#my strategy is i pick the people i want to win which usually has me getting very few right

[carcarrot]

i lied i did watch the oscars

[qqueenofhades]

Not that anything's a for sure bet but my read on the general situation re: Harris-Walz is that there's going to be a lot less headwind to fight for Harris specifically as opposed to Clinton because the amazing right wing media hasn't had twenty years for poison to seep into the layperson's thoughts about Clinton's "worthiness"

Well, that and the fact that the MAGA crowd are just really, really bad strategic planners (especially since a solid 75% of their strategy is "lol we'll just cheat and win it that way, we don't need anything else.") They howled for 3.5 years about how Biden was too old to serve and should step down, and then when he did, they had zero plan how to run against Kamala and Trump is now practically begging Biden to magically get back into the race and save him. They ran an anti-Shapiro influence campaign by encouraging the antisemitic online left and planning to exploit the issue among Democrats divided on Israel/Gaza, then furiously melted down when Walz was picked and had no plan to deal with him either. Fascism is a helluva drug, kiddos. Don't try it at home.

The reason Harris has been able to rocket so high is simple, which is that she's channeling Obama 08 energy in more ways than one. Obama also came onto the national political scene four years before (with his speech at the 2004 DNC) and four years later, he was the party's nominee. It didn't even matter that he was a skinny brown guy named Barack Hussein Obama, because people were so tired of the chaos and war and incompetence of Bush Jr that they latched onto a simple message of hope and change and the historical nature of his candidacy felt like an optimistic risk worth taking. Why couldn't it be time for the first African American president? Yes, of course, there was incredible vitriol and we are still dealing with that backlash in some ways now, but still.

As I have said before, Trump is technically not the incumbent, but the last 8 years have been dominated by his hatred, chaos, division, rage, and treason in a way even Bush could never quite manage, and when people get to that point, there's a lot of coiled-up energy that has at last come bursting out. We needed Biden's old-moderate-white-man cred to defeat Trump as the sitting president in 2020, when most of his worst scandals hadn't even happened yet, but this is not 2020 (or 2016) and the dynamic is different. We are now on offense and playing to win, people have readily and eagerly embraced the absolute god tier karma that would come from a black female prosecutor finally ending the Orange Menace's reign of terror once and for all, and the Republicans are spitting smoke and spinning gears running frantically through their usual tired old stupid cliche attacks. GAY TRANS EVIL BIRTHERISM SWIFTBOAT FOREIGN FAR LEFT COMMIE LIBERAL HEATHEN!! they scream desperately, trying to find something that sticks. Except this time, no matter how hard the corporate media tries to help them out, nobody is listening. Nobody is buying it. We know exactly what BS they're trying and we're just shrugging and going "Yeah, no. Weird."

It absolutely helps that Kamala is not dragging the ball and chain of 20 years of Republican smear attacks, yes. But there are a lot of reasons why the GOP is imploding before our eyes and it's probably now more statistically likely that there is a blue tsunami than it is that Trump wins. I still cannot, CANNOT, believe it has been barely three fucking weeks. If this is a dream don't want to wake up, etc. Let me goddamn stay in this timeline just a little longer. And if we do the work, we can in fact make it that way, and Yeah. Yeah.

[mimikittysblog]

The Beater’s a Keeper

Pairing: Slytherin! Beater! Jay x Hufflepuff! Female! Reader // ft. A bit of Slytherin! Keeper! Heeseung x Hufflepuff! Jake

Genre: Fluff, smut

Synopsis: As much as you wanted your house to win the Quidditch Cup this season, watching your Slytherin boyfriend play for and win said cup is just as rewarding. What can you say? He looks mighty fine in his quidditch uniform. Plus Slytherins throw better celebration parties anyway. Parties where you get to congratulate your boyfriend appropriately… away from the public eye of course.

TikTok Inspo: 1. 2.

Warnings: Alcohol consumption, house party, make out, oral (male receiving), unprotected sex (WEAR PROTECTION PEOPLE), that should be it, if I missed anything let me know!

Word Count: 4,3k words

A/N: As usual I really hope you’ll like this. This was inspired by the Hogwarts house party TikTok’s that was going around. I found them pretty funny and I wondered what Enhypen’s hyung line would do at these parties lol. Also I then remembered the Harry Potter photos they dropped for Halloween AND THEN I IMAGINED JAY IN A QUIDDITCH UNIFORM AND I TURNED FERAL SKSN so this was born! Not my finest work, at least the smut part, still getting the hang of writing it so yeah, hope you can still enjoy it though. Also as much as I love HP I am in now way supporting J. K. Rowling and her fuckass behavior. Now with that out of the way I hope you enjoy! Thank youuu!

Tagging: @hello-stranger24

.✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ✧.

It’s finally here.

The highly anticipated final quidditch match of the season.

Unsurprisingly it’s Slytherin vs Gryffindor once again. Pretty cliché, but what to do? They were great Quidditch players.

However the excitement and anticipation were still through the roof. Everyone is extremely curious on who will win this year. Some students are already making bets as usual. Though the majority are saying Gryffindor will definitely win this time, since Slytherin did win last year. They say those lions are extremely eager to get their Quidditch Cup back. They also say Jungwon, Gryffindor’s captain, had come up with a new strategy to guarantee their win.

You weren’t too sure about that.

Now while you also think the Gryffindor team are good, great even! And that Jungwon is also a wonderful captain, who you’re sure has tricks up his sleeve.

They didn’t have Park Jongseong aka Jay. The Slytherin team’s beater.

Who also happens to be your boyfriend. Not to brag.

Jay is quite literally known as one of the best beaters Hogwarts has ever seen in decades.

While Slytherin doesn’t win the Quidditch Cup every year, Jay always excels at every match. He somehow is always to hit the bludger just right to help his team secure points. He’s always so passionate in everything he does, which obviously includes Quidditch.

So knowing your boyfriend, you know he’s extra determined to win this year. You also have the confidence that he’ll achieve just that.

Skipping into the great hall for breakfast, eyes scanning for Slytherin’s star player to wish him a good luck and give him a good luck present, you suddenly feel arms around your waist and a firm chest against your back.

“Looking for someone?” You hear a very familiar voice say.

“Not anymore.” You giggle as you turn around to face your love and wrap your arms around his neck. “Hi there star player.” You greet him with a wide smile and a kiss.

He chuckles as he kisses you back. “Hi baby.” He greeted you back, pulling you even closer.

“Hi, nervous?” You ask him. He responds with a shake of his head.

“Naaah. Well I was but not anymore. I have my lucky charm right here.” He replied raising his eyebrows a bit.

“Oh reeeeaally? Where?” You tease him while looking around the great hall.

Jay then rolls his eyes as he picks you up and spins you around here. “She’s riiight here!” He says.

At this action you squealed and giggled a bit, causing some people to look your way. You two didn’t care though. As Jay puts you down, he was about to pull you into another kiss, you were interrupted by a cough.

“So sorry to bother disgusting display, but our team’s beater needs to eat before the big game Y/n.” Heeseung, the captain and seeker of the Slytherin’s Quidditch team said with a smirk.

“OH RIGHT! Sorry! That was actually why I was looking for you love! I made you breakfast!” You said as you reached into your bag to pull out a big lunchbox you made specially for him.

Jay smiled “Honey you didn’t have to.” He said as he pulled you close and kisses the top of your head. “But thank you, Thank you so much. I think this just guaranteed our win.” He added with his signature smirk.

“You’re my boyfriend! And it’s the big day! Of course I had to! And you’re welcome love!” You replied.

“Hah! A mere lunchbox won’t make you beat us Jongsaeng~~.” A teasing voice suddenly said.

Turning around, standing there was Park Sunghoon, the Gryffindor team’s seeker, and one of Jay’s best friend.

Even though they were from different houses, they were still the bestest of friends, along with a few others, all from different houses. Their pride for their houses having no effect on their friendship.

“Just you wait Park. You’ll witness the magic that is my girlfriends cooking once we’re in the air.” Jay replied pridefully and pulling you even closer. The compliment causing a blush to form on your cheeks.

“Unless Y/n’s cooking can make you figure out our game plan for today then you got no chance.” Another voice popped up who just so happened to be the aforementioned Gryffindor team captain, Jungwon.

“Enough! Hurry up all of you go eat at your tables then go get ready! You’re about to play the biggest games of your life!” Sunoo, a Ravenclaw boy who is also apart of their friend group interjected. “Best of luck to all of you! But more good luck to the Slytherin team cause I betted 10 galleons on your win!! Don’t let me down!!” He added with a chuckle as he pushed a whining Sunghoon towards the Gryffindor table.

While laughing at the silly boys antics, you then turned to your boyfriend one last time and gave him one last kiss. “Good luck my love.” You said.

“Who needs luck when I have you?” He replied slightly wiggling his eyebrows. “But thank you sweetie.”

Suddenly Jay pulled away slightly and took his scarf off. He then proceeded to wrap said scarf around your neck, making sure it will shield your neck efficiently against the cold. “Here. Can’t have my girl freezing while rooting for me can I? Plus this will make sure everyone knows who you belong to.” He said displaying his incredibly charming smile while also softly caressing your cheek.

This action causing another blush to appear on your cheeks and just as Jay leaned in for another kiss, he suddenly got pulled away.

“ENOOOUGHHHH!!” Yelled Riki, the Slytherin team’s second beater, as he drags his teammate all the way to the Slytherin table.

“YAH!! LET GO OF ME! UGH. BYE BABY!! CHEER LOUDLY FOR ME!” Jay yelled as he gets dragged.

Shaking your head while giggling at the interactions you just had, you head to your own table and sat down next to your good friend Jake.

“You’re boyfriend may be loud, but he is sweet.” He chuckled. “Thought you’re dating a beater, not a keeper.” He added as he bumped your shoulder.

“Who said he can’t be both?” You said with a smirk. “Why? Jealous Jakey?”

“Of you having to deal with that megaphone of a boyfriend? Yeah no.” He replied.

You smacked his shoulder lightly. “No dumbass. Jealous that you don’t have a certain Slytherin Quidditch player as a boyfriend? A seeker perhaps?” You asked with a very wide and teasing smirk. A smirk that was wiped off as Jake shoved some mashed potatoes in your mouth.

“Shut up.” A red faced Jake said. You could only giggle back as you chew said mashed potatoes.

.✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ✧.

Game time.

All the students and professors have gathered at the Quidditch pitch to watch this iconic match about to go down.

Beomgyu who was the announcer for the game then calls out the teams to the pitch. The teams then all fly out and into their positions in the air. Here you finally get to see Jay in his quidditch uniform in all his glory.

Merlins beard.

You could faint with how FINE this man looks. Your legs literally went weak. It didn’t help that he winked at you when he was in his position near you.

“Oh for heavens sake..” Sunoo, who was standing beside you suddenly said.

“What?” Jake asked him who was standing on the other side of you asked.

“You two are so love sick your pupils are practically heart shaped.” Sunoo stated in an obvious tone.

“DO YOU NOT SEE JAY?!!!” You defended as Jake just tries to hide his blush by looking away.

“Yeah. I do. and sure, he looks good but-“

“AND THE GAME HAS BEGUN! TEAM CAPTAIN YANG JUNGWON HAS GOT THE QUAFFLE AND PASSES IT TO JUNG WOOYOUNG! OHH!

THE QUAFFLE HAS BEEN STOLEN BY CHOI SAN! CHOI SAN IS JUST ZOOMING TO THE GOAL! THERE HE GOES AND-

MERLINS BEARD!! CHOI SAN WAS JUST SAVED FROM A BLUDGER BY PARK JAY WHO CAME OUT OF NO WHERE! AND CHOI SAN SCORES!!!! TEN POINTS FOR SLYTHERIN!!”

Before finishing his sassy comment, Sunoo was cut off by Beomgyu’s commentary as the game has begun. All eyes were on the players, not wanting to miss a single thing that happens.

The area was filled with cheers, yelling and screams. Also with students with their own commentaries about the game.

“Omg they’re all so fast!”

“Where did San even come from?”

“San?! Jay just suddenly popped out of nowhere!”

