#class 411

[terribletrainphotos]

You can have one (1) ICE T bogie, as a treat, before the train vanishes into oblivion behind this magnificent abandoned roundhouse.

[aestheticaltcow]

Last Updated: 09/13/2024

Teasing

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Carmy is a tease, and you love it. MDNI 18+

Elementary School

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Carmy comes to pick you up from work while Richie teases the two of you

What Happens In Vegas Doesn't Always Stay In Vegas

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x OC A four-part series about a past mistake both Carmy and Ellie had long forgotten about. Part 1: Those are Legal? Part 2: The Bear, Abuse of Power, and a Dick Measuring Contest Part 3: The Fight Part 4: DC in October

Family Ties

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Carmy butts heads with his 17-year-old daughter

Father's Day

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Father's day cards covered in glitter and a surprise, what more could Carmy ask for?

High School

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Carmy didn't like high school, but he did like you, so when you asked him to come speak to this year's graduating class, how could he say no?

Food is Love

~Requested~ (forgot to give it a title) Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader After the passing of your father, you have a hankering for "Daddy Soup." You can't figure out the recipe, so you enlist the help of your Michelin star boyfriend to figure it out

Slumber Party

~Requested~ Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader You didn't take Carmy as a 3-in-1 guy but I guess sleeping over at his place for the first time gives you a good amount of insight on your boyfriend.

Feral

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader After work fun ~ MDNI 18+

Our Future (2 Parts)

Richard "Richie" Jerimovich x Reader Age gaps can be difficult. Being at two different times in your life makes the idea of the future seem impossible. Part 1: Our Future Part 2: Our Present

Social Media Manager: The Series

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Marcus's friend Rusty is intriguing, and Carmy wants to get to know her better. Why not hire her to revamp The Bear's social media pages? Part 1: Introductions and Donuts Part 2: Meetings, Meetings, Meetings Part 3: Drinks? Part 4: Bars and Miscommunication

The Carmy Blurb Playlist

A collection of Carmy blurbs inspired by songs I dig that give me Carmy vibes

A Different Point of View

Natalie Berzatto's POV on the events of Season 1

Cigarettes Multiverse (3 Parts)

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader MDNI 18+ Friends with benefits worked for you and Carmy until it didn't. Part 1: Cigarettes - Rozei Part 2: Girlfriend Treatment Part 3: Boyfriend Treatment

Six Months (5 parts)

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Six months postpartum and six months of celibacy, is a sexually frustrated Carmy going to risk his marriage and future relationship with his daughter for a woman who smells like artificial vanilla? Part 1: Six Months Part 2: The Night It Went Wrong Part 3: The Aftermath Part 4: Two Months Part 5: Healing

Three-Three-Three

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Based on the fridge scene of the S2 finale; you help Carmy calm down when he's having a panic attack

You're un-beet-liveable

Sydney "Syd" Aduam x Male Reader (actually, it's Paul Mescal) A cute delivery guy makes Syd a little less annoyed that Carmy asked her to come in early.

Is this what you were looking for?

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Carmy has a habit of misplacing his wedding ring, so he came up with a better alternative.

The Playdate

Richard "Richie" Jerimovich x Reader Tiffany asks if Richie can pick Eva up from a playdate.

Lockdowns & Ladyfingers

Chef Luca x Reader Luca is the hot neighbor, after getting the 411 from the grannies in the building; you make your move.

Our Life

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader You see Carmy's sketchbook and can't help but fall more in love with him.

Love Story

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Just a sweet lil narrative of Carmy fallin' for you

Sorry?

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader The story of the time you don't get off MDNI 18+

Cooking Class

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader "Six Months" universe spin-off sorta... Sugar actions off a cooking class hosted by our favorite little chef,. Carmy is a sexy man here's his response to some unwanted flirtation.

That Poster Trend

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader With Carmy's 30th birthday fast approaching, you were struggling to figure out the perfect gift for him—at least until you were reminded of that TikTok beer poster trend.

Fatherhood: Carmy Berzatto

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto's adventures in single fatherhood.

Proposal Gone Wrong

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Carmy wants nothing more than to marry you; unfortunately, with his luck, Murphy's Law took over.

How do you do it?

Richard "Richie" Jerimovich x Reader Richie's at his wits end with Carmy. Some advice may make it a little better.

To Chicago and Beyond

Carmen "Carmy" Beratto x Reader Long distance becomes short distance- so short you're within arm's reach of each other.

The Joy Of Cooking

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader You and Carmy are moving in together; nothing bad could happen, right?

Gimme a Minute

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Just something I threw together while I was waiting for my individual supervision session to start.

Drunken Escapades

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader It turns out you met Mikey before he passed; you just didn't know it. Part 1 Part 2 (MDNI 18+)

No Phone Policy

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader I'm in an angsty mood; I'm sorry, everyone. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 The Prequel Part 5

Allergic to Sunshine

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Request!

Double Trouble

Richard "Richie" Jerimovich x Reader MDNI 18+ Double the trouble but twice the joy. Thank you, God, for giving me a twin. Do you ever have one of those stupid ideas that sticks in your brain even though it feels kinda stupid? Yea... that's what this was. Part 1: Double Trouble Part 2: I'll Raise You One Better Part 3: Wedding of the Year

Coffee Run

Sydney "Syd" Adamu x Reader Someone requested a Syd x fem reader story a few months ago, and here it is!

Hot Stuff

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Request! Carmy with a plus size reader and him comforting her while she’s not feeling pretty.

Written Romance

Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto x Reader Request! Carmy finds love in an indie book shop.

[devildomwriter]

Obey Me Fun Facts 411-420

• Belphegor is hinted to have the ability of osmosis as despite sleeping through most classes, scores top of the class, and by sleeping with his text books, suddenly knows everything within them

• Beelzebub has wind powers as seen in season 3

• Everyone once left Diavolo in prison in a virtual world overnight and he won’t let them forget it as he was rather pissed off waiting for them to rescue him.

