#and that's how it has always been

[cosmics-beings]

With regard to the theory that Starscream is already the leader of the Decepticon movement, or at least the movement before the Decepticons became a thing, I hope for two outcomes. 1.) It actually shows him to be a good leader that people look up to, and one that actually has the sense to run a revolution. It's important because even tho Starscream is a seeker, it shows that bots on various levels of privilege are still impacted by the system, especially if they are outliers and speak out. And we know starscream will speak out and yell at everyone if he doesn't like the way things are going. Also...there has been, more or less, some fandom view on Starscream that his position of privilege doesn't really give him the right to speak on oppression or to actually exist as an oppressed person; at least that is some things I've seen. Especially when people have discussed his dynamic with other Decepticons. I think him being the Decepticon leader before Megatron would be interesting and would show how oppression in Cybertron harms everyone, and how even if he *is* or was an official Seeker, he is still ultimately hurt and oppressed by the system and wants to speak out.

2.) I really hope that he and Megatron get a long and that if they join forces/work together, it isn't built on betrayal or violence, but an actual mutual understanding. A lot of people have been leaning toward the idea that Megatron is going to take the leadership position from Starscream, which I mean in a way would be poetic justice lmao. But I also want Starscream to be portrayed as a competent, yet very militant and violent Decepticon leader that Megatron is inevitably going to be able to help, balance out, and then earn the respect of all the Decepticons and call himself the leader, along with Starscream. Alternatively, Starscream is leading the soon to be Decepticons and he and Megatron create the movement together. What I'm trying to say is that while it's the allure of their dynamic, it would be really cool to see them divert from trying to kill each other and actually forming the movement together or rather, Starscream being leader of the movement, Megatron earning his respect and the respect of the others, and then he is naturally able to be seen as a leader figure. It would be such a different twist and i'd love it.

[laughingcatwrites]

As a reminder that good exists out there, a coworker recently confessed to me that he found out his child is questioning their identity (kid's gender redacted for this post). The kid is keeping it from him, so he can't say anything to them or show that he knows, but he's doing his best to get mentally prepared and educated so that he'll be ready whenever his kid does feel comfortable enough come to him.

For context, this guy is a big, bulky middle aged dude who loves sports and typical outdoor "manly" activities. As his coworker and friend, I know he's a kind and sweet teddy bear of a person, but his kid probably views him as a stern, authoritarian figure, the way most teenagers view their parents. His family lives in a conservative area, so I'm sure between that, their dad's looks and interests, and the fact that their dad is a Figure of Authority, the kid is worried that they won't be accepted.

But you know what? When he found out about his kid, the first thing he did was reach out to his closest queer friend and ask for resources for parents of questioning children. His biggest fears are that his kid will be bullied or discriminated against and won't feel comfortable enough to be themself. His second action was to find himself a mentor in another parent who went the same situation (kid coming out in a conservative town). The other person is preparing him for some of the struggles his kid may face and the fights he may need to take on as a parent to make sure his kid is safe and treated well.

Something I want to emphasize for people focused on language as the primary method of allyship is that when we spoke, he used some outdated terms and thoughts about gender and sexuality. That does not make him bad. These were the terms and thinking used about questioning teenagers when he was growing up and he never needed to learn more current ones. But now that he does have that need, he's throwing himself in head first because that's his kid and he's darn well going to make sure that his kid feels welcomed and has a safe place to be themselves even if they never come out to him.

[forgettable-au]

PROLOGUE

FORGETTABLE-AU (Page 1-9)

AND SO IT BEGINS!

I don't think I can fit all 20 pages of the prologue in just one post, so I'm dividing it into 4 posts! This one's the longest...

[CONTINUE]

[chloesimaginationthings]

This is why Michael doesn't scare Elizabeth in FNAF

[beybuniki]

they should go on a fishing trip pt.1

[figofswords]

I love how in dunmeshi everyone’s like god laios what’s wrong with you you’re such a freak and then they turn around and immediately go oh my god falin I love how much of a freak you are I’m obsessed with you you’re so weird never change and then you look at them and they’re like. the same

[v-poreons]

That's it that's their dynamic

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Ghouls night out

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[birbs-in-space]

curious about what's in store for you for 2024? :D

Let AO3 decide!

