#i don't think we talk enough about how insane it is that they risked her being with his kid

[lucreziaces]

guys guys guys!!

did you know cesare and lucrezia fucked?

like, actually his dick entered her vagina?

and they got it on until they both came?

and they risked her becoming with his child?

and all because lucrezia said "you will be my husband. tonight." and cesare couldn't deny his sister the one dream they've always shared--that they could wed each other?!!??

like, that happened.

that was canon.

and the whole time cesare was refusing to shut his eyes lest he miss some detail on her face he wanted permanently imprinted on his brain or lest he open them and it turns out it's some figment of his wildest imagination like it usually was.

yeah yeah yeah yeah anyway i'm fine lol

[yanmuffins]

asks 2.

context.

here are some more asks i'm replying to in a bulk about phineas and ferb reader!!

my favorite part in dc. vs vampires is when reader comes together with damian and damian to build a silly machine that un-vampifies people in like half a day so they can defeat the vampire king. it is canon.

@amethystjellyfish

perry really is reader's number #1 stan. they're his family, reader's had him since he was a small platypus baby!

he does his best to keep reader safe, which is why he doesn't like the batfam much. he keeps it professional on the rare occasions they go on missions together, but that's it. he hates how dismissive of reader they are in the beginning, and he hates them later on when they star showering them with attention because they found out about their inventions.

not tired, anon! i love seeing people enjoy my concepts and interact with them!! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

and i'm sure this has happened. more than once, actually. the power of coincidence is strong with reader. the life-saving laser beam comes from a situation involving reader's latest machine they built and tested with the help of jon.

unfortunately, one of his lasers richochets on the machine during testing, not only causing it to save batfamily's life, caught in a dangerous situation in a completely different location, but also destroys the machine so there's nothing to link it to reader.

ah, well. they'll just have to keep looking.

reader, seeing them run past her: oh! there's perry :)

i love how we have established tim is terrified of this platypus. nevermind the other pets in the manor, it's the platypus with its googly eyes that drives him insane. they don't get it, he got up to drink water at 3 a.m. and the thing was just there, looking at him. menacingly.

jason would though. meanwhile, perry is wishing he could just go back to metropolis. he didn't have to deal with reader's siblings in metropolis. he doesn't get enough hazard pay for this.

hm... good question!

i like to think that, much like with phineas and ferb, luck is on reader's side most of the time, so i don't see reader getting injured by their own inventions.

but, let's suppose they do: it's a nice sunday afternoon, the batfam has decided to gather around the living room and hang out, watch a movie, lots of popcorn and soda. they don't have to think about criminals or fighting, tim and damian are bickering, jason is around, peace reigns the manor.

until they hear an explosion. they run to the garage only to find reader on the floor, unconscious, bleeding, and an assortment of destroyed metal components to a machine they can't decipher. damian doesn't even feel good about reader finally being busted.

later, when reader is back home, awake and out of risk but with a bandage around their head and their leg in a cast, they're in for the biggest (and probably first) scolding of their entire lives. reader tries to play it off. it wasn't that big of a deal, they're fine, aren't they? and they're genuinely optimistic about it. but the entire family is talking over each other at first, until bruce signals for everyone to shut up and leave the room. he has a very serious talk with reader, and makes it very clear they're not to come near a toolbox ever again.

but he understands. it's partly his fault for not being attentive. he won't make that mistake again.

ofc reader is really upset. dick comes next, then stephanie, then cass, then duke, then barbara and they all try to convince reader in a much more amiable tone that hey, it's fine. who needs to do all that whacky stuff to have fun? just hang out with us. they can get another hobby, and this time they can make it a family thing! how's that sound? not fun? don't be like that... they're sure reader will come around.

tim is pretty much the only one who congratulates them for being awesome pulling all those stunts, one per day, it's impressive. but now it's time to step back a bit. who knows? try being careful and bruce will let you work with a welding tool again. one day. maybe.

damian and jason's reactions are more similar to bruce's. in other circumstances, damian is on reader's side and helps them sneak around to continue their shenanigans, but in the case of reader getting hurt he just wants them to not do that. any of that. ever again. and jason has to hold himself back not to snap and ask them what the hell were they thinking?! they could have died! he ends up just telling them to quit it. they're just a kid who shouldn't be messing around with that sort of stuff.

anon, i wouldn't go as far as say he'd use venom against them, but he's bit batfam before. as stated, he does not dig their vibe at all!

anon, that's a great idea! though i think p&f! reader is much too motivated by the creative process and experience that their inventions bring more than just willing them to come to life.

they have the power to create whatever they want, but what's the fun of it? what about hte process? the building? the friends they make along the way? the memories? i think reader would find the ring awesome at first, but the novelty would wear of in less than a week.

anon...

because i dig the idea of reader being friends with dipper and mabel. reader talks about their crazy inventions, and loves hearing about all the cryptids they came across during vacation.

reader invites the twins to the manor, they share their most recent summer memories. reader talks about that one time they built and drove a massive monster truck with their brother damian, but jason only comes into the room in time to hear about dipper and mable talk about the weirdmaggedon. he has several question marks around his head. aren't those kids a a little too old to be making shit up? or maybe... no, there's no way. or is there? no... he would have heard about this... but weirder things have happened. but what if...

@randomlyappearingartist

you are so right. to be honest, i don't even think the batfam would even know of his existence, since he's pretty much a very minor villain acting in metropolis. after perry joins the league, or in the rare occasion of dr. doof teaming up with another minor gotham villian like condiment man, is when they get to know he exists.

and since perry seems to have him under control, they don't even acknowledge the guy.

i love love love this sm!

they assume it's just flash mobs. it's got to be. flash mobs with really weird themes, like an entire musical number dedicated to the squirrels in damian's pants. that was strange. bruce patrolling in the middle of the night and this new crime lord just burst into a song with a band and hired back dancers, because it's apparently a new trend a minor villain in metropolis started.

and what about that one time dick took damian (and reader) to the library and some guy just started singing about how he doesn't have rhythm? and damian just started playing a trumpet? and reader started singing? i mean, it was a bop and he started dancing, but it was weird anyway.

but now i'm thinking of damian and reader singing the "summer" song together (he sings the "it's noticeably warmer" and that's it) though! wholesome.

@lazyandannoyng

not annoying at all! you're good ⸜(˙꒳​˙ )

i have this little idea in my head that reader doesn't take the wayne name when find out bruce is their dad and move to gotham, and bruce is pretty secretive about this new kid of his for purely privacy and safety reasons. so when reader does their networking, it's often not obvious they're a wayne. not sure if this will make it into the fic, but it really resonates with this concept!

it's also funny to think that a lot of people don't even know reader and the waynes are related. even if they do know reader is related to the batfam, nobody really talks about them by name (just "your sibling"), and all of those little details like never asking about where the gloves came from (because why would he) or the misunderstandings where one party means one thing and the other assumes it's another (dick has many siblings! too many!) just end up helping reader not get caught. and i just think that's neat.

[cemetegee]

Hi!

This is a really interesting theory! I would love to hear your opinion on it! I think Corona might’ve been the one who killed Naberius. I think it makes a lot of sense 😊

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57530659/chapters/150595651#workskin

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheNinthHouse/s/9hUWcD7h6Q

Oh, that's a really fascinating theory. I'll admit that I already heard about it once, but never in that debt, so thank you very much :) I find it in fact very convincing! For those who haven't read those posts, here a list of the made points and of my own points that convinced me:

The Blood

When the others come in, Ianthe is covered in blood.

And Naberius has most likely been stabbed into his back:

Thing is, if you stab someone like that the blood would spray out of their CHEST. If IANTHE had stabbed him from behind the blood couldn't have hit her. (The blood on his front supports that) This makes only sense if Ianthe's stand right in front of him, and SOMEONE ELSE stabbed him into the back.

(That's a really strong point, I think. You could maybe argue that she needed to use his blood after, and that it comes from this occasion, but as she says a single drop of blood is enough.)

The Rapier

The rapier she used must have weighed at least one kilogram (2 pounds). It's questionable at all if Ianthe could have used it (without Naberius muscle memory), regarding what Corona says about her strenght:

But there's even another point! We can assume that the stab went straight to his heart (or another vulnerable place) and that he was more or less immediately dead. Otherwise he would have probably not held his shocked face. It's rather unlikely that a beginner like Ianthe should do such a precise stab, ESPECIALLY regarding the weight and the fact that she has no idea how to use a rapier.

All that speaks for someone who has advanced rapier skills (like Corona) and does some work-outs. (Yes, I know, she's likely not as good as Babs. But you don't need to be a master duellant to murder someone from behind.)

