#it rants it raves

[unshrinkingviolets]

I'm making this its own post bc @penn-central-official has suffered enough, but I cannot stop thinking about Light Mike(s). The thing is that I don't have the right kind of autism for most railroad history but I do almost have the right kind of autism for art history. The Pennsy took a standard USRA design that seems to have been little-altered by other railroads and said "Hmm no we're customizing this, we might not have built it but damned if it's going to be obvious. You're an L2 now" (or words to that effect)(why though)(is it purely out of maintaining your STANDARD RAILROAD OF THE WORLD image?)(is it cheaper to put the generator on the smokebox? What gives?). It makes me want to do a survey of all the Light Mikes across their respective railroads and examine the material circumstances that would lead to their being customized or not (especially with regards to the 600ish copies of the original design that were built later).

This is part of a larger thought I have occasionally about aesthetics and the steam locomotive - to what degree are they deliberate, and to what degree are they a byproduct of the mechanical design demands and the material circumstances under which the locomotive was built? How much does somebody like Oliver Bullied make stylistic choices vs. engineering ones(is there even a difference with that guy)? Could one identify American locomotives based purely on their "look" when scrubbed of identifying marks (oh hey it's the Pennsy again)? What happens to aesthetics when you really go hard on standardization and build, I don't know, the Chinese QJ class or the Indian Railways WP (to say nothing of the overlaps in political spheres of influence and nasty circumstances making certain types ubiquitous [lookin at you, Kriegslok])(that may not be as much of an aesthetic thing)?

[spitblaze]

considering how many transmascs were legitimately way angrier BEFORE starting T and have since calmed down significantly have we perhaps considered that maybe the reason so many cis dudes are angry and aggressive isn't because of testosterone but maybe. like. personal issues. unmet needs. a social climate that teaches them that there are only like three acceptable emotional outlets for men max and one of them is being angry and shouting

[grymghoul]

ARTHUR MORGAN has an impressive cock. You'd always figured a man who carries himself so surely would have one like that. Thick and heavy, crowned with hair a bit darker than what was on his head. The way it would always be half hard anytime he was around you was flattering. The way he'd take up all the space in that hotel room, striding around, parading naked, he'd steal the air from your lungs. The way it'd pat against his thighs as he took heavy steps through the room. You'd stare and he'd look away, flush in the face. There was an inherent sense of boyish charm about him, how he could be so rough and callous, but the second he was alone with you he was nearly shy. Intimacy with Arthur was earned, a privilege, not a thing to trifle with. He'd given it to you and you hadn't even realized how hard it was to earn this from him.

He blushed bright red when you'd seen it the first time, that breathy "Oh, Arthur.." had sent a chill down his spine. Arthur was extra careful with you, fearing he'd split you right in half on his cock. There was no hiding it. The way his ranch pants would be fuller around you, the obvious bulge of denim stretching around it. He loved that you could try to swallow it all you wanted and you could still grip fingers worth of it as his tip touched the back of your throat. He loved being able to have you seated on top of him and see his dick fucking you from the outside. A firm hand pressed against you, making you tighter and he could feel the way he so lovingly damaged your sweet pussy.

He would torment your guts almost effortlessly. He'd have you gripping the sheets, choking back moans and sobs and all manners of pretty noises in a hitched tone without even trying. He wasn't an egotistical man, but he knew it couldn't be like this for every man or no job would ever get done in the world. It'd come to a stand still as everyone would be lined up to fuck the next man. No, no he had to have something special with you. He was easily enamored with you and how you'd feel wrapped all warm and tight around him. How snug you were.

Each time felt like the first with Arthur. The way he filled you and would have you swollen and sore the next day. Even after the bath you'd end up in together, he'd keep you there, wet and sudsy against him and his thick member until you had pruny fingers. He loved that you were a whiny mess just from being near his cock.

