#but like id be the larger infinity

[cheshire-castle-library]

Happy Tuesday Ask-A-Thon from the @ask-a-thon team! Sorry for the delay in sending out questions while we adjust to the recent moderation changes.

If you could spend a day with one of your OCs, who would it be and why? What would you do?

Happy Tuesday (on a Wednesday x'D)!!

I think Bridgette - and by association Cascade. They fill this roll of connecting tissue for the Many and Varied worlds within Reality in my fiction. No matter what I write, it's all connected - even when "other worlds" are involved because all of Reality exists within the framework of the Black Goddess and the Starburst God.

But that's just explanation to say, it'd be nice to chill and watch time go by in Near-Infinite Worlds from on high - a "heaven" of void and starlight where nothing hurts. Just calm company in the cool of that place outside of Reality that still Exists; though she couldn't help point out the things I need to work on, the ways I'm living that are hurting me, and encourage me to try something else. Cascade would pretend he's not listening, focusing on the music erupting from his mind, either replaying the songs of mortality or composing that beautiful melodic cacophony he's so known for.

Of course neither figure - mercurial in nature - would sit still for long. Though both human in their own ways, they'd get bored or they'd hear something troubling from one of the barely numerable worlds and they'd go down among the mortals, or they'd bring a troubled mortal up there; or - in some occasions - Cascade would pluck his favorite star from the sky below, place them in the gods' realm and discuss the situation, and then that star would fall into whatever world needed a hand of god with agency and choice of their own.

It would be business as usual, I couldn't stay there forever - as much as the Gods cannot - but it would be relaxing for a while, cool and comfortable, and we'd discuss shoes and ships and ceiling wax, and their goals for their future that I'd then pen, lounging within the blessed potential of complete emptiness, to the sound of raucous music and the wishes of near-infinite worlds.

[genderdenied]

★﹕ etafreak

pt: etafreak :end pt

★ ⌒⌒ ;; coined by ! me

‿‿⋆﹒⊹ ; for ↓↓

not requested / for myself

☆⌒⌒ ;; definition

; when someone has & always will be a freak // this is designed to be self assigned, not used derogatorily && could be considered a reclaim of freak ..

✶ .. !! this is an Etaseon term

; IDs && plain text below

pt: coined by me, not requested / for myself. Definition: when someone has & always will be a freak // this is designed to be self assigned, not used derogatorily and could be considered a reclaim of freak.

this is an Etaseon term <- link :end pt

ID: A rectangular flag with 6 equal width strips and one larger one in the center with 3 above and 3 below, with colours going in top-to-bottom order: red tinted black, dark red, red, pastel red, red, dark red, red tinted black. The red tinted black and dark red strips have a wave effect between them. The larger pastel red strip has two points at the top middle and bottom middle making a diamond like shape, where in the center is a white infinity symbol. :end ID

; tagging :: @radiomogai @liom-archive | @daybreakthing <- bc voi made Etason ( if any are reading this I'm going to make so many of these terms /hj /lh ) - ask to be removed !

[polyamships]

[ID: “Polyam Shipping Day / 14th of every month”. Next to the text is a red infinity sign that finishes in a heart on top. Above the text are rows of stylized hearts in the colors of both versions of the polyam pride flag (black, red, bright blue, light green, dark green, light blue, navy). /end ID]      

January 14th 2024 is our 35th Polyam Shipping Day.

The optional theme for it is: 🤼Conflict⚔️

This could be about the many ways in which a relationship can come into conflict: conflicting schedules, goals, needs. It can also be about how they decide to resolve those issues. Maybe it's about one of them taking conflict resolution seminars to deal with the polycule after a major conflict arose. It can also be about social conflict or being in a warzone. How does your ship deal with being in a violent setting? Do they stay together through it all? What happens when the conflict escalates and they must choose between allegiances? What about conflict that's larger than life such as good versus evil? On a different note, it can be about the internal conflict about jealousy versus compersion, or conflict that comes with discovering you're polyamorous whether in a relationship or not. In the literal sense, it can be about fighting and arguments: who mediates? Who avoids mediating like the plague?

...

We’ll be tracking #PolyamShippingDay, and keeping an eye out for any @polyamships mentions too. We will reblog any polyam-positive fanworks featuring polyamorous ships of any configuration/type from any fandom. All ratings are welcome but anything nsfw/triggery should be warned for and behind a read more, as should very long tumblr fic.

You can also submit works directly to the blog or send us asks to let us know to check your blog for a post. If you’re posting on AO3, our collection name is ‘PolyamShippingDay‘ and you can post to the collection here. Only fanworks submitted/@ us on tumblr or in the official AO3 collection, or fanworks posted to our Dreamwidth community, are guaranteed to be included in our roundup. Please also let us know what prompt you created for, if any - people are always welcome to create for past prompts instead.

We have a Discord - invite here - if you want a place to chat about your ships or what you’re creating for them.

We look forward to seeing what people create for it. If you’re enthused about the day, we’d be especially appreciative of any reblogs to help spread the word about the event.

[bad-dagon]

riemann spheres as a fundamental type, pt.1 basics

ive been thinking on and off about riemann spheres for a while now, a couple weeks really, and so far i think there's some utility to them as a building block of a type system of some kind for a joke/toy computer language

background: riemann spheres are a neat tool in complex analysis where we imagine a sphere whose equator intersects the complex plane, and every number on the complex plane is representable by a point on the sphere such that a line is projected from the north pole and through that point onto the complex plane. naturally, this means that the north pole is P(∞) and the south pole is P(0). see below how that would look like with other unit points of the complex numbers

a neat thing the riemann sphere allows us is to define meaningful division by zero so now z/0 = ∞ clean and simple! and also its inverse, z/∞ = 0 is well behaved as well. this simplifies doing complex analysis but stereographic projection is an absolute bitch to work with turns out, and doing arithmetic on points on the sphere is a mess because it's not a linear mapping (it's continuous though so that's fine)

if we're dealing with ONLY real numbers in relation to a circular slice of the riemann sphere, it already starts looking like a mess; for any number n∈R its projective cognate on the circle is located at (2n/n²+1, n²-1/n²+1). on the real riemann sphere though? zoo wee mamma

an arbitrary z∈C, represented as a point (x,y) on the complex plane, has to walk through a rather ugly mapping (related to the previous one) to find its point on the sphere; more accurately, given the coordinates (x,y) of the point on the plane, the point on the sphere is located at (2x/1+x²+y², 2y/1+x²+y², -1+x²+y²/1+x²+y²), which is godawful in spherical-to-polar coordinate terms, this is much simpler; for a polar pair (r,θ) the point on the unit sphere representing it is (φ,ξ) = (2*arctg 1/r, θ); and conversely projecting from the riemann sphere is also dead simple, given the zenith-azimuth pair (φ,ξ), (r,θ) = (ctg φ/2, ξ). of course, translating from polar to real coordinates is ALSO dead simple; x = r * cos θ, y = r * sin θ. if a computer system were to store complex numbers (or any coordinate on a 2d plane really), it makes sense to store them in terms of spherical coordinates of a riemann sphere, since this makes infinity well-behaved as a unit (zenith = 0, azimuth = literally who gives a fuck) and is surprisingly efficient. knowing that the zenith is ∈[0,π] and azimuth ∈[0, 2π] can allow for some formidably dumb optimisations that can save on space and ensure granularity. compared to storing them as 2d cartesian or polar coordinates, this provides the benefit of having neither number be larger than like 6.3, so an underlying/backing type that can offer great precision in this small range would be more efficient numerically than, say, floating points which have insane baggage and gaps

or iunno i'll look into that one a bit later, i'm just kind of furious right now that i rederived stereographic projection on my own when the formulas were right fucking there if id only just googled for them

[sloshed-cinema]

Infinity Pool (2023)

