#easiest approval gain ever

[kpd-zero]

Astarion is a cat person CONFIRMED

[phant0mth1ef]

chapter 1: when she smiles, the whole world stops and stares for a while.

“hah?!”

“we’ve already told you a bunch of times, bakugou! she’s the easiest way for you to gain approval ratings, and she’s easy on the eyes! i don’t know how else you want us to explain it to you.” the mans management team stood before him, sitting at a circular table as he stood by the door.

“no way in hell am i ever going to be seen on a poster with some pop princess. find another way!” his voice was naturally gruff, even when he wasn’t trying to come off so harshly, it just happened.

“listen. you need to become the number one hero, she needs to boost her popularity before the japan’s choice awards. her team’s already agreed to this, you’re the only piece we need.” a piece of paper was shoved towards him on the table, your signature sitting above where his was supposed to be.

“hell no.” he turned on his heels, walking to the door before stopping, his hand hovering above the doorknob, his team did have a point. he did need to boost his hero rating before the next hero billboard chart came out.

you were a pop sensation, adored by everyone due to your relatability and your up and coming style of music, additionally, your team put in overtime when it came to getting you onto things like tiktok and instagram.

he sucked his teeth before his hand came back down to his side, his head hung low as he turned back around while mumbling some incoherent speech.

he begrudgingly made his way over to where the paper sat on the table, quickly picking up the pen and signing it. how else was he supposed to boost his career as a freshly launched pro-hero? he was only 19. you were only 19.

“this is only for three months, right?” he groaned internally as his team nodded, happy that he’d signed the agreement.

he’d slammed the door when he left, angry that this is what his career had come to. angry that he was relying on some prissy pop star to skyrocket his rating, even if she had the prettiest smile he’d ever seen.

for: @kikz165 :-)

[wanderloveshater]

Two smart guys with 80’s tech can only do so much. It took them years to make the portal, one that breaks down everytime it activates.

For Commander Peepers? He can make a portal in a quarter of that time that’s stable.

It wouldn’t break down and would be able to control the excess energy that emits from it.

Peepers is the perfect pawn for Bill. Socially outcast with a crippling insecurity about his height, the desire to be praised and hold power over others, painfully lonely with a brilliant mind- he mirrors Ford in this way. I believe one of the WOY crew members emphasized him being different from the watchdogs.

It’s so easy for Bill; what do we have here? A smart guy who builds evil planet-destroying devices? Handling complex machinery?

He’s got a high IQ- misguided by his adoration for his stupid leader. The need for approval is crippling. So what can we do? Our little song and dance-

Bill’s experience speaks for itself. It would take very little effort, no questioning or anything- kind of boring, really.

Oh and Peepers has just been WAITING for someone to realize his true potential!

It’s all the same with Ford. He wants to feel special. The way Peepers would cling, claw, ride the high of the teensy bit of praise Hater gave him months ago…it makes Bill laugh. Such a sucker. A mathematically talented genius with more weaknesses than anyone can count.

So here we are, Peepers wants power. He wants respect. He wants to be seen. Bill promises Peepers a sense of social validation- to be adored- and eventually feared by his peers, and in extension, the galaxy. In return, Bill wants a portal- instead of spinning it as a “gateway for infinite knowledge of the universe” he can actually be a little more truthful. He’ll tell Peepers it can be used as an unstoppable weapon of destruction, better than what Major Threat had, better than what Lord Dominator had. The Peepers empire- I mean- The Hater empire would conquer the galaxy. Bill can come into this plane and they’ll rule everyone, side by side, Muse by Painter.

It’s a win win! Come on Peepers! Take the deal! When was the last time you played chess with someone that was actually smart enough to compete against you?

Infatuation: We saw how easy it was for Ford to be a Cipherholic. For many others to be. Peepers would unfortunately fall for his flattery. Under the assumption that Peepers is in love with Hater- (idolization if you wish) this prevents him from fully going evil, betraying everyone at once, I think.

But Peepers does get a little tired here and there putting up with Hater’s stupidity. Everyone’s stupidity, actually.

But Bill?

Bill has a lot of knowledge of the universe and intelligence.

Peepers would feel so intellectually stimulated by their conversations- likely about quantum theories, astrophysics, how stupid everyone is. There’s one thing Peepers has going on instead of Ford. Ford isn’t directly malicious or evil (besides the revenge fantasies), but Peepers is. He’d find Bill’s sadistic humor to be funnier than Ford ever did. Bill likes that.

Planting these seeds in Peeper’s brain- like the portal- Peepers would reach worship levels faster than Ford.

“I want to feel tall.”

“I’ll make you feel tall.”

Possession: This one is funny to think about, Bill’s unhinged behavior is exponential. He uses his charisma to gain social approval with the watchdogs and Hater’s favor in Peepers’ body. He probably wouldn’t have to complete all the calculations that Ford needed help with- really the possession is just so Peepers is more likable.

Bill’s feelings: Peepers was the easiest pawn to entrance. Bill finds this rather boring. There’s nothing to sink his teeth into- nothing to tear. Just a hollow puppet. He isn’t weird enough for Bill to enjoy, he seems rather logical and put together. Sure he’s shorter than everyone but was he born with any extra features that makes him an anomaly? But he’s certainly the most efficient puppet, so he’s gotta keep that going.

Peepers would also catch Fiddleford and Ford’s mistakes with the portal’s code.

Sort of like, “Oh haha, whoever did this code is so stupid, have they considered their calculations would blow up the entire room?!”

Bill being Bill, filled with bitterness, would agree in tandem at first. “Haha YEAH my last guy wasn’t up to par!”

Before uh, Peepers gets carried away and Bill’s own complicated feelings about Ford arise.

“Seriously, have you seen this derivative answer?! A traffic cone could have done better-”

“That’s enough”

Ford: I don’t have a set story/timeline for these two in mind, but I would like to imagine Ford’s reaction. Being unable to stop the vicious cycle repeat chokes him. Warning Peepers and all, oh don’t fall for it, he’ll betray you, promise you a galaxy, yadda yadda…

But Peepers only hears that last part.

“My own galaxy…?”

“Yes, he’ll make you ‘one of them’ and promise ultimate power with no law or restrictions- everything you could dream of- but DO NOT fall for it!”