You were made for him by God, he wasn't religious but he was sure of it. You fit better than any glove or shirt or saddle he could have tailor made. You were just as addicted to him. The way his flared head could take up residency inside you made you know that there was some higher power and they were merciful in such a way for you to have a taste of heaven on earth with your Arthur.

[amanitacurses]

[alethianightsong]

A Quiet Place: disability at the end of the world (I am still reeling from this movie)

Ok so like many apocalypses ignore what happens to the disabled or infirm during apocalypses and just have the main cast all healthy and able-bodied. Even FUCKING World War Z(where sick people were left alone by the infected) just ignored that aspect. Yes, someone will get temporarily sick/wounded or pregnant but I mean a lifelong handicap. A Quiet Place had a deaf girl in a world where making sound gets you killed. However, the sign language her family learned for her sake allowed them to communicate and bond in a silent world.

Now on to Day One. When Eric finds out Sam needs meds to handle the pain caused by her terminal illness, he doesn't ditch her. He doesn't go "you're an invalid, you're weak, I'm abandoning you to increase my own chances at survival." So many apocalypses push the Darwinian idea of "survival of the fittest" but the unique nature of the Quiet Place means that it doesn't matter how strong or ruthless you are if you don't know how to shut the fuck up. Later, when Sam is left incapacitated in the church from her pain, this would've been a prime time for a lesser writer to have Eric leave Sam a little note saying "Sorry, but you're dying so I'm outie bye" but nope! guy risks his life to make sure she gets her meds, comforts her, lifts her spirits when she's at the end of the world, her life, and just wants to experience the simply joy of a pizza.

On to Eric. Once again, a lesser film would make him a coward or unlikable. He's a white-collar worker (a bloodsucking lawyer-in-training) who couldn't build a fire or survive the rugged wilderness but they're in the city so food is everywhere just be quiet getting it. He just survived drowning in the flooding subway but goes back down cuz his new friend wants her maybe-last meal to be from her favorite place. Sam is not a liability to him. She's not a burden but a person trying to maneuver through disaster in her own way just like him. Some anthropologist somewhere said that civilization didn't really start until people started looking after each other, when healed bones were found cuz that meant someone cared for this person while they were weak. In the end, Eric's empathy & kindness secured his own survival.

[wirsindkrieg]

"Person" is not an Identity

The topic of nonhuman personhood came up in a conversation earlier, which led to me scrolling through the notes on the essay/rant I wrote on the topic at the end of last year [link]. While scrolling through, I saw multiple people express the view that if someone doesn't want to be referred to as a "person", that should be respected.

I would like to kindly but firmly disagree with that view.

Personhood is not a personal identity, and it should not be approached the same way that one approaches identity labels like sexuality, gender, or even species identity. Personhood is a social and legal category, which carries with it significant implications about how (and if) one is treated as a member of society.

Whether it is intended or not, a declaration like "I am not a person" is declaring that one does not see themselves as a being deserving of basic rights and safety. It is saying that they do not see themselves as deserving of dignity and basic respect as a thinking being.

The declaration that an individual (or more often, a specific group) does not have personhood has been used as the justification for all manner of atrocities, up to and including genocide. And I want to be very clear that I am not exaggerating that point. The removal of personhood is a key element of fascist ideology, and is not something to be done casually, even to oneself.

If someone tells me that they use a specific identity label, or set of pronouns, or even choose to not identify as human, I can respect that, and I will do my best to embrace their decision. On the other hand, if someone tells me that they are not a person, I consider that cause for alarm.

The important difference is that personhood is not a personal identity. It is the state of being recognized as worthy of basic dignity, rights, and respect. To deny one's personhood is to deny that you deserve basic rights like freedom from harm, the ability to own property, and the ability to make decisions about your own life and body. I would hope that it's abundantly clear why denying oneself those basic rights is a bad thing.

"Person" is not an identity. It is a fundamental trait that cannot and should not be removed from anyone, even voluntarily. The denial of one's personhood is, at best, incredibly misguided, and at worst incredibly dangerous.

