#dual-view video

[exrconsultancy]

Buy OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite, 6GB, 128GB, Black Dusk - MENAKART

OnePlus mobiles quickly gained popularity when it first started, thanks to its aggressively priced, powerful smartphones that completely disrupted the market. Over time, the brand slowly transitioned from producing "flagship killer" smartphones to simply making premium flagships. To keep its loyal fan base happy, OnePlus launched the Nord series a couple of years ago to disrupt the mid-range smartphone segment again, and it more than succeeded.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable yet reliable phone. It offers a lot of features that are usually found in more expensive phones such as a long-lasting battery, 6GB of RAM, and decent camera hardware. With its sleek design and powerful specs, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is sure to be a hit with budget-conscious consumers.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is the latest smartphone from the Chinese tech giant. It comes with 128GB internal storage which makes it an ideal choice for those looking for a decent phone without breaking the bank. With the theMenakart Sale coming, the prices are expected to further down, making it even more affordable.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite offers great performance and features like a 48MP triple rear camera setup, a 6.5-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, and 30W fast charging support. This device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor which ensures smooth performance even while multitasking or playing graphic-intensive games. It also has a 5000mAh battery that can easily last you through the day on moderate usage.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite, 6GB comes with an octa-core processor which makes it capable of handling all kinds of tasks. It also has a 16MP front camera that can take stunning photos. Furthermore, it comes with impressive battery life and fast charging technology that make sure you don't run out of juice during the day. All these features make OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite, 6GB an ideal choice for anyone looking for a powerful mid-range smartphone at an affordable price.

However in comparison to other phones in its class, the performance in terms of daily operating is good, and the user interface is neat. For seniors to watch content on OTT applications like YouTube, as well as for students taking online lessons, this is a fantastic alternative.

It has all the features you would expect from a mid-range phone, plus it comes with a clean user interface. This makes it easy to use and navigate, even for those who are not tech-savvy. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5g also offers great value for money, with its low price tag compared to other phones in its class.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is the latest addition to the OnePlus Nord family. It is a budget-friendly smartphone with a sleek design and powerful specifications. One of its most eye-catching features is the Black Dusk colour, which makes it instantly recognizable as a Nord smartphone. OnePlus has used similar colour schemes on its other Nord devices, such as the OnePlus 8T 5G and the OnePlus 8 Pro 5G. The black dusk colour adds an extra layer of style to this device, making it stand out from other phones in its price range.

OnePlus Nord's flagship devices have always been about more than just style. They are designed for durability, especially during everyday usage. OnePlus' new OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is no different. The phone has a water-drop-style design and matte finish that helps it stand out from the crowd.

OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G specifications include a 6.59-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Full HD+ resolution. The notch on the top is too small for me and I wouldn't like to use it as my daily driver. However, if you love the design of the newer models from OnePlus and are not bothered by their small screens, this is a good choice for you.

OnePlus Nord, therefore, appears to have stepped up its game with the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. This is a well-designed device, with a smooth design, a good build, and a camera system that works well. Its premium design and build quality make it one of the best-looking phones you can buy today. It features a 6.3-inch full HD+ display with a notch on the top to accommodate its front camera and earpiece, as well as an OPPO-Esque pop-up fingerprint scanner on the rear.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is available in two colour options, Blue Tide and Black Dusk. The former resembles the original Blue variant of the firm's initial launch, which was released exclusively in India. It also looks similar to a darker version of the One Plus 6T's Midnight Black colour. The latter has a sandstone finish much as we saw on the OG OnePlus One.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is powered by the same Oneplus Bullets V2 SoC, which was first seen in the Mate 20 RS and later on in the Huawei Nova 3i. The phone runs Android 9 Pie out of the box and has expandable storage of up to 256GB with a microSD card slot. It also has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor that works with Face Unlock as well.

If you are looking for a smartphone with a 5G modem, you have come to the right place. Menakart is offering the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G with great deals which sticks to its roots and offers superb specifications.

Buy now at https://www.menakart.com/oneplus-nord-ce-2-lite-6gb-128gb-black-dusk.html

Website@ https://www.menakart.com/

[thejadecount]

The FNAF Community: *Struggles to solve the FNAF timeline for a decade with dozens of videos*

Meanwhile two girls with autism:

[karingottschalk]

Panasonic Australia: The LUMIX G9II, “Capture the Decisive Moment” – Press release

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Madonna - Like a Prayer 1989

"Like a Prayer" is a song by American singer Madonna and was released as the lead single from her 1989 fourth studio album of the same name. Written and produced by both Madonna and Patrick Leonard, the song heralded an artistic and personal approach to songwriting for Madonna, who believed that she needed to cater more to her adult audience. Along with the parent album, "Like a Prayer" was a turning point in Madonna's career, with critics starting to acknowledge her as an artist rather than a mere pop star.

"Like a Prayer" is a pop rock and gospel song that also incorporates elements of funk. The lyrics contain liturgical words, but they have been interpreted by some people to have dual meanings of sexual innuendo and religion. "Like a Prayer" was acclaimed by music critics upon release and was a global commercial success, becoming Madonna's seventh number 1 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, topping the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks and also topping the charts in many other countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and the UK. It was Madonna's fifth number 1 hit on the Eurochart Hot 100, and stayed at number one for 12 weeks.

The accompanying music video for "Like a Prayer", directed by Mary Lambert, shows a white woman being sexually assaulted and subsequently killed by a group of white men, but a black man is arrested for the crime. The video depicts a church and Catholic symbols such as stigmata. It also features the Ku Klux Klan's burning crosses and a dream sequence about kissing a black saint. Leon Robinson was hired to play the role of a saint; the part was inspired by Martin de Porres, the patron saint of mixed-race people and all those seeking interracial harmony. The Vatican condemned the video, while family and religious groups protested against its broadcast. They boycotted products by soft drink manufacturer Pepsi, who had used the song in their commercial. Pepsi canceled their sponsorship contract with Madonna, but allowed her to retain the $5 million fee.

While most TV stations banned the music video, MTV notably continued to air the video on heavy rotation. The controversies leading to her "Like a Prayer" video introduced the concept of free publicity and became a turning point where Madonna was viewed as a shrewd businesswoman who knows how to sell a concept. At the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, the video for "Like a Prayer" was nominated in the Viewer's Choice and Video of the Year categories, winning the former. It was number one on MTV's countdown of "100 Videos That Broke the Rules" in 2005, and for the channel's 25th anniversary, viewers voted it as the "Most Groundbreaking Music Video of All Time". In addition, the video was ranked at number 20 on Rolling Stone's "The 100 Top Music Videos", and at number two on VH1's 100 Greatest Videos. In a 2011 poll by Billboard, the video for "Like a Prayer" was voted the second-best music video of the 1980s, behind only Michael Jackson's "Thriller". According to Screen Rant, "Like a Prayer" is one of the most used Madonna's songs in movies and television, most recently notably featured in the 2024 film Deadpool & Wolverine.

"Like a Prayer" received a total of 87,9% yes votes! Previous Madonna polls: #18 "Who's That Girl", #184 "Live to Tell".

[communistkenobi]

the dual demands for people to take fanfiction seriously as an artistic pursuit (commonly expressed in sentiments like “Dante’s inferno is technically fanfiction!”) while also demanding to be intellectually coddled at every turn, to never be criticised for their behaviour in online fan spaces, to never have any of their tastes or media habits questioned, is like the tumblr version of the same crowd who started gamergate, the types who want video games to be viewed as legitimate while simultaneously launching harassment campaigns against several women who, taking video games seriously as art, dared to make the bold and controversial statement “some video games are sexist”

[lotusmi]

THE MIRAGE 💫 VOID STATE

CAUTION ⚠️✋use it at your own risk 😱😱dmt frequency!!! (this is safe i am just clickbaiting here lol)

this is way too powerful, believe me.

New void sub! Use for entering ONLY⚠️

This contain DMT FREQUENCY!

What is DMT? ✩ Dimenthyltryptamine (DMT) is a hallucinogenic drug that can distort your view of reality.