• Satan has been featured in cards with cats 7+ times

• Solomon, Thirteen, and MC once went hiking up a mountain called Mt Imminent Death, the brothers were obsessively worried and stopped from following

• At the end of season two, the brothers kidnapped MC and brought them to the edge of the Devildom, aided by Lucifer

• In season 3, MC is paid to the be the babysitter of the brothers

• Barbatos and Lucifer sometimes have tea taste testing parties

• Leviathan once drank hell milk that made him grow so large in size he put a hole in the ceiling and Lucifer had to pay for it

• Diavolo once put funny fungi in his food just to see to what extent they’d work on him, he was unable to stop laughing

401-410 • 421-430

[skzdust]

Snapshots: "Oh, do not fucking do that." + Enemies to Lovers

Pairing: Bang Chan x reader, Lee Know x reader

Other 6 SKZ coming soon!!

Word Count: ~300 each

Reblogs, likes, comments all appreciated!!!

Masterlist

-----

Bang Chan:

“ENG 411: Medieval Women Writers” didn’t sound like the type of class that would spawn a bitter rivalry, but it seemed every class you and Bang Chan argued about something.

He seemed really sweet… to everyone except you. On the first day of the course you’d disagreed on the definition of “Middle Ages,” and it seemed from then on that he had some kind of vendetta against you. The thoughtfulness you caught glimpses of in his interactions with your classmates seemed to be reversed with you—he knew exactly which buttons to push to bother you. What insecurities to tap on to reach nerves.

Not that you had any less of a vendetta against him. You were just as harsh, your words during in-class debates clawed and pointed. You would go far out of your way to annoy him.

And your professor’s announcement last week that you’d be picking partners for a project today didn’t escape your notice as a potential avenue for annoyance.

You made sure to arrive to the classroom just before the class started, a smile twisting your lips as you took the empty seat next to Bang Chan. He shoots you a look, but the professor starts talking, and he looks away.

“Alright, I hope you’ve given some thought to your partner choices for the project.” The professor opens her computer and looks to the student to her left, which just so happens to be you. “Y/n? Who are you working with?”

“Bang Chan.” You say, a smug grin tugging at your mouth.

He knocks his knee against yours under the table. You wipe the smile from your face and look at him innocently, making a “who, me?” expression.

“Oh, do not fucking do that.” He whispers.

“Too late.” You whisper back. “If you’re really so worried about it, say something.”

He glares at you, but this is a challenge, and you know he won’t back down. He looks to the professor, his usual easy smile returning, and says sweetly, “Yes, I’ll be working with y/n.”

Your evil smile returns. It would be an interesting project.

Lee Know:

The Chief leans back. “I know you two have a rather… rocky relationship, but you’re both aces at your jobs. I need you working together on this case.”

“Oh.” Minho gives him a look. “Do not fucking do that.”

“I can assign both of you however I want. Don’t make me demote you.”

You smother a smile as Minho exhales in exasperation. “I can assure you y/n doesn’t want to work with me just as mush as I don’t want to work with them.” He looked to you.

“It’ll be fun, Minho!” You grin, peppy. “We’ll succeed.”

“I’m not worried about success. I’m worried about them killing me in my sleep.”

“As long as you don’t give me a reason to, there’s no reason to worry about that.” You keep smiling. “Unlike someone, I can remain professional.”

The Chief sighs. “I need your skills, y/n, Minho. I need you to actually work together. To that end, you’ll be staying in the same hotel rooms, flying together, eating meals together, and spending every other moment in each other’s company. Can you handle that?”

You aren’t about to back down now. “Yes, Chief.”

Minho sighs. “Yes, Chief.”

“Good.” The Chief makes a motion with his hands. “Out.”

Minho closes the office door behind you. “Y/n… I propose a truce.”

You cross your arms. “A truce?”

“A truce. I think we can work well together, like Chief was saying, but we need to give ourselves a chance.”

You nod. “I’ll give you a chance, Minho. We’ll see how it goes.”

He nods back. “We’ll see how it goes.”

[smoothestkriminal]

It’s just a party.

Hii everybody!!!

I’m so happy to share this fic with you guys :D

It’s based on the “10 things I hate about you” party scene.

I did a poll on who you’d rather have as a male lead and you guys chose: GOJO•*.

I tried my best on this so enjoy!!!

I'm not going satoru.

Famous last words of mine being taken back at this very moment. Here I am; out on a Friday night at some football wide receiver's house in a fancy neighborhood who's parents are out of town. Probably at boca or something too, get away.

Typically, this means a party till the neighbours call the cops and it gets shut down. I'm not one to go out at all. Not even often. I'’d rather stay home with latest novel and Friday night special of my favourite show. But nooo~ Mr. "My Friends Place will be fun" decided to drag me along since his latest fling decided to leave him for some artist since he's more in "depth" and "considerate." Trust me when I had to listen to his hour long rant about how it was, "wack" she left him, a quaterback, 6’4, phat, who was da bomb." For a "lowlife, artist wannabe, scrub." That's about it I presume.

Quit buggin. You never go out, you know girls who don't come out and party get cheated on?

His tone hinted teasing, he knows no man can live up to my standards.

Well luckily I don't have a boyfriend.

| shoot him a quick cheeky grin and immediately drop it. As we pull up to the house in his, can you believe, Honda. Satoru knew his car was better, and expensive, so he made sure to flaunt whenever he could. I step out the car and walk up the steps to hear big boom blasting a song which I partially recall from somewhere. My eye catches the residence sign; "Geto residence. 411." Of course it's suguru geto. He's not notorious for throwing ragers, although he has quite a reputation for getting the cops and neighborhood watch called on his house...