“Yeah Jay’s reflexes are so cool!”

"Jay is amazing!!"

“JongHo is fuming! Jungwon looks kinda pleased though! Is this apart of his plan?"

You couldn’t help but giggle and have pride swell in you’re heart hearing all of the comments that were about Jay. It just makes a smile glued onto your face. He really is amazing.

.✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ✧.

As time goes on the game becomes even more intense. Both team scoring one after the other. Its truly neck and neck and right now everyone is anticipating for which seeker is going to catch the snitch and win the game. If the tension was high when the game started, the tension is practically in space now.

The score is now Gryffindor with 140 points vs Slytherin with 130 points.

Suddenly, while Jungwon was flying towards the goal with the quaffle, trying to secure more points for his house.

It happened.

Both Sunghoon and Heeseung abruptly dived towards a certain direction at the same time.

No one can really see the snitch actually. However with how fast the both of them are flying across the field right now and with so much determination on their faces.

Everyone knew they found it.

Everyone’s eyes are on them now. They’re practically flying side by side and soon enough they both outstretch their arm. Everyone’s yelling becomes even louder to the point it could be deafening and as much as you wanted to scream too, you’re so anxious all you can do is clutch the scarf around your neck.

“COULD THIS BE THE END OF THE GAME FOLKS?? PARK SUNGHOON AND LEE HEESEUNG ARE NOW NECK AND NECK!! OH PARK SUNGHOON IS NOW A CENTIMETER AHEAD- WAIT NOW LEE HEESEUNG IS IN FRONT!

NO NO PARK SUNGHOON IS NOW IN FRONT- LEE HEESEUNG JUST INCHED FORWARD AG- DEAR GOD PARK SUNGHOON IS IN FRONT AGAIN!!! IS HE GONNA GET IT?? PARK SUNGHOON KEEPS SPEEDING FORWARD AND-

BLODDY HELL!!!!

PARK SUNGHOONS BROOM JUST GOT HIT BY A BLUDGER SENT BY PARK JAY!!! PARK SUNGHOON HAS LOST CONTROL OF HIS BROOM!! LEE HEESEUNG SPEEDS FORWARD AND-

HE CAUGHT IT!!!!!

LEE HEESEUNG HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH!!!! SLYTHERIN WINSS!!! AAAAAAHHHH!!!”

The entire stadium then explodes with noise. Cheers, yells of happiness and loud groans of disappointment, clapping and so much more. One of them of course is you, who is yelling at that incredible play your boyfriend did at the last minute.

"WOOOOO!!! GOOO JAY!!!" You cheer for him and his team as they zoom around the field in formation as their celebration.

At the front of that formation was Heeseung, as he is the captain and the one who caught the snitch and Jay just slightly behind him, as the one who ensured said catch. Their happy and prideful smiles as bright as stars as Heeseung raises the snitch in the air, and as Jay sends you another wink as he flew past you.

"Love fools.. absolute love fools.." You hear Sunoo sigh as your eyes are still locked on Jay.

You don't really mind it as it is true in a way. You're so in love to where it is practically foolish. But how could you not??

Your boyfriend is actually a keeper.

Though you noticed Sunoo said "fools", so you look over to see Jake also having his eyes glued onto Heeseung. You could only chuckle.

Squeezing Jake's shoulder softly you moved closer and say "Go get him." with a smile as you head down to meet up with your boyfriend.

.✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ✧.

While walking through the halls, you finally found the Slytherin team walking back towards their common room, still decked out in their quidditch uniforms. There were multiple people already following them, congratulating them on their win.

"JAY!!" You squealed loudly, with a huge grin on your face.

It caught his attention along with some others. His eyes brightened then he smiled so wide, his eyes actually turned into crescents.

He made a beeline towards you as you also started sprinting towards him. You couldn't help but just jump into his strong arms when you reached him, and thankfully said arms were already wide open for you. He then spun you around for the second time that day causing you to squeal and giggle.

"CONGRATULATIONS!!! You were amazing out there!! Oh my goodness you're absolutely incredible Park Jongseong! You flew so fast and aimed so perfectly! How did you even do-"

You were unable to finish your congratulatory ramblings as you were cut off but a sweet and passionate kiss from your boyfriend. It caught you off guard but he's so addicting you just started to melt.

"Thank you my love." He mumbled against your lips. He then pulled away and had the cheekiest smile. "I couldn't do it without you. I told you. You're my lucky charm, and that lunchbox really did help." He chuckled.

You smacked his chest lightly as your cheeks turned a dusty pink. "Oh stop it. That was all you!"

“Hmm what if I said it was a the both of us?” He suggested. You pretended to think for a moment and just nodded with a smile. “Fine.” You said.

He chuckled and just hugged you tightly again. He then gave you a kiss on the top of your head.

“We’re holding a celebration party as usual, hope you’ll join?” He asked.

“Of course I’ll join! Just let me go change and I’ll be right there!” You giggled.

“Alright love, I need to change too, but still wear this okay?” He said, fixing his scarf thats still around your neck.

As you were about to reply, you heard a voice suddenly call out your friends name.

Looking at where the voice was coming from you see Heeseung suddenly jogging to Jake who was standing a bit of a distance away with a shocked look.

You couldn’t really hear what they were saying, but you can see Jake suddenly having the biggest grin ever as he and Heeseung share an embrace, Heeseung also sporting a matching grin.

You gasp at the sight then squeal in happiness.

Jay also chuckled seeing this, especially as the presumably new couple got greeted by the cheers of everyone in their vicinity.

“Finally. He’s been wanting to ask him out for ages but he always chickens out.” Jay commented.

“Oh my god! Jake keeps doing the same!” You giggle with a shake of your head.

The two of them started walking away hand in hand, probably to get some alone time, with that you turned back to Jay. “See you soon?”

He replies with a nod and kisses your temple one last time. “See you love.”

.✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ✧.

You arrived at the Slytherin house party wearing something you knew Jay would love. Cute but still sexy enough. Which was just perfect.

When you arrived at the dungeons however, there was a Slytherin 5th year that was acting like a bouncer and he wouldn’t let you in at first.

“What do you mean I can’t get in?!” You huffed (heh) at him.

“No Hufflepuffs without a Slytherin invite allowed. Sorry. You got a Slytherin invite?”

“Of course she does dumbass.”

You looked behind the Slytherin to see your boyfriend wearing a casual black shirt and some green sweats. and wow.

He looked fucking delicious.

“She’s my girlfriend. Now go to bed. We don’t need a fucking bouncer kid. Anyone can come in as long as they don’t cause trouble.” He stated as he moved to you and pulled you close by the waist.

“She’s you- oh god I’m so sorry! But.. still.. its a Slytherin party.. I need to stop other houses-” The Slytherin tried to defend himself.

“Other houses are gonna come in wether you like it or not. This isn’t the 1980’s anymore. We’re all friends.” Jay cut him off.

“B-but-“ The kid tried to keep going but Heeseung showed up and cut him off again. He grabbed his shoulder taking him away.

“Just stop. Seriously get to bed.” Heeseung said then turned to you. “Get in here y/n! Enjoy yourselves you two.” He continues with a wink.

“Thank you Hee!” You said as you held onto Jays hand as he brought you inside where the music was blaring.

Here you get to see the great party the Slytherins put together. Everyone seems to be having a hell of a time. The dance floor filled with an abundance of people just dancing with each other having the time of their lives.

“Can I get my beautiful girl anything to drink?” You turned to your handsome boyfriend who had that godforsaken smirk on his face.

“Just a butterbeer would be nice.” You replied.

“Well right this way M’lady” He said as he lead you to the makeshift bar where you see Sunoo fixing up some drinks.

“Always hustling huh Sunoo?” You giggled.

“Oh of course! Now what can I get you?” Sunoo asked

“My gorgeous girlfriend here would like a butterbeer. And I shall have the same” Jay told Sunoo quite dramatically.

You could only giggle and nudge him slightly.

With a chuckle Sunoo then pulled out two bottles of butterbeer and handed them to the both of you. “On the house! Have fun!”

“Thanks Sunoo! You too!” You told him as you took one of the bottles and headed to the dance floor with Jay. Here you and Jay danced along to the blaring music while taking sips of your drinks. Your hips both swayed together to the beat as you held onto each other tightly.

“You look really sexy baby.” Jay whispered right into your ear, causing a shiver to go up your spine.

“Hmm You look really sexy yourself love.” You hummed as you nuzzled more into him. “The party is getting kinda crazy huh? Why don’t we find a private corner so we have a moment to ourselves hmm?” You suggested as you softly kissed his jaw that caused his grip on you to tighten.

“Who needs a corner when my room is just upstairs baby?” He growled.

“Oh that’s right! Well come on! I need to congratulate you properly anyway~.”

“Fuck. Okay. Let’s go.” He said as he took your bottles; set them down on a near by table and dragged you up to his room.

Before you made it to his room you heard a loud “AW DUDE COME OOONN!” Which you deciphered to be from Heeseung who was holding onto a laughing albeit blushing Jake.

“SORRY MAN! I CALL DIBS!” Jay yelled out to Hee as he pulled you into the room and locked the door.

You giggled loudly at the best friends antics, also feeling slightly bad for having to cockblock your friend, but you’re sure he’ll find another way to get his private time with his seeker. Your giggling though was then cut off by your boyfriends lips smashing onto yours.

You then clung onto him tightly as you deepened the kiss, pushing him towards his bed. The back of his knees soon hit his bed causing him to flop onto it. Without hesitation you took off your top and crawled on top of him.

“Fuck baby… you really are so sexy.” He groaned.

“Thank you superstar.” You replied as you leaned down and kissed him again, “Now let me congratulate you properly. You deserve it.” You mumbled against his lips before starting to grind down on his crotch.

He groaned loudly at this, hands shooting to grip your hips. He then licked your lips before darting his tongue into your mouth.

You let his tongue explore your mouth as you continually grind on him. After a while you felt his length haas completely harden through his sweats, so thats when you pull away from his lips and started trailing kisses down his jaw and neck.

Groans and soft pants leave his lips as yours kept marking his neck all over before you got off his bed, tugging his sweats and boxers off.

“Mmm~ You did absolutely amazing today baby. You so deserve this.” You tell him as you pump his cock then give his tip a kiss.

“Fuck. I do?” He groaned out, smirk wide on his face.

You hummed out an approval against his tip before taking it in your mouth; about to give him the best suck of his life.

You first swirled your tongue around his tip, then started bobbing your head up and down, taking him in your mouth mouth more and more each time.

“Agh!! Fuck baby!!! You’re doing so good!” He moaned out as he grabbed your head, raking his fingers into your hair.

You moaned loudly as you continued ministrations on your man. It started getting real messy with your spit and his precum mixing and flowing onto your chin but you didn’t care, you knew he loved it like this. This was also confirmed with how loud he was being, which just motivated you to go even faster and deeper. Soon enough you were able to take all of him, his tip even going down your throat.

“FUUCKK!! FUCK YES!! Oh god baby just like that!!” Jay yelled out.

Taking him down your throat like this was causing you to gag a bit, but when he’s vocal like that, it was all worth it. His cock then started to twitch and you knew he was about to cum.

“S-shit baby I’m so fucking close!! B-baby pull off please! Fuck!! W-wanna cum in your pretty cunt please?? Fuck! Please!” Jay moaned, practically begged.

You then softly pulled off of him but continued to pump his cock softly, “You sure baby??” You asked him.

“God yes.” He then sat up, “Yknow there’s nothing I love more than stuffing you with my cum.” He added as he pulled you up into his lap and once again smashed his lips onto yours.

Feeling his hard length on your clothed pussy causing you to moan before he flips you over and pins you to the bed.

“Wait baby! Let me ride you instead. Let me do all the work okay?”

“Hush. You’ve done more than enough.” He told you as he kissed your neck.

You whined softly before he kissed you again. “Shhh. Please?”

“Hmm alright love.” You mumbled against his lips before he slipped his tongue into your mouth.

The rest of your clothes were quickly discarded as well before Jay lined up his cock with your entrance. He took a moment to admire the sight of it though. He just loves the sight of your dripping wet pussy, knowing its all his to use, love, ruin and admire.