It’s small wonder tourists can have a bad rap. A sense of entitlement can accompany traveling, visiting a place not to experience other parts of the world or cultures, but rather to exploit them, to punch down on the locals while enjoying the good things in life. Li Tolqa affords its visitors a unique opportunity to turn the country into a playground: for a fee, a surrogate can be made to take the draconian punishments meted out by the local government. What initially seems like a frightening and disorienting experience becomes with time a way for a corrupt government to line its pockets and turn its citizens into fodder while allowing wealthy foreigners to explore their most depraved urges. This is an unnerving landscape. Inside the compound of resorts is a festival of cheesy cultural appropriation, all performative diversity and niceness. Beyond is a network of barbed wire and industrial pipes. The region is coded as vaguely Southeast Asian in its local script and the aesthetic of the resort, but shooting it on the craggy Croatian coast with its coniferous forests makes for visual dissonance.  For the clique that down-on-his-luck writer James Foster becomes entangled with, appropriation of Li Tolqa culture through consumption of its ritual drugs and exploitation of the doubling tradition is an outright sexual fetish. They romp their way through crimes and transgressions, and the punishment becomes an elaborate roleplay situation involving local law enforcement. Not too much time is spent on the cloning process aside from some disgusting goo and a sweet dental dam, but that vagueness works for the story: these people don’t care about how it works, they just want to ride the high of feeling untouchable no matter what they do.

Any time cloning or duplication is brought up, the existential nature of that duplication follows. Whether the clone or the original is the “real” individual gets probed in everything from the Star Trek transporter bay to The Prestige. Infinity Pool acknowledges that in its doctor character, but goes a different, more interesting direction. The question is never really whether James is the “authentic” James, though there is some fear in his identity being ‘raped’ when the group make clones of him without his foreknowledge. Instead, this self-surrogacy becomes an exploration of James’ fragile identity. He goes along with the group haltingly, always on the border. When he exuberantly beats up the “police detective,” brutalizing and pissing on him, he reacts with horror when he’s been abusing himself. Later, he has to fight his own animalistic self, the savage id that these people are trying to instill. By the close, this is all he can be, sitting by himself on the rain soaked beach, empty and alone.

Why Infinity Pool? The title refers to the fateful pool constructed by Alban, an accident during its building causing the sentencing which set in motion a chain of events leading to this film. But perhaps there’s something more. This sort of pool, an artificial, luxurious structure, is designed to give the illusion of connectedness to a larger body of water like the ocean. There’s danger in the ocean, and uncertainty, but people in the pool can feel a connection to that danger while remaining safe and comfortable themselves. This is what the Li Tolqan justice system allows these libertines to experience: their own infinity pool of sex and violence.

THE RULES

SIP

Gabi says “JaaaAAAAAAmesssss”

Ritual or custom are mentioned.

Li Tolqa is named.

Someone puts on or takes off a mask.

A duplication is completed.

BIG DRINK

The group leaves the compound.

Weird cheesy resort activities because THIS IS DEFINITELY A NORMAL PLACE.

[that-was-anticlimactic]

I posted 21,899 times in 2022

That's 10,017 more posts than 2021!

949 posts created (4%)

20,950 posts reblogged (96%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@zukkaoru

@that-was-anticlimactic

@smilehoneyy

@milf-harrington

@hi-raethia

I tagged 17,244 of my posts in 2022

Only 21% of my posts had no tags

#good freaking art - 7,085 posts

#jjk - 3,477 posts

#que - 2,092 posts

#sk8 - 1,617 posts

#renga - 859 posts

#happy 8:08 renga:) - 628 posts

#screaming - 557 posts

#jjk spoilers - 544 posts

#zukka - 510 posts

#satosugu - 444 posts

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

can’t stop thinking about gojo and his infinity and how he lets it down when he feels safe and comfortable but sometimes he can’t even do it then but sometimes he lets it down because he desperately craves human contact like,,, he let yaga put him in a headlock when he could have easily gotten out of it / not let him touch him. he let itadori and kugisaki hug him. not only that, but his infinity represents his love and trust and care. he trusts yaga wouldn’t hurt him and he cares about the kids and the fact that they are kids and it’s not like gojo probably got hugged much as a child,,, and how he probably let it down whenever he was with little megumi,,, and he never had infinity up around geto because it was geto and he trusted him and he loved him and he cared for him. and thinking about how it was probably up for awhile after toji brutally murdered him, but how he still let it down around geto, and eventually, shoko and yaga,,, and how it’s his own form of a love language, it’s the only way he knows to express vulnerability without it being perceived as weakness. if he’s not doing well, infinity goes up for awhile. and only those who know gojo satoru are able to catch it…

364 notes - Posted March 20, 2022

#4

[ID: a picture of gojo satoru from jujutsu kaisen. he is midair, as if he were jumping onto the roof. his arms are out at his sides and his knees and legs are scrunched up. he is in his jujutsu high uniform and has the blindfold on. /End ID.]

satoruday. just a little guy.

473 notes - Posted March 5, 2022

#3

[ID: a screenshot of nanami kento from jujutsu kaisen. he is sitting on the grass with his legs out in front of him. one is bent with an arm wrapped around it. he is facing the camera. there is a picnic blanket with food and drinks on top of the blanket. /End ID.]

he’s just a little guy. he’s just Sitting. look at him.

527 notes - Posted February 24, 2022

#2

in my poetry class today, my teacher asked us to write a poem that was a love letter to language / words, so mine was a love letter to tumblr and it made me chuckle so i wanted to share my horrific mess of poem with y’all lol

blorbo, my absolute beloved

mutuals to, mutuals you...

horse in the plinko,

your fav in the plinko, your

fav is going to super hell

hey, i like your shoelaces

thanks, i stole them from

17 coc--

gaslight gatekeep girlboss

loving soup and sauce

eeby deeby november sixth

let’s make twitter weep

do you like the color of--

the color of the sky

of super hell of a

children’s hospital of

the oncler? bigger and

bigger, larger and larger and--

there are many disadvantages

to being a geologist

color theory [redacted]

[redacted] tony the tiger

also [redacted] i hope i’m

not just your mutual

but your empath too

little spoon big spoon this

post is about supernatural

do Not derail--spoon spoon

bro, dude, love, beloved

See the full post

574 notes - Posted January 12, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

they should invent a fic that finishes itself

3,666 notes - Posted October 10, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[cloudmonarch43]

[ID: Three pen drawings representing three movies: for "Antiviral" (2012), the bedraggled profile of Syd March, a freckled man with long hair in a low ponytail and a tired stare; for "Possessor" (2020), a hollowed-out face melting upwards; for "Infinity Pool" (2023), a reclining Gabi Bauer  wearing large sunglasses and her blonde hair in a half-up half-down style. End ID.]

I didn't want to wait until I got to ten to movie-post again so here's a Brandon Cronenberg special. I watched Antiviral on Sunday, Infinity Pool on Tuesday, and Possessor on Wednesday. Antiviral is my favorite, but I saw Infinity Pool in the theater and that was super fun. I liked them all: stories I hadn't heard before! They remind me of paintings, showing a moment of intensity but demonstrating a larger world, not following every idea to its end but handing you a squirming pile to examine. And they're cool to look at. Overall tasty delicious!

[infinitywebinfopvtltd]

InstantPay API Integration by Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd

In the ever-evolving digital payment landscape, InstantPay has emerged as one of the most robust platforms for handling financial transactions. By offering a comprehensive API suite, businesses can now process payments with enhanced speed, security, and flexibility. Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd, a trusted name in IT solutions, takes this service to the next level with expert API Integration, ensuring a seamless experience for businesses.

Instantpay API Integration by Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd

What is API Integration?

API Integration involves connecting software applications through their APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). It allows different systems to communicate, share data, and function together effectively. For example, a business can integrate a payment gateway like InstantPay into their website or app, providing users with an embedded, real-time payment solution.

API Integration offers several benefits:

Automated processes: Reduces manual intervention and improves efficiency.

Real-time data sharing: Ensures smooth communication between systems.

Scalability: Facilitates increased transaction volumes without manual adjustments.