Screaming and loud yelling coming from the beginning of the hallways as we step into the house. Immediately suguru joins us with shoko beside him smoking a cig. Sator dabs up suguru back and greets him. My hand is pulled out my jeans pocket and motioned a wave to suguru, he just smiles back warmly and takes gojo with him somewhere while shoko links her arms with me and sits me down between some stoners and heavy drinkers while she mingles along them lighting a blunt in her hand simultaneously. I just stare into the abyss as I don't have a clue what to do nor say. l've never been to these parties. The only party l've been to recently is my uncle's 40th birthday party with him going on and on about his new landline and how it's "wireless.” But that's a story for another time.

Do I know you?

Some random guy sits next to me with a giant bottle of booze in his hand, clearly reeks of alcohol which I can tell he's wasted. He takes another sip of the bottle before he says to me:

Hey aren't you the chick in my math class? The like, super smart one? Dude your like such a ner-.

The music takes over my train of thought and whatever he said trailed off. The next thing I know is he shoves a shot of some type of liquid in my face and ushers me to drink it.

No thanks, I don't drink.

C’mon, don’t be a buzz kli. You want everyone to think you are one? Just take it-

Honestly I'm good-

I don't have a clue whether it was the loud blasted music speaker in the right corner of my ear telling me or the urge to, but I took that shot out his hand and smacked it down. The hard liquor going down my throat felt hot and strong. The taste was bitter with a hint of caramel. Judging by the feel of it, it was a hard and heavy concentration of alcohol. Maybe I'm a flyweight or just can't hold my liquor, but everything was a flash from there on out.

I'm walking down a dimmed hallways between screaming teens and bottles surround the floor, limping sort of mindlessly going, somewhere? Music changes from hard loud rap to something groovy and mellow. And I find, eventually, satoru surrounded by girls and suguru on his side with a drink in his hand.

Satoru notices me coming towards him and focuses on me moving to him like a zombie with me rubbing my head from spinning.

Hey sweet thing, where've you been?

Hmm?

All I could get out is a grunt and lean against his side as he puts his arm around me continuously talking to his friends. He notices how I'm sort of out of it and ask me if I'm okay?

Am-goothhss (I'm good.)

You sure? You drank something weird? Maybe I shouldn't have left you with shoko.

What you mean? Quit buggin-

I'm buggin? You know what lets dip I can't let anything bad happen to you, your dad'll freak if he sees me dropping his daughter off wasted at this late. Suguru I’m gonna bounce-

Nooo~. Im gonna dance!

He can tell my words are slurring and realizes my full drunk. Wondering how in the world that happened, dancing music starts to boom through speakers and I leave satorus side and head towards the dance circle formed in the middle of the house.

Wait- y/n! Don't go there- c'mon man! I gotta take you home..

This shirts too hot and I feel so suffocated. I take my Full sleeve tee off and luckily I'm wearing a tank underneath it so l'm not completely naked. I throw the shirt on the floor and satoru picks it up still coming after me, he grabs me by the wrist and jerks me back to come with him. I jut my arm down for him to let go and suddenly l'm dancing with some randos moving to the beat. Sator just stands there in disbelief with my top in his hand, his eyes staring at my arms flail up and side to side as my hips do the same. Suddenly I'm pulled up by my arms and onto a table in the middle of the corridor. All eyes are on me and I get sort of shy thinking for a moment what am I doing? I make an impulse and grab a shot out some guys hand who doesn't seem to mind and gulp it down. I put that shot glass down and Continue moving to the beat as others around me as well. The party's going on as more people join the dance circle and start to move as well.

Satorus eyes widen with shock as suguru comes up to him and smirks while whispering to him:

That's your lady right there entertaining other guys, you gonna do something?

As he's told that he looks around to see almost every guy staring at you dancing with a perverted look in their eyes, some trying to skim through the crowd and approach you- he feels a sort of rage and jealousy brush over him and leaves suguru side who's still smirking as he watches. Satoru forcefully pushing others aside, grabs you by the waist and puts you over his shoulder while heading towards the door. You too drunk to even register what was happening look up and realise your being taken. You don't worry although as you understand it's satoru.

What are you doing satoruuu~ I wanteh to danceuh...

You’re drunk y/n. We're leaving right now.

Who are you, my father? Stop worrying and let's partayuh-!

My words keep on slurring which cause gojo to smirk and sigh with exasperation.

Maybe I shouldn't have urged you to come out tonight. Especially since all those guys have the nerve to stare at you like what, imagine what they were thinking...

Whut???

Nothing. Just next time, don't be putting on a show for guys.

He opens the car door and places you in it. As he gets in he makes sure your all right- to only see you passed out slouching against the window. He brushes back your hair that's in your mouth as you snore away. He thinks to himself why he's seething with jealousy right now? He's never looked at you in this type of light before. You?! His best friend. You weren't the type of girls he wasn't into at all. You stayed home all day unless it was school or the library. You rarely wore dresses unless it was a special occasion, you had more pairs of jeans that the average person and read for fun. Fun! He's seen you as if you were a Brother.

So why was he so tempted to kiss you right now?.

I regain my consciousness to see it's still dark out and I'm pulling up in front of my house.

Satoru what time is it?

W-what?

What's the time???

That was weird..

Uhh- it's about.. 2:00 in the morning.

What?! No way my dad'll kill me!

Wait- y/n

He stops my hand from opening the door and I look back at him. His blue eyes lock on mine as he stutters to say something.

I-I. do gosh why am I stuttering?! Do you remember tonight?!

No, not really. Gosh my heads pounding.

Satoru looks conflicted on whether or not he should say what he feels like or let you peacefully go to bed. Heavy breaths, eye contact locked on with raw emotion piercing through them, just wanting to tell you something- anything!

Nevermind, Sleep tight.

..Tonight was fun, bye.

He watched her open the cars door and slump out walking to the door. Glancing at him for a second before unlocking the door and stepping in closing the door behind her.

Maybe next time..

Tch- dammit satoru.

[enchi-elm]

Caleb Brewster's signature, an evolution 1778-1780

We start off reasonable and professional, in a letter to Benjamin Tallmadge dated October 22, 1778:

Caleb Brewster Lieut

Source: Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw4.053_0566_0567/?sp=1

That's good, you know, pretty solid. Clean, neat, mindful of his military position. Then a bizarre and exciting change of pace in a letter to Benjamin Tallmadge dated February 26, 1779.