AND - I'd like to add that, because I find it very important: I see no reason why Ianthe should murder him with a rapier. She is a flesh (and limenal) magican. Isn't it much more likely that she - if she intended to kill Naberius - would use her flesh magic skills to do that? Probably, she could even work more precisely that you ever could with a rapier - and so on. It doesn't make sense that she would use A WEAPON SHE HAS NO IDEA OF, if she actually has a working arsenal of working magical weapons she could use instead. That speaks VERY MUCH for Corona and HER murder.

Suspicious (off-screen) Talks

That's now completely my own point, but I find it to interesting to not mention it: I always assumed that there must have been off-screen talks between the twins (and Naberius) somewhen. They likely followed some kind of evil plan. Naberius says to Corona after her duel with Gideon:

Why not now? What is now? Why is now an especially bad time to do that? It really sounds if they had some kind of plan...

(And btw - I'm pretty sure that Naberius doesn't know that, but the fact alone that Corona trains under this high risk could be a hint that she prepares herself to kill him.)

Then! With the key thing, Corona and Ianthe obviously had a fight... The Bad Blood lasts pretty long:

However, for some reason Corona thinks it's insanely important for Ianthe to know that there are no rules (except Jod) at Canaan House.

(Why is that important? (Does it have to do with killing Babs? Are the later Challenging Scene?))

And after the challenging scene, they seem to be on a good base again.

But I would argue it's not only because of the Challenging Scene, but a clarifying conversation. Because briefly before Corona says to Gideon (during their duel):

And that's another odd hint THEY PLAN something! I think they have one plan Naberius knows (obviously not one where he dies) and at least one of them has the plan to kill him. Maybe they planned that Corona should kill him, so she could take his place. (That would explain Corona's feeling of betrayal even more deeply - Ianthe would in fact have fooled her. Although it's hard to me to feel empathy for betrayals in plans which go over the murder of a childhood friend :D)

To conclude: Now that I think about it, I really can't see a single reason why Ianthe could have killed Babs that way. (Except of that she claims it. But Ianthe has a HISTORY of being untrustworthy and the evidence is clearly against her.) Every point here only makes sense if Corona was the murderer. I'm absolutely convinced 10/10 theory.

PS:

I also think it would explain the shock at Naberius face. Ianthe "Poison Master of his Childhood" Tridentarius killing him would maybe not have been that surprising:

(I find it interesting how he is even in his death unsympathic :D But of course that doesn't free anyone of their guilt.)

[beautifulhigh]

The smallest of looks is the loudest moment in the room

Just a little one from me to save me from going insane and to sate my followers...

ZAHRA: How long has this been going on?

Alex is focused on Zahra, Henry is staring off into the middle distance until Alex answers her.

ALEX: Since New Year's.

And it's that Henry reacts to. Have a close up.

Henry's gaze flicks to Alex. In this exact moment (1 hour, 5 minutes, and 41 seconds), he looks at Alex for a few seconds.

This is the moment Alex has put a start date on this thing between them.

It's a little more certain here than it is in the book:

"How long has this been happening?" "Since, um, New Year's." (page 233)

The placement of that "um" holds meaning for me - in the book Alex is hesitating before he pins a start date on him and Henry. He's trying to figure it out and that's what he goes for. Because how long has it been going on? Since they started sharing intimate thoughts and fears? Since they increased the benefits they had added to their friendship? Since the Red Room?

Nope. Alex goes for the moment when the possibility between them changed and he completely ignores the weeks of silence that happened straight after. The period of time in which Henry was full of fear over what he'd done, what Alex might do. In the book we know he runs scared, going on a public date and being photographed.

If there was a prince, and he was gay, and he kissed someone, and maybe it mattered, that prince might have to run a little bit of interference. (page 125)

We don't have anything like that in the movie but we do have the silence. We see Henry's fear when he comes into the Red Room. Not just because of the line he crossed with Alex but because he has exposed himself and his most closely guarded secret, a glimpse of his true self.

He will know that Alex isn't going to out him - they've spent long enough talking and getting to know each other for that to not be Henry's fear. And if he was then it would have happened long before the State Dinner. Henry's fear is about losing Alex, losing the friendship, losing that connection with the boy he's wanted since the Olympics/Climate Conference.

I'd put money on Henry promising himself, once upon a time, that he would never do anything to risk losing what small pieces of Alex he could have in his life. And when they start up this thing he goes in thinking that this is all he can have, all he will get.

"I thought I could have some part of you, and just never say [I love you], and you'd never have to know, and one day you'd get tired of me and leave, because I'm--" (Page 272)

Henry didn't think he would have all of Alex, at least not anything of import, that Alex wouldn't be as far in as Henry is. And yet here he is in this hotel room, declaring they have been this thing since that kiss. Since before they properly made out in the Red Room, went down on each other in Alex's bedroom, talked about "keeping things casual" before embarking on the most insanely devoted shag fest known to mankind.

Alex has been in since New Year's and he tells Zahra just that.

In the movie he is more decisive. (Just like the instant "No" when Zahra asks if it would make a difference if she asked them to stop.)

Since New Year's. Since the moment Henry kissed me and I became unable to think about anything else except doing it again. And doing other stuff.

And even though Henry ghosted him right after, even though the next thing Henry said to Alex after his apology and disappearance into the night was another apology for his behaviour, Alex has labelled that moment, that kiss, as their start.

The moment when Henry was brave.

And in the movie we get to see Henry's reaction to that. They've been discovered, things are about to blow up in a way they can't control, and Alex says that as far as he's concerned this thing between them has been going on all year.

Before the emails. Before Paris. Before the State Dinner. Alex has been Henry's since New Year's and this is the moment he finds that out.

[acowardinmordor]

while taking a short break from the absolutely insane deadline I'm trying to hit for this project that just got the rug pulled from under us, my brain was thinking about how much we love having Steve captured by people. Usually with Eddie bc unknown bat venom magic or whatnot.

Has anyone captured Steve and Dustin though? I'd normally jump to this post S3, where the russians have Dustin's name, and Steve is there too, but consider if it happens after S2.

Dustin is the loudest human on the planet. Says something or was recognized by someone lab-adjacent. They can't find El, but they know that this kid knows her, and look at him, its not like this child is going to be all that resilient to pressure. They grab Steve with him, as an accident more than anything else. Steve was taking Dustin to do errands, or something. Dustin took too long, Steve came to complain about the delay, Steve ends up in the back of the van too.

And these lab guys would, lets be honest, have killed Steve once they got back to their base bc what do they need this random guy for? Its the kid that knows about the girl.

However, the combination of Dustin never knowing when to shut up, Steve needing to protect Dustin, and the Lab Dudes being vaguely uncomfortable with actively hurting the kid... By the time they're back to wherever they're taken, Steve is the target, and he's actively encouraging it. He's never met El, but he has heard some stories in the last few weeks, enough to make it seem like he knows her. And hey, bonus! He can't actually tell them anything important about her because he doesn't know anything!

Dustin telling Steve to stop talking just ensures that the lab dudes think Steve has valuable information.

It's rough. Vaguely shaped like Steve and Robin with the Russians. And if he was protective of Robin? Yeah, no, there's no way he's going to let them hurt Dustin. he's only known the kid a month or so, but even when Dustin was essentially a stranger, he was down to risk his life for him.

Dustin isn't entirely left alone, but they're not really hurting him beyond incidental stuff. Kid is also smart enough to realize that he does know things they want to know, and that if he tells them, they'll find El, and have no use for Dustin or Steve at all anymore.

For the sake of a plot, lets say that there's a chance for an escape. Its been a month, they're being transported somewhere else, something something, Dustin gets out, and finds the closest cop he can, tells them to call the Hawkins PD, and put Hopper on the phone. He gets back home, and manages to tell El what to look for before Claudia wraps him in a hug and won't let him out of her sight. He can't even pretend he's upset about that btw. Yes, he's scared for Steve, but it was horrible and he's a child, and he's falling apart about it.

And again, plot armor. They're gonna find Steve. He's alive, they get him back. It's been at least another month though. Add in two weeks in a hospital, and two more weeks of recovery at Hopper's place, and... yeah, Steve's not graduating that year.

His parents, who assumed he'd run off with some money and his car since its not like he was going to get into college anyway, sorta wash their hands of him when he comes back. Its not like he can say that a group of G Men kidnapped him to find out what he knows about a little girl with psychic powers. He came back looking like a drug addict to be honest, and they can't be bothered. He's 18 already, so that's that. They're out.

Dustin would be - God. He'd be devastated by that part. Yes, by it taking so long to find Steve, by blaming himself for Steve getting taken too, for how long it will take Steve to recover, for Steve repeating his senior year, but Dustin Henderson finds out that Steve's parents were only back in Hawkins for a couple days to handle paperwork? That would be a gut punch.

I don't know how much he tells his mom, not everything about the monsters, but that the Lab was shady and they thought he and Steve knew something, and tells her that its his fault Steve got hurt, and that Steve kept him safe.