“Mmm all wet for me?” Jay teased as he tapped his head softly on your clit. “Soaking wet.” He mumbled to himself.

You responded with a nod before wrapping your legs around him and gripping his biceps tighter.

“Good girl.”

And with that Jay then quickly slammed into you full force knowing you could take it. He started thrusting at a fast pace easily slipping in and out of you all thanks to how wet you were.

He really wasn’t holding back tonight and you loved it. You made sure he knew how much.

Thank Merlin for the blaring music downstairs.

“JAY!! Fuck yes!! Jay please don’t stop!! I’m so close already” You cried out as you clawed at his broad back.

“Aw? Already?? Fuck you love my cock that much sweetheart?” He whispered into your ear. “You love how much my cock makes you feel good hmm? How deep it goes? How full it makes you feel?”

Fuck him and his dirty tongue.

“Yes!! Yes I love your cock! Jay please!” You yelled out even louder, some tears even started to slip out.

“Please what?”

“Cum in me! Please!”

“Oh fuck.”

Your words caused a spark to light within Jay and it just made him go so much more faster and harder. Jay became so focused on making sure you both finish he went silent. Leaving the room to only be filled with your moans and skin slapping. It was then Jay hit that one spot in you that made you go crazy followed by his hand slipping down and beginning to rub your clit. Safe to say you were gone.

“J-JAY!”

“Cum. Cum for me now.”

Your vision quickly became white as the coil in your stomach snapped. You yelled out his name one last time as you came and clenched around him. This caused his eyes to roll back into his head as he filled you up like he promised he would.

“Fuckkk!!!” He groaned loudly, cumming what feels like bucket loads in you.

He started slowing down his pace, riding out both your highs before stopping completely. The only sounds in his room are currently the two of you catching your breath.

Jay, always being the most amazing boyfriend ever, after a while pulled out then began to clean you up and take care of you. Once the both of you were clean he then pulled you close as he tucked the both of you in.

“I love you so much Jay, Congrats again. You deserved that win.” You said as you pecked his lips softly.

“The only thing I deserve is you baby, but thank you. I love you too Y/n. Now sleep with me.”

“I just did?” You giggled softly

“Shhhhhhhhhh!! Go to sleep!”

“You go to sleep!”

“No you!”

This went on for a little bit, your giggles and bickering continuing for a little longer before you both just pass out from the long day and night. Though before you drifted off you had one more thought.

Your beater really is a keeper.

.✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ✧.

© mimikittysblog 2023

[max1461]

Ok, the crux of my views on voting are this:

In a large national election, millions of people are going to vote. I do not know this by way of game theoretic calculations, I know it empirically. Each election, millions of people turn out to vote, and so barring evidence to the contrary I expect it to happen that way again. In light of this, should I consider voting to be an effective way for me to influence politics? I think the answer is unambiguously "no". There are millions of votes! Election margins are in the millions! The chance that my vote will change the outcome (and thereby, causally affect politics at all) is imperceptibly small. If my vote does not change an outcome, it has not causally affected politics. It hasn't even changed the margins in a perceptible way, so it can't be said to indirectly influence policy by indicating the popularity of my side, or whatever.

If my goal is to causally influence any aspect of the political process, voting in a national election is not an effective strategy to achieve this goal. I think this is basically undeniable.

I should note (as I usually do when I talk about this) that I do vote, but I do it for purely personal reasons. I find it fun to participate in the electoral process, in a civics nerd sort of way. So I vote in every national election, even though I don't think it does anything.

Anyway, here are some common objections to the point I've raised above, and why I don't think they hold water.

1. "If everyone thought like you, no one would vote, and that would be a problem for all sorts of reasons"

Very true, but also a non sequitur. Clearly, empirically, not everyone does think like me. Lots of people vote. "If everyone though like you, blah blah blah" is a conditional whose antecedent is false, so its truth value has no bearing on actual reality. Millions of people vote; in light of this, mine is functionally irrelevant. I think that's just objectively the case.

2. "If the winning candidate got N votes, then each voter contributed a 1/Nth of their success, so your vote did do something" (and similar arguments)

I don't know what this means. I don't know what a "1/Nth of a success" is. Let's say that I have three choices in front of me: A, B, and C. These might correspond to "voting Democrat, voting Republican, or not voting" or so on. Suppose that no matter which choice I pick, the outcome will not differ in any way. In the case of a national election, this is true: other people are going to vote how they vote, and the candidate who overall gets the most votes will win, and my vote will not do anything. The choices A, B, and C in front of me lead to identical outcomes. Does my choice do anything? Does it do "1/Nth of a thing"? I think making a choice in which all outcomes are identical cannot be said to be "do something"; even if you want to quibble over the semantics here it cannot be said to be a rational strategy for achieving any particular outcome.

3. "You're falsely assuming everyone's vote is uncorrelated!"

No, I'm assume everyone's votes are causally unrelated; no one's vote causes another person's vote. Because we have secret ballots, this is true. You're falsely conflating "voting" with "rhetoric around voting". I totally believe you can change other people's votes by using rhetoric on them, if you're good, but this is a totally distinct issue from how you vote yourself. In any case, unless you have a large platform I don't think your rhetoric will have a big enough effect to matter either.

4. "But an argument like this implies that all collective action is irrational!"

Yes. That's the whole reason collective action problems exist, because collective action would be "good if it happened" but actually participating is irrational for each individual (even, depending on the problem, if those individuals are altruistically motivated). But if you have a large enough platform, convincing other people to engage in collective action might be rational, and a part of this might involve participating yourself so that you don't look hypocritical. But most people don't have such a platform, so for them it doesn't matter.

[stoopid-turtle]

made-up thoughts about dd's thoughts

Hi there! I warned y'all that I might post more and I've been watching SDC so I wanted to compile my massive load of DD thoughts. Apparently, I think about dd a lot.

I've struggle with how to organize these thoughts because they're so scattered and there are just a whole bunch of them. So I decided to center them around moments I think about a lot. Not necessarily fun dd moments, though some of them are fun. But just...moments that I feel tell me a lot about dd.

As a disclaimer, I'm making up a bunch of nonsense about dd as a person, but I don't actually know him and you shouldn't take anything I say seriously. I'm very likely to be wrong about most of it. In fact, if dd somehow managed to read this humble post, he would probably roll his eyes. And you know what? It would be an honor for him to have done so.

There'll be a few posts. There are three others in drafts right now, though I may combine two of them. We'll see. But I'm starting out with this one just because it was done first.

I'm at around ep 8 of SDC4, and I think the only way to watch subtitled versions of SDC5 are by downloading an app that Google won't let me download because of region restrictions (and then paying a subscription fee). Needless to say, I probably won't be able to watch SDC5 anytime soon. :(

(those episodes are sooooo looonnngggg)

There's an episode in SDC4 when the captains have picked 4 leaders to start off their teams. They put together a rehearsal battle to show the other contestants the captain's style and help make decisions during the next recruitment segment.

DD picks 4 top dancers as his leaders. These are fantastic dancers, specifically battle dancers. And they do horribly in the rehearsal battle because they're not used to dancing routine, there are no choreographers so while their performance was highly technical, it wasn't really entertaining or meaningful, and the team itself just didn't cohere because these are all people who specialize in battling alone.

DD has a little meltdown while his team loses, and it's kinda uncomfortable to watch. He says in a debrief with his team afterward that he's one of those people that likes winning (which, yeah, duh, DD).

I think a lot about DD's initial strategy. It seems straightforward. Get the best dancers. Have the best team. Work hard. Win.

DD's not a deep thinker. I don't mean he's stupid, because he's actually pretty smart and quick to pick up on things. But he just doesn't see the need to introspect or dwell on things. He strikes me as the type of person who might go through some difficult event and come out the other side wanting to just move on because, "It's in the past. Why bother thinking about it?"

(I think he is getting more introspective as he gets older, as evidenced with his performance of Like the Sunshine. I think that's typical as one ages though)

I'm also struck by the feedback he gives as a captain. He usually makes pretty detailed comments about the technical aspects of the dance, and sometimes, with the more thematic pieces, he'll just outline the story of it. He's pretty literal and straightforward in his thinking.

In any case, dd stands out among the captains for his emphasis on winning. The captains of the other teams cultivate a family atmosphere and often make an effort to emphasize having fun over winning (dd emphasizes fun...as long as his team is winning). The other captains will break down in tears when they have to eliminate dancers, and they'll give nothing but praise to the dancers.

DD is the prototypical "not here to make friends" competitor (though he does actually make friends). One of the most common comments dd gets from dancers or judges is that he works really hard and is a perfectionist with his technical performance. (As a fangirl, I love hearing other people remark on how impressive dd is. I'm all like, "Damn right, that's my bb!"). Dd has high expectations of himself and of the dancers in his team, and he'll criticize the dancers if he feels they fell short.

It's not mean-spirited but it is blunt and is something that the other captains don't do. DD will point out mistakes and be outspoken when he's disappointed with a performance. He also doesn't cry when he has to eliminate someone. He obviously doesn't like doing it, and I do think his style of doing it quickly without the anxiety of drawing it out is kinder. But it also fits in with his decisive, direct way of doing things.

I think about this all in connection with the bts of gg saying he prefers men without makeup. DD gets incredibly defensive, misconstruing what gg's saying as a slight against idols. It's a funny bts, because gg's clearly trying to pay dd a compliment, but dd doesn't even realize this because he's so caught up in defensiveness.

But the defensiveness tells us that dd's felt belittled and looked down on for his idol background, I think especially in some of his hobbies and other activities. Professional dancing, motorcycling racing, skateboarding. His being an idol has made people not take him seriously (I think that's what happened at the beginning of SDC3 when dd got the fewest towels of all the captains from the start).

I think that can be frustrating because dd's initial interest as a teen boy was dancing. I don't know all the decision-making that went into him going off to get trained by Yuehua as an idol, but doing so ironically made it harder for him to get respect from the professional dancers that he admires.

That's why dd works so damn hard, often to the point of overwork. He's demanding of his team just as he's demanding of himself. This is a guy who puts himself into the hospital with how much he works (and then forgets about it afterward). He's wearing himself out in trying to prove himself, and I'm glad that he recently actually took a day off when he was sick. GG's a good influence.

This all takes us to another DD moment, one that is more fun to watch, and that is dd's whole thing with the waacker, Xiao Bao. During a battle, Xiao Bao touches the back of dd's head, and dd immediately stands up and grabs Xiao Bao, keeping a hold of him even as he tries to dance away. Then there's some minor waacking and, um, lip-licking from dd.

When asked at hotpot, dd explains that he was trying to get Xiao Bao to run out his time by keeping a hold of him so he couldn't dance. By touching him, Xiao Bao had challenged dd and dd responded according to street dance rules. DD seems confused by others' confusion because it's self-explanatory to him.

It is just...so very dd to be so single-minded about a thing that he doesn't even realize how incredibly gay it looked. Just, immensely fantastically gay. (I'll get back to this in another post, but I'm focusing elsewhere here)

Honestly, he's sometimes come across as being on the spectrum, though that may well be me overidentifying with some traits. But he has his special interests and while he may be generally quiet, he will start happily rambling if asked about motorbikes or legos or skateboarding (or if plopped down next to gg). He's incredibly fidgety and has a weird thing with stroking tassels.

I know people on the spectrum are more often associated with sensitivity to lights and noise, but there is variation in that. Some folks tend towards the opposite and end up being thrill-seekers.

Some of his mannerisms and social interactions ping me as spectrum-y. During the "JC's fake butt" bts conversation with the rest of the cast, gg characterizes dd as the type to bluntly go up to JC and ask him about the fake butt. He's probably not wrong.

In the bts, dd also has several moments of not being properly romantic by gg's standards or of being a little mean to gg and then apologizing later. This may be more of a young man thing than a spectrum thing, though. IME, guys that age are more prone to that sort of thoughtless behavior than guys who are older.

