#but at the same time I have a hard time seeing fascist appreciating being called a duck billed herbivore without any nationalistic ties

[hasellia]

Instead of studying my statistics, I wrote lyrics that came out as a limerick bc I don't know what I'm doing, lol.

Raging Parasaurolophus

I've had enough of this rousing cacophony

This sound that doesn't consider me

Grinding at my teeth

Trembling below my feet

It's enough to rouse anyone to misery

Now there's a source for this horrid discord

It's driven by morbid accord

I'm looking at it now

It's that herbaceous cow

That believes itself to be king!

You rampaging Parasaurolophus

The stomping can be felt by all of us

And when you trample on those below

You have the audacity to say

"It's natural"!

Raging Parasaurolophus

Your honking can be heard by all of us

Just listen for once and maybe

Even you can be treated more fairly

So you claim to be the professor of suffering

And the holiest master of death

But do you know of asavas

Or the eight noble paths

That you trample, all over, so carelessly?

It's in the history you claim to be honering

In the symbols you stole with no caring

By the wheel you chant

But the wheel's not slant!

It's a wheel! It turns! You imbecile!

You rampaging Parasaurolophus

Your stomping can be felt by all of us

And when you trample on those below

You have the audacity to say

"It's natural!"

Raging Parasaurolophus

Your honking can be heard by all of us

Just listen for once and maybe

Even you can be treated more fairly

Now there's a way out of your misery

You just have to listen to me

Put that gun down

Open your palms out

And embrace the wider community

It's here you'll find true power

In groups so marginal and larger

Together we'll stand

To end capitol's plan

And live, together, far stronger

You rampaging Parasaurolophus

Your stomping can be felt by all of us

And when you trample on those below

You have the audacity to say

"It's natural!"

Raging Parasaurolophus

Your honking can be heard by all of us

Just listen for once and maybe

Even you can be treated more fairly

You rampaging Parasaurolophus

It's time you put a stop to all of this!

Get out of your head

Or soon you'll be dead

By your own machinations at hand!

Raging Parasaurolophus

It's not too late to put it behind us!

Get in touch with some grass

Forget the old brass

And be happy, for once, you childish arse!

[psychotrenny]

I don't think "Fascist" is a very useful or accurate thing to call Caesar and his Legion (from Fallout: New Vegas) in the context of the game world itself. Like there are a lot of aesthetic similarities and basically all of their unironic real world fans are some sort of Nazi Nerd, but when talking about their place within the context of fictional post-nuclear Nevada it just doesn't work. Like Caesar's whole deal is that he's a Social Scientist who, living in a world that's been "blasted back to the Stone Age", figures that society must evolve through the same stages if it wants to properly return to modernity. The Legion is basically comprised of "Primitive Communists"* who've been forced into a Slave Society. His criticisms of the NCR boil down to them being a moribund remnant of/reversion to Old World Capitalism rather than something organically adapted to the post-Nuclear world. He repeatedly talks about how the Legion isn't meant to represent an ideal society but simply a stepping stone onto something better (the thesis that will clash with it's antithesis and evolve into a superior synthesis). His interactions with the Courier heavily imply that the Legion's Misogyny, Homophobia, Tech aversion etc. are much more tools of social organisation and control than values that Caesar personally holds. The Legion isn't just some band of mindlessly violent reactionaries but the product of very deliberate Social Engineering; a peculiarly post-nuclear sort of scientifically planned society

Now I'm not defending the Legion as a "good" choice or anything; Caesar's plan has a lot of problems, it's not hard to poke holes into and in terms of unadulterated cruelty The Legion is easily the most morally repugnant of the main factions. But the thing I really love about The Legion is how, within the specific context of Fallout's setting, it makes sense. Like once you really think about it you can understand why someone in Edward Sallow's position would arrive at these conclusions, and there are good reasons why (if you take your roleplaying seriously and don't treat the Player Character as an extension of yourself) someone living in this world might chose to side with him. The Legion may be terrible but it's not evil for the sake of evil; there's genuinely a compelling ideology behind it.

It's why I get sad when I see so many people dismiss them as the "dum dum fascist slavers" because there's so much more to them than that. Like I think the best part about The Legion is how ridiculous they first appear ("These raiders dress like Ben-Hur extras?????) but once you find out more about them then it all starts to click ("Oh I see their leader is trying to assimilate them into a distinct and alien culture in order to maintain their loyalty; severing their previous connections and giving them a whole new identity"). So it sucks to see so many people get caught up in the first part and never make enough connections to reach the second. Like in general, Fallout: New Vegas is very messy and flawed and yet it's full of all these interesting little nuances and I think that's worth appreciating it. It's why, time and time again, I keep walking down that dusty road

*in the very broad sense that Fallouts "Tribals" are meant to represent people who have reverted back to some sort of pre-state society; of course there are countless problems with how Fallout treats this matter (including but not limited to incredible amounts of racism) but in order to understand Caesar we're forced to meet the game on it's terms

[weebsinstash]

Every day I get closer to writing the "You vs YouTwo trying to steal your identity in the Spider Society" fic (which, the fic even has a name as I slowly build it, I'm calling it Imposter Syndrome because, you know, 1 Reader is starting to get depressed and feel unneeded even before YouTwo comes along and 2. Well. It's self explanatory)

But anyways I keep thinking of all of these dramatic interactions and scenes (shit I was listening to John Mulaney stand up just to write dialogue for Peter Porker, for funsies) where, thinking of either Reader being kicked out of the Spider Society and such, and them having to literally hunt you down and search for you, but. What if YOU came to them?

It's been like 3 months since you "died" after the Society mistaking you for your double and removing the dimensional watch that kept you tethered down, and there's a palpable air of depression. Spiders go to the training room you used to teach your classes in and leave flowers and mementos and share stories of their times spent with you. Maybe they even do something fucking dramatic like set up a memorial, like a plaque with your name and photo or something, but, something to help remind them to be wary of who they bring into the Society and appreciate the ones they have and so on so forth, and also like I imagine there were Spiders who were so attached to you that this entire incident makes them leave the Socety for good (like maybe Hobie equates the way you were exiled to fascist tyranny and hates Miguel more than he already does for letting it/helping it happen, for example)

But, anyways, months later, but not too terribly long for them to stsrt to forget about you, just enough time for the guilt and depression and the longing to marinate, and some Spiders are hanging out in the food court, Peter B and Jess and some of the others managing to drag Miguel out of his lab to eat and be around other people because he's just been holing up by himself almost 24/7 since you "left". Dude's a fucking mess, man, you can literally just look at him and see the dark circles under his eyes, the unwashed hair, the body odor because he fucking lives in that suit, and half the cafeteria is wondering if he's about to start crying into his stupid silly ass Miguel burger and

*FWOMP*

Some loud ass undescribable noise as the fabric of the universe suddenly shifts and, you glitch right back in and slam down on the floor besides their table. The entire room freezes as they literally had no idea you were still alive as you scramble to your feet, the first thing you notice being the food as you DIVE for Miguel's burger, snatching it right off his plate and beginning to absolutely devour it like literally gobbling that shit as the man amd everyone else is AGHAST. You've lost a significant amount of weight (like, an unhealthy amount for the time that has passed) and you're covered in bruises and scratches with tears and holes all over your suit. Your hair has knots and tangles and your Spidey suit is beyond dirty with a raggedy jacket and a tattered backpack on your body. You've just been constantly bouncing in and out of different dimensions, ricocheting all over the place this entire time, which made it hard for you to eat, sleep, bathe, do just about anything normally. One minute you're trying to swipe some food from a market because you have no money, the next you're glitching again and you're lost in an apocalyptic wasteland, or a thick jungle, or even places where shapes and colors don't operate the same as we can even comprehend it

You're constantly dropping the food because your hands keep glitching but you're clearly obviously starving, and Pavitr hands you his chai to help wash everything down, but you still pick up several beverages on the table and absolutely chug them as your friends are just stunned into silence, still in shock, quickly morphing into all kinds of different emotions. Joy you're still alive, horror and pity for your current state, guilt and anguish that all of them did this to you. Jesus, have you even been able to drink water? Like if you didn't have Spider powers you probably would have died by now and it's easy to see you're weak on your feet

And from here I see two options and I'll go with the less exciting one first:

Reader is so fucking hungry and malnourished and weak that after the Spiders make room for you to sit at their table and eat their food, you being just genuinely so fucking worn down from constantly not being able to eat and sleep properly, that you basically show up, eat the entire table's worth of food, and all but fall into a food coma right then and there because this is like the first time youve been able to sit and mildly relax for WEEKS, like here comes Spider Plushie for the save like he's trying to slide across home base, loyally stopping in front of you and directly under your head as you just kind of, slump forward, the little guy making the perfect pillow as he keeps your forehead from smacking against the table, and you're just, like O U T out as Miguel cradles you in his arms because, oh my god he thought you were gone forever, and he won't let anyone else touch you as he marches you straight to, wherever the fucking doctors in this place are

But option TWO: suddenly you pause your gorging as some burps rise up in your chest and you suddenly have some calories pushing enough energy to your brain that you finally look around, like REEEEALLY look around. The entire room is dead silent, some starting to cry with joy and relief, others still stunned, many looking absolutely confused, and your eyes eventually meet with Miguel's. He doesn't look quite as run down as you, but WOW is this one sad haggard looking dilf, and you blink at him for a minute. And then look around. And back at him. And around. And to him

And your expression morphs into something so fearful as you force out a nervous laugh, "oh, wait, it's... you guys..." And the second everything clicks for you, you're IMMEDIATELY TAKING OFF, and despite your weakened state you actually make them really work for it because wow that adrenaline kicks in as you for your life because you're thinking "shit they still think I'm the fake and they'll kill me this time if they get their hands on me" when in actuality Miguel is getting his ass on the intercom system ordering all available units to stop you so they can put a bracelet back on you so you aren't lost again, which i mean it is but isnt even a yandere thing at this point, youre literally going to die without some sort of dimensional tether. But during the chase Miguel realizes you aren't using your webs, and you're actually not nearly as fast as he's seen you before, and he realizes with a broken heart, oh Jesus you're literally too malnourished to produce your organic webs within your body, or a lot of it, anyways. You must REALLY be in bad shape

And I imagine like, the chase comes to a halt, not when they catch you, but when your physical exhaustion finally catches up to you. Sweetie you barely ate anything for the last several days, suddenly gorged on a whole spread of food, and then started sprinting and jumping and climbing and parkouring on shit. You HAVE to stop running because you're literally getting sick and VOMITING, like, your former students and fellow Spiderpeople and of course Miguel are hot on your heels and they all pause and give you space because you're literally having to throw up in a gutter with sweat pouring down your face and entire body developing the shakes as, oh no, you feel your strength leaving you as you can't even hold yourself up, collapsing onto the ground, barely conscious as something scoops you up with the gentleness of handling glass, your eyes unable to stay open as you whimper things. "Please don't kill me... I'll leave... I'll never come back..." before you pass out

Miguel has you immediately checked by doctors while the staff have to limit the amount of people trying to come and see you (because, uh, there are a ridiculous amount of Spiders invested in your wellbeing) and only he's in the room as the medical team details your current state. Severe malnutrition, sunburns, broken ribs, a finger or two in crudely-improvised splints, telogen effluvium aka temporary hair loss from illness/extreme stress, you're probably starting to come down with a cold of some sort, potentially something dramatic like pneumonia.

You sleep for like several days straight while hooked up to IVs and fluids because your body just needed to heal THAT badly. By the time you wake up you feel like you're rising from the dead, your entire body aching and heavy, taking minutes to blink yourself awake to take in your new surroundings. You've got a private medical suite that's pretty well-secured, and when you try to scratch a sudden itch on your nose, you feel a weight on your wrist after going to move your arm. Oh, it's another kind of watch, although this one doesn't have nearly all the features and buttons of the first one, and when you keep rotating your wrist over and over, you can't seem to find the latch to take it off, because, well, there isn't one

Miguel is already in the room with you, either having been working on a laptop or just legitimately sitting there watching you sleep for an unknown amount of time, even if its completely dark in the room. He's gotten himself all cleaned up and back to normal and looking like his old self again but he's honestly not even sure what to say to you. Emotions aren't really his strong suit? Where does he start, apologizing for this whole mess or promising it will never happen again?

The only guarantee for now is that you will NOT be leaving Nueva York again, or even so much as leaving his SIGHT, so long as Miguel doesn't want you to, and trust me, after being tricked and having you ripped away from him, to see you in such a vulnerable sad state because of his own actions when all he wanted was to protect you, he's got a whoooole lotta things he wants to do and talk to you about. First and foremost? Vowing that he's going to make everything up to you, starting now, by being your most devout protector

[joyful-soul-collector]

How I think the Moon Boys would react to meeting Other Heroes

I want to eventually turn these into fanfics relaying the events in detail (and if you want to as well, please do and tag me in it, I'd love to see what you make!) but for now we just do meta :] I'm gonna do the OG 6 avengers first, but I'll likely reblog later with other heroes if people seem interested, so lemme know if you wanna see more!

Tony Stark

Marc: Definitely assumes this guy is an asshole before ever meeting him. He's a billionaire, he's cocky, he built a giant tower with his name on it--he's got all the makings of a real asshole. Upon meeting him? Well, yeah, he has to admit the guy is smart and fights well. They can work as a team when in battle for sure. Still cannot stand his personality though, and it's in part because Marc can see some parts of himself in Tony. He really doesn't like the idea that he might relate to guy who used to be fine with building weapons for awful people.