A DMT Frequency can give you the benefits of DMT in a healthy and safe way. (It is not addictive)

I decided to use this since in DMT Frequency videos you can find lots of void success (they don't know it is the void)

DMT is also called "The God Molecule"

"I thought they called it “the God molecule” because you met your maker, but instead, you realize that you are God—all of us are, every living thing. Ego death doesn’t mean you disappear, it means you become more than you’ve ever been. Losing the separate self means merging with everything; you exist on all planes and perceive them simultaneously. (…) you realize the meaning of a phrase that once sounded so trite: You have everything you need, and it’s been with you the whole time. "

What are the DMT effects?

“The subjective experience is generally described as transcendent, often involving ego-dissolution, non-dual awareness"

“users of 5-MeO-DMT often describe content-free experiences, associate[d] with loss of sense of self and bodily awareness, and sensory deprivation (described as all-white light, or all-black), with common descriptors such as: ‘emptiness’, ‘nothingness’ or ‘VOID’.

What I am going to experience?

✩ The 3 effects I myself tested and proved is:

1. Time will pass fast. Really. 40 minutes will appear to be 5 minutes. 2. Your body will feel completely numb in less than 5 minutes. 3. Your mind will feel calm and blissful.

you can also see lights, it is okay. This is safe, I made it with love.

How should I listen to it?

Use for ENTERING ONLY, this is not a saturation sub, is for entering. Headphones are NEEDED, both ears! You can lay down or sit. Pick a comfortable position and relax. Affirm only if you want, just let it be, relax, take long breaths if you want.

✰ tip: just relax and let it go. You will enter in void naturally.

This sub contain morphic fields.

Energy charged with an Ametist! "some believe amethyst's calming presence produces soothing dreams by bringing the dreamer more in tune with the Divine", "carries a tremendous amount of spiritual and metaphysical power". The ametist power will make you be safe ♡

More than 14 million "I have mastered the void" affs and more, I lost the count lmao.

๋࣭ ⭑๋࣭ ⭑๋࣭ ⭑ -`✧ ⭑๋࣭ made with love. ♡

[redvexillum]

A/N: I didn't anticipate writing a Vox x Reader story (much less a raunchy, BDSM theme smut). But, I needed to get this idea out of my head so I can focus on my request and my other stories. So, here we are. Also, I've noticed there is a distressingly low number of PURE Vox x Reader stories, so I wanted to contribute to the database.

Though, I apologize if my version of Vox is lacking in any way. I have made many creative liberties with my head canon version of him.

Inspired by this post/conversation with the lovely miss @redfoxwritesstuff

07.09.24 - Now that I know where I'm going with this story, I have changed the title from [Short Fuse] to Signal.

SUMMARY: You royally pissed someone off because you were receiving anonymous hate emails for the past fifteen years. How incredibly petty and...entertaining. At first, you decided to ignore them but as their hate comments got increasingly creative, the more you couldn't help but add oil to the burning, passionate flame of their hatred towards you.

Until one day, the mysterious anonymous hater (probably) accidentally revealed themselves to be the one and only TV demon, an Overlord and CEO of everything technological and modern.

WARNING/TAGS: f!reader, toxic relationship, enemies to f*ck buddies to something indescribable, dom/sub undertone, sub!Vox, dom!reader, reader is a responsible dom, Vox takes a lot of L's but he secretly enjoys it, dual POV, Vox tries to be hip but ends up being a boomer, Reader is sexually liberal and confident, Vox is the brattiest sub you will ever find, kind of fluff if your squint

“Hello, my Sexy Peeps! How are you doing on this hellish day?” A melodious burst of laughter chimed from Vox’s phone. He took a dramatic sip from his coffee, savouring the rich, dark brew, and settled into his plush armchair, preparing to lose himself in her latest video.  

“Today, I thought I’d mix things up a bit due to a very popular request!” She continued and leaned forward in front of the camera, giving Vox a generous view of her cleavage. He approved her outfit choice for today, a tight-fitting cyan blue tank top with a plunging v-neckline.  

But aside from her attire, he was interested by her supposedly “new” content. He didn’t know she took requests from her viewers. Intrigued, he arched an eyebrow, setting his cup down on the side table and leaning his face closer to his phone.  

The newest online sensation on VoxTube was about to begin. This girl had seemingly materialized out of nowhere, drawing tens of thousands of views and subscribers to her channel. Her retention rates were astoundingly high for content so banal and ordinary. Initially, Vox had suspected his network had been hacked.  

He still couldn’t quite grasp how in seven layers of Hell she had managed to manipulate the algorithm with her simple videos. All she did was try the newest foods around the Pentagram and review random merchandise in a phenomenon called “unboxing.” 

His gaze inevitably wandered to the deep trench of cleavage she prominently displayed. He scoffed. He’d seen better. After all, his partner controlled the porn industry in Hell.  

Yet, that didn’t stop him from pausing her video sometimes, openly staring at her chest for a few seconds… or minutes…or maybe he may have saved a couple (several) screenshots of her video and her photos from her Sinstagram account. Perhaps he might have even saved some of her more salacious-looking photos on his internal hard drive for private viewing. 

All for research, of course.  

“Now, I know there’s this series – the longest-running series in all of Hell…” she trailed off, her plump, pretty lips curling into a mischievous smirk.  

Vox straightened in his chair, feeling the first flutter of excitement in his chest. Could it be? Was she going to mention his most prized project, “Yeah, I Fucked Your Sister, So What?!” for free?  

Excitement surged within him, a giddy thrill that this lame, greenhorn, no-name nobody was about to mention his series to her 2.5 million (and growing) viewers.  

“Guys, guys, guys,” she laughed, raising her perfectly manicured hands in the air as if in surrender. “I watched the first season and wow–” 

Vox pressed his thighs together, waiting with bated breath for what he hoped would be a glowing review. Perhaps he should contact her, reach out, sponsor her like all the tiny, insignificant, worthless, businesses were doing.  

“I gotta tell you,” She shrugged, raised her immaculate trimmed brow, and with a hearty guffaw, said, “it’s pretty mid.” 

Disbelief washed over him as he stared at the screen. Instinctively, Vox paused the video, staring at the freeze-frame image of her with a large smile dancing across her lips.  

Mid? Mid? What the fuck did mid even mean? 

Scrutinizing the word in his mind, he thought maybe she had given his series an average score. Average. He could work with average. But judging from the comments filled with those annoying crying laughing emojis and agreement that it was bad, he realized it was another piece of slang from this decade that he somehow missed.  

Power surged through his head as his mind dove into the database, and he opened his trusty Urban Hell Dictionary. 

The definition of Mid was… 

Below average. 

Not good. 

Mediocre.  

Boring.  

“WHHHHAT?” He roared, his voice glitching in between the long-drawn-out word. Springing up from his chair, he picked up his mug before hurling it against the polished floor. It shattered into a cascade of jagged pieces, their sharp lines reminiscent of crooked, mocking smiles. The hot coffee splashed onto the hem of his pants, its sudden heat mirroring the fury rising within him.  

Memories surged through him, back to when he was alive, back when they cancelled him for not being innovative enough, for not being entertaining enough, for being… 

Being…. 

Boring.  

His eyes twitched, electricity crackled and jolted up in arcs across the surface of his head before fizzling out at the points of the antennas from his hat.  

He should kill her. Get Val to make her disappear or force her into working at his porn studio. How dare she call the fruits of his labour…b-bo-… He seethed, unable to even say the damn, blasted word.  

Vox thought of a thousand ways to torment her, relishing the idea of making her cry with her below-average, not good, mediocre, BORING looking face. Anger surged, boiled, in his veins, and he did what he knew was the best course of action when faced with this unprecedented insult.  

After all, with VoxTek, he had an image to keep of being on the side of the lowly Sinners. He chuckled, forced, but chuckled, nonetheless. It would smear his good image to go after some small, nobody of a Sinner. After all, he was an Overlord and the CEO of the largest corporation in all the five fucking points of the Pentagram.  

She was going to get so cancelled.  

That he would make sure of.  

