breaking down numerous organizations, he's still the same cute and awkward sweetheart who's easily flustered by a standard interview.

_ "Mr Midoriya, it's always an honor to have you with us, especially when there is no news on the professional front to share, it leaves more room for personal questions." the lady smiled sweetly and you nodded agreeing with her.

_ "Ah, yes.. it's my pleasure to answer any questions you may have." he laughed nervously scratching the back of his head.

What you wanted at that moment was to have him between your arms. Seeing your big buff man all anxious and timid was a sight to behold.

Your giggles filled the room as you continued watching your boyfriend on TV.

It was fascinating to see him answering everything truthfully despite his obvious embarrassment.. especially the parts about you.

_ "Now that we're reaching the end of our segment, I believe everyone here is anxious to know a little more about your relationship with Miss y/n, are you still going strong?"

_ "Yes, we're doing so well, and I honestly have never been happier than I am right now." the twinkle in his eye penetrated your fluttering heart, and you mindlessly placed your palm over the palpitating muscle as your cheeks heated up with a beautiful blush.

He loves talking about you to the point of bragging, but can you blame him? He is simply proud of what you have accomplished in life despite all the difficulties you have faced, and that's something you both share since you too are exceedingly elated witnessing what he's grown up to be.

With a big smile adorning your lips, you picked up the remote, switching off the TV as your boyfriend's interview came to an end before waltzing to the kitchen and starting dinner.

He had told you earlier in the day that he would come over right after work and you were nearly jumping for joy, too excited to control yourself.

Not too long after, a gentle knock on your front door reached your ears and you squealed running towards it with a knowing sparkle in your eyes.

_ "Izuku! I missed you sweetie!" you jumped in his arms, kissing his cheeks repeatedly and giggling at the soft blush that had proven time and time again how easy its manifestation was.

_ "Me too.. I missed you too beautiful." he managed between bashful chuckles.

You dragged him in, barely giving him a chance to kick off his shoes.

_ "So, have you seen it?" he wasn't even looking at you as he spoke. Instead, his attention was poured into the plate in front of him, as his fingers played with the fork while his free hand grabbed the towel hanging from his neck, and dabbed the mixture of sweat and water dripping from his still damp hair.

You looked up, beaming as you chewed on your food and almost choking while hurriedly swallowing it so you could answer his question.

_ "Yes I have! And you were so cool!" you stopped fleetingly as a wave of embarrassment suddenly hit you, ".. Izuku, me too.. I mean, I also have never been happier than I am with you." you murmured referring to his earlier talk about you.

He reached out a hand from across the table and held yours gently, running his thumb along your skin.

_ "And that's all that matters to me beautiful." he flashed you a blinding smile before resuming his meal, keeping his hand in yours the whole time.

You were uncharacteristically demure afterwards, hardly spoke or looked at his face when you actually addressed him.

Truthfully, you have been ready to admit your love for a while.. Everytime he kisses you passionately taking your breath away, everytime he hugs you tightly when you're mad and refuses to let go until you start laughing, everytime he slowly slides into your heat while caressing your cheeks and whispering softly against your lips "I'll be gentle I promise, I will not move until you're ready." and he's a man of his word.

But everytime you open your mouth to say it, nothing comes out as you weren't sure how he would react. All signs point to him having the same feelings as you, but when will either of you actually have the guts to finally put it in words?

_ "Are you alright sweetheart?" he tilted his head to the side as he tried to get a clearer glimpse of you.

_ "Of course." you responded curtly, though you made sure to offer him a gentle smile as he handed you the last clean plate to dry and place in the rack, "will you spend the night with me? You barely ever do that and usually stay until the wee hours but leave eventually." you turned around to face him as you took his big protective hands in yours and played with his fingers.

_ "How can I say no to that?" the gentle drag of your body against his chest, brought heavenly shivers down your spine.

You nuzzled his chest, breathing in your fabric conditioner on his freshly washed clothes that he keeps in your apartment for when he visits.

You loved the familiar smell on him, for some reason it made you feel closer.

You lifted your head up to be welcomed with two beautiful emeralds, and couldn't help but crane your neck and pull him down by his shirt until your lips were touching.

You felt him smiling against you as he wrapped his muscular arms around your waist.

His kisses are always soft and slow, hungry and passionate, all of it at the same time, and you're left longing for more.

You ran your tongue between his lips and he playfully nibbled on it.

_ "Izuku.. please, I want you.. now." you breathed out as your hold on his shirt tightened.

_ "Anything for my princess." he lifted you up with ease and marched to your bedroom, stumbling a few times on the way as his lips never left yours.

He placed you gently on the bed before joining you, and whimpered when he broke the kiss.