(Updated from 2023: Up-to-date tag bank, opt-in tag categories, optional dark mode! As always: proceed with informed consent.)

[haunted-xander]

I made this AAAAGES ago and forgot to post it and now I'm annoyed by how it's rotting away on my phone so here. Bratty teen Thancred being a menace to Fourchenault (and a bad influence on Urianger lol)

[polarades]

Anxiety

Fanart of @canisalbus' characters! I love these two a lot, I hope I did them justice!

[originalartblog]

Don't forget to eat to keep the demons at bay

[choccy-milky]

MC doing what we all wished we could do (aka napping on the floor with ominis )😴💕

[beybuniki]

best friend with social anxiety

[inkskinned]

one of the things that's the most fucking frustrating for me about arguing with climate change deniers is the sheer fucking scope of how much it matters. sweating in my father's car, thinking about how it's the "hottest summer so far," every summer. and there's this deep, roiling rage that comes over me, every time.

the stakes are wrong, is the thing. that's part of what makes it not an actual debate: the other side isn't coming to the table with anything to fucking lose.

like okay. i am obviously pro gun control. but there is a basic human part of me that can understand and empathize with someone who says, "i'm worried that would lead to the law-abiding citizens being punished while criminals now essentially have a superpower." i don't agree, but i can tell the stakes for them are also very high.

but let's say the science is wrong and i'm wrong and the visible reality is wrong and every climate disaster refugee is wrong. let's say you're right, humans aren't causing it or it's not happening or whatever else. let's just say that, for fun.

so we spend hundreds of millions of dollars making the earth cleaner, and then it turns out we didn't need to do that. oops! we cleaned the earth. our children grow up with skies full of more butterflies and bees. lawns are taken over with rich local biodiversity. we don't cry over our electric bills anymore. and, if you're staunchly capitalist and i need to speak ROI with you - we've created so many jobs in developing sectors and we have exciting new investment opportunities.

i am reminded of kodak, and how they did not make "the switch" to digital photography; how within 20 years kodak was no longer a household brand. do we, as a nation, feel comfortable watching as the world makes "the switch" while we ride the laurels of oil? this boggles me. i have heard so much propaganda about how america cannot "fall behind" other countries, but in this crucial sector - the one that could actually influence our own monopolies - suddenly we turn the other cheek. but maybe you're right! maybe it will collapse like just another silicone valley dream. but isn't that the crux of capitalism? that some economies will peter out eventually?

but let's say you're right, and i'm wrong, and we stopped fracking for no good reason. that they re-seed quarries. that we tear down unused corporate-owned buildings or at least repurpose them for communities. that we make an effort, and that effort doesn't really help. what happens then? what are the stakes. what have we lost, and what have we gained?

sometimes we take our cars through a car wash and then later, it rains. "oh," we laugh to ourselves. we gripe about it over coffee with our coworkers. what a shame! but we are also aware: the car is cleaner. is that what you are worried about? that you'll make the effort but things will resolve naturally? that it will just be "a waste"?

and what i'm right. what if we're already seeing people lose their houses and their lives. what if it is happening everywhere, not just in coastal towns or equatorial countries you don't care about. what if i'm right and you're wrong but you're yelling and rich and powerful. so we ignore all of the bellwethers and all of the indicators and all of the sirens. what if we say - well, if it happens, it's fate.

nevermind. you wouldn't even wear a mask, anyway. i know what happens when you see disaster. you think the disaster will flinch if you just shout louder. that you can toss enough lives into the storm for the storm to recognize your sacrifice and balk. you argue because it feels good to stand up against "the liberals" even when the situation should not be political. you are busy crying for jesus with a bullhorn while i am trying to usher people into a shelter. you've already locked the doors, even on the church.

the stakes are skewed. you think this is some intellectual "debate" to win, some funny banter. you fuel up your huge unmuddied truck and say suck it to every citizen of that shitbird state california. serves them right for voting blue!

and the rest of us are terrified of the entire fucking environment collapsing.

[attleboy]

sorry for making them so miserable lately.... here i can still be nice to them see!!??!!!

big fan of the seamstress ragatha headcanon so here's some buttonblossom with it <3