#even if it's not public who i voted for because he knows that whoever i vote for will never be trump

[flying-cat]

I can't imagine being anywhere near as insane as Trump supporters because my dad told me that he, earlier, drove past a guy putting a "Harris Walz 2024" sign outside his house and decided to yell out at him "TRUMP 2024 YOU COCKSUCKER" and flip him off. And he laughed when he told me because he thinks that yelling at a man (emphasized man because he thinks men should be "better" than women, and "better" would be voting for Trump in this case) who is voting for a "whore who slept her way to the top" (his exact words) is funny. And expected me to laugh with him. And got angry when I didn't and just stared at him in disbelief. Even though he already knows that I don't like Donald Trump. These people fully expect others to find their weird ass derogatory words and behavior FUNNY. Donald Trump is leading a cult of old people who he brainwashed into being delusional with him.

[solaarbeeam]

MAKE THAT SIX — FURIN FIRST YEAR SIX

TYPE — RELATIONSHIP HEADCANONS

SYNOPSIS — a look into your relationship with the furin first year six.

CHARACTERS — sakura haruka, suo hayato, nirei akihiko, kiryu mitsuki, tsugeura taiga, and sugeshita kyotaro

A/N:: i’d like to formally thank callum for getting the brain juices flowing cause DAMN i got SHIT TO SAY abt these five. ALSO!! nonnie if u find this, i did it <33 also! reader ks a member of bofurin, and is gender!neutral

— SAKURA HARUKA

— Oh my lord I’ve got a whole bunch of shit to say about this one.

— Please help this poor man out, he’s stressing over this so much.

— He’s already been voted grade captain, told that he’s formally trusted by the top dog of his school, and now he gets a significant other? He’s gonna break soon honey, if he hasn’t already.

— Expect that he has an issue with you getting hurt in fights even though you are a formal member of Bofurin and he has seen you fight long before the both of you got together. He knows you’re good at it and you can take care of yourself. He’s just a very worried softie :(

— Made Kiryu teach him how to use his phone in order to text you more often, even if you do see each other every day.

— Friendly spars! Fighting gives him joy and he’s a happy camper when he sees that you enjoy the sparring.

— Doesn’t know much about being a boyfriend but he always shares food with you even if you don’t ask for it.

— Lowkey ashamed to be out in public with you because of how he looks. He doesn’t want people looking at you weird because of him.

— Thought you were pranking him when you told him you loved him. He very much ran away. You had to go and chase him down for two hours to get the point across.

— Avid sleepovers at your house! He has the most peaceful sleeping face. Your wallpaper on your phone is him sleeping peacefully against one of your pillows.

— He absolutely screeched when he saw it too, by the way.

— Has major separation anxiety because of how he grew up. He needs you to be in eyeshot or somewhere he can easily find you.

— Has his location on all the time because why wouldn’t he? This man is loyal.

— Is the type to let you wear what you want because in his mind, you’ll just beat up whoever it is who’s bothering you. He’ll jump in if you want to jump them too.

— Nighttime walks. Even better when the stars are dotting the skies. It’s peaceful, and it makes him feel like he’s doing a good job with the whole boyfriend thing.

— Tugs on your Furin Jacket when he wants your attention.

— You absolutely sneak other clothes into his closet. His lack of opinions and choices are very concerning to you.

— Aquarium dates! He really likes sea life a lot and it’s cute to see him blushing from awe at all the dolphins and fishies!

— You have attempted to beat up his foster parents when they came through Makochi once. You, unluckily, didn’t get to because Suo and Nirei pulled up with the rest of the first year to run them out of town. He cried in your bed because he never thought people would care about him like that.

— His wallpaper is you and him holding hands on one of your night walks.

— Has let you put makeup on him before and let me tell you, Sakura Haruka is the prettiest man on the planet.

— You like to call his eyes pretty a lot. Like gemstones. No matter how many times you tell him, he still violently blushes and hides his face.

— The Grade Captain of Class 1-1 has a significant other, and he wouldn’t trade you for the world. No matter how much shenanigans you get into.

— SUO HAYATO

— Hm. The teasing gentleman. Let’s see..

— A certified back hugger. Mans does not care about PDA. If he wants to hug you, he will.

— Teaches you about his style of fighting sometimes, even though you fight similarly to Kiryu.

— Lets you wear his tassel earrings when you ask for them. He thinks they look adorable on you.

— He was so tempted to show off at the Tournament with Shishitoren just so you can see how good of a fighter he is.

— Will rant about tea flavors, although he doesn’t classify it as ranting. You do though, because that’s what it is, and it’s adorable to see him tall about the differences between flavors.

— He can’t cook for jack shit but let me tell you, that man can bake. Best believe you are a pastry taste tester for all his little baking experiments.

— You have absolutely pranked him with Natto in his food. This was the first of rare times you will ever catch him off guard.

— Beach walks. On the sand, on the coast line. That’s all I have to say.

— Can absolutely ballroom dance. He has ballroom danced with you at his house and is absolutely hoping you and him are forever so he can ballroom dance with you at your wedding.

— You sit on top of his desk at Furin whenever you can’t find a seat and drag it over.

— Absolutely almost flipped Tsubakino over because he thought he was trying to flirt, even though the both of you are first years. He was just caught off guard! All poor Tsubakino wanted to do was compliment you :(

— Kisses the back of your hand, similarly to princes in most modern royal media.

— Once again, this man does not give a flying fuck about PDA. If he wants to kiss you in front of the person taking your order at a fast food joint, he will and what are they going to do about it?

— Your wallpaper is him sitting on beach sand in the sunrise.

— His wallpaper is you doing something stupid. What can I say, he’s a tease. To himself, he’s a genius.

— He’s saved as Leonardo Dicaprio in your phone, for shits and giggles.

— Does the sidewalk rule expeditiously, even if your reflexes are better than most.

— Keeps his hand on the small of your back once you’re in big crowds

— Do all of us a favor and never team up in a fight, because the result? The opposing fighters are the finished.

— Assuming that under his eye he has a grotesque injury, you have very much kissed that injury senseless. Keep doing it, it makes him feel all warm and gooey inside.

— You baked gingerbread cookies together for Christmas. Umemiya came to raid them soon enough though.

— His mother loves you.

— Has already given you a promise ring. You wear it around your neck to prevent it from breaking while punching someone in a fight.

— If (more like WHEN) you get married, you were the one who got down on one knee and proposed to him. It was the closest he’d been to crying ever.

— Newsflash, he did cry.

— Will sling you over his shoulder no matter how much you weigh to assert dominance. He’s just a cheeky little shit.

— NIREI AKIHIKO

— GIVE MY BABY THE ASSURANCE HE NEEDS, OKAY??

— Okay but all jokes aside, reassure this man because he feels like dead weight to you all the time and he doesn’t want to be.

— Has a special page in his notebook just for you! Well, it’s more of a section really..

— He’s a cuddle bug. Give bro a bed, some blankets, a decently sized pillow and one order of you and it’ll be the best cuddles you’ve ever had.

— Texts you pictures of all the animals he sees when he’s doing solo patrols with Suo and Sakura.

— Your wallpaper of him is him petting one of the dogs in the neighborhood.

— Is the type to claim that you can and will beat someone in a fight whenever a non-Furin person claims they can fight.

— Do not, and I mean DO NOT, play tag with Nirei. You will lose. That man is a trackstar.

— Wash Day is your day, okay? That mam can and should be a licensed hairstylist. He will leave your hair looking gorgeous no matter what type you have from 1A all the way to 4C.

— His name in your phone is Pookie Bear. He died when he saw it.

— Your name in his phone is Heartie with multiple heart emojis after it.

— Lets you wear his hairclips and necklaces. He’s got too many to even comprehend.

— His love language is words of affirmation. You will never feel insecure with this boy (in his mind, that’s his job)

— Feels bad for forcing you to protect him all the time in fights but he’s always there to patch you up after.

— Speaking of patching up after, make this man a doctor as well cause the way you will NEVER, and I mean NEVER get sick when this man’s around is absolute.

— Is the fun fact king and will send you random, silly fun facts about anything and everything, it’s so cute.

— Amusement Park dates. Need I say more?

— He will share his food without asking. He wants you to try!

— His wallpaper is a collection of polaroid photos of the both of you after a Carnival Date.

— Nose kisses!! All day every day!!

— KIRYU MITSUKI

— Matching PFPs with you on every gaming platform you can think of. Is matching pfps with you on social media as well.

— Lets you pick out the piercings he wears during the day.

— You play with his Furin Jacket sleeves because their always drooping to a degree.

— You stare into his eyes as a pastime because they’re so??? gorgeous???? He has most definitely blushed because of it.

— Both of you are speed-based fighters so having the both of you tag team an opposing side is lethal work.

— Teasing. He’s not as bad as Suo but we’re not going to sit here and say that he’s not a tease.

— Makes a point to match with you when it comes to outfits to some degree, even if you don’t have the same style or taste.

— His wallpaper is you leaning back in a chair at Furin, with the sunrise hitting your face just right.

— Your wallpaper of him is him playing one of the many games on his phone.

— Speaking of phone, he has a separate album in his phone that’s full of pictures of you doing absolutely anything and everything.

— Is the type to egg you on into versing him in a game knowing he’s better just to see you get all pouty when you lose. He thinks its cute until you legitimately crash out.

— You’re in his pinned on his phone.

— Most definitely has a moodboard of the both of you, mostly shenanigans the both of you would get up to, but the rest of it is legitimate sweetness.

— You are saved in his phone as ‘My Player #2’. I don’t make the rules, you just are.

— Boba!! His favorite kind of dates are when you go around trying different foods and drinks. He’ll always get your favorite eventually though.

— Buys funny shirts on purpose to make you laugh. He also buys funny hoodies and puts them in your closet on purpose. That’s right, you don’t even have to ask.

— Lets you paint his nails. He’s a pretty princess, all he needs is to have it shown on the outside.

— Also lets you use his hair clips a lot! You and h have matching ones you wear with designated outfits.

— Matching phone cases on the month of your anniversary. I know I’m talking about matching a lot, but I think that matching with your significant other is a very Kiryu-coded thing to do.

— Karaoke nights with him are the absolute best.

— TSUGEURA TAIGA

— Yall. I have feelings about this one.

— Uses kisses as motivation to continue on with his workout routines. Yes, if you slide under him while he’s doing push ups, he will kiss you.

— Is a weighted blanket personified. In winter time you can and will be cozy.

— Love languages are words of affirmation and physical touch. However, he’s aggressive with the words of affirmation, the opposite of Nirei.

— Piggy back rides all day every day. Doesn’t matter where you are or who you’re around. As long as he’s got two arms, shoulders, and some upper body strength? Piggy back rides.

— It’s literally canon that he wears shorts in the winter. Do with that what you will.

— Gym couple gym couple gym couple!! Instagram and TikTok love them some of you two. You set weight-lifting goals together.

— Unstoppable Push and Immovable Force-coded.

— Most definitely asked what your aesthetic and virtue was when he first met you.

— You and him are often called the parents of the group because he’s the oldest first year.

— Intertwines his legs with yours when hand-holding isn’t an option.

— Gives you his bandanas after he’s washed them because he thinks they make you look so cute.

