#for having opinions on how to be Good and Appropriate and Kind. Bit even on how to get away with stuff I genuinely think the way

[abyssalpriest]

Me: I am steadfast on the issue that cultural appropriation is an issue, but being drawn to research and talk to people of a spiritual culture and find out what you need to convert and/or appropriately interact with the culture is OK and that doesn't change when youre directed to start it by a spirit. If you're going to go through the proper means, the reason you started going through those proper means whether it's mundane or spiritual shouldn't matter. Many of the cultures in question are perfectly OK with people who think they are reincarnations of people involved with the group (for example monks taking on - taking BACK on - people who have memories of being in their monastery in a past life and who are now returning to said monastery to continue their work), or are OK with being drawn there by spirits of the group like hindu gods calling to people who aren't hindu because many Hindus see them as avatars of a universal God, and it's a rather uniquely western (for lack of a better term) idea that the only appropriate way to approach being drawn to another spiritual path is by completely mundane things, as if spirits and those groups have no autonomy nor ability to reach out unless it's through mundane means. Many of these cultures do not have the distinction of mundane therefore normal vs religion therefore not entirely real or able to be leaned upon as factual, it's disrespectful to tell cultures that believe in, say, reincarnation memories and autonomous/far reaching gods that you're Protecting them from.... things they believe are possible and ok... and not letting each individual culture make their own decisions on whether someone is respectful or not when they come knocking and give their reasons as to why they knocked is just in my mind much more harmful and intolerant of these cultures than the odd person genuinely appropriating

Spirits: OK, so here's where I want you to go research-wise and what name of mine I want you to learn about, it's directly connected to these people who you are not a part of, but I deserve to be able to not have my families and work on Earth ignored just because you aren't a part of them. If you want to be intimately close with me you need to meet my families, I will send you to learn about me from the people who know better than you and who are more experienced than you, and obviously I want you to do that in the way that's respectful to them, because they are my family, their importance and autonomy and the sacredness of their religion is exactly why I'm telling you who I am in their pantheons - it is about me honouring the work they have done with me over millennia. If you claim to love me then you should understand who I work with and why

Me: hmm....... Sounds like cultural appropriation tho....

[helslastangel]

RANDOM ASTRO OBSERVATIONS #10

Nobody's safe. That's it. That's the disclaimer.

Libra Jupiter in 11th house can indicate having many opportunities in life that come through friendships and connections with others. People with this placement can often get very far in life simply because they talked to the right people at the right times. This is especially true if they also have Libra in their big 3 or Libra mercury.

Capricorn suns with Sagittarius mercury are surprisingly chill compared to the usual stoic reputation of Capricorn and energetic rep that Sagittarius has. My favorite friends and colleagues have this combination of placements and they are quite easy to get along with and fun to be around.

Very much like Virgo suns with Libra mercury, they can appear quiet and reserved at first, but become lively and chatty once they know you and have decided they like you. However unlike Virgo sun/Libra mercury people (who usually censor their words/tone and think out loud or form their opinions by talking through them first), not only are they a lot blunter (or straightforward, when older), they are more sure about where they stand, or certain of what they want to say on a topic before they say it.

Libra Mercury in the 11th house can have a lot of friends or just make and keep acquaintances very easily. These are the people who always "know a guy" or can say "my homegirl does that!" almost no matter what problem or need you have. They just know someone who can fix it. They are popular people, or at least seem that way to others.

They can sometimes appear to have a much larger network of friends and connections than they do, which is why many of them tend to either keep their friend/friend groups separate or may prefer to maintain superficial/lightweight connections with others over deeper and more intimate connections that would reveal more.

Capricorn Venus in 8th house people can go through a lot of one-sided relationships before landing the right person. They are probably the most caring and attentive of all the Venus sigs, but from my observations they are taken advantage of a lot and often treated very poorly by the majority of their partners.

My childhood friend has this placement (as well as a few of my relatives) and for over a decade I watched her pour so much love and care into men who ended up treating her like an afterthought. I never understood why, as she was very much what you'd think most males would consider wifey material.

She cooked, baked, was organized, and very clean. Motherly instincts intact, had a good job in healthcare and her own place. Knew how to kick back and have fun but could also be appropriately authoritative in the sense of managing a household. Like you could just tell she would be a firm yet loving mother, or even if she did not have kids, you could tell she would be the kind of wife where the husband could hand her his entire paycheck if he wanted and not have to worry for a second that she would blow it on anything foolish. Very capable and responsible woman. I used to get so angry at the way men would come into her life and enjoy all the things she would do for them, including having her manage their money. It was a bit surprising for me how quickly and easily men would put their finances in her hands, only for them to abruptly leave - usually for a woman who was chaotic and stressful too. I did not understand it then, and despite hearing all the talk about how men go for who they are passionate about even if they are the least productive, responsible, or capable person ever, I still don't get it now.

Capricorn in the 8th house can lead to a lot of situations where the native ends up handling other people's money because people can sense their stable energy and innate responsibility. But it can lead to the person feeling like they are nothing but a personal assistant or sentient savings account to others, and over time they can become (100% understandably) bitter if they do not meet someone genuine and kind in time to avoid this.

Aquarius in 6th house can have unusual or eccentric daily routines, or little quirks in the way they go about day to day tasks and responsibilities. I knew someone with this placement who could only brush his teeth in the morning and shower at night. He couldn't really bring himself to do it the other way around and would simply not do the thing at all that day if something disrupted that routine. He also had a job where his # of hours was consistent but his actual shift times weren't and he liked it that way "for the variety." He hated the thought of a schedule where he would have to arrive and leave at the same time every day.

Cancer Lilith in 1st house women can often run into situations where men string them along for a very, very long time. These men sense the stereotypical "nurturing/motherly" essence of Cancer but Cancer Lilith women display a unique twist on this essence where it is very clear to onlookers that her individuality and sense of self cannot be watered down or blended out into others.

Cancer Lilith 1H (and to a lesser extent Taurus Lilith 1H) women are the type who can have a husband, kids, work and manage the home without losing a single ounce of who they always were.

From my observations, they usually don't experience the fate many women meet, where they wake up one day and realize that they haven't even heard their first name in weeks because they're only remembered and referred to in terms of who they are to someone else ("Mom," "John's girlfriend," "Mr. Jones' wife").

Unfortunately, this rubs some men the wrong way, who will then subconsciously try to hang on to the parts of the Cancer Lilith women they like, while searching for other women who don't trigger their fear of women who retain their personality after marriage/children.

Gemini Sun Virgo Rising people can appear put-together and organized in public but could have very messy rooms or just have trouble keeping things in order at home.

People with Pisces in their 7th house might feel torn between going after people they are genuinely attracted to and people they perceive to be a better match, for whatever reason. They could also end up confusing the sense of security they feel with someone for love, or feeling more secure with someone than they should because of love.

Gemini Mars in 10th house does not mind going out of their comfort zone to further their career. They may even set aside their own values and morals if they believe that doing something will produce a good return on their investment (of time, effort, money, etc.).

Taurus Mercury in 9th house enjoys talking to people from other cultures about the foods they eat and what their daily routines and special/holiday ritual are like. They enjoy learning about other cultures on a more down-to-earth level, so they might be less interested in other philosophies and more into sensory differences.

Cancer Moon in 11th house identifies VERY strongly with their friend group and can become depressed or ill if there is too much discord between themselves and their friends, or between their friends with each other. They do not take kindly to any kind of abandonment from friends, real or imagined. If they decide you have left them or betrayed them one too many times, they will simply never speak to you again.

Virgo Mars people can be extremely picky when it comes to partners. One of my childhood friends has this placement and despite being a Sagittarius Sun & Mercury (along with having Venus in 9H), she barely has a romantic interest in anyone. She's not aromantic or asexual; she just gets the ick so easily that it is difficult for her to like anyone enough to date them for long. She didn't go into detail most of the time. She was the furthest from the kiss-and-tell kind of person, she would barely tell anyone even the name or age of anyone she was interested in, much less give details about her specific icks.

I tend to attract Virgo Mars people platonically and romantically quite often though, so I have other examples of the same trait.

My ex-husband is a Virgo sun with Virgo Mars and Leo Venus and the smallest things would throw him off. Like if I made scrambled eggs and all the pieces weren't perfectly yellow (if any got slightly browned, he would consider the entire pot as "burnt" and would ruin his day). If I did laundry and did not strictly separate the colors (I will wash black, dark grey, and bold colors clothes together. He will separate them all. I will wash off-white and very light grey or beige with white clothes. He would look at me crazy and ask me to just do a different household chore and leave the laundry to him. Hea

He also apparently got the ick from my frugality? Lol. I had cheap sneakers and dollar-store headphones when we first got together. A few weeks later he asked where I was and I told him I was at the mall with a friend. He showed up and wordlessly gave me brand-new Samsung Galaxy earbuds before driving home lmao. Then a couple weeks after that he bought me new AirMaxes and made it a point to tell me that my existing sneakers were so cheap. And that he got good ones for me in a style that "makes your feet look smaller." I guess my foot size was not to his liking. Lol. I'm almost 6 feet tall and wear size 9.5/10 women's shoes (for males reading this, that is around 8/8.5 in your sizes, so don't start, pls

A previous ex of mine (Cancer Sun) also had Virgo Mars (and Venus) but he had the opposite ick - he didn't like that I always wore nice jeans and blouses even if we were only going to Walmart or his friends' houses. Apparently, it was "off-putting" for him that I was "too fancy, never just dress down and look comfortable, even in the house." I was like... but I am comfortable? And he would be like, "Nah you're so fancy all the time, it's kinda weird, like do you even own any sweatpants? Your hair is never messy? It's like you're never just relaxed."

Um, as a Scorpio Venus/Jupiter, Libra Mercury person, messy hair will never be in the same room as comfortable for me but we are broken up for a reason, LOL.

Yeah Virgo Mars are just really, really picky. Idk how else to put it. They might be bothered by very different things, but they're all bothered in general! Love 'em regardless, they're also attentive and will know what you like and also what you need.

Leo Mars in 2nd house can have a hard time feeling satisfied with what they own or with their level of skill in certain areas. They don't usually express envy outwardly though. They will happily gas up their friends and colleagues, but implode on themselves in private.

They can have frequent pity parties or episodes of extreme self-loathing that only their closest friends or partners ever witness. It can be difficult to pull them out of these moods as they tend to feel like they either don't have enough or are not enough in some way.

Aquarius Eros men and masculine people are often attracted to women and feminine people with strong or eccentric personalities. They lust after the kinds of people who didn't even bother rocking the boat and jumped out to swim upstream and chill somewhere else.