Customization: Tailored to specific business needs, providing a flexible solution.

InstantPay Overview

InstantPay is a digital financial platform that enables businesses and individuals to perform a wide range of financial services, including bill payments, money transfers, and more. It is widely known for its Business Payment Solutions and is often used as a secure way to handle transactions like salary disbursements, utility payments, and vendor payouts.

Key Features of InstantPay:

Multiple Payment Methods: InstantPay supports various payment modes including:

UPI (Unified Payments Interface): One of the most popular payment methods in India.

IMPS (Immediate Payment Service): Ensures that payments are processed instantly.

NEFT/RTGS: Bank transfer methods for larger transactions.

Debit/Credit Cards: Supporting payments through all major cards.

Instant Payouts: The InstantPay API provides the ability for businesses to transfer funds instantly to a beneficiary’s bank account, wallet, or UPI ID. This is especially useful for salary payments, refunds, and vendor payouts.

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Comprehensive Transaction Reports: The platform offers detailed insights into transactions, ensuring businesses can monitor and track payments efficiently.

Security: InstantPay is designed with multiple layers of security to protect against fraud and unauthorized transactions. Features include:

Data Encryption: Ensures all payment information is secure.

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security for sensitive operations.

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Compliance with Financial Regulations: InstantPay adheres to the highest compliance standards set by financial regulators like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), ensuring all transactions meet regulatory guidelines.

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With an ever-growing demand for digital payments, businesses must integrate platforms like InstantPay effectively into their existing systems. This is where Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd excels. With years of experience in API Integration, Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd ensures that your business can leverage all the features of the InstantPay API smoothly.

Benefits of API Integration by Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd:

Custom Development: Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd customizes the InstantPay API integration to meet the specific needs of your business, whether it's integrating with e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, or ERP systems.

Streamlined Onboarding: Setting up InstantPay through Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd is quick and hassle-free. They handle everything from obtaining API keys to configuring the system, ensuring you’re ready to process payments immediately.

Technical Support & Maintenance: Post-integration, Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd provides ongoing technical support to ensure the system runs smoothly. Any issues are resolved quickly, and updates or patches are applied to keep the system secure and functional.

Enhanced Security: API integration through Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd comes with added security layers, including encryption and tokenization, ensuring that every transaction is secure.

Testing & Quality Assurance: Before the integration is rolled out, Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd runs rigorous tests to ensure the system works as expected. They identify any bugs or issues and ensure everything is operating at peak performance before going live.

Step-by-Step Process of InstantPay API Integration

The process of integrating InstantPay’s API with Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd is simple yet thorough:

Initial Consultation: Understanding your business needs—whether it’s online payments, bulk payouts, or fund transfers. Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd ensures that the API integration will fit seamlessly with your current processes and infrastructure.

API Documentation: Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd reviews InstantPay’s extensive API documentation to map out the necessary endpoints and functions required for your business.

Development: The team at Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd builds a customized solution based on your business requirements. This may involve setting up payment gateways, customizing workflows, or integrating with other applications like CRMs or ERPs.

Testing: Before the final implementation, Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd conducts rigorous testing in a secure environment to ensure the system is reliable, secure, and functions smoothly.

Security Protocol Implementation: To safeguard against any potential vulnerabilities, Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd implements additional encryption and security protocols. This ensures that the transaction data is protected throughout the process.

Launch: Once testing is complete, the system is deployed, and you can begin processing payments via InstantPay. Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd offers support during the initial stages to ensure everything works smoothly.

Ongoing Monitoring and Support: Post-launch, Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd continues to monitor the integration, providing any necessary updates or troubleshooting to ensure smooth operation.

Advantages of InstantPay API Integration

By integrating InstantPay with the help of Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd, businesses can enjoy several key advantages:

Speed & Efficiency: Instant payments and simplified processes lead to quicker transactions.

Scalability: Whether you’re processing a handful or thousands of transactions, InstantPay scales effortlessly.

Security: Robust security features ensure your transactions are safe from fraud and other security threats.

Cost-Effective: Reduces transaction fees and operational costs through automation and bulk processing.

Enhanced Customer Experience: Provide a seamless, fast, and secure payment experience for your customers.

Conclusion

For businesses looking to streamline and enhance their payment operations, the integration of InstantPay API by Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd offers a comprehensive solution. With advanced features, robust security, and a smooth integration process, InstantPay ensures efficient and reliable transactions for businesses of all sizes. Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd further enhances this by delivering custom, secure, and scalable solutions that cater to specific business needs.

By choosing InstantPay through Infinity Webinfo Pvt Ltd, businesses can future-proof their payment systems and remain competitive in the fast-paced digital economy.

Contact us on :- +91 9711090237

[abhiramiabii]

Cruise Through Kochi in Style: A Guide to Premium Car Rentals

Kochi, also known as Cochin, is a vibrant city brimming with cultural heritage, captivating backwaters, and stunning beaches. Whether you're a business traveler seeking a touch of luxury or an adventurer exploring Kerala's hidden gems, a premium car rental can elevate your Kochi experience.

Why Choose a Premium Car Rental in Kochi?

Elevate Your Experience: Indulge in the comfort and performance of a premium car. From plush leather seats to powerful engines, these vehicles offer a luxurious driving experience.

Explore in Style: Navigate Kochi's bustling streets or embark on a scenic road trip along the Malabar Coast in comfort and style.

Variety and Choice: Kochi's premium car rental companies offer a diverse fleet to suit your needs and budget. Choose from sleek sedans, spacious SUVs, or even sporty convertibles.

Convenience and Flexibility: Enjoy the freedom of self-exploration without relying on public transport or taxis.

Finding Your Perfect Premium Ride:

Kochi's car rental companies cater to diverse preferences with a range of premium options:

German Powerhouses: Experience the thrill and precision of a BMW or Audi, or sink into the legendary comfort of a Mercedes-Benz.

Japanese Luxury: Opt for the refined elegance of a Lexus or the spirited performance of an Infiniti.

Spacious Comfort: For larger groups or extensive luggage, consider a premium SUV like a Land Rover Range Rover or a Toyota Fortuner.

Convertible Charm: Enjoy the open air with a stylish convertible, perfect for a coastal drive or a romantic getaway.

Essential Tips for Renting a Premium Car in Kochi:

Book in Advance: Especially during peak seasons, popular car models tend to get booked quickly.

Driver's License and ID: Ensure you have a valid driver's license and an International Driving Permit (IDP) if you're a foreign traveler.

Insurance Coverage: Understand the insurance coverage included in the rental agreement. Consider additional coverage for peace of mind.

Rental Duration and Mileage: Choose a rental period that aligns with your needs and inquire about any mileage limitations.

Choose Self-Drive or Chauffeur-Driven: Opt for self-drive for ultimate flexibility, or consider a chauffeur-driven service to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Experience Kochi Like Never Before:

With a premium car rental in Kochi, you can transform your trip from ordinary to extraordinary. Explore hidden coves, navigate bustling bazaars, or embark on a luxurious road trip in style. So, buckle up, choose your perfect ride, and get ready to discover the magic of Kochi in premium comfort!

[fanartfunart]

[Image ID: A drawing of Eldin, the fire dragon, from Skyward Sword stylized like the Breath of the Wild dragons. The first image has a background and the second does not, isolating the dragon. He is a pale orange serpentine dragon with 3 legs and a line of flame along his spine. He has two whiskers on his muzzle that end in flame. He has straight horns on his forehead that go back and turn into flame. His underbelly is a yellow-orange lava texture and his tail ends in a larger flame and a red and yellow spiked 3 clover shape. He’s surrounded by balls of fire and is in an infinity symbol shape, head inclined down. In the image with a background, he is in the fire temple, and looks toward Link, who is seen from behind. End ID]

Fire dragon! (Hope everyone’s safe during fire season!!) Also the fire temple is absurdly yellow and hazy in the game. No likey for trying to draw.