Humming a random, jaunty little tune, you shut off the ring light and closed your laptop. Stretching your back, you sighed in satisfaction as your bones gave a gratifying crack. You giggled at some comments from your review of the popular series, “Yeah, I Fucked Your Sister, So What?!”  

There were passionate defences claiming the series was a work of art, which was far-reaching at best. It was mildly entertaining enough to watch while you painted your nails. Seriously, the show looked like it was produced for the audience in the 1950s.  

You were the first influencer to give a poor rating to the TV series, and being first meant more controversy, more views, and more money from sponsorships as you rose to the trending list once again.  

Damn, gaming the system was the best. Truly, Hell was way behind its time compared to what people did for views back when you were alive.  

Following your routine, you washed away the makeup, changed from your tight-fitting clothes into a loose T-shirt and sweatpants, and laid on your king-sized bed that was far too big for one person. Staring up at the ceiling, you were surrounded by the void of your loneliness.  

You should…go out and fuck someone.  

Preferably, someone related to the entertainment industry. All that juicy gossip about your newest fling always raked in views and clicks.  

But the idea fizzled and died as you thought about having to play the submissive role, feeding their giant egos to compensate for their shit-sized cocks. You considered visiting the BDSM club, but influential people were rarely found out in the open in those shops. There was probably a private club that you weren’t invited to…yet.  

Vain.

Empty.

Nothing.  

It didn’t change much, did it? Whether you were alive or damned.  

Everything about your life was the same.  

Sitting up, you grabbed your phone and started to scroll through Voxazon, frivolously spending thousands of Hell bucks on useless crap.  

Retail therapy.  

The tried-and-true method to stave off depression and apathy.  

You were ready for that dopamine hit as you read through the reviews of the latest dildo models, your lips pulling into a sly smirk at all the new features of VoxTek’s newest sex toy.  

A chime resounded from your phone – a notification from your personal email. Your brows raised as the sender was from anonymous666@hellmail.com 

Confused, you opened the email, wincing at the possibility of infecting your device with a virus. But that thought quickly vanished as you read the email’s content.  

Subject: (no subject)  Dear Bitch,   Retract that fucking review about “Yeah, I Fucked Your Sister, So What?!” from your video today, or you will regret it.   Furthermore, you have a “mid” face, and so are your boobs. Your boobs are super fucking mid. You probably get MORE views if you actually covered your boobs because that’s how MID they are.   And all your videos are MID. Especially the one you posted on July 7, 20XX, where you reviewed the Hellover drink. The one where you wore that shitty neon green tank top, which, by the way, is also fucking MID.   Anyway, this is my FIRST and LAST warning.   Fuck you.   P.S. Seriously. Fuck you.

Your eyes slowly blinked, once, twice, before a hearty, genuine laugh erupted from you. Oh my God. Did this prick actually hack your account to get your personal email to send such a shitty, lame-ass message? 

Breaths coming out in short, uneven huffs, you rolled over on your bed from side to side, clutching your stomach. Tears formed in the corners of your eyes from laughing so hard. You hadn’t laughed this genuinely since you fell to Hell.  

As your eyes traced over the words of their message, you laughed out loud again. It looked like you had a butt-hurt superfan.  

Humming, you rolled over onto your stomach and kicked your feet idly as you stared at the message. “Thanks for the laugh, virgin prick,” you whispered, planting a loud smooch on your cellphone screen. “Annnnd, delete!” Your index finger daintily tapped the trash can icon.  

Now, back to the task at hand. You debated between getting the glittery pink dildo or the two prong dildo. Tilting your head, you decided you deserved a treat, so you ordered both. 

As you were purchasing more random crap, your eyes glazed over, your mind fervently thinking of what to say for your next season review for that TV series. Just then, an annoying ad popped up – of course, from VoxTek – promoting their shitty Cobra vibrator. Seriously, you tried it, and it did nothing for you.  

An idea rapidly formed, growing until you jumped out of bed and ran to your laptop. No one had truly (and honestly) reviewed some of VoxTek’s terrible sex toys yet. In fact, you noticed that every single review for their sex toy line had glowing five-star ratings.  

Now, some of their toys were outstanding, making you come so hard until you were sobbing, soaking your underwear from your release. But that was one out of every five toys you purchased. Like all massive corporations, VoxTek was clearly buying reviews, giving themselves perfect scores.  

Perhaps it was time to change that. 

Your review of the series and the anonymous hate message were soon quickly forgotten. This was your chance to shake things up, to give the unfiltered, raw truth that your viewers craved.  

With a determined glint in your eyes, you started drafting your next video script. This was going to be huge, bigger than Jerry’s dick from last week, that was for sure.  

NEXT ->

💠 MASTERLIST 💠

[takingchences]

𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐩𝐭. 𝟏𝟗

A descendant of a legendary quirk longs to separate herself from her family name, but first she'll have to confront villains, ghosts from the past, and her growing attraction for Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight.

Pairing: Katsuki Bakugou x fem!oc

Warnings: mature language

I just imagine Bakugou pulling a Maddy Perez when faced with a closed door ☠️

series masterlist + my masterlist

Apparently, Mirko wanting to fight you should be considered a compliment, like how Eijiro calls people he admires manly. It meant she viewed you as a strong, worthy opponent.

"I'm... flattered?" Sana had responded with a confused smile.

"You have until the end of the week to put me on my ass, newbie. Don't hold back... because I sure as Hell won't." Until the time came for their medieval dual to the death, they would spar and train together in Best Jeanist's state of the art gym.

After that bizarre declaration, Sana knew that there wouldn't be any dull moments while interning with Mirko. And she'd be correct. That same day, Mirko taunted a group of gangsters into taking her on while Sana kept the civilians at a safe distance. When the police arrived on the scene minutes later, the five burly men were laying in an unconscious pile at Mirko's feet.

The rabbit hero was a powerhouse in her own right. Her quirk wasn't necessarily flashy or powerful, but the level of technique and discipline she'd instilled in her body was truly a sight to behold. Her stats were straight out of a video game. She trusted her body to know exactly what to do at any given moment. She didn't need to think about her next move because she was already two steps ahead of her enemy. Sana was both impressed and jealous of her self-control.

As they walked back towards their hotel, Sana felt herself internally fangirling over the incredible display of strength she'd just witnessed. "I don't know what I want more now: to be you or be with you."

Mirko threw her head back, her white teeth glinting in the afternoon sun as she cackled. "I like you, newbie. You're waaay more fun than that stupid chicken."

Sana arched a brow. "Are you talking about Hawks?" She guffawed. "But he seems so cool during his interviews."

Mirko waved her hand dismissively. "Trust me, kid. There's a reason those things are scripted. The guy is a total doofus."

"Yeah, I have a few of those myself."

"Oh, honey, I know." They were nearly at the agency doors. "I met him, remember?" The two females giggled, hearing Katsuki's voice shouting insults. They turned to find him frightening a group of kids to tears. Meanwhile, Best Jeanist stood a few feet behind him pinching the bridge of his nose as though he felt a migraine coming on. Sana understood his pain. She'd experienced plenty of those when she'd first been introduced to Katsuki.

"Ah, there he is now. Speak of the devil, huh?" Mirko nudged the younger girl's arm. "C'mon, we did great today. What do you say we ditch these guys for some yakisoba? We could even grab some gyoza on the way since you mentioned you were craving them..." She leaned in with a smirk.

Sana glanced back at the two blonde men, who were now arguing with each other in low voices. She locked eyes with her mentor and shrugged. "Fine, but you're buying."

"Oh?" The pro cocked a brow, her arms crossing over her chest. "I am, am I?"

"Yep." The teen made sure to emphasize the "p." "You said you'd treat me to a good meal while I was here."

Mirko's eyes darted to the ground as she thought over the last two days. "Did I?" She mumbled.

"Nope." The Sakano girl popped the letter again with a smug grin. The white-haired woman gaped, tossing an arm around Sana's shoulders and pulling her into a headlock while the other gave her a noogie. Sana stumbled out of the headlock with a giggle, trying (in vain) to fix her hair. Mirko kept a dark, muscular arm around her shoulders as they laughed together at the other's expense.