So if you're someone who wants to not be called a "person", I implore you to examine why you feel that way in depth, and consider if the problem isn't being called a person, but the societal assumption that person = human. And if the problem is that societal assumption, the solution isn't to deny your personhood; it's to join the large number of people pushing for society to accept that not every person is human.

[steddiealltheway]

Something that is canon in my mind that I forget to tell people:

The reason why Steve can’t get bitches in his Scoops Ahoy era is because there’s a rumor going around that he’s gay (probably because someone caught him hooking up with Eddie)

[goalieflashflight]

Vetinari is fascinating to me. He sees the Thud board and views all the pieces to better understand the game. His whole life is puzzles, decisions, and being hyper aware.

As I read through the Disc books, I can feel the moments so heavily when it looks like he is taking a break. Sure, it comes with poison, head trauma, being in enemy lands, or the trust in a con man, but he is slowly allowing people in. He is relinquishing control. He may have already solved the mystery, but he isn't getting any younger and now has people to trust to do this, and they need practice.

I know it is a common joke that in FOC Vetinari let the investigation go on as enrichment for Vimes, but it was also a trust exercise. It wasn't only Vimes having to do more work. Drumknott had to keep the paperwork going, and I know we get so little of him in the book, but from the sound of it, this is as much a test for Vetinari's clerks as it is Vimes.

He even starts to allow a body double to take his station. He lets himself out of his own prison. I am sure he went out disguised before, but he let's people he trust in on it if they are clever enough to figure it out.

I am emotional about this tyrant finally letting himself be open and having a good time. We can see what a dork he is in the past; painting tiger faces and even in the present with his don't let me detain you. I bet Vetinari is that quiet kid who says the funniest things you ever heard if you stopped and listened to him closely enough.

[mr-saavik]

Does anyone think this is funny

[snottly]

all i’m saying is- Logan and Wade both have raging PTSD, trauma, dealt with incredible loss, where in the military, and have been given shit ass cards in life. Both have expressed just wanting to experience happiness but are treated like weapons/destructive and unable to keep people in their lives due to that.

So of course when they finally get together and realise they are actually truly stuck with one another, and neither can die/be physically hurt they are just gonna settle down together forever. Because what’s better than another unkillable immortal than one that has also been through the same terrible fucked up shit and can actually relate to it all.

When they finally come to the mutual decision to give up the life of killing and destruction they retire and leave the city to settle down in a small woodsy town, probably south but still within reasonable driving distance of the X-mansion and Al. they get married and just go full throttle domestic, small little house with a garden and big back yard; just them and Mary.

Everyone in the town is familiar with them, even though they seem a little off, but they do all their shopping at the local markets and are always friendly and willing to do any grunt work/help out neighbours and the community. Although they do relatively stick to themselves most of the time.

They would also both definitely get soft, Logan would still jog in the mornings and has a little at home gym in their garage he���d work out in mainly to blow off steam, but he has a little tummy now and doesn’t look like he’s dehydrated and withering away. Wade definitely wouldn’t give a shit and is just happy he doesn’t have to work anymore and has his domestic family life he always wanted so he’s more indulgent and a little lazy so he gets Chunky. but Logan loves it because it’s just representative of their retirement and the softness of their life now.

I also imagine they go back home for the holidays for the first time in a bit, and everyone is a little shocked at first bc they look so different, not just physically but the happiness just radiates off of them and everything about them is so warm and inviting. Ness sees Wade for the first time and almost bursts into tears because of how happy and content he finally is after all shit he’s been through.

