#guys he invented the internet we are using right now

[breezybeej]

Season 4 has introduced me to a new love.

[centrally-unplanned]

Let's see if I have one more election take in me:

I am deeply sympathetic to Sam Kriss's rage against the Democratic corpo-political shibboleth, and not just because we are both deeply enmeshed in the grand tradition of dissident Oxbridge-style cantankerous internet rants. He is right that Kamala was a weak candidate, for one. But more importantly, I still feel what he feels deep down. I remember the starry idealism of my halcyon youth, of believing that conviction, that vision, that the zeal only a platform birthed from authentic principles, tempered by struggle and sweat, would carry the day over crass, paint-by-polling-numbers incrementalism. When he describes Harris thusly:

"She’s a machine politician. She wants power, but not for any particular reason. It’s just that life is a game, and the point is to reach the highest level."

I see my own reaction to her when she first stepped into the 2020 limelight, and low-key hating her for it. I feel his heart, for it is my heart.

But it is not my brain. Because I am not a teenager anymore, and his critique is fucking bullshit.

He says all this stuff like:

The reason Kamala Harris lost is the same as the reason she was the candidate to begin with: the Democratic Party is allergic to democracy.

And how the electorate is seen as but ants from inside the towers of the Machine, like the Dems just invented "not running a primary" this time as a lark. As opposed to neither party in America ever having primaries against incumbent presidents! Because they are normally popular, and it would be a waste of everyone's time to do that! Could you imagine, launching a real primary against Obama in 2012? And possibly sabotaging his brand a bit for absolutely nothing? It is a reasonable policy, particularly when incumbents used to have an advantage for being so. Now they clearly don't, Biden was unpopular and too old, and the Dems took too long to realize it. A costly mistake, but it is a purely strategic error. Big orgs have inertia, and the Dems fucked up. It has nothing to do with an "allergy to democracy".

And Kriss can go off summarizing how the Harris campaign was offering voters nothing:

But for some unaccountable reason, among the general public, ‘Kamala: You Already Like Her!’ was not the brilliant pitch it seemed to be. [...] Another option would be to actually offer something to the voters.

Which sounds neat, but he made it up! I remember Kamala's actual campaign speeches, ads, and platforms, which she repeated so monotonically in her tightly-scripted campaign appearances: protect abortion rights, expand the welfare state, provide better child care support, lower the cost of housing. And most importantly, she ran on Biden's record of a strong economy and promised to deliver more of it. What does even mean for this to not be a real platform? Beyond not having some synthesized, totalizing "Critique" of modernity that packages it all into a beautiful, systematizing little box.

Because I promise you, voters synthesize jack shit. None of this is why Harris lost - voters have made that pretty clear:

You can find other data ofc, this or that point varies, but the story is not opaque. They didn't like Biden! They didn't like his inflation. They didn't like immigration, or they didn't like his liberalism, and they thought Kamala was too similar. She had too much policy baggage. And she wasn't charismatic enough to dig herself out of that hole - no disagreement from me on that front.

Though even then, by that we mean she lost an election by ~3-4% margins after getting subbed in at the 4th quarter while down by ~8% in the polls. That ain't bad!

None of the voters who matter share Kriss's sensibilities, and he cannot hide his disappointment in that. So he pretends that Donald Trump, the guy who promised 20% tariffs on everything to fight inflation, is giving them a real vision:

That’s what Trump did: he offered an enemy to blame and the prospect of doing violence to them

I don't know man, I think swing voters just don't like the last four years and think 2019 was better. I don't think the promises of orgastic violence against democrats are why Trump won! Actually a bit of an unforced error on his part.

But since Kriss presumes to value democracy, that thesis can't hold - so the lack of reality delivering on what his vision for democracy should be is displaced onto Harris's mistakes. The voters can never fail you. You can only fail to elevate them with the right candidate. Which, tactically? Sure, why not. But you can leave the moralism at the classroom door.

This ties into our dreaded media discourse debate, so it is time to bring in another explainer, by Michael Tomasky:

The line-by-line isn't interesting here; instead I want to focus on this quote:

Weren’t they bothered that Trump is a convicted felon? An adjudicated rapist? Didn’t his invocation of violence against Liz Cheney, or 50 other examples of his disgusting imprecations, obviously disqualify him? And couldn’t they see that Harris, whatever her shortcomings, was a fundamentally smart, honest, well-meaning person who would show basic respect for the Constitution and wouldn’t do anything weird as president? The answer is obviously no—not enough people were able to see any of those things. At which point people throw up their hands and say, “I give up.”

To which the immediate reply is: my dude, what are you talking about??

A 56 percent majority of Americans say Trump is probably guilty of a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results through false claims of voter fraud, including 40 percent who believe he is “definitely guilty.” Republicans are less united than Democrats. Nearly 9 in 10 Democrats believe Trump is guilty, while nearly 7 in 10 Republicans think he is innocent. Among independents, nearly twice as many think Trump is guilty as think he is innocent.

You know how when you ~13 years old, and you have that friend who is just old enough to start taking Dungeons & Dragons books filled with splash art of succubi into the bathroom with him, but not yet old enough to get that "talking to girls" is an acquired skill? And they are blatantly, openly salivating over the first chick in the 7th grade class who discovered what power the combination of a camisole and a push-up bra holds over the male gaze? And she just completely ignores his faltering attempts at ~casual conversation~, so his brain script-cycles through its backlog of tween sitcom plots until it lands on, "Hey, what if I confess to her? Then she will know about my feelings!"

And you have to pull him aside and gently explain that, bro. She knows. That is not your problem.

Kriss is too intelligent a thinker to not understand this, but our dear Tomasky - and so many like him - has stuck his 14-year-old head in the sand over this. Swing voters know Trump is a scumbag! They know he lost the election, they know he raped a few women in his day, they know he is a serial fraudster. Even a bunch of those Republicans who, in polls, go "oh it's all a Dem conspiracy"? They know too; they just have the decency to lie about it. How could they not? Every media outlet in the country has been repeating it for a fucking decade! I might think voters are morons but even I won't stoop this low; they have eyes and ears, they aren't illiterate.

They just don't care.

Not enough at least, not enough to make it the only thing they consider. And here is the rub, here is the grand mistake Kriss & Tomasky are making - they are at least somewhat right to not care. The height of the Democratic privilege is that they get to play this card because they don't have to deal with it being turned against them. Kamala is a political chameleon but she is a decent person. She would never take a bribe from a foreign government, she would never assault a coworker, she would never, ever, deny a free and fair election.

Which means you don't have to choose between voting for a rapist and voting for someone who is going to shove a bullshit interpretation of the 14th amendment down your throat via a stacked court to ban abortion nationwide, forever. Pro-life people think abortion is genocide against babies! Why are you surprised they aren't voting for the pro-baby-genocide person because she is nice? How sure are you that you would do the same when that is reversed? I guess those boycott-Harris-because-of-Gaza people got some cred, but I think we all agreed they were dumb, right?

This is the rub of why outsiders always have so much difficulty understanding how people like Berlusconi, Trump, Le Pen, etc, get so much vote share - they have no stake in the political struggle beyond the vague idea of democratic norms. It is easy to say "Italy, choose a non-crook!" when you don't have to live with the policy programme of the other guy. From the inside the price of those principles is far, far harder. It isn't shocking that most choose not to pay it.

This isn't to give voters like a moral pass - Trump's conduct is truly disqualifying, I would vote Republican if the shoe was on the other foot in this case. My point instead is that they generally won't as a simple fact of life, and blaming them is futile. If you have wound up in a situation where the political system has taken its pool of hundreds of millions of potential candidates and narrowed it down to two for the voters, and one of them has "launched a coup but will say go to hell to the inflation guy" as a bundled package, someone fucked up and it isn't the voters.

You need political elites to do their part in the system - Republicans never should have let Trump be their candidate in 2016. Open primaries with no organizational thumbs on the scale are a mistake, actually, allowing arbitrary minorities to generate subpar candidates. The decision to let Biden run again was, fundamentally, born from the same impulse - the Democratic Party had no leadership capable of telling him no, because they outsourced that job to "primaries". The Dems are not "allergic" to democracy; democracy is allergic to too much of itself.

But the cat is out of the bag now! These changes happened for a reason after all. Which I won't dig into here - I will keep my point as focused as something as sprawling as this can be. Voters will not save you, and you should not be disappointed when they don't. It was never their job.

[dorka]

Most mar a garbage day is megirta (egybol ossze is omlott a site)

Over the weekend, the always-excellent John Burn-Murdoch, over at The Financial Times, posted an alarming bit of demographic analysis that has now gone very viral. It’s from a column Burn-Murdoch wrote titled, “A New Global Gender Divide Is Emerging,” which shows a tremendous political gap forming between young men and women around the world.

Burn-Murdoch followed up the column with a lengthy thread on X hypothesizing as to what may be causing this gap and thousands of other users have offered up their own diagnoses, as well: Smartphones, video games, economic inequality, lack of education, an over-correction post-#MeToo.

Interestingly enough, though, the bulk of Burn-Murdoch’s reporting focuses on South Korea, the US, Germany, the UK, Spain, Poland, China, and Tunisia. Which, aside from China and Tunisia, were all countries I worked in, covering elections and far-right radicalization, in and around the time period those countries’ respective political gender gaps began widening. I’m not saying I have a tremendously in-depth understanding of, say, Polish toxic masculinity, but I did spend several days there following around white nationalist rappers and Catholic fundamentalist football fans. And, in South Korea, I worked on a project about radical feminists and their activism against the country’s equivalent of 4chan, Ilbe Storehouse.

In fact, between 2015-2019, I visited over 20 countries, essentially asking the same question: Where do bad men here hangout online? Which has given me a near-encyclopedic directory in my head, unfortunately, of international 4chan knock-offs. In Spain, it’s a car forum that doxxes rape victims called ForoCoches. In France, it’s a gaming forum that organized rallies for Marine Le Pen called Jeux Video. In Japan, it’s 2channel. In Brazil, it’s Dogolachan. And most, if not all, of these spaces pre-date any sort of modern social movement like #MeToo — or even the invention of the smartphone.

But the mainstream acceptance of the culture from these sites is new. Though I don’t actually think the mystery of “why now?” is that much of a mystery. While working in Europe, I came to understand that these sites and their culture war campaigns like Gamergate were a sort of emerging form of digital hooliganism. Nothing they were doing was new, but their understanding how to network online was novel. And in places like the UK, it actually became more and more common in the late-2010s to see Pepe the Frog cosplayers marching alongside far-right football clubs. In the US, we don’t have the same sports culture, but the end result has been the same. The nerds and the jocks eventually aligned in the streets. The anime nazis were simply early adopters and the tough guys with guns and zip ties just needed time to adapt to new technology. And, unlike the pre-internet age, unmoderated large social platforms give them an infinitely-scalable recruitment radius. They don’t have to hide in backrooms anymore.

Much of the digital playbook fueling this recruitment for our new(ish) international masculinist movement was created by ISIS, the true early adopters for this sort of thing. Though it took about a decade for the West to really embrace it. But nowadays, it is not uncommon to see trad accounts sharing memes about “motherhood,” that are pretty much identical to the Disney Princess photoshops ISIS brides would post on Tumblr to advertise their new life in Syria. And, even more darkly, just this week, a Trump supporter in Pennsylvania beheaded his father and uploaded it to YouTube, in a video where he ranted about the woke left and President Biden. Online extremism is a flat circle.

The biggest similarity, though, is in what I can cultural encoding. For ISIS, this was about constantly labeling everything that threatened their influence as a symptom of the decadent, secular West.

(X.com/jeremykauffman)

Taylor Swift, an extremely affluent blonde, blue-eyed white woman who writes country-inflected pop music and is dating a football player headed for the Super Bowl. She should be a resounding victory for these guys. Doesn’t get more American than that. But due to an actually very funny glitch in how they see the world, she’s actually a huge threat.

Pop culture, according to the right wing, should be frivolous. Because before the internet, it was something sold to girls by corporations run by powerful men. Famous pop stars through the ages, like Frank Sinatra, America’s first Justin Bieber, or The Beatles, the One Direction of their time, would be canonized as Great by Serious Men after history had forgotten they rocketed to success as their generation’s Tumblr Sexymen. But from the 2000s onward, thanks to an increasingly powerful digital public square, young women and people of color were able to have more influence in mainstream culture and also accumulate more financial power from it. And after Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign was able to connect this new form of pop influence to both liberal progressive politics and, also, social media, well, conservatives realized they had to catch up and fast. And the fastest way to do that is to try and smash the whole thing by dismissing it as feminine.

