#hypothetically if this was what would happen

[aokozaki]

He also hasn't apparently contested being found with a gun. People act like of course the cops planted a gun, why would a guy just be carrying a gun?

If Mr. Magnione is indeed the shooter, it's not hard to imagine "he couldn't think of a way to dispose of the gun" turning into "he kept it on his person" gelling with "if he was found he might have known he'd get arrested right away, so his manifesto thanks the feds for what they do and says he doesn't want to waste their time".

Or, maybe, anyway.

This is assuming a lot of hypotheticals. He is still only a suspect, innocent until proven guilty - and thankfully his family's well off so he's gotten a good lawyer.

The thing is though, people have turned ACAB into an excuse for assuming a massive conspiracy to arrest some guy on trumped up charges. Which like, wouldn't be shocking but that's also not proved either.

You ever notice how when the shooting first happened, and the shooter calmly shot the guy and then rode away on a bike and just fucking vanished, everyone's reaction was "what? that worked?"

But after a few days of myth-making, of seeing every little clue as proof that the unknown gunman was always one step ahead of the cops, when a man is arrested for pretty boring reasons, the reaction becomes "there's no way it's him, the shooter was too smart for this!"

Or maybe it's not that implausible, if Mr. Mangione does turn out to be the shooter (this is still just personal speculation here, it's not proven) that a man who's escape attempt was so slapdash as to provoke shock, also carried a manifesto that opens:

To the Feds, I'll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone.

Was he expecting to be caught? That's just speculation and personal opinion. We don't know anything for sure yet.

It seems plausible he shot the guy, but objectively it's an understandable motive for murder, and also lmao? Terrorism charges?? Yeah they're not getting him with that even if he did do it.

But like, Jesus, drop the conspiracy theories. Saw some folks allege the manifesto must have been AI generated due to the somewhat surreal tone of opening up thanking the feds but like.

It's a handwritten note. That's very easy to google. The cops were fastidious enough in their frame-job to handwrite it, but hakcy enough to ask ChatGPT? What're you fucking talking about.

Honestly one of the main reasons to assume Luigi Mangione was framed by the NYPD is that the UHC shooter not only had no reason to carry around a manifesto, he had no reason to even write a manifesto. He said his piece loud and clear with the bullet casings and the monopoly money. Everyone understood it and the shooter knew that would be the case.

[insectfem]

i want to say that i don't care anymore because tras have been saying "we're next im scared" since roe v wade was overturned. the fear has always been a hypothetical boogeyman on the horizon. that they're next. next after who? black people? women? the people that are actually having their rights infringed? that's really what gets me. amongst police brutality and women dying from miscarriages, i hear tras saying "what about us? what's going to happen to us?"

if your first thought after millions of american women lost our right to bodily autonomy was "what's going to happen to me?" you. are. selfish. it's extraordinarily selfish to be incapable of caring about a cause that doesn't necessarily affect you. as a white person, it would be extremely easy to plug my ears and go "lalalalala" and ignore all the racism in my country, but i don't, because that would be selfish. and im capable of caring about things that don't directly affect me. why can't tras? i only hear tras talk about black people when they bring up "black transwomen being murdered" and it's usually only ever brought up to shut women up about femicide.

im tired of this selfish movement. you people rolled out a red carpet for trump because harris didn't bend her back enough for trans people. you people refused to vote. you are a part of the problem. radical feminists voted. did you? did you put your phone down for an hour to go to the voting place and vote? or did you sit on your ass and complain about trans rights and palestine while every trump supporter went out and voted? nazis voted, kkk members voted, white supremacists voted, proud boys voted, why on gods green earth didn't you?

fuck you. fuck you and your self absorbed movement. you aren't punk, you aren't anarchists, you aren't leading a revolution. you're lazy and selfish.

[rosenclaws]

Could I pleasssse request a smut/fluff fic with Logan where he secretly likes the reader and doesn't like the readers bf? The reader is in their early to mid twenties and has been best friends with Logan for years and he snaps one night when her bf is being an asshole 👀 thank you so much 😭

warnings: Angst to fluff, asshole boyfriend, he's mutant hating low key, threats, fighting

a/n: Hehehe i fucking LOVE a good jealousy fic, also I based the asshole ex on multiple asshole exes of my own lol.

Things were well and truly complicated. You always knew what being a mutant meant for your relationship life. Having to dip your toes into the water to see if they the kind of person who wanted your kind dead or if they were more open to the idea of mutants.

Even then you ran into all kinds of assholes. If you could even get past the first date then you'd have to drop the bomb that you work at a mutant school with mutant children. Safe to say your dating life was pretty empty.

"You here again sweetheart?" You roll your eyes when you hear Logan's voice. It's Friday night and you're sitting in the living room of the mansion with a root beer.

“Yeah, so are you.” You bite back. He just chuckles and takes a seat next to you. Spreading his legs until his knee knocks into yours.

“Weren’t you supposed to go out with that kid, what was his name Jacob or…”

“Jason. Yeah he canceled when he saw the pick up address.” You remember the absolute terrified voice he spoke to you in, afraid you were going to melt his bones through the phone or something.

“You really know how to pick em.” You shove Logans shoulder as he laughs.

“Fuck off, I don’t see you getting any action lately either.”

“That’s because I’m not interested in dating some stranger.” He grumbles.

Truth is Logan hasn't been interested in anyone except for you for a while now. Its been years and as pathetic as it sounds Logan was too afraid to say anything. But there's no reason to mess up a good thing right? Plus it's not like you've been showing any interest in him.

“Look, any guy would be lucky to have you sweetheart, you just need to find the right one."

"Feels like I've been searching forever. Feels like I should make a marriage pact or something." You say with a groan.

"A marriage pact?" "Logan questions.

"Yeah you know, if we haven't found someone by the time we're forty we just, get married."

"We?" Your eyes widen and you start to flounder. The last thing you want is for Logan to think you're a creep or something. It's not like you fantasize about Logan or anything. Totally not.