"Ha!" The pro squeezed the pastel-haired girl affectionately. "I freakin' love you, kid!"

¸☾⋆*･ﾟ¸☾⋆*･ﾟ¸☾⋆*

The rabbit-eared woman had virtually locked Sana in the sparring room for the next two days. Mirko's speed was inhuman and it kept Sana on her toes throughout their many, many fights. Obviously, Mirko always came out on top, but Sana was determined to win at least once before returning to Musutafu. It was to the point now that she was starting to anticipate some of Mirko's moves. Of course, the white-haired woman did it on purpose. It was part of the game they played. They lulled each other into a false sense of security before delivering the finishing blow.

It made Sana realize how dull and tired her sparring sessions with Shoto had become over the years. Here, she was constantly being tested mentally and physically. It felt good. She could feel her reflexes becoming faster, her instincts sharpening. She hadn't been here more than three days and yet she was already seeing an improvement. She could hear the screams of her muscles from the most intense workout of her life as she soaked in the hotel bathtub afterwards, but it was well worth it.

Mirko had demanded that they duke it out at the end of her internship, and Sana had no choice but to agree. She was confident in her fighting abilities, but she wasn't sure how well she'd fair against a seasoned pro. The woman's brash mouth and cocky attitude reminded her of Katsuki in a lot of ways. They both were almost obsessively competitive and unafraid to challenge anybody, whether they be hero or villain.

Speaking of Katsuki...

He and Best Jeanist weren't around much during the day. They were like passing ships, one pair heading out for patrol while the other was coming in. Of course, she'd known that they would be busy doing their own things this week. It wasn't like she'd chosen this internship for Katsuki, anyway. She hadn't even known about Mirko's arrangement with Best Jeanist until the night before they left. That didn't mean that some part of her wasn't disappointed when he didn't join her morning runs before patrol or was absent from meal times.

Their hotel rooms were on the same floor, the doors practically parallel. She would hear him banging him around across the hall at night sometimes, slamming doors or blaring music after a long day. Sana would shake her head at the noise, usually channel surfing while texting Mina or FaceTiming Shinso.

But tonight was different. A single, solid knock demanded her attention.

She slid off the bed with knitted brows, swinging the door open to be met with Katsukis signature scowl. His hands were habitually in the pockets of his sweatpants, the collar of his black tee damp from the water dripping from his hair. Best Jeanist had done a hell of a job trying to tame his wild mane. No matter what the boy did, the slicked-down hairstyle refused to budge. Sana and Mirko had had a good laugh the first time they'd seen it, much to the human grenade's aggravation.

"Hey."

"Hey?" She replied, inspecting the door for damage. "You just punched my door!"

He wordlessly slipped past her and into the room, tugging at his over styled hair with a scowl. He immediately claimed the right side of the bed. Originally, Sana had been sprawled diagonally across the mattress on her stomach, but now chose to gingerly perch on the edge by his feet.

She wasn't sure what was happening or how to feel about it. Katsuki Bakugou was in her room.... On her bed.....

Well, not hers hers, but you get the picture.

He'd invited himself into her personal space and she was feeling some type of way about it. What the fuck, Sana? she chided. She felt nervous for some reason, which was stupid because it's just Bakugou. He's just a guy, she tried to calm her racing heart. Shoto's sat on my bed dozens of times and it never bothered me. But that was it, wasn't it? She'd never felt anything more than kinship for Shoto. With Bakugou, it was something else entirely.

The ash blonde snatched up the discarded room service menu she'd been browsing through, glossing over it as one arm stretched out across the decorative pillows. His vermilion eyes caught hers from over the paper and narrowed. He kicked his socked foot—black, because he's apparently allergic to color—out to nudge her thigh.

"The hell are you sitting down there for, loser?"

"I, uh," she gestured vaguely at his head, her mouth twisted up into a smirk. "I just didn't want to inhale too much of the toxic fumes wafting from your head."

He snarled, once again yanking on his hair but it didn't budge. "This shit better wash out."

"I like it," she'd tried to say, though they both knew she was lying. Her poker face was usually pretty good, but the way her lips kept twitching made it obvious she was trying not to laugh. She inched higher up the bed on her hands and knees. "Really! I do-" her facade cracked mid sentence.

He kicked her again with more force, sending her toppling over into the center of the mattress. "Fuck off."

She held her hands up in surrender, trying to catch her breath from after her fit of giggles. "Okay, okay," she joined him in leaning against the headboard. It was so simple and domestic, hanging out like this with trashy TV programs serving as background noise while they shared dinner.

Katsuki returned to his room across the hall hours later, but not before stealing a kiss goodnight. Sana could feel herself falling more and more for the ash blonde, especially in moments like those where his softer side shone through. She didn't try to stop the fall. She didn't want to. The rush of emotion came so naturally that it was almost like she was meant to feel this way.

Like invisible strings bound them together.

¸☾⋆*･ﾟ¸☾⋆*･ﾟ¸☾⋆*

It was a little after 8 o'clock of their fourth day. The city was surprisingly quiet, so the Pros had let them have the rest of the night off to relax. Bakugou was in bed reading a book when a thump came from the door, quickly followed by a soft grunt.

He rolled his eyes with a smirk, recognizing the voice. The ash blonde shook his head as he set his book aside and went to open the door. Sana stood casually on the other side as though nothing had happened. She was dressed casually in a black cropped tank and white cargo pants. She shook her right hand out to relieve the slight sting as she greeted him, her bracelets jingling quietly. Hagakure had hand made each 1-A girl a friendship bracelet and handed them out after school before they left for their internships. For his girl, she'd used peach and white thread and clear, dainty beads painted with silver and gold details.

He cocked a brow. "Did you punch my door?"

She shrugged, her long, pastel hair flowing loosely down her back just the way he liked it. "Thought I'd give it a try."

He crossed his arms, leaning into the doorframe. "And how'd that work out for your puny arm?"

She flipped him off with a snarky grin. "Well, I still have functional movement in my hand, so pretty good I'd say."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his chest. "You're a real brat, you know that?" He breathed, the tips of their noses brushing. Her fingers curled into the black fabric of his shirt, feeling his hard abs tensing with every breath. His much larger hands released hers to slip down, the tips of his fingers nearly touching as he encircled her trim waist. The exposed skin was warm beneath his fingers.

"You have to admit that you're kinda into it." She whispered back.

He sighed, gently knocking his forehead into hers. "It's just my luck that I'd be attracted to a dumbass like you." Her brows shot up, her cherry lips widening into a devilish grin.

"Well, it's definitely my ass you're attracted to-" her giggles were muffled by Katsuki's lips. Her fingers dipped into the soft baby hairs along the nape of his neck. The gel that Best Jeanist had used earlier in the week gave Katsuki's signature hairstyle a strange texture, but she didn't mind as she held him tighter, tilting her head to deepen the kiss. A contented sigh escaped his nose, tickling her cheek. He nipped at her bottom lip, asking for permission. She parted her lips, pulling him impossibly closer at the same time his hand slipped further down to cradle her ass and squeezed.

"Kats-!" She pulled away with a gasp, smacking his chest as he chuckled huskily. She looked around the hallway, making sure Mirko wasn't lurking anywhere. Meanwhile, the ash blonde looked deeply satisfied with himself, a smug smirk twisting his lips. "Jerk," Sana pushed on his chest, moving him backwards through his cracked hotel door. "Go get changed. We have the rest of the night off and I want to explore."

"Hell no. I can't go out with this."  He pointed at his head. He'd refused to step out of the hotel unless it was for patrol. He hated the way those snot-nosed little runts had pointed and mocked him. His hair wasn't the only thing that had been "upgraded," either. Best Jeanist had decided to temporarily alter his hero costume by swapping his black pants out for fucking skinny jeans.

The strawberry blonde arched a brow. "You go out on patrol like that."

"That's work," the blonde huffed. "This is different."

"Fine, you big baby." She pulled a black hoodie out of the closet and threw it at him. Unfortunately, his crazy fast reflexes allowed him to catch it before it hit his face. At one point in time, the hoodie had had a graphic design from an old rock band, but the letters were so faded from age that only a few were even legible anymore. "Wear this until we can get you something else." She ushered him into the bathroom to change into street clothes. "Let's go, move it. Chop chop," She clapped her hands. "I have to tuck your old ass into bed in like, an hour."