— His wallpaper is his arm wrapped around your waist in the gym mirror after a difficult workout.

— Don’t get hurt in a fight, please. He knows you can take care of yourself but that man is a brawler-coded fighter so pray for whoever managed to catch you off guard.

— He knows how to rollerskate so he’ll take you to roller skating rinks as dates! The rinks that he picks out always have the best food too.

— He canonically wears shorts in the winter, but sometimes he does to purposefully annoy you or get your attention. It works, but he’s being adorably stupid.

— I personally think that he would have you saved as your nickname, but it a cutesy way. He doesn’t see the point in making it elaborate when he can show you how much he loves you in real life.

— Is also a manhandler but most of the time it’s not on purpose. He’s just a very excited overgrown puppy man and sometimes he can’t tone it down, give my baby a break, okay?

— Charm Bracelets!! Whenever he works out, he takes them off because he will feel the absolute worst if they break. You will not be able to console him.

— He smells like tropical fruit by the way. It’s very pleasant, he blushes every time you tell him you smell good.

— Is also an avid sidewalk rule follower. In public, he’ll put one arm around your shoulders.

— Eventually the both of you get manipedi’s together because what’s the point of him having his dogs out all the time if his toes aren’t done?

— He is a TDI junkie and absolutely believes the theory that Chris MClain slowly loses his sanity throughout the show, and that Izzy was actually raised in the forest where Camp Wawanaka resided. You have heard and witnessed enough rants for several lifetimes.

— Is a huge fan of the goth duo from The Ridonculous Race because they apparently remind him of Suo because of how nonchalant he is. You cackled when he first told you.

— SUGESHITA KYOTARO

— If I’m going to be honest, him and Sakura are in the same boat in the sense that they do not know how to boyfriend.

— But it goes a little like this.

— He’s touch starved to no end so you have to fo at your own pace with him. Sometimes he’ll lean in, sometimes he’ll stand away at a certain radius. He loves you, you just gotta be patient.

— He doesn’t have preferences for anything, as stated in canon, so you often take him out so you can find his likes and dislikes and his absolutely no-go’s whatsoever.

— He, like Tsuge, will not save you as anything really special or cutesy in his phone because that’s what you have him in real life for.

— He fell in love with you by realizing that he gave more of a shit if you got hurt while fighting than the rest of the first years, Anzai included.

— Remember when I said that Nirei should be a licensed hairstylist? Well, Sugeshita over here might as well be the god of anything that has to do with hair.

— He has matching hair accessories with you too. It’s subtle, but he likes it that way. It makes him happy.

— Umemiya is practically his dad, just know that Umemiya approves.

— Only lets you play around in his hair. He does NOT play about his hair, lemme tell you that right now. It’s a sign of trust.

— Speaking of fighting, he prefers protecting you than to you fighting with him or beside him. He knows it’s somewhat wrong, because you’re not a member of Bofurin for nothing, but he has enough confidence in himself to protect you.

— It also makes him feel better about being a boyfriend, he doesn’t want to let you down in any way, shape, or form.

— You paid for his hair treatment once for his birthday and he actually almost cried.

— He is saved in your phone as “Kyo 🩷”, yes, he did lash out but it was very much adorable.

— Bought the both of you those matching Pandora puzzle necklaces. He flicks it at people in fights to assert dominance. He fiddles with it a lot with soft expressions. He loves you a lot, okay?

— On that note, sometimes the both of you absentmindedly flick your pendants at the same time as a way to say “yes, they’re mine, and yes, we will both beat your ass” on some telepathy thing.

— You took him out shopping till you dropped for his birthday and he almost cried in the middle of the restaurant.

— Lets you style his hair all the time. Half up-half downs, full ponytails, braid backs, and very rarely, he’ll let you curl his ends.

— He’s besties with the other first years because you pushed him to get some social interaction in. However, he’s an introvert and antisocial at heart so you know his social battery can only take so much.

— Matching hoodies. That’s all.

— His wallpaper is you in one of his graphic hoodies. He was super-duper happy about it. He really is a softie at heart.

— Doesn’t like traditional stuff all that much so instead of a regular date at a restaurant for Valentine’s, he did a rooftop date.

— “Why do I have to be like everyone else? I’m gonna be different.” - What he told Tsubakino.

— Is a sucker for bear hugs. Please bear hug him, he will melt like chocolate.

— Loves getting his hair brushed. Please do it for him. He’ll melt even more.

— He’s a biter. He bites to show love. He’s a chewer. Let him chew.

— Obsessed with self-care so he’ll make days for the both of you to do it together. Sometimes it’ll even be a date, especially when both of your individual products and the products you share are almost finished.

© solaarbeeam 2024.

[internal-ethics]

Ok im bored and ran out of good content so fuck it lets do this. Decided not to publicize it for so long bc its difficult.

This is my boldest and most prized contribution to this cursed fandom, as well as my dearest tribute to Tobirama, the best political character ive ever read in fiction, and his anija.

warning - this might not be for people with too heavy leaning on anti-konoha, anti-Hashirama sentiments or ships that's not hashimito or tobirama/konoha, or take the timings and numbers of the databook too seriously.

Hashirama is vaguely hinted to canonically have retired as Shodai years earlier, then married Mito, then lived till 10-20 years after VOTE and died in or before the 2nd War.

Tobirama died first in the 1st War. The scene where he sacrificed himself for his squad happened before the VoTE fight, not after. It's his death that signaled the End.

Hashirama losing his power/ability to lead due to possible depression and keeping a low profile (no one could know how and when the Shinobi God died because village situations, and there were sensors and trackers who could find him) is the reason why he didnt know the motive of the Police Force that Tobirama created, and also struggled with Kurama to the point he needed Mito to LEND him power, when earlier he could beat both Kurama and Madara.

Zetsu made up bullshit about Tobirama burying and letting Madara escape with a clone, based that assumption on Tobirama's reputation of creating weird jutsus involving sacrifices, most likely framing him for his surbodinates' doings, because Tobirama totally never knew Tsunade, possibly never even met Mito and dealt with a jinchuuriki, while Hashirama did both, comparing teenage Sakuras power to Tsunade's.

Zetsu also would not have been near there to know what the senju brothers did because they were both sensors that could detect him. Hashirama was the one who buried Madara.

As Onoki said this summit was to end minor conflicts, it happened right after Konoha was founded, not right before the WW. the 2nd kages looked much younger than in the VOTE/WW era. Hashirama likely had other means, more temporary and less effective, to restrain Kurama at this point (his mokuton and necklace) The databook also never said Hashirama died in which war.

Tsunade and Tobirama had no recollection of each other outside Tsunade only calling him distantly 'nidaime' since part 1 and only 'heard' about the ones who killed him.

meanwhile Hashirama was too familiar with tsunade as she with him, and familiar with the village and people, so that he could recall his memories with it despite just having seen it before he died like weve been told.

He talked like he's been through 2 wars with them.

Our second known grandkid of Hashirama was Nawaki, who was 11 years younger than Tsunade. Unless his first son has multiple children in short years which is pure fanfiction, how would he know Tsunade was his 'first' grandkid and how she would turn out 'in the end' if he died when she was this small.

Also the fact that Hashirama didnt wear Konoha headband in the VOTE fight.

But did wear it when he married Mito. Tsunade was not Mito's grand daughter.

As for how he died, its in battle, probably to a nobody mob while protecting his clan or Mitos clan (both conveniently destroyed or disappeared after hes dead). And by the time they killed him and he let them do that, i doubt they even realized or remembered they killed the First Hokage and God of Shinobi. I mean youd think whoever killed him should have been insanely famous, regardless of his power level at the time.

Tobirama said "my role as Second Hokage was to stand between and meditate between brother and Madara while protecting the village" this raised eyebrows because there would have been no one to stand between if he only became Second after Hashirama died and Madara left (forever). Meaning Hashirama was alive when Tobirama became Second, and it had been like that for a long time.

This is what a japanese fan thought of Tobirama's death

Between the two brothers, it makes more sense for the 'normal' one who invented jutsu that defied the law of nature, including

ninja nuclear bombs,

Summoning the dead and giving them infinite chakra

clones only reserved for monster chakra reserves like Naruto with Kurama in him

and a teleportation jutsu that required 5 people in place of an absolute genius like Minato to do- moderately,

rather than a powerful monster with the same annount of chakra as a bijuu AND sage mode that heals himself, to die earlier out of illness.

This is also why Hashirama would ban Tobiramas jutsu and compiled them into HIS scroll seen in the very first chapter - they likely literally shorten ones life. Hashirama wouldnt want random people to drop dead using them...like his brother.

Some more readings on which Japanese samurai characters that have been Kishimoto's references for the founders.

Oda Nobunaga - Hashirama's first concept when he was a scary rugged scarred and big nosed guy, the one who stopped the genenations long wars, unified japan and died right after realizing the dream, but he died partly because of his brutality and crimes in life - he ACTUALLY killed his brother by blood among others of his family who betrayed him. His successor has nickname 'Saru'.

Ashikaga Takauji - Hashirama's later concept, first shogun of his era but softer big brother guy.

Ashikaga Tadayoshi - Takauji's younger brother who stepped up where he couldnt, disagreed with Takauji on politics and died 5 years before his brother did, in defeat but also there are sources that say he suffered some kind of illness before that.

Ko no Moronao - Takauji's close friend who Tadayoshi hated and was later exiled.

More references in Japanese creation mythos involving Izanagi and Izanami, where Izanagi killed his Fire god son Kagutsuchi after Izanamis death, hence his words "my very own child".

[caracalsimp]

Montgomery Gator x Reader Headcanons

After everyone voted for Monty, here I go with Monty x Reader headcanons! Hope you guys will enjoy! (helps me cope with the fact that I can't draw FNAF stuff yet because artfight aaaa!)

Monty is probably the most protective of ALL the glamrocks with you (even more protective that Freddy is). You are his precious little thing, and will jealously keep you away from others if people try to get a bit too close to you (to his taste, which happens often... like, a lot often). He trusts you 100% of course, it's OTHERS he doesn't trust.

Monty doesn't like talking about how much he loves you (he think it's way too cheesy and dumb) but will definitely try his best to show it to you through actions, mostly through his protective instincts and will always fight for you if you need him.

Monty will ALWAYS display affection when you two are in public... in his own way. He wants to remember everyone who you belong to, and if people try to get you behind his back, he will throw their lifeless body into the trash compactor, where they belong. You find it cute in some way that he gets jealous and protective that much, but you're sometimes scared he will definitely crush somebody just for your sake (didn't happened yet, but you definitely know it could.)

Whenever Monty is experiencing really strong anger issues and his destructive instincts takes over, he just shuts down and isolates himself. It worries you when it's happening and you want to ease his mind, but he's just so afraid to hurt you by accident that he prefers not to be around you when he's in that state and struggle to calm down. Just the thought about accidentally hurting you would crush his soul into thousands of pieces.

Although, when he feels anger rises inside him and that you're around, he definitely reaches out to you. He likes to ask for pat pats on his head and will softly starts growling when he feels your touch, because it relaxes him deeply. However, he will only ask this when you two are alone. He doesn't assume really well when he becomes lovey-dovey that way, and will definitely kill the person who would make fun of him for this.

