#make me dislike the mc to some extent

[bbnibini]

I find it so painfully heartbreaking that Solomon just...laughs off all the derision, the name-calling, and possibly even did "evil" things on purpose because it's expected of him at this point. (He had not always been like this as Thirteen pointed out before). There was a time when he was "innocent". When his soul sparkled. When it resembled the kind of soul everyone in these god forsaken (pun intended with spite) three realms seemed to associate with the ever loved MC. He's just...worryingly carefree. And because he's like that, he feels even more of a tragic character to me.

Sometimes it even seems that he himself would seemingly make up excuses on why he's hated. Oh, it's because I'm a sorcerer this. I might have won a war against Devildom single-handedly this. I have forgotten. But maybe, I did something bad, that. Hon, you were doing that to SURVIVE. You don't have to be a faultless person to deserve compassion. You don't have to be MC to deserve to be loved.

[bunnwich]

A bit of controversial post maybe??? (feel free to skip)

Not to be controversial but I keep seeing how ppl are reading the “Leona is kind to Sally” situation and just thinking how my perspective is bit…different.  (if you don't care about my opinion ofc you can always skip)

SPOILERS FOR EVENT

When I saw it, these were my thoughts:

"Oh I love this so much!! It's adorable for one, and I’ve been saying for years that Leona is only mean to ppl he doesn't like/finds annoying or doesn’t care about. Like he HAS the ability, like everyone else to be polite and nice but we only see him interact with ppl who annoy him etc. Which is...um most of the cast. AND we rarely get a peak at how he would be with someone he likes.

I hope that this helps ppl see that he can be gentler to act toward someone he's SUPPOSED to like as a friend or even like romantically. 

Banter is one thing but I don’t believe he'd ever act straight-up rude to someone he was true friends with, dating or had a crush on?" 

So, a lot of ppl loved this scene I DO TOO! However…

This whole “Leona said men ain’t shit” joke is worrisome. Like…do you guys think that Leona would in fact be ruder or less gentle to a masc or nonbinary S/O vs a femme one? Some of these remarks…feel uh not really nice to those who have nonbinary/masc pairing with him.

He grew up in a matriarchal society, he respects women NO DOUBT.

I just think it would be nice to for us to be kinder in how we phrase things like this. I know they are jokes but still Yumes and ships mean a lot to ppl and I think it's just another catalyst for masc and masc-leaning fans to feel further alienated in the fandom space, yk?

Do I believe he respects women OFC, but much like those who had the “consent king” take about the voiceline of him being offended at Scully kissing the MC's hand I ONLY agree to an extent. WHY? Bc Leona is a big-ass hypocrite! Leona, for all I defend him, is not always keen on physical boundaries himself and can be quite rude. I think that line is more him being annoyed at Scully than genuinely worried for anyone's virtue, yk?

And to bring it back to the Sally/Leona thing I think it's not just bc Sally is a woman he is nice to her, bc she is SMART and cunning and was quickly underestimated by the rest of the cast. She was able take care of herself. He liked that about her. I really don't think it was just cause she was girl by itself.

Idk thats all I have to say, this is just my opinion as usual but it just didn’t sit right with me from a fandom perspective and I genuinely feel the “Leona is the feminist king of all time” is not a full reading of the character when we’ve seen him be nice to others and neutral to other women. Plus, he’s IS a hypocrite about the manners thing! The cast even call him out on it.

Leona is still flawed just like any other character in twst and I don't think him “bowing down at every women's feet” is something I subscribe to. Not in the way some ppl are acting anyways.

And frankly how some ppl are wording themselves in their tags and reblogs of these posts about Leona “drinking respect women’s juice bc he dislikes men” feels alienating toward those who have nonbinary/masc ships with him.

This is meant as no offense to anyone's fun I just thought I’d give my perspective on it. 

TLDR: I do think that it is genuinely funny and endearing to see the juxtaposition of how Leona treats everyone else VS Sally HOWEVER I don't think it is purely a gender thing and making that just doesn't sit right with me.

[maleyanderecafe]

Apple for a Teacher: A Yandere Love Story (Visual Novel)

Created by: ataraxic

Genre: Horror/Romance

The screenshots on this one are a bit different because I played this game on my mac instead of my pc, so it looks a little weird on the preview. I played a previous game by this creator called Yandere Love: Chains of Fate, which features another character. This one features another character in this world, Ciel. If you've read my previous review on this series, you'll know my overall feelings about this game as well, because despite the couple of years that I haven't thought about this game, I still have the same opinions on it.

The story starts with the MC going to university. They're happy that they're finally free from their professor Ciel as they've finally passed their class. We learn that the MC really hates Ciel as he's very blunt and seems to have a vendetta against the MC. The MC was failing Ciel's class, so Ciel helped to tutor them, as the MC doesn't really know anyone else on campus. They're very happy when they find out that they're able to pass the class and don't have to deal with Ciel anymore and even more excited that they got into an elusive internship on campus. Ciel ends up asking the MC to a fancy dinner at an Italian place as a celebration of them passing their classes. The MC accepts as they want to eat at a fancy place and gets (begrudgingly) driven back to her place by his chauffeur. Ciel waits for the MC to change into more proper clothing as well as criticizes a lot of their outfits in the meantime. At some point, Ciel ends up seducing (?) the MC unintentionally and they can either go further or try to deny it.

If the MC goes further, Ciel and them will end up having sex, with Ciel even confessing that he's always loved the MC. Afterwards, however, the MC seems to be in shock about what they've done and attempts to push Ciel away.

If the MC decides to deny it and push Ciel down, Ciel will get angry and end up raping the MC, traumatizing them. The MC tries to get Ciel to leave afterwards.

Ciel, however, isn't having that as he's been looking for a partner to have children and live together with. He ends up forcing the MC to pack up and essentially kidnaps them. As the MC is forced into the car, they think about how no one will know that they're gone, as they have no family nor friends, with the only people who really would notice would be the fact that their internship might be looking for them. They end up falling asleep in the car before waking up chained to the bed. Ciel waits for them to wake up, introducing them to their new life together.

If you've read my previous review on Yandere Love: Chains of Fate, you'll probably know a lot about my criticisms with this game. The artwork and design of everything looks wonderful as always. The backgrounds, sprites and UI are all really professionally made and the music itself is pretty nice too. Unfortunately, I just don't really like the style of how this person writes too much because the relationship between the MC and the ML is usually just not fun to read (for me).