"Idiot."

"Geezer," she sneered back.

Katsuki grit his teeth, slamming the bathroom door behind him. After wrestling the blonde into the elevator, the two headed downstairs. The boy aggressively tugged the hood lower every few minutes, his shoulders hunched as he hissed out curses through clenched teeth. Thankfully, Sana had noticed a street stall selling accessories earlier during her patrol that was located not too far from the hotel.

"Come on," she tugged on his arm, leading him over to the stall. "Let's pick something out for you to wear." The old lady tending to the stall offered a wide selection of souvenirs. Hats, jewelry, keychains, bags, T-shirts, and sunglasses. There was even a mirror attached to the side of the cart so customers could try out their new looks before buying anything.

What Sana had conveniently left out of the description was that all of the items were themed. Cute cartoon characters and pink designs were all the ash blonde had to choose from

"Look at this one!" She held up a pink beanie with darker pink Barbie B's decorating the surface. "Isn't it cute?" The deadpan look he gave her made the stall owner giggle from her stool as she fanned herself with a paper fan.

"C'mon, Katsuki! Would it kill you to change it up a bit? A little pop of color wouldn't hurt every now and then." She set the beanie aside and continued to browse over the items. Sana grabbed a white baseball cap with a delicate cherry blossom branch stitched into the side of the brim and tried it on. She modeled it in the mirror, turning her head side to side with a look of approval.

Katsuki glanced down, spotting a matching hat in black. Pop of color, huh?

The Sakano heir skipped over to the old woman, pulling out her wallet. "I'll take this one."

"And this one," Bakugou lifted the hood up just enough to slip the black baseball cap on, pulling the brim down low over his face.

Sana blinked owlishly at the matching aesthetic, pointing at his hat. "That's..."

"You kids make a cute couple," the stall vendor complemented them as she accepted Sana's money. "Reminds me of my husband and I when we were your age." The two teens blushed furiously, consciously avoiding eye contact with each other.

"Oh, uh, thanks." Sana rushed the words out, her face burning from embarrassment. "But-"

"You got it all wrong, lady." Bakugou reached her side, his hands stuffed in his sweatpants. He looked like a living shadow walking around in all black at night. He was tense, his shoulders nearly touching his ears, but he tried to play it off like it was nothing. He turned away from the women, a pretty pink hue seeping into his cheeks. Sana's awkward smile wavered. It's fine, she told herself. He was right in a sense. Sure, they kissed and occasionally cuddled. Yes, they went on dates and shared vulnerable moments with one another. But they weren't "dating" per se.

"It's more than that." He grumbled lowly, but the two women managed to catch it.

Sana's face was on fire and steam was practically pouring from her ears. Did she want a relationship with Katsuki? Of course! But... isn't that what she already has? She didn't necessarily need a name for it. And apparently, neither did he, but it was reassuring to know that they were on the same page. They were both perfectly content with just being together in any and every sense—simultaneously friends, enemies, and lovers.

And now they had matching hats.

Like a real couple.

They were unofficially/officially a thing.

God, if Mina could see them now-

"Oi." Bakugou hated talking about feelings. God, he wanted to self combust just thinking about it. But they both needed this in a way. To express that this thing between them wasn't temporary. Katsuki Bakugou doesn't quit. He's never been afraid to go after what he wants, and more than surpassing All Might, more than beating Deku, more than the number one spot... he wanted to be the best version of himself imaginable for the girl next to him.

He wasn't blind. Sana was a very attractive girl with a charming personality. She received a lot of attention from the opposite sex because of that. Namely Dunce Face, Troll Doll, and Icy Hot. He knew that she was too damn good for him and that there was a good chance he'd do something to screw up the best thing to ever happen to him since the day his quirk appeared.

"I'm not gonna call you my damn girlfriend or anything so don't bother asking. That shit's fucking embarrassing." Katsuki cringed as they waited in line at a food stall. Quiet crackles, like popping candy, filled the air. Small sparks flying from his palms due to his palms sweating from nerves. The ash blonde exhaled sharply, his nose scrunched up. He grit his teeth, the muscles in his jaw flexing. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than for the sidewalk to swallow him whole.

Sana gently grabbed his wrist. She slid her fingers between his, their palms flush as she absorbed the mini fireworks into her body. She gently squeezed his fingers, her thumb tracing crescent moons across his knuckles. She propped her chin against his shoulder with an affectionate look in her jewel-like eyes. "I guess I'll just have to settle for calling you mine, then." She said softly.

His vermillion eyes softened. He was secretly pleased, even as he pretended to be annoyed by the cheesy line. He playfully tried to shrug her off, but she just clung to his arm like a koala, a bright grin on her face. He treasured these moments. He'd never been the reason for someone's smile before. He liked it if it meant seeing the child-like glee she exuded in moments like these.

They sat down at an empty table to eat their food. Sana had grabbed them a few street snacks to nibble on while Katsuki purchased ramen for them to split. She wasn't intimidated by the intense red color of the broth, though she deadpanned at the amount of chili flakes he continued to add to his portion. "It's not a competition, you know?"

He snorted. "Some competition you'd be. I'd eat you under the table-"

She choked mid sip, coughing as she set down her blueberry smoothie. "What?" She wheezed, caught between a cough and a laugh.

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" He screeched with a blood red face. "THATS NOT WHAT I FUCKING MEANT AND YOU KNOW IT." Sana folded over, clutching her stomach as she cackled hysterically.

After their meal they strolled through the night market for another hour or so. Stalls selling toys, souvenirs, shoes, jewelry, bags, and pets were in full swing despite the time of night. Bakugou had to physically pry her away from the cute animals. She'd agreed, but on the condition that he give her a piggyback ride. He'd crouched down with a dramatic sigh, much to her delight. He got her back for it later, though. After setting her down, he'd demanded his own as they were returning to the hotel. Sana, not one to refuse a challenge, agreed. Katsuki had laughed his ass off when her knees nearly buckled under his weight a block from the hotel.

"Karma's a bitch, huh?"

Katsuki chortled after she stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and dropped his legs, demanding him to, "get the hell off, you big oaf."

She shrugged. "Takes one to know one, I guess."

His calloused hand gripped the back of her neck, pulling her into his space. She could smell the cinnamon gum on his breath they'd purchased on the way, along with the faint caramel clinging to his clothes. "You're real mouthy today, brat."

She blew a bright red bubble in his face, grinning when it finally popped. "And here I thought that you liked that about me?"

"Nah. Some crazy chick keeps telling me I have no taste. Guess she was right."

"I always am. Remember that." The two teens stepping into the elevator. Katsuki pressed the 7 button for their floor before leaning his head back. "I had fun tonight, Kats."

He grunted, his eyes closed. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Sana agreed. "I always have fun with you." It wasn't a huge compliment, but Katsuki couldn't say that he'd ever been told that he'd made someone happy before. "It's like, with you, I don't have to be anyone but me."

"Yeah, well, I'd prefer if you were a lot less you next time." The ash blonde shrugged, tone nonchalant. The solar girl rolled her eyes with a snort.

"Uh-huh. Whatever you say, babe."

He opened his mouth to retort, only to snap it shut. Katsuki was forever grateful for his new hat, not only to cover the monstrosity his mentor dared to call style, but the heavy blush across his nose at the sudden term of endearment. Sana side-eyed his suddenly silent figure with a smirk. She had ways of shutting the mouthy blonde up... mostly with aggressive flirting and teasing jabs. If he wanted someone shy, he should know by now that he chose the wrong girl to get involved with.

Of course, neither one would have it any other way.

[passing-through-bd]

STUDENT PROTESTS IN BANGLADESH

Injuries and casualties are rising!!! Thousands injured. Children dead.

