#and... just... that doesn't sound like a great bit of advice. it'd be like saying ''use a calculator for everything. math isn't real''

[racke7]

I'm once again seeing a programming-teacher talk about how useful generative-AI is for their work-flow.

And it's like... There are a lot of reasons to despise that stuff:

It's stealing things

You don't know from where it's stealing things

It'll lie to you to make itself look smart

Any info you give it it'll save for the future

And like. For a lot of people? That's plenty. That's more than enough to step away from generative-AI, and to condemn its usage.

But here's what kind of really bothers me about it?

Generative-AI is a capitalistic product

It's available for free

These massive companies are pouring millions of dollars into this thing, and it's... entirely free.

It's blatantly obvious that this is some kind of scam.

It could be a "rug-pull" where they'll suddenly start demanding that you pay them exorbitant prices for access to their models. Which would make sense, because "low prices to gain market-share, high prices after establishing a monopoly" is a tried-and-true method.

Except with all of these tech-companies all creating their own versions of the things? It's blatantly obvious that trying to gain a monopoly like this is doomed to failure.

That probably means that the "real" scam-idea needs to be something different.

And it's in thinking about this that I'm suddenly reminded of one specific piece of that initial list.

Any info you give it it'll save for the future

What... exactly does this mean? Where is it saving it? Is it running analytics on what your IP-address has asked it before? Does it know who you are? Can it guess what you're doing from your prompts?

And if the answer to these questions is "no", then how difficult would it be for a developer to change that overnight?

There's an old saying in the IT-industry that "if you're not paying for the product, you are the product".

How quickly do you think a programmer could get fired for aiding-and-abetting corporate espionage?

[kazuyakun]

Romance Headcanons | Sakuragi Hanamichi

Pairing: Sakuragi Hanamichi x Reader. What its like to date Sakuragi and how he is as a lover.

-Sakuragi is extremely passionate about things.

-His dedication to you can be seen from afar. He's always willing to just be in your personal space, wanting to be around you and do things for you

-I can see him as being a sort of cliche romantic gentleman despite his tough looks, ex. He's always holding your hand, he walks on the outside of the sidewalk, he vows to protect your honor

-He's extremely generous and wants to enjoy life with you.

-Since basketball has become a great love of his, he'd be happy to share it with you. He'd boast about him and his 'genius skills' in order to impress you and he may go a bit overboard with his importance but it's all genuine

-He'd love it if you came to his games, and he'd probably combust if you wore his jersey to support him. Ryota definitely takes a photo of Sakuragi being love struck and sends it to you

-He loudly proclaims that he does his very best with you watching him and that you just add to his genius.

-He sees his partner in a very high light. So they too are a genius just for dating him, a genius.

-It'd be important to him for you to be close to his friends and his team because they're his family

-You're likely to be around Yohei and the Gang a lot. So they act as your entourage sometimes. One of his friends is always around so they can get juicy details on your relationship.

-But they always mean well

-He wants to be perfect for his partner. So he always asks people for advice on how to be a better boyfriend, how to keep surprising you and to keep you happy.

-He's got date advice from everyone on the team. Ayako always manages to help him plan out something thoughtful and Ryota and Mitsui always bicker on who's date sounds better

-But really, just Sakuragi taking you somewhere like a grocery store, he'd make it extremely special because he just loves you that much. He'd buy anything you wanted, and he'd share his favorite snack with you

-If Ryota has a girlfriend, then he likes to double date. But the two of them always end up showing off on who loves their partner more.

-Sakuragi can be impulsive and a bit overbearing with his love so you'd have to tell him if he's doing too much because he'd be unaware

-He's extremely affectionate. He loves to give out physical touch. He loves to scoop you into his arms like you weigh nothing to him, sprinkle kisses all over your face and tell you how proud he is of you for literally doing anything and just being perfect in his eyes

-He gives you gifts that are based off your hobbies. If you're into collecting, he buys you stuff to help contribute.

-Sakuragi is also very loyal. You'd never have to worry about him looking or being tempted by anyone else. You're on his mind all hours of the day.

-He's protective as well. He worries about you because he's a delinquent (reformed, but he's always about that life fr) so he doesn't want anyone messing with you. He's insistent that you tell him if anyone's bothering you so that you can handle it

-Head pats and hair ruffles

-He likes to be snuggled and he loves when you run your hands over his hair

-I have to do it to em, I'm sorry. "This one's for you, y/n-chan!" and completely misses!

-Sakuragi is... an enthusiastic texter. He likes to send a ton of emojis and memes

-He prefers calling you, but he prefers facetiming you even more.

-He likes to be 'discreet' and take photos of you while facetiming so he can save them and keep them as his background.

Falling asleep together on facetime counts as a date for him.

-He feels if you love him, then he's won the game of life. He doesn't want to hear what anyone says because he'll loudly and proudly say that you love him exactly how he is.

-He says I love You multiple times a day. But it never gets old because it's from his heart.

[kaesaaurelia]

In which a daring space pilot divebombs the Great Red Spot of Jupiter against the advice of his doctor

Not sure how I'm going to be posting this fic or writing it because it's coming to me in disconnected chunks, but here's the first(ish) scene of my 3rd Life space colonists/terraformers AU.

character designs & concepts

main AU tag

The fact that Grian comes to him first is absolutely lost on Scar. What isn't lost on Scar is that he's about halfway to lightspeed when he gets the ping, and he doesn't see any reason to slow down to talk to Grian. He can say pretty much anything to Grian, because whatever he says, all he's gonna get back is --

"Scar, what are you doing?"

Grian's voice is shrill and terrified, and his transparent hands grip some invisible desk or railing or something in front of him. It's very funny how frightened he is, especially since he's not even really here in person. He'd probably be loving this if he was here in person. "I was just thinking about how I missed Europa, so --"

"Pull up, pull up!" Grian shouts.

Scar does, and watches the white-blue moonscape fade into the distance. "Did you want to call back later?" he asks Grian's hologram. "Is this a bad time?"

"You almost didn't miss Europa," Grian tells him, looking slightly green.

"But I did!" says Scar. "Anyway, I would've landed in the water, it would've been fine."

"Is… I… it's been a while since I took physics, but I don't think that's how it works, Scar," says Grian.

"So! What brings you to my lovely, um. Short vacation to the Jovian system? That's definitely not on the clock? I definitely put this on the calendar as a day off," says Scar, trying to do that now, but the nearest company servers are too far away to ping him back before he starts to get a headache.

Grian sighs. "Did you read that thing I sent you? About the expedition they're considering sending me on? They haven't chosen pilots yet." He's… "skimmed" would be putting it generously. Parts of the Table of Contents look neat, though. And Grian wouldn't have thought of him if it wasn't a good fit. "Oh yeah," he says, "it looks great."

"Okay, good," said Grian, sounding surprisingly relieved. "I thought you might be put off by the -- well. Anyway. I'll tell them you're interested."

Scar is about to thank Grian, and go on about his day, when that last little bit of conversation echoes in his brain. "Put off by the what?" Scar asks.

"You said you'd read it!" Grian says.

"Oh, well, I lied," Scar explains cheerfully.

"Scar, please read the thing before you agree to it. It's not -- it's farther than we'd usually be --"

"Do you think it'd be dangerous? Are you advising me to do something dangerous, Grian?"

Grian makes an indeterminate noise that builds into a "…nnn-maybe?"

"Is it going to be fun?" Scar asks, diving towards the Great Red Spot, to see how close he can get to the thing without hitting it.

"Scar!"

"Still waiting on an answer to my question!" he says, continuing to fall planetwards. It's safe enough to skim the atmosphere, as long as he doesn't get too close to the Spot, but they've started to set drifting automated helium farms loose all over the rest of the planet, and those are way more annoyingly jangly to crash into. Also, they blow out a lot of hydrogen, so sometimes they explode.

"Scar, just. Just read the thing before blindly signing your entire life away, it's all I'm asking. It's not much."

"Fine, fine," says Scar. He would roll his eyes if he could. Instead, he accesses the file and feeds it right into his brain. It's not the same as reading it, but now all that information is bouncing around in his noggin like a confused bat. But probably smaller. Scar is unclear how big bats are, now that he's thinking about this. "How many bats do you think would fit in a skull?" he asks Grian, who has been his go-to expert on skulls for a very long time.

"What?" Grian asks. Scar assumes he has heard the question right, and just doesn't think much of it.

"Anyway, as you can see I've accessed your silly little packet and it looks great." He likes the shape of it, anyway -- it's an extrasolar terraforming mission, full of promise, and exploration, and... promise... again.... Specifically, very generous promises the company has made about money and land and so forth.

And, if this all goes well, they'll be able to go to the planet, establish a base there, and establish a cheaper, easier, and more permanent way of traveling between the the Sol system and this new place. Then they can either return to the lives they had or go right back through the portal to their new home where they will live happily ever after, frolicking among its green fields and forests. That part is probably what Grian's worried about -- not the frolicking, the part where if everything doesn't line up perfectly, it'll be a one-way trip to a strange planet.

But that doesn't bother Scar. He likes his job plenty, but there's something to be said for sunrises and wind in your hair, and he hasn't been on a planet in so long. Not like that, anyway. Besides which, there's a good chance it'll be a one-way trip for Scar however well everything else lines up.

Also, Scar could probably milk a few more promises out of the company. He's given so much of himself to them, after all. "So who do I talk to about --"

"No, Scar," says Grian. "You're getting a whole new ship out of this!"

"Oh!" He's overlooked that. "Well then I definitely need to talk to them about that. I have some exterior redesign ideas --"

"Please tell me you're not gonna tell them to put abs on it."

"-- and after all I've done for them I don't think it's that much to ask if I --"

"There are no abs in space," Grian says, despairingly. "In space, no one can see your abs."

Scar tsks. "I don't think you understand my vision."

"I understand it all too well," he says. "It's just that your vision is terrible, and it's abs."

"My vision is perfect! I can see everything for millions of miles," says Scar, but he can sense it's time to try a different tack. "What do you want that they weren't giving you?"

"Oh. Oh! Actually," says Grian. "Actually I've got -- oh, but you're not gonna be able to explain it to them. Anyway, I already tried, and they wouldn't listen."

"Try me!" says Scar.

"All right," says Grian, "but don't say I didn't warn you." He sends Scar another document -- this one is long, and dense, and sciencey, and has lots of anatomical diagrams. He catches a doozy of a sentence on its way into his head -- All subjects who had undergone this procedure were able to be fully reconstituted at least twice after full molecular disintegration, with no loss in learning and only moderate disruption to social groups. It takes Scar a few moments to comprehend what that means and translate it, to understand that this process could bring a person back to life -- not just their body, but the whole person, memories and all -- no matter how they died. Or. Rats, at least, he realizes, maybe not people. But that's a pretty big deal, even if it's just in rats. Scar definitely won't understand all the nuts and bolts of it, but he's sure he can sell it. "Just. Just don't put them off it any more than they already are, I still want to be able to try again with it after this expedition," Grian says.

"Wonderful," says Scar. He notes the feedback that's attached to the document, that they won't entertain Grian's proposal due to ethical concerns and liability issues. That should be easy enough to get around -- it's hard to hold anyone liable for anything if you're trapped hundreds of light years away from any court or law enforcement body, and if Farlands Planetary Systems actually has ethical concerns Scar's never heard of them. "I'll just remind them you're not going anywhere without me," he says.

"Um," says Grian, sounding very uncomfortable.

Scar can take a hint, although where he goes with it isn't always where it was supposed to go, apparently. "I mean, how would you get to another planet without a spaceship? Can't take the bus!" He settles into a planet-blurring orbit around Jupiter. "Look at this, I love doing this," he says, lining up with one of Jupiter's rings. "It's like being on a space train!"

"That's not -- Scar, please take this seriously. The proposal for the company, I mean. It could save all our lives out there," says Grian. "You have no idea how hard I worked on that."