"Not you, I mean if you wanted to then sure but I was just talking hypothetically you know. I mean god could you imagine you and I?" The words tumble out of your mouth with no filter. You just can't stop yourself. Logan cocks and eyebrow and you pray for something, anything to happen to help you shut up.

"Yeah...hard to picture you and I" Logan's face hardens as he talks.

Like he thought before, you don't want him. You could just burst into flames right here and now. The tension is palpable. Logan has been your friend for a long time but he never fails to make you a little nervous. He shouldn't have this hold over you but god he's just so big and intimidating.

"You know what? We should go out." You say abruptly.

"What? Hey give that back!" You grab the beer out of his hand and he looks at you confused.

"It'll be fun please, I'll buy the first round." You offer and he thinks for a second.

"Fine."

You don't really know what drove you to want to come here. It was loud and crowded and you and Logan had gotten separated after the first drink. Maybe you just wanted to avoid the odd feelings you get whenever you're alone with him. Plus that last conversation was awkward as hell.

You sigh as you swirl your drink around. You spot Logan across the room. He's leaning against the wall while a very pretty red head is all in his space. Your heart clenches as you notice the cocky smile on his face and how he's not pushing her away. Guess someone is getting lucky tonight and it isn't you.

"Hey, couldn't help but notice a beautiful girl all by herself." You look to your side to see a guy slide into the seat next to you. He seems nice enough. He's cute and all.

"Oh I'm here with a friend." You say looking back at Logan.

"Yeah, he seems busy to me. The name's Carter. Let me buy you a drink, no strings attached I swear." He offers. You take one last look at Logan, that woman's hand snaking up his arm. Fuck it.

"Alright deal."

Things since that night have been, a little off. You went home with Carter after Logan had disappeared. Carter was nice enough, at least he was at first. He treated you nice, bought you flowers. He didn't care you were a mutant or that you worked at a mutant school. He was the perfect gentleman. For the first couple months.

It happened so slowly you didn't even notice at first. You spent less time at the mansion, instead now spending it with him. The kids started to miss you and so did your friends but you were happy and they were happy you were happy.

You rarely saw Logan anymore. Ever since you came home from the bar he had been avoiding you, or something. Carter would come by the mansion but his nice guy persona seemed to fade the more he spent with everyone. It didn't help that one of your students accidently lit him on fire once. That's when the fights started.

He didn't trust the kids there, said they were dangerous. He would tell you that he liked mutants but h was worried for your safety. And he really didn't like Logan. The first time the two of them met it ended in a fight on the car ride back to his place. Logan was a strong personality and the two men clashed.

Soon every time your job got brought up it ended in a fight. He'd talk bad about your students, about your friends, about Logan. Carter wanted to keep you away from there because he loved you but they were your family.

He loved you, you had to believe it was all because he loved you. I mean you had spent so long looking for a man who didn't care about your job or your mutant abilities and Carter was that guy. At least you thought he was. You won't find anyone better. Carter liked to say that. It's hard to come by someone who's okay with what you are. So you just had to believe he did it all because he loved you.

"Do we really have to go to this stupid thing? Can't we just stay in..." Carters hand snakes up your leg but you bat his hand away making him huff.

A pissed off look on his face as you drive to the mansion. It was a simple staff party but it had been too long since you got to relax with all your friends. Carter had insisted on coming along but right now you wish he had just stayed home, especially if he was going to complain the whole time.

"This is really important to me. We don't have to stay long I promise." You say in a cheerful tone but Carter just rolls his eyes.

"Whatever." It was exhausting. To Carter anything he wanted to do was fine but as soon as there was something you wanted to do it was a chore.

"Don't understand why you're so obsessed with being around these...people." He mumbles under his breath. Not this again. You plaster on a fake smile as you pretend you didn't hear him. He loves you for who you are right?

The party was in full swing by the time you get in. You greet your friends, trying to hide your feelings as Carter says something about getting a drink.

"You finally made it." You turn to see Logan standing behind you.

"Logan! Didn't expect to see you here." You tease. Parties were never Logan's thing.

"I heard you might show up, can't miss that now can I?" He opens his arms and you don't hesitate to hug him. You missed this. Your nights used to be filled with movie nights and late night snacking with Logan. It's been so long since you got to do any of that.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Logan clocks the fake smile immediately. He's noticed the ways you've changed. You're deflated, tired. It's all that assholes doing and he knows it.

"Yeah every things fine," Logans hands rest on your arms, he's about to press you a little further but Carter comes back.

"Hey man get your hands off my girlfriend." Carter almost seems to puff out his chest as if he was trying to appear bigger than Logan. Logan rolls his eyes.

"Calm down bub, just saying hi to my friend."

"Well she's my girlfriend."

"Yeah she's also a person not a fucking object." Logan growls and you step to get in between the two of them. The last thing you wanted was a fight right now.

"It was great seeing you again Logan." You smile as Carter wraps his hand around your wrist.

Logan reluctantly lets go of you as you're taken away by your boyfriend. He feels this anger burning inside of him. Every time he sees that bastard touch you he wants to rip off his damn arms. Every time he sees your smile fall or hears your fake laugh.

"Jealous much?" Scott comments, a smirk on his face as Logan turns to glare.

"I ain't jealous." Logan snaps as he stalks away.

Yes he is, he's very jealous. He's jealous that asshole is your boyfriend and not him. He's jealous that he's not the one who gets to hold you at night and call you his girl. But he was too late. So he's got no one to blame but himself.

Carter hadn't left your side since your moment with Logan. Normally you'd be happy about this but he was doing nothing but complain every chance he got.

"Can we just fucking go home already. You saw your little friends."

"It's barely been an hour Carter. All I asked for was this one thing! These people are my family would it kill you to try and act interested." You snap, finally fed up with his attitude. He scoffs and crosses his arm.

"I am trying. It's not my fault your family are freaks! Especially that fucking monster." He says with an extra glare towards Logan. Heads start to turn as he raises his voice.

"They're not freaks and don't call Logan that! He is not a monster!" You hiss. You've had it up to here with Carter. Everything you thought about him was crumbling down. If this is what love was then you'd rather be single.

