#i hate corporations more than the next guy but they do. still have to make money. to Function

[girlwiththegreenhat]

tell me you've never had to use skype without telling me you've never had to use skype: you complain about discord

[i2ycat]

two wrongs don’t make one right

pairing lee heeseung x fem!reader synopsis mistakes always happen, whether you mean to make them or not. but it’s not a question of ‘do you like heeseung?’ anymore, it’s more so: ‘why do you like heeseung?’. or in which, two wrongs just don’t make one right genre college!au, slight fluff, angst, established relationship word count 3k+ warnings cursing, crying, toxic relationship between heeseung and reader, implications of a professor x student relationship, heeseung is implied to have possibly cheated, reader cheats w sunghoon, everyone is of age, bitchy & manipulative characters, reader is insecure, small mention of smoking weed, lmk if i missed anything else lyn speaking it’s been 2 months since i last posted anything oh my…. erm! here’s a little fic before i disappear again lol <//3 i don’t condone anything that happens in this fic or any of their decisions!!!! main masterlist

reblogs and comments are very much appreciated!

The weekend had rolled by faster than you could blink. One second, you’re rotting away in your room and the next, you’re hopping on one foot in front of your mirror, hastily getting ready for the day because you’re running 30 minutes late to your 10am coding class. You’re usually the type to wake up earlier than your alarm, but you were staying up way later than you usually would’ve the night before— staying up late to talk to your boyfriend of 7 months, Lee Heeseung.

Known to be the academy’s most influential guy, Lee Heeseung was, and still is, quite the character. Simply calling him influential would be a grave understatement though, because he descended from a family of powerful politicians and businessmen, even having the biggest corporation in all of South Korea— Lee Tech— as part of his familial pedigree.

It’s no secret that he has the entire world at his fingertips, and at any given moment, he could burn it if he wanted to.

But like how everything else in this world is unfair, Lee Heeseung wasn’t just disgustingly rich, he also inherited his mother’s celebrity looks— evident in his sharp features and overly charming personality. He has girls constantly eyeing him left and right, up and down, even when you’re around.

You went into this relationship knowing full well the certain costs it had to your own happiness and well-being. In the 7 months you’ve been seeing each other, you’ve never felt so insecure in your entire life. And despite his constant reassurances, you know that he couldn’t even begin to imagine half of the battlefield you were facing.

No matter how much you try to deny it, you were subconsciously fighting for his attention against people who were born to be at the same status as he is— in terms of wealth, power, and looks. You always hated being born into a grassroots-level family, but you knew that being salty about your birth-given circumstances would change absolutely nothing. So you worked hard as fuck to be able to get into such a prestigious university. You threw the entirety of your youth away to be able to be the first in your family to go to college, and here you are, barely hanging onto your scholarship because of some boy you met at a party almost half a year earlier. 

They’re only admirers, he said. It was just you and him, he said. You just needed to trust him, he said, but that’s something easier said than done, especially for you.

“Running late again?” The security guard monotonously inquires. He’s seen this exact scene about a thousand times and more with other students before you, so he’s chopping the late slip and handing it back to you like clockwork, but this time with a small smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. It was as if he had a good day but not good enough to warrant the toiling of doing such a challenging task.

Not that it mattered to you anyways.

You ducked your head in an informal ‘thank you’ before hurriedly leaving the stale office and into the hallways.

The hallways always seemed unending whenever you were running late, the rows of windows you ran past would multiply tenfold and the clock’s hands would run faster than it usually would— it felt as if time was warping everything within its reach.

Finally, the running reached its stop. You bent on your knees to catch your breath, the late slip crumpling in between your fingers in the process.

One.

Two.

You counted.

There was no reason to panic. Just walk in, hand the slip and sit your ass down. The visual in your head was clear and it somewhat helped to calm down your nerves. So with one last deep breath, you turn the brass handle and walk in.

You’re so damn dramatic.

The doors creaking reverberates in the small auditorium, easily catching everyone’s attention. You gulp down the lump in your throat as you watch your professor pass you a look of disapproval. It made your heart drop, because you were his best student and you hate disappointing people who expect great things from you. Your let your gaze angle towards the carpeted floors, making your way to the seat closest to the door.

When you feel as if you’ve disappeared into your seat, it was as if you could breathe again. You were finally away from the spotlight and people’s unnervingly curious eyes ceased trailing your every move. You should really start sleeping earlier or you’d have to get used to this.

“Hey,” Erin, your seatmate, whispers. Her voice tried to be as discreet as it could in a whisper… it didn’t really work. The professor gave her a stern stare as a form of warning, though you could tell it had an entirely different undertone, even from a mile away. It left a bad taste in your mouth, having to bear witness to such unprofessional exchanges of looks in an academic setting of all places. Erin, who bites her lip, scribbles whatever she was going to say to you on a torn piece of paper.

“Wanna know a secret?” It read with two boxes just right underneath it: yes or no. You look at her with a dumbfounded look plastered all over your face. You knew she was childish to a certain extent, but was she really that childish? Nevertheless, you tick the box on the left and send it back to her.

Cause you know, curiosity killed the cat.

You should’ve seen the conniving smirk plastered on her lips but you were too focused on your thoughts to notice anything else around you. She scribbles once more then folds it, dropping it into your hands with the hastily written warning facing you: “read it when you get home. preferably alone lol ;)”.

Then, class is dismissed.

You watch her get up from her seat and blend in with everybody else rushing out of the room, not missing the heavy glance she passes at the professor. You didn’t even want to stay any longer to see what happened next, so you started haphazardly shoving things into your bag instead, remembering to pocket the small note into the depths of your jacket.

When you leave the room, Lee Heeseung is already standing there, in all his lazy-fitted glory— messy bed hair hiding under a hood, donning the black hoodie you both bought as a couple’s set for valentines last week and the black sweatpants you bought for him to match.

“Hello, beautiful.” He coos, engulfing you in a tight one-armed hug. It gave you the opportunity to take in his woody yet elegant-smelling perfume, the same Jo Malone one he wore everyday.

Your heart swelled in its place, appreciating how, without fail, Heeseung would wait for you outside your classes whenever he could, even if they ended really late— late enough that he should be at home resting, but instead, he would spend that time waiting for you like the good boyfriend he is.

“Hey,” you smile into his chest. “Ugh, I woke up late again today thanks to a certain someone.”

“Wonder who that is? Maybe I should give them a word or two about keeping my princess up so late.” He pulls you from his chest to cup your face, coaxing you to fall deeper with that sweet smile of his. It never fails to make you feel like you’re the only girl in his world, like he’s got your back no matter what.

It was dangerous for such a smile to have the ability to make you forget about all your problems, even ones pertaining to him.

“You’re such a dork,” you roll your eyes at him as you push him away.

“At least I’m your dork, so naturally… it cancels out.” A boyish grin spreads across his face so innocently that you can’t help but press a kiss on his nose, immediately prompting him to blush a crimson red at your sudden display of affection. “What was that for?”

“You looked cute,” you shrug.

At this, Heeseung turns an impossibly darker shade of red. “You can’t just say things like that so casually and expect me to be okay.” The way he attempts to cover the blush in his face behind his hands makes you laugh, completely and utterly endeared by him.

“I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll give you a heads up, yeah?”

“You’re so mean.” He pouts.

When you got yourself entangled with the Lee Heeseung all those months ago, you didn’t think that he would have such a boyish and cute side to him. His public persona had always been this untouchable, charismatic guy who could get anything he wanted with a snap of his finger, so you could imagine the whiplash you experienced when the first time you ever kissed him, he blushed so deeply you thought he was drunk.

It made you feel special, being the only one to have ever brought out this side of him, like you had him wrapped around your finger.

“Yeah, but you can’t ever bring yourself to hate me.”

“That… is very true, I’m afraid.” Heeseung sighs, catching your hand in his. “I’m kinda hungry, right now. Sushi?”

“Sure.”

—

Over the course of your entire life, there’ve only been a handful of times where you’ve been betrayed by people you trusted: first when you were twelve, being wrongly accused of having cheated on a test by your then best friend; second when you were the only one to have been thrown under the bus by people you thought were your close group of friends for smoking weed in your highschool’s bathroom cubicle; and third when you found out that Heeseung had been with Erin during the one-week break in your relationship.

The note passed to you by Erin from earlier in the month stays ripped into pieces in the palm of your hand. You’d forgotten all about it until a few hours ago, and you wished it had stayed that way. But you know by now that things never go your way.

You and Heeseung were on break for about a week, citing that you were not in the mental headspace to be dealing with a relationship at that moment in time because of your slipping grades, and he understandably obliged, even kissing your forehead goodbye as you left his apartment.

Erin’s written confession, if you could even call it that, echoes in your mind like a blaring alarm.

from girlie to girlie, your boyfriend came onto me while you guys were on your little break. must say, your boyfriend is talented at making people cry ;).

All you needed was a week to heal and sort your shit out before you went back into his arms, and he couldn’t even wait that long?

You felt sick to your stomach and you wanted nothing more than to scream your aching heart away, to be left with nothing more than a void. At least then, you would no longer feel the hurt and betrayal Heeseung inflicted upon you with his actions, and the months of torment you’d endured just to seem worthy to stay by his side.

Did he even ever truly love you like he said he did?

The more you dwell on these thoughts, the more you could feel yourself physically slipping into a state of mental numbness as you stayed motionless on your spot on the carpeted floor.

It wouldn’t be until a few more hours later that Heeseung would enter your dorm, tired as ever from his basketball practice. It was routine for him to crash at your dorm on Tuesdays and Fridays—whenever he had basketball practices— because it was more convenient for him to get to his 9am class the next day from your in-campus dorm, compared to his condo that was 20 minutes away. Adding that you gave him the energy he needed for the days ahead, but now you’re contemplating whether that part was even true or not.

“Sweetheart,” he calls out to you from the entrance. “I’ve got to tell you about what happened to Jay at practice today-” he cuts himself short as he spots your leaning figure, head tucked into your knees, surrounded by torn pieces of paper.

“Y/n?” He quickly runs to your side.

“Seungie,” you meekly whisper as you lift your head, tear-stained cheeks and bloodshot eyes finally coming into clear view.

“Did something happen? What happened?” His hands make quick work to caress your face, tucking stray pieces of hair behind your ears and wiping tears away with his thumb.

Even after knowing what he had allegedly done behind your back, you couldn’t help but feel your heart pounding. This was the sweet, caring Heeseung you knew and loved. And so the thought that Erin could’ve been lying to you, flitters across your mind and nestles itself there.

“You wouldn’t lie to me, right?” Your voice sounds hoarse and quiet, yet the silent pleading rings deafeningly in your ears. You felt so pathetic crying in your living room about a boy who might’ve technically cheated on you, then finding yourself putty in his hands the moment he shows you the version of truth you’re familiar with.

Why are making up excuses for his behaviour?

Gosh, your roommate would kill you if she knew how much of a loser you’ve become in Heeseung’s presence.

“Of course not, baby,” he pulls you into an embrace. “There’s nothing I could ever lie to you about.” Did this ease your trust issues in any way? No. But it did assure you that Erin was still nothing but a serial liar, wanting nothing more than to see other people’s relationships fall apart for her own selfish entertainment… you think.

You hum into Heeseung’s tweed pullover.

It was always like this. You don’t know how many times you’ve gone through the same thing, and you don’t know how many more times you can go through without fully losing your sanity. But you can’t seem to find it in yourself to pull away, no matter how exhausted your heart and soul becomes.

—

“Can’t believe you stayed with him, even after knowing what he did behind your back.” Erin sneers from beside you, clearly amused by your course of actions these past few weeks.

“Whatever I do is none of your business,” you bite back through your teeth. You’ve never liked Erin, but even more so after the stunt she did that almost cost you your entire relationship with Heeseung. You should’ve known that she never had good intentions to begin with, constantly lying through her teeth. “I know you lied about it.”

She raises an eyebrow at this, “You think I’m lying? Oh baby, you’re really so fucking gullible.” Erin could practically see the cogs turning in your brain, if the furrowing of your brows were anything to go by. “I’m saying that Heeseung has you completely under his thumb, and you’re dumb enough to believe anything and everything he says,” she plays with her pen, swirling it around her finger as she eyes you. “It’s whatever though, Heeseung likes good girls anyways.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, I think we both know very well.” She smirks, tapping the pen on her temple once then twice, before shifting in her seat back towards the front of the lecture hall.