Steven: Definitely hesitant about him, in part because Marc is so adamant about his assumptions. However upon meeting him, I think Steven could grow to like him in some ways. Sure he's cocky, and has a hard exterior, but it's not like he doesn't know how to deal with that, sharing a body with Marc and Jake. He likes to hear Tony explain science and machines to him, and I could see them talking about their weapons and armor, exchanging ideas. He too is fine to fight alongside Iron Man

Jake: He's also hesitant about Stark, both because of Marc and because of his role as the protector, but he can't help but admit... the guy has fuckin style. He particularly likes Tony's cars, and when he sees magazines in the store detailing all of Tony's cars, he can't help but snag one. And when he MEETS Tony? Well it takes help from Steven outright telling Tony that he'd love to see them, but Tony does show Jake his garage full of cars, and they chat about it for so long that Marc and Steven have to practically drag the body back home before midnight. Fighting enemies with him is an entire different playing field however. Jake really hates being told what to do, so generally he'll let Marc or Steven handle battles alongside Iron Man

Steve Rogers

Marc: Mixed feelings about Cap before meeting him for sure. He was a soldier like Marc was, and for that Marc feels a sense of loyalty or comradery with him. Cap also fought in WWII and helped save a lot of Jewish people, which obviously puts him in a good light. But at the same time, he's named Captain America, the same nation that spit him out of the marines with no support, no option but to become a mercenary to survive. After meeting him though, he finds that he quite likes Cap. They bond over their pasts as soldiers, and exchange stories of punching fascists right in the kisser. He considers it quite an honor to fight alongside Cap in any battles

Steven: He liked Cap from the very beginning, since he was a kid. Not obsessed, he never collected cards like Coulson, but he always regarded him as a hero for what he did in WWII. He's never liked to be called Steve, always the full name Steven, but it still made him just a little bit proud to share the same name as Captain America. After meeting Cap, he found he appreciated him as a person as well, not just as a hero. He enjoyed hearing Cap's stories about what life was like in his time, and they exchanged song recommendations together often. He too finds it an honor to fight alongside Cap

Jake: Jake didn't think much about Cap before meeting him. Sure, he was glad for what he did in WWII, saving Jewish people and punching Hitler, but he kind of thought that should've been the standard anyways. He didn't feel the need to praise the guy just for standing up for Jewish people, if anything he preferred to praise the Jewish doctor that MADE the super soldier serum, he was the one that gave them this great hero after all. After meeting Cap he did find he warmed up to him though. He was a good man, even if a bit robotic at times. Again though, he cannot stand people telling him what to do, especially in the commanding, soldier-like way Cap does it. At least Tony makes a funny comment when he tells people what to do, Cap just orders you, and Jake does NOT like that

Thor Odinson

Marc: VERY hesitant about this guy, as past experience with gods has not exactly gone well for him. Upon meeting him he realizes quickly that Thor isn't much of a threat (to him at least), and he gets less cagey. He doesn't exactly become friends with Thor, but they're nice enough to each other, and can fight as a team well. Secretly tho? He thinks Thor's whole lightning and thunder thing is pretty cool

Steven: Also again hesitant due to Thor's whole God-ness, but also realizes he wouldn't harm them. He is INTENSELY interested in Asgardian/Norse mythology though, and spends several evenings asking Thor a million questions about the different realms, the culture of Asgard and all the magic that exists there. Thor promises to one day show him the Bifrost and Asgardian palace library, as well as introduce him to Heimdall, who could tell Steven more about the realms than Thor ever could

Jake: AGAIN, not exactly excited about meeting another God, and even after meeting him, Jake is still unsure for a long time. He's always quick to remind Steven that Thor is a god and things could go bad with him at any time. With time he learns to trust Thor, and have a tentative relationship with him, at least enough that he's willing to fight alongside the god in battle

Clint Barton

Marc: He'd heard of someone called Hawkeye fighting in the Battle of New York, and mostly thought he must've been insane (or stupid) for fighting aliens with a bow and arrow. However after meeting him he did find a new respect for him. I think of all the people to spar with, he'd often choose Hawkeye, both because they're similar in strength (without the suit at least), and because Clint has a similar fighting style to him. They both utilize rooftops, darts/arrows/grappling hooks, and hand-to-hand combat, so he's a great person to practice with. They work well in battle together.

Steven: He was impressed hearing about a guy fighting aliens with a bow and arrow for sure. After meeting him I think he does like Clint, but might feel intimidated by him. He doesn't seem to be the most open of people, and he can see why Marc enjoys his company because of that, but Steven himself just finds Clint a bit difficult to talk to. They work fine in battle, but not as well as Jake and Marc do.

Jake: I think of anyone in MK system Jake probably is the one that can talk to Clint the most easily. He's relaxed enough that he doesn't worry about Clint being cagey at times, and good enough at bantering and talking with people to get Clint to relax and open up more. If anyone is able to start a good friendship with Clint, it's Jake. This also makes it so they work well fighting together

Natasha Romanoff

Marc: Absolutely just cannot vibe with this woman, at least at first. He could tell immediately that she was analyzing him and trying to get information about himself and his past out of him when they first met, and it just threw him off instantly. Something about the spy, manipulation tactics stuff, and honestly her being a woman, just reminded him too much of his mom. Over time he would learn to be less nervous around her, especially as he realized her analytical first impression was part of a mask she put on, but he couldn't say he ever truly relaxed around her. He doesn't enjoy fighting alongside her much, but he's willing to do it

Steven: He honestly thought she was fine upon meeting her, and that Marc was freaking out over someone just being friendly to him. It's not that he didn't realize she was analyzing them, but more that he understood quickly that it was a mask. She reminded him of Marc and Jake really, and similar to them, it was just a matter of being open enough that the other person felt comfortable taking of their mask too. I think they'd get along pretty well honestly, almost a grumpy+sunshine dynamic similar to him and his alters. They don't fight very similarly though, so while they get along, there's a lot more communication happening between them to try and fight better together.

Jake: Would also tell immediately that she was trying to analyze them upon first meeting, and I think that might actually trigger him to front when they first meet. She also reminded him of their mother, and Jake would immediately start handing that same energy back to her. I could honestly see a scene where she's asking them questions, and Jake starts to front and responds to her questions with his own questions. However, I think this would result in a friendship to be honest haha! I think through analyzing each other they would figure out they're similar in a lot of ways, and Jake would end up trusting her a lot. He would know that she understood what it was to have secrets and to be constantly striving to be better than the person you were in the past, and he would understand her for the same reasons. I also think they would bond a bit over their protective natures, with how she's protective over Clint and Yelena, and how he protects Marc and Steven. Oh and they would 100000000% dance together. It's basically their version of sparring haha, and in battle in makes it so they barely have to talk in order to coordinate seamlessly together, which works perfectly for him because he doesn't have to be told what to do but he can still work well with her

Bruce Banner/The Hulk

Marc: He'd heard of the Hulk before, and wasn't really sure what to think of it. Some people said he was a good guy, some people said he was bad, overall Marc just kinda hoped he'd never be on his bad side. After meeting Bruce he found that he wasn't afraid of the Hulk at all when he transformed. Cautious of course, but not afraid. He liked Bruce, he kind of reminded him of Steven in his awkwardness and nerdy ramblings. He wasn't exactly close with either Bruce or the Hulk, but they gained a mutual trust

Steven: Steven was very interested in Bruce and the Hulk ever since he'd first heard about them, and at first thought it might've been a weird, magical, or mutated version of DID. Obviously he quickly found out that wasn't the case at all, but he was still very interested in the duality of Bruce and The Other Guy and he ended up having long talks with Bruce about it when they met. I think if they'd met back then, Steven might've been able to help Bruce a lot when he was trying to figure out how to find a balance between himself and the hulk, help him figure out how to merge the best of both worlds. Steven's interactions with Hulk weren't as amicable in the beginning though, because Hulk viewed him mainly as "Banner's Friend", but Steven was still kind to him, so eventually The Hulk grew to like him too

Jake: Jake thought the Hulk was really cool honestly, but he could understand why Bruce didn't like it, because he understood the frustrating feeling of switching when you didn't want to, losing control when things got too emotional. However he didn't really voice how he related to Bruce until much further into their friendship. He still liked Bruce a lot though, for the same reason Marc did, he reminded him of Steven. He likely gets along with The Hulk a bit more though, because of he enthusiastically encouraging he is of the Hulk. He's considered the Hulk's friend, and he fights well alongside him. Overall I also think the Hulk likes the MK system because he understands that they switch similarly to how he and Bruce do, and may actually think about them working together so well when Bruce proposes the idea of them merging and working together better.

BONUS

Loki Laufeyson

(this one I actually already have a fanfic for, which is why there's a link, though it's set in a sort of AU where the Mind Stone hypnotized Loki and made him more violent and evil than he actually is. Here I'll talk about a more canon-ish reaction)

Marc: Obviously, none of the MK boys are gonna like this guy initially. The man sent an alien army to earth, he's not made a good first impression. Getting to know him over time is where things begin to change. When Marc starts to figure out that his swagger and menacing personality is more of a persona than how he actually is, he starts to kind of connect the dots and figure out that this guy may have been manipulated in some way, and may be going through things similar to what Marc went through when he was a mercenary. However he doesn't dig much into it, because he really doesn't love the idea that he might relate to a guy who tried to take over the entire earth (similar to how he doesn't want to relate to Tony either).

Steven: Steven would again, not be a fan of Loki, but unlike the other two, he would be the one actively looking for any sort of redeeming quality in him. Steven would be the one to find out about Loki's father, and how poorly he was treated, and would be able to communicate that to Jake and Marc. He would be the gentlest with Loki, and would likely be able to see through Loki's mask much easier than Marc or Jake would. Whether this would result in a friendship is harder to say though. He would be happy to talk to Loki about his problems, but I can't see him easily finding something to connect with him about. Maybe through magic, and Loki talking about spells and things he knows, similar to how Steven bonds with Thor.

Jake: Again, not a fan at first, but that changes over time. Unlike Marc, Jake would likely trust Steven's ideas about Loki, and how he may not be as horrible as he seems, or at least, he may have been manipulated into being what he is now. Jake I think would be able to talk to Loki and create a stronger friendship with him than the other two, being the people person he is. He wouldn't be able to easily talk about the trauma-related stuff, that's more Steven's expertise, but he would be able to see what Steven does eventually, and realize Loki isn't so different. He'd be able to analyze him similarly to how he did with Natasha, and while he won't talk to Loki about what he realizes, his opinions will still change, and he'll see him in a different light.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading! Lemme know if you want to hear about the MK boys (or Layla???) reacting to more heroes! Again, if you make anything based of of these ideas, definitely tag me, I wanna see what you made!!

[supervor]

@anarchotolkienist I can tell you mean well. I do thank you for trying, it is more than so many people are doing right now and it is appreciated. So I'm sorry if this comes across harsh, but I'm not going to mince words here. It should not be that hard for you, or anyone else, to not be antisemitic. And if you are finding it difficult to tell if other people actually care about Palestinians or if they are just looking for an excuse to hate Jews, that should be a sign to educate yourself on the history of antisemitism and how to spot dogwhistles.

Since you do seem genuine, I will take the time to help get you started:

The woman talking about "zionists in the government" - definitely antisemitism. The word "cabal" is taken directly from the name of a sacred Jewish text, and the antisemitic trope of Jews controlling the government goes back centuries.

Always be wary of people who use the term zionist without clearly stating what definition of Zionism they're using. (Yes there are many varying definitions and many different opinions within the Jewish community about what Zionism actually is or means).

If someone is talking about "zionists", do a mental exercise. Take what they said and replace the word "zionists" with "Jews". Then try replacing it with the name of a different marginalized group that has nothing to do with this conflict. If someone was saying the same thing about Hindus or Asians, would you still want to associate with them? If the answer is no, then you shouldn't associate with them if they say those things about Jews.

"Zionist" is more and more often used as a dogwhistle for "Jew I don't agree with". I've been called a zionist for the mortal sin of expressing sorrow for the civilians slaughtered by Hamas on October 7th and sympathy for the families that still have loved ones who are being held hostage while still trying to advocate for Palestinians. Antisemites and neo Nazis have fully co-opted the term. It is very easy to criticize the Israeli government and its actions without ever talking about Zionism, so why sound like a Nazi when you don't have to?

"Zionists are the new Nazis" - 100,000% antisemitic. This is a trope called Holocaust Inversion and it is always antisemitism. No one ever gets to compare Jews to Nazis or make those kinds of Holocaust comparisons. That doesn't mean you can't talk about the reality of what is going on. Call Netanyahu a fascist shit bag all you want, I certainly do. But you don't get to compare him to Hitler.

This one tends to get pushback from people. So if you feel yourself challenging this one, or seeing others do it, ask "why the Holocaust?" Is it just that it's the only genocide people can name off the top of their head? If that's the case then they should probably do a bit more studying about genocide in the modern era before they make sweeping proclamations that amount to ahistorical nonsense. If people are talking about genocide, there are lots of other more recent examples. So why the Holocaust? What makes this situation a perfect comparison to the Holocaust but not Rwanda or Cambodia? Is it that the victims are primarily Muslim? Then why not make comparisons to Myanmar or the oppression of the Uyghurs in China? The only logical explanation for why someone would make Holocaust comparisons in this scenario is to hurt Jews, so don't do it.

