#i cannot believe we have to do this again

[bakedbakermom]

Tell me: do you think child sexual abuse material (CSAM, the preferred term) is illegal because it makes you feel icky to look at, or because it is a record of the real actual abuse of real actual victims, which is then perpetuated each time the images are shared? CSAM, by definition, must be real images of real people. Fanfic, no matter how well-imagined, is make-believe and does not in itself cause harm.

Frankly it is insulting to the real victims of child sexual exploitation (CSE) to equate random stories on the internet to the pain they have suffered, as if your squick at fiction is in any way the same thing.

"But what if an actual pedophile reads it and goes out and hurts someone?"

If someone looks at the painting of The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist and goes and cuts someone's head off, is that Caravaggio's fault, four centuries after the fact? Or is it perhaps the fault of the person who, upon seeing a depiction of a brutal act of violence, thought that looked like a good funny time?

If a person is tempted to go out and do harmful acts because of something they read on the internet, it is not the fault of the thing they read nor the person who wrote it. We are individuals with free will. We cannot foresee and are not responsible for the actions of complete strangers.

"But what if a victim of CSE reads it and is triggered?"

That does happen, and it is terrible, but that is also why Ao3 has such an incredible filtering system and why your browser has a back button. If you are walking through an art museum and see a painting that triggers you, is it the fault of the museum for having it there? The fault of the artist who made it? No. Is someone going to hold you by the shoulders and make you look? No. (And if they do, that's called assault, and it's still not the fault of the museum or the artist.)

You are responsible for the things you see and read online; just like you can and should walk away from a piece of art that disturbs you, you are responsible for filtering your fics and looking away from any you accidentally stumble across that trigger you. (Without leaving horrible comments for the author or reporting it as CSAM - which by definition, it is not, and such reports clog up the system so that it is harder for actual CSAM to be found, removed, and investigated.)

I have known victims of CSE, and I have known people in the tech sphere who work to remove CSAM from the internet. Did you know that there was a department at [company you've definitely heard of], fully devoted to identifying CSAM as it moved between users, reporting it to the FBI, and assisting in the investigations? Most people in that department burned out after about 2 years because they just couldn't stand looking at these torturous images day after day, and reading through the correspondence of those who make and share it.

There was a giant bell in the middle of their workspace. Every time a pedophile was convicted based on their evidence, the person working the case would ring the bell as the rest of the department cheered and cried. Because they had helped a real person, because they had stopped a real crime, because someone who actually hurt a child would never be able to do so again.

Words on a screen are not the same thing.

saying ao3 needs to censor certain content is like saying a museum can't have still life art that includes strawberries because you don't like them.

these are not real strawberries. you do not have to, and in fact cannot, eat them. no one with a strawberry allergy will be harmed by looking at them. no migrant workers were exploited in the picking of these strawberries. there were no questionable farming practices or negative environmental impacts from growing or transporting them.

because - and i cannot stress this enough - they are not real strawberries.

if you don't like strawberries, you don't have to look at the paintings. in fact, you can get a map of the museum that lists what works are in what rooms and just. not go in there. if you see one by mistake, you can look away. just keep walking. there's plenty of other stuff to see.

yes, real strawberries can cause real quantifiable harm to real people.

but again. these are not real strawberries.

you may have whatever feelings you like about strawberries, and so can i. you can draw and write about whatever fruit floats your boat, and so can i, even if that happens to be strawberries. and we can hang our art side by side in the same gallery, provided you understand that my strawberries are not about you (and your kumquats are, shocker, not about me) and that - and this is true - neither are real.

and when the fascists break down the doors and grab all the strawberry paintings and heap them in the street and set them on fire, please know that they are coming for your kumquats next.

so if you want a place where you can show off your beautiful kumquat art safely, you're gonna have to tolerate having some strawberries in the next room.

and that's okay. because the strawberries aren't real.

[ahdanqar]

"I Returned to My Apartment… But Where Is My Home?"

Before the war, I lived in my modest home with my wife, Maysoun, and my three daughters, Fatima, Iman, and Noor. We dreamed of a better future despite everything. But then the war came like a devastating storm, leaving behind nothing but rubble and shattered memories. We were displaced multiple times, searching for shelter that could provide us with the bare minimum of a dignified life, until we ended up in an overcrowded school with no privacy or safety.

Today, after all this displacement, I have finally returned to my apartment… but where is my home?

Every corner tells a story of pain. The walls that once echoed with my daughters' laughter have collapsed, as if they, too, could not bear the separation. The ceiling is no longer a ceiling—it is an open window to the cold sky. The furniture is reduced to wreckage, and dust covers our old memories. Even my baby Noor’s bed, where she once slept peacefully, is gone.

I stood in the middle of the place, searching through the debris for something that could restore a sense of security. But all I found was heavy silence and the remains of a life we had once built, piece by piece. How do I start again? How do I explain to my daughters that this is not the home we left behind?

During our displacement, I tried to make my voice heard, to share my suffering with the world. But one by one, my Tumblr accounts were banned. My only tool to tell my story was taken away. Still, I refuse to be silenced. I will keep speaking, keep searching for a glimmer of hope, for hearts that still beat with humanity.

Today, I have nothing but my will and my dream of rebuilding our lives. But I know I cannot do it alone. I need your support. I need people who believe that every human being deserves shelter, dignity, and a chance to start again.

Help me give my daughters a roof to protect them, a warm bed to comfort them, and hope that tomorrow can be better.

#Rebuild_My_Life

#Hope_From_The_Rubble

#Why_Is_Suffering_Silenced?

Hello friends,

I need your help to amplify my voice. Could you share my post to help me rebuild my life? Your support could make a huge difference for me and my family.

@tamamita @punkitt-is-here @2spirit-0spoons @paper-mario-wiki @omegaversereloaded @ko60192 @nyancrimew @90-ghost @beserkerjewel @ot3 @prisonhannibal @aimasu @anneemay @dirhwangdaseul @neechees @memingursa @certifiedsexed @afro-elf @11thsense @sawasawako @girlinafairytalelovestory @spacebeards @skipppppy @3000s @dailyquests @evillesbianvillain @wolfertinger666 @taffybuns @valtsv @postanagramgenerator @crabussy @balaclava-trismegistus @elpeor @factsilike @carry-on-my-wayward-butt @tpwrtrmnky @c-53 @odddogs

[mcflymemes]

"TAKE ME BACK TO EDEN" BY SLEEP TOKEN PROMPTS *  assorted lines from the album, some slightly reworked to suit a roleplay format, adjust as necessary

it was no accident.

you keep me sharp and test my worth in blood.

you've got me in a chokehold.

it's all the same to me.

it makes no difference.

i've seen my days unfold.

i've done the impossible.

show me that which i cannot see, even if it hurts me.

show me the way.

you've got my body.

raise me up again.

take me past the edge.

i want to see the other side.

won't you show me what it's like?

did i mistake you for a sign from god?

are you really here to cast me off?

maybe you're here just to turn me on.

i would be lying if i told you that i didn't wish i could be your man.

you won't ever have to talk about it.

i was more than just a body in your passenger seat.

you were more than just somebody i was destined to meet.

i see you go half-blind when you're looking at me.

you gave me nothing whatsoever.

you say you want me, but you know i'm not what you need.

you sit there acting like you know me.

if you had a problem, then you should've told me.

keep an eye on the road.

i can't get enough.

no wonder my ears are still ringing.

you have become the voice in my head.

my life is torn.

are you in pain like i am?

will the pain stop if we go deeper?

i wanna go where nobody else will ever go.

there is always something in the way i wanna have you to myself for once.

you take what you want, then leave.

who made you like this?

tell me you met me in past lives.

won't you come and dance in the dark with me?

anything's better than the way i feel right now.

you make me wish i could disappear.

don't you know i was trying to hold back the darkness?

are you really okay?

you woke me up one night, dripping crimson on the carpet.

i saw it in your eyes.

don't you know i could see it in you even now?

i cannot fix your wounds this time.

i don't believe you when you tell me you are fine.

please don't hurt yourself again.

why are you never real?

i am trembling with fear.

this scar will never fade.

just let me go or take me with you.

do you wish that you loved me?

is there something you give that you will never receive in return?

do you know what it is?

are you trying to live like everything is a lesson to learn?

can you ever forgive yourself?

do you ever believe that we can turn into different people?

it's getting harder to be myself.

for so long, i have waited.

i don't wanna get in your way.

touch me again.

you have got your hooks in me.

you get what you give.

i can hear you say my name.

no one told you where to go.

i'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired.

i need you to see me for what i have become.

we've no idea what we've got until we lose it.

it was no accident.

give me five whole minutes.

call me when you get the chance.

do you remember me?

do you still believe that nothing else matters?

the night belongs to you.

i must be someone new.

you will not be mine.