"Oh, I will," Scar promises. "I can tell you right now, you won't regret this."

"Yeah, well. We'll see about that," says Grian, sounding almost like he already does. He can fool himself, but he can't fool Scar, and a moment or two after Grian disconnects, Scar receives information on all the people he's going to have to talk into his design changes for the new jumpship. Oh, and Grian's thing too, probably.

[2005noroithecurse]

hey so you're pretty good with tech stuff from what I recall you posting about previously what do you think of the site stopncii.org? is it legitimately safe to use? I've seen it going around on tiktok as a safe way to report ncii but idk how to check that myself

sorry it took me so long to answer this but i did quite a bit of digging bc i was curious about this site. for anyone who doesn't know ncii is non consensual intimate image abuse & at first this site seems like a great tool that gives ppl privacy while giving them a way to combat the non consensual sharing of their pics but what makes me wary of it is that it was developed by meta.

we all know meta/fb is pretty synonymous with data misuse so that's a red flag, I wouldn't want to upload my nudes into a meta developed program no matter what. it makes me doubt their claims of complete privacy for any victims using the site. the other thing that rings alarm bells for me is meta admitted in 2017 that it's not run by a computer/machine, a human being has to look at those pictures to create the individual hash for them. so someone is actually looking at your nudes in order for that to work which just adds to my distrust that this is as safe as they're claiming. we've all heard stories about ppl who have their info stolen & used by employees of different companies for the purpose of sexual harassment, an example is someone at verizon helps u with a phone problem ur having but then saves ur personal info to hit u up later (without ur consent or knowledge) & harasses u. so who's to say the person manually reviewing your nude pictures isn't doing something equally nefarious with them? the level of oversight there is unclear which isn't good to say the least.

I would say to use the site with a ton of caution if ur a victim of ncii because it's meta developed and backed in addition to being used by a ton of multinational law enforcement agencies. theoretically it sounds like a decent way to help victims combat the spread of their pictures but idk how up & up it'd be if u actually looked into the guts of the thing plus the overall consensus I found is that it's tough to tell how safe & secure this tool is ultimately. ncii is tricky, it always has been, but my advice is to file reports & lawyer up if u can especially to press charges against the person who originally shared your photos as revenge porn + find a good counselor/therapist because going thru that is incredibly mentally taxing and traumatizing & u wanna make sure u have a safe space to be emotionally vulnerable when feeling overwhelmed in the situation

[fairestwriting]

May I request the first years plus Riddle reacting to a gender neutral silently crying at a table in the corner of the cafeteria after a tough day? (If you can't do Riddle with them that's okay!)

adding riddle in would hit the character limit for requests, so im going with first years only for this one!

Ace Trappola

He didn't notice you were crying before, thinking that your odd, shrunken posture meant you had dozed off or something like that, so he was ready to hop in and make a joke out of it, try to wake you up in some stupid way.

When he approaches you, smug smile on his face, he notices what had actually happened, and his expression dies. You're crying? Well, now this was awkward... and a part of him feels bad, too. He doesn't recall seeing you looking this upset.

Ace isn't good at comforting and he knows it, besides, he's still a little too proud to act genuine, but he doesn't want to see you hurting either. He sits next to you, looking awkward, and offers a distraction — "Hey, uh... tough day, huh? You wanna do something, like... go to Mostro Lounge or whatever, to take your mind off it?"

Deuce Spade

He gets a feeling something is wrong when he sees you alone at the very corner of the table, looking so quiet, and that's why he approaches you. When he hears the noise of your stuttered breathing, he immediately winces.

Deuce stays frozen for a bit, wondering what he should do. So you were upset, something bad clearly had happened, but what does he do about it? He's not good with words at all, and he doesn't want to risk making anything worse by being accidentally insensitive.

You probably notice him there, standing still in silent panic, and look up from your own sleeves, tiredly asking him what he was doing there. Deuce will jump and stammer, but ultimately say that "Uh, I noticed you seemed upset! I was wondering what I should... say about it. B-But I also wanted to let you know that if you need anything, I'm here for you, especially if you want to talk...!"

Jack Howl

He doesn't say it because he knows it'd sound weird, but, he notices you're upset because your smell seems off. You're not that close, he doesn't want to be invasive, but looking at you curled up on the corner of your table, it's pretty clear you're crying, and is he supposed to just leave you there by yourself?

Jack moves towards the table cautiously, a tentative hand placed on top of it. "Hey," He starts to get your attention, his voice soft. He avoids to make eye contact with you, but you can see the worry on his face. "I... saw you were crying. You need to talk about anything? I'm not doing this for you specifically or anything just... y'know, couldn't just leave a fellow student alone when they're like that."

He's the kind who's surprisingly good at comforting. He'll sit next to you and listen attentively to every single one of your troubles, offering pretty decent advice if you ask for it, and then gets you some water in the end, because crying dehydrates you.

Epel Felmier

Ah. So this is awkward. He saw you were alone, and he was going to talk to you, some built up frustration from his day burning at the back of his mind, a rant about Pomefiore ready to spill out, but it all dies at the tip of his tongue when he notices you were crying.

He's the one who empathizes with it the most, really. Again, life in Pomefiore was endless frustration to him, he'd been the one crying at the corner of a table more than once, maybe you even approached him when that happened. So he feels compelled to do something about it, summed up to a general wish to be seen as reliable.

Epel isn't great with words, though, so what he does is dig through his bag, looking for whatever apple-based delicacy he'd been carrying around today — Provided you liked these — and he walks up to you, placing it on the table, right in front of you. "Um, hey, you look upset and I don't know what else I can do to help but, I hope this cheers you up a bit...? If you wanna talk too I'm here!"

Sebek Zigvolt

Sebek saw you slumped over and his gut reaction, of course, was to walk up to you to correct your posture, but halfway through the path to your table, he hears the crying, and he freezes, much like Deuce, though bearing a struggle similar to Ace's — The human is crying? What happened to them? What should he do about it?

Unsurprisingly, none of the training and teachings from Lilia that he so often attempts to apply to the issues he faces in his daily life actually told him how to approach a situation like this. He's confused for that moment, wondering if he should just leave you there before you noticed him, but that didn't seem right either. He's concerned about you, but doesn't really understand that himself.

In the end, he just marches up to your table, a bold call of "Human!" grabbing your attention, and he shrinks slightly when you look up with those bloodshot eyes. "I notice you're crying! If you need any sort of assitence let me know. I-It's for the sake of my training as a servant of the young master to exercise my generosity."

if you wanna support my work, you can buy me a ko-fi or commission me!

[wakatoshitiddies]

#kagehina || omegaverse | male pregnancy

Two weeks. They still have two weeks before Shoyo is due, but it seems like their little pup has different plans.

He was already feeling a little bit anxious about leaving for practice this morning, but his omega convinced him that he's feeling okay, even better than most days, as he said, and that he won't be alone the whole day since Tadashi is visiting.

They were having a short break from practice when he decided he'd call Shoyo to check on him, but he was met with 10 missed calls and 5 text messages, all from Tadashi. 

He felt  panic and quickly read through the messages, hoping nothing was wrong.

[ ANSWER YOUR GODDAMN PHONE ]

[ KAGEYAMA!!!!!]

[ SHO'S WATER BROKE I'M TAKING HIM TO THE HOSPITAL ]

[ GET YOUR ASS HERE TOBIO ]

[ ISTG I'M GONNA SIGN AS PORK BUN'S FATHER IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR ASS HERE SOON ]

Tobio ran faster than he'd ever done before. He bolted to the locker room, grabbed his car keys and was out of the training gym in mere seconds.

======

"Thought you decided to bail on us"

Shoyo teased him as soon as he entered the room. He was smirking, but he could sense that he was relieved that he was already there. He immediately approached the omega and kissed the top of his head.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he held his hand.

It was a dumb question. He knows, but he also doesn't know what to say in the situation.

He read books and articles related to pregnancy, for first time fathers, how he could help his omega during the delivery and even asked Ushijima for advice on what he did when Oikawa was pregnant and during birth, but it's true that nothing can truly prepare someone when the moment arrives.

"In pain and a bit scared"

"You'll do just fine," he assured him and held his cheek, lightly scenting him as well, hoping that it'd help. "We're going to meet lil' pork bun soon."

Shoyo smiled and nuzzled his hands. "Yeah, I'm excited about that too."

They heard three knocks on the door before nurses and physicians started to enter. They had to prepare Shoyo for the surgery. Once done, they informed him that they would now take him to the operating room.

"I'll see you later with pork bun," Shoyo said, and smiled at him brightly.

He nodded and gave him a quick peck, "See you."

======

"Sit down, King. You're making us dizzy."

He glared at Kei but still sat down. Tadashi apparently called his mate when he couldn't reach him.

"He's going to be alright, don't worry," Tadashi assured him.

He was asked to wait outside until they allow him to enter. He has been walking back and forth, sweating under the suit they made him wear, trying to calm his nerves.

He needs to know if they're okay.

"Kageyama Tobio"  

He stood up when his name was called and nervously followed inside.

He burst into tears at the first sight he saw.

Shoyo was holding their pup on his chest, trying to stop him from crying.

He felt as if his whole world had stopped. He must have done something great in his past life to be rewarded with something this beautiful.

"Why are you just standing there, Bakayama?" "Come closer."

He wiped his tears as he approached the two, but it didn't help as new tears would just form right away.

He placed a hand on the pup's cheek and, as if he recognized him, he stopped crying and even gave a small smile.

"That's right, Haru, I'm your Daddy."

"Kageyama Haru," Shoyo said, thinking to himself, "I like the sound of that," he giggled.

"Thank you, Sho. Thank you for giving me Haru, for giving me a family. Thank you for choosing me. "

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

/fin/

[minisoc]

As requested, line by line breakdown of testoster2's anti communist rant about parties.

> idk which baby leftist needs to hear this

off to a great condescending start from someone whose only left credit is claiming to be on the left on their Tumblr

> but joining a socialist party will be a waste of your time.

I couldn't imagine a more cop opinion to start us off with. i see things like this and i think: whose interests does this serve? "oh no baby leftists, don't join a party" just brings to mind this image

> you'll probably have to pay a monthly due

that's true. every communist party in history has taken dues from members. it's typically scaled to what you can manage though and it's part of the collective effort of the party organization to make social change. my dues sent comrades to Venezuela and Cuba to learn from socialists there, they produced our programs for free lunches, it built our community centers. i have no regrets about paying my dues, i pay dues to my union as well.

> that goes to like. flyers no one reads

projection. sounds now like op is defending their own lack of action with a lack of belief in the possibility of change. in my experience people do read things and even change their minds after reading things. if people were not able to be affected by the written word then propagandists on all sides would be in a tough situation.

> that you yourself will have to give to people

oh no, you mean joining a party means you might have to do outreach and talk to people? can see why it's not for op, then.

> (this in case the money doesn't go straight in the party leader's pocket).

op has never seen this but says it like it's a fact. it would be pretty easy to find out if your party leadership is embezzling and your party should be structured in a way that you know they'd be thrown out if they betrayed everyone like this. i have that confidence in my party, at least.

this is also very reminiscent about how anti communists engage with propaganda. they feel comfortable making claims of any kind whether supported or not. anyway, this is another obvious cop opinion.

> you'll waste time writing papers and reports and shit, it'll feel like having a second job.

not explained is why writing is a waste of time. i think writing for a party is almost always a useful activity, whether you're making plans for a new action or campaign or producing new agitational materials or analysing the results of previous work so you can improve on it.

it is a job, though. being a communist does mean doing work, society won't change by sitting at home and attacking communist parties on Tumblr. the lifelong sacrifices made by hard working communists are why we have seen so many socialist victories in the last century.