The MC of this game is different than the one in Dameon's game but instead of being pretty frankly stupid and making dumb decisions, they instead are very cynical and bitter of their position. It makes sense to a specific extent considering that Ciel loves to berate them but it does encapsulate a lot of the things I don't like about MCs in a lot of the more recent yandere vns I've played. A lot of yandere MCs tend to have this kind of cynical attitude- they dislike the job or position they're in, tend to be very grumbly about everything and don't really have any friends, and if they do have family they tend to not be on good terms with them. That in itself isn't necessarily always bad, however, it does get tiring to read. As my friend Cherry says, it's hard to really root for these types of MCs if we the audience can't even see why the yandere might be into them. I usually don't really mention this in my recommendations because the MC isn't really the main appeal of the game (and most people end up self inserting regardless), but it does get annoying when I have to go through the same type of personality over and over again. In some cases, it makes more sense as there is a bit of backstory into why this MC might act like this which is more understandable. This MC falls into a lot of the tropes of the recent MCs including the part where they find the yandere hot and bang him despite only really knowing him for a bit (and in this case also hating him, which is a whole other thing). I know there is such thing as hatesex, however, there wasn't really any indication of the MC finding Ciel attractive until right before the two of them have sex. It's also strange to me that they don't even try to fight (?) Ciel at all when he gets them to pack up their things and get in the car. It makes more sense in the route where Ciel rapes the MC, but otherwise it still feels sudden like it came out of nowhere. I would have thought there would have been at least some resistance or a proper threat that Ciel would have made. To be honest, I think this is likely also a problem with the pacing of certain choices as the MC's actions make a lot more sense if Ciel does end up raping them instead of simply just having sex with him.

Ciel is... mean, to say the least. In Dameon's case while he was usually just mean if the player chose decisions that he didn't like, Ciel is just straight up cruel. Not only does he outright insult the MC for not being able to pass his class and berates them while tutoring the MC, he also criticizes the MC's wardrobe choice when they're trying to find the right outfit for the dinner, even calling the MC a whore at one point, which I feel is super uncalled for (although kind of funny out of context), which the MC simply just... brushes off. There isn't really any indication that Ciel even likes the MC, which you could say is part of his more tsundere (well, I'd assume it would be tsundere, though we don't really see the deredere part) attitude, which makes the sudden kidnapping pretty jarring. It's hard to say why Ciel might even like the MC other than they're attractive and possibly easy to control, but the demo doesn't go far enough to tell what is going on. We do know that Ciel has a more traditional view of life, wanting to (essentially) have a "wife" and children, living together- similar to Vincent in Dead Wishes though we have yet to see the full progression of it. This type of yandere is pretty interesting as I don't really see it that often nowadays (and it is pretty cool seeing what they do to try to maintain that ideal) so hopefully in future iterations, this is shown more for the story. Still though, Ciel is very unlikable, even in terms of characters you hate to love kind of way, at least in my opinion. Besides that, he is rich and kidnaps the MC in a fairly nice place all things considered, though he's just as rude to them when they wake up. I can see people liking Ciel in a horror type of way because the game itself does do pretty well in setting up a more horror like story of being kidnapped, raped and forced to marry, but I would not at all call this a romantic type game even in the slightest even though the relationship seems to be more of a love hate one. Perhaps it might change in the future, but as of current, I'm not really buying that Ciel is in love with the MC.

So as I said, this game is not for me, however, if you did like the previous Yandere Love: Chains of Fate, then you will probably like this one as well. If any of this did interest you, then please give it a try.

[ayeliiss]

My two cents on MHA430 and Izuku's character

Disclaimer: this is NOT a hate post against Horikoshi and his manga. Simply, I need to lash my disappointment out somewhere and write my feelings down before I implode. I'm not trying to sound like 'ugh, I know better than them' at all, although I am aware some of my claims may give the 'why does the author think he knows so much?!' vibes, but keep in mind this is just my irrelevant opinion and it won't change anything anyway. So, please, don't come at me with 'lacking reading comprehension' or 'you're coping' (yes, I am) because I feel like fans are allowed to be upset at this ending even if you think differently! To each their own opinion, as long as it's respectful! Also, this might be unnecessarily long so, I apologize in advance.

Discussion about Izuku's character

First of all, if you're satisfied with the ending and what Izuku did/became, I'm genuinely happy for you. Truthfully, I envy you so damn much because I personally couldn't stop feeling empty and crying at night for him, and before you come at me with 'girl, he's fictional, it's okay you'll move on', yes, I know I'm a drama queen and I shouldn't be in one hell of a state for a fictional character, but I can't help it. I've grown as attached to him as I've ever grown to any character before, and there's no turning back. MHA is the first manga that ever moved me this hard and it'll forever remain a masterpiece for me, but it doesn't mean it's not flawed and should be free of criticism (always with respect for Horikoshi's work).

Funny thing is, I didn't even like Izuku when I first met him. He was the typical crybaby and too-optimistic MC I tend to dislike when I read a manga. Yet, the more I read, the more I started to understand him, the more I sympathized with him, and the more I loved him. I realized I related to him to such an outlandish extent, though I know we remain different in the way we act or think. But Izuku, even before Katsuki (and my friends know how obsessed I am with this blond lmao), became my first and greatest over-fixation and my main reason to continue reading/watching MHA. This manga changed my life; Izuku did too, and this isn't an understatement.

Just like him—and probably just like many of us—, I've endured bullying, been made fun of for being different, felt unwanted and hated, been belittled, and treated like shit for most of my teenage years. I think that's what really endeared him to me. I wanted to watch him grow, to watch him make real friends, to watch him receive the apologies and respect he deserved, to see him succeed. I wanted him to realize he was worth it and loved and, oh God, I wish he could know just how much his fans do love him.

And for 200+ chapters, I got what I wanted. Izuku got to live his dream, be around his idol who recognized him, and made new friends who admired him and wanted nothing but to be by his side. Then, the Vigilante arc happened, and everything changed. I won't dwell on the fact that, for me, this arc was the beginning of the decline of his character. It's worth noting though that it's at this precise moment that we've lost track of all his thoughts, but I'll focus on the ending, and how the way Horikoshi handled Izuku's character remains my biggest disappointment.

I sometimes joked with a friend of mine, saying, "Hori's favorite character is Katsuki and it shows so much, he even forgets he isn't his MC!" but I don't think it's much of a joke anymore.

Again, I'm very happy for those who are pleased with Izuku's closure. But, honestly, I can't grasp their process of thinking (I wish I could) because there's no way I can understand how it makes sense. It's not about him being quirkless—actually, I think this choice was cool—, it's about his obvious fucking depression.

After his initial withdrawal, there is never any resolution. He has never talked about his feelings to anyone, never opened up about all the things that bugged him, never taken it out on anyone. He just stopped having development, and never learned how to 'control his heart' (one of the biggest plots of the story, remember???). So, he continues to take everything up on his shoulders by the end of the story, and eight years later, he is feeling lonely, as he says himself:

Yes, I can read, and I know he's also saying he's happy with helping/encouraging other people. But it's literally denial. Izuku is in denial and it hurts me so much. He's alone (I'm not talking about how he's barely seen his friends, I know they didn't abandon him or anything, I'm talking about how he is feeling in general), deprived of his dream, and never got to talk about it to anyone (at least, on-screen. And if it's not shown, then it didn't happen). Even the adults around him don't see he's in pain—or, at least, don't think it's worth addressing. Aizawa can't even simply answer 'yes, you're cool' when Izuku obviously seeks praise and needs nice words after everything he's been through. He doesn't even get fans (except for two, waouh!) after saving the fucking world. He doesn't get a statue, no recognition. Katsuki leads a project for him to get a suit, but not the government? After everything he did? Why isn't he more recognized and acknowledged for his hard work? Killing him would've almost felt like a better choice lol (#it's a joke).

Even if, in the end, he gets to join his friends again and be a hero with them, he's still not opening up. How is it sane/healthy for him???? How will he even be able to maintain good relationships of any kind if there are already so many and huge miscommunication issues?