Are you aware of the ongoing student protests in Bangladesh? All schools and universities have been shut down. Even the primary schools in cities. It has led to violence. There have been casualties. All because the students (18-25/26 year olds) wanted an equal foot in the job market.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/16/asia/bangladesh-protests-quote-intl-latam/index.html This is a CNN article on this topic. But casualties are rising. We need international support if we are to have any chance at a better future.

https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/lecture-halls-the-streets-universities-submerged-dual-protests-3651751 Here is a local newspaper's coverage.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/bangladesh-witness-testimony-video-and-photographic-analysis-confirm-police-used-unlawful-force-against-protesters/ Amnesty International's article.

https://x.com/UNHumanRights/status/1813553026357162061 UN Human Rights also commented on this subject.

The network is being impacted.

#savebangladeshistudents

[maribellec]

Obligatory Info Post!

Hello, I'm Maribelle C. also known as Kuramata Kuma! I'm a writer and alpha/beta reader and I specialize in romance stories.

See these links for: Archive of Our Own | Alpha/Beta Reading

MASTERLIST

You must be 18 or older to view the following content. You must also be a member of Archive of Our Own to see my stories. Due to the influx of AI farmers, I had no choice but to only allow users of AO3 to view my stories.

Main Series

When the Worlds Collide

Crack Crossover | Hatake Kakashi x OC | IN PROGRESS

Anime/Manga

Digimon

Courage Taichi x OC | SMUT | COLLEGE | CANON-VERSE

Jujutsu Kaisen

Under Fushiguro Toji x OC | SMUT | BEST FRIEND'S DAD | MODERN-VERSE Keeping it in the Family Fushiguro Toji x OC | STEPCEST, SMUT | STEP-DAD | MODERN-VERSE Sucker Nanami Kento x OC | SMUT | CANON-VERSE It's All For You Nanami Kento x OC | SMUT | LANDLORD | MODERN-VERSE Finally Mine Nanami Kento x OC | SMUT | IAFY ALT UNIVERSE | MODERN/SUPERNATURAL-VERSE 4 Hours Nanami Kento x OC | SMUT | CANON-VERSE

Naruto

Perfect for Me Hatake Kakashi x OC | DRUGS/APHRODISIACS (not by Kakashi), SMUT | MAFIA-VERSE (DUAL CHAPTERS)

Record of Ragnarok

No Gods Qin Shi Huang x OC | SMUT | CANON-VERSE

Saiyuki Reload

Otsukaresama Cho Hakkai x OC | SMUT | CAM BOY | MODERN-VERSE Escape Sha Gojyo x OC x Dokugakuji | SMUT | THREESOME WITH BROTHERS | MODERN-VERSE (DUAL CHAPTERS)

Video Games

Resident Evil

After Hours Carlos Oliveira x OC | CHAPTERED | COMPLETED

[asksythe]

I've been understanding a lot of cultural subtext around MDZS thanks to you. I'd like to ask more about what makes "cultivation partners." Is it synonymous to marriage or is it a different thing altogether? From my understanding of various marriages depicted in MDZS, marriage can easily be a power move, right. I've also read about dual cultivation, but not sufficiently, and I wish to understand if becoming cultivation partners, sex, marriage - all are supposed to be exclusive stuff. like Jin Guangsham was married yet had sexual relations with plenty of people, perhaps including cultivators? JFM and Madam Yu had a complicated marriage; were they cultivation partners as well? Mianmian married a non cultivator (?) but still went on night hunts to cultivate her core. Other marriages were Qin Su and JGY, and JZX and JYL - so, I do wonder if all of these were classified as cultivation partners.

Another thing I do wonder is, from where I am, in olden times in certain dynasties it was acceptable to have many wives or spouses or marry for gains. In others, the emperor had one true wife who would repeat 7 lifetimes with him and the others were on a lower social level - ploys for expansion etc. I wonder how monogamy etc plays out in chinese context around mdzs time frame, as well as what sort of "expectations" marriage should entail?

><

Woo… that’s a fair bit. Okay. I’m going to try to answer what I can. Let’s take this one thing at a time. 

1. The O.G meaning of cultivation partner: 

Cultivation partner = Daolǚ （道侣） 

From a lingual view, dao is path, truth, knowledge, and faith. Lǚ is a companion who shares your food, your bed, and your path. So Daolǚ = one who walks the same path in pursuit of truth, faith, and knowledge as you. 

From a Daoist view, Daolǚ is a couple who cultivate together, who seek the same truth together, and who share life and death together. They don’t necessarily have to be husband and wife or lovers. They can also be family members, parent and child, or shifu and dizi. They can be of different sexes or the same sex. All of those are only accessories to the OG meaning. 

The core of Daolǚ is “ones who seek the same truth.”

This video is from a master Taoist answering the question, “Are Dao couples husbands and wives?”

http://baike.baidu.com/l/nBoL850d

2. So why did MDZS use Daolǚ when talking about married couples? AKA a stealth reference to a real-life historical split in opinions: 

The first time the topic of Daolǚ comes up in the novel is during the Cloud Recess era when Lan Qiren taught the history of the Lan ancestor, how Lan An met his Daolǚ, and together they created House Lan. Then the students started discussing their future Daolǚ, which eventually led to the fight with Jin Zixuan. 

Daolǚ, in this context, definitely sounds like a different word for a married couple in the setting. Why? 

Well…. Because there is a historical split in opinions regarding what Daolǚ really is in practice.   

Of course, if we are only talking in theory and lingual origin, then the married or sexual aspect just doesn’t come into play. But in real practice, this kind of close proximity inevitably ends up becoming (or is born out of) actual physical, emotional, and sexual intimacy.

Think about it. The one who shares your faith. The one who shares your path. The one who holds the same ideal. The one who shares your food, your life, your bed. The one whose life and death are intertwined with yours. The one who will walk with you to the very end, wherever it may be. The one whose soul is literally linked to yours through shared cultivation.

You don’t really get this kind of exclusive, super intense, intimate relationship from anywhere other than a married couple. Of course, there are exceptions, but they are, by and large, exceptions that prove the rule. 

It’s very funny because even in the official Baidu entry for Daolǚ, beneath the super official definition provided by Daoism associations and sourced from some of the most credible historical texts that survive to this day, even they had to admit in the modern understanding, and especially in media portrayal, Daolǚ is used almost exclusively to refer to Daoist couples in every way that a regular couple can be. Even funnier, if you go and search for the term 道侣双修 (Daolǚ dual cultivate) in the book section, it turns up some 4300 titles concerning Daolǚ dual cultivation. And a very significant portion of those 4300 titles aren’t actually entertainment media at all, but actual historical texts, modern research, and serious treatises written by reputable modern Daoists on the subject.      

Okay. So then, why not just admit that outright? Why the extra step? What’s there to disagree about? 

Well, because sex is icky. 

Hahahaha! But no really… 

3. Dual Cultivation aka Magic Sex: 

And here we are at the crux of the historical split of opinions. 

Dual Cultivation aka Magic Sex (eyebrow waggle!).

From Daoism's founding point, the idea of harmony between Yin and Yang has been one of the founding precepts laid by Laozi himself. There’s not a single reputable Daoist school that disagrees with this precept. The disagreement comes from the interpretation of this precept instead. 

From very early on, there were already schools that believed in the application of Yin Yang harmony to manifest as the physical and spiritual relation between men and women (or Yang bodies and Yin bodies). 

How early are we talking? Well, BCE kind of early. The earliest text that teaches sex art as part of Daoism is a pre-Qin-dynasty book named The Dao of Huangchi 黃赤之道. This text was later religiousized by various schools of Daoism. 

Before the 10th century, there was not much disagreement at all among ancient Daoists about the sex part. 

Sexually explicit dual cultivation only became an issue sometime around the Tang dynasty forward (618 - 906 CE). Why the Tang dynasty? Well, that’s around the time Daoism became bourgeois. Before Tang, Daoism was the religion of anti-authoritarian hippies (for lack of a better word). Yep, they were very screw-the-government, let-me-have-my-weed-and-intense-sexercise-while-high kind of people (I’m not even kidding).  