> the most exciting events will be lib shit like elections

this again can only be projection. the most exciting times for me have been in some of the countries largest protest actions, organizing campaigns to free political prisoners, providing at risk communities with basic needs and engaging with them, building new unions, etc. etc

> or peaceful protests that the party would still organize w/o you as a member

here's the key issue with op i think. they want to be vital to the revolution. they don't want to think that they're only one of many people all working together. yes it's true the party will continue without you, especially a wannabe cop like you. but it doesn't mean party work is useless, it just means you are useless as an individual.

> (showing up at a protest w/o having a party affiliation gives you more freedom

freedom to do what, i do wonder? being afraid of party work bc it doesn't let you do whatever you want is kinda silly, if you don't want anyone to ever tell you what to do then yeah don't join a party. if you want to make change in the world then do.

> + makes you a bit less arrestable - as opposed to if a cop saw you carrying a name tag w the hammer and sickle on it. just fyi)

this again appears to have been just made up by op. I've never been arrested for wearing a pin or a party tshirt. i don't know a single person who has. and I've known plenty of people without any markings get arrested.

> all this w/o even mentioning how (depending on your luck) there could be a lot of infighting, splits, sometimes purges

well yes it sounds like there would be a lot of drama wherever op goes but it doesn't seem to be the case generally. my party did form in a split, but over 15 years ago. i don't see any reason to worry that it would happen again any time soon. we don't infight at all, sorta the concept of the party is people who want to work effectively together.

another bit of funny evidence that op is anti communist is the inclusion of the word purges, lol. purge means expulsion from party, ooh very sinister.

> all in all, joining a socialist party is a very, Very ineffective way of building communism lmao

well first it's simply a truth that no socialist country was ever built without a communist party. not one.

but also, did any of ops points have anything to do with effectiveness? all i gathered is they're pushing an individualistic, don't tell me what to do outlook. and the condescension about protests and flyering suggest they want something more adventurist, possibly involving violence. remember the fbi and police always instigate when they infiltrate groups. they always push for criminal actions and violence.

> i'd instead recommend you talk to your neighbours abt their lives, and see how you can help each other.

hey, guess what a party does! do you think our new tenants unions and unemployed councils could come into being without talking to neighbors? do you think our new unions could come into being without discussing the way we could help each other?

> if you live in like a very rich neighbourhood or something, instead of joining a socialist party

well isn't this an interesting premise. i wonder what it says about op that they want to emphasize what the well off should do.

> it'd be way more effective if you joined a liberal/conservative party and then fucked their shit up as much as possible

sure, just see every other attempt in history at wrecking or entryism with the Democratic party. i encourage you to look into it

> if ur only goal is meeting other leftists, only go to the first 2 or 3 party meetings, by then you'll know the scene and you'd have already befriended the interesting people. that;s my advice at least

this piece of advice is generally good. in fact before applying to join any party if at all possible i encourage you to meet with the members local to you, see how they work, see what you think of their ideas and what they're doing. if they're not active in your community, ask why not. there's nothing requiring you to join if it isn't for you. but if you want to make change in this country, learning how to do it from those with experience is best. and working together in an organization that can effectively chart a path forward is the only option there is. every communist revolution was built with the leadership of the communist party.

[babyboyblasty]

CHAPTER 12:

All the girls had at least one bag in their hand. Momo had eight (some big but most of them medium sized that only contained one or two things each), Mina four, Hagakure two, Jirou one, Uraraka one, Tsuyu two, and Aoyama five. The only one without any bags was Bakugou since he hasn’t bought anything. So far— and he will rather die than admit it out loud— hanging out with his classmates wasn’t the most terrible thing that has happened to him these past three days. He was actually kinda having a good time.

"You should have come with us to get your nails painted too, Bakugou-kun" Hagakure placed an invisible hand on his shoulder where he saw some glittery blue polish.

"Yeah! I think a nice /green/ would look great on you" Uraraka smiled, giving a wink to Tsuyu who shook her head.

“Actually, I think Bakubabe would prefer a firetruck /red/ ” Mina nudged Jirou who gave her friend a knowing look.

"On the contrary, I believe a nice dark color like black or purple would suit Bakugou-san best" Momo suggested, oblivious to what her other friends were hinting at. "Perhaps Bakugou would like to join us on our next trip?" she turned to look at him and he looked back at her then the rest who were waiting for his answer like they were insane.

"But I won't be a girl then" he replied like they'd forgotten. 

"We know that, kero, but Bakugou-chan is fun when he is not yelling," Tsuyu responded, a finger to her cheek.

"You joining us again would be très bien, monsieur" Aoyama smiled over at him, wiggling his fingers in front of his face to show off simplistic french tipped fingernails. 

Bakugou didn't really respond but he did smile a little on the inside. Not that they needed to know that though.

The conversation was dropped to start another one about what they've bought so far, cuticle care (via Aoyama), and what they wanted to do tomorrow in their free day. That somehow turned into Momo recalling a restaurant she visited with her parents where the food was magnificent and that led to Bakugou claiming he can make the best damn breakfast they've ever had and Jirou challenging him to cook breakfast for them tomorrow to prove it. He agreed of course and the girls couldn't wait. They already knew Bakugou was a great cook but challenging him was always fun for both them and for Bakugou since he liked to prove he was the best.

After walking around for a bit, the girls decided that they wanted to go into a store that just recently opened. It was one similar to Victoria Secret that sold lingerie and other intimate clothing that Bakugou didn’t feel comfortable in so the blonde stayed outside on his phone. 

"Is that Bakugou Katsuki I'm seeing? Or do my eyes deceive me" Bakugou could practically hear the smirk and sarcasm dripping from the words. Looking up, he saw Emo Deku 2.0 walking over to where he was standing, the smug bastard. 

"Is that the human vibrator I'm seeing? Or is it just a big pile of dog shit" he countered back, baring his teeth up at the guy. Shindou Yo always rubbed him the wrong way and just the sound of his voice and that dumb way he patronized and looked down at him like he was better was enough to make his blood boil. He thought he’d seen the end of him after their provisional hero license exam when he was a first year and Shindou was a third year, but fate has a funny way of working and Bakugou seems to run into the guy more often than he'd like when he's out doing public service hero work or at internships. 

"No need for insults, Bakugou. I was just surprised to see you, that's all. I heard about what happened over at the agency but I didn't believe it. I mean, you /are/ supposed to be the best, right? So how on earth was I to believe that a small time thug got the upper hand on the Great Explosion Murder God DynaMight?" Shindou tilted his head, looking down at Bakugou with fake curiosity and concern. "I could see I was mistaken though. Maybe you're just not as amazing as they say you are /just/ yet. That's okay though. It took me all three years at Ketsubutsu Academy to fully learn how to be a great hero but I guess some people need more time. It's okay being a late bloomer. Isn't that right, Katsuki?"

Bakugou was positively fuming and it took everything in him not to launch at him right then and there. He wasn't the same explosive boy from his first year that couldn't control his impulses. Besides, making him lose his composure is what that asshole wanted and he won't give him the satisfaction. He won't compromise his perfect record and possibly endanger someone by using his quirk in a public setting. Clenching his fist as hard as he could, he let the sparks threatening to ignite die in his palms.

"What? You've got nothing to say, Katsuki? How very unlike you" the black haired boy teased. It's been two years since Shindou Yo graduated from Ketsubutsu Academy High School and half a year since he's been working as a rookie pro hero. He was assigned to this mall by the agency he works at and imagine his surprise when he saw Bakugou just standing there in the open like that. Really, he just couldn't resist coming over and saying hi. The blonde was always so entertaining. 

"Pro-hero Grand! May we have your autograph?" a small girl and boy ran over to them, each holding a pen and notebook in their hands up to Shindou's face. The man's condescending smile changed into a friendly one at the flip of a switch. "Of course! It'd be an honor" he laughed and gave them both his signature. Bakugou let out a 'tch' sound, crossing his arms over his chest. "Thank you for your support!" he waved them goodbye and the children waved back with a 'thank you', running off back to a woman who they guessed was their mother.

"Does it ever get tiring being a two-faced bitch?" Bakugou growled and Shindou turned back to him, letting out an amused laugh.

"See? There he is. Or should I say she now?" he made a thinking face and laughed when Bakugou audibly growled like a dog. "That's what I like about you, Bakugou. Always so feisty" he cooed before stepping a bit closer. Bakugou kept his ground so they were almost chest to chest, Bakugou glaring up at the guy because of his new height. If he was smaller by one or two inches before, he is now nearly half a foot shorter than the bastard. "You know, this look actually kinda suits you. It makes you look cute when you're angry so really I can't even take you seriously. Not that I did before, but now I get the sudden urge to hug you. Isn't that funny?" he smirked.

"Well take a good long look, perv, because I'll be turning back to normal tomorrow morning," Bakugou spat. Shindou looked genuinely confused for a split second and it made Bakugou get a sinking feeling in his chest.

"Tomorrow morning? Are you sure? Did Eraser tell you that?" the pro hero raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. 

"What the hell are you getting at?" Bakugou frowned. 

"Oh nothing, don't mind me. If that's what your teacher said then it must be true" he shrugged.

"Is there something you're not telling me? If there is, spit it out already."

"Like I said, it's nothing. Anyway, I must be getting back to work. The streets don't keep themselves safe, you know?" Shindou smiled and turned to leave but Bakugou immediately grabbed his arm, spinning him around to face him and gripping onto the black and gold top piece of his hero costume to pull him down to his eye level.

"Woah there Bakugou. Aren't we moving just a bit too fast?" the older of the two chuckled.

"Listen up, dumbass. I swear if there's something you're not telling me I'll—" he growled out before getting interrupted by a stern voice.

"Bakugou! What is going on here? Let go of him immediately" Iida stepped up to both of them. Midoriya, Todoroki, and the other three standing behind the tall, navy haired male were all ready to intervene if need be, Midoriya and Todoroki more so than the rest.

Bakugou unclenched his hands from Shindou's hero costume with a huff and Shindou smoothed it out with a throaty laugh.

"Thanks for that. Iida Tenya, right? Ingenium's younger brother?" Shindou smiled. 

The class rep nodded and answered 'yes, I am' before putting his hands together. "Pro-hero Grand," Iida gave a deep bow, "I apologize in advance for my classmate's despicable behavior. As class rep it is my responsibility to ensure everyone acts their best in order to better represent the name of U.A. My apologies again, sir!" Iida was practically yelling and it caused a few heads to turn their way in curiosity to what was happening, but they all looked away with a sharp glare from a certain ash blonde that basically told them to mind their own fucking business. "Is everything okay? Was Bakugou bothering you?"

Bakugou could have laughed. Of course they'd think that so he wasn’t even surprised.

"What?" Shindou laughed before the black haired hero began maneuvering the younger so that he had an arm around Bakugou's shoulders and his other hand was holding one of Bakugou's wrists like they were the best of pals. "Oh no, not at all. Bakugou-kun and I were just talking about old times. I was giving him a few words of my experience so far and some advice as a pro hero" the male gave a bright smile. "What you saw just now was a new move Bakugou was demonstrating to me. There is no problem here, right Katsuki?"

"Whatever."

Midoriya's eyes flickered over to Kacchan. Honestly, he doesn't think that that was what happened at all. He thinks Shindou said or did something that made Bakugou react that way. He's known the blonde for a long time now and while his childhood friend might be a hot head, he wasn't the type to start fights without reason. Todoroki, Shoji, and Koda thought the same but didn't say anything. They didn’t get good vibes from Shindou either.

Todoroki didn't like the interaction between those two one bit and Izuku felt the need to go up and pull his Kacchan away from him.

"Well, that's a relief" Iida answered with a bit of hesitance. He was still a bit suspicious but let the matter slide.

"I hope to see you all out in the field in a few years. Work hard" Shindou said his goodbyes to all of them individually before turning to Bakugou. "It was nice bumping into you, Katsuki-chan. And I meant what I said earlier too. You look good" he winked and Bakugou growled. "Take care, guys" he smiled, waving goodbye. 

They all watched the hero go before Iida was turning to Bakugou. "What happened between you two, Bakugou?" he frowned and Bakugou grumbled.