Faron - Eldin ^ - Lanayru

Combo post

[yourkeeperoftherunners]

Talk + Vodka = Truth (Marvel AU)

Plot: AU The Avenger caught the blonde stalking him for the past few weeks and he wants answers.

Characters: Hawkeye/Ronin!Changbin (SKZ) x Yelena Belova!Felix (SKZ), plus mention of Black Widow!Minho, Kate Bishop!Yeji, and other MARVEL characters

Rating: PG-13 (Language, spy behaviors, the Snap/the Blip, Red Room, assassin work, death, drinking, mention of PTSD)

Notes: This one shot is based on the MARVEL x SKZ moodboards I’ve been making for fun. The story is set between the events after Black Widow, Avengers: Endgame, and before the Hawkeye Disney+ show. If you’ve not watched the first two films and wish to avoid spoilers, please skip this story. Additionally, the contents of this one-shot are fictional and were created for fun.

Happy Birthday Changbin!

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

“You sure you’re old enough to be here, Kid?”

The blonde rolled his eyes, before reaching into his jacket to produce an ID.

The waiter and the man seated across from him watched as the ID was handed over. The former scanned the front and sighed as he passed it back to the blonde.

“Sorry, guess The Blip screwed you over - you look young for your age,” the waiter apologized. “What can I get you?”

“Vodka,” the blonde replied. “How much for the bottle?”

Changbin raised a brow and stared at the young man seated across from him. This guy could put away a whole bottle of vodka? It didn’t seem right, plus that was pretty unhealthy to be drinking that much. 

“Let me check with the bartender on that,” the waiter said. He turned to face Changbin and asked if he wanted the usual.

“Unless he intends to drink the entire bottle, I’ll take whatever vodka he wants,” Changbin responded.

The waiter excused himself and went to check on the vodka situation.

“Drinking a whole bottle of vodka in one go is bad for your liver,” Changbin noted as he folded his hands in front of him.

The blonde snorted and quipped that Changbin sounded like his brother. The comment made the Avenger raise a brow and he straightened up in his seat.

“The bottle is gonna cost you $35, tip not included,” the waiter announced when he returned.

Before Changbin could grab his wallet, the blonde beat him to it and placed a crumpled $50 into the waiter’s hand. “Keep the change.”

The waiter unfolded the bill and immediately left to grab the bottle and some glasses for serving. The place wasn’t busy for the early to mid-afternoon, but Changbin had a feeling the waiter wasn’t used to getting a larger than average tip during this time. The pair watched as the waiter returned within seconds with the bottle and two glasses.

Changbin flashed the waiter a light smile and told him to take it easy. He slid the bottle closer and opened it, before pouring some of the contents into one glass and nudging it across the table. “So, wanna tell me who the hell you are and why you’ve been stalking me for 2.5 weeks?”

The blonde barely had the glass raised to his lips when he heard the questions. He looked up from his glass and parted his lips slightly in shock. This made the Avenger snicker as he poured some vodka into the other glass for himself.

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

About a month and a half after burying Tony and Minho, Changbin noticed that the same blonde guy would show up in various places around the same time. The guy tried to be less obvious with disguises and using remote ways to track him, but after working with Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. for years, the Avenger’s picked up on people attempting to trail him.

Earlier today, he sensed he was being followed and urged his new protege to take Lucky and get somewhere safe. Sure Yeji gave him lip for trying to protect her, but the last thing he’d want is for her to get killed, thanks to someone hunting for him. Once the young woman had left with the dog, he hung around the area and pulled his bow on the blonde, who had a regular sidearm pointed at him. For a while, he tried urging the blonde to drop the gun before he shot first, but the blonde remained defiant with his gun pointed at the Avenger. What made them stand down was the sound of a siren and the blonde looked a little concerned when he heard the alarm.

Changbin made up his mind and told the young man to follow him so they could get under cover somewhere to finish the matter. He chose this hole-in-the-wall place that he visited at times during The Blip, often sitting and brooding over his missing family in between kills.

The blonde swore in Russian and put his glass down. “All right Old Man, I’ll make this easy for both of us. Name’s Felix. My employer told me you killed my brother and that I’m supposed to bring you in. But before I do that, why did you do it? He was telling me before The Blip that the Avengers were his real family, not me or our parents.”

Changbin tilted his head as he looked closely at the blonde across from him. If the kid wasn’t an assassin, he looked like the good kid you’d find in a suburban neighborhood, probably playing sports and making lots of friends. But the Russian, the mention of his brother again – wait, was this...?

“Min,” he offered in a soft voice.

The blonde nodded sharply and he picked up his glass again. “He’s dead, thanks to you. I’d like to know why you killed him, before I decide if I wanna bring you in dead or alive.”

The Avenger stiffened when he heard the accusation. His partner told him to go for counseling after fighting Thanos, as he was suffering terribly from losing Tony and Minho. Talking to the counselor about Minho was hard and the former couldn’t convince him that it wasn’t his fault that Minho insisted he sacrifice himself for the Soul Stone. Telling his kids that their Uncle Min wasn’t coming home was horrible, as they asked where he was and talked about their favorite memories of the red-haired “uncle” they had come to love.

“Do you know anything about Thanos and the Infinity Stones in that goddamn gauntlet he wore?” Changbin asked after prolonged silence.

When Felix shrugged, Changbin sighed and pushed his glass away as he recounted the attempts to stop Thanos from killing Vision for the Mind Stone, losing everyone he knew, then trying to get the stones again to undo what happened 5 years ago.

“It was the shrinking guy’s idea, some kind of time heist,” Changbin said. “Minho and I went to some planet in space, while the others went elsewhere in time for the other stones. We get there, this creepy red skeleton guy tells us that one of us has to sacrifice ourselves –”

“So you chose my brother?”

“YOH! I wasn’t done talking, you little shit,” Changbin snapped as he narrowed his eyes. He took a deep breath and groaned as he tried to explain what happened next. This was the hard part whenever he went to therapy – it was difficult to talk about Vormir without getting choked up and replaying the images of Minho using a stun function in his cuff to distract him, and Changbin trying to grab his hand to stop the former spy.

“Damn it, I told him I was supposed to do it!” Changbin yelled as he slammed his fist on the table. “He actually tried to keep shit together after The Blip. Me, I, I lost it. I lost my whole family. My partner. My kids. All while we were at home, having a normal day. Then I went out and I hunted down every bad guy, every gang, every criminal organization, everyone that survived and didn’t deserve it!”

The Avenger hung his head and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to keep it together without crying. He could hear Minho’s voice, urging him to let go of his hand on Vormir.

“Let me go.”

                                        “No. Please don’t.”

“It’s okay...”

The blonde took small sips from his glass as he watched and listened to the Avenger. Despite hating his time in the Red Room, he has to give his instructors some credit for teaching him the art of lying and reading a target’s body language. Based on what he’s seeing right now, the Avenger is telling the truth and Minho actually sacrificed his life to save the world. Which means, his employer lied or she exaggerated the story a bit, just to force him to cut his time off short. It wouldn’t surprise him – Val refused his request for a pay raise before handing over Changbin’s information for his next assignment.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m working for a female version of Dreykov, Felix thought. He put his glass down and stared across the table at the Avenger.

“Surprisingly, I believe you,” Felix replied. “Last time I saw my brother, he was going on about how he was trying to do good and forget about...yeah, well he was telling me how great things were with the Avengers before the Accords.” He played with his glass and tilted his head slightly. “You weren’t...dating my brother, were you?”

Changbin jerked his head up at the question and he paused for a few seconds, before laughing loudly. The blonde shot him a quizzical look and Changbin shook his head as he tried to compose himself.

“Oh man no, no way. Min was my colleague and sometimes, he thought it was funnier to ignore most of the shit I said,” Changbin said. “I swear he did it to piss me off, but other than that, we were friends.” He propped his elbow on the table and looked thoughtful as he recalled their mission in Budapest.

“He ever tell you about Budapest?”