Just what was her fucking deal?

It leaves you with more questions than answers, as you watch her diligently jot down notes from beside you. After today, you were for sure going to switch seats because there was just no fucking way you could survive the rest of the year this way.

—

You don’t know how you ended up here. The first minute you were being dumped by Heeseung, and the next you’re waking up with a raging hangover in his best friend's bed.

Heeseung technically didn’t dump you, telling you that he wanted a break the same you did all those months before. And you technically didn't end up in his best friend’s bed by complete choice. You were drunk out of your mind at a party last night, one that your roommate had dragged you to after seeing you in your depressed state for the past week. But no matter the excuse you try to conjure, it still doesn’t excuse the fact that you cheated on your boyfriend.

Your heart beats sporadically at the sight of Sunghoon’s bare back facing you, not because you’re flustered but because you’re instantly hit with the gravity of your own drunken choices.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

With heavy feet, you stumble out of his bed and start navigating through the mess of discarded clothes, and soon after, Sunghoon eventually stirs awake from the ruckus you were unintentionally causing in his shared dorm room. “Y/n?” He groggily calls out to you.

Fuck.

It didn’t take Sunghoon very long to figure out why the fuck you were in his room half-naked, piecing together the clues that lay around the expanse of his dorm. He clearly didn’t need to be a genius like Einstein to figure out that you and him had a drunken one-night stand. You—Heeseung’s girlfriend—and him—Heeseung’s best friend—had spent the night together. Intimately.

Right around the three-second mark, the same level of anxiety sank into his stomach. 

Fuck, indeed.

“I made a mistake.” Your voice trembled, tears starting to blur your vision as hot panic courses through you.

“Hey, we were both drunk,” Sunghoon says, sitting up at the sight of you still half-dressed and starting to break down at the foot of his bed. “Heeseung doesn’t have to know about this. We both made a mistake, and don’t blame yourself because you weren’t the only one, okay?”

“But, fuck, it doesn’t change the fact that I cheated on my boyfriend. What the fuck was I thinking?” Your fingers fly to tousle with your hair, pulling at the roots to try and ease the pounding in your head.

You weren’t any better than all the people you were disgusted by, seeing as you’ve stopped as low. Memories from last night flash through your mind, as if to haunt you; the party, the flashing lights, the drinks, the kissing, the skin against skin. You felt so fucking sick to your stomach.

“We didn’t mean to sleep with each other. We were just drunk.” Sunghoon reasons, but no amount of gaslighting could change what’s already been done.

You were either going to live with this aching thorn by your side forever, or own up to your mistakes like a normal human being with a moral compass. With how deep you’ve fallen for Heeseung, you couldn’t bear losing him, yet both options entailed losing him one way or another.

It’s best not knowing what could potentially hurt, right?

Right.

© i2ycat 2024

[writerobscura]

The USA

Sorry for the radio silence; I'm still processing how 51% of my country thinks it's okay to elect a bigoted, misogynistic felon to the presidency.

This election is a reminder that half of this country is so fucking hateful that they're willing to elect someone that makes us a laughing stock around the globe while those who bought and paid for his campaign gut democracy.

Are you doing better than you were four years ago? Of course not. You were getting subsidy checks Biden pushed through a Republican congress post-pandemic.

Wages went up for essential workers, and that expense got passed on to you because corporations aren't going to short to their shareholders - and the President can do nothing about that without holding companies accountable to regulation - which our new president has no intention of doing.

The next two years:

My adult children will lose their healthcare when he and his Republican senate quash the Affordable Care Act - but hey, so long as you have a few extra bucks at the end of the month for cigs and beer, what do you care?

Some states will be able to seize the medical records of women and mothers and use those records to fine or put them in jail (abortion, IVF, getting your trans teen the care they need) - but hey, none of those things affect you personally, so fuck 'em and hey, women aren't even human, am I right you newly registered voting Gen Z fellas?

College debt, infrastructure repairs, social programs - kiss all that goodbye because fucking the planet up is a small price to pay so you can get gasoline for under $2.99. Oh, and that Latino spouse? All it takes is one call from a disgruntled 'Murican and our new INS will be there with 'post-citizenship deportation review' papers.

Wars? How easily everyone forgets that Ukraine is at war right now because your guy failed to help him when Russia flooded his country with separatists. You think he's going to stop arming Israel? Where's the money in that?

Xenophobia may have worked when the USA was 100% self-sufficient in the 1900s, but it cannot be done in this day and age - but hey, going back to the old days is what it's all about, right?

Living in a hurricane or natural disaster prone state? You better pray to whatever G*d you worship that nothing happens in the next 2 years because the Pubs have the Senate and the presidency - no more FEMA funds and 'emergency handouts.'

Tariffs instead of taxes on the rich? Zero-sum situation. Guess how many companies import basic things just to make the shit you eat and use daily? Monsanto is no longer an American company, most farmers in the USA 'import' their seed, though because lack of corporate regulation has allowed them to destroy all farms that don't use their seed. While we're on the subject of tariffs, any foreign company can say, "We just won't sell to you, America." What's the backup plan? Oh, right, he has none.

Prices will rise, wages will stagnate, tariffs won't work, so guess who gets billed for that deficit? Not the wealthy—they spent billions electing this assclown, and there's no way they're investing one damned penny in the rest of us.

But hey, they know you can take it because you voted to have all this...You voted for all of the above at the expense of literally half your fellow countrymen.

If Kamala won, you would've lost NOTHING. Your worst case scenario under her presidency is that you would've been running in place financially while those you consider morally or racially beneath you, might've been gotten ahead a few steps.

So yeah, 51% of my country would rather watch it all burn down than suffer anyone they consider less of a human being, be given an equal chance.

[averagewriter777]

ghost/tall masked reader?

Oh gosh this was so much fun. Sorry it took so long!

For those who don't know, a corporal is a higher rank than both a captain and lieutenant. And sometimes, with wars raging, you have to go around and help where you can. Oh- and not everything is knowledgable to the military... in this case at least. There is also no gender for this reader :)

You hated hearing it. The same sentence every time you enter a room or a new situation. Your reaction was the same each time too: a big eye roll and a rough ‘thanks’ or ‘fuck off’. It was either being in line or out of line for this.

“Jesus Christ, Price. You didn’t tell us we’d be having a fucking skyscraper on our team.” You didn’t really like Sergeant MacTavish, for several reasons. He acted too loosely around serious matters, even in missions, apparently. And in your specific line of work, you’d like to take everything seriously.

Price pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “Soap. Shut up. You’re supposed to make them feel welcome.” He turned to you, shooting an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that, Corporal Riley. It’ll get better. Usually around here, rank is ignored in situations as such.” 

That didn’t make you feel any better, especially considering how you looked. You stood at a whopping 6’11” and weren’t afraid to show the muscles on your skin. A metal skull mask covered the bottom half of your face, where nasty scars littered across your chin and lips. Heavy bags were painted under your (e/c) eyes too. Long story short, you scared several teams… Laswell said you’d do good on this one, because someone by the name of ‘Ghost’ did roughly the same thing you did… scare people, that is.

You’d seen him around, but hadn’t gotten the chance to personally speak with him. By the looks of it, Ghost was a private guy and didn’t like to be bothered. You weren’t about to poke the bear with him until he came to you first, even though you should be going around introducing yourself.

Currently, you were speaking with Price about some training exercises to go through. Some stuff from old teams- unlike what they’d been doing here. “This course has improved efficiency within men in the past. I understand Task 141 contains the best of the best, but there’s nothing wrong with challenging them.” You were showing him a much more complicated version of the weapons training course. “But you call the shots here, it’s your team.”

Price set his cigar between his fingers and out of his mouth, about to speak- but the door to the office opened without a knock. You frowned under your mask while Price simply let out a sigh. “Ghost, you need to learn to knock now. The Corporal and I could’ve been having a serious conversation.”

“Sorry,” Ghost apologized quietly. His eyes bore into yours, narrowing and widening for a second, then he looked at Price. “Sir, I need to speak with the Corporal for a second. I don’t think we’ve had the chance to meet either.” 

The Captain brought the cigar to his lips again, looking at you. You shrugged. “I’ll give you a chance to look over, consider everything. I’ll be back, John.” You set down the paper you’d been showing him and followed Ghost out of the room. He led you to a small corner that was out of ear shot from everything. “Right then, Ghost. I’ve been here three days, why the sudden meet-up?”

Ghost looked around, which meant moving his head around your body, to make sure the coast was completely clear. He took off his gloves, shoving them into his pockets. On his left hand, revealed a tattoo’d ring on his ring finger. Your eyes slowly widened as his mask came off next. “(Y/n), I’d first like to say I’m sorry for not telling you--”

Your hands went to his cheeks as you smiled under your mask. “A skull mask… I couldn’t recognize you when you had it on. Even with your pretty blue eyes…” The tension in Simon’s shoulders slowly released as you spoke. “They didn’t tell me you’d be here, but this is nice. It’s good to see my husband still alive after not seeing him for five months.”

Two years into your marriage and the longest Simon had ever been gone was a couple weeks. But after everything with Shepard, his time of deployment increased. You’d had a heavy heart about it, especially considering how lucky you’d been as well with your own assignments. Simon, or Ghost in this case, hadn’t gotten the chance to call, email or write to you at all. The 141 was on their toes all of the time.

“Didn’t mean to scare you, darling.” He removed your hands from his face, reaching for yours. Usually, you’d flinch if someone touched the metal mask- but he’d always been different. “You can see how busy we’ve all been. I would’ve loved to contact you in any way…”

You stopped his hands from unattaching the mask. You looked down at him, sad he couldn’t see the large grin that had crossed your lips. “You didn’t scare me, love. Just worried. Why don’t we go catch up? My room is just down the corridor.”

Simon blinked a few times. “Sure, the mask is coming off, right?” He looked up at you as he put on his own. The familiar glint in your eyes gave him the answer. “Fuck.”

“Indeed.” You grabbed his left hand and rushed both of you as quickly as possible to your room. The new training exercises could wait.

[jjnonken]

Been a while since I've posted. I've decided I hate Facebook again and for now I'm letting off steam here.

I said before that I'd deleted my long rant and just stuck to a mini-rant. Well, today I'm posting a long rant. Fair warning: This is a rant.

As far as I can tell, there's no good news about the Borderlands movie. They've changed Commander Knoxx's character to be Atlas's daughter instead of General Knoxx, so I guess she'll be Commander Atlas now. That... doesn't matter. Of all the issues I have with this movie, whose daughter she is is probably the least important. Actually, it's not an issue. Her EXISTENCE is an issue, but not which NPC is her parent. Atlas isn't even an NPC, it's just a gun manufacturer, presumably named after its founder. We never see the founder(s) nor, as far as I can remember, hear any backstory. I'm not sure which problem they were trying to solve by the rename.

First problem: We do have to rescue Lilith, Athena, and one other who I won't mention due to spoilers. I can only think of those three. Lilith tells you to kill her if you can't save her... "Better dead than a damsel." Athena engineers her own rescue; you're just the muscle. So there's kind of a dearth of damsels in this franchise. The movie's premise is that Commander uh... Atlas?... needs to be rescued. So, right. Damsel in distress. Kind of immediately contradicts the lore of Borderlands, who has strong women who generally don't need rescuing.

Second is: why General Knoxx's er, I mean, Atlas's daughter? She's a new character. It's like BORDERLANDS ISN'T CHARACTER-RICH ENOUGH, we have to add more just to get the plot started.

Edit: She still shows credited as Commander Knoxx in my web search, including on IMDB. I saw Atlas in the last article I saw on the movie. It's possible it was simply mistaken. I note parenthetically that Knoxx works for Atlas Corporation, and the DLC he's in is Atlas-heavy. Could just be a mistake. Edit to the edit: The Wikipedia article premise mentions her as Atlas's daughter. But she's named Knoxx. I'm fucking confused; which is she?

Next: They have Kevin Hart playing Roland. Kevin Hart is a comedian. Roland is a serious, somber, straightforward guy who never jokes and never laughs, or even smiles. Any humor that happens in relation to him works because it plays off his sober sincerity.