Pop music? It’s for girls. Social media? It’s for girls. Democrats? Girls. Taylor Swift? Girls and also a government psyop. But this line of thinking has no limit. It poisons everything. If Swift manages to make it to the Super Bowl, well, that has to become feminine too. And at a certain point, the whole thing falls apart because, honestly, you just sound like an insane loser.

[whyse7vn]

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS -

[ ot7 x reader ]

LOSERS 😟

8 participants - 8 online

———————————

y/n: ass or tits?

jk: tits.

y/n: oh?

jk: preferably yours

in my face

all the time

y/n: not all the time

jk: all

the

time.

jimin: is he dunk??

when have jungkook ever been that forward

yoongi: right.

anyways ass

namjoon: what happened to hello

how was your day?

miss you?

jin: tits

y/n: fair

tae: both

i say both

do i?

yes i do

or do i…

um

wait

nvm

okay both final answer

y/n: booo pick one

tae: come back to me

y/n: jimin?

jimin: ass 😌

jk: wrong the answer is tits right y/n?

hobi: is jungkook drunk omg

jimin: RIGHT I WAS SAYING

y/n: hoseok ur answer?

hobi: i have no answer because i’m a feminist 🙏🏻

tae: liar

because i am a REAL feminist i say ass #womenarethebest

y/n: ur all so predictable

thought i would be shocked and surprised

tae: are shocked and surprised not the same thing?

jimin: no?

jin: yes?

yoongi: who cares?

jk: i’m crying

hobi: LMAO

sorry i’m not laughing at you i’m laughing with you

jk: but i’m not laughing

i’m crying

namjoon: why are you crying??

jk: i think i’m drunk

jimin: i could of told you that

jin: who let the loser drink omg

tae: jungkook is borderline an alcoholic and we need to talk about it

yoongi: i prefer not to

let him suffer in silence

y/n: yoongi omg?!

yoongi: *yeah let’s help him 👍🏻

jk: i am nojt and alcoholick

tae: see now he can’t spell

look at the alcohol poisoning his mind the youth these days

namjoon: jungkook had been drinking a lot lately

jk: NO

ony

olly

onl

onlyyy

only every saturday

jin: it’s tuesday?

jk: what

yoongi: hes a grown man i say let him drink his life away

#freewill

jimin: rip bro

jk: rest easy i’ll miss you 💗😭

who died?

y/n: yikes!!!

jin: jungkook this is an invention

hobi: don’t you mean intervention??

jin: didn’t you fall at the grammys??

y/n: HELPOEODO

hobi: WHAT THE FUCK????

jk: what did you in

vvent jin?

jin: THIS IS AN INTERVENTION JUNGKOOK

put the alcohol down you are a light weight and a loser when you are drunk

jk: wJAHT

WHAT

NO

NO

NO

who told you i was dRunk

yoongi: i say this is a problem beyond us guys #letssleep

y/n: now i agree

#movingon

jimin: do you believe that jungkook is princess diana reincarnated?

tae: what is princess diana

y/n: i believe in the jungkook first life theory

jin: jungkook not british wtf

yoongi: no

jk: ipad

namjoon: what the fuck

jimin: i think jungkook isn’t real and we all made him up because we needed someone to bully

jk: i’m am a real

y/n: standing with the first life theory

jin: i stand with the not real theory

yoongi: he’s dead

hobi: robot boy built in space by tiny ants

jk: some times i thin k ants are iN my braiN

hobi: see

yoongi: who ate my pizza?

tae: who would do that omg 😭😭😭?

y/n: was tae

yoongi: figured

namjoon: i am genuinely concerned for all of you

y/n: namjoon is an ass guy

jimin: real

namjoon: ???

hobi: imagine we got jumped by all of nct and seventeen at the same time

y/n: hot

jk: 2 baddies 2 baddies

jin: why would they want to jump us

are we not their idols?

namjoon: you can’t just assume we are everyone’s idols jin

jin: why not?

tell me mr kim namjoon

…

right

stfu

don’t talk to me for the rest of they day

tae: imagine getting stomped on by all of them

y/n: i’m sick of pretending i’m okay with taehyungs freaky little foot fetish

yoongi: agreed

hobi: i say let’s kick him

namjoon lowkey got one too and no one talks about it

y/n: REAL

jimin: SO GLAD IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHOS NOTICED

KICK THEM BOTH

jk: wwweowowowwwww

jin: omg forgot about jungkook

where even are you rn bff

namjoon: i do not have a foot fetish

jk: i with my otherR friends Butte dw im nottt replacing u guys

yoongi: he has other friends?

jk: yoongi my BIGGEST HATEFR LRTS TALK ABUTTT UIT

jimin: namjoon you literally post pictures of your feet on the internet for fun like

y/n: just like tae but make it aesthetic

jk: yoongi just saY ur in liove with y/n and go

jin: OMGhwhdhdhdhd

hobi: WOAHSHSHDHHSHDNDND

y/n: NO CUZ YOONGI ME PERSONALLY I WOULD HAVE ITTTT

tae: i have love i want to share

jin: this is not about you tae

omg yoongi typing

hobi: kinda nervous

namjoon: that does not mean i have a foot fetish wtf?

jin: someone tell namjoon to stfu we have bigger problems rn

hobi: namjoon jin said to stfu cuz we have bigger problems rn

yoongi: if i wanted her i could have her just saying

you should be thanking me tbh ur little crush isn’t that much of a secret

y/n: NEHHEHDBFBFBFBBF

hobi: I SCREAMEDDDDDDDDDDD

jimin: DAMNNSNDJ

jin: YOONGI ATE SORRY

tae: i have a crush

jin kicked tae from the gc

jin: he can come back after

jk: wjat I HAVVBBBB Njko nncrudhj

jimin: someone translate i beg im too invested

hobi: fight i say

to the death preferably

yoongi: going to bed

gn y/n

y/n: ur so evil omg

gn yoongi

jimin: NO CUZ JUNGKOOK GONNA CRY WHEN HE READ THIS WHEN HES SOBER

jin: YOONGI JUST DID JUNGKOOK SO FUCKING NASTY OMSHSHSH

hobi: YIKES LAMSKDKOD

namjoon: damn

jin: jungkook wya????

jimin: express your thoughts rn this is a safe place

jk: i canTttty sea

hobi: he’s so fucked up

jin added tae to the gc

tae: let’s run away together

forget all the drama bae just you and me against the world

jimin: omg ok 🥺

tae: ew not u wtf

was taking to y/n

jimin: EW???

tae: ew.

would rather kms

xoxoxox

y/n: you know you can just open a mcdonald’s if you have the money like that’s so crazy

jin: i don’t care for that type of food

they are serving you horseback and pig feet

hobi: did you not eat it yesterday?

jin: don’t let me get you again

hobi: this is a toxic friend group

namjoon: do you guys really think i have a foot fetish?

y/n: come on now…

jimin: 10000%

hobi: there is no doubt in my mind

jin: YEAH

tae: it’s okay bro

namjoon: you are the last person i want comfort from

tae: WTF???

last time i’m ever being nice

fuck you

kys how about that?

hobi: how you like that?

that that that that that that

y/n: where did jungkook go

jin: dead

jimin: crying

tae: idk

namjoon: he probably fell asleep it is like 2 am??

tae: namjoon kinda annoying guys

jin: someone had to say it!!

i agree

namjoon: sorry i am the only functional one in this group?

jin: look at him getting all defensive omg

tae: you cant even cut food right so how functional are you really?

jimin: no cuz remember when he was cutting that fucking carrot omg

namjoon: bye it’s late and u guys are annoying

tae: loser

y/n: cheer up joonie

jin: pussy

…

HELP i feel so bad cuz i was writing an individual one and i just couldn’t think of shit to say writing the gc ones are so much easier but i promise i’ll fix up and write more individual ones i just wanted to release something cuz i’ve been posting consistently lately and don’t want to break the streak so sorry if this one feels a bit rushed love you all comments reblogs and likes are always greatly appreciated and TY for being sosososo nice to me in my inbox entirely grateful love u xoxox

( also pls ignore any mistakes if there are any it is literally almost 2 am and i cant see straight will go fix it later love u )

[frostyreturns]

"the tinfoil comes off when you have to imagine the government as smart." This is one of the responses to my post about government having access to technology far beyond the general public. This is a pretty common dismissal of conspiracies and it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard every time I hear it.

A.) What you think the government is and what the government actually is are two different things. This attitude only works if you actually believe the puppet they parade in front of a camera is in charge. Can you honestly tell me you believe that, for example Joe Biden a demented old fuck that doesn't even know where he is...is the one writing and enacting policy right now? You have no idea how smart or how dumb the people in charge are because you don't even know who they are. There's video footage of him signing laws where he says the words "I have no idea what I'm signing." But sure I guess if you're dumb enough to think guys like him are the government I guess thinking the government is too stupid to plan stuff makes sense. The government has so much power and so much control over your life that this idea that they are just too incompetent to plan anything is beyond ridiculous.

Bureaucracy is just one part of government and yeah they're going to have incompetent workers maybe even more than the general public but to say the people in charge are too dumb to plan anything...come on. They were smart enough to trick you into allowing them to steal from you every week, to control your entire education and to be able to send armed men to kill or imprison you if you do anything they don't like.

B.) You know Hanlons razor "never attribue to malice what can be explained by stupidity" well that's retard shit go ahead and reject that premise in totality because reality is actually the opposite of that, the world is full of malice especially when you look to the upper echelons of power....those people are all psychopaths.

You have made the mistake of assuming the terrible things they do are because of stupidity and that they just keep screwing things up by mistake...the screwing up is very intentional. Every socialist policy maker who claims "oh I'm raising the minimum wage 5 bucks to fight inflation because I care about the poor" knows 100% that they are causing inflation and that it will make life harder for everyone and especially hard for the poor. They know...they want your life to be harder, they want money and power and wish you harm. It's not a bug it's a feature.

They knew when they went on tv and said get this shot it will save your life and your grandmas life...they knew they would be injecting you with heart attack cancer juice, that was pure unbridled malice, not stupidity.

C.) You understand it's not DMV employees and politicians doing science for the government right? You do understand that when I say the government has tech we don't it's not because I think Justin Trudeau figured out AI before google right? They use those private companies as contractors to develop technology and then control how it is accessed used and if and when and how it is released to the public. Or they just hire the smartest people to do R and D directly for them. Like when they invented the internet at DARPA. But usually they just swoop in and take what they want that someone else created. People also have this idea that major corporations and the government are separate competing entities when they're not. They dump funding into companies and install CEOs and board members to control them. Google for example only exists because of the government, oh did you think google does whatever the government wants purely coincidentally? The idea of corporations vs government is a fantasy that should have been even more apparent during 2020 when the will of the state was summarily executed by virtually every corporation on the planet.

The idea that people still think the government is separate from corporations after minimum wage employees at walmart were tasked with being bouncers at the door and making sure everyone was wearing a mask had their injection and weren't standing too close to each other because the government told them to ...is ridiculous. 2020 should have been the death of the "private company can do what they want" nonsense.

D.) We tend to use ourselves as barometers of what others are capable of but the problem is there are ways of life and being that are totally foreign to us. Many assume because they are not smart or sociopathic enough to collude and scheme to achieve power and control over others...then nobody must be like that. You went to public school smoked weed the whole time and learned how to write in cursive poorly...I don't think your experience is the same as someone who was born into wealth and power and can spend every minute of their life for generations learning how to keep and amass more wealth and power. You have no idea what it's like to have everything you could ever ask for, all the money you could have to indulge any whim and get weird and disconnected because of it and to feel entitled and superior and spend your days trying to exert your will on the rest of the world. That's not even going into any secret cults or organizations...which are also a thing.

Embracing the tinfoil is the only rational way to proceed with what we know. The only alternative is comfortable delusion. And this wasn't even about a wild or hard to swallow reality...it was just the notion that the government is ahead of the consumer market with technology...that's not even a conspiracy it's a demonstrable fact.

[stemms]

Hello, guys. I’m sorry for being inactive in terms of original content lately, but I’m back, and right now I would like to give you an important update.

I’d briefly mentioned my abusive familial situation in the past, but I never really went into details. However, I’d like to share more context now, as it is directly related to the reason for my sudden disappearance.

I’ve been trapped in an abusive situation for the past seven years, and the longer I stayed in this household, the worse it became. While the abuse was mostly psychological, it escalated to the point where one of my abusers nearly choked me to death. I will elaborate on that incident after giving you some context.