Peepers falls for it. Or rather embarasses himself- Bill does not care for Peepers in this way. He’d never offer this unless it was for gain, so what does Peepers do? Throw himself to Bill and the Henchmaniacs- pleading to be a part of them. All that results from that is being laughed out of the room. Doesn’t help that he's the shortest.

Peepers doesn’t fit in with the watchdogs, or even the crazy weirdos/freaks.

He is truly alone.

[aaronsinferno]

I really hope the show explores not only the current relationship between Tommy and his father, but also through flashbacks the dynamics of how they interacted during Tommy's upbringing. I reallllllly want to see the negative influence that (I’ll call him Thomas Senior) had on Tommy's life, because in my mind, while Thomas senior’s ignorance and prejudice knows no bounds, it’s was his toxic masculinity and blatant homophobia that helped teach Tommy how to suppress who he really was and made it easy for him shrink himself down for his own safety. Even though Tommy ultimately rejects his father's views and grew to be a better person, he still unconsciously internalized some aspects of his father. That along with the unresolved trauma and unmet emotional needs from his childhood led him to repeat patterns of behavior that originated under his father, which then began to resurface during his time at the 118 under Gerard’s leadership. Tommy’s entire relationship with Gerard was an unconscious attempt to "fix" those original wounds by trying to succeed in that relationship where he felt he failed with his father. This is why he spent time with Hen and Chimney reinforcing negative patterns instead of breaking free from them, driven by his desire to gain Gerard’s approval out of fear of rejection or being treated/seen differently just like when he was younger. However, its through Hen and Chimney’s courage, kindness, and an overall display of human decency that gave Tommy the courage to break free from that toxic cycle. He began to see that there was a chance that they would accept and understand him, allowing him to almost be himself around them. And he was right. Chimney, someone he spent time antagonizing, saved his life while the guy whose approval he’s been fighting nonstop for was ready to let him die. Hen’s speech inspired him. It gave him courage and showed him what being strong and brave really looked like. This made his part in helping put in those complaints about Gerard the easiest decision he’s ever made. I don’t know. Something something…. I don’t know

[yxstxrdrxxm-a]

SYNOPSIS: Perfection lies on the eye of the beholder. Or, in this case, in the hands of an alchemist who dabbled in sculpting.

TW/s: yandere behavior, Albedo is a bit of an impulsive bastard, abstract in writing, nsfw tws includes usage of drugs, odd materials, dollification, toxic relationship. Please dni if you are uncomfortable.

NOTE FROM HR: Happy Valentine’s Day! If you asked Albedo, he had nothing to gain to be able to celebrate an occasion such as this, but it seems you guys have been together for months. I wonder what he has in store to celebrate this day with you, hm?

Albedo is what many would say is never considered to celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you ever told him what that occasion is like, he would simply tell you the meaning and not what he truly thought about it. After all, that is normal for many to expect, right?

Well, that is what the old him would’ve thought, but he had a lover now. One that understood him, and the person that seemed to look at him like he was someone to be cared for.

To be fair, he and Kendall are what people would say that are polar opposites. He was stoic and hard to approach, but to the likes of Kendall, he simply showed sides of him that he wanted her to see past.

Why? It was simply because the two shared the same ideas and bonded well. Thus, for the alchemist, he thought it simply made sense to do that.

One of those was when they picked up a book that he had seen and he told Kendall if she was aware. Although she wasn’t, the time they spent together deciphering and discussing the contents of the book when they read it together was nice. He had never been interested in reading anything but scholar-approved journals, so picking up something light with her had been an interesting perspective.

There was one thing that he remembered so clearly—in the passage of the book, ‘Challenger Deep’, he remembered asking her how she felt with the narrative being shifted so often. He recalled how many were speaking of how difficult it was to follow them, like they couldn’t figure out what was happening.

Her words caught him by surprise, though.

“It’s not that bad when you think about it. After all, the story is focused on the boy, so if they can’t follow what’s going on, that’s their problem.”

It was then that he realized just how different they were. And Gods, he was absolutely not letting this opportunity go.

So, he began to speak to Kendall more. He began to look into what she thought of certain topics, books, and even past those with art forms as well. But in the midst of it, he found himself feeling more and more attached to her.

It was a strange conundrum. He didn’t understand the feeling at all. It felt… Foreign.

He didn’t like that.

What was stranger yet was that he saw her profile in the MixMatch app. He had been on it for months since he needed more funds for his projects, and it was the easiest way for him as he had been scouted by the bigwigs of Celestia Inc, so to see her in there and the profile she has set up was a curious coincidence.

Now, any sane person would’ve simply ignored her profile and scroll past to the next one, but Albedo is no foolish man. Nay, he wanted to see just how far he can go when he managed to match with Kendall and see how deeper their relationship could become.

With one swipe, they were both matched up by the app. Just like how history led them to be tied together since day one.

After that time, the memories became a tad bit fuzzy for Albedo to remember. It had gone through so many changes: from the time they were finally together, then the small celebrations they hosted, and even their first kiss. It was almost sweet with how Albedo tried to be accommodating and loving to Kendall, but there were times that it was difficult.

Love is difficult for him. But he has his ways to show that to you.

Such a shame that one of them led you to the situation he’s facing right in front of him.

Standing in front of the somewhat finished sculpture he made, he found himself… Strangely at ease. His expression remained unchanged, though, but the sight of it made him internally smile. It was something that he himself can live on proudly.

In a weird way, it made him feel a bit human. It was perfect for him.

Granted, the materials he made was not something he can get right away. It had to be curated, picked by hand, and he needed to make sure it fit his vision. One slight and it would’ve been thrown away, discarded like a child’s toy when they’ve grown old to even touch it anymore.

He was a picky man. He wanted what’s best for him and his lover, and he had dedicated himself for far too long to be able to back down now.

Raising a hand, he gently swiped it across the cheek of his muse, his eyes softening. The feeling of smoothness meeting his bare fingers sent tingles in his spine, tracing it ever so closer to their eyes and lips, and even drifting to their neck. There were a few blemishes, sure, but it was fine—it looked close enough that he was able to modify it to make it look authentic from the naked eye.

He spent 6 months working on the statue before him. His life’s work, he coined as such. He had always wanted to express his feelings to his lover if they’ve stayed for this long, and even then, he wanted to give it to her as his memento for the occasion.