"Nothin' that concerns any of you. Now quit buggin me."

Iida tried not to take offense. After a few years of being classmates, he should be used to the blonde's somewhat hostile way of speaking. “As you wish. Why were you alone? Where are the girls and Aoyama?” he asked.

“In the store” he huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

Almost as if by magic, Bakugou’s group started walking out of the store, some carrying new small bags. 

“Deku-kun! Iida-kun!” Uraraka grinned, going up to them excitedly.

“Uraraka-san. It’s good to see you” Izuku smiled. The rest of them caught up before Iida started lecturing the girls about leaving Bakugou alone.

“I can take care of myself, four eyes!” he yelled but Iida paid no attention to him as he continued talking to the rest about what he saw happening with Bakugou and Shindou earlier to make a point about why we should all be in groups or in pairs at all times. Mina gasped loudly and Momo turned around to look at Bakugou with sympathy.

“Did he do something to you, Bakugou?" the pink girl was stomping over to him, a furious look on her face. "Where is he? I’ll beat him up I swear” Mina frowned, looking around to see if she can spot the black haired hero around. For his sake, he better pray she doesn't. Apparently she thought the same thing Midoriya did.

"Bakugou-kun! I am terribly sorry we left you alone. I should have known better and stayed behind with you. I am so sorry for your troubles" she apologized.

"Hah? Do you think I'm some type of damsel in distress now or something? It's fine, ponytail. Quit apologizing" he grumbled, looking away. “You too, Pinky.”

Momo gave him a soft smile and went in for a hug. She was sure he'd most likely push her off so when he didn't, she was very surprised. He didn't hug back but Momo didn't expect him to and she hugged him a bit tighter, the rest of the girls going in for a group hug as well. The boys were unsure what to do (even though some of them really wanted to join) so they stood to the side and watched how Bakugou started telling them to quit being "sentimental fucks" and let go already. They could tell he didn’t really mind it when he didn't immediately threaten to blow them up though.

Bakugou couldn’t wait until he went back to normal tomorrow.

[ word count: 2318 ]

(the shindou and bakugou inspiration for this chapter was these two pieces of fanart!)

[itsbenedict]

Two-Faced Jewel: Session 10

Connections

A half-elf conwoman (and the moth tasked with keeping her out of trouble) travel the Jewel in search of, uh, whatever a fashionable accessory is pointing them at. [Campaign log]

Last time, the party arrived in Cauterdale, the heavily-fortified port city at war with nature. They arrived in search of members of the Deathseekers' Guild- the organization of professional adventurers and monster-hunters that likes to be very up-front about its mortality rate- to handle a dragon problem that they're personally a little underleveled for.

While Looseleaf had a fateful encounter with the Plot at the Temple of Andra, Saelhen and Oyobi were headed to the barracks of the city guard, to speak to "Mags", the guard on duty when the local Deathseekers were last seen leaving town. And there...

You remember Medd Cutter, right? Highly-memorable Medd Cutter, the NPC who got oneshot by a T-rex and whose life the party saved? Well, to spite Rex... whatever his last name was, the pro-patria-mori asshole guard captain guy, Saelhen has decided that she's going to start spreading the word of Medd's heroism.

Oyobi, unfortunately, is bent on spreading the word of her own extremely ill-advised heroism, and so the two are having some sort of hype-off as they make their way into the barracks and effortlessly charm their way past the guards to where their quarry is posted.

These two are manning some sort of huge brass contraption, bristling with lenses and dials. One of them is a yuan-ti pureblood- which there are an unusual number of in the city guard, compared to the general population. Weird. Saelhen politely introduces herself, and Verity Truescale refers them to Magnaranth aka Mags, the loxodon who last saw the Deathseekers leave town.

Mags doesn't have a huge amount to tell them- the Deathseekers, evidently, were going hunting, out east somewhere. They brought a lot of torches, so apparently they were headed somewhere dark? Underground, maybe? They were pretty cagey about what exactly they were going out to do. Still, Mags can provide the names and addresses of the Deathseekers in question.

...And Verity, checking the instruments, notices that something is wrong with the tides- apparently something large is disturbing the waters, but they can't quite pinpoint what- it's not any of the usual suspects, which include things by the name of "Darkie" or "Unnessie". Ominous!

After that, the party meets up at the local Temple of Iska, their designated rendezvous point. They catch each other up on their gains, and decide... well, the Deathseekers are going to be back within a couple days, so they'll just wait for them in town and get going with them, to make sure things in Barley and Wheat go smoothly.

Of course, the question then is "where do we stay?"

Options aren't great- Cauterdale is crowded, and the B&B market is incredibly shitty. The best lodging is on Eman's Knee, the island just off the coast of Cauterdale, but getting the ferry over there is expensive, and resort lodging on a tropical island is also expensive.

That- you can't just- I mean, just because- I'm- I'm allowed to be predictable, okay???

(And anyway, it's Corolos where I ended up doing a murder mystery.)

So, Looseleaf gets a 24 investigating the town's B&B market, and finds a pretty good place! It's a weapons shop Saelhen noticed earlier, which is renting out rooms. The place has a huge fence topped with spikes, so they probably won't even get robbed!

Aria of War, as it happens, is run by an elderly yet ripped-as-hell tabaxi man, who Saelhen... vaguely recognizes.

Benedict I. (GM): So, this shopkeeper's coat is familiar to you. It's definitely not the same person, but you once knew a girl in Timber Towers named Toothbrush, with almost the exact same coat. Could be a relative! Saelhen du Fishercrown: Yeah, tabaxi have a lot of coat variation; it's not a safe bet that they're related, but Saelhen is willing to go out on a limb with him. "Good evening, sir, and I'm sorry to bother you, but I felt I had to ask..." Fish Especially: "No discounts." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Do you have any relation to a..." Was Toothbrush her real name? Benedict I. (GM): As far as you know! Tabaxi have weird names. Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Toothbrush?" Fish Especially: He looks surprised. "Hold on, you know Toothbrush?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...I knew I knew that speckle pattern." Saelhen smiles widely and without guile. "I met her in Timber Towers a while back. She played the violin." "More specifically, she couldn't play the violin, but she always failed very effectively." Fish Especially: "I'll be! Her theatre troupe doing all right for itself, then?" "Even with the noise of that awful thing?" "I never know what to think when she writes those letters..." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Last I saw of them, they were doing pretty well for themselves! To be honest, I did a stint with them for a bit, they wanted advice on a traditional elven piece..." Saelhen leans in on her elbows. "Oh, she mangled it, but she compensated with charm and that one face. Her confident face, you know the one, where you think she's so confident that maybe it's supposed to sound like that?" Fish Especially: He laughs. "You do know my girl!" "She hasn't written in- I think a year, now. How's she been?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Oh, it's been so long, I'm barely an authority by now -- but I remember she was talking about taking classes in -- what was it..." "...oh, where are my manners -- I'm Saelhen du Fishercrown, it's a pleasure." Saelhen reaches out for a very unelven handshake.

That she says this is notable for one big reason: this is the first time she's used her real name, and not "Lady Noeru de la Surplus". Nobody else in the party has heard this before!

It's also notable because according to Fish Especially, Toothbrush thought Saelhen was dead- and he's going to let her know otherwise.

Anyway, the deal for rooms goes through without incident, and the night also goes without incident! As is entirely normal, they hear Vayen in the halls making some sort of attempt to sneak into Saelhen's room in the night... and this time, sighing and going "never mind" without even attempting to pick the lock for some reason.

In the morning... Looseleaf grills Saelhen on the name thing, and she confesses the truth of the matter to the whole party- who take it fairly well.

After team bonding, the party heads to the Temple of Andra to check in and see if the Deathseekers have showed up. And by the stablehand's account, they have- or at least, a bunch of weird old people showed up to meet with Gabbro.

Gabbro seems surprised to see them- he was under the impression that they'd leave the matter to them. The further involvement of the party should be unnecessary, right...?

Looseleaf: "Oh, yeah, I was going to let you know we were staying in town and ask for you to let us know when the deathseekers showed up, but, uh, judging by that meeting we interrupted, they're already back and right here." Gabbro: "That is correct," he says, as the stablehand leaves. "I was just briefing them on the mission, you see." "The situation is well in hand, so you needn't concern yourselves with it any longer." "That pesky dragon shouldn't be an issue." Looseleaf: "W-well, uh. I was, uh, we were, kiiiinda hoping to travel with you back to the dragon's tower." "I mean, it's our quest, so, it'd be nice to, for us to see it happening so we can be sure of it, y'know?" Gabbro: He looks somewhat taken aback. "That... seems... risky, don't you think?" "To bring along... certain... people?" Looseleaf: "We're going to stay very very far away from the action! We're not that dumb!" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...I assure you that we have no intention of fighting the dragon ourselves, sir." Gabbro: "Ah, yes, of course not..." "However..." He gives Looseleaf a pleading look. Saelhen du Fishercrown: "And there are... certain persons in the nearby town, whose safety I would like to check up on. Personally." Looseleaf: He doesn't seem to want people witnessing the fight? It could be explicable through just, him being worried we'll get hurt. But it could also be, 'their deathseekers fight with methods that Orluthe in particular should not be allowed to witness.' Gabbro: "Ah, well, if that's the case... if you don't mean to get involved with the Deathseekers and their work..." Looseleaf: "We're not going to- we don't want any claim to the loot in the tower either, if that's a problem! Everything in the tower is you and your group's prerogative to deal with however we like."

Gabbro seems... put slightly more at ease, and decides to introduce the group to the ones who'll be their traveling companions shortly- the Cauterdale Deathseekers.

In order:

Doon Softbreeze, half-halfling rogue and all-around Grunkle Stan-type, friendliest with the party.

Kevin Softbreeze, Doon's soft-spoken herbalist husband and that's it, probably, just a gardener.

John Human, an extremely decrepit extremely human man who seems to make weird buzzing sounds when he speaks, as if with mouthparts instead of human lips.

Ryuusatsu Takuma, totally silent elf (not present at this meeting with Gabbro) who probably just doesn't like talking, is all.

Lady Fidelia Greatholder, heavily-armored and heavily-everything human noblewoman (also not present at this meeting), who- well, she shows up next session.

Gabbro makes a point of making clear to those present that Orluthe, who they'll be traveling with, is a cleric of Diamode- apparently they need to know this for some reason!

Doon's pretty friendly with the party, and offers to take on their job pro-bono- on the basis that, c'mon, if they could actually afford them, they wouldn't be knocking on their door for help. So it looks like they've enlisted some highly-capable dragonslayers with no ulterior motives! Fantastic.

Next time: The road back to Barley, and the tying up of a few loose ends in town. Saelhen needs to get her kimono back!

[mithranqueersmusings]

I Think I'll Love You Too II

Chapter: 2/?

Rating: U

Summary: George and Ringo have been going out officially for a couple of months. Ringo anticipated that dating a stripper would be complicated, but he didn't understand exactly how complicated it would be.

Tags: Modern AU, Established Relationship

Pairing: George Harrison/Ringo Starr (Background McLennon)

AO3 link here / Fic masterlist here

The following clean-up from their nocturnal experiment was far from easy, the wax seemed to crumble into tiny pieces and was determined to cover each inch of the carpet. George was insistent on doing most of the work, a struggle of manners ensued in which Ringo was adamant that he should help but eventually gave in and took up George's offer to relax in the bath.

Soaking in the warm water, Ringo's mind began to wander to their first official date. It seemed like such a long time ago now, although it had only been a couple of months at the most. Ringo could vividly picture arriving at George's house for the first time and picking him up for dinner, bruises still dotted across George's pale skin from the somewhat embarrassing but retrospectively rather comical fall at the club. Ringo had struggled to figure out the best place to take George, unfortunately the only advice available was John's.

"He's a vegetarian." Ringo emphasised for the fourth time, John had once again offered up a meat-only establishment.