Roland: Oh good, you're not dead. Lilith: That's his way of saying "Hi". Roland: Sorry. Hi.

Why do they need a stand-up comedian to play Roland? Either Hart is trying to branch out and do some serious acting, or... they're making a comedy.

OK, Cate Blanchett is doing Lilith. I don't know if she's the best choice, but I don't know who else I'd recommend. I guess I'm OK with that.

As for Tannis... I love Jamie Lee Curtis, but she's a scream queen that also does comedies. Tannis isn't FUNNY, she's TRAGIC. Again, there's humor, but it plays off her personality, which is informed by her severe social awkwardness. (She's pretty much coded autistic. I don't know if it's canon.) No doubt the trauma she's suffered has exacerbated any existing personality deficits. Or caused new ones. Can Curtis do a sober Tannis? I mean, play her seriously, not deadpan. I don't know. Again, I don't think she's meant to -- this movie is looking more like a comedy every day. Could be worse, but I'm not sure I'd pick her.

Next, we have Claptrap, who is introduced as "The wise-cracking robot" and played by... Jack Black, a comedic voice actor. Thing is, Claptrap does not crack wise. He's hilarious, but that's because, similarly to Roland and Tannis, the game plays off his naive sincerity. He's funny because he's so serious, but clueless. I haven't memorized every line in the entire franchise enough to instantly recall everything that every claptrap robot has said, but as far as I can remember, Claptrap has told MAYBE three jokes on purpose. One is self-referential, spoken by a claptrap who is supposed to be programming the game: "Borderlands? More like Memelands, am I right?" One is spoken right after a hatch is automatically locked, trapping you in the first map: "I hear that getting eaten by bullymongs isn't such a bad way to go." Was that one a deliberate joke? Don't know, so that's my "maybe." And the third is from a side mission called The Iceman Cometh. It's a moderately silly pun that any 10-year-old would be proud of. When you (as a character) don't react, he then EXPLAINS THE JOKE. When you still don't react, he LECTURES YOU on the nature of humor. TWICE. Naive sincerity, not cracking wise. So again, this suggests the movie being a comedy.

So, we have two of the four vault hunters from the first game, Lilith and Roland. The roles of Mordecai and Brick are interesting, in that THEY AREN'T THERE. Why?

Tiny Tina is. She's a psychotic young teen with a penchant for explosives. She's got a connection to Brick, who -- for some reason -- isn't in the movie. She's not the kind of person who needs a bodyguard -- she's the kind of person against whom YOU need a bodyguard. I only bring this up because... ... Krieg is her bodyguard in the movie. Why? I already mentioned her connection to Brick. Krieg doesn't have a connection to Tina, he has a connection to Maya. I don't know when this movie is supposed to take place in the Borderlands timeline, but if Lilith is retired, it'll be between the first and second. Possibly around the time of the Pre-Sequel. We don't see Krieg until BL2, where he's added as the last playable character after the original four plus Gaige. So the timeline doesn't make sense and Krieg's connection to Tina doesn't make sense and Krieg being Tina's bodyguard doesn't make sense. I don't know anything about the actors, I may look them up and try to watch some of their stuff.

Tina doesn't show in the game until BL2, but there's no reason to think she hasn't been around since Borderlands, we just haven't seen her. (But only after the events of BL:PS, since it's Jack's slag experiments on Tina's parents that kill them and drive her into being a vengeful little psychopath.) But Krieg doesn't show up until he becomes a vault hunter? OTOH until then he was living as a psycho... probably on Pandora. So I suppose the timeline might be OK, technically. I'll give them that one. But I still object to the Tina/Krieg connection.

Gina Gershon as Mad Moxxi: Gina is an attractive woman, doesn't have Moxxi's curves, and she's 61. She's pretty hot-looking but I'm not sure she really fits the character, physically. Can she do Moxxi's va-va-voom? Don't know.

Charles Babalola: I don't know him. I try not to get upset at race lifts; I'm used to Sir Hammerlock being the "great white hunter" stereotype, but I suppose it doesn't hurt anything if he's black. At least he's British. This is a weak protestation at most. EDIT: Several people have pointed out that he's canonically black, which I never noticed. Well, OK then, that one's on me.

Bobby Lee plays Larry. He's another stand-up comedian. There sure are a lot of those for a serious film, eh? Also, who the fuck is Larry?

Ryann Redmond as Ellie: nobody's going to match Ellie's unrealistic proportions, but Ryann seems like a reasonable choice physically; basically, you just need a plus-sized woman who can act. I don't know anything about her acting but I presume she's competent, at least. Ellie is a smartass, so wise-cracking from her is welcome. So how come they cast a stand-up comedian as Roland but a serious actress as Ellie? The cognitive dissonance is making my brain cramp.

And Eli Roth has left the project and declared that he does not want credit for his writing. THAT bodes well.

This is supposed to be canon. Canon my ass. This is a TRAVESTY. EDIT: Somebody said it's not supposed to be canon. I read that it is. I'll try to dig up the reference when I get a minute. EDIT 2: Sorry it took me so long, I was busy procrastinating. Now, in my memory, when the first announced the movie they claimed it would be "true to Borderlands", but of course that's changed. I must have skimmed over the more recent "canon" phrasing, sorry. Apparently it's changed to "canon for the Borderlands Cinematic Universe", which is not the same as canon to the games. To me that's seems a bit disingenuous, considering that as far as I can tell, the Borderlands Cinematic Universe consists of one unfinished movie. (And calling it a "Borderlands Cinematic Universe" also seems a bit conceited since their first -- and so far only -- entry has been in Production Hell for 9 years and hasn't even finished.) So my apologies for getting the "canon" claims wrong, but I'm still unhappy and I think they're making excuses. They've taken an Action Movie script, grabbed some names from the Borderlands franchise, and pretended that the result is a Borderlands movie. They did that with Sly Stallone and the first Judge Dredd movie, remember? (Maybe you don't, but I was a fan of the comics. Fortunately the second movie was much, much better.) This makes me think of Stallone's Judge Dredd. (Also the anime version of the Lensman, but that one's pretty obscure.)

Anyway, I have more, but I think I've said what I need to. I may watch the movie out of morbid curiosity. I'm not going to dislike it out of spite, I'm not that hateful. I'll try to give it a chance. I just don't like the odds.

[theresnoturningback]

Year One - Friday - JojaCola

A/N: So I finally made some time to upload this chapter. I am very excited about this one because I could finally start playing with the ASS trio dinamic. Also I could write with Sam, who I find completely adorable. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I always try to make them short so it's an easy read. Please, please, if you do like it, consider reblogging it. This is just a hobby of mine, I don't take it very seriously but seeing some validation would do wonders for my self-esteem.

Word Count: 1374

Dahlia had been counting seconds for the weekend to come. Every day she thought about Abigail’s invitation to hang out with her and her friends. The thought of that moment gave her the motivation she needed to do her chores. She hesitated before the entrance to the Stardrop Saloon and made sure she was decent enough to present herself to society. She was usually very confident about her looks, but she hadn’t been the new girl in a long time. She inhaled and exhaled to let go of her apprehensions. When she was about to step in, a tall figure opened the door for her.

“Please, after you” A grinning blonde man winked at her.

“My, what a gentleman, thanks” She chuckled after she could compose herself from that first impression.

Once she entered the saloon, the young man that let her in nodded his head as he walked past her, leading her to a comfortable room beyond the booths.

“Aw…You guys met already?” Abigail jumped from the sofa to greet them

“Met who?” Dahlia blinked

“We haven’t met properly, Abby. We just ran into each other outside; I figured it was the new farmer you talked about” The blond guy explained.

“Uh… I’m still lost” Dahlia sighed

“I’m Sam. Good to meet you”

“Dahlia” She shook his hand, smiling along. He had a very contagious smile.

“Hey, you just moved in, right?” A man slightly taller than Abigail asked before walking closer to the group

“Yeah, just this week, actually”

“Cool…and out of all the places you chose Pelican Town?” The judgmental tone in his observation made her raise her eyebrows

“I guess it wasn’t much of a choice” She shrugged “I had nowhere else to go, what’s your excuse?”

“C’mon, Dahlia… you make it sound like you’re escaping your impending doom…” Abigail laughed “Please, excuse our friend Sebby, he comes off as rude at first, but he’s adorable once you get to know him”

“Can you not call me that in here?” Sebastian nudged Abigail while Sam laughed. Once more, Dahlia found herself laughing with him. Their eyes met, making her blush for a second. She looked down at her shoes and around the room.

“No way, you guys have Joja Cola in here? Sweet” She ran to a vending machine by the arcade games

Sebastian rolled his eyes and sat back down on the couch

“You really like that stuff?” Abigail grimaced

“Leave her, she has great taste” Sam leaned on Abigail’s shoulder

“I got addicted to these when I started working at JojaCorp. You’d think they would have other options in the building. In that floor it was just us and a bunch of JojaCola vending machines”

“You worked for JojaCorp?” Abigail crossed her arms, making Sam lose balance.

Dahlia nodded.

“Same here” he said

“You have a part-time job at the local JojaMart, Sam, it’s not the same” Sebastian argued

“Still, it’s the same evil mega-corporation”

“I hated every second of it. That’s why I moved here. I just couldn’t take it anymore, but I’d trade the farm in a heartbeat for a sip of JojaCola” Dahlia reached for her pocket to take out some coins for the machine “Anyone want one?”

“Yuck” Abigail sat down next to Sebastian

“I’d like one” Sam raised his hand

“Of course you would, you human trash can” Sebastian laughed

Dahlia bought two cans and gave one to Sam

“Thanks, I promise I’ll pay it back” he said, slightly touching her fingers as she passed him the can

“You don’t have to, it’s my pleasure” She winked

“Hey, you two” Abigail called “If you’re done eye-fucking, come sit with us”

“So, how do you like the Valley so far?” Sebastian asked Dahlia as she and Sam sat next to each other on a red couch

“It’s calm, I like that. I wanted to be as far away from the city as possible and my grandpa left me his farm. I don’t know the first thing about farming besides what I’ve learned when I started growing pot in my apartment” She laughed “But I’m sure I’ll learn in no time”

“Do you plan on growing weed in your farm?” He leaned forward

“You bet those were the first seeds I bought before moving the city. They’re already in the soil. I’ll let you know when they’re ready to harvest”

“Neat” Sebastian gave her an approving nod.

“I told you she was cool” Abigail nudged Sebastian.

“Ouch, Abby, not so hard!” He narrowed his eyes at her “Control your strength, woman”

Sam cleared his throat after a sip of his cola and turned to his new friend

“Say Dalhia, do you play pool?”

She glanced at the green table and nodded with confidence

“Do you guys gamble?” She asked

The three of them shook their heads.

“I told you she was too cool for us” Sebastian whispered to Abigail

“Maybe a quick game?” Sam insisted

“Sure, let’s sink some balls” Dahlia said excitedly before finishing her cola

The group stood up and started a quick game of cutthroat pool. Dahlia sank her rival’s balls in less than fifteen minutes.

“Well, it’s a good thing you don’t gamble. Stay in school” She laughed once she sank Sebastian’s last ball.

“Wow, you have to teach me how to do that” Abigail took Dahlia’s hands “Pretty please?” She insisted jumping up and down in place

“I will, but maybe some other time? I must wake up early tomorrow” She promised

“Wait, you’re going home already? Let me walk you home” Sam offered hastily

“I don’t know Sam, it’s a rather long walk, are you sure you can handle it?”

“Just go” Sebastian and Abigail said in unison

“Bye, Abby! It was nice meeting you, Sebby” Dahlia giggled. He immediately glared at Abigail

Sam and Dahlia left the Saloon and started walking together until the silence started to feel awkward.

“What…? Don’t tell me you turn shy when your friends aren’t around” Dahlia looked up at him, giggling. He had a serious expression on his face.

“I’m sorry, I was just thinking…”

“About what?”

“You know when you have so many thoughts in your head you can’t focus on a single one?”

“Oh”

“I was actually trying to remember if the girl that used to come during the summer and play with us really was you or someone else”

“I spent a couple of summers here when I was little” She nodded “Now I remember you”

“So, it was you!” Sam laughed “You used to be taller than me, what happened to you?”