Looking down, he hummed in satisfaction at the placement of the props he curated. He made sure that the statue had the finest of jewelry hung on their body, its hair and clothing pristine as he first found it, and he gave extra care to spots he saw that weren't perfect.

The dust that was left from his smashed previous attempts and frustrations are all but swept away, hidden from anyone that dares to enter his workshop.

Grabbing the cloth next to him, he lifted it up and tossed it on top of the statue’s head, gently letting it flutter down to the ground. He didn’t want anyone to see it, and he made sure that every spot of that statue he made was covered to a T.

“... It’s perfect,” he whispered, looking down at the time and the pendant. “Now, I need to give this to her tomorrow morning. I must get some rest.”

He has a busy day tomorrow, after all.

Heading up to Kendall’s apartment, Albedo caught sight of his lover. Although there were bandages wrapped around her head and other parts of her body, he gently tapped on the door; a small greeting for her to hear, not one that may be too disruptive for someone who’s in recovery.

As her head turned and the two saw each other, the sculptor smiled.

“Greetings. Still trying to decipher the book, are you, Kendall?”

The latter blinked, the cogs obviously turning before he saw her nod with a gentle smile. “Yes, I wanted to know why I’m drawn to this book,” she answered him, making him hum and walk closer to her. Pulling up a seat, he glanced at the cover and the contents to see what she was reading.

“Challenger Deep… I see. This book can be quite tricky to understand,” he comments, his hand reaching to the cover. “However, you can try and read it later. I have something to show you at my house, Kendall.”

Closing the book, the blonde looked at his partner, smiling ever so gently with how she lit up.

It was different. So different from the reaction she’d give him, and it sometimes made him feel like he was dreaming. Alas, he isn’t, and he knew that to be the case for him and Kendall. After all, he made sure it wouldn’t come to light.

“Let’s go. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

Grabbing her hand, he grabbed the book and placed it on the table, keeping it closed. Leading his lover out of the living room, he helped her get her shoes and make some bits of conversation between them. He didn’t wish to make the mood tense, but it seems that she’s beaten him to it.

Albedo is never this talkative to anyone. To him, speaking takes a lot of his energy, and he is never fond of the idea. Though, with the one he’s with, he never found the idea revolting nor exhausting; she reminded him of Sucrose, minus that she’s a lot more outspoken with her thoughts to the alchemist.

It was an amusing sight: a man who refused to speak more than he had to, paired with a woman who loved to speak to those she found close with.

Their journey down to his apartment was as quick as he remembered. He kept a tight grip of Kendall as they went out and about, telling her that she must stay close, lest someone would see her and bring either of them trouble.

He knew why it must be done. People may still be out to look for her, and he didn’t want to risk anything to happen to his beloved.

Still, the real surprise came when he managed to reach his home. Pulling out the keys, he pushed one in and turned it, unlocking the door and letting her enter right inside his abode. Though, he found himself looking back for a moment.

It was strange. He swore he felt eyes pierce through him, but…

…

It must be nothing, he thought. No one would ever dare to follow me.

Turning back around, he entered the house, the floorboards creaking under his feet as he closed the door shut. He could already hear noises from inside his house, but he paid it no heed as he simply walked through to find where she ended up.

The soft thudding of boot meeting the floor echoed, and even the soft creaks didn’t deter him as much as it had used to.

He was used to it. It was his only home, after all.

“Albedo?” he heard a voice faintly call out. “Albedo, what is this?”

Ah, she’s found it.

“I’m right here,” he answered, entering his studio and watching as she stood in front of the now uncovered statue. The light began to shine and give the features more clarity, laying bare to what the two can see without a moment to lose.

The statue before the two had parts of themselves that had been sculpted by hand and blade, the skin color being the same as the one Kendall had with a few stitches and blemishes that Albedo wasn’t bothering himself too much to clean up. The attire had been commissioned by someone he knew, as it accentuated the statue’s body from head to toe.

The eyes remained closed as the hair was cut to her hairstyle, but there were some obvious patches and discoloration that shows its original color, which was something different entirely.

The face is what caught her by surprise, however. She had expected it to look like it was the same as hers, or even a human being’s face, but it was just patched with makeup and rough cuts. It was far too eerie to even put it to words, but Kendall can only look at it and then turn her gaze to Albedo.

He made this, did he? So why did this happen? Why is it made to look like an abhorrent abomination?

“I assume you like it, do you?” he asked her, his face still holding that same smile as he went closer to her. “You must be. After all, I’ve wasted blood, sweat, and tears over making this for you.”

It seems that’s all the answers they need from him.

“Don’t you think it’s perfect, too?”

@.throw-letter-away | do not republish or repost my works anywhere | 2024

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil’s race to approve the end of the Amazon: The BR-319 highway needs a new environmental impact assessment (commentary)

Brazil’s race to approve “reconstruction” of Highway BR-319 (Manaus-Porto Velho) is gaining ever more momentum, with President Lula declaring his support for the project on the 10th September, a moment that could not be more ironic amid the country’s dramatic fire crisis, argues researcher Philip M. Fearnside in this commentary.

The impact of BR-319 extends far beyond the roadside strip to which the EIA and licensing discussion is limited. Planned side roads such as AM-366 would open the vast rainforest area west of the highway to the entry of deforesters, loggers and others. The rainforest in this area is also at risk of collapse from climate change, and this risk would be further increased by the deforestation and forest degradation provoked by the planned roads linked to BR-319. Loss of this forest would be catastrophic both for global climate and for water supply to other parts of Brazil, including São Paulo.

The area at risk is both the most critical and the easiest to avoid deforesting. All that needs to be done is to not build the highways that would provide access, while in other parts of Amazonia stopping deforestation requires changing the behavior of hundreds of thousands of individual actors. A new EIA is needed that includes all areas receiving impacts from BR-319 in the northern and western parts of Brazilian Amazonia. The EIA cannot be a mere bureaucratic step after which the project is automatically approved – the rational decision is to reject the project, writes Fearnside.

Continue reading.

[lumine-no-hikari]

Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #150

Today is my 150th letter to you. It is the same as the number of my favorite Pokémon. So I am going to talk about him today. His name is Mewtwo, and he's a lot like you, actually:

So… I should probably tell you that I've seen only the version of his story that was localized to my country. So that is the version of the story I will tell.