Monty is rather ambivert with you. Sometimes he wants to do activities outside with you by your side and will mostly let you choose which activities to do together, and sometimes he'd rather just stay with you and either play video games, watching some horror movies or simply cuddle on the couch while slowly asleep in your arms.

Monty hates whenever you're feeling any kind of negative emotion or when bad stuff happens to you. He doesn't know how to react when that occurs, and he will definitely hunt down whoever puts the only person who accepts him the way he his until he finds them and kill them. No one has the right to make you feel this way under his watch. NO ONE. And it's no use to keep to yourself the name of the person, Monty will find it no matter what. Even when you try to hide your negative feelings, Monty will sense it.

He doesn't show it at all but Monty has a hard time to understand how could someone like you could fall in love with him. He feels so grateful that there's finally a person out there that just doesn't see him as an angry alligator monster, and he feels pretty insecure about this, secretly being scared that you're one day gonna see him that way. He can sometimes hears from guests that you shouldn't date Monty because of his strong anger issues, and when that happens, he feels even more insecure. You tried multiple times to reassure him that you won't leave, but he still have his inner demon haunting him once in a while. He doesn't like talking about it for too long though, emotional conversations are not his thing at all.

Monty likes to rest his head on your neck, wrapping his arms around you from behind and keep you close to him while slightly growling. He also likes to softly nibble your neck, but his biting always remains gentle, he would never brutally bite you at full force... unless you ask him :))

You absolutely love stealing his sunglasses to wear them. And he absolutely love whenever you steal his glasses to wear them. You're the only person he allows that.

And that's pretty much it~

[farfromstrange]

I know I am not American, and I won’t pretend I understand perfectly how your system works, but I want to say something regardless because I feel some might need to hear it again.

Please vote! If you are old enough and eligible to vote, do! Use your voice!

Vote for women’s rights.

Vote for the rights of immigrants.

Vote for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Vote for the rights of minorities.

If not for yourself—if you’re privileged enough not to fear for your reproductive rights or your mere right to exist or love whoever you want (if you’re a white, cis man)—vote for human rights. If you think it’s hopeless, vote anyway. Vote because your vote matters.

Vote because American politics are not detached from the rest of the world. Your next president will have an impact on the rest of the world, not just your own country. That is why so many Europeans are fearful today. That’s why many small countries around Russia are fearful today. That’s why so many people who are not American are telling you to vote.

Because your Republican candidate, quite frankly, is a threat to world peace.

He is a threat to your own people.

Appeal to your common sense. Think about all the women bleeding out in parking lots from miscarriages that doctors in states with abortion bans are too scared to treat.

Think about what it would feel like for you (if you’re straight) to lose the right to love whoever you want in public, to marry them or start a family with them.

Think about what it would feel like to know you were born in the wrong body but being unable to get gender-affirming care.

Think about what it would feel like to grow up not learning about sex, periods, or even gender identity, and not understanding what’s happening to your body when you wake up at 8 years old and you’re bleeding.

Think about what it feel like to be this little and be forced to carry your rapist’s baby while he doesn’t even get prosecuted for it.

Think about what it would be like to send your kids to school and worry they might not make it home.

I know for almost all of you, that is already gruesome reality.

So, think about what it already feels like. Think about what it would feel like to not fit into the typical cisgender white mold, to be a minority and have your rights stripped away—your human rights—and vote accordingly.

Because just because something is not your reality doesn’t mean it isn’t the reality of millions of Americans.

And if it’s your reality, you need to fight.

(Of course, there are a lot more examples I could get into, but I hope you get the message.)

There is no such thing as the perfect candidate. Politicians are not your friends. You need to pick the one you think will do the best work, who stands for the people and not against them, and hold them accountable for the rest.

Some people need to get off their high horse and realize that the world is far from black and white.

I’ve had to choose between impossible candidates to vote, but I also picked the party I knew at least cared about human rights enough to fight for them. I picked a party so my vote wouldn’t go to the far-right.

Because not voting at all is just like voting for the worse candidate.

So make your vote count, and think carefully about who you’re voting for. Because does anyone with at least half a brain really want to be associated with a pedophile rapist convict who understands jack shit about politics? I don’t think so.

Vote, please. If not for yourself, do it for everyone else. Do it for your country, do it for the rest of the world, but most importantly, do it for those who might not be able to.

- 💙

[thebreakfastgenie]

(Testing ur resolve) In retrospect if Hillary had won 2016 it probably would've just been setting us up for Trump 2020.

I don't think so! I think if Trump had lost in 2016 that would have been a real blow to his movement, and the establishment Republicans who loathe him on a personal level but continue supporting him because they love power and using it to hurt people more than they hate him might have moved to reclaim control of the party and there wouldn't have been four years of the media fawning over his victory and insisting this is the week he finally becomes president. I don't even know if he would have run again, maybe he would have but maybe he wouldn't have. And a 2020 without Trump in office looks so different because that would be a 2020 where the president of the United States actually took COVID seriously. I think that would have led to a certain level of political backlash against the incumbent, we saw that with a number of governors (although many of them survived re-election), but I think that probably wouldn't have hit a hypothetical President Clinton in 2020 so much as Democrats in 2022 and whoever the Democratic nominee was in 2024.

I hesitate with political counterfactuals but I think there's a strong chance any Republican would have won in 2024 because of the global anti-incumbent backlash and public opinion about inflation. I think Trump's comeback is somewhat an artifact of the coincidental timing of COVID-19 and American presidential elections. In essence, we got two anti-incumbent backlash elections. One about the early pandemic in 2020 and one about the medium-term effects, especially on the economy, in 2024. The voters who just vote for whichever party isn't in office because they're unhappy with the status quo don't really care that it's the same guy, and at this point a lot of people have short or rose-tinted memories of 2020. If our presidential election was in 2022 say, I think we probably see Biden or whoever win in 2022 (remember the 2022 midterms were unusually good for Democrats) and have a better chance at re-election in 2026.

Also to be perfectly honest, I think Trump winning in 2020 is still better than Trump winning in 2016, because of the Supreme Court if nothing else. Two of his three seats would have been filled by Clinton appointees (I'm choosing to believe in this timeline the Democrats weren't cowards about Ginsburg dying in September 2020 and just filled the seat anyway).

I'm never going to say "in hindsight it's good that Trump won in 2016." We don't have hindsight when we're fighting these battles, we just have to try to keep Republicans out of office every time.

[c-e-d-dreamer]

Naughty Girl

A/N: Forgive me, Father, I have sinned... This is the absolute filthiest smut I have ever written, all 4,000 words of it. There's not even any plot. The only plot is that Nesta and Cassian are together. Are they married? Are they just in a relationship? You get to decide! But we're celebrating Day 4 of @sjmromanceweek with truly everyone's favorite trope: PWP ;) I'd like to dedicate this to the GC and my favorite enablers who encouraged me to finally release this into the wild and the 54 people who voted in my poll. I hope you enjoy, but maybe not in public, this very very very NSFW fic

The notification going off on his phone is loud in the otherwise quiet office, the sound practically blaring over the shuffle of papers, the glide of his pen. It's jarring enough that Cassian has to blink a few times as he's pulled from his haze of focus. He knows he should ignore it, that whoever is texting him can wait, but there's no denying the way his fingers have started to cramp, the way his eyes have started to ache from reading page after page of black ink spilled across white paper.

With a soft sigh, Cassian scrubs a hand down his face and digs his phone out from beneath the stacks. He frowns when he sees Nesta's name displayed across the screen. She knows he's busy with this endless stream of reports from Rhys, knows he's practically locked himself in the office of their house until they're completed. It's not like her to interrupt him. He expected her to appreciate the peace and quiet to relax and read her book all day.

Perhaps something is wrong?

But if something was truly wrong, why wouldn't she call him? Hell, why wouldn't she knock on the office door?

Suddenly feeling quite anxious, Cassian quickly types in his passcode, thumbing open his text message chain with Nesta. The anxiety quickly morphs back to confusion at the three word message waiting for him.

I'm so lonely

Cassian reads it once. Twice. His brow furrows as he tries to figure out what that means, why she texted that message to him when he's in the middle of these reports. He starts to type out just that question back to her, but she must have seen he'd read her first message because before he can finish, a second message comes through.

This one is a picture.

There's no mistaking the navy blue sheets of their bed, no mistaking the dark wood of their headboard in the top part of the frame. But it's the center of the photo, the focus of it, that has Cassian almost swallowing his tongue, a choked off sound escaping from his throat.

Golden brown hair cascades across the pillow like waves of burnished gold. The strands frame a face tipped back, pink dusting high along the cheeks. Cassian's eyes follow that pink, that flush, across milky smooth skin down and down until it vanishes beneath the red lace covering Nesta's chest. His favorite color. His gaze keeps going down and down, but the photo cuts off what he's really hoping to see. Still, the implication is clear with the way Nesta's arm is positioned, her hand clearly buried between her legs off frame.

Cassian tries to clear his throat, tries to swallow, but suddenly, his throat is too dry. Already, he can feel himself growing hard, and he reaches a hand down to readjust himself in his sweatpants. He knows he needs to get back to his work, needs to refocus on the task at hand, but he can't stop staring at that damned photo.

As if the ache between his legs isn't enough, his hands seem to ache too. Ache to glide along those miles and miles of skin. Ache to be filled with her breasts, to squeeze until they're spilling out of that red, lacy bra, so he can get his mouth on them. Fuck, he wants to get his mouth on all of her. Trace the line of her neck, biting bruises into the skin there that won't fade for days. Taste the fingers of her hand hidden from the photo then drink directly from the source.

A third text message comes in, and Cassian's resolve finally snaps.

Won't you help me, daddy?

Cassian quickly types out his response, pressing send and waiting. It takes less than a minute before he hears the shuffling of feet outside the door, the creak of wood as it's pushed open. Nesta struts into his office, and Cassian gets to see the outfit in all its glory in person. The red, lacy bra cradles her breasts, pushing them up and on full display. The matching lace panties sit high on her hips, and Cassian already knows the cut of them show off her ass without even seeing it.

Cassian stays seated in his office chair, his eyes tracking her every movement. Nesta walks in with a wide smirk, twirling a strand of her hair almost innocently. A wolf in sheep's clothing indeed. She looks every bit like she's won, like the cat that got the cream, but as she takes in Cassian's expression, the smirk starts to slip. Cassian would be concerned if the blues of her eyes didn't flare and blaze in excitement. She knows exactly how this game goes.

"And what did you think you were doing?" Cassian asks, keeping his voice low but calm. "Sending me that photo?"

"I told you," Nesta offers, stepping around the desk and closer to him, sliding a finger along his collarbones. "I was feeling lonely."

"I have to finish these reports," Cassian reminds her, shifting his office chair back enough that he can pull Nesta onto his lap, that she can feel the effect she had on him pressing up against her. "And you ruined my concentration. How am I supposed to work after that?"

"I'm sorry."

"I don't think you're sorry at all."

"Maybe I'm not," Nesta agrees, peering up at him from under her lashes and grinding down against his lap. Cassian tightens his grip on her hips, pausing the movement, and Nesta lets out a quiet whine.

