#and y'all just fell for it hook line and sinker?

[failurefemmegf]

idk if i'm gonna be able to phrase this right but as a former transmasc you guys realize "transandrophobia" is literally just misogyny right.

[joinsideke]

Affirmative Action was also being used against Asian-Americans trying to get into schools, by the way, which was the whole reason it was challenged. Shit was racist and unfair, it's removal was long overdue.

SCOTUS is on the shittiest roll this week. Affirmative Action gone, you can reserve the right to refuse service to us dirty queers, and for some goddamn reason student loan forgiveness is "unconstitutional"

[socialistexan]

Trans people have been warning for years that the bans on transition care for young trans people was never going to be the end of it.

Reactionaries used y'all's fear and ignorance around trans children as a wedge to get in and justify banning transition related care for all trans people of any age. This was always the goal, to morally (and legally) mandate trans people out of existence.

And y'all fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Y'all ignored the decades of research proving transition care is safe and effective for trans people of all ages, including trans children, and believed the propaganda claiming doctors were "experimenting" on trans children, because oh this thing is new and scary to me so we gotta stop it until we figure this whole thing out! Fuck you.

I don't want to hear another terf or transphobe justify their "opposition" transition care by saying "oh well I have no problem with adults doing what they want I just don't ~~~experiments~~~ on kids" fuck you, you knew exactly where this was going the whole time don't play dumb. I'm tired of this shit.

Trans people knew it was going to happen and reactionary fascists knew it was going to happen, so what's your excuse?

Happy fucking Pride Month.

[mraculous]

*slams eighth shot of whiskey* okay listen i gotta get this out before more episodes come out, invalidating it all, but can we TALK about the adjusted dynamics of the lovesquare, stick to the end for me losing my mind about ladrien

I never read the bible so no spoilers there, but spoilers for the tfou apocalypse up through elation/exaltation

Ladynoir. The classic. The OG.

We're in a unique position with them because, Ladynoir has historically had 2 distinct dynamics: 1 when Ladybug thought Chat Noir was just flirting and he thought he had a chance, and one when she knew he loved her, and he knew she didn't.

When she was oblivious, it was flirt central! it was cute! light! fun! In the second, it was sad (we the audience knew that lb DID in fact love cn back, just, behind the mask. yakno, the classic, the og) and somewhat frustrating bc we wanted CN to chill tf out, which, eventually, he did, all the while still loving his lady

Now? NOW???? Y'all it's BOTH

Chat Noir doesn't KNOW (yet) that Ladybug is in love with him. He just thinks she's flirting, or testing him.

But Ladybug DOES know. She KNOWS he doesn't love her. When CN was in this phase, flirting to an oblivious LB, he still had hope that she would love him or at least he lived for the moments she flirted back, but NOW?? Ladybug knows!!! She knows exquisitely that CN does not love Ladybug anymore. (even though we AND LB know that he does love her, just behind the mask)

It's just such a beautiful reversal chefs kiss mwah

I basically just keep thinking of that sad look CN gave her when Glaciator was screaming about how CN should love LB, and that little comforting pet she gave him. Tears.

the other sides under the cut

Adrienette. Our cute blushing oblivious babies.

Tbh team? I'm not sure where this one will go! Don't have a lot to say about it that the show hasn't already. Adrien fell for Marinette hook line and sinker, we all saw it coming we're all just happy to be here. Marinette is afraid to love him and "no alya he's just a friend" I'm just thrilled to see where this goes

(especially now that Adrien has kissed Marinette???? AND that he knows she doesn't love him anymore??? I Am All In)

(but also we the viewers have just a little drop of sadness/frustration too in this because, like, We Know!!! we've been here the whole time!! You DUMMIES YOU LOVE EACH OTHER and this is RIDICULOUS and UNNECESSARILY TRAGIC just LKAJSD;FLKJ anyway)

Marichat. Okayokayokayokayokayokayokayokay

In Ye Olden Dayes, Marichat was the sin ship. But even before that, it was always the side of the square where there was no performance, no pretension, just two people who were friends (but didn't know how good) hanging out with lots of chemistry but no blushing.

But now WWHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOO BOOI I mean the fact that marichat was the first side to consensually, of sound mind, and in the canon timeline, kiSS is bonkers to me, congrats to taylordraws for predicting the future I guess

But! Now!!!! They love each other!! If they're ever around each other again it's going to be a bluSHING NIGHTMARE especially since them being together caused Marinette to almost get akumatized, and that they both understand it can't work, there'S THAT HINT OF SADNESS r u sensing a theme

But okay, that thing I just said 20 words ago, them being a blushing nightmare, it's because this is the side that's in love with each other. Marinette < - > Chat Noir it's a two way door okay and that's what ladrien used to be and what ladrien was based on. But now we have the ladrien dynamic + sads + MORE KNOWLEDGE + EVEN MORE DRAMATIC IRONY and frankly I'm alive

Ladrien. *smashes whiskey glass on floor and screams*

FOLKS. WHEN I TELL YOU. I AM FROTHING AT THE MOUTH FOR LADRIEN CONTENT NOW MORE THAN EVER let me tell u why

I'm a longtime Ladrien stan. I just think they're neat. I just think they should kiss. A li'l smooch. The first fic I ever wrote for this fandom was a ladrien "almost kiss UST" one shot.