“You were shorter because you’re younger than me, that’s all”

“What? No…” He frowned “I remember Abby and Seb were 5 and I was 6…How old were you then? You couldn’t be much older than that”

“I was 9. I’m turning 26 in a couple of weeks”

“Huh, time flies…”

“It sure does”

They continued walking a little slower

“You stopped coming that summer, Abby and I missed you the following year”

“My dad had just died, and my mom took me to another city, far away from here” Dahlia shrugged

“I’m sorry to hear that”

“It’s okay…it’s been a long time” She looked around, smiling “I missed this place, too”

“You know... I used to live in the city, and I have to admit, this place is much nicer in the summer. The city is so hot with all that concrete”

“I can get used to this” She caught him glancing at her and they let out a small laugh “I mean, I’m so done with the city. I just wanted to start a new life in here”

“If you need help with anything, we’re friends now”

“Thank you” She tried to focus on her own shoes as she walked to avoid that smile she was starting to find too adorable to ignore

“This is your place?” Sam asked when they got to the end of the trail

“Yeah, this is me” She turned to him and stood on her toes to give him a small peck on his cheek “Thank you for the walk down memory lane”

Dahlia ran back to her house, leaving Sam standing without a single thought left in his mind.

[silverwings22]

Song of the Sea: Chapter 16: Raising Hatchlings

Chapter Warnings: gambling, sexual implications, catastrophic overthinking Series warning: explicit smut, alien anatomy (it's a monsterfucker fic, guys), major character injury, grief, canon typical violence, autistic meltdowns, and my terrible attempts at Mando'a.

Previous chapter:

Next chapter:

 Hunter had wanted to let the team rest, but Shiani could sense the minute that they'd arrived on Ord Mantell that Cid wanted their services. It didn't matter that they were tired and aching, or that Tech had refused to get off the ship when everyone else did. She still hadn’t seen him since the argument in hyperspace, and she’d been hoping to try to reconcile when they’d landed. Cid was disrupting her planned apology. 

Selfish hearts.

“I've got a job for you boys. It's a big score, enough to start making a dent in what you owe me.” Cid met them at the door. 

Hunter rubbed the bridge of his nose. “... we need to lay low, Cid. Bounty hunters are still after the kid.”

“Let's not forget our mutually beneficial deal, Dark and Broody. Or how much I know about you all.”

Behind Hunter, Shiani started to pop up with blue rings again. She was less than impressed with Cid's threatening them, and still defensive about Omega being captured and raw from the fight. Her jaw trembled, teeth showing through the sides as she tried to keep herself from outright snarling at the trandoshan. “Not very nice, Cid.”

“Easy, Suckers. It's a rescue mission.” Cid frowned. “I thought you liked helping people.”

“My family is more important. Where are you sending us anyway?” She crossed her purple arms. “Who do you want rescued?”

“A senator on Raxus. It'll be worth plenty of credits.” Cid pointed a claw at her. 

Shiani frowned. “Raxus… Separatist senate is on Raxus.” Tech had mentioned to her long ago that most clones dreamed of fighting on Raxus one day, and winning the war for the Republic. He had been less gung-ho about it, but the idea of the war finally ending had appealed. He’d wanted to show her the galaxy then… that was how they were supposed to be. Not whatever was happening right now.

“I'm not taking Omega anywhere near Raxus.” Hunter said firmly. 

Echo nodded to the sergeant. “Raxus is no place for Shiani either. She’s a civilian.”

Cid shrugged. “Leave them here then. I'll keep an eye on Tiny and Suckers.”

Omega set up a loud protest. Shiani just looked at Echo with big eyes. “You’re leaving me here?”

“It’s better this way. Tech’s not on his game, and he’ll be worse with you around right now. It could be dangerous distraction.” The corporal patted her head fondly, brotherly affection she’d missed for a long time.

She headbutted his hand lightly. “You’ll make sure he comes back safe, right?” She didn’t like being left, but she had to admit that Echo had a point. If Tech was distracted, he could get hurt. She’d rather be by herself for a while than anything happen to him. Especially if the last conversation they had was them yelling at each other. 

Echo nodded. “You have my word. And I’ll see if I can talk to him for you, too.”

“We all will.” Wrecker ruffled Shiani’s head lightly, and Hunter gave her a nod.

They turned and walked out, leaving Omega and Shiani both looking deflated. They retreated to a booth in the corner. 

“I hate this.” Omega said sadly. “We're a part of the squad. We shouldn't be left behind.”

“You heard Echo. I’m a distraction, and you’re still a baby. They’re protecting you.” Shiani patted her hand. “If you were a siren, you’d still be too little to be allowed on hunts.”

“Well how do I learn if I'm not allowed to try?” Omega grumbled. 

The siren pondered thoughtfully. “When siren babies want to prove they’re ready to learn to hunt, they have to prove they can handle simpler problems at home. Prove they are responsible.”

Omega frowned. They had a lot of problems, but if the grown men couldn't figure them out how was she supposed to? She looked to Shiani, who’s loyalty and devotion Omega admired, as the siren's pale eyes moved around the bar. “What kind of problems can I solve? None of ours are simple right now.”

Shiani nodded. “You're right, none of the Batch's problems are simple. But the biggest one is debt. We can't make any credits if Cid takes them all, and then we can't pay for new things, so Cid gives things and considers it more debt. Cycle goes round and round like a jellyfish caught in a bubble ring.” 

“But how do we pay off the debt if we can't do our own missions?” Omega kicked her feet in the booth. 

Shiani pointed at the dejarik table. “I fixed that not long ago. People come in, play, and bet credits. Sometimes, they bet big credits. Can you play dejarik?”

“Yeah… I used to play with Nala Se sometimes. It's a good strategy game.” Omega nodded. 

Shaini reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of credits Tech had insisted she keep for emergencies. “Cid’s playing now, and she's losing. Go and offer advice first. Make her trust you. Then offer to play the next round, and bet this.” She handed the credits to Omega. “Once you win, people will come to try to beat you. Especially because you’re little, they think it’s easy to win and they’ll bet big credits. If you win enough, you can pay debt. Then your brothers will see you’re ready to learn to hunt.” She patted Omega's hair.

Omega smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Shiani. You're the best sister.” She hugged the siren firmly around the middle and skidding out of the booth to get to Cid. Shiani sat with the weight of her words.

Sister. Shiani hadn't been anyone's sister in such a long time. Her big brother hated her, her parents disowned her, her old friends had abandoned her. All of Acopit had orders to kill her on sight, because the bright lights of Tipoca City and the yellow-lensed eyes of a clone trooper were too powerful to resist. Omega loved so quickly, she'd only known Shiani for a few months…

If sirens loved like that, I would have loved to stay on Kamino. 

Omega deserved that kind of love returned, and she loved her brothers fiercely as a pod of purrgil. She had to do her part to raise this girl too… but what could she give Omega that the men couldn't? They were strong and knew more about the surface than she did… The only life she knew was survival between the Melody and Harmony, waiting forever for a man to answer her hearts’ call. A man who seemed very determined to ignore his own hearts, for that reason. 

After about a half hour, Cid walked over to her with a grin. “Tiny is good. She's racking up credits like it's going out of style.”

“Baby Mega is very clever.” Shiani said quietly, distrustful but polite as ever. 

“You don't seem to like me too much, Suckers.” Cid sat next to her. 

“You like to capitalize. I don’t have much to give you, so I know I’m not useful. The only thing I can do is fix machines and sing, really.” Shiani shrugged. There wasn’t any point in telling Cid she thought she was as shady as the bottom of an ocean trench and less trustworthy than a sea snake. It would just lead to another argument, and she was tired of yelling. What she really wanted was to find a nice quiet corner and huddle up, waiting hopefully for Tech to come back and forgive her for whatever it was about her that had pissed him off. 

“Sing, huh? Why don't you give us a show? We've got a karaoke machine around here. I'll put up a tip jar, and anything you make we'll put towards what the boys owe me.” Cid grinned. 

There was really no way out for the siren so she let herself be hauled to the bar. “You do realize I’m not talking about popular songs, right?”

“That's fine. Just give em what you got.”

Shiani sighed and sat on the bar with the mic, watching the barflies and betting. Cid wanted them to spend money, so they needed to be happy. 

She crossed her legs and brought the mic to her mouth, and out flowed a smooth and wordless melody that had everyone in the bar carefree and relaxed. Credits were changing hands, bets placed, and drinks were poured.

She sang her hearts out, but she wished she was back in the Havoc Marauder and the quiet of Tech's company. She'd never liked being the center of attention, even as a princess. That was why she’d become the Minister of Security, so she could work out in the city without an audience… 

I miss Tech…

Tech's ever racing thoughts had been distracted all day, since they’d left Omega and Shiani on Ord Mantell. At one point, Hunter had given orders that included Omega, and Tech had found himself turning to exchange a playfully judgmental glance with the siren that Hunter had made a mistake. Halfway through, he realized he had made the same error.

The mission had been messy, rescuing the Senator and his fussy droid assistant from the hostile Empire who seemed very determined to torture everyone into compliance. They were secure down in the belly of the ship, and he was flying them back to Ord Mantell. He wanted to comm Shiani and make sure she was alright… but he wasn’t sure he could make himself look her in the eye right now. He couldn’t this morning, when they’d landed and she’d stood at the cockpit doors and quietly asked him to come out and come to the Parlor. He’d just shrunk into the pilot’s chair and waited for Wrecker and Echo to walk her out. Hunter had just spoken through the door and told him he better have access back to the cockpit by the time he came back to the ship. Which was reasonable enough, seeing as he was their leader. But now that the mission was done and he was sitting by himself, Tech knew he was about to get the big brother treatment Hunter was so famous for. And he was not looking forward to it.

Sure enough, Hunter walked into the cockpit after a few hours of flight. “... I don't like thinking he's a good person. It makes me question everything we fought for. Echo’s even madder about it.”

Tech looked up and nodded. “It is somewhat uncomfortable, yes. He was more polite than I anticipated.”

Hunter dropped into the co-pilot’s seat, looking at Tech as he alternated between checking the ship’s indicators and typing furiously on his datapad. “You know we’ve gotta talk about what happened yesterday.”

“I anticipated as much. I am… less than thrilled.” Tech sighed. 

“Well too bad.” Wrecker and Echo both walked in, the corporal leaning in the doorframe while Wrecker lounged against the back of Hunter’s chair. 

Tech groaned. “This does not need to be a squad affair.”

“Yes it does. This affects the entire squad.” Hunter nodded. “If you’re going to yell at her across the whole ship where we can all hear, then you’re going to get everyone’s opinion.”

Tech put his head in his hands. “I do not appear to have a choice, it would seem. And I did not intend to yell at her…” He’d meant what he said, but the memory of the way he’d said it still burned his throat all over again. “How angry is she?”

“She’s not.” Wrecker sighed. “Just confused and sad about it. She loves you, Tech.”

“And you clearly feel the same.” Echo waved his scomp in the air. “We’ve had this discussion, vod. Why are you doing this to both of you?”

“Because it is the only way I do not lose her!” Tech snapped. “Why am I the only one who seems to understand that?”

“Looks to me like you’re doing the opposite.” Hunter said coolly.

“I am not designed for romantic entanglements. My nature is not… I cannot give her what she deserves.” Tech rubbed his temples, frustrated. “You all have told me hundreds of times I am abrasive, blunt, and obsessive with my work. These are not traits of an ideal partner. I cannot change who I am. The logical conclusion is I would fail her as a partner. I cannot make her the priority she deserves to be. Not and keep all of us alive and the ship maintained, and try to formulate an educational plan for Omega so that she might be able to protect herself in the event something else takes her away like what just happened on Bracca.” Tech’s shoulders were tense, spine threatening to snap as he laid out everything in his over-twisted mind. “You think I do not love Shiani? I would do anything not to lose her. That is why I cannot be anything more than her friend, because it is the only thing I know I can accomplish. If I disappoint her in something more than that, she will inevitably come to resent me and leave. I cannot stand that. I realized that after Salucemi, and have done everything since then to prevent it.” 