"How very naughty of you, Nes. And here I thought you were daddy's good girl."

"I am good."

"Really? That's not what your little photo suggests. You know good girls don't come without permission."

"But I didn't come," Nesta protests, shifting her hips again as if to prove her point, prove her neediness. "I was waiting for you."

Cassian hums but he doesn't say anything more. He slides his hands down along Nesta's hips and back until he can grasp at her ass, kneading it. Nesta's eyes flutter closed at the gesture, a soft gasp falling from her lips and her arms tightening around his shoulders. Cassian leans in, sliding his nose along the underside of her jaw before following the same path with his lips.

He blazes a trail all the way to her ear, whispering, "you want to play, Nes?" This close together, he can hear the way her breath hitches in her lungs, can feel the way she dips her chin in a nod. "Use your words, baby."

"Yes," Nesta breathes before he even finishes speaking.

"I think we need to see if you can really be my good girl," Cassian offers, nipping at her ear until Nesta is shuddering in his arms. "I think you should warm daddy's cock until he's finished his reports."

Nesta lets out another whine, this one high pitched and seemingly pulled right from the back of her throat. Her head tips forward as she buries her face in the crook of his neck, her lips skating across his skin, and Cassian has to swallow a groan of his own.

"Are you going to be my good girl?" Cassian murmurs into her hair.

"Yes," Nesta repeats, lifting her head up and leaning in for a kiss.

Cassian slots their lips together, slipping his fingers through the strands of her hair and tilting her head how he likes it, so he can press his tongue into her mouth. She moans into the kiss, and Cassian can feel his resolve starting to slip, finds himself tempted to say fuck it to his original plan. Nesta is intoxicating. The softness of her lips against his. The way she tastes. Having her pliant in his arms. He could do this all day. He could get lost in her all day.

Reluctantly, Cassian breaks the kiss and pulls away, but he continues to stare at her. Her mouth is parted still, lips kiss bitten and swollen. Her eyes are still closed, long eyelashes kissing her cheeks. And those cheeks are flushed such a pretty shade of pink, one that matches the flush of her still heaving chest.

She's truly the most beautiful woman Cassian has ever seen and she's all his.

How did he get so lucky again?

Nesta lets Cassian maneuver her off his lap, so she's standing in front of him. He slides his hands down along her ribcage, over her waist, her hips. He toys with the waistband of her panties before leaving them be, instead following the line of fabric between her legs and pulling it aside. He teases his fingers between her folds, feather light touches that have Nesta pressing down against his hand desperately. He chuckles at the reaction, slipping two fingers into her, but it quickly turns into a groan when he's met with no resistance.

"Already so wet and ready for me, baby?" Cassian asks, curling his fingers just right. "You're absolutely soaked."

"Cass," Nesta gasps out around a moan. "Daddy. Please."

Cassian pulls his fingers free, bringing them up to his mouth and licking them clean. Nesta's gaze tracks the movement, watching him through hooded eyes, and Cassian doesn't even bother biting back his smirk. He shifts enough in his seat that he's able to tug his sweatpants off, never more grateful than today for the comfort of working from home. Nesta licks her lips as soon as his cock springs free, and Cassian gives himself a few strokes before lounging back in the chair, arms resting casually against the armrests.

"Come on, then," Cassian tells her, licking his own lips as his eyes sweep over her frame, every delicious inch all for him and wrapped in a pretty bow. "Come sit on my cock."

Nesta turns around, her back to him, and shuffles back so she can comfortably straddle his legs. She reaches down, and Cassian lets out a hiss as she gives him a cursory stroke, but then she's holding him steady and lowering herself down. Cassian has to bury his groan against her shoulder as her tight heat envelopes him, as she sinks down and down until she's flush against his thighs. He can feel the way she clenches around him, can feel the air stuttering in her lungs where her back is pressed against his chest. It's heaven if there ever is one.

"So perfect for me," Cassian praises, brushing her hair aside and pressing a kiss to the juncture between her shoulder and neck. "My perfect girl."

A soft moan falls from Nesta's lips, and her head falls back against his shoulder, eyes fluttering shut. He can see the little crease between her brows, see the way her bottom lip is caught firmly between her teeth. He knows she's trying hard to concentrate on keeping calm, putting all her focus on being still.

"Now, be a good girl for daddy and don't move."

Cassian reaches forward with his left hand, picking up the report he'd left off at. He keeps his right hand on Nesta's knee, tracing soothing lines back and forth with his thumb. He stays just like that as he goes through each of the remaining reports, but every time he needs his right hand to jot something down, to take notes or circle something, he returns it just a little bit higher on Nesta's thigh. By the time he's on the last report of the stack, his hand is resting right at her hip joint, his thumb just barely brushing against her clit.

Nesta lets out a sound halfway between a moan and whine, clenching around him again before whispering, "how many more?"

"How many more what, baby?" Cassian asks, even though he already knows, not stopping the lazy back and forth motion of his thumb.

"Reports," Nesta huffs quietly, her hips starting to stutter before she stops herself.

"That was the last one."

Nesta's whole body freezes at that. Her eyes snap open, watching as Cassian removes his hands from her, as he neatly stacks all the papers on his desk, as he opens one of the drawers and tucks them away.

"You were so good for me," Cassian tells her, returning his hands to her body and squeezing at her breasts through the thin material of her bra.

"Yeah?" Nesta asks, her voice breathless.

"Yeah. And good girls get rewarded."

Before Nesta can ask or say anything more, Cassian grasps at her waist. He hauls her off him and his lap, spinning her around so he can splay her out on his now empty desk. He slips out of his desk chair and down to his knees, finally reaching up to tug Nesta's panties down and off. Once those are discarded, he curls his hands around Nesta's ankles, sliding up her calves, over her knees, and up her thighs.

"What color, Nes?"

"Green," Nesta assures him, reaching a hand down and burying her fingers in his hair.

"Good girl," Cassian praises, pressing a sweet kiss to her inner thigh before smirking back up at her. "You love seeing me kneel before you, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Think about it all the time?"

"Only sometimes. I think about your cock more."

"Greedy. You just had it," Cassian chastises, nipping at her skin in retaliation. "It's alright. I think about your pretty little cunt all the time. How it feels gripping me. How it tastes."

As if to prove his point, Cassian leans in and licks a long, slow stripe over her. Nesta moans loudly, her hand tightening in his hair. The sensation along with having his face pressed right where he wants to be has Cassian groaning against her. He swirls his tongue over her clit, just the way he knows Nesta likes, before shifting down to fuck his tongue into her. Nesta's thighs start to shake, and he keeps his grip on them firm, holding them open as he continues to lick and devour at his leisure, but all the teasing from before has her close already.

"Please please please," Nesta begs, canting her hips against him. "Please let me come. Please."

Cassian pulls back enough that he can speak, licking his lips and smirking up at her. "You're always so pretty when you beg." He gives another deep lick, relishing in the way Nesta's thighs squeeze against his grip on them, the way her whole body shudders. "You've been so good. My good girl. Come for me, baby. Come all over my face."

Cassian leans back in properly and sucks her clit between his lips. It's all Nesta needs. With a loud, throaty moan, she shatters, yanking on his hair and arching her hips up against him. Cassian continues to work his mouth against her until the shaking subsides, until she lets out a soft whimper at the stimulation. He pulls himself to his feet, cradling Nesta's face in his hands and connecting their lips. Nesta moans into his mouth, pressing her tongue against his and tasting herself. It's way hotter than it has any right to be. She's way hotter than she has any right to be.

Cassian pulls away to press kisses along her jaw, down her neck, to her shoulder. "Color, Nes."

"Green. It's green," Nesta tells him, pulling at his face until he's kissing her again. "I want you now."

"Is that so?" Cassian teases, biting her bottom lip and tugging gently.

"Please. Please fuck me, daddy."

Cassian groans, tugging her off the desk and flipping her around so he can bend her over it. "You know how much I love it when you beg."

He fists his cock in his hand, sliding it teasingly against her slit, against the wetness gathered there from his mouth and her orgasm. He knows he should tease her more, should see how much he can really get her to beg, but he can't wait anymore. He presses his hips forward and sinks back into her.

"Gods, you always feel amazing around me," Cassian groans, thrusting shallowly until he's seated to the hilt. "You were made to take daddy's cock, weren't you?"

"Yes," Nesta moans, pressing her hips back against him.

Cassian takes it for the cue that it is, pulling his hips back and snapping them forward. His hands find purchase on Nesta's hips, holding her steady as he fucks into her hard and fast, the sound of slapping skin quickly filling the small office space, mixing in with the litany of moans from Nesta and him alike.

"Fuck, you take me so well. That's my good girl. Could fuck you like this all day."

He shifts one of his hands to wrap his arm around Nesta's waist, tugging her back flush against his chest and allowing him to fuck her harder and deeper. He reaches his hand into her bra and pulls her breasts free, rolling and tugging her nipples between his fingers. Nesta's moans take on a higher pitch, louder in a way that Cassian's glad they finally moved out that apartment and into this house. His name starts to fall past her lips like some kind of chant, and Cassian can't help but agree with the sentiment, swears he's found religion cradled between Nesta's thighs.

"That's it, baby," Cassian tells her, dropping his forehead against shoulder. "Love hearing you scream my name. Makes me even harder."

Nesta's hand comes up to squeeze at Cassian's wrist, nails scraping to find purchase and her cunt clenching around him tight enough that his hips stuffer for a moment. "Cass—fuck. Don't stop. Right there. Don't stop."

"Close again, already?" Cassian asks, Nesta responding with a half intelligent moan as he keeps snapping his hips into her. It's answer enough, and Cassian raises his hand up to her lips. "Open up, baby."

Nesta parts her lips, and Cassian presses two fingers into her mouth. Nesta moans around them, sucking on them and lathering her tongue between them. When they're good and coated, Cassian pulls his fingers free, sliding his hand down to where they're joined and rubbing tight circles against Nesta's clit.

"Now, be daddy's good girl and come all over my cock," Cassian instructs, his lips pressed right against Nesta's ear.

Nesta arches back against him, crying out hoarsely, as she shatters again. He continue to work his hips and his fingers against her, making sure her release is good and stretched out for her.

"Such a good girl," Cassian praises once Nesta comes back down. "So fucking gorgeous when you come."

Nesta slumps forward against the desk, her chest still heaving with the aftershocks. He can still feel the way she flutters around him, and Cassian groans as he follows her down, pressing his lips soothingly along her shoulder blades, down the top of her spine.

"What color now, baby?" Cassian murmurs against her skin.

"Green. Still green," Nesta pants. "So green."

"Think you can come again, then?" Cassian asks, rocking his hips forward pointedly. "I think you can come again."

Nesta turns to look at him over her shoulder, a pretty pout marring her lips. "I want you to come."

"Is that so?"

"Want you to fill me up. Want to be so full of you, daddy."

Cassian has to squeeze his eyes shut, has to remind himself to breathe, even as a loud, deep groan tears its way straight from his chest. It's exactly what he wants to hear, and she knows it. They both know it. Both know exactly how this game ends.

Cassian takes a deep breath to steady himself and carefully pulls his hips back, slipping out of her. Nesta lets out an adorable whine at the loss, her brow furrowing.