Obvs. That is now her brand new son, Steve Henderson.

And All THIS means that there's not really a fall from grace for 'king steve' He was bruised to hell at the end of Fall semester, and just didn't come back in the spring. Then there were rumors, then he was back, but not in school, and eventually, word went around that he was repeating.

By April, he's recovered enough to be applying for summer jobs. Not sure about Starcourt yet since I don't think I'm cruel enough to torture him twice, and maybe this requires a Steve With Powers situation, but all of this means that the start of the new school year creates an absolutely insane dynamic for Steve and Robin and Dustin and Eddie

[sunkissedburns]

NO GRAVE CAN HOLD MY BODY DOWN (I'LL CRAWL HOME TO HER)

in which luke is determined to keep you close to him forever. luke castellan x fem! reader, wc: 1.36k, warning: swearing, note: first post dedicated to my favorite villain... enjoy !

"Wha-... what the fuck are you talking about Luke ?" From the edge of his bunk bed, your boyfriend avoids your stare, looking anywhere but at your face. "Look at me ! You can't just drop this upon me and act like nothing is happening !" He can hear the hurt and the confusion in your voice and decides to get closer to you. He wants to hold you tight and never let you go but settles for holding your hand.

"Babe, listen to me. please." He’s the one to look at you with pleading eyes this time, one hand circling yours and the other resting on the nape of your neck. "You know how much I hate Olympus and how they toy with us just for their own benefit. I know you feel the same way, watching kids barely getting here safely only to never be claimed or only when their parent deems it convenient ! Do you think it's fair ? To be used as a puppet so you can finally be worthy in the eyes of mom or dad ? Risking your life to fix their shortcomings ?"

His emphasis on dad doesn't intrigue you, you already know. Everyone knows. His eyes are full of resentment and his scar seems so red, a stark contrast with the unmarred skin. Luke goes on and on about his supposedly great plan and you can only watch in horror as the boy in front of you looks nothing like the one you fell in love summers ago.

Hand reaching for the one still laid on your nape, you look up, brows furrowed. "Does Annabeth know ?"

These three words are enough to make him flinch. He opens and closes his mouth and that tells you everything you need to know. Your face twists with disgust and anger as you shove his shoulder enough for him to stumble back, away from you.

"Fuck off Luke !" you spit, tears cornering at your lash line. "How dare you turn your back on your little sister, on me ?" Your voice cracks but you try to put up a brave front, wiping the corner of your eyes. You can only stare at him in disbelief, even though your hands itch to bring him closer to you, to hold him and to at least try to understand his sudden change of heart.

Luke attempts to step forward but you pull back and he can hear his own heart breaking. He runs a hand over his face before answering you with a shaky sigh: "Look, I’m doing this for everyone at camp, for us ! I want us to live free of that burden. We deserve so much more than what the gods have to give !" His voice falters and he clears his throat. "I don't want to wake up one morning and find out you're gone because of them, because you went on a stupid quest for the sake of your parent who can't even bother to acknowledge you !" He looks at you fondly and sighs. "Do you remember the time I came back from the quest Hermes sent me on ? You were so scared something had happened to me. I can't let that happen again. I can't let that happen to you. I want to protect you, to protect us ! You- you're all I have."

Tears fall freely as you shake your head, hugging yourself in an attempt to calm down. "There’s got to be another way, you can’t… You can’t do this Luke ! I-" you sob.

And you feel so afraid yet you don’t know whether you’re more scared of Luke himself or of the thought of losing him to something this insane. The cogs in your brain turn and turn but you can't bring yourself to drive him out of your life, not when you've seen him at his best and at his worst, when you've been by his side for so long you can't even remember.

In a few steps, Luke is engulfing you in a hug and all resolve you had to push him away crumbles within seconds. He rests his chin on the crown of your head while you cling to his shirt. He holds you tight, as if the mere thought of you walking out of his cabin would become true and you might vanish with the wind.

"Hey hey, it’s okay, we’ll… we’ll figure it out, we still have time." he whispers in your ear and you want to believe him, you really do.

Slightly pulling back, he rests his forehead against yours, hands coming up to cup your face. With a sad smile, Luke's thumbs wipe your tearstained cheeks.

"There, don't cry," he tells you softly, "my pretty, pretty girl. You know I'll never let you go right ? I love you too much to be able to live without you."

His smile is genuine as his hand cautiously takes your own to place it on his chest, right where you can feel his heartbeat. "You’re here, always and forever, no matter what."

Luke's world had crumbled a long time ago, ever since he realized the gods were monsters in disguise. But now that he has you in his life, whatever's left of that sparkle of hope he had when he was fourteen (and when the world seemed so big yet so full of chances) shines brighter. You were the one who rebuilt everything from scratch, who fixed the gaping hole in his heart.

Your free hand comes up to brush his cheek, thumb trailing his scar. You wish you could close your eyes and pretend that the world isn't on the brink of disaster, that your Luke isn't about to change its course.

The love of your life starts again: "I'll be with you at any cost, believe me. And if anyone, so much as the gods or that new forbidden kid attempt to separate us, I'll walk- heck I'll drag myself back to you !"

His promise is sealed with a kiss and you're certain you'd follow him in a heartbeat: "for better or worse ?" you ask in a small voice, lips hovering over his.

He answers you with a smile and shiny eyes: "for better or worse."

[parcai]

I'm sure this isn't even a new discussion point, but it's bugging me more the more I think about it. ACOMAF's infamous Chapter 54/55 – Rhysand's infodump – is the go-to justification for his stans. That's where he gets a lot of his appeal, by explaining his past actions and motivations before their little paint session. ACOMAF, though, is so different from ACOTAR and its first book appeal, it lacks the whimsical magic, whirlwind romance that the other books just don't have. It feels like SJM put more thought into the plot and writing, which is why the later problems are so frustrating. Because not only is ACOMAF generally lower quality than ACOTAR, it's those less quality sections that people use to justify Tamlin hate to make Rhysand look better, which is ridiculous because if SJM has to take so many roundabout paths with poor plotting/writing to justify Rhysand, then how 'good' can he really be?

The way ACOMAF undoes what ACOTAR was about... ugh. It's such a blatant rewrite, and a poor one at that, as we all know and have discussed endlessly. But it's more than that! It's a rewrite and it's explicit about being a rewrite, but people can't even see that/don't care! Rhysand wouldn't be nearly as popular if he didn't have to explain all the supposedly good things he's done for Feyre! Tamlin saves her family and doesn't go around boasting about it; he protects her, even if it risks his court. He tries to shield her from Prythian's problems. They had their issues, sure, but it all felt more natural. If Tamlin had a whole lengthy chapter sitting there talking about all his choices, maybe people would love him too, but that doesn't happen in ACOTAR, because that's just such lazy writing!

Forget who you like more, or whether you buy Feyre's POV – the fact that Rhysand needs that infodump and that justification for his actions, whereas Tamlin's actions often speak for themselves! The writing feels like it's working overtime to elevate Rhysand at Tamlin's expense. And this circular logic is just so incredibly frustrating.

I wish SJM had kept Rhysand as he was in book one. I actually deeply enjoyed him there. Or, if she was going to do all this, had actually properly foreshadowed it. All this overcompensating just to make him look good... so annoying. I miss Rhysand where the narrative held him accountable, allowed him to be truly morally grey and just an entertaining guy doing the most insane things. I miss the first book. I miss the hinted-at insane lore between Rhysand and Tamlin, their fathers, their families, their powers. The picture of them being friends, to standing across from each other in a hallway, each other's families' blood on their hands, glowing in the light of new High Lordship. Their history, their contrast, the fact that neither of them were fully good people but the narrative could respect that and still love them both anyway. I miss everything about it, really, before it all turned juvenile and unrealistic and childish.

I don't think people have enough critical thinking to understand that it was already easy to love Rhysand and appreciate him for what he was in the first book, that perfection/goodness doesn't equate to likeability, and it was his flaws, fully acknowledged, that made him so interesting/fun to learn about. That this was the beauty of the first book in the first place. Brb mourning what could have been…mourning the fact that it never had to be Rhysand vs Tamlin in the first place.

Rhysand and Tamlin and Feyre and how they all work together to show different sides of what it means to grow up and work through the horrors of your past and become who you were always meant to be (aka the point of writing about 500 yos like this in the first place). A story of a mortal girl with fire in her veins, who shot a wolf, and threw a shoe, and was both saved by and ended up saving the Beast. Was reckless and stupid and with a big enough heart to venture down into the depths of Amarantha's lair, not some overly forgiving, amnesiac doormat, who changed them both in very different ways, and who changed her. Head in hands btw. It's not just that Tamlin deserves justice, it's that all three of them do. None of this is as it should be, and the blindness to the injustice of Tamlin's character is only the tip of the iceberg. 😞

[k-s-morgan]

What are your plans to the future? Do you think about moving to another country? At least for a while until this war ends? I hope you can undestand what i meant, english is not my first language but what i am trying to say its You have endure enough. You are strong for remaining yourself and keeping hoping for a better future but a better future sees unlikeable to happen. This world is insane. The people in it dont care about each other. I am worried by you. Every day.