Mewtwo was created in a laboratory. He was created from what was thought to be the most powerful Pokémon at the time - a Pokémon called Mew, which was thought to be extinct (there is precisely one Mew left in the world as far as I know, kinda like the Cetra). I'll explain…

Some guy named Giovanni was the leader of Team Rocket, which is a crime gang that is hellbent on generating profit in whatever ways they can, no matter who or what gets exploited or destroyed in the process; they're kinda like Shinra in some ways in that Team Rocket has huge armies and crazy resources and is interested in gathering up wealth and power. The easiest way to gain power in this world is by controlling powerful Pokémon, so Giovanni sought to create an enhanced living replica of Mew in order to have all the power and all the profit. Y'know… kiiiind of the same exact reason Shinra sought to create you.

So Mewtwo was created using a fossil that was found of Mew. It was spliced with human DNA (some other guy named Blaine, if I'm not mistaken). And just like that, Mewtwo was created and left to grow in a vat; he didn't even get to be born of a womb in the same way as you. Unlike you, too, he doesn't even have parents; there is literally nothing else like him in the world he inhabits; there never has been, and there never will be. Here is a video that details his childhood; I'll warn you, though - it's very sad:

…When Mewtwo woke up for the first time, he was already an adult. He realized almost immediately that he was created to be a test subject and a slave, and once he had that realization, instead of simply saying "no fuck you" and leaving (this is ALWAYS an option; you don't have to hurt people to get away from them), he became so angry that he used his powers to raze the laboratory he was created in to the ground, slaughtering everyone inside without so much as a second thought; all that was left was ashes and flames. In a lot of ways, this very closely mirrors what happened to you in Nibelheim.

…And, like you, after that, he was taken in by someone who cared nothing for who he was or for his desire to be loved and to have a sense of belonging. In Mewtwo's case, it was Giovanni. Giovanni lured Mewtwo into his control under the premise that they would work together as partners. Mewtwo would learn how to better wield his abilities in Giovanni's presence, but the way he learned was by doing Giovanni's bidding and destroying or exploiting anything Giovanni saw fit. Eventually, when Mewtwo realized that Giovanni saw him as nothing more than a commodity to be harnessed instead of a living, breathing thing to be loved and understood, Mewtwo lost his shit again and escaped, razing the building to the ground, and presumably killing everyone inside in the process. So... Mewtwo did a Nibelheim not once, but TWICE:

..."I was not born of Pokémon, I was created, and my creators have used and betrayed me, so... I stand alone." I can imagine that you might find such sentiments deeply relatable.

From there, Mewtwo quite understandably held a deep grudge against all humans. So he created a storm that would wipe out not only all humans, but also any Pokémon who ever befriended and worked with a human; Mewtwo had never met a human who was kind, and so he had assumed that all humans were dangerous, selfish creatures that manipulated Pokémon into being their slaves, and that all Pokémon who willingly worked with humans were pathetic, vile things that debased themselves for the sake of human approval.

…Coming from abuse, myself, I can understand why Mewtwo would assume that all humans are cruel and capricious things. I can understand why you might have thought similarly in the past, and might still think similarly now. I used to believe the same things, and for all the pain I went through, I bore a deep grudge against other people for a very long time. I thought that if I preemptively stereotyped all humans as things that would hurt me and pushed them away by hurting them before they had an opportunity to do the same to me, I would be able to protect myself and keep myself safe.

But that's not how it works; that's NEVER how it works, because when we apply broad, sweeping generalizations to large swaths of people, we end up dehumanizing them in the process, and in so doing, we become no better than those who have hurt us. I've made a lot of mistakes in the past; I only know better now because I got help, and I still have a lot more work to do in order to make up for who I was before. I'll never be "done". I'll never be "healed". But the work required to strive towards these things is still worth doing.

To create his idea of a "perfect" world, Mewtwo rebuilt the laboratory he destroyed, lured some very powerful trainers there, and then stole their Pokémon for the purpose of cloning them. He then pitted the cloned Pokémon against the originals, as though their manner of birth meant something about their worth (spoiler alert: their manner of creation doesn't mean a goddamn thing, because they're ALL living creatures, worthy of love, acceptance, and a place in the world). Mew showed up to try to talk some sense into Mewtwo, trying to tell him that it doesn't matter how anyone is born and that what counts is the contents of their heart.

But Mewtwo wasn't able to hear the wisdom of what Mew was saying; his eyes were too clouded over by the pain from the losses he experienced as a child, the abuse he went through as an adult, and likely the shame he felt about how he came into being. So he fought Mew with the intention of killing Mew. But their battle was creating terrible shockwaves of energy that were hurting all of the Pokémon on the battlefield that Mewtwo pitted against one another. Realizing that the Pokémon on the battlefield would die if Mewtwo and Mew didn't stop fighting RIGHT THE FUCK NOW, a brave and kind boy named Ash sacrificed his own life by putting himself between Mew and Mewtwo as they fought in an effort to get them to stop, even though there was no way of knowing whether or not it would work.

Mewtwo was stunned. He didn't know that humans were capable of such selflessness, and in that instant, it shifted his entire worldview. Mewtwo realized the terrible mistake he had made, and he turned himself around:

His most profound quote is, "I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are." I hope that this is one that you'll take to heart.

Here, this is his summary of his story in his own words:

Mewtwo, Mew, and all of the rest of the cloned Pokémon went to a place called Mt. Quena; it's a beautiful mountain with a lake in the middle of it with waters that have miraculous healing powers, and a system of caves in which to take shelter. Mewtwo lived peacefully there for a while, still working through his shame about being a cloned Pokémon instead of one that was more typically born, but Giovanni had been looking for him, and ended up finding him.

When Giovanni found Mewtwo, he immediately mobilized troops to go capture him and to set up a new Team Rocket base, polluting the water in the process. Giovanni demanded that Mewtwo walk into a machine that was designed to break his will via the application of torture, and he threatened to hurt the cloned Pokémon if Mewtwo did not comply, so Mewtwo did as Giovanni said. But Mewtwo's will did not break, and so he was nearly tortured to death before Ash showed up to break the machine. Ash then carried Mewtwo (yes, all 269lb/122kg of him) to the healing lake and threw him in the water, saving his life.