I am with respect yours [etc.?] Caleb Brewster

Source, Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw4.056_0281_0284/?sp=4&st=image

Incredible. Diva. I'm amazed he found stable ground to write this on and enough time to compose two pages. The "B" should be framed and taught in calligraphy classes. In the same letter, he writes a "g" so effusive it bisects New York in the row below to land on "at".

Was it too much? Did he fly too close to the sun? Has he since grown more secure in his correspondence or is this him at his most confident? Either way, 18 months later we see a more subdued return to form in a letter to Benjamin Tallmadge dated August 18, 1780.

With respect your friend and Humble Servant Caleb Brewster

Source: Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw4.069_0709_0710/?sp=1

No flourishes, short lines-- in fact, a total lack of swoops throughout the entire letter. But he's become a friend! Aww. I wish I knew what Maj. Tallmadge had written in return.

Other things I have found out while doodling on the themes of Chapter 18 of Wind and Water and researching tangents,

Caleb and Ben owned land together (?!?!), purchased August 5, 1784: "The Middle of the Island Farm" in Brookhaven Twp. and four lots in Nocamack. (The source given, that I can't access, is this: Page 251 Loyalism in New York during the American Revolution by Alex C Flick PhD. Columbia Univ. Press, London 1901. Accessed Meehan-411 16 Jan 2020.)

Caleb's father's name was Benjamin, likely the reason his son was also called Benjamin (another son was named Daniel, for his grandfather). His first daughter was named after his mother, Sarah.

He had three half-sisters from his father's first or second wife? (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Brewster-1687) Except the birth dates make it seem like Caleb was somehow born between the last two? Someone messed up the geneology there, or we're talking bigamy.

[neonscandal]

Manga With Me: MHA Crackpot Analysis

I know we’re collectively running off the high of chapter 406 (just me??) but anyone else curious about the parallels we saw in chapter 407 to themes from way back in the training camp arc? I have a feeling they'll bear on what kind of ending our boys will have when all is said and done and I got time today to explore that.

⚠️ Spoiler warning: through chapter MHA 411.

Before you waste your time diving in, let's start with what makes this a crack analysis - I'm still making heads or tails on what this means for BakuDeku because... while I think the series will end with a reckoning between them, it doesn't mean it'll be to confirm the romantic underpinnings or that both of them will live.

Let's start with what informs this hunch:

Note: There's a serious bit of nuance we're missing from the English translation though I'm having a hard time finding the original post I liked many moons ago that essentially goes into the fact that, when Midoriya told Compress to "Give him back," referring to the Bakugo marble... he used language that had a possessive connotation. 👀 In fact, even with the English translation, we can see that Compress specifically calls out the phrasing to be odd, we just miss the subtlety of why that is (they really don't want us to be great). Compress nobly shoots back that Bakugo doesn't belong to anyone but this violent idea of possessing someone... DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR TO ANYONE??

We have seen, scattered throughout this entire story, that All For One has always been obsessed with recapturing the One For All quirk. It's why he targets the successors so compulsively. I assumed it was because, as the dynamic had been cast, that One For All has always had the power to best All For One. It wasn't until we saw the vestiges locked within OFA, Yoichi in particular, that we realize there's a bit more to the story. AFO's origin story in chapter 407 casts a really interesting foreshadow.

This alone isn't particularly damning or why I think it has impact on the story's end, or at least not comprehensively. Now that we see All For One up close... we've gotten some insight into his disposition as well. Specifically, here:

This mentality sounds exactly like...

At the heart of the story, everything has centered around Midoriya and Bakugo and their quest for number one, as inspired by All Might.

Canonically, we know that, in universe, their adoration of All Might has led to an embodiment of a facet of what they believe makes him a good hero. The Win to Save vs. Save to Win camps that are defined most readily at Ground Beta by All Might himself.

Midoriya and Bakugo are frequently cast as two halves of the same whole and as an impetus, not only for their mutually linked improvement, but also inspiring others around them to level up, as well. While it can be inferred that All Might as a mentor is largely the catalyst for this, it would be remiss to say that he doesn't have his own host of parallels but, at the center of this crack pot theory is his obvious relation to All For One.

To simplify where I'm going with this and explain the upcoming mental gymnastics: All For One is a foil for All Might.

We've seen Midoriya and Bakugo, in their quest to be heroes, embody two halves of who All Might is as a hero. In fact, Bakugo's reconciliation of his previous inability to "Save to Win" marked a major development in his character evolution and perception by people who aren't in Class 1A (Monoma. I'm talking about Monoma). On an unrelated note, members of Class 1A get to a point of not treating Bakugo like a ticking time bomb as they drag him around and infantilize him (Tsuyu) and this marked difference provided further exposition that the class has come to realize that he's mostly bravado and bluster and maybe not as awful as depicted at the onset of the story.

All that to say... given the parallels we see in the latest chapters. Are they meant to be two sides of All For One, too?

A continuing theme of the story (I'm sure I blab about it in other Manga With Me threads) is the fact that anyone can be a hero. However, there's also a critical examination of one's ability to be villainous regardless of intention or perception. We see it in the case of Endeavor, in particular, but also with characters like Hawks and Lady Nagant... and the Hero Commission, in general. Alternatively, even villains are redeemable or may have good intentions and we're seeing a lot of their redemptions play out through the duration of this war.

If we've seen the resolution of their embodiment of All Might, does it make sense to cast Midoriya and Bakugo in the shadow of who All For One is, as well? Arrogant, possessive, merciless and with an ego that looks only to subjugate others.

I think what causes unease about these panels and their comparison to AFO is because I'm expecting a huge cop out. We've been getting a lot of damning BKDK moments with an extra serving of Togachako. Would this new parallel cast them more in a brotherly light? With these parallel's and All For One's defeat... what does this mean for BakuDeku?