I hate this—I dislike how it's basically saying 'his feelings weren't that important!'. Izuku deserved better, a better closure. So much is missing from him; from this bitter ending, and I can't find any way to make myself feel better or to cope with it.

I am devastated, I feel empty for him, I just want someone to take him to therapy, to help him.

Some rumors have started to spread, about how 'Horikoshi has been forced to shorten his manga' but I don't believe this—MHA has been SJ's money-maker for a while. And even if it were to be true, the epilogue could've been handled differently. Hori could've focused on the most important parts (that he hasn't even shown/resolved at all) and left the irrelevant ones out (why introduce a new character if not to make us feel hopeful to see Tenko again, lol). He chose to not address the most important aspects of his story (including his MC's resolution and growth) and left us with huge plot holes. And now, we're stuck with our imagination, as usual.

I just can't with 'open endings' and 'it's left to interpretation' stuff. It's too easy to do that. I'm tired of mangakas not taking risks, rushing their own plots, and not digging deeper into their own MCs' traumas. I don't know what happened, but among the many issues left regarding this last chapter, Izuku's conclusion remains my greatest ick. I'm so sorry to say this, but Izuku didn't grow. He never learned from his mistakes and just didn't change—oh wait. Yes, he did change on one crucial aspect—his biggest trait, being obsessed with his childhood friend, totally disappeared! Maybe he started to stop caring about 'Kacchan and the others' and put himself first, to the point of forgetting the said childhood friend died twice for him, who knows? :))) (yeah, I'm especially pissed off at this lol don't mind me).

In my imagination, I see him being a pro-hero who continues to suppress his feelings and continues to act recklessly, to risk his life in the face of any danger that shows up. This is what happens when you leave it to fans' imagination, after all.

I know fanfictions exist, and I'm very happy this unclear ending motivated some writers to challenge their creativity. For me, it had the opposite effect. I'm disgusted, I am angry at Izuku and I know I'll struggle to finish my fics where he's involved because I don't want to deal with his character anymore. I'm too attached to canonical representation.

Man, I'm just devastated. I have no other words. And I'll have to live with this for the rest of my life. I feel betrayed. Shitted on. I'm dying inside and there's nothing I can do because it's over. Just like this long-ass essay, btw lol. Thank you if you're still here, thank you if you've read this! I'm pretty much open to discussion so if anyone wants to try and reassure me over some aspects or respectfully explain why I am wrong (I know I probably am, yet again those are my own feelings), please don't hesitate to do so. Also, I definitely need friends with whom I could talk about this deeper... so, my DMs are open too if you'd like to!

Much love to Izuku though; one of the best MCs I've encountered in my life, despite how he turned.

[luckykittysshowerthoughts]

Simeon's Punishment

I want to start this off by saying that I agree with the masses that Season 4 was VERY poorly executed. I honestly have actual trust issues with the writers after how that season was handled, to the point that it actually prevented me from getting into Nightbringer until very recently.

...that said. I think that beneath the poor pacing, vague wording, misplaced focus, lack of closure, hidden signals and all-around awful handling, there is something here that deserves to be analyzed. So I'm writing this because I want to decode whatever the fuck the writers were going for. So, here we go.

The reason for Simeon's punishment was... confusing, to say the least. Yes, he did steal from the Celestial Realm, and from Michael personally. However... the reasons he did so are not only just, but reasons Michael should have personally agreed with. Even if Michael didn't give a damn about MC, he very clearly still loves Lucifer- and if Simeon hadn't done what he did, MC would have driven that knife straight through Lucifer's chest. What Simeon did saved the life of one of the most important people to Michael... not to mention protected the Celestial Realm. MC's ring of power was dangerously close to destabilizing all three realms, with the effects already starting to hit the Celestial Realm. What Simeon did was in the best interest of everyone, including Michael and the Celestial Realm. So, why was he punished...?

Well, this post is going to take a similar direction to my post about the fall. It wasn't actually meant to be a punishment at all.

When you look at Simeon's situation from a lens of punishment, certain details don't add up. It wasn't like Michael left Simeon out to dry. He sent arguably his most important angel, Raphael, to ensure Simeon's safety. He reached out to and to some extent collaborated with the Devildom- which he's made clear in the past that he distrusts and dislikes- just to keep everyone on the same page about Simeon and his protection. These acts don't exactly scream "punishment".

Then there was what Michael said to MC in season three- "I have to think about Simeon as well, after all."

This reads to me like Michael is- albeit subtly- angsting over the situation. Like he's still actively looking out for Simeon and his best interests, in his own way. It certainly doesn't sound like someone who has ill will towards him or is apathetic about his wellbeing.

Raphael doesn't seem particularly unhappy with Simeon over the whole thing either, and we all know how much of a stickler Raphael is for rules and doing the "right" thing. His full support of Simeon the entire time tells me that this is a little more complicated than a broken rule.

So... what exactly happened?

It's made very obvious that Simeon being turned human was because he stole the ring; that isn't up for debate. But that doesn't necessarily mean it was a punishment. What I think happened was that the incident made Michael realize a few things about Simeon- and that this was a long time coming, it's just that the situation with the ring was what made him feel that Simeon was better off not being an angel.

In the act of stealing the ring, Simeon made a very loud and clear statement about where his heart truly lies and what's important to him.

If his first and foremost thought was to be a good loyal angel, he would have let that dagger go straight through Lucifer's chest for the "greater good". Lucifer would have died, and MC would be worse for wear, but the Celestial Realm would be safe from the chaotic magic MC possessed.

...but that wasn't what was important to Simeon. That wasn't what mattered most to him.

What Simeon did saved the Celestial Realm, but that's not why he did it. He did it to save Lucifer and MC. That was what was important to him. His heart doesn't lie with the Celestial Realm, not anymore. It lies with MC, and with the brothers, and with the spirit of the exchange program- the fight to make bonds between the realms work.

I'll get into MC and Lucifer in a moment, but for now, that last point. His full and undying belief in doing what's best for all three realms. In Nightbringer, if MC tells Solomon that they want to find a way that's best for everyone instead of choosing between the demons, angels, and humans, it raises intimacy levels not with Solomon, but with Simeon. Who wasn't even in the room or anywhere near them at the time.

That is who Simeon is.

And the rules of the Celestial Realm confine him from doing what he was meant to do, the person he wanted to be.

As an angel, Simeon was only allowed to even see Lucifer and his brothers due to the exchange program- he wasn't allowed to venture down to visit his dear brother freely; in the original game's timeline he likely went centuries without being able to contact him.

He was even more restricted with MC, with whom he had to express clear restraint to avoid lustful sinning. Though most of the examples of this are locked behind Devilgrams (one of the many ways in which this whole arc was poorly handled)- one example I remember was one of his birthday cards from the year of S4 where he's shown sending MC away to hold himself back from "temptation". He couldn't love MC in the way he wanted to love them, because he was an angel.

And the relationship between the realms? Well, he can't do what's best for everyone if he's bound by the strict and oppressive rules of one. The rules that a very drunk Simeon in the devilgram "Simeon's Hidden Side" confesses were severely burning him out. The rules that, in Season 2, he spat in the face of with zero hesitation to pursue what he truly believed in. Simeon is a free spirit, one being slowly strangled by the Celestial Realm's jungle of rules and restrictions.