Another ask: Me again. So as i said before, people dont care about anything that arent themself. Many countrys could help to end this insanity but they wont. I dont know if they even try it tbh. You have done enough Morgan. If its money the issue, i will send to you everything i can. If you have the chance to leave, please do it. You can always start again, and enjoy live again if you are alive. Your life and your mother and your family's life are important. Please, please think about it.

-----

Hello! Oh, thank you so much for worrying about me to this extent <3 I can't tell you how warm and reassuring this feels to me. Your asks touched me a lot, I'm so grateful to have readers like you - sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am.

I do think about moving - I've been thinking of it since the start of the war, but unfortunately, the choice always comes down to my safety vs. my family. To have both, I would indeed need money, but way too much of it. Like, tens of thousands of dollars. This is just not achievable.

Starting a new life elsewhere would mean that my mother would be automatically out of job. She won't be able to find anything even remotely good due to her age and qualifications, and if she leaves now, she'll lose her pension. 3 more years separate her from it. So, I'll become the sole provider.

In Kyiv, we live in our own apartment, but in another place, we would have to pay the rent, which is always expensive. Technically, with the job I have now, I would be able to support us anyway, but only barely. And what would happen if I were to lose my job? I lost it twice in one year already. What if someone gets sick, or another emergency happens, or I die? My family would be completely helpless - no pension, no jobs, no proper savings.

Selling the Kyiv apartment is way too risky - the money can lose value or disappear in other ways, and we'd be homeless. Renting it out is a possibility, but my stepfather lives here. He can't leave, or he risks getting drafted.

Of course, if the threat to our lives was acute - like if Russians were standing near Kyiv again and bombs were flying at us non-stop, we'd all flee. It would come to a life in uncertainty and poverty vs. death, and we'd naturally choose the former. But the threat isn't acute yet. Yes, the air raids happen daily, and it's terrifying, and things are getting worse, but statistically, not that many people die from it. We face a much bigger chance of being hit by a car than by a missile.

That's what makes this choice so complicated and nuanced. And I'm not even talking about emotional factors, such as this being my beloved home, a place where my relatives and pets are buried, a place where I take care of the specific homeless cats and birds - they depend on me, and leaving them behind is devastating.

If I had a lot of money, I would leave anyway, but I don't, so making this decision is next to impossible. Leaving alone would be easy, but it is not an option - my family is my lifeline. I'd rather live in horror with them than in happiness without them.

However, I also understand that such a life is impossible to bear. I'm so traumatized that I think even in the best-case scenario, I will die before my time due to some nerves-related illness.

This December, my father turns 60. After this, he will be safe to leave. If the war is not over and there is still no hope, I think I will move to another city, a safe one, with him, while my Mom and my step-father stay for 3 more years until my Mom's pension. I will come visit them often, maybe live in both places.

That's what I have in mind for now. It's a tentative plan, but it's there, and I'm holding onto it while still hoping that this nightmare finally ends this year. Justice will not come, but peace, at least a temporary one? Maybe.

[airaibunny]

FLUFF

"i can't believe i get to call you mine, you're everyone's dream"

"you look amazing up there/on set"

"what would the public think of this? two of the biggest names right now dating?"

"a song? for me?"

"i want to have a baby"

"i thought you had an interview?"

"come with you to the red carpet?"

"so what, let them talk"

"what do we name her/him?" (kid, dog, hamster, i dont care)

"i left a surprise in your dressing room"

"the fans are going to go crazy"

"so we're doing this? we're really coming out?"

"come to the concert, i want you to watch front row"

"come tour with me"

"come to the set with me"

"they're actually...reacting great"

"i love flaunting you for the world"

ANGST

"it's not that easy for me, i can't just come out"

"i know hiding is exhausting"

"i can't do this anymore. i can't keep being your dirty little secret"

"you do not get to shut me out"

"it feels like i'm the only one who cares"

"you're you, and i'm just me"

"my team is making me get into a pr relationship"

"they're getting suspicious"

"we're from different worlds, this was never going to work"

"i get it, something important came up"

"i really don't want to argue with you in public, it'll be every headline tomorrow"

"i can never measure up to the songs, that's what you don't see"

"i'm risking my career too, yours isn't more important than mine"

"we're both going to expereince the same reaction form our fans, why am i the only one willing to risk it?"

"the tabloids keep linking us to different people and i just have to pretend it doesn't hurt"

"you know he's just a pr stunt"

"how else am i supposed to feel when you keep dodging questions abut your love life?'

"our schedules are insane. our lives are insane. and maybe i'm selfish, but just once i want you to choose me like i choose you"

"we tell them, or we're over"

"they're never going to think i'm good enough"

"they think i just want you for your fame and money"

"i read the comments about me, i'm not stupid"

"every time you write a song, it sounds beautiful. and then you change all the pronouns to masculine"

"my team wants us to stop seeing each other"

[m1ssunderstanding]

Understanding Lennon McCartney Rewatch Part 1.3

Okay can anyone explain the “false hotel registration” thing to me? Does it mean they registered under a false name? So Paul registered under a false name so he could go fuck a girl in his room without getting in trouble with the press? I'm confused. Didn't they bring girls to their rooms all the time without getting in trouble? It doesn't make sense. Why did he feel the need to register under a different name?

Paul, talking about American conservatism, “So many organizations over here that are nuts anyway.” John, “Yeah, they're so far right they just–” tape ends. They really were brave, though. To say what they thought and risk losing what they'd only just got. I wonder who cut the recording. 

Journalist: Paul, are you planning to marry Jane Asher? John: scream ‘no.’ Go on. Lol John certainly says what he feels doesn't he?

Paul making fun of the racist question. Good job bud. 

The whole “Yesterday” thing is crazy. Like, what a feat, first of all. I think we forget how unbelievably successful the song was.

Second of all, I know John's reaction was childish and mean, but his feelings were valid if you just look at the treatment and reception of “Ticket to Ride”  (John's dead mum song). Like objectively yesterday is a better song, but still.

Oh, John. Poor thing. 

If “Girl” is secretly about Paul . . . yeesh. It's so obsessive and adoring and simultaneously so disappointed and disparaging. John always has such impossible standards for Paul. “She promises the earth to me and I believe her, after all this time I don't know why.” Um… maybe because he literally did give you the world? At so many points I find myself asking, “what more could Paul possibly have given John?”

People always take this quote as a sexuality thing, but couldn't it also be a conscience thing? Revulsion at taking advantage of the fact that all these women are fans? At the scale of his infidelity? I don't know, am I giving him too much credit?

The thing about Paul, John – and though it drives you insane, it's a big factor in why you love him -- is he's not going to be bullied into anything. If he decides to take LSD it's going to be on his own terms. And I know you think it'll bring you two closer, and you're right, but peer pressure just doesn't work on him. There's no point. You know that.

I LOVE Paul and the Indica. Designing the wrapping paper in secret up in his little attic room, covering over the shop windows so he can do his handyman work building shelves and painting in peace. It's Linda's Paul pre Linda, you know?

John is so good at PR as in making something sound as beautiful and important and powerful as possible. Which is something Paul absolutely relied on John to do and clearly could not do on his own after the break up. Look how John makes them almost into prophets here.

"I really wanted to live in London but I wouldn't risk it." Another thing to make John envious of Paul and resentful of Cynthia. I really wish those two had just never got married. 

“I don't object to people having a lot of money, I never did. But I do object to people being stony broke and starving.” RIP John, you would've loved the American “left” of today. But you can't have the former without the latter, sorry.

This picture always gets me. It's ridiculous. Pattie and George. Mo and Ringo. John and Paul. With Cynthia awkwardly by herself. It's funny. It's adorable. It's crushing. And with that quote? It's impossible.

I think Tara Browne is overlooked. Paul brought him home for Christmas. That's a big deal. And John hated him enough to laugh when he read about his death. That's also a big deal. Paul and his messed up social climbing obsession. I do think it's worth pointing out, though, the difference between Paul’s LSD trip with Tara and his trip with John. More on that later.

I really do think they were all staunchly anti-racist for their time, you know, besides John's racist jokes and drawings… but Paul particularly. And I have to wonder where that came from. Did he have empathy for people being judged on appearance and background? Was it partially due to his idolization of black artists? Did Little Richard maybe say something to him about racism in America? Anyone have any thoughts?

Actually, same, John. 