My abusers are my mother and stepfather, with the latter causing me more harm. He tends to always blame me for everything, invent more and more nonsensical rules for me to follow (and randomly abandoning some, only to come up with something else) and get mad if I don’t learn them by heart the moment he introduces them (which happens because of my horrible memory that his abuse worsened). He always expected me to reach out to him if I needed emotional support, but when I was actually struggling mentally, he either preferred to ignore it or cut off the internet because “it was obviously the reason”. Additionally, he’d always get mad at me over the stupidest things ever and use it as an excuse to yell at me for 2 hours. Also, fun fact: some of my top posts are heavily inspired by something he did to me (: (: (: My mother isn’t better because she watched every single time he was abusing me, but never really tried to stop him. Yet, when I tried to confront her about his behaviour and explain that this is literal abuse, she’d gaslight me into thinking it’s normal, and it could’ve been worse, so I’m lucky and he “has good intentions anyway”. She’s also extremely controlling, manipulative, and obsessed with the idea of moulding me into the person she never got to be, as well as always keeping me around.

Since I’ve been dealing with this kind of behaviour for so long, my mental health seriously deteriorated. My hands are always shaky, I flinch whenever my stepfather enters the room, I tremble if he comes too close, I flinch if he touches me, I’m horrified of maintaining eye contact with him, I’m always in the fight or flight mode, I overanalyse his behaviour and always make sure to do anything I can (even if it's humiliating) to ensure that he doesn't hurt me again. Recently, I started going to therapy and taking medication, and it's been very helpful so far.

Although things weren’t perfect already, I didn’t expect my life to be threatened. A while ago, I was having an argument with my transphobic mother about my identity, and after it was over, we had dinner. During the argument, my stepfather wasn’t home, so he was unaware of it, but he noticed the tense atmosphere, and it infuriated him to the point where he went to the kitchen to do the dishes instead of eating with us. I had a feeling that he thought it was my fault, so I followed him to reassure him that my mother’s state wasn’t his fault, and it was just a small argument between us (which was literally true), but he started shouting at me because he assumed I was accusing him of something???? I tried to reassure him some more, and then he lashed out at me and said lots of transphobic shit. After that, he grabbed me, pushed me to the floor and got on top of me, pressing me harder and harder to the floor, started choking me so hard that I could barely breathe, so I bit him, and he continued to choke me and pull my hair. I messaged my English Literature teacher and she called the police. We were interrogated and although my mom told me to downplay it, I was too scared to do so and told them everything, plus showed them the pictures of my bruises.

After that, I couldn’t look at any c!Prime content for a while because it suddenly felt triggering, so I just needed to take a break from my blog and work on my mental health for a while. But right now, I'm doing better and I’m feeling more comfortable about c!Prime again, so I should be able to make more content soon. I must admit, I'm not that hyperfixated on it at the moment, but I’m definitely going to do more c!Prime content soon because these freaks are too fun :)

[tayfabe75]

Love your theories, but one thing gives me pause right now. Would they really spend important holidays away from each other, kissing different partners for New Years Eve for example, just to prove some sort of point? We know they’re both romantics and I just can’t see them faking it for such important occasions.

Hi anon! First and foremost, nothing at all wrong with having pause. If everything seems normal to you and nothing feels a bit off or amiss, then there's absolutely no reason to engage with theories or even humor them. We all have our own sense of intuition. And regardless of what I say, or what Twitter says, you should trust your own instincts!

That said, my own instincts tell me that something is "off". Personally, I could not reconcile the breakup based on Taylor and Matty's words and actions. I could not reconcile Taylor Ssswift 🐍 bowing to a hate mob similar to the one that tried to take her down in 2016, or turning her love life into a spectator sport.

And wouldn't you know it? The more I dug in, the more history I found between the pair. The more their respective discographies started to sound like a dialogue, two halves of the same story. And then the coincidences! Everyone has a threshold of how many coincidences are too many before it becomes impossible that they are coincidental. For me, I think that number is just lower than for most. But as someone who loves mysteries, my brain is primed to see patterns in a way that maybe most don't (for better or for worse).

As a proud non-conformist, I wouldn't give the media or the internet the satisfaction of baselessly hating Matty Healy. I often say I learned about him out of spite! (Turns out the world cannot identify a man of outstanding moral character when it's staring them right in the face, and trust me, this is so much tangibly worse than the jokes he laughed at)

I became so fascinated by Matty's character that I started obsessively listening to all of his interviews. Turns out that he can't shut up about Brad Troemel, the guy who created the Taylor Swift Fan Union (and probably The 1975FU) and who has been working literally over Matty's shoulder throughout this year, and has suggested he might be working with Taylor, too.

Now, I bet you're scared to theorize because you're scared to be compared with a subculture of Taylor fans who have theorized about say, a hidden relationship or sexuality, perhaps? Here's what I'll say about that: for their theories to work, they had to completely ignore Matty's existence at his own fucking show on December 4, 2014, aka ground zero. I believe Taylor and Matty once benefitted from these theories - they were somehow so close yet so far off the mark that they were 'safe' being underground without raising suspicion. Why go underground? Well, Matty told us exactly why (and was crucified for it)! However, ignoring this subculture for so long turned it into a Frankenstein's monster. So, since they knew this monster was going to try to destroy Matty at all costs anyway, they had to come up with a plan. I think they did two main things to address it:

1) Orchestrated Matty's cancellation 2) Hired Brad Troemel to do it

So, how can I believe Taylor and Matty are still together despite spending holidays apart and kissing separate partners?

Kayfabe.

Now this is a wrestling term, so you're going to have to think a little outside the box to apply it to celebrity culture instead, all right? I'll start by quoting the man, himself, Brad Troemel:

"The term 'Kayfabe' was invented to describe all the different measures taken to ensure viewers' suspension of disbelief was upheld. Kayfabe includes everything from the matches' predetermined outcome, the scripted moves wrestlers use, their stage personas, their promotional interviews, the feuds between competitors, their ongoing love interests, the storylines that weave feuds together, the belts wrestlers win, the media coverage surrounding wrestling. All of it! Kayfabe is the entire massively collaborative theatrical universe created to maintain wrestling's believability. It's the never-ending commitment to the bit. One of the most important parts of Kayfabe, developed in the 1930s, was the idea that all wrestlers could be sorted into two camps. On one side, there'd be the good guys, known as babyfaces - who follow the rules, take their vitamins, and say their prayers. Then on the other side, there'd be the bad guys, known as heels - who play dirty tricks and would do anything to win. The job of the heel was to generate heat among the audience. This meant goading the crowd into belligerent anger by breaking the rules whenever possible, and cowardly hiding behind the rules whenever convenient. Once a wrestler's persona was established, it extended into every aspect of their life. Wrestlers were expected to maintain kayfabe both inside and outside the ring whenever a fan was present. This meant that if your wife at home was different from your in-ring lover, then you were expected to keep your marriage secret."

Then you have quotes from Taylor like this one:

"Having journalists write in-depth, oftentimes critical, pieces about who they perceive me to be made me feel like I was living in some weird simulation, but it also made me look inward to learn about who I actually am. Having the world treat my love life like a spectator sport in which I lose every single game was not a great way to date in my teens and twenties, but it taught me to protect my private life fiercely. Being publicly humiliated over and over again at a young age was excruciatingly painful but it forced me to devalue the ridiculous notion of minute-by-minute, ever-fluctuating social relevance and likability. Getting canceled on the internet and nearly losing my career gave me an excellent knowledge of all the types of wine."

Because everyone tends to speculate the worst in others, the narrative quickly turned into: "Taylor always wanted to be in the spotlight having people spectate her love life, it was her mean ex who kept her trapped indoors!" Okay well, now we know thanks to Jack that the "mean bad ex" was probably out of the picture by the time she made this speech. For a woman who proudly easter eggs her clothing, the fact she wore the NYU sweatshirt when she was seen with Matty was… a choice.

Now, let's think about Matty's quote about how he struggled to distinguish reality as a kid because his parents were both actors and celebrities:

"I'd be a child, and something would happen in my real life, and then I'd see that thing on a newspaper, and I'd think, That's not what happened, but that's my mum saying a version of what happened, and I know Mum's at home and she's O.K." He came to understand that a person's life was "a balance between what is real, what is said, what happens, what people believe, what people project, and what is true."

Pair this with not just his desire to make a name for himself and his band completely outside of the shadow of Taylor Swift, but the recent prediction that The 1975 will become the most important band of the decade (and just before hiatus!) At this point, I would say there's a pretty striking case for motive. The Reputation prologue is another great read for anyone who presumes they know a damned thing about Taylor Swift (oh, definitely including myself!):

"We think we know someone, but the truth is that we only know the version of them they have chosen to show us."

That was me trying to keep it brief, but I'd say that's a good "101" of the basics, at least! 🤼‍♂️

[mymanyfandomramblings]

Gleecap 4x16--Feud

This feud is bringing out the worst in Schue, but...understandable

How did the students find out about the kiss?

Also, I love that Blartina are the leaders of the New Directions and are conducting the intervention. Blamtina might be the Harry, Ron and Hermione of McKinley, but Blartina are the new captains.

Also I love that O Fortuna (usually reserved for Sue's tantrums) is used for the feud

More supportive Santana! Yay! After watching Mash-Off yesterday it is so refreshing to see her being a great friend.

Rachel's not pregnant--not that I was seriously expecting her to be, but I am the weirdo who loves a good baby storyline, so I'm the teensiest bit disappointed

I don't like Brody--or where this is going--but the dance sequence in How To Be A Heartbreaker is funnn

Okay, wow, Rachel went off on those vocals! Stunnnninggg

Sue and her contracts--this woman is hilarious

The pan to Tina--and apparently even Sue didn't notice her. This is hilarious

I feel like Ryder is about to have a dangers-of-the-internet storyline. However, I am glad he's seeking someone else, and not hung up on Marley

Unique is a star!! I love how she has Marley's back

Bad move, Ryder. Bad move.

I feel like Finn is asking to get his feelings hurt here. He's sensitive.

Will's harsh--but somewhat right. Also I don't think he's being entirely honest about why he put Finn in charge--I think it's because he believes in what Finn can be capable of, but he's angry, so I get it.

The triumphant return of Santana's psychic Mexican Third Eye! It's official, I love S4 Santana

Whyyy is Sue so evil? I feel like her more batty schemes only make sense when she's feuding with Will specifically, and she's not supposed to be trying to destroy non-Will-entities lives. Then, it is S4, and they're probably running out of Sue ideas

Once more, Sue has invented a new minority to be

Once more Jake, Marley and Ryder--Most Reasonable Glee People Ever

Ryder drums?!? (now, I fail to see him as Finn 2.0--they're different characters, but the drumming is a very Finn thing to do)

Unique and her tiaras are so sweet! Especially how excited everyone else is about them

I do think Ryder can be a jerk, but I also think that he's just..struggling to wrap his head around Unique's gender--especially since so many people keep using he/him for Unique. Ryder just needs to be less pigheaded about it, and be willing to learn.

Becky's Nicki outfit is so cuuuute

I love whenever glee does those locker shots. They're such a fun framing device

"Don't apply logic to Lopez" SANTANA ily

Damn, Santana killed Coldhearted.

I love the guys being 'neutral backup dancers'

"Cool. Can we begin please." Kitty, I hate you, but that was excellent delivery

Sam is dressing exactly like Mike Chang--the vest + fedora combo is iconic

Wise words from Sam

Santana channeling Sue with her 'my breasts ache with rage' line

Sue's Super Bass is---I have no words whatsoever for it. Either that or many words, none of which I can articulate

"maybe you should go back to not speaking so freely' I am loving this Finn--Marley conversation so far.

Yesss! Teacher!Finn.

Once more, this batch of New Directions are so good at dealing with their dramas in a reasonable way.

Okay, Kitty is coming through for once.

Yes Blaine and Sam plotting!!

Santana is a criminal mastermind

It is beautifully unnerving how Finn smiles when he's mad

Sam's awkward dancing, my beloved!

Also I love Marley's dress in the final song

[womanofwords]

The Poisoned Prodigy (Chapter 10)

I woke up alone in a hospital bed with a blinding light in my face. "Where am I?" I asked the bleached white walls. A nurse bustled into the room with a tray of food.

"How are you feeling?" he asked me.

"Pretty good, but my head hurts," I told him. "What happened, exactly?"

"You were brought in here unconscious after a man hit you," he said, putting the food down on a table next to me. "You are now in Olympus Medical Centre."

Olympus Medical Centre. The same hospital Patton was admitted to. "Where's Patton? He's a patient here. I need to see him."