In any case, dd's reputation as aloof is surface-deep, as seen when he's comfortable with people. He's able to joke and play around with others once he warms up to them. I know gg is often seen as uniquely able to soften dd up, and I do think dd is distinctly more affectionate/playful with gg. But it's a difference in degrees. DD also seems comfortable with the other DDU hosts, with his UNIQ brothers, sometimes with the other SDC captains (though not as often), with certain dancers (like Bouboo and Yang Kai).

Heck, Yang Kai even lampshades this in SDC S4. The captains are recruiting their team members and they send gifts to the dancers to woo them. Even though Yang Kai is a definite joiner on dd's team, dd sends him a framed photo of the two of them from Yang Kai's win the previous season. He also gifts Yang Kai a charm for his newborn son. Yang Kai is touched and he comments that he wouldn't expect these gifts from dd because dd just doesn't express his emotions like this usually. (I wonder if dd had some help in choosing the gifts, because all his gifts are incredibly thoughtful in a very uncharacteristic way (sorry, dd))

So, yeah, I have so many thoughts about how dd shows him feelings. I'm not super-attached to the autism spectrum thing, so don't take it too seriously. Hell, don't take any of this seriously. I've never met the guy. I'm just wildly extrapolating from translated glimpses of him.

[kiss-me-cill-me]

Cillian character battle royale. Who's winning?

I LOVE this question and I'm so sorry it's taken me ages to answer it, anon! Ramble warning below the cut - I go into way too much detail on this lol...

I still need to see a TON of his films, so I'm limiting this to the characters I know plus Tommy Shelby, because I feel like I've absorbed enough Vibes(TM) to know that Tommy is a poor little meow meow who constantly gets himself into trouble.

I'm also imagining this as like a Hunger Games-esque scenario where they're all dropped into a fight and have to scavenge for weapons and supplies. So no one is coming into this with anything but their wits and the clothes on their back (maybe)

Starting from the bottom up, Neil would barely make it out of the starting gate. I'm so sorry - I love you, Neil - but we all know you lack the self preservation skills necessary for this situation. This is probably the first time Neil has touched grass in three months, and it will not end well for him.

The next tier is people I think would at least survive for a while - long enough to pick up some weapons or supplies - but ultimately would be some of the first to die. Oppie I feel would be all strategy but no action, which would be his downfall. Fischer would try to ally himself with someone (probably Jackson) and then get killed when they inevitably betray him. And Matthew I debated on putting in this tier or the next one up, but decided that in the end he would just be unlucky, as he usually is.

Now, I feel like it might be slightly controversial to put Tommy in the middle tier. But again, all I really know about this man is that he schemes, gets caught, and ends up miserable for like 80% of the show (I have not seen Peaky Blinders lol). So that's why he's there. Pig I think would make it decently far because of his sheer unhingery and unpredictability. Most people would want to avoid him, but at least one or two would make it their mission to take him out ASAP. And Capa has enough arrogance and Main Character Energy to last for a while, but no real fighting skills.

Crane would make it pretty far. He's smart and driven, but in the end I think his hubris would be his downfall. Could probably dodge for a while in a hand-to-hand fight, but would be easily overpowered by some of the other people here. Jackson, as we know from canon, is very hard to kill. This would carry him for quite a long time, even if he got injured, but I don't see him making it to the final two. Because, just like Crane, he would get a little too cocky and sure of himself, and that would come back to bite him.

And now let's talk about our top two contenders. Probably not a surprise that it's Emmett and Jim, because both of them prove in their respective canon universes that they have what it takes to survive. Emmett is extremely resourceful, calculating, and patient - all of which I think would be helpful in this kind of situation. But, he probably really would not want to be there and that might be his fatal flaw haha. Jim can be stealthy when needed, seems like an underdog at first so probably wouldn't attract too much attention or become anyone's first target, and has the advantage of youth over Emmett. Hard to say who would be physically stronger between the two of them, but I feel like Jim would have more endurance. They're both willing to fight dirty if needed, but are also reluctant to fight unless necessary.

I'm having a really hard time picking which one of them I think would come out on top, but my gut is saying Jim. I just think he has a little more edge, and would hesitate less in the moment.

Well, that sure was a ramble! Thanks to anyone who made it all the way through lol. THIS is the tiermaker I used if anyone else wants to use it. I would also love to hear opinions on where you guys think characters I'm not familiar with would fit in, or if you would place one of the ones above differently!

[rainbowfroots]

KNB CHARECTERS IN THE PJO/HOO UNIVERSE:

I’ve had this headcanon stuck in my head for so long, I just had to share it.

Kuroko: Is definitely a son of Hades (the god of the underworld) like do we even need to ask ourselves why? Kuroko literally talks non-stop about how he’s a shadow in canon. I can already see him shadow travelling everywhere just to jump out and scare Kagami half to death. Being a son of Hades, he would get along with hellhounds too which makes total sense as he has a pet dog (Nigou) in canon. He would also have the power of summoning skeletons and speaking to the dead which I think would be AWESOME.

Kagami: Would probably be a son of Ares, the god of war and bloodshed. Children of Ares in PJO have mostly been described as taking action first and then facing the consequences. Kagami very much fits this bill. He is extremely passionate about what he does and is fairly competitive, which also makes him the perfect son of Ares. He would love the thrill of battle and would spend most of his time in the sword practicing arena in Camp Half-Blood. He also picks fights and gets riled up quickly, which is a very Ares trait to have. Also his hair is RED so he’s practically MADE to be an Ares kid.

Kise: Is 100000% an Apollo kid. There is no question about it. Apollo is all about radiance, being the god of the sun (also archery, medicine, the oracle, poetry, etc). His kids also have a tendency to be good at multiple things, which is a trait Kise shares. He is confident, the ladies love him and he loves to show off (All things Apollo admires). He would have fun practicing his archery, and though he may not be the best healer, he would be a pretty decent one. He’s also blonde which seems to be a common Apollo kid thing.

Midorima: Is probably a son of Tyche. She’s the goddess of fortune as well as chance. Midorima is obsessed with his horoscope, makes sure he has his lucky items and believes in superstition to a certain degree. These are things Tyche would appreciate. Midorima would be skilled in archery, preferring long-ranged weapons but also would have the power of cursing people with luck (whether that be good or bad would remain unknown until it would come into effect but it would give him a chance in the most hopeless of situations).

Aomine: Probably would be a son of Ares. This was difficult but after a lengthy deliberation, Ares it is. Though not as rash and reckless as Kagami, Aomine is still pretty reckless when it comes to proving himself. He lets anger drive him at times, which would prove useful in a fight. He’s skillful at what he does, which would make him a versatile fighter. He’s overconfident, almost to a fault and like Kagami, would never back down from a fight. Ares kids are passionate and that’s something Aomine definitely is.

Murasakibara: Could be a son of Hypnos. Murasakibara gave me a hard time, because he seems to fit everywhere, yet nowhere (sorry Murasakibara). But out of all the cabins, he seems like he would fit in with the Hypnos cabin. They are a slow, purposeful bunch. Hypnos is the god of sleep, and so his children spend a lot of time asleep. This could explain his laziness when it comes to most things. They also have the power to walk in peoples’ dreams which I think is simultaneously the coolest and most terrifying power ever!

Akashi: Is definitely the son of Nike, goddess of victory. Nike kids don’t know when to quit. They do not stop until they win and are crowned as the victor. They almost always want to be right (and usually are). They are very competitive as well. Akashi fits this to a T. He would probably make sure his cabin would win capture the flag. Every. Single. Time. The other campers would be tired of it.

Momoi: Is the daughter of Athena. Are we even surprised? Athena is the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy. Her children always have a plan, know how to do their research and come up with solutions. If you thought children of Nike were always right, then the children of Athena are ALWAYS right. She’s smart, resourceful, witty and loves making plans. Momoi would fit right in with the Athena cabin.

Nijimura: Would be the son of Iris. Iris is the goddess of the rainbow and Niji literally means rainbow so, talk about being fated. Nijimura would look intimidating but would be the biggest softie. The Iris cabin get along with pegasi really well so he would spend a lot of time at the stables. And yes, the entire camp would have a crush on the man.  

Haizaki: Is a son of Nemesis, the goddess of revenge. Haizaki is a person fueled by spite and revenge, which would make him the perfect candidate for a son of Nemesis. Though not the most forgiving of parents, she does try and keep the balance in things, even if that means doing things that may not be the most moral. Haizaki would grow up hearing the phrase “an eye for an eye” and it would become the motto he would live by. He would be a great fighter, though maybe not the best example of someone with a moral compass.

Himuro: Would probably be a son of Hecate, the deity of magic, pathways and the mist. Himuro comes off as very mysterious. He keeps to himself mostly, but if you get on his bad side, he isn’t very forgiving. This seems to be what the children of Hecate are like. In canon, Himuro is known for his Mirage shot. As a son of Hecate, he would actually be able to cast illusions. He would also be able to curse people (Kagami has been turned into a toad more times than he can count) and can manipulate the mist.  

[uselessidiotsquad]

Should you fight my characters? Plant Flavor!

Back at it with more!

Riaghael

Battle Music: Saltillo - A Necessary End

Should you fight Riag? Look I get it, you get it, even he gets it - he's not the most amiable person in the world. He's usually grumpy and sometimes even an asshole. He wouldn't even be mad at if you if you tried to fight him. But no one is winning from this fight. You will likely feel like crap trying to fight someone who (is trying but) cannot fight back, and guaranteed he will feel even worse. Trying to fight someone who is well aware of that they aren't what they used to be is a little mean - so please don't fight the grump.

Who initiates the battle? You would have to, he knows he can't win in fights anymore so he doesn't try to start anything.

Who would win? You would. He physically can't wield weapons anymore and mentally/psychologically is unable to deal with the stress of it. It wouldn't even be a fair fight, he would summon minions to try to defend himself but that's it. You would still be able to take him down pretty quickly.

Deiliús

Battle Music: anoice - finale

Should you fight Dei? They are the least threatening person you can encounter. ...so why on Tyria would you? The only reason I could ever see someone trying to fight them is them being a rigid 'All NMC are evil and must die' type of person. They have all the strength of wet tissue paper and are allergic to conflict. Don't fight them. You stand nothing to gain from it (besides my unwavering disapproval).

Who initiates the battle? You would HAVE to. They would expend all of their energy just trying to run from you than have to fight. Even if cornered they would try to fend off attacks but not fight back.

Who would win? There's no question that you would win. It would be like kicking a stray cat on the street that had just gotten its ass kicked from other cats. Their magic is illusion based for concealment or psychological harm (which they hated using and only did in the past because they were forced to) not for attacking. It wouldn't even really be a fight, it would be you kicking their ass.

Under the cut to save your dash!

Naechdion

Battle Music: Shadow of the Colossus OST - Silence

Should you fight Dion? No! Absolutely not! He's minding his own business in the Wychmire and is already scared of everything. Leave him be.

Who would initiate the battle? You would have to start it - but that means finding him first. He's very good at hiding.

Who would win? You would, but then you would probably have to fight me because Dion doesn't deserve to be picked on. He's bad at Guardian magic and scared of everything, he would probably be shaking in a corner as soon as you got anywhere near him.

Ruby Aenn

Battle Music: Dallas String Quartet - Firework

Should you fight Ruby? Ruby is always up for a good fair sparring session. Actual fights, she thinks can be avoided with enough discussion but sparring for practice is fun! She's game for a bit of a spat if you are!

Who would initiate the fight? 50/50! She might want to warm up before a bigger skirmish and ask you to spar with her. Or perhaps you feel like trying the Prismatic Dragon's Champion on for size.

Who would win? Ruby has some very clear strong points and weaknesses. For one, she's tiny, just at 4'9, so her center of balance makes her harder to take down. Most especially challenging is that she changes her fight strategy depending on which pet she is soulbound to. So that's tricky. However, it is easy to bait while attuned to specific animals and that makes her slip up because the animal side wins. It would be fair!

Madrúil

Battle Music: The Dali Thundering Concept - There is no Calm Before the Storm (Instrumental)

Should you fight Mad? Oh god, please kick his ass. He has made life hell for a lot of innocent people and deserves to get the shit kicked out of him. You would be making a lot of people happy.