[holylulusworld]

Cabin at the lake (9)

Summary: You have a much-needed vacation. There’s only one problem…

Pairing: Soldier Boy x Assistant!Reader

Warnings: SB being an ass, tension, arguments, vacation hijacking, misogynism, slow burn, cocky SB, language, fluff?

A/N: Another short drabble with these two.

Cabin at the lake (8)

Cabin at the lake masterlist

“Why don’t you let me down?” You mutter. Soldier Boy refused to let you walk inside the cabin. He carries you over the threshold, still not letting you down.

“You’ll only get hurt again. I must keep a close eye on my clumsy girl. If you get hurt again, you will blame me.” He smirks as you lean your head against his shoulder. Once again, you’re too tired and wound tight to do more than give in.

“Can you just let me have a rest and get me food?” You huff, not in the mood to argue. “You promised to cook for me. Hopefully, you want to keep that promise.”

“You won’t lift a finger tonight, sweetness. My lady doesn’t have to work or do more than take dick,” he snickers because you growl his name, along with profanities. “We will get you there, baby. I’ll make you my pretty housewife, and the moment you have little Soldier Boy in your belly, you’ll purr like a cat for me.”

“Why does everything you say have something to do with your dick?” You’re angry at Soldier Boy. He just can’t have a normal conversation. Or so it seems. “I told you that I’m hungry, and not for dick!”

“Soon, baby,” he says while carefully placing you on the couch. Soldier Boy covers you with a warm blanket and checks on your hand. “I know the meds are kicking in. The doctor said it can happen that you will feel dizzy and maybe a little disoriented. The stuff Vought gave you was no good.”

“Vought isn’t interested in helping anyone but themselves. All they have in mind is money. They use everyone, and if you are no longer useful, they’ll get rid of you. Supe or not.”

“I already got that, baby cakes,” he purrs, lips pressing against your cheek. “I use them too to make a shit ton of money before I say goodbye to living the life I always wanted to live. They believe I’m their loyal lapdog.”

Soldier Boy laughs. He walks off and toward the small kitchenette.

“You can’t fuck void over. They will know. They always know,” you harrumph. “If you try to work against them, everyone you like will stand in the line of fire.”

“I only like you, and you’re not going to leave my side. I’ll protect you,” he casually says. He doesn’t take Vought seriously, but you do. They will not let Soldier Boy, their poster boy, go.

“Soldier Boy, they will never let you out of your contract. You know that.” You try to reason with your boss. “If you try, they’ll kill you.”

“Ben,” he says while rummaging in the kitchenette.

“What?” You crane your neck to watch him get a pan out of one of the cupboards.

“My name is Ben,” Soldier Boy says. “You can call me by my name. Soldier Boy is just the suit and shield. When we are alone, you can call me Ben or baby. Whatever you like better.”

You throw a pillow at him but smile. Soldier Boy never told you his real name or did anything nice for you. Now he cooks dinner and tells you his name.

“Fine.” You snuggle into the blanket and close your eyes. “I like Ben better. If only he’d stop talking about his dick.”

“One step after another, sweetness,” he calls from the kitchenette. “You cannot expect me to tame the beast in my pants. He only wants you.”

“Christ, if you are that obsessed with my cunt, you should feed it when my hand is better,” you grumble and turn around on the couch to get some sleep. Dinner will take some time, and you’re tired.

“You want me to take care of your pussy?” He suddenly stands in front of the couch to look down at you. “Y/N, don’t play with me. If you want me to destroy it, tell me now.”

You smile to yourself but remain silent.

“I’ll take this as a yes,” Ben nods to himself. “Alright. I’ll get dinner ready for you. The moment your hand is healed, your kitty will end up well-fed…”

Tags in reblog.

[missysverse]

I believe in shifting but sometimes I lowk get scared to actually do it😭like wdym I can shift WHOLE REALITIES!! I feel like it's sort of hindering my progress idk...

THE INFAMOUS FEAR OF SHIFTING HAS STRIKED ONCE AGAIN...

HI anon! Your feelings are completely valid and it is a normal reaction to feel this fear after discovering shifting. I mean think about it, one day you stumbled across this community of people who talk about shifting to fictional or completely different realities. It sounds absolutely insane and mind-boggling at first, like straight out of a sci-fi film. The average person is going to think 'wow these people have really lost the plot' and will immediately reject the idea of reality shifting, chuckle at it, and then move on with their day (a bunch of wimps really).

But you, dear anon. You chose to believe it. You gave it a chance, and it all happened for a reason. Because shifting is your birthright. You choosing to get involved with this community, with shifting, giving it a true go, immediately makes you 1000x braver than the normal person. Hence, you need to realise that the courage has already been within you, we just need to alleviate this fear so that you feel more comfortable and don't view shifting as a 'scary' thing.

I want to make clear that feeling negative emotions towards shifting cannot 'hinder' your shifting journey. Many people have shifted while feeling scared or sad or whatever. Fear is only an obstacle if you make it one. The moment you stop seeing fear as a wall and start seeing it as nothing more than a passing thought, you’ll realize you were free to shift all along.

If you have a fear of actually getting to your DR and actually experiencing stuff your "DR self" would (btw your DR self is you, I hate using this term but I'm just using it to help you understand), please realise that your "DR self" has experienced the events, is completely used to their life, when you shift it will feel 100% normal. Yes it may take you time at the start to fully adjust, but everything will feel very natural, no matter what you script, because you have lived that life. It will just be a regular day for you.

If being in a completely different reality still sounds a bit terrifying to you, nothing is stopping you from trying to shift to a parallel reality, for instance, a reality where everything is the same but you have a different colour hair. Or go to a waiting room, which will help you mentally prepare before going to your DR.

You have all the time in the world to let this sink in. There’s no rush. Nope, none at all. The moment you’re ready, the moment it truly clicks that this is possible, everything will feel so much easier. I promise. Take it at your own pace, step by step, if that’s what you need. Shifting isn’t running away from you. It is always here.

I hope this helped, feel free to ask more if you are still unsure :)

[aprilblossomgirl]

i feel like i'm hurting so much for faifa in this episode. he doesn't deserve to hear that many hurtful words. before i continue, i think i need to say this first: as an asian myself, i will always understand why most (asian) shows choose forgiveness when dealing with bad parents/parenting, no matter how unforgivable they might be seen by the rest of the audience. and that, i believe, is not of any agenda by the showmaker. of course, to not generalize it, few medias didn't go through that route because of a different preference or goal in the storytelling. however, understanding forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean i believe it is always the 'right' way of wrapping up an arc.

thinking about the upcoming faifawine's story starting next week, i feel like some dialogues in this episode, no matter how they really felt off to me, are intentionally right there as a further backstory for faifa. and especially if the directing choice of faifa's expression changes through that scene with the whole family is anything to go by.

when yotha called fai, he said this first: "Tell me honestly. Don’t be scared of hurting anyone." as if yotha knows that fai always keeps his feelings to himself to avoid hurting anyone else.

fai trying to come up with a reasoning, "I was probably just angry with her, but I think everyone was hurt by what happened— Dad, Newton, and Mom." as if to avoid answering yotha's question, "Do you hate her?" with his real answer.