(Reiterating that I am not talking about you, OP. Just that these are trends and patterns that I and others have noticed, and trying to explain how harmful statements like these are)

I'm paraphrasing because I don't remember the exact quote, but it goes something like "if there are ten Nazis at a table and you sit down with them, then there are eleven Nazis at a table".

Everyone in the Pro-Palestine movement: stop sitting at the table with Nazis.

If anyone wants additional information or further reading please feel free to reach out.

Zionist can absolutely be used as a dogwhistle to mean Jewish person. Far from always, but frequently enough that you should be worried. The white English woman who spoke at a rally for Gaza that I attended who described the Westminster government as 'a government occupied by Zionists' probably meant it as such, I reckon. The sign someone put up earlier on the same rally saying "Zionists are the new Nazis" with a swastika and a magen david (not the Israeli flag, mind, just the Magen David) almost certainly meant it as such. The two literal neo-Nazis from the Scottish neo-Nazi organisation Highland Division who attended last Saturdays march absolutely certainly meant it as such. The utter refusal to understand that there is any anti-Semitism present at all in the Palestine solidarity movement is at best naïve, and actively opens the ground for forces like that within our movement. The fact that Zionists falesly claim anti-Semitism on any and all criticism of the state of Israel only makes this more difficult for our movement, but it doesn not mean that it never exists, or that criticism of Israeli policy is never anti-Semitic. It is a very very difficult balance to strike, to struggle against Israeli apartheid and the genocide of the Palestinians without opening the way for the most dangerous politics there is, but it must be struck.

[alteredphoenix]

Be me, coming home from work and seeing a r/warcraftlore post about a Vereesa short story in that new anthology that states it confirms a long-standing fan theory: Wait, what was it again? Is it adoption? ...She’s adopted, isn’t she?

Also me: Oh wait, it’s about Sylvanas, isn’t it? Let me see if it’s what I think it is--

*see the comments on Twitter, Wowhead, r/wow, r/warcratlore, and various other users descending into chaos*

Me: *slowly backs away and closes the proverbial door*

[intermundia]

Hi! Just wanted to let you know that I saw earlier today that you and another Obikin writer I really enjoy left/had to take a break from twitter, and I wanted to send some love. I figured this might happen because that side of the fandom has become really aggressive and uncomfortable (and frankly, really creepily fetishistic), like, legit acting like schoolyard bullies over their kinks, and I wanted to send some love and support your way. You're an amazing writer and seem like a lovely person, and I'm really sorry you were made to feel so uncomfortable and unheard by what should've been your own community. No one deserves to be forced to see their identity constantly reduced a fetish, or worse, a joke. You're not alone, and you're very appreciated.

No need to post this, but I just wanted to slide some <3 to you after a rough few days (weeks, months, etc) in the Obikin fandom.

thank you, this means more than i can really say. being trans is a source of a great deal of pain in my life, pain that i do in fact get therapy for, but i'm trapped living in an area where transition is impossible, fascists bring AR-15s to pride, and there's no way for me to live a life that is authentically my own. i'm trapped in a body that i hate and has caused me just so much pain and grief.

i have used that pain and turned it into art, writing almost 700k words of obikin stories that i've given away for free to other people, especially meant for the ones suffering like me, trying to offer them solidarity and escape. people have enjoyed them and i'm proud that i've made connections with people this way. it's healed something inside of me that i hadn't known was a wound that even could heal. i guess for the first time, i didn't feel lonely. the community has given me meaning back to my life, and i am grateful beyond words.

so many people have been accepting and kind, that i took it for granted.

i just.. obikin has been the first community where i felt seen and accepted for who i was. i love obikin so much, and obikin twitter was a site i wanted to join because i kept getting links for incredible art and wanted to just see it all myself. i met such cool people there, and have had a mostly wonderful time engaging with other people who are just as obsessed with obikin as i am.

however, there is a small community of people on that site who really, really love the kink of feminizing men, drawing them in an exaggeratedly feminine style with breasts, mpreg, and lactation, and calling him "mommy" over and over, things which make me very uncomfortable, but i strongly support their right to make the art they like.

SO i have spent literal months blocking and muting every single time i see it. i know very well that my triggers are not other people's problem. it's frustrating that sometimes when i have blocked people, it's been seen as rude by the blocked people, but the alternative is to see content that makes me intently uncomfortable, so what do they want me to do? i don't shame people for liking it, again it's a ME issue, so i've tried so hard in good faith to curate my feed.

but no matter what i do, almost every time i log into twitter, i still see untagged images of kinks that i find just really upsetting. so i asked for people to tag their feminization stuff as a courtesy so that i could effectively filter it out. i didn't demand it, just explained that it hurt and like, asked for some consideration. i just figured that idk once people realized they were inadvertently hurting others they would be kind enough to stop. we're all part of the same community, and it's what I know others in the space would be kind enough to do.

it didn't seem like that big of an ask to me. idk i'm like. genuinely hurt that people would do that and don't understand why they couldn't just either tag it or block me for asking if they didn't want to. either would have been fine! it was hard seeing the general sentiment being that people should just get over it and avoid asking for help. it felt like people were choosing to be mean instead of kind, and i felt shamed and rejected from participating with everyone else bc my trauma was inconvenient.

idk i just thought in a space for queer people to enjoy transgressive fiction there would be more understanding of the diverse needs and sensibilities of the community. i think tagging kinks is a low-energy way to help protect other people who are passionate about obikin, and it makes other people feel welcome and heard in a space that's for everyone to share.

i've been really hurt by this experience, and it's started to feel like.. if my feelings don't matter as a member of the obikin community, why am i offering thousands of hours of my time to them? as someone who writes from a place of pain rooted in my trans identity, it seems pretty unfair that they're entitled to feast on the fruit of my hurt if they don't care about me as a person at all.

tldr; i left twitter and don't think i'll be going back.

[sirensmojo]

"KINDRED", 4 - Thomas Shelby x Reader.

Warnings: Swearing, romance, violence, guns, drama, slight smut(“slight”?)

Word Count: 5k+

AN: When it’s a reader and Tommy scene, it’s Tommy POV.

❰ ​Previous Chapter

Tommy leaned backwards on his desk chair, a cigarette stuck in between his index and middle fingers. He was looking at the ceiling as if its colour brought to him answers to the multiple questions that had been clouding his mind lately.

Since the day he and Y/N kissed, he noticed she had been avoiding him. She didn’t even send him the weekly book she usually dropped at the office.

He didn’t understand her, and each time he tried to put back together the pieces to get a clear view of her character, the memories of the smell of her hair brought him somewhere else. And whenever he would dare to close his eyes too long, he would taste her lips again.

Even if she chose to stay away from him, he entered her world once and appreciated it so greatly it had printed into his spirits, like a hand in wet cement.

He allowed himself to shift his thoughts to Mosley from time to time, the d-day was approaching and with it, the time he’ll take the lead of the British fascist party.

(...)

The only way Lizzie found to see her husband these days was to come back in business as Tommy’s secretary. He told her she wouldn’t have to work when they got their daughter, Ruby, but he was rarely home, and when he was, his mind was elsewhere.

Even after promising to let her in sometimes, she struggled the most to read him, but despite all, she was deeply in love with him. She had to make the effort and reach for him.

He didn’t agree with her taking back her job at first and she knew exactly why, as being responsible for her having a baby, he had to take care of her, at least he felt like he did. He was undeniably a murderer, cut-throat gangster, but he had convictions and rules to stick to.

This morning began as normal as any other for the Shelby company limited, Lizzie was occupied with papers as Tommy locked himself in his office.

The door opened, Lizzie’s gaze instantly got up, searching for who might that be. When her gaze met the figure, her jaw dropped. ‘Not again’ she thought. This scene reminds her of the time May Carleton came in here only to entice her Tommy.

She knew he didn’t owe her anything, but he could’ve waited at least a day or two before calling another woman. Not even twenty-four hours earlier Tommy was fucking her in some alley in the cold, probably thinking about a woman he knew before France. But he said he was fucking her, Lizzie, and not his lost teenage lover, even if she knew better.

Tommy and his cock.

That May Carleton was walking so confidently in front of Lizzie, she probably thought she was the one to own Tommy’s cock. If only she knew. She glared at her so strongly that May avoided looking at her at all costs.

The woman that just passed the door didn’t look her way, too occupied walking straight to the doors of Tommy’s office with the arrogance of an army.

Lizzie’s eyes went from her seemingly very expensive shoes, up her green pants suit in which pockets she kept a hand, to her suit jacket that fell perfectly on her waist as the end of which was drawing the woman’s hips. Her leather belt marked, even more, her waist and its golden details matched the imposing blue pearls necklace along with the large same looking earrings.

As soon as the woman entered the room, the atmosphere switched, her figure called the eyes, not only due to her ostentatious jewellery collection but also by the woman’s charismatic aura. Even the clicking sound her heels made on the hard ground was full of power. Anyone could hear the confidence in each of her steps, which made Lizzie gasp.

As a moth attracted to light, Tommy got out of his office, a cigarette hanging on his lips. He pressed a shoulder on the door frame, his eyes fixed on the woman walking towards him.

He was indeed waiting for her.

His deep blue eyes weren’t examining the woman’s form in an enticed way, he was solely looking at her face, a thing that made Lizzie’s heart ached because she understood there might be more than sexual attraction between them.

Lizzie knew her husband. From the way he dawdled on the woman’s face to the little waving of his shoulders, she just knew.

The atmosphere again had changed, Lizzie was now oppressed by their two presences, the warm and powerful one of the stranger and the usual cold and disconcerting one of her husband, one completing the other.

As her heart didn’t want to admit it yet, a burning look was exchanged by the two pairs of eyes, and confirmed the obvious her brain already knew, Thomas had found his match, and it wasn’t her.

(...)

Tommy took off his shoulder from the door frame and stood straight as he humidified his lips. The librarian walked to him with her usual unreadable face and when she was close enough, she grabbed his cigarette off his fingers taking her time to make their skin touch as much as she could. Her eyes were still deeply in Tommy’s as millions of sparks animated the tips of his fingers.

The man coughed and turned to Lizzie, motioning his hand to the woman behind the desk, in an attempt to ignore the sparks. “Mrs Y/L/N, meet my wife, Lizzie. Lizzie, it’s Mrs Y/L/N, the librarian I work with at the House Of Commons.” He had sensed the intense look of his wife since Y/N came closer to him.

“Mrs Shelby! I am so honoured to meet you, I heard about your typewriting skills, writing eyes closed, eh? I could never.” Y/N gave a warm smile to Lizzie that squinted her eyes in anticipation. His wife didn’t believe in what the librarian just told and he was sure Y/N knew it too.

“Yeah? Well, I never heard of you.” Lizzie spitted.

“It’s because you don’t keep company with my people.” She had the audacity to take a puff on the cigarette she stole earlier from Tommy looking his wife straight in the eyes.

Even if Y/N’s voice was calm and solemn, it was clear it was an attack. The implication made Lizzie gritted her teeth as she got up and joined them. Tommy rubbed a hand on his own face knowing exactly what she was going to do.

She stood behind the librarian. “And what business do you have here in Birmingham if you work in London?”

“You’re husband,” Y/n responded, not even turning to her. She bypassed Tommy and opened the door’s office before disappearing behind them.

Lizzie followed her with her eyes before looking up at her husband. “The fuck is she doing here? Are you going to fuck her, Thomas?”

“No, Lizzie. Am not going to fuck her.” He responded exhaling deeply.

“Yeah, take me for an fucking idiot.” She walked to the desk to grab her hat & coat. “That’s all you’re good for anyway. You fucked all Birmingham and now London, huh?” She sneered before shaking her head walking to the exit.

“Lizzie.” He called, but the woman had already closed the door.

Tommy raised his brows and sighed before turning to the office where he marked a pause. It was another type of storm he had to face now. He finally opened the door and got in, only to find Y/N seated behind his desk, in his chair.

“Tommy Shelby, OBE, what a pleasure to meet your family.”

“It was quite a show you put out there.” He closed behind him.

When he turned back at the room, she was walking toward him, but she already was pretty near.

“So you fucked all Birmingham already, hum? Trying to expand your activities in London?” Y/N leaned on him, she was so close he could smell her breath and he wondered what was her fucking problem. She ignored him for days after they kissed and here she was again, pushing him to the edges. It was almost as if it was a game for her. And if it was, she was winning all the damn rounds.

“And you? What’s with the attitude?”

“What are you talking about.” She took a step back.

“You have been busy this week, eh?” Tommy walked to the counter and poured whiskey in two glasses.

“Well, the man you have your little brother watching, he talks.” She loosely let out. “The bookmaker Billy Grade, the one that conducts the football betting business” She paused looking at Tommy’s surprised expression. “He doesn’t like Arthur.”

“To who?” Was the simple question he needed an answer to.

“I made moves with Mosley so, yes, it had been a busy week, Thomas.”

At the revelation, Tommy’s eyes squinted. If there was one thing he learnt with Grace was to make sure his feelings weren’t a shackle to business.

“I’m not betraying you, no need for these wrinkles at the corner of your eyes. But you gotta know he’s offered me the South.” She went to the counter and took the glasses before sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk, one cup in her hand, the other she put on one of the numerous files covering the desk.

Tommy went sitting in his armchair. He lit a cigarette and held one to the woman that declined.

“Only like to take yours.” She gave as an explanation.

“How come he offered you the south?” He ignored her comment.