I don't think Michael did what he did because he was angry with Simeon. I think he did it because he knew it was time to let him go.

But that may not have been what he said. We all know by now that Michael isn't the brightest socially-speaking. When even Raphael, the most tactless being across the three realms, calls you socially inept, that's saying something.

I think what Michael meant to say was that the incident with the ring made him realize that Simeon is better off elsewhere. But what came out was "this is because of the ring"- which bears some very obvious negative implications. Especially when spoken to someone who is most likely in immense shock from the daunting situation they're being faced with. Simeon may be great at reading people and interpreting their motivations under normal circumstances, but it's very likely a part of Simeon's brain just turned off the moment he learned he was going to be human- honestly, who could blame him.

I think the whole "punishment" aspect was, largely, a miscommunication. Something that's backed up further towards the end of the season.

When Satan asks Simeon if it's because he stole the ring, Simeon's answer is rather vague.

"Something like that". That's... a rather strange response. It's rather roundabout. It indicates that it's a little more complicated.

Then there was what Simeon said later in that conversation.

"You-know-who has been waiting for me to figure that out."

Michael's been waiting for Simeon to realize why he actually did what he did. It wasn't about what Simeon did, but who he was. After all, as Simeon says, "this is who I am".

In short...

Yes, Simeon's transformation into a human was because he stole the ring. But no, that doesn't mean it was a punishment.

Simeon's act wasn't just a broken rule, it was a statement about who he is and where his heart lies- a statement that made Michael realize that he's not meant to be an angel. But when Michael said that he was turning Simeon human because he stole the ring, that was not what was gotten across- an in-shock Simeon interpreted it as a punishment, and viewed it as such until the end of the season where he realized what Michael actually meant.

And, honestly, I'm alright with this. I still have a bone to pick with the writers regarding how it was handled, I could rant for ages about that, but I can appreciate the idea itself. My only real concern now is that I hope Simeon keeps his angel lifespan. If he doesn't, then turning him human is essentially indirectly killing him down the line- which has moral issues I can't overlook or justify. That's really my only big problem here after looking at it under a microscope.

I'm also noticing a trend here, if my analysis is in any way accurate. It seems like Michael is the kind of person to make very big, very strange, morally dubious decisions that start to make a lot more sense when looked at more closely. It really lends credence to Simeon's whole "he does everything for a reason" thing. It's a part of Michael's character that I'm interested in seeing where it goes- but hoping for no more Simeon angst in the process, please. Please don’t hurt my boy again.

But, that's my two cents. If this doesn't make sense, it's because I wrote this in an ADHD-induced frenzy at 4 AM and apparently didn't edit it well (or at all) in the morning. Either way, I'll go ahead and claim my title as this hellsite's biggest Michael apologist before anyone can stick it to me. Kitty out.

[scotianostra]

Angus McMillan a Scottish-born explorer, and pioneer was born on August 14th 1810 at Glen Brittle.

Sometimes difficult posts come up that I dislike, this is one such case. Angus McMillan was once revered as a pioneering hero. Today his reputation is in tatters, just one of many that orchestrated atrocities during the Empire building era in our history.

Born at Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, fourth son of Ewen McMillan, sheep farmer, and his wife Marion, Angus received his education at home before the family moved to a larger property on the island of Barra. Against a backdrop of economic hardship, he chose to find his future in the colonies, arriving in New South Wales in January 1838 on the Minerva. His explorations led to the opening of the Gippsland region for pastoralism, displacing the Gunai Aboriginal people who were the traditional owners of the land.

Employed by Lachlan Macalister as an overseer, he moved first to the Clifton station near Camden and then further south to Currawang on the Monaro. In 1839, Macalister instructed McMillan to set up a cattle station at Numbla Munjie, near what is now Omeo, where McMillan was involved in massacres of the Aborigines in retaliation for their herding of cattle.

Around this time McMillan and five other men set out on an expedition to find grazing land and a harbour on the Gippsland coast. They explored many of the rivers and lakes, but were forced to return to Numbla Munjie when they ran short of food.

During 1840, McMillan set up another cattle station for Macalister near the mouth of the Avon River, and also his own station, Bushy Park, further upstream. From here, McMillan made two unsuccessful attempts to reach the coast at Corner Inlet. On his third attempt, in February 1841, he finally reached the coast, near where the Albert River flows into the inlet.

In July 1843 at Warrigal Creek, McMillan and his Highland Brigade surrounded a large group of Gunaikurnai people and mercilessly shot between 60 and 150 men, women and children.

The killings were a reprisal for the murder of his bosses nephew, Ronald Macalister, who was ambushed by a group of Gunaikurnai men he had chased out of his shop hours earlier. McMillan led five more massacres after that, at Nuntin, Boney Point, Maffra, Skull Creek and Butchers Creek.

The Australian author P. D. Gardner investigated the massacres and wrote” Our Founding Murdering Father: Angus Mc Millian And The Kurnai Tribe Of Gippsland” exposing the true story of McMillands deeds.

Over a period of 15 years the indigenous population of the Kurnai people of Gippsland fell from 2,000 to just 216.

Over the last few years some have fought to try and restore McMillan’s name to some extent, but no matter how you look at it seems undeniable that McMillan was involved in the deaths of some Aborigines, that for me personally is enough to justify his disgrace, and the title that has become synonymous with him, “the butcher of Gippsland”.

Another book that told McMillan’s story, Thicker than Water, was written by McMillan’s great-great-niece, Cal Flyn. You can read more from him on the following link to the article “My relative was a mass murderer of Australia's Gunai people. Can I make amends?”

https://www.theguardian.com/.../aboriginal-sorry-day...

[darkfictionjude]

I'm conflicted Jude.

I like Nia because she was mc (ex)best friend and was with them since childhood like a real (doubtful) friend and the aks says that she is really one (she regrets failing them in an ask). But at the same time she doesn't hace faith in your friend even if a killer is not always the most obvious and didn't even write a card for Sally to mc.

Jude you're a gremlin devil for making controversial romancable LI

That's what gets me though apart from your dislike from her what evidence do you have that it's doubtful that Nia was a real friend? Theories are great but to say to the author, character lore that contradicts what I've publicly said rubs me the wrong way. Nia defended them for years, Nia would have a separate private birthday party for MC and her because she didn't want her fake friends to be assholes to MC, Nia got into a fight with Orla for MC. Why is she held to high standards😭

Even when they're at the movies, Imre is defending MC against that guy and Nia helps him. MC canonically stayed friends with her because she was one of the only people MC has loved (to the extent that MC can love anyone). MC doesn't stay around people that don't treat them great (Orla, Percy, Lorcan, their parents). So to believe that they would is a disservice to MC.

The thing is I feel like there's impatience here. In this case I've written down the most obvious reasons why MC would be the killer in Nia's eyes. I've said there is also a hidden powerful reason why Nia believes that I can't say but it will be revealed in episode 12. Does true love (platonic or romantic) require you to be blind? My characters love with their eyes open. Nia never wrote back because as I've said she didn't know if she would ever be safe with MC and thus didn't know if she wanted to continue the friendship.