"Oh, well you could've told me sooner." John scoffed, sometimes Ringo couldn't tell whether he was joking or truly that oblivious.

"What about sushi? That can be veggie, right?" Ringo was fiddling with a bouquet of flowers that had been left on John's kitchen counter, a small card had the name 'Paul' written on it, punctuated with a kiss.

"Sure." John offered "You could always, and hear me out, ask where he wants to go."

Ringo rolled his eyes "Great advice John, thanks. What if he doesn't know either?"

"Then you're both helpless and you belong together."

In the end Ringo had settled on sushi, which only calmed his panic somewhat because he still had to find which sushi place was best. He'd forgotten all about how stressful dating could be, and it'd been a long time since he'd been a proper date. Eventually he settled on a fairly affordable place that wasn't too far from his house, he felt rather silly calling up to make a reservation an hour in advance but he didn't want to risk embarrassing himself by not having a table booked.

This struggle with the restaurant left Ringo only an hour to get himself looking presentable for the date, his closet was emptied onto the floor and bed as he rummaged around for something suitable. He felt like making more of an effort than usual, this was one date he didn't want to screw up, especially knowing how fashionable George was likely to look. In the end he settled on a paisley blazer, it had been a gift from John years ago and had hardly been worn, and a black shirt underneath which he experimented with the buttons of.

He left himself just enough time to brush his teeth, sort out his hair and tidy the room as quickly as he possibly could. Hurrying over to George's in the car, he'd almost forgotten to be nervous about the date itself. Almost forgotten, because as soon as he knocked on George's door Ringo felt a wave of dread washing over him. He hadn't even thought of any conversation starters, or what he was going to order at the restaurant. As he waited for an answer, the dread only festered further. Yet once the door finally opened, revealing George draped in a decorative kimono, all fear subsided.

"Hi." Ringo spoke, suddenly sheepish.

"Hey." George replied with a grin, stepping out onto the street and locking the door behind him.

The two of them looked at one another for a few moments, eyes tracing from head to feet with no words being said. George was wearing makeup: his eyes darkened with liner and mascara, his gaunt cheekbones sparkling with highlight and his lips painted a tempting shade of red. Ringo could see that he'd tried to use foundation to cover over the bruises on his face but it wasn't entirely successful, not that it mattered.

"You look great." Ringo managed to get out without stumbling over his words as they walked over to his car.

"Thanks, so do you." George responded but Ringo supposed he was only trying to be polite.

Passing a shop window, Ringo stole a glance at the reflection and found himself presently surprised at how good the two of them looked together. Ringo was even beginning to believe George's compliment, a surge of confidence arising merely from being stood next to George. He'd anticipated that George would only make him look worse, but there was something complimentary in how the two of them were dressed. It was a small boost that Ringo needed to quash his nerves, he was determined to not ruin the night just because he was feeling anxious.

"So... Where are we headed?" George asked, stretching his legs out in front of him.

"Sushi." Ringo replied more curtly than intended "Is that alright?"

"I love sushi." George answered cheerily.

"What a relief." Ringo chuckled "I'm not gonna lie I was struggling to find a place to eat, with you being a vegetarian and all."

George paused for a moment "You remembered that?"

"Of course I did." Ringo panicked for a moment, afraid he'd said the wrong thing and given too much away but the smile that spread across George's painted lips calmed him back down.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the restaurant, it was rather busy but not so much that it would become uncomfortable. Ringo still couldn't believe his luck, that he'd actually been able to get a date with George. Looking back on how their relationship started, it was strange to consider that they'd end up here.

"Is your face alright?" Ringo asked when they'd been seated, it was hard to not notice the swelling on George's lip.

"Oh yeah, it's fine." George provided evidence with a genuine smile "I've had way worse, don't worry."

"You fall over a lot then?" Ringo joked, looking down at the menu and feeling a little intimidated by the amount of choice.

"Only when I know you're there to catch me." George winked "No, I've had my fair share of scraps here and there. That's just life, isn't it?"

Ringo chuckled "Not in my line of work, no."

"Don't be so modest, I haven't forgotten when you beat up that creep in the club." George was studying his menu with far less fear than Ringo "Any idea what you're gonna order?"

"Haven't the faintest." Ringo read the same words over and over again as though it'd help him understand "What about you?"

"Hmm, I think so." George answered with a confidence Ringo envied "Want some help?"

"Please." Ringo smiled sheepishly, laying down his menu and looking to George for assistance.

The date was hardly going as Ringo had anticipated, but while George went through dishes on the menu with a clear expertise Ringo couldn't stop himself from smiling. The intimidating Spike was describing in detail the difference between maki and temaki with such delicacy, it was such a strange moment of realisation for Ringo that made him truly understand how far they'd come. Ringo realised too late that he hadn't been listening to what George had been saying but it didn't matter in the end because George ordered for the both of them.

"So..." George began, drink in hand.

"So." Ringo repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"How long have you been waiting to take me out?" George asked with a knowing smile.

Ringo half expected this line of questioning to begin, he only wished he'd prepared some answers "Does it make a difference?"

"I'm just curious." George leaned in a little closer, a devilish look in his eyes.

Ringo sighed "Now I'm debating whether to lie so you don't think I'm a loser."

"I wouldn't bother with that, I already know you're a loser Ringo." George spoke deadpan, staring without expression then burst into laughter "I'm sorry, I had to."

"And that's meant to encourage me to be honest?" Ringo laughed nervously.

"Come on, tell me." George sounded almost whiny, a tone Ringo had heard before but never in regular conversation.

"Fine, fine." Ringo conceded after drinking his beer "In all honesty it was probably the first time I saw you... Not that I thought you'd ever say yes, of course."

The answer seemed to satisfy whatever itch George had "Really? I'm that good looking am I?"

"Not to sound cliché, but have you seen you? I don't think I've seen anyone more attractive." Ringo spoke somewhat seriously.

George blushed just slightly, having to look away from Ringo's intense gaze "You're sweet. But why were you even in the strip club in the first place? You didn't seem too at home, at least from what I remember."

Ringo felt rather complimented that George even remembered how he'd been acting all that time ago, he'd always supposed he hadn't left much of an impression at all and whatever he did was surely negative.

"John dragged me there. He, uh-" Ringo stopped himself before saying too much "Thought it'd cheer me up."

George squinted his eyes in suspicion "What aren't you telling me?"

Ringo paused, debating the best verbal exit strategy but the good beer and even better food was slowing his thought processes "Uh... Nothing?"

"Oh come on." George kicked Ringo lightly under the table "You think I'm gonna judge you?"

"Well, yes... But fine, I'll tell you." Ringo chuckled, pausing for an anticipatory breath "I'd been going through a bit of a... dry spell, so to speak."

A grin spread across George's face "Seriously?"

"Seriously." Ringo repeated, hiding his shame behind his beer.

"I find it hard to believe that you were having a 'dry spell'." George rested his hand on Ringo's own, his finger tracing around the metal of the rings.

"Well, I'd, er- I'd still be having one if you hadn't come along." Ringo stammered "Shit, that sounds really pathetic, doesn't it?"

"Just a tad." George smiled reassuringly "I'm just glad I could be of service."

"For a while you were making it worse, actually." Ringo had finished his beer and was itching for another "With all my pent up frustration and then I see you undressing on that stage, I nearly lost my mind."

George chuckled, looking rather proud of himself "I can only apologise for being so tempting." He emphasised the word by running his tongue over his top lip onto his sharp canine tooth.

"No need to apologise, it's your job after all." Ringo tried to remain composed "And in the end it all worked out so... No harm done."

"My aching body disagrees." George pouted his still somewhat swollen lip.

"Well... That was your own fault really." Ringo joked, finally catching the waiter's eye so that he could order another beer.

"You're right, you're right." George's hand was still pressed against Ringo's "Hopefully from here on out all the pain will be consensual."

Ringo blushed "Hopefully."

Later that night it was clear that there was no longer any need to be hopeful.

[seraphic-sapphic-safehaven]

so, something kind of shitty happened today. i'm a bisexual butch and i came out as that to my mom today. she wanted to understand my identity so i explained bisexuality to her (she's still kind of ignorant about those things, the type of straight person who thinks being bi means you want a threesome or something) and butchness. i also explained what femme is. and she seemed to understand what they meant, and i thought she was accepting it well but then she said

(pt 2)but then she said "if only you were femme, not that other one [she meant butch], maybe i would accept this better" (accept her daughter not being straight) and it kind of. hurt. because it was like she was saying i was being a woman "wrong". idk what to do, she seems disappointed in me

I'm so sorry, bean 😟 You didn't deserve that, especially not from your mom. But look... if she's disappointed in you, if she can't accept you, that's HER problem, not yours. It sounds like what she's doing is trying to guilt you and make you feel like this is YOUR fault when it absolutely is not. This is 1000000000% on her. You're her child; she should accept you and love you unconditionally.

There's nothing wrong with being bi; you literally have no control over that anyway. And there's nothing bad about being butch either. There is no "correct" way to be a woman, and being butch doesn't mean you're not a woman or any less of one either. Butchness goes beyond just... looking/dressing masculine, and even if it did just mean that, that doesn't mean you just stop being a woman because you dress differently!!

So... what I would do is maybe wait a day or two and then tell her all of that. Tell her how awful she made you feel and that there's nothing wrong with who you are, that you're not any less of a woman, etc. And tell her that she should love you no matter what because, well, she should!! You're her child, and you deserve for your mother to love you for who you are, no exceptions. And then I would tell her that you're gonna give some more time to sit with it, think about what you said, etc. and that you really hope she'll change her mind.

If she still isn't accepting of you after that, you can try talking to her again, maybe have a longer/more in-depth conversation. And if that doesn't work... you're probably both just gonna have to learn how to deal with it all (meaning her lack of acceptance and your being a bi butch), even though that's not fair to you :L Or you could consider moving out (on your own or with a friend/other family members) if you're old enough and able to, but still, that's not fair to you and it'd be a bit ridiculous for her to let it go that far anyways.

I'm really sorry... I don't have great advice for this; it's difficult to deal with parents who won't accept their children for stuff like this. But please know that it won't always be this way. You won't always be around people who don't accept or understand you. You won't always feel bad for being who you are. There are plenty of people out there who won't question or judge your identity, who will treat you with the respect you deserve, and who will love you and accept you no matter what! Like me!! I'm here for you if you ever wanna vent again, need advice, or whatever else you need. You can send as many asks and DMs as you want! I love and care about each and every follower of mine, so that includes you! So if your mom doesn't wanna act like a mom, then I will for her; I'm your mom now, nonnie, and I'm always here for you 😊💖

Please don't hesitate to message me again, okay? And good luck! I'm sending all the good vibes and love your way 💛

[punkscowardschampions]