"Of course you come to his defense. What are you fucking him on the side?" He spits.

Logan looks ready to pounce but he's being held back. If he could he'd maim this guy until he's nothing but blood and bones. He doesn't care what insult this guy spews his way but the second he disrespects you, all bets are off.

"He's my friend that's why I'm defending him. I will not let you talk about anyone of these people like that! You are nothing but a hateful asshole. You can go home and don't wait up because you're done."

You're seething with anger but there's a sense of relief that washes over you. You can feel every ones eyes on you but you don't care. You turn around to walk away but Carter grabs onto your wrist.

"Don't fucking walk away from me!" You wince at how hard he grabs you and that's when Logan snaps. Like an animal he's on Carter in an instant. Claws out and a murderous look on his face.

"Get your fucking hand off her before I slice it off." Whatever arrogance Carter had was gone in an instant. He lets go of your wrist and grabs at Logan's arm but Logan is unmoving.

"Listen here bub, you're going to get your sorry ass out of here and never come back." Logan leans in, just close enough that Carter is the only one who can hear his next words.

"If you even think of contacting her again I'll find you and I'll rip you limb from limb." Carter scrambles out of Logans grip and falls to the ground.

"You're all fucking insane." He yells as he runs out the door.

There's a weight that falls off your shoulders the second he's out of your sight. You let out a sigh as you turn to face everyone. Some of them were looking at you with pity and others were happy he was finally gone.

"I am, so sorry for ruining the party."

"You didn't ruin the party sugar, we're glad he's gone. Now we can really party." Rouge says with a smile, you're grateful for her as this breaks the awkward tension.

Things seem to go back to normal but you slip outside, not really feeling a party mood anymore. You hear the door open and foot steps behind you. A root beer is placed in front of you and you gladly take it. Wordlessly Logan takes the spot next to you. Man you can't remember the last time you got to sit down with Logan.

"Thank you, and I'm sorry." You say. He shrugs and throws an arm around you, pulling you closer.

"Nothing to be sorry for sweetheart, asshole had it coming." He takes a sip of his beer and you sigh, leaning a little closer to him.

"How could I be so stupid, things went south way before tonight. I just...didn't want to see it."

"Hey, you're not stupid. You were in love." Love makes you do a lot of things. Turn a blind eye or in Logan's case. Pretend like the feelings aren't even there.

"No I wasn't. Not really. I think...I was so afraid of never finding someone that I latched onto the first guy to give me an ounce of attention." You groan. What's so wrong with wanting to be loved huh? Nothing. But you deserve a guy who isn't a complete asshole.

"There will be other guys, anyone would be lucky. to have you"

"Yeah? Like who?" You say with a snort.

"Like me." Logan says simply. Your eyes widen as you taken in what he just said.

"What?" You ask in disbelief.

Logan shifts where he sits. Fuck this isn't how he imagined telling you, in fact he thought he never would. But Carter made him so angry and he'd be dammed if he let another dick come and take you away again.

"Like me, I want to be the lucky bastard."

"I...Logan how long have you felt this way." You ask, a hand coming to rest on his chest.

"It doesn't matter,"

"Yes it does, please. I need to know how much of an idiot I've been." You beg and Logan frowns, he doesn't like it when you call yourself an idiot.

"Years sweetheart, I've been in love with you for years." He confesses.

All this time. He's been there. As your friend, as something more. Too wrapped up in his own shit to say something at first and then by the time he worked out some of it, it was too late. He hates to admit it but that asshole did one thing right, it pushed him to stop hiding how he really feels about you.

"Logan..." You whisper as your lean in close to him.

His hand snakes around your waist and pulls you closer. Your lips ghost each other for just a moment, before he leans closer and kisses you. Your lips move together slowly. Logan groans against your lips as he pulls you even closer, if anyone were to look outside they'd see you practically crawling onto his lap.

His other hand cups your cheek, keeping you right there for him to kiss over and over. A part of you is kicking yourself for not saying anything to Logan sooner. So much pain and annoyance could have been avoided had one of you just confessed, but the other part of you is too happy to care. Too happy knowing that he felt the same way and that he was finally yours.

"I wish we had done this sooner."

"Me too sweetheart, but you have me now." He says as he kisses you again. A thought lingers in your mind and you pull away from Logan much to his dismay.

"Fuck, I need to get my shit from Carters place." You say with a groan.

"Don't say his name ever again," Logan grumbles and you laugh.

"I'll take care of everything so you never even have to think of that asshole." Logan buries his face in your neck, kissing every bit of skin he can reach.

"Now, lets ditch this party and make up for some lost time." Logan purrs.

God there's so much time to catch up on, you mourn what could have been but Logan taps your cheek. Snapping you out of your spiraling thoughts.

"You alright sweetheart?" You nod, shaking your head free of those thoughts. That's all in the past now, it took a while but you found your way to Logan and that's all that matters.

"I've never been better. Now, take me home."

[romanceyourdemons]

at the risk of sounding confucian, if my special interest was cultivation and i really wanted to go monk it up, but i was the crown prince of a country, and the layout of the royal family was such that if something were to hypothetically happen to me, for instance if i cultivated to immortality and ascended, the only person who could reasonably inherit the throne without causing a mondo succession crisis was my extremely mentally ill cousin. and again i do not want to sound too confucian here but i do think that in that situation i would say ah nuts! monking it up sure would have been neat but what else is my next life for. and i would not monk it up. to avoid kicking the knees out from under my country to the best of my ability

[rottenpumpkin13]

List of Things Rufus Has Said That Has Given Tseng Second Thoughts:

• "You know, Tseng, if my father happened to fall from the 70th floor, Darkstar's trained. What? No, not to catch him. I meant trained to fetch my celebratory champagne bottle."

• "I wonder if those poor dears at Avalanche need more money."

• "Darkstar only bit three executives today! What a good dog he is :)"

• "Hypothetically speaking, how much paperwork would it generate if the President's helicopter had a minor malfunction?"

• "I find it insulting how you're insinuating that the reason I won't give you a raise is because I'm scared you'll save up enough money and leave me."