"If Mom really wanted to abandon us, why would she have taken me with her?" shows that fai was not being optimistic (as yotha implied) but somehow trusted the mom. only to be shattered later, "I thought if I brought Faifa who loves being with his Dad and brothers, at least he would ask me to bring him back to visit everyone often and we’d all see each other sometimes. On the other hand, if I’d brought you, Yotha, we might have been so happy that we wouldn’t have wanted to come back and see anyone here again..." (what nonsense! i cannot understand any logic behind this one.) in a way implying that she might haven't been that happy with fai, which somehow validate what he and yotha had been talking about before: "I don’t know why she took me with her even though you were the one who wanted to go." / "Because she loves you more than me." / "That’s definitely not the reason." oh, i was right. mom doesn't love me. but she's hurting. but...

imagine being faifa, hearing all of those hurtful excuses, but his immediate response was trying to justify why mom did what she did instead of trying to validate the real feeling he himself was having. and i say this with my whole being: that's a pretty accurate representation of how we, asian kids, mostly were nurtured. the scene just stabbed me right in the heart.

faifa might haven't said anything, but his face didn't lie. you could very clearly see how his face instantly dropped once mom told her reason for taking him instead of yotha at that time. and i still cannot forget the face he made a few episodes back when mom gave him something he was allergic to. the level of gaslighting here is too suffocating to witness. the emotional neglect just hits too hard. i cannot even begin to break it further into fai's loneliness.

all these made me wonder how the upcoming third arc will 'deal' with fai's inner wound. i hope the show won't brush it off because i think it would add more depth to the romance part, how he navigates his feelings once someone finally enters his life, as it has been implied that wine was also dealing with heartbreak.

[poorrichardjr]

When it Happens

American democracy is teetering on the edge of collapse. Anyone with half a brain can see it. Regulations that keep the government in check are being thrown out; everyday government workers are being fired because they aren't loyal enough; and an unappointed billionaire has a group of young men gathering as much financial information as possible on every single person in the country by raiding government computer files.

The lawsuits have already started, but more than a few people are saying who cares. More than a few people with knowledge of the people at the heart of these things have already hinted that the people in charge are just going to ignore any ruling that tells them to stop.

We have large amounts of governmental police forces starting to gather up as many people as possible who are "criminals." Their crime is simply sometimes just being brown and in the wrong place at the wrong time. They said they were only going after the bad people, but they forgot to mention that anyone who is not pure lily white could be targeted. From military veterans to Native Americans, it doesn't matter who you are if you don't look "American" enough. Protests are being scheduled against these actions, but again the people in charge are just going to ignore them or shrug their shoulders. No one is going to make them stop doing what they want.

It is coming down to a moment of strength. A moment of decision. A moment that will either doom American democracy or finally light the fire under the people to decide to fight for what they say they love.

Americans all across this country are generally complacent people. As long as they can live their lives without too much interference, they are willing to accept a lot. Still, I believe, under all that lazy complacency, there is a steel core that eventually gets hit. Sooner or later Americans say enough is enough, and they begin to stand up to fight. As Churchill once stated when talking about America, "They will do the right thing, eventually."

I only have one concern. How many will finally say they have had enough? As long as that number is only a bit here and there, the government will easily squash or ignore any complaints. Even a million people isn't going to be enough. News media and the government will just paint those people as "liberal agitators." Even supposedly liberal media probably won't describe the situation accurately because they will fear being targeted by the Trump administration and conservatives.

However, all of this boils down to the moment things become violent. It is going to happen. It will almost certainly start with police forces using excessive force to contain or disrupt protestors. How will the people react? Will people become violent in return? Will gunfire start? How far does this eventually go, and where will the majority of people align?

A moment is coming. It will happen. When the people in power cannot be held in check or willingly disregard any authority that tries to limit them, something has to break. I expect some people will try to fight back, but a government that is willing to ignore other sources of authority within our system will have no problem stepping over the bounds of decency when it comes to controlling the people.

[spinchip]

“Women and Children were targeted first,” Vex says at his emperors side, a shadow that clings to the edges of the Emperors long shawl dragging in the slush. Snow melted under boots and so well trodden that there were dirty pathways cut into the drifts pooling in the village- more mud than snow now. More blood than snow, too. “The men were away on a hunt.”

The Emperor surveys the remains of the village, the bones of their homes mingled with bodies strewn across the wet earth. It is a gruesome scene, a violent attack. He takes several more slow, shambling steps before Vex can no longer stand the silence and speaks again.

“The men came back to a trap.” He adds. “I believe-”

“Be quiet.” The Emperor's voice rolls and rumbles its way out of him, the roughness of it grating in the cold air. “Allow me a moment of peace to mourn.”

Vex falls silent, slowing down so the Emperor can continue on his march alone. The blizzard Samurai moving around the camp don’t speak, either. They are gathering the bodies and preparing the burial rites, the sound of boots squelching in mud makes the Emperor's chest ache. Senseless violence. His people slaughtered, their homes destroyed- he did not protect them, and now he was to bear witness to his failure. He grieves quietly over the dead as he twitches his fingers, casting the snow away and revealing hidden remains.

“When did the attack take place?” He asks tonelessly, turning his head just slightly to indicate his question is directed at his faithful advisor.

Vex steps forward and rejoins him as they move through the village, “It is impossible to know exactly when. A patrol returned this morning, and their report detailed that the tribe had already been slaughtered when they arrived.” He clicks his tongue as he thinks, “The trip here is not long through Wojiras passage, and our warriors have been able to pass through without issue since your dragon made its presence known to the beasts in the mountains. They should have made contact here at least two days ago, and it has taken us a day to arrive.”

“Three days.” He murmurs.

“It could be more.” Vex says quietly.

How long had his people been laid here, unable to rest? Spirits bound to their bodies cut down with no respect, left to preserve perfectly in the frost. There will be no one here left alive to mourn these people when he and his company make their leave. The thought of it makes the empty caverns of the Ice Emperors mind echo with sorrow.

“My Emperor… you cannot allow this to happen again.” Vex speaks so softly it’s only the northern wind's strength that carries the words to him. “They are animals.”

“They speak and they understand.” The Emperor reminds him stiffly.

“Then they are monsters. Look at the carnage they have wrought!” He sweeps his arm out at the scene before him, old blood and snow mixing in the afternoon light into an ugly ruddy brown, “You have been lenient with the Yeti. perhaps too lenient.”

“Watch your tongue.” The emperor says sharply.

They once again lapse into silence.

“...Your efforts to find peace have been admirable, my Emperor.” Vex continues slowly, “but you must open your eyes. These people are dead, and it was the Yeti who came down for the slaughter.”

The wind blows harshly around them, but neither of them feel the chill of it, “What evidence do we have?” He asks finally.

They turn a corner and come upon the blizzard Samurai preparing a body for transport.

“You have seen the injuries of the dead, my emperor.” Vex says soberly, “You know as well as I who was behind this.”