I'm sorry if this sounds angry I'm actually just trying to explain this the best I can because it's like people don't want to understand her reasons. I've said you don't have to like her but to say outright that she is simply wrong without having the full picture of what went down that July in 1992 is just wanting to be pissed at her for pissed sake. You can hate her for the abandonment but we're all adults here (at least I hope this game is rated 18+) I feel like we have the ability to hate someone and acknowledge they have some points even if the conclusion might be wrong in the end. MC will have the opportunity to be angry at both the abandonment and the accusation of murder but we're not in the game right now we're on the blog.

Anyway I hope it doesn't sound like I'm yelling at people it's just I'm a bit exasperated because I've been trying to explain this for days now 😭😭 much love nonnie I get why many people are so passionate about this💜

[redstrewn]

SO tell me about your touchstarved oc (background if you have one.) and what her relationship would be like with everyone? 🙃

HI NYALLA THANK U FOR ASKING AAA

Omg my MCs are so undeveloped LOOOL. I technically have 3 (one for each background) but I guess only my unnamed and alchemist actually have working personalities.

I've been biased to my unnamed so I'll talk about her.

Nava (The Unnamed)

Notable traits

Fatal flaw: cowardly to a dangerous extent. I like to think because she's used to a more comfortable life (see: the unnamed noting Lowtown as being different from what they're used to), she struggles to discern the appropriate reaction to anything threatening. Her overwhelming fear distorts her perception and can lead her or others to danger with rash decisions. I bet she'll die the most out of all my MCs hahah.

Insecure: I like to think that the priests made her feel special about her hands, and when reality came crashing down that they're actually cursed to do terrible things to people, her self-esteem crashed (gifted kid to average kid type of feeling). I like to think she was soo used to having her hands as the pillar holding her self-esteem, and now she's scrambling to feel good about herself for something. Cue being self-absorbed: she might be so busy thinking about herself that she ends up mistreating or throwing others under the bus to feel greater than she does.

Relationships

Kuras: As any unnamed, she's wary of him. The familiarity has duality however: what reminds her of being lied to also reminds her of home; so despite reservations, she finds him comfortable, in a way. The unnamed is used to cold distance like in her temple anyway (religion often causes repression, after all).

Vere: Unfortunately, she hates him. Outwardly, she can't appreciate his vulgar and aggressive nature. But once again, unfamiliarity has duality: he is so unlike what she's used to that she can't help but envy him. So crass, so vulgar. It's everything she's been taught to bury deep inside her that's growing. I think Vere's existence influences her to let out some of that, so it stops accumulating as much.

Ais: Though he's a monster, he's, ironically, maybe the one she's found herself most drawn to. Maybe having a less-than-metaphorical second sense for things has something to do with it. Despite his violence and unsettling company, she sees his sincerity. Despite being annoying (he just ditched to go drinking?!). After being lied to so much, his heart being on his sleeve is very much a breath of fresh air, and I think Ais is likely the most "canon" route she'll choose. (Ironic isn't it? With how much I obsess over Leander lol).

Mhin: She finds them intimidating, to say the least. But she can't dislike them. She has a respect for them for saving her life. Despite their attitude, she understands where they're coming from. She's grateful for any help at all, and expects no kindness from anyone. She wishes she was half as capable as them.

Leander: Of course I saved my current fave for last. Frankly? She finds him overwhelming and exhausting. He is so forward and aggressive. She likes him—far too much to be comfortable about it. He keeps making her feel to an extent where she can't find herself thinking clearly, and she abhors that (maybe only a little more than she enjoys it). She's thankful for the food and board and...enthusiasm. But she often finds herself wanting to get away from him to catch her breath.

I tried to make things as concise as possible, but yet again I ramble! Thank you so much for asking me about my OC ♡

[sparkbeast20]

Even after everyone’s reasonings for disliking Solomon , I can’t bring myself to dislike him. Honestly I think some of the complaints aren’t even that valid. Sure he’s mean to Demons sometimes….but they’re still demons. A human has a right to dislike demons imo, demons and angels (but especially demons) are always using humans anyhow. Furthermore there’s so much defense for the demons as if they haven’t tried to kill mc on numerous occasions. In NB it could be argued Solomon is the reason why MC is even alive. Just my thoughts! I think people should just be more honest with themselves, it’s okay to just dislike a character but they’re making some things out to be more than what it really is if that makes sense.

Tldr; Solomon isn’t that bad!

Look, I made that post I didn't tagged it with Obey me and just my rambling on my blog, hell I made it because someone on twitter mention the hate that Solomon is getting and I wanted to write out my thoughts.

But after seeing some of the replies and reblogs of that post.

I came to realize that Solomon to me is a Interesting character, where he is not a good person, he might have good intention but he is doing them amorally.

Now... I can put how I see his action, first the whole reasoning he needs the pacts. I completely understand what he started collecting demon pact. If you were in Solomon's shoe and knowing what the demons and angels think of humans, you would want to get somewhat in evening the playing ground. Thus the only option is to uses one of the side's weak point... The pact.

Sadly that means what he did to Asmo, taking advantage of his weaken/drunken state to secure a pact with one of the seven avatar of Devildom.

Solomon in a way reminds me of leaders in war in way. They'll do what it takes to have an advantage in battle/war. Or in a way, Solomon is preparing for a battle, when it comes.

However, if we see this in the perspective of MC, yeah I don't fully trust Solomon. Time and time again he manage to make decisions that makes it hard for MC to trust him.

And yeah, people mention how he is openly uses his pact with his demons Barbatos and Asmo with no hesitation.

I'll say that to me I understand why people in a way dislike Solomon, but at the same time I understand, I don't agree with his method, but I understand.

And I don't want to relay on the excuse of "Demons are demons" in media, when it comes to excusing Solomon's action towards Asmo with the pact.

There's two ways I see Demon in stories, if they are the textbook defintion then Solomon's action is fine.

But with the Obey me world, Demons aren't the textbook definition, textbook demons are more malicious and horrible and yet, OM demons aren't does things to an extent, yes their mean in way, but I see it more as cultural difference in a way.

[neonscandal]

Can I ask, why do you love MLM romance better than Het romance? What makes them better? I did not mean anything negative, and I know everyone have their own like and dislike but I want to know your thoughts....

Also what do you think that made Asian MLM (Danmei, BL manga/manhwa/manhua/tv series) romances different than western MLM romances?

Out the gate with the fujoshi allegations!

Hahaha I joke. I feel like, from my blog, it's very reasonable to make that assumption. I think I watch and recommend mostly het-romance but, there are a number of reasons why MLM ships cause some serious brainrot and frequently appear on my page (this is a SatoSugu, BakuDeku and AshEiji specific call out).

I won't say that the ships are better but as to why they're more pervasive?

From a shonen standpoint, the protagonist and deuteragonist tend to be the the most developed and nuanced characters with more chemistry due to the complexity of their relationship typically driving the plot forward.

Additionally, the development of the relationship will generally have more texture than the flat afterthought of the MC with the FMC they are canonically paired with.