However, unless they have Juno in Aquarius, Aquarius 7H or some other placements that support long-term relationships/marriages/longevity with unusual people or non-traditional elements, they eventually abandon such love interests for someone who fits better into societal expectations. Ask me how I know. :(

[fruitsboots]

I'm a nail technician and here's a big list of headcanons about the kinds of clients the TOS Enterprise crew would be!

Kirk:

-shows up on time for appointment but sometimes has to cancel super last minute.

-doesn't bite his nails but picks at them and his cuticles. not enough to bleed or anything but enough that most of his appointment is cuticle work.

- "Cut them short" my guy there's no free edge.

- holds still, uses arm rest appropriately, doesn't stiffen his hands. no polish, just buffed smooth. jokes every time that next time maybe he'll go with a hot pink.

-asks a lot of questions and chats at the beginning of the appointment but ends up getting a little bored by the end.

-always tips very well but doesn't rebook, he'll call you.

Spock:

-doesn't make appointments, just shows up sometimes on slow days and asks to use certain supplies.

-does his own nails and keeps them very nice and neat. nail beds to die for. Nails grow very fast.

-On occasion has been talked into a dark polish and will let someone else do that for him (he's not very good at the application).

-sits a little too stiffly like he's concentrating. speaks when spoken to. doesn't linger long, the smell gives him a headache.

-doesn't tip but you’re not sure if he knows he’s supposed to.

McCoy:

-calls and asks if there’s time for a walk in then shows up later than he tells you but usually has a good excuse.

-Hands are dry as hell from washing them a lot. Worst, driest cuticles. Always gets a split on the edge of his pointer finger.

-Sits too far away from the table, at an angle, hunched, wrists on the armrest and elbows locked. Has to be asked to scoot arms forward a million times.

-Is annoying to work on technically, but fun to chat with. Always turns into a complaint session but in the best way. Wants to know the drama in your life and gives opinions.

- Closes eyes and tries not to doze off during the hand massage. Wipes off all the lotion that he desperately needs.

-Tips alright and always says he’ll come back soon but you know it’ll be another 4 months.

Uhura:

-has a standing appointment every 3 weeks and is never late, sometimes she’ll bring you a drink and apologizes when she doesn’t.

-Did her own nails for a long time and keeps them well manicured between appointments.

-Will (properly!) remove her own gel polish before appointments to save you the trouble.

- Tends to go for lighter, pearlescent shades. Always asks what you have that’s new but then picks one of her go-tos.

- Loves to look at nail art but doesn’t usually get it.

-Super bubbly during appointments, very patient, sits perfectly. Always enthusiastic about the result and gives lots of praise.

-Tips well and takes business cards to give to people.

Chapel:

-Not really supposed to get her nails done but does anyways. Doesn’t have super regular appointments but usually books with Uhura when she does.

-Usually shows up with chipped polish from last time that desperately needed removed 3 weeks ago.

-Gets light/sheer colors.

-Sometimes will book for a gel manicure and then tell you she doesn’t actually want polish this time even tho she needs it. Nice nails beds but they are thin and peel a bit without anything on them.

-Apologizes for no reason multiple times. Thanks you as if it were an inconvenience to do her nails? 

-After a few appointments, she loosens up a bit. Tips decent.

Sulu:

-has gotten his nails done like five times just for fun.

-Keeps them short, not much cuticle work. Why are you here??

- Will get a couple “masculine” designs and isn’t picky about them. “You just do whatever you think will look best :) “

-genuinely fun to have as a client but needs some direction on how to sit etc. can talk about anything.

-Didn’t tip the first time bc he didn’t know and felt bad so he always does, but it’s not much.

Scotty:

-how can one man have so much grease under his nails?

-Has a standing appointment once a month for just a nail trim but should be more like every two weeks.

-Asks questions about nail equipment (UV lamp, e-file, etc).

-Talks a bit during the appointment and then stands around after chatting. Always tips like 2$ but sometimes brings baked goods, etc.

Chekov:

-wanders in with a bruised nail and is like “what can you do for this” nothing dude.

-Leaves and comes back later to buy a gift certificate to give to a girl.

[tarotwithavi]

Your future spouse: personality

Positive and challenging sides

How to choose a pile?

Take a deep breath and gently close your eyes. Politely request your spirit guides to reveal the appropriate pile meant for you, then open your eyes. Whichever pile captures your attention is the one meant for you.

Masterlist

Paid services

Pile 1

Positive side : hello pile 1! Your future spouse is one smart cookie. They've got an insatiable curiosity that makes them a total brainiac. You'll often find them diving deep into complex ideas and theories, always hungry for knowledge. They've got this knack for seeing patterns and connections that others don't even notice. When you're stuck on a problem, just turn to them for some mind-blowing insights. Creativity runs through their veins. They've got a knack for coming up with innovative, out-of-the-box ideas. No boring solutions here! They're the kind of person who can turn the simplest of conversations into an exciting adventure of thoughts and possibilities. Their independent spirit is pretty inspiring too. They're comfortable doing their own thing, which gives them a unique sense of self-reliance. Fairness and objectivity are their jams. Emotions don't cloud their judgment; they rely on cool, logical thinking to make decisions. And when it comes to tackling tough problems, they're like Sherlock Holmes with a touch of MacGyver – they'll find a solution, no matter how tricky the puzzle. They seem to have more air energy, especially Gemini and Aquarius. They may have their Mercury in the 11th house.

Challenging side : Okay, so your future spouse might be a bit of an introvert. Social interactions aren't always their strong suit, especially when it comes to small talk. They're more like deep-thought conversations rather than chit-chat about the weather. And speaking of deep thoughts, they tend to overthink stuff. Simple decisions can turn into complicated quandaries in their minds. Practicality isn't their strong suit either. They've got a knack for brilliant ideas, but sometimes turning those ideas into reality can be a bit of a challenge. Routine? Yeah, not their thing. They get bored quickly with repetitive tasks and might struggle with focusing on the same thing for too long. Oh, and sometimes they can be like Mr. Spock – super logical, but not always the most sensitive. Emotions might not be their strong suit, and they might come across as a tad insensitive from time to time. And when they've made up their mind, it's like they've superglued their opinion in place. Changing their perspective? Good luck with that.

Pile 2

Positive side : welcome pile 2! I'm getting that Your future spouse is the kind of person who's always dreaming big and aiming for the stars. They have this incredible ability to come up with the most creative and imaginative ideas that you've ever heard. Whether it's art, music, or just day-to-day conversations, they infuse everything with their unique touch of creativity. You can count on them to be that empathetic and understanding partner you've always wanted. They really get you, and their genuine care and compassion make you feel truly seen and loved. Their open-mindedness is a breath of fresh air, and you can talk to them about anything without fearing judgment. Their unwavering commitment to their values is truly inspiring; you'll never find them compromising on what they hold dear. And when it comes to those times when you need a friend to lean on, they'll be there, providing unwavering support and a listening ear. Their flexibility and adaptability make navigating life's twists and turns an exciting adventure. They have heavy water energy especially cancer and Pisces. They may have personal planets in 4th, 8th or 12th house.

Challenging side : But, you know, your future spouse does have their moments. Their idealism, as charming as it is, sometimes takes them to places that feel a bit too far from reality. There might be times when their sensitivity comes across as a bit of an overreaction, leaving you wondering how to tread carefully. They're not the biggest fans of confrontation, which can be a good thing most of the time, but it also means that addressing certain issues directly might not be their strong suit. Oh, and the decision-making process? Well, let's just say it's not the quickest. Sometimes you'll be caught in a loop of considering pros and cons, which can be a tad frustrating when you just want a clear answer. And criticism? Yeah, that's a tough one. Your future spouse might struggle a bit with handling negative feedback; it's like they take it to heart a bit too much. There could be moments when they retreat into their own world, leaving you feeling a bit disconnected. But hey, remember, nobody's perfect, right? All these quirks just make them who they are.

Pile 3

Positive side : Alright, so your future spouse is a pretty cool cat. They're like a master strategist, always thinking five steps ahead in whatever they do. You can bet on them to come up with some seriously genius plans that nobody else saw coming. They've got this natural gift for analyzing stuff – they can see the big picture and all the tiny details, which makes them freakishly good at problem-solving. They are really smart. They have this insatiable thirst for knowledge, and they're not afraid to dive deep into topics that fascinate them. And trust me, their ability to think critically is off the charts. They're not just about book smarts, though. They've got this quirky sense of humor that might catch you off guard, and you'll find yourself laughing at their witty remarks. They're super independent and have this unshakeable confidence. They won't hesitate to tackle challenges head-on, even if it means going against the crowd. Their determination is downright inspiring. Plus, when they decide to share their thoughts and ideas with you, it's like getting a VIP pass to their brilliant mind. You'll never be short of engaging conversations with these guys. Your future spouse has more earthly vibes. I'm getting heavy Capricorn and Virgo vibes. They may have their Venus in earth or vice versa.

Challenging side : Alright, I'm getting that Your future spouse's brain is like a constant whirlwind of ideas, which sometimes means they can come across as a tad distant. They're so deep in thought that they might unintentionally tune out the world around them. You might need to remind them that Earth still exists lol. Their analytical nature can be a double-edged sword. Sure, they're great at solving problems, but sometimes they overthink things to the point where it feels like they're dissecting the meaning of life. Patience might be your ally when they go into full-on ponder mode. Another thing is their high standards. They have this vision of how things should be, and they won't settle for anything less. It's awesome that they strive for excellence, but it could lead to some frustration if things don't meet their expectations. And while they're great at giving advice, they might not always be the best at dealing with emotional situations. They tend to approach things with logic, even when emotions are in play.

[talenlee]

3e: Eberron is A World Of Locks

Hey, do you know the world of Eberron?

Eberron is, in my opinion, probably the best setting Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 ever had. This is partly because of what it presents as available, with its world-native Changelings and Warforged. Another part of it is that it was (at the time) a fresh world which wasn’t already filled edge to edge with Important NPCs you needed to recognise and respect and route around, which like it or not, is one of the predominant things about the Forgotten Realms that stands out in my memory. There’s a wealth of ways players can anchor themselves in that world, with its recent civil war, its dragonmarked houses, and its various discarded, collapsed empires. There’s a lot of stuff to interact with, a lot of means to have a place in that world.

In addition to all that though is an interesting addition to the world that may be a bit less obvious because of how it changed a 3.5 D&D skill in the context of the whole world, and made room for characters who were in a way, trickier.

That is, Disable Device.