• "I'm sending Heidegger this gift basket. No it's ticking because it's a clock, don't touch it."

• "I've been practicing my concerned face for when Father has his 'unfortunate accident.'"

• "Tseng, for the last time. My bed was cold and I ordered you to come here and warm it up. You're undressed because I couldn't possibly have you sully my sheets with bacteria. Now be quiet and cuddle me."

• "Do you think Palmer would notice if we replaced his space program funding with board game money?"

• "I'm thinking of making Dee employee of the month."

[justsigma-bsd]

“Heyyyy sigma, hypothetically speaking what would you do if I was being picked on by a classmate. Berry said he’d beat them up if they happened. Hypothetically “

- @currentlyeatingrocks (this was probably funnier in my head)

"Get all their embarrassing secrets via Information Exchange, threaten to expose them to all their peers and point out that I have ties with the mafia and the Decay if that's not enough to deter them.

I did actually blackmail some teen into quitting picking on a random child one time. Very efficient. Anyway- are you getting bullied??"

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Andrew Doyle

Published: Jan 21, 2025

Day one. It’s already started. ‘Elon Musk appears to make back-to-back fascist salutes at inauguration rally’ claims the Guardian. ‘Elon Musk accused of giving “Nazi salute” at Trump inauguration celebration’ says the Independent. The activist media are positively priapic with glee that Donald Trump’s most powerful ally just publicly endorsed Hitler live at his inauguration. Except of course that didn’t happen. And we know it didn’t happen because we do not have cabbages for heads. Let’s just hypothetically suppose for one moment that Musk is a clandestine fascist, one so ingenious and Machiavellian that he has managed to inveigle his way into the White House and is now poised to initiate the Fourth Reich. Does any sentient human being suppose for one moment that such an evil genius would now accidentally reveal his scheme to millions of people live on television?

Nobody believes this, of course. Or if they do, they should be supervised at all times, especially around cutlery. That goes for Rex Huppke at USA Today, who has published a piece entitled ‘Elon Musk’s “odd-looking” salute sure looked like a “Sieg heil” to me’. Perhaps it does. But I could have sworn that I saw the face of David Hasselhoff in my spinach frittata yesterday, and yet I’m pretty sure that’ll be the old pareidolia playing tricks on me again. If I were as literal-minded as Huppke, I’d probably assume that The Hoff had actually found a way to invade my breakfast and call an exorcist or something.

Within an hour of Huppke’s article being posted online, the following note was appended: ‘This column was updated to add new information’. God knows what defamatory nonsense that hit-piece contained before I got around to reading it. The media class still hasn’t quite grasped that falsely smearing someone as a Nazi is libellous, and that perhaps someone like Musk has the financial means to do something about it. (Also at the end of the article we have this little nugget: ‘Follow USA Today columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky’. That explains quite a lot.)

I’m starting to think that avoiding libel should be included on the first day of any basic journalism course, given how often we see media outlets posting lies and then having to frantically apologise for it. And while they’re at it, the course should probably also include a session on why male rapists, paedophiles and murderers shouldn’t be referred to as ‘she’ and ‘her’. Just a thought.

While I would usually be prepared to concede that Huppke might just be as simple-minded as he seems, there’s something about his article that suggests otherwise. If he genuinely believed that Musk was giving a Nazi salute, why did he have to misrepresent the story? Not once in his piece does Huppke mention the context for the admittedly ill-advised gesture. Musk said to the audience, ‘my heart goes out to you’, which is why he struck his heart and mimed throwing it out to the crowd. He then turned and did it again, and the meaning is perfectly clear when the clip is seen in its entirety:

Now look at the clip that was being shared online by Musk’s detractors.

We have seen this kind of dishonesty so often, and it simply never works. The internet has certainly enabled the media to spread this misleadingly edited clip, but it also enables us to check its authenticity. And when people release that they have been lied to, the inevitable outcome is resentment. This is why throwing the word ‘Nazi’ around as though it has no meaning other than ‘someone I vaguely dislike’ is not an endearing or astute way to behave.

Naturally, Democratic politicians have been quick to exploit the situation as much as the press. Jerry Nadler, Representative for the 12th District of New York, jumped on to X to post his verdict:

‘I never imagined we would see the day when what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute would be made behind the Presidential seal. This abhorrent gesture has no place in our society and belongs in the darkest chapters of human history. I urge all of my colleagues to unite in condemning this hateful gesture for what it is: antisemitism.’

Thankfully, there have been some voices of reason. The Anti-Defamation League put out a sensible statement in an effort to subdue all the frenzied mutual masturbation of the Bluesky clan:

‘It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath.’

Musk and Trump have their political opponents; that much is obvious and all for the good. But given all the histrionic hogwash about ‘Nazis’ and ‘fascists’ during the run-up to the last election, I was hoping they might have all grown up a little. As I say, it’s absolutely clear that this strategy is wholly ineffective. The public are capable of reading history books. They understand that Nazis generally don’t pay visits to Auschwitz to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust and lay wreaths at memorial services there, as Musk did last year. They also are unlikely to be seen dancing to ‘YMCA’ with the Village People.

So once more for the hard of thinking in the media: calling people Nazis doesn’t work anymore. It’s not only unethical, it virtually guarantees that the very people you don’t want to be in power will win their elections. By all means, criticise Musk and Trump as much as you like. Those in power must be criticised; it’s essential for any functioning democracy. But lying about them and smearing them as fascists only lets the public know that you’re not to be trusted.

--

==

It's all so fucking tedious.

You don't hate legacy media enough. You think you do, but you don't.