Okay and I have to share my hot take on the whole Jesus scandal. It's this: the American right doesn't actually care about Jesus. They care about protecting their hegemony. They didn't like that the Beatles were openly and stubbornly integrationist. They didn't like Paul's comment about their inhumane racism. But they couldn't openly counter that without showing their hand. So they used the Jesus comment as an excuse. If they play the religious persecution card, they get to paint themselves as the victims and therefore the good guys while they take down anyone who challenges the status quo that keeps them in money and power (aka the Beatles). 

Maybe I should've had a “poor baby” tally because the number of times I've said that about John in these comments has got to be tally-worthy. I would've driven around in a gorilla suit with you, honey!

It is actually amazing that there hasn't been more speculation on Paul's sexuality with all these serious boyfriends. 

Paul tells a story about a time he flew a plane, and how much better he liked it than being a passenger. First off. Imagine being a pilot and just being like “oh, you've never touched a joystick in your life, but you're Paul McCartney? Sure, go ahead. Fly the plane.” But also. His control issues and his confidence are both off unreal. No one in their right mind would feel more safe flying a plane – as someone with a complete lack of experience – than when a licensed pilot is flying it. 

Okay I literally JUST learned that Here There and Everywhere says, “how good it can be” not could. Can. And it's one of those in my "for sure this was about John" folder. Okay then. Wow.

The thing is they really did compliment each other's songs a lot more than modern Paul makes it seem like. So I wonder what it was about the “Here There and Everywhere” compliment that made it so special to Paul?

This footage where John is hiding behind McCharmley. I love protective Paul and how different he is to protective John and how much they needed each other. 

Hall of Fame quote: “what composer do you respect the most?” “I dunno really. John Lennon.” “Paul McCartney.”

[nellie-elizabeth]

The Handmaid's Tale: Exodus (6x08)

Not going to lie, I'm pretty massively underwhelmed by this one.

Cons: 

I just... for one thing, I thought the wedding was going to be where Shit Went Down, and instead it was where People Handed Each Other Weapons and Then Went Home. Just kind of a momentum killer, to be honest. Drugging the wedding cake is certainly audacious, but it's also silly. And I kept thinking that if going to the wedding was just about distributing stuff, why on earth did June and Moira even risk going? Everyone else is supposed to be there. No risk of Serena or Nick or anybody else recognizing them. It felt silly that they'd be there at all.

Serena has this big moment where she learns that her new husband is "just like all the others" and is not a good man, since he brings a Handmaid into their home together. Honestly, the idea that Serena would be surprised by this, that she would have bought into her own delusions enough to believe that this would be a different kind of marriage, didn't really bother me. But the way she reacted? Like, Serena, are you stupid? Just play dumb, lay low, get Noah out of there safely! Now you're on the run with no supplies and no recourse. I just wish she'd played it more clever. Like, nodded and smiled and asked that for their wedding night, it just be the two of them... then in the light of day find a way to get Noah away and figure out a plan. It just seemed silly for her to freak out and burn that bridge with no thought to strategy at all.

The big scene of this episode, the one that I wanted to move me, was the June speech to Lydia. And it just... did not land for me! I'm sorry! What, exactly, has changed Lydia's mind here? The Janine stuff? Okay, so then why did she need June to come and explain it to her when she's already seen Janine beaten by Bell? I was extremely distracted by the guard holding a gun in this scene. There's this crowd of Handmaids waiting with baited breath, there's June making her big speech, there's Lydia listening with a trembling lip... and I'm sitting there thinking: who's this dude, what does he think, is he being swayed? Is he too scared to act? Would he have shot June if Lydia had commanded it? And that's not what I wanted to be feeling, in this big culminating moment. I didn't want to be preoccupied by what the one man in the room thought about the things happening. It just didn't work for me as this ultimate turning point for Lydia. I'm not convinced that this would sway her after so much else did not. And I honestly thought June's speech went on a little too long and was a little too generic.

Pros:

I'm not completely writing this show off as a loss, of course. We have two more episodes, and I'm hoping they're bombastic and shocking and interesting. Serena's wedding was kind of a dud, more setup without payoff, but now the Handmaids are on the loose, and they're out for blood. There were a lot of cool little moments nested into this episode, even if the overall effect was underwhelming.

At the wedding, I loved how... insane and delusional Serena was when she went to talk to the Handmaids. Like she really thinks that being nice to them and trying to claim that she and her former Handmaid found a way to forgive and make friends, is going to make up for anything? She really thinks it's enough? She's totally lost it. When Rita came up and says "eyes on the prize, ladies," I was grinning so big. Like, I'm sorry, Serena, but I want you to get what's coming to you, and I want you to know it was June who did it.

I also like that Nick and June don't cross paths, that he remains entirely unaware that she's there and that anything is going on. The tension of that, when she can't quite stop herself from walking a few steps closer to him, when she fixates on him and Rose there together as this "happy" little family unit... I still don't understand what they're trying to do with Nick as a character but I have this hope/thought that he's going to figure out what's up and help June at the eleventh hour, which I would appreciate, at least.

While the Serena moments did kind of piss me off, I did like how genuinely crushed she was as she asked the Handmaid what her real name was. She's not a good person, and there's no going back on what she's done, but selfishly I'm glad she's at least woken up to how monstrous the system is, even if it's not sufficient to any degree. Great acting in that moment of dawning horror.

Similarly, while so much about the big Aunt Lydia v. June moment annoyed me, I loved Moira standing in her power and shouting Lydia down, and I especially love that Lydia didn't remember who she was. It puts paid to so many of the lies Lydia has told herself. That she's doing this to protect and save "her girls." She doesn't even know the names of all the people she's tortured and handed over to serial rapists over the years. And I loved Moira prepared to stare down Lydia and protect June, and then June just showing up like "here I am." Great acting from Ann Dowd in the aftermath of that scene, as she calls out "God help me" and sinks to her knees. I really believe in her as a broken, confused woman. Although again, that doesn't justify shit about shit, when you get right down to it.

So... yeah. I find myself really uncertain what we're meant to think, going into these last two episodes of the show. Poisoning the cake at the wedding felt like an anticlimax, people are behaving kinda stupid, and do we really think that this is going to be enough to bring down Gilead for good? Or maybe it's not, maybe this is a setup for The Testaments, maybe we're meant to believe that there are decades left before the real downfall comes. Who can say! All I know is, I don't want to walk away from this whole show with a sour taste in my mouth. I hope it all comes together in a way that feels earned and powerful.

6.5/10

[oizysian]

X. PUMPKIN

All Eyes on Me masterlist

Word count: 2.1k

AN: I’m so sorry I haven’t updated this on here lately. I’m gonna catch up with everything soon!

•

"I can't believe I just spent a whole day with Lizzie and Robbie."

"Robbie? That's her husband isn't it?" Claire questioned.

"Mhm."

"How were you able to keep your cool around Lizzie with Robbie there?"

"I just kinda ... zoned out a lot. He's really nice and he made an effort to get to know me, but I can't help but feel guilty when I'm around him."

"Why?"

"Because I'm in love with his wife!" I threw my hands up in frustration, my headset almost falling off my head with the sudden action.

"Y/N, listen," I held my breath as I waited for her to continue speaking. "Don't feel guilty. You can't help it if she likes you."

"Which she doesn't. Not like that."

"Says you. What did Brie say?"

I groaned, the memory of our kisses hitting me like a ton of bricks.

"She thinks she likes me." I mumbled. "But, she likes me too."

"She? She as in Brie?"

"Uh huh. We ... kinda ... kissed."

"You what?!"

"We were drunk and high and she was busting my balls about liking Lizzie so I kissed her to prove I wasn't in love with her."

"And did that work?"

"No."

She sighed and I began to feel even more guilty. Between Robbie and Brie, I was never gonna get any sleep at night.

"What a surprise." Sarcasm dripped from her words. "Why can't you just be honest with yourself - and your friends."

"I'm not being honest with Lizzie. She can't know I have feelings for her. It would make things weird."

"Don't you think she's smart enough to figure it out eventually?"

"I mean, yeah, probably, but by then I'm hoping I'll be over it."

"Doubtful, but good luck with that."

"Thanks so much. You're no damn help."

"Yes I am. You just don't like my advice."

"Okay. What's your advice?"

"Keep hanging out with Lizzie and try to see if she's interested - married or not." She stopped me before I could interject. "If she is, see where it goes. If not, then at least she's your friend."

"I was just gonna skip the first part and just stay friends with her."

"Go ahead and do that, then. But, you're gonna suffer not knowing if there could've been anything between you if you don't test the waters."

I was quiet for a moment, taking in her words and thinking hard about them. She was right, of course she was. But, the risk of losing Lizzie as a friend just to see if we could be more than that, which was nearly an impossibility anyway, outweighed any feelings I had for her. I didn't want to lose her in any capacity. I just had to stop liking her like that.