"Oh, no you don't," he told me sharply. "You're not going anywhere. You need to rest, Vincent. People will be visiting you soon."

So my parents were coming. Made sense. I settled back into my new bed and waited. I closed my eyes to prepare for sleep.

"Hi, Vince," Patton said. But it couldn't be Patton. Patton was still in a coma.

It was Patton.

I scrambled into a sitting position. "How are you awake? You're in a coma."

"I came out of it," he giggled, hopping over and sitting on my bed. They'd taken his prosthetic leg off and left him crutches to use. "So, since you've been awake for the past few days and I haven't, how's Ernest doing in prison?"

I explained everything that had happened, the bribery, the blackmail, the frame job. Patton's eyes watered. "Dr Jacobs was my favourite teacher," he said. "He inspired me to create the prosthetic leg with the flexible foot to better mimic the movements of an actual foot. I won with the invention he inspired me to make."

"I'm so sorry to tell you." I pulled him towards me and hugged him. "You'll be OK, eventually. Your school had a shrine to you. And the skate park. You are loved and missed, something Ernest and his family will not know anything about."

"I've been told as much. I was surrounded with so many flowers I thought I woke up in a florist."

"I met your friend, Sally, too. Apparently, all the people who like Ernest could have been written on a sticky note that was ripped in half."

Patton burst out laughing. "She said that? That is cold. Accurate, but cold."

"Once you get onto the internet, you'll be able to follow the whole story online," I said.

"Cool." We lapsed into a comfortable silence, until Patton decided to speak again. "What's going to happen to Ernest? He's been proven innocent, but the stuff his parents did for him doesn't look good."

"He'll probably leave the school. Having your parents blackmail a teacher into making other students do work for you and poison a student isn't a good look."

"Oh. You are the coolest best friend ever," Patton said.

"I'm really not."

"You solved my poisoning, saved Ernest from going to prison even though everyone thought he did it, and went head to head against an evil teacher that had everyone fooled. Admit it; you're amazing."

"I'm still not."

"Well, that's it. I'm going to make you admit it. Admit that you're amazing." He poked me in the ribs experimentally.

"I'm not ticklish, Patton."

"Right. I keep forgetting that." His shoulders slumped. "What do I do now? Something has to convince you that you're awesome."

Umma rushed in, Appa and James close behind her. "Vincent!" She hugged me tight. "What were you doing? Who did it?" She did a double-take when she saw Patton. "Patton!"

"Hi, Mrs Song," Patton said.

"Patton, he found your murderer!" James yelled. "My dork brother Vincent found the guy who murdered you!"

"He's not my murderer; I'm not dead," Patton explained. "And I already know that it's him. He told me."

"Oh," James said, looking deflated.

"Also, you're a prick," Patton said.

Umma gasped. Appa's jaw dropped. James glared at Patton. "What was that?" James asked, fist clenched. It was a rhetorical question.

"You are one, though," Patton said. "You always make fun of Vincent, even while he's in hospital for exposing an attempted murderer and corruption scandal and getting hurt while doing it. He's an actual hero and he still can't catch a break from you."

Appa, Umma, and James looked at Patton like he'd grown a second head in front of them. "James, be nicer to your brother," Umma said. She looked embarrassed that Patton pointed out what a jerk James was. She never listened to me when I was telling her the exact same stuff.

"Fine," James said. He looked embarrassed, too.

Good.

"Vincent!" Sally rushed into my room, stopping when she saw everyone staring at her. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Vincent, this is your . . . friend?" Umma asked.

I took a deep breath. "Mom, Dad, this is Sally. She's been helping me with this stuff. She goes to Patton's school."

"Hi, Sally!" Patton said, waving. She froze.

"How long have you been awake?" she asked.

"Since yesterday," Patton said. "And then I went back to sleep because I was still tired."

"You were just out of a coma!" Sally laughed.

"Patton's kind of like a cat. He's supposed to sleep for eighteen hours a day," I said.

Patton clutched an imaginary pearl necklace. "Hey!"

"You have to admit that it fits, though," Sally laughed.

"I have two friends, and they're both mean," Patton groaned. "Why are you both mean to me?"

"Hey, we went out of our way to find your real poisoner, have some respect," Sally said.

"You are still awful," Patton said. Aunt Indigo and Uncle Malcolm rushed in and carried Patton out.

"How did you get here?" Aunt Indigo said, handing him over to his uncle like a package or something.

"I was looking for Vincent. He found the real poisoner, Auntie."

"What?" She paused. "What?"

"Yes. It was mostly him. I helped a bit," Sally said.

Malcolm sniffled. "Thank you. Thank you so much for finding my boy's attempted killer." He approached the bed and lifted me up out of it. I always thought that him lifting Patton around just meant that Patton didn't weigh very much. He actually was pretty strong. Half of me was lifted out of the bed as he hugged me.

"My son should rest," Umma said, suddenly shooing everyone out of my room. She had been watching all of this from a corner of the room with a smile on her face.

Pride.

She was proud of me.

:-)

The hospital allowed my family to take me home after a day of observation. "Rest, Vincent," Umma told me. "Enjoy your gifts. People have been very worried about you."

I stopped focusing on the raindrops racing each other down the window and looked forward. "Worried?"

"Yes, everyone's been very scared. This is big," Appa said. "Media asking questions. Very invasive."

"It blew up and people found out where we lived. You're a hero, man," James said.

We arrived at our home and found flowers. Bundles of them waiting outside our home, with cards and letters. "This is a lot," I said. "People actually know about me?"

"People love you! You're a badass!" James said. "My little brother's a badass! My little brother's a badass! My little brother-"

"JAMES!" Appa and Umma yelled.

Appa took me home and walked me into the house. "My good boy," he said, over and over. I laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling. Same bland, boring ceiling. I hated that ceiling. I stared at my skating helmet. Green and reflecting light from the light streaming through my window. It didn't feel as foreboding as it used to.

I'll be able to skate with Patton soon.

If you want to read the other chapters, see Masterlist.

[squeakyfir]

I'm your huckleberry (Tombstone 1993) (Doc Holliday)

Description:

The joys of modern inventions and miracles are often taken for granted. Your hungry or thirsty? Get something from the fridge or make it. You need to go somewhere? Drive or call an uber. Your hurt? Go to the doctor.

Your bored? Watch a movie, play video games, watch videos on the internet, talk to people without ever leaving your house.

Some much time is in our hands... but back in the 19th century... you wouldn't last very long.

Diseases are rampant, gun violence is higher, no modern technology, barely any good medicine, almost all of your favorite food doesn't exist and most of the people are rude as hell. But... That doesn't mean all of them were so bad. Love was not something most people in this time really cared about. At least, in the town of Tombstone, Arizona.

After falling asleep with a nice looking stone you bought at a small stand at the carnival, your whole world becomes the opposite. Six people from the past discover you unconscious and alone in the blistering heat and offer help but it was their help that let you meet the most amazing man you've ever met.

John Henry "Doc" Holliday.

Chapter 5

Previous ~ Next

"Look out ladies" you yelled as you slammed the door open and entered the cottage, arms outstretched like royalty and being dumb on purpose. "I have returned"! The women laughed and the Earp brothers were right behind you. "Don't do that" Wyatt said like he was scolding a child, "You could break the door".

"I was careful" you said dismissively and then turned your attention to the wives. "Guess what girls! I got a date with a hot and sexy man! WOOP WOOP"!

"A date" Mattie asked.

"You know. When a guy asks you out and you both spend time with each other. You know". They understood and got excited "You did" Allie asked excitedly. "With who"?

"Doc Holliday"!

The woman were speechless in shock and confusion. "What's wrong"?

"Isn't he still with Kate" Louisa asked Morgan.

"Doesn't sound like it" Morgan said, "They were pretty stuck on each other".

"Who's Kate? His girlfriend or something"?

"If you mean lover, then yes" Morgan said.

"Oh". You said feeling suddenly upset and sat down on the couch besides Allie. Wyatt could see that this really did upset you suddenly and decided to share his input. "Believe me when I say this, (Y/n)", you looked over at Wyatt. "I've known him for a very long time. And I can promise you that he keeps his word".

"I hope so".

"But this is still wonderful" Allie said, "We need to get you a dress and-"

"I already told you guys that I hate dresses and I already told him that I won't wear a dress and he was ok with it. So HA"!

"Oh, come on, (y/n)" Louisa begged, "Will you at least let us do your hair"?

"So you can make me look like a discount Lady Gaga"?

"What" Morgan asked surprised and trying not to laugh.

"Nevermind. It's just another thing from the future". You turned your attention back to the woman. "I still don't think it's a good idea".

"Oh, come on, (y/n)" Louisa begged, "Your hair is so beautiful, you have to do something to it at least".

"Really" you asked carelessly. "Watch this". With their attention on you, you flipped your hair around stylishly and looked back at them to say, "That's style right there". Morgan tried not to laugh.

"Oh please, (Y/n)" Allie begged and stood up, "Let us do your hair. If you won't wear a dress then let us do your hair at least".

"That won't matter" you said, "It wouldn't look right with what I'm wearing and I would look even stupider than I already am".

"You don't look stupid, but please let us do your hair" Allie asked.

"I'm sorry but no" you said genuinely. Allie and Louisa sighed sadly and knew that they couldn't convince you. "Very well, but you'll have to make it up to us at some point" Allie said.

"Alright. You have a deal. But for now, I got to kill time. So I'm gonna play some games on my phone". You went and sat down next to the girls and the Earp brothers walked over to see the small device in action once again. The small device was illuminated with bright colors and they couldn't follow along with what your doing.

They couldn't watch for long since the ladies had to figure out what to wear and you pulled out your solar panel charger to charge your phone for awhile until night finally came and Doc came to the cottage to walk with you all. It was a bit cold outside and you didn't mind since you do enjoy cold weather. You walked alongside the Earps and their wives and Doc offered his coat to you to keep you warm and you accepted even though you didn't need it. As you all walked in, there were a lot of cowboys taking up the benches on the ground level but the Earps told you that they were going up to the birdcage balconies to have better views.

As you all sat down, Morgan and Virgil and their wives had their own booth and you with Doc and Wyatt with his wife had your own booth, you admired the whole theater. It was so nostalgic and enjoyable to look at. "I've never been to a live performance before".

"I'm assuming it's different in the future" Wyatt said.

"You have no idea. I can show some of them to you guys later".

"Here darlin'" Doc said as he took his coat off your shoulders and gently guided you to the seat closest to the balcony. "Sit here".

"Oh why thank you" you said sweetly. Doc slipped his coat back on and gave you a brief smile and sat down beside you. "Wyatt" a voice said from beside Doc. "I'd like you to meet Mayor Klump and his wife". It was Fred White. Wyatt stood up and shook the mayors hand. "Mr. Earp. Your reputation precedes you". They retracted their hands. "I was wondering if you might be--"

"Not a prayer. Nice meetin' you" Wyatt said dismissively and sitting back down. The Mayor and his wife looked at each other awkwardly before turning to leave to go back to their seats and with Fred White leaving as well. The sounds of a drum were heard which signified that the theater was about to start. The curtain was pulled up to reveal a man with three wooden pins and dressed nicely. He bowed and you all then hear one of the cowboys say, "Professor Gillman? Oh, I seen him in Bisbee. He catches stuff".

"Hey professor" one of the cowboys stood up his gun drawn and aimed at Gilman. "Catch this". He fired at him and shoot one of the pins and said pin exploded. Gilman was shocked and ran off stage exclaiming they were shooting at him which made the cowboys laugh. Another man walked out onto the stage wearing a black robe and two men helped set the stage. All it was was placing a 5 ft. fake marble pillar and the other man replaced the sign on the stand saying what the next act is. "Prettiest man I ever saw" one of the cowboys said laughing.

The man on stage whipped his robe off dramatically and revealed him in a white unbuttoned shirt and red tights but also with red and black stripped flows and black boots. The cowboys cheered for how he looked and the man spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen, the st. Crispin's day speech from Henry V. To set the scene-"

A cowboy shot at the pillar and it startled you that you quickly grabbed Docs arm for safety and you quickly realized what you did and let go. Doc smiled and said, "Nothin' like a beautiful woman to hold me for comfort".

"I'm sorry" you said quietly and while the man on stage was saying his speech. "No reason to be" Doc said and then gently squeezed your hand, "I'm right here if you need protection". You smiled back at him and went back to watching the show. "... Gentle his condition. Gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap, whilst any speaks who fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day"!