Amelia & Jac

Amelia: My mum heard wrong and you're actually okay, right? Jac: I am now Amelia: but it was you Jac: me and half of Dublin Amelia: I could care less about about 3/4 of this town Jac: generous, a whole 1/4 Amelia: you know what I mean Jac: yeah Jac: your maths isn't that shocking Amelia: what happened? Jac: what do you mean Jac: I didn't accidentally swallow my mouthwash or something Jac: you know how it goes Amelia: alright, why did it happen? Jac: It was new years Jac: simple as Amelia: you don't give a shit about New Year's Amelia: or anything else right now Jac: I was feeling festive Amelia: because? Jac: because it's the reason for the season? idk Amelia: you're really going to make me figure it out? okay Jac: there's fuck all to figure out Jac: you've got drunk, you know why Amelia: What did she do? Jac: which nurse was it that told your mum Jac: or was it a receptionist, they're the fucking worst Amelia: answer my question so I don't have to go on her profile Jac: go ahead and look Jac: you won't be surprised, no one else is Amelia: [does so a pause] Amelia: I'm sorry Jac: I knew anyway Jac: well, was 99% sure Jac: but then that 1% went so Amelia: You could've called me Amelia: nobody on the gossip grapevine even knows the lad who brought you in Jac: I very much couldn't Jac: I was passed out Jac: so me either, the thank you note will sit here unsent, like Amelia: before, I mean Amelia: she didn't post that last night Jac: it was Christmas Amelia: so? Jac: a time for family Amelia: you used to be Amelia: basically Jac: well that's just weird Amelia: again, you know what I mean Jac: not acceptable to float your incest fantasies just 'cos you've got no siblings to go there with Amelia: ugh, shut up Jac: works for me Amelia: no, it doesn't Jac: ask anyone Jac: I've had a very relaxing break Amelia: none of this is working for you, that's why you ended up in hospital Amelia: for fuck's sake Jac: that was the tequila Amelia: none of this is funny Jac: what do want me to say? Amelia: quite literally anything that isn't a pisstake Amelia: that's how low my bar is now Jac: I got drunk, it isn't the drama your mum and whoever the fuck is making it out to be Amelia: it isn't a drama that you got so drunk you had to be medically emptied out after being brought in by a stranger, no of course not Amelia: anything could have happened to you but why the fuck would that matter Jac: clearly I was surrounded by nice people Jac: I wasn't in a crack den Amelia: you wouldn't tell me if you were Amelia: unless you had a joke you could make out of it Jac: I appreciate that you find me so amusing Jac: I'm not making jokes, there is just nothing to actually be said about any of it Amelia: Fine, we'll go back to not talking Jac: don't let me ruin your good time Amelia: it's a bit late for that advice, thanks anyway Jac: amazing Jac: way to make my hospital stay about you Amelia: how could I? It's all about Savannah fucking Moore, as always Jac: so you wanted to be the one I drank myself into a coma for Jac: I'm so sorry Jac: I'll try again next time and leave a note shouting you out Amelia: no you won't, because that would involve telling people about me Amelia: I might as well not exist Jac: 'cos I'm going around telling EVERYONE that this is about her Amelia: it's never been any secret how I feel about you or that I need you even though you don't need me Amelia: and you could've fucking died or something Jac: seriously Amelia: yeah Jac: it's bullshit if you actually believe that Jac: and you're not just saying it Amelia: all of this is bullshit Jac: I'm a fucking mess Jac: I hit you up all the time Jac: why do you need me to spell it out to you Jac: hire a fucking skywriter Amelia: none of it matters because when things actually matter, like this, you don't Jac: because I'm not fucking okay Jac: that doesn't mean that I don't those other times Amelia: I know that Jac: you clearly don't Jac: it means nothing Jac: then fuck it Amelia: it doesn't mean nothing Jac: it's so fucking Jac: infuriating Jac: I haven't talked to anyone else in person for so long Jac: and I barely do it in writing now either Jac: don't pretend you don't know that means something just to fit your narrative Amelia: what to do want me to say? or do? Amelia: I've spent ages worried about you even before this and there's nobody I can talk about it with because you won't Amelia: I don't get to be upset because it's Christmas and we're not friends and I'm over it, that's the narrative for everybody else Amelia: then I hear this and it's no big deal to you, apparently Jac: just not be so fucking dense Jac: at least when you're talking to me, you don't need to pretend that now Jac: what would you like me to say? how fucking vile it was having to bring up my entire stomach contents, what it smelt like? how terrifying it was to be there on my own? Jac: or what can I do for you now? start sobbing about how out of control my life is, repent, promise to change and be different? Amelia: I've already lost you once because of her, I can't do it again Amelia: especially not like that Jac: I can't stop loving her Jac: I can't stop it hurting Jac: all of us Amelia: I can't stop loving you Amelia: and she isn't going to force me to when she isn't even fucking here Jac: There's no point blaming her Jac: if she didn't know, before I showed her how I felt Jac: she didn't know about you and me Amelia: and you think I'm dense Jac: I don't think she's perfect Jac: not completely Amelia: it's progress Jac: shut up Jac: I'm sorry, alright, I wouldn't have told you, you wouldn't have needed to be worried Amelia: I'm worried by all the things you don't tell me Amelia: where you go and what you do when you're not 'hitting me up' Jac: it's not as if you'd wanna hear it though Jac: you want me to stop, like everyone does Jac: but I just Jac: I can't Amelia: I don't want to hear it because I know it's not what you really want Jac: I can't have what I want Amelia: you can't have her, it doesn't mean you have to have that Jac: None of it was real Jac: but it doesn't erase all that time, what was said and done and felt Jac: not for me Amelia: of course it doesn't Jac: it's like I'm trapped Jac: I can't go back but I'm just left here, she's left me here and all of the things we were going to do and be together aren't going to happen Jac: I'm not going to be that person but I'm not the same as before Amelia: it's like she killed you, you have to grieve Jac: I don't like who I am now Jac: without her Amelia: you said it, you're a mess Amelia: not much about that for a virgo to like Jac: this is just another day in the life for you is it Jac: 🦂 Amelia: it's not about me Amelia: how you feel about you Jac: it's no secret I CLEARLY hate myself Amelia: it'd be the worst kept secret ever if it was Jac: so yeah, it's nice to flip the script, have people think maybe I hate them instead Jac: I ruined Christmas because I hate you all, like, yeah, fine Amelia: maybe Cammie's brothers are little enough to fall for it Jac: it's surprising how effective playing at being a coma patient is for the cause Amelia: everyone knows you're hurting instead of hating Jac: alright Jac: sounding like a cringe 90s rnb love song is not cute Amelia: I'm not cute today Jac: have you got your serious face on to match your tone Amelia: my parents have and if you can't beat them, join them Jac: did your nan say something homophobic and they forgot to call her out on your behalf? Amelia: I'm grounded because of what you did, that's what passes for logic in this 🏠 Amelia: they haven't stopped talking about it or trying to overhaul my life Jac: oh great Jac: I'll not be able to see you too now Amelia: they've told me to stay in, they can't make me Amelia: you can see me whenever you want to Jac: your parents are actually sensible, if leaning towards over-protective Jac: they'll get a restraining order Jac: or me sectioned, if they can really sell it Amelia: they don't know about us Amelia: you're fine Jac: they know they don't want you being my friend Amelia: they don't want me getting hospitalised, that's all Amelia: they know if we were still friends I'd look after you and vice versa Jac: it isn't catching, it's alcohol poisoning Jac: can we go to the beach Jac: we've obviously missed the official swim but I want to Amelia: they did run out of Christmas drinks because I never got around to replacing what we stole and I did have to take sole blame, so that's where they think I'm heading Amelia: but yeah, we can go to the beach Jac: their friends always could put it away Amelia: and I wasn't even drunk last night Amelia: because I'd already had a lecture Jac: how drunk did you get on Christmas day then Amelia: it's not my fault they all stop at a couple of glasses Amelia: or want to my life a competition vs the child or children of every single person my parents know Amelia: 🥱🙄 Jac: you didn't know miracle was a lifetime obligation as well as a fancy title? Jac: gutted Amelia: did I hit you up, no, therefore I CLEARLY wasn't drunk enough Jac: Charming Amelia: 😏 Jac: you know, when I get drunk, I make really bad choices/nearly die Amelia: not always Amelia: and I might've given my cousin my phone so I didn't send you anything, okay? I'm that 😳🤓 Jac: She blatantly wanted to nose at all your private texts anyway Jac: I wouldn't trust any of mine as far as I can throw them Amelia: she'd have to steal my fingerprint, I definitely wasn't that drunk Jac: don't you delete them after? Jac: amateur Amelia: what would I do when you aren't talking to me if I did, read a book? Jac: you're quick with the recommendations for me, so yeah Amelia: I get enough migraines without encouraging them Jac: 😏 Jac: we definitely shouldn't be friends then Amelia: that's not even in the top 10 of reasons why we shouldn't Jac: again, so polite Amelia: come on, you know I'll break any amount of rules Jac: it's not supposed to be adding to the fun of it, like Amelia: fuck supposed to as well Jac: alright Jac: but I ain't going out and getting drunk tonight Jac: I feel inside out still Amelia: what do you want to do then? Jac: I don't know Jac: let's just start with the beach and I'll see Amelia: okay Jac: what do you wanna do Amelia: I only give a shit about seeing you Jac: It might take me a while to get out Jac: goes without saying I'm more than grounded Jac: one pair of 👀 on me at all times Amelia: that kind of wait won't kill me Jac: alright Jac: I'll think of something Amelia: remember a coat this time, yeah? Amelia: I can't lend you any more without literally taking the one off my own back Jac: oh no Amelia: you didn't nearly die in my coat, did you? Jac: I was wearing it Jac: but I don't have it now Amelia: oh Jac: I do remember where I was, I wasn't that gone when I arrived Jac: but I don't wanna go back, I can give you the address? Amelia: do I want to go there or should I just hit the sales? Jac: yeah Jac: consider it a late christmas present? Amelia: wait, my late Christmas present isn't that you didn't die? Jac: you're glad, aren't you, that's a gift Jac: but I also meant money for a coat, that's only fair, if anything Amelia: I can afford my own replacement coat Jac: alright Jac: but I did lose it Amelia: I lent it to you, if it was that precious to me, I wouldn't have Amelia: and my mum will be thrilled I'm asking to go shopping Jac: yeah, true enough Jac: what did you get her for christmas? Amelia: [something her basic mum would actually love because she only had to buy for her parents so might as well go in] Jac: wow, daughter of the year much Amelia: I'm their only daughter, there's no contest Jac: all I got mine was a nervous breakdown so you know Amelia: I did that last year, you know, before it was cool Jac: 🤓 Amelia: I'm sorry that you didn't invent pining Jac: I'm not pining though, you can have that Amelia: I don't want it Jac: I'm sorry you invented pining Amelia: I didn't, I just happen to be amazing at it Jac: or bad at it, depending on your outlook Amelia: well yeah Jac: I look awful Amelia: how do you feel? Jac: awful Jac: at least there's no disparity there Amelia: you've nailed it, along with the majority Jac: start as the year will go on, no matter my intentions or otherwise Jac: fucking hell Amelia: I look great, you've been warned Jac: 😂 Amelia: 👧🏻 Jac: at least it isn't bowl-esque now Jac: like your xmas throwback Amelia: I knew you'd like that Jac: that santa is creepy looking though Jac: your face says it all Amelia: 😂 Jac: how likely do you think any of my siblings are to cover for me right now Amelia: 🤔 very unlikely Jac: distract and run it is Amelia: can you even 🏃 the state you're in? Jac: They gave me IV, I'm technically in my prime, thank you Amelia: carry on Jac: you don't have to come Amelia: I want to though Jac: alright Amelia: okay Jac: [I think she should ask Jesse to cover but whatever the outcome of that convo let us say you do get out somehow and you can go to the beach] Amelia: [yeah even if he won't, find a way gal] Jac: [have your nice moment] Amelia: [it's deserved, well not really because you ruined christmas and new year's but Savannah ruined everything first so it kind of is lol] Jac: [it's what being a teen is all about henny] Amelia: [not this teen, I was a goody two shoes] Jac: [my boo is too good she would never lmao, I did so] Jac: [I think they should have a nice time but then someone/someone's parents is at the beach so she's like well bye] Amelia: [that's very valid because you lowkey wouldn't be able to go anywhere without seeing someone either they know from school or Amelia's parents know the parents of] Jac: [exactly, it's an easy way to end things before anything really has to be said or done so tah everyone] Amelia: [I hope you're both going home, we don't need any more drama immediately] Jac: [my boo says get your ass back home] Amelia: [mhmm] Jac: [she has nowhere to be so I'm sure she's going back to bed lol] Amelia: [get your arse back home too Amelia even though I'm sure that girl has text you at Christmas and New Year's] Jac: [at least you weren't at the beach gal] Amelia: [I 100% vote you do see her when school starts though even though she in the year above and would have to seek you out lol] Jac: [my boo says let her have it] Amelia: [we do love the jealousy always] Jac: [mhmm] Amelia: [not letting you date her though because she actually seems to like you so that'd be rude] Jac: [only jac and savannah can do that lol] Amelia: [Savannah do like this boy cos he reminds her of Jac remember LOL] Jac: [lmao]

[felix-the-creature]

Diner California, a killjoy AU

Chapter 7

Party stares themselves down in the dimly lit bathroom mirror, door cracked enough to let a little light into the room. They sigh, running their hands through their hair. The dye from a few days ago hasn't stuck well, already fading to a darker red. They rest their head face down on the counter, hunched and unhappy.