But now? NOW??

Ladrien is now the Marichat dynamic. Marichat and Ladrien have flipped. Before, Ladrien was the two way love street, and Marichat was the platonic "no pretenses" street. Now, Marichat has taken on Ladrien's vibe (with some extra Sadness TM), so what has Ladrien become?

You'd think, oh it's just marichat now, no pretenses, they know they don't love each other, easy, *kisses you on the mouth* NO.

Picture this. Ladrien bathroom balcony scene. Or Ladybug saves Adrien. Whatever. All the reasons the show has given us for our heroes/civilians to interact outside their partnerships. With Marichat, they're cursed by knowledge. They know they love the other, but that the other doesn't love them (or so they think). With Ladrien, there's no such curse.

For Adrien? He looks at Ladybug, the girl he used to love. Used to. Past tense. All those pictures on his phone, his silly date ideas, his puns and flirting, that's all in the past now. She made it clear she doesn't love him back, and besides, he loves someone else now. He'll always love her like a friend, of course, she's his best friend, but... anything else is too hard.

For Ladybug? She looks at Adrien. The boy she used to love. She probably still does a little bit but it's different now. How it used to be, all that flailing around, the ridiculous schemes, the presents, the obsession, that's done. He might think he loves her now, but, no, she loves someone else. Outside of the mask, she's still his friend, of course, but, how it was before? It was just too hard.

Basically: THE BIG SADS. These two are exes, they're forlorn lovers, they're each other's "one that got away." But without either of them truly knowing why, or how, or even with the benefit of a real "we were together, now we're apart." These two moved past their unrequited love for each other through sheer force of will and lack of communication and now... now what are they?

I for one am frOTHING AT THE MOUTH TO FIND OUT

[storytellerofuntoldlegends]

an icarus and his sun: chapter 6

A/N: seeing y'all freak out over the last chapter when i have the outline and i know that things get worse... it feels me with evil glee. also vyeoh drew some amazing art of the last chapter, show them some love!! <3

Warnings: crying, hugging, arguing, threats of violence, heartbreak

AO3 Link - Tumblr Masterpost

-

Jimmy still felt like he was in a daze when they made it back to his empire. Lizzie hadn’t let go of his hand once, and he was grateful for the grounding touch. She was still murmuring words of comfort and asking what happened, but Jimmy could only nod numbly. Every single thought and feeling he had of Scott felt tainted now. Was anything he had felt even real? Or did Jimmy just fall right for Scott’s plan (whatever it was) hook, line, and sinker. Just thinking about it made Jimmy feel nauseous.

Katherine and Joel landed beside Jimmy and Lizzie, and Katherine looking equally as distraught as Jimmy felt shook him out of his stupor slightly. Wordlessly he let go of Lizzie’s hand to pull Katherine into a hug. He held her tight as she hugged him back, crying into his shoulder.

“It’s gone. It’s all gone. There’s barely anything left of my castle,” she hiccuped. Jimmy didn’t know what to say as he held her, but gently rubbing her back seemed to help.

“Fwhip was plotting against the House Blossom Alliance the whole time, Sausage too. I think Gem, Pearl, and Scott were involved as well,” Joel explained. Jimmy just about shuddered at the mention of Scott, trying not to cry.

“Why would they do that?!” Lizzie gasped.

“Fwhip said something about how the alliance was too argumentative, and should be destroyed before anything worse could happen and bring down our empires,” Joel explained. Katherine let out another hiccupping sob at Joel’s words, and Jimmy murmured words of comfort to her. Then he looked up to the skies, and his heart froze. Three figures were flying towards them- one with elytra, one with bright yellow feathered wings, and one with white feathered wings tipped in gold. Joel noticed Gem, Pearl, and Scott in the air as well, and grit his teeth as he put a hand on the hilt of his sword. Lizzie rushed over and put a hand over Joel’s, shaking her head.

“Stay on guard, but let’s hear them out. We only know that Fwhip and Sausage were the masterminds behind this. But if they are here for trouble, we’ll make sure they regret it,” Lizzie said, tone going dark at the end of her statement. Joel hesitated for a moment or two, but dropped his hand from his sword with a frustrated sigh. He and Lizzie did, however, stand protectively in front of Jimmy and Katherine as Gem, Pearl, and Scott came to a landing in front of them. Jimmy let go of Katherine, but she didn’t go far, taking his hand and gripping it tightly.

“I know we’re not high on your list of people to see, but hear us out. We didn’t know that Fwhip was going to take such… drastic measures,” Pearl explained, hands up placatingly as her wings fluttered anxiously.

“But you did know Fwhip was up to something,” Joel countered.