The cowboys were first to applaud the performance and even started firing some of their guns into the ceiling and the rest of you applauded as well. As the man walked off stage and someone took the pillar off stage, another man went on the stage to change the sign for the next performance that read, "Faust or the devils bargain". The sound of the violin was heard and music to set the scene was played and it sound interesting. Another curtain was pulled up to reveal an old man at a desk and another man wearing what looked to be old victorian mens clothing but he also wore a devils mask.

"Now what in the hell is this" one of the cowboys asked confused.

"Th- that's Faust. H- he's gonna make a deal with the devil" someone replied.

Doc leaned in close to you and asked, "Is your soul for sale dear"?

"Nope" you said plainly but then looked at him to say, "My soul is claimed". Doc looked at bit confused and asked as the play was going, "By who"?

"Oh, I dunno" you said teasingly but then said, "Maybe you". Doc smiled and scooted closer to you. The play continued and it wasn't making any sense to you so you just watched it with a blank stare. "Know what I'd do" a cowboy said and it got your attention. "I'd take the deal, then crawfish and drill that old devil in the ass".

All the cowboys started laughing and so did you but you tried to hide it. Both Wyatt and Doc looked down at the cowboys in disapproval at how they were acting but when Doc heard you laugh, he couldn't help the smirk that appeared on that handsome face of his. The play continued until the music stopped and the act ended and everyone started applauding. "Very instructive" Doc said.

The actors came out and bowed to thank them but the devil actor wasn't on stage. "But who is the devil" Wyatt asked. More music was heard and the devil came out quickly to remove his mask to reveal that it was actually a woman. The same woman that you all saw wearing the grey dress with the orange umbrella from earlier in the day. She looked right up at Wyatt, who had the look of shock, and smiled right up at him in a flirty fashion. "I'll be damned" Wyatt said.

"You may indeed, if you get lucky" Doc said to Wyatt. As the performers walked off staged, everyone got up to leave. "Oh" you said getting the people around you their attention. "It's over already"?

"Yes ma'am" Wyatt said as he stood up and helped Maddie stand up and Doc doing the same thing to you like a true southern gentleman. As you all exited the theater, you all met outside with Morgan and Virgil with their wives. All the cowboys had headed to the saloons for drinks and since the streets were pretty quiet, Morgan asked, "What'd you think, (Y/n)? Was it better than what your used to"?

"It was... Different" you said with Doc holding your arm so properly and like a gentleman. "You still gotta tell me how things are from where you come from".

"I will. I promise".

Morgan smiled and looked up. "Would you look at all those stars? I mean, you look up and you think "God made all of that, he still remembered to make a little speck like me". You all started to walk forward into the street. "Kinda flattering, really. Wyatt, do you believe in God"? Wyatt just shrugged, he wasn't sure how to respond. "No, come on, really. Do ya"?

"Yeah. Maybe" Wyatt said. "Hell, I don't know".

"Well, what d'you think happens when you die" Morgan asked Wyatt.

"Somethin'. Nothin'. Hell, I don't know".

"Well I read this book, a book on spiritualism".

"Oh God. Here he goes again" Virgil said tiredly and sarcastically which made you chuckle.

"Said that a lot of people when they die, they see this light. Like in a tunnel".

"Yeah"?

"They say it's the light leadin' you to heaven".

"Really" Wyatt asked in an interested tone, "What about hell? They got a sign there, or what"?

"I know what it is" you said getting their attention. "If you see a light, you go to heaven. If you see me, you go to hell". They all broke out in laughter and Allie reached over to gently smack your arm. "Hey, (Y/n), goddamnit. I'm serious" Morgan said regaining his breath. That joke really made him laugh hard. "You have such a dark sense of humor" Doc said. He also laughed at the joke.

"Well, what can I say? I'm crazy and fun to be around"! They all agreed and Doc smiled in agreement. He really was enjoying your company. "Comin' to the Oriental, Virg" Wyatt asked.

"Not tonight" Allie said. "Tonight, me and my old man are gonna have some fun". Morgan and his wife bid their goodnights to each other. "Come on, get movin', old man".

"Maiden name was Sullivan" Virgil said and then Allie smacked him with her scarf and after another kiss, Louisa walked off to catch up with Allie and Virgil. "You two better go with them" Wyatt said to you and Mattie.

"Nonsense" Doc said to Wyatt. "Stay with me darlin'. I want to learn more from you".

"Ok" you said sweetly.

"Please stay with me" Mattie pleaded to Wyatt.

"Well, honey, I-I gotta get to work". Mattie look defeated and just said, "All right".

"Well, wait a minute. I guess I don't have to go right now. I could stay awhile".

"No, no. I don't wanna keep you" Mattie said and then reached for something. "No, really" Wyatt said encouragingly, "I can stay awhile". Mattie pulled out a small dark glass bottle and took a drink. "That the bottle Lou gave you" Wyatt asked.

"Yes, it is" Mattie said getting a bit defensive.

"Maybe you should see a doctor" Wyatt suggested.

Mattie scoffed and said, "Wyatt, it's just headaches".

"You know the best thing for headaches is sleep, right" you said. You would've said pain relievers but you had remind yourself where you were currently at. Mattie just brushed you off but Wyatt backed you up. "See" Wyatt then got a bit quiet, "You should listen to her. She knows more than we do. You should rest".

"She doesn't get it. She's not from here, she wouldn't understand".

"I can learn" you said genuinely. Mattie once again ignored you. "I know what I'm doing, (y/n). I don't need to see a doctor"!

"All right, honey. Ok" Wyatt said trying to calm her down.

"Just go" Mattie sighed. "Everything's fine, Wyatt. Work well".

"All right" Wyatt said and then leaned in to kiss her cheek which didn't look like it satisfied her. "Good night". As Mattie walked away, Wyatt said, "You look beautiful tonight". Mattie looked back and scoffed, "Thank you" and just continued walking away. You and Morgan said goodnight to her but she only acknowledged Morgan and not you and that upset you. Why was she being mean? "Hey" Morgan said getting your attention and also seeing that Matties attitude kinda upset you. "Don't worry 'bout it. Come on, let's go have some drinks. You are old enough, right"?

"Shut up, Morgan" you said playfully which made them happy to see you smiling again. There was something about your smile and personality that really made them feel happier to be around you. Doc especially. "You two go on ahead to the Faro table" Wyatt said to you and Morgan. "I gotta talk to Doc for a moment".

"Alrighty" Morgan said and then looked at you, "Let's go".

"COME ON"! You both raced inside like children and both Doc and Wyatt were still outside. "Wyatt"?

"Doc? I really have to ask". Wyatt was nervous to ask this question and knew he couldn't ask this question with you around. "What happened to Kate"? Doc sighed and took a drink from a flask he had in his coat. "I sent her away" he said plainly.

"Why"?

"Oh, I suppose it had something to do with the fact that she saw me more as a meal ticket than her lover". Wyatt could understand this and only nodded. "But with her" Doc said mentioning you, "I can tell that she cares more".

"You two just met today" Wyatt interjected.

"I know, and so did me and Kate when we first met. I thought we were meant to be but I then saw through that false image pretty quickly". Doc took another drink from his flask. "I had nobody else and I just dealt with it. But now, it's different. She's different".

"Well" Wyatt said chuckling, "She is from the future".

"It's not that, Wyatt. I don't know what it is" Doc said having a million theories running through his head. "I don't know".

"Well, maybe you'll find out soon. Cause for now, she's stuck with us. You'll have time to think that through" Wyatt said walking alongside Doc to go inside. Everyone from the theater was inside and they saw Morgan setting up the Faro table and you standing beside him. As they made it over, Doc was still trying to think about what it was about you that really made him feel like you were the one for him after meeting him for the first time today.

He wasn't sure but he knew he needed a drink and to be beside you.

[5sosfanfictioncatalogue]

Neighbors AU Masterlist

All We Seem To Do Is Talk About Sex (ao3) - makingdemands luke/calum T, 12k

Summary: Luke is weird and kind of a total failure and his neighbor has an extravagant sex life.

as the night gets older of you i grow fonder (ao3) - softirwin luke/ashton, michael/calum T, 9k

Summary: Luke’s eight when Ashton moves in next door.

(shamelessly half-based off the video for 'you belong with me')

Bake It Till You Make It (ao3) - nothingliketherain (39_killer_queen) calum/ashton, michael/luke T, 5k

Summary: When Ashton gets a new neighbor, he decides to bring over some homemade muffins to welcome him into the building, like the thoughtful neighbor he is. Nevermind that in the two years Ashton has lived there, he's never done that for anyone. Nevermind that Ashton doesn't usually bake. Nevermind that his neighbor is the hottest guy Ashton has ever seen. It's definitely not just an excuse to talk to him. No matter what Michael says.

Electricity Keeps On Hitting Me (ao3) - galacticsugar luke/ashton T, 3k

Summary: Luke climbs back under his covers to warm up while he assesses the situation. No heat. No internet. No indication when he will have his electricity back. Fuck. What a great Monday this is shaping up to be.

***

for the tumblr prompt "i bought you a ticket."

Hey, Neighbor! (ao3) - cornflowerblue (daydadahlias) luke/ashton E, 17k

Summary: “So, to recap—” Calum says, waving his hand and cocking his brow— “you invented an imaginary beef with your neighbor over lawn care so you could have hate sex fantasies about him? Am I getting that right?”

Ashton sighs, shoulders slumping. “It sounds crazy when you say it.”

I'm Gonna Get to Know You Better (This Christmas) (ao3) - allsassnoclass (brightblackholes) michael/luke T, 6k

Summary: “You hate me,” Luke says flatly.

“I know. Well, I don’t--” Michael sighs. Even when he’s trying to do something nice for him, talking to Luke is infuriating. “Look. I know that we don’t like each other, but it’s Christmas Eve and your flight was just cancelled. Do you want hot chocolate or not?”

i want you (bless my soul) (ao3) - jbhmalum calum/ashton, michael/luke E, 21k

Summary: Thankfully the elevator comes to a stop before Ashton can combust from the blood flowing through his body or say something else awfully embarrassing like “hi, I’m Ashton and I like tall attractive men and it’s hard finding them when you’re already a giant but you’re actually tall and I can’t stop looking at you and you just winked at me and hi, would you marry me and pin me against the wall?”.

- In which Ashton moves in with a guy named Michael, Michael is in love with Luke and annoyed at Calum, and the guy with shaved blue hair from the elevator is too hot for Ashton to know what to do about it.

Oh Christmas Lights, Keep Shining On (ao3) - allsassnoclass (brightblackholes) michael/ashton, luke/calum T, 3k

Summary: Michael and Ashton have won their town's Winter Decoration Competition for the past two years. This year, their new neighbors are going to give them a run for their money.

Somebody I Don't Know (ao3) - MCRmyGeneral michael/calum G, 7k

Summary: Calum walks into his unlocked apartment to find someone sitting on his couch cuddling Duke. Which is not unusual; his friends all have keys.

Except that Calum has absolutely no idea who this guy is, or why he’s in his apartment hugging his dog.

summer nights (ao3) - kaleidoscopeminds luke/calum M, 14k

Summary: Luke was waiting for romance. He was waiting for the guy that sweeps him off his feet, that wants him for everything he is and isn’t afraid to show it.

He used to be sure that guy was out there. Now he’s pretty sure he’s not.

that’s why you like it (ao3) - merlypops michael/calum E, 69k

Summary: Everything I do is oh-so-wrong. That's why you like it.

'“Like this,” Calum said softly, his breath warm on the back of Michael’s neck, making him shiver as he helped the golden-haired boy throw a proper punch. It was a lot more controlled but Michael barely noticed it. He was too focused on the warmth of Calum’s body soaking into his from behind and the way he could feel Calum’s smile pressed to his shoulder. “There,” Calum said softly, hands moving hesitantly as he stepped away, taking his warmth with him. “I think you’ve got it now, Mike.”'

Calum starts doing workouts in the garden over the summer and Michael spends the whole time with his hand down his pants (until Calum takes matters into his own hands).

The Most Beautiful Man In The World (ao3) - babushcat (MerrytheCookie) michael/luke T, 6k

Summary: Michael keeps running into his new attractive neighbor and is an overall disaster.

two paper airplanes flying (ao3) - dazedlight (opinionoutpost) michael/luke T, 21k

Summary: "When he enters his room, he checks Michael's room out of habit. The lights are off and the window's closed, but still there's a paper plane resting on top of a pile of forgotten laundry. He unfolds it carefully, unsure as to what Michael could possibly have to say."