Everything feels in shambles. Ghoul is one of their very best friends, and now he doesn't even want to be in the same room as them. Kobra.. Kobra is scared of them. To be fair, Kobra is nervous around both Party and Ghoul right now, but it stings Party more. The youngest killjoy now mainly hangs out with Jet, who has remained neutral to the whole argument.

They glare at their dim reflection, and it glares back.

How can they fix this?

The trans am is parked next to the diner. Jet had been doing some maintenance on it earlier, but retreated when the sun went down. Party walks through the dusty evening gloom to the car. They plop down in the driver's seat, but instead of taking the car anywhere they twist the knob on the dashboard that connects to the car's cb radio.

They clear their throat, then talk into the evening air. "Show pony, are you there? It's Party"

They wait, staring out at the first stars of the night. It's sort of cloudy. They try again.

"Pony, I need help"

Maybe Show pony's out in the desert somewhere, skateboarding the evening away as they often do. They won't pick up, Party decides. He opens the car door.

Shhhk

"Wazzup?"

Shhhk

Party let's out a breath of relief.

"I need your advice. I got into a fight with Ghoul and now everything's messed up"

Shhhk

"Tell me about it"

Shhhk

So he tells them about it. When he gets to the part where Kobra doesn't want to be with him anymore his voice cracks, and he has to take a breath to stop from crying.

Shhhk

"Yeah, that's a mess"

Shhhk

"So what do you think I should do?"

There was silence for a moment. Party nervously fidgets with a couple of pebbles that had somehow gotten in their back pocket.

Shhhk

"they think you're no fun anymore, yeah?"

Shhhk

"Yeah... its like they're treating me like a controlling adult. Like they can't do anything with me anymore"

Another voice cuts through the line, this one deeper than Show pony's.

"Heyy hey, don't just say controlling adult like all adults are like that. SOME of us have morale codes"

Party smiles at the teasing tone. "Hi Cherri, how's it going?"

"Fine, fine. Pony's cussing at me to leave the line though, I'll leave you two to it"

There's a bit of static, and then Show pony's voice is back on the speaker.

"Anyways, I'm sorry they're treating you like that. You only overreacted a little bit. But I think you need to prove them wrong"

"How?"

"Hmmm... lemme think"

The line goes silent. Party drums his fingers on the steering wheel. Finally Pony picks back up.

"Let's throw a party, Party. Get them having fun, prove you're still the same fun loving killjoy. I can get Cherri to chaperone, If you're worried about them doing dumb shit again"

Party leans back in the seat. "That, that sounds like a great idea. Your place or mine?"

The line is fuzzy for a bit. Then Pony's annoyed voice cuts back in.

"Dang interference, I hate static. It almost feels like something else is cutting in.

Let's have it over here. And you don't have to tell them we came up with it together. Let's say you found out I was throwing a party and inviting every crash queen and motor baby in the zone, and you thought it'd be fun to go?"

"Sounds fun as hell. I like the way you talk. But what about Dr D? Isn't he gonna object? Every killjoy in the zone?"

"As many as I can get ahold of. Might even be zones, plural. And don't worry about D. He's off at some convention for eccentric radio show hosts, won't be back for awhile. Let's do next week... Friday sound good?"

"Deal"

The two conspirators hang up. Party gets out of the car and leans against the door, looking up at the evening sky. There hadn't been a proper party in ages. They'll have to find their shenanigans mask, the blue and white fuzzy abomination christened Mousekat.

Party poison walks back inside, a little more confidence in their step.

[lost-soul-of-silver]

1-5, for Cold Coffee and Cold Nights?

Hi I love you <3

1. What inspired you to write the fic this way?

I had been reading a lot of My Hero Academia fanfiction prior to writing this, and I sadly can't recall which author(s) to credit them, but they wrote in a very casual, effortless way, like they were a friend telling me a story of something that happened. As someone who always stressed about my writing seeming "mature" and "poetic," I really enjoyed this and thought I'd try it myself. It was definitely harder than I thought it'd be, and it's definitely not perfect, but I'm proud of the result :)

2. What scene did you first put down?

The scene in the beginning where Barry is ordering his coffee, telling Paul that his name is "Batman."

The rest is under a cut cuz this is getting long lol

3. What's your favorite line of narration?

It's a tie between:

'And the regular customers, he swears, are the bane of his existence.

Especially this fucking prick.

The boy on the opposite side of the counter―college age (same as Paul), stupid flippy blond hair, cheeky smile like a little kid’s, always wearing the same orange-and-white-striped hoodie―comes in the shop at least four times a day. The dude clearly has a caffeine addiction, or something.'

and:

'Just as Paul begins to vow to himself to be a kinder, warmer person to everyone he meets, never knowing if today could be their last, the door swings open with a chime. His head snaps around to witness the blond boy drag himself into the shop and approach the counter.

“Oh great, you're alive,” Paul says aloud, unintentionally. He's unsure if the phrase is meant to be sarcastic, relieved, or some blend of the two. But now that he knows this jackass is alive, he can stop feeling guilty and proudly say “Fuck that” to any ideas of being a better person.'

and also:

'Taken aback by the unusual bitterness in his voice, Paul doesn't question it and writes the name on the styrofoam.

(And he considers it wise to not intentionally misspell it as “Berri” with a cutesy little heart over the “I” to further piss him off, even though intentionally getting names on orders wrong is in his job description.)

(Also, wouldn't that be lowkey flirting…? He doesn't even wanna go there. He already considered becoming a better person because of this guy, and that doesn't sit well with him…)'

Lots of gems with this one, cuz Paul is internally an asshole but also having a gay crisis.

4. What's your favorite line of dialogue?

Ughhh that's hard. It's not really a single line of dialogue, but:

'“No, you were just young at the time. And you had school on top of work, which is stressful. If you worked there now, and you weren't in school, you'd fall into the routine of always working and handle it better. And…”

A soft scoff escapes from Paul's throat after he trails off. He eyes his own hands, nervously wringing them on the table as he speaks. I'm oversharing. I need to shut up. He doesn't need to know all this.

“...I wouldn't really call myself strong.” He keeps talking anyway. “I couldn't even handle one semester of college. I couldn't even handle high school. I barely passed my classes to graduate.”'

It's a very mundane bit of dialogue, but looking back at it roughly 3 years later, it hits different. It sounds like the way I would give advice to someone in a different phase of life than me.

5. What part was hardest to write?

Well, I had two different scenes already planned going into writing this story: Barry telling Paul that his name is Batman in the beginning, and the part toward the end where Paul spills coffee on Barry's crotch. Everything in between was very hard to write, cuz I didn't know how to naturally progress between the two points.

Thank you so much for asking, love~ <3

[punkscowardschampions]

Grace & Janis

Grace: UM what even??! Janis: The invites weren't personalized Janis: you were more than welcome to swing by Grace: yeah cos that was gonna happen Grace: literally what were you thinking Janis: That it'd be a decent way to kill time Janis: and it was Grace: 🙄🙄 Grace: there's so many OTHER ways to do that Grace: that don't involve like criminal activity Janis: Damn, now you tell me Grace: UGH Grace: be serious Janis: I'm dead serious Janis: think of all the trouble you'd have saved me Janis: bit rude Grace: why are you the literal hardest person to talk to about anything EVER? Janis: Get to the point of what you actually want Grace: I wanna know if you're okay, bitch Janis: yeah sure Janis: obviously I'm okay Grace: OBVS mhmmm Grace: excuse me for being concerned Janis: You should be happy I'm making friends and getting out there Janis: isn't that what you wanted? 🤔🤔 Grace: Hello??! You literally broke into school Grace: you're in so much trouble, why would I want that?? Janis: So? No one got hurt Janis: they're just making a big deal out of it as per and we all know why Janis: you don't need to get invovled Grace: duh x 2 Janis: then who gives a shit Grace: obvs not you Grace: which is why it's a big deal Janis: Yeah, that makes logical sense Grace: you can't just do whatever you want! Janis: Can and did though Grace: ugh Grace: forget you Janis: and think about ma and pa? Janis: yeah 😂 no thanks Grace: you're the WORST Janis: and this is a bad attempt at a plea for me to change Grace: oh please Grace: the most I was trying to attempt was checking in Janis: Yeah, blatantly Janis: you really fucked that up then Grace: 👌👌👌 Grace: it's totally my fault you can't have a conversation like a normal person Janis: Hi, how are you? Janis: one line Janis: it ain't even difficult Grace: 🙄🙄🙄 Janis: Christ Janis: you feel better now then Grace: oh sure, you REALLY stopped the freakout before it could get extra Grace: thanks so much Janis: No one is freaking out over you Janis: your ability to make anything and everything about you is almost impressive Janis: not quite but look at you Grace: I'm freaking out over you, DUH Grace: get a clue Janis: Why Grace: why do you think??! Janis: I don't know, Grace Janis: I don't speak for my health Grace: You don't care, you mean Grace: you literally don't care about anything Janis: Exactly, I don't Janis: so why would you bother when I don't Grace: like I just said, forget it Janis: Sounds like you need to take your own advice Janis: I already have Grace: I'll go do that then, babes Janis: Sounds fun Janis: maybe you wanna throw your own party, yeah Grace: you TOTALLY read my mind Janis: 😂 Janis: you wish Grace: rn yeah Janis: always more like 💔 Grace: you wish, hun Janis: even you don't believe that Grace: that you think I'm so overly invested? UM yeah I obvs do Janis: That I would ever want to read your mind or be read by you Grace: duh that isn't what I said Grace: you wish that I'm always wishing you would Janis: Exactly Janis: I just said, why would I ever want that? Janis: Fuck you're thick Grace: idk babes you think I want you in my head for SOME reason Janis: Gotta fill that empty space with something Janis: but I'm not interested Janis: working overtime with your pals Grace: I couldn't be less interested either Janis: Obviously 😏 Janis: sort of falls apart when you're here and 🔊 Janis: but go off Grace: cos I care that you're literally going off yourself doesn't mean I want you for an inner voice Janis: yeah next stop crack Janis: calm down Grace: I don't even wanna talk to you anymore Janis: awh, I never wanna talk to you Janis: got to stop #twinning like this Grace: 👌👌 Janis: go bore someone else now Grace: sure Janis: 👋 Grace: 👋💜 Janis: tell them I'm at the gym Grace: I'm not your PA Janis: then let 'em worry where I've gone Grace: they'll be worrying anyway Janis: c'est la vie Janis: I've got things to do Grace: I literally didn't ask Janis: Yeah, you're not good at conversation, fill in the blanks Grace: leave me alone Janis: some concern Janis: 👌👌 Grace: yeah cos I give up Grace: you're like impossible Janis: or, as we've all speculated, you aren't good enough Janis: sister, friend, daughter, add whichever title you're failing at currently Grace: mhmm Grace: but I'm making it about me, okay Janis: have at it Grace: no thanks Janis: ahh so contrary Grace: says you Grace: you've got so much to do Grace: go away Janis: as you're well aware, escaping Shawshank is easier and less timely Grace: 💔 Janis: fuck off Grace: literally have tried Grace: stop talking Janis: stop being a cunt Grace: STOP Janis: you have literally no idea Janis: about anything Grace: you won't talk to me so how can I? Grace: the mind reading was a mutual no, babes Janis: You didn't ask anything Janis: literally who do you think you are to lecture me, or anyone Janis: You aren't mum and dad, or even Rio Grace: cos you literally won't even tell me if you're okay or not! Grace: there's like zero point Janis: I said I was Janis: you don't fucking listen Grace: you don't answer anything honestly or seriously Janis: You wanna admit how familiar that trait is then? Grace: we've not talking about me! ffs Janis: cool, list my faults as it suits Grace: that's not even Grace: UGH Janis: What? Grace: I'm not trying to shade you rn I'm just explaining why we can't have a Q&A about literally anything Janis: Yeah, yet you still tried and you're still getting pissed off at me Janis: you knew the outcome, you did fuck all new to change it, no room for surprise Grace: Yeah okay Janis: yeah Grace: I'm freaking out rn I told you Grace: I can't like Grace: not Janis: it's only community service Grace: Duh Grace: It's not that Janis: ? Grace: you know why I'm scared Grace: why mum & dad are Janis: Well it's some bullshit Grace: ??! Janis: You should know Janis: I'm not her, none of us are Janis: they don't get to right their wrongs on me like it's the same Grace: but you won't listen, don't care & won't stop Janis: I'm not doing meth Grace: wow that's so comforting Grace: thanks Janis: 🙄 Janis: how the fuck do I have to convince you I'm not Edie Janis: and why the fuck should I Grace: you're not her, you're still freaking me out Grace: you're still freaking mum & dad out Janis: Some people have real problems, you know Janis: you think they'd understand that Grace: they care about you, get over it Janis: Bollocks do they Grace: 🙄🙄🙄 Grace: some people have parents who don't or no parents Janis: Wow, orphan is one step away from starving African child! Janis: they don't care, but I'm not 'freaking out' about it or having a pity party, you don't need to lecture me, as we've covered Grace: fine Janis: Good Grace: just go now like Janis: Make me Grace: oh please Grace: if I could we wouldn't be having this convo Janis: Yep Grace: whatever, I'll go Grace: great talk, babes Janis: Bye bye Grace: 💜👋💜