“We knew he wasn’t super happy about the House Blossom Alliance, but we thought that he would just pull a harmless prank or pick a fight with Jimmy or something. Not destroy Katherine’s castle,” Gem continued, Pearl nodding along with her. Scott stayed suspiciously quiet, and Jimmy’s mouth settled into a firm line as he let go of Katherine’s hand.

“But Scott knew. Didn’t you,” he accused, glaring at Scott. His expression immediately turned guilty, and that was all the confirmation Jimmy needed.

“I wanted to tell you, really! But-”

“But you kissed me instead of telling me or ANYONE about Fwhip’s plan!” Jimmy shouted, stepping forward and gesturing angrily, that cold numb feeling from before now replaced with molten fury. Lizzie gasped, drawing her sword and fully intending to lunge at Scott, but Joel quickly scrambled over to hold her back.

“Joel, let go of me, I need to give Scott a piece of my mind for taking advantage of our sweet swamp boy’s heart!” Lizzie fumed, straining against Joel’s hold. Joel glared at Scott, but his grip on Lizzie didn’t let up.

“Scott, you better have an explanation for this, or I will let my wife loose on you,” Joel warned. Scott actually looked a little terrified, and part of Jimmy hated the fact that he was relieved at that.

“I should have warned people about the TNT, I know. I just- it was stupid of me to hope that Fwhip was going to change his mind. And I was going to tell Jimmy, but then I saw Fwhip in the distance, and he had his crossbow aimed at him. I- I figured that Fwhip wouldn’t take the shot if it meant hitting me too. So that’s why I kissed Jimmy, and by that point it was too late to warn anyone,” Scott explained, his expression pleading and apologetic. Joel and Lizzie seemed to accept his explanation, as Joel let go of Lizzie and she sheathed her sword- but they both still glared at him. And Jimmy wanted to believe him, wanted to say he forgave Scott and rush back into his arms again- but there was something else that bothered him.

“What did Fwhip mean, when he said something about ‘playing the part?’” Jimmy asked, absolutely terrified of the answer but needing to know the truth anyway. Scott swallowed nervously, expression overcome with guilt once more.

“Fwhip told me to keep an eye on you, make sure you wouldn’t be a problem. It wasn’t just Katherine goading me into being nice that kept me coming to your empire, at first. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t-”

“Leave,” Jimmy growled, having enough of Scott’s excuses. Scott flinched at Jimmy’s tone. Good, it was about time people stopped seeing him as the sweet swamp boy or the friendly Codfather. He was done being pushed around, done being used and tossed aside.

“Jimmy, please- believe me, I really do care-”

“I don’t wanna hear it! I’m sick of your lies and manipulation! I never want you to set foot in the Cod Empire again, if I ever even SEE you again I will make sure you regret it,” Jimmy shouted, the words fracturing his heart into a million pieces. But he couldn’t afford to trust Scott ever again.

“Jimmy…” Scott trailed off, any fight finally leaving him as his wings drooped. His gaze shifted between Jimmy’s angry glare, the tears on Katherine’s face, the glares from Lizzie and Joel, and the sympathetic and apologetic expressions on Gem and Pearl’s faces. He looked back at Jimmy one last time, eyes glassy- before taking off into the night sky. Jimmy couldn’t even watch him leave.

“We truly are sorry for everything that happened. We know it doesn’t make up for it… but we wish you the best, Codfather and allies,” Gem said softly, before taking off into the sky as well. Pearl gave them a weak smile before following Gem. Jimmy waited until he could no longer see either of them in the sky, and finally let himself cry, falling to his knees as ugly sobs wrenched their way out of his throat. Lizzie scrambled to his side, pulling him into a hug and letting Jimmy cry into her shoulder.

“It’s okay, let it out. I’ve got you,” she soothed.

“He tricked me. And like a fool I fell for it, I fell for him,” Jimmy said between sobs, desperately clutching at Lizzie. Joel came over to kneel at their side, pulling both of them into his arms and rubbing Jimmy’s back. Katherine joined the hug pile too, on the opposite side of Joel. Jimmy wasn’t sure how long the three of them all stayed there with him, but they all held him until he finally had no tears left to cry.

-

After Jimmy had finished crying, Lizzie gently prodded him into changing, insisting that he would feel better in his normal clothes. She was right, and a lot of the tension drained from his shoulders once his trusty cod head was back on his head. From there, Lizzie and Joel brought him and Katherine to Lizzie’s empire, saying that Katherine could stay in the embassy she built, and that neither of them wanted either one to be alone at the moment. Katherine and Jimmy didn’t argue, neither of them wanted to be alone either. So they ended up huddled together in Katherine’s embassy, a borrowed blanket from Lizzie over both of their shoulders. Lizzie stayed with them and made sure they were comfortable, while Joel flew to Pixandria to update Pixl on everything that had happened.

“This is all my fault,” Katherine said numbly, after a long silence. Jimmy and Lizzie looked at her in confusion.

“It’s really not, you didn’t blow up your own castle, after all,” Lizzie pointed out. Katherine smiled weakly, shaking her head.

“But none of this would have happened if I didn’t insist on making friends with everyone. Everyone would have been fine if I just stayed out of it and stopped trying to bring people together,” Katherine said, voice watery.