[technofeudalism]

the US is entering the age of technofeudal idiocracy. this is the evolution of late stage capitalism, long under development by both neoliberal and conservative forces, constructed on top of a bedrock foundation of anti-intellectualism, patriarchal white nationalism and imperialist universal domination. notice i say universal. that's because i am including mars in the discussion.

if you are just coming to this realization, then yes, you are behind the curve. fascism is not just arriving. it arrived some time ago as part of this evolution. but if you can acknowledge that now and if you want to mobilize, it is never too late. we may not be at the beginning, but we are nowhere near the end.

the weapons you have at your disposal are going to be mostly decentralized, strong communities centered around generous mutual aid and meeting people's material needs - education, food and water, clothing, shelter, child care, physical and mental health, transportation, employment and (very carefully considered) self-defense. and of course, you need to learn how to directly and brutally (legally) fight back against fascism in your community.

all of those links are non-governmental resources. i am not saying you should never use government resources. it will likely depend on your state or local officials. but it should be obvious that showing extreme discretion from this day forward would be wise, particularly when interacting with federal agencies.

another good idea would be to gain an understanding of what it looks like when fascism invades every crack of society. if you are a non-minority (white/cis/able-bodied, etc.), please remember the ways in which a fascist society will always single out people of color, the disabled, religious minorities, the poor, and anyone else that can be unjustly cast as the "other."

lastly, you should think about safeguarding your internet privacy on an ongoing basis rather than occasional usage for specific activities. in other words, hypothetically keeping your VPN turned on all the time may be a greater benefit to you. some may consider this overkill. i would refer you back to three people i tend to trust on the matter more than the common person.

remember: don't panic about things that have not happened, but always have a plan in case something does. it's not a magic solution to the problem, but these are two sound philosophies that can co-exist together and i think there's a decent chance you'll be happier if you work towards adopting them.

[iamthezip]

Who is Edwin without Charles

So I got this NGL and it took me a while to answer. I mean, I had the answer almost immediately, but it quickly became a 3000 word ramble and sparked a few side rambles as well. So I tried to pare it down a bit. It kinda worked. So, here goes...

Fair warning, lots of rambling ahead but I tried!

Who is Edwin without Charles. I have TOO many thoughts about this. Firstly, hypotheticals are hard, especially with people, because there are too many variables! And in the case of Edwin, limited data. We see Edwin in the show after 30+ years of being with Charles. We have his flashback with limited shots showing him being different and ostracized by his peers then sacrificed. We know he spent 70 years in Hell. But this flashback doesn't tell us much about him as a person, just more about his peers response and treatment of him. So his actions in the attic scene and Edwin's own descriptions of himself are what we mostly have to go off of for who he is prior to spending 30+ years with Charles.

A few things we know and can assume about Edwin. Edwin is intelligent, studious, and values information and logic. Edwin is fairly straightforward. Edwin is kind (he may not be nice, but he is kind! I'll die on that hill like Charles died in that attic). He believes he is not good with people. He may have believed at some point that he deserved Hell. He does display some ptsd related symptoms and heightened fear response to certain triggers related to Hell. I mean, 30+ years later, he's still very hypervigilant about the potential of Hell finding him. Also, he has a drive and purpose with his detective work.

As for Charles, there are four things I think Charles provides Edwin that significantly impact the Edwin we see 30+ years down the road - I don't think these four things are the only things, but they're what I'm considering heavily in this portion of my analysis. Charles provides acceptance without change (accepting who Edwin is as he is and not expecting or forcing change or masking), a connection to others and the world, SAFETY (in words and actions, Charles not only claims he'll protect Edwin but repeatedly does), and absolution (this will take some explanation, later in the analysis). I think it might be argued that Charles helps Edwin find purpose in detective work, but I think this would always happen, just maybe not as quickly or easily. Reading detective stories to Charles may have made it fresh in Edwin's mind, but I think Edwin would always seek out some self-appointed task or purpose. Plus, he does reveal an ulterior motive of building a case for leniency, so the detective work purpose would eventually come about even without Charles. But, lets remove Charles from the equation.

First, Edwin will always be kind. 70+ years in Hell after being sacrificed by his peers, he still takes the time to comfort and care for an injured and dying boy, putting himself at risk at the same time. He knew Death would come when Charles passed, he explained the light to Charles, but he waits. He waits until Charles passes and even until the light appears. Edwin maintains his inherent kindness through 70+ years of the worst place and the worst people. So I think Edwin will still be kind.

Second, I disagree that Edwin is "bad with people" but he believes he is. This is ingrained from the treatment of his peers (and possibly family) and further exacerbated by being out of touch with the times, being displaced a 100 years out of time. He asks if the women in Niko's family are prone to bouts of hysteria. This would've been common medical thinking in his time. A couple episodes later, he stops himself from using the word hysteria. This implies part of his "bad with people" is lack of knowledge. That all being said, Charles is largely his source of updated information and also a connection to others, smoothing out things when Edwin says something wrong and being a major support for Edwin being himself. Without Charles as a point of connection, Edwin may never learn he isn't "bad with people" and would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. He might withdraw more and, with no one to help talk to clients and smooth out any bumps and missteps, any error would be amplified. So Edwin becomes what he believes he is, "bad with people", withdrawn, and isolated more. He already reduces a lot of interactions to their necessary functions and would just do this to more extreme.

Third, Edwin's PTSD symptoms would probably be worse including increased hypervigilance, heightened flight-freeze response, and anxiety or possible even panic attacks. All of these would be internalized as well as something being wrong with him. Charles offers safety and acceptance of Edwin - he accepts Edwin's reactions without faulting him, ridiculing him, or shaming him. He accepts Edwin sharing as much about Hell as he does (we don't know the extent and clearly he left out details, but he did tell Charles "loads of stories about Hell"). Talking through traumatic experiences and emotions is a huge part of overcoming them and moving past them. Charles offers that to Edwin. Charles also offers safety - stepping between Edwin and a threat at every opportunity, protecting Edwin from physical pain but also coming to his defense in other ways - protecting him from the concept of Hell, the risk of going back, the idea he even belongs there. Charles shows again and again that he'll protect Edwin. Edwin feels safe! And we see this with his clothes. There are only four times we see Edwin without his armor. Twice are unwilling - pain and fear in Hell and on Esther's table. Twice are willing - Ep 6 in his sweater when he plans to confess to Charles and Ep 1 in the office when its just the two of them. Edwin feels safe with Charles and takes his armor off, even when he's about to do the very frightening thing of confessing his feelings. He feels safe. But if Edwin doesn't have that acceptance and safety, I imagine he doesn't progress as much in relation to his trauma. His PTSD symptoms may worsen or at least he stays in survival mode for so much longer.