If you’re not overly familiar with the way the skill system of 3e D&D, it was a point-based system where your class informed how many skill points you got each level, plus more for your intelligence and plus more for weird extra reasons. These skills then added to your ability scores as appropriate; to jump required Strength, to Hide required Dexterity, all that sort of thing. Sometimes you got advantages based on traits about your culture, like your size or your gross physical qualities, sometimes you had cultural background advantages. It’s like how Elves got a bonus to Listen, Search, and Spot, while Dwarves got a skill bonus to who cares, they’re dwarves.

The skill system was elaborate in a way that didn’t usually wind up producing necessary results. This is a structure that often gets referred to as fiddly. It was worth having 5 skill ranks in a skill you didn’t plan on using because of how it improved another skill, but also that didn’t necessarily matter most of the time, meaning there was a sort of budgetary exchange that once you got it, kind of just dangled there. It also had the weird effect where skills spread out across a bunch of things – being good at jumping, riding, and climbing were all different skills even though fundamentally, those were kinda the same thing and reasonably, being better at any of them would make you a bit better at all of them.

There were some skills that were fantastically specific, like decipher script (that could be used to uh, decipher scripts), or very broad like use magic device (which could fake all sorts of nonsense and work as a skill check for making almost any kind of spell available to the people with the skill). And in this space there was a skill that served to show how skills could be setting specific.

In conventional D&D, high fantasy worlds like Greyhawk, machinery was okay-but-not-worth-it. Disable Device largely lived as a sort of ‘pick locks’ skill, which was usually useful for disabling traps in a dungeon delving environment, or opening doors you didn’t have access to. These two applications steadily became less and less important as magical ways to open locks and close them show up starting as the players level up into the higher level material of level 3. At around that point, the capacity of Disable Device to meaningfully address a need of the party becomes somewhat token, as you can use Knock to bust magical and nonmagical doors and locks, and traps start becoming magical and therefore, best addressed with spells and spellcraft.

It’s a shame too because in terms of an actual skill, like ‘a thing people can do’ Disable Device is pretty cool. It indicates a skill and thoughtfulness that seems like it should be applicable to more things. Toolkits were sometimes connected to the skill, armour repair sometimes but the actual craft of being good with devices was orphaned for its impact in the world and its application to adventurers with a degree of experience.

Welcome to Eberron then, where everything is high magic, sure, but the magic is used to catapult past the industrial revolution. This is a look you may know as Magepunk (which I think is reasonable to use as a term for describing my own setting, Cobrin’Seil). In Eberron, there are trains. There are machines. There are devices that people use in their everyday life, and with that comes a more widespread vision of the applications of disable device.

Now, this isn’t to say that I’ve grabbed the entirety of the Eberron compendium and dug through it for every single time Disable Device is used for every kind of system or interface. But rather that I know, as a GM, in that world, when people are surrounded by trains and chains and industrialised components, and the creation at the scale that suddenly, you didn’t need to consider things like unique, individualised magical creations to keep things safe or secure or operate things.

This has an effect of turning most forms of leaders and threats, people who have spaces that players want to approach and interact with, suddenly don’t have to answer a kind of outsourcing question. If magic is what makes a place dangerous, the people who command dangerous places are going to trend towards being magical. Wizards are the ones who have menageries and laboratories and fancy alchemy stations and whatnot, and those are the things that sites tended to need.

Except if suddenly, locks and tools and machinery exist that mean that you can have a site-based challenge that cares about material components without necessarily everything being a bespoke magical construction, and that means that suddenly the boss that runs this place isn’t the wizard who makes it work, but instead the person who has the power, the means, and the access to construct that sort of space.

Disable Device becomes more useful as a game tool, but also, the world is a place that allows more people to have access to the status of being a kind of ‘boss monster’ character at the end of a character’s narrative. And that’s all through the transformation of the world-centering power of characters.

High fantasy, unconsciously or not, directs all the attention towards the wizard.

Which is a pretty sad trick.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[rambleonwaywardson]

Clegan Olympics Headcanons

Some headcanons I have about Buck and Bucky as Olympic athletes, initially inspired by this post by @brotherwtf and my replies to it with @impalachick. I just felt like fleshing these ideas out a bit more. Anyone feel free to add to it!

John as a gymnast and Gale as a horseback rider:

First of all, Bucky is a gymnast. it's easy to imagine him as a rower because of Boys in the Boat, but hear me out... LOOK at those thighs, those shoulders. He's a bit tall but shhhh it's fine, he'd excel at men's gymnastics. Especially rings and floor.

He's been doing gymnastics since he was little -- just imagine a tiny sassy Bucky tumbling around and doing handstands. He's always been good, but when he hit puberty and put on all that muscle, wow.

He definitely has strengths in certain events, but he's an all-around gymnast with a tendency for pushing boundaries. He's known for the raw power and strength he shows in his events. I don't think this is his first Olympics either, since gymnasts tend to be on the younger side. He's been on the map probably since he started college.

He's just getting better with age, though. People don't pay as much attention to men's gymnastics as they do women's, but man they talk about John Egan (it helps that everyone is a little in love with him).

I've decided to indulge myself and imagine Gale as an equestrian. He does eventing (jumping, dressage, and cross-country)

He didn't grow up with any fancy horses or trainers or tack. He wore hand-me-downs for years and trained green horses from the ground up and worked tirelessly on farms in exchange for ride time. He worked for every inch of what he's accomplished, always for the love of the animal and of the sport.

The equestrian athletes tend to be older, so this might be Gale's first Olympics. He's the new young hotty on the equestrian team that everyone wants to watch. Maybe in this way John kind of helps him navigate being an Olympian.

I don't know how or when they first meet, but one of the first things John notices about Gale (other than how beautiful he is and that voice and those eyes) is how deeply he cares for and loves his horse, who is his partner in this crazy sport. I imagine Gale as an animal-lover, and he values his horse more than anything else in this world (except, eventually, maybe John)

John has next to no experience with horses. He's not scared of them, but appropriately wary perhaps. And Gale's horse is tall, which doesn't help. He's nervous the first time Gale takes him into the stables but tries to act like he's not. He wants so badly for Gale's horse to like him (she does).

Also I feel like Gale rides a mare -- they're sassy and opinionated and so so loyal for the right person (vague parallel to John??? lol)

They start learning about each others' sports and try to watch every event the other is in, becoming each others' biggest fans even if they only half know what's going on. John is always a little terrified watching Gale ride, especially during cross-country. Gale thinks he's crazy for this because he can barely watch sometimes when John is flipping through the air so high off the ground like that.

Them exploring Paris together when they're not competing!!! Imagine the general shenanigans and romance and cuteness of them galivanting around the city together.

They definitely get some attention as a sort of "it" couple during the games and pictures start circulating of them together. An unlikely pairing across sports, especially because Gale and John have such different personalities and reputations. The attention makes Gale a little uncomfortable, so John starts making a point to obnoxiously block any photos reporters try to take of them together. This ends up just making Gale laugh and he tells John to stop.

When they're home, they try to teach each other basics of their sports. Gale gives John a pony ride on his Olympic sport horse who is worth thousands and thousands of dollars and tries to teach him how to ride by himself. John is clumsy about it but only falls maybe once, and he's determined to please Gale so he keeps trying. John tries to teach Gale how to do some basic tumbling but Gale, while strong in his own right, just does not have that type of strength, coordination, or flexibility and repeatedly falls on his ass before adamantly refusing to ever do it again (I love those videos of olympic athletes trying each others' sports)

Totally did not mean to build on this so much and don't intend to do anything with it but I'm gonna be thinking about this a lot I think.

[crumblinggothicarchitecture]

Hey. This might be very stupid, but i hope you answer this.

Today I accidently got sucked into your blog, which is ironic since I'm a huge swiftie. (but I'm not here to hate on you, I swear)

The thing is for months I've been doubting where I stand on that. Like if i should call myself a swifte or not. when I was young, I used to worship the ground she walked on. but in the past year, I've slowly realised I've been very sheltered. like the problems people point out about her sometimes are actual real problems, but my brain just doesn't know how to respond to that as it has been taught taylor swift is a goddess and can do no wrong. Since your posts are tagged with #exswiftie, i figure you'd understand.

I am not from america, so I can understand then politics part of it all only to a certian extend. the other things, I just dont know what to say to that. The most i can reply is..."yes that is a bit of a problem". I feel don't feel like a swiftie at that moment.

I had fed my mind this narrative that people who hate taylor swift passionately are like untrustworthy or just a walking red flag, or just "don't get it". Now after reading your actual breakdowns I understand you have a rather educated opinion and perception of things. Which clearly rules out my narrative.

I don't know what I feel like I have to define where I stand on this, I just do. I know I genuinely enjoy her music a lot, even there are songs I don't want to hear more than once. I love the whole swiftie lore, digging deep on each lyrics finding out what they mean, finding clues easter eggs just losing my mind over surprise songs. Then i see this other side, which can't be defined with anything less than deeply toxic, which makes me question whether or not this thing i love so much is genuinely good or not.

Hello dear, apologies for the delay in reply :) I am happy to chat with you. I hope that you did not think I would ignore you.  

I was also a Swiftie for nearly 15 years. I got her debut record as a Christmas present in 2006 or 2007. Though I cannot remember which year it was, I loved her from the start. At 10 years old, I was immediately interested. My mother approved of me owning her music simply because she was inoffensive. She didn’t curse or talk about sex, in the beginning, so she was deemed appropriated for my childhood self.  She and I have since grown up. She is now a terribly pretentious bully- and, well, I grew up much too poor and much too hungry to turn into a bully like her. 

The problem- and something I think you’re very much aware of- is that Swift has built herself up in her fandom as perfect. She encourages fans to defend her every action- and rewards them for their efforts through “Swiftmas” or “Secret Sessions” or “hidden easter eggs that only the smartest- most dedicated fans will figure out.” It’s all methodically calculated to keep up an air of reciprocity between Swift, as the fearless leader, and her band of merry misfits- the fans.  

You are not dumb for falling into her rhetorical situation - she's set the marketing strategy up on purpose. It’s specifically created to attract attention- and, to make people feel good, or productive, by participating in her marketing strategy. She gives people an image of herself as a poor innocent victim of the media, or of any critique, and then rewards people for defending her. In Literary study, we call this “Pathos” as the rhetorical appeal to emotion through messaging- textual work of some kind. Rhetoric like this can be found in all sorts of media- commercials about starving children or beaten dogs, charity event banners aiming to persuade someone to donate. It’s all predicated on the appeal to our common emotion, or human capacity to empathize with each other. For, every time fans are rewarded by her attention- after defending her from a perceived enemy, or figuring out some hidden clue- they feel closer to the idol, they feel happy to have her attention. They get that emotional impact of believing they are helping Taylor Swift, or understanding her better on some more human, connected, level. It’s a game of risk and reward for her. Never mind that none of this altruistic- she gets paid through our attention on her- and if you are not directly lining her pockets with your cash money, she does not actually care about you. It’s the image of caring she projects that matters much more than the fact that she doesn’t actually care.