_ "I got you beautiful, just be patient for me okay?"

You nodded obediently and bit down on your lip in anticipation as he settled himself between your legs and caressed your sides delicately before leaning in again to reconnect your lips.

You ran your fingers through his fluffy locks and pulled softly when his warm hands wondered beneath your shirt.

You wanted to take those annoying articles off of your bodies already so you could feel his bare skin against yours.

_ "Izuku, take it off, please." were you talking about your shirt or his? He couldn't tell, and neither could you as the mixture of his soft lips and tender touch rendered you lightheaded.

He was as impatient as you were though, and hearing your pleading whines was all he needed to comply. He sat up momentarily to remove his own shirt before helping you remove yours.

You reached out a hand to caress his godly muscles, multiple scars -that you loved- adorned his otherwise soft skin, and more often than not your lips had found their way to them. He chuckled sweetly before moving closer until his lips were mere centimeters away from your boobs.

_ "Beautiful." he trailed butterfly kisses along your mounds and you arched your back when his slick tongue twirled around your perky nipples.

Your hands found his hair again, twisting and pulling ech time his teeth grazed your teats.

He was driving you mad, and you craved more of him so you rolled your hips against his own and gasped as you were met with his awakening cock.

His hands traveled down to work on his sweatpants and you did the same to your panties, leaving yourself completely naked and anticipating.

You wanted to help him get rid of his own underwear, to touch his cock, to feel it growing and twitching in your hand but your boyfriend had other plans in mind.

He laid your legs over his broad shoulders and grazed the sensitive flesh of your inner thighs, before replacing his fingertips with warm wet lips that covered every inch of soft skin. He relished the little quivers of pleasure and soft moans of his name as he slowly approached your fluttering pussy.

_ "Izuku.. yes keep going.." you uttered between short breaths and grasped the bedsheets underneath your writhing body when he pecked your vulva and licked your glistening clit.

He loves giving you pleasure, loves your shaky whimpers and pleading eyes, and he especially loves the way you hold on to him when he makes you cum around his dick.

He lapped at your clit like a hungry dog, groaning against you each time his name fell out of your mouth.

One of his hands freed his raging hard shaft from its caging boxers, and you were dazed watching him devour your pussy while lazily fucking his own loose fist.

His tongue prodded your opening elucidating a satisfied cry that traveled straight to his cock.

He thrusted deep and slow into your heat, filling you up nicely and readying you for what's to come, though nothing would ever be enough to prepare you for that big veiny dick he carries with pride.

The thought of him slowly and gently splitting you open the way he was about to do in a short stretch of time, drove you close to your orgasm. You shakily laced your fingers through his hair and pulled him impossibly close to you, yearning for a sweet release that only he can provide.

His free hand joined his mouth in a mission he was determined to triumph.

_ "Izuku! I'm close, I can't hold on any longer!" you wailed, curving your back off of the mattress.

His fingers fondled your raging clit while his tongue carried on abusing your clenching walls, until you started convulsing beneath him.

His tongue fucked you throughout your orgasm, and only when you fell limp did he release you from his grasp.

_ "Are you alright beautiful? Was it too much for you?" he was still rock hard, but as usual, ignored his needs for your sake. It was sweet, he was sweet.

_ "I'm okay Izuku.. it was perfect.." you breathed out, pulling him flush against you.

You felt giddy, your tender skin craving his touch and he knew it, tracing your sides and peppering your neck with kisses, as you giggled tiredly when his soft hair tickled your flesh.

_ " You're still hard Izuku." you mumbled suggestively, nuzzling his sweaty temple.

Frankly, you wanted more, you wanted to feel him inside you, you wanted him to lose his mind and call your name when he smears his semen all over your body.

_ "That's fine sweetheart, I'll wait until you're ready for me," you felt the curve of his smile against your pulse before he abruptly lifted his head up, "that is if you want to do it of course! no pressure at all! it's totally fine if you want to stop here I swear." he truly is the sweetest.

You giggled cradling his cheeks and kissing his lips, "of course I want to, more than you know."

He kissed you again, deeply, his warm soft lips moving slowly in rhyme with yours, his eyes half lidded in arousal, admiring the way yours fluttered behind your lids.

_ "Izuku.. I'm ready.. please.. put it in now." you whispered between his persistent kisses.

He caressed your slightly sore legs and massaged your thighs before fondling your sensitive clit with his equally sensitive head.

You whimpered breaking the kiss and he immediately started apologizing, "I'm so sorry baby, do you need more time?"

_ "No, I'm ready Izuku, I don't want to wait any longer." and your approval was all he needed before sitting up and moving in slowly, careful not to overstimulate you as he watched your expressions for any signs of discomfort.