“Katherine, if you hadn’t tried to bring us all together, I’m sure much worse would have happened. Who knows how many empires would have been destroyed if it wasn’t for you,” Jimmy countered softly. Katherine let out a small sob, hand clasping over her mouth as she tried to collect herself.

“But if I hadn’t started those meetings, pushed you and Scott to be nice to each other- then you wouldn’t have to be feeling this way,” Katherine said, voice as fragile as glass when she dropped her hand from her mouth. Jimmy shifted to face her, gently gripping her shoulders and looking Katherine in the eyes.

“Katherine, listen to me. My- my heartbreak is not your fault. None of what is happening is your fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Fwhip. You hear me?” Jimmy asked, voice gentle but no less serious. Katherine’s eyes went wide.

“You’re heartbroken?” she asked in a shallow gasp. Jimmy gave her a sad smile, throat growing tight as he felt his eyes watering again- funny, he thought he had run out of tears.

“I learned what love was, only for it to get crushed barely a day or two after. So… yeah. I think I am. But that still doesn’t make it your fault,” Jimmy said, tone forlorn before it turned gentle and serious once more. Katherine let out a shaky sigh, nodding her head.

“Okay. Okay. I’m still sorry you’re feeling this way, though,” Katherine said softly. Jimmy just smiled, pulling Katherine into a hug.

“So what’s our next step? Plotting our revenge on Fwhip?” Lizzie asked, and Jimmy couldn’t help but chuckle at her casual ruthlessness.

“I think before we do anything revenge-related, we should help Katherine rebuild her castle,” Jimmy replied, frankly not wanting to think about getting revenge on Fwhip, because that would likely lead to getting revenge on Scott as well. And Jimmy definitely didn’t want to think about Scott at the moment.

“I don’t know if you’re the best person to help me build,” Katherine teased lightly. Jimmy gave her a weak smile in response.

“I think I’ll be able to manage if you’re guiding me,” he replied softly.

“I would definitely appreciate the help,” she said with a smile, and it was the first time Jimmy had seen her smile, truly smile since the ball.

“Then I’ll help, mediocre building skills or not,” Jimmy insisted, glad to have something to look forward to so he could think about anything other than Scott. He was done with him, no matter what his traitorous heart thought about his sunshine smile, his laugh of gold, or those icy blue eyes that contradicted them both. So much about Scott felt like a contradiction, now. He snarled and teased and jabbed, but there was a hidden fondness too, or at least it seemed like there was. Jimmy wasn’t sure if it was ever real to begin with. Then there was how he sided with Fwhip, even though Katherine was his true ally, a business partner too. Nothing made sense, and Jimmy wondered if he should have let Scott explain- no. Jimmy was never going to give Scott a chance to use that silver tongue on him again, paired with a smile that was only gold-plated. He wouldn’t be hurt again.

-

Taglists below! Ask to be added/removed!

MCYT General Fic Taglist: @corazon10000 @damiensaidno @franticfandomfanatic @gattonero17 @hetapeep41 @space-ace123 @vyeoh

AIAHS Taglist: @anty-kreatywna @devilwoodkitty18 @riobug

[socialistexan]

Posts like this absolutely miss the point

However you feel about tiktok, this bill does far more than just ban tiktok. The bill sets up a mechanism for the President to unilaterally deem *any app or website* to be under control of a foreign adversary with little to no requirement for proof or evidence to back it up (as they have yet to put out a single shred of evidence that tiktok is under Chinese communist control) and then either force the sale or outright ban it. This isn't just tiktok, this can happen to essentially any website or app.

It also imposes heavy penalties on any service provider - VPNs included - that gives you access to any banned app or information.

That's fucking fascist.

Again, I don't give the slightest shit what you think about tiktok, that's heavily fascist. And, frankly, the the reason they are going after tiktok is because 1) they are upset they don't have control over it the way they do Facebook or Twitter/X or Google or whatever and 2) the people pushing this the hardest are those with economic interest in eliminating competition so they can maintain a near monopoly like Peter Thiel or Meta or Alphabet.

Also it does absolutely show y'all fell for the propaganda hook, line, and sinker. How, exactly, is a Singapore based app who stores its American data is stored by an American company in Austin, TX and whose parent company is only owned 20% by Chinese interests (with just as much if not more ownership from private equity which is American) "Chinese spyware."

