#and. shockingly. directly affects some of us.

[pyr0cue]

Maybe it’s just me but I think taking your frustration and anger and grief out on random Americans because you’ve spoken to two trumpies and assume everyone in America must be selfish assholes who never think outside their own lives is a little weird and lacks the very empathy you say no Americans have!

[fallstreakfeathers]

Hi hi!!! I love your headcanons so much, they're all well thought out. Even the funny ones! Do you have any headcanons for your pet au fanfics?

Oh?

Uh

Actually. I did not have any particular headcanons to be honest

But I'll throw these out for thoughts:

- demons are seen as high end pets and slaves (pretty usual for the au), but are usually shockingly affordable with the exception of 'pure' bloodlines that track directly back to Muzan (the kizuki in particular). A high end demon like Upper 6 could cost several grand to own.

- Muzan was defeated, permanently weakened, and given the option to release his demons from his will, kill them all, or be killed. He then went into hiding, hoping for a day when he's strong enough to gather his army again. He also altered the demons to give them the ability to reproduce with each other. Because many demons end up killed and can no longer be created via Muzans blood, they would go extinct otherwise and Muzan needs his demons to exist if he ever has hope of regaining power.

- demons have adapted to be able to handle a bit of sunlight, though prolonged or heavy exposure sickens them quickly, and kills them. They cannot regenerate in sunlight at all. Wisteria will still halt their regerative abilities and kill them.

- demons no longer eat human meat, unless it's given to them or they happen to be the extraordinarily rare 'wild' demon. 'Wild' demons, who have escaped human enslavement, are generally killed upon capture. 'Domesticated' demons can eat any variety of raw or lightly cooked meats, but human blood can be used for extra nutrition and is purchased from special donation markets where humans are paid quite well to give their blood

- because muzan was adamant about insuring the species survival, demons go into a 'rut' period of about a week to two weeks where they are much more likely to seek someone to mate with. Humans have figured out how to use hormone injections to stop it from happening or even to force a demon to enter their rut. This period is exclusively referred to as Rut, not heat.

Each of the clones handle it in different ways in my au.

For example. Sekido claims to be unable to go into rut, but the truth is that he is so stressed about his brothers and whether they're even alive that his hormones are imbalanced and prevent it. If he knows they're alive, or better yet, if they happen to be with him and safe, he may be able to enter this period but he's so good at hiding it that you're likely just gonna think he's particularly grumpy that week. At least until he's suddenly getting you involved with his needs.

- urogi is actually impressively in control of himself, at least until you give the ok to go further than snuggling in his nest. Then he's a beast. Lasts about a week but goes into rut the most. Please prepare to lose all the soft things in your home because he WILL steal them for his compulsory nesting. Aside from that, he seems affected the least. He's still a happy, sweet demon, and he mostly just wants to cuddle and be close to his favorite person.

- Karaku is terrified. He hasn't had a natural rut in a long time, so when he finally feels safe enough that his hormones level out and he enters one, he freaks out. He associates these feelings with horrific things thanks to his abusers, so he tends to get fearfully aggressive towards anyone who approaches him- even his own brothers. Do NOT try to touch him, he will panic and think he's right back 'THERE'. If he, by some miracle, comes to you for any physical attention, keep your hands strictly above his waist.

Eventually, he will allow Sekido close to guard him from any potential harm as he hides in his room. Bring him extra blankets. He likes being hidden in soft, warm things. The better he can hide, the less frightened he will be.

If you need to ask him something, have Sekido ask for you so that his poor brother doesn't feel like your presence is in the room.

How you treat Karaku during his rut will make or break the little trust he has in you.

- Aizetsu's previous owners always had these sessions blocked via drugs, so he's actually never gone into rut before and doesn't know how to handle it. Like Karaku, he hides. He is embarrassed easier than normal during his rut and honestly just needs a gentle hand.

[tossawary]

I'm letting the 1984 "Dune" film play in the background and there's a LOT to say about this beautifully campy ridiculousness, but the part that's really getting me is the "inner voices". The audience at times hears the internal thoughts of various characters, presumably taken largely from the book, in a whispery voice. And it's not even just from Paul! It's from his mother and father and other characters as well, each making various observations and sometimes delivering exposition via their thoughts shared in voiceover narration.

Character A: "Greetings, Character B."

Character B: "A pleasure, Character A."

Character A: (inner voice) "That special outfit indicates that this person is secretly working for our enemies."

I made this exchange up, but that's the vibe here and it's wild. It's shockingly frequent too! Directly sharing character thoughts like this is something I'm used to seeing only in older novels, comics, and anime, due to the strengths and limits of their mediums. Like, the last thing that I was watching with any "tell, don't show" device similar to this was probably "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure"! It's striking (not a compliment) when other live action film (including the most recent "Dune" films) tends to prefer using actors' expressions and body language to communicate certain "unspoken" ideas like suspicion or affection or awe, and to let other sweeping visuals and musical cues speak for themselves as well.

You can also just have the lights go out, zoom in on a character's face, and have them whisper aloud, "Sabotage!" if you need to be that blunt about it, rather than have us hear the character's thoughts directly. You can insert a conversation of "as you know" technobabble between characters if you really have to do hasty exposition.

I don't want to call this film style "bad" exactly, inherently. But it's more than a little confusing when some characters are a little telepathic(?) and lighting is dim, so I'm briefly unsure which characters actually heard certain lines.

And I do personally think this kind of heavy-handed bluntness generally undermines what can be achieved with acting, sound design, music, set design, prop design, costume design, and so on. And I also think that a degree of uncertainty for the audience can be good for tension anyway. These inner thoughts being shared in this film are generally not ideas that couldn't be communicated through acting, visuals, or direct dialogue between characters, so this choice by the film often feels redundant and clumsy to me. Let the actors do what they're good at! Good actors can often communicate their emotions and thoughts to us without words! Or they can at least stand there while a majestic musical score communicates to us the depths of the character's grief and determination.

Like, not every use of voiceover narration in film is a bad thing. It's a choice. Sometimes it works really well and sometimes it doesn't. Voiceover narration often gets used at the beginning of films because it's an efficient way to quickly convey a lot of exposition and set the tone of the story!

But this film seems like it has a bad case of "science fiction is obviously too confusing for movie audiences to follow just by watching the characters move through the world and interact with each other, so we had better hold their hand every step of the way via voiceover narration constantly overshadowing the acting and musical score". It's not really helping the story, in my opinion. It's not letting the film breathe. Though "showing" in storytelling is often preferable, "telling" in a story is not always bad, but damn, this is a LOT of "telling" for an audio-visual medium.

[raspberriesandadventures]

Can I request LaSquadra with a member that is really good at giving massages and offers to give them one? Whether it be hand, back, or a full body massage.

Hey! Sorry this one took some time to get out but I hope you enjoy it!

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

Risotto:

Risotto holds more tension in his shoulders than anybody else in his group of assassins. His muscles are tight here, wound up and sore from too much stress.

If you offer a massage while he’s working, he won’t complain in the slightest even though he already knows he’ll be distracted.

His eyes will slip closed as you work the heavy responsibility from his arms; his head tilted to the side ever so slightly. He’s not sleeping, merely appreciating.

He won’t ask for massages, not wanting to ever badger you about something he feels is a gift more than a requirement, but he’s incredibly grateful when you offer.

Risotto will return the favour when you least expect it and he’s shockingly good at using his stand to get to the deepest parts of the muscle.

Formaggio:

Formaggio doesn’t appear to have much stress when you first run your hands over his shoulders, but he keeps most of his worry in his chest where it can’t be noticed.

He will immediately accept any offer of massages from you, dragging your hands onto his chest with a teasing comment and a flirtatious laugh.

He doesn’t bother to keep his hums of pleasure to himself and will constantly compliment you throughout the massage.

You’ll become his go to after every mission when he needs the small comforts that your affection provides. The fact that it comes with a relaxing chest rub is a benefit.

When you’re half-asleep on his chest is when Formaggio will offer a soothing massage to your shoulders with techniques he’s learned from you.

Illuso:

Illuso stores a great deal of muscle tension in his hips and pelvic floor which is quite hard to notice at first. When you mention it, expect teasing about how you noticed.

He’ll joke around a little when you offer a massage but your offer is binding and he will request it’s fulfilled immediately. No matter where you are.

Snarky comments will disappear as he relaxes beneath your skilled touch, hums of contentment sneaking out despite his best attempts to stifle them.

You’ve now become his personal masseuse and he’s going to make sure you know exactly when he’s in need of your touch.

Illuso won’t be the best at returning the favour through massages but he’ll be very happy to pay you back in other ways once you’ve finished.

Prosciutto:

Prosciutto doesn’t get as physically tense as the others do but he’s incredibly prone to tension headaches that he tries to ignore. It never works.

When you offer a massage, he’ll brush it off as unnecessary, although he won’t protest if you offer a second time. He doesn’t believe it’ll truly help for a while.

You’ll have to listen very closely to hear the soft sigh he makes when you manage to work a particularly tight knot from his muscles but it’s there.

He’s far too proud to ask you for a massage directly but he’s going to loudly make statements about his headaches in hope of prompting you into one.

It’ll take Prosciutto some time to work up to giving you a massage in return and when he does, it isn’t particularly good but he tries his hardest and that shows.

Pesci:

Pesci doesn’t suffer as much with tight muscles as the others because his stress tends to settle in his stomach instead, making him feel nauseous and ill.

If you offer a massage to help elevate the tension though, he’ll be beyond excited and gladly accept your offer with a faint blush and mild stammering.