I’m sure you can think of many more examples wherein Swift has played this game of attention and reward with fans. It’s everywhere- her easter eggs are a great example. Sometimes her use of Pathos is benign- non malicious, therefore a non-issue. However, she often weaponizes this rhetoric in a way that is harmful.

This interplay she sets up, between herself and her fans, is made more intensive through her pathos- heavy approach to Rhetoric. To further illustrate, one of the ways people often explain Pathos is by saying that it represents our, as human beings, judgement affect. We see, or hear, the narrative Swift espouses and make judgements about it. If she says: The music critics are sexist towards me. We say: 1.) Sexism is morally wrong, 2.) Taylor Swift is facing sexism from Music critics, Therefore.) The music critics are sexist and morally wrong, because they are criticizing Taylor Swift.

So, all the critics are bad- and we don't need to listen to them. It's also a way Swift creates permissive attitudes towards attacking anyone who critique's her- because she can so easily label them all as sexist.

She uses this basic syllogism to justify leveraging her fans against all kinds of people- it's not just the critics. I just wanted to give a concrete example, and I will go more in depth on this subject in another post.  

She is playing with people’s emotions, while she is also self-victimizing,and leveraging her audience’s innate human rejection of, for instance, sexism as it offends our personal values. No one is saying that sexism isn't morally corrupt; however, Taylor Swift points to valid criticism and calls it sexism so that her audience will attack. People often have valid critique of Swift- She just doesn't want to face critique at all- ever. If people say her music is too self-centered- Swift says that is Sexism. If people say her music is boring- she calls it sexism. If people say her music is shallow and only centered are relationships- She calls it sexism. When, in reality, it's valid criticism that has nothing to do with her being a woman. Only ever writing songs about your own myopic, self-centered perception of interpersonal relationships is shallow. Her music is objectively boring, because it's derivative. Her music is completely self-centered- and she only admits to that when it benefits her, but when critics say it, she calls it sexism.

Please don’t think badly of yourself. I am not here to hate on you either- I was you. I am not here to hate on anyone at all- I just want to share how my own knowledge, and expertise, of rhetorical appeals and literary analysis can expose Taylor Swift. Swift relies on this rhetorical technique to thrive, she obfuscates the truth, schemes, and manipulates people into thinking her music is the best thing on Earth- or thinking that she is literally a Saint. Clearly- nothing on Earth is that perfect- So why does she need her fan base to consider her a genius, and a saint, so badly?

Personally, I have no problem admitting I have flaws. I think most sane people can admit to their flaws. It’s not a bad thing to have flaws. So why does Taylor Swift react to all criticism like it’s the worst thing on Earth. Why does she have a whole song about calling critics “mean/ and a liar/ and pathetic/ and alone in life” (“Mean” 2010). She has the nerve to call that song an “anti-bullying” song; yet, is it so clearly bullying that random critic who wrote a bad review about her concert one time in 2009? She really hated that guy- and all he was doing was his job. She called him a drunken loser for just doing his job. 

She's written so many songs about how all her critics are just stupid, morally corrupt, or sexist: "The Man" (2019), "Mean" (2010), "But Daddy I love Him" (2024), "New Romantics" (2014), "Shake it Off" (2014), "I know Places" (2014), "Anti-Hero" (2023), "Paris" (2023), "Blank Space" (2014), "I did something Bad" (2018), "Dancing with our hands tied" (2018). There are more songs wherein she carries this theme of "everyone is out to get me, and they all hate me for no good reason" but I think I've listed enough.

The general message is all over "Evermore" and "Folklore" too every time she calls the general public "Clowns" or "masqueraders"

It's just everywhere- her subtle devaluation of legitimate criticism. Trying to chalk it all up to the critics being simply dumb, sexist, or malicious in some way. Perhaps some people are mean- true- but to generalize every criticism as evil? That's just her actually playing a victim card. There's no way every single critic, or person who doesn't like her, is evil, bad, or malicious in some way. Okay?

I’m tired of her claiming to be an amazing person and an amazing poet- when she is just not either of those things. She’s not a kind person- it's all over her music in the ways she maliciously hurts people for fun. She’s not an amazing poet either. I have a few college degrees- and one pass through her work, with a serious intention of literary analysis, I discover that her writing is plain, banal, and derivative. 

She wants everyone to compare her to Emily Dickinson, Dylan Thomas, and Shakespeare. So, I’m doing what she wants and taking her work seriously enough to critique it. Except that, in critique, I find out why it’s all poorly written- and why it’s just a bunch of thinly veiled conservative iterations of the same boring message over and over. All she ever says in her music is “poor me” and “I hate” (insert person- Kim K., Kanye, Matty, Joe, Jake, John, Scooter, Scott, Harry, Calvin, the media at large, anyone who critiques her, and men in the music industry as a whole). She has the longest list of enemies I think I’ve ever seen- and the funny thing is that all these people avoid her at all costs. None of these people talk about her- yet she is still singing, writing songs, and getting her fans to post memes about how awful they are years, even decades, later.  

It all gets a bit tiresome? No? Personally, I don’t wish to live a life full of such self-pity and hatred- so why should I listen to it in music form? Ya know?  

In my posts, I am attempting to find the truth. I don’t want to “hate” on anyone or anything- but I am going to seek truth in her work.  

I will be posting more about how she devoids Shakespeare of his social reformist efforts. I’m going to post more about how she twists the meaning of every literary reference she’s ever made. I am not kidding, she has misrepresented, and misinterpreted every single literary reference in her entire discography. It’s astounding how hard Swift tries to sound thoughtful- without actually being thoughtful. I will be posting about how she only ever name-drops to either tear other people down or self-depreciate herself in effort to seek pity. I will be talking more about her use of rhetorical appeals to both attract an audience, keep their attention through risk-reward trade-off, and manipulate them into fighting her battles for her. I will be talking about how she upholds a bunch of harmful stereotypes in her music. She often alludes, or blatantly includes allusion to colonialist attitudes. She’s used the LGBT community for profit without making any real activist efforts. She’s leveraged feminism like a weapon against other women- yet never actually has feminist themes in her music. She’s just so painfully hollow- upon closer inspection.  

I don’t hate her as a person. I think she’s unethical, sure, but that doesn’t mean I hate her, want her to die, or anything extreme at all. I would never wish harm to another human being. In fact, after seeing a lot of the harmful stuff in her music, especially about her kind of fucked up views on relationships, I sincerely hope she gets some professional help and finds some peace in this world. When I critique Taylor Swift it’s about her work and her brand- It's not about her personhood.  

I just think that no one Earth is above reproach, or critique, and we must all be held accountable for our own actions. She’s the one that puts her work out there for people- It's therefore completely appropriate for me to discuss her work. 

Edit: Oh and I want to add- I wish you luck in figuring out what you really think about Taylor Swift. If you ever need to talk or vent more- my inbox is always open. :) With peace and love- bye bye

[wolven91]

Backyard Grill

The ursidain's mighty stomach growled in frustration.

Jimbas or 'Jim', to his human colleague, was starving! Jim liked being called Jim, it meant he was accepted by a human and acceptance by a human meant he got certain benefits. The giant creature's stomach protested again, as if saying 'where's the rest?!'. He wasn't actually starving. Oh sure, the ursidain known as Jim got what was required from the ship canteen each day in the form of three flat meals that totalled the calorie content that his kind needed to maintain themselves, but by the deep forest, in his opinion this stuff would barely fed a sparrow! Jim stroked a broad tongue over the long-emptied plate. If he closed his eyes, he could still taste the meal.

Jim's look of misery was removed when he opened his big brown, but sad eyes and saw Uncle Rich walking up.

Uncle Rich was a human and was neither Jimbas's uncle, nor, to Jim's knowledge, was the uncle to any of the other aliens aboard the Community ship. But nonetheless, everyone called him their 'uncle'. As a guest and part of the 'Guardian Initiative' program, Jimbas was assigned to Uncle Rich so he had a partner through all this and a mentor to learn from. Jimbas honestly had found he had learnt more from Uncle Rich than he suspected Uncle Rich had from him. The ursidain now knew how to open a bottle of 'beer' with another bottle of 'beer' now.

Uncle Rich had been more than welcoming and had ensured Jim that the human was grateful for the guardian's assistance. Not that it seemed it was needed, without exception the human had taken to the stars with ease and a warm smile.  Even when meeting the other races, in most cases he'd been openly welcoming.

There was a bit of a culture clash, his eating habits and what he considered appropriate with regards to weight. To an Ursidain, it was important to keep a high body fat percentage or at least enough muscle to keep the pounds on. It was a mark of success and of readiness of the person. A very common saying amongst the 'bear people' as his human colleague would often call them, was "I'll survive the winter." It meant you were ready and in the best shape you could be.

The human, in contrast, actively avoided taking second helpings. Even when he gave the ursidain serving a wink and a smile, he would decline two ladles of food rather than the assigned one each. It was odd, so very very odd. But when Jim had asked Uncle Rich if he didn't enjoy eating, the human laughed! He gave the far larger alien a knowing look, an elbow to the gut and promised that he'd see what 'good eating' was soon.

Jim was very confused that day. Today however, Uncle Rich had a pep in his step and practically ran to Jim's table before skidding to a stop, with a wide knowing grin.

"Good news! We'll be planet side in the next few hours!"

"That is good news!" Jim paused, scratched a meaty paw against his skull has he thought, before adding; "Why is that good news?"

"My folks have already got everything prepared and are camped out in a field as we speak. We've got permission take the skiff and land almost on top of them." The jolly human declared in a whisper so that no one around could hear them. There was a moment as Jimbas turned that statement over in his head. It didn't make sense. His folks? Other humans?!

Jim looked him over once more; the rough grey fur that sprouted from his chin and head gave him a 'wise' air. Uncle Rich was well respected and often took on the task of resolving personal issues between the crew long before they made their way into the chain of command. It didn't make sense, but starving or not, meeting other humans would be a pleasure and an honour!

"Mmrf... I'll be glad to have dirt under my claws again Uncle, the grating The Galactic Community enjoys on their ships is all well and good for easy repairs, but it's hell on the feet." Jim said, pressing a thick thumb into the black pads of his lower paws. Jim's stomach growled again loudly.

"Ah! I'm glad to hear you're hungry, are you going to make it another hour or two?" Uncle Rich asked with a slap against the pelt on Jimbas's back.

"Mm, it'll be touch and go, but I will do my best friend." Jim replied as he stood, his rotund belly 'popping' clear of the bench he was sat at.