[dollsome-does-tumblr]

for the ship meme? 'ted lasso'?

otp: Ted/Rebecca, even though post-s2 I absolutely cannot decide if I'm being an idiot for feeling this way. I definitely felt way more excited about them post-s1! The distance between them in season two really bugged me, though probably totally irrationally so. But I still have a soft spot for them and an almost unbearable quiet hope.

favourite canon pairing: Keeley and Roy!!!!!!!!!!!! I am Obsessed with them.

worst pairing ever: Beard and Jane! (But we all know that. Beard/Doc Sharon in season three RISE!)

guilty pleasure pairing: Part of me likes Rebecca/Keeley a lot as a concept, but I love Keeley/Roy so much (are THEY my otp?) that it's like I just can't look past it and be like, "Oh, okay, this is in a world where Roy and Keeley aren't together!" Because I can't bear that! So I'm in a weird place w/ Rebecca/Keeley. Can I only stand Rebecca/Keeley as a concept in a world where Roy is, like, DEAD and Keeley is a GRIEVING WIDOW?? These are the questions I have to ask myself.

a pairing you want to see more: Sharon/Being On The Show In S3 (and maybe ........ Sharon/Beard? I truly can't remember if they've even talked before. I just think this idea could potentially have legs, y'all.)

that pairing everyone likes but you’re like “lol no”: Tragically, I fell hook line and sinker for the most popular pairing in this fandom instantly many ages ago.

favorite non-romantic pair: Oh, this is hard, there's too many great potential answers! I just like everybody being friends with each other!

[quicksiluers]

5, 10, 15?

5. What is the most ridiculous statement on them you have ever read?

Oh god, let me think...there are so many. Almost anything to deal with Grant being "drunk" is probably up there. There was this story that this journalist Cadwallader (did I spell that right? who cares) wrote that Grant got CRAZY drunk one time on a boat trip, somehow got off the boat, got on a horse, ROAD THROUGH soldiers, got flung off the horse, was passed out in the grass, and he had to bring Grant back on the boat. The story is 100% false, historians found that Cadwallader wasn't even ON that trip and this story was told 10 or so years after Grant died...and YET you still see it in books. Shelby Foote bought that shit hook line and sinker and put it in his book. That's probably the most over the top one cause it makes my eyes roll into the back of my head.

In reality what happened was that Grant wasn't feeling well, his doctor gave him some alcohol for it (cause you know, that's what you give sick people) and then Grant fell asleep in the boat cabin and then the next day he was totally fine. But yeah that's probably the one that gets me I'm like y'all...come on now

10. What is your favourite quote by / about them?

SO MANY QUOTES

"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on"

"Everyone has his superstitions. One of mine has always been when I started to go anywhere, or to do anything, never to turn back or to stop until the thing intended was accomplished."

"If you see the President, tell him from me that whatever happens there will be no turning back." Grant told a reporter this after the battle of the Wilderness and I guess when the reporter told that to Lincoln, he kissed him lol. So I love that story.

"No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works." I MEAN....this is THE THING that made him a hit!

this quote from Sheridan is long....but it's one of my favs:

"But so far as he was concerned, the only apparent effect of these discomfitures was to make him all the more determined to discharge successfully the stupendous trust committed to his care, and to bring into play the manifold resources of his well ordered military mind. He guided every subordinate then, and in the last days of the rebellion, with a fund of common sense and superiority of intellect, which have left an impress so distinct as to exhibit his great personality. When his military history is analyzed after the lapse of years, it will show, even more clearly than now, that during these as well as in his previous campaigns he was the steadfast Centre about and on which everything else turned"

15. Describe them one sentence (I know it’s hard, just give it a shot)! ^^

Oh god....let me think.... "Determined small horse girl who loves his family and smoking a good ol cigar."

that seems very on point for Grant

[hitaka5ever]

Love to break it to some of y'all, genitalia=/=gender

Myth: Men don't have vaginas Fact: Men can have one, including ovaries, and they can get pregnant if they want to bear children

Myth: Women don't have penises Fact: Lots of women have one and it can cause severe gender dysphoria

Myth: Its okay to not be sexually attracted to genitalia Fact: This is transphobic as hell. The fact some of y'all can't accept that trans people have certain genitalia is transphobic thinking/propaganda

Myth: Trans women are just men disguising themselves as women in order to rape women in bathrooms Fact: This is terf propaganda and your dumb ass fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Maybe stop listening to JK Rowlfucker when it comes to trans women wanting to use the women's bathroom, mkay :)

Transgender people are fucking tired of y'alls transphobic bullshit. Trans men are men, trans women are women, and trans nonbinary people are nonbinary. Trans people don't have to transition to be trans. Trans people don't have to have dysphoria to be trans. There is no right or wrong way to be trans. If you don't feel like the gender that you were assigned with at birth, you are trans and no one gets to tell you otherwise. You know your real self, and anyone that tries to bring you down for being who you are can go fuck themselves

To all my trans brothers, sisters, nonbinaries, and everything in between, you are loved and we won't tolerate such hatred anymore. I love you all

[saywhatjessie]

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

THIS BOOK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SO STUPID

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CAMP AS FUUUUUUUUCK

WHY AM I SOBBING?!?!?!?!

No one has to tell you I was immediately on board with this premise.

"My Date With The President's Daughter" except it's gay, the other man is the Prince of England, and the president is a woman?

She lives for the concept.

What I was NOT expecting was for this to be so GODDAMN GOOD.

This book was written for me, personally.

I have done the campaign thing. I have been on the political trail. I WAS THERE IN 2016, Y'ALL. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH.

Do you know how nice it is to read about a reality where the woman won? DO YOU

A bitch cried, okay?