Mewtwo asks why Ash is helping him, since he is a cloned Pokémon that supposedly doesn't belong in this world. And in this one, Ash says something profound: you don't need a reason to help somebody; when you see someone in trouble, you just help them and that's all there is to it. Mewtwo then wonders if Ash is unique amongst humans, to which Ash replies that every human is unique. And when the waters of the lake heal Mewtwo just as they do to any Pokémon or person, Mewtwo is finally able to accept that he belongs to this world, regardless of the circumstances of his birth.

Mewtwo emerges from the waters reinvigorated, and from there, he uses his powers to wipe the memories of his existence from the mind of every Team Rocket member, including Giovanni. He also moves the lake inside the cave system of the mountain, so that no one will ever be able to exploit or pollute it again. Team Rocket leaves, and Mewtwo now gets to have a peaceful life in a beautiful place, surrounded by other living things who love him very, very much. Witness this, and engrave these words into your heart:

Sephiroth, you do not belong to anyone. You do not belong to Shinra. You do not belong to Jenova. You do not belong to the Gi or to the Cetra. You belong to you, and you alone. And you belong in this world. Sephiroth... can you imagine what it would be like if you used your amazing power to defend those people who are good to you and who are willing to try to give you new life?

Good people are everywhere, and they're not going to use you like a commodity or abuse you until you do what they say. Good people will hold you accountable when you do some stupid shit that hurts yourself or other people, though, because that's what the people who love you are supposed to do. They're supposed to challenge you to do better without exploiting you or breaking you down in the process. The world is full of people like this - people who can love and accept you as-is while encouraging you to become your best and most favorite self; all you have to do is open your eyes. All you have to do is try.

You are not much different from Mewtwo. You are not much different from me. If Mewtwo gets to be restored and have a happy, wholesome, joyful, love-filled life even after years of trauma, abuse, and mistakes, then so do you. If I get to be restored and have a happy, wholesome, joyful, love-filled life even after years of trauma, abuse, and mistakes, then so do you. All it takes is a willingness to learn and grow, and you'll never, EVER get me to believe that I am more mentally flexible and emotionally adaptable than you; it's never gonna happen, because I know in my bones that you are better and more capable than me in all the ways that matter, so don't even try to convince me otherwise; my faith in you is unshakable, so it's not gonna work.

Sephiroth. Please don't think you don't have anywhere to go or anywhere to belong. Mewtwo is literally the only one of his kind, and he still belongs with the Pokémon he calls family. They are cloned Pokémon, but all the same, they are not at all different from the other wild Pokémon that also inhabit Mt. Quena. A cloned Lapras can live with regular Lapras just the same. There isn't another Mewtwo. There isn't another Pokémon in the world that possesses the same level of power that Mewtwo has. But he still belongs. And he can still have a good life. He's not alone. You're not that different from him. So please try. Please?

That's all I've got for today. Please think about the story I told you. Heck, if your position at the Edge of Creation allows you to talk to Mewtwo somehow, please do; he's smart and wise and he knows a lot because he's learned much during the course of his life and has grown much as a result of reflecting earnestly upon all the mistakes he's made. He can help you.

I love you. Please stay safe, okay? I'll write again soon.

Your friend, Lumine

[thornfield13713]

2, 8 and 17 for rosie?

Who's your OCs best friend? How did they become best friends?

Astarion. She's friends with all the rest of the Tadfools...except Minthara, whose approval never got much above 'fair', but Astarion was the one she was closest to. As for how it happened...in large part, it was because they felt accepted by one another. Neither of them had any real moral room to judge the other, which made it a lot more comfortable for them to be entirely genuine with each other, even about things that they wouldn't otherwise show. That meant a lot, particularly early on, when Rosie was trying so hard to be The Ideal Paladin that it felt like showing anyone her personality beyond that was just asking to be kicked out of the group. It helped matters that they have compatible, rather dark senses of humour, and also that they both have intimate experience with having their agency stripped away from them in horrifying ways that mean they understand each other far better than either of them initially expected, even if they react to regaining a measure of agency in outwardly opposite ways.

What hobbies does your OC have? What do they do to unwind?

Rosie starts teaching herself the lute after she helps Alfira with her song. Alfira even gave her some basic pointers, that one night in camp. Unfortunately, that ended...the way it did, but Rosie kept up the lute regardless, because...well, partly because she wanted to remember Alfira, and keep some of her songs alive. 'The Weeping Dawn', at the very least, the last song Alfira ever wrote. It becomes pretty common for her to practice at night in camp, even if learning doesn't always go as well as she might've hoped.

She also starts getting into romance novels, after a while. This one doesn't really start until Baldur's Gate, when she finds a whole stack of smutty romances in the Stern Librarian's room at Sharess's Caress, gets distracted by them, and then proceeds to buy more. She's got a real taste for romances, and they're her usual winding-down reading, if she can get hold of them and keep them in good condition long enough to finish a book, given the dangers of the adventuring lifestyle.

I think she ends up picking up and then abandoning a lot of short-term hobbies, whenever she has time, trying to find out what she likes doing and what she doesn't. Some of them - particularly if they require delicate fine motor control - are just exercises in frustration, but others, like dancing and lanceboard, are much more successful, even if it takes her a while to adjust to playing lanceboard gain post-brain-damage, when her attention span and impulse control are both so much worse. Music and reading are her main hobbies, though, being among the easiest to keep up even while on the move and constantly travelling as part of an adventuring party.

If your OC has kids, are they a good parent? Do they ever feel guilty if they have to leave them?

I'm not sure Rosie would go for having kids, partly due to nervousness about whether Bhaal would take an interest in them (even if they wouldn't be his spawn, it'd be a way of getting back at her) and partly just because she's afraid that the answer to this question might be 'no'. I do think she'd be better at it than she might expect, if constantly terrified of the possibility that she might hurt them by accident, but her lifestyle isn't really conducive to having kids anyway.