Teeth Marks. Uneven, choppy bites torn into skin and bone, rending thick fur-lined leather apart like paper. It doesn’t make sense. Why would the Yeti come here, so far from their homes up in the northern mountains? The longer he looks at the body in front of him, the more a creeping sense of doubt crawls up his spine. The bitemarks looked… too perfect. No pull of skin from blunted teeth. Like a clean cut. Done post mortem, maybe. The yeti did not hunt formlings for food, so why..?

The Emperor resumes his walk as he thinks, trailing around the village slowly while Vex follows.

“Were any resources salvageable?” The Emperor pivots the conversation as they walk past the stalls of what might have once been a small market. “Their sister village has been weakened by illness. We should not allow anything to go to waste- it is not the way of the formlings to discard what could be used.”

They quietly discuss these things as they make their rounds. There are things that could be offered to the neighboring tribes. Blankets, furs, and spices. Fishing and hunting equipment. Medicines. There are more things that cannot.

“And what of the livestock?” Is the final question the Emperor has, spurred only by the way they had come upon chicken coop tucked away behind one of the few homes that still stood.

“We have found no signs of animals. I imagine that is, perhaps, spoils of the conquest that the yeti took with them.”

The Emperor hums quietly, staring at the coop with blank eyes.

“You have sent for a reverend.” It's not so much a question as it is a flat statement.

Vex answers it anyway, “Yes. I had a scout leave the moment we got the initial report. He should be arriving soon- from the tribes west of here.”

“Good. We will stay for the funeral rites and then we will take our leave.” the Emperor sweeps his long coat as he turns away from the home, grief and suspicion clouding his mind. He takes only two long strides before he freezes in place.

There’s a sound coming from behind him. Soft, rough, tired.

“My emperor?” Vex prods, concerned.

So, so quiet. Just barely there.

A small, feeble little cry.

He turns around and rushes to the chicken coop, the snow clearing for him instantly as he drops to his knees by the weather worn old thing. It’s a tiny pen, made for maybe two birds- it doesn’t even open fully. The little entrance for the chickens is the only way inside. He bends low to look in. His eyes could see things that very few could in a space as dark at the pit before him. Old straw, feathers, remnants of chicken feed- and there, tucked away deep and covered in a handful of straw is-

He’s reaching inside before he can finish the thought, hand gently grasping soft furs as he slowly pulls the bundle out of its little sanctuary.

“Doctor!” He shouts loud and sharp and jarring in the still air the moment he catches the first glimpse of the baby's face. He doesn’t need to call him again with the way his call echoes the empty landscape.

He tucks the precious thing into the crook of his right arm and uses his left to unbutton his coat, swinging the thick fur off his shoulders and onto the cold ground to offer some barrier between the infant and that creeping chill. It’s not wrapped for this cold- the furs bundled around the child meant for inside, near the warmth of the hearth. It was too cold. Had been too cold for far, far too long.

A man comes stumbling through the snow, glasses askew, “Yes, My Emperor!?” He says frantically before he catches sight of the patient that the Emperor is laying down. He gasps and rushes forward, setting down his heavy bag and immediately getting to work on the baby.

He is the only other human to accompany them out of the palace- artificial blizzard samurai make up the rest of their party. But there are things those snowmen cannot do. He had come along just in case there was a chance of survivors, but had spent the entire morning sitting in the sled he’d ridden in with nothing to do. Not until now.

His hands fly over the child as he checks it over, pulling at the swadling to peek at the blue-tinge of her extremities. He listens to her heart for a long time, and the tension in his shoulders slowly drops. He is not so quick now as he re-wraps the child gently.

“My Emperor…” He says sorrowfully.

“It has passed?” He asks roughly.

“No,” He begins, “Bu-”

“Then do something.” his voice thunders out of him, harsh and demanding.

The doctor flinches but his hands stay at his sides, “I do not believe there is anything that can be done.” He says meekly, “It has succumbed to the cold. It won’t be long now.”

“Why was she in the chicken coop?” Vex questions behind him.

The Ice emperor draws his fingers gently down the baby's cheek. It doesn’t stir at the contact. It doesn’t even shiver at the next gust of wind. He remembered, vaguely, that there had been a woman slaughtered in this home with a spear in her hand. “It’s mother hid it away.” He concludes, “To protect it from the Yeti.”

“And it worked.” The doctor says but there is no joy there, “We were just too late.”

The lone survivor is to die right in front of him.

“Perhaps it is mercy to end its suffering.” Vex says blithely, his voice closer as he leans over the emperor to look at the kid.

“No.” He mutters, “It cannot be so.”

He unstraps the mask from his head and casts his helmet aside, the thunk of it hitting the snow sounding jarring in the stillness between the three men. He had done this before- once with vex, several times with the usurpers that stole his throne. Never before on something so fragile, so small. The staff in his right hand glows as he pours focus into his mind- he cannot be too hasty, too brash. This is not something to rush. But he has to go quickly anyhow. If the baby passes before he can- there is no second chance.

He feels the familiar spit of sparks along his neck before his hair bursts into brilliant blue flames.

The doctor gasps and scrambles back, his spine hitting the chicken coop with a painful sounding thud.

He reaches his hand towards the child and allows that blue fire to trickle down the side of his throat and catch a line up his sleeve. He cradles the baby’s cheek for a moment before he moves his index finger up, pressing it right between its wispy little eyebrows. Fire drips its way over his arm and finally cascades like a waterfall over the infant. The whole bundle goes up in flames.

The doctor reaches up to grasp the holy symbol strung around his neck, whispering a prayer.

He will protect it. It is his duty as Emperor. He failed this village- he will not fail at this.

Finally he stops. The fire connecting the two of them flickers lower and then out completely.

He takes his hand away. There’s a brilliant blue star shape stained into her skin. It worked. It had to have worked.

Another heartbeat passes before the baby opens its mouth and, with a mighty inhale, wails. It screams and cries and wails in discomfort and fear until the Ice Emperor gathers it up in his arms and holds it close, the familiar comfort of being held soothing the baby. It cries itself to sleep- but it is alive.

He stands on legs that don’t shake, “I must return to the palace.” He wordlessly calls a blizzard samurai over, “Send for a midwife in the village across the river. Send her to me, urgently.”

“My emperor?” Vex says, bewildered.

“Stay here and oversee the burial.” He says plainly.

“I- but- My emperor, you…” his face seems to be morphing into a lot of different expressions as he tries to formulate a rebuttal.

“And when you return to the palace,” The Emperor continues firmly, “Prepare our samurai. We will be going to the northern mountaintops within the week.”

Vex’s shocked expression turns into a wide, hungry smile. “A wise choice, My Emperor.”

“You were right.” The Ice Emperor gazes down at the baby in his arms, at the scar he’d given it saving its life, “I cannot allow this to happen again.”

Ummm new oc. Kotori 🩵

[mysims-mod]

Unused Essences - Part 2

As I mentioned at the beginning of Part 1. I originally wanted to discuss everything in only one post, but because I hit the 30 image limit. I had to split it into two.

If you haven't yet, you can read Part 1 right here.

So without further fanfare, here's the rest. Below the cut again.

It’s fish. Just fish

Now this is where the unused essences start to get… even less complete than what we have seen this far. While there is a flair model leftover, and even a palette of paints. That palette is incomplete, It has a patterned paint swatch, but only one. The second pattern swatch is black, pure complete blackness. And the rest are pure white like the other essences we have discussed.

Now while I have been showing a render of the swatches up to this point, I do think it is worth showing how it looks in-game as well. Because what would be the second patterned swatch is instead completely pitch black.

It’s also worth mentioning that the one (1) swatch we do have is very similar to the rainbow trout swatch visible in-game. In-fact they are virtually identical to one another.

Sad Bear is an interesting case, while every essence that we have looked at so far has had some paints and text tied to it, this one does not. The only thing that remains is this very cute looking flair model.