No, really, the only time during this book I cried was when Alex was describing what it was like for all of the women at the election party when his mother was elected. I fucking felt that. It cut me deep.

And SPEAKING of things that cut me deep: A twitter thread

I'm laughing so much Is this my new bio????

(This felt like a pointed John Green reference and even if it wasn't I'm going to pretend that it was.)

Umm???? Relatable.

The Only™ valid endeavor

Need me a freak like that

Talk to me NICE

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I HAD THIS EXACT CONVERSATION WITH OLDER DEMOCRATS? I CAN'T DO IT AGAIN, CAROL.

Anyway...

What it comes down to it this:

The book was long enough and was over a long enough time period that I could believe the enemies to friends to lovers trope. I believed it and I fell for it hook line and sinker.

There was never any tragic miscommunication for plot convenience. There was never any added internal or external pressure. The problem was their positions as prominent figures of their respective countries and the damage their relationship could do to their families' public standings. Nothing less. Nothing more. There didn't

need

to be anything more, that's already a lot!

Their relationship was natural and gradual and honest and compelling. Like SO compelling.

This book: "So a couple gays are gonna make out in the white house up against a portrait of Alexander Hamilton." Me: "Very good, please continue."

This book was actually written for me personally. Specifically. It came for my entire goddamn life.

I stayed up all night reading it and have no other words. Perhaps I'll come back with more after the re-read. Because lbr this is definitely going in the feel-good rotation.

I am a ruined thing

I will need to re-read this book just to feel okay again. I can already tell.

View all my reviews

[emily-kinney]

mannixxbella

mentioned you in a post:

“katmiw: You go Nikki! Women should always know their worth. So y'all...”

:

@emily-kinney you're literally basing everything off a fucking reality show. You dont know shit about them. It's kinda crazy how many of you believe this shit without proof. Total divas is fucking fake and was proven to be fake multiple times. What they show you on that show isn't reality. There's so much more to it. Judging a relationship you don't even know is quite pathetic, sorry.

No, I’m basing it off how John Cena acts around her in public, everyone called years ago that they wouldn’t get married and they were right, I bet Liz is laughing her ass off right now. I know Total Divas is as fake as ever considering they tried to get a recently divorced Randy Orton in 2013 to play Jojo’s boyfriend on the show so it would gain ratings, thankfully he was smart and declined. All one has to do is look at John Cena when he talked about Nikki compare the way Bryan talks about Brie. One fake couple vs. a real couple where the women didn’t end up looking pathetic begging for that ring that wwe bought. John even said he would go months without seeing Nikki, oh but there is no proof, Cena didn’t even know the date of the wedding, but there was no proof, again. Anytime someone gets together or engaged and married in the ring it just shows how fake it is because encase you didn’t know wwe is also a scripted show. None the less the John Cena and Nikki Bella shippers are the ones who look the most pathetic threatening suicide over a fucking couple that don’t even know them and could careless about them. I cringed every-time someone called them goals, seriously what was so good about a couple that never saw each other? about a contract she really did sign, one part of the show that was actually legit, where she spend almost 6 years crying to everyone that would listen on and off the scripted show how John would never marry her and he woulsn’t have kids with her. They made fools out of everyone who thought they were the real deal and y’all fell for it hook, line and sinker.

[luckyladylily]

I want to make this absolutely clear, I am not defending Hillary here. But knowing why is useful, because that will help defend ourselves.

Y'all know this was said because of an interview trap, right? She was in an interview and was asked a trap question so a quote could be generated that could be used to create an eye catching headline that got people really mad so they would click on links.

Y'all getting super angry and people tweeting in outrage are all playing into it. If we play into this kind of shit people are just gonna keep taking cheap shots like this. Yelling in outrage is free advertising, and progressives love to yell about trans rights so we are the target of choice.

She was asked, translating it into plain speak, if democrats were too busy focusing on trans rights and calling JKR a nazi to fix shit that real Americans care about. It was worded in such a way that however she answered she would either condone calling JKR a nazi (and thus alienate everyone who is unsure about the trans issue) or throw trans people under the bus, thus generating the clickable headline no matter what she answered. She did her best to side step and give a neutral non answer, but leaned towards throwing trans people under the bus. What she actually said:

“We are standing on the precipice of losing our democracy, and everything that everybody else cares about then goes out the window,” she said. “Look, the most important thing is to win the next election. The alternative is so frightening that whatever does not help you win should not be a priority.”

Notice that there is no mention of any specific issue, but the way the trap was constructed she came out looking like she wanted to throw trans people under the bus. Which, to be clear, she absolutely 100% would if it was to her advantage. She knows it isn't, which is why she tried to dodge the question, but she totally would.

This isn't a declaration of intent, its not being able to worm out of a trap question. You don't need to panic that democrats are going to drop us. We are not a burden politically, in fact we are a boon, which we can see because she didn't immediately throw us under the bus with no regret.

Honestly the whole incident is just noise and not worth notice, but there are useful takeaways.