Felix nodded and recounted his story of running from Dreykov’s project, otherwise known as Taskmaster, while protecting a serum to remove the brainwashing effect on the other Widows. “He makes me bleed out a bit, then we’re crammed in an air vent. An air vent. Think I saw tic-tac-toe games scratched inside the vent.”

“Wait, in the subway?”

“You mean it was the same vent you two hid in after you tried to kill Dreykov?” Felix asked. “That must have been...”

“Oh that was a weird three days!” Changbin laughed. “He got so annoyed by me complaining that I was hungry and said I was too loud. Once we got outta Budapest, he complained on the Quinjet that it was amazing I had someone in my life at all. But wait, what do you mean by ‘tried to kill Dreykov’? I thought Min said it was a hit – I saw the building go up in flames after the guy’s daughter went in. Don’t tell me that guy’s your employer.”

Felix made a face and he picked up his glass again.

“We’re going to be here a while...”

[twocubes]

i understand the formulation of aleph null and aleph one, like. okay so for context im thinking abt how id explain higher order infinities to an ancient greek. aleph non right you have stones lined up out to infinity, and then for aleph one i think id use the concept of breaking each stone into smaller parts with a hammer repeatedly until they become grains of sand, and the whole of the first set of stones can fit into the shards of a single stone, so the infinity of cracked stones is larger. how the hell do you construct the third order / aleph two infinity?!?! i cant think of any actual real world construct that's larger than aleph one??

I think, as always, you want to use the powerset or the set of sequences or the such. Particularly if you were trying to explain higher infinities to an Ancient Greek person.

Like, ok, first you establish that there are infinite integers. Then you show that other countable infinite sets are “the same size” as the integers (so like, rationals, even numbers, pairs of numbers, etc). Then once you’ve made them think that all infinites are the same size, you zag and hit them with Cantor’s diagonalisation argument, i.e., you show them that the set of sequences of integers is larger than the integers.

Then you do the same thing but with the powerset. You show that the set of subsets of the integers is larger than the integers. But then, you go, like, “why does it even need to be the integers”, and you show that the powerset of any set is of strictly larger cardinality than the set.

This thus establishes that the hierarchy of infinities goes ever upwards.

Of course, these are the beth numbers, not the aleph numbers. In order to explain the difference you’d have to hit them with the continuum hypothesis...

Anyways. As far as familiar objects of cardinality higher than beth 1, i mean, it’s going to be the sort of things you expect? The set of functions from R to R, the set of subsets of R, that sort of thing...

[famous-aces]

Sun Ra

Who: Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount)

What: Musician and Composer

Where: American (active largely in US)

When: May 22, 1914 - May 30, 1993

(Image Description: a black and white photo of Sun Ra from 1979. He is standing in front of a brick wall that has words spray painted on it, partially blocked by his body. Legible is the word "Sunshine" in huge letters, the "I" dotted with a character or starburst. It is written in such big letters the last few have to be reduced to keep them from running over onto the door. Also legible are the letters "L, A" but the rest of that word is behind Ra. Ra himself is a stern looking, dark-skinned black man, shown here from the chest up. He has a longish face, a smallish mouth and eyes, a broad nose, and a cleft chin. He has a very serious expression.  He is wearing a wool cap, dark on top with a paler ring at the hem. On top of the hat is a huge 3D sun, about the size of his face. Poking out of the sun are a bunch of shiny wires ending on either small stars or pingpong ball sized planets. On his body Ra wears a cape and below that a robe. The robe is made of two distinct materials, mostly something wrinkled or rough, but in the center over his chest is smooth black fabric with white polka dots on which a sun and the planet Saturn have been painted. End ID.) 

He said he was born on Saturn. He wore bright robes and elaborate hats. He was a creature of Ancient Egypt and the unknown future. He never wanted to sleep and never drank. He said his biography was a mystery.  He was very fond of mysteries. 

Sun Ra was also a jazz pianist, composer, and the leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra, a free-jazz big-band. He is also one of the fathers of Afrofuturism, but given the themes he embraced, the outfit, and the Saturn thing you may have guessed that. 

Ra became well known for his musical innovation and uniqueness of instrumentation as well as the drama that characterized his music and persona both on and off the stage. He was active in the jazz scene for roughly forty years from the late 1940s to the early 1990s and he always seemed to be at least a decade ahead in his trends.

Ra was always creating pieces that defied the common and brought together his many complexities of style.  In the 1950s, when he first became a band leader, he began incorporating electric piano (his instrument of choice), tympani, and flute, instruments then unheard of in jazz bands. He later would be among the first, if not the first, to introduce the synthesizer. In the 1960s he began incorporating improvisation into his compositions and became well known for his strange solos. And in the 1980s he integrated earlier works into his performances.

His flair for the dramatic was at its highest on stage where combining Ancient Egyptian and sci-fi themes in sets, dance, and costumes. His performances were huge and eclectic and energetic. As much a spectacle for the eyes as the ears. 

His best loved albums include SuperSonic Jazz (1957), Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy (1963), The Magic City (1966), Atlantis (1969), Astro Black (1972), Space is the Place (1973), Lanquidity (1978), Disco 3000 (1978), Sleeping Beauty (1979), Nuclear War (1982), and The Sun Ra Arkestra Meets Salah Ragab in Egypt (1983). There are best of albums like Sun Ra: Singles 1952-1991 (2016) and In the Orbit of Ra (2014). I don't know anything about jazz (free or otherwise) but I did like listening to his stuff, it is very cool and weird.

His personality was as exciting and strange as his music. He had an "equation" rather than a philosophy. Whatever he called it, his thinking was a very New Age, UFO Religion mindset although he was getting into these themes in the 1950s, well before those were popular. His personal equation combined many different sources with his own thoughts to find the path that, one biographer states, "leads beyond the stars." He drew heavily on Ancient Egyptian mythology and mysticism, channeling, black nationalism, Rosicrucianism, Kabbalah, Zen Buddhism, with a very heavy lean into Gnosticism. He frowned on most organized religions but was a highly spiritual being.  He was very much pro-civil rights but became disillusioned with the movement. Perhaps the most important things to him were outer space and music. He was always looking both to the distant past and far future.

His theories and equations were his own and explanations never gave a full picture. He took the role of eccentric teacher and apparently played the part well. He had many followers, especially among musicians. Overall, it seems, he embraced the strange and unknown and wore his identity with pride. He was queer and contentedly so.

He would not have been out of place today. Maybe he was from Saturn, but he could have easily been from the future.

(Image Description: the album art for Atlantis. It is all in yellows and purples.  It says "An Intergalactic Space Travel in Sound" on the top of the cover. Below that and on the left it says "Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra". To the right it says "Atlantis". Below that is shows an amorphous blob of eyeballs and flame.  End ID) 

Probable Orientation: Aroace 

He is another one that aphobes say cannot be ace because they like him too much. They like and respect him so he cannot be sexually abnormal. They can accept him as queer, but aroace is too far. There are many who now accept him to be asexual, but many others who hold fast to their aphobia. Those people constantly claim that he was a sexual entity of some kind despite Ra's own profession to being "nonsexual.".

His queerness was noted before his persona was formed. In 1943 after having a nervous breakdown his doctor accused him of being "psychopathic" and "sexually perverted" because of his being queer. The same doctor also professed Ra (then Blount) was "a well-educated colored intellectual," evidence that his "psychopathy" and "perversion" were rooted in queerness, not something actually wrong with his mental health.

Over the years he had close confidants among his Arkestra musicians and other musical professionals. These were some of the people he was closest to in the world and all of these relationships were platonic, seemingly none I would classify as queerplatonic.  All of these confidants noted there was never any romantic or sexual partners they knew of in his life but some have asserted either he was too busy, he just never talked about it/told them (unlikely because he was willing to discuss just about anything which will be highlighted in the quotes), or this was part of his self-denial (he never did drugs or drank and liked to Go Without). Some people in his life assumed Ra as gay (and allo). He was more interested in music than relationships and role as teacher rather than as sexual/romantic partner.