Wrecker made a face. “You already act like you’re dating. Tech, she’s the only person in the galaxy you’d ever willingly cuddle with. You don’t even let Omega snuggle with you like the rest of us do.”

Tech shook his head. “Shiani is biologically wired to prefer physical closeness…It is a siren trait. I have grown accustomed to it.”

“You’ve known me and Wrecker since you came out the tube.” Hunter huffed. “You literally put a proximity sensor around your bunk when we were cadets so no one could touch you unexpectedly.”

“She is… softer. More careful.” Tech’s face turned red. His brothers were rough, even when they tried not to be. But being close to Shiani was always comforting, and he never ended up with an accidental elbow in his rib or his goggles knocked half off in the shuffle. 

“And apparently not opposed to those cuddles going further than that.” Wrecker rolled his eyes. “She literally told me all you ever had to do was ask. But you’re gonna mess around and she’s gonna start looking for snuggles from somebody else cause you’ve turned her down enough times.”

Tech froze, a lump in his throat at the idea of watching Shiani with someone else. Who would she pick? One of his brothers, or a stranger? He’d had his share of shore-leave flings, but most clones had. The idea of her picking up a partner on Ord Mantell, even something not serious, made him want to rip his brain out of his head and run it under cold water to prevent a short circuit. “I..” 

Echo leaned in. “I couldn’t even blame her if she did. If I chose to live in exile to save somebody’s life and they slammed a door in my face like you did last night, I’d probably be trying to find a way to get over them. When I was in the 501st, my buddy Fives told me the best way to get over one person was get under another.”

Tech’s eye twitched for a moment at the idea, ready to say something defensive, when he spotted a flaw in the argument. “Your hypothesis is flawed. Shiani was exiled against her will; she did not choose it. Therefore it had nothing to do with me.”

Echo snorted. “Not what she told me. According to her, she could have avoided exile, but she would have had to drown you on Kamino. And she refused, in order to save your life.” 

Hunter winced. “Oof. If sirens have a biological impulse for closeness, and as busy as our training was… that must have been torture for her. I thought the living in garbage part was rough.”

Tech’s breath hitched. “She… did not tell me about that.”

“She probably didn’t want you to feel guilty.” Wrecker pointed out. “But it seems pretty clear that if she was willing to leave her people for you, she’s not gonna go anywhere. Even if you guys didn’t work out as a couple, you mean a lot to her.” 

Tech rubbed his temples. “I need to process this. Is… did she say anything else I should know?”

“She said nothing had to change that you didn’t want to change.” Wrecker said quietly. ‘But you know how you pick up your arm for her to cuddle under it? You both do it without even talking anymore.”

Tech nodded. It had turned into a reflexive action, how he indicated to her that he was okay with the contact. They’d been doing it since he’d graduated from Basic, when he’d come to understand she was totally on her own. “Yes.”

“She said when she’s there, she feels like she doesn’t belong.” Wrecker shook his head. “Even though it’s her favorite place to be.” 

Tech winced. “I am not trying to hurt her.”

“We know.” Hunter sighed. “But you are. And yourself. Look, I can’t give you orders on something like this. But I think you’re doing more harm than good if your goal is not to lose her. Just saying.” He got up, and waved the other three to follow him. “And Tech?”

“Yes?”

“For what it’s worth, I think she’s probably the best thing that’s ever happened to you. She’s the only one that can get you out of your own head sometimes.”

Tech was left alone with his thoughts again, and they were more complicated than they had even been the night before. When Ord Mantell came into view, he moved my muscle memory alone to get them landed safely.

Tech was still thinking when they arrived back in the bar. There was a crowd, which was unusual, and Omega was at the dejarik table with Cid in the middle of it. Shiani was seated on a corner of the bar, a mic in hand, singing a tune that had half the bar throwing money or themselves at her, and the other half betting on Omega. 

Echo snickered. “So much for laying low.”

Omega glanced up and quickly won the match she was playing. Cid grinned, claws open to take in credits when the girl jumped up and ran over to them. Shiani perked up as well and hopped off the bar, leaving the mic on the bartop as she made her way through the crowd as well. 

Omega was grinning, eager to prove herself, when Hunter fixed her with a displeased look. “I thought I told you to keep a low profile, Omega. It’s dangerous to attract this much attention!”

The little girl’s expression fell and she backed up, bumping into Shiani. The siren wrapped her arms around Omega’s shoulders, cocking her head to the side. “You should be grateful to Baby Mega. She paid off all the debt to Cid.” 

Hunter blinked. “What?” 

Omega leaned back into Shiani’s snuggle, the siren moving one clawed hand to gently pet her hair. “I thought if I could win enough money to pay Cid back, you’d see I wasn’t useless….” 

Hunter froze, thinking back to the conversation they’d all had with Tech. No wonder Shiani looked like she wanted to bite him; Omega felt alone and Shiani knew all about that feeling. After a moment, he shook his head and knelt, waving Omega over to him. She glanced up at Shiani, who opened her arms and gave her a nod. “Hunter loves you, Baby Mega.” She said softly. “Go make up.”

Omega skidded over to Hunter, who put a hand on her shoulder and tried to explain he didn’t think she was useless and was grateful for her contributions. He ended up nodding to the dejarik table and cutting her a deal; if she beat him he wouldn’t make her stay behind on missions anymore. Wrecker and Echo moved over to watch, making their own wager on who was going to win. 

Shiani smiled nodded, content with things being as they should with Omega and Hunter. She glanced at Tech, who’s eyes were fixed on his boots, and sighed before slipping outside to head back to the ship. He probably didn’t want to take their usual walk around the city to look at the lights… maybe she’d walk on her own for a little while.

Wrecker elbowed him sharply and pointed as the siren’s tentacles vanished out the door. “Go talk to her.”

Tech caught up with Shiani outside, standing under a string of paper lanterns two blocks from the bar that she liked to look at. She had her arms folded behind her back and her tentacles wound around her waist, eyes lifted up. She’d always loved lights, and he wondered how often she sat under those camp lanterns he’d stolen from their supply kits and silently made the same face she was making now while in the cave on Kamino. Had she been thinking about the life she’d saved, the one who was unknowing and ungrateful for her sacrifice? Did she ever regret it when she was especially lonely? 

“Shiani?” He murmured, catching her attention. 

Her ear fins wiggled at the sound of his voice, and she turned around. The lights left almost cartoonishly adorable sparkles in her big eyes. “Tech.” She sounded a little guarded, worried he was still upset with her. “I’m glad you came back safe.”

“Your concern is appreciated.”  He stepped up even with her and looked up at the lights. “Would you still like to walk with me? I understand if you would prefer space…”

She looked surprised. “You’re not mad at me anymore?”

“No. I owe you an apology.” He sighed. “I behaved badly. I was embarrassed, but that is no excuse to raise my voice to you, or storm off. I’m sorry for my behavior.” 

“I accept your apology.” She murmured. She wanted to try to pick up the conversation between them and see if there was any way to come to an understanding, but she didn’t want to risk the fight starting again. “And… yes. I’d like to walk.”

Tech hesitantly lifted his closest arm, and she slotted herself under it automatically. It still felt persistently like she was in someone else’s assigned seat, but she couldn’t make herself let go. They turned down the block, picking up the familiar track they always walked when they got back from a mission. Tech had charted it to pass the most street signs and city lights, for her to look at. 

Tech didn’t say much, glancing back at her face from time to time. Instead of looking at the lights like she usually did, she kept looking back at him too. He finally sighed. “You want to say something.”

“I don’t want to start another argument.” She shook her head. “I don’t like it when you’re mad at me.”

“I was not mad at you, Shiani. I was… that was an uncomfortable situation, out of my control. I became overwhelmed, and took that out on you unfairly. But you were not the problem. You have never been the problem.” Tech sighed again, slowing his steps until they’d stopped in a local courtyard. They were the only ones there, which he found somewhat comforting.

“Will you explain to me what the problem is?” She murmured, and she looked so tired when she looked up at him. He wondered if she’d slept at all the night before, before she got stuck performing for Cid’s patrons. 

Tech rubbed the bridge of his nose, giving himself a mental pep talk before looking at her. “Our lives are extremely uncertain right now. At any moment, we could end up back on the run again. I am the pilot, and the one responsible for major ship repairs, reviewing plans with Hunter, managing supply manifests, and developing a curriculum to teach Omega. In short, I am picking up my job and additional duties brought on by our situation and the absence of Crosshair. At any point, I may be busy for sixteen hours straight without pause, and that is not taking into consideration my personal projects I am well known to become obsessed with for days or weeks at a time.”

Shiani nodded. “I know. I help you with some of those things.” 

“And as it is, I already cannot give you the amount of attention you deserve. That is as your friend. As a romantic partner, I would be a dismal failure.” He shook his head with a wince. “It is only logical that you would eventually resent me, and want to leave. I have said repeatedly that I do not want to lose you. That is why I did not want to tell you… what was mentioned on Bracca.”

She blinked up at him, little dotted brow furrowed and the occasional pulse of blue light down her body. He was scared, and it made her genius stupid… after so many months of wondering what was wrong with her that hadn’t been wrong with the pretty little bar girls and dancers on Coruscant, the truth came out that he felt the same way she did and was being an idiot about it. After a few moments, her expression smoothed and she shook her head. “I don’t like you deciding things for me, Tech. I didn’t like it when you decided I should leave on Salucemi, and I don’t like it now that you’ve decided how I would feel about this.” 

“It is a perfectly logical progression of emotions-” He started, but she held up her hand and ducked out from under his arm so she could face him.

“It might be for a human, I guess. But not for me. When sirens love, we can feel every beat of the other’s hearts. Two become one. Does your right hand get jealous it doesn’t hold the left one?” 

He blinked, startled, as she took both of his hands in hers seriously. “Shiani…”

“I told you I didn’t expect anything from you, and I still don’t.” She murmured. “And that all I wanted was to be beside you. I waited for months between visits just to see you on Kamino, and years to see the stars with you. I made my decision, and it’s always going to be you. So please stop trying to make different ones for me?” She squeezed his hands in three quick bursts, then let them go. “You’ll make whatever choice you make. Please don’t make it based on your assumptions, okay? I’m going to go back to the ship, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

He blinked. “Are you angry with me now?”

“No. I just think you are the smartest moron the galaxy has ever produced.” She smiled faintly. “Lucky for you, you’re pretty.” She reached up and patted his cheek fondly, then turned on her heel and walked back towards the ship with her hands back behind her back. 

Tech was left standing in the middle of the street, entirely confused and with his heart thumping hard in his throat. For a split second when she’d reached for his face, he’d thought she was going to kiss him… and he’d decided he wasn’t going to stop her if she did.

[loverboy1717]

First, I have not seen it yet and if I end up being wrong I’ll eat my words and say so. So don’t come for me in the comments yeah?

Second, I’m sincerely wondering if the people who are saying Next Goal Wins is transphobic are saying it cus it actually is or because it was honest and portrayed transphobia in sport.

I’m wondering if these peeps have any understanding of how fucked up organized footie is? I wonder if they’ve ever seriously followed international soccer or know it well. Cus anybody who does would not expect there to be no conflict or shitty behavior towards an out queer player.

Im not saying it’s okay at all that it happens. Im just saying a world without gender identities being mishandled in soccer does not exist.The sport itself is beautiful. I started playing at four years old. I played competitively from ten all the way through senior year in high school and then quit when I came out and nobody wanted to change in front of me in the locker room anymore. (Being a cis white queer woman sucked. I can’t imagine how much worse it is/was for a player on the international stage as a gender non conforming person of color.) I found my way back in my mid twenties and still play in competative rec leagues at thirty one. This sport is something I could not live without. There are moments of sheer fucking joy and magic and catharsis and banter and shit housing and community. I truly feel kinship with other people who love this silly game as much as I do. But it can also be a trashcan fire of bullshit and hate. It isn’t fucking Ted Lasso my dudes.

And this movie is about FIFA qualifiers for a low af ranked team. It’s about a supremely underfunded and written off team made up of PoC. It follows a white head coach who is gonna come in and turn them around more for his own redemption than for the teams success. This was never gonna be a completely light hearted romp no matter how it was marketed. Fifa fucking sucks guys. The corporate side of soccer fucking sucks. The coaches trying to make names for themselves or don’t think they will have to pay for their actions fucking suck. That doesn’t mean there are not meaningful stories to tell about players.