We don’t know exactly what this would have been. It’s possible that this was just an earlier form of the final sad essence, but we don’t have any definitive evidence, leaving this one as a bit of a mystery.

Burn is another even more interesting one, and is more mysterious than Sad Bear. 

This one is unique in that it does not have any leftover text, or even a flair model, but it does have two full pattern swatches. But this is even more interesting, with everything discussed before, the Material Sets that allow the paints to appear in-game could be brute forced and loaded in the PC version with no problems, this however cannot.

As a result, whether or not there are any flat paints to accompany the palette is completely unknown.

Ok hear me out on this one.

This last one is just the Cherry Blossom essence. Except under the name of Apple Blossom. Every bit of text, every paint swatch, every everything is the exact same as the final Cherry Blossom, but with ‘appleblossom’ as its internal name. However in the actual text that is displayed in-game, it is still referred to as Cherry Blossom.

Interestingly, while the duplicate textures remain in the game’s files. The material set to actually make them appear in-game seems to no longer exist. Creating another Burn essence situation, where they can’t be seen in-game.

Although it would probably just be a duplicate of the Cherry Blossom’s set as well.

It is worth noting that there are also a few other models in the game files bearing the Apple Blossom name, but none of them follow the standard convention for essence models which is ‘flairEssenceName’, but they do at least provide an alternative idea of what an Apple Blossom essence could have looked like.

And with that, these have been almost all of the unused essences in MySims. But believe it or not, there are still more unused essences to talk about! A whopping 27 that I could find at the time I’m writing this.

However they are… much less interesting compared to the ones discussed today. These have all had some kind of interesting leftover attached to them, whether that’s a model, textures, or text. But these remaining essences on the other hand…

Are comprised entirely out of very basic placeholder assets, which make them not very interesting to look at in comparison.

I do want to talk about them at some point in the near future though, and I can say with certainty that it will be before 2032!

[renthony]

Goddammit I have things to say about Arcane again. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I have never been this obsessed with a show that pissed me off so much. Fucking hell.

Longish critical post under the cut.

Husband and I are re-watching Arcane from the beginning, specifically so we can do some critical analysis and frame-by-framing. This watch, I'm really fixated on the way Vi is reintroduced after being in prison, because it does not make any goddamn sense.

If Stillwater is primarily full of Zaunites working for Silco, and Vi is constantly fighting with them, but she's also constantly being tortured by the enforcers...who the fuck is watching her back? How is she alive? Yes, she has a solitary cell, but we see her let out into the common areas. If she has that many enemies in Stillwater, how has she survived this long? The answer seems to be "plot armor," and that's...not a good answer.

If she has literally zero allies in prison, and she is hated by both the inmates and the guards, she'd be dead. Even if we're supposed to assume Marcus gave the order to the other enforcers to keep her alive, we know for a fact that the enforcers are still abusing her, so they clearly don't actually give a shit, nor do they stop the other inmates from fighting with her.

Like, I don't care how much of a badass she is, she has to sleep sometimes. She has to eat sometimes. She has to take a piss sometimes. She is clearly in fighting-fit shape, she is clearly healthy enough to immediately start parkouring all over Zaun after release, so who's letting her have access to workout equipment? You don't get or stay that jacked just by punching a wall. How's she getting enough calories? You don't get the good food if everyone in the prison hates you. For all that she makes a joke to Caitlyn about prison food tasting awful, she is clearly not malnourished.

And who the fuck did her tattoos????? They're extensive and fairly high-quality. If someone else did them, who was she on good enough terms with? If she did it herself, who liked her enough to smuggle, sell, or share supplies with her?

It really wouldn't bug me as much if it weren't for the fact that the narrative seems to want me to see her as a forgotten loner who has nobody in her corner until Caitlyn. Fundamentally, that cannot be true, or Vi would have been murdered and dumped in the water long before Cait showed up.

Also, if Silco has that many people in Stillwater, how does he not have his fingers in the prison smuggling operation that clearly exists? I don't buy it. If he owns Marcus' ass that hard, and he's already involved in smuggling, he'd have spies and smugglers in Stillwater, too. I do not believe that Silco has the power and the confidence to casually threaten Marcus by showing up in the man's personal home, but not enough power and confidence to get spies into a prison that's already full of his own allies/underlings.

There are definitely possible answers to some of these questions, and I certainly have my own headcanons, but it really doesn't feel like the writers' room spent a lot of time thinking about the actual social issues and politics that they invoked for aesthetic.

Usually this is where I'd say, "I wonder what the S&P notes looked like, and I wonder how many episodes they got screwed out of, because so much of this could have been fixed with a little more runtime." Sadly, based on the shit that keeps coming out of Christian Linke's mouth, I don't think we can blame the corporate office for this one. If Christian Linke is telling the truth and the show got all the episodes they wanted, my ever-present "TV writers keep getting screwed, so I have to analyze the finished product with the knowledge that the creators likely got fucked over" goodwill completely vanishes.

The problem really seems to be that the show was written by centrists with a fundamentally flawed understanding of class struggle, drug use, the drug trade, and the prison-industrial complex. It's not surprising, but it does disappoint me.

And while I'm thinking about it, why is Shimmer somehow both drinkable and injectable in seemingly the same form???? Drugs can absolutely come in different forms, but we see people drink the exact same type of shimmer that other people inject. You don't drink injectable drugs. Fuck's sake, this is Skooma levels of "the writers just threw every scary-sounding drug in a blender to make Scary Super Drugs without knowing anything about how real-world drugs work."

Also, if the Firelights' big thing is that they hate Silco Because Of Drugs, I really wanna know how the hell Ekko found that many straight-edge anarchists willing to build a secret compound together. Are they against all drugs, or just shimmer? Where's their line?

[incorrectpnatquotes]

Starch Radness 8 Prediction Bracket Contest

Here’s the bracket for Starch Radness 8! This year’s theme is "Who most deserves to say f*ck?"

We’re continuing our prediction bracket contest where you can win merch from the Paranatural store or items from Zack Morrison’s itch.io. Additionally...

ONE EIGHTFOLD PLUSHIE

is up for grabs as a prize this year!

In the event of ties, the entrant who submitted their bracket first will be given the first chance to choose the Eightfold plushie!!

Because we are continuing to use Tumblr polls this year and you can see the live results after voting, entrants may NOT post screenshots or percentages of the results before the poll’s voting has ended. Encouraging people to vote one way or another or saying that X choice is winning or losing is permitted, but we feel giving exact numbers may sway the voting too much. If there is an issue, we will talk to you about it first to attempt to resolve it, but we retain the right to disqualify you if a resolution cannot be reached.

Here’s how it works:

If you want to participate, you may either:

fill out a template bracket, as shown above and submit the photos to this blog

ask us for a link to a Google Sheet version of the bracket, fill that out, and let us know when you're done so we can screenshot your bracket

If you would like to request a Google Sheet bracket to fill out, send an ask to this blog, and I will reach out to you via my main @blairdiggory with a link to your personal bracket.

***You must tell me when you're done filling out the bracket on Google Sheets so that I can take screenshots. Brackets filled out on Google Sheets are not entered until the screenshots have been taken.***

**Additionally, please be aware that I am unable to be on Tumblr most of the work day, but I will do my best to provide links every couple of hours. If you choose to fill out a Google Sheets bracket instead of editing the above photos, you may get your bracket sent to you later than you would like, which could delay your entry into the contest. Requests for Google Sheets brackets will be answered in the order they were received.**

These brackets must be turned submitted to Incorrect Pnat Quotes before 9 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, February 27th. You will receive a message or ask from @blairdiggory​ to confirm that we received your bracket.