He’ll murmur small thanks and words of appreciation throughout the massage and will give you fluttering kisses whenever he has the chance to.

He’ll certainly ask you for a massage when he gets a little tense, especially if it really helps him relax before jobs that would otherwise make him sick.

Pesci is nervous about offering you a massage in return but his gentle hands make him really brilliant at it.

Melone:

Melone gets very tense arms and hands mostly due to the work he does involving excessive use of his stand. You can easily suspect carpal tunnel in his wrists.

He’ll brush you off if you ask but you can take his arm and gently pull it to you to offer a massage while he’s working, one he won’t back away from.

He doesn’t give too many verbal clues that he’s enjoying your attention but his head will lull to the side and his eyes may flutter every once in a while.

He’s not likely to ask you for a massage in the future (mostly because they don’t often cross his mind) but he’ll gladly accept any offer.

Melone will return the favour to you unexpectedly, sweeping your arm across to his own and running his fingers along it as if tickling. He’s sweet with it, if not talented.

Ghiaccio:

Ghiaccio holds most of his stress in his lower back and he complains about this often. You can feel how tense these muscles are just by resting your palms there.

He won’t say no to a massage but he’s going to take a bit to settle down; he moves around too much for the process to go by smoothly.

You know it’s working when he goes quiet, words fading into nothing, and his eyes drift closed. He’s likely to fall asleep unless you change what you’re doing.

He’s not going to ask when he needs a massage and he’ll probably protest every single time you offer. He does want them; he just won’t admit to that.

Ghiaccio will demand he’s able to give you a massage in turn though you’ll definitely need to offer some advice to make him less rough.

Sorbet:

Sorbet sleeps away his stress when it gets overwhelming but it builds up in his neck and jaw more than anywhere else, making him feel constantly uncomfortable.

He’ll never reject the offer for a massage, it’s something he’s always wanted to indulge in but rarely had the time or trust in anybody beside Gelato.

He sighs deeply whenever you find a tender spot and leans his head toward you in a show of true trust. You can expect a soft kiss occasionally when you least expect it.

If you show yourself to be willing, he will quietly request a massage whenever the weight of his job gets a bit too heavy.

He’ll return the favour with gentle touches and smooth kisses as he acknowledges his lack of skill in finding the knots deep within your muscles.

Gelato:

Gelato is wound up like a spring almost all of the time; his every muscle is tight enough to make you wince in sympathy for him.

Getting him to sit down long enough to help relax his muscles in any significant way is difficult but even if you don’t manage it, he’ll appreciate the attempts.

He makes happy sounds when you offer him a massage, ones so cute that they’ll make your cheeks hurt from affectionately grinning at him.

If he feels particularly tense, he’ll definitely ask you in sweetened words if you would mind helping him out. He won’t expect it but it will make him extremely happy.

Gelato is surprisingly good at giving massages but they’ll have to happen in short bursts so he doesn’t get too distracted or bored.

[alexanderlightweight]

Hi! I found your writing very recently, and I've read like, so much of it on here and on AO3, because your writing is awesome.

So, I'd love it if you could write a piece of your current favorite AU, with the prompt, "The small joys are also divine"

Hope you're doing well!!

thank you, this is a really sweet comment and rn my favorite fic to write is the one my bf prompted me the bitter trap of truth which is an arranged marriage malec au ^_^

the first bit is here

and the next bit is here with that prompt!

thank you and i hpe you enjoy

<3 lumine

—

Alexander is… dangerous.

Of course all active-duty and trained shadowhunters are dangerous, and if his abilities were what threaten Magnus, then it would be easily handled.

No, what’s dangerous about him is his softness.

Magnus is used the harsh and cold side of shadowhunters and until their eyes had connected, he’d thought Alexander to be the same.

Instead, Magnus is inundated with small grins, soft eyes and a gaze that follows him constantly.

Not with malicious intent or lust, but with affection and fondness.

Magnus is going out of his own damn mind, trying to figure out what Alexander’s plans are, what the clave has demanded of him.

Magnus is going to figure it out if he has to invade Alexander’s dreams and then he’s going to get rid of any and everything that is keeping him from fully enjoying the adoration directed towards him. Alexander is perhaps, the worst spouse to be saddled with in their current political climate. Because Magnus yearns to trust and keep him, but he lets him near while still pushing him away.

It hurts them both, Magnus knows it does.

If it were anyone else, Magnus would simply torture them or douse them with truth potion or something! But he can��t, because Alexander will look at him with dark hazel eyes that promise devotion and Magnus, he’s too wary to risk that

Alexander can’t fake everything he does and says. The way he acts, the way his body reacts and submits and the very heady delight that Alexander exudes when Magnus so much as touches him.

— even something as simple as Magnus brushing away a curl from Alexander’s brow has Magnus being graced with a dazzling, warm smile that is so natural Magnus wonders how he ever thought Alexander to be cold, even just for a few moments —

So not all of it is a lie.

Yet Magnus isn’t sure where the lie ends and truth begins, or how the bond growing between them will fare when Alexander is forced into a position where he has to chose between the clave and Magnus.

The closest that Alexander has come to true subterfuge, was when he snuck away from their bed — because Magnus was loathe to let Alexander sleep away from him and powerful enough to protect himself should the worst happen and also because Alexander had pouted at the suggestion of his own room — and Magnus had thought that finally, he was one step figuring out the trap and getting Alexander for real.

Instead, Magnus had discovered a sheepish Alexander in the kitchen.

True, the kitchen only existed because Magnus hadn’t realized how lucky he’d get with his nephilim spouse. A way to feed his political spouse without needing to interact directly with him several times a day.

Instead, Alexander has hardly had a reason to use the kitchen.

Not when he’s so delighted by each meal Magnus summons and has even leaned over several times, happy to be fed a bite from Magnus own plate and utensils.

It’s so shockingly different from when Magnus remembers the nephilim throwing out the plates he and his fellow downworlders had used, that Magnus can’t help but bask in it

Magnus knows that Alexander had stepped into his study — he has everything warded so that he is aware of every one of Alexander’s movements — but he finds him in the kitchen.

Instead of Magnus’ personal spellbooks, or perhaps some of Magnus’ personal correspondence — things of lesser importance, left out as a lure — Alexander is simply leaning against the counter. The same counter he once placed a vial of aphrodisiac while laughing a mere handful of weeks before. There are books there, but they aren’t books Magnus’ recognizes which means their importance is small.

Alexander finally seems to have found what he’s been looking for because he hums, satisfaction in his tone as he turns — away from Magnus, not that Magnus can be seen through his veil of magic — and opens the cabinets.

Alexander doesn’t mutter to himself, but he does hum.

So lightly that Magnus can barely hear it.

It’s only after Alexander has begun to set out ingredients that Magnus lets an orb of magic activate and retreats to their… his bed.

He watches as Alexander carefully begins to measure and at one point, he has to bite his lip to stop from smiling when Alexander ends up with a touch of flour in his curls.

There is a moment of angry cursing when Alexander is fighting with the stove and Magnus blinks in shock when a stele appears in Alexander’s hand.

Magnus waits, still and magic pooling, waiting to see what runes Alexander is about to activate, putting aside the worry and wonder of how Alexander got his stele in the first place.

Instead of activating any of his own runes, Alexander ignores the stove — that Magnus is only now remembering requires magic to turn on — and turns over the cast-iron skillet he’s been trying to heat. Magnus isn’t sure what runes Alexander draws, but whatever it works enough that Alexander almost drops the pan, hissing as he sets it down.

The handle of the pan seared his palm and Magnus hisses in sympathy and the urge to go soothe the wound and heal it. Instead, he gets to watch as Alexander tugs up the tanktop he’d worn to bed and activates his iratze with a grimace. It’s the only one he activates until he hesitates and it’s clear he’s trying to decide something and then, with his cheeks a clear pink through the image Magnus is watching, he activates what Magnus knows is a flexibility runes.

Then, seemingly satisfied he casually sets the stele down on the counter and he leaves it there, walking away to grumpily slide sausages into the pan.

Magnus is transfixed, watching Alexander for the next forty-five minutes and it isn’t until he’s watching Alexander carefully set two places at the table, that Magnus realizes that this isn’t just his shadowhunter hungry… Alexander purposefully got up to make them both breakfast.

Glancing at the clock and seeing that it’s eleven — when Magnus most often rises after a late night —

Magnus blinks and then realizes that while Alexander no doubts has guessed that Magnus is monitoring him — the stele hasn’t moved since Alexander first set it down — that Alexander has no way of knowing the extent.

Alexander thinks that Magnus’ hesitation is because of poison, not because he’s overwhelmed and nearly furious with how much he longs to know just how much of this is real.

Alexander is offering himself up, a taste-tester in good faith. A way to assure Magnus that the food is safe for him, that this is something Alexander wants to share with him, but not something meant to harm him.

It breaks something in Magnus, then.

Something that has long been kept underwraps and Magnus knows it’s not poisoned, but he still reaches out and feeds a single bite of each portion to Alexander and then a sip of each of his drinks.

Alexander winces on the orange juice and his face screws up and he gives the glass an angry look before snatching it.

“Something wrong?” Magnus asks, because he knows it’s not poison but Alexander seems upset.

“Sour—” his boy murmurs and he looks almost devastated, “I forgot to check their flavor and uh--” he pauses here and then shrugs, sheepishly. “I just used my hands to juice them. I kind of forgot about the pulp and seeds.”