“North’s Mc Cavern’s, Middle’s yours, South’s vacant. But I have another plan for the South, and you might agree with me as well.” A rictus took place at the corner of her lips, as Tommy looked at her, curious. “Mr Solomons. I know he wrote you that he’s still alive.”

Tommy’s lids fluttered a couple times, he didn’t say anything. How could she know so much all the time? Was she listening to him or something? He for a second thought it might be her spying on him on the phone but this idea went away almost immediately.

She wasn’t Grace.

“He and I are great friends. Not as if he really has any, but do I?” She muttered utterly to herself.

Tommy coughed and leaned back on his chair, making himself comfortable.

“What’s with you, Tommy?” Asked the librarian, and he himself couldn’t put a finger on what was going on. It was always that way when she was around, but everything intensified when they leaned their breath as one and connected together.

His mind was so full of thoughts that had nothing to do with business that it was hard for him to concentrate. But for some reason, he just couldn’t push those thoughts aside.

He wanted her, he yearned for her to touch him the way she did that night, to intertwine their fingers together again and forget about Mosley for an instant, just one. Tommy humidified his lips again as raising his eyebrows, it was like his lips were always dry or incomplete. Her lips belonged on his. He raised his gaze to her in distress.

“You want to come to me house, Tommy? Again?” Her voice resonated in his head, her words taking him by surprise.

“Huh?”

“Have a drink or two, meet my cat...” She went on, looking intently at his soul hiding behind his icy blue iris.

He didn’t recognize her, but did he even know her? It seems not. Every time they meet, she puts another mask on. Somewhere in his soul, he believed it wasn’t a good idea, that thing they shared. But he knew he couldn’t turn away and break the partnership. Not now. Not only could she be hard to beat if they turned to enemies, but he also needed her, she was part of his business now. She was too precious an ally for him to withdraw from the deal.

As he didn’t respond, she drank from her cup, finishing its countenance in one go. “I’ll ask Arthur then...replace his Linda.” She added looking up to the ceiling innocently.

“The fuck did you say?” He hustled to spit as watching her without blinking.

Her gaze went back on Tommy, a playful gleam animating her pupils.

“What do you say?” She sent him back the ball. It was indeed a game for her, and he knew once again she would be the winner because he wouldn’t say no.

He tried to escape her game by coughing it away and smoked his cigarette. “How are you going to bring up Alfie Solomons with Mosley?” He went back on business, but the woman didn’t seem ready yet to give up.

She got up and grabbed the phone with one hand as the other was dialling a number. She sat at the corner of the desk, turning toward the Shelby brother and the phone. Tommy watched her movements closely, curious about how she was going to handle him dismissing her offer.

He couldn’t even hide the fact her stubbornness did something to him, even if he repressed any desire for her. It was as if they were the principal characters in the regency era drama he ended up devouring as it was the book Y/N was reading on their first meeting.

He was so deep in thought he didn’t hear the librarian asking the cable woman to put her in connection with the individual she intended to reach.

“Yeah, Arthur, it’s me. I wonder if you would wa--” Tommy had heard enough. He hung up the line and fixed the phone for what feels like centuries, slowly realizing what his reaction meant.

The Y/E/C eyes woman remained silent, a silence that felt heavy on Tommy’s conscience. He straightened back and leaned on the back of his chair, glancing at the ceiling.

He was done with those games. He couldn’t believe he dove into her crude farce head first, and now he had to face her because she had been staring at him the last minute.

“You’re a devil.” He let the words lazily slip between his lips.

“Call me Lilith.” She spiritedly exclaimed. Tommy’s eyes went to her face at that exact moment.

“So you’re jew, eh? That explains why you know Alfie, but contradicts the fact you and Mosley are close.” Tommy thought out loud. According to his memories, Lilith was a demon of the jew tradition, which led him to his conclusion.

The woman instantly smiled, seemingly very content about the Shelby head struggling to catch her.

“Fair enough.”

“You come to my house?”

“I was talking about the comparison.” He paused, looking at her blankly.

She sighed.

No doubt she was annoyed by Tommy’s behaviour, but she won way too much at their little game. It was about time Tommy won. It was unusual of him to be that shallow but it was their intimate space, so he didn’t care.

(...)

Gina couldn’t see anything when the abductors took her out of the car to lead her down some stairs into what she surmised to be a cellar, she already had a piece of cloth hiding her vision and one in her mouth, preventing her from screaming.

She was petrified and the fact the individuals didn’t say a word, neither during the ride nor once in the room didn’t help her. She could feel heavy drops of sweat rolling down her forehead as dried tears itched the corners of her eyes.

The place was colder than what she remembered a cellar to be. Flashes of her childhood coming back to her from time to time.

“THREE… TWO… ONE… ZERO. I’M COMING GINA!” Her cousin shouted from the kitchen where they last saw each other. The little girl used to come down in the cellar to hide when playing hide and seek with any member of her family, from her cousins to her father.

As her mother was severely ill, she couldn’t play with Gina, but her father always did. When not leading the believers to sing the praises of the Almighty at the local church, he was both a father and a mother to her.

Although her mother & herself loved each other more than anything, she soon stopped seeing her. When at first her father let Gina visit the room of her mother once a day, it decreased from once a week, to once a month to simply never.

Despite the child doggedly asking for her mother, he remained unyielding and managed to keep his daughter away from her mother for her own sake.

It was only when growing older and after the death of her mother that Gina understood her father’s demeanour. He was desperate not to let his daughter watch her mother die.

This time, the cellar didn’t feel familiar and it’s not a joyful feeling that resides in her. Her body reacting to the cold, she was shivering as goosebumps appeared at the same time as she heard footsteps coming her way. Her blood boiling like hot water, she struggled to breathe.

“Call her father.” Gina heard a female voice she had never heard before. She listened to footsteps receding before a whimper escaped her throat.

“Well, you heard the woman, let her talk.” The voice ordered. And just like that, her mouth got freed. “Go on.” The female voice seemed to address her directly.

“What do you want with my father?” She managed to say after she moved her jaws to get rid of the piece of cloth’s taste.

“He’s an old friend.”

“Can’t you just call like normal people instead of abducting his child?” Gina murmured, not totally relieved from the fear. She wanted to appear unmoved and plucked all the courage left in her to get an untroubled voice.

“I know you, Gina.” The voice started, getting closer. “You alright? You’re trembling.” Well, it seems like all the effort she put in wasn’t enough, her true emotions were discovered.

“You know me, huh? So you know as soon as you detach me I’ll assault you and spit right in your face, right?” She angrily let out, she didn’t accept to be defeated nor seen while being vulnerable and defenceless.

But it seems like the individual challenged her, because she heard someone pass behind her and loosen the cords holding back her hands. At the same moment, the piece of cloth blinding her fell on her collarbones.

Before her, stood straight a woman with a closed face, her facial traits weren’t aggressive, but in her eyes, Gina could swear she saw in there an untamed fire. Her brown eyes slid to a sitting white dog near the stranger, it looked like a wolf, even its huge size reminded her of the fierce beast she read about as a teenager.

It was ridiculous to see this situation unleashed the least probable memories of her youth into her mind as vividly as yesterday.

“Who are you? What do you want?” The woman before Gina mimicked her voice, a smile drawing on her lips. “They always ask the same questions.” She shrugged her shoulders seeing Gina’s surprised expression. The freshly Gray woman closed her mouth that was slightly open in an “o” shape and clenched her jaw.

“Well, I need your father to come here, in England. And you,” she tapped Gina’s end of nose, “you’re the thing that’ll make him travel the world all the way to Birmingham. To my greatest pleasure,” She patted her own chest before motioning to Gina, “and much to your displeasure.”

Gina didn’t even know what to say, she used the time the woman spent talking to massage her wrists as the cords were tied very tight. Her gaze dawdled on the woman in front of her, she was wearing a very long purple coat to which two buttons situated at the waist of its owner were closed. She also wore black lace gloves with ostentatious golden rings above the fabric. The diamonds of her rings were blue, matching her earrings. When the woman turned to the side to pat her dog’s head, Gina noticed she had braided her hair in a single braid that fell on her back.

The woman crouched down for her eyes to be at the same level as the dog’s ones, one of her hands scratching its head. “One single word and it attacks you, so you better behave.” She turned her head to Gina, warning her. The blonde woman glared at the other before glancing toward the dog in anticipation.

Y/N got back up and turned her back to Gina as she started to walk toward the stairs. “Get comfortable, it’s your new home for a few days.”

“What, you’re leaving me in this? With the dog?” She screamed at the Y/H/C haired woman.

“If I were you, I’d avoid screaming, Gina doesn’t like too loud noises.” She waved goodbye as answering without even glancing toward Gray.

“What?” Gina asked, confusion in her voice.

Y/N chuckled a bit before turning around, her index went from the dog to Gina, “Yeah, meet your twin.” She walked backwards a couple of seconds before turning back to the stairs and climbing them.

(...)

House Of Commons, London.

The door of Tommy’s office abruptly opened on an angry Michael.

The Shelby brother that was pouring himself some whisky glanced at his cousin. “Michael.” He welcomed.

“Where the fuck is my wife, Tommy?” Gray asked, frowning.

“What?” He squinted his eyes.

“Where. The. Fuck. Is. My. Wife.” Michael spitted each word, looking straight into his older cousin’s eyes.

Tom blinked a couple times, not understanding the request.

“Days ago when coming back from the fucking restaurant some fucking people took her.” The younger Gray calmed a bit, seeing that Tommy truly didn’t know what he was talking about.

“How did they look?” Tom asked, concerned. Even if Michael might have betrayed him, he was family still and anyone jeopardizing the life of a member of the Shelby clan or someone related to them should taste the sweet fondles of death’s fingers.

“Men in fucking black.” Michael started to pace up and down, both his hands passing over his face. “I’m getting mad, Tom, me head fucking all over the place...” He continued.

“Men, no women?” Tommy brows raised, he had to ask. He remembered the conversation he had with that librarian when she was telling him she thought Gina was the weakness and force of his cousin and that she might do something about it.

“No.” Michael stated firmly. Tommy’s tensed shoulders relaxed. “Or..” Tommy raised his brows. “I don’t know, Tom. Fuck.”

“We’re going to find her, Michael. Stay in your hotel room, stay put, near the phone, right?” The Shelbys' head tapped his cousin’s shoulder before leaving the office.

(...)

He stopped the car near the portals and got out, a cigarette hanging on his lips. Tommy walked the pointlessly long alley, by-passing a ton of fountains and trimmed bushes of different forms and shapes.

The fair distance gave him time to rethink everything that concerned Y/N and his relationship with her. If she truly was behind the disappearance of his cousin’s wife, he would have to deal with her, meaning going to war, which was far from the plan since he entered politics.

He knocked on the door without waiting any further once he joined the principal door. He was looking intently at the windows trying to see a silhouette through it or an ignited light of some sort, but nothing.

The door abruptly opened, making a loud noise and the figure of the librarian was to be seen. Tommy raised his hand to her face, pointing his gun at her, but when her body was fully visible thanks to the moon shining, he blinked, bewildered.

His eyes dropped on a Y/N only dressed with an emeraude lace nightgown. The top was all see-through, but it didn’t stop him from cocking the gun and hold it steady in between her eyebrows. Even though he was here because he suspected her to have turned her back to him, his body reacted a whole different way to the view. His heart started to pounder in his chest as a warmth suddenly took prisoner his upper body. He swallowed in an attempt to dismiss the feeling ready to burst out.

“Missing our start?” She let out, not even pretending to be scared or shook by the situation. As a matter of fact, in their second meeting, Tom indeed pulled a gun at her, how could he forget that. Nobody ever had the nerve to threaten him on his own doorsteps, but of course, she did.

“Where’s Gina?” He ignored she was half-naked along with her remark.

“What the fuck, Thomas?” One of her eyebrows raised in confusion. “What’s happened?”

Tommy switched the position of his fingers, putting his index right on top of the trigger to make known he knew she was lying.

As she felt the danger, the woman banged the door on Tom’s face and not even a second later, he heard bullets being fired as he saw holes drawing through the door. The time stopped, or at least everything appeared as slower.

He instinctively put his arms over his head and kneeled as other bullets were being fired, he managed his way to the wall of the mansion, staying down.

“Fucking hell, Y/N!” He shouted his lungs out, his ears whistling due to the bullets’ noise.

“Remember when I warned you, Thomas. You pull a gun, I shoot!” She accentuated the last part, her tone underlined by anger.

“Why did you take her?” He kept his head close to the wall as shaking it, trying to totally recover his hearing.

“You should’ve asked that when you could, Sergent Major.” She calmly stated.

Tommy could hear she was re-loading her gun.

He looked at the gravels under him and recognized the bullet belonging to a rifle. He frowned, wondering how come she got a rifle.

“No. Put down the rifle, I'm throwing me gun.” He said loudly before dropping his gun in the grass far away from him, his weapon made a muffled noise while encountering the ground.

He didn’t hear anything for a minute that seems to last hours. The night breeze came fondling his face, helping him to ease his breath as the silence made him fully recover his hearing.

The front door opened, and Y/N peeked through. Only one of her Y/E/C eyes was to be seen, and even if her pupil was dilated due to the adrenaline, her look seemed concerned. “Are you hurt?” She solemnly asked, she, as well, being out of breath.

Tommy shook his head on both sides before he managed to stand, helped by the wall.

“You mad woman.” He closed his eyes as taking a deep breath in, knowing she wouldn't try to kill him tonight. When he opened his eyes again, she was in front of him, barefoot on the gravel.