"I'll think about it. I just ... I really like her. As a friend, even. I don't want to lose her 'cos of some schoolgirl crush."

"You're definitely not crushing. The way you talk about her." She let out a dry chuckle. "You're absolutely in love."

"She doesn't even know me. She'd think I was insane if I told her I had feelings for her. We've only hung out three times."

"Once for like three days though."

"Two days."

"Okay, two days. So, that's a weekend. Plus all the constant texting."

I sighed, rubbing my eyes tiredly. This was the worst situation I had ever been in and it was all my own fault.

"Look," I started. "I know you mean well, but I'm just gonna stay friendly with her. If something happens, that's great! But, I won't be making the first move. Or any moves."

"Whatever you feel you should do, I'll support your decision."

"Thanks, bestie. I really appreciate you listening to all my griping."

"That's what I'm here for. Now get your head in the game. I'm tired of reviving you."

"Sorry." I laughed. "I just have a lot on my mind lately."

"I know."

She was interrupted by my phone going off, indicating that I got a text.

"Is it Lizzie?" She asked excitedly and I shrugged to myself.

"Not sure. I'm playing the game, not looking at my phone. Like you told me to."

"Oh my god, just look at your phone. I'm dying from the suspense."

I hid myself in a bush while I checked my phone. It was Lizzie.

"Well?" Claire asked with excitement in her voice.

"Lizzie wants to hang out before she heads back to LA for some business."

"And? Are you gonna see her?"

"Of course I am." I stared at the message for another moment before I felt my controller vibrate, signaling I was being shot at. "Shit."

I put my phone down and got myself back into the game. The intensity of the game provided silence, which gave me ample time to think.

"You didn't see how she looked at him, though." I said quietly. "She looked at him with stars in her eyes."

"And what about you? How do you look at her?"

I was silent. I knew how I looked at her, it had been pointed out to me few times already. But, what did that matter? She only had eyes for him.

"I look at her like she's the only beautiful thing in the world."

"Exactly, you mush."

"But, she doesn't look at me like that."

"Maybe she does and you haven't noticed."

"Maybe." I whispered to myself, my eyes flickering to my phone as it went off again.

I'm outside.

"Shit, I gotta go, Claire."

"But, there's only two teams left! We gotta finish this game!"

I hesitated for a moment before relenting.

"Damn, okay, let's kill them quickly, then."

We continued to play, my mind on the blonde outside my apartment rather than the game I was in. She was waiting for me and I was playing some stupid game.

I rushed into the battlefield, shooting indiscriminately to try and end the game quickly. I killed absolutely no one and got myself downed, which left Claire alone to win the game.

I picked up my phone and started texting Lizzie, telling her I was being held up and I'd be out in a moment.

Claire was able to clutch the game and we won, but I still was in another world.

"Go get your girl. You're not here with me anyway." She laughed and I sighed apologetically.

"Sorry, I'm going. I'll talk to you later."

I shut my game and tossed my headphones on the bed before rushing to the door, slipping my shoes on and practically running out to meet her. Brie was right, I was down bad.

As I approached her car, she smiled and I couldn't help but smile back. Her smile was damn infectious and I was happy to catch it.

I opened the passenger door and got in, closing it swiftly and buckling up.

"So what was so important that you kept me waiting fifteen minutes?" She asked playfully, a mock angry look on her face.

I laughed and raised my hands in surrender.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was in a game when you messaged me. I had to finish what I started."

"Mhm." She grumbled, a small smile still lingering on her face as she started to drive.

I leaned back in the seat as we fell into a comfortable silence, the soft music coming from the radio all but ignored as we took in each other's presence. 

"Where are we going?" I asked after a few moments, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"I was wondering when you were gonna ask." She giggled, her eyes shifting from the road to me and then back again. "We're going someplace yummy."

"McDonald's?" I asked excitedly.

"Yummier." She laughed, shaking her head.

"What could be yummier than McDonald's?"

"Absolutely anything. Wendy's for example."

"Oof. She's got superior burgers, but McDonald's fries all the way."

"Fair enough. But no, we're not getting fast food."

"Bummer."

"Hush." She said as she lightly smacked my thigh with her right hand. "You'll love it."

"Oh," I whimpered pathetically, holding my leg. "The pain."

"Aw, poor baby." She teased. "Here," she kissed her hand and placed it on my leg, and my heart fluttered. "All better."

"All better." I repeated, dazed from her actions, and currently riding a high from her touch.

She left her hand there for a moment longer than she probably should have before giving me a pat and returning her hand to the steering wheel.

"Do I get a hint?"

"You already got a hint!" She laughed.

"Yummier than McDonald's is not a hint."

"Well, that's all you're getting."

I huffed playfully and sunk into the seat, noting how damn comfortable it was.

"I could fall asleep in this seat." I told her, closing my eyes briefly before opening them again and looking at her.

She had been staring at me as we were stopped at a red light. A faint blush crossed her cheeks and she had a small smile on her lips. How long was she looking at me?

"It's green." I whispered and she snapped out of her stupor, returning her focus and attention to the road.

I smiled to myself, thinking that maybe, just maybe, she could be looking at me the way she looked at Robbie. Maybe I could be someone special to her.

We drove for a while longer before she pulled up in front of a small ice cream shop somewhere in the city.

"Ice cream!" I cheered as I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. I looked at the signs on the windows, my face dropping when I saw the seasonal flavors. "Oh no, pumpkin."

"Oh yes, pumpkin." She smirked as she stood next to me. "You're gonna love it."

"Can I get a different flavor and taste yours?"

She thought for a second before nodding, playfully nudging me.

"Of course, silly. What flavor would you like?" She asked as we entered.

"Chocolate." I hummed softly. "Chocolate sounds so good right now."

"Pumpkin sounds even better."

"Absolutely not." I laughed.

We walked up to the counter and she ordered for us, which I was grateful for, and as I was about to pull out my wallet, she beat me to it and paid with her card.

"My treat."

"Lizzie." I whined and she smiled at me. "You can't keep spoiling me like this."

"Says you."

We got our cones and sat down in a booth hidden away in a corner. She sat facing away from the door and I sat across from her.

"This is so good." I spoke as I ate, chocolate undoubtedly getting all over the place.

"I see that." She laughed softly, offering me her cone. "Just try it. One lick."

I looked from her to the cone, wincing as I remembered I promised to try it.

"Stick out your tongue ..." she said as she raised it up to my lips.

Without a second thought, I did what I was told, taking a generous amount of ice cream onto my tongue.

"Good girl."

I would've choked if I hadn't already swallowed the mildly repulsive treat. She smiled widely as my face went from disgust to indifference, taking that as a win.

"I've tasted worse things."

"I told you."

"No. You told me it was good. I didn't say it was good."

"Oh, c'mon." She laughed and I laughed with her.

"It's okay. Chocolate is definitely better."

"Lemme taste yours."

I took another lick of my ice cream to get the pumpkin off my tongue before holding the cone out to her, watching as she kept eye contact with me as she licked delicately at my ice cream.

Jesus shit fuck -

"Y/N? Earth to Y/N?" I snapped out of my daze and returned my attention to her, an amused smile on her face. "You okay?"

"I'm great." I smiled back, realizing that if she wanted to play that game, even just in a friendly way, we could play that game.

I reached across the table and ran my thumb along her lower lip, wiping the remains of my ice cream off of her mouth.

She sat, dazed, mouth slightly agape as I wiped off my finger with a napkin, holding back every urge in my body to stick it in my mouth and suck it clean.

When she snapped out of her daze, she picked up a napkin, leaned across the table, and started wiping my entire face.

"Hey!" I cried, laughing at her actions. "I'm not that dirty!"

"That's what you think." She giggled, finally bringing the napkin to my mouth and wiping it clean. "There. Now you're all clean."

"Thank you, mom." I started eating my ice cream again, careful to keep myself spotless.

She hummed as she ate her ice cream, and we sat in, yet another, comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company. Maybe Claire was right. Maybe there could be something between us. Or this was just harmless, friendly flirting. There was only one way to find out, whether I liked it or not.

•

@oh-thats-cute @marvelwomen-simp @dorabledewdroop @scarlie-johalsen-blog @annie-ahmelia

[sag-dab-sar]

Clarification: Generative AI does not equal all AI

💭 "Artificial Intelligence"

AI is machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and more that I'm not smart enough to know. It can be extremely useful in many different fields and technologies. One of my information & emergency management courses described the usage of AI as being a "human centaur". Part human part machine; meaning AI can assist in all the things we already do and supplement our work by doing what we can't.

💭 Examples of AI Benefits

AI can help advance things in all sorts of fields, here are some examples:

Emergency Healthcare & Disaster Risk X

Disaster Response X

Crisis Resilience Management X

Medical Imaging Technology X

Commercial Flying X

Air Traffic Control X

Railroad Transportation X

Ship Transportation X

Geology X

Water Conservation X

Can AI technology be used maliciously? Yeh. Thats a matter of developing ethics and working to teach people how to see red flags just like people see red flags in already existing technology.