Mercenary politicians will always be like this, and unless we build a political party from the ground up a good part of the democrats are always going to be mercenary. Unfortunately we need them. But if we make ourselves more widely accepted then their mercenary nature works to our advantage, especially if we can build tolerance among centrists and moderate conservatives.

Of course, if we were more widely accepted we wouldn't be an ideal target for jerks like the interviewer to take cheap shots at. The guy would never have taken the same shot at gay people because they are more widely accepted.

And, as always, we as progressives need to stop being such marks and check the god damn sources. Seriously this is the politics equivalent "dumbass says what?" and the progressive community fell for it hook, line, and sinker, spread it all over the internet, and made sure that this guy was well rewarded for his cheap shot against trans people.

Republicans using Nazi playbook. ✅️

[whatsunderneathme-blog1]

Day 2

It's pretty funny how life works. I feel like I'm good at it some days. Others not so much. It feels like everyday is a game. Like whoever the fuck claims, "you win some and you lose some" was spot on. Sometimes I wish I had some sort of cheat sheet to it, like when I was a kid, I would use one of those for GTA. There was a "ladies' man" cheat one where all the CPU women would always come lurking towards you. I would drive an ambulance and they would just hop in, filling the seats to max capacity. Then I would drive them to an alley where I would beat them with a baseball bat until they died so I could take their money. Yeah, maybe I shouldn't do that in real life, but you get the point. Cheating. Real life shit. Cheating may seem fun. Maybe when it applies to the people who truly seek it out. But not me. Cheating is a lot like fire. It destroys. Literally everything. Which brings me to my next topic.

It's pretty funny how life works. After my "big move" to Maryland this takes place. Well, summer was over pretty quickly for me. I mean, hey, I moved to this lovely place in July... the time when makeup is not an option. And don't attempt to even do up your hair, because it's going to evolve into some sort of fuzz ball. Especially when your hair hits your waist. So yeah, no to straightening. I spent most of my days either in my Aunts office, running, or drinking the Budweiser or Molson Canadian out on the water in my bikini. Which of course revealed my lovely inverted cross. Not really appealing to the church-goers of "southern" Marylanders. Kinda reminds me that I regret doing that.

October. 2018. I was involved in the FD pretty often. I was also heavily involved in my EMT class. But this took place on a lonely evening in my room. No, not that kind of fun. But the kind where you contemplate your social life and join something called Tinder. Great move on my end, because *spoiler alert*. I met the love of my life. No, like really. The kind where you literally want to just cry a bunch of fucking tears because you're so happy you can't sit right with yourself. That came out wrong. Lol. The good kind of hyper. But it didn't really go my way for a while. I ended up super-liking this bitch. Like I wanted to swipe right 1000000 times. He looked just my type. Had his shit together. Even listened to the same music as me. My inner little girl that had a list made up titled "Dream Husband" was screaming on the inside. Tall. Dark hair. Light eyes. Talked a bit and things were awesome as fuck. LOL. He even stood me up the first time we were supposed to hang out. I had invited him over to my house to have some beers and chill. Well, he had another idea... to cancel on me. But I won't make it seem that depressing. I mean, I didn't think at the time he was actually going to keep me in his life since he was leaving the state soon. I would give more information regarding that so y'all could have like a better idea of things, but this shit is public, so my EMT self is saying "errr, HIPPA violation"? Yeah, I'll go with that. HIPPA violation. But the time frame of him leaving was coming up. Sooooo I sent his ass a nude. I know, I know, not very classy of me.. but with most things, fuck it. Why not. And damn right, you guessed it.. Yep, like most men, that caught his eye. He fell hook, line, and sinker into that one. Ladies, throw some VS lingerie on and you're golden. Maybe straighten your hair a lil bit. So, one night, him and his roommate (maybe it was that night), he came to see me at work. I'm a server. Perfect opportunity. He wasn't sat in my section, thank god. But the two of them sat at Booth #2. He ordered the Mac n Cheese. Excellent choice. Our whole menu has amazing food, so he couldn't really make a bad decision. But I'm not judging. Pasta is my thing. Okay maybe I'm judging. Or maybe it's weird that I remembered what he ordered to eat. I'll just blame the OCD. But now that I'm writing all this, I kinda want to fast forward. No disrespect, I love the man.. but I could write about him all day. Probably not stop. Let's skip to what I don't want to write about. Maybe it will make me feel better... getting it off my chest. I'm really thankful that there's someone sitting in the radio room (what we call the room with the two computers) at the station. I live here, don't know if I really mentioned that in the start. The reason why I mention why I'm thankful someone is in here, is because I'm more put together. Not crying... hysterically. I do that. A lot. When I'm alone mostly. So let's get on with it.