"Shhh, don't worry, baby," Cassian soothes her, turning her back around and hoisting her back onto his desk. "Daddy's going to take care of you. I just want to see your beautiful face."

Nesta wraps her arms around Cassian's shoulders, pulling him into a kiss, and they both moan into each other's mouths as he lines himself back up and slides back home. He grasps Nesta's thighs, securing her legs tightly around his waist before settling his hands on the desk, using it to both steady himself and provide leverage as he fucks back into her with earnest, quickly re-finding a pace that has Nesta keening against him, that has them both moaning.

"My baby wants me to put a baby in her, doesn't she?" Cassian asks, snapping his hips hard and fast. "Wants me to fill her up until she's full of my come?"

"Yes," Nesta shouts, her head tossed back as she moans. "Gods, yes."

"Going to fill you up until you're absolutely dripping. Going to put a baby in you. And then everyone will know you're mine, won't they? There won't be any doubt. They'll all know who this cunt belongs to. Whose cock keeps it full."

Cassian's hips start to stutter, and he knows his own orgasm is looming, glittering just out of reach. He reaches a hand between them, finding Nesta's swollen clit and rubbing it in tight circles while he continues to rock desperately against her.

"You're all mine, baby. Mine to fuck. Mine to keep nice and full of my come. Until your stomach's swollen with my baby. But I need you to come for me again, baby. One more time. I know you can do it. You're my good girl. Come all over daddy's cock again and he'll fill you up."

One last press against her clit, one last snap of his hips, and Nesta finds her release. Her whole body shakes with this one, her lips parting on a near silent scream. She clamps down tight around him, and Cassian barely lasts for a handful more of thrusts before he presses his hips deep and spills inside her.

They both go collapsing against his desk, Nesta's legs still snug around his waist and keeping him close. Cassian rests his forehead against her collarbone, taking a few heaving breaths and trying to bring his heart rate back down to normal. He can feel her own heart beat racing away where they're pressed together, two souls thrumming in time. It has him smiling softly against her skin.

He's not sure how long they stay like that before he pushes himself up onto his forearms. He reaches a hand up and brushes the sweaty strands of Nesta's hair away from her face, trailing his fingers down along her temple, her cheek. Her eyes flutter closed at the gesture, and Cassian shifts his hand so his palm is cradling her jaw, leaning in and pressing a sweet kiss to her lips.

"All good?" Cassian asks when he pulls away.

Nesta pulls him in for another kiss, a happy, sated smile on her lips. "More than good."

Cassian chuckles softly, grinning as well. "We should probably clean ourselves up."

He scoops Nesta up properly into his arms, carrying her out of the office and down the hall to the bathroom. He sets her down on the lip of the tub, leaving her to clean herself up while he does the same. He steps over to their adjoining closet after he's finished, slipping on a fresh pair of sweatpants and grabbing one of his tees.

When he steps back into the bathroom, he tugs the tee over Nesta's head. She smiles up at him as she slips her hands through the sleeves, standing up and going up onto her toes to kiss him. She tries to step back after, but Cassian snags his arms around her waist, keeping her close. He leans in and kisses her again, soft and languid.

"I love you," Cassian murmurs against her lips.

Nesta lets out a quiet huff of amusement, the twinkle in her blue eyes betraying her. "I love you too."

Cassian reaches down to grasp at Nesta's thighs, hauling her back up and into his arms. She lets out a squeal of surprise, her own arms quickly locking around his neck, but soon she's laughing at his antics. His favorite sound. It has warmth pooling in his chest and flooding his veins, his grin wide enough his cheeks start to ache.

He carries Nesta into their room, gently tossing her onto the bed before diving right in beside her and pulling the blankets over them both. He wastes no time tugging her back into his arms, burying his face into her hair and breathing her in.

"I didn't ruin your work, did I?" Nesta asks after a few moments of silence, shifting slightly so she can peer at him over her shoulder.

"No," Cassian assures her, pressing a kiss to the skin peeking out from her collar, his tee oversized on her frame. "If anything, you gave me the motivation to finally get all those reports done."

"Good," Nesta says, laying her head back down comfortably against the pillow. She settles her arm over Cassian's that's wrapped securely around her waist, slotting their fingers together. "So, you're done working for today?"

"All done working. I'm all yours for the rest of the day, baby. And I vote that we take a nap, order food from that Thai place you love, then go for round two."

"Now, that sounds like a perfect plan."

—

Updated Taglist (let me know if you’d like to be added): @moodymelanist @nesquik-arccheron @sv0430 @talkfantasytome @bookstantrash @eirini-thaleia @ubigaia @fromthelibraryofemilyj @luivagr-blog​ @lifeisntafantasy​ @superspiritfestival @hiimheresworld @marigold-morelli @sweet-pea1 @emeriethevalkyriegirl​ @pyxxie @dustjacketmusings @hallway5 @dongjunma @glowing-stick-generation @melonsfantasyworld​ @isterofimias @goddess-aelin @melphss @theladystardust​ @a-trifling-matter​ @blueunoias​ @kookskoocie​ @cassiansbigwingspan​ @unlikelypersonalknight1​ @blurredlamplight @hereforthenessian

[beingorkissingskrillex]

People I know are co-organising this fundraiser with M who must remain anonymous for his safety. Here is what they said: "He is a vulnerable trans man I met when he was homeless and was refused support from every service and support group he sought out because he was in unbearable pain at being unable to transition. He’s the person i’ve seen the biggest positive change in by far during my years of supporting people through transition.

Given that he was homeless and rejected from services, on a knife's edge from ending up incarcerated for having severe mental health episodes in public (because where else can you have them when you are homeless), the prospect of surgery seemed forever impossible. I told him that’s not the case, we can use the networks of people and our internet audiences to crowdfund for him even if he can’t have his name or picture shared."

Whoever you voted for today the rights of trans people in the UK are diminishing by the day. Please give generously if you can and reblog if you can't, we only have each other and that shouldn't change if you can't share your face. This is verified, I know the person fundraising personally.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I heard there was an outrage in jp during book 5 finale at Rook's "betrayal" for voting for RSA (either ppl angry at Rook or the fact that NRC lost despite trying so hard and everything). And til this day I still see ppl misunderstand that Rook voted for RSA because he secretly likes Neige... Idk if I missed something but it was clearly shown why he made that decision, I feel like whoever thought otherwise never understands his character from the start and it saddens me 🙁

Oh, believe me 😅 that outrage was everywhere at the time of episode 5's release in JP (both in the Japanese audience and in the international audience, from what I can recall). I think a lot of it was born out of the frustration of seeing NRC lose to what many perceived as a low effort or bad performance (on RSA's part), as well as the shock at Rook's betrayal (and the false attribution of his vote going to RSA because of his personal attachment to Neige). There were also very long delays for this part of the game to come out, so that may have also contributed to the hype and the subsequent "let down" that the fandom experienced.

I really feel like those reactions were... well, simply put, WAY too much. I understand the initial shock or being upset that the story didn't pan out as a person may have wanted, but there were some pretty extreme reactions, such as those completely renouncing Rook, blatantly insulting the writing by claiming that the devs didn't understand how to write their own characters, and threatening harm onto those involved in the process. That's... crossing a line that DEFINITELY shouldn't be crossed 😬

In the context of the world of Twisted Wonderland itself, I felt that the writing decisions made had a lot of sense behind them. It was stated time and time again that VDC voting was determined by audience vote, NOT by expert judges. Therefore, how professional or unprofessional the performances were mattered little in the grand scheme of things. What truly mattered was to what extent each performance actually appealed to the audience, and it was shown during Neige's practice run that his cuteness and innocence DOES have widespread appeal in their world. This may not necessarily be true of the real world, but we need to think about the story of TWST from the perspective of those in it, not as the omniscient players. (There is also the fact that we are literally on the side of NRC and stayed with them during their training boot camp, so we already go into the competition with bias for the boys we've spent far more time with.) When it comes to Rook, a character twisted from the Beautiful Queen's huntsman, who betrays her trust and lets Snow White go... well, it was the obvious twist for the end of episode 5, wasn't it? Him being a fan of Neige wasn't even the reason given for why Rook voted for RSA. Rook says time and time again that he cannot lie to his own heart, so when he voted for RSA, it was because he was genuinely more moved by their performance than by his own group's. (Episode 6 elaborates more on this by pointing out that NRC couldn't perform at full capacity since they were all worn out from battling OB Vil.) Moreover, Rook understands that even Vil wouldn't want him to vote for NRC if his entire heart wasn't behind the belief; neither of them would want NRC to have a "hollow" victory, even if it would feel good and cathartic in the moment for the player to see. There is also another reason for Rook voting RSA: he wanted his dear friend to recognize his own worth, and for him to not base that worth on the approval of the public or what others may think of him. Throughout episode 5, Vil has been unhealthily obsessing over his perception in the public eye (which surely has not gone unnoticed by Rook, as there are moments where he has quiet asides that imply he is thinking or taking note of Vil's suspicious words and actions). But Rook--even if he is concerned for his friend--knows that directly confronting Vil about it won't remedy the situation. Maybe voting against Vil wasn't what we, the players, wanted, but it's definitely what Vil himself needed. Happily ever afters aren't guarantees, no matter how one wishes or works--and while I get that recognizing that can sting, it's a key part of TWST that I feel often gets overlooked because we get so enamored with the characters and wishing the best for them. We should also realize that sometimes what we think is "best" for the characters doesn't mean it is, and it doesn't always involve giving said character what they want or putting them in a conventionally "good" or "happy" situation. Sometimes it's being told the harsh truth or being handed a crushing loss is what spurs a character into taking action or bettering themselves, and I believe that's the case for Vil in episode 5 and moving forward in the main story.

But back to Rook, I feel like he gets a LOT of the heat because he's... just a character that is easy to dislike. He comes off the wrong way to a lot of people due to his very intense personality (as well as how much the general population in-universe seems to dislike him), and this leaves him as an easy target for blame 💦 He's also a character that is readily dismissed as foolish (again, due to how he usually acts), and many don't realize just how resourceful or clever he actually is. I'll be the first to admit that it's a pet peeve of mine when I come across that sort of interpretation, but at the same time I sort of get it! When a character puts you off from the very beginning, most people won't feel incentivized to delve deeper or to try to understand them beyond the surface level 😅 I tend to tell myself "Hey, it's all good! This is what he wants people to perceive him as. Rook's facade is working, he's tricking people into thinking he's silly so they won't expect it when he pulls an Uno Reverse card on them!" (It's similar to how J*de acts nice to your face while he's actually secretly manipulating you--) ... This is why I like them isn't it? That helps me feel a little better it.

[jaythelay]

It won't be Fox News, it won't be Dump, it won't be Voters, it won't be Youths, it won't be what you want it to be if Biden loses.

You ignored every criticism to the point that your chosen ignorance is actually on par with the issue Dump presents. The fear of skepticism or criticism, of deeper implication or consideration. Dump wasn't as much of a threat today as he was then thanks to Project 2025. Imagine what the DNC will pull next election after disenfranchising voters twice before?