AI isn't evil. Its not the insane sentient shit that wants to kill us in movies. And it is not synonymous with generative AI.

💭 Generative AI

Generative AI does use these technologies, but it uses them unethically. Its scraps data from all art, all writing, all videos, all games, all audio anything it's developers give it access to WITHOUT PERMISSION, which is basically free reign over the internet. Sometimes with certain restrictions, often generative AI engineers—who CAN choose to exclude things—may exclude extremist sites or explicit materials usually using black lists.

AI can create images of real individuals without permission, including revenge porn. Create music using someones voice without their permission and then sell that music. It can spread disinformation faster than it can be fact checked, and create false evidence that our court systems are not ready to handle.

AI bros eat it up without question: "it makes art more accessible" , "it'll make entertainment production cheaper" , "its the future, evolve!!!"

💭 AI is not similar to human thinking

When faced with the argument "a human didn't make it" the come back is "AI learns based on already existing information, which is exactly what humans do when producing art! We ALSO learn from others and see thousands of other artworks"

Lets make something clear: generative AI isn't making anything original. It is true that human beings process all the information we come across. We observe that information, learn from it, process it then ADD our own understanding of the world, our unique lived experiences. Through that information collection, understanding, and our own personalities we then create new original things.

💭 Generative AI doesn't create things: it mimics things

Take an analogy:

Consider an infant unable to talk but old enough to engage with their caregivers, some point in between 6-8 months old.

Mom: a bird flaps its wings to fly!!! *makes a flapping motion with arm and hands*

Infant: *giggles and makes a flapping motion with arms and hands*

The infant does not understand what a bird is, what wings are, or the concept of flight. But she still fully mimicked the flapping of the hands and arms because her mother did it first to show her. She doesn't cognitively understand what on earth any of it means, but she was still able to do it.

In the same way, generative AI is the infant that copies what humans have done— mimicry. Without understanding anything about the works it has stolen.

Its not original, it doesn't have a world view, it doesn't understand emotions that go into the different work it is stealing, it's creations have no meaning, it doesn't have any motivation to create things it only does so because it was told to.

Why read a book someone isn't even bothered to write?

Related videos I find worth a watch

ChatGPT's Huge Problem by Kyle Hill (we don't understand how AI works)

Criticism of Shadiversity's "AI Love Letter" by DeviantRahll

AI Is Ruining the Internet by Drew Gooden

AI vs The Law by Legal Eagle (AI & US Copyright)

AI Voices by Tyler Chou (Short, flash warning)

Dead Internet Theory by Kyle Hill

-Dyslexia, not audio proof read-

[minugasakuranohana]

Kōyō and Mori related post, part 1

...about previous context for that problematic Mori's phrase from ch 37

[Part 2]

[Full post in Russian]

Three question for the first part and three for the second ~

Let's start! What did she said?

There's 3 eng version in the internet:

«Unfortunately, I still have to assist you in running the organisation» [link]

«But unfortunately, I have an inept boss to aid in reviving the organisation» [link]

«But sad to say, I need to help our unreliable boss get this organization back in order» [link]

In Japanese, she said: じゃが生憎と頼りない首領が組織を立て直す手伝いがあるでのう.

Without going into detail (there will be another post about that later, or read in russian), she said:

じゃが = but, 生憎と = unfortunately / sadly / sad to say

頼りない – adjective, usually means «untrustworthy», «unreliable», «not to be counted on». It's not «inept»

首領 (ボス) = boss, 'cause Asagiri wrote that we should read this like "bosu"

組織 = organization

立て直す: second base of verb 立てる + verb 直す = meaning of 立てる + again, back, or to repeat it = revive, get back in order, re-establish, restore...

手伝い = help / helper

She use ある ➡️ she meant "help"; this verb you can use only for lifeless things

ある = to be (for lifeless things)

でのう (this anime-language shit): 1) = から, expresses the reason; 2) (AI from HiNative opinion) something that adds confidence to the statement and emphasizes the speaker's conviction in his statement, like “certainly” or “undoubtedly”

She's funny. Her tongue could be as sharp as her blade!

What was it about?

It's hard to confide in Mori

She was talking about mafia leaders

Because one piece of shit (Ace) run for shelter as fast as conflict started; one vacancy of the executive is still open-but-close because of Dazai (and he really doesn't believe he will find the «reason living» in mafia anymore); and we also have Paul Verlaine, who's been sitting in his "office" somewhere since he became a Mafia member. Boss and Chuuya are the entire leadership in this arc. And Akutagawa directly disobeyed the order to fight with Tiger 👏

It's also about her trust

To begin with, she was captured by the agency because Mori chose this time to let her take Kyouka back. Kōyō wanted to do it days ago. And she was literally about to die 'cause the Guild chose the same time to attack. (And be saved by Yosano... 😨 No one planned that. A fuck-up is a fuck-up)

Mori knows it, Mori feels it

Upon returning, she immediately noticed details:

First: there's a bunch of corpses who are happy to meet her 🥳 Surreal surprise

Second: these bastards just let Q go and make some chaos. It's no better than that! If Atsushi and Dazai hadn't saved everyone, the rampage in the city would have reached the level of the prev boss' insanity. Kōyō would probably be thinking, «How could I leave you unattended? Are you saying that I can really just go away and keep my hair on? I'm not afraid of you; I'm afraid you're gonna go crazy without me»

The worst thing about this situation is that, although Mori's plans are extremely rational, they're based on a fragile probability. "Q probably won't be a big problem for all parts of the conflict (not for pm)." "Maybe Q will do what the boss asked." "Lovecraft will almost certainly be under effect of Dogra Magra." "It can't be that bad..." There was enough weakness in the plan. Kōyō obviously sensed it.

Even though «the boss's orders are absolute», it might be frightening to leave. Because there's always a risk. People don't go mad in the blink of an eye. At least the previous boss didn't. Plans can go to hell sometimes. Kōyō is grateful that Mori stopped him. She's afraid that once he'll become the same ones. She's afraid of losing control, like it was in the situation with Kyōka. There's no one around who could and would want to be pm boss. But if Mori lost his mind, she would stop him, wouldn't she?

And just to be clear, «Corruption?! Are you serious? — Dead serious — I wasn't there only for a few days. Why? How could you get this bingo?»

Sometimes this girl tries to play the disciplinarian role (but sometimes - no, she isn't 🤭)

She looks like a frightened child and a confident woman at the same time. And she isn't scared to «beat her enemies on the spot, so thoroughly that they can't fight back», even if her "enemy" is a mafia leader for a few minutes (but Mori knows abt it much more). Mori has been worried about the trust and loyalty from his subordinates since he became a boss. He get some extra reasons to worry in recent days. And she said straight, «No one can trust you»

«And you without help as without hands!» It's not romantic. No way.

What was it for?

It's a defensive reaction

She was uncomfortable with this dialogue. Mori triggered painful memories, and she felt insecure because he could find out that she was acting on her own free will by staying at the agency. Don't you remember, Mori started talking with her right after Chūya asked, «What about Akutagawa's punishment?» because he didn't follow orders? And she hit back with a verbal attack (and a little revenge), but a bit childish: «Boss-san is making silly things too! And no one believes in him!» 😝

The next sentences «The one to whom my hatred belongs is your predecessor. Right now, I'm feeling pretty good about being here / Right now, I'm fine with this place» softens the previous one.

We will never be 100% sure that we have made the right choice until we see the results. Kōyō herself sometimes has doubts about his decisions. She asks, tries to argue, feels anger... But life is a gamble, and the question is what you're betting on. Kōyō continues to choose him day by day. Even when it's hard, it's her choice.

And Kōyō crossed that line, which in her mind was the point of no return to the "radiant world", on her own. She murdered a lot of people in a rage, «just like a demon» (her point of view from Chapter 26)

She knows what hierarchy and mafia rules are. (And she doesn't know anything else) Kōyō doesn't hate her subordinates, only the former leader who ordered to kill her loved one. She doesn't even hate her fate or her past misfortune. Perhaps she simply did not need an abstract object to hate. Kōyō associates herself with darkness. Is she fine? Idk. Anyway, there were 7 or 8 years of Mori's leadership when violence was just one tool at the mafia's disposal to keep the city in balance.

Kōyō was able to understand that the Mafia isn't absolute evil. Dark, but not that bad. Her psychological defense mechanisms are very strong; she's already quite adapted to seeing and committing violence all the time. «Cruelty is not always evil. Evil is an obsession with cruelty» She remembers former boss's mafia and Mori's organization. She remembers this difference. In her opinion, it depends on the leader.