At twelve feet tall, Jimbas towered over his 'Uncle', and with his body's mass, outweighed him by several degrees, but he still felt a deep connection with the human. If this was something that the other humans felt, he understood why they would consider him their 'uncle'. He would make a fine ursidain... if he put on a few pounds.

Hours later, when Jim stepped off the Skiff's ramp he sighed as he felt the dirt compress under him and rise up between his claws. The ursidain flexed his toes with his eyes closed and sighed with content. The breeze carried the smell of meats Jimbas didn't recognise, they were cooking and smelt delicious.

His stomach reminded him of its existence. The huge creature felt a light backhanded swat against the side of his belly from Uncle Rich who strolled past laughing. It took a moment for the ripples across his flab to settle down even with his paws held against himself.

"Common then! I want to show you a 'proper' meal!" Called the human who was being tackled by other humans. The ursidain allowed a subtle eye roll to the human's back, like a human would know a 'proper' meal.

Jimbas expected to be sorely disappointed by the size of everything. He made a point to only nibble, he didn't want to be rude to the humans. The ursidain doubted that even a family of humans could create enough food to satisfy a fully grown ursid-.

His thoughts derailed as he truly focused on the small crowd of similar looking humans. 

They had several coolers opened and a grill larger than some of the fully installed kitchen units Jim had seen in his time amongst the stars. The coolers were near-overflowing with raw meat of various shapes, colours and sorts. The grill was practically groaning under the weight of the meat that was sizzling away on the bars. 

And the smell.

Oh the smell! 

"Hey! Hey! Jim! Ya' drooled on me! God.." Uncle Rich bemoaned, wiping at his shoulder which now sported a dark wet line down his chest, he stomped off towards the family who, on noticing his shirt, began laughing and calling the giant bear over. 

Jimbas was 'subjected' to the first challenge for his stomach that he'd experienced since leaving his home planet. He ended up sat next to an extremely old human who seemed to believe he was looking 'thin' despite never having met the woman before this day. His plate was piled high while the rest of the family tucked into their own meals. 

When he finally saw his plate once more, it was snatched away, refilled and returned with neary a question. 

Eventually a younger member of the extended family, currently nibbling on a sausage skewed on the end of a fork, explained. 

"Uncle Rich sent us a message last month; said you were always hungry. Grandma took that as a challenge."

Every steak, every sausage, every burger, breast and thigh, made the ursidain's jowls drool as a never-ending torrent. He first tried to eat slowly, but the spices, the sauce rubs and salts that were liberally applied left him desperate for another bite, again and again. 

It was evening by the time the bear had to hold up a paw in defeat.

"Please... I beg of.. Mercy." He deferred his pleading to the old crone of the table, who allowed a slight smile to tug at the edge of her mouth. 

Jimbas eventually found himself belching to the delight of the children, flat on his back. The echoes of his powerful expulsion of air caused ripples of the glowing insects to dance up around them. He had to admit discomfort from the children that sat upon his overstuffed belly. Not once in his life had he been overfed before...

An unforeseen outcome occurred thanks to this event. 

Shortly after returning to the ship, Jimbas met up with an ursidain ship, his old ship and crew! His extra inches that were added to his waistline were immediately noted by his 'former' crew. News travelled quickly back to ursidain territories, all the way back to the capital world; Source.

The ursidains had learnt that humans could cook. The race was on, to find more humans!

[dangans-ur-ronpas]

saw ur vents abt dungeon meishi and while I haven’t read the series yet or watched the anime I have seen bits and pieces and already saw the blowup scene where Toshiro attacks Laois and like. even I with zero context didn’t totally hate him. It sucks majorly that it had to happen but like. Toshiro is going through his own shit and plenty of other characters ALSO don’t like Laois! I think people just see that scene and project the amount of times that’s happened to them with someone in real life, which like. I get it. I’m autistic and reading that scene hit like a gut punch bc it was something I had experienced directly in real life: trying to be friends with someone, thinking you are friends, only for them to reveal one day that they couldn’t stand you and hated your guts from day one. You wonder why the fuck they pretended and let you hurt even worse than outright initial rejection. You wonder why they’d put themselves through enduring you. It makes you feel like you can’t trust anyone, makes you feel like utter shit. I 100% get why it bothers people. But you can’t project real life people you experienced onto this character that does not align at all except for this one moment. Also knowing about the author, she probably put that in on purpose as commentary for how autistics in Japan generally have to go through shit like this bc of the way their social culture is. She’s made plenty of autistic commentaries before, I doubt she stuck that scene in there for no good reason. The fact that Toshiro kept quiet and didn’t say anything until he couldn’t take it anymore is VERY indicative to me of the ways Japan’s typical social system is a struggle on all sides. Not to say these are problems unique to Japan, but the nuance needs to be understood. Toshiro isn’t being a dick just for the sake of it. I want to read it sometime so I can better understand the guy, but I don’t want to hate him based on one scene where he was an asshole. Laois is an asshole plenty of times himself, being very overtly written as autistic doesn’t absolve him from the responsibilities of being an adult.

TLDR: People tend to infantilize Laois and demonize Toshiro, which comes down to the prejudices preconceived for both of them: people see Laois, as an autistic man, as an innocent sweet guy who needs to be protected. They see Toshiro, as an Asian man, as someone who should be “polite and honorable” or whatever and are appalled when he acts like a fallible human being and not some appropriation of a fictional romanticized samurai. I understand feeling betrayed and angry seeing a character be a genuine asshole about something (social expectation does not completely absolve Toshiro of his own antagonizations however much of a reason he had) but when it’s so damn one sided, and especially in a series where almost NO one is without complete asshole qualities that round them out, I find it kind of gross that people hate on him for that. Anyway. Just wanted to send a message of support and understanding. Hopefully after I read more I can offer more analysis to corroborate with you on.

100% CORRECT thank you anon

i also understand the people who are sympathizing with laios bc that scene is very easy to relate to for many autistic or otherwise neurodivergent people (i also got a cold sweat when i was watching it bc. like. having someone you thought was a friend straight up tell you there are parts of your behavior that they can't stand is one of the worst things to experience of all time, ESPECIALLY if you were only showing that behavior around them bc you thought they were your friend and you trusted them) but it's so frustrating seeing so many people have such shallow opinions about toshiro bc of it. im on hands and knees begging people to consider the characters in three dimensions and/or develop better reading comprehension because like!! toshiro's official meeting with laios's new group literally leads with 'oh his name is actually toshiro and we never knew bc our leader had a misunderstanding and microaggressed him and he was too polite to correct him' laios is not an innocent party here!! he is not an innocent uwu autistic baby he's a grown adult man with responsibilities, in that whole time he was partied with toshiro he never learned his real name!! plus using toshiro's crush on falin as a reason to hate him, falin's adolescence was spent in a school and a social setting where she was expected to mask + her being a girl also means she is expected to mask by default -> she is better at masking than laios so why are people saying that toshiro hates laios for the same traits in falin bc clearly not?? also saw one person saying 'he only likes falin because she's hot' NO HE DOES NOT HE WOULD NOT RISK HIS LIFE HEALTH AND RETAINERS IN A DUNGEON ON A FOREIGN CONTINENT FOR THE SAKE OF A WOMAN HE ONLY THOUGHT WAS SEXY!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DUNMESHI FANS THINK WITH YOUR BRAAIN

the whole fight he had with laios where laios points out that their party is more serious about finding falin and resolving everything also drives me nuts because i've seen at least one take saying that toshiro doesn't care about falin as much as team laios because of this. which yes the fact that team laios understands the importance of health in pursuit of a goal is very very important but for many cases in east asian culture (and actually any culture with emphasis on capitalism and economic growth) productivity will get valued above all else which leads to neglect of personal health, i.e: what toshiro was doing. so this is just a clown take to begin with

also interesting to me that almost every character in dunmeshi thus far has demonstrated some kind of racial bias/misconceptions (i.e: chilchuck about elves, senshi about half-foots, etcetera etcetera) and laios and falin are no exception. race and racial differences and conflict and coexistence is also one of the underlying themes in dungeon meshi, with the elves of the west being considered a major issue to many dungeon-goers and the mayor hating dwarves and having to contend with those elves, and then marcille's motive for studying black magic and even thistle's motive for being the dungeon keeper. so it's real fucking ironic that the fans are really quick and happy to demote toshiro to 'asshole side character who is bullying our autistic rep' instead of, you know, using nuance and thinking about it

tldr; dungeon meshi has great commentary on what it's like as an autistic person in society. but dungeon meshi fans are too quick to write off toshiro as an asshole japanese guy who is ableist and getting in the way of their white woman yuri, therefore helping to promote this website's enduring legacy as the piss-poor reading comprehension website

[uchihaharlot]

Hii, could i request hcs of uchihas including sasugay being in the night club? Like what would they do and how would they act. U could do them being with so or without, idc.

I literally cannot imagine Itachi and Obito going out anywhere idk they seem too stiff and polite for that tbh

Thanks regardless!!!

Lmao Sasugay 🥹😂😂

Itachi is super polite, he also doesn’t like loud people. Obito, while polite is overtly shy. He just feels so out of place.

SFW(suggestive themes—I can not just ever ignore cock); just some light Drabble on these delicious men

Madara:

If we’re keeping this canon-ish. There weren’t any night clubs in the warring states era. So it was mostly bonfire parties and fight clubs. You can guess which one Madara preferred; and as the number one rule goes without saying.

He doesn’t talk about it.

Obito:

You’re right, he’s too chicken shit to go, but gets dragged by the collar of his shirt. It’s mainly because all the hot girls throwing themselves at him just is overwhelming and he has a perpetual boner the whole night. Which isn’t embarrassing per say, it does more favors for him than anything. He actually goes home with two girls, and that makes Shisui a bit jealous. Obito was the most plastered though and unfortunately falls asleep before anything hot happens with his arm candy, so they kind just lug him into his bed and leave. Wakes up with aching morning wood.

Shisui:

He’s the Uchiha who had the idea to begin with. And he’s actually really annoyed that Obito made out better than he did. Funnily enough, he’s the mostly sober one for the night. Konoha’s number one genjutsu genius might have a celebratorial cup of sake but that’s about it. He spends most of his time schmoozing the ladies, drawing more attention to the barkeep as he opens the tab for everyone to enjoy themselves. Ends up going home with a girl, who also is sober. Shisui is, in my opinion, a very conscientious man. If he’s going rounds with a girl; he wants to make sure they both remember it. Ends up hitting it too good and breaks the condom, so all that amazing blissful feeling evaporates faster than water in a drought.