The reason Biden might lose is because ya'll made voting for him be tied into a god awful fanbase. Deadass seen someone join a server and someone go "this is a joe biden server" like buddy you're pro-the super predator guy? The guy who wrote the Patriot Act? No the fuck you're not. You're anti-Dump and only conveniently a fanboy until he's out of office. Once he's out the truth does too and ya'll will cripple the image of perfection you pretended democrats had to desperate youths, permanently disenfranchising them as it really is all meaningless if we cannot hold Dear Leader accountable.

Genuinely, I get that it's stupid, this ain't speaking for me I already made my position clear I don't trust the demcratic party or voterbase. This is just a warning for the Larpers: You're doing what MAGA and the media did for Dump. You're telling the DNC "Yes put Hilary up against a Dump" because they're easily placated, they're ALREADY placated!

We're normalizing and enabling "Whoever so long as it's not Dump" and you're gonna reach a point where centrism won't even be the only leftism left in elections.

Biden has NEVER been anyone's first choice and if you believe he is yours I suggest looking at his past instead of ignoring it like you've done the past 8 years. Because the average joe Did Pay Attention To That and your response has always been vitriol, defensiveness, downvotes, bans, mutes, and ignoring it entirely to focus on someone likely to lose by 9 or more million votes.

Everyone has faults. Dear Leader might as well be in charge of the world. He has the ability to send Nukes, presently is aiding a genocide. Yeah. I think I'd never be apart of a political party that thinks none of that deserves an ounce of scrutiny.

You can criticise Dear Leader and vote for them. Dunno why Dems think otherwise. But it's gonna cost them next election against Dump a third time. He ain't goin to jail folks, he's too valuable to dem politicians to allow that.

When people say "Biden should drop out" Consider this: Everyone thought that when he entered. That Never Changed. Biden said he was going to be Interim. He rescinded. People still think he should drop out. Yes, alot of the propaganda says "now" but this is a bubbled belief since he first ran.

Even when I was ignoring Biden's faults, I still Did Not Want Him Next Election. He was weak as shit against republicans the first 2 years. Barely any less these last 2, as far as public relations they're actually invisible until they fuck up and pretend they cared at all for the damages. I.E. pretending there were headless israel babies when in actuality it was (soon after lying about the israeli babies) headless palestinian babies. Crickets.

He failed every objective I and everyone I know cared for, the Only Right Thing He's Done For Everyone was not be Dump.

That won't fly 2028 ya'll. None of this will. Because the illusion, the veil of perfection you put up will crumble, and so will confidence in democrats. Either the dems get worse or the dems lose votes. There is no inbetween. Biden simply sucks. You're obviously allowed to disagree, but you can't via ignorance and expect me not to treat you like a republican, aka, a purposefully ignorant threat.

When you act like they're perfection and they fail to meet it, you lied. And now nobody trusts anything the party in it's entirety says.

Just Criticise Dear Leader. Fucks sake. We're doomed in 5 years if you choose not to. It didn't work for Hilary, it barely worked for Biden. None of your fanboyism is why the average joe will vote for Biden, it will be Entirely becauae the government gave us the option between Just Genocide and continuing the slide backwards, vs Genocide, the fall of democracy, and Dump.

No shit Biden will win. But it 100% was not because you decided he was perfection and banned criticism and skepticism of such a claim. That, will cost us the next election. People are making excuses for themselves right now, that won't work when this exact situation happens again 5 years from now. Your fanboyism will become inherently too frustrating to ignore, and the party Will Split down the middle.

[rotating-hyperfixations]

Not to bring up politics on my fandom blog, but I gotta let out somewhere so I’m yelling into the void on tumblr so bear with me.

I truly think the U.S needs to go back to teaching civics in schools at a higher level then they currently are; because the amount of people who seemingly can’t grasp how elections and general politics run is astounding. Like, I totally get being frustrated with the state of American politics and the amount of corruption and private equity in what’s supposed be a public entity, but yall are really starting to test my patience when it comes to election season. Because yall are being dumb with this whole “don’t vote for Biden”/vote third period campaign you’re trying to put out there.

Unfortunately America is a two party system and a lot of people fall somewhere within the political spectrum. And generally throughout history, even if you didn’t agree with a candidate you vote for the one that more aligns with your values in the hopes that you can get them to change their opinion on important matters through congress and the senate (aka state reps). However in the last three election cycles a lot of people have become one policy voters (meaning one issue makes or breaks who they’ll vote for) and now we’re on the brink of rolling back a centuries worth of progress because a bunch of far right christofacists were able to come into power by people not voting. And rather then recognize that we are legitimately headed down a very dangerous path if Trump gets elected for a second term; people have just decided to not vote or mobilize a third party candidate. Both of which unfortunately just leads to a Trump victory because republicans are far more likely to vote as a party than democrats.

While think that at some point a real effort has to be made to try and get some more younger and progressive politicians in power, the year on election is not the time to start. and that is simply because America at this point it not capable of coming to together to recognize anyone who is not a democrat or a republican and it’s not a change you can implement at the national level immediately. For these changes to occur people need to start showing up at non Presidential elections and voting progressive and third party candidates locally, so it gets on the radar and they start to take it seriously and adopt that ideology within their own parties. However, yelling on the internet that you’re not going to vote with seemingly no alternative plan isn’t going to do anything. Not to mention no politician is ever going to cater to every base within a party, it’s simply not feasible. I’m sure that there are moderates who disagree with certain aspects of Bidens politics, but they understand that Biden is a far better alternative to Trump.

And ultimately that’s what all of this boils down to, the Trump of it all. If Biden was facing back Republicans of old like Mitt Romney or John McCain, I’d say sure not voting and making a statement on the democrats not accurately representing your beliefs will make you not vote for them would be ok. Unfortunately a second term of Trump is going to have far more reaching implications than I think people realize, and don’t realize how serious it is. Out side of the fact that Trump has basically already demonstrated that if he can, he won’t peacefully transfer power to whoever succeeds him. But he will roll back a ton of civil liberties and probably do irreparable damage to certain parts of the country and branches of government. Like do you really want to get an even more conservative Supreme Court or for things like abortion bans to become national law. And I know that people think that’s fear mongering or that they don’t care about the damage it does to their community, which is fine and all I suppose. But there are a ton of kids who are powerless in this matter who don’t get a say, who may not feel the same way and saying “you don’t care” even as a minority group is still an insanely privilege take and a very short term thinking.

And finally, if you’re not voting for Biden because of his handling of the Hamas Israel war, allowing Trump into office is not going to help anyone over there. Because Trump and republicans have already stated that they are pretty much on the side of Israel and are going to probably aid them even in more in bombing the shit out of Gaza. So if that’s the hill your will to die on, don’t dilute yourself into thinking that not voting for Biden will do anything to help anyone or desecrate the situation because Trump will make it far worse and then America will be complicit and all the activism in the world won’t help.

[baekhvuns]

This is truly devastating and disappointing to think that people are actually supporting something like this. It's literally a mass murder, a massacre. I'm not even going to talk about how terrible the condition of people is in Palestine because every now and then I see videos of literally kids....children dude, I saw a video of a girl who was...not even entirely 2 and the fear in her eyes....she, was probably traumatised to say the least. Are we loosing the least bit of humanity that we had...the world is truly at the brink of its fall and innocent citizens are suffering. It...breaks me so much and it frustrates me so much on top of that that, there's absolutely nothing I can do then to make people realise how cruel their actions are...and, that's like talking to a wall Because people are so consumed up by hate and violence that they see everyone as equal, they do not care for children, not animals, not women, not the elderly, not men, hell they've given up decency at this point. I'm... literally so angry right now, and i hope, the god, the universe or whoever the ultimate supreme power is, punishes these war hungry, violent, animals for making innocent citizens suffer. And hell to all those people who could've helped and stopped this...to all those superpowers out there even my own country, I truly despise you.

all of this,, seeing fetuses being taken out of mothers, people just helplessly laying in the rubbles, bleeding, kids and their body parts, their parents having to hold them to prove it to everyone that they are being murdered is just so devastatingly heartbreaking

it’s so extremely frustrating to see all of this, see the journalists upload videos and all u can do is watch and see their pain and not be able to do anything. you’re correct, the world is truly lost humanity, and the very pinnacle of that is these countries— america, canada, uk even the middle east’s, who instead of helping are sitting in their homes on luxurious beds and fine fabrics while people, kids, men and women are dying every 10 minutes.

truly, i hope for the same, if god thinks of everyone as his kids, then let him not watch them suffer. let the israeli president be criminally charged as a war criminal, let these world leaders fall into pits of hell for what they are doing to these people.

i truly truly don’t understand how rishi sunak has the audacity to not be in favour of a ceasefire when his OWN ancestral history is EXTREMELY similar to the one going on rn???? I CAN TELL STORIES AND STORIES ON IT oU he makes me so mad, justin trudeau makes me embarrassed to be a canadian & for biden what can i even say. but one thing, everyone should be voting for american presidency and be in their business atp with the way america is into everyone else’s.

i also, like you and many others, truly despise these people. because i know if they were in that situation it wouldn’t even take them a second to send aide and call for a resolution. hypocritical men in power, but unfortunately for them public is disconnected from their agendas, as they should. they won’t let palestine be forgotten, there will be a day when this all ends, where the palestinian’s can live in peace without having to worry abt dying. & there will be a day these people in power in suffer tremendously.

[dreamyfanfix]

Chapter 3: Unsettling

Previously on the Bachelor. The contestants were separated into two teams of eleven and had to put on a play. Things got heated with group A as Claudia and Maria got came to blows. [insert clip of Claudia and Maria fighting over who should be the lead of their play. The group voted for Maria after her plea of having stage experience as a singer]. In the end, it was Maria's inability to remember lines that lasted longer than 3 minutes that gave group B their edge (with Anthony's brother Benedict here to judge) and it was group B that won the outing with The Bachelor, Anthony [insert clip of group B being announced the winners and some members of group A, Claudia and Rachel, complaining about Maria]

Today, the winners of the last episode will have a nice fun time at a salsa dancing class where each of them will get a chance to dance with Anthony but this class is more than education and whoever Anthony feels he has the best dance chemistry with will be the winner of the first one-on-one date of the season. The stakes are high but remember the first one-on-one date could set the tone for the season and the aforementioned winner could get a rose before the ceremony at the end of the day [insert Anthony talking to a mysterious lady about how much chemistry he is feeling]

Just remember dears, Lady Whistledown will be watching.

--

"Daphne, what the fuck are you doing here?" Anthony said immediately after shutting the door to his room.

"I just wanted to see you," she said sheepishly.

"Okay you have seen me now get out of here before anyone gets a long look at you and see that you are pregnant," Anthony gesticulates towards the door.

Daphne sniffles and then starts crying "I'm sorry, I just didn't know who else to talk to,"

Anthony immediately feels bad and embraces his sister while directing her to sit down on his soft couch. "Daf what's wrong? Is it Simon?"

Daphne sniffed "Yes and no. These pregnancy hormones are doing a number on me but it's about you,"

"What about me?"

"I know why you are doing this and I feel bad-" he tried to interject but Daphne held her hand up "-please just let me finish," He nodded and Daphne continued "I know you are doing this so no one finds about me and Simon and I feel bad. You never liked having public relationships and now you are dating multiple women on national television and it's all my fault," 

Anthony took a deep breath. He didn't know what to say. He hadn't known what to say to his sister or his family about this situation for months. "I'll handle it," was kind of his motto at this point.