Typically, because these characters are both men, while you'll see some toxic stereotypes (specific to actual BL and yaoi which are usually ick inducing), both characters will generally have the same amount of agency which isn't always given to prop female characters. Remember, kids, the fridge trope is harmful for everyone.

Because these ships aren't always intended, there's that delulu element of "will they, won't they?" like Ross and Rachel from Friends. The DRAMA. Also, they are generally more tragic and, what lingers more: happiness or pain? It's pain. Pain by a long shot. And the fodder to rectify that pain is endless (thank you, fix-it fic authors). There are of course, also ways to twist the knife, too (thank you, sadists).

Subsequently, the resonance of these ships stems from the much stronger emotions you have when things are gut-wrenching. But, also, I am actively reading the ongoing series' of JJK and MHA so of course that part of my brain gets poked more frequently than series' that have long since been completed.

Let's not forget that there's a disproportionate number of shonen and seinen series' that ultimately get full anime adaptations. Off the top of my head, the Ouran High School Host Club fandom is still waiting for a second season. ⌚️👀 HoriMiya and Sasaki to Miyano were heavily abbreviated before getting second seasons, a refreshing shock to the system.

Specifically, of the three main ships that litter my blog (see above), I happen to viscerally relate to one or both of the characters in question. Again, we can chalk that up to the depth of character and my own flaws.

Stylistically, there's a big difference between Western and East Asian media across other genres too. For instance, after only being exposed to the dramatic musical scores in Western horror, there is something truly unsettling with the absence of build up or sound in East Asian horror right before something big catches you unawares.

When it comes to romance (if we're focusing on MLM, it still applies), I think the big difference is the intimacy. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely some series that have a similar level of physical engagement as a Western romance. But, with a lot of stories, you'll go a whole series holding your breath for a hand hold or a hug and it's delectable. The absence of the physical creates so much more depth in those telltale looks characters exchange or the moments of silence when they're alone in each others' presence (awkwardly as hell, might I add).

By comparison, in Western media, you're going through the whole gamut without as much nuance for the layers of non-physical intimacy. Or it's something that gets developed post hookup which is realistic to an extent. But, considering real life hook up culture these days, I think it makes the before stand out as a lot more endearing so maybe that informs the preference.

All that to say, this isn't an endorsement of modesty politics, at all. Life is a healthy mix of both and I'm all about comprehensive experiences. People will gravitate toward whatever speaks to them at whatever point they are in their life. Do you have a preference and, if so, what do you think informs it? Respectfully, I appreciate your curiosity in reaching out.

[whitelilynh]

nejihina is was and still popular in China and Japan and that alone makes me happy, I've seen so many say nejihina was never popular but it is. Did you know kishimoto wanted to reboot part 1 naruto series, we could have had more focus on the clans like the hyuga, inuzuka, uhicha clan and others clans. I believe kishomoto wanted to fix what he did wrong. Also I had no idea that naruto part 1 is far more popular than shippuden with some people and I can see why, part 1 had the ninja theme and part 2 went downhill and ruined it.

Hi!!

Yes, it also makes me happy that there's still a lot of people loving NejiHina 🩷.

I didn't know!! I once read he agreed to Boruto because he initially thought it always a reboot and nor a sequel, but Idk if that's true. A reboot would be wonderful!!!

I think that Team Guy has actually more protagonist vibes than Team 7, but I'd be happy whoever the MC is as far as it give us more about other clans and characters!

I think the EXTREME focus on Uchiha Clan and Sasuke was part of what made Shippuden go downhill, they were interesting when yk, they were just *part* of the plot and not everything at all. It was far more interesting to think Sasuke was one of Naruto's worries but there were other villains too, and I honestly felt extremely disappointed with all, Akatsuki included, revolving about the Uchiha. It made no sense IMO (I hated that Nagato's eyes were supposed to be Madara's, it was like 'what?' 🙄) but it also made a lot of us get tired of the Uchiha and even at some extent start disliking them because it was an exaggeration.

Oh, I remember how cool Akatsuki was!! I was up to date with Naruto back then, and I was not so patiently waiting for next chapter each week. I used to think 'They are SO strong, how on Earth are they gonna be defeated?' every time a new Akatsuki was introduced, but the power scale became so ridiculous high by war that Akatsuki ended up being nothing. I firmly believe Pain should have been the final villain, with Akatsuki by his side ofc, and yk, not to be defeated by Naruto's Tnj.

But well, this is what we got no matter what we wanted.

I'd totally watch a reboot and I'd love if it was focused on other clans!!! Ofc, I favour Hyuga Clan above everyone, but there are many interesting clans out there!!!

[ramonag-if]

I thought of something no it’s a theory and I’m interested in how it’ll expand. It’s just to good.

Also I don’t dislike any of the characters because there’s always an angle. You may not like it but still it’s there.

Now let’s begin

Salrya doesn’t want the Mc necessary out of love but because of what Mc represents.

Sure she can say she loves her child hell she could even believe it. A lie can be so imbedded that it becomes truth.

But I do think with how the Mc was raised they can see when people are using them and with the ROs not counting Anu because she’d use the Mc If the relationship was cordial. (Again theory because Mc would be borderline friendly. And maybe trust)

So Salrya is using the Mc but we don’t know the extent and we won’t get that what’s the word feeling until the next chapter.

But since we can do a lot as a way of saying I don’t want you in my life could we call her out not at the beginning because sadly people who believe their own lie won’t listen at first.

But later on when it’s the last time can the Mc make a comment of how “it took me years to find out your alive. And to find out you didn’t want me like Rana. You needed me for your war. You will never see me like her. And I’ll never believe you truly loved me. Maybe once. Maybe for a day or a week but you used me just like my father.”

Again I am speculating and I do see some issues with how this can Affect the Mc. Of course it would depend on the extent it is written and how much the Mc learns.

I’m done if I come up with another I’ll drop back by but I was working on my story and something happened to a character and I thought of your story.

Have a great day

Also free

Bear hug 🤗

I'm not going to confirm or deny your theory because I have said before that I want players to feel how they feel about Salyra's actions 😊 Some will see love and others will just see her as having the MC for their own goal. You need to make that decision on your own 😋

There are a lot of negative/aggressive options throughout the interactions with Salyra and it's the way it was with Ahlf. You're never going to be forced into being nice with her because she's a parental figure and I haven't met anyone who has never bickers or argued with their parents at least once 😅

[pleas3pretendimnothere]

I'm going to make a little diary on here from now on! I love talking about fiction, and I tend to dislike a lot of "popular" fiction, so that leads me to reading whatever book I pick up that has an interesting summary! However, that means whenever I read a book, I don't know anyone else who's read it! I don't have any (ANY) friends that enjoy reading as much as I do, so I'm just going to put my thoughts down on here!

I started reading more vigorously last year, because last year was the first I wasn't working (I was an RN in the US, but I moved to Tokyo, where I can't work without a Japanese license). By then, I'd collected over 90 books on my bookshelf that I hadn't read, so when the New Year started, I decided it was time to tackle them! This year, I want to discuss what I read with...anyone!!! (and i don't have a twitter...) So keep reading!!

Proxy

By Alex London - Because I've been collecting so many books for so long, I tend to have a lot of YA fiction that's sat on my shelf for years and years and years going unread. This is one of those books! I fully went into this one expecting it to be another terribly developed YA novel. That can be very hit or miss--some YA novels are so bad, they become impossible to put down. It's like looking at a car crash!