Which brings me to point four - survival mode and Edwin finding his purpose - detective work. Again, still think he'd be a detective. I just think it'd be delayed. I think Edwin would spend a lot more time in initial survival more than we can assume he did in the show. Without a sense of safety and acceptance offered by Charles, I think Edwin spends longer in survival mode, a constant state of flight. How long would he stay in survival mode, flight mode for? Would he ever feel safe or would it worsen? You do not run from trauma. You do not hide from fear. Without something to help him feel safe, would Edwin have been as trapped in his own fear and trauma as he had been previously trapped in Hell? Charles is not the only reason Edwin moves out of flight/survival mode. Edwin has to do that work himself, and maybe 30 years later he does or has. But Charles would offer a huge support in this that now isn't there. 

Finally, Edwin doesn't deserve to be in Hell, but maybe he believed he did. Maybe, without Charles, he still does. Edwin, when meeting Simon again, says "when you punish yourself, everywhere becomes Hell." Edwin spent the season learning about himself, exploring parts of himself he didn't before. I don't think these word were always something he believed, nor was that self-punishment something he could let go of. Every time Charles or Edwin talk about Edwin being in Hell (except when Edwin is using is as a "you know nothing of suffering" comeback), they point out that it was on a technicality. The only other exception is the attic, when Edwin reveals to Charles who only just escaped Hell. We know he wouldn't have talked about Hell previously in the attic scene, cause of how Charles reacts "chuffed you got out of Hell mate. Sounds hard" and because Edwin hadn't even told Charles he was dying so as not to scare him. A hell-condemned ghost would scare most people. But, in the attic, Edwin also doesn't clarify that he was there on a technicality. 30 years later, that technicality is always mentioned, mostly by Charles. It is very clear that in their 30 years together, Charles has been openly adamant that Edwin doesn't belong in Hell. But Edwin's first time mentioning he'd been in Hell, he doesn't mention the technicality, even as a means to not frighten Charles. Possibly, Edwin wasn't so sure at that point. Possibly, Edwin believed that he belonged there, even if it was only a technicality that got him there. Maybe he believed he was destined for the red light. So, without that defender to not just his soul but his honor and goodness, would Edwin believe he doesn't deserve to be in Hell. 

Edwin without Charles is still kind, still finds purpose, but I think struggles with finding safety and with resulting PTSD, self-acceptance, and absolution, even if its just absolution from his own self-perceived sins.

[9w1ft]

Can't wait to get your take on watching Lover through the fence and seeing her wear the cardigan...

the themes are theming!

but i can’t help but think it’s a “there were 5 holes in a fence” reference because of the “5 …” 😆

for any new fans, “5 holes in a fence” is a lover era moment in the tumblr swiftie fandom, where, from rep era to what became lover era, taylor began slowly transitioning her instagram posting from dark and black and white photos into pastel and brighter color photos. from within this, some fans began noticing that there might be a countdown occurring in these posts, with 8 things in a photo, then 7…6…5…etc, and people wondered if she would be dropping new music or starting a new mystery era at the end of this countdown. (search my archive for february 2019 for a flavor of what things were like)

if memory serves me correctly, it started with people noticing the palm trees, then retroactively noticing 8 couch cushion buttons, so we had 8, 7 palm trees, then taylor sat on the 6th step from the bottom, and of course, 5 holes in a fence.

but taylor stepped in with a post of olivia looking surprised, captioned, “she just read all the theories” to which swifties fell into a discourse over clowning and if it’s Good or Bad (i made a post about how clowning is Fine and a bunch of swifties reblogged it which was very silly considering) but anyway this moment is another example of what i was saying the other day about how the strongest divide in the overall swift fandom is not swiftie vs gaylor, but probably actually closer to something like proud clowns vs anti clowning) and so people in favor of the theories protested that they weren’t crazy because “there were 5 holes in a fence!” which became the shorthand expression for the whole thing. this continued until new posts stopped making sense and nothing happened. eventually, when everyone knew the lover release date and it really became 5 days beforehand, taylor posted “okay now there are 5 holes in the fence 😬” and some fans took it as love and some took it as a slap but at any rate, this fence is emblematic of ①taylor breaking the fourth wall ②to step in and attempt to make clear that a theory gaining traction is not happening

so if we are to look at this fence and hypothetically suppose that someone who knows things is at the control board of this social media post, i think it’s probably worth it to think about the context of this fandom moment as well if we are going to go hunting for deeper meaning. that is to say, clown at your own risk!

[cokoakeostuff]

Are you following official canon with the Rauru refounding Hyrule after it falls at some point after the other games, or are you putting those events somewhere post SS? I find it gets kinda hard to justify ganon etc. with that. Also, I’ve heard somewhere that the whole 10,000 years thing in BotW is more of a vague ‘a long time ago’ type of thing than an exact time frame, which I’ve definitely adopted as a personal headcanon as otherwise that’s longer than all of recorded history irl. Sorry for the kinda rambling ask lol, I got a lot of thoughts

TIMELINE MOMENT

Okay this is a really difficult one and I actually kinda try not to think much about it otherwise it gets really messy. But I think I took to the easy way in this topic.

(I edited a timeline I found, thats why it looks so bad sorry)

First major change I did: The first four swords game isn’t there, because I said there is no way im doing two different four swords Link, so consider the first time vaati scapes isn’t that important for the lore so I changed it to directly happen in FSA where four fought vaati and Ganon.

And the important part to me: Hyrule warriors (I know it’s not canon but I have to make this work in some way) where the timelines starts to converge together slowly.

And I have two options at the moment:

1. Placing BotW and TotK after Hyrule warriors, the Rauru plot happening long after an hypothetical fall of that Hyrule (Like what happened in TLoZ I & II) leading to Rauru re founding Hyrule and botw and totk storyline taking place.