Magnus blinks and then looks at Alexander’s still untouched glass and sure enough, there are some rather disconcerting chunks floating in it.

Alexander shrugs, sheepishly and takes both glasses to the sink, dumping them with silent frustration that Magnus fights not to coo over.

“Mimosas!” Magnus proposes without even thinking it through. “My contribution since you’ve done such a lovely job. And how could it be your fault that they're sour, when I provided the fruit?”

Alexander sends him an unimpressed look but there is a smile in the curl of his lips and he nods, so used to Magnus’ magic by now that he doesn’t even flinch when two glasses appear in his hand.

Magnus waits to be offered one and then — with an almost sly smirk — Alexander takes a sip of one and then carefully hands it to Magnus, something smug in the pleased contentment of his face.

The rest of the food — besides the orange juice at least — is delicious.

The lamb sausages are seared beautifully — almost as well done as Alexander’s hand was — and the pancakes have crisp edges and fluffy middles, a hint of vanilla coming through under the veritable mountain of strawberries they’re under.

There’s is one moment where Alexander runs out of fruit and is looking at Magnus’ own plate with the kind of strategic contemplation Magnus has seen on the battlefield.

As Magnus is quite enjoying his meal and has no desire to wage a war with his husband over the breakfast table, he summons a fresh bowl of strawberries and without thinking, plucks one.

He holds it out and it’s only when he sees pleased surprise that Magnus realizes what he’s done.

Before he can decide to commit or retract the berry, Alexander’s lips close over his fingers and teeth delicately glide against the pads of his fingertips.

“Delicious.” Alexander tells him, a smile on his berry stained lips and Magnus is helpless but to offer him another, hopelessly charmed by every single action this morning… except perhaps when Alexander burnt himself.

As Alexander takes a sip of his own drink and Magnus takes a bite of food, Magnus can’t help but think that these small joys are divine, certainly worth tempting fate for.

[springtrappd]

thoughts on dsaf?

oooooooooooo i hope you're ready, because could talk about this for a while

it's a difficult series for me to articulate my thoughts about, despite having hyperfixated on it for a good few months of 2022, because... well, it's dsaf. it's the funny haha meme game that also features body horror so disturbing i feel uncomfortable even talking about the phone guys without giving a fair warning. they're visual novels made in fucking rpgmaker that use and abuse their medium to the fullest, packed to the brim with countless jokes that only get funny the more you think about them. it accidentally landed on several ideas similar to those later in the franchise and executes them in a way that is uniquely itself. it's also got several outright racist jokes and phrases in it, relies heavily on memes & pop culture references that were dated when it came out, and is incredibly nsfw -- all things that make it tough to talk about, and very tough to recommend.

it's easy for me, a white australian, to accept these flaws and move past them, but it makes it an inherently hostile experience for anyone who doesn't have the privilege of being actually affected by that shit. it doesn't impact me directly when a fangame slips in a joke about crime rates in america, but to an african-american person that's a big slap in the face! and that sucks, and i think it's very important to acknowledge that even as -- and especially when -- we praise the series for what it does right. liking dsaf doesn't make you a bad person, nor does it make you inherently racist, but dsaf is racist, and it's only in acknowledging that fact that we can learn from & avoid the same fate ourselves. this is something that will always hang over the series, and it should.

in terms of things it does right, though? as i've said before, a lot of the (non-racist, which is the majority of) jokes are really fucking good. i've been meaning to do a replay so i can collect the best of them, because god are there so many gems in there. i think one of my favourite moments playing blind was the one when i realised that jack always exits buildings by climbing out the window rather than just... use the door. it's got a lot of subtle jokes like that that're my exact sense of humour, and it's when it's doing shit like that that it's at its best.

it's also shockingly mature for what began as a satire of the fnaf fandom from 2014-2016, and the ways it remixed the main series' concepts & themes rewrote my fucking brain chemistry. using "he always comes back" to represent how someone (jack) will always be there to care about those lost? actually genius, i think about it so much when it comes to (c/f)anon's take on michael. everything about the phone guys is horrifying and i love it, i love the way it's set up and 2's slow-building wrongness and the storytime about the originals you get in 3. it's such biting corporate satire and i love it, fantastic take on it 10/10 no notes. henry is terrifying, like actually his voice is so uncomfortable to listen to and the way his scenes are lit doesn't help -- just a really good ultimate villain/antagonist, and a good contrast to dave's wacky cartoon antics. i like how it's implied that the reason the dsafverse is so fucked is because he broke it (reality) back in the 50s. it's neat!

there is so, so much love put into these games it's unreal. have i mentioned that they're fucking visual novels made in rpgmaker? because they're visual novels made in rpgmaker. there are TWENTY-THREE ENDINGS in dsaf2 alone, with two "main" routes that both feature some of the best writing i've seen in a fnaf fanwork ever. phone guy's takedown of jack in the evil route is more scathing than the novels have ever dared to be, and does much more to convey the depths of the depravity that's occurred here because of it. i've had a post about how the game uses colours to convey character alignment fermenting in the back of my brain ever since i started 3, and primary barrier to me doing that is just how much shit is in these things! and, well... it's dsaf -- not only does it feel kinda weird to take seriously, it's also a fanbase i kinda want ten feet away from me at all times?

no offence to you guys, it's just not my scene, lmao. the aforementioned memespam and edgelord attitude combine to make a fanbase that skews young and immature, and a result the atmosphere is... kinda insufferable! general fnafdom is also bad, don't get me wrong, but at least you can filter out most of the twelvies by using big enough words. while i do appreciate davesport and think it's great, i'm not a guy who's into stuff for ships, and i like these games for......... all the reasons mentioned above, which just happen to include davesport, not because of it, ykwim? instead i'm the kinda guy who had dave's "you were lost, but now you have been found" line from 3 haunt him for over a year before it finally hit me that it was a fucking bible quote. to quote myself at the time:

in conclusion,

[historia-vitae-magistras]

The 19th century is basically a shoujo drama and Kiku is the protagonist: Prussia and Japan have a very close linked history together, so much so that Japan adapted the German Civil law system into it's legal system. European, especially French painters adored Japanese art styles and adapted them in their own paintings to create the Japanonism art movement. Kiku basically could pick an choose.

Agreed! He's got the whole world in his pocket! And Kiku sampled. Monogamy, in my opinion, isn't how nations function in general. Kiku has deep ties and emotional attachments to a lot of countries. I just really like romantic relationships where I'm mostly looking at respect and mutual benefit with these eldritch dirt fucks and the Dutch fill that need lmao. Fuckng bastards.

The Dutch are shockingly loyal, and this cultural trust seems to have built up even after the end of Sakoku. Linguistically, Japanese dictionaries preferred Dutch over English loan words right up until post-WW2. In Nagasaki, the Dutch are seen constantly in the architecture and food culture. It's fascinating how we've discovered an English linguistic bias in sources. When we compensate for this, history decentralizes Britain and America for us and reveals a Japan whose ties, especially to the west, are much more complicated than the Anglosphere. Even after taking several courses on Japanese history over my university years, I found so much about Korea, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Taiwan, Australia, etc. But the Dutch stands out to me. Physically Kiku's land is more formed by Dutch work than American or British. Water management, harbours, bridges, canals, drainage, agriculture reforms, erosion management. And these things started centuries ago and are still going.

And the art! Ah! The French and Japonisme... some art that makes me highly uncomfortable. La Japonaise is some of the least egregious but holy mother of orientalism. Monet's bridges are much more respectful. Van Gogh's works are primarily in that category. Starry Night was directly inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Upon the birth of his nephew in the Spring of 1890, Van Gogh painted his famous Almond Blossoms, also inspired by Japanese nature prints. For Jan who would have grown up a medieval Christian, those almond blossoms would have as much significance as the sakura in Japan and I really do think there's at least a copy of it above their bed at some point. The first Dutch ship that crashlanded in Japan did so in April 1600. The entire relationship is 400 years of everything spring comes with

The Dutch gave Japan its first modern ship, the Kankō Maru. The Dutch Monarch and diplomatic corps write love letters, make super emotional speeches, and show affection for Japan in their official statements. Kiku might be slightly more reticent in his public affection, but I don't think it's any less profound. He built an entire replica of a Dutch city that is the largest in the country. Huis Ten Bosch is literally larger than Tokyo Disneyland. Idk, man; there's just a lot here that makes me emotional. Like, look at this piece from the poetry Basho, as translated by Jane Reichhold.

kapitan mo tsukubawase keri kimi go haru

even the captain bows down before the lord of spring

[tasmiq]

Jumu'ah Sohbet: 5 January 2024

Alhamdulillah (Divine praise) that we have made it into the first week of January in the new year of our turbulent worldly existence. It is where humanity perennially wars;

i. Unwittingly, as individuals with our respective nafs (ego / lower-self),

ii. as nations or intra-nationally as in Sudan and,

iii. an alarmingly close reality is with planet Earth itself.

In that context was our Saturday Sohbet (spiritual conversation), which was deeply explored by Shaykh Mir of Tanzania. It was on the types of knowledge that we ought to acquire and its relationship to our fundamental Zikr in "La ilaha illallah" / There is nothing but the Divine. BIsmillah (With-and-not-For Allah, as substantiated by Shaykh Mir. When we act, we must do it with Allah! It is an important semantic making our relationship with Allah as Sufi Muslims even more intimate.

#1. Shaykh Mir first relayed how most of us came from conventional, organised religions, which are initially helpful, but we reach a point where we want more. What distinguishes a person in a Tariqa is that we are seekers.