“Sorry… I tend to lose my shit when I’m in danger.” She placed the rifle hanging around her neck to her side, a hand holding it still.

“You weren’t. I wasn’t gonna fucking shot, just trying to scare you.”

“...Well you angered me.” She hesitated in even giving him an answer. She finally decided she didn't need the rifle anymore and went placing it against the wall.

“Not fear, eh?” He teased, and she shook her head as a response.

“Why the fuck did you take Gina away? Michael’s all over the place, he even came to me. The boy’s fucking losing it.”

“Well, firstly, he deserved a little reminding he was still a boy as you correctly underlined,” she raised her brows looking at him, “secondly, after further research, I found it I know her father. Long story short, he’s the only one to be able to deal with her uncle if we don’t want any blood spilt.”

“Fucking was about to spill me gut on your doorstep, the fuck you care about spilt blood, Y/N?” He furrowed his brows as agitating one of his hands, motioning to the ground beneath their feet.

“Yeah,” she acquiesced, “not me that cares about fucking family. It’s you.”

That’s when he realized how serious she took their partnership. When he thought she was solely doing what fitted her best, she indeed took into consideration Tommy's convictions. She took seriously the fact he didn't want the family to be hurt. And although he ranged on her side regarding scaring Michael a bit to make him realize something, he never thought of Y/N to be tough enough to act with as much strategy as ruthlessness. She definitely outdid him in this case.

This sudden realisation aroused something in him. She cared. Even if the care she gave was nonetheless peculiar and typical to her character, she did what she could with what she had right? And right now she was working with him with as much resilience and fierceness as she would do with her own organisation.

“If it was up to me, fucking bullets to the head for both of ‘em and we done.” She dismissively worded as looking afar. “Where’s your gun?” She lazily looked back at him.

Tommy hesitated a short period of time before he grabbed her wrist and pulled her against himself. She didn’t push him away as he neared his face near her, she was the one sealing their lips together. This time, none of them were eager for the other, their kiss was light, soft and pure, contrasting with the chaotic situation they put themselves in.

The blue-eyed man slipped a hand on her back, fondling her skin above the piece of cloth covering her body while she reached for the button of his pants under his coat.

The atmosphere switched, not even seconds earlier it was love talking, now it was a whole another emotion ruling them.

Tom started to walk toward the door, forcing her to walk backwards. When she understood what he intended to do she murmured a soft “No.” and he opened his eyes darkened by desire and urge, looking into hers that were screaming for sex.

A smile grew on her lips as she went sticking her back to the nearest wall, her fingers strongly gripping on the man’s tie. He didn’t break the eye contact and joined her, flattening one of his hands on the cold wall. The warmth of his longing for the woman added to the coldness of the night were mixing together so well he felt a little dizzy.

He couldn’t think about how often he imagined them during their first time or how often he tried to picture Y/N’s curves in his head but his body somehow knew how much he wanted this. His hands were dawdling on any portion of her figure he could find, gulping each piece that was giving to him as if she was the first woman he’d ever touched.

Each kiss enticed him a bit more and whenever he closed his eyes he could literally see fireworks exploding everywhere in him. And whenever he would open them, he would find Y/N looking intently at him, her expression revealing everything she could never tell him, her feelings for him as well as her deepest fear, frustrations & beyond, her eyes being the messenger of the immensity of a soul, to another.

She quickly got to his bum she previously teased with one knee before reaching for his length.

Her cold fingers struck it a few times before she came aligning him with the distress for feeling him inside.

Once he was perfectly aligned, she released him and reunited her lips to his, where they belonged, giving him the green light. He thrust slowly at first, letting her some time to get used to his size. She murmured a low “Tommy...”, her legs encircling his hips as he grabbed one of them firmly. He was keeping her as close to him as possible, making sure their bodies were as connected as their souls were. He ultimately began to come and go, increasing his pace as time passed by.

Her high pitched moans came directly to his ears, the best sounds he’s heard out of his entire life without a doubt.

Following Chapter ❱

[dessarious]

What Makes a Family? Pt2

AO3   Beginning    Next

Alfred waited until everyone was out of the kitchen before pulling a burner phone out of his pocket. All that was on it was one text; we need to talk.

Master Bruce had always been paranoid, but this specific phone had never been used. The man insisted on a way to contact Alfred that none of his family knew about, but he'd never found it necessary before. Whatever had prompted that text had to be serious. When he got to the man's study, he didn't even knock before entering.

"Lock the door please." His voice was strained and Alfred began to wonder if he'd somehow missed signs of illness or even just more stress than normal. After the door was secure Bruce handed him a piece of paper. "You remember how after Damian showed up, I started monitoring DNA databases to try to avoid more surprises?"

Alfred just nodded as he read down through the paper. His shock at the content was well hidden since he didn't want to add even more stress to the situation. For some reason all the Wayne's seemed to think the world was ending if something happened he wasn't prepared for.

"This is certainly strange. Have you looked into the girl at all?" Strange didn't even cover it. With that genetic makeup they could easily be looking at another Damian and most of the house barely survived the first one.

"It’s rather hard to do an intensive search without Tim or Barbara finding out. All I really know is that she's seventeen and a student in Paris. Alfred what should I do?" Bruce sounded like he was on the verge of panic. Only his kids had the ability to do that.

"Well, as you said, she is seventeen. It's possible she may not even want to get to know you, or the family. I think the prudent thing to do would be make contact and see what she's comfortable with."

"That makes sense, but how? Sending a lawyer seems too impersonal and aggressive but if I go myself won't that be pushy?" He started muttering to himself and Alfred just waited. Suddenly his eyes lit up. "You could go!"

"I bed your pardon?" Honestly he figured the man would settle on Master Richard given he was the least threatening. "If I leave while you're all still here, chances of someone blowing up the house are incredibly high. Not to mention the maiming that is likely to occur." Bruce thought for a moment and Alfred could see the moment he dismissed the objections.

"It won't be that bad and you're the perfect person to talk to her. As far as the public knows you've been with the family forever but aren't part of it. Not to mention you're most equipped to get a good read on her and see if we'll need to monitor her actions." Alfred wanted to argue with him. Unfortunately he was right. About him being the best person to send not about how they would fare in his absence.

"There will be conditions." He watched Bruce blink at him in confusion. "First, everyone will be told I'm going on a long overdue vacation. Second, they will all sign agreements to stay out of the kitchen entirely as well as agreeing to no weapons outside the Batcave. That includes fire." Bruce just nodded along like there wouldn't be an issue. Alfred could already hear the objections. "Third, you will abide by the girl's decision about contact and my decision about whether monitoring is required. No arguments." Bruce looked more hesitant at that one, but still nodded. "And fourth, no one tells Damian about her unless she decides she wants to have contact with the family. I don't trust him to not see her as a threat to his position, especially with her pedigree and the fact that she's older."

---------------------------------------------

As Ladybug watched Chat bound away, she was overcome with a feeling of time running out. She really hated her Guardian instincts at times like this. She knew something was going to happen but couldn’t pinpoint what or how severe it would be. Frustrating didn’t even begin to cover it.

“You look like you’re thinking deep thoughts Bug.” Wasp sauntered over and used her head to lean on. Chloe had hit a rather large growth spurt making her just over six foot tall. Ever since she tended to use Mari’s head as a resting place. It had annoyed her at first but given Chloe’s issues with affection she knew that physical contact of any kind was a compliment.

“I just can’t shake the feeling that none of this will end until there’s a true Black Cat holder. And I’m dreading what I’ll have to do once they show up.” Taking Adrien’s Miraculous would devastate him. As much as he annoyed her and as much as he was a liability she couldn’t bring herself to strip him of one of the few good things in his life. Not without it being necessary.

“You should do it when he turns eighteen regardless of whether you’ve found the true holder.” Ladybug looked at Wasp in surprise. “He’ll have to grow a pair and stand up to his father eventually. Once he turns eighteen his father can’t stop him from living the life he wants. He’s got plenty of money in his personal accounts and more than enough contacts to stay away from Gabriel. He needs to become his own person without this as a crutch. Otherwise he’ll just stay the same and never get out from under his father’s influence.” She hadn’t thought about it like that, but Wasp was right. Adrien hadn’t matured at all since she’d known him. He had no reason to. It still wasn’t something she was looking forward to.

“So how’s the new school?” Wasp wrinkled her nose in annoyance and Ladybug laughed. Her father had decided to throw her into a private school that specialized in getting their kids into the most prestigious universities. He was dead set on Chloe going to the best business school he could find. Chloe was less than thrilled.

“I called the principal a fascist neandertal and almost got expelled.” That didn’t sound like her.

“Almost? What went wrong?” Wasp sighed.

“Daddy called and threatened to stop any type of permits they needed for improvements or new construction and launch an investigation into their finances if they did. Having that kind of pull at my disposal was great before, but now he’s using it against me. Given how quickly they caved when he mentioned auditing their finances I don’t even think it’s possible to get thrown out now.”

“Did you tell him what you actually want to do?”

“He just laughed, like it was all a big joke.” Ladybug reached over and squeezed her hand.

“Chat’s not the only one turning eighteen soon. In the meantime, you can hide at my house more often. You know my parents love teaching you how to cook and bake.” That got a small smile at least.

“I appreciate that. I just wish…” Rather than finish the thought, she turned abruptly and headed out. Ladybug just let out a sigh. She couldn’t even imagine having parents so against what you wanted to do with your life. Granted, she wouldn’t have expected Chloe’s dream to be becoming a chef, but it was her dream and given her taste and attention to detail, she’d probably be fantastic at it. Neither one of her parents would even entertain the thought.

“Everything alright?” Viperion’s question brought her back to the present and she nodded.

“Same as always. Let’s go home.” Home was always her house. Kagami’s mother made her home untenable for them and Luka was reluctant to be open with their relationship around his sister while she was still friends with Lila. He didn’t want to make things harder on them. As she led her partners through the now quiet streets of Paris, she got a new feeling. Something big was coming. Good or bad, she had absolutely no clue.

AO3   Beginning   Next

Ko-Fi

Tag List

@moonystars14 @ladybug-182 @elmokingkong @smolplantmum @jessigurl-design @trippingovermyfeet @its-salty-bug

[scintillatingshortgirl19]

Loki Episode 3 Rewatch

First of all, the positive:

Still super happy about the Hayley Kiyoko song. Out of all the things I expected to be included in this series Lesbian Jesus was not one of them but I am not complaining

I thought the soundtrack in this one was great

Since this was my third watch I was going to skip the non-Loki scene at the beginning but Hunter C-20 is just too pretty so alas, it could not be done

I would like to point out that Loki has touched/run his hands through his hair at least once in every episode. I approve, keep up the good work sweetie.

Although the episode automatically loses points for no crying

Teleportation yayyyyy

I love the sibling dynamic between the two of them

CANON QUEER LOKI

I now have a lot of feelings about the drunk scene thanks to this post. 

I couldn’t tell if Sylvie could understand what Loki was singing? Does she know Asgardian? I can't tell from her face if she understands the words or not. She seems a little weirded out by him singing to her (understandable) and just kind of raises her eyebrows at him, but I can’t tell if this is a “what the fuck are you singing to me?” or simply a “why the fuck are you singing to me?” face (it could be both).

Loved Loki's concern for the TVA people being variants

Speaking of which, I'm very glad to see them beginning to frame the TVA as bad and calling them fascists

Once again, really, really appreciate them letting Loki verbally show concern for the people who are going to die

Nothing to see here just my boy casually stopping a giant falling building in midair

Speaking of magic, I really hope Loki gets to learn how to enchant people at some point in the series.

Overall I thought that last scene was pretty great. Excellent music, visually amazing, Loki getting to use magic and fight people (and looking lovely while doing it), just an all around good scene.

Once again I say - that was one hell of a cliffhanger

Ok, now the negative:

It was kind of weird that Loki just let Sylvie touch him at the beginning? Even if he didn't feel threatened by her, I don't think he'd just...let someone put their hands on his neck?

Imo, the scene where Loki gets them on the train by impersonating a guard is a characterization mess. I can see Loki in it but only if I squint real, real hard and it might just be a trick of the light.

I'm aware that I'm taking this one too personally and it was likely just a matter of the writers not thinking things through, but the scene where Loki missed with the dagger genuinely felt like a slap in the face. Especially with the way it was set up, with him taking aim and it seeming like it was going to be a cool moment. It felt like "oh, you thought Loki was finally going to get a badass moment? Lol think again!" I feel like we keep getting little glimpses of badass Loki and then they're ripped away from us? Anyway nothing in previous canon has indicated that Loki would ever miss a throw like that so I'm just going to chalk that up to a weird moment and continue headcanoning Loki as someone who has impeccable weapon aim even when impaired, fuck you very much

This was a confusing episode to process for me because despite the fact that Loki used more magic in this episode than all the films combined, he simultaneously felt very underpowered to me overall. It's like if he uses magic he suddenly loses dagger skill and intellect (and apparently according to the films, if he uses his mind and his knives he doesn't get to use magic). Can Loki be allowed to use magic and be smart and be good at throwing daggers all at the same time please??

I honestly really like Sylvie but it felt to me like they were using her as a foil to make Loki look inferior/incompetent and uhhhh I'm not a fan

@delyth88 as well as some others said something about Sylvie feeling more like our Loki than Loki does and unfortunately I think I agree. The way she speaks as well as her actual dialogue literally sound more Loki-like.