The main exception I can see is if, after a couple of decades adventuring around the Sword Coast, she and Wyll decided to settle then. And even then, I'd see them as more likely to foster kids - and probably older kids, teenagers and suchlike who need a bit of extra support and guidance but maybe aren't looking to be entirely adopted - than have their own. Rosie would, I think, be pretty good with troubled teenagers, as she is almost absurdly unjudgmental, very patient, and probably makes a pretty good mentor-figure, particularly once she's had some time to grow and mature and get more comfortable in who she is now that Bhaal is no longer a part of her life.

[knickynoo]

I love your headcanons!

Do you have any headcanons for George (in any of the timelines)?

Hello! Sorry for the delayed response. I'm going to stick with George in the "improved" timeline (post-parking lot punch) because I like imagining all the ways he became a better version of himself after Marty's intervention.

• For a while, George is still kind of shy and awkward and unsure of himself. He knows he's just unlocked some kind of hidden potential and strength within himself, but he isn't really sure what to do with it. Lorraine helps a lot in those following months, encouraging him to keep coming out of his shell.

• George learns A LOT about how two-faced people can be and who he can trust in the aftermath of the Biff Punch. People who used to bully him incessantly all of a sudden want to be his buddy and act like they always thought he was cool. Thankfully, he sees through that. And many of his classmates who were kind to him even when others considered him a loser, continue to be kind, and he gains many new friends.

• George holds his head up a little higher whenever he passes Biff in the halls. Biff actively avoids any eye contact with him.

• Soon after George and Lorraine start officially dating, he allows her to take a look at some of his writing. She's the first person to ever read his stuff, and he sits there anxiously watching her face as she does it. Lorraine loves getting a peek into George's creative inner-world, and her approval gives him an even bigger boost in his abilities. She quickly becomes a trusted confidant for his ongoing ideas.

• Oh! Also, George is definitely the type to leave sweet, heartfelt notes for Lorraine. Expressing his feelings through writing is still the easiest route for him for a while, so he utilizes his talents as a way to let her know how much he cares. He slips notes into her backpack or locker when they're at school, and once they're married, he leaves them all over the house for her. It's an ongoing thing that endures even after he's able to comfortably verbally express his feelings.

[Side note: This is one of post-trilogy Marty's favorite things about his parents. Dave and Linda tend to roll their eyes whenever they catch George placing a note somewhere or see Lorraine smiling as she reads one, but Marty can't even feign annoyance or embarrassment like his siblings. The warm, fuzzy feelings simply overtake him at witnessing the little tradition, especially considering all his memories of his miserable parents in the original timeline. The kid can't help it; he loves seeing his mom and dad in love.]

• George is a very involved father. He guides, teaches--and is even stern at times--and he loves his kids and is so invested in raising them to be well-adjusted and confident. And, obviously, he tells the best bedtime stories. He absolutely crafts individual, personalized stories for each of his children and puts it in a little book for them.

• I have a very solidly planted headcanon that George and Doc are good friends in the Lone Pine Timeline. They share a lot of interests and can talk for hours about science, complex theories, and other nerd stuff (George goes to Doc for questions relating to more technical aspects of his science-fiction plots). The two bounce off of each other well, and nobody else can keep up with their conversations when they get going.

Thanks for the ask!

[n7punk]

I've been thinking this since you first dropped Scorpia getting connected with the Garnet earlier in the fic, but it seems like Light Hope is holding back the Heart of Etheria for some reason? I'm guessing Dark Hope hasn't overwritten her programming yet, so she's still protecting Adora somehow? But maybe Dark Hope won't take over until after Adora turns on Light Hope for what she finds out on Beast Island.

ok now i can talk about it lmao, cotc spoilers obvs

okay so. I had to make some judgement calls on how this worked, and also how i wanted it to. in canon, Glimmer is recognized as a temporary administrator so she can set off the Heart, but Scorpia needs to be connected to get it to work. once Scorpia connects with her runestone, the process really starts and Shit Goes Down, but Glimmer had already initiated it. Adora runs into the crystal castle to stop it, and Light Hope says "oh good, you're here, we can begin."

because of that sequence of events, i extrapolated a few things and came to this conclusion: 1) an administrator needs to give approval to initiate the Heart (probably AI taking control safety thing), 2) Light Hope can fudge administrator credentials, like she did with Glimmer, but by default likely cannot set the Heart off completely by herself, 3) Adora needs to be present in the Crystal Castle for the process to complete regardless of who starts the Heart.

because of 2) i came to the conclusion that Dark Hope could probably engineer her own administrator profile if she absolutely had to, but it would be difficult (ideally you design a computer not to do that, but the overwrite gave her new permissions in case of unruly She-ras) and having someone else do it would be easiest, hence her talking Adora into it.

because of that and 3, i decided that even though the planet is ready for an interplanetary move now, Light Hope wouldn't initiate it without Adora already in the crystal castle, and she didn't completely lock Adora down to do it the two brief times she visited since coming online because she left quickly before Light Hope could try talking her into it. slamming the door down in front of her face would have been pretty suspicious and jeopardize her chances of getting Adora to willingly set off the heart, but she probably wasn't going to hold back a third time.

Bright Hope and Dark Hope (my nicknames for them lmao) are kind of both at the wheel right now, but Dark Hope gained a lot more control after the planet came online and awoke her previously-lower-priority programming. She has always been there, but Light Hope could kind of let her emotions guide her as long as she was still leading down the path to detonating the Heart. Now they're online, there is no room for anything but that path. Bright Hope is struggling against her directives due to her emotional ties.

I also think Dark Hope is essentially an overwritten version of Light Hope's logic/directives that is supposed to detonate the Heart above all other priorities. We see her seem to take more control after Adora resets the castle, a common thing to do with updating/reinstalling software. Without that reset, there were Dark Hope directives and programming hanging around, but Bright Hope had the main say. Unfortunately for them, that reset probably took place when they were teenagers or something in this universe, so Dark Hope is fully entrenched and just waiting to overrule Bright Hope when she is needed.

Light Hope is more attached to them than she ever was before, with someone still alive to care about, so she's able to still do things that are emotional as long as it doesn't outright interfere with her directive, hence her playing music for catra, and telling her things when she asked. Light Hope wants to do all those things and care, her directives just say otherwise.

[artilaz]

if Tristan were a companion what would his romance route be like?