But most of his time was spent with music.  His music involved a lot of talk of love but it was always a larger concept than romantic love. Brotherhood, universal acceptance, things like that.

But this should not be debate. Again, he basically said he was asexual in that he literally said he was "nonsexual.". 

(Image Description: a color photo of Sun Ra in his costume from Space is the Place. He stands tall with his head tipped up, again serious faced. He has his arms crossed over his chest like a mummy. He is wearing red robes with yellow sleeves that go to the floor. He wears bracelets, rings, and gold shoulder pads. On his head he wears a huge tall headdress. It looks very similar to a pharaoh's crown. Part looks like the lower part of an Egyptian headdress, like the thing the Sphinx wears, and it is striped shiny gold and black.  Sitting high on his forehead is a gold and jeweled crown piece and on top of that going probably two feet or so above his head is a gold pronged structure with a gold orb in the middle of the prongs. End ID) 

“I don’t believe that something like that [asexuality] exists. Everybody has his or her sexual orientation, be it secret or open ... I don’t think I ever talked about his sex life, but I am pretty sure that he knew Fernando [Vargas, a sound engineer] and I were a gay couple. It made no difference for him, so he was not like a religious fundamentalist who would object to work with people like us, you know. He was just the kind of a guy, if Fernando was drinking wine, he wouldn’t have wine. I heard that none of the guys was ever using drugs. At least they didn’t do it in the studio, but we did have them sleeping overnight. He seemed to be with a pretty clean group.”

-Warren Allen Smith, studio owner and friend of Sun Ra's. (Despite not believing in it Smith basically points out that Ra could have been asexual. He never talked about his sex life, spent the night in a platonic group, Smith also mentioned in the same interview that Vargas and Ra would spend long nights alone just talking about music, that seemed to be what Ra wanted to do. To talk and philosophize.  It seems his sexlessness was not about being straight edge.)

"[Vargas was] a good gossip [who would] tell stories about the pope’s testicles." 

-Warren Allen Smith (he also describes Vargas as being "outgoing" and "unreservedly gay". The point here is that these men were close friends of Ra's.  And Ra was perfectly into this kind of discussion. Indeed he told Vargas and Smith about his own testicles, one of which was undescended. He was not afraid to be completely open about himself and his body.  He did not shy away from sex or sexuality, he just wasn't interested in it. It would be out of character for him to avoid talk about his sex life or bring around a romantic partner.)

"Sun Ra abolished sleep from his 'so-called life,' just as he had come to do without the distractions of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, women [sex]."

-John Szwed (Ra biographer in his book Space Is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra) 

"I have heard from Damon Choice and others that Sun Ra used to turn to his Arkestra and declare: Leaders will ask you to give up your lives for them, I ask only if you’ll give up your Death for me? Nothing that is essentially incorporated into human being – not sex, not Death, not religion, or money – nothing that we are or have been is beyond evaporation as our ontology catches up with our time." 

-Thomas Stanley (biographer in his book The Execution of Sun Ra) (In other words Ra saw sex as inessential to human nature)

"A gimmick."

-Sun Ra on sexual intercourse

“I have never been able to think of sex as a part of my life though I have tried to but just wasn’t interested.”

-Sun Ra (Nuff said)

(Image Description: a photo of Sun Ra at his keyboard. He is wearing a beaded headdress and shiny rainbow robes. He has his eyes shut, he looks calm, and he has his keyboard at a strange angle as he plays.  End ID) 

[markusstrayya-blog]

Once In A Freak (Part 1)

Support Me? | MASTERLIST | Who Do I Write For?

Pairing: Loki x Reader (eventual), Logan Howlett x Reader (Father figure), Avengers x Reader, X-Men x Reader

Word Count: 2670

Summary: Being a mutant has more downsides than upsides. How will your peers feel when you catch feelings for a certain trickster god. WIll your friends and family support you, or have they done enough already? I mean, you are a mutant, how much harder could life be?

Warning(s): Fluff, HYDRA mentioned, Infinity War Steve (God he looked delicious with that beard!), Language. I’ll probably add things as I go along.

Authors Note: So, this was originally posted on my other account, as all these repeated fics were, but Tumblr sucks. Anyway, I didn’t edit this one, as I already loved it, but I’ll be rewriting the entire series. I’ve got the writing bug! Anyway, I’m planning on posting this story to Wattpad, but I’ll probably wait until I have the first few chapters ready to go.

All I did for this one was combine the two parts I’d already written because I felt that it wasn’t going to read well if I didn't, so here we are.

Anywhoozy, requests are open, and so’s the taglist, so enjoy!

PROLOGUE

If anyone had told you all those years ago that you would work for the X-Men, S.H.I.E.L.D. and more recently, the Avengers, you would have called them insane. But alas, here you are, in your own spacious room at the Avengers compound, curtesy of Tony Stark, with your back pressed against a painted wall, viewing your handy work on the other 3 walls. Your (H/C) hair had been tied into a messy bun that had been slowly falling out over the past few hours, evident by the thick strands that had made it their job to block your view. Your white t-shirt and old denim overalls were blotched with a rainbow of colour. Your skin didn’t fare any better.

Your aching legs assisted in lifting your small frame from the ground, as your feet carried you into your ensuite bathroom, which, you had also painted last week. Peeling off your clothes and undoing the tangled mess upon your head to reach the tie, you sigh. That’s the last coat. Once your hair has been released from its elastic restraint and begins to flow over your shoulders and down your back, you enter the shower and begin cleaning yourself from the day’s activities.

The comforting feeling that the steamy water brings will always be something that you cherish, as it gets to work on cleansing your multi-coloured skin, the coloured water pooling atop the tiles surface around your feet. Running the soapy loofah over your wet skin, the hardened paint flakes off, leaving your skin to return to its natural colour. Now for my hair. Grasping the shampoo bottle in your right hand, you squeeze the liquid contents into your left palm before closing the lid. You moan as your hands begin to massage your scalp, making sure that all the paint is removed from your hair. Once your hair is rinsed, and the shower head returned into its slumber, you step onto the bath mat and thoroughly dry your hair with your hairdryer, combing it every so often.

Moving into your walk-in closet, you pick out your favourite pair of skinny jeans, and your Deadpool-themed tank top, curtesy of Wade (of course), both of which will fit nicely over your matching black undergarments. You slip your feet into your black converse before taking one last look at your masterpiece of a room. You’d had to paint all the walls white, as they were previously cream, whilst covering one wall, the one that your bed rests against, you’d painted lightning striking a darkened landscape, and in the center, a blue orb with a figure, watching the storm overhead. You smiled at the memory and headed out into the kitchen.

Spotting the cupboard, you race forward, opening it with such force that it almost swings off its hinges, reaching your hand in and grabbing a packet of (F/F) chips before slamming it closed. You tare open the packet and shove the largest chips you could grab into you salivating, hungry mouth, closing your eyes in ecstasy. BUZZ. BUZZ. Ugh, what now? Checking the caller ID, you hastily answer your phone. “What’s up Wolvie?” You could hear him groan before taking a swig of what was most likely whiskey.

“I told ya to call me Logan, but that’s besides the point. I wanted to know how you are settling in?” You snort, before eating another chip.

“Well,” you begin, “I think it’s going very well. I’ve just finished painting my room and I’m already on to (F/F) chips.” You knew he would be shaking his head, smirking at your antics. “Hey, don’t laugh at me! I’ll have you know I’ve been here a week and I’ve settled in just well.” He laughed at that.

“That’s good Bub, that’s really good. Y’know if they annoy ya too much, I’ll kick their asses for ya.” Giggling, you begin to reply before you are interrupted by a certain AI. “Ms. (L/N), Mr. Stark says that you’re needed in meeting room 8 as soon as possible.”

“Thanks F.R.I.D.A.Y. Tell him I’ll be there in a few minutes.” You shook your head. “What did you really call me for Gramps?”