This is pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things (and I debated even mentioning it), but I don't understand why he keeps putting his hands on his hips. I thought it looked weird in the first episode when he does it right before being arrested, and I think it looks weird now. He's never done that in the films but he’s doing it all the time in the series? I don't have any real reason to back up why I don't like it, so no shade at all to anyone who does - imo it just doesn't fit and feels like a mannerism that belongs to another character. 

I think some of my negative feels about this one come from a disappointment factor. I was, however cautiously, expecting the ooc stuff to be lessened a lot in this episode - but there were some pretty rough ooc moments in this one for me. Because of how the last one ended, I thought there would be a tonal shift in episode 3. And I now feel like that shift is going to happen in the next episode, and I hate to get my hopes up again because I kind of got burned doing that with this last one. But, ugh, it really does seem like it could happen and it would actually make more sense with episode 4 being the start of the second half of the series...so idk??

[aphspain-pure]

Spanish Gold in Moscow

@hetaliamondaychallenge September 28: “Chaos isn’t meant to be understood”. 

Category: Fanfic. 

Pair: RusSpa (Russia x Spain).

Words: 2.073.

Genre: Historical, Drama, angst, shounen-ai. 

Note(s): During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) the Sencond Spanish Republic was completely ignored by Europe, while the fascist that had rebealed were helped by some militar forces. Spain was basically used as a test game of the military armament and strategy before the 2WW. The only country that gave real help to the Republic was the USSR. To finance the war, the government spent all the Spanish gold. 

1938

With an absolute ill look in his face, Spain, who still liked to considerate himself as the Second Spanish Republic, moved his gaze to the door that opened a few seconds before.

Nations could perceive other nations in a certain rate, so he wasn’t really surprised when the other entered the room; he had sensed him from far away, knowing he was leading to his position. Weary eyes without the so-called typical Spanish shine looked at the other, a little smile crossing his feverish face.

- Buenos días, Rusia.

Right in front of him, heavy, enormous and clearly powerful, the actual leader of the giant Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Russia, stared back at him with his famous sweet smile. Spain didn’t have known him till a pair of centuries ago, but he knew about this certain characteristic even before personally meeting him. He heard from France, England, Prussia, Austria and even Denmark about this “gentle look monster” that was so big and terrifying in the east.

Anyway, Spain didn’t have really hated this guy even once; he was actually grateful for his performance during the Napoleonic wars, though. If it wouldn’t have been for the Russian forces, France’s troops wouldn’t have retired from his vital territory and he wouldn’t have regained his independence. He sighed, trying to get rid of the thoughts of the past.

He was now, currently, going to lose his independence against his own people, in the middle of the worst civil war he had ever have –and Spain was certainly a country that had endured quite some civil wars-.

A strong ache tortured his mind while he suffered a new wave of deaths. Every time his people died, his body would burn and a painful sensation split him in two. They were dying at that very moment, out there, in the valley of the Ebro, killing each other in a battle that had been going on for months. He nearly cried, but couldn’t afford doing it in front of the power that was standing over there, staring at him with a complicated look in his eyes.

After a few moments, Russia, still smiling even if Spain’s looks were terrible, spoke with a calmed voice. – How are your wounds? –he had asked.

A quick smile was formed in the Spaniard’s mouth, quite ironic.

- Well, my right arm has grown up again, so I can’t complain.

Russia stared at the renewed arm, where a few days ago only a stump could have been appreciated. They, nations, received wounds just like humans but their bodies weren’t actually the same. If they were cut, they would recover; if they lost blood, after resting for a while they’d be up again; if they were burn till ashes, they would start to be reborn just like a Fenix. If they were killed, they wouldn’t die.

Only another nation could kill one.

Even if Spain had lately started to question if a nation could kill itself, just like how he was feeling during these days in which he thought he was actually going to be destroyed by his own people.

Russia’s hand reached him and touched his back. He jumped for a moment, sored. He then relaxed, looking far away and not giving attention to the hands that touched his still bleeding injuries. 

When a certain happening was so bad, so traumatic, that it gave the nations nearly-coma state, the injuries would still remain bleeding some time. Sometimes it lasted days, sometimes centuries. Those were produced by the bombing, the Biltz, in Guernica, and they still bleed after a year.

He trembled, just by remembering it. The hand in his back made him shiver in pain, but it was the most comforting thing he could afford to have those days, so he didn’t say anything.

Then, he gained composure and faced the other.  - What are you doin’ here, anyway? I thought you were going back at your place for some bureaucracy stuff.

Russia remained silent.

That silence made Spain worry.

He didn’t hate Russia at all. He was nice to him, and every time they had met he could only see a true innocence behind the brute and scary dude everyone saw. He liked him quite a bit, and he lately, during his few peaceful years with a Republic, found out that he was such an intelligent and interesting chat partner. Thanks to the leftist ideology of his government the relations with the Soviet Union had been pretty good, so they had become nearly friends at this point.

He even had became the only nation helping him in this suicidal situation.

During civil wars Spain, normally, stayed apart and watched his people decide his fate. He disliked choosing between his beloved people, so que stayed aside.

This time, he couldn’t.

He had seen what happened with Italy after the Great War. The fascism grow up and ate Ita-chan and Romano completely. The brutality that came with it made Spain shiver from his position in the neighbour peninsula. He didn’t recognise his cute Italian brothers with those black shirts and that dark look in their face. Then it expanded to Germany and developed into the National Socialism, which happened to be even worse. A virus was expanding all over Europe and even reached his brother, Portugal.

Spain could have seen it coming. He even spoke with a few general of the army and old requetés, he tried to create a flexible government just to evade the incoming clash. But it was all in vain.

The military coup happened, and while it wasn’t effective, war broke out.

It may be pathetic coming from a country that used to be a world power but, this time, Spain feared his people. That’s why he stayed with the republicans. That’s why he suddenly started dying from the insides.

And while Spain was in that desperate situation, Europe didn’t mind at all and, trying to avoid a Second World War, signed a No Intervention Pact in which 27 countries swore not to intervene in his civil war. That had broken Spain’s heart, who found himself suddenly isolated and left apart, left to die alone. It was even worse when, even if knowing it, the United Kingdom looked away while the Nazi Germany and Mussolini’s Italy broke that pact and helped the rebels. He couldn’t believe England’s coward attitude.

But it was kinda worst when he watched his closest friends actually attack him, help the fascist rebels.

First, the Italian brothers; then, Germany, Austria and Prussia under the name of the Third Reich. Portugal also attacked the Republic by sending his Viriatos and even the American self-proclaimed Hero’s Ford Company sent help to destroy him. All his old friends were against him. He, on the other hand, only received some fusils from Mexico and a few airplanes from a very scared France, who refused to send more help. The only one who lent him it’s power was the Soviet Union, or preferably Russia.

He still remembered when he had met Romano in the site of Toledo. Romano had been excited, he spoke about autarchy, about having a great colonial empire, and about things such as war being the way through the future. His golden eyes sparkled when he had, for the first time in centuries, hugged Spain.

If you join us I promise we’ll bring this to an end.  –he had whispered, while speaking about how great it was being a fascist country.

He had been then, suddenly, pulled apart by a giant body that happened to be his ally, Russia, who looked at Romano with electric violet cruel eyes. Spain could have said something to stop a conflict, but, when he looked at Roma, he couldn’t longer see his cute tomato-like crybaby. In the past Romano would have cried and call him to save him but, then, he held his gaze prideful, strong and dangerous in front of the terrible Russia.

A bombing had made them react and, when he came to himself, he was with the International Brigades heading to Madrid.

Remembering all of that made him feel sick and hided half of his face while looking at the floor with a tired smile.  

He suddenly had an urge to vomit, but he managed to stay calm and recover a moment later. – Sorry, I beg you excuse me. My house is total chaos now, no, wait… EUROPE is a total chaos now, haha…! I don’t understand how or why, but it makes me think things a way too much.

- Chaos isn’t meant to be understood.

That statement made Spain stay quiet and, then, he looked with his nearly dead green eyes at the other.

- I’m going to ask again, Russia. –he said, this time, cautious-. Why are you here?  

- You haven’t paid me to help you lately.

And if he had frozen before, this time Spain had lost all the blood of his veins.

He started sweating. He wanted to cry, but he couldn’t.

- Y-yeah, I-I know… It’s just that all the gold that I’ve been keeping in my reserves has been already taken to Moscow, so I-I…

Russia’s voice was sweet but cold as ice. – You’re not going to pay for my services.

The Spaniard’s eyes opened at his full.

- No! Don’t even think ‘bout that! I’ll pay, I swear it! It’s just that, right now, my people are starving, we don’t have armament and the industry it’s all stopped. I can’t now but, when we win, I’ll return what I owe! A-and I’ll even make it double…! I’ll work hard, I swear. But, now, with all my old gold gone, I…

- So you’re not paying.

The calmed voice made Spain feel like if he were to hyperventilate. He felt like crashing. Like glass about to break.

- I’m not. –he confirmed then.

The taller man stood up, and Spain followed him, clearly desperate.

- Y-you can’t leave me, Russia! If I don’t have your help I’m lost! –after hearing those words the Slavic turned around and faced him, with his so-typical smile in his face.

- So you’ll pay me?

The brunette looked away, clearly ashamed. – I have… nothing to pay you with. B-but I promise..!

- Нет. You can pay me. –response that took an ¿hah..? out of Spain. Russia laughed in a calmed way and then, explained. – Even if you don’t have anything you still possess your body, da?

And Spain’s eyes darkened.

Ah, true. Nation prostitution.

It had been a while.

It used to be so common in the past that he didn’t know why he felt so surprised when Russia suggested it. It may have been ‘cause Russia is fairly younger than himself, or ‘cause the times have changed. He had been so accustomed to it even when he was a child that it wasn’t so much of a surprise finding out that some new power wanted to take advantage of his position to appeal to this. Spain could easily remember when he was forced to be Rome’s or the Islamic Empire’s sex-boy, or even Turkey’s or France’s. Well, he had also been like that with some nations; but, well, let he who is without sin cast the first stone, and he was also a sinner after all.  

He looked back at Russia and sighed. – Is this old damaged body worth all the gold I could have had afford to pay you weeks before? –and Russia’s aura became surprisingly pink, just like a happy kid’s.

- And much more! I’m happy so I’ll help you.

And leaned forward to kiss Spain’s forehead. Spain rised an eyebrow, but let him be, anyway. He needed help and Russia was eager to help him only receiving some affectionate touches here and there in return. There were worst things he could have had to do.

Another wave of pain drove him crazy sored and let himself drown in the straw bed he had been using before. He took a deep breath. 

Then, when the fever started to be stable again, spoke directly to Russia.

- Well, then, how about a quickie? I have to go back to the battlefield in 30 minutes and I think I could come back quite worse than now, ha ha. –he had laughed, with his shiny –and now tiny- smile.

Russia smiled back, getting rid of his Soviet general military hat while getting closer to the sun-burned skinned nation. He sat, and grabbed the other’s cheeks with a gloved strong hand. That tranquil smile crossed his happy face.

- Let me tell you this is going to be a payment in instalments.

[mars-the-4th-planet]

October electoral college polling map + an explanation of my stance on the election!

It's been a while since I posted an election polling map, but here it is!

Biden seems to be hitting a high point in the campaign after it was stagnating for a while, and it couldn't come at a better time (the election is just next month!). He is breaking previous records and outpacing where Hillary Clinton was at this point by over five percent nationally and doing better than her in several swing states. And that was before the email scandal got reinvestigated!

Since I've done so many already over the course of 2020, and since then I've learned more about it, I've worked very hard to make it as accurate as possible. Such as differentiating Maine's districts and omitting polling sources that are reputed for being consistently about 7+ points off of every other source due to oversampling and poor methods. I don't really understand why anyone would try and make their data off on purpose. Making your side look like they're doing better than they are is not helpful to anything. It doesn't make your side more likely to win after all.

But remember, these polls only show how people feel about the candidates and say nothing about voter enthusiasm/determination to vote. Who actually wins depends on people going and voting for them. And with the voter surpression by the GOP, that may not be super easy. So please, if you want to see trump lose, do not assume that your state is a guaranteed win! Go and vote! (I assume you want to see trump lose if you are following me, I'm pretty consistently left wing.)

Why should you consider voting for Joe Biden if you're a leftist and wanted a different candidate like Bernie Sanders, (I know I did) or prefer the green party? Let's go over a few things that Joe Biden will improve.

First and most importantly to me, the environment. I don't want climate change to be accelerated. I want it to be combated to prevent an ecological collapse that would ruin my life, if not outright take it. If you care about the futures of young people, that's a pretty big plus to Biden... He may not be at the same level as AOC or Sanders in that regard, but he will do anything that is economically viable to help the environment which is more than we can say about the Incumbent.

Secondly, his policies for people with disabilities are much better than trump's. He wants to raise the financial ceiling for when one loses their disability benefits, he wants to end the marriage penalty, and increase protections. The lives of Americans with disabilities will be tangibly better under a Biden presidency. If you care about people with disabilities, it's something to consider. I say this as someone with a disability and in a relationship with someone else with a disability.

Thirdly, his policies towards working class families are better. He is offering affordable and in some cases even free daycare and preschool for families where both parents need to work. He also wants to keep the food stamps program. If you care about struggling poor families, its something to consider. I say this as someone who has relied on food stamps when I was little.