I think we've seen Bakugo overcome his likeness to AFO, as it were. Despite their competition, he recognized why he couldn't face Midoriya's spirit so, instead he rejected him. He reveals as much to All Might directly. Midoriya is no longer just a pebble and, based on vestigal Bakugo, I think we can all agree they are linked by something akin to fate. In fact, Bakugo was only able to save All Might (and balance out his guilt for "ruining" All Might while pulling off an All Might signature fist of triumph) with Midoriya's help and their wordless collaboration. He even grabbed his hand!

But the object of AFO's obsession is his brother and I can't help but also draw the connection between Bakugo's previous inability to reach out and accept Midoriya's hand back at the pond where Yoichi willingly grasped Kudou's (... pre-Bakugo, Bakugo) and escaped his brother. The coincidence is too much and I can't help but look for meaning in how this story seems to be coming full circle. Because, on the one hand I want to compare them to AFO but on the other hand, is the better comparison between AFO and OFA themselves?

In the latest chapter, we've seen that Shigaraki has robbed Midoriya of at least one OFA vestige and subsequently their inherent quirk. Will it all end by him losing each of them until he's back to being quirkless? A destruction of AFO seeing a destruction of OFA and ending this dispute of ideologies that's gone back several generations? Successful in besting Shigaraki but... losing someone who means so much to him in the process?

7/19 Edit to clarify, what I’m trying to say is: if the resolution to Bakugo’s hubris was reaching out a hand to a “pebble” to ultimately defeat AFO… would the resolution to Midoriya’s possessiveness be to lose everything?

It's too much to think about but I don't call it crack pot for nothing. I'm still formulating my hypothesis but think this next chapter should have something huge to explain how Deku is still able to avoid Shigaraki despite no longer being able to use Gearshift and losing Danger Sense. Maybe it'll be the linch pin in figuring out if there's a hypothesis to be had or whether this was all a big reach. I still can't decide.

[ammg-old2]

In the last decade, cacti have exploded in popularity, becoming a mainstay of hipster decor around the world – from the homes of China’s growing middle class and the meticulous cactus gardens in Japan to the fashionable cafes of Europe.

In the US alone, sales of cacti and succulents surged 64% between 2012 and 2017; a market that is now estimated to be worth tens of millions. But rising demand has met a thorny problem: cacti are extremely slow-growing, with some species taking decades to grow from seed to full maturity. Hence, many opt for the shortcut: pulling them right out of the ground.

For land managers and scientists who work with cacti, the problem appears to be on the rise. While the precise scale is difficult to measure, and catching thieves red-handed in remote deserts is nearly impossible, major busts offer clues. In 2014, more than 2,600 stolen cacti were seized at US borders – up from 411 just a year before. But law enforcement officials and field scientists say that data represents only a tiny fraction of cactus actually being stolen.

“When I first started we rarely investigated cactus theft,” said one US Fish and Wildlife Service detective, who asked not to be named due to the undercover nature of his work. He has covered the south-west region for more than a decade and says the problem is increasing. “Now we are prosecuting cases involving thousands of plants at a time. The demand is so high that I fear we can’t stop the illegal trade going on.”

While many plants fall victim to underground cactus cartels, a seemingly more benign form of theft has become part of the problem, too. International visitors who come to the south-west specifically to view rare cactus in the wild sometimes take a souvenir home, and social media is exacerbating the problem.

“We’ve had Austrian, German and Italian collectors express strong interest on social media for these plants and they share GPS coordinates,” said Wendell “Woody” Minnich, the former president of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. “Some of these people come to steal, especially when a new species is identified. They hide the plants in their suitcase and take them back to their greenhouse in Europe.”

Minnich, 71, has been a cactus grower and nursery operator in New Mexico for 50 years. He said the internet had significantly accelerated theft of rare, slow-growing cactus species over the last decade. A case in point: Sclerocactus havasupaiensis, which is native to one drainage at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, was being auctioned on eBay in early January by a seller in Ukraine. It was just one of more than 365 internationally protected plant species that are openly traded on Amazon and eBay.

“Do a Google search on Sclerocactus and you can find people in Russia selling them,” said Minnich. “I have been on public lands in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado where years ago Sclerocactus were everywhere, and recently I found just a bunch of little holes in the ground.”

[prince-gideon-the-ninth]

💀 Ninth Radio 💀

SPOILERS for Gideon the Ninth! I've been building some Locked Tomb playlists. Bury a Friend by Billie Eilish reminds me of Gideon's experiences at Canaan House. Bonus for an official music video with a horror theme 💀 Music Video Content warning: Needles!

Lyrics with notes about Gideon the Ninth after the break.

Lyrics for Bury a Friend, with annotations in bold.

Other Houses, especially the Fifth, friending Gideon early on at Canaan House during her vow of silence:

What do you want from me? Why don't you run from me? What are you wondering? What do you know? Why aren't you scared of me? Why do you care for me? When we all fall asleep, where do we go?

Um, Gideon talking to Harrow... thinking about Harrow *blush* (Come here) Say it, spit it out. What is it exactly? You're payin'? Is the amount cleanin' you out? Am I satisfactory? Today, I'm thinkin' about the things that are deadly The way I'm drinkin' you down Like I wanna drown, like I wanna end me

The pain of the trails, especially Gideon being siphoned by Harrow in Chapter 20. Step on the glass, staple your tongue (ah) Gideon losing Isaac... then shortly after, Jeannemary. Bury a friend, try to wake up (ah-ah) Cannibal class, killing the son (ah) Bury a friend, I wanna end me

I wanna end me I wanna, I wanna, I wanna… end me I wanna, I wanna, I wanna…

What do you want from me? Why don't you run from me? What are you wondering? What do you know? Why aren't you scared of me? Why do you care for me? When we all fall asleep, where do we go?