It's endearing the way he's always putting your needs first. But to be honest, sometimes you wish he wouldn't, sometimes you wish he would act a bit selfishly, to chase his own release first, to be rougher with you.. and you know he would if he really wanted to, he can be ruthless and you've seen it countless times unleashed on his enemies.

You bit the inside of your cheek as he was finally sheathed to the hilt into your cunt. You looked up to find him gazing down at you before he finally started moving.

Every slow motion of his hips against yours brought the sexiest moans out of you.

_ "Yes.. more.. don't stop Izuku.." and you didn't even care how desperate you sounded. You squeezed the large hands he placed on your waist to keep you fastened securely in place, and he leaned in to kiss you again. You dug your nails in his skin as he rolled his hips deeper within you, licking your cervix with each skilful thrust.

Clear sweat beads fell from his neck and chest to blend with yours, giving you an alluring sheen.

He nibbled on your lip and dived even deeper within you before coming to a complete halt.

You whined demanding an explanation and he chuckled before lifting his head up.

_ "I'm sorry honey, you feel so good around me, and you're so beautiful that I don't think I can last any longer, but I don't want it to end yet," he looked adorable as he awkwardly explained everything, "is it uncomfortable? do you want me to pull out?" his shy smile was overcame with a worried pout, and you couldn't help the giggles escaping you.

_ "You're so cute Izuku, I love you." you said it, you never meant to, but you did.

Your breath got caught in your throat as you blinked a few times, should you play it off as a joke? Would it work?

_ "What did you just say?" his tone was unfamiliar, intimidating, and you wanted to take it all back.

_ "Nothing, never mind, it was a joke." you tried to sound nonchalant but he saw right through you.

_ "I'll be the judge of that, now say it again."

What was that? His eyes were piercing, his innocent smile turned into an amused smirk all of a sudden, and he unmistakably didn't miss those shivers running down your spine.

_ "I said," you took a deep breath, "I love you."

You could swear you felt his cock twitching inside of you, but he gave you no chance to confirm as he hooked his arms under your back and lifted you up before getting out of the bed.

_ "Izuku! what are you doing?! wait don't move! you're going too deep!" your nails left red streaks on his shoulders as you desperately clung to him, but he said nothing and swayed his way to the full length mirror standing beside your wardrobe.

_ "What do have in mind?" it was a question you could only imagine the answer to.

_ "I will fuck you in front of the mirror and you will tell me over and over again how much you love me." how could he utter such words with a straight face? You were shocked, but loved it.

He pulled out of your cunt with a hiss and you immediately started missing his cock.

_ "On your knees babe." you did as asked, facing the mirror as soon as he put you down.

You looked at your reflection and almost whimpered at the sight you were met with.. flushed cheeks, teary eyes, messy hair, sweaty skin.. and your boyfriend licking his lips as he dropped to his knees and positioned himself behind you.

_ "Are you ready for more?" he smacked your butt cheek teasingly and rubbed the smooth head of his cock against your folds before pushing back in with a loud groan, "don't close your eyes, I want you to take it all in." he ordered and you obeyed.

His thrusts resumed but were faster and rougher and you knew that you wouldn't last much longer at this rate.

_ "Say it." his grips on your waist were bruising as he fucked you into oblivion.

_ "I.. love.. I love.. y.."

_ "Louder." he smacked you again.

_ "Izuku! Please, I love you!" your vision started to blur, and your sniffles followed suit. You were overwhelmed with everything.. this new side of him that you wished to see for so long, your confession, being fucked without given the chance to know if he felt the same about you, "Izuku, I'm close!"

_ "Say it again.. fuck!" he was nearing his orgasmic ending as well.

_ "I love you.. a-ah.. I really.." you couldn't carry on, and immediately gave in to the sobs that followed your climax.

He kept ramming you as your pussy fluttered around him, and right before losing your balance, he wrapped an arm around your belly lifting you up against his broad chest.

_ "I love you too y/n.. fuck.. ever since I met you.. ugh.." his sweet smile returned at last and you could see its reflection in the mirror through your tears, "baby I'm gonna cum.. shit.." he growled kissing your neck and thrusting a bit more into your overstimulated cunt before pulling out and releasing on your shaky thighs.

_ "Are you okay honey? I'm sorry I went overboard." he wasted no time checking on you as he observed your expressions in the mirror.

Your tears kept flowing and he reached a hand to wipe them away as a bright smile found its way to your lips, "I've never been better."

You both stayed quiet for a moment, looking to stabilize your breathing as you tilted your head back against his shoulder and enjoyed the way his little puffs of air fanned over your neck.

Your body ached but you were happy, and satisfied, "what took you so long to say it?" you breathed out, struggling to keep your eyes open.