Okay I can't really say anything about what kinda quests or w/e you'd have to do to romance him, but I can definitely tell you about what he's like and how he'd act and react to your decisions. So here goes:

Tristan is a genuinely good guy without a hint of a mean streak in him. He's kind, compassionate, and willing to give almost everyone a chance, and displaying similar traits is the easiest way to gain approval with him. Helping others without the expectation of a reward, supporting those around you, and showing mercy to those who wronged you are high up on his list, whereas any kind of cruelty will earn you a stern talking to from him, and if you overdo it, it'll cause him to leave your party.

He also wears his heart on his sleeve, so if he likes you, he'll let you know. He'll never flirt with you if he doesn't mean it at least a little seriously, and he doesn't like it when people do it to others. A little mutual play flirt is one thing, but getting someone's hopes up just to crush them by telling them you weren't actually serious is something he's not going to react kindly to.

He's got a huge romantic streak, so his romance has the potential to be absolutely sickly sweet. Ever since he was a kid, he's (semi-)secretly dreamed of being swept off his feet by his very own fairytale prince. His previous lover, of whom he'd thought he was The One, however, left him in a very sudden and cruel way, and now his broken heart is giving him a hard time truly letting someone into it again. He's an optomistic person at the same time though, so he wants to believe there might still be a chance for love for him out there.

Tristan is a ride or die kind of guy, so if you actually manage to win his heart, he'll be fully invested in you. One of his love languages is engaging in things you enjoy, to the point where he'll literally learn new skills for you, even if he's never been into them before the relationship, because he thrives off of your happiness.

If you're in a relationship with him, he'll actually let you get away with an array of less than kind behaviour, since his trauma has made his sense of self-worth suffer severely, making him believe he wasn't good enough to stick with. There are, however, a few things that'll make him break up with you immediately, including but not limited to cheating, or him finding out you were only using him, even if you did develop genuine feelings later on.

[gritpyre]

🥛🍨🧅🥨🍈🍏💮🍩 for the main babygirl :) this is a lot so if you don't wanna do all of em just do the ones of these you find most interesting!

if you give me any chance to prattle on about Alma i will gobble it right up, i could talk about her 24/7

so [cracks knuckles] here we GO

🥛 [MILK] What is your OC's relationship with their biological parents like? What about their relationship with any non-biological parental figures?

She's equal parts resentful and terrified of Salazar, they have seen each other at their worst, and each is a mirror of what the other doesn't want to become. Almost every single one of their meet ups ends in a massive fight, verbal or otherwise

She has nothing but blind devotion and loyalty towards Melquíades, she has tried time and time again to get close to him and gain his approval with little to show for her efforts, she loves him but doubts her father will ever see her as his own flesh and blood again

one of her most tender relationships is with for-the-love-of-angst's ocs Taron and Zizi who act as her adoptive parents, she wants to love them perfectly but is afraid she might not be able to learn how anymore

🍨 [ICE CREAM] How does your OC compose themselves in stressful situations?

Honestly because she lives in a perennial state of survival mode she has mastered the art of dissociating herself from her own discomfort to focus on what needs to be done and letting urgency and instinct (and an unhealthy dose of anger) carry her forward

smoking like a chimney also helps!

🧅 [ONION] What is surefire to make your OC cry? Who knows of this information?

Reminding her that she has strength but no power, and that things don't get any better and the suffering is endless for people like her

in good latin american mom fashion, the one that can make her cry the easiest is Salazar

🥨 [PRETZEL] How complicated is your OC's backstory? Who does it entwine with?

see she has years worth of story development that i'm still untangling, wouldn't say it's complicated just long orz

🍈 [MELON] If they had to be put into a box, what box would it be and why?

pretty sure i'm misunderstanding this question but regardless i'm gonna say cardboard box bc kitty

🍏 [GREEN APPLE] How do they differ from the norm and how are they punished for it?

i think being the daughter of my verse's version of the boogeyman is the farthest you can get form the norm :'D it comes at the cost of her bodily, mental and emotional freedom

💮 [WHITE FLOWER] Has your OC ever kissed someone? Who, when, and where?

oh man, so many people, but let's go with the most meaningful ones: first kiss was an accidental one with Thiago when they were both around 15, they were near a beautiful waterhole they had just discovered

then there was Vega who confessed with a kiss while they were watching the sunset on a rooftop, they were around 16-17

then at 20 Magdalena came along, offered to kiss her to distract her from her gloomy thoughts and it worked, twisted toxic relationship ensued soon after and continues to this day

🍩 [DONUT] What is your OC's biggest flaw? How do they deal with it? Do they deal with it?

her self-destructive tendencies for sure, and the fact they're rooted in the belief she's not all that important to others, not in a way that truly matters anyway

she hasn't dealt with it for the longest time but it was getting ever so faintly harder to bounce back after each self-sabotaging bender, and though she has no drive to fully get over these tendencies, she's beginning to trust and respect other people's decisions that they do in fact want her around

hope this wall of text is somewhat understandable, and thank you!

[woodenb2b]

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[almondmlkbtch]

1 am thinking abt my ex who taught me how to starve myself

i had a dream abt him last night actually

i cant tell if it’s the breakup triggering the relapse that’s making me think of him, or the just relapse, (if that makes sense…) but i NEVER think abt him. and lately i’ve been having flashbacks a lot

the story goes— i was 128 after being 118-122 for a yr and a half, found out bc i weighed myself, almost had a breakdown, when i asked if he noticed he told me yes but that he liked the way i looked now, and that if i wanted to lose weight i could use fasting, gave me a book on it, showed me the zero fasting app, i lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks, didn’t think i looked skinny, he said i looked amazing, lost more weight, more praise, i continued to obsess over it i dont think he ever realized how much it fucked me up

that was one of the easiest times i’ve had losing weight quickly, i think it was bc i got such a hit from getting his approval and encouragement on it

that’s kinda how i feel now in terms of what is motivating me. i gained 5 lbs over the 4 months i was with most recent bf i met when i moved to nyc, and the whole time he was encouraging me eating more, saying that there’s no healthy way for me to lose weight cuz im already thin etc etc

but still i feel like that’s a lie, just something ur supposed to say, i feel like he liked me when i was smaller

and worst thought… losing weight is the only way to prove im better without him.. 😭

haaate it. hate it sm

im trying tell myself it’s ok, ill just lose a little quickly and then go slower after once i am a weight that i feel less insecure at, ill not b starving all the time but im already feeling a little trapped ngl

[curlabroad]

Visiting Šiauliai

Šiauliai is the 4th biggest Lithuanian city and is famous for the Hill of Crosses. Most people only visit the city to see the Hill of Crosses. I was about to be one of them until I decided to stop at the city center to take a coffee break. Right across the coffee shop, I saw the Šiauliai Tourist Information Center. After finishing my coffee I went in to buy a fridge magnet for my collection. The officers were really helpful and convinced me to visit other attractions around Siauliai before driving off for Hill of Crosses. I am glad they did because I visited some of the most creative and cute museums I have ever been to. Also, I saw some really nice sculptures and art pieces around the city.