2. Or BotW and TotK has their own timeline that also slowly merged with the principal and ended up having places, memories, stories that no one can remember where they came from, or there is no records about it. (This because HW messing with timelines) And basically this option would be a co-existing timeline that it’s knitted together with the principal but at the same time is it’s own.

I don’t know if what i’m trying to say makes sense but I need them to take place in a same timeline or at least connected in some way.

Ahh TLoZ timeline it’s so difficult, to be honest chose whatever option you like the most, thanks for your ask!

[half-man-half-lime]

Finished another Worm Arc 30 re-listen today. In maybe under 2 weeks we're gonna hear podcast show give takes on their hypothetical TV adaptation that are worse than I can possibly imagine, so I'm gonna drop my opinions on what I'd want to see.

First off, it kind of sucks that the portal scene in Avengers Endgame is in the public consciousness and would be people's first frame of reference for the Scion fight. Speck is so much its own thing and so much more gripping and complex than the big blockbuster movie, I would genuinely hate for it to be seen as an Avengers riff.

Second, just gonna link this idea I'm still proud of from a while ago.

I'd really like to see the perfect, ideal-world-impossible-budget version of this. Like, HBO invests everything and nothing goes wrong with the script. Even if Wildbow wasn't burnt out on Parahumans, this is basically impossible, and I don't think any studio would get it right, but I desperately wish it could happen somehow.

I think my hot take (or is it cold?) is that it works best cutting as close to canon as possible. I think we need a Taylor voiceover that gradually degrades. She should be explaining her thought process and strategy as much as possible. No Tattletale narration (was that a fan suggestion or did Wildbow say it somewhere? I can't find it), definitely no trippy and confusing show that doesn't explain anything.

We should get Taylor's perspective, and it should be full sensory overload. Not difficult to parse because of unclear motives or unexplained details, but hard to follow because there's so incredibly much going on at once that it's impossible to keep up. Visuals of the clairvoyant scenes bleeding into each other, Canary constantly singing in the background against the noise of combat, and of flashes of memories each time Queen Administrator tries to show Taylor what each of her subjects is thinking.

And it should juice every last drop of what makes Taylor's narration so satisfying in the written story. All the introspection, all of the mental breakdown, all of the stuttering and slurring her own thoughts.

That should also include character dialogue becoming audibly garbled as she loses her grasp of English.

I'm specifically against, like, the notion of an avant garde ending where the audience just sees stuff without explanation and is left to invent their own interpretation. No, it's not symbolic. It's not a trippy dream sequence for viewers to interpret. This is all happening, it's literal.

[labyrinthofsphinx]

Do you think Al would actually get jealous at Vox getting closer with his female self? I remember him not being threatened, but since it's another version of himself, do you think he would be?

Anon asked: Alastor doesn't get jealous but he got jealous of Velvette right? Is there a reason for that? What would get Alastor jealous?

You know, those are excellent questions! I guess a little talk about jelly Al:

I might've mentioned it before but part of the reason that Alastor doesn't get jealous of Vox's, um, paramours is that he truly thinks Vox is only really interested in men, namely because he doesn't see him flirt with girls with any serious intent while he's around. It's a cover, a front, and any 'relationship' he could have with them is, to Alastor, based upon an impossible to maintain lie. He is very, very much in the black or white view on sexuality because of the time and place he was raised in. Basically, he's not jealous because he doesn't believe Vox would ever want someone else...which isn't too far off from the truth, if for entirely different reasons.

But there's another side to this, that Alastor has never seen Vox with someone he's had an actual relationship with, man or woman. Alastor is far from the first person that Vox has been in love with, though he's the only one that Vox himself admits finally makes feel like that passion and spark unlike anything and anyone before. But he's had other relationships before. Al's also not around to see Vox with his current paramours. Vox keeps it all behind closed doors and for a very brief time. Al might see them 'flirt' at a party, and maybe head off to a hotel together, but he doesn't see all the little things in between. That, and Vox is always back with him the next day.

This is all a long way to say that Alastor...has never been given a reason to be jealous. He's not threatened by people who he is convinced don't have a shot. He thinks he wouldn't be jealous but, oh boy, is he very, very wrong.

Take Velvette, for example. Kinda teased here, but Vel is someone who Vox has a longstanding business partnership/professional friendship with...who may also be interested in him like that. Professional business partners with benefits kinda deal, and they're both mature enough to just leave it at that.

But to Alastor? Who thinks that you can't have one without the other? Oh, he would get so, so jealous if he ever saw the two of them together. Heck, the kisses were already pushing it beyond acceptable. And he doesn't even realize he is jealous/possessive. And if you asked him, he'd deny it, and say that Vel is a woman so Vox can't love her anyways so what does it matter.

His reaction doesn't always reflect what he's saying ;)

Anyways, Vel loves to poke the bear. Hence, manipulating it to make Alastor jealous on purpose.

But, hypothetically, if there was a guy that caught Vox's eye aside from Al...well, they better start running. He might say he wants Vox to move on, but he both, in the back of his head, doesn't believe it could ever really happen and refuses to have someone take his attention away from him. He would torment anyone who got too close...and he probably wouldn't even realize he was doing it.

As I liked to put it, and in a nebulous way, Vox is Al's, but Al is not Vox's.

Annnnd to get to the female Alastor issue...oh boy, would that be a barrel of 'fun'. So, bluntly? Yes, he would be insanely jealous. Not only because this would be the, in Alastor's view, one and only woman who could catch Vox's eye, but also 'Allie' is a lot more aware and comfortable with herself than Alastor at this point.

'Allie's' been married before, and it wasn't a happy experience. She knows that she doesn't 'want' men in that way, and she doesn't 'want' women in the same way either. She hasn't quite gotten that she's aroace, particularly because there isn't a term at the time for it, but she's already figured out what she's comfortable with and what's too much, both emotionally and physically. Vox, to 'Allie', is just about perfect for her. He knows her boundaries without a word needing to be said. His touch doesn't make her skin crawl. She gets to define what their relationship is at any given point in time. There's no negotiation or trying to 'prove' her affections for him. He can love her without needing anything back, just like her Vee. Except he's a man, so she can even fulfill those little promises of a house with a white fence. If he was in her verse, she'd marry him, 100%. Possibly kids too, depending on her own comfort levels.