Itachi:

Does not entertain this kind of nonsense. He might enjoy the finer things in life, dinners out and such. But he absolutely does not go to the night club. He does once, just for the experience and it lives up to his interpretation of it. Loud and obnoxious basically. Shisui will definitely hear about it for the longest time and he shows zero remorse for his almost oopsy baby, you reap what you sow.

Sasugay:

Undeniably the same as his brother; but once pumped with a few ounces of liquor, blacks out (incredibly a lightweight) and starts the bar fight that prematurely ends their evening and closes the bar. Apparently threatening an innocent person with ‘the power of the Uchiha’ was not an appropriate response to being bumped repeatedly on the dance floor and it scares the majority of the patrons. Gets hauled home by his ear by Itachi.

[autistic-ben-tennyson]

In Defense of Vegans

I can’t believe I have to make this but after seeing how posts like the above still get thousands of notes I’m going to. While there are critiques of militant veganism I agree with as a former vegan, some people need to chill out. What’s aggravating about most people here is how much they hate vegans but less in the alt right conservative fashion and more under a guise of faux progressivism. All nuance is thrown out and people treat the vegan debate as a false binary of either eat local, humane meat or child slave soy.

I’ll start by saying I was a lot more anti vegan when I first got on this hellsite. Reblogging anti-vegan posts and picking occasional fights with vegans. I was a lot angrier and was letting off steam as someone who was a former vegan who had a hard time with it. Same with religion, I was a lot more anti religion when starting my blog due to anger at evangelicals. Being able to recognize how it just wasn’t my cup of tea has caused me to let go of a lot of that anger. I wasn’t happy doing it but that’s not a damnation of veganism or vegans.

What irritates me about how most treat vegans is that it’s often reacting to a stereotype or strawman of vegans rather than actually engaging with them. All these posts about how vegans are destroying the environment with their child slave quinoa, cashews and plastic leather, when being a vegan doesn’t require using that stuff. A lot of them are smarter than given credit for and do research what they buy. Many do eat local produce and use hand me down wool or leather. They aren’t just buying every hipster product labeled vegan. Vegans are forced to be put on the defensive and what should be a conversation about how no food is really ethical in this capitalist society turns into a shouting match and “no you” regarding who’s more “cruelty free”.

I can understand having beef with militants if you have faced bigotry such as racism or ableism from animal rights activists. But some people really are quick to hate vegans and justify it as woke or leftist. Sometimes, people won’t even check the source before reblogging it, like the video of that problematic new age hippie, appropriating Pacific Islander culture, claiming veganism is colonialism.

I think a lot of vegans get hate for being the wrong kind of neurodivergent in some peoples eyes. Many, including myself, do have hyper empathy and are swayed by emotional arguments such as documentaries such as Earthlings. They make one small mistake and everyone treats them as if they’re the worst even if they do apologize for it like @sobadpink here in the replies. Many of them do have trauma from the cruelty towards animals they’ve seen which is treated with little sensitivity by people who claim to be allies to those who are neurodivergent and/or have faced abuse or PTSD. While white PETA types need to be called out, many famous civil rights leaders have been vegan/vegetarian like Cesar Chavez or Corretta Scott King and people do a disservice by treating it as solely a white man’s ideology.

Being a vegan isn’t easy and a lot of people’s anger here is fairly reasonable in my opinion. Many are ostracized by their families, can hardly find any food while on the go and struggle with people not understanding or refusing to understand them. Correcting misinformation from vegans is one thing and then there’s just being a jerk about it. A lot of anti vegan people here are the latter. You can say it’s self inflicted but many do think they’re doing a good thing, even if the meat industry is more complicated than just ���vote with your dollar”. I would be a bit defensive myself if people treated me like a racist, ableist colonizer who hates migrant workers the moment I mentioned what I eat for lunch.

Call me a bleeding heart or ARA if you want but I think a lot of vegans here deserve more charity than they’ve been given. It’s like this site, when it comes to this issue, is stuck in 2015 as I’ve seen vegans try to explain their side, offer different perspectives and correct misconceptions but nope, another post about slave labor quinoa or plastic wool gets made every week and gets thousands of uncritical notes. People claim those posts aren’t about shaming vegans but that’s sure not how they come off as. Even a lot of the big “anti vegan” blogs here have admitted they went a bit too far and have mellowed out. I don’t agree with everything hardcore vegans have done or said and I can understand why some who’ve been hurt by them may dislike vegans but I think tumblr is way too harsh and intolerant of vegans despite claiming to be the leftist weirdo safe space.

[feyhunter78]

Chapter Ten - Feeling bad about your kiss with Miguel, you find yourself beneath Todd once more. Ch 11

NSFW under the cut

You lay under Todd, shirt still on, pushed up past your breasts, bra discarded, soft fabric pants clinging to your form, your legs parted allowing Todd to mouth at your neck as he thrust against you.

“So fucking hot.” He says, voice rough, as rough as he thrusts, the material of his jeans rubbing against you unpleasantly.

You don’t say anything about the uncomfortableness, about how you’re so dry your labia is starting to hurt, is it chaffing? You never thought to look, to Google, too embarrassed that you didn’t feel pleasure from all this like Todd did.

You gasp, it’s fake, timed, practiced, you know you’ve been quiet for too long and if you don’t give him any kind of reaction then he’ll stop and ask you what’s wrong. So, you quicken your breathing, push his head towards your breasts, hoping you’ll get something—anything out of this.

Thankfully, Todd does as you direct, and you’re able to relax a bit, trying to banish the thought of Miguel from your mind.

You can’t believe you did that, literally asked him to kiss you and then wanted more. You know it’s cheating; enough r/relationshipissues Reddit searches and just plain common sense told you that. But Todd once told you he would flirt with girls at bars, see how far he could get better it was too far, all for fun, for a confidence boost, so didn’t this make you two even in a way?

“You okay?” Todd asks, lifting his head.

You smile brightly. “Yeah, just trying to get out of my head.”

He nods, but you can tell he’s annoyed, you’re taking too long, not giving him enough of a reaction, it makes him feel bad. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

You want to laugh, that’s a damn lie. You know him if you say no, if you stop now before he gets off, he’ll be upset. He’ll wait twenty minutes and then when you’re on your way out the door he’ll bring up that this is what he was talking about. That you don’t get how important physical intimacy is for him, and that he’s trying so hard, but it feels like you’re going nowhere. That it shouldn’t be this hard, he’s never had this problem with other people, so obviously it must be you.

So, you keep going, so you lay there, and act interested, act like you’re having a good time when really you want to cry.

Todd goes back to what he was doing, and does that thing, that stupid thing you hate. He moves his hand and catches your nipple, sliding his hand down in such a way that it hurts.

“Ow.” You snap, yanking his hand away. “I keep telling you that hurts.” He never fucking remembers when you say stuff like that, never remembers when you say something is good either. It’s like you’re shouting into the void, like he doesn’t even register that you might be allowed to have your own opinions about what does or doesn’t feel good.

“Shit, sorry, sorry, I’m sorry.” He sounds genuine, and it makes you feel sick.

“It’s fine, just be careful.” You say, still smiling at him, hoping he’ll shut up and just get off so you can go home.

You check your watch discreetly, twenty more minutes, then it’ll be appropriate to say you need to leave.

Think you can hold out twenty more minutes for me?”  Miguel’s voice echoes in your head, his smirk, the teasing lilt to his tone, the way he looked at you, the kiss, the kiss, the kiss.

Laying your head back, you try to imagine Miguel was here instead, large warm hands roaming your body, peeling every inch of clothing from you, his heated gaze making you feel safe and confident. His slightly accented voice would curl around you, his plush lips, and skilled tongue devouring you. And his fingers, fuck he had such pretty hands, you know they would caress your skin, soft gentle, teasing touches that would have you squirming. You don’t even want to think about how it would feel to grind against his thick cock, hear him moan for you as you tug on his hair.

“Fuck Miguel.” You breathe out, swept up in the fantasy.

“What’d you say?” Todd asks distractedly, not even lifting his head.

“Fucking hell.” You say quickly, brain scrambling for an answer that sounds believable. “I just remembered I have to leave soon big report due in the morning.”

“Yeah, yeah, no problem, you mind if I just…?”

You know what he means, get himself off without getting you off.

“Yeah, go for it.” You stare at the ceiling, trying not to wince as he dry humps you, jean against thin cotton, dry fabric against dry flesh. Todd is almost completely silent, a few soft utterances of fuck, so hot, shit, then it all stops.

You honestly never know when he finishes, it’s so quiet and there’s no real change in his actions, so you have to lay there and wait.

Finally, he sits up, and you do the same, gathering your things and putting your bra back on.

You call Janey in the car as you drive home, choking everything out through tears. You never wanted to tell her about this, never wanted her to dislike Todd, or think badly of you, but you can’t keep it in anymore.

“Oh, y/n, honey, that’s awful.” Janey coos, her voice soft, slightly distorted by the speaker of your car.

“I just, I felt so bad about last week with Miguel, so I thought I should just tough it out, make it up to him, even though he doesn’t know what happened, but I feel so…”

“Used? Gross? Shitty? I wouldn’t blame you.”

“Yeah, I just, I need to take a shower and get some sleep.” You pull into your parking spot and trudge up the stairs, letting Janey’s tale of the drama going on in accounting soothe you.

Janey finds you at work the next day, her curly hair held back by a brightly colored headband, and she wraps her arms around you, hugging you tightly. “You feeling okay?”

You return the hug and nod, resting your head in the crook of her shoulder. “Yeah, I just know I need to make a decision soon. I can’t keep going on like this, but it’s hard.”

“I know, but you’ll feel better once it’s over, I promise.”

Janey releases you, and you go your separate ways, her to her office, and you to the prep room, stopping briefly at your own office to drop your bag off.

When you walk in, a bouquet of flowers sits in a gorgeous glass vase, at the center of your desk. Lilacs, baby breath, and pink roses were arranged artfully, a small card taped to the vase.

You pull it off and flip it open.

Mi duce, I meant what I said, nothing needs to change between us, but that doesn’t mean I don’t wish things would. I know lilacs are your favorite flowers, and when I saw these in the store, I knew they belonged with you. – Miguel

You bend at the waist, inhaling the fragrance perfume of the arrangement, smiling to yourself, and pull out your phone to text Miguel a quick thank you.