These lines really could be Gideon and Harrow talking to each other, about NOT talking to each other enough early on, then regrouping. (Listen) Keep you in the dark. What had you expected? Me to make you my art and make you a star? And get you connected? I'll meet you in the park, I'll be calm and collected

Final battle(s) at Canaan house, in chapter 36, conversation between Cytherea and Gideon (quotes below lyrics) But we knew right from the start that you'd fall apart 'Cause I'm too expensive

Cytherea: "I almost wish you'd been mine." "You couldn't fucking afford me," said Gideon. (page 411).

Gideon going to The Sixth after finding the head of Protesilaus, and Gideon bearing her heart to The Sixth: It's probably somethin' that shouldn't be said out loud Honestly, I thought that I would be dead by now (wow) Calling security, keepin' my head held down Bury the hatchet or bury a friend right now

Gideon as bondswoman to The Ninth, but also her dedication to Harrow, who encapsulates the future of The Ninth: The debt I owe, gotta sell my soul 'Cause I can't say no, no, I can't say no

This bit really fits with Palamedes freezing Gideon using necromancy, outside the room of Dulcinea (chapter 35, pages 397-398):

Then my limbs are frozen, my eyes won't close And I can't say no, I can't say no (Careful)

Step on the glass, staple your tongue (ah) Bury a friend, try to wake up (Ah-ah) Cannibal class, killing the son (ah) Bury a friend, I wanna end me

I wanna end me I wanna, I wanna, I wanna… end me I wanna, I wanna, I wanna…

Towards the middle and end of the song, the chorus really starts to feel like Gideon's questions to Harrow leading up to and including the pool scene (chapter 31): What do you want from me? Why don't you run from me? What are you wondering? What do you know? Why aren't you scared of me? Why do you care for me? When we all fall asleep, where do we go?

[artdecodude]

For #TerraCottaTuesday , here's some world class glazed terra cotta a the Title Guarantee Building in Downtown #LosAngeles. 411 W 5th Street. #ArtDeco

[neomujinjja]

XO, Love You (2)

Pairing: Seunghan x Reader

Length: 411 words Genre: Fluff, Enemies(?) to lovers

Warning: not edited, some ooc-ness, some XO, Kitty influences

Synopsis: You and Seunghan don't get along despite running in similar circles. But after events pushing the two of together, there might be romantic feelings growing.

Part 1 Part 3 Part 4

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"Y/N" your dance teacher calls for you as the class begins to pack up. You walk up to their desk, trying to keep a calm demeanor. "I'd like for you to participate in the upcoming ceremony. You're free to pick your partner or to say no; just let me know your decision." He informed you.

"Thank you, sir. I'll let you know my decision soon" you told him before leaving the room. You make your way to the cafeteria, already texting in your group chat with Shotaro and Wonbin.

~

"So, why did we have to hurry over here?" Shotaro asks, there is a tinge of worry in his voice. Wonbin hands over the drink, he bought as the duo sit at the table.

"I got ask to be apart of the upcoming ceremony." You say as you push the trays with their food towards them. "And the teacher mentioned a partner so, my lovely best friends," you continued, bringing up the topic and asking them if they wanted to join.

"Me and Wonbin were already planning on doing something. Sorry Y/N" Shotaro told you. At his sentence, you visibly shrunk with an upset expression.

"But I know someone who is available" Wonbin spoke up after finishing his mouth. You perked up once again, interested in who it could be. "I'll text them and set up a date for you two to meet." He continued as he pulled his phone out. You thanked the male repeatedly, holding his hand.

"I owe you"

-

'I take it back. I will not forget this betrayal Wonbin' You texted the male upon seeing who walked into the studio.

You gathered your stuff and moved to the door to leave.

"Where are you going?" Seunghan asked as he stepped in front of you to stop you.

"I don't want to perform with you. I'll tell my teacher that I can't do it anymore." You say pushing past the male. He grabs your arm to stop you.

"Are you really going to give up this opportunity because of your dislike towards me?" he says with a serious tone. You avoid his gaze as you think about it. "Why not try working with me and if you still can't perform then you can quit. I'm not as bad as you make me out to be." Seunghan continues when you don't respond in any form.

"Fine."

"Fine,"

"Amazing."

"Perfect. So let's stop messing around and get to work,"

[abubblingcandle]

Words for the make me write / sprint:

Fast, achieve, under

Ah thank you! This has been very inspiring to get me to write this morning!

Under - from The Richmond Job

"God fucking dammit Tartt!" he yelled. "Your job was to be bait and you just fucked off," Roy growled, one hand holding the ice pack to his face and the other snapping up to grab Jamie by the neck of his shirt. Jamie ducked under the grab and pushed Roy back away from him with a flash of teeth. 

The sprint fostered 335 words 😍

Fast - from Have You Noticed You Are Breathing

"I appreciate all sports, hard not to when you know what it takes to get to elite level. Played a bit when I was younger for my school, best player of course, got a wicked fast ball. But bowling and footie, different muscles. Some point you gotta choose," Jamie replied, that was the easiest reason to confess anyway. No point getting into British class divide in sporting opportunity with Ted.

For that one the sprint got 411 words! 💪

Achieve - from God Forbid You Leave Me

All his dad wanted him to do was to succeed, to achieve the highest of heights in football. Jamie wanted that to. But then here he was, running away to London, again, in the car of a guy who he was pretty sure hated him for justifiable reasons. Jamie still wasn’t ruling out that this whole day was some sort of lucid fever dream.

And finally this sprint got me 293 words 💕

[obsidiennes]

Tatsuki has Associated Akuma References

So, Tatsuki has always been a bit... extreme... as her relationship advice to Orihime in chapter 4 tells us:

But it goes even further than that. She's a fighting game boss. Specifically, she has several references to Akuma (Gouki) from Street Fighter II Turbo and beyond.