What I’m trying to say is I’m curious to see if this is transphobia because it’s transphobia or if it is accurately depicting some transphobic bullshit that happened and people online are mad about that existing in a movie they wanted to be safe and gooey and silly. Basically, I remember when people said Jojo Rabit was antisemitic and it absolutely isn’t. So forgive me for taking some of the bad reviews with a grain of salt.

Like I said I’ll eat my words and own being wrong if I end up being wrong. I just don’t trust media literacy these days and am gonna wait to see for myself because I’ve been jazzed as fuck for this movie for months and months.

[hyenahunt]

Saga: Rivals - 6

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Characters: Jun, Hiyori

Proofreading: moricchiichan (JP) & hyenahunt (ENG)

Translation: kotofucius

Hiyori: Jun-kun... Can I give you a hug?

Jun: ... well, I do get what you’re saying. Nothing's gonna change if I just keep moping around.

Hiyori: Yes, yes. So wipe that gloomy look away — let’s move onto more enjoyable topics!

Have a look over here, Jun-kun! I dropped by the agency on my way home, you see —

And they gave me aaall these fan letters!

Regardless of where the winds of history will blow, or whatever tall tales of us are spoken, there are so many people who still love us!

If we were to ever let these people feel that cheering us on was a waste of time... why, that would be the end of us. So you see, we must continue to hold our heads high and lavish our brilliant love on them, all the while with radiant smiles on our faces ♪

Jun: Ooh... You brought heaps of 'em home again, huh~ And to think you won’t even carry shopping bags on your own, usually.

Hiyori: Well, I didn’t have anyone to carry them for me this time.

In the morning, I brought Hidaka-sensei to Yumenosaki Academy, and briefly dropped in to say hello to Eichi-kun and the others. Afterwards, I just had fun wandering about town.

Hehe, we’ve almost always been around each other since Eve's formation, so being all alone for once was in fact rather refreshing.

Jun: But aren'tcha the the type that gets lonely on your own? You could’ve called me up, y'know.

Hiyori: Oh no, you second years still have your normal class times, don't you? So I was just being considerate~ It was lonely, of course, but I endured it!

Jun: Well, yeah, but the higher-ups are all still busy ‘cause of SS, so even in class we just mostly did some self-studying.

Speaking of which, we got out of SS unharmed ‘cause we sided with Trickstar — in fact, the public now has an even better opinion of us thanks to that —

Hiyori: Yes. And now Ibara is taking full advantage of it to play his game of politics as he climbs the corporate ladder with incredible momentum.

With the rate he’s going at, he may already come to stand at the very top of CosPro by next term.

Jun: Hmph. Not that I get what's so great about ruling over this tattered wreck of an agency, but...

Well, I guess there’s some kinda worth in everything? Actually, we’re talking about Ibara here — he's gonna find some use for it, one way or the other.

But yeah, anyway, despite being part of CosPro we’re still profiting from the situation .

And all those other guys probably hate us for that, yeah? Dealing with their pointed glares and shittalking gossip is 'bout as pleasant as stepping on Legos, I swear.

Jun: Well, by now I'm pretty much immune to that kinda stuff. But in the end, I just can’t help feeling guilty about it... or like, I can’t help but wonder: why me?

I don’t wanna keep asking the same thing over and over, but I can’t just shake it off or figure it out... I mean, is it really okay for me and only me to be this happy?

Ever since I was a snot-nosed brat, I've grown up stuck between my shitty old man who's trapped in the past, and my mom who did nothing but cry...

So to me, the life I have right now is like something right outta a dream. And that's exactly why it scares me.

After all, there are people in this world out there living in the absolute dumps... I mean, I was one of 'em.

So y'see, I get what you mean and all, that if I’ve got more happiness than I know what to do with, I should share it with those who aren't as lucky.

But no matter what, I just can't stop dwelling on it. Why me? There wasn't any real reason for it, y'know? It was just a stroke of dumb luck... all thanks to you finding me.

I basically earned it by chance, without a lick of effort on my part — and that's exactly why it feels like I could lose it just as easily...

And it makes me so anxious. I want something to convince me that I’m someone who actually deserves the happiness that I have, just as I am.

But there's nothing I can do right now except train up my strength. I know, I know, all it'll actually do is add to my muscle...

But still, I need to grow stronger, even if just by a bit. I need to become a true idol I can be proud of.

Or else, Ohii-san... I just can't ever forgive myself for being happy.

Hiyori: Jun-kun... Can I give you a hug?

Jun: 'Scuse me? I'll pass, that's gross. Your replies just... never make any sense, do they?

Hiyori: Whenever you feel anxious, there's nothing like letting someone hold you tight while you listen to the sound of their heartbeat. See? Mary felt so safe and secure in my arms that she's fast asleep now ♪

Jun: Haha. You'd never have guessed she used to yelp all night in fear when we first brought her home.

Hiyori: Yes, the thought of the dorm head catching on and coming to tell us off certainly kept us on edge.

Hiyori: The poor girl was born frail... Perhaps that was the reason her owner so heartlessly abandoned her.

She could have died out there in the harsh outdoors, so perhaps she was truly blessed to have stayed alive.

She was scavenging a garbage dump that day, with a desperation to stay alive and her fur stained with blood.

Perhaps I ought to have left her alone. Touching her would stain my own clothes; and I had no reason to think she would have a better life under my care...

But before I knew it, she was already bundled in my arms, my cheek pressed to her fur.

I felt the warmth of her body, and the beat of her heart. And now that I'd found her, there was no way I could leave her alone.

She could stain my clothes for all I care...

If she had died only after there wasn't anything more I could've done to save her, I could still live the rest of my life with that feeling of helplessness and regret.

But if I were to simply abandon this precious life to die, then I could never love myself again. And if I were ever unable to love even myself, why, I wouldn’t be able to live on for even a second longer.

So you see, it was for myself that I picked her up and cared for her, cherished her, and fed her.

I may not be able to save every helpless life in existence, but I wish to protect at least those that are around me.

Then, those who I protected and raised may in turn grow up to be tall and strong and splendid... Perhaps they may even come to provide me with solace and happiness.

And so long as that cycle of love persists, I'll be able to believe that the world isn't all that bad.

Jun: ... and what're you tryna say with all that?

Hiyori: What I'm saying is that you don’t need to be anxious or afraid either, Jun-kun.

You may have asked “Why me?”... but does there truly need to be a reason? Why not just go with the thought that it was the wonderful destiny God always had in store for you, and leave it at that?

More importantly — we'll be getting busy soon enough, so you should go take a bath, change into your pajamas, and get enough sleep for tomorrow.

Jun: ... gotcha. We're gonna barge right into Yumenosaki tomorrow under the pretense of meeting up with Hidaka-sensei, right?

Hiyori: Yes. We'll say our hellos, first of all. Then, just like the typical rivals of a shounen manga, we'll defeat that group they call Ba-barrier.

"Ba-barrier defeated when even Project-Saga's fan-favourite Rain-bows struggled against them — just who are these victors!?"

... So shall be our headline as they welcome our debut with dramatic fanfare! ♪

Jun: Haha. With a dramatic entrance like that, wouldn’t it be embarrassing if we just ended up losing against those Ba-barrier guys?

Hiyori: Our possibility of losing is zero. Well, Ba-barrier does have Madara-kun, so they may not quite go down without a fight...

But no man or devil stands the slightest chance of victory against us... Not when we have the divine perfection of our ruthless angel of victory on our side.

✦✦✦✦✦

← prev ✦ all ✦ next →

[blazehedgehog]

Isn't Steam a paradox from an economic point of view? They have the first mover adventage, they have a de facto monopoly, but they are not at all greedy -- not to the point of being anti-consumer, at least. And the innovations they bring to the table are actually useful stuff (Proton above all). Valve is just.. there, operating their business, making good money with nobody really complaining.

It depends on what economic values you subscribe to. A lot of guys like EA want to take the shortcut to easy money. EA even tried to compete with Steam, remember. They had their "Origin" client. They gave away free games for over a year and still nobody would use it. The hope was to give them something comparable to Valve's firehose of money. An easy profit stream where they could get a cut of every game sold on PC just by the simple fact they existed.

Rather than just do good work, they hoped to pry people off of Steam with the promise of regular freebies... except it was a client nobody wanted to use and in a lot of cases actively hated. It lacked most of the features of Steam, was a little bloated, and came at a time where EA was starting to push increasingly aggressive DRM that limited how many "activations" you were allowed per-game. So, it struggled.

The same thing happened with Uplay. Ubisoft thought they could make their own Steam, but the greed was too evident and annoying. It was a hassle to work with, added nothing of real value, and nobody wanted to use it. So most people didn't, unless they were forced to use it.

That's the thing with these corporations, right? Nothing is ever enough. They can't just sell well on Steam, they have to make their own platform so they can have all the money. And the profit lines must not only always go up, it has to go up faster. More and faster and more and faster and more and faster until the wheels come off and everything breaks.

Then these board of director weirdos, now among the richest 5% of people on earth, pull the ripcord and parachute over to the next corporation and start over. All the money, more and faster and more and faster...

What separates Valve is that Valve never seems to have treated it like much of a race. Like, sure, they do things to boost sales (even recently had a really ugly "capitalism celebration" sale event) but they seem pretty comfortable being themselves and not cranking all the dials until they break off.

Some of that is arguably down to the fact that Valve never became a publicly traded company. Once you get listed on the stock market, investors enter the picture, and the whole dynamic of how a company exists changes. Publicly traded companies rely on investors for some amount of operating costs, and the highest ranking investors can even legally control some part of your company as if they were employed there.

But there's never any guarantee that an investor knows what is good for your company. They just gave you a lot of money and expect you to pay it back at some point (by increasing shareholder value). And its created this culture of people who race to maximize everything at the expense of the structural integrity of the company and its employees. It's like (spoilers for one of the most famous movie trilogies of all time) the end of Back to the Future 3, right, where they need to get this old 1800's locomotive up to 88mph.

Feeding it that much fuel, getting the heat up that high, it builds up extreme pressure in the boiler and the train will eventually explode. Except for a lot of these business types, exploding the boiler is the point. Exploding the boiler is a successful operation. Like I said: more and faster and more and faster, right?

Some companies need investor money to survive. But... not all do. Many of them still go public anyway, because the race to explode the boiler matters more than just being comfortable. We're still in the era of people starting companies just to sell them.

Valve got lucky. They established an emerging market, gave people exactly what they wanted, and became the defacto home for PC gaming. Steam was such a comfortable, welcoming platform that nobody even thought about competing with them until they had already gained too much momentum to ever be slowed down.

And the only reasons most people can come up with to compete with Valve is "We want more money." Valve wants 30% of my earnings? A whole 30%??? Unreasonable! I'll start my own storefront! With blackjack! And etc.!

As someone who works with Youtube and gets a 55/45 split, I guess I don't have perspective on how 30% is some kind of horrible offense. Only in my wildest dreams would Youtube give me 70/30.

But really, that's all this is. Valve did good work and got themselves into a position where they now can't really be out-spent into obsolescence. I mean, Epic Games is currently trying to do that, and they're burning something in the realm of $275,000,000 a year (according to this website I am unfamiliar with and have never read before today). By Epic's own statistics, most people registered to the EGS client spend less than a dollar on the platform (723m users apparently spent $820m).

Valve has so much momentum with Steam that they can (and often do) just coast, granting them a reputation for taking a very long time fine-tuning most of their products until they are perfect. Gabe Newell is so rich he owns and operates multiple fully-staffed private yachts. Not by more and faster, but by getting to the race track before anyone even knew it was open and just doing the job so consistently they are now ten laps ahead.

To compare with what happened with Netflix, which also established an emerging market: Netflix also didn't want to just coast. Movie disc rentals by mail became streaming movies. That turned into streaming TV. That turned into Netflix wanting to make their own original content so they wouldn't have to pay to license anyone else's movies. That turned into Netflix wanting to offer games. And lest we forget, the founder of Netflix specifically has a vendetta against theatrical movies and continues to deliberately erode that market.