And that would drive Alastor up the wall. Because how dare. That's his Vox, and, no, he doesn't not care if they're technically the same person because they aren't the same person and-!

So, yeah, in short? He'd be very, very jealous.

Not that he'd really ever needed to be, because Vox would never do anything with 'Allie' that would make Al uncomfortable. All he'd really need to do, with any potential relationship, is tell Vox that he's uncomfortable with it and that would be that.

To Vox, his (but not his) Alastor will always come first.

(Secretly, Alastor knows that too.)

TLDR: Yes, Alastor would get jealous if there was ever a legitimate 'threat'. 'Allie' qualifies for that too, more than most. He's not usually jealous de facto though. And Vox would end any relationship on the spot the minute Alastor asked him to.

Thanks for the asks!

[didalexiabreakupwitholgaisback]

The Mallorcan player’s wife who was harassed in Saudi Arabia spoke out about the Spanish women’s team. Thoughts??

https://x.com/srtalexus23/status/1881630818168365458?

okay, so many things to unpack. first, it's ridiculous that right wing spanish media are spinning the coverage of what happened to the wives of the mallorcan players to 1) accuse the spanish female players for not speaking out about the incident and for refusing to go to the supercopa femenina if hosted in saudi; and 2) use it to restart racist and xenophobic attacks against muslims (including those in spain!)

why do the women have to do the emotional labour for everything?! you criticised them for protesting rubiales, and now you criticised them for not protesting a hypothetical scenario. la doble barra de medir de las personas es aun peor...

in reality, the right wing are just pissed about rubiales that they believe that the women must speak out about every single feminist issue 24/7. that's not how the world works and that's certainly not how spanish women's football works. let's not forget that the supercopa femenina being held in saudi is not even final!

who has the real power here? have there been any statements by mallorca or real madrid as organisations supporting the players' families? was there any protest by the most famous players in all of spain (the men) to protest even hosting the supercopa in saudi in the first place? you say that the women should think twice because not everything is about money, but it's okay to do it for money when it's the men? such double standards. 😵‍💫

let's not forget how the federation treats the female players that we have montse as coach and get the bare minimum from rfef. anyway, this statement by nahikari encapsulates it all.

source: relevo_deportes on tiktok

"yes, in the end it is like everything, they are hypotheses that until they are made clear, it seems that we generate a lot of noise but there is nothing concrete and it is difficult to talk about that, but what are we going to say?

we do not have opinions different from what any ordinary person may have. in part we are the protagonists because we are the players but they are also the ones in charge. we often have little to do although we try to make an effort from the position that corresponds to us, i think that we are all aware of the situation in the country, of the situation of women there and well, in the end it puts us footballers in a difficult situation as well.

as i say, i think that they are hypotheses that should be seen, that if they occur i think that many things should be discussed and situations and contexts should be seen that are explained to us and from there we can give an opinion with things on the table.

at the moment when something like this could be decided, i think we would all have to get together, listen and decide what we want because, as i said, in the end it is still a complicated situation for women."

[npdkondraki]

[Sound of footsteps, followed by chair squeaking. Dr. [REDACTED] sighs, followed again by the sound of a chair squeaking.]

Dr. [REDACTED]: So. I touched the rock that makes you a girl.

Dr. Glass: Hm?

Dr. [REDACTED]: The rock that makes you a girl.

Dr. Glass: You- Excuse me, what?

Dr. [REDACTED]: You gotta hear about this rock. It made me a girl.

Dr. Glass: You.. You have to know that isn’t possible.

Dr. [REDACTED]: Dude, look at me. I’m a fuckin’ girl. And it’s cause of the rock, the one that makes you a girl.

Dr. Glass: There’s.. a million reasons you might look like this. I really don’t think it was a rock.

Dr. [REDACTED]: Wait. I don’t think it’s the rock itself. Like-

Dr. Glass: What?

Dr. [REDACTED]: I think it’s related to the gender of the person maybe?

Dr. Glass: I- [REDACTED], are you trying to come out to me right now?-

Dr. [REDACTED]: No! Just- Just- Okay, listen to me. The rock made me a girl.

Dr. Glass: …Yeah. I can tell. Okay, let’s say, purely hypothetically, the actual literal rock did, in fact, turn you into a girl. Why? Why would the rock make you, of all people, a girl? It just doesn’t make sense.

Dr. [REDACTED]: I don’t know what you want from me, man! I wasn’t a girl, and now I’m a girl, and it happened after I touched the rock that makes you a girl! It’s simple process of elimination!

Dr. Glass: That isn’t- That’s not what process of elimination is!

Dr. [REDACTED]: You wanna test it?

Dr. Glass: Sure. Why not.

Dr. [REDACTED]: It’s just gonna turn you into a girl.

Dr. Glass: It won’t.

Dr. [REDACTED]: It will!

Dr. Glass: It will not!

Dr. [REDACTED]: Fine! Fine. I’ll fuckin’.. have Diogenes walk you there. But I’m warning you, you will become a girl.

Dr. Glass: I doubt it.

Dr. [REDACTED]: Uh-huh. I’m sure you do.

[Tape recorder clicks off.]

[Tape recorder clicks on.]

Dr. [REDACTED]: Simon.

Dr. Glass: Hey..

[Pause.]

Dr. Glass: The rock made me a girl.

[kitkat-the-muffin]

It is the nature of fanart to become outdated as the stories develop and renew

Punko’s original designs are outdated for example. Chase does not have green eyes anymore

Tis just how the world works. We grow and develop and change and eventually outgrow our old assumptions of how we’d look or feel in the future or in hypothetical scenarios

Don’t let it dishearten your drive to create more hypothetical scenarios just to imagine what would happen based on what we know now

<3

99% of buddy and violet fanart becoming inaccurate after the finale🔥