This becomes apparent starting in chapter 15:

Akuma is known for his use of the Satsui no Hado, or Surge of Killing Intent. That is exactly what Tatsuki puts on display here. She then mimics one of one of Akuma's most famous poses:

It's notable that in the Viz translation, Keigo and Mizuiro's thoughts instead class her as a devil. The specific character used in the original Japanese is 鬼. Akuma's original name of Gouki is 豪鬼, which as you can see uses that exact same 鬼. These remarks are reaffirmed by the school principle, and you can see he uses the same character:

Much later, in chapter 411, this will be returned to by Don Kanonji, who in Japanese uses the same 鬼 as well:

Back in chapter 42, while defending Orihime, we get Tatsuki giving boss dialogue:

In Japanese, while laughing maniacally she specifically says, もラと強いの出てこいやア, which means something to the effect of "Please send me a strong one." This is not unlike a lot of Akuma's quotes, especially: "Weaklings! Is there no one worth fighting?"

What is especially interesting is that Akuma came into existence at least in part because of a hoax of a character named Sheng Long. You might know that name from Dragon Ball, and Shenlong is a mythical Chinese dragon. This is pertinent as the "tatsu" part of Tatsuki's name, 竜, specifically means "Chinese dragon", and is often rendered "ryū". While there is obviously also a character of that name, Ryu, who is also an enemy of Akuma and also struggles with the Satsui no Hado in the form of Evil Ryu, Tatsuki's continued association with the "devil" and her other symbolic linkages with dragons make Akuma the more appropriate connection, in my opinion. (This is doubly amusing as she physically resembles Sakura.)

What is most interesting about this connection though, is her mention of Tekken in chapter 424:

This is one of the only named product references in Bleach, if not the only one. But it gets stranger.

We know for a fact that the Xcution/Lost Agent arc is happening in April of 2003. Tekken 4 was released on PS2 in Japan on March 28, 2002. Tekken 5 would not be released until March 31, 2005. Although there is apparently an error in the translation here (it's more like, "The next one's coming out, so if you don't return it soon, I'll have a problem"), there is no actual conceivable reason for her to need it back as the next game wouldn't come out for almost two years.

Maybe this is just another error by Kubo. However, there's another possibility.

This chapter came out on November 8, 2010, after a brief hiatus following the end of the Aizen Saga. Earlier that year, on July 24, Tekken X Street Fighter and Street Fighter X Tekken were announced. And who has continued to appear in Tekken since then (most recently in Tekken 7) and refused to stay in his own universe?

Akuma.

I submit to you that Tatsuki's mention of Tekken, so soon after the real life announcement of a Tekken and Street Fighter crossover, yet so far from the release of a Tekken game in the manga's internal chronology, is a fourth wall-breaking reference to real life events made to draw attention to the jokes associating Tatsuki with Akuma, and not supposed to make us think the Tekken series had a completely different development and release schedule in Bleach's reality.

You are supposed to think of Tatsuki as a fighting game boss. And of course you are, as chapter 68 told us:

The imagined version of her opponent has a similar hairstyle to Karin, rival of Sakura, but a much more monstrous physique. That Tatsuki can compete at all, or do any of this at a meager official weight of 41 kg and such a thin build, let alone a broken arm, comes back to her implicit Satsui no Hado. This then goes a long way toward explaining her durability, as I've covered before.

While you can assuredly plainly see that she is something of a compilation of Street Fighter references, I think that Akuma is the strongest of these for the reasons I've laid out. (Another way of saying this might be that she looks like Sakura, and dresses like Ryu, but is truly most like Akuma.)

[shoko-komi]

The Komi Report - Communication 431

This week in Komi Can't Communicate:

An alchemical elixir...

...and a settled score.

Read It: Mangareader Mangakakalot Viz Media (North America Exclusive) Mangadex (Dead, but there’s the backlog. And Spanish language updates, if you can read Spanish)

Oda has a knack for taking one-note characters and surprising you with moments of genuine pathos. He shifts the perspective, or the tone, or shines a light on them just so to reveal hidden depths.

In the last two chapters Fuki received that treatment. Fuki was introduced (Communication 325: Classmates) in the first crop of Year 3 classmates as "guy who's clumsy" and, although funny, seemed destined (to me) to be one those characters who exists to fill out a crowd and appear occasionally for variations of their one joke. An important kind of character, but not particularly interesting.

But then when the time was right, Oda took us inside Fuki's head and the joke became an intimate struggle; a boy's furious battle against the limitations of his own body, and the shame he lays on himself.

Oda didn't give Fuki any new traits. He just changed the perspective a little, and now you're feeling emotional about "guy who's clumsy". It's a simple trick used to great effect; one that Oda uses often (with Ogiya and Emoyama in recent times. Although they each received more substantial development). In a series that, by necessity, has a LOT of characters, you have to be efficient in the way you use them without sacrificing the quality of the storytelling. In my opinion, Oda handles his small army of a cast exceedingly well.

Makeru Yadano was introduced aaaalllllll the way back in Communication 20: Fitness Test and became Komi's 4th (FOURTH) friend. She's as venerable as it gets.

Yadano's trait is that she's fiercely competitive, and the joke is that she always loses (or is trying to sell an absurd food that no one wants to eat. Benujit Spopo my beloved). I love Yadano, and now, after 411 chapters since she first appeared, we've gotten a look into her heart...

but first!

This guy is an alchemist? Some kind of potion-brewing wizard??

Don't ever let Komi take a chemistry class this girl will drink the experiments. This girl is thirsty for brews and concoctions. She walks up to snake-oil salesmen and orders 12 shots.

Alright I love this guy. He decanted some monster energy into a test tube and acted mysterious about it because everyone at Itan is a drama dork

Brief Kawai appearance I can't let her go without saying hello

I'm going to use Netsuno's appearance as a reason to bring up how Oda never forgets a character!!! Even a character like "lady who really needs a tissue" has reappeared multiple times (in outstanding chapters, no less). In this instance we see Netsuno and Komi training together and without it being said outright you can imagine that they've been going for runs regularly even after Netsuno graduated.

What makes Komi's world feel so lively is how inhabited it feels. Komi doesn't add someone to her Book of Friends and then forget about them, they actually become friends who stay in touch. Anywho... it's about time I got to the main event.