It was congruent with my experience, which began with blind submission to secular values, to the total opposite of diligent Qur'anic Arabic studies and formal halaqa, and shockingly after this, did I plummet! Until I was saved by our Shaykh Nishaat, who opened the door to Sufism and both your Abbu and him that exemplified its teachings. Shaykh Mir described accurately my experience where we seek some answers that are ultimately deep within us. We later learn that the questions can not be resolved in an easy way unless we have spiritual mentors who take us under their fold to guide us.

It then becomes about the acquisition of knowledge as our Tariqa is committed to, with its dedication to fostering lifelong learning. Our Prophet SAW said, "Acquire knowledge from the cradle to the grave and acquire knowledge as far as China." But what is the knowledge that we are seeking? There is a verse of the Qur'an which says, "Verily the possessors of knowledge are in awe of Allah!" What we are seeking is the knowledge of the Divine, though this may not be possible with only our outer senses because of the limitation of the mind! I realised the shortfalls of the dogged focus on the exoteric / external spiritual path, which is only truly completed with the esoteric / internal path offered through Sufism!

#2. Thereafter, he rightly highlighted the importance of moving beyond ritualistic worship. Making a habit of something makes it an imitation, and the inner seeking is forgotten because of the challenges of the nafs. The nafs that we have has forgotten its true nature, which was blown into it by Allah. Instead, we develop an "I-ness" where everything is relatively taken where I am the doer, I am the seeker, and that identity of "I-ness" has covered the essence of Allah.

We become the doer of the attributes that we exhibit. That is the challenge that we have in our practice and daily life. What we should infact be seeking is perceiving Allah through all our outer and inner senses. In Tariqa, we are taught about the attributes of Allah, but we have to go to the essence of that attribute!

#3. Most importantly, he emphasised the importance of remembering La ilaha illallah within us? We have to experience the external, but if we have the La ilaha illallah / There is only the Divine engrossed into us, it will affect every component of us where we develop the sense that we are not the doer! We acquire a sense of peace within ourselves, where we see that the level of integration of La ilaha illallah within ourselves is directly proportional to what we are experiencing in the outside world!

However, our attachments and desires to the outside world are so much that it doesn't give time and room for La ilaha illallah to come up. Whereas on the path of Tassawuf, which is the science of purifying the heart, is what Tariqa focuses on. The La ilaha illallah integration within our life is the only key; knowing, feeling, and spreading it with our family and friends is the only thing that exists!

#4. Shaykh Anjum echoed Shaykh Mir in that the spiritual path is not easy! He added a colourful analogy of our self-realisation only being achieved if we are like pliable, kneaded dough that is ultimately baked at high temperatures 😅

For people who have been in the oven, they know the process and the result. This is the understanding that we ought to keep within a Tariqa, with a spiritual mentor. If we understand this, we will be a wonderful piece of golden brown bread that smells good, too 🍞 After I meekly dawdled to Shaykh Taner, appologising for taking long to connect with him, he graciously replied that it didn't matter and what mattered more is that I was there. I, subsequently, continue to weep happy tears of gratitude!

Shaykh Anjum poetically added that when we are saying La ilaha illallah, constantly and consistently - it leaves a mark on us where we are moved out of the way as the doers! We then have to increase the number of repetitions until it goes from Zahir (manifest / apparent) to Batin (inner/ hidden) and becomes autopilot where Allah takes over! We must be present, consistent, and have the urge to commit to lifelong learning.

#5. Shaykh Mir then powerfully reflected on the Fanafil Shaykh issue. Many misconstrue it as shirk (idolatry), whereas in his experience, he could feel Shaykh Taner doing a specific action. He added,

When I am connected, I am not necessarily doing it intentionally or that I am always engaging Shaykha, though. When I, as Mir, am not there, I can feel Baba (spiritual father Shaykh Taner). I can't necessarily visualise the Prophet SAW or him, but I can see his hands and feet, and the tradition is with him.

It comes to good use when we are selfless. So our focus is Fanafil Shaykh, followed by Fanafil Rasullulah SAW, and then Fanafillah. It's the tradition where a lineage of people is guiding us because the road is not easy. It is tough, and the more that we want to be close to the knowledge, the more we are put into the grind, and it burns us. We can resist it, but then we will not attain the peace and bliss that we are actually seeking.

In conclusion, as a Tariqa, we inherently wade in an ocean of being and a system of lifelong learning geared towards self-realisation. We are a diverse and deep lot, through outer and especially inner worship of Allah:

Shukran Ya Allah (Divine gratitude)

[brainzzzeater]

I’m having a hard time understanding a lot about this conflict. Today, in the USA (Chicago Illinois, San Francisco California, and in New York) Pro-Palestinian activists decided to block the bridges to prevent people from entering or leaving. As a result, people waited for a minimum of 5 hours before the bridge was completely opened for them to cross. I’ve been reading stories of people who were transporting stem cells, sick people, etc who weren’t able to make it out.

According to the protestors, their goal was to cause an “economic blockade” by causing everyone to not be able to go anywhere

Shockingly a lot of Palestinians were supporting this saying that inconveniencing Americans is a good way to bring light to the situation happening in Gaza. I’ve even had some say that the few lives that were lost because of this were “fine” because it’s for the cause. I don’t want to believe that everyone is this cruel, so I will give my thought generally speaking.

I’m not an expert on these things, I don’t know much so im just using logic. Joe Biden is not the supreme authority over Israel. So let’s say that the USA stops sending aid to Israel completely. Let’s say they cut ties. Where will the protesting end up then? Will it move to another country who may support Israel? The way I see it is, Israeli government is going to do what it wants to do whether America sends it money or not.

Secondly, why is it that Americans have to suffer for what we cannot control? Blocking the bridge did nothing for the people in control. They were comfortably in their homes, meanwhile working mothers and fathers lost job time because of this. People have children to feed. How is what’s happening in Gaza somehow the fault of innocent civilians?

This act today was just cruel and my heart hurt because of it. I in no way am turning a blind eye to the suffering of those in Israel, whether that be Israeli or Palestinian. But at some point we really have to think about where our actions will take us. I’m curious to know if anyone is sharing the same thoughts as I am. Again, I am not educated on the conflict to where I can speak confidently about it 100%, im just looking at this from a logical standpoint.

Not sure why this question was asked to me but I’ll do my best to answer you as simply as I can put it. I try my best to keep myself informed every day about the genocide in Gaza and protest/boycotts occurring here in the United States.

Yes it absolutely was an economic blockade, because it disrupted a small section of the economy in major cities in the United States.

It isn’t shocking to hear Palestinians are happy to see major protests coming from Americans. In fact, I’m sure they see it as a beacon of hope that the main country funding the genocide in Gaza is not being supported by many of their own citizens. I have personally not heard anyone say that it was “fine” for lives being lost in the blockades. Though I will say it is saddening to hear that that happened, and I send my best wishes to those affected by the loss of this people.

If or when the United States stops sending Billions of dollars to Israel, no the protests will not stop. There are many countries that still hold protests despite their own government supporting Palestinians as well. The difference is HOW the protests are conducted. The reason they are more disruptive here in America is because we want to show the government that we do not stand behind them in the decision they are making to continue supporting Israel.

You are right. The protest did not directly/immediately affect any of the politicians or millionaires in the country. But one thing to know about our own economy is that it is extremely fragile. And the government HATES when we go out of our way to disrupt the order of “peace” they have kept around us. Protests, as we have all hopefully learned in any history class, are very successful ways to bring great change to the issues they are tackling with determination from the participants. In the grand scheme of things, the majority of Americans will NEVER suffer the way the majority of Palestinian families have suffered. Every single day there are entire bloodlines being murdered, children being sniped, innocent people literally being BLOWN UP. It would be selfish to turn a blind eye to what is happening to them.

Living in America fucking sucks. With the way things are going politically, if you are not a white cisgendered heterosexual man you will be targeted by your own government. The capitalist society built around us is so suffocating and draining that we are being worked to the grave. So a lot of people, including yourself, wonder why should I have to put the work in if it doesn’t effect me?

To that all I have to say is. I care about people. I have sympathy. Just because I will suffer does not mean I will not fight for others. I wish I could do more than just spread awareness, and give more of the little money I have. Sometimes all people can do is block a bridge and shout till their throats are soar to do ANYTHING to help innocent lives across the sea. And that is better than nothing.

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT NEWS, RESOURCES AND STUDIES, early February 2023 (Part 1)

Yes, my latest news update is finally out - at least the first part of it. So much has gone on that breaking it into 2 parts seems like the best option for ease of reading. 

So the following contains the top news stories, all of the Etsy news, and general SEO information. The next update (coming in the next few days) will cover everything else that happened between the end of November and now. 

Since I am still a bit worried that Twitter will become unusable, I’ve begun posting more timely updates on LinkedIn, so please follow or connect with me there!  

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES 

As you may know, Royal Mail was hit by a ransomware attack that has restricted their incoming and outgoing international mail. Most international mail can now be sent, but things are still slow. Note that items entering the UK may also have taken longer than usual in the past month.

Etsy is continuing to refund buyers out of seller funds when cases are opened on orders $250 and up, even when tracking says the packages were delivered and some even signed for. I posted several of the Etsy forum threads and screenshots of deleted threads on Twitter. While many shop owners have received full refunds from Etsy after complaining, some of the recent examples are only getting 50% of the order value back. Let Etsy know what you think in this survey. Even orders below $250 are coming under additional scrutiny, with this news investigation [video and text] regarding a vintage shop that Etsy issued automatic refunds for without allowing the seller to comment on the cases. I am writing a blog post on the topic, so if you or anyone you know has been affected, please email me with the details - I promise to keep your details confidential if you wish. 