Or, Michael and Luke are neighbours, and, to get his attention, Michael starts sending Luke cute notes in the form of paper airplanes.

you've been stuck in my brain (ao3) - kaleidoscopeminds luke/calum T, 2k

Summary: As he goes back down the corridor towards his flat from the stairwell, he hears a strange clanking noise that seems to be coming from the lift, like someone is throwing something at the doors. He’s not a massive fan of the lifts in this building, they make very questionable groaning noises and often shudder to a halt in a less than comforting way. Luke is scared of most things so is also fairly terrified of plummeting to his death, even if it’s only down four floors, so most of the time decides to take the stairs. Burrito or no burrito.

[danielmoduleb2]

Filmmaking and AI (Final Full Essay)

In this this new era of film making it seems anyone can be a fil maker. Just typing in a sentence of what they want to see, and it would ‘magically’ appear out of thin air. This is where the technological advancement of AI is heading to where the process of film making should be easier to accomplish, but would that compromise the creative thinking of film makers such as myself essentially becoming lazy? Would it replace jobs as big corporation would need to employ people but invest in AI instead since it easier and would go on strike? AI seems frightening to the creative community, but I believe AI would not replace humans.

Since film making started in the late 19th century the process was gruelling. From only shooting black and white footage with no sound thus having to have a live band perform at the cinemas to give life to these films. The editing process was long since they used the linear method of editing, which involves arranging images and sounds in order. At the beginning, this did involve using scissors to splice the footage and then using tape to attach it in the correct order. This was until 1920 when the Moviola was invented making editing easier but still long. Until 50 years later when the tape recorders started appearing during the time when computers were beginning to advance. Eventually util the digital age where we can transfer files easily from hardware to hardware. We’ve seen in each era in retrospective how technology advancement has helped improve film making process. Why however does AI feels different?

AI has been used in many areas not just in the creative industry but when AI started becoming a ‘problem’ for creatives is when generated still images was created. Ethically this function was controversial as AI steals data from actual artists and essentially steal their artwork for a random person to type in and have an artwork that is the same. Because of this, AI was negatively looked upon from the get-go. Not only it looked ugly and unpolished, but they were no creativity to these images. Despite this these tools were used constantly even by me. In HNC (my first year) I used AI generated imagery to use for a book cover design.

Since overall, the reception was positive Google first announced the first video generated AI tool. Now 14 months later we now have Sora Open AI which right now isn’t available to the public, however they contacted Hollywood to allow fil makers to have early access and make short films. To me this thought is crazy since I already believe Hollywood is becoming to corporate and not allowing creativity to flourish as hard as before (when it comes to blockbusters). So now will Hollywood get rid of employees to make more cash grab movies?

Well looking at the history of film making, and AI I have concluded that AI will not replace anyone. When the internet first came it was controversial for people back then but now it is accepted and is instrumental to the process of film making. AI will be the same if it used as a tool not a replacement.

While I have always been attracted to film making because of the visuals, hence why I am more into music videos and moving image rather than just movies or tv shows, I know that narrative is the most important element of film making. Making something the audience can relate can only be achieved through a human making it. AI can’t understand human emotion or doesn’t have that experience to make a film that can be as emotional. If someone asked me to watch a film made by a human or AI, I would choose human because the authenticity is there. If Hollywood or other big film industry turn to AI film making, they will become bankrupt. To prove my point, I will analyse the AI short film Air head by shy kids.

Air Head is an AI movie is about a guy that has a ballon for a head. He monologues his identity crisis but, in the end, accepts it. This movie wasn’t enterally made by humans. First a human created the concept for the AI to visualise, but also the voice acting, and music was made by humans. Now AI properly isn’t as advance when it comes to making music out of thin air yet otherwise, they could have generated music for this short film and voice acting sounded robotic I originally thought it was AI.

So visually this movie is bland. It uses reference points to make a story because it doesn’t have the relatability to make this concept emotionally. There are many movies that have unrealistic concepts, but the audience can relate because the content in the movie has realism to it. This movie fails to emphasise this because AI is only projecting the data that it has gathered and not creatively thinking of and interesting idea.

Comparing this to another movie with a similar concept, Edward Scissor Hand, is night and day. From the colour grading, the acting, the emotions, Air Head possibly can create this because it can’t replace human talent. The movie Edward Scissor Hand is about an animated human that has scissors for hands. Edward is an outcast therefore however in the movie he falls in love with a girl and thus accepts his identity. Both Air head and Edward Scissor Hands have outcasts as main protagonists but what the latter movies does it takes use through a show does not tell journey that gives us time to sympathise with the main character and cheer him along. Air Head just tells us his issue and doesn’t give us any time to understand his character. Air head may be a short film, but other successful short films are able to tell gripping tales in the short time frame.

I believe AI should be used in post-production, specifically, editing. Right now, I am making my moving image video for my exhibition piece. A problem that I am facing is not being able to overlap. I you see my final footage (thus far) on Tumblr, you’ll see in the question section the video footage is in the back. I want the shape animation to be in the back but to do that I would have to rotoscope the footage for that to work. That would’ve been a long task that I don’t have the time for, so I just settled. If there was an I tool that can just rotoscope for me accurately it would’ve been easier. That example is what I mean when AI can be used as a tool to enhance to creative process does not replace it.

Overall, hard work pays off. Those that stand out in the film industry are the innovators that can be create and make moving tales. Since AI is here and it is not going away, I believe we should adapt to it. If I can be just as creative and use AI to enhance my projects that will push me further than someone who has is doing it traditionally.

So, to conclude this study I will evaluate AI authenticity by giving an AI generator the same brief I had for my artefact project. I made a short film based on my artefact which was an inhaler. Since I have asthma, this film is personal to me so can AI relate that. Also, can AI generate a more creative video than me. That is what I will assess.

[squeakyfir]

I'm your huckleberry (Tombstone 1993) (Doc Holliday)

Description:

The joys of modern inventions and miracles are often taken for granted. Your hungry or thirsty? Get something from the fridge or make it. You need to go somewhere? Drive or call an uber. Your hurt? Go to the doctor.

Your bored? Watch a movie, play video games, watch videos on the internet, talk to people without ever leaving your house.

Some much time is in our hands... but back in the 19th century... you wouldn't last very long.

Diseases are rampant, gun violence is higher, no modern technology, barely any good medicine, almost all of your favorite food doesn't exist and most of the people are rude as hell. But... That doesn't mean all of them were so bad. Love was not something most people in this time really cared about. At least, in the town of Tombstone, Arizona.

After falling asleep with a nice looking stone you bought at a small stand at the carnival, your whole world becomes the opposite. Six people from the past discover you unconscious and alone in the blistering heat and offer help but it was their help that let you meet the most amazing man you've ever met.

John Henry "Doc" Holliday.

Chapter 3

Previous ~ Next

"So, who invented them"?

"I don't know, some guy and now its made by numerous companies" you said as you kept showing the girls, Allie, Louisa, and Mattie, how your phone works and letting them listen to some of your music. "You know what we should do" you suggested.

"What is it" Allie asked.

"Let's take a group selfie"!

"What's that"?

"We take a picture together".

"It can take pictures" Louisa asked excitedly.

"It sure can, here watch". You opened up the camera and held it up and the girls could see their faces and were getting very excited. "Ok. Smile"! You did the peace sign but the girls straightened their backs and smiled softly. The picture was taken and you showed them it which blew their minds. "Oh" Louisa exclaimed so cheerfully, "You can see the colors"!

"(Y/n), it's so amazing" Allie exclaimed.

"It's remarkable" Mattie said.

"Alright alright" Wyatt said riding up next to the wagon. He had his own horse. "You might want to put that away, now. Were about to get into town and by the way, lets keep this future thing to ourselves".

"Ok. And you guys will keep quiet about it too right"? There were voiced agreements and you then said, "Only tell someone you trust to keep a secret", and they still agreed. You put your phone away in your pocket and knew things were about to get interesting. The smell of manure and smoke was very potent and unforgiving with the sights of a cliche Western town. Many people were out and about and some of them noticed the wagon pulling in. "Hey Morg" Wyatt called out to Morgan, "Pretty big, isn't it"?

"That's what she said" you quietly said but only the girls heard that and then heard you laughing quietly. "What does that mean" Mattie said. You leaned over and whispered the meaning into their ears and they quickly laughed. "Your so inappropriate" Louisa said then lightly smacking your arm. "Ow" you faked. "Morgan! Louisa hit me" you said so mockingly just to be funny and it prevailed since both Morgan and Virgil started laughing. The wagon continued riding through town and it was very nostalgic to see and the smells were still unforgiving but you knew you would just have to get used to it.

"Oh-ho, brother" Morgan started, "You can smell the silver in this town! Look at these girls over here. Hi"! Morgan was pointing to four well dressed women standing outside in front of a salon.

"You know your married, right" you said leaning towards him. He just chuckled and you heard Louisa say, "That's right! You tell him"!

"Hello girls" Virgil said.

"Hot damn, this burg's jumpin'"!

You all kept riding until the wagon pulled over in front of a building labeled "GRAND HOTEL". Virgil stopped the wagon and both men got off to help you and the other women off. Louisa and Allie got off first only leaving you and Mattie. "Ok" Morgan said getting your attention, "Come here" he said holding his hands out to put you down onto the ground. "Buddy, your not gonna be able to get my fat ass off this wagon" you said seriously.

Once again, he and Virgil just laughed. "Try me. Come on, I got ya". You just accepted it and he carefully took you by the waist and lifted you off the wagon and placed you down as if you didn't weigh an ounce. "See? Was that so hard"?

"Yes, yes it was".

"Newcomers, eh" a voice said getting your and the others attention. It was another man in a dapper suit with a gray bucket hat and he had a cane with a golden handle. The most noticeable part of his outfit was the golden badge he had. A sheriff's badge. "The names John Behan, Cochise County Sheriff". He extended his hand to Wyatt and he shook his hand. "Just in town"?

"Just this minute" Wyatt said. "I'm Wyatt Earp and these are my brothers, Virgil and Morgan".

"Wyatt Earp" Sheriff Behan said as if it was a question. "Dodge City" he said with hint of excitement.

"Gave all that up, Sheriff. Goin' into business" Wyatt said and then started to make his way towards the wagon to help Mattie get off. "Don't even carry a gun anymore".

"Going into buisness, huh" Sheriff Behan asked as he followed after Wyatt. "Well then, I'm the man to see. Besides Sheriff, I'm also a tax collector, captain of the Fire Brigade and chairman of the nonpartisan anti-chinese league". Wyatt got Mattie off the wagon and Sheriff Behan was quick to acknowledge her. "Ma'am".

"How do you do" she said but then quickly walked away but you decided to get a better look at him without realizing that Morgan tried to grab you to keep you back and out of sight. Instantly, Sheriff Behan noticed you and was taken aback by you. He, like everyone else that you've met so far, had never seen clothes like yours before. Your hair was long and clean and shined in the sun. Who were you? "Well, good evening ma'am". Wyatt looked over and of course he was talking about you and looked a bit nervous. Yes, he will keep his promise about your secret but Wyatt still wanted you to be out of sight as much as possible. "Where did you find clothes like that? I've never seen a woman in pants and having strange tops. Where are you from"?

"Obviously not from here".

"She's an actor" Wyatt said quickly.

"Makes sense. What kind of character do you play" Sheriff Behan asked curiously. "I make up my own character" you said. You couldn't think of anything. "Yes, she always stays in character. (Y/n), why don't you go be beside Morgan and Virgil for a moment" Wyatt suggested. You could see in his eyes he was being serious and you obeyed. "Kk". You walked back over to the others and they continued talking. "Quite a strange woman" Sheriff Behan commented. "Anyways, you folks got a place to stay yet"?

"No. Like I said, we just got here" Wyatt reiterated.

"Well, I also sit on the town lot commission" Sheriff Behan said.

"Really"?

"As a matter of a fact, we got three lovely cottages coming up for rent. I'll throw in a good cleaning, no charge" Sheriff Behan offered. You were listening to the conversation and so were the other men. "Believe me, Mr. Earp, you're not gonna find a better deal within town limits".

"I don't know. Sounds pretty good" Wyatt accepted.

"Well" Sheriff Behan said, "I'll have my man show 'em to ya". They shook hands and Sheriff Behan left. "Alrighty" Wyatt said walking around the wagon to see all of you. "Looks like we got a roof over our heads so now we have to establish our buisness".

"Great" Morgan said in a cheerful tone.

"Now, (Y/n), I want you to stay with the wives. It'll be saf-"

"No" you said cutting him off. "No no no no no no no no. Nope nope nope. I'm sticking with you guys".

"It's not safe. I may not be from wherever your from but I can tell it's nothing like this" Wyatt said.