_ "I was afraid," he stood up and carefully carried you to bed, "I wasn't sure how you'd react, but hearing you say it was a big relief," he placed you gently before joining you, "I thought I was dreaming and I just let loose.. I'm sorry," he was on top of you, nuzzling your neck as he carried on, "I don't know what came over me," you listened to his confession carefully as your fingers played with his hair.

_ "Don't apologize sweetie, I liked it, if I knew that admitting my feelings would bring out that side of you, then I would have done it sooner." you giggled softly and placed small kisses on top of his head, but that seemed to fluster him further, "Izuku, I love you, I can finally say it clearly and confidently."

He lifted his head up and gazed into your eyes, "and I love you more than words can say, I still can't believe you're mine."

He kissed you tenderly and you were lost in the sensation, but something was still bugging you and you had to voice it.

_ "We still need to take a shower and clean up this mess." although what you truly wanted was to stay in his arms, but that can come later when you're both clean and comfortable.

_ "I'll take care of it all princess, don't worry about a thing."

So this is how happiness truly feels? You were unaware until your paths finally crossed.

[caspercryptid]

The Gioparafication of Jayce Talis

So this is going to be long but i’ve seen a lot of discourse about how Jayce Talis and Jayce Giopara aren’t remotely the same character and, the ret-con of his appearance aside, I’d like to address my theories to the contrary. Warning! this is going to get A Little Fucking Long. (And if you want to see my theory in action, read the superhero fic I write with @the-neon-pineapple, HAMMER TO FALL) (no but really)

This is, throughout, going to draw off a couple things that are from my personal theories as I build. Other people before me in the league community have posited that Jayce Giopara has ADHD, and I agree, I think the symptoms of that are clear with Talis too. My additional thing at play here is that I think Jayce very well could have suffered from brain damage in the explosion at his apartment. It took out about half the building and he was standing right next to it. Certain degrees of brain damage can cause issues that can exacerbate ADHD, so like. Brainfog, memory problems, impulsivity, headaches. Impulsivity is the big one. Brainfog can make decision paralysis worse! so all the stuff already noted as Jayce’s character flaws. 

The main thing I think about with all of that is the fact that Jayce was seriously hurt and instead of getting medical attention he was interrogated and arrested, and shortly after that he loses everything and tries to jump off a building. It's an interesting additional element to add in to, at that moment when Jayce is already losing everything else, losing an additional bit of control over his own mind and body. Jayce feels like the kind of person to go "i'm not disabled, i'm fine!" since he (for the most part) still has his mind and his intelligence, it's just his ability to access that intelligence that's affected at times. He can still Pass and even though it's limiting he can just work harder and jump it.

You don’t have to think he has ADHD or Brain damage for those to factor in though- it is 100% canonical that Jayce Talis has PTSD. He had his first near-death experience as a child in an event that he’s fixated on his entire life since. That man is Not Okay well before he walks out onto a bridge and sees large-scale death and loses his lunch. Moving along, though. 

Talis is characterized by this complete inability to do anything smart under pressure. He just fucks up repeatedly forever and I think that's a perfect representation of trying So Hard to just Be Fine when in fact he's acting while Limited. I think it's an excellent parallel to Viktor to have the visible/invisible disabilities divide where Viktor is very good at what he does in part because he knows his limitations, and Jayce is inhibited too but absolutely does not know where those limitations are. 

The key to the pipeline between Talis and Giopara is the fact that Talis fucks up so bad. Because really, to end up as jaded and miserable as Giopara is, you need to have really believed at one point. It's like activist's fatigue. Talis cares too much for it to even be remotely sustainable. He's heading towards a burnout with the force of a goddamn comet, even before it's all ended Very Finally at the end of the series. A lot of people give him shit for the scene where he says he's got a lot on his plate to Viktor while Viktor is...actively dying, but he does. He's taken the whole weight of the world onto his shoulders and tasked himself with fixing literally every problem in Piltover, picked up records, tried to listen to absolutely everyone's input, which has obviously not worked in the slightest. but he can't see where he's going wrong. And because he can't see where he's going wrong, he's Doomed. So he's going to end up considering the entire venture hopeless because nothing he does makes any difference and sitting down and going "fuck it". 

"Okay, we can't help Zaun, we need to give them independence" was already basically a manifestation of that. It was "this is beyond me" and now that solution has failed to pan out, and he's going to be forced into an action he doesn't believe in because you literally can't let an act of aggression like that go unanswered as a politician. So he will have absolutely no choice but to sit in this position he's stuck in and play his part and he hates it-- already hates it-- says as much to Mel, none of this is what he wants to do. 

And that is how you make an idealistic sweet man into an asshole.