Prizes

The person with the most points at the end of Starch Radness 8 wins one item of their choice from the Paranatural merch store, the Eightfold plushie, or the entire library from Zack’s itch.io! Second place gets one item from Zack’s itch.io.

If first place passes on the Eightfold plushie, the second place winner will be given the chance to choose the plushie as their prize. If the Eightfold plushie isn’t chosen, it will be rolled over to Starch Radness 10 (and future years if still not chosen).

Again, in the event of ties, the entrant who submitted their bracket first will be given the first chance to choose the Eightfold plushie!

How to fill out a template bracket and how scoring works are explained under the cut. Have fun playing! :D

First, I’m going to fill out the bracket with who I think will win each round (which is NOT necessarily who *I* think most deserves to say f*ck*). For example, I think Max is going to beat out Ms. Baxter. So on the line stemming from their bracket, I write "Max" like this:

I do this for all pairs in the first round. Then, we get to the pairs in the second round. For my prediction bracket, I believe the first two characters facing off will be Max and Jean Garcia. Of those two, I believe Max will win, so I write that his name the line stemming from that pair’s bracket.

Continue until all lines are filled out!

Points and Scoring:

After every round, you will tally how many characters that you correctly guessed would win the bracket. Round 1 is 1 point per character guessed correctly, round 2 is 2 points per character guessed correctly, etc. As an example, say Max wins his bracket, but Jean Garcia loses his bracket. I win 1 point for that section because Max won but Jean Garcia lost (and Penny Spender won). If Max wins against Penny Spender, I get 2 points for that section. Then, I add the points up at the end of the game, so for this section, so far I have 3 points.

The person with the most points at the end of Starch Radness 8 wins an item of their choice from the Paranatural merch store, the Eightfold plushie, or the entire library from Zack’s itch.io, and second place gets one item from Zack’s itch.io.

Still have questions? Feel free to send us an ask, and we can clarify. :)

[spacetimeaccordionfolder]

its sunday and i'm thinking about how Navani kept praying to the Almighty throughout the stormlight archive after finding out the Almighty is dead/ is Honor/ is one of many* other powers (three of which are on her planet) and her husband starts believing in a "God Beyond" who may or may not also be dead considering the comments her daughter's boytoy jester Wit who knows a lot of things keeps making and I'm also thinking about the interaction we get between her and Szeth in Rhythm of War with "do you hate me" "yes" "good" and also the revelation that she prayed for Gavilar's death, and like two hours later Szeth killed him. She hates Szeth for accomplishing something she prayed for, and she still prays to the Almighty. Hey Navani, why do you keep praying to the Almighty? Well you see once I prayed for my husband's death and then guess what happened two hours later. Yeah I have complex feelings about that and hate being in the same area as the assassin who killed him. Yeah i'm going to go burn another glyph asking God for something.

*yeah we know there's 16 shards but does she? I cannot recall.

The different views of religion we see among the characters in stormlight and in the cosmere itself is so interesting. Jasnah's an atheist, Kaladin's agnostic, Navani and Dalinar each firmly believe in one God but they believe in different ones, the way different ardents talk about the Almighty, Sazed's whole thing with religions- especially in Hero of Ages trying to find hope in something. There are people who are perceived as Gods/ religious figures who hate it and those who use it to their own advantage. There are people who become gods that are expected to give themselves up for those who worship them. Some of those gods who ran from that in trying to be people again. A dragon raised in a culture that views dragons as gods, who doesn't want to be worshiped, but holds part of the power of probably actually God. A thief who sets up his death to start a religion - not knowing he would actually linger after death and end up being attached to a god's power, still lingering and being seen as a god centuries later- in order to inspire people to fight against a tyrant viewed as a god. There are people who hope and pray to a long dead god that maybe he will remember them. Kaladin's questioning if there is a god and if god is good, cruel, or simply doesn't care and deciding that perhaps if there is a god, that god is found in the way we care for each other, but really he's trying not to get killed by the Fused currently so he'll leave thinking about religion to those who have the time and care about it more.

[postcardsfromheapside]

So I finished my DA2 replay, and I had wondered if I would feel differently after taking my time with it, and with the perspective of Veilguard. And yes, in small ways I do, but about the series and about Anders, I don't. That is to say: I think Veilguard is a fucking fantastic capper to the series (I mean, pray there is more, "hope for the best, expect the worst" as the Mel Brooks song goes), and Anders is relatably angry, even if the "betrayal" is frustrating and heart-breaking.

Also, there's just too much Dragon Age just the same way there's too much Tolkien, it's just that I can relisten to Tolkien via audiobook while I work and don't have time to constantly replay Dragon Age to absorb every little detail that my broken brain forgets (and I'm pretty good with lore) and I wish parts of this fandom were more curious than scathing about things they've obviously forgotten. Or skipped through, according to some of them, because I guess the context of dialogue and a cut scene isn't necessary for some of them to weigh in on things.

Word vomit of notes below the break:

First of all.

Can these two just fuck already. Watching Cassandra go from throwing him around to absolutely ENTHRALLED by Varric's complete bullshit is just going to make it so much better when I hit the "Guilty Pleasures" quest again in DA:I. This woman is SEDUCED by his story-telling, and you *cannot* convince me he wasn't gagging on his power trip.

Second.

I never played Mark of the Assassin before, and had completely forgotten Felicia Day was in DA2, and laughed like hell. I really enjoyed it. I haven't really used a stealth option in a game since leaving Skyrim for other stuff (do we ever really leave Skyrim?) and it was really fun, but I think the wyvern at the end of the DLC was actually the best fight in the entire game, even more than Corypheus. It hinted at the dragon battles to come in Veilguard. Also, I loved how Anders' dialogue got more relaxed outside of Kirkwall, like shedding the city let him loosen up. The back and forth with Hawke about his fantasy for being rescued was completely unhinged - after I accused Hawke of being feral and lacking social graces, I've decided the two of them match each other's freak and they're fine.

Third.

All the people who were losing their minds about the line "A crow never abandons a contract" and acting like the devs forgot Zevran.

He literally addresses it in the game. I keep having these moments where shit that people bitched about regarding Veilguard is addressed right *there.*

"The crows do like saying that, but I am living proof it's a lie."

No one actually forgot, but I'm sure the Dellamorte's wish to the Maker a motherfucker could.

When people complain the writing in Veilguard is too modern, I'm going to remember Hawke complaining exactly like this. She sounds like I do when I'm side-eyeing my friends in the year of our Maker 2025.

Fourth.

I had planned on romancing Blackwall this DA:I run, finally, because I'm a little obsessed with this Warden throughline from Anders to Blackwall to Davrin. From a cage, to hope/redemption, to a more meaningful path of positive change and impact.

They both haunt Veilguard's narrative and dialogue.

And then of course:

hrm.

Fifth.

I do hope we get another DA. Or supplementary material. Because I want to know what the fuck is going on with this story I had forgotten the details of, especially with the decision regarding the Nadas Dirthalen.

These two fucking idiots. I can't believe in different lives I've schtupped them both. (I can absolutely believe it)

Sixth.

The worst part of Meredith is she sounds like conservative family members of mine. 'Better to punish the innocent than risk even one guilty person go free', rather than the opposite. To them it sounds so reasonable. To us, it's abhorrent to punish everyone else for other people's crimes.

I couldn't bring myself to feel betrayed by Anders, even though I tried to play my Hawke as I think she would have felt: betrayed by the secret-keeping, if nothing else. The shock and hurt at the innocent lives. But it's hard not to feel an understanding when I sit here in a political situation with - maybe not less fraught, but at least less fantastical - implications and certainly still feel like violence is inevitable and we are way past the point of compromise and words.

Anyway.

This dwarf.