"Hey. If I'm stuck here for awhile, then I need to get used to it and that's not gonna happen if I'm locked in a cottage. Besides, you three will watch over me. I'm safe already" you said happily

"Come on, Wyatt" Morgan said, "She ain't gonna do nothing bad".

"I'll have to take her side, Wyatt" Virgil said. "She has to get used to this kind of living". Wyatt wasn't at all thrilled at the idea of you walking around town especially since you refuse to fit in with, what's considered, normal clothing and your personality was one that is yet to be discovered. And one thing was certain, you are not allowed to show anyone else your cell phone or blabber about where you come from. It's an obvious fact that staying in the cottage and helping the women unpack was easier since it would conceal you but if you didn't know how you got here, then how are you getting back? "Come on", Wyatt looked back at you and you were giving him the puppy eyes look and putting your hands together. "Pwease"?

"That don't work on me"-

"Pwease"?

"That don't work on-"

"Pwease"?

"Your not even saying please right"-

"Pwease"?

"(Y/n)" he warned.

"Pwease"?

He sighed. "Alright, fine".

"Yes! Nailed it"!

"But" Wyatt said getting your attention again. "You will stay beside us at all times. No wandering off. Understand"? You saluted him. "Aye aye, captain"! He rolled his eyes and you all waited for the man that Sheriff Behan said would come by. They kept their eyes on you and knew that people would notice you immediately, but they pretended it was normal and started to walk around after everything was dropped off at the cottages.

[just-an-enby-lemon]

Batman: Let me get this right, you invaded the Justice League database so you could prove what?

Riddler: That you guys invented Atlantis and Aquaman is just a normal metahuman.

Batman: And how exactly did you convinced Poison Ivvy of being a distraction for this? The two of you are not in the best terms and I can't see she agreing with this plan.

Poison Ivvy: She is right here. And she also wanted to prove that Aquaman isn't real.

Batman: Look I really didn't want to bring the heavy violent interrogation tenicques. But there's no way I'm buying that excuse, so I'm giving you one last chance, why did you invade the Justice League database?

Poison Ivvy: You can torture us all you want Batman, we are talking the truth.

Riddler: Please don't torture us all you want, Batman. But yeah, we already told you the reason.

Batman: *grabing something from his utility belt* I warned you.

Riddler: Wait wait wait... Bill Nye doesn't believe in Aquaman.

Batman: What?

Riddler: Yes, Jon told us.

Batman: That makes no sense. How would Scarecrow even know that?

Poison Ivvy: His best friend told him.

Batman: Best Friend? Crane doesn't have friends... unless the Mad Hatter? Is he controlling you two?

Riddler: No, you moron, a girl called Velma Dinkley that he met in an Elvira parade or something, she personally knows Bill Nye.

Batman: That's just insane.

Riddler: And that's why I searched the internet for proof while Doctor Isley sended a fanmail to Bill himself asking about it.

Poison Ivvy: Nygma found a video from Nye's own security camera where he gives a very long explanation to a trick or treating kid about how Aquaman's existence is scientifically impossible and therefor he isn"t real. Not much after the response to my letter with the very same explanation came. I have it here with me. *even hurt and handcuffed to the Batmobile she makes a plant grow on the pavement and there is a letter inside it's leaves"

Riddler: And I have the video on my phone. I would show you, but I can't acess it while bounded upsidown with a broken rib!

Batman: I'll look it up. *thirty minutes later* I suppose you were right. I'll still have to take you to Arkham, but if I find any evidence of Aquaman not existing I'll send it to you.

Riddler: Oh, I thought Aquaman not being real was a ridiculous notion, detective?

Batman: That was before Bill Nye the science guy explained it. Now it is my duty to investigate Aquaman.

Poison Ivvy: Good. I hope you know Arkham won't keep us long. We will soon also be investigating it and it's better that we help each other, cause you won't want to go against me.

Riddler: Independent of your choice, we will find out the truth, Crussader, there's no puzzle I can't figure out. Also I want my phone back.

Poison Ivvy: And I want my letter. It's autographed!

[proserpina-magnus]

yayy you take requests 🥺 I really love your writing it’s one of the best I’ve come across on the internet I swear

was wondering if I can request a poly!marauder where reader is really snappy/irritated before her period and the boys don’t realize why she acts like that cause she’s usually really kind and loving. she may sometimes not even realize she’s being mean/scary?

she could then out of sudden break down crying over something very stupid - maybe because something or someone really annoyed her

and the boys are literally clueless

Hii! I’m so sorry this took so long 😭😭 this has been in my request for awhile but luckily I finished it today! I hope you don’t mind the delay, anyways I hope you enjoy it! Mwah.

P.S: I also included Peter! I hope you don’t mind (since you didn’t specify).

P.S.S: this is also really bad :)

Irritation (poly Marauders)

Reader: female (she/her)

Warning: irritation (described and displayed), swearing, fighting (mention of blood like once), intrusive thoughts, anxiety (displayed in characters, such as biting nails, words, etc), “baby, love, dove,”, mention of sex (not described though), talk of losing appetite and eating, hurt/comfort, comment to add more.

Word count: 3.6k

You woke up irritated, body aching slightly and adjusting to your upcoming period. You pick at your food, tapping your foot angrily as you listen to every chat. A good 1000 students talking was enough to give you a headache... or at least add onto the one you already had. The littlest sounds, like a fork scraping against the plate, sent you into a fit of rage and you snapped at Remus.

"We get it, the book’s good," you say, staring deep into your plate. Remus let his mouth hang open, mid sentence before closing it. The boys gave you a look, James trying to quickly figure out what the problem was. “…uh, something bothering you? No need to snap at Remus,”

“No need to snap at Remus,” you mocked, James eyebrows scrunched as he made a confused expression. Peter, who sat beside you, had his eyes slanted as he tried to figure out what your issue had been. “James wasn’t trying to-“ Peter had started, But you quickly cut him off.

“Peter, why don’t you just mind your business?” You question, you never had been mean to Peter, not as much as you joked around with the others. This banter confused Peter, and he looked away and bit the inside of his cheek.

“Hey now, don’t get bitchy,” Sirius tuned in, James had sucked in a breath as Sirius uttered the phrase. The boys stayed quiet, even Sirius knew he had said something wrong. You dropped your fork to the plate, it clanked loudly. You stood up, grabbed your bag roughly as the chair scraped against the floor from your quick movement.

“_____, love,” Peter began, trying to clear the miscommunication up with what Sirius had said. You waved him off, eyes glaring around at each of them. Remus had begun to shift awkwardly, not liking the tension, while Sirius had tried to stutter out that he didn’t mean it. James was a bit flushed, hating the anger that was now appearing. Peter had lost his appetite.

You pondered what to say, mouth slightly opened to spew out some insult but you felt ridiculous and teared up slightly. The boys just looked at you, not knowing what to say and somehow that made the situation worse.

“Why don’t you just fuck off,” you rushed out, not really knowing who that was directed towards. Before any of them could get a word in, you had walked quickly out of the dining hall.

“Why’d you say that?” Peter was the first to ask, Sirius feeling attacked over his words. “Well she was being bitchy, Peter you need to stop being such a coward and stick up for us once in awhile,”

“Pads,” James called, Peter rolling his eyes. Sirius snapped his head around, looking at each of them. “Well I’m right! She was making Moony feel bad,”

“She wasn’t making me feel bad,” Remus sighed, and Sirius shook his head and began to get a bit angry. “Yes she was, she had no right to start acting the way,”

“I don’t think we need to focus on what she said, we need to know why she acted that way,” James said, rubbing a hand over his chest. “Did she fail a test or something? Did she mention anything that was bothering her?” He pondered to them.

Everyone shook their heads, they all were confused on why you had acted that way. They had completely forgotten about your period. You never acted so vile on your period, you usually just acted the same. Yet they forgot to realise that not every period was going to be the same and emotions were heightened.

“Maybe Snape said something,” Peter thought, and Remus nodded his head. “True, I did hear that they got partnered for a project in herbology,” Remus said, and all of the boys sorta grumbled at the thought of you working with Snape.

“Yeah if I was partnered with him I’d be bitchy,” Sirius said, nodding his head like he understood now. James hit Sirius on the back hard, and Sirius shot him a look. “Stop referring to her as a bitch,” James said, upset. He never liked the degrading words used against you, there were much better words to phrase your reaction.

“Alright alright,” Sirius said in surrender, feeling guilty now for upsetting you further. Remus stayed quiet, he wasn’t upset about you snapping at him, he was upset at the fact that you felt the need to snap at him.

Peter felt wiry, he didn’t like when you were upset. He always felt like he was to blame, especially since you were always so loving. He decided to go check on you, not liking the tears he had seen in your eyes.

“Where are you going?” Remus asked, he knew exactly what Peter was intending to do but he just wanted confirmation. Sirius and James were deep in conversation, planning on pranking Snape to make you feel better (they had confirmed the issue was Snape, before even asking you what was truly wrong).

“I’m gonna go check on her,” Peter said, cleaning his plate as much as he could as he stacked the dirty dishes together. “I’ll come with,” Remus said, sitting up and Peter took Remus's plate and stacked it with his. “We’re going to go check on her,”

Sirius piped up, standing up before Remus sat him back down with a hand to his shoulder. “Not you, not yet,” Remus told him, and Sirius pouted.

Remus and Peter walked out of the dining hall, and Sirius and James conversed about the prank.

“I don’t think it’s Snape,” Peter said, and Remus nodded. “No, me neither,”

“I just can't figure out what it could be,'' Peter sighed, looking down halls and out windows to see if he could spot you. Remus nodded, sighing as well.

They stayed quiet for a bit, Peter more hyper fixed on finding you (Remus felt the same, but was much better at hiding his worry). Peter stopped, looking over at Remus. “You know she didn’t mean it,” Peter told him and Remus nodded.

“I know, I’m not mad at her,” Remus spoke, and Peter nodded like Remus had. “And you know she didn’t mean to snap at you, it’s not your fault she’s irritated,” Remus said, knowing Peter's thoughts.

Peter nodded, though half doubted it as they continued on their look for you.

—

Peter and Remus hadn’t found you, they had arrived late to transfiguration, Professor McGonagall gave them an eye and told them to sit.

“Where is she?” Sirius asked, James listening in as he leaned closer to where Remus and Peter sat in front of them. Next to James, was an empty seat. Sirius sat opposite of the empty seat.

“Couldn’t find her,” Remus said, James grew worried.

“We will look at the map later,” he said, reassuring the group but it was more for reassuring himself. They all nodded, trying to focus on class, yet they kept wondering about the thought of you.

“No I’m worried,” Sirius said after a while, Remus looked behind them as Peter bit at his nails. “Pads it’s alright; she’s fine,” James stated, but Sirius doubted him.

“You don’t know that, what if what I said made her upset!” He whispered, and Remus turned back around and let James handle Sirius.

“She’s not like that, she was clearly irritated before you talked with her, she’s probably just having a bad day,” James tried to make up any safe possible scenario, he didn’t want to think about dreadful things.

“But-“ Sirius said, and Peter whipped around. “Just shut up Sirius, alright? We will find her after class,” he grew irritated and Sirius grumbled and stayed quiet.

—

They had found you quickly with the help of their invention, but you had put up a wall and just shrugged them off.

“Baby, listen if it’s about what I said this morning,” Sirius began, but you continued to look down at your open book. The library was quiet before, and students listened in to hear the drama of the group.

“Can you just go away? I can't read when you’re talking to me,” you said, mouth in a frown. Remus was the first to realize you really did just want space and he decided it was best to let you get over your irritation, but convincing the rest of the boys was the hardest part.

“She just wants to read guys, come on,” Remus said, grabbing Sirius arm to pull him away from hovering over you (which Peter had noticed was pissing you off). James stayed in place, so did Peter.

“She can’t skip class Remus,” James said seriously, looking down at you as you continued to stare at your book, not sparing a glance at them.

“_____,” James warned, reaching out to hold your shoulder gently and you twitched and removed his hand from your shoulder. “You can't skip class love,”

“Fuck off, you never give Peter or Sirius any shit for skipping,” you scoffed, and James began to get a bit irritated with your rude behaviour.

“Yes I do-“ James was quick to defend himself, and you rolled your eyes.

“Can you seriously fuck off? Like what do you not get about me wanting to be alone? That doesn’t mean I want you around,” you snapped at him, turning around and glaring. “All of you need to fuck off,”

They stayed quiet, looking at you again such as how they did this morning. James stepped back, “alright,” he said, walking out of the library as Sirius followed behind with a grumble.