He gasped in feigned horror. “Well, I was asked by the Professor himself to tell you that we’re gunna have a party o’er next week. You’re welcome to come, but after that insult I don’t think-“

“Okay! Okay! I’m sorry, I’ll come!” Humming he ended the call wishing me luck and promising to text me the details. Speed walking over to meeting room 8, you munch on a few more chips. What does he need me for? Surely it can’t be a mission! Mentally throwing those thoughts away, you opened the door, before stepping in, making sure to close the door behind you, moving to stand next to Cap. He has told you many times to call him Steve, but you like to mess with him, calling him Captain or Cap most of the time. Your eyes meet, and you smile up at him, eyes crinkling at the corners. His blue t-shirt does nothing but to hide his broad shoulders and the protrusion of his large muscles. Even his jeans look too tight. How does he fit such a fine ass in those? He smiles back, before clearing his throat, gaining the attention of those present in the room.

As soon as Tony’s eyes see me, his face instantly lightens. His expensive suit does nothing but help him prove his importance and influence he has on the team. He’s loaded – with cash, that is. “(Y/N), you made it!”

You looked at him and around the room, confused. “Uhm of cour-“

“Now,” he interrupted, “I need to introduce you to an old friend…and a…seemingly new one?” You looked at him then, sensing his uneasiness. Logan had taught you how to read moods after he took you in as his own when he found you in the woods. You also noticed how he seemed to be trying to convince himself that this new person was a friend. Strange. He pulled you further into the room, stopping in front of two men. Men? Snap out of it (Y/N), this is Thor and Loki. They’re Gods! “No wonder…” you muttered.

Thor leant down to your level, his long blonde hair replaced with short hair. It suited him. “Pardon, Lady (Y/N)?” Shit. He heard me! You look up at him, taking in his missing eye, covered with a golden eye patch and his attire. Asgardian armour, or a king’s attire?  He was smiling at you. “Nothing. Sorry, I’ve just been busy.” You smile back, hoping he accepts the lie. “There is no need to apologise Lady (Y/N)! I assume you know who I am?”

Smirking at him you nod and hold out your hand. His hand, that is much larger than your own, pretty much engulfs yours, as he greets you. You turn and face his brother, clad in green, gold and black attire, who’s looking down at his feet. “And you’re Loki?” You could’ve sworn his head would have flung off his neck due to the speed in which his gaze raised to yours. “That’s me, Lady (Y/N).” Taking your hand in his, he slowly lifts it to his lips, placing a feather-light kiss to your knuckles, before lowering your hand back down. Even though he was much taller than you, he wasn’t as big and muscly as his brother. His hand was much smaller, making yours fit into it nicer. “Just (Y/N) will be fine.” You extend the chip packet towards him, his face, framed by that luscious raven hair, contorts into a look of confusion. “Chip?”

Glancing over at his brother, as though he’s seeking permission, he extends his own arm out, his slender hand reaching into the packet, before emerging with a good-sized chip. Still looking uncertain, you take your own chip and elegantly place it into your mouth. You can feel the stares of your teammates boring into the back of your head, they, themselves unsure about what’s happening. Thor, though, just smiles at the both of you and gestures for a chip himself. Loki looks up at his brother in what you assume is disgust before placing the chip into his mouth, taking in the mix of flavours that would be dancing around the inside of his mouth. “Thank you.”

--

After the whole chip fiasco, in the meeting room, you decided to leave and make your way back into the spacious kitchen. Placing your large phone on the counter, you turn, and tear open the fridge door, reaching your arm through, until you grasp the large bottle, pulling it toward yourself. Plopping the bottle of Coke down, you begin your search for a large glass, and once found, you begin to fill it to the brim with the dark liquid, returning the bottle back to its place in the fridge.

“Ahem.” Looking up, you spot Tony staring at you from the doorway. Rolling your eyes, you grab your glass, gulping down its contents. The familiar fizz that enters your mouth brings tears to your eyes, but you pay no mind. Staring over at Tony, you continue to chug the entire glass.

Placing the empty glass down on the counter, your hand lifts to your mouth, wiping the stray liquid on the back of your hand, before placing both hands on the marble top. “Yes, mister Stark?” It wasn’t that you don’t like him, it’s just you’ve begun to get a weird feeling about him, like something’s not right. Eyes still on Tony, he steps into the room, stopping a metre away. “What’s up, Tony?” You place your right hand on your hip.

“Why did you do that?” You looked over at him, quizzically.

“Do what?”

Rolling his eyes, he replied, “With the chips. Why’d you offer him some?”

“Look, Tony, I was just being friendly. You’re always telling me to make friends, so here I am, trying to do just that, and yet you’re here, saying I shouldn’t?” You couldn’t believe this guy. First he tells me I need more friends, and now he tells me not to make any. Make up your damn mind! Your inner thoughts cease as two new presences slowly enter the room. You’re not sure if Tony notices the two Gods, tiptoeing behind him, as they try not to disturb us.

“He’s dangerous, (Y/N). He’s killed before, and he will probably kill again. Just keep your distance, okay?” You scoff at his poor attempt to sway your opinion.

“What, and I’m not?” That makes the brothers stop. “Tony, I don’t think you realise this, but he’s not the only one in this building with a bad history. Just look at what happened to me, I mean, I’m still here, aren’t I?” It’s only when you stop talking do you notice Loki’s eyes on you, as they stop flickering back and forth – from you to Tony, and back again. “You see, where I come from, everyone had to fight for where they are now, for their place in society. I don’t think you realise how much people can change, Mr. Stark,” picking up your phone from the kitchen counter, you begin to walk towards the hallway, leading to your room, “Look me up, I’ll probably be in one of those old S.H.I.E.L.D. files!”

You storm into your room, lightly slamming the door behind you, before you slide onto the carpeted floor. What’s so wrong about making friends. We’ve all done things we regret. UGH! Allowing your fingerprint to unlock your phone, you take notice of a new text from Logan. Good ol’ Wolvie.

 Wolvie

 Wolvie: Tuesday at 6. Bring a plus 1, or whoever ya want if you’re up for it! 😉

Wolvie: At the Mansion. I’ll be expecting ya bub.

 Lips tilting up into a smile, you typed in your response.

 (Y/N): Not sure about the plus one old man, but I will be going! I can’t wait to see everyone again!😊

 Placing your phone back on sleep mode, you can feel the familiar tingling sensation as it runs up your spine, stopping, only for a moment, when it reaches your head before the feeling explodes all around you. You close your eyes, relishing in its addictiveness before you open them once more. Your body, covered in a purple and blue mix of electricity, zaps and pops around you, calming you down. It’s in this bubble, of sorts, that you can use your abilities without affecting the world around you.

“Miss (Y/N), Loki wishes to enter, shall I let him in?” Taking a deep breath, the bubble dissipates, the stored electricity evaporating into thin air. You nod at the AI. “Of course, let him in.” The soft thud of leather boots fills your room, as the god enters your room, quietly closing the door after him, before turning to you. He’s still wearing his Asgardian clothing.

“I heard what Stark said out there, (Y/N), and I-“ You interrupted him.

“Nope. Not hearing it. He told me to meet new people, and that’s what I was doing. He can shove it, if he thinks, even for one second, that you don’t deserve to have at least one friend.” He looks at you in complete shock, almost as if he wasn’t expecting that. “Let me guess,” you walked closer to him, “the silver-tongued God of Mischief didn’t see that one coming?”

Shaking his head with a small smile, he replied, “I am unable to be your friend, Lady (Y/N), although I thank you for standing up for me.” You give him a questioning look.

“What do you mean I’m “unable to be your frie-“

“I am a dangerous villain who does not deserve such kindness.” He turns, heading back towards the door, his arm outstretched reaching for the metallic handle. You grab his arm, spinning him back towards you.