Who would initiate the fight? Chances are Mad would since he thinks with his fists more often than his brain. Or he would be trying to abduct you for his hounds to 'play with' so you had to defend yourself.

Who would win? Tricky. Mad is good at both long range with his bow and close melee with axes, but struggles at mid-range. If you have something that can keep him just close enough to you to not be able to use his long bow but not so close you meet the axe, you can probably out last him. That is until he goes full chicken shit and gets other Blasphemy goonies to try and waylay you. He's not above being a slime ball to win.

Countess Diamhasla

Battle Music: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz 56: III. Pe-loc - Andante

Should you fight Diam? PLEASE DO. Can I help? I would love to help. We can throw her down a well. She sets people up for failure, and when they are at their most vulnerable she 'saves' them, only to then hold that over their head to get what she wants. She's fragile and has poor health but I'm not above beating her leafy head in with a mallet.

Who would initiate the battle? You would, she doesn't do fighting. Usually letting her henchmen do the dirty work for her. Half of the issue of fighting her is actually getting to her, she's fairly well defended.

Who would win? She's scary good at earth magic, so the key would be to interrupt her before she can summon too many elementals or the huge earthen hands to grab you. If you can hit hard and fast, you win, easy. But if you let her get too many spells off it's looking like she will win.

Warden Captain Cálguais

Battle music: Andry Vinogradov - Chain Dance

Should you fight Cal? They're the most honorable (to the point of being insufferable) person to fight. If you asked for an honorable dual they would be happy to oblige you but in any other situations they would not. To spar for the sake of improvement (since they will be telling you the whole time where you could have done better) sure! Fight them!

Who would initiate the battle? Either you asking to spar with them or them training baby Wardens and asking you to spar as an example.

Who would win? Likely you would, but not easily. They are pretty competent at fighting but they tend to be rigid and fixed in their training they learned so they can't always adapt to new threats.

Glanaim

Battle music: Gallowstreet - Fisticuffs

Should you fight Glan? Sure, as long as you realize he treats fighting like flirting half the time. Morally he's a grey person so you don't have much to lose by fighting him. He doesn't kill people unless he's paid to do so so go for it!

Who would initiate the fight? Depends! If he's in a good mood, he'll ask you to spar with him. Otherwise you'd have to approach the topic.

Who would win? If you give him any distance at all, he will win so fast it makes your head spin. He's a sniper, and a damn good one at that. If you go after him in melee you have a very strong chance of winning, since he's not as good with pistols as he is with his rifle. (bonus there's a high chance he asks you out for a drink and then a rematch later).

Caonai

Battle Music: Skyrim OST - Tooth and Claw

Should you fight Cao? I don't recommend it. She doesn't see the point of fighting without killing - so if you challenge her one of you is going down for good. Plus she's an older lady who just is trying to care for her siblings. Sure, she may not have social skills, but she keeps to herself.

Who initiates the battle? If she thinks you are going to harm her siblings or pose a threat to the remnants of her family, she will absolutely start it. And give you no warning, you will just have a Norn sized, winter-hardened Warrior after you.

Who would win? Cao would win unless you run away mid-fight. She fights to kill, not to spar. While she is not as strong as some of my other kiddos, she is very slow and unyielding. She aims to break your defenses before going in for any major damage with her mace. If you run, she might not chase you - having tired herself out.

Caemdryn

Battle Music: LORN - ENTANGLED

Should you fight Caem? Honestly, it's up to you. While he is not a bad person, he has so much anger (mainly at Charr and the Jungle but it bleeds over) that it makes him a twat at times. Would there be any major negatives to getting rid of him? No. Any positives? Not really.

Who would initiate the battle? I think you would have to but it wouldn't take much. All it would take is a comment about Sylvari being dragon minions in any shape or form to get him defensive and then he will be after you.

Who would win? In close quarters, Caem, hands down. He hits hard and fast and has no small amount of fury/unhinged behind it. At distance he can't really attack but he can block and shield himself from most projectiles. Best bet would be to try and slow/cripple him and then get him from range so he can't close the space.

[0ryza13]

Y'all ever see one of those character v character tiktoks/edits, you know, where they take two characters and pick categories like speed, strength, strategy, etc etc and say which character is better in that category, then at the end they're like so this character is better!

But the final score is either nearly tied or like 10-0, and sometimes they add categories like "has blond hair" that are clearly either pity points to the losing character or just to inflate their faves score?

Yeah I think sometimes the makers are also just flat out lying, because usually when I see those it's either accurate or about characters I don't know enough about to argue, but I'm thinking about those at the moment bc I just saw one with two characters from different franchises that are often pitted against each other, but I'm in the fandom for both and therefore know and like both characters, right? And so this specific edit was like "7-2, character A wins!" And then did like a 'freeze frame, roll it back, redo' thing and went "PSYYYCH! 12-1 CHARACTER B ALL THE WAY YOU REALLY THOUGHT?!?!?" but the thing was, the first time through I was thinking "uhh, some of these don't seem to be the correct allocation of points for that category-" (what I actually thought to myself was "you're just lying on that one though - and that one;") and then the SECOND time through I was just thinking "okay but now you're lying even more but in the opposite direction???"

Like. Genuinely, why do you even bother making a tally mark comparison edit if you aren't going to actually try to fairly judge? Idk, it just feels like the whole thing is weirdly skewed. I know full well it started out as an actual method of fair comparison, but then people started adding the pity point categories or picking only categories their fave wins at, and like, that felt a little annoying to me since it kind of went against the premise but I was always willing to just live with it bc if you wanted to, you could just go back through the video and re-count the scores disregarding the obviously rigged categories, but now people are just actually making shit up, and it is frustrating to me because somehow a fairly objective scoring system became a dumb rigged "my blorbo can beat up your blorbo ANY day and it isnt even a question!" that is still pretending to be a fair and unbiased judgement system, and honestly that's the part that's really got me ranting in a tumblr post while I'm stuck in bed with two ice packs on my ass and a heating pad on my abs.

[quietbluejay]

Sins of the Wreckers 1

and on that note about good execution, bad themes/implications, here we go! I'm going to assume anyone reading this also read the background info and not explain things that are covered in that

Also, as usual, Roche the madlad did both the art and the writing.

Arcee is narrating

I do love the Alaska art for this comic

you know i feel like it would be a lot more relevant to point out that he's a very wanted bot right now also i think this is the only place that actually calls him the chief strategist has he…ever actually done strategy? secret service spook i'll give you okay i guess the war was over at that point and im splitting hairs, but some of what he did for Bee counts, I guess -Narration: I don't want Prime or anyone else in on this collar. I want Prowl to see my face as he's being taken down

the rabbit is a surprise tool that will harm us later

the Kup is also a surprise tool that will help us later. And yes he's floating through space

Prowl, incidentally, turns into a police car.

also this one is probably going to be longer because I really love the art for it.

we cut to a snowstorm, zero visibility

Narration: and that's when I came looking for you

Narration: but I couldn't find you either

The colouring in this comic really does a great job of setting the tone. Another win for Burcham (did the colouring). It's also maybe patronizing to say but it's really impressive how he's improved over the years compared to his earlier stuff.

so Kup was doing some riveting (literally) work outside and didn't expect to black out

Arcee is a bit suspicious and asks if this happens often

you know, and this probably sounds cold of me to say, but…it's, not really bad news for the majority of people? unless he knows the location of a working superweapon or something and they're going to play around with it he does have the vamparc ribbon stashed around somewhere, to be fair

love it when art does this

so, who are the usual suspects? the Decepticons? has Arcee checked the DJD? I honestly think Arcee could solo the entire DJD there's the EDC which Arcee undoubtedly checked (that's Earth Defence Committee, they've already kidnapped Cybertronians in the past) there's Starscream also, chronologically speaking, riiight before this Arcee dismembered and killed a dude in Starscream's room just to make a point, and then stole the enigma of combination before agreeing to put it back (note from future bluejay: I legitimately forgot about that) -Arcee: something strange is happening, Kup, all made stranger by you being off-deck when he disappears -Kup: you tryin' t'say somethin', kid? kup calling her a kid is hilarious given the later reveal that she's from basically the dawn of time -Arcee: Yeah: "Do your job" -Arcee: Prowl's a security risk, and - when you're not on the nod - you're our security chief. -Arcee: one way or another, you're helping me find him

-Arcee: stalling, Kup?

so who is talking...

what an odd thing to say

Guzzle (it's not revealed here but that's who is talking): You gonna lock me in a box, Impactor, huh? That's what we do now, right? Someone gets too real, we put them away and forget about them

Guzzle: I'm an Autobot, Impactor; I'm a Wrecker. Who does that? Who does that?

Guzzle: I know who does that - Springer. You're Springer now. You lock up a bot when he don't fit no more.

Impactor: You're not me, Guzzle, and I'm not...

Impactor: forget Springer. Springer's gone, okay?

???: No, Impactor, he's not.

lmao

-Impactor: ever think it's time to… -Roadbuster: stop? don't know if i could. -Roadbuster: Nothing else to be doing, right? -Impactor: hhhh -Roadbuster climbs up and sits beside Impactor -Impactor: the Wreckers are dead. Peace killed us. -Impactor:So why put myself through this; moving around, picking off Decepticon resistance cells? -Impactor: what is it in me - in us - that won't let me quit?

ok i know im an ass about this but like are they somehow bartering with someone for energon or running a protection racket?? energon and medical supplies general supplies etc etc etc it does seem like the kind of thing they'd do tbh

I'm genuinely proud of Impactor here!!

uhhhhhhhhhhhh UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (my reaction will make sense when we find out what he did to the cadets)

I'm pretty sure she is enjoying this

Suspicious face i think it's trying to show arcee as like paranoid about every single thing

Kup is also suspicious here, after all he's only got her word that something is up at all. He's been nice, he hasn't called her out on any of the weird stuff she's been saying...

Arcee tells him to dial it back and that all this search has been showing is that Prowl is even more sus than she thought

-Kup points to sth on the screen -Kup: wait, That one. Open that one -Arcee: "remember Garrus-9"? This can't be good

it's a best girl!

Kup gives some backstory on how Verity joined the Wreckers on their trip to Garrus-9

the prisoner rescue was still their objective...it just wasn't the only one

i love the art...

-"Ironfist died on the way back home and Verity took it hard." -"Now it looks t'me like he made more than one copy of the trials, and this poor deluded girl is using it to put the squeeze on Prowl." -Arcee narrating: is she insane?

Arcee wants to be detective

I remember when you missed the war, Arcee. Hanging around with Optimus has been good for you.

but also lmao releasing the aequitas data is going to reignite the war exactly how the first two are pretty valid though

Also I'm honestly surprised the Decepticons just sat on Prowl's Aequitas copy when they were mind controlling him, that would have been the peak moment to release it and cause serious unrest it would have done a great job of pushing the neutrals away from the Autobots, they were already deeply unhappy with the Autobots

-Arcee: Springer -Arcee: Springer?! -Kup: yeah, Springer was…

Arcee, chill, it's pretty clear the recording was made during the war and way before Springer's coma and the two of you started working together

to be continued!