TL: @obi-mom-kenobi, @poutysprouty, @oharasfilipinawife, @laysmt, @cicithemess, @unabashedcroissanttreefan, @lynxslokley, @thedevax, @generalkenobitrash, @keiva1000, @wilmontana987

[lemonine]

might delete this post later but its 3am and i keep overthinking this so im just gonna ramble here about the seasonally appropriate topic of family members saying shitty things

so we were watching tv and there was this show on by this tv person who happens to be intersex. and my mom made this comment using their deadname so i was like. no mom theyre called [name]. theyve been called that for a few years now.

so my mom goes "but isnt her name just [deadname]?"

no mom. also its they not she. they use neutral pronouns.

and then she starts complaining because thats too hard and theyre all going a bit far with the pronoun business and then my sister chimes in to say hen/hun isnt grammatically correct

and then i get mad! and i tell them to say it right because even if its a person on tv, you should still be respectful and use the right name and right pronouns. my mom wouldnt like it if i suddenly started calling her by her full name right? or if i used 'he' to refer to her right? youre supposed to try to be nice. and at least Try to get it right.

but now im suddenly the LGBTQIA police and being too difficult and now were arguing and she keeps claiming "No i dont have anything against trans people! you can still bring your trans friends home with you because theres no way i would say anything bad about them!" (ignoring that time my friend came to pick me up and they were like Haha shes definitely a girl because she cant park)

and at this point i get upset and i know im not acting very nice or kind anymore but i just. Dont understand. why people always act like its Too Hard. no. fuck that. skill issue. just do it, even if you mess up sometimes. just Try.

and like. when im at a family birthday and my uncles start to complain about woke or something. i just go hide out in the kitchen for a while until that conversation is over. and i roll my eyes but im not gonna argue with em bc i know i wont win and i only see em like once a year anyway so im like. whatever.

but with my mom... i spend every day with her... and its always such a disappointment... she says its just her opinion and i should respect opinions but i dont feel like "im not gonna treat people with respect" is an opinion thats good or valid. its just mean. and then i try to rationalize it by going okay but theres a generation gap and shes just old but that doesnt make me feel any better. bc even a 5 year old can understand that you have to be nice to people and call them by their right names

idk man its not the first time this kind of stuff happens but it always makes me so sad. and mad. and then i turn into the most crabby person on planet earth so my arguments dont even sound valid anymore bc i cant phrase them in a nice way.

anyway uhhhh sorry about all that. if anyone knows how to deal with this id like to hear your thoughts but otherwise id like to send my hugs to all the people that have to deal with family saying dumb shit at thanksgiving/christmas dinners. stay strong pals

[bmp-slbp-matchup]

SLBP: Lords' ideal types

Introduction: In Otome, we can obviously dive into the life of a specific MC and while she often differs slightly depending on which love interest we're following, she remains the same character with the same background and overall personality. Most developers make an effort to make her as neutral as possible as to enable self-insertion for the largest group of readers, but needlessly to say, that's an aim that can hardly be attained.

In SLBP, we have cook MC with the "wilder" alternation of ninja MC in the Song of Shadow version. As the Otome universe predicts, each and every character will fall for her: It doesn't matter, if the love interest is bloodthirsty, stoic, funny, naive; she's got them all wrapped around her finger.

Doubtlessly, however, those characters, too, would in fact differ in what they find attractive and seek for in a partner.

________________

Nobunaga:

A well-informed person. Nobunaga's ideal type is someone who has a general overview on a variety of topics and basically knows what's going on in the world. He doesn't even mind if they have sly tendencies. To him, it's important that he can rely on them during tougher times in his life instead of being a cute extra on the side.

Mitsuhide:

Someone who is similar to himself. People can rarely relate to Mitsuhide's choices, interests or hobbies. Due to his exemplary attitude and embrace of virtues, he even took on the image of being a boring person. Someone who relates to him in regard to not only hobbies, but also moral standards would attract him the most.

Yukimura:

A carefree but caring soul. It is most likely that Yukimura falls for a person whom he can share inconsequential moments with, much fun, much love, little drama. This is not to say that there will be no drama in Yukimura's relationships, but it is the softness within a person that makes him potentially fall in love with them.

Saizo:

A light-hearted person. This man doesn't know how healthy human relationships work, so he seeks whatever is easiest for him to deal with. If he can have fun at their expense, that's definitely a plus point. Regardless of if it's actually good for him or not, he's not a fan of being challenged or forced to face certain issues. Saizo prefers a partner who offers him stability in a life of turmoil over someone who acts as a pit stop for further development.

Masamune:

Attentive, patient and serene. Earning Masamune's trust is comparable to approaching a cat - charging right in doesn't work. Rather, it's a better idea to wait, retreat when necessary and retry. Someone who can properly interpret his reactions and doesn't give up on him while still offering him his space would definitely be rewarded with endless loyalty.

Kojuro:

Combining ostensible oppositions. There is little more attractive to Kojuro than someone whose personality is solidified enough for them to determine appropriately when to be mature or silly, when to be compassionate or strict, etc. Ideally, they are dominant, headstrong without neglecting being a teamplayer, when the time calls for it.

Shingen:

A free spirit. Someone who does whatever they want, says whatever they want whenever they want not only attracts Shingen's attention, but also gets him going. He likes people that don't care for others' opinions or restrictions of other kinds, but this doesn't mean that this type of personality wouldn't clash with Shingen in a committed relationship, as he can be very possessive.

Kenshin:

Someone who is appreciative and perhaps a bit unconventional. Kenshin chooses to see beauty in everything and feels attracted to people who manage to do the same. He prefers optimistic and bubbly personalities that have a positive profundity. Besides, he's quirky and enjoys little peculiarities in people who surround him.

Hideyoshi:

Nurturing and compassionate at heart. It's not the behavior or attitude that matters to him, but the motivation underlying the respective actions. Hideyoshi would see a potential partner in someone, if they care for people, regardless of how they show it. Their values have to, however, be genuine instead of being based on ulterior motives and Hideyoshi will see through them.

Toshiie:

The sultry kind. Toshiie feels attracted to whatever is considered conventionally "sexy". His ideal type is someone who is sure of themselves and knows exactly what they want. In that case, they can also afford to be a bit more on the dominant or even arrogant side. However, Toshiie doesn't negotiate when it comes to mentalities that stray too much from his own.

___

Reminder: "Ideal Type" does not equal what type is actually good for someone, nor does it exclude other types from being someone's potential soul mate. I can totally see Toshiie ending up falling head over heals for a "tomboy" or "wallflower" or Saizo's ideal type impeding his character development etc. etc.

[reqxxyt]

mission

pairings: oscar p. x f!reader

summary: mission: make oscar piastri your friend

warning: ngl reader is kind of annoying-

masterlist requests are open!

[uedited] 1.9k

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

“Oscar is coming in today, try to make him feel welcome?” the text sent in by one of your coworkers read. You felt excitement run through you over the news of the driver coming in for the first time before the season would start. You were media manager of the two drivers, ensuring that everything between the two were good in terms and everything that the public sees was appropriate. 

You were practically friends with the entire crew, Lando being the closest to you. It was always the easiest to make friends with someone, and you planned to be friends with the upcoming driver just like you did with the rest of the crew. So you ensured you looked your best today, putting on a bright smile as you walked past everyone. 

“Met Oscar yet?” Lando came up to you, walking beside you now as you two entered the media room. 

“Nope, supposed to introduce myself later after hes gotten the tour” you explained seeing Lando frown a bit, “whats up?”

“Hes a bit quiet so don’t make him feel too overwhelmed. I know how far you can go to make someone your friend” he said reminding you on how past workers just wanted you to stay 20 feet from them and no less. It hurt your feelings but you understood that not everyone wanted to be your friend and let them be themselves still exchanging a simple smile. 

“Maybe you just don’t know how to make friends like I do” you confidently stated while Lando gave you a blank stare, not amused at all already thinking about the different ways you'll try to get the driver to be your friend. 

“And this is the media room” one of the workers announced and you immediately turned your head to see Oscar trying to stand as confident as possible. The two walked up to you and you shined your infamous welcoming smile, “This is y/n, i’ll leave you to her. I’m sure you’ll like her” 

Oscar just gave you a nod of acknowledgment with a small smile, a bit shy but you could work with that. Just need a little crack of the shell. 

“Hello newbie” you said, you could tell Oscar was already cringing at the nickname as he raised an eyebrow and you began to cringe at yourself apoligizing, “Terrible start, i’m y/n your media manager. So I basically deal with anything that goes out to the public so please don’t give me too much of a headache because thats landos job” 

He chuckled at that. Great start, you thought to yourself. 

“How was your last media manager because i'll make sure to treat you 10 times better” you confidently said with a proud smile as you started walking around the building with him following still getting the general premise of the layout. 

“I never got much of a chance to talk to her, mostly kept to herself” he said, crossign his arms in front of his chest.  You thought about how sad that was, not knowing who your drivers were that you wouldn’t have been able to talk to them. You two neared the patio as you said with a delighted voice, 

“Well i’ll make sure to talk to you” his nervous presence didn’t go unnoticed by you. You just needed to crack his shell is all, you keep telling yourself. 

The next day you greeted him and he only smiled at you. Nothing wrong with that, people are tired in the mornings. You called the two drivers in later that day to discuss how to out the news of Oscars arrival and while you made (amazing in your opinion) jokes, Lando would be the one to respond to them while Oscar stayed quiet nearly the entire meeting. 

Okay we all have our off days. 

But it would routinely be the same. Some days you wouldn’t even spot him or get a chance to talk to him. 

“I don’t think he likes me” you slumped into Landos bed as he was playing on his computer, listening to your rant for the past hour as a background noise. 

“Not everyone wants to be your friend, y/n” he reminded you and you only groaned against the pillows muffling your sounds at the reminder. 

“I know that but” you paused, thinking about it for a moment “he barely even acknowledges me anymore. Its somehow gotten worse” you slumped to yourself trying to think of a possible (good enough) reason as to why he mightve changed. 

“Just give him space-”

“I have a plan” you interrupted him making Lando sigh tiredly, now being the one to lose his patience. “Mission: Make Oscar my friend” you grabbed a random piece of sticky note paper and began scrambling for ideas. 

Step 1: be generous

Easy enough, you thought. Who doesn’t like cookies? You’ll just make cookies and offer them to him. You spent the entire night making cookies for the entire crew so it wouldn’t look too suspicious, put them into pretty bags and offer them to people as they enter. 

“Trying to get someone to be your friend?” oen of the coworkers passed as you handed them a bag, you gave them furrowed eyebrows. He only laughed, explaining “you always do this when you're trying to make a friend” 

You thought about it, cursing to yourself remembering this was how you got the photographer to be your friend last time. Thinking too much, Oscar had passed you without saying anything. You caught up to him with a bag in your hand. Oscar didn’t seem too surprised, growing used to your bursts of greeting. 

“I made cookies for the team, here” You handed it to him, and with a hesitant look he took them in your hand whispering a small thank you before walking at a faster rate hoping you would get the message. You did, but you refused to accept it as you began to increase your pace with him. 