[liliasenbyhusband]

Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein hate fucked

18+

In case it wasn’t clear by the title this is nsfw (especially the second part) so minors dni!!

Before I go on this rant I do want to say that I’ve only seen a couple of clips from this musical and have never fully seen it (if anyone has a link 👀). I do however listen to the soundtrack religiously and I’m a lesbian so I feel that qualifies me and makes me right about this.

Also please note this is about the characters and not the actual people!

Firstly their sexualities just cause I can:

I believe Helena Rubinstein is a lesbian, the only reason she ever entertained men is because that’s what was expected and needed to get where she wanted to get. In If I’d been a man she says “I love only men I can't caress” and that honestly sounds so much like someone experiencing comphet to me. Like only loving men you know you can’t have cause it brings you some solace that you at least still like men??? Of course we also have the absolute obsession with Elizabeth and like nothing is straight about that. On top of all of that in Forever Beautiful she very proudly talks about how Tamara De Lempicka had a crush on her which is also not very straight of her and then there is this little moment in No, Thank You where she talks to mr Paley about his wife that had me question if she’s fucking his wife… ngl… like the way she says “I insist, it’s sapphire, like her eyes” had me going like 🤨 “and how do you know that, ma’am???”.

I find Elizabeth Arden more difficult to place, I’m going to be honest. Of course the obsession with Helena is very fucking gay, it reminds me of the song ‘loathing’ from the wicked musical, so she is definitely sapphic. I believe she does like men as well though, like she was genuinely into her husband, I think. My gut is saying bisexual but with good arguments I could be persuaded of most other sapphic identities as well.

Now for the main event: they fucked.

They were obsessed with each other for half a century... HALF A CENTURY… that is a different kind of loathing like… that is a type of obsession that in and of itself is so fucking sapphic that I can’t even put it into words. Like they live in each other’s heads rent free. And when you think about someone that much, you can’t tell me that you don’t, at some level, want them. Once again think of the song ‘loathing’.. hate and love/lust are not opposite emotions, they are far closer to one another than one might think.

They caused themselves (and their businesses) so much damage just to be able to hinder the other. Imagine hating someone so much you want to make their life that much more difficult and will even shoot yourself in the foot for it. That in itself is so sexually and emotionally charged.. like she really means so much to you that you’d damage yourself just so she suffers too?? If that isn’t the gayest thing you ever heard then idk anymore.

The tension that comes from hating one another so severely and trying to continuously make life harder for the other person can so easily slip into something more sexually charged that you cannot convince me that during a specifically heated argument the sexual tension didn’t become too much for them. So they snapped and just let it all out. It was definitely rough and not pretty, I’m talking clashing teeth, fighting to have the upper hand (I believe Helena ends up winning) and torn up clothes. It would truly bring out their most feral side and any composure and grace they previously held goes out the window.

And once the dam broke the first time well.. let’s just say whenever life got too much and they needed to take it out on someone… their arguments turned into something more carnal.

Now let’s talk about Face to Face because that song is gay as all hell. What do you mean you wonder about what her favourite perfume and artists are??? Like the way they’re singing about one another in this song is the reason I first was like “oh they fucked”.

At the beginning of the song Helena complains about how she’s always been attached to her ‘rival’ but they’ve attached themselves to each other, no one forced them to remain enemies or to continue being petty and make life harder for the other. They could have detached at any point.

Also how they suddenly wanna share their struggles with one another??? GAY!!! And how they suddenly admit that maybe the other person is possibly just as good as they are because why else would they be able to annoy them this much??? SAPPHICS!!!

Now onto stealing each other’s confidant… like there is something so petty and so gay about that like why on earth do you want the person that is closest to her by your side? Is it because you want to get under their skin so badly that you’ll do anything?? Is it because it’s a way to have her closer to you without being closer? Or do you want to gain more knowledge about her??? No matter the answer, the outcome is so fucking gay and most definitely leads to hate sex. Like what do you mean you stole her husband to have as your right hand man??? That is so utterly bizar and is such a messy lesbian move. What are you trying to get to know about her that you need her husband as your right hand man 🤨.

Beauty in the world + the entire finale is so fucking gay. It’s basically like “yeah only us two know about when there was true beauty in the world” and like “we should just stay enemies for business” HELLO??? “Our secret” EXCUSE ME???. Maybe we helped the other survive/thrive??? What kind of gay ass shit????? Helena asking Elizabeth her opinion on her lipstick. The way Helena looks at Elizabeth when she sings “Eyes that glittered like a gem. The lovers we bewitched with them.” They definitely fucked.

“Strange with you I see it all again like new. A glimpse of beauty in the world.” SORRY??? I DON’T THINK ANYONE HAS EVER SAID ANYTHING AS ROMANTIC TO ME AS THIS.

The way they look back so fondly on their rivalry.. it really was a way to cope and survive and blow off steam and you cannot convince me that they didn’t hate fuck to help with that.

After that encounter they had sex one last time and for the first time it wasn’t purely hate filled but there was some softness and fondness there.

And lastly THE WAY HELENA APPLIES ELIZABETH’S LIPSTICK IN beauty in the world. LIKE THE WAY SHE SO GENTLY WIPES IT AWAY THEN APPLIES IT AGAIN?? The first time I saw that I nearly screamed and died. If that moment can’t convince you that they slept together then nothing can.

That’s it’s for now. I wanted to add more clips as proof etc but I can only add one sooo I chose this one

(This rant was inspired by a reaction from @yourbasicqueerie)

[semipreciousgemstonejade]

Tomorrow's Catch-22

Tagline: "The world falls, we fall together."

Lord have mercy on me...

The way they're all trying to get at us... Whew!

I believe this is referring to our collective and current sanity level:

Sylus

Innocent Birdcage

He taught you that when approaching your prey, you must ensure your own safety. The cage confines the wild beast on the verge of madness, and the strange excitement overrides your instinct to seek benefits and avoid harm.

"How did it feel to watch me from outside the cage?"

Honestly not good, Sylus... We want need to be in there... with you.

Yeah... This is non-negotiable: I'm pulling. No questions asked.

I want him so bad... That tongue... I want it all over me.

Just knowing he can see all our thoughts, like how badly we want him in this moment.

Zayne

Immediate Disorder

His prison is riddled with undercurrents, secrets and guilt entangling you both. Would you choose to stay? Let him break free, control, bite you, and then seek the rebirth you long for.

"Become my prisoner... Or my master... You can never... Leave me."

Yes, bite me Zayne! You can lose control around us. We know you'll keep us safe no matter what.

He just gets better and better. As I always say, I can NEVER say no to Zayne. And I never will.

Zayne trying not to give in to his carnal desires in case he hurts us...

Diagnosis: down bad.

Prognosis: will progressively become more feral.

Medication: a high dose of Zayne ripping open my clothes and tearing my panties off.

And the way he buss open his harness...

Xavier

Deluded Fiction

The days spent with him are like finding candy in a desolate ruin. Unconditional trust makes you addicted. Do you know that he also likes to... be bound with you say and night?

"You didn't abandon me, yet you didn't want me to die either? That right?"

We will never abandon you, Xayxay. We'd much rather use our Aether Core than see you get hurt.

I cannot wait to see what our resident naughty boy does when he escapes his restraints.

I hope MC makes him so mad. I like it when he gets mad, since only we can comfort him...

Rafayel

Extreme Dose

Your relationship as the supervisor and supervisee will not prevent him from coming to you and holding your hand tightly. Play the final game: tame his burning instinct and prove that you two are each other's only one.

"The desire to devour and consume someone... You feel it too, right?"

Oooof... he looks like he wants to punish us soooo good. Exactly the way we want it.

I wonder at which point he'll reveal that he's loosened his restraints this time...