One of the earlier records of Daolǚ dual cultivation after the bourgeois-ification of Daoism that still survives to this day is Wu Zhen Pian by Zhang Boduan from the 10th century. Around this same era, numerous sects and schools adopting the same practice of Daolǚ dual cultivation (sexually explicit at that) sprouted up, such as: Shuangxiu Sect, Fangzhong School, etc… 

The Wu Zhen Pian, despite being a fairly cryptid text, also explicitly referred to the “places where the body is first given qi” as the male and female genitalia. So there really isn’t any room for misinterpretation as to what exactly it was speaking of. 

Around this same era, the disagreement around dual cultivation being sexually explicit and Daolǚ being 99.99% couples became very intense… as in sect war kind of intense. 

Ancient High Chinese society was, by and large, very “performatively” puritanical. So from the time Daoism started rubbing shoulders with kings and rulers (instead of eschewing them as the literal founders of Daoism taught), they also started eschewing their fairly sexual, anarchist roots. 

Ergo… the ideological schism.  

This schism would split between diehard, purists practicing Daoists from the more neutral ones that used Daoism as a political tool as well. 

4. A history of sexual exploitation:  

Okay, so sexy Daoism is the pure, root Daoism. Why isn’t it the one being preached as official these days? 

Because… as usual, whenever there’s a great idea, some chuckleheads somewhere would come along, bend it around its knees, and abuse it instead. 

Think about it for a moment. Daoist sects in ancient times were steeped in mysticism. Many of them were powerful and rich. You throw in the sex element. It’s extremely easy for exploitation to happen. 

Cults are some of the oldest things in the history of mankind. Sex cults aren’t new, and they aren’t rare, either. Charles Mansion of the Mansion family is just one in a very, very long string of such things. 

Let’s just say that for many reasons and many factors, pure Daoist schools practicing sexually explicit dual cultivation also tended to have a checkered history and that along with the historical transformation of Daoism from an anarchist religion to a state-sponsored philosophy massively discredited them. 

To this day, you can still trace this history of exploitation down to modern media concepts such as “Human Cauldron,” which is the term denoting a human being used as a sex slave and a cultivation tool by another cultivator. You would think that’s a modern media invention… but no… this term has a long and dark history. Forgive me but I don’t exactly want to go into details in this part.  

5. So, what does this all have to do with MDZS? 

Well, you can use this context to understand how concepts like dual cultivation and Daolǚ are interpreted and practiced by different people within the MDZS world. MDZS is based in Wei Jin period, which was a period of transition, chaos, and clashing ideologies. You can kinda see that complexity in the way a concept like Daolǚ seems so… mixed and different between theory and practice. 

When you really get down to it, there are two ways to understand Daolǚ. 1/ Those who share the same mind, the same faith, the same truth. And 2/ Those who are boinking magically. 

Do Wangxian meet these requirements? Yep, both of them. I think that’s pretty clear. Near the end of the story, when Wei Wuxian said his goodbye to Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui, he also remarked about everyone having their own “road” to walk and that, in the end, only one person walked the same “road” as him. That person, Lan Zhan, was also the one person he wanted to walk with. (I don’t have to provide a snap for this, right? People aren’t going to shoot out of nowhere and accuse me of not providing adequate citations, right?). Dao is road. So that’s another nod to the fact that Wangxian are Daolǚ in every interpretation of the concepts (And yes, I’m totally into the interpretation that their boinking is, in fact, magical and working to stabilize Wei Wuxian’s cultivation! Look at the Japanese art featuring Wei Wuxian with the blue cloud patterns on his body! Clearly, lots of people agree with this interpretation! You can’t convince me otherwise!).  

What about Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan? Are they Daolǚ? Ehh… it’s kind of a toss-up, isn’t it? There’s not really much in any permutations of MDZS (with maybe the exception of the live-action) that either supports or disprove. I think if you want to interpret them as Daolǚ and Jin Zixuan would eventually help Jiang Yanli cultivate a Jindan and be able to stay young alongside him, you definitely can do that. Or if you want to see them as a more traditional, ordinary husband and wife couple, then that’s a valid interpretation too. 

Jin Furen and Jin Guangshan? Ehhh… the above paragraph applies… although… geee… I really don’t see them as either pursuing the same truth or… exclusively boinking magically or that either is using the other as a human cauldron… although that doesn’t disqualify Jin Guangshan himself from using that for his sexual escapade? But then why would he die to marathon sex? I guess Jin Guangyao is hax enough? 

In any case, I’m going to stop here. I’ve been sick for the past three weeks and my work has been really demanding. I really tried hard to reserve some free time to write. So the things I have not answered, can you come back to me another time and I will, when I find the time and full citation materials, write a separate reply? 

Have a great day! 

Oh, also… just as a disclaimer, please don’t use my writing for fandom strife or anything like that. I only very recently found out there were people using my writing for… well… Let’s just say I’m not for that. If anything, please use my writing for creative purposes or just to learn something new!  

[airxn]

𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐗𝐍 . an independent dual oc rp blog featuring the twins airin and xavier. two retired mercenaries who've settled in nyc to work for the infamous supernatural bar– the gear shift. featuring aus: borderlands, legend of zelda, dc, fallout, dnd, and more!

edited in after effects by luri | blonde dynamite by caravan palace transcription under the cut

00:00 – Video begins. Blonde Dynamite by Caravan Palace begins to play. The background that is throughout the video is a city with white lights and a dark gray background. It fades into view.

00:02 – Text that reads "AIRXN - independent oc rp blog" pops onto the screen.

00:05 – Transition to text that reads "Featuring: Airin – shape-shifter, founder, lil' shit". Images of Airin as a felicid (golden canid creature with a mane) and as a human (a golden blond bitch) transition through the screen to the beat.

00:11 – Transition to text that reads "And his brother: Xavier – soul eater, anti-social bastard". Images of Xavier (very handsome man with long, black hair) transition across the screen.

00:15 – In the center of the screen an image of human Airin and Xavier together pops in. The text "wicked" and "wired" appear on the screen to the beat.

00:17 – Image of human Airin pops up on the left. The text "semi-selective" slides in from screen from the right.

00:19 – Image of a snarling felicid Airin pops into the center of the screen. On the left the text "canon friendly" pops in with the beat. The text "in love with ocs" pops on the right with the beat.

00:22 – Image of snarling felicid Airin pops forward to reveal his dullas (purple, frill-like appendages that shake rapidly). The image slides downward.

00:23 – Image of Xavier lounging slides down from the top of the screen. The text "multi-para" transitions onto the screen.

00:24 – The prior image flips to a monster-appearing Xavier. The text becomes "multi-para and whimsical".

00:26 – Image of luri (small, ginger gremlin with a red hoodie, black tights, and two leaves floating above her head) transitions into the center of the screen. In a circle around her, the text reads "loved by luri". The image and text fades out with by flickering out of view.

00: 28 – Text transitions in stating "Featuring alternate universes: legend of zelda, outlast trials, fallout, dnd/baldur's gate, borderlands, dc, owl house." Text transitions in below the prior text "ft. highly adaptable crossover verse".

00:36 – The text "you're going to find me probably weird" appears behind the prior text. The text transitions out with a pop.

00:40 – Animation of human Airin, Xavier, and Luri bop to the beat on the bottom of the screen. The text "Other info: drawn and irl icons, 18+, sporadic activity, favors light plotting, multi-ship, 10+ years of rp experience" transitions into the center of the screen. The scene transitions out with glitch effect.

00:50 – The text "airxn.tumblr.com" transitions into the center of the screen and fades away.

01:00 – Video ends.

this transcription isn't perfect so please let me know what corrections can be made, thank you!

[cherywrld]

on october 24th, OCTAVIA  MUSIC  CO. dropped two music videos on their youtube channel, which were then also reposted onto a new channel called 'cherryday_hq' fans would check out the channel only to realise that the group consisted of the same members as glasshouse entertainments group cherrybomb just under a new name

HEAVEN is a pre-release single by cherybloom, a sub unit of chery:day put out on the 24th of october, 2024.

─── • ♫ MV

HEAVEN

♫ the mv was very quirky horror themed with the girls chasing and attempting to catch a bear and then cook it in the end to make a delicious cake.