Step 2: ask about their day

“How was your day?” your joyful voice made him stiffen. 

“It's been well” he responded in a quick manner, he wondered why you were still following him as he thought you would have much more important things to do instead of trying to connect with him. You did but its not like you finish your work on time on the regular anyways. 

“That's great-”

“y/n, need you to look at these” someone behind called out and you hesitated before sighing to yourself and waving with a simple smile before leaving, leaving Oscar to finally be able to breathe and settle down his rapid heart. 

“Didn’t work too well?” Lando asked, sitting down on the couch of the media room as the photographer began to show you the pictures.

“No, something is wrong with me” Your hands ran through your hair as if you had really lost your spark in people. “He seems to be enjoying everyone else but me” 

“That's because you're simply too much” he displayed his cheeky grin making you playfully hit him before you started examining the pictures. 

“You want to come with us for a photoshoot?” the photographer asked you and you eagerly nodded thinking this would be perfect chance to talk to Oscar more. 

Step 3: be an assistant. Practically help him with anything and everything he may need. Does he need water? You will personally go on a hunt to find the nearest water. Food? Give him yours, don’t feed it to him though. That’s weird. Jacket because it gets too cold? Fine, you’ll give him yours. 

“Stop acting so weird” Lando judged you as you practically jumped out of the car since he offered you a ride to the place. “And try to” he paused pretending to think before finishing “not be yourself so much” 

You shook your head as he laughed to himself feeling a little too proud of his joke. You spotted the photographer and Oscar chatting, he seemed more comfortable with her and you sighed to yourself before running up to them with a bright smile. Oscar immediately stopped talking, backing up a bit causing you to feel conscious of your aura. 

Lando gives you a look and your smile falters a bit to a much smaller one before facing back to the photographer, “when are you getting started?” you asked. 

“In a little, just need to get my bag. Be back” she leaves, being followed by Lando not too long after. Your eyes narrowed, now a bit confused as to why the two had to walk off considering it was just a bag until realization hit you. 

“Oh, they are so together” your smile beamed covering your mouth, heart picking up already being so happy for them. You faced Oscar who looked like he couldn’t care less, but seeing your smile made the corner of his lips curve up a bit “You know what this means?”

“The press are going to have a field day with the news?” he guessed and you only nodded suddenly your smile dropping, realizing you may have gotten too excited, going back on your heels to contain yourself from jumping around. 

“Shh don’t mention anything” you couldn’t help the smile though, as you giggled to yourself. It got quiet as you broke the silence facing him suddenly a bit nervous, “Hey, Piastri?” 

He hummed, allowing you to continue a bit interested as to your quiet demeener. 

“How come you don’t like me?” you were a bit embarrassed to ask, seeing as you’ve never questioned someone so much. Usually leaving them alone after a while, so why was he different?

“Who said I didn’t like you?” his eyebrows furrowed at you, somehow gathering enough courage to look at you properly for the first time, you now being the one to be looking down. The question brought your head up though, a bit surprised. You thought it was obvious. 

“You talk to practically everyone but me” your voice got quieter, something that rarely ever happens. 

“I’m talking to you now” he commented on and you only rolled your eyes, 

“Thats because I initiated the conversation” you couldn’t help the frustrated voice being let out. 

“Well, you're different. In a good way at least” you could tell he was getting nervous, some pink lingering on his cheeks and whether that was caused by you or the sun you didn’t want to know in the moment. His smile largened by just an inch but you weren’t one to not notice, “You want to be my friend so badly?”

You nodded eagerly earning a small chuckle from him. Why did your heart leap at the sound?

“Let me do it my way” he picked up one of your hands. “Allow me to take you out to a quiet place somewhere and I promise you’ll learn about me by the end of the night” 

His suggestion made your heart flip, a weird heat rush going to your cheeks as you realized his suggestion, tilting your head asking “like a date?”

The official term made Oscars cheeks now a bit more rosy, but you found it to be adorable. “If you agree to it” was all he said. 

You thought about it for a minute, allowing a small “sure, why not” shrugging with a small smile hiding your large one. 

After only about a month, he asked you out officially and you had finally succeeded in your mission. 

You got Oscar Piastri to be your (boy)friend. 

[lollytea]

HEY so, after all this whole month, what are your thoughts on Ariana Grande? not saying that you should love her ofc, but i don't know how u felt and feel bout her so it's genuine curiosity!

This is a fun question! A loaded one, considering I've got so much to say but a fun one nonetheless.

Since I've been obsessed with this movie and have been exposed to a lot of Ariana Grande as a result, I've had plenty of time to solidify my opinion of her.

Before I saw the film I just. Didn't care about her? I didn't listen to her music, didn't keep up with her as a celebrity and really the only things I knew about her were the controversies she was involved in. Namely the doughnut licking, the homewrecking rumors and ofc the blackfishing.

The blackfishing is definitely the one that stuck with me because honestly I think it's the only justifiable thing to hate her over.

The doughnut licking was a case of her being heavily inebriated after surgery and wasn't in her right mind and the people who were supposed to be taking care of her egged her on to act out.

The homewrecker thing is a messier situation but my main opinion is I don't like how everybody jumped to conclusions without actually knowing the insider details of these people's personal lives. Maybe Spongebob was an asshole and cheated on his wife and Ariana was complicit in it. That's absolutely possible. It's also possible that his marriage was already terminated in every way except legally when he and Ariana started seeing each other and he and his wife just weren't ready to announce it to the public yet. It's a schrodinger's cat situation. We're probably never gonna know the truth about what actually happened because (SHOCKINGLY) the people involved value at least some semblance of privacy. So what's the point in getting worked up over it?

But the blackfishing thing is legit. This isn't a case of speculation or rumor. This was a well documented point in time where Ariana Grande was criticised for appropriating black culture. Obviously this isn't a thing I can talk about in depth or give my opinions on because it's not even remotely my place. But it was a thing that happened.

All I'll say is that I personally found this to be kind of scummy of her. And this aspect of her reputation was my biggest opinion of her when her being cast as Glinda was announced. I didn't know much about her except that she was the "little black white girl" as Patti LaBelle called her. SO I wasn't exactly thrilled.

There's no point in me talking about whether she should or should not be forgiven for the blackfishing. That's out of my hands. She never appropriated MY culture so my forgiveness or lack thereof is meaningless. It simply is what it is.

It's worth noting that she doesn't do this anymore and is currently presenting as white as milk. Even her voice has changed to accommodate her new white girl aesthetic. She's like a chameleon, it's truly impressive.

I think the question as to WHY she made this change could contextualize her a bit more but God knows if we'll ever get the reason.

The more cynical outlook is that Ariana discarded the little black white girl persona the moment it no longer benefited her and went full bleach blonde waif once auditions for Glinda started cropping up. It's fully possible that this is why she did it.

Considering how fake and opportunistic celebrities tend to be, it's not unreasonable to make this assumption about her. We're jaded, we're tired. We're not buying into parasocial relationships anymore.

It's also fully possible that she just. Wanted to change. Wanted to do better going forward. It'd possible she was genuinely ashamed of this persona she had crafted for herself and didn't want to maintain it anymore.

This is a way more optimistic view on it. And I think it's admirable to choose to give people the benefit of the doubt. Even celebrities who exist behind this veil of truths and lies. We're not given much reason to trust in the goodness of Ariana Grande but some of us would like to do so anyway. Because why not? And that's reasonable too I think.

Because I really do NOT know anything about what this woman is actually like behind closed doors (and neither does anyone else. Even if they think they do), I don't align too strongly with either of these views. Again, schrodinger's cat situation. I think either are possible.

I think if I guard myself behind a wall of cynical disbelief every time a celebrity TRIES to improve themselves, and think "this is all a publicity stunt, they don't actually mean any of it" this outlook will eventually rot away at me and I'll become quite a cold, cruel person. I don't want that. I want to believe in people's capacity for good.

However, I also don't want to be the person who falls for every lie, fake apology and half baked manipulation out there. I don't want to believe in people so blindly that it makes me stupid. Especially not when appealing to our empathy has always been a tactic for shitty people to avoid being held accountable. I don't want to assume the worst in people, but I also want to stay sharp and pragmatic. So I'm not gonna shoo away shitty actions with "ah it's okay you didn't mean it" just because I want to believe they didn't.

So my stance on Ariana is like. Neutral but hopeful? I'm going to opt to believe she's working on herself and changing for the better but I wouldn't exactly be blown away if it turns out this isn't the case.

I hope that one day she addresses the blackfishing thing and is upfront about it. I hope she apologizes. I know that she definitely won't apologize anytime soon. Regardless of whether she wants to or not, Ariana is not allowed to just say things. We might not ever see or hear about them but she's flocked by a PR team at all times. Most things about the way she presents herself are carefully calculated for the sake of good press. If she wanted to own up to the shitty way she acted, I don't think she'd be allowed to revisit it NOW, not in the height of her wicked fame. It would only draw too much attention to that time in her life and get people side-eyeing her again. But I hope she apologizes eventually. It would be SOMETHING at least.

With my neutral/hopeful outlook, I DO respect and admire her as she currently is very much!! I don't know maybe it's just due to the enshittification of everything, but I've almost cried a few times over just how passionately Ariana CARES about wicked. She cares about the characters, the story, the source material, everything. There's been jokes in interviews that she was very nitpicky about details and was frequently arguing about changes to the script, because she wanted everything to be perfect. And honestly? Go her. Maybe it's just cuz I'm autistic but it's just very validating to see an actress making lighthearted jokes at her own expense about being annoying over details and yet fully embracing just how deeply this project meant to her and not downplaying it for a second.

She's even joked about how she understands why people were so pissed off when it was announced that she would play Glinda. She says that if she was somebody else, but still a fan of wicked, and she saw Ariana Grande was cast, she would have been like "kill me...just kill me....I waited fifteen years for this??? Kill me!!" Which is like. Really funny. But it also made me think about how she must have felt during that time. Knowing that Glinda has been her dream role since she was a kid, knowing that she put everything into those auditions, knowing that she worked tirelessly to make something good, I can't imagine what it must have been like to have the whole world tell you that you're a terrible choice for the role and you don't deserve it. I would have been devastated I think. But then again, Ariana Grande has already been through the ringer so maybe it didn't bother her at all.

Anyway, she was a fantastic Glinda. I'm genuinely happy for her in accomplishing her dream.

Ans I hope she can only go up from here. I hope she reflects the character she plays and continued to grow and improve as a person and doesn't prove that she'd just as willingly go back to scummy actions if that was what suited her. I would like to believe she's better than that now but only time will tell I guess 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sorry this is a lot of words. I'm really not good at expressing my points properly without a lot of rambling.