Proxy was bad bad, and that's because it was disappointing. The book starts with a lot of positive surprises. It's a cyberpunk retelling of The Whipping Boy, where the hyper-wealthy are able to employ vulnerable, poor "proxies" to inherit their debts and legal punishments in exchange for an education. For cyberpunk, this is a match made in heaven. It made so much sense, I asked myself, "How has this not been done before?" And then, you quickly learn that the main character is LGBT! What a refreshing surprise from a 2013 sci-fi YA novel! All of this was setting up the book to be fresh, fun, and new. Unfortunately, it was none of those things.

The first half of the book is quite strong, setting up interesting characters with compelling dilemmas in a frightening, nonsensical world. The second half falls into the YA pitfall. As action ramps up, pacing ramps down. Things that appeared to make sense no longer do. And of course, now there is a rebel faction, and only our MC can lead them. And, wonderfully, the gay love story--spoilers here--doesn't end well! What a shocker!

Not worth anyone's time, building up an exciting novel only to crash and burn so hard. Read Snow Crash instead, and please SKIP IT!

Rot and Ruin

By Jonathan Maberry - Here is another book that's been with me for ages and ages. This one is a 2010 zombie YA novel. I have so much to say about this book, and unfortunately, it's quite like Proxy. A lot of good ideas, but poor execution.

This book has been recognized very positively, and it's clear why. The book is all about humanity. Introducing a concept like a "closure specialist"--a bounty hunter who specifically finds and puts to rest loved ones lost to the zombie pandemic--was a spectacular idea. It makes sense for any zombie world, and yet, I've never read about it! However, the extent to which this concept is explored doesn't always read well. The narrative wants you to sympathize with zombies, seeing them less as hungry packs of senseless wolves, but instead as hordes of human victims who were never properly put to rest. That's hard to understand. I mean, they want my brains! Maybe they were people once, but I could never see them as still human! Maybe that's the fault of Maberry's, or the concept of zombies itself. So while I LOVED the "closure specialist" angle, the book's goal of creating empathy for zombies falls quite flat.

My central issue was the book's pacing. For a zombie novel, it's incredibly slow from beginning to end. Even when exciting things are happening, it felt like a slog, perhaps due to our MC's frequent lack of agency. Often, characters are telling our MC pages and pages of more interesting things that happened far in their past--believe me, this apocalyptic world is cool, we'll tell you about it! The MC's brother is constantly showing the reader what a more compelling MC he would have been! What a shame! Instead, we are stuck with a rather annoying, childish young MC, whose contribution to the story, by the conclusion, feels minute.

So many good ideas, and in fact, one of the most powerful, emotional Epilogues I've read in a long time, but overall quite boring. Took me 3 weeks to read! If you love zombie fiction, this is worth a RENT IT . Otherwise, SKIP IT!

Her Fearful Symmetry

By Audrey Niffenegger - Here is a 2009 novel about a pair of young American twins who inherit their estranged aunt's London flat. Little do they realize, the flat is being haunted... That is the summary that attracted me to Her Fearful Symmetry. I see often the "Horror" genre tacked on to this one. The only horror is the book's lackluster story.

This is a beautifully written piece that left me asking, "Why?" Why was this book written? Who was it written for? Two eccentric 21-year-old sisters, who are virtually connected at the hip and share a mutual lack of ambition, move into a mysterious flat, where they both fall into the arms or the poor, emotionally damaged male neighbors who are twice their age. One man is married and struggling with severe OCD--oh, have pity on him! The other was romantically involved with the aunt. What an interesting choice!

There is a real charm somewhere in here. It's clear that Niffenegger fell in love with London's Highgate Cemetery--she even went on to give volunteer tours of the cemetery following her work on this novel, which is so incredibly sweet! Love for the cemetery reads clearly all throughout and is undoubtedly the strength of the novel, but unfortunately, it's made background to a story that left me confused and sometimes uncomfortable (I am so tired of girls in their 20s dating men in the 40s). Even worse, it's predictable in all the wrong ways. I was never surprised by the story, impressed by the concepts, or invested in a character. I just kept asking, "Why?"

And when the plot twist hit? Ugh! Silly, and overcomplicated. Trying to relay it to my husband just made him laugh. SKIP IT!

The Slanted Worlds

By Catherine Fisher - This is the second novel in Fisher's 2012-2016 Obsidian Mirror series. Thankfully, I didn't read ALL bad books this month. While this book, much like its predecessor, isn't incredibly new or special, it's executed well enough to keep me invested.

The writing isn't special, but it's approachable to readers of all ages, and luckily, the story and characters are enough to keep you glued to the page. If you're able to suspend your disbelief and consume a book about time-travel, this is great addition to the scif-fi genre! There are elements to the story that are confusing, as time-travel is doomed to be, but that is rescued by the book's colorful cast of characters. Each contender is technically working with everyone else, and yet, they all have their own conflicting motive surrounding the series' McGuffin. It's executed well enough that I am constantly wondering who is going to snap first and betray the group. That works magic for the pacing! Every character has secrets waiting to be discovered by both the characters and the reader!

There is an emotional aspect missing from this book, but the rest of it is so strange and magical and weird, that I couldn't help but zip through this one. Wonderfully paced, RENT IT!

Tada! And that was January! Thank you if you read this, and I'll be back at the end of February!

[foxtricksterwriting]

My Yandere MCs and OCs; Dakota

Part 1(Dakota) |

Author's Note: I'll add parts for anyone interested in my other ocs and mcs as I do them. Also, I'm using picrew cause I can't draw to save my life

If you are not +18, DO NOT INTERACT!!

This is my OC made specifically for Krow(@thekrows-nest) imsorryinadvancelol

FullLegal Name; ???? Evans(Surname's a WIP)

Nickname; Dakota ("Any other name is a dead name :)")

Gender(Pronouns); Nonbinary(They/them)

Age; 27 ("Ahah, you thought I was a lot younger? I get that a lot.")

Height; 6'5

Occupation; Bar owner, bartender ("Oh, the name of my bar? Delilah's. Why? My grandfather opened it after my grandmother passed away and named it after her. So, family business and all that.")

More About Them; A thembo to the truest extent. Don't get me wrong, they can be smart when it relates to their interests. If it's not related? They don't care enough to try to learn it. Dakota's the first person to offer their help in any situation, and tends not to question the weird things that happen around them. They also tend to give people... too many chances to right their wrongs. Dakota believes that everybody deserves a chance to prove themselves, and tries to stick up for who they perceive as the underdog. Many of their friends have described them as 'the epitome of a golden retriever' and that's really not far off.

Dakota falls in love easily, and hard. They're extremely lucky to have not ended up in a bad relationship. They tend to take the advice and opinions of their friends very seriously, even if it's not good or healthy... They have a surprisingly small inner circle; made up of four people. Dakota has set their opinions on a very, very high pedestal; high enough to surpass some laws. Luckily for Dakota, these four people are decent people and try to steer them away from others looking to take advantage of Dakota's trusting nature.