Americans who made at least $600 on a marketplace or through a payment processor/app in 2022 will not be receiving 1099-Ks for that income after all - the IRS has delayed that change for one year. The main reason seems to be the huge amount of new paperwork required for the platforms.

ETSY NEWS 

Etsy has had a bizarre checkout bug that only affects a tiny percentage of shops for a few weeks now with no sign of a solution for most of them. Shockingly, Support told one affected buyer “to go to another Etsy seller"! 

Hidden as a post in the Technical Issues section of the forum, Etsy announced that some non-US sellers would need to verify their bank accounts in 2023. They state that shops which opened after November 2020 do not need further verification, so I assume that means all of us non-US sellers who had to re-verify last year are ok as well. 

If you use the private listing option (even after Etsy removed most of the functionality), beware that those listings do not have a way to add estimated delivery times or return policies before publishing, so you need to rush to add them afterwards before the listing is purchased, or you lose seller protection. 

Etsy is testing (or doing a very slow rollout of) letting buyers make an offer on listings, but very few people have it. I did posts with a screenshot on LinkedIn, my Twitter account, and the Etsy Sellers subReddit. Here’s the Etsy forum thread started by someone who spotted this option. 

The “Updates to Etsy Search” article that came out mid-January is mostly coverage of things they did a few months ago, including an Add to Cart button in search, displaying the time remaining on expiring sales, video autoplay, and the Star Seller filter [don’t worry, the last one is hidden under the main filter button, so most visitors will never even see it]. They also mentioned the estimated delivery dates being displayed in search, but I haven’t seen that for at least a few weeks; right now I only see the filter they have had for a few years. [It’s pretty embarrassing when they make an announcement like this and it isn’t accurate - and they don’t even bother to correct it.] Remember, none of these things directly affect the ranking algorithm, and the elements of Star Seller - reviews, shipping on time and answering Messages promptly - are all part of the algorithm already, the latter 2 because they are part of the seller service level standards. If you are worried about the Star Seller filter, also remember that breaking any Etsy policy/rule can negatively affect your Customer & Marketplace Score. “to determine a shop’s Customer & Market Experience Score, Etsy considers a variety of factors that make up overall shop quality, including user reviews of products, whether or not a shop has completed an about section or its shop policies (e.g. returns), whether or not the shop may be able to fulfill orders in a timely fashion, and whether or not the shop may have violated any Etsy policies.” [my emphasis] 

January’s category updates includes 2 types of bags, plus changing “unisex” kids and baby clothing categories to “gender neutral”. 

The workaround to keep old written shop policies is now being removed, with many of us losing those old policies recently. You may be able to find caches on Google or Bing if you look quickly. Forum discussion thread. If you need to link to your new stripped down policies or your FAQs, here is how. 

Etsy is being sued for allegedly allowing counterfeit cashmere items on the site; expect the bots to start taking down anything with the word “cashmere” next. 

Etsy’s legal policies now include a page explaining their prohibition on “unsafe or recalled products” and including links to rules and reporting procedures for many countries’ reporting procedures. Recent recalls affecting Etsy include children’s pyjamas from Selfie Craft Company, and a baby rattle sold in one Etsy shop only. 

In the “bad publicity” category, part 1: US federal prosecutors say that an Etsy shop was used as a front for smuggling weapons components to the Russians. While the shop didn’t sell anything like that, they did sell gift baskets with commercial components, so Etsy could have avoided this bad press by following their own rules and shutting this shop down far earlier. See a screenshot of the shop in the comments of my LinkedIn post. 

Bad publicity, part 2: A shop's atrocious customer service went viral on TikTok, which then garnered more media coverage. That shop better be careful, because Harry Styles was already suing ecommerce sellers over products with his name and likeness (including on Etsy).

Also on the infringement front: Disney is suing a couple who have sold infringing items on multiple ecommerce platforms for years, including Etsy and eBay. My Twitter thread has screenshots of some of the products sold on Etsy. 

Etsy’s new Chief Legal Officer used to hold a similar role at Facebook. 

Etsy Strike spinoff group Artisans Cooperative is hoping to launch a new marketplace this fall, and now has organizing support from the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, including funding from the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program. 

Etsy trend “predictions” for 2023 include 2 colours (indigo and honeycomb), marble decor, and “over-the-top” wedding looks. They provide some search trends from August to October on Etsy, so check out what people have been searching for! 

Note that that trends post is different than this one, which includes more detailed search trends and addresses shopping holidays. For example, “56% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “personalize gift mom”. You also need to know that there was “1420% YoY increase in searches on Etsy containing “hot pink decor”. 

Etsy loves running tests so much they give out trophies for starting the most.

This article [soft paywall; Modern Retail] says that holiday sales were down on Etsy, but Etsy hasn’t released any numbers yet. 

This is perhaps my favourite Etsy story ever: how an unusual custom order ended up seen by millions as it hangs on the International Space Station. 

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES 

Everyone selling online loves December algorithm updates, so Google started rolling out a new Helpful Content Update around December 6. “Google said this update will "tackle content that seems to have been primarily created for ranking well in search engines." Both the Helpful Content and Link Spam updates finished rolling out on January 12. 

Ahrefs has updated its link building chapter in the Beginner’s Guide to SEO. “Links are incredibly important for ranking well. And it is quite rare that you will outrank pages that have a lot of strong links—unless you get just as many.”

Understanding basic Google SEO is not enough to have a successful website; understanding how to structure your website is also crucial. For more on that, here’s another article on pillar pages and topic clusters [semi-advanced; you need some basic knowledge of website structure and SEO to fully grasp everything.]

There’s often confusion on long tail keywords and how to use them - this article should clear that up. 

EAT has become EEAT: Google search quality raters now evaluate “experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness” instead of just the last 3. “Google explained that there are “some situations where really what you value most is content produced by someone who has first-hand, life experience on the topic at hand.” 

Repeat after me and Google’s John Mueller: the number of times a word/phrase is used on a page (aka keyword density) is not a positive Google ranking factor. 

Also, readability ratings do not affect Google ranking either, and John Mueller confirmed that as well. Writing for your intended audience is important, however, and that can include some elements of “readability”. 

Using artificial intelligence (AI) to write articles for websites is not against Google rules, but using AI just for SEO purposes is. Not surprisingly, more than one media site is already using AI to write content with SEO in mind: CNET is no longer solely about tech news, for example, and the articles apparently have a lot of plagiarism. Should Google be doing more to stop this junk from ranking? Maybe not - they are already working on using it themselves. 

Speaking of AI writing, Search Engine Land did an overview of ChatGPT and how it may affect the SEO industry. 

Yandex (Russian search engine) had all of its source code leaked. This Twitter thread goes through the different ranking factors and compares them to Google in particular. 

Yahoo Search is making a comeback. No, really. They are even hiring! 

You were probably busy in December, so here’s a summary of what Google was up to; here’s January as well (both including some things already covered in this news update). If you were busy all throughout 2022, then read the full year summary too. 

Here’s a change - was there a Bing algorithm update around January 18? (Usually this question is only asked about Google.)

[the-final-sif]

So, we actually do understand a lot more about how this works than OP explains here, not that I blame them for not being aware of some of the details.

The process is called Nitrogen Narcosis, although that name is a lil bit of a lie. The actual truth is that any gas that can be breathed except helium and maybe neon can have this effect, which is anesthetic effect that occurs at high pressures. It's usually compared to being drunk, and different people response to this effect differently. Also, different mixes of gases will produce different effects, which is why it's really important to have the correct sort of gas for a particular dive. Just to be clear, Oxygen also causes this narcosis effect, and according to NOAA should be considered as narcotic as nitrogen. Obviously, you can't remove oxygen from tanks entirely, but there are other mixes of gas that can limit narcosis and increase the safe diving depths.

Specifically, because helium doesn't have this narcotic effect, there are specific breathing mixes that can be used for saturation or technical dives, specifically Trimix (nitrogen, helium, oxygen) or Heliox (helium, oxygen). These mixes allow divers to dive deeper and remain at depth for longer safely, reducing the narcosis that they experience.

Interestingly, everyone undergoes narcosis at depth. Regardless of training or how well they cope with the narcotic effect, everyone experiences it. The key difference is in how different people handle the narcotic effects. Each person tends to have specific reactions to narcotic effects, known as personal onset signs, that can impact how well they can perform at different depths. While some people experience hallucinations and paranoia, others may instead experience a sense of calm or euphoria. Some people may experience a general sense of well-being, which can actually be more dangerous than panic because it leads to them ignoring or not noticing danger signs. Some people can maintain themselves and their cognitive function better under narcosis due to a number of factors, but everyone is experiencing it.

Because everyone is impacted by nitrogen narcosis, that's why it's vital to not take any sedatives or central nervous system depressants prior to diving (acholol, weed, etc), as they can have additive affects.

So!! How do you predict how people will be affected by this narcosis?

Well, there are actually methods that you can use. All of these are still under research, but the best predictor is a person's prior reactions to narcotic effects, particularly nitrous oxide. How well someone tolerated nitrous oxide tends to predict how they will tolerate nitrogen narcosis. People who've been exposed to nitrous oxide and had a low tolerance for it or experience serious emotional impairment may want to avoid or be extremely careful about diving. An easier predictor that is still being explored is that people who are more heavily impacted by alcohol tend to also be more impacted by nitrogen narcosis.