♫ fans assume that the bear signified haters and it showed how the girls did not really care about what the haters thought

♫ the company did release a cute little cookbook on the 25th detailing how to show the cake recipe made in the video.

─── • ♫ song notes

♫ this single had gotten around 600k views in the first 24 hours of release.

♫ majority of the fans really liked the silly take on horror especially so close to halloween

♫ lots of comments about costume ideas, Minsu's dual braids in particular went viral.

♫ the song was one of Yuvi's first attempts at production which can be seen in the increase of instrumentals.

♫ the song wasn't promoted by the group as it was considered a taste of the album.

STRANGER is a pre-release single by cheryburn, a sub unit of chery:day, put out on the 24th of october, 2024.

─── • ♫ MV

STRANGER

♫ the mv leaned more into the horror part of theme rather than being quirky.

♫ the girls played roles of eccentric ladies who seem to have lost their minds and keep seeing hallucinations

─── • ♫ song notes

♫ this single had about 500k views in the first 24 hours of release.

♫ fans preferred the quirky theme of heaven over stranger.

♫ the constant beat changes and different vocalisation as well as the weird dance seemed to have turned fans away, with many having the opinion that it seemed to be three different songs rather than one

♫ also became a hit for halloween costume inspiration, especially the whole mad scientist in a huge castle thing...

♫ this song was truly a hit or miss for the fans it really depended on their choice of music.

♫ the song wasn't promoted by the group as it was considered a taste of the album.

[boredtechnologist]

Bally Midway's "Spy Hunter" arcade - Attract mode

Analyzing Bally Midway's "Spy Hunter" from a philosophical perspective involves delving into its thematic elements, gameplay mechanics, and narrative, to uncover the deeper existential, ethical, and sociopolitical implications it may present.

1. The Duality of Identity and the Spy Persona: "Spy Hunter" places the player in the role of a secret agent, a character inherently associated with dual identities and deception. This duality raises philosophical questions about the nature of identity and self. The spy, living a life of constant masquerade, embodies the existential inquiry into what constitutes one's true self. Is identity a fixed essence, or is it an ever-changing construct shaped by circumstances and roles?

2. Surveillance and Paranoia in Modern Society: The game's spy theme also taps into the broader philosophical and ethical discussions around surveillance, privacy, and paranoia in modern society. The player, both the hunter and the hunted, navigates a world of constant surveillance, reflecting real-world concerns about the balance between security and privacy, and the ethical implications of living in a surveillance state.

3. The Morality of Violence and Justice: "Spy Hunter" involves a significant amount of violence as the player combats enemy agents. This aspect of the game brings to the fore philosophical questions about the morality of violence and the concept of justice. Is violence ever justified in the pursuit of a greater good? The game’s setting in the world of espionage, where moral ambiguity is commonplace, encourages players to ponder the ethical complexities of such actions.

4. The Illusion of Control and Determinism: The game's driving and combat mechanics, where players must continually adapt to changing environments and threats, can be seen as a metaphor for the human desire for control in an unpredictable world. This reflects philosophical debates around free will and determinism. How much control do we truly have over our lives and decisions, and how much is dictated by external forces?

5. The Role of Technology in Human Conflict: "Spy Hunter" heavily features advanced vehicles and weaponry, highlighting the role of technology in modern conflict. This aspect raises philosophical questions about the relationship between humans and technology, particularly the ethical implications of relying on technological means in matters of security and warfare. It prompts reflection on the extent to which technology should be integrated into human conflict and the potential consequences of such integration.

6. Escapism and the Fantasy of Power: Lastly, the game offers players an escape into a world of intrigue and power, where they play a dominant role as a spy with advanced capabilities. This escapism can be viewed philosophically as a reflection on the human desire for empowerment and agency, especially in a world where individuals often feel powerless or constrained by societal structures.

In summary, "Spy Hunter," though primarily an entertainment medium, serves as a platform for exploring deeper philosophical themes. It touches on the duality of identity, surveillance and paranoia, the morality of violence, the illusion of control, the role of technology in conflict, and the human desire for escapism and power. These themes resonate with broader philosophical inquiries, demonstrating the capacity of video games to provoke thought and discussion on complex, real-world issues.

[calypsolemon]

i’m always in awe of your use of texture whenever i see the burning kai art !! it’s seriously so satisfying and beautiful

why thank you! I'm going to take this ask as one for the "analyze your own art" prompt lollll so sorry if you weren't looking for a ramble about the meaning in the piece but also. woe, analysis be upon ye!

so the caption of the original post of this piece is a line from Astana's Favorite Daughter. Fair warning the music video linked contains nsfw/horror elements, but it's a gorgeous piece of evocative animation set to an even more evocative song. I dont actually think the song itself fits Kai terribly well when taken in whole, but it's what prompted the image to come to my mind in the first place, so it's relevant

I really had fun playing with shapes in this image. Someone pointed out the teardrop shape where his neck and shoulder meet, which i also incorporated into the shadow where his right hand is, as well as the shoulders themselves and some of the negative space between licks of flame.

The shapes focus is also why I drew this in black and white first. I used a gradient map to color it, which is new for me!

The way kai is holding himself has a dual meaning to me. It could imply self-love, like hugging yourself, but it could also imply a sort of fear of vulnerability and hiding of oneself, since his arms are wrapped around his naked chest.

The expression is meant to be a little bedroom-eyes-y lolll, but I kept the actual view the audience gets of his expression limited to the one eye to again have something "hidden."

Pretty much all of this is in service of exploring multiple meanings that I attribute to fire. The idea of something warm and alluring and necessary, that also gets dangerous and destructive when you get too close.

Dwell as long as you wish on the transgenderism of me (transmasc) drawing a (male) character I kin naked staring directly at the camera set to a song with the word "daughter" in it

[rinzydings]

Hey hey!

Do you like fantasy, intricately twined stories, and magic? My friend over at Bisset House Press is looking for ARC readers! If you have the time and like the premise (pasted below), please don't hesitate to sign up! I'm posting on tumblr for them because they currently don't have one haha.

Two teenagers on the secretive Island of Faodail have finally joined the ranks of their predecessors: they’ve begun to have dreams of their past life. This is a natural cycle on the Isle that Katiyana has been waiting for ever since she turned sixteen the previous April. Having been raised in the Coven, she knows exactly what’s happening. Vincent, however, does not. He was raised outside of the circle of magic users, and is bewildered by every new piece of information these sequential dreams drop on him. As the month passes, they slowly put together that they’re dreaming of each other. With the help of their mutual friends, and Coven members who have already been through the process, the teens work through revelations both comforting and terrifying. Everything does happen for a reason, especially on Faodail, they just never expected it to be like this. Coven Chronicles: Magickal is an introduction to the Island of Faodail, through the lens of someone steeped in its history and magic, and someone learning everything for the first time. This dual-POV story will lead you through each dream and everything surrounding it, unfolding the past Katiyana and Vincent shared together, and the future they could build with each other.

>> ARC sign up form here!! <<

Sign ups are open July 22nd (now!) - August 2nd!

Video ID/Desc under read more

[Video ID: This video contains three slides. The first slide is of table filled with weathered paper, bound scrolls, and burning candles of various sizes in a hazy atmosphere. The text reads, "If you love…"

The second slide is three smaller videos stacked and overlaying a lavender field as a background. The first video on the top is one of a small, purple crystal ball surrounded by beads and candles. It reads: "Magical Realism." The second video is a group of pre-teens/teenagers of various heights and hairstyles, smiling and laughing at the camera. It reads: "Found Family." The third video is the back/side shot of a girl sitting in the foreground, brunette waves obscuring her face as she writes in a notebook. The backdrop is green and blue, heavily blurred, implying a lake view. The text reads: "Info Through Dreams."

The third slide is of a set of hands holding a tablet featuring the cover concept of the book (which is pale pink, featuring a side profile silhouette of a woman within a floral border around her head and another around the edge of the cover itself.) Sparkles flash on and off screen around the tablet and hands for emphasis. The text at the top of the slide reads: Join our ARC team!" and the text at the bottom reads: "Coven Chronicles: Magickal. ARC Signups July 22 - Aug 2." End ID]