There is no "coasting" for Netflix. There is only more and faster. Netflix put out 17 original films in 2016. Last year, 2023, Netflix put out 153 original films, 49 original documentaries, 11 TV specials, 11 short films, 28 stand-up comedy shows, and at least 26 new original TV shows. The aim is not to maintain a good platform, the aim is to dominate and make all the money there is to make in multiple industries. The line must always goes up until the boiler explodes.

Anyone could just do what Valve did, but nobody wants to because it's too slow and takes too much actual work (and luck) making genuinely good products. It also theoretically leads to a "dead end" where growth slows or even stops. That means the line doesn't go up anymore, it just levels out and stays there. Outrageous! You mean the man who owns a fleet of yachts doesn't want make infinitely more money forever? The nerve of some people.

It's easier to crack the whip on someone else and crank up the heat until the boiler explodes. Especially when that's what all the competition is doing, too.

[dreadfutures]

we are pissing away every chance to combat global warming and direct much needed federal funds to clean water and housing and food security for the most vulnerable in our country

for the fucking military industrial complex and anti Arab racism

I fucking hate this place and every old white guy in politics needs to GTFO. all of them. I would use stronger language except if the government ever links me to this, which could totally happen if the next person in charge decides to crack down on that and spy on employees, i don't want to go to jail lmaooooo

there was so much that got fucked over by trump and the GOP and so much that has been not only reversed but so vastly improved under this administration, such truly truly progressive fucking revolutionary uses of government to make real much needed progress for citizens. and it's all getting fucking pissed away by one stupid man's commitment to Israel. a majority of his own administration is against him on this and he is just torpedoing any chance of reelection, and the first thing Trump's gonna do is a) tell Israel to nuke whoever they want and b) replace the head of every government agency to do with energy, the environment, human support, and infrastructure, with embezzling cronies obsessed with oil and nothing else, just like last time, which fucking. ended up with literally an embezzlement scandal, and huge budget cuts that set back science and welfare decades.

pissed away.

trump is gonna win because no one wants to vote for the CURRENT genocide supporter and when we don't vote for a blue president we don't get a blue president. I so look forward to enjoying the 100fold increase in military spending and the next world war that Trump will start.

every person who will ever run for president is gonna be a murderer and an awful person, you don't get that much money behind you without it. We are always gonna be faced with the "lesser of two evils means you're still voting for evil" argument but genuinely, genuinely, I would still rather have an inch of progress than 4 steps backward.

the world gets better, the world gets less capable of mass awfulness, when we are able to build up structures and maintain them for good. Inch by inch. But the GOP has and will continue to fucking dismantle them and set up and reinforce the structures that allow the military industrial complex and big oil and other evils to thrive, and the more entrenched they are, the less progress the next "lesser of two evils" will be able to make.

I want to wave my wand and give us an entirely new form of government and governmental priorities and the way that government money is spent, but we can't do that before November. this is the awful hellscape we live in and sitting out en masse is an active torpedo.

I wish our primary system wasn't a joke I wish we had actual candidates I wish we had no lobbyists I wish we had no corporate money in politics but that's not the world we live in and it never will be if the GOP gets to have another chance and another chance and another chance and continues to dismantle what little democratic power we have lmaoooo

I hate this place I hate this choice.

can't convince anyone of that and the choice makes me want to throw up anyway. so we're fucked! we're fucked. didn't even get the senator I wanted. fuckers.

[msmargaretmurry]

“strings and all” + jack/trevor

okay. OKAY. hmmmm. this makes me think of this concept that i believe i already wordvomited onto twitter once, but let me expand upon it here: the tried-and-true classic "didn't realize i had feelings until you got a boyfriend" trope.

this is the fic where trevor had a little thing for jack all through teenhood and into their early 20s, but it never seemed like jack was into him that way, and that was fine. they make great best friends, and then they're on opposite sides of the country, and it's not like trevor's sitting around pining or anything. he's a charming young man, he can play the field, maybe even land himself a boyfriend.

so trevor gets a boyfriend. probably a boyfriend i make up, and not, like, jamie or something, because then i would have to break trevor and jamie up for the jack/trevor endgame, and that would be sad. so a made-up boyfriend from the greater los angeles metropolitan area. at first i was like, maybe he's kind of artsy, but no, i feel like he works for a creative company but in a slightly douchey corporate capacity. he thinks he's more artsy than he is, but trevor doesn't know how to tell the difference, so trevor legitimately describes him to people as "so creative." anyway, he and trevor met via mutual friends or something and hit it off and now trevor has a boyfriend.

jack doesn't like the boyfriend. he meets him like once when the devils are on a california swing and he doesn't like him, and then trevor brings him along on a bros' trip that summer, and jack still doesn't like him. usually jack wouldn't bother trying to pretend he likes someone he thinks sucks, but he can tell how proud trevor is and how pleased he is with this whole having-a-boyfriend concept, and they do seem to really like each other, even if this guy isn't the kind of guy jack pictured trevor with at all. what kind of guy DO you picture trevor with, jack? oh no. oh NO.

but he doesn't want to fuck up the good thing trevor has going. trevor's his friend and he loves him! he loves him way more than this rando californian (the guy is actually from indiana, he is an LA transplant) and he will prove it by being SO cool and chill about his feelings, the feelings that he apparently has, the feelings he apparently HAS HAD for eons and is just now recognizing for what they are. but his feelings keep getting worse, he kind of convinces himself that maybe trevor's only with this other guy because he doesn't know jack is an option. like, why would anyone ever want that guy if jack was an option? have you MET jack?

but he still doesn't want to fuck things up. really he doesn't! except then he and trevor are hanging out at some point during the season and he maybe drinks a little (a lot) too much and tries to kiss trevor, and trevor is like what the FUCK man. genuinely very upset about it!! he's in a really good relationship and jack knows that! jack had literal years to make a move that trevor would have been super into! the next day jack feels awful about it and trevor texts that maybe they shouldn't talk for a while, jack says okay because what else can he say? and so they don't talk for a while. go a whole summer without trevor coming to the michigan house. it's awful and jack is miserable. he hasn't gone more than a day or two without at least texting with trevor since he was, like, sixteen. it feels like he's missing a limb.

the first time they play each other the next season he asks if trevor wants to get dinner and talk, and trevor says yes, because life sans jack IS miserable. trevor hates it, too. they have a good meal and a long conversation wherein jack apologizes and promises he just wants to be friends, and trevor isn't sure that's true for either of them but he wants it to be, so they agree to be friends again. over the course of the season they get back to the normalness of texting every day and playing video games online together, etc, and jack's heart hurts but he thinks it's for the best, truly. trevor thinks he's finally got the best of both worlds again, his relationship going great, jack as his bestie again. but of course this cannot last, and when trevor's breakup happens it blindsides and crushes him.

it happens toward the end of the season, so pair that with another awful season for the ducks and trevor is deeply upsetti spaghetti. he goes home to mope but only makes himself more miserable, and finally finds himself showing up unannounced at the door of the hughes bros michigan lakehouse, where of course jack welcomes him with open arms to mope there for as long as he wants. it takes about three days for them to start having sex, and then they spend weeks having sex and playing house (please picture quinn in the background of this constantly facetiming brady like, i am both scarred for life and very concerned) until something happens to make jack realize, oh, none of this is real. it's just summer, and trevor is just grieving, maybe rebounding, maybe just wanting comfort and distraction, but it's not real.

so he screws up his courage and tells trevor, look, i love you, i want us to be friends forever, but also i'm in love with you and i can't do this summer fling thing anymore so i'm sorry but you need to leave.

as much as he loves jack, trevor knows in his heart he was using him a little bit. and he feels so guilty about it that he can't really argue his way into staying. they spend the rest of the summer only talking a little, trying once again to find normal, but everything has shifted and there is no normal anymore. cue months of pining, cue quinn absolutely flattening trevor every time the canucks play the ducks, because trevor made his baby brother cry. cue brady also flattening trevor when the sens play the ducks, because trevor made quinn's baby brother cry. cue matthew flattening trevor when the panthers play the ducks, but that's just because it's fun and trevor weights 137 pounds soaking wet.

anyway, something's gotta give. trevor can't live like this. he wants jack back. he's under no illusions about how he feels about jack, and if jack really is in love with him, then it's fucking stupid wasting all this time when they could just be together. and once he gets that thought into his head there is no stopping him. at the next opportunity — an all-star game, or a game in jersey, idk, but literally the moment he's in the same place as jack again, he puts on his cute little dress pants and a nice shirt and he goes to jack and says, go out on a date with me. and jack is like, i'm sorry what. and trevor says, i love you. go out on a date with me. and jack says, ok but don't expect me to put out on the first date, and then definitely proceeds to put out on the first date, and then they live happily ever after the end

[subconsciousmysteries]

How sp8 works: from Workaholic to Loner Cowboy

Some chaotic thoughts about what it means to be an sp8 and how the stereotypes about sp8s emerge. Some people stereotype sp8s as workaholics, other people stereotype them as loner cowboys who hate civilization and want to live self-sufficiently in the woods and could never even stand to work for anyone other than themselves. I am telling you that both of these are true. sp8s switch between the state of being conventional workaholics and being disillusioned wannabe cowboys, depending on their level of development and life circumstance.

Sp8 is about a hyper fixation on resources. But, it’s specifically fixating on how to attain these resources AUTONOMOUSLY. The fixation on autonomy that defines sp8, makes it very hard for sp8s to be conventional workaholics for a very long time. A conventional workaholic will spend years grinding, doing work work work at a job. Most sp8s can work work work and give it their all for a short period, but not a long period, because they quickly become angered and disillusioned by the constraints their job places upon their autonomy.

sp8s will all gravitate towards work somehow and have no problem doing things for money, at least when they are young. But sp8s quickly become disillusioned with any work they do, as they feel that the work they do infringes upon their autonomy. This is why you see so many sp8s hopping from job to job, place to place... freelancing is extremely common for sp8s. There is a fixation on making money, but making it autonomously, aka not becoming a cog in a corporate machine. Making money whilst maintaining your autonomy is basically impossible in modern civilization, which makes sp8s have a very hard time in life.

Many Sp8s as they get older are inclined to see all money as a conspiracy to control them — which it literally is — and this is where the extremely true stereotype of Sp8s being “free men” comes in… the sp8 is the loner cowboy, the isolated person trying to live remotely and rurally away from society and outside of the law. the guy who will do anything to avoid paying a cent of his taxes, down to living on a mattress in the middle of nowhere. that's one of the extreme places the 8 anti-authoritarian anger can drive you to, plus 8 -> 5 disintegration. from what I’ve seen, young sp8s are all about making money, but as sp8s age they become less eager to work because they see how controlled all work is and how controlled money itself is. Aging Sp8s who don’t follow their calling to become free men in some way, become extremely miserable and sad and usually turn to drugs.

8 -> 2 integration is a whole other story I would have to report on in a few years (I'm making a conscious effort at it). For now we're just talking about average sp8s.

If the sp8 feels that their job is chaining them somehow, regardless of how irrational this feeling is -- 8s are not creatures of logic and rationality -- they will not do it. They will blow up somehow and move to their next attempt to survive autonomously. If the sp8 feels like “I have to sacrifice my autonomy to attain these resources" then they will not sacrifice their autonomy without paying a massive cost to their mental and physical wellbeing. The fixation is on autonomy and self-sufficiency, and how to attain resources autonomously and self-sufficiently, not just how to attain resources themselves.

Some of this eagerness to give life up and run straight to the woods is my avoidant w9 talking. sp8w7s are less likely to have this nature worship, run-into-the-woods-and-be-monkey attitude so bluntly. 8w7s are more likely to fight at the job if they feel things aren’t going the way they think they should be going. but I still see all the 8w7s in my life coping with shit thru avoidance of what’s pissing them off (8 -> 5). they often blow up in a rage at employers and then storm off and seek new employment in new places. w7 causes them to be more optimistic about new endeavors than w9s. They’re better at starting again, and also better at placing their faith in stupid bullshit they really shouldn’t, because they will inevitably repeat the cycle at this new place.

[philanthropicfeline]

"Another suitcase in another hall" - Andrew Lloyd Webber

*TW: I will be discussing adult scenarios and themes that have happened in my life so fair warning cuz this post is pretty dark and I'm tired of being in my body rn*

Look at me in that image. I'm asking for it. I'm begging as the drool, pools in my mouth. Ravish me till I turn blue...