There are also indications that people with anxiety, people diving in cold waters (or with poor circulation), and people who are tired may be at increased risk for experiencing greater negative effects of nitrogen narcosis. If you're someone with any of these traits, you should be extremely careful while diving and make sure to alert your instructor to the possibility of these conditions so they can keep a close eye on you.

Finally, what do you do when someone is experiencing nitrogen narcosis?

Well, this is actually pretty easy. You bring them up.

Shockingly, for all that it can be a scary and dangerous experience, nitrogen narcosis can be alleviated by ascending, the impact is quick and significant. The pressure very directly causes nitrogen narcosis, and relieving the pressure relieves that effect. Once a person is up, they should recover their senses and no longer be exposed to the narcotic effect.

So while there's plenty left to understand about nitrogen narcosis (and understanding it may lead to a better understanding of how people interact with anesthetics in general), we do actually have some measure of predicting how someone will experience it, as well as ways to limit how much it occurs (using helium at greater depths).

Anyways td:lr:

People don't actually lose their mind because of the depth, people lose their mind because nitrogen is a narcotic under pressure. The reason people react differently is due to a lot of different physical factors, much like how people have a variety of reactions to other narcotics. Be careful when diving, and know if you have risk factors. If you do, clearly communicate those to people you're diving with and consider limiting depth to keep yourself safe.

I know people on tumblr looove stories of underwater cave diving, but I haven't seen anyone talk about nitrogen narcosis aka "raptures of the deep"

basically when you want to get your advanced scuba certification (allowing you to go more than 60 feet deep) you have to undergo a very specific test: your instructor takes you down past the 60+ foot threshold, and she brings a little underwater white board with her.

she writes a very basic math problem on that board. 6 + 15. she shows it to you, and you have to solve it.

if you can solve it, you're good. that is the hardest part of the test.

because here's what happens: there is a subset of people, and we have no real idea why this happens only to them, who lose their minds at depth. they're not dying, they're not running out of oxygen, they just completely lose their sense of identity when deep in the sea.

a woman on a dive my instructor led once vanished during the course of the excursion. they were diving near this dropoff point, beyond which the depth exceeded 60 feet and he'd told them not to go down that way. the instructor made his way over to look for her and found a guy sitting at the edge of the dropoff (an underwater cliff situation) just staring down into the dark. the guy is okay, but he's at the threshold, spacing out, and mentally difficult to reach. they try to communicate, and finally the guy just points down into the dark, knowing he can't go down there, but he saw the woman go.

instructor is deep water certified and he goes down. he shines his light into the dark, down onto the seafloor which is at 90 feet below the surface. he sees the woman, her arms locked to her sides, moving like a fish, swimming furiously in circles in the pitch black.

she is hard to catch but he stops her and checks her remaining oxygen: she is almost out, on account of swimming a marathon for absolutely no reason. he is able to drag her back up, get her to a stable depth to decompress, and bring her to the surface safely.

when their masks are off and he finally asks her what happened, and why was she swimming like that, she says she fully, 100% believed she was a mermaid, had always been a mermaid, and something was hunting her in the dark 👍

[itsniceeu]

Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media

Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media

In the digital age, social media has revolutionized the way we communicate, providing a global platform for self-expression and connection. However, like any tool, it comes with both bright and dark facets. In this exploration of the advantages and disadvantages of social media, we'll delve into how it enhances communication while also highlighting the disturbing issue of cyberbullying.

Social media platforms offer a remarkable avenue for global communication. They enable individuals to connect, share, and engage with people from all corners of the world. This interconnectedness has the power to influence emotions in a profoundly positive way. When someone is going through a tough time, social media can somehow give comfort to some people because sometimes they are able to do their rants, post, or watch videos that can relieve their stress from the reality they are in.

For many, social media serves as a sanctuary where they can release the stress of their daily lives. Whether it's expressing thoughts and feelings through posts or simply enjoying funny videos, these platforms offer moments of respite from the challenges of reality. However, this digital escape comes with a price, as excessive screen time can lead to physical health issues such as eye strain and headaches. Nevertheless, social media remains a dominant form of entertainment and connection for many.

Despite the numerous advantages, the dark side of social media casts a long shadow, starting with its impact on health. Excessive screen time is a pervasive issue, leading to a range of physical and mental health problems that often go unaddressed.

However, the most troubling drawback of social media is the prevalence of cyberbullying. Shockingly, research indicates that 40 percent of Filipinos have experienced this form of online abuse. Cyberbullying manifests in various ways, from hurtful comments and derogatory messages to cultural and character assassinations. We often come across such instances in our social media feeds, but too often, we choose to scroll past them, thinking they don't affect us directly.

Yet, it's crucial to remember that every target of cyberbullying is a real person who may be hurting deeply. In the Philippines, even prominent artists have fallen victim to online bashing and cancellation culture, with many ordinary individuals readily engaging in these discussions as if it's mere gossip. It's a stark reminder of the insensitivity that can permeate online spaces, where empathy sometimes takes a back seat.

In conclusion, social media is a double-edged sword. It offers unparalleled opportunities for communication, emotional support, and global connection. However, it also carries the weight of health issues resulting from excessive screen time and the troubling specter of cyberbullying.

As responsible digital citizens, we must recognize the profound impact our online actions can have on others. Instead of turning a blind eye to the suffering that unfolds in our feeds, we should actively promote empathy, kindness, and digital responsibility. By doing so, we can work towards a more compassionate online world where the advantages of social media can truly shine while minimizing its darker aspects.

[deep-in-pocket]

Sorro

Originally stemming from the picture above the term "sorro" has come to represent damage or destruction of Pocket itself or its people and culture or sometimes more specifically the areas outside of the Suisha region.

The term is often bundled along with distate for the Lu as the seemingly main propogators of such behavior.

The image above shows the inner parts of a torn open wall inside an undisclosed region of Pocket.

In this image the toil and torment of local workstaff can be seen clearly as their chilling expressions at the sheer horror of the disaster that has befallen them adds to their desperate attempts to clear the rubble and rescue victims as lifeless and mutilated bodies are pulled free.

The image was originally believed to be a painting by a survivor of a Lu attack and though the damage is the product of such an attack it is quite shockingly in fact a photograph that has been taken by one of the Lu attackers.

This is the reason why many characters in the shot are looking directly at the viewer rather than the common belief that this is simply for artistic affect though the message is often still understood "why did you do this to us?".

Many people of Pocket still believe this to be a fantisiful image due to the terrible image quality or indeed a photograph of times gone by where such cruelty was more commonplace but unfortunately this is a modern image only being as old as the 1990's.

As such some people with a taste for the macabre often mistakingly hang this picture or rather a copy of it up on their wall as the original currently hangs in the modern art museum of the city of Ki in Lum.

Its title "Sorro" is a strange one as this word in our common tongue refers to a kind of edible fungus but within Lu culture this word is used to refer to a feeling of sadness and dispair.

It's possible that the name is intended a as a double-entendre depicting a "sorro" Lu as the photographer of the scene i.e. the audience's viewpoint fealing guilty for the harm that their kind has inflicted as at the same time representing fungus as those attempting to restore some sort of semblance amid the chaos of the destruction.

Even if the image may have been intended to incite sympathy for Lu who are brought up to believe in a harmful doctrine in order to comply with their violent culture most who view the image are incited by the scene of such needless carnage and develop a deep distaste towards the Lu as a result.

As such certain hate groups have taken to using the word and symbols of the fungus that shares its name to trend anymosity towards the Lu.

This is very much not allowed as the Lu are dangerous and currently it's the obscurity of Pocket within their native home that is preventing an all out invasion from the Lu against the entirety of Pocket.

Any interaction with the Lu is to be kept to a minimum to prevent them from following our people back through the passageways that could be used to enter the lands occupied by the Lu within the region of Suisha.

It is our hope that one day either the Lu will abandon their ways and come and join us peacefully or that those that stay fast to the violent ideas of the Lu wipe themselves out via turning upon themselves destroying their own lands or a combination of both.

Usage of the word and theme as well as distribution of the image is not illegal or prohibitted except for some fringe cultures as the idea should be known but those that lean hard into it and absorb these hateful sentiments should not be encouraged or respected.

After all, us people of Pocket do not want to fall into the same harmful doctrine that the Lu themselves promote so adamantly.

[medicinesuppliermumbai]

Unveiling the Psychological Triggers of Erectile Dysfunction: Is It All in Your Mind?

When we think about erectile dysfunction (ED), we often associate it with older men and physical health conditions. However, the truth is that ED can affect men of all ages and backgrounds, including those who appear healthy on the surface. 

Surprisingly, the state of your mental health plays a significant role in the quality of your erections. 

This blog will discuss in deep the psychological causes of ED and effective treatments to regain a fulfilling and satisfying sexual life along with the trusted erectile dysfunction medicine suppliers. 

Common Causes of Psychological ED:

Erectile dysfunction, a prevalent sexual performance issue, affects men across various age groups and backgrounds. If you experience ED, you may find it challenging to achieve or sustain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. 

In the United States alone, approximately 30 million men are affected by ED, making it a widespread concern. 

Shockingly, around 26 percent of new ED cases occur in men under the age of 40, highlighting the importance of addressing psychological factors. 

Psychological ED, also known as psychological impotence, stems from various triggers rather than a single cause. 

Some of the common contributors to psychological ED include:

1. Performance anxiety

2. General stress and anxiety

3. Relationship problems

4. Depression

5. Guilt and low self-esteem

6. Pornography use

7. Certain medications used to treat psychological issues

Performance Anxiety:

Performance anxiety often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in the bedroom. 