When Daphne and Simon had shown up on his London doorstep 5 months ago having eloped, he was disappointed. Disappointed in his sister's choice of partner but also that Daphne had forgone all of the things that she had always wanted as a little girl: the big wedding with all her family there and yeah it hurt that one of the few things that Anthony looked forward to as the family's pseudo father figure was the ability to walk his sister down the aisle and he missed that chance with Daphne. Despite it all, Anthony swallowed his disappointment and helped Daphne and Simon announce their situation to the rest of the family. Anthony usually sat at the head of the table so he had a clear view of everyone's reactions. His mother Violet Bridgerton looked at him first and then smiled at Daphne and Simon, taking her daughter's hand. Hyacinth and Gregory who hadn't quite learnt any tact yet asked about Fred and everyone looked at Daphne and Simon, while Anthony took another sip of his drink. It burnt his throat as it went down but he needed it.

Daphne thought she might have been helping the situation because even Eloise joined in on complaining about the suddenness of Daphne's nuptials. Daphne looked to Anthony for help but he shrugged his shoulders, he had warned her. Mostly he warned her that if she could not stand up to the scrutiny of the family when Daphne does eventually go public about her and Simon's relationship the scrutiny would be even more heavy. She then exclaimed, "I'm pregnant!" It silenced the table and Anthony had honestly never seen his family so shocked since Colin had run off a month ago to go chasing after a girl who did not want him. His mother stood up to congratulate Daphne in a hug which got Daphne to finally relax while the siblings all murmured congratulations while Fran, Hyacinth ad Greg spoke about who the favourite Aunt/Uncle was going to be.

Anthony thought it was over, at least for a while, until he got an appointment request from Charlotte Queen. Anthony was prepared to grovel for her forgiveness on behalf of his sister but instead of an angry executive, he got a cool and calm one. Which to be honest, was a lot scarier to him. Charlotte came as a courtesy to let Anthony know that she was going to be making her nephew the new Bachelor. At first, Anthony did not understand why that was news until he realised that that would mean people would be asking questions about why Daphne and Friederich did not work and whatever Fred said on the show could make or break Daphne's reputation. Friederich wasn't a bad guy but he was incredibly sincere and a bit naive, it made it hard for people not to be on his side. It could easily make Daphne look bad especially when news of her pregnancy got out. Anthony asked Charlotte if there was anything he could do to get Frederich out of the next season and Charlotte made it clear that she would someone of equal standing to take her nephew's place. Anthony knew what he had to do next. It was excruciating but after cancelling his meetings for the day and having meetings with all his solicitors and media people it became clear that this could do good things not just for Daphne but as a way to clean up his romantic image as well.

Later that week when Anthony announced that he was going to be the next Bachelor his news gave way to a very mixed reception. Ben and Colin went in on the teasing Hy and Greg were intrigued but it was Eloise who was able to figure out that Anthony had secret motives. That is when Anthony had to come clean about why he was doing it. Everyone understood and no one could offer up any other solutions so Violet then proceeded with the Sunday lunch and the family moved on to lighter topics.

After the lunch was over Anthony went outside to get some fresh, not to smoke a stress cigarette, and Simon came out to speak to him. It was stilted at first, in a lot of ways Anthony had lost one of his oldest and dearest friends to his sister and no one knew how he was feeling. Anthony had a line drawn in the sand for their relationship now: Simon was Daphne's husband and that was that. Things took a turn when Simon commented how this could be a good thing for Anthony and his philandering ways when Anthony lost it. He didn't know when he started but he knew that he was punching Simon relentlessly and Simon did not fight back, it only made him angrier. It was only when Ben came to pull Anthony off Simon did Anthony see the damage he had done. Every one of his siblings looked at him like he was something to be afraid of and Anthony did not stop to speak to any of them as he left Bridgerton House.

It had 4 months since the incident and everyone in the family had moved on. Everyone except Daphne, who he hadn't spoken to in months. He got information about how she was doing from their mother and his siblings but he realised that he could not speak to Daphne or Simon without getting angry and he did not want to be angry around his pregnant little sister.

"Daf I don't know what you want me to say," Anthony said softly.

"I want you to speak to Simon," Daphne said looking at him with those bright teary eyes.

"What would we speak about? I already apologised for the punches. It's done now,"

"Except it's not done. Simon was your best friend. The only other people you are close with are Benedict and Fife, and Fife is terrible and Ben is family,"

"Simon's family now too Daphne, that's what happens when you get married,"

"I know I just didn't think you would lose your friendship over this," she said softly

Anthony got up feeling agitated "Well, we did. He went from being my best friend to your husband that's how these things work,"

"He can still be your friend," Daphne pleaded.

"Except he can't Daf. Not the way he used to be. Simon was the person who I could go to outside of this family, whose loyalty was to me first. It was nice it was freeing at times but now he's your husband and that means his loyalty is to you first," Daphne looked like she wanted to interrupt but Anthony continued "And that's okay. I wouldn't want it any other way for you and my baby niece or nephew in there but it just means I have to keep things a little close to the chest a bit. It may not be this glamourized version of how you thought this was going to go when you married your brother's best friend but it is what it has to be. At least for now,"

Daphne sniffed some more and nodded her head "I wish I had done things differently,"

Before Anthony could answer her there was a knock on the dressing room door.

It took Anthony right out of his moment and he went to go answer it. It was Kate.

"Hi," she said softly.

"Hi," Kate was so beautiful sometimes he needed a moment to adjust "Listen I don't have the time right now to speak,"

"Yeah, I didn't come to speak to you. Well, I did but not like that. Sophie and another line producer are coming to get you so that you can record your confessional for some of the contestants,"

Anthony nodded his head and went to close the door but he must have looked confused because Kate stopped the door from closing and said "I'm telling you this because few people know of your guest and the state she is currently in. We all sign NDA's but things get out. You might want her to put on a cap and leave through the back entrance,"

Anthony sighed and nodded "Thanks Kate,"

"No problem. You have 10 minutes," she said as she quickly walked away.

Anthony tried not to get too distracted by Kate's figure walking confidently and rushed to get a 6 months pregnant Daphne out of the studio lot.

--

Edwina was a nice girl. Nice being the operative word here. There was technically nothing wrong with her but as he got mic'ed up for their one-on-one date he could not help but feel like he made the wrong choice. Edwina was just one year younger than Daphne but she had already accomplished a lot, she was a principal dancer with the royal ballet, a dancing ability that helped a lot during today's salsa class, she had a degree in psychology and played the piano splendidly. These were all the things he needed reminding of going into this date because although no one could deny Edwina was a beauty, there was nothing distinct about her looks, bright wide eyes, soft delicate features and a smile that made you want to melt inside. It was usually his type but he could not help make the comparison between her and Kate. He did not know why but every time he saw Edwina he thought of Kate. Where Edwina was polite, Kate was cutting. Where Edwina was soft-spoken, Kate was direct and loud. Edwina was pretty, beautiful even but Kate was stunning. A strong beauty with strong features.

Anthony had to shake himself off from thinking about Kate. It was strange but also it made him uncomfortable that he looked at one Indian woman and saw another. Edwina and Kate may share similarities but it's not like he looked at Josie or Anika and saw Kate so why did Edwina remind him so much of Kate? Was he a racist? No way.

As the date with Edwina went on, they spoke about a few things. Anthony asked if she ever went horseriding and Edwina made a face "No not really. I'm not a big fan of horses. I like the small cute kind of animals that curl up in my lap,"

"The really cute ones like you," Anthony internally cringed at his comment but Edwina seemed to like it.

"Thank you. Tell me about you," Edwina prompted.

"What do you want to know?" He asked.

"What animals do you like? What books have you read? I want to know everything," she said sweetly.

"Everything huh? Well, I like cats and horses. My family owns a breed of horses," Anthony could feel that not only was he losing the interest of Edwina but the crew who seemed bored at the conversation unfolding. It was embarrassing, to say the least, he had never had his romantic charisma on display like this before "But if I had to be honest. The last thing I read was accounts and ledgers for my family company. I know it's incredibly boring,"

Edwina giggled "I don't think so. I love to read so I can keep you appraised about what the shelves are being stocked with for the both of us,"

Anthony chuckled a little bit and said "I'm glad, I always loved being read to. Especially by someone with a smooth voice like yours,"

Edwina visibly blushed and Anthony knew he had her hooked. He really was good at this. They spoke about family, Anthony told her to her shock that he had seven siblings and Edwina was nervous but said she did not have any siblings. Anthony figured her nervousness came from the thought of having seven members of his family she might have to impress.

--

After the end of his date with Edwina, Anthony was feeling invigorated. He liked her. Not as much as someone like Siena, Claudia or Maria but he did not want to give Siena a big head by showing his interest just yet. After recording his confessional, Anthony was able to spot Kate walking around on the grounds.

She was pacing staring at her phone and Anthony knew he should stay clear of her thinking about all the things he has been thinking about since he met her. The way she had already worked her way into his dreams. He convinced himself to go and speak to her by saying it was merely to thank her for the warning about Daphne earlier.

--

"...Yes, but she may be a bit over her head here. She is only doing this because of her grandparents and what they said," Kate said to Mary, her stepmother over the phone.

"Those people are vile Kate but Edwina can handle herself unless there is another reason why you think Edwina should not be in the running for one of England's most eligible Bachelors?" Mary asked with a sweeter tone

'Yeah, Edwina's gay mom' Kate thought but did not say, this was something Edwina was going to have to figure out on her own and she sure as hell was not going to be the one to out her sister.

Kate then heard someone behind her and saw Anthony heading her way. "Hey, Mom I gotta go. Send my love to Newton please,"

"Will do sweetie. I love you,"

"Love you too," As Kate ended the call Anthony had just reached her. Man, he smelled good. If she did not draw the short straw and had to rally footage for the girls in the house today then she would have been able to see his date with Edwina. She was nervous. Edwina was always good at putting on a show she just hopes that she didn't hurt anyone in the process.

"Who's Newton?" Anthony asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Why do you want to know?" she asked.

"Why did you answer my question with another question? Is he your boyfriend?" He asked.

Kate was surprised by his boldness then again he had a way of making her heart beat faster. "Would that be any of your business?"

"Maybe not but I feel like I have to know," Anthony said.

Was it just her or did his voice get deeper at the end of that sentence? Kate felt herself heating up and said "He's my dog. A small little corgi,"

Anthony said "A dog huh? Why am I still jealous?"

Kate tried not to be affected by his question but she always loved showing pictures of her little boy so she brought her phone out and asked "Do you want to see how cute he is and how no one stands a chance next to him?"

"Sure,"

Kate showed Anthony a picture of her and Edwina lying on the grass with Newton stretched over her legs. Anthony looked taken back and then pointed at the picture it was then that she realised that Edwina was in the picture "You know Edwina?"

"Yes, she's my little sister. I told you I was here for family reasons just like you," Kate said nervously because she knew she should not have shown him that picture but at the same time hoped that it might prompt him to expel her sooner.