“Now listen here Mr. Mischief,” he swallows hard, “yes, you may be dangerous, but that does not mean that you can’t receive kindness. Trust me, I may not be as old as you, a literal God, but I have been down that road before, and trust me, it gets you nowhere.” You take a shuddered breath, before continuing. “I don’t care what you’ve done in the past, but I swear to you I will not let you travel down that path of no return, the path where you believe you don’t deserve anything. The past does not define you. I learned the hard way.”

You can feel tears prick at your eyes, threatening to break free. You are aware the god in front of you knows. He’s been studying you throughout your entire outburst. “What…” He begins, “What do you mean you had to learn the hard way? What happened?” You bow your head, shaking it, as your eyes close tightly to stop the tears from shedding.

 Loki’s POV

 I’ve only known this mortal for at least an hour, and yet she stands before me, a God who will not hesitate to end her life, after standing up for me and proclaiming herself to be my much-needed friend. “What…what do you mean you had to learn the hard way? What happened?” I knew she was already close to tears before I asked but I couldn’t help myself. This fierce little mortal had stood up for me, and now was breaking down because of what others had done to her.

I wasn’t much of a hugger, let alone someone familiar with comfort. I was never the favoured child, always coming second, but this mortal had awoken something in me. The urge to comfort her was overpowering. Never, in my many, many years had this urge come over me. The only thing I could say it was like how I felt towards my moth-Frigga. Hesitantly, my arms wrapped around her small form, as I pulled her towards me, rubbing her back. How could something so foreign to me feel so natural?

What was happening to me?

Once In A Freak Tags:

@bluegirlusa1 @stupidlysarcastic @mirtaqueen @marvelest-marvel@wishrains @nhievyenne @excuse-you-dickwad @blackcat995 @missaphrodite23 @li-ssu @gay-hufflepuff16

Loki Tags:

@baoxiii

Forever Tags:

@theonegirlunderyourbed @jemjem-chan @reading-in-moonlight

Apologies if tags don’t work!

[welcometomy20s]

October 12, 2022

What Did I Just Wrote There?

I always worried/delighted by my inscrutability, and I always wondered if what people say is true. So, I'll try decipher what I wrote yesterday, which was actually written a few days ago.

The point of that post was threading a needle between many different concepts that I have been talking about in last few months.

The thread is that in the modern world, what seemed infinite becomes finite. When we think of infinity, we tend to think of beyondness, but this beyondness doesn't really exist in the physical world, instead what we get is successively larger cycles.

Processes like stable diffusion works in the opposite way to what most people think AI art works. One wayward commenter wrote 'oh so AI takes a bunch of images and stitches it up together?' But if you listen to the explanation and the process, we see it starts with random noise and focuses to the subject at hand.

So, let's talk about... for example, there are now generators that try to imitate the style of an artist. What that does is one creates an image from noise then another AI looks and tries to see if that image looks like the training set. If it does, then it's good! But we don't want it to be good, so we can make it a bad thing! In fact, that's basically how Content ID works, except it's human making the 'new' content and not the AI. And it'll be easy to detect this style since that's baked in.

So people trying to sell images that are clearly copyright-violating are just cashing on the time it takes for the proper enforcement to set up, and it won't work most of the time anyway, because as I said before, the detection algorithm is already baked into the algorithm!

But people do not understand this and start to panic. They do not understand the topsy-turvy nature of the modern world and its method of derivation from entirety (that's a joke from Diamonds in The Rough series)

Rest of the post connects this topsy-turvy nature to other areas of inquiry on this blog, like the conservative mind as a reaction to that reductive construction, my stories as a plea to the Absurd Hero, and that Waifu are such Absurd Heroes, and socialism is a struggle to attain the status of Absurd Hero.

More philosophy tomorrow. I was going to make this into one post, but I think it can benefit from being a multiple post, so there.

[aleshia-barr-blog]

Conglomeration

‘The bringing together of things that have been previously separate’. (Meikle and Young, 2011, p2).

Conglomeration, in media terms, would be the ‘bringing together’ of media companies to form conglomerates, and these conglomerates usually own companies that span over many different platforms such as television, the internet or print. For example, Marvel Studios, ABC, Hulu, Disney Publishing Worldwide and the Disney Store are all owned by the mass media giant The Walt Disney Company.

Owning many different companies can be beneficial to a conglomerate as, since the span of these companies is so wide, a larger audience can be reached when promoting specific media pieces. Also, having many different companies makes it much easier for a media text to become transmedial.

In this post I am going to look at the example of the blockbuster film: Avengers: Infinity War (2018).This film is the sequel to Avengers Assemble (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), however it is the nineteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Avengers series (and also the entire MCU) is arguably very transmedial. These texts are formed over many different media platforms, the main two being the films and the comic books. However, there are many video games and board games, and there is also an animated Avengers cartoon on Disney Channel. Also, there are a few Avengers-themed rides in the various Disney Parks.

A quote from media author Henry Jenkins (2008, p95-134) helps solidify the idea that the MCU is incredibly transmedial. He said: 

‘in the ideal form of transmedia storytelling, each medium does what it does best – so that a story might be introduced in a film, expanded through television, novels and comics; its world might be explored through gameplay or experienced as an amusement park attraction.’

Due to the large budget of the film, it was possible to film in lots of different worldwide locations, for example New York, Scotland, Brazil and The Philippines. The film also included a very diverse cast, including British, American, Puerto Rican, French, Zimbabwean and Australian actors and actresses. Both the diverse cast and the various filming locations help the film become transcultural as it is able to reach a larger international audience due to people from different cultures being able to relate to the characters in the film and feel as if they are being represented too.

There are also multiple social media accounts for Avengers, e.g. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. All of these different factors help the franchise reach a large international audience as they span across different platforms and can be accessed by lots of different people.

Infinity War has made more than $2 billion at the global box office (Box Office Mojo, 2018) showing how it is incredibly popular worldwide. It was featured in the news due to its record-breaking opening weekend (BBC, 2018), and for weeks afterwards it was all over social media, with fans speculating over the plot and wondering what was going to happen in the unnamed Avengers 4.  

However, despite the popularity of the film and the franchise as a whole, many would argue that the films in the MCU are only popular due to the fact that they are standardised.

Some of the codes and conventions of a standardised film would be: lots of special effects, having a linear structure: i.e. beginning, middle and end. The plot of the film in this structure would probably begin with a sense of equilibrium, then something chaotic would happen, then at the end there would be a new sense of equilibrium. They also may include: classic character roles: i.e. hero, villain and princess, it may be set in a large city/kingdom, and it may star well known actors and actresses.

While not all Marvel films follow these codes, many do.

Dorfman (1983, cited in Machin, David and Leeuwen, Theo Van, 2007) argued that worldwide audiences like Disney films because ‘all complement and answer the needs of a subservient and passive consumer’. This suggests that due to the standardisation and ‘sameness’ of these films everyone is going to enjoy them because they allow for instant gratification.

Especially due to the large global box office of Infinity War, I believe that the conglomerate production of this film (and all films in the MCU) is vital to the global popularity of the film. Using multiple media platforms such as theme park attractions, games and comic books expands the story of the film, and allows a larger audience to immerse themselves in the Marvel universe, and I don’t think the franchise would be as successful if it wasn’t for this.

References

BBC, 2018. Avengers: Infinity War smashes global opening weekend box office record. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43944269 [Accessed: Nov 22, 2018].

BOX OFFICE, 2018. Avengers: Infinity War(2018). Available at: https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=marvel0518.htm [Accessed: Nov 22, 2018].

JENKINS, H., 2008. Searching for the Origami Unicorn: The Matrix and Transmedia Storytelling,’ Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide; New York: New York University Press.

MACHIN, D. and LEEUWEN, T.V., 2007. Theories of Media Globalisation,’ Global Media Discourse: A Critical Introduction. London: Routledge.

RUSSO, A. and RUSSO, J., 2018. Avengers: Infinity War. [Film]. Marvel Studios.

WHEDON, J., 2015. Avengers: Age of Ultron. [Film]. Marvel Studios.

WHEDON, J., 2012. The Avengers. [Film]. Marvel Studios