The fear of not satisfying your partner or struggling with premature ejaculation can create a cycle of anxiety and hinder your ability to perform. 

Negative self-talk and past experiences of difficulty in achieving an erection can further affect your ability to relax during sexual encounters.

Stress and Anxiety:

While stress and anxiety are distinct, they are closely interrelated when it comes to erectile dysfunction. Chronic stress can lead to anxiety, creating a detrimental cycle that negatively impacts both mental health and sexual function. 

A study conducted in 2015 found a significant link between ED and anxiety or depression. 

The majority of participants in the study had pre-existing mental health disorders, suggesting a potential contributing factor.

Relationship Problems:

It's no secret that relationship issues can spill over into the bedroom. 

The dissatisfaction or unhappiness of your partner can directly affect your sexual experience, exacerbating the cycle of ED. 

Effective communication and couples counseling provide opportunities for resolving relationship problems and rediscovering intimacy.

Depression:

Depression goes beyond a persistent sad or empty mood and can significantly impact your sex life. 

Research indicates that depression-related ED is not influenced by aging or demographics, highlighting the need to address mental health concerns. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is another mental health condition closely associated with erectile dysfunction.

Guilt and Low Self-Esteem:

Feelings of guilt regarding your inability to satisfy your partner can intensify the cycle of ED. 

Low self-esteem can also contribute to sexual performance issues, as doubts about attractiveness and confidence negatively impact sexual function. 

A recent study found that ED can lead to distress, affecting self-esteem and relationship quality.

Determining if Your ED is Psychologically Rooted

If you suspect that your erectile dysfunction (ED) may have psychological causes despite being physically healthy, it's crucial to take the first step and consult with your healthcare provider. 

By conducting a physical examination and reviewing your medical history, your healthcare provider will gather essential information to help identify the underlying factors contributing to your ED. 

Additionally, they may request certain tests to rule out any medical conditions that could be causing your ED.

To rule out physical or medically related ED, your healthcare provider may administer tests such as:

1. Complete blood count (CBC)

2. Fasting glucose or glycated hemoglobin (A1C)

3. Comprehensive metabolic profile

4. Thyroid-stimulating hormone

5. Lipid profile

6. Serum total testosterone

Furthermore, your healthcare provider will likely inquire about various aspects of your sexual health, including your sexual desire (libido), ability to achieve and maintain an erection, ability to reach orgasm, satisfaction levels during sexual intercourse, and overall sexual satisfaction.

Based on your responses and the results of the tests, your healthcare provider might recommend a psychological evaluation to delve deeper into the potential psychological causes of your ED.

Whether or not you have consulted a healthcare professional, there are several indicators that can suggest the psychological nature of your erectile dysfunction:

1. Do you experience difficulty performing despite being interested in sex and attracted to your partner?

2. Can you achieve an erection while masturbating?

3. Do you experience morning erections?

4. Are you currently under significant stress or experiencing heightened anxiety levels?

5. Do you often feel nervous about satisfying your partner?

While answering "yes" to any of these questions doesn't definitively conclude that your ED is solely psychological, it does suggest the possible influence of psychological factors on your symptoms.

If you suspect that your ED symptoms may be related to a clinical mental health issue, such as anxiety or major depression, it is particularly crucial to have a discussion with your healthcare provider.

 Seeking professional guidance can provide you with a clearer understanding of the potential psychological causes and open avenues for effective treatment options. 

Remember, addressing the psychological aspect of ED is as vital as addressing any physical factors, ensuring a comprehensive approach to restoring your sexual well-being.

Exploring Treatment Options for Psychological ED

When it comes to psychological erectile dysfunction (ED), it's important to note that there are effective treatment options available. 

Similar to ED caused by physical health issues, psychological ED can be addressed and managed successfully. 

The key to treating psychological ED lies in identifying and tackling the underlying causes, whether it be a mental health condition or feelings of guilt associated with sexual activity.

While there are various approaches to treating psychological ED, one of the most straightforward methods is through the use of ED medicines. 

These medications have proven to be beneficial in restoring erectile function and enhancing sexual performance. 

By working on the physiological aspects of ED, these medicines can help men regain confidence and achieve satisfying erections.

It's important to note that ED medicines should be obtained from reputable and trusted sources, such as reliable ED suppliers.

Medication for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

When it comes to addressing psychological erectile dysfunction (ED), it's important to understand that the solution isn't as simple as popping a sildenafil tablet (the active ingredient in generic Viagra) right before sexual activity.

While medications like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Stendra have proven effective in treating ED for many men, they are not magical solutions that ignite libido or sexual interest. These medications only work when you are genuinely aroused and in the mood, my friend.

Most ED medications belong to a class called PDE5 inhibitors, which function by increasing blood flow to the soft tissue in the penis. 

Their purpose is to target the physiological factors that contribute to ED, such as inadequate blood circulation or nerve damage. 

While these medications may provide a boost in confidence, they do not eliminate anxiety or other psychological causes of ED.

Conclusion:

Understanding the psychological causes of erectile dysfunction is essential for men of all ages. 

By addressing performance anxiety, stress, relationship problems, depression, guilt, low self-esteem, and excessive pornography use, men can take proactive steps toward regaining their sexual confidence and enjoying a fulfilling sex life. 

Remember, seek support from trusted ED suppliers such as Mednova who offer several effective ED medications like generic Viagra, sildenafil tablets 200mg, and more. 

They are renowned erectile dysfunction medicine suppliers in India as well as across the globe. 

They supply Kamajoy, and Tadalafil 20mg tablets that can also complement the psychological strategies for treating ED. 

Prioritizing both mental and physical well-being is the key to overcoming the challenges of ED and achieving a satisfying sexual relationship.

[glowingbadger]

could i get a seteth and afab gender neutral reader for caught masturbating?

where reader is the one caught? maybe they aren’t actually intimate yet so it’s kinda embarrassing but then it gets hot? (sorry if this is too specific!! no hard feelings if you wanna take the prompt in a different direction!)

Another person just requested this same character/kink combination and I've been thinking about it a lot too tbh, so we are bumping this one up the list lmao. I kinda ran with it in a unique direction, but we'll see how y'all like it.

Also this is barely related, but writing this reminded me of a professor I had in college who told us about the time he met a woman who, upon speaking with him for the first time over lunch, explained to him that she had seen and had sex with Jesus in her living room the prior night. I haven't thought of this in years, but thinking back, my main concern is that our Lord and Savior is such a callous lover that he couldn't be damned to at least bring her to the bedroom.

Seteth (FE3H) x AFAB Reader

Kink prompt list #35 - Caught masturbating

NSFW 18+ V

Truly, who could blame you for being curious once Seteth had told you the truth of who he was? And to be fair, you had asked for his consent before thoroughly reading up on Saint Cichol. Though, perhaps he hadn't expected you to pursue your studies down into the hidden library of Abyss. Here, you'd found some far more colorful portrayals of the Saints. Cichol was no exception; in fact, the infamous Tome of Comely Saints was only the beginning- you'd since discovered a veritable treasure trove of scandalous and downright erotic literature centering your now-favorite Saint.

Perhaps it's because you've been so tentative about expressing your own desires to Seteth, despite having mutually confessed your affections. You want more- you know you do- but with a man so rigid and so private, how would you even approach him about such things? Surely this is how you've found yourself tucked away in a darkened aisle of the underground library late at night, face flushed and nervous fingers rubbing guiltily across your sex as you envision the shockingly explicit scene detailed on the pages. Back resting against the shelves and the book held unsteady in your free hand, you fight to stifle your breath. Your thighs rub anxiously together, you bite at your bottom lip.

The veracity of this text aside, the way it teases your imagination is shameless. It details Saint Cichol as a figure of masculine beauty, of both strength and poise. It describes the finer points of his anatomy, the skill and passion with which he made love. Your eyes fall half-lidded over words like generous, powerful, insatiable- and before you even realize, your wandering hand has slid down the front of your clothes to touch yourself more directly. You're hardly thinking, your mind whirling with fantasies of your Saint.

That's when you notice the footsteps, not more than an aisle or two away. You freeze, your heart thrashes in your chest. Then, he rounds the shelves to where you stand. The book falls from your hand, pages splayed open on the floor.

"Ah, there you are, Y/N- you really oughtn't wander about such places on your..." Seteth's brow furrows as he takes in the sight of you at last, "...own."

"Seteth-!" you gasp out, nearly breathless in your shock and humiliation. Bright red in the face, you scramble to fix your clothing back into place, and meanwhile, Seteth notices the book at your feet. He picks it up, your stomach drops.

"Seteth, wait, I- I, uh-"

His eyebrows rise, his expression one of recognition, then surprise, and then... something else. The shame burns so hot across your skin that, for a moment, you think to flee. But Seteth nears you, his taller frame looming over you as a hand meets your chin, directing your eyes to him. He speaks your name with a low rumble in his chest, and you shiver at the sound.

"It would seem that I have been rather neglectful of your needs, my love."

Disbelief rings and vibrates in your head as his hand runs along your waist, trailing down to pause just briefly at the hem of your breeches. You whisper his name and gaze up at him with wide, expectant eyes. Then, his touch dips lower beneath your clothing until you feel it rub firm between your thighs. Your knees nearly buckle then and there, but you steady yourself with your hands on the shelves behind you. His fingers, larger and stronger than your own, massage the sensitive nerves around your clit, his movements slow but firm. Your eyes plead with him, your lips hang parted as you whimper his name between panting breaths.