Now. March. Almost time for April to hit. It's pretty funny how life works. Well, for me, I fuck up a lot. I mean, probably a lot more than most. I mean, I dislocated my fucking shoulder today just stretching after my run. Who does that shit? Me apparently. FYI typing this shit hurts. But I enjoy it. So you see, I try my best to separate my logical and emotional mind. Sometimes one takes over and confuses the other. My therapist taught me this. The really cool one. Well, not so cool when she made me go through my past. That's another conversation. What I'm trying to get at is, well, my emotional mind is really taking over at this point. Maybe I spoke too soon when I said that my depression was gone. Maybe I didn't say that in 'the start'. But sometimes, certain things just kinda trigger it. So, me and the Tinder guy (sorry, bf, ily, but that's what I'm referring to you as, just out of respect) have been dating for almost 6 months now. Well, he isn't in MD right now, he's out doing his lil career thing. So I made a really, really, really, really, really, really x1000000 stupid mistake. You can probably guess. I got stupid drunk at a formal event and.. *see paragraph 1, line 9, only word italicized. Find it. You get it. Before that night, my biggest regret was stealing from a mentally challenged girl in middle school. Swiped that 20-dollar bill from her small backpack zipper like it was a golden Wonka wrapper. In my middle school brain, I justified it by blaming her- she should've zipped her shit up, right? But what the fuck was I thinking? I knew that night, when I handed the older skater boy I liked a pack of Cowboy Killer's with that 20 that what I had done was wrong. And guess what? I still think about that. I still haven't forgiven myself. She missed her bus because of me. The girl I fucking stole from was stranded because of me. She had no money. God knows how that girl got home. AND she's mentally challenged. I can picture her now, with her big frown that matched her uneven glasses. And my happy ass just walked 0.6 miles to my house. A street over from my middle school. It makes me fucking sick to my core to think I could ever do something like that to someone so innocent. That night, everything changed. That night is, you fucking bet... my biggest regret. And the worst thing is, I can't run from it. Every single day I want to break the mirror I look into, or hope that the mirror would just miraculously shatter because it doesn't like what it sees. You don't want to know what I feel. The man that I love is suffering because of what I did. Even though I'm an atheist, I will admit, within this month I have broken down so many times on my hands and knees, praying that the pain I've caused won't cause us to separate. I have wandered aimlessly in the night so the thoughts won't develop into something darker. Because I'm not afraid to admit that I struggle from time to time wondering what the fuck I'm doing with myself. I have never wanted someone to forgive me so bad. So next time you have the opportunity to count your blessings, fucking do it. Do it every fucking minute you can. Because the choices you make can really hurt others. And you can risk losing the ones you never thought you could if you're not lucky. I may put on this badass face, like I am so strong I could take on anything, but truth is, I still am hoping one day that I can go to bed without having a night terror, sleep without my fucking IKEA teddy bear named Evgeni, or to just close my eyes and try to wipe away the lies I've piled on like a large campfire to hide the ashes- the trauma I've gone through. I'm dying to live that normal life. Deep down underneath me is like a glass bottle, but it's broken. And you know who helped me heal? That Tinder guy. That man would do anything for me. That man treats me with respect. With every I love you he says to me, my heart forgives me. My head feels right at home with him, erases those horrible things my father told me, grabs the loaded shotgun my father forced to the back of my head when I was 11, breaks the hands of those that vandalized me when I was 17, 18, 19, and 22 years old, unplugs the 400 degree flat iron I used to burn my face all those years from the constant sexual torment. I don't know whether the correct term is that I was a damaged child or if I maybe just had the worst luck, but there are things people in general should not have to endure. I was innocent at one point, but that dissipated at such a young age. I only had me. And honestly, I was never able to tell the truth about those things because I was always silenced. But this man, listens to me with open ears. And for the first time in my life, I heard something I've never heard someone say. And he was exactly right. SO fucking right. It sounded something along the lines of, "You can't run from your problems. You can't just keep moving states every time there's a problem thinking it will solve them because it will just catch up to you".

He is someone I DO want for the rest of my life. The touch of his skin on mine hushes and tucks away all those memories to bed. That man has listened to me speak more than any man has. I smile until the small dimples on my left cheek poke out. Since that man has come into my life, I never realized what true love really felt like. I didn't realize how gentle it feels on the heart. It courses through me like the ocean waves fall through the sand trenches I used to build when I was an innocent little girl in her one-piece, kissed with a sunburn. It feels invigorating, even better than the feeling I get when I step on the ice rink with my freshly sharpened blades. It's the moment when he first let me rest my abnormally freezing feet softly against his, tucked in between his legs when we slept. Because even though it wasn't comfortable to him, he only cared about what I needed in that moment. I have only ever wanted acceptance, normalcy. I am okay on my own. But he makes life, life. When flowers are left out in the rain, they don't do well. They need three things: water, sun, oxygen. See, I have two. 1. The rain- the sadness. 2. The air that I breathe, the most key thing to being human, obviously. But in my life, the sun only shines when I'm out on the ice, playing hockey. It's like I was doing okay, but I had been waiting for that one thing I had been missing. 3. The sun. He is that. I feel like that flower that lives graciously, with fresh, new petals that grow each day. I feel important in the world. Even more than I ever have. That's what I feel. It's like all this love consumes me. I smile more. Laugh more. I feel beautiful. Alive. Alive. Alive. Isn't it funny how life works?

*refer to the last ¶, first line, the words that can create a reply - and stand out.

I love you,

All my heart,

L.