“We will see you at lunch?” Remus asked and you just ignored him. He decided to follow behind Sirius and James.

Peter stayed, weight going between each foot as he swayed back and forth. You looked over at him, an eyebrow raised as you waited for him to leave, he didn’t.

“I want you to leave,” you said, staring at him like he was incompetent. Peter shrunk slightly against your harsh gaze. “I know what you want,” Peter said, “but don’t you care what I want? What we want?”

“I don’t owe you sex,” you scoffed, misinterpreting what he meant. Peter shook his head, “No, you don’t. that’s not what I meant,”

“What could you possibly mean then?” You asked, huffing. Peter sat down beside you and you slid your chair away. Didn't you get that they were worried?

“What’s wrong,” he asked, “how can I make it better?” He felt completely hopeless. You just shrugged, the wall you had blocked them with slowly falling a bit. But then you remembered that they didn’t even know why you were upset, how could they even forget you had a period? The fury built back up again, all they cared about was themselves. It was always Remus's monthly, never yours.

“You can make it better by fucking going away,” you swore, and Peter did just that.

—

Two days went by, without much effort to talk to the boys. They all tried their hardest to catch your attention and make you feel better, yet their proposals were quickly dismissed.

James had got you many gifts, him and Sirius even snuck into Hogsmeade to get you sweets from honey dukes. You took the sweets, but dismissed them entirely.

Remus tried to talk to you about the books you had been reading, but you told him you weren’t interested in talking with him and left.

Sirius got frustrated pretty easily with not being able to hold hands with you and locked you in the broom closet with him. James had found him an hour later, knocked out.

Peter followed you around, you found many flowers left in your dorm. You had received about 10 letters from him, each every morning, before your first class, during lunch, at dinner, and before you went to bed. You had read them, cuddling with your blankets.

On the third day, you wanted attention and affection. Cramps had made you emotional, you just wanted some attention from your boys. But when you had sat by them at the table, hand going to hold Sirius’s, he had pulled it away from you. You frowned, trying again but he pulled it away. You knew something was wrong, even this morning you haven't received a good morning letter from Peter.

“So what, you think you can just come hang out with us and think nothings wrong?” James asked you, they had all grown irritated with your behaviour. You yourself hadn’t really noticed the way you had been treating them.

“What do you mean?” You asked confused, looking between each of them as they laughed. You felt hurt, knowing they were making fun of you. You tried to hold Peter's hand but he was too quick and pulled it away before you could even touch him.

“You wanted to be left alone,” he reminded you. Remus nodded his head, “you even ignored all of our gifts,” James said, and Sirius laughed and made a joke.

“I didn’t want gifts,” you told them, “when have I ever asked for gifts?” You continued, and they became quiet. Had you been rude to them?

You began to think over the last few days, some things you had done were questionable but it was justified. Couldn’t they see you were emotional?

Did they even care? Of course with these thoughts, your brain forgot to realize all the attempts they made, all the worrying they felt, all the times they talked in private and grew concerned for your well-being.

“You kept snapping at us, you can’t just be rude to us for no reason and then expect us to be okay with it, you don’t get cuddles _____,” James told you firmly, but you tilted your head, you began to get angry again.

“So when I don’t ask for something you give it to me, but when I want to hold your fucking hand that's not allowed? Do you even care what I want?” You asked, you realised how unreasonable some of what you were saying was. You had remembered what Peter had said in the library and you grew quiet.

“Nevermind,” you snapped quickly just as they were about to argue with you. You got up, saddened that you couldn’t get the affection you wanted. You left, heading to herbology.

—

The first class, along with the banter from this morning, ruined your whole day. You had to work with Snape, already in a bad mood.

He had been pretty quiet, so had you, only talking to each other about the project and what was necessary. It was all going fine until the end of the class, when he had said something that made you feel terrible.

“You and the Marauders hadn’t been hanging out recently, I guess they came to their senses that you weren’t really worth it,” he began, who knew why he had said it, but it was enough to trigger some deeper emotional rage. You screamed at him in the hallway, completely losing it at him. At some point, both your wands had been drawn and just before something bloody happened, the professor had stopped it. You had been given detention and since you had been the one that had started the duel, Snape got off scot free.

The Marauders had heard about what happened and what made it worse is that they didn’t try to find you. You passed by James and Sirius in the hall, hoping to talk to them and get all of the anger out about what Snape had said. But they just said a simple “we don’t really want to talk to you right now,”

You watched them walk down the hall, they hadn’t wanted to know if you were okay? They were always curious about any drama revolving around Snape.

You had cried in the bathroom, moaning myrtle was the only one who cared enough to ask you what was wrong. You felt pathetic relying your emotions on a ghost that lives in the bathroom, but it was somehow comforting listening to her weep along with you.

Maybe Snape was right, maybe they did come to their senses.

—

After detention, you passed by the Gryffindor portrait. You had debated for several minutes if you wanted to go see them and finally the fat lady decided to just let you in and told you a “Stop weeping outside my door, I have a date soon and you’re going to ruin it, go in go in,”

You had climbed up the steps, you were going to leave once you reached their door, but it was already open with James waiting for you.

“We saw you on the map,” he said once he noticed you were confused. “Oh,” you said, you looked completely drained and James showed a soft remorse that made you crumple.

“Shh it’s okay,” he comforted, bringing you close as you shakily sighed into his chest. Your arms came to wrap around him, lips trembling as you started to cry. “Let’s get out of the hallway,” James told you, leading you into their dorm as he closed the door for privacy. Your face still buried in his chest, weeping uncontrollably as Sirius sat up from his lying position at the sound.

Peter and Remus piped up as well, as Sirius walked over and took you in his arms. He glared at James, thinking he did something.

“What’s wrong baby?” Sirius whispered gently, guiding you over to the bed as he sat you down on James bed. “It hurts,” you say, not giving much context as they all look at you confused, high in alert and they felt guilty for ignoring you in this state.

“What hurts?” Remus asked, Peter and him had come to stand close as James sat down on the other side of you. James pressed the back of his hand to your forehead, “she doesn’t feel warm,” he told them.

“Love what hurts?” Peter repeated, you sniffled and tried to calm down enough to tell them what was wrong. “My period,” you choked, you thought they had realised by now. The boys became aware quickly that that’s what had been making you upset the past few days.

“You’re periods don’t usually make you this emotional,” James questioned and you scoffed but they decided to let it slide.

“They aren’t always the same,” you told them, wiping your eyes as your uterus twisted again. You let out another sob, you didn’t want to go through this alone.

“I’m sorry dove, we should’ve realised sooner,” Remus said, crouching down as he took you in his arms. You curled yourself into him, he picked you up and switched so he was the one sitting down.

“Snape said something,” you sniffled, face resting in Remus's neck as your nose brushed up against his neck. They all became a bit angry, not liking the sound of that.

“What did he say?” James asked, rubbing your back. You took a moment to try and phrase it, it felt embarrassing to admit that his words had worried you. “He said… that the reason you guys were ignoring me was because you came to your senses,”

“Senses to what?” Peter asked, they all had been confused. “That you didn’t like me anymore,” you whimpered the words, tears welling up again. Their hearts stopped for a second, squeezing so tight they all thought they would pass out. James was angry with himself and Snape. James and Sirius felt horrible for ignoring you right after what Snape had said, they didn’t want to prove his statement.

“That fucking bastard,” Sirius fumed, standing up but peter pushed him back down. “She needs us, going off and throwing a few punches won’t do any good,” he whispered and Sirius looked over at James, but James only agreed with Peter. “Not right now,” he mouthed before they pulled their attention back to you.

“We’re so sorry,” Remus coo’s, rocking you gently as you cry into his neck. They all feel pity and a sense of guilt. “So sorry,” you tell them, feeling horrible for snapping.

“You don’t have to apologise,” James assures, rubbing your hair as he pulls it away from your soaked face. “we didn’t know, that’s on us,”

“I didn’t tell you,” you cried, “I was so mean to you, I didn’t mean it. Snape is right,” Sirius fumes at your thoughts.

“Don’t fucking say that bastard is right, he’s a-“ remus shoots Sirius a dangerous look, telling him to shut up before he upsets you more.

“We shouldn’t have just assumed every period is going to be the same, that's on us love,” James said, kissing your temple. “It ain’t right we care for Remus on his monthly and then ignore yours,” James said and Remus shot him to look like he had Sirius.

“It’s okay,” you say, calming down as you rub your face. “It’s not,” Sirius said, kissing your shoulder. Peter cleans up your face, rubbing gently with a warm cloth.

Without saying a word, they had concluded to spoil you. James had filled a heating pad with hot water, Sirius went down to get a potion to soothe your pain, Remus was helping you into a comfy jumper and pyjamas as Peter was getting the junk food.

After everyone got back and situated, you had found yourself between Remus and James, a black dog cuddled between your legs; it’s head over your lap, while a rat was curled under your chin. A heating pad rested on your stomach, junk food around the bed. You sigh happily, resting your head on James' chest while one hand is running through a thick fur coat, your other hand occupied with Remus's. You felt comfortable, all fights dismissed and forgiven, before you fell asleep, James had whispered “you deserve us, we aren’t going anywhere, not even when it gets rough,”.

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[worldofl0re]

"What do you mean, 'never been reset?' of course we haven't been reset."

The alien across from me gave me a puzzled look. He was humanlike, in fact almost every race in the galaxy could hlbe described as a different shade of human, adorned with exotic yet cosmetic features, like different shades of skin, or tentacle-like hair, or even insect-like exoskeletons along the outside of their bodies. Truly, the intergalactic community struggled to find intelligent life which wasn't a resemblance of itself. It was as if there were a certain set of traits that were prerequisite to space-faring civilization.

Or, as if the galaxy were invented entirely by a young man, sitting in a parking lot and shoveling store-bought sushi into his mouth whilst writing a one-shot on the internet.

It really could have been anything.

But I digress. The alien across from me, with his jaw hung open, gazed at me with a statuesque expression. His name was Leo, and he was more reptilian in nature, with tough skin that made him look fearsome for his job as a commercial starliner captain.

"You... Humans have never been reset?" Leo asked again. I nodded, dramatically.

"Yes. Our history is a rather linear climb from cave people to starwalkers," I said to him. He blinked at me, and shaked his head.

"How? There were no great, equalizing wars? Or debilitating nuclear winters, or... anything?"

"Well, there was the Bronze Age collapse, there was a bit of a dip in progress when that happened, and there were a few too many close calls with nuclear weapons, but other than that..."

"That's... completely unprecedented!" Leo blurted out, "Our people, we spent, hundreds of thousands, nay, millions of years getting to where we are now! I- wait, what year is it for you?"

"Twenty-nine-thirty-three," I said. I thought he got a heart attack and died when I said that.

"TWO-THOUSAND AND- AND-"

"Well, there's about ten-thousand years before that, but that's because of this guy named Christ and-"

"ONLY TEN-THOUSAND YEARS?!?!"

"Yeah."

"WHAT?! HOW?!"

By now everyone around us was beginning to look at us. Leo and I were sitting at some restaurant somewhere inside the Venus Junction, waiting for his starliner to refuel and set off for Alpha Centaurii. I was the head engineer on the ship, and Leo again was the captain. Although right now he making himself look insane.

I tried to ignore the looks, and thought about his question. Why did humanity succeed so quickly? Hmmmmmmmm...

"Well, your people are just one civilization, right?" I asked Leo. The question instantly grounded him, likely from the absurdity of it, and he stopped his delusions.

"Yeah? Every civilization is," He said. I grinned.

"Humans weren't always like that, in fact it was only recently that we joined into one union."

"What?"

"Mhm. The Human Federation formed essentially in reaction to our contact with the wider galaxy. Before that there were more than a hundred civilizations, just on Earth!"

"More than a hundred?" Leo asked.

"Yeah, and over the course of our history? Way more than a hundred."

"Did some die out?"

"Oh yeah. War, disease, the whole deal. So when one civilization fell, the rest of humanity was generally alright, and could learn from the fallen to move forwards."

Leo them got quiet, staring into the table as he mulled over the information.

"Why isn't this talked about more?" He suddenly asked.

"Hell if I know. You wanna go check on the ship?"

"Yeah, let's go."

We got up from the table, and began walking out, whilst eyes still startled by Leo stared into our backs.

"More than a hundred..." I heard him say.

“What iteration of civilization are you on? It always takes, like, a hundred just to get to farming, then civilization falls back and resets, and it takes a thousand to trade, ten thousand to get to government… What do you mean ‘One?’ Your species has never been reset to hunter-gatherers?”