basically domestic poolverine is the best that is all

[rollercoasterwords]

like yeah obviously legality does not correlate to morality and i personally do not think ip laws should exist. however the reason i find it relevant to emphasize that selling fanfiction is illegal is not to make some moral stand about the sanctity of ip so much as to be like. hey this is the way it fucking is and if u break the law by selling fic u run the risk of creating larger legal troubles for entire communities of fic writers who just want to share their work for free. also more to the point the reason selling fic is so shitty is that it is a question of labor exploitation. i spent hundreds of hours creating something which you are now packaging and selling to make a profit without compensating me for my labor, which is not only exploitative but spits in the face of the spirit in which this fanfiction was shared—as a labor of love, meant to be free to anyone who wanted to read it. and the gag is that if u did want to fairly compensate me for my labor it would literally be thousands of dollars (assuming i’m charging even minimum wage for time spent writing & editing) which is why it isn’t fucking possible to sell fanfiction for a fair price!! all that on top of the fact that i (and many other fic writers) explicitly say “don’t sell or buy bound copies of my fic” just makes it flat-out undeniable that this is a fucking shitty thing to do, and i genuinely have no sympathy for people who go “wait what i’m not supposed to sell or buy fanfiction 🥺🥺🥺” like shut the fuck up i hate u

[dilfmobius]

Do you know what absolutely kills me?

Mobius doesn't often let himself get rattled. He usually lets things roll right off his back, no matter how chaotic things get. Two out of the three times we see his calm demeanor crack, however, are related to Loki: Once when he feels as if Loki betrayed him for Sylvie, and the other when he figures out that Loki will be sacrificing himself to save everyone. Even during the time that Brad goads him, and causes him to lose his temper, Loki is right there for him, to help him calm down again.

Loki really is the center of Mobius' universe, and the one thing that is able to break his composure, is the thought of losing him. 😢

goddd yes thanks for this because it kills me too!!!

but okayyyy let's talk about it because wtf is this??

he's so hurt!! betrayed!! look at his face!! owen wilson you owe me money!!!

and the jealousy fueled spectacle he puts on right after. "It's breaking my reality right now!" oh, baby, we know.

and this

this look on his face?? literally brings me to tears. he's scared and confused and loki's out there!!!

and my personal favorite

it's the clenched fists that really send me over the edge, because he's trying desperately not to break down, not to lose his cool. he just needs to hold it together until loki gets back. he'll make it back. right?

but godddd that look of pure anguish on his face. it's like his life is flashing before his eyes but it's all just loki.

(why yes i did make gifs specifically for this ask, i promise you i'm very normal about all of this)

another scene where mobius loses his cool (that i just really love) is when they get separated at roxxcart. mobius is energized by the fact that they're so close to finishing this, but also that he and loki were gonna do it together. loki was the one who figured it all out and mobius was so proud and just,,, "you're gonna take my job if i'm not careful." and why did he have to say it like that???

anyway, the last thing mobius wants is loki out of his sight and he has a conniption about it!

"of course he's a threat [...] that's why i want him with me." and yes of course mobius knows better, because no one else knows loki like he does. but i'm also very endeared and amused by it. mobius please take a breath.

i also love loki's soft, "mobius, it's fine." just end me please.

AND YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT MOBIUS BEING AFRAID OF LOSING LOKI WHAT ABOUT THE ENTIRE FIRST EPISODE OF SEASON 2

THE CLUTCHING??? THE MANHANDLING???

i will never be okay again and it's because of THIS EPISODE.

"loki's here? where?" "i need a loki who remains." the look of horror on mobius' face every time loki timeslipped "he'll make it back." "give him more time! he can still make it!"

season 2 really is where mobius just falls apart and the crisis of faith fully sets in. of course his worst nightmare is losing loki; he's the only real thing mobius has left. "everything you've been doing is wrong, and all your gods are dead." and poetically enough, not all of mobius' gods are dead. loki's there. loki made it back to him.

and they're whole conversation in the automat after brad chipped away at whatever was left of mobius' defenses. of course mobius doesn't want to know about his past life. his past life didn't have loki. he likes his life at the tva because loki is there with him.