I'm just flesh and bone

All I am is flesh and bone

Nothing more and nothing less

I'm only needed when I'm needed, never wanted, never more

Discarded when they're finished, scraped hollow, left alone

I was made to be used, all I am is flesh and bone

Not good enough for good things, just enough for temporary thrills

But that's okay, my purpose here is clear

I was meant for others, I was meant to be used

I'm surprisingly happy with being a mere object

Tossed around, only to be found by my next user

I will wear and tear, I will bend and fold,

I won't break, I'm already broken

She doesn't say hi, he doesn't say bye, they don't say hello

She's never said hi, he always waves bye, they don't speak at all

I'm so tired, but I can't be tired, all I am is flesh and bone

Flesh and bone, corrupted flesh, burnt bone

No such thing as pain, ash is my home

Why do I keep making mistakes? Why am I so mean?

I hate hating her, I love loving her, I'm tired of her and her moods

I'm not worth the time, I'm a waste of space;

I'm just flesh and bone...

Listening to this song doesn't seem to be a good idea in my current state of mind. It's clear as day that this song is about sex. I can't help but wonder...is sex all I'll ever be good at? Is that all I'll ever amount to? Is there more to me than sex? Maybe it's deeper than that.

I was in a situation once where 3 girls (myself included) were "sharing" the night with one guy. This chap so happened to take my virginity. I was still new at this "play thing" role, but I was certain that I wanted to gain more experience and have fun. I didn't have as much experience with this like the other 2 girls so I agreed that watching and giving pleasure was more suited for me that night. I watched as the three fell into a trance of love and lust and I was enchanted by the display before me. They had so much fun and I was watching from the side with a smile. What a night that was. But why did I feel so lonely?

The girls said goodnight while I was asked to stay behind and sleep over. "Did you have fun?" he asked. It was more than fun, it was like living a scene straight outta the erotica I've been reading for years. "I really did!" I wagged my tail in content, but something still felt off inside me. I wasn't jealous, seeing the passionate blush glazed over the girls faces was beyond beautiful, I just couldn't figure out if there was something else I wanted.

The lights went out, we went to bed and my eyes were almost shut until he turned around abruptly and gave me a fright.

"Omg I didn't make you cum!!" He said with a sad tone. The sad realization that I was somewhat ignored all night started settling in. He turned on the lights and apologized profusely. I didn't need any of that, I didn't feel any wrong doing but I couldn't tell him that something else was bothering me since I couldn't put my finger on it. Then he pet my head and told me I was a good person.

That was it. All I wanted was the affirmation of my humanity. No pet names, no demeaning terms of endearment. Someone said my name and told me that I was a good person. A person. I was a person, I am one.

Sometimes I lose myself and forget that I'm human. Sometimes I like to provoke others to objectify me up till my beaking point and I convince myself that I'm merely a doll made for people to use, abuse, mark, and ruin; why? Because I'm good at it. I have always been good at it. I was raised in a church and I was raised by corporal punishment. The sting of metal and sharp things are not a new concept.

Humiliation, degradation and insults were part of the package growing up, but being seen as a person was such a foreign idea. There are scars that my heart will never reveal to the world, and there are those who I will forgive, but never forget. People are always bad liars. I used to interpret hellos as "can you do me a favor?" That way of thinking isn't ideal but I was right 99% of the time. A hello would usually mean that someone needs something from you and then toss you aside when they're done. I usually play the game and pretend that I haven't a clue about their intentions but eventually I started timing things out and was disappointed by how short each hello became with every conversation...now I'm wary...

Oh to be on the cycle. My brain hurts. My c*@t is sore. Some of you might just read this and rub one out, whatever. It is what it is.

[demcnsinmymind]

@mslangermann sent : ‘ do you ever think we should stop meeting like this?’ ’ RANDOM DIALOGUE meme | Always Open!

"Look, I know that this is fucking ridiculous and just about the stupidest place to go to, but that's exactly why it works so well. So no, I don't think that we should stop meeting like this" Lance replies in a lowered voice as he keeps looking around the place in question and what, well this, is. A public pool. Broad daylight. Surrounded by a whole fuckton of people in swimwear. Having fun in the pools, splashing about, yelling, having fun, being families and couples and whatever else. It's pretty much everything he hates and judging by her question, it's something she probably hates just as much. But the point still stands.

Sighing in frustration all thanks to all that fucking noise and sunlight, Lance reaches for the cheap sunglasses and puts them on, very careful to keep the towel right where it is. Bunched up in his hand and covering his stomach, to hide how skinny and worn down he still looks, because sure enough, given the ridiculous location he's chosen for another meet up with her, he has to wear some fitting attire as well. Could only afford a cheap pair of swimming trunks, though he sure as fuck would love to go for a whole body wetsuit if he could. Fuck it. A fucking diving suit. One of those metal ones. From the 1800s or whatever. Anything better than what he's actually wearing. So sure enough. He gets the point. Meeting like this is the fucking worst. Sitting by a fucking pool in cheap plastic chairs, looking like tourists. But it is what it is. Inconspicuous in here. A lesser evil. A necessity.

"Look at all those people" he mutters, voice softer as his eyes are transfixed on a young couple with their child by the kids pool. "They come here in pairs or groups. To sunbathe, to chat, to go for a swim together. Barely any loners or strangers who sit around and stare all creepily like the ones we're trying to avoid. And if there is one lonely figure, they're not going to be sitting out here in the boiling sun, they're the sporty types. In the pool. Counting their laps. Like this one over there" Lance goes on and points at a particularly busy guy in the swimmer's lane, whose head is stuck more underwater than above it most of the time, making it obvious that he's not spying on them.

"Plus, they're all in swimwear" Lance states the obvious next, but that's not the point. "Pretty fucking hard for some creepy corporation or cults...or any other fucking weirdos to hide what they've got in store for whoever they might be following." This time, Lance gives her a long, pointed look. "Guns...handcuffs...zipties...ropes...you name it. Wherever you'd be keeping that, not going to be easy to access on your half naked body. And all that splashing water and those screaming kids by the slide." He clicks his tongue and shakes his head. "That's gotta be tough to weed through on listening devices or whatever the fuck else." He gives her a tiny smile, confident enough for now to start talking a little more truthfully.

"All that said. Yes. I cannot wait to get the fuck outta here and stop meeting like this one day. That's exactly why I want to keep talking to you though. I have news. A guy contacted me the other day. He went through some shit and thinks it might be connected to the shit I...well, some other stuff that happened. And that got me thinking about you and that maybe his stuff and mine and yours might all be connected some way."

[damelucyjo]

I think I'm gonna come on here and spew my thoughts and feelings about each episode rather than on Twitter. I think I'll also say more about each episode here than over there...

Anyway! I'll keep everything under a cut just in case. Although it's been a while since the episode dropped, I just wanna be safe!

Episode 1 - Smells Like Mean Spirit

Here we go!

Oo scruffy Ted!! 😍

Why is she in his phone as 'Michelle Lasso'? I don't have anyone I really know in my phone with their full name. SHE IS THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILD!!!

Still with the 'Ted has feelings for his ex' thing I see...

Henry's cute

Henry's been in London for 6 weeks and we saw none of it?! RUDE!

He still talks to Sharon! I love that

LEGO NELSON ROAD!!

OMG these Lego characters are brilliant!! And Ted & Rebecca next to each other 👀

It looks like they had fun whilst he was there...

EXCUSE ME why the same shower scene from season 1?!

So this season is going to be about Ted thinking about where he belongs then?

BRENDAN HUNT'S PARTNER AND SON!!! He is one cute baby!!

Earl Greyhound Training Facility. Nice.

Sharon Fieldstone! You cheeky bitch!! I love her

YYEEEAAAAHHH!!!!

Angry Rebecca is back. I'm in love

Hannah, looking delicious as ever 🥵

Something's wrong because he didn't rhyme? So true haha

I'm so fucking excited to see more Rupert this season!!

Ooo she's struggling with this, huh

She swears ALL THE TIME! Why did that one shock Higgins so much!?

Howdy & Yo. And then she nearly walked into the door frame. Amazing.

I need Dani's optimism

And Jamie's confidence haha

Roy & Beard's friendship is my favourite

FIFA reference, of course

His tiny car with those super cars is a great visual

Hello West Ham's Higgins

KEELEY!!!

'Fuck you, Joe Rogan' Exactly.

'Angel, Mentor, Guru Rebecca' How fucking cute are they!! 🥰

It's Katy Wix!! Love her!

Keeley's office looks like a fun place... 🫣

Their friendship is gorgeous. I love this gossip dynamic

Rebecca's reaction to Keeley just throwing her coat 😂 Amazing.

Yikes?! Where did she pick that up, I wonder...

Don't cry Keeley!!

Aww, mumma Rebecca to the rescue 🥹 She's so maternal

We must protect Dani at all costs!!

I love spotting Will in the background, he's always doing something fun

Of course their driver was a cult leader

EVERYONE RUN EXCEPT ROY!!

'Like an orgasm for the soul' You sure have a way with words, Rebecca

Gotta let Ted be Ted. Too right!

I KNEW that 'legend' bit was edited in the preview clip!

Loving uncomfortable, awkward Rebecca

And of course Keeley sees no problem is spending £200 on flowers because they look and smell nice

SHE SEEMS FUN!! Great Beard call back! 😂

Corporate Flying Object. Please never change Keeley!

She's eating meat again...👀 Hmm, okay

I can't wait for more Keeley & Rebecca bonding. It's my favourite

Fucking dumb-dumb line. Nathan is vile. Nick is brillaint.

They named him Disco purely for that line. Tell me I'm wrong

RUPERT! In his cartoon villain lair! Complete contrast to Rebecca's office

I fucking LOVE Anthony Head. He plays slimy so well

We're getting to see how Rupert charms his way onto people, interesting.

'Roy Kent, that you?' 'Get fucked' I just love him, guys!

'Why are you dressed like an umlaut?' Why ask if you have a matching one, Leslie??

MY GOD does Hannah looking FUCKING FIT in this episode. Only thought in my head every time she's on screen

Field trip to a fucking sewer! Let's go, boys!

Of course Henry asked to tour the sewer system because he watched IT and got scared. It is fucking smart, well said Roy!

'Twat' Well said Rebecca

Rupert is going to keep saying 'Wonder Kid' isn't he, because he knows it gets to Nate 👀

West Ham's press room isn't as fun as Richmond's

Oooo a King & I reference... okay, okay

I really wish spitting wasn't his 'thing'. It's gross. I know it makes sense, I still hate it.

LESLIE HIGGINS IS EATING HER BISCUIT AND SHE'S SO FOCUSED SHE DIDN'T REALISE!!! wow

Of course Jamie says poopy and not shit

I love how these boys trust Ted so much that they just went into a sewer, then asked why when they were down there

She's gonna break that laptop one day

Jamie being the one to reiterate the lesson they just learnt? Boys growing up!! AND HE'S RHYMING!!

Oooo she's angry 🥵

Rupert is laughing at me, Ted 🥺 ouch

And I am begging you, please, fight back OMFG 😭😭

I love how they highlight how different the press rooms are. They're all friends at Richmond, press included

And the contrast between Nate saying vile stuff and Ted saying encouraging stuff. Beautiful.

I'm kinda surprised though that Rebecca looks worried and doesn't trust him

But of course she's the only one who catches his baseball reference

Did Brett get in a Twin Peaks reference? Good for him!!

They're really highlighting the fact that kindness & comedy win, huh?

Ooo Rupert buying Nathan fancy gifts... so it begins!

Roy & Keeley not saying the same thing is very telling, I think

Firstly, why did it take them 6 weeks to tell Phoebe? And secondly, did they not actually discuss it themselves?Nobody knows what's going on!

Phoebe is so grown up! Asking the important questions

'Can I say a bad word? I think you're being stupid' I love her

Another conversation about why he's still in London? This really is going to be the theme of this season, I guess

Is moving that Lego Nate foreshadowing him coming back???

'Mommy's friend' 👀 uh oh

And that's episode 1 done!! Yes, I probably will be watching it on repeat until next Wednesday, thanks for asking.