Don't worry our beautiful Lemurian Sea God, we will still want you no matter who you become. Always.

Caleb

Tainted Cuts

No longer able to hide or confine himself, he is dragging the chains, step by step, coming closer. Go and dissolve his hesitation and struggle, so that he will never leave again on his own will in the future.

"Are you doing this out of pity? Then, when this night is over... will you stay with me?"

No Caleb, it's out of love. We already made the decision to stay before you even had the thought. As if you didn't know that...

The backing up against the wall. The sliding down to the ground. The dogtag we gave him, that he still wears, that we placed into his mouth...

Can't wait to see what he's gonna do.

"The world falls, we fall together."

Trailer of New 5-Star Memory Series [Tomorrow's Catch-22] Released!

⚠️Event Duration: 5:00 AM, Feb. 10 - 4:59 AM, Feb. 27 (Server Time)

You can select three out of the five event-limited 5-Star Memories, [Xavier: Deluded Fiction], [Zayne: Immediate Disorder], [Rafayel: Extreme Dose], [Sylus: Innocent Birdcage], and [Caleb: Tainted Cuts].

The drop rate of the 3 Memories you selected will be significantly increased. If you obtain a 5-Star Memory in a wish, there's a 75% chance it will be one of the 3 Memories you selected.

*Tips:

1. During the event, you can change your selected Memories at any time. If you obtain a 5-Star Memory in a wish, there's a 25% chance that it will be an unselected Memory or a permanent 5-Star Memory.

2. After the event ends, the five event-limited Memories will not be obtainable through other means and will not enter the permanent Wish Pool: Xspace Echo.

3. The wish event features the Precise Wish and a pity system. You can check more details in upcoming event announcements.

⚠️Limited Gift: Cumulative Wish Rewards

During the event, after making a certain number of Wishes, you can claim various rewards: Universal Facial [Silverblade Rhapsody], [Deepspace Wish: Limited ×20],

His [Memory-Themed Outfits], Limited Gift [Memory-Themed Hairstyle], and selectable Event-Limited 5-Star Memory.

*The cumulative rewards are only available during this Wish event.

⚠️Limited-Time Memory Growth Bonus

During the event, you can claim various Upgrade and Ascension Materials by completing the growth tasks. When the event-limited Memories reach Rank 1, you can claim the [Special-Colored Memory-Themed Outfit] for the corresponding love interest.

⚠️Special: Memory-Themed Outfit Bonus

Each Original or Special-Colored Outfit Set includes a Memory-Themed Outfit and Facial. All can be used separately.

[waltwhitmansbeard]

why are you paying for a service that you don't enjoy? beacon has not been around long enough for there to be any meaningful change in quality or content from what came before it, so if you're paying for it now and you don't like what they're doing, then you almost certainly didn't like it before you started paying for it.

at no point did i say that viewers didn't have the right to criticize critical role. critical role is art, and all art is subject to criticism. that being said, having been in the fandom for quite a while, i have seen quite a lot of criticism that is, in my opinion, unfair and unrealistic, and i think it's important to call that out when it happens.

there is a difference between finding entertainment and demanding entertainment. i have spoken before about the fact that i, personally, wasn't super entertained by the aeor arc of c2. it wasn't bad, i didn't hate it, when i do my rewatch of c2 i certainly won't be skipping it. but my personal tastes made me more interested by the political and piratical plots of that campaign and not so much the wizard ruin one. that's okay. that's my preference. but i know when i sit down to watch critical role every week what i'm signing up for. i'm signing up to watch SOMEONE ELSE'S D&D CAMPAIGN. it was not created or played with my interests in mind. when i dm for my group, it is my responsibility to keep my players' interests and needs in mind. it is NOT matt mercer's responsibility to keep my interests and needs in mind, nor yours, nor anyone's, unless they're sitting at his table. cr does not work like, for example, dimension 20. dimension 20 was ALWAYS an entertainment show first, and therefore the entertainment of its viewing audience has always been a primary concern. that is very much not true of critical role. critical role was a group of friends' home game first, and we were invited in to watch. do i think matt considers the entertainment of the home audience when he plans? absolutely! do i think the players consider that entertainment when they make their choices at the table? absolutely! but i do not think they do or should make those considerations first. this is what makes critical role different than other actual plays d&d shows (at least the big ones; i cannot comment on shows other than cr, d20, naddpod, and dungeons & daddies). we are watching a home game that, yes, has a high production value, but is still a home game nonetheless.

how you invest your time and money is your business, and if you feel like either was wasted by this finale or by c3 in general, you are entitled to feel that way. i encourage you think about your expectations, though, and whether it was reasonable to expect this particular medium to meet them in the first place.

it is not condescending, dismissive, or belittling to suggest that some of the real-life criticisms of cr's narrative storytelling style that i have witnessed with my own two eyes in my time in this community are unwarranted and unfair, for reasons i have stated here and elsewhere on my blog. you certainly don't have to agree with me—i clearly do not agree with you—but you're not being insulted if someone challenges your opinions.

generally speaking, if you got to the end of c3 and are this disappointed with how things shook out, i think you might just...not like critical role. and that's okay! i know it sucks to spend a lot of time with a piece of media only to realize you don't actually like what that media is—this happened to me with dungeons & daddies, which i didn't realize that i didn't really like until i was well into season three. but again, i don't think the core of what cr is and how they tell their stories has changed that drastically between c1 and c3, so i do believe that people who pay for beacon are getting exactly what they thought they were paying for: a group of friends sitting around a table playing d&d and telling an expansive, complicated story that spans in-world decades. if you didn't like that story, that's fine, but you did get a story nonetheless.

i know some people are going to be upset by how much time vox machina and the mighty nein took up during this finale, so i want to say a couple of things

these campaigns have always been and will always be for the entertainment and enjoyment of matt and his players, first and foremost. their good time has always been and will always been more important than that of the audience, which has been invited in to watch something that existed before we even knew about it. we are of course entitled to our opinions about what we watch, but it's important to remember that those opinions will never, ever matter as much as those of the people around the table.

it is an unspeakable feat of storytelling, collaboration, creativity, and friendship for these people to have done what they just did. over ten years (well over, including the time they played pre-stream) of building a narrative that spanned decades and continents and planes and celestials bodies, of making decisions and seeing their consequences out to the fullest, of bringing to life characters that felt more genuine and real than anything one can find on the silver screen—this is the kind of expansive storytelling that marvel thought it was doing with the mcu. to be able to tell a story so powerful that it cannot reasonably contained within the confines of distinct d&d campaigns is a staggering accomplishment, and we're all lucky to bear witness to it.

it is no one else's fault if you only watched c3, or weren't caught up on c1/2 when you watched the finale, or if you didn't like c1/2 but did like c3. again, you're entitled to your opinions and to how you spend your time, but this story did not begin in jrusar, so it is unreasonable to expect it to end there.

no one, including you, benefits by being salty that these people were having fun. no one, including you, is made better by your dissatisfaction with how these people chose together to tell this story. i have read countless books and watched countless tv shows and films in my life, and none of the stories therein have been told exactly the way i would have told them, and that's what i love so much about being human. if i'd been at that table, of course i would have made different decisions, and of course you would have too. but we got to see these decisions, and these consequences, and the ephemeralness of that is so beautiful i could cry.

as i have i said eight billion times before, and will probably have to say eight billion times again, critical role is not a tv show. critical role is not a novel. critical role does not have a writer's room or a five-year plan. (well, matt might, but not in the moment.) critical role is a story that happens in the moment, a story built on matt's careful planning and the players' in-the-moment decisions and, of course, the rolls of the dice. if you are holding this kind of story to the narrative standards of something crafted for the sole purpose of entertaining an audience, you are always, always going to be disappointed.