"That's surprising,"

"Surprising? Come on we look alike a bit," Kate said self-consciously about the fact that people liked to make jokes about how Edwina was the pretty one and Kate was the smart one. It was condescending but also opened Edwina up to people who liked to take advantage of her because she might not be historically clever.

"I know you look alike. The minute I saw her I thought of you. It was weird I thought I was racist for a second," Anthony was rambling but Kate found it cute.

"Well, take this as a warning to treat her with kindness," Kate said poking him in the chest.

Anthony grabbed her finger that lingered on her chest and Kate's heart skipped a beat "And why aren't you concerned that she might be the one who would be the mean one?"

"Edwina is kind and sweet and one of the few pure things in this world," she said.

Anthony quirked his brow "Is that so?"

"It is," she said.

"Well, I promise to treat her with the exact amount of kindness she gives out," Anthony said as he dropped Kate's finger to her surprise and disappointment.

Anthony walked away even though wanted him to stay. For what? She doesn't know but Kate knew she had to get a grip quickly because Anthony was supposed to be finding love on this show and she cannot be one of those women who is known for sleeping with people on the job.

Later as Kate watched footage of Edwina's date with Anthony did she realise Anthony's confusion. Edwina did not claim her. To be fair they were only half-sisters and a lot of Western families do not claim siblings that were not full but that was not how she and Edwina were raised so even though it hurt she kept on and tried to find the best angle for Edwina to come out of this date.

[frostdeer]

so i have slept on it and have some final esc thoughts

overall, i think i enjoyed last year more bc of the fun shenanigans in between. this year it seemed, well, more serious for some reason?

fuck the jury

i actually wished they would give us MORE of the iconic ukrainian acts, like, fucking hell, Go_A and Verka being there for 30 seconds at the start? I expected more. More of Ukrainians and not more of prev winners

fuck the jury

i never really liked loreen lets be honest but how in the FUCK she won again with the most generic unoriginal pop song? Oh. The jury. She did not even look surprised. Or happy.

JSYK - fuck the jury

on that note how in the FUCK did isr get so many points? how?? is it because 'do you wanna see me daaaance', bc the song was... idk? (let's not get into the fact on how are they still allowed to participate bc you know.. the.. things going on in there)

fuck the jury

once again i will repeat that prev winners should not be allowed to participate

fuck the jury very much

all for returning artists if they have not won yet (hello Moldova, I love you)

fuck the fucking jury

You are my winner Käärijä, the public loved you, everyone loved you, we heard the cha-cha-chants and you deserved so much better our cha cha dancing pina colada drinking finnish king <3

fuck the boring ass jury and whoever wanted Sweden to host in 2024 coincidentally on Abba's 50year anniversary win (:

On the other hand I have learned how to make pina coladas this year, and next year Petra Mede might return (possibly with Mans since he's there every year anyway). I just don't know if I will enjoy watching it as much knowing we could have had Jerevision 2024, which would have been a goddamn TREAT.

That's about it. What a lousy end to otherwise a great lineup.

Fuck the jury, Sweden this year and everyone who voted for them.

[thephilosopheroffeelings]

What a morning. Started the day with a political debate on WhatsApp. Again, a politician from the center left in Turkey is being blamed for being not charismatic enough. That is the problem of the left. You are either not charismatic enough to be a 'leader' or you are way too charismatic to represent the middle class, who are the main target for center left politicians. No middle ground. Nothing is enough. No man is suitable for the job.

Since 1950, since we have entered the multiple political parties era, since we have become a proper democracy, center right is more successful. Center right what this country wants. Left, be it center or far, is reluctant, to put it nicely, to accept this fact. People are being manipulated, people are under-educated, votes are being stolen, elections are not carried out in a fair enough way, people are poor - nothing but looking at ourselves and when we look at ourselves, the problem we like focusing on is whether our leader is charismatic enough.

This country is full of people who do not know what democracy is. This country is full of people who do not know what secularity means. This country is full of people who equiates the left with being non-religious. This country is full of people who think that Ataturk was democratic. Ataturk for sure was a charismatic leader. For sure he wanted to run Turkey with Western type of democracy but was he democratic?

It was easier when I was having debates about political issues in Turkey while I was still living there. Currently, I am seen as someone who has a perfect life in the 'West' and has no say on the matters. Voice your concerns about where you live now as you are not in this mess with us. Sure mate. You have a point. I came to the 'West' on my own with no safety blanket. I did know no one, I did have no job. I have no savings. Spent all my savings to build myself a life here and left my apartment to live in a box room. Sure mate, was my choice. What do these facts change anything about our argument though?

A normal citizen cannot do much. They will go and vote. A normal citizen should not do and think much about political matters anyway. Yes, politics is everywhere. Yes, whoever is into it should think about it as much as they want to but no one should be left with no choice but 'has to' think about it. I always say this - things are tastier, funnier or better when you choose to do them.

I might find many things to criticize about Keir Starmer or Ozgur Ozel without trying much. I can list the things I do not like about their political stances. Maybe Hobbes was right after all, humans are naturally solitary, poor, nasty brutish and short. And this very nature of ours makes it so easy for us to express negatives. But I deliberately focus on positives about them as I believe both of them need time to prove themselves.

People are more impatient in general but impatience, along with expectations, are much higher when it comes to someone from the left of the political spectrum. It is not only because their claims create the expectations but these expectations about the left in general put them in a box in which some leftist leaders have understandably a hard time to fit in. Take MP Rosie Duffield's resignation last week. Whatever she wrote on the letter did not shake me even the slightest. I did not stop and say: Yes, she has valid points. Not that she does not have any but that letter was quite self oriented and has one message only: I am better. I am not sure who is so self oriented, impatient and to blame their comrades at the first hardship faced is better to be frank.

Who is a politician really? Basics first, a human being. Making mistakes is default in factory settings then. Does a politician have to be amusing? Does a politician have to be over-promising? Does a politician have to be charismatic? Does a politician have to be and act ridiculously different from the public? Why do we put them in power in the first place? What are they serving for? A politician is not more than a person who devotes themselves to public service, nothing more. Then expectation from a politician should be more like being hard working, genuine, reasonable, quiet and having integrity.

Since when does a politician have to be amusing and interesting? If anything, I think a politician should definitely need to be boring and predictable. Should give you comfort by providing stability. People who are in need of 'charismatic' leaders are unfortunately people who believe that they should be run by someone superior. For these kinds of people, people can be classified, segregated and put on pedestal one day and ghosted the next. Chomsky was right when he said: 'Propaganda is to democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.' Populism has really blurred people's understanding of who a politician is.

Look, if you would like to have fun; go and have dinner with your loved ones. If you would like to have an interesting life, get a hobby. If you would like to have a fun evening, go and see a concert. Whatever works for you. But do not expect these from a politician. Politicians are not there to entertain you. Politicians are not there to lovebomb and ghost you. Politicians are not there to manipulate you and make your brain addicted to dopamine with their instability. If that is what you like, you can be a masochist, no problem, go and date with a toxic person. But do not vote for a populist person as your taste in people affects my well-being as well. Only one of the many downsides of majoritarian democracy.

In addition to people who vote for center-right populists, it should not be forgotten that people who vote for the left criticize and question more, are negative in nature, but also need comradeship to survive. As mankind, what is really tragic about the left is that while we are individually nasty and brutish little assholes in our essence, we are also social creatures. We need patience; we need each other and whether we like it or not, we have to accept this reality first. Otherwise, solitary confinement would not be used as a punishment after all.

[gayferrari]

back again! okay so i think the possibly biggest issue currently re: driver’s strikes and lack of loss of revenue, is both the lack of political power of regular drivers and the team’s ability to use reserve drivers etc for whom, let’s be fair here, a drive as a reserve driver to break a strike could be their only chance of showing their skill or driving in formula one full stop. these drivers, unless covered by a union (and even possibly then) will jump at the possibility to drive, even if that means being shunned by many other drivers.

we’ve seen protests and statements from drivers such as seb vettel, lewis hamilton, even fernando alonso over the years, max verstappen as well hasn’t been shy about criticising fom & the fia & liberty, but there is a common thread here - all four of these guys have championships. for many, getting a wdc is essentially the goal of their lives - once you have one, or multiple, you will always be able to hold that up as proof of how good you are. these guys are able to get out and protest more, be more critical, because they have proved themselves to whoever they needed to prove themselves to, and so if they go too far and lose their seat, they have the option of resting on their laurels, knowing their name will go down in history.

they also have the option of leveraging their titles and prowess to either keep their seat or find a new one - plenty of teams would kill to have max or lewis or nando or probably even seb in their seats, not just because they’re fantastic drivers, but because they have the experience needed to build a team to the best it can be, because they know how a team needs to function to win.

this means that they have massive power and agency over themselves - they can protest or act out or ‘get covid’ (i know seb actually got covid but. he certainly didn’t receive the scrutiny other drivers would have faced for being so outspokenly against a country being on the calendar and then getting covid so they can’t drive there) and face little consequences for these actions because of who they are. very few other drivers have even a tenth of the agency world champions have over their careers because of the way the system functions. if any of the current wdcs on the grid came out, for example (not speculating, just a useful example), their team could conceivably swing behind them to miss either quatar or abu dhabi, to make some kind of statement, but i doubt any other drivers would have that kind of power within their team. (possibly charles, if he leveraged christian & toto being on the phone offering him contracts mid meeting, but honestly even for him i doubt it).

sure strikes leverage their best known to protect the most vulnerable, but i doubt even the public devotion to the major players (lewis, charles, lando, to a lesser extent max, carlos, nando) and the political sway the wdcs could pull would protect the more vulnerable drivers like guanyu, logan, maybe yuki, the next year rookies. combined with the control liberty media has over the media, and a strike would probably kill the careers of the smaller drivers, and seriously damage the reputation/careers of the more successful ones. and if i can see this, so can the less successful drivers, who would almost certainly break a strike or vote to prevent it from happening, thus making it a moot point.

the only way i could see a strike or drastic action working out for the drivers is if the rented out an entire hotel and brought together literally every driver able to driver an f1 car, used platforms such as twitch, tik tok, instagram to livestream and explain why they were striking, whilst connecting to fans in a more personal way, allowing for the parasociality factor to kick in for public opinion, and had all of the ex drivers (especially the retired ish wdcs) to unite over the issue they were striking over and to essentially plead the drivers case from outside. and i’m not sure what kind of issue that would be, but i’m sure it’d be akin to the kyalami strike where the new contracts were essentially tying drivers to their teams.

for all the good that a large style strike could do in the short term, it doesn’t hold up to the fact that in the long term, the system just doesn’t actually function. for all his awfulness, at least when bernie ecclestone owned formula one he could be manipulated/convinced by individuals (especially charlie whiting. king.) to ensure a modicum of safety, so long as overall the business was profitable and the ‘brand’ was protected, which meant he was far more likely to cave rather than face a strike - at least he genuinely loved formula one enough to keep it away from negative press etc. liberty seems greedy enough and uncaring enough that they’ll take the money of countries with appalling rights violations, allow tracks that are blatantly fucking dangerous, raise prices due to clear greed and blame dominance, and ruin the sport until they’ve sucked every last penny out of it, then throw it away.

@sacharowan more thoughts from GPDA anon, I think it's very relevant to your interests (& mine!)