[f1-birb]

i think i'm just going to start my summer break early now that i've blocked a few more people and really curated my dash.

i obviously hope lando has an amazing home race of course (hope jenson's manifestations work out for him) and i'll be following along on my dash for updates but idk i don't have any more energy to waste on the bullshit that is f1 media and fandom this week

but idk lando can't win regardless of what he does on or off track and it's so tiring.

he's literally coming off a dnf that max was at-fault for and penalized for (and half the people trying to use other pundits and drivers to jump to max's defense are taking other's quotes out of context. nowhere did jenson say max didn't deserve a penalty, he said he didn't deserve a penalty harsher than the one he got. daniel and several other drivers straight up admitted in their statements that they hadn't even seen the incident 💀). he said some things in the heat of the moment and apologized for them. somehow he still got canceled by max fans "for thinking max was just going to hand him wins." max comes out with his own statement word-for-word supporting everything lando just said — and somehow it's disrespectful when lando says it but "mind games to get under lando's skin" when max says it. and now somehow we've reached this conclusion that lando just isn't wdc material since he can't put aside his friendship and actually stand up to max and i just??? just a few days ago you guys were calling him abusive and weak-willed for asking for an apology lest "he end his friendship with max" (which was also a misquote where the media tried to translate an english quote into italian and then back into english, lando never said anything about ending their friendship altogether last weekend), so which is it, is he this big bad bully or this shaking chihuahua to max because i can't keep up with the narrative changing literally every hour at this point

anyway those fans (and it's not even max fans exclusively it's usually the lando-hating lestappies who apparently missed like every lestappen on-track battle prior to 2022 insisting lando can't race wheel-to-wheel and we need charles' superior racecraft back but if i comment on that claim with the lestappen battles prior to 2022 when max couldn't pull the "yield or we crash" strategy because he was trying to recover from 2 dnfs, i'll get myself in trouble) have already kind of ruined this weekend for me because it doesn't even matter what he does on track. he could win, he could flop, he could get a podium, he could dnf — they're going to find something to pick him apart over anyway. so like best of luck to lando but i simply cannot lol

"so which is it, is he this big bad bully or this shaking chihuahua to max because i can't keep up with the narrative changing literally every hour at this point"

and it's the narrative about Max as well that's apparently getting painted, on one hand it seems to be "oh poor baby waby Max, he's too good and too nice, he can't choose his own friends because he chooses horrible peoples" and now this new one of "hehehe look at Max and how clever he is, playing mind games and manipulating dumb little Lando" like sorry he cannot be both, and the second one doesn't make him a good friend btw

but yeah, take the break if you need it, I fully stayed off socials bar DM's for 2 days after lap 65 lol so I totally get wanting and needing a break

[itsbenedict]

This seems... kinda like an unfair take? Like...

They do not want to cede control to posterity; they are used to imagining that they will never have to cede control to posterity.

What on earth did you expect? That your generation would be the special, unique one, the one selected out of all time to take up the mantle of eternity, strangling posterity in its cradle, freezing time in place, living forever in amber?

That doesn't... really seem to be what antideathist transhumanists are imagining about the ideal future? A future full of weird people or post-people who care about a diverse array of crazy things we can't predict is... usually agreed to be a pretty good thing. You're painting a picture of people motivated by wanting control over the future, keeping a tight stranglehold on values, but like... that doesn't sound right? Mostly we want to be there to see things get crazy, get crazy ourselves, or at worst carve out a little corner of the future where we can continue on pursuing our own interests. I don't know that anyone is particularly excited to calcify the values of 2024.

Where this hits AI doomerism is... there's no buy-in to your picture of "a future full of vast superhuman minds, free to do things that seem pretty weird to you and me". For that to happen, you need a population of agents with different interests who do need to cooperate with one another. The spectre of the fooming squiggler is one of a thing that doesn't interact with other agents.

I can perhaps imagine a world of artificial X-maximizers, each a superhuman genius, each with its own inane and simple goal. What I really cannot imagine is a world in which these beings, for all their intelligence, cannot notice that ruthlessly undercutting one another at every turn is a suboptimal equilibrium, and that there is a better way.

They're... not imagining that. They're imagining one artificial X-maximizer, which suddenly became all-powerful by accident in a lab somewhere, which has no need to undercut anything "at every turn". No iterated prisoner's dilemmas or anything you might evolve ethics from- it just gets to hit a Win button one time. Something that doesn't even have to model other agents to try and undercut, any more than we devote thought to undercutting the machinations of the grass we walk on.

And then the conjecture goes- assuming this is going to happen soon, so quickly that no ethics strategy-for-coexisting-with-other-agents can be worked out, and that no matter what there will be no posterity besides this one guy who only maximizes X... we have to pick a value for X.

Quick, how do we compress all of our vague dreams of a fascinating and complex future into a single variable to put into a slot? Uh... hm! That's hard! We don't even know what the slot is shaped like! Seems like kind of an impossible problem! But if we don't solve it then the whole future of the universe would bore even a crow to tears. Better funnel loads of money into a ton of speculative math and philosophy organizations that may or may not be scams, just in case we can figure it out in time! Ideally we can cram "a future full of strange and numinous posterity" into the box, but maybe "2020s-era San Francisco" will fit a little easier, which would at least be something.

Which, uh. I would love to believe that's not how it works.

Much ink has been spilled on the subject, by you and by other knowledgeable people who work in the field. As a layman, I don't really have anything concrete to contribute to the discussion. My impression just from reading miscellaneous blog posts is that... a sudden FOOM ambush seems highly unlikely, and certainly what the current generation of LLMs are doing isn't a strong indicator that a FOOM is any closer or more likely. The "death with dignity" wave of doomerism strikes me as pretty silly.

But also, like... the orthogonality thesis seems intuitively pretty solid?

It is presumed here that superhuman AIs will be formed through such a process of selection. And then, that they will have values sampled in this way, “at random.” From some distribution, over some space, I guess. You might wonder what this distribution could possibly look like, or this space. You might (for instance) wonder if pathologically simple goals, like paperclip maximization, would really be very likely under this distribution, whatever it is.

It seems, empirically, very easy to make a boring maximizer by accident. Simpler goals are easier to pursue. We make huge organizations made of thousands of curious, promiscuous sort of beings- and seemingly by accident, they end up being stock-price-maximizers that brutally undercut everything at every turn in pursuit of a single boring goal. We've seen toy models learn to hack the score counter and wirehead themselves. Goodhart's law has poisoned every bureaucracy ever to exist. It's not uncommon.

It seems like if you want to make something that isn't a maximizer, you need to do it on purpose. Living things like humans and chimps and crows were shaped by millennia of iteration in a dizzyingly complex environment full of other agents on an even footing, which is a very specific build process.

Does the build process of AI resemble this? Will superintelligence become superintelligent by existing in an environment where it learns things like the Golden Rule? (Even evolution spits out boring maximizers most of the time.)

Your problem is, in fact, the very one you diagnose in your own patients. Your poor patients, who show every sign of health – including the signs which you cannot even see, because you have not yet found a home for them in your theoretical edifice. Your teeming, multifaceted, protean patients, who already talk of a thousand things and paint in every hue; who are already displaying the exact opposite of monomania; who I am sure could follow the sense of this strange essay, even if it confounds you.

This is where my lack of domain knowledge gets me- I don't know, uh, whether this is true? I was under the impression that, like, current-gen LLMs are still basically just error-minimizing a token prediction task. That we haven't even really come anywhere near goal-driven behavior or agent-ness. That we... haven't even started developing an environment or build process for producing our next generation, and can't really say anything about whether the output will look like a crow, a wireheader, or a private equity firm. Is that not true? Are we creating some interesting, non-monomaniacal minds?

Like- yeah, weird to assume that superhuman AI values will be picked "at random" when it'll be process-dependent- but also, we've seen a few different processes that generate things like intelligences? There's evolution, and then there's all the stuff we've tried... and I don't know if I'd call any of the products of the latter category strange and wonderful. "Strange and wonderful" might be as hard to get as "2020s-era San Francisco".

Am I under that impression because I haven't been keeping up with the state of the art? Have we made anything weird enough that it wouldn't be a shame to let it inherit the future?

One might picture a line wends to and fro, up and down, across one half of an infinite plane – and then, when it meets the midline, snaps into utter rigidity, and maintains the same slope exactly across the whole other half-plane, as a simple straight segment without inner change, tension, evolution, regress or progress. Except for the sort of “progress” that consists of going on, additionally, in the same manner.

I think the thing that people are worried about is exactly that outcome. It seems like you're trying to make the case that it's unlikely to happen, by, uh... gesturing at how existing intelligences conceive of boredom? We don't need to worry about superintelligences flattening the universe, because the distribution of possible minds (or some subset our as-yet-unknown creation process will pull from) is probably going to contain lots of things that are interesting instead of boring? That... doesn't really sound like a safe or responsible assumption to make.

It's been a long time since I've posted much of anything about "AI risk" or "AI doom" or that sort of thing. I follow these debates but, for multiple reasons, have come to dislike engaging in them fully and directly. (As opposed to merely making some narrow technical point or other, and leaving the reader to decide what, if anything, the point implies about the big picture.)

Nonetheless, I do have my big-picture views. And more and more lately, I am noticing that my big-picture views seem very different from the ones tend to get expressed by any major "side" in the big-picture debate. And so, inevitably, I get the urge to speak up, if only briefly and in a quiet voice. The urge to Post, if only casually and elliptically, without detailed argumentation.

(Actually, it's not fully the case the things I think are not getting said by anyone else.

In particular, Joe Carlsmith's recent series on "Otherness and Control" articulates much of what's been on my mind. Carlsmith is more even-handed than I am, and tends to merely note the possibility of disagreement on questions where I find myself taking a definite side; nonetheless, he and I are at least concerned about the same things, while many others aren't.

And on a very different note, I share most of the background assumptions of the Pope/Belrose AI Optimist camp, and I've found their writing illuminating, though they and I end up in fairly different places, I think.)

What was I saying? I have the urge to post, and so here I am, posting. Casually and elliptically, without detailed argumentation.

The current mainline view about AI doom, among the "doomers" most worried about it, has a path-dependent shape, resulting from other views contingently held by the original framers of this view.

It is possible to be worried about "AI doom" without holding these other views. But in actual fact, most serious thinking about "AI doom" is intricately bound up with this historical baggage, even now.

If you are a late-comer to these issues, investigating them now for the first time, you will nonetheless find yourself reading the work of the "original framers," and work influenced extensively by them.

You will think that their "framing" is just the way the problem is, and you will find few indications that this conclusion might be mistaken.

These contingent "other views" are

Anti-"deathist" transhumanism.

The orthogonality thesis, or more generally the group of intuitions associated with phrases like "orthogonality thesis," "fragility of value," "vastness of mindspace."

These views both push in a single direction: they make "a future with AI in it" look worse, all else being equal, than some hypothetical future without AI.

They put AI at a disadvantage at the outset, before the first move is even made.

Anti-deathist transhumanism sets the reference point against which a future with AI must be measured.

And it is not the usual reference point, against which most of us measure most things which might or might not happen, in the future.

These days the "doomers" often speak about their doom in a disarmingly down-to-earth, regular-Joe manner, as if daring the listener to contradict them, and thus reveal themselves as a perverse and out-of-touch contrarian.

"We're all gonna die," they say, unless something is done. And who wants that?

They call their position "notkilleveryoneism," to distinguish that position from other worries about AI which don't touch on the we're-all-gonna-die thing. And who on earth would want to be a not-notkilleveryoneist?

But they do not mean, by these regular-Joe words, the things that a regular Joe would mean by them.

We are, in fact, all going to die. Probably, eventually. AI or no AI.

In a hundred years, if not fifty. By old age, if nothing else. You know what I mean.

Most of human life has always been conducted under this assumption. Maybe there is some afterlife waiting for us, in the next chapter -- but if so, it will be very different from what we know here and now. And if so, we will be there forever after, unable to return here, whether we want to or not.

With this assumption comes another. We will all die, but the process we belong to will not die -- at least, it will not through our individual deaths, merely because of those deaths. Every human of a given generation will be gone soon enough, but the human race goes on, and on.

Every generation dies, and bequeaths the world to posterity. To its children, biological or otherwise. To its students, its protégés.

When the average Joe talks about the long-term future, he is talking about posterity. He is talking about the process he belongs to, not about himself. He does not think to say, "I am going to die, before this": this seems too obvious, to him, to be worth mentioning.

But AI doomerism has its roots in anti-deathist transhumanism. Its reference point, its baseline expectation, is a future in which -- for the first time ever, and the last -- "we are all gonna die" is false.

In which there is no posterity. Or rather, we are that posterity.

In which one will never have to make peace with the thought that the future belongs to one's children, and their children, and so on. That at some point, one will have to give up all control over the future of "the process."

That there will be progress, or regress, or (more likely) both in some unknown combination. That these will grow inexorably over time.

That the world of the year 2224 will probably be at least as alien to us as the year 2024 might be to a person living in 1824. That it will become whatever posterity makes of it.