[punkscowardschampions]

Grace & Janis

Grace: did you see who brought my coat back??? Grace: 🤞🤞 Janis: I did Grace: No you didn't Janis: ? Janis: Welcome, bitch Grace: UM excuse me but why & how? Janis: One of the baristas hit me up, I went and got it earlier Grace: OMG Grace: which one? Janis: New boy Janis: The English one Grace: HE DID NOT HIT YOU UP Grace: what really happened Janis: [Screenshot of the friend/message request] Grace: 😱😱😱😱 Janis: Breathe Grace: what did he say about me?? Janis: That you left your coat Janis: That's about it Grace: 🙄🙄🙄 Grace: what did you say? Grace: I'll kill you if you were cringe Janis: As if I was talking about you Janis: None of your business is it Grace: OMG Grace: you're not his type babes Janis: You reckon you are? Grace: duh Janis: 😂 Janis: Oh babes Grace: if he screenshots your desperation I don't know you, yeah? Janis: Says the girl who's salty her latest plan to get noticed didn't work Grace: says you Grace: he notices me every time thanks Janis: EVERY time Janis: says it all Janis: get a hobby Grace: get a clue Grace: you know nothing about boys Janis: Letting 'em all get off with you doesn't make you an expert in the field, babes Janis: no matter how much stalking hours you put in Grace: 😂😂😂 Grace: oh hun Janis: Ain't coming from me Janis: wanna talk shaming Grace: now I know you're lying Grace: don't be tragic Janis: why would I Janis: you'll get banned if you ain't careful Janis: back to starbies with the other basics Grace: cos you're jealous Grace: as usual Janis: of what Grace: me, bitch Janis: 😂😂😂😂 Janis: You don't want to be you, Gracie Janis: no one else does Janis: least of all me Grace: what ARE you talking about? Janis: Your pathetic lack of self-esteem Janis: if I liked you I'd be sad, tragic 😥 Grace: Mine? 👌 Love yourself first, babes Grace: think about the barista if it helps Janis: save that for your private time Janis: keep me out of it though, people'll talk Grace: 🤒 you're such a freak genuinely Janis: 💔 unlucky you'll never know Grace: EW STOP Janis: what a surprise, gracie can't hack it Grace: If you wanna follow in Ri's footsteps, pick a willing family member Janis: yeah, that's me Janis: desperately tryna be like her in every way ⛾ Grace: if you're gonna be all 😍 for my barista you could do worse Grace: least she knows how to flirt Grace: clueless virgin won't get you very far Janis: 'cos desperate slag's done wonders for you Janis: if I needed advice, I wouldn't go to either of you, but at least she has got somewhere Grace: 👌 devastated obvs Janis: everyone can see it Janis: sad face Grace: 😂😂😂 Grace: you've shown yourself up WAY worse with that boy, trust me Janis: Not up to you, gutted Janis: he didn't seem to think so Grace: oh please Janis: nah, no matter how nice you ask Janis: he just ain't feeling you Grace: what's the truth, Jan-Jan, did you talk about me or didn't you? Grace: 🤔🤔 Janis: get a clue, gracie Janis: your details are just as easy to find as mine Janis: easier Grace: like I said, get one yourself first Grace: its as easy to work out we're related, worst luck Janis: you ain't hard to get Janis: just want Grace: says you Grace: can't get through the door for your admirers, can we, babes? Janis: not tryna make it a family affair like you 👌 Grace: not trying Grace: until now, but you went too hard, shame 💔 Janis: surrounding by such great influences Janis: 🤷 what can I do eh Grace: OMG YOU LITERALLY DID NOTHING Grace: 😂😂😂 Grace: I wouldn't be smug if I were you though, girl Grace: Such a cliche & not the first time he's tried it Janis: Who's smug? Janis: Just you sounds of Grace: I'm just trying to warn you Grace: I won't bother next time, bitch Grace: OMG so rude Janis: Don't, like Janis: if you had any idea you wouldn't have all the shit exes you do already so go off Grace: if you had any idea I wouldn't have to Grace: this is so embarrassing Grace: he's gonna make you look even more tragic & I can't pretend I don't know you Janis: nah Janis: i don't let boys do that Janis: your kink, not mine Grace: he already is Grace: flirting with you to get MY attention, hello! Janis: is it comfy in there? Grace: 🙄 Wake up, Janis OMG Grace: he's been flirting with me since he got here Janis: Filling your order isn't foreplay Janis: actually gonna catch a case if you don't calm down Grace: cos you'd know Janis: yeah? Grace: You're making me die Grace: cringe fest Janis: 🤞 Janis: 🎂 wishes coming through at last Grace: focus on that cos he isn't gonna make any happen for you, hun Grace: unless you're hoping to be used by a boy who likes me more Janis: that's what boys are for, right? Janis: 😂 Grace: 🙄 Grace: that's why you like girls more, yeah? 👌 Janis: you're the one constantly surrounded Janis: i wouldn't let one sleep in my bed Grace: cos you're too 😍 Grace: it's okay Janis: love the queerbashing Janis: very in Grace: Excuse you Grace: I am not Janis: Yeah you are Janis: stop being a total cunt just 'cos you're sad Grace: I could care less if you're gay Grace: that's not why I don't like you, babes Janis: Yeah, you're just a bitch, cool Grace: You started it Janis: Where? Janis: I got your coat for you Grace: You know I like him, you're breaking girl code Janis: Well I ain't one of the girls, am I Janis: bit late to include me now 'cos it'd benefit you Grace: you're my sister, that's worse Grace: duh Janis: I think you'll survive Grace: like you care Grace: but I'm the bitch, sure Grace: 🙄🙄🙄🙄 Janis: You're just mad that he doesn't want you, that ain't my fault Grace: Stop saying that OMG Grace: you don't know what you're talking about Janis: well I'm the one who managed to have a conversation with him so I know more than you do Janis: doesn't take a genius, come on Grace: You're calling me stupid now too Grace: So rude Janis: You're being it Janis: you don't need to Janis: plenty of boys, plenty of baristas if that's really your speed Grace: Obvs Grace: I don't want your sloppy seconds, thanks Grace: I respect girl code, if you like him then whatever Janis: Nice to know you respect something Grace: Bitch Janis: 👍 Janis: Pleasure as always Grace: Yeah, I know you love coming for me Grace: no secret, babes Janis: Be nice to think this was all about you, I know Grace: You expect me to believe it's about him? You saw him for the first time today Grace: thanks to me Janis: Don't be stupid Janis: he's in loads of my lessons Janis: as if I could ignore the new boy hype you've all been on Grace: Finally you're admitting it Janis: What? That I'd noticed the change in the furniture? Janis: I'M not an idiot Grace: That you're not immune to a hot boy Grace: It's taken you long enough Janis: 😑 Janis: That's what you're taking away from this Janis: really Grace: I know you want me to take away your life changing advice that I'm the worst but Grace: Like I said, you're a bitch Janis: It's not advice Janis: inspiration to change at best Grace: Whatever 🙄 Janis: too much like hard work Janis: it's alright Grace: Excuse you Grace: I always put work in Grace: unlike your effortless chic you're trying to make happen 🙄 Janis: yeah that's what we're talking about Janis: fashion Janis: jesus Grace: Attitude Grace: and yours does need work, babes Janis: 😂 Janis: Where's your getting you but 2nd in command to a cunt and pied by boys left and right Janis: inspirational, truly Grace: Shut up OMG Grace: you don't like my friends or my exes, I'll get over it Janis: No one does Janis: you deal with the leftovers, don't be pouty no one's jealous Grace: You sound soooooooo bitter 🍋 Janis: 💔 Janis: if you like, babes Janis: have that for free, as you're struggling so much Grace: Just 'cos you love a freebie from barista boy Grace: I'm good, thanks 💋 Janis: If you say it enough Janis: you might believe it Janis: positive thinking, yeah, babes? 👍 Grace: 🙄🙄🙄 Grace: try it for me, yeah, babes? ty Grace: you're gonna need all the help you can get now you've got a boyfriend Janis: Behave Grace: You will enough for the both of us Grace: I give it a couple of days before he's bored Janis: 😂 Janis: so concerned with MY sex life Janis: how long's it been, babes? Grace: the day I talk about mine with you is the day I off myself Grace: it's cringe enough chatting to you about things you think you have a clue on Janis: please Janis: you don't talk about anything else Janis: you've got nothing else Grace: you wish, weirdo Janis: 😂 Janis: awh, your comebacks haven't gotten any better Grace: You don't deserve my best, hun Grace: 😘 Janis: I can't begin to get into how tragic you are Janis: at least Monroe had an honest to God sad backstory and drug habit Janis: sort it out, do us all a favour Grace: I do have you as a sister, that's really tragic Grace: Sadly you won't ever let me help you sort yourself out Janis: You're a mess Janis: you have no business trying to sort anyone, state Grace: 😂😂😂 Grace: sure Jan Janis: Laugh it off babe Grace: I'm trying Grace: But you're not very funny Janis: It's your life Janis: I'm telling you, it's really sad Janis: but you insist otherwise so you deal with it Grace: OMG get over yourself Grace: I'm not here for a counselling session Janis: Thank God Janis: you've not got the self-awareness, I've not got the relevant qualifications to deal with your insanity Janis: disaster Grace: It's called self awareness not 'Janis tells me what I am' Janis: And you get neither Janis: boo hoo Grace: I'll get over it, I'm sure Grace: God, if this is what that boy likes, I'm well out of it Janis: Bold Janis: When have you got over anything bigger than split ends, Gracie Janis: and I ain't trying to chirps you Janis: something you seem to be having a lot of trouble with Grace: We've established my backstory isn't tragic enough, sorry babe Grace: Even with you trying to 💔 Janis: 😂 Trying Janis: that's your game Grace: 🙄🙄 Janis: i'm off Janis: be sure to check your pockets for secret love notes i'm sure he left you Janis: 🤞 Grace: yay Grace: let the door hit you on the way out