She respects Mori and trusts him

[Part 2]

[buffster]

Blood Ties (BTVS 5.13)

This is part of my ongoing Buffyverse Project, where I write notes/meta for every episode in an attempt to better understand the characters and themes of the shows. You can find the BTVS list here and the ATS list here. Gifs are not mine.

It's Buffy's birthday! Prepare the sympathy cards.

This is a situation where I can understand Buffy's procrastination. Not telling Dawn she's The Key put her at risk. She doesn't know it's a horrible idea to be doing teenage things like sneaking out or trying to get in the middle of Glory-business. On the other hand...how do you tell a teenager they aren't real and are basically adopted? As if Dawn's emotions aren't unstable enough already.

We get some information on Glorificus. She ruled a hell dimension with her fellow hellgods but was cast out. The human body she's in seriously limits her powers and she's constantly on the brink of insanity. Tara in particular is disturbed by Glory's brain-sucking powers and implies she'd rather be dead. The rest of the gang is finally told the truth about Dawn.

It kind of seems like telling everyone else made telling Dawn inevitable because she picks up on the weirdness immediately. .

At Buffy's party, Dawn's present is a photo of the two of them surrounded by shells they picked on the beach when they visited Hank in San Diego. Except that never happened. Which...can we talk about how disturbing this is? Weaving memories like that has to be intense magic. Dawn seems so real to them it implies she must have influenced events (as opposed to a scenario where they just put her in the background of scenes like a ghost) so were their real memories taken away? Did Buffy persuade her dad to go shopping at the mall in the real timeline, but in the Dawn one she insisted they get ice cream so all the mall memories are gone? How has Buffy been changed from these memories? Idk, my mind is running away with me here.

Anyway, Dawn decides to sneak out and figure out what's going on. She runs into Spike, who's holding some birthday chocolates for Buffy and decides to take action on the one thing Buffy has approved of in the past: taking care of Joyce or Dawn. It blows up in his face anyway when Dawn learns she's The Key while they're out. Spike is totally unimpressed by this reveal.

Dawn is traumatized. She cuts herself and asks if she's real. She also tells Joyce she's not even her mother, which has gotta sting later.

Spike: You didn't think you could hide the truth from her forever, did you? Maybe if you had been honest with her in the first place, you wouldn't be trying to make yourself feel better with a round of Kick the Spike.

Buffy takes out her rage on Spike, a habit that grows pretty toxic.

Buffy: She probably feels like she can say or do anything now. It won't matter because she's not real. We're not her family. We don't even know what she it. Joyce: How can you talk about Dawn like she's a thing? Buffy: I'm not. I'm saying that's how she feels. Joyce: Then we need to show her it's not true. She needs to know that she's still a part of this family and we love her. Buffy: It's not that simple. We're not going to fix this with a hug and a kiss and a bowl of soup. Dawn needs to know what she is. She needs real answers. Joyce: What she needs is her sister, Buffy. Not the slayer.

I found this exchange really interesting. Joyce really helped Buffy hold on to her humanity and prioritize relationships over the mission. Buffy tends to disassociate and go into action mode, but Joyce was right here. Dawn does initially look for answers but she feels like shit until Buffy reassurers her that she's a Summers.

Unfortunately after only hearing the mean things Buffy said Dawn leaves again. This time she goes to the hospital to try and get some info from the mental patients. Orlando is there after Glory got to him, but he just freaks her out. Ben gives her hot chocolate and she confesses to him.

We see him turn into Glory. Big oh shit moment. Buffy comes in to kick ass before she learns anything but ends up tossed around herself. It looks hopeless until Willow does a teleportation spell that transports her above the city in midair. We learn no one is able to remember the Ben-Glory transformation.

I'm enjoying the brilliancy of Willow's magic usage and power increasing in a time of such desperation that no one thinks to be anything but grateful. Glory is nearly unstoppable and Willow is all that slows her down. Giles mentions the teleportation spell is dangerous, but everyone is too desperate to see the red flags.

Buffy tells Dawn that she is her sister and it seems like the moment cements it for Buffy as much as Dawn.

Character Notes:

Dawn Summers: She started keeping diaries at 7. She loves the mall like Buffy. She loves schnauzers in particular. She doesn't like marshmallows because Buffy told her their were monkey brains when she was little.

Spike: It takes him awhile to pick the lock at The Magic Shop because he's so used to just breaking the door.

Tara Maclay: The "if you felt lost where would you go?" "to you" line was adorable.

Willow Rosenberg: The birthday candles that don't go out scared her as a child.

[jabberwockprince]

how can I put into words just how mad I am at Kimberly/Anjo Nala's writing, like. no wonder people boil her down to sad depressed baby uwu cringe girlfailure, because all of 2.2 insists on telling you that she's all of that, but then they show you completely different things, the disconnect is insane

this is just me rambling abt r99, I love this game dearly, all my anger comes from a place of I Cant Get This Game Out Of My Head

if you haven't read 2.0 and 2.1, you're going to miss literally the way she:

Happily toys with her targets, taunting Matilda and Joe while they're on the verge of death

Kills Hollick in cold blood while having fun

Is cunning enough to find ways around the orders she gets from that Disciple because of the language barrier / distract Vertin & Argus enough with crocodile tears to cast a teleport skill and get away

in Tristes Tropiques, you're told that she saves Vertin to repay her kindness--you're not given context for this within the Main Story, and this "kindness" is just. letting her leave. this doesn't warrant the attachment Kimberly gets to Vertin in this chapter at all, she has a more meaningful convos with WHITE RUM and LOPERA than VERTIN

2.2 attempts to justify her actions by reminding you that she is a victim of people who use her as a toy and a slave, but it fails to take responsibility for the way THIS patch and ALL PREVIOUS ONES demonstrate that she's still a succubus, a creature whose moral compass is based on the binary of "if I don't like you, then I can kill you. but I won't hurt the people I like because I like them. easy"

again, she kills Hollick so casually, she leaves Joe mortally wounded in front of an injured Matilda and doesn't give a SINGLE fuck about it because she's hungry and was following orders

it's so BORING to see her being reduced to "sad sopping wet cat" by the fandom, but of course this happens, because that's all you get if you only consume the main story at face value, which does not bring up the REST OF HER CHARACTER AS WE'VE SEEN HER

2.2 expects me to believe Kimberly's debt to Vertin was so great that it justifies her attachment to Vertin thru the entire patch, it fails to remind you how this attachment was born because It's Quite Literally A Nothingburger. and you can think of this as "Kimberly has never been shown an OUNCE of respect and dignity in her life, so she will latch onto the FIRST person to do the BARE MINIMUM even if its unreasonable"--but that nameless Manus lady from her own character trailer tells her not to return to the toy because she sees how painful it is for Kimberly, and then Kimberly just goes MONSTER FORM to sleep at the foot of the bed. BUT BY THE END OF THE TRAILER, EVERYONE IN THIS MANUS GROUP EXCEPT MS GRACE HAS BEEN KILLED

and this doesn't work etiher, because we then learn that Kimberly has had a fulfilling and loving life in the heartfelt home, that she found people who cared about her. and we know how guarded she is, every fucking time something happens or someone unfamiliar shows up, Kimberly is SO READY to pull her claws out

I talked about this with some friends earlier and they're so fucking right, it FEELS like they're exclusively focusing on the good aspects of Kimberly that would make you empathize with her and PURPOSEFULLY ignoring the rest of the nuance in her character JUST because they can't allow a Limited 6* to be morally complex or, god forbid, do Horrible Things with a smile on her face. which sounds insane because we have characters like Tuesday, but out of all three limiteds we have, you can see they only took a risk with Lucy, who is also in my opinion the most well-rounded, interesting and cohesive character out of them (not counting 2.5's Liang bc I haven't finished that patch yet teehee)

there's so much emphasis on her sister on all promotional content, but then they also fail to deliver ANYTHING satisfactory on the writing bc everything related to Mata Hari is condensed to one line of "I don't want to be like my sister" and then the Paths of the Past tidbits. there are SO MANY THINGS but none of them work together to form a cohesive, solid patch its INSANE. Lopera is underused, Kimberly is all over the place, Zeno / Igor's motivations were weakly explained and there was zero set up for it other than the vague shit you get in 2.1 , Sotheby is abandoned one quarter into the story as soon as the Duncan / Karson thing is "resolved" and like, this also happened to Lilya in 2.1 but Lilya at least did a handful of things other than to exist so that we can get a sad moment of Sotheby recognizing Mr Karson in Duncan

like. this patch is so undercooked and so dependant on so much extra information you have to learn from events that are NOT going to come back IN MONTHS? which is wild, because the apeiron-vienna-vereinsamt arc is RIGHT there, they do it PERFECTLY there????? what the fuck HAPPENED to 2.2 SPECIFICALLY THAT MADE IT. LIKE THIS?