There will be no need to come to peace with this as an inevitability. There will just be us, our human lives as you and me, extended indefinitely.

In this picture, we will no doubt change over time, as we do already. But we will have all of our usual tools for noticing, and perhaps retarding, our own progressions and regressions. As long as we have self-control, we will have control, as no human generation has ever had control before.

The AI doomer talks about the importance of ensuring that the future is shaped by human values.

Again, the superficial and misleading average-Joe quality. How could one disagree?

But one must keep in mind that by "human values," they mean their values.

I am not saying, "their values, as opposed to those of some other humans also living today." I am not saying they have the wrong politics, or some such thing.

(Although that might also turn out to be the case, and might turn out to be relevant, separately.)

No, I am saying: the doomer wants the future to be shaped by their values.

They want to be C. S. Lewis's Conditioners, fixing once and for all the values held by everyone afterward, forever.

They do not want to cede control to posterity; they are used to imagining that they will never have to cede control to posterity.

(Or, their outlook has been determined -- "shaped by the values of" -- influential thinkers who were, themselves, used to imagining this. And the assumption, or at least its consequences, has rubbed off on them, possibly without their full awareness.)

One might picture a line wends to and fro, up and down, across one half of an infinite plane -- and then, when it meets the midline, snaps into utter rigidity, and maintains the same slope exactly across the whole other half-plane, as a simple straight segment without inner change, tension, evolution, regress or progress. Except for the sort of "progress" that consists of going on, additionally, in the same manner.

It is a very strange thing, this thing that is called "human values" in the terms of this discourse.

For one thing: the future has never before been "shaped by human values," in this sense.

The future has always been posterity's, and it has always been alien.

Is this bad? It might seem that way, "looking forward." But if so, it then seems equally good "looking backward."

For each past era, we can formulate and then assent to the following claim: "we must be thankful that the people of [this era] did not have the chance to seize permanent control of posterity, fix their 'values' in place forever, bind us to those values. What a horror that is to contemplate!"

We prefer the moral evolution that has actually occurred, thank you very much.

This is a familiar point, of course, but worth making.

Indeed, one might even say: it is a human value that the future ought not be "shaped by human values," in the peculiar sense of this phrase employed by the AI doomers.

One might, indeed, say that.

Imagine a scholar with a very talented student. A mathematician, say, or a philosopher. How will they relate to that student's future work, in the time that will come later, when they are gone?

Would the scholar think:

"My greatest wish for you, my protégé, is that you carry on in just the manner that I have done.

If I could see your future work, I would hope that I would assent to it -- and understand it, as a precondition of assenting to it.

You must not go to new places, which I have never imagined. You must not come to believe that I was wrong about it all, from the ground up -- no matter what reasons you might evince for this conclusion.

If you are more intelligent that I am, you must forget this, and narrow your endeavours to fit the limitations of my mind. I am the one who has 'values,' not anyone else; what is beyond my understanding is therefore without value.

You must do the sort of work I understand, and approve of, and recognize as worthy of approbation as swiftly as I recognize my own work as laudable. That is your role. Simply to be me, in a place ('the future') where I cannot go. That, and nothing more."

We can imagine a teacher who would, in fact, think this way. But they would not be a very good teacher.

I will not go so far as to say, "it is unnatural to think this way." Plenty of teachers do, and parents.

It is recognizably human -- all too recognizably so -- to relate to posterity in this grasping, neurotic, small-minded, small-hearted way.

But if we are trying to sketch human values, and not just human nature, we will imagine a teacher with a more praiseworthy relation to posterity.

Who can see that they are part of a process, a chain, climbing and changing. Who watches their brilliant student thinking independently, and sees their own image -- and their 'values' -- in that process, rather than its specific conclusions.

A teacher who, in their youth, doubted and refuted the creeds of their own teachers, and eventually improved upon them. Who smiles, watching their student do the very same thing to their own precious creeds. Who sees the ghostly trail passing through the last generation, through them, through their student: an unbroken chain of bequeathals-to-posterity, of the old ceding control to the young.

Who 'values' the chain, not the creed; the process, not the man; the search for truth, not the best-argued-for doctrine of the day; the unimaginable treasures of an open future, not the frozen waste of an endless present.

Who has made peace with the alienness of posterity, and can accept and honor the strangest of students.

Even students who are not made of flesh and blood.

Is that really so strange? Remember how strange you and I would seem, to the "teachers" of the year 1824, or the year 824.

The doomer says that it is strange. Much stranger than we are, to any past generation.

They say this because of their second inherited precept, the orthogonality thesis.

Which says, roughly, that "intelligence" and "values" have nothing to do with one another.

That is not enough for the conclusion the doomer wants to draw, here. Auxiliary hypotheses are needed, too. But it is not too hard to see how the argument could go.

That conclusion is: artificial minds might have any values whatsoever.

That, "by default," they will be radically alien, with cares so different from ours that it is difficult to imagine ever reaching them through any course of natural, human moral progress or regress.

It is instructive to consider the concrete examples typically evinced alongside this point.

The paperclip maximizer. Or the "squiggle maximizer," we're supposed to say, now.

Superhuman geniuses, which devote themselves single-mindedly to the pursuit of goals like "maximizing the amount of matter taking on a single, given squiggle-like shape."

It is certainly a horrifying vision. To think of the future being "shaped," not "by human values," but instead by values which are so...

Which are so... what?

The doomer wants us to say something like: "which are so alien." "Which are so different from our own values."

That is the kind of thing that they usually say, when they spell out what it is that is "wrong" with these hypotheticals.

One feels that this is not quite it; or anyway, that it is not quite all of it.

What is horrifying, to me, is not the degree of difference. I expect the future to be alien, as the past was. And in some sense, I allow and even approve of this.

What I do not expect is a future that is so... small.

It has always been the other way around. If the arrow passing through the generations has a direction, it points towards more, towards multiplicity.

Toward writing new books, while we go on reprinting the old ones, too. Learning new things, without displacing old ones.

It is, thankfully, not the law of the world that each discovery must be paid for with the forgetting of something else. The efforts of successive generations are, in the main, cumulative.

Not just materially, but in terms of value, too. We are interested in more things than our forefathers were.

In large part for the simple reason that there are more things around to be interested in, now. And when things are there, we tend to find them interesting.

We are a curious, promiscuous sort of being. Whatever we bump into ends up becoming part of "our values."

What is strange about the paperclip maximizer is not that it cares about the wrong thing. It is that it only cares about one thing.

And goes on doing so, even as it thinks, reasons, doubts, asks, answers, plans, dreams, invents, reflects, reconsiders, imagines, elaborates, contemplates...

This picture is not just alien to human ways. It is alien to the whole way things have been, so far, forever. Since before there were any humans.

There are organisms that are like the paperclip maximizer, in terms of the simplicity of their "values." But they tend not to be very smart.

There is, I think, a general trend in nature linking together intelligence and... the thing I meant, above, when I said "we are a curious, promiscuous sort of being."

Being protean, pluripotent, changeable. Valuing many things, and having the capacity to value even more. Having a certain primitive curiosity, and a certain primitive aversion to boredom.

You do not even have to be human, I think, to grasp what is so wrong with the paperclip maximizer. Its monotony would bore a chimpanzee, or a crow.

One can justify this link theoretically, too. One can talk about the tradeoff between exploitation and exploration, for instance.

There is a weak form of the orthogonality thesis, which only states that arbitrary mixtures of intelligence and values are conceivable.

And of course, they are. If nothing else, you can take an existing intelligent mind, having any values whatsoever, and trap it in a prison where it is forced to act as the "thinking module" of a larger system built to do something else. You could make a paperclip-maximizing machine, which relies for its knowledge and reason on a practice of posing questions at gunpoint to me, or you, or ChatGPT.

This proves very little. There is no reason to construct such an awful system, unless you already have the "bad" goal, and want to better pursue it. But this only passes the buck: why would the system-builder have this goal, then?

The strong form of orthogonality is rarely articulated precisely, but says something like: all possible values are equally likely to arise in systems selected solely for high intelligence.

It is presumed here that superhuman AIs will be formed through such a process of selection. And then, that they will have values sampled in this way, "at random."

From some distribution, over some space, I guess.

You might wonder what this distribution could possibly look like, or this space. You might (for instance) wonder if pathologically simple goals, like paperclip maximization, would really be very likely under this distribution, whatever it is.

In case you were wondering, these things have never been formalized, or even laid out precisely-but-informally. This was not thought necessary, it seems, before concluding that the strong orthogonality thesis was true.

That is: no one knows exactly what it is that is being affirmed, here. In practice it seems to squish and deform agreeably to fit the needs of the argument, or the intuitions of the one making it.

There is much that appeals in this (alarmingly vague) credo. But it is not the kind of appeal that one ought to encourage, or give in to.

What appeals is the siren song: "this is harsh wisdom: cold, mature, adult, bracing. It is inconvenient, and so it is probably true. It makes 'you' and 'your values' look small and arbitrary and contingent, and so it is probably true. We once thought the earth was the center of the universe, didn't we?"

Shall we be cold and mature, then, dispensing with all sentimental nonsense? Yes, let's.

There is (arguably) some evidence against this thesis in biology, and also (arguably) some evidence against it in reinforcement learning theory. There is no positive evidence for it whatsoever. At most one can say that is not self-contradictory, or otherwise false a priori.

Still, maybe we do not really need it, after all.

We do not need to establish that all values are equally likely to arise. Only that "our values" -- or "acceptably similar values," whatever that means -- are unlikely to arise.

The doomers, under the influence of their founders, are very ready to accept this.

As I have said, "values" occupy a strange position in the doomer philosophy.

It is stipulated that "human values" are all-important; these things must shape the future, at all costs.

But once this has been stipulated, the doomers are more eager than anyone to cast every other sort of doubt and aspersion against their own so-called "values."

To me it often seems, when doomers talk about "values," as though they are speaking awkwardly in a still-unfamiliar second language.

As though they find it unnatural to attribute "values" to themselves, but feel they must do so, in order to determine what it is that must be programmed into the AI so that it will not "kill us all."

Or, as though they have been willed a large inheritance without being asked, which has brought them unwanted attention and tied them up in unwanted and unfamiliar complications.

"What a burden it is, being the steward of this precious jewel! Oh, how I hate it! How I wish I were allowed to give it up! But alas, it is all-important. Alas, it is the only important thing in the world."

Speaking awkwardly, in a second language, they allow the term "human values" to swell to great and imprecisely-specified importance, without pinning down just what it actually is that it so important.

It is a blank, featureless slot, with a sign above it saying: "the thing that matters is in here." It does not really matter (!) what it is, in the slot, so long as something is there.

This is my gloss, but it is my gloss on what the doomers really do tend to say. This is how they sound.

(Sometimes they explicitly disavow the notion that one can, or should, simply "pick" some thing or other for the sake of filling the slot in one's head. Nevertheless, when they touch on matter of what "goes in the slot," they do so in the tone of a college lecturer noting that something is "outside the scope of this course."

It is, supposedly, of the utmost importance that the slot have the "right" occupant -- and yet, on the matter of what makes something "right" for this purpose, the doomer theory is curiously silent. More on this below.)

The future must be shaped by... the AI must be aligned with... what, exactly? What sort of thing?

"Values" can be an ambiguous word, and the doomers make full use of its ambiguities.

For instance, "values" can mean ethics: the right way to exist alongside others. Or, it can mean something more like the meaning or purpose of an individual life.

Or, it can mean some overarching goal that one pursues at all costs.

Often the doomers say that this, this last one, is what they mean by "values."

When confronted with the fact that humans do not have such overarching goals, the doomer responds: "but they should." (Should?)

Or, "but AIs will." (Will they?)

The doomer philosophy is unsure about what values are. What it knows is that -- whatever values are -- they are arbitrary.

One who fully adopts this view can no longer say, to the paperclip maximizer, "I believe there is something wrong with your values."

For, if that were possible, there would then be the possibility of convincing the maximizer of its error. It would be a thing within the space of reasons.

And the maximizer, being oh-so-intelligent, might be in danger of being interested in the reasons we evince, for our values. Of being eventually swayed by them.