Dakota has a abundance of confidence and is very blunt. They always speak their mind, even if it means they'd get hurt because of it. If they like you, you'll know. If they dislike you, you'll know that too.

And finally, Dakota has surprisingly good business and bartending skills. This is due to their family's bar being left to them. They've owned said bar, Delilah's, since they were 21. They took to the business like a fish to water. They're proud enough of their bar to brag about it at least once when they meet someone new. Their insistent endorsements of the bar has become a joke in their friend group.

Fun Facts;

Will happily sit and listen to someone ramble for hours and hours at a time. They ask leading questions, too, to get them to talk more. If they're talking to someone important/someone they care about, they'll write everything down so they'll actually remember it.

Knows how to pick most locks. Don't ask how, they won't tell you.

Green is not their favorite color, surprisingly. Their favorite color is black.

Has said "Think twice? Bestie, I don't even think once, lol" before. That's also a running joke in their friend group.

Is a human garbage disposal. They have pica, which means they often try to eat non-food items. Usually, it won't cause them any issues. They've eaten corks from wine bottles and a couple of beer bottle tops before and ended up just fine. They've also eaten marbles before. If they can't keep something down, then no living creature should eat whatever they tried to eat.

Doesn't remember anything from before their 9th birthday. They don't seemed worried about it, either....

gets cold very easily, and their hands and feet tend to stay cold. Warm gloves and socks don't help, that just makes them sweaty :/

HATES socks. The only time they willing wear socks is when they plan on wearing their boots for a long while (ie +5 hours)

Has no shame AND has a hard time reading a room. Can and will ask their friends and loved ones embarrassing things, incredibly seriously, at terrible times. The same applies to intimacy and sex, too.

Is a lightweight and a very emotional drunk. It's pretty easy for them to get black-out drunk and it's for that exact reason they don't drink.

Before meeting Krow, Dakota had never felt any kind of sexual attraction or even arousal. Now that they have, they are completely insatiable.

On that note, one of their kinks is marathon sex~

"Oh, hey!! You're here!! Oh, this is great! You wanna go get something to eat??? ....Okay, let's go shopping instead! Time spent with you is time spent well, bestie!"

[cyborg-squid]

Disclaimer: I’m only 2~3 hours into Engage, and I haven’t looked up the recruitable cast list, so maybe I shouldn’t be commenting on it, but once more I find myself getting lowkey mad about the variety, or lack thereof, with the party members (so far at least).

Starting off (again, only 3 hours in), Alear and the worldbuilding built around them feels extremely bland, having a MC who’s directly connected to the divine in that particular way is kinda new, but we’ve already done several Dragon-type protagonists, as well as Fell Dragon antagonists, in Awakening but part of what made that work so well is that it wasn’t a core part of Robin’s identity, it was kept a mystery and built up to.

And another big thing, imo, (and this is a complaint I had to a lesser extent with Three Houses) is the... lack of variance in the cast. I mean, most characters designs and personalities were varied enough, you’re not likely to get characters confused with each other, but a lot of their motivations and morals aren’t as varied or screwy as some other ones are. Fates did this more than Awakening did, but Awakening did still have characters who were either more mercenary in their loyalties (Gregor, Gaius, Lon’qu), ones who were members of the Shepherds but were more connected to their own causes/motivations (Say’ri, Anna), and some who were downright wicked (Henry, Tharja, Gangrel+Walhart+Aversa from Spotpass). While not all of Fates cast are winners (there being some I didn’t even remember until I looked them up), it had a lot more variety, imo, due to the Japanese theming of Hoshido and the nature of the lords+their retainers, cuz while a few of them are your standards knights/soldiers, the proclivities of their lords has allowed for there to be some that are on completely different wavelengths than other ‘retainers, in both Fates and future games.

Like I said, there are some in both Fates and Awakening that are pretty standard, boring (depending on your tastes), or unremarkable. I don’t entirely dislike the personalities so far in Engage, but so many of them just feel... the same, wanting to join up with Alear to stop the Fall dragon, which is just so... plain and default that it almost makes me mad, combined with the completely uninteresting setting of “only 4 nations and they’re all in a circle and one is Peace and one is Might and one is Freedom and one is Evil”.

This is just way too many words to say: I want ‘em shadier! I want ‘em shiftier! I want varied goals! I want varied ambitions and morals! Mix it up! Mix it up!

(Though I’m completely down for me being wrong about Engage on this, if they really mix it up as I play more)

[scotianostra]

Angus McMillan a Scottish-born explorer, and pioneer was born on August 14th 1810 at Glen Brittle.

Sometimes difficult posts come up that I dislike, this is one such case. Angus McMillan was once revered as a pioneering hero. Today his reputation is in tatters, just one of many that orchestrated atrocities during the Empire building era in our history.

Born at Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, fourth son of Ewen McMillan, sheep farmer, and his wife Marion, Angus received his education at home before the family moved to a larger property on the island of Barra. Against a backdrop of economic hardship, he chose to find his future in the colonies, arriving in New South Wales in January 1838 on the Minerva. His explorations led to the opening of the Gippsland region for pastoralism, displacing the Gunai Aboriginal people who were the traditional owners of the land.

Employed by Lachlan Macalister as an overseer, he moved first to the Clifton station near Camden and then further south to Currawang on the Monaro. In 1839, Macalister instructed McMillan to set up a cattle station at Numbla Munjie, near what is now Omeo, where McMillan was involved in massacres of the Aborigines in retaliation for their herding of cattle.

Around this time McMillan and five other men set out on an expedition to find grazing land and a harbour on the Gippsland coast. They explored many of the rivers and lakes, but were forced to return to Numbla Munjie when they ran short of food.

During 1840, McMillan set up another cattle station for Macalister near the mouth of the Avon River, and also his own station, Bushy Park, further upstream. From here, McMillan made two unsuccessful attempts to reach the coast at Corner Inlet. On his third attempt, in February 1841, he finally reached the coast, near where the Albert River flows into the inlet.

In July 1843 at Warrigal Creek, McMillan and his Highland Brigade surrounded a large group of Gunaikurnai people and mercilessly shot between 60 and 150 men, women and children.

The killings were a reprisal for the murder of his bosses nephew, Ronald Macalister, who was ambushed by a group of Gunaikurnai men he had chased out of his shop hours earlier. McMillan led five more massacres after that, at Nuntin, Boney Point, Maffra, Skull Creek and Butchers Creek.

The Australian author P. D. Gardner investigated the massacres and wrote” Our Founding Murdering Father: Angus Mc Millian And The Kurnai Tribe Of Gippsland” exposing the true story of McMillands deeds.

Over a period of 15 years the indigenous population of the Kurnai people of Gippsland fell from 2,000 to just 216.

Over the last few years some have fought to try and restore McMillan’s name to some extent, but no matter how you look at it seems undeniable that McMillan was involved in the deaths of some Aborigines, that for me personally is enough to justify his disgrace, and the title that has become synonymous with him, “the butcher of Gippsland”.

Another book that told McMillan’s story, Thicker than Water, was written by McMillan’s great-great-niece, Cal Flyn. You can read more from him on the following link to the article “My relative was a mass murderer of Australia's Gunai people. Can I make amends?”

https://www.theguardian.com/.../aboriginal-sorry-day...