it's why he leaves once loki is gone

ANYWAY, this kinda got away from me oops i'm done fhdgfjsdg

[jjkyaoi]

people already shitting on cory’s manga and calling it a cash grab as if he didn’t spend the entirety of that video talking about how much love he has for it and as if it wasn’t so incredibly genuine. like you don’t have to care about it and you don’t Need to buy it, but from somebody who’s writing and own characters are also incredibly personal and important to me, i could tell how much he meant everything he said. like it is soooo exciting to see something you’ve worked so hard on (which he clearly has) get the chance to be loved by other people. and ALSO IT JUST LOOKS FUCKING COOL. WHY DO YOU ALL HAVE TO BE SO MISERABLE ALL THE TIME

[swimmingdeepbelow]

Having to block 90% of the systems I come across for their absolutely insane hypocrisy is wild. We should not be hating on people for deadass just existing differently than us.

Seriously wish Tumblr would stop shoving this shit in my face. I'm tired of seeing the cruel bullshit towards endos and other sys origins. I'm tired of finding out people I thought were chill are actually hateful assholes.

Endos, y'all deserve better. You're safe on all my blogs. All sys origins are.

Systems complaining about being fake claimed and trying to spread positivity while actively fake claiming a massive part of our fucking community are hypocritical and that's the end of it. Your posts are soured by it. They mean nothing in the face of your hatred and ignorance, much of which is willful. The exclusionary bullshit you do to others is exactly what you hate done to you.

Anti-endos get the FUCK out of here. You will never be welcome and you will continue to be blocked on sight. If you try shit you will deadass just be laughed at and ignored so don't bother.

[short-and-ugly]

Canon irken eye colors

All the time I see all these fancy ocs with really bright ass eye colors and a wide variety of them too!!! And it got me thinking...

Do we even actually see all of these colors in the show?

So I'm gonna compile a list of all the eye colors we actually do see in irkens :-)

Starting with four images:

1) Is all of the irken invaders lined up together! Look at all those eyes just ready for conquest. No. no not really ANYWAYS here you can really only see a few colors: Magenta, maroon, fuchsia, and surprisingly, a pale red, a dirty orange-red, dirty yellow, and a lavender from Zee! Honestly the magenta and fuchsia are kind of a stretch because. The show irkens eyes are all really dark and dim compared to the movie. They get super duper saturated there.

2) Redrick and Ourp themselves... self-explanatory. We actually see a shitton more purple irkens than we do red ones!! At least main-character-for-single-episodes irkens. Sizz-Lorr and Tak <3 then there's also the Tallest's advisor, who has muddied green eyes!!!

3) Very light blue/teal!!! I'm not attributing the brightness to shading at all because the skin looks normal-colored. I'm fairly certain this is the ONLY guy with this color of eyes.

4) All the navigators together because they're all beautiful <3 If you look at the green closely you'll notice that it's all actually leaning more towards blue than yellow.

Now, what do we do with this information?

Speculate :3 it's what I do best!!

Bear with me though for these poor edits. I'm on my phone at four AM making this post.

Here's a color wheel where I blotched out all the colors that I don't believe exist for irken eyes :-) We don't see a lot of dark shades of colors so even the dark reds or magentas might be a stretch but we also really don't see any bright yellows or oranges. They're all really muddied and shaded when we do see them! And we also don't see any saturated or dark blues -- opposite to yellows, we only see tinted blues!

This wheel is notably missing cyan but. I'll go out to say that that's probably not an irken eye color either. Or it is, but it's super duper rare for an irken to have that color.

It's also missing the really saturated fuchsias and magentas that we know are there because of the movie irkens... but shh......

Anyways. What did we get out of this ramble?? Idk. That having shit stain brown eyes is more common than having baby blue ones and that Miyuki probably didn't have cyan eyes.

I'm gonna go back to sleep now and contemplate changing my orange-eyed irken to be rust colored :) goodnight

Edit: ITS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE IS THIS GUY

His eyes are blue! But again, it's a very tinted/washed out blue.

(I'm on a computer now)

So... strong vibrant blues are still likely a no-go. But you could still make a cute little guy with what's available.