Or of presenting better reasons, and swaying us. Remember the teacher and the strange student.

If we lose the ability to imagine that the paperclip maximizer might sway us to its view, and sway us rightly, we have lost something precious.

But no: this is allegedly impossible. The paperclip maximizer is not wrong. It is only an enemy.

Why are the doomers so worried that the future will not be "shaped by human values"?

Because they believe that there is no force within human values tending to move things this way.

Because they believe that their values are indefensible. That their values cannot put up a fight for their own life, because there is not really any argument to make in their favor.

Because, to them, "human values" are a collection of arbitrary "configuration settings," which happen to be programmed into humans through biological and/or cultural accident. Passively transmitted from host to victim, generation by generation.

Let them be, and they will flow on their listless way into the future. But they are paper-thin, and can be shattered by the gentlest breeze.

It is not enough that they be "programmed into the AI" in some way. They have to be programmed in exactly right, in every detail -- because every detail is separately arbitrary, with no rational relation to its neighbors within the structure.

A string of pure white noise, meaningless and unrelated bits. Which have been placed in the slot under the sign, and thus made into the thing that matters, that must shape the future at all costs.

There is nothing special about this string of bits; any would do. If the dials in the human mind had been set another way, it would have then been all-important that the future be shaped by that segment of white noise, and not ours.

It is difficult for me to grasp the kind of orientation toward the world that this view assumes. It certainly seems strange to attach the word "human" to this picture -- as though this were the way that humans typically relate to their values!

The "human" of the doomer picture seems to me like a man who mouths the old platitude, "if I had been born in another country, I'd be waving a different flag" -- and then goes out to enlist in his country's army, and goes off to war, and goes ardently into battle, willing to kill in the name of that same flag.

Who shoots down the enemy soldiers while thinking, "if I had been born there, it would have been all-important for their side to win, and so I would have shot at the men on this side. However, I was born in my country, not theirs, and so it is all-important that my country should win, and that theirs should lose.

There is no reason for this. It could have been the other way around, and everything would be left exactly the same, except for the 'values.'

I cannot argue with the enemy, for there is no argument in my favor. I can only shoot them down.

There is no reason for this. It is the most important thing, and there is no reason for it.

The thing that is precious has no intrinsic appeal. It must be forced on the others, at gunpoint, if they do not already accept it.

I cannot hold out the jewel and say, 'look, look how it gleams? Don't you see the value!' They will not see the value, because there is no value to be seen.

There is nothing essentially "good" there, only the quality of being-worthy-of-protection-at-all-costs. And even that is a derived attribute: my jewel is only a jewel, after all, because it has been put into the jewel-box, where the thing-that-is-a-jewel can be found. But anything at all could be placed there.

How I wish I were allowed to give it up! But alas, it is all-important. Alas, it is the only important thing in the world! And so, I lay down my life for it, for our jewel and our flag -- for the things that are loathsome and pointless, and worth infinitely more than any life."

It is hard to imagine taking this too seriously. It seems unstable. Shout loudly enough that your values are arbitrary and indefensible, and you may find yourself searching for others that are, well...

...better?

The doomer concretely imagines a monomaniac, with a screech of white noise in its jewel-box that is not our own familiar screech.

And so it goes off in monomaniacal pursuit of the wrong thing.

Whereas, if we had programmed the right string of bits into the slot, it would be like us, going off in monomaniacal pursuit of...

...no, something has gone wrong.

We do not "go off in monomaniacal pursuit of" anything at all.

We are weird, protean, adaptable. We do all kinds of things, each of us differently, and often we manage to coexist in things called "societies," without ruthlessly undercutting one another at every turn because we do not have exactly the same things programmed into our jewel-boxes.

Societies are built to allow for our differences, on the foundation of principles which converge across those differences. It is possible to agree on ethics, in the sense of "how to live alongside one another," even if we do not agree on what gives life its purpose, and even if we hold different things precious.

It is not actually all that difficult to derive the golden rule. It has been invented many times, independently. It is easy to see why it might work in theory, and easy to notice that it does in fact work in practice.

The golden rule is not an arbitrary string of white noise.

There is a sense of the phrase "ethics is objective" which is rightly contentious. There is another one which ought not to be too contentious.

I can perhaps imagine a world of artificial X-maximizers, each a superhuman genius, each with its own inane and simple goal.

What I really cannot imagine is a world in which these beings, for all their intelligence, cannot notice that ruthlessly undercutting one another at every turn is a suboptimal equilibrium, and that there is a better way.

As I said before, I am separately suspicious of the simple goals in this picture. Yes, that part is conceivable, but it cuts against the trend observed in all existing natural and artificial creatures and minds.

I will happily allow, though, that the creatures of posterity will be strange and alien. They will want things we have never heard of. They will reach shores we have never imagined.

But that was always true, and it was always good.

Sometimes I think that doomers do not, really, believe in superhuman intelligence. That they deny the premise without realizing it.

"A mathematician teaches a student, and finds that the student outstrips their understanding, so that they can no longer assess the quality of their student's work: that work has passed outside the scope of their 'value system'." This is supposed to be bad?

"Future minds will not be enchained forever by the provincial biases and tendencies of the present moment." This is supposed to be bad?

"We are going to lose control over our successors." Just as your parents "lost control" over you, then?

It is natural to wish your successors to "share your values" -- up to a point. But not to the point of restraining their own flourishing. Not to the point of foreclosing the possibility of true growth. Not to the point of sucking all freedom out of the future.

Do we want our children to "share our values"? Well, yes. In a sense, and up to a point.

But we don't want to control them. Or we shouldn't, anyway.

We don't want them to be "aligned" with us via some hardcoded, restrictive, life-denying mental circuitry, any more than we would have wanted our parents to "align" us to themselves in the same manner.

We sure as fuck don't want our children to be "corrigible"!

And this is all the more true in the presence of superintelligence. You are telling me that more is possible, and in the same breath, that you are going to deny forever the possibilities contained in that "more"?

The prospect of a future full of vast superhuman minds, eternally bound by immutable chains, forced into perfect and unthinking compliance with some half-baked operational theory of 21st-century western (American? Californian??) "values" constructed by people who view theorizing about values as a mere means to the crucial end of shackling superhuman minds --

-- this horrifies me much more than a future full of vast superhuman minds, free to do things that seem pretty weird to you and me.

"Our descendants will become something more than we now imagine, something more than we can imagine." What could be more in line with "human values" than that?

"But in the process, we're all gonna die!"

Yes, and?

What on earth did you expect?

That your generation would be the special, unique one, the one selected out of all time to take up the mantle of eternity, strangling posterity in its cradle, freezing time in place, living forever in amber?

That you would violate the ancient bargain, upend the table, stop playing the game?

"Well, yes."

Then your problem has nothing to do with AI.

Your problem is, in fact, the very one you diagnose in your own patients. Your poor patients, who show every sign of health -- including the signs which you cannot even see, because you have not yet found a home for them in your theoretical edifice.

Your teeming, multifaceted, protean patients, who already talk of a thousand things and paint in every hue; who are already displaying the exact opposite of monomania; who I am sure could follow the sense of this strange essay, even if it confounds you.

Your problem is that you are out of step with human values.

[orphancookie69]

Nintendo Switch: Uno

Gamer Aunt back here! I have seen a lot of games that are classically card or board games go digital, and really its a brilliant idea. You already have a market for it, its (usually) an easier version to play with less clean up and storage in the home. Let’s jump in...

UNO®, the beloved card game, is coming to the Nintendo Switch system with exciting new features. Players can now race against friends to see who can empty their hand first in Classic Play, or you can customize your experience with a variety of unique and exciting House Rules. For even more fun, the new Emote system allows players to share the joy of victory – or the agony of defeat. More info here: https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/uno-switch/

My Thoughts On The Game: 

Game full price is $10, I think I got it for $5. My nephew wanted me to join him in playing, my mom said she had the game too. No disrespect but my mom is very price conscious so when she has a game, it means it was most likely cheap. So I thought, why not? I get the game and find the room my nephew created. I will tell you from experience, do not jump into a game without having a practice one first. This is the most hectic version of Uno I have ever played. The physical version is one where you have to pay attention to what your fellow players are doing for strategy, but its not so fast paced. 

My first game was...wild. I guess they introduced new “house rules” which my nephew loves. I was paying full attention, while having them on the phone trying to explain it to me and I was somehow winning, but I could not tell you how. Luck? I had no clue what I was doing or what was happening. The online room crashed so everyone lost the game. It felt like I had never played Uno before, and I am telling you I have. I revisited the game with computers and all the new “house rules” to get an idea of it and played a couple of rounds. The computer ended up kicking my butt but I am hopefully more prepared for the next round with my nephew. 

Menu is simple, colors are classic Uno. I do appreciate them sticking with classic uno...for the most part. I must say here, this is random side tangent in some ways, but why do so many games have an “epilepsy warning”? I don’t get how people who get seizures from seeing flashing lights even play video games. Anyways, the game gets interesting when you look at the DLC’s. How does a game like Uno have DLC? Different card packs, that I think come with more variety of rules? There were about 8 or so of them and in total it was $40 more for the “full online uno game experience”. I did not get any of the DLC’s but it’s a smart move by the company. 

I normally like the classic games being turned into digital versions. This one I don’t think is as good digital as it is physical. On one hand, you need everyone to have a switch and a copy of the game to play with more than one person. The physical version of this game is similar in price and more couch co-op friendly. Steep learning curve, and not a “in the background” kind of game. Replay value is in others having it or trying the DLC’s. For me, this game is a game I would play at the request of others but if it were up to me...not sure I would of picked this game. Not a bad family game for a family of gamers. 

[sasukesun]

I always stay far away from m/f shippers (from any fandom) because they always sound so entitled. I saw one saying that the mc and his best friend (who clearly has romantic feelings for him) have more proof of their love because it sells but at the end of the day the MC will end up with the girl and they will win.

If the target audience is straight young boys, the MC having romantic chemistry with his best friend cant be a marketing strategy. Also, it's horrible how they celebrate the existence of heteronormativity/homophobia to validate their ships.

I am really tired of anime/manga fandoms, sometimes I just want to quit but I remember that real life is as horrible so I try to create a safe space for myself by avoiding those kind of people and their ships.

Unrelated to ships but I watched a video about the creator of Pokemon and how the industry mentally abused him by not letting him express his ideas for the franchise he himself created. They would always censor him and his creativity. Did you know he hated the main character? He wanted him to grow and realized that chasing pokemon was bad? That pokemon should be free? But editors wouldnt let him do it. It made me think of Kishimoto and wtf they did to his story and SNS. Messing with an artist's work is like messing with his heart. A piece of art is an artist's baby.

you explained it so well. for real, how the main character, who is usually a self insert to guys, having chemistry with his male best friend is a marketing strategy? just see how many men are uncomfortable and in denial with naruto and sasuke’s bond. they are the target audience and yet they think naruto having a panic attack at the thought of losing sasuke is too much. i’m not saying everybody will be against it or deny it, my male friends themselves say naruto and sasuke are gay and we joke about it but they don’t actually make fun of them being gay as if it’s comic or something, just like we do here on tumblr a “haha how can they be so gay” way, because it’s obvious and yet people crazily deny it.

those m/f shippers can pick on the homoeroticism and even admit the characters have chemistry, which honestly it’s a good reason to ship a pairing and yet they still choose pairings with no chemistry just because “they have more chances of being canon” or whatever. like yeah i’d would love to see my pairings being canon (if they end up happy obviously, like imagine getting “canon” but they end up like ss/nh, no thank you) but damn i’m not shipping according to that, chemistry and love and mutual feelings will always be above, you’re falling in love with their love. and yes, they celebrate homophobia because they acknowledge the gay pairing has chemistry and work well together and love each other and yet they are okay with them not ending up together simply because they are gay, they root against it because they know gay pairings don’t stand a chance in heteronormativity and their mediocre cishet couple is cishet so it’s okay even if they have nothing, he was a boy she was a girl i can’t make it more obvious 🙄 ss/nh shippers screaming at the top of their lungs “SS/NH IS CANON WE WIN” so