"While I cannot condone your behavior here, I also feel it only right to take some measure of responsibility," Seteth says, the heat in his voice a stark contrast to the formality of the words, "from now on, I shall personally ensure that your needs are met."

You're about to respond, but then his fingertips rub directly across your stiff and swollen clit, sending a shock through your core and causing you to moan aloud for him. Seteth's eyes narrow, though the pulsing of his fingers between your folds never eases.

"Hush, love. We can't have anyone overhearing you." he says, and raises a hand to cover your mouth. Goddess, it's too much. The thrill of feeling the touch you've dreamed of for so long, the transgression of him pleasuring you in such a place, and now this- that he'd forcibly stifle your voice while driving you ever closer to your climax.

Your voice muffled in his palm, Seteth carefully eases his touch towards your soaking wet cunt. You whimper, your hips bucking against him as two fingers tease your entrance, slowly and gently opening you around him, careful not to hurt you. He drives steadily deeper, stimulating parts of you that you hadn't realized had been so lonely, and you clutch the shelf behind you tighter to keep steady. Then, those fingers curl, directly massaging the nerves behind your clit, and your eyes roll back with a desperate groan that, were it not for his hand over your mouth, you're certain would have echoed through the library.

You can't withstand this for long, and sure enough, his relentless touch rapidly drives you over the edge. Tingling warmth spreads from your gushing, clinging pussy up your center and through your entire body. You're panting into his hand, barely holding yourself upright as your lower muscles squeeze and coil around him- and perhaps you're imagining it, but you swear you finally see a red tinge across his face, the heat of lust in those bright green eyes. Goddess, you're still riding out the rush of your climax, and yet all you can think of is that you want more.

Evidently, Seteth is of the same mind. When he trusts you can remain quiet, he removes his hand from your mouth and slides the other out from your clothes. He leans close and kisses you deeply, and you gladly part your lips for his tongue, eager for him despite how your legs tremble beneath you. Then, he parts from you and softly says,

"Loathe as I am to make you wait even a moment longer, I feel it best that we retire to my quarters."

With your head still spinning and your eyes hazy with need, you manage to meet his gaze and nod, only able to offer a simple,

"Uh-huh."

[zuko-always-lies]

How does Iroh talk about Ozai vs How does Iroh talk about Azula

Iroh only discusses his brother and his niece a few times in the series, yet I believe we can detect patterns which reveal how he feels about them. Much more under the cut.

How Iroh talks about Ozai:

“Avatar Roku”:

Zuko: I have no choice, Uncle. Iroh (angrily): Have you completely forgotten that the Fire Lord banished you?!?!? (With a look of anguish and worry) What if you're caught? Zuko (turning around from the spy glass): I'm chasing the Avatar. My father will understand why I'm returning home. Iroh: You give him too much credit. My brother is not the understanding type.

“The Storm”:

Iroh: After Zuko's outburst in the meeting, the Fire Lord became very angry with him. He said that Prince Zuko's challenge of the general was an act of complete disrespect, and there was only one way to resolve this... Lieutenant Jee (horrified): Agni kai. A fire duel. Iroh: That's right. Zuko looked upon the old general he had insulted and declared that he was not afraid. But Zuko misunderstood. When he turned to face his opponent, he was surprised to see it was not the General. Zuko had spoken out against a general's plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the Fire Lord whom he had disrespected. Zuko would have to duel his own father.

later:

Iroh: I looked away. (The spectators are illuminated by flame, Zuko's scream of anguish is heard in the background, and the camera zooms to a close up of Iroh. The flashback ends, but Iroh's face in the present is in the same pose as it was when Zuko was scarred. It is clearly an unpleasant memory.) Lieutenant Jee (abashed): I always thought that Prince Zuko was in a training accident... Iroh: It was no accident. After the duel, the Fire Lord said that by refusing to fight, Zuko had shown shameful weakness. As punishment he was banished and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then could he return with his honor. Lieutenant Jee: So that's why he's so obsessed. Capturing the Avatar is the only chance he has of things returning to normal. Iroh: Things will never return to normal. But the important thing is, the Avatar gives Zuko hope.

It’s interesting to note that, given the story Iroh is telling here, his tone and wording is shockingly non-judgmental, mainly expressing sadness over what happened.

“The Avatar State”:

Zuko: (dejectedly) Three years ago today I was banished. I lost it all. (He looks up suddenly.) I want it back. I want the Avatar, I want my honor, I want my throne. I want my father not to think I'm worthless. Iroh: (with exaggerated optimism) I'm sure he doesn't! Why would he banish you if he didn't care? (Zuko gets up and walks away. Cut to Iroh's surprised face with the attendants in the background.) Iroh: (negatively to himself) Erg... that came out wrong, didn't it?

Later:

Zuko: (o.c., happily) We're going home. After three long years. It's unbelievable. (Zuko walks behind a thoughtful Iroh, carrying some folded clothing. He walks off to the right of the screen.) Iroh: (skeptically) It is unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything. (Cut to a close-up of Zuko. At first he sounds surprised, and then forceful.) Zuko: Did you listen to Azula? Father's realized how important family is to him. He cares about me. Iroh: I care about you. And if Ozai wants you back... well, I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine. Zuko: (defensively, turning his back to Iroh) You don't know how my father feels about me. (He stiffens) You don't know anything. (Cut to the scarred portion of Zuko's face in the foreground with Iroh talking over his shoulder.) Iroh: (gently) Zuko, I only meant that in our family things are not always what they seem.”

Sozin’s Comet Part II:

Zuko: [Voice-over.] Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can [Side-view of Iroh with Zuko sat next to him. Toph sits to Zuko's right and Katara has her back to the camera opposite Toph.] possibly defeat the Father Lord. Toph: You mean the Fire Lord. Zuko: [Angrily.] That's what I just said! Iroh: Hmmm ... Zuko: We need you to come with us! Iroh: [Close-up.] No, Zuko, it won't turn out well. Zuko: [Aerial view of the group.] You can beat him! [Turns to the others.] And we'll be there to help. Iroh: Even if I did defeat Ozai, [Close-up.] and I don't know that I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. [Aerial view of the group.] History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord.

It’s hard for me to fully capture Iroh’s words, since his tone of voice tends to be a big part in this, but he seems remarkably non-judgmental when discussing his brother. His words seemed to colored by a great deal of sadness and regret.

How Iroh talks about Azula: 

Bitter Work:

Zuko: So uncle, I've been thinking. It's only a matter of time before I run into Azula again. I'm going to need to know more advanced firebending if I want to stand a chance against her. I know what you're going to say: she's my sister and I should be trying to get along with her. Iroh: No, she's crazy and she needs to go down. (Zuko nods. Iroh grunts as he stands up.) It's time to resume your training.

This goes without much comment, other than to note that Azula is “crazy” for doing things that Iroh and/or Zuko did. The only interesting thing to note is that Zuko didn’t just passively “run into Azula” the previous episode; he actively sought her out to fight her, as he does, to one degree or another, in many episodes this series. I’m not sure if Iroh totally understands that, but, if he does, it says interesting and not flattering things about him.

Later:

Iroh: Lightning is a pure expression of firebending, without aggression. It is not fueled by rage or emotion the way other firebending is. Some call lightning the cold-blooded fire. (Iroh takes the tea kettle off the fire and pours it into another pot. He then begins to pour two cups.) It is precise and deadly, like Azula. To perform the technique requires peace of mind.

This is actually a pretty neutral comment. Interestingly, Iroh seems to almost be encouraging Zuko to at least partially adopt Azula’s mindset, or at least Azula’s mindset as Iroh understands it. Still, the way he talks about her seems almost dehumanizing.

Later: 

Iroh: I have another idea. I will teach you a firebending move that even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself!

Iroh actually (likely inadvertently) encourages Zuko to stake his self-worth on how his firebending compares to Azula’s firebending prowess!

“The Crossroads of Destiny”:

Azula: I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle, but Zuko, Prince Zuko...you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you? Zuko: Release him immediately! Azula:It's not too late for you Zuko. You can still redeem yourself. Iroh:The kind of redemption she offers is not for you. Azula: Why don't you let him decide, Uncle? I need you Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day. This glorious day in Fire Nation history. And the only way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honor back. You will have your father's love. You will have everything you want. Iroh: Zuko, I am begging you, look into your heart and see what it is that you truly want.

No real comment here, other than to note that Iroh doesn't bother addressing Azula directly in this scene.

“Sozin’s Comet, Part II”:

Iroh: Yes. [Close-up from over Zuko's shoulder.] Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation, so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. [Extreme close-up of Zuko.] But Azula will be there, waiting for you. Zuko: I can handle Azula. Iroh: Not alone! [Frontal view of Iroh from the side of Zuko.] You'll need help. Zuko: [Extreme close-up.] You're right. Katara, [Frontal view of Katara over Zuko's shoulder.] how would you like to help me put Azula in her place? Katara: It would be my pleasure.

Let’s just say the contrast with what Iroh moments earlier said about Ozai is quite palpable.

Overall, Iroh tends to be nonjudgmental, regretful, and sorrowful when he talks about Ozai, even after what Ozai did to Zuko. You get a sense that he still deeply loves his brother and wishes things had turned out differently.

By contrast, Iroh tends to be much more hostile when he talks about Azula, and even when he’s not, he seems to discuss her as an obstacle to overcome rather than a person. There is no hint of past affection in the way he discusses her.