About Šiauliai 

Šiauliai city is dating back to the 13th century according to the sources. It is thought the city is the same place where a big victory was gained by Lithuanians in Saule. Since then city happened to be a military city, textile and industry hub and recently a cultural and education center. Unfortunately the whole city was burned down during World War II. So the city center doesn’t offer an amazing old town like Vilnius or Kaunas. But Russians rebuilt the center in 40s so you will be able to see some good Soviet architectural examples. The city has lots of museums, exhibitions and hosts festivals time to time. 

How to reach 

Easiest way to reach Šiauliai is by train. Train lines are running frequently between Vilnius and Šiauliai. Also the train line coming back from Klaipeda to 

Vilnius is passing by from Šiauliai too. So it’s either a good two-day trip from Vilnius or a day trip after a relaxing weekend in Klaipeda. Both are good options. You can check train schedules and book your tickets on Traukiniobilietas. 

The second way to reach there is by bus. Find the schedules and tickets on Autobusubilietai. Also, you can easily rent a car from City Bee or Spark. These will be more expensive for either 1-2 people. However, for 3-5 people it will be affordable and of course more comfortable. Keep in your mind that getting approval from these car-sharing apps may take 1-2 days. Especially if you don’t have an EU driver's license. In this case, just give them a call or mail them. 

Where to stay 

Šiauliai is a little city so accommodation is limited. There are mostly flat type of accommodation instead of hostels and hotels. If you are a solo traveler, prices are relatively more expensive than big Lithuanian cities. Being this said there are some good and affordable options for 2+ groups. 

Sweet Apartments 

Central place with lake view 

The above two are close to the city center. If you have a car or don’t mind taking a taxi, you can find both other flats and hotels about 6+ km away from the center. 

What to eat 

Well, if you decide to stay at a flat, you will have a kitchen to cook. If you are just there for the day or not looking to cook you can try: 

Grill London – a really popular chain place, menu is not the richest but good portions for fair prices. Good for lunch or dinner. Map location.

Prezo Kepyklėlė – a good bakery with lots of fresh pastry varieties. Good for breakfast. Map location. 

Senasis sodzius – If you are looking for Lithuanian food is a good option. Map location. 

You can easily find chain cafes like Vero Cafe, Caffeine and Caif Cafe in the center.

Of course, there are some other restaurants around the city. They are more expensive than the average and a bit more on the fancier side. If you are on a budget, they may not be the best options. 

Attractions

Here, I listed the main attractions in the Šiauliai City Center that you can easily reach. Almost all of these attractions are located in the “Bulvaras” neighborhood. The cafes and restaurants are also in this area. You can cover almost all of them in just a day. No need to use public transportation. Just walking is enough. 

Sundial Square (Saulės laikrodžio aikštė)

Sundial Square was built for the 750th birthday of Šiauliai city. The square is designed to have an amphitheater, a long obelisk with an archer statue on top. The obelisk is located to show the local time using the sun rotations so it is also a kind of solar clock. A large green park area covers the square.

Hill of Rebels (Sukilėlių kalnelis) 

This hill, located in the city center, is a memorial area as the Russian army executed eleven ‘rebels’ who were actively supporting the Lithuanian uprising.

Energetic Labyrinth (Energetinis Labirintas) and the Iron Fox (Geležinė lapė) 

Near Lake Talkša of Šiauliai city, a small energy maze was created from stones with the support of the city municipality. I actually went and saw the maze without knowing the real meaning behind it. If you want to learn beforehand you can check this website. The Iron Fox (Geležinė lapė) statue is located right near the Energetic Labyrinth. The fox’s heart has a kind of time capsule for feature generations too. 

Stasys Gliaudis Museum of Nature (Stasio Gliaudžio gamtos muziejus) 

Stasys Gliaudys who is an important Lithuanian naturalist who specialized in butterflies founded the Museum of Nature in 2000. The museum exhibits wildlife exhibits accumulated over several decades, many of which reflect Lithuanian nature. The museum is really similar to the Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Museum of Zoology.

Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy (VUŠA) Botanical Garden (Vilniaus Universiteto Šiaulių akademijos (VUŠA) Botanikos Sodas) 

Lithuanian universities do a great job in Botanics. The VUŠA garden is no different and is great to visit too.

Other Attractions

Besides these main attractions, there is also a homestead museum a bit outside the center that I didn’t visit. The place is called Žaliūkiai miller’s homestead-museum (Žaliūkių malūnininko sodyba-muziejus) and the concept is really similar to Rumsiskes and Samogitian Village Museum.

Šiauliai has lots of contemporary art installations and thematic museums too. A few good ones to check out are:

Šiauliai Art Gallery (Šiaulių dailės galerija)

Museum of Photography (Fotografijos muziejus)  - What makes this museum unique is that it is the only art and technology center focusing on photography. Inside there is a gallery, a studio, a photography laboratory, and some rooms for education and study.  If you are interested in photography, it is worth checking out

Cents Room (Centų kambarys) - The Cents Room is not actually a museum but an exhibition built inside a library. 

Bicycle Museum of Šiauliai (Šiaulių Dviračių muziejus) 

Ruta Chocolate Museum (“Rūtos” šokolado muziejus)

Cat Museum (Katinų muziejus)

Radio and television museum (Radijo ir televizijos muziejus) Railway Museum (Gelezinkelio istorijos muziejus) 

Šiauliai Cathedral (Šiaulių Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Pauliaus katedra) Chaim Frenkel villa Museum (Chaimo Frenkelio vila-muziejus) Venclauskiai House (Venclauskių namai)