This is exactly what I was hoping for after that serious look on her face at the end of Com 430.

You take the character, you take the joke, you twist them around a little. For the first time, Yadano is being honest with herself and with us.

"I'll pretend to be frustrated"? Was it a mask the whole time??? A defense mechanism to disguise her crumbling self esteem????? You take the character... you twist them... twist them... twist...

...and suddenly they aren't so comical anymore. They're human.

The way the tension builds is phenomenal. For the first time you think she might actually pull it off... and you want her to!! Maybe I'm just a drama dork myself... but I felt so in this moment.

A brief aside to note this little Hiki moment Oda slipped in. Love this.

And then the tension's relieved with a gag asjdnoasjdnoas. Of course Yadano didn't win. I wanted her to, I thought maybe she might, but of course she didn't. A victory here would have undermined the sad beauty of the struggle.

Everything about this race sequence is incredible to me. Part of Komi's trouble with connecting to people has always been her inability to work out what other people are thinking or feeling. Which is part of why Tadano was/is the perfect person to help her; empathy being his superpower and all. So Komi here realizing what Yadano needs, or rather, doesn't need from her is a show of... growth? Maturation? I'm not sure what. But it's interesting.

Phew!!! I love this chapter!! And I've said a lot more in this Komi Report than usual! In the past I've mostly made my goofs and said little more, but recently I resolved to have a go at expressing all my various serious thoughts. The nature and structure of The Komi Report is sort of a living thing. That's how I roll... 😎

See you next week!

[ink-stained-clouds]

hi!! what are some of your favorite readings, books, essays, articles, etc on sociology? i’d love to maybe see what class readings you’re doing

Hi anon!

I have a whole bunch of recommendations, no books, unfortunately. Actually, scratch that, I have one but it's actually a history book! I found it to be sociologically fascinating, though. It's The Origins of the Modern World by Robert B. Marks. It's a really interesting take on decolonizing the study of history and our understanding of how the west became the global superpower

To be honest, I don't know what book chapters I was reading for my theory class, our professor only sent us pdf scans. If you're interested in the philosophic origins of sociology, I am happy to try to hunt down the reference for you. Personally, I'm not a big philosophy fan so I can't speak to how good it was lol

Scholarly articles

Clover, Carol J. 1987. “Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film.” Representations, 20: 187-228. doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/2928507.

Sowles, Shaina J., Monique McLeary, Allison Optican, Elizabeth Cahn, Melissa J. Krauss, Ellen E. Fitzsimmons-Craft, Denise E. Wilfley, and Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg. 2018. “A content analysis of an online pro-eating disorder community on Reddit.” Body Image, 24: 137-144. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.01.001.

Berbrier, Mitch. 1999. “Impression Management for the Thinking Racist: A Case Study of Intellectualization as Stigma Transformation in Contemporary White Supremacist Discourse.” The Sociological Quarterly, 40(3): 411-433.

Kwate, Naa Oyo A. 2008. “Fried chicken and fresh apples: Racial segregation as a fundamental cause of fast food density in black neighborhoods.” Health & Place, 14(1): 32-44. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2007.04.001. (I read this one in a class years ago and it's always stuck with me, highly recommend)

Snow, David A. and Leon Anderson. 1987. “Identity Work Among the Homeless: The Verbal Construction and Avowal of Personal Identities.” American Journal of Sociology, 92(6): 1336-1371. Doi: 10.1086/228668. (a really interesting application of identity work, which is one of my favorite sociological frameworks)

West, Candace and Don H. Zimmerman. 1987. “Doing Gender.” Gender and Society, 1(2): 125-151. doi: https://www.jstor.org/stable/189945. (a classic! essential sociological reading, you may have come across it already)

Non-scholarly articles and essays (that are all very sociological in my opinion)

Being an Honorary White Person Doesn't Make Us More Powerful

How the '5-Minute-Face' Became the $5,000 Face

Why We Should Talk About What Kyrsten Sinema Is Wearing (Tressie McMillan Cottom is a phenomenal sociologist! I recommend all her writing)

Selfies, Surgeries, And Self-Loathing: Inside the Facetune Epidemic

“ain’t i a woman?” on the irony of trans-exclusion by black and african feminists (one of my personal favorites)

Poor People Deserve To Taste Something Other Than Shame (I return to this one often)

Violent Delights (a really interesting commentary on the cultural fascination with true crime)

Podcasts

Sage Sociology

Give Theory a Chance

Maintenance Phase (not technically sociology but very sociological in my opinion)

Unfortunately, I don't really have any books to recommend but if anyone else does I'd love to get some recs too!

I also try to post a round-up of all my reads under my monthly reads tag if you're looking for more suggestions, though it seems I haven't been particularly consistent ope

Thank you for the ask, anon. It was fun going through my notes and finding all these!! Please feel free to reach out with any recommendations of your own :)

[ofjokesandjamcardverse]

hey Im new here! can you get me the 411 on your cool af OCs?

((My three lil buddies! Ill give you atleast a bit of a rundown with em, which you can ask more about in the later tides!)) Darling || My Persona! || If you need a third person view of this world, she's your gal! An entity which exists as a being of chaos and mischief as a Joker, she is one of the many which have lived and died and came about to exist within the kingdoms themselves. Tho someone did help her find her way around... youll see em later! Ines || Clubian Pauper || A Young and tired twenty year old woman who's gotten herself a position of being the assistant to the royal mage of clubs. A rough and tumble type with a high status to her name but a lowly and almost peasant esc nature of a spitshine kid who'd steal your cash and drink your booze! Some question how Vladimir keeps her employed but.. he's... He is something...

Finally, the hottest man of Diamonds in the Artworld and Fashion.. Abdol || The Golden Handed Painter || A high class painter who's done art for the rich and famous and even more socially literate. Unfortunate for him it seems that the public desires to pry more into his business to see if he is wanting to take successors, assistancts or even end his career.. which would be criminal! He has worked so hard for his time in the spotlight.. and wouldnt you love to know more about it.