Forth, Biden has a better temperament. This means he is more likely to keep a steady mind during situations where we need a leader who is able to remain calm. Trump has been in charge of the nuclear arsenal and our entire military for four years, and people have lost their lives because of it. We cannot trust trump with these powers any longer.

Fifth, democrats are trying to pass legislation on making our elections more free and fair. It will never pass under trump. Biden is simply better for preserving our democracy and improving it to make it more actually democratic.

Sixth, Trump is trying to bring in more conservative judges who threaten the rights of the lgbt, women, and racial minorities. And they serve for life. It could severely set back the United States and undo even more progress if trump is re-elected and gets his way.

Seventh, he will manage Coronavirus better by actually listening to experts and scientists. Trumps politicizing of the virus has gotten a lot of Americans killed and could get a lot more killed. Including himself and his family. Things have gotten completely out of control, and it's mainly trump and his supporter's faults.

Lastly, trump is out to get people. Worryingly so. He weaseled out of condemning white supremacists and practically endorsed them by deflecting that they weren't the real problem and that their goals were good. He agreed that someone needs to "do something" about antifa and the left in general. Not only that, but he has retweeted a video of his supporters going "white power!" and another tweet saying "the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat". He has also refused aid to states with left wing governors such as Michigan, making things worse in that state solely because he has beef with the governor. And one of the most blatent examples is his militaristic attack on peaceful protestors because they were in the way of his bible photoshoot. His behavior has been far right of some kind for sure, many would call it fascist. Trump himself identifies as a Christian Nationalist, which is practically the same as a Fascist but more religious. I would easily take a Liberal over a Christian Nationalist if it were up to me.

I hope you enjoy looking at my little graph. Would appreciate feedback to it and the argument I made, and would especially like to know what @atheistforhumanity @feelingbluepolitics and @acabats think about it. (note that my views do not represent theirs so if I said something here that annoyed you, don't go bug them about it.)

[xsensualxcranjuicex]

An Examination of Political Cartoons in the Time of Covid

This is a cartoon by artist Clay Jones, who runs a blog for showcasing his cartoons called Tales from the Trumpster Fire. This piece specifically looks to target the racial targeting involved in the collection of censuses and Jared Kushner’s overseeing of the secret coronavirus task force. There aren’t a ton of symbols in here, but we can point both to the Nazi armband on the census taker and the SS insignia on his hat as a representation for the artist’s belief that these practices are racist and totalitarian and comparable to certain nazi practices. We also have the dress shirt and tie on the father, which is meant to symbolize that he is a hard working man. This is meant to emphasize the injustice of the family being ignored and looked over by the man looking to take census information from only white people. Things are labeled for clarity, such as the word Jared on Jared Kushner’s body. His head is already exaggeratedly long with the long outward ears and big lips for which he famously has. I believe the labeling of Kushner is to let people know who it is despite the fact they’ve already done a caricature of him, only because he isn’t yet a household name, so some folks might not recognize him on appearance alone. Here, there isn’t so much an analogy, as much as there is a heavy exaggeration of what is actually happening. Jared Kushner isn’t involved in actually going door to door and ignoring the censuses of black citizens, but that is what him and his organization are doing in a metaphorical sense. They’re not literally hollering out for only white voters to complete the census, it’s just that they’re ignoring and not putting the same sort of emphasis on collecting black votes. The cartoonist is saying that this is obviously a bad thing and thinks it resembles nazi-like fascist. Even though I agree, I don’t really find this piece that persuasive, as it is both very basic, and the view it argues against isn’t one I can see many people agreeing with in the first place. There aren’t a ton of people who believe censuses of white people are more important, because most average people would see that as a cartoonishly evil view to hold. However, I can imagine that some diehard Trump supporters who view immigrants as evil outsiders, and think white is the national race of America, would take issue with the comic. I definitely don’t think those people would be persuaded, though. 

by artist Tornoe for The Inquirer

Symbols: Face mask, Phillies Jersey, Foam Finger. The face mask represents coronavirus prevention measures, the Phillies jersey and foam finger represent sports fandom.

Exaggeration: No noticeable exaggeration, other than there only being one fan in the empty stadium. Either the event wouldn’t allow an audience, or there would be more people at this event. Also it is exaggerated here that the man would have no problem going out in public to watch the sport, but he’s not willing to accept a hot dog from a worker who potentially has the virus. 

Labeling: Very limited use of labeling here, besides the Hot Dog vessel, which would be labeled in real life, as well as the jersey. 

Analogy: Not really any analogy here, it is more poking fun of the current situation by presenting us an absurd hypothetical scenario. 

Irony: I think the irony here is that the fan is so devoted that he made his way out to the sporting event during quarantine and he’s so loyal to his team, but he’s still cautious about the guy serving hot dogs. I think it could also be joking about how unsanitary the hot dogs are known for being. 

This cartoon is about the closing off of sporting events to audiences and the fans who are heartbroken by it. I don’t think the cartoonist feels any particular way about it, except for that it’s ridiculous how devoted sports fans are for their teams. I see this as a cartoon that’s more trying to find humor in a political situation than try to take down a specific figure or issue. 

by artist Loujie for Cagle Cartoons

Symbols: Steak, Statue of Liberty, Coronavirus Cells, Fat guy, Torch, Tablet from the Statue. 

The steak is a symbol of wealth, as well as the “fat cat” representing greed and wealth. The coronavirus cells represent the pandemic, and calamity affecting the people outside the window. The statue of liberty in this case representing America, as well as her torch representing freedom and democracy, and the tablet representing the Fourth of July and the declaration of independence, which the fat cat is eating his steak on. Red wine on the table also represents luxury.

Exaggerations: The fat guy is exaggerated in his rotundity and the poor people outside are exaggerated in their panic pounding at the window. The statue of liberty is also scaled down to be able to fit into the room, which is the opposite of exaggeration. 

Labeling: The Rich, The Poor.

Analogy: America bailing out the rich and doing little for the poor is like our values bending over to serve the rich. They’re luxuriating while the average person is suffering. 

Irony: The rich are comfortable and profiting more than others, while the poor are left to get sick and suffer below. It’s ironic because America wasn’t founded on those values, but Lady Liberty is bowing to the whims of the elite. 

The artist is clearly saying it’s wrong that this is happening as the average Americans build the backbone of the country. He thinks income inequality is out of control and the wealthy are controlling America to benefit them. People who disagree with them would be rich people or the poor people who worship the rich and want to become part of that class. Not a very convincing piece, more just solidifies what people already know about the upper class. 

by artist Steve Benson for Creator’s Syndicate

Symbols: Death, Grave Stone, Covid Face Masks

Exaggerations: Not everyone is going to die so the right side is a bit of an exaggeration, but the death representing America reopening represents the massive casualties that can occur from reopening early amidst the second wave of covid-19. 

Labeling: “First wave: America Shuts Down” “Second Wave: America Re-Opens 

Analogy: Opening up businesses early is like inviting death into the country.

Irony: By trying to save our economy, we’d be killing our people, and thus doing devastating irreversible damage to the economy. 

The artist is concerned about America Reopening early and believes we will suffer many casualties because of this. Opponents of this message would be conspiracy theorists, conservatives, and business owners afraid of losing profits or going out of business. I find it fairly convincing as political cartoons go, but I don’t think it’s really gonna sway anyone.

by artist Tom Stiglich for MediaNews Group

Symbols: Foxes, Feathers, Joe Biden Campaign Pin, Chickens, Chicken Coop.

Exaggerations: The New York Times, DMC, and Joe Biden have been anthropomorphized into foxes. Joe Biden is shown to be murdering chickens, which is not what he actually has done. 

Labeling: New York Times, Democratic National Committee, Biden. 

Analogy: The New York Times and DMC are in cahoots with Joe Biden aka fellow foxes, so them saying they’ll investigate him fairly, is like foxes saying they’ll investigate a chicken murder perpetrated by a fellow fox fairly. 

Irony: They all committed the crime and are covering it up together.

This cartoonist is untrustworthy of Joe Biden and the people who claim to be investigating his claims of wrongdoing. People who disagree with this would be staunch liberals, or people who like Joe Biden. For me it is fairly persuasive, because even though I am a liberal, I am wary of trusting Joe Biden, or the New York Times, or the Democratic National Committee. I think it’s a cartoon that reaches both sides of the aisle because Joe Biden is a terrible candidate, and even us liberals who are voting for him are really not happy with him as an option. I do appreciate that during a time of corona-virus, this is one of the few up to date cartoons that chooses to tackle another topic, and I applaud it’s originality while still being timely. 

[erenspaths]

People in this fandom are too busy shipping or rooting for the whole “marvel” squad thing and “saving the world” to understand that one of the main themes of snk is the gray morality. That’s so fucking repetitive, And is addressed so much throughout the whole manga in regard to almost every character. No one’s hands are clean, no one is a ‘good person’. 1/2

Yeah totally. It is literally exhausting to be forced to justify oneself to appreciate a fictional character because some people think he is morally bad. Moreover, since this manga is categorized in some countries as a shōnen, but to mine (country) as a seinen, and....it usually deals with dark things! If this reading doesn't suit them, then nothing obliges them to read it but yes, it is true that it becomes repetitive to hear that Eren is the bad guy in the story and that we are foolish people to support him. 😔

I was insulted as a Nazi, pro-fascist, pro-genocidal...like what? Are people serious? I think they are. Friendly reminder, besides being none of the 3 things mentioned above, it's fucking fiction. As you point out here, enough of these so-called SJWs justifying their good conscience by stalking us like wild animals to try to get the right words into our minds. Fuck you, I don't need you to tell me what's morally right or wrong. 🤭 Yes I love Eren, as I love many other characters in various other fictions. Eren being such a complex character to me, it's hard to fit him into a particular category. He's neither white, nor black, nor even gray, he's just Eren Jaeger. A kid who was able to murder 2/3 adult men at least twice his height and 3 or even 4 times his weight, at the age of 9, to save Mikasa and his own life. A boy brave enough to put his own life in danger to save others and literally throw himself into the mouth of a titan to save Armin.

A boy ready to die to free his oppressed comrades. A boy determined to kill all his enemies. A boy who has forgiven "those who killed his mother." -> Reiner. A boy who freed a little girl who had become a goddess of 2000 years of slavery. A boy who is currently the rumbling activator, but is he really responsible?

To make a last aside, about our friends the SJW are for 3/4 of them, hypocrites. I can't count the number of blogs, posts that see themselves fighting against, for example, pedophilia and the fact (I'll take SNK as material to introduce my example) that enjoying Ereri/Riren had to be seen as something unhealthy... just because Levi is clearly older than Eren and then shipping Levi x Mikasa, it’s also pedophilia then lmao. 🤣 If they were real people, I would certainly question myself, but at the moment, this remains and remains a fiction. If you like Levi!bottom x Top!Eren let's go, it's your right, who cares if other people harass you by saying that you ship men of different ages and that it's morally wrong, if in real life you don't consider pedophilia as something normal. Personally, I don't ship Ereri, but for another reason than Levi's and Eren's age difference. 😅

This blog is meant to be anti-pairing, because Yama and I want it to be 100% Eren-centric. Moreover, if you read SNK correctly, it's clearly complicated to find a real romance in it despite a few canonical couples like Historia x Ymir (104th), or now Annie and Armin, even if, in the end, it's limited to flirting, more than a real romantic story.

What shippers forget is that no matter what your OTP is, don't change according to what others think as it brings YOU happiness and joy, whether it makes sense or not in the canon, on the other hand, never force your opinion on others, under the pretext that you are right here. Don't be mean to others because they don't appreciate the same thing as you do. You have the right to send anyone, but don't forget that they do too. 🙄

Finally, yes Eren is the main character of this series, he's the key character, the story revolves around him, and if people are dumb enough to deny it, too bad for them. I don't force anyone to like Eren, it's a right not to like him as a character, but still keep in line with the canonverse or take literature classes and learn to tell the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist, a hero and an anti-hero. Without Eren, there is no story. 🥴 BTW, thank you very much for enjoying our blog, it means a lot to us!!!!! 💕💕💗💗

[theunderdogwrites]

Why I’d Make A Terrible Cult Member

In case you didn’t hear NXIVM founder and Ryan Gosling look-a-like, Keith Raniere, 

was sentenced to 120 years in prison after being convicted of sex trafficking, racketeering and conspiracy after testimony that he had created a harem of sexual “slaves,” branded with his initials and kept in line with blackmail. There are currently two docu-series running right now (SEDUCED: INSIDE THE NXIVM CULT and THE VOW) that give you a chilling look into this cult. Both series are palatable and will have you saying – “How the hell did these people get pulled into a cult? Because from my couch I can tell you that would never happen to me!”

There is so much information out there about the NXIVM cult that I don’t feel the need to educate you on all their dastardly deeds. Instead, I want to ramble on about how the majority of us probably feel we could never be drawn in and held captive by a cult. Plus, after that election in the United States we could all use a wee laugh.

First…

The TOP FIVE Reasons WHY I’d Make A Terrible Cult Member

5. Terrible with Crowds

Does anyone really like crowds? Hoards of people gathering is a whole lot of stupid I just don’t want anywhere near me. Cults can’t survive without people. I suppose you could be a cult of one. If that is allowed, I want that. I brain-wash myself on a daily basis as is (‘Today is going to be awesome!’ ‘You absolutely do deserve a donut!’ ‘Drinking wine from a mug is considered sophisticated!’) so I feel I could make this work. Gym clothes are required clothing but will make an exception for all-day PJ’s on the rare Friday when I ‘just can’t even’.

4. Blindly Following Directions is Not My Strongest Quality

I am not a wanton rebel but I do fail (succeed) at being a part of a collective consciousness, especially where one person places themselves in charge of everyone else. While I don’t require for you to have degrees or letters of recommendations from heads of state, I must insist that you’re not a fascistic idiot. Also, you need to be a good person. Not just on the outside where you’re putting on a show for others, but on the inside where it really counts and shines through without you having to promote your intentions. There is just no way I am able to blindly follow directions from a person who I do not respect. And typically, I don’t respect anyone who craves and NEEDS control over a group of people, no matter the size, to make themselves whole. The bottom line here is: if you are this type of person and you attempt to snare me into your cult, I promise you I will be your problem child.

3. Isolation? Yes Please!

Cults wish to isolate you from your family and friends because then it becomes easier to indoctrinate you without any outside voices cluttering up your mind. Instead of isolating me from family and friends (who, I assure you would appreciate the break) it would be much more effective to separate me from my inside voices, of which there are many. Obviously, I am more attached to those voices than my family and friends and I bet my inside voices would eat your inside voices for breakfast, so if your intention is to try and control me you better be prepared for a fight similar to that of the Game of Thrones Battle of the Bastards. But seriously, I’m begging you… please isolate me from my inside voices. I could use some peace and quiet. This is a cry for help people!

2. Refusal to Have My Food Intake Monitored

The NXIVM cult preyed on women by forcing them to go to extreme measures in order to lose weight. They often had to take pictures of their food (counted and weighed on a scale) and ask permission to eat. Right away I’d have a serious problem with this bullshit. If I want a donut. I am going to eat a fucking donut. You want a picture of it? Ok, knock yourself out:

I’m eating this no matter your opinion.

I understand that withholding / limiting food (valuable protein, nutrients etc.) makes it easier to break someone down but just how far gone do you have to be to allow someone else to monitor and approve BY TEXT MESSAGE what you eat? I guess if we want to pull at this thread we can say organizations like WW, Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem “approve of” and even provide you with what they want you to eat in order to be successful if using their programs… and if I wanted to rip into them some more I could claim they are somewhat “cult-like”, but at least they don’t require naked, compromising photos of yourself just in case you fail to lose weight and they want to keep you accountable.

Confession time: when I go to a restaurant with friends and they want to “share” plates, I am not amused. Who the hell came up with this concept of “sharable plates”? If I want to order some crab cakes (usually two to a order) what makes you think I want to give you one in exchange for some of your fries? If I want fries, I will fucking order my own fries. Now that this secret is out… sorry to my friends who have politely forced me to share my food with them.

1. I Can’t Be Any More Brain-Washed Than I Already Am

BRAINWASHING: any method of controlled systematic indoctrination, especially one based on repetition or confusion.

Here’s a thought – we brainwash ourselves.

Well, first it’s our parents. And we don’t have much control over that for a long time. In that mix of original brainwashers is television with it’s cleverly made and repetitive commercials. We are being advertised AT from an early age and it’s a process that continues for our entire life. You don’t watch TV? Doesn’t matter if you own a cell phone or surf the web or have a pair of working eyes. It’s everywhere. You’re being convinced you need stuff. Or persuaded to believe in the magical powers that alcohol will give you (which through experience is NOT charm, grace or coordination). Just last week I realized I’ve been programmed to not give a flying fuck whenever I see a Kardashian. Or Mariah Carey. Or emails from Christian Mingle (please stop contacting me, you really don’t want this).

We brainwash ourselves into believing certain untruths in exchange for temporary happiness. I believe we all fall into this trap. Let’s be real and admit that life is fucking hard. Our collective goal is to be happy and to survive. If you need to convince yourself of some untruths for a short while in order to get through, you go right ahead. Just don’t let the lie take over your reality. It’s destructive. And you’ll miss out on how beautiful life can be if you don’t pull your head out of your own shit.

These two NXIVM documentaries really had me shaking my head in disbelief over just how these seemingly intelligent men and women fell for such a gigantic load of crap. To listen to this Keith Raniere speak and think to yourself “yes, here is a stable human being I want to follow who just happens to talk about how it would feel to rape a baby (it feels like nothing apparently) and requires us to kiss him on the lips when we say hello and goodbye” seriously puts your mental health into question. Am I right? Because I don’t actually know. Am I sitting in judgement of these cult members? Maybe just a little and that is simply because I believe myself to be… not smart, but not a total moron. Now having said that, I know that everyone is searching for spaces where they can belong. Where they feel comfortable enough to be themselves. Spaces that speak to them and people who mirror their desire to be better, do better. Their tribe, if you will.

If you were brand new to this planet and I told you about this activity that millions of people took part in, in some capacity, where they used a curved stick to chase around a hard rubber object on frozen water while wearing steel blades, you might give me a curious, tilted head look. You know, the one you give someone when you’re trying to determine whether or not they’re insane. Sports teams and especially their fans could be considered cult-like. Some people will shell out big $$$$ to attend the Super Bowl dressed head to toe in their team’s colors. Soccer fans in Europe have killed referees over what they felt was a bad call.  

Look at this line-up:

This was for the release of the latest iPhone (12). All these people brought together by an inanimate object with the technology to make/receive phone calls, take photos, listen to your conversations and advertise to you across all your social media platforms. Oh, and it can tell you the time.

If you dig far enough into the NXIVM cult (beyond the “ring leaders” who profited financially and at the same time fed their perverted yearning for supremacy over others) you will inevitability come across people who were at their very core – lost. Lost and looking for purpose. Lost and looking for a place where they could belong. Lost and looking for something special. I don’t know about you, but when I am feeling lost and low on hope, I don’t always make the best decisions.

Time to go eat all the donuts.

And if you’re interested in making me a member of your cult, please PM me. I come with impeccable references as long as you don’t believe a word of what they’ll say. I really am a constant fucking delight.

[robert-c]

Gun Control

When I wrote “The Right to Bear Arms” (https://robert-c.tumblr.com/post/611144969512796160/the-right-to-bear-arms)  I certainly expected some people to disagree, even vehemently. Their rantings were predictable; irrelevant and personally insulting. For example, I’m supposedly a “panty-waist leftist” who doesn’t own a gun. This is really funny to me, because I own three guns. I assume the other reference is supposed to mean gay, which I’m not, but a lot of my friends have been and I volunteered in the gay community during the height of the AIDS epidemic, so we’ll let you have a half point on that one (though wearing panties has never been my thing, no judgment, just not for me). Now whatever ‘leftist’ means today I don’t think being in favor of responsible gun control qualifies for the whole “agenda”.

In my first article I pointed out that the Constitution’s language actually makes clear that regulation of this right is tied to not banning gun ownership outright. I suggested that considering the times and the purpose of the amendment proficiency testing (at a minimum) would certainly be right in line with the amendment. Just to keep the facts straight – only those states with concealed carry permits require such training, and only if you wish to carry your gun around with you in public; not for the buying of one, which is where some of the problem starts.

The myth that the Second Amendment was some sort of “last resort” against tyranny was also taught to me in high school civics back in the 1960’s (by football coaches because it was such an important topic <yes, that’s sarcasm>). In my other post I illustrated how that simply doesn’t comply with the language in the Constitution. Not only in the regulation referred to in the Second Amendment, but also in the main body of the Constitution – Article III, Section 3 –“Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.” Taking up arms against the government of the United States would seem to qualify as treason to most reasonable people.

So let’s talk more about gun control. Those opposed seem to go right to the conspiracy idea that any step to eliminate free and easy access to virtually any weapon is a step toward removing all weapons. Even if that were true, that is not the issue “on the table” in the current debates. And if (or when) such a proposal ever shows up it can be opposed then; and such opposition would be supported by quite a few gun control advocates.

In the meantime, why is it a problem to do a background check on someone to ensure that they are not a convicted felon (prohibited by law from owning a gun) or a mentally unstable person? While it is true that some stable person with no criminal record might buy a gun and later become unstable, I don’t see that as the major problem with gun violence. Nor do I see any way I could support that could avoid that situation. One can only hope that those close to someone who changes in such a way could alert others and authorities.

Waiting periods seem to be principally a problem for the hothead who wants a gun “right now!” because they intend to use it on someone “right now!” Let’s be realistic, hunting seasons are known well in advance, if you have gone until now without a personal home protection weapon it’s hard to see how a little more time will make much difference. Likewise, if you just think it would be good to take up shooting targets as a recreation. There just aren’t a lot of good reasons why you would need to buy a gun and take delivery the same moment you pay for it.

Limitations on the sorts of weapons that can be owned brings us right into the scariest heart of the matter. Where the line is reasonably drawn may be a matter for some debate, but hopefully every rational person would agree that a line is necessary. Should my neighbor be allowed to possess chemical, biological or nuclear weapons? How about Hellfire missiles? Flame throwers? Hand grenades?

And then the most damning of all – why should any of these restrictions be suspended just because the guns are sold at a “gun show” or “swap meet”? This goes beyond being a loophole – it’s a damn chasm which effectively eliminates any other hard won controls that were put in place.

Now we must confront what meaning the Second Amendment has in the 21st century. It has been well over 100 years since the United States relied on the militia model to defend itself or keep the peace. In an age of modern warfare part-time citizen armies equipped with their own weapons is worse than laughable. For hunting or target sport any fully automatic weapon seems unnecessary and in fact detrimental to the stated objectives. (As comedienne Brett Butler once said, ‘If it takes you 600 rounds per minute to bring down Bambi, hunting may not be your sport.’) Likewise for home defense, unless you are planning on holding off a mob, in which case the police and maybe even the National Guard should be involved.

So here we enter the murky territory of “doomsday” prep. While some individual scenarios for “doomsday” seem far-fetched, I agree that our world has entirely too much dependence on every part of the manufacturing, transportation and distribution systems working perfectly, as well as other aspects of daily living. That is a recipe for disaster of one sort or another. A single massive failure in one sector quickly spreads to all others. In such scenarios law and order can quickly break down and the police and even the National Guard could soon be overwhelmed by civil violence, and ensuing anarchy. Add the polarized political environment and you have a situation ripe for civil war on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis.

Which brings us to the “militia” movement – in an armed uprising against the government I don’t think they could win. But exploiting some other breakdown of authority might be just the edge a group with a huge stockpile of weapons could use to effectively takeover large areas. Many of these people are far right wingers whose appreciation for the subtleties of rights under the Constitution is shall we say “questionable” – starting with their persistent misreading of the Second Amendment. Read their racist blogs. Look into their idea of what the Constitution means and discover that very few of us will have any rights whatsoever if they are in charge.

Perhaps they are concerned about having their guns taken away because they know that if the rest of us realized what their ultimate aims are, we’d feel compelled to do that to protect our own and everyone else’s liberties. Perhaps there are some militias that are not “poster children” for Fascist rule, but I am sure that private armies dictating their view of the Constitution was not in the minds of the Founders of our republic.

To be clear, I don’t want to ban all weapons in the hands of the public, but I do think that registration, restrictions on who, what kind and how many are more than reasonable and within the bounds of the Constitution. My opposition to a complete ban on gun ownership isn’t just Constitutional. We have plenty of examples of how prohibition fails disastrously and with unintended consequences – e.g. alcohol in the 1920s and 1930s, and the present day with drugs.

I think gun control is and ought to be primarily about keeping guns out of the hands of people who represent a danger to others. I’m not talking about ‘profiling’ or guessing that they will commit a crime based on their political beliefs (unless they are advocating violent overthrow of the government). I think criminal history and some health history should be enough. However, none of it makes any difference until we can shut down the ridiculous “loophole” of the gun show.

One of the most factually baseless claims made by gun “rights” lobbies is the presumed extra protection from lone gunmen shooting up schools or businesses. The argument goes that if “everyone” were carrying a weapon then when some crazy comes on campus, or into the office to kill people they can be taken out by any one of the many people legitimately armed to protect themselves. It has all of the right ingredients for something that seems reasonable. Except that numerous training exercises and a few unfortunate real life experiences prove that in such scenarios more innocent civilians are killed by “friendly fire” than by the perpetrator. This is why police forces train in special courses to learn to quickly identify what is a real target and what is an innocent bystander. It isn’t easy and it goes against the natural biological reaction to narrow one’s focus instead of broadening it to see a larger picture.  This justification for arming a significant portion of the populace is another example of simplistic thinking about solutions to the gun violence problem. Perhaps it comes from watching too much TV where it is easy to identify the bad guys and “lucky shots” are common. Another way to know this idea is bad? When people start saying things like “shooters would think twice if they knew others were armed.” That suggests you know how these shooters think, or that you assume they think just like you; but you wouldn’t be doing this in the first place. The world is not a simple place and inside the mind of someone who shoots up a school or business is even less clear.

We need to call out the ridiculous opposition to gun control every time they misrepresent a control measure as an attempt to remove all guns. Diverting the conversation is a crude tactic for those who fear facing the actual questions. Hold them to the issue, don’t get drawn into a false debate, keep coming back to the question at hand – Why do you think it’s OK for someone with a history of violence to run out and buy a gun on the spur of the moment? Why do you think it is OK for someone to circumvent every gun control law by simply buying or selling a gun at a ‘gun show’?

Reasonable gun control will NOT cure all gun violence, it is not a problem that has a complete and simple solution, once and for all. But it could certainly help, and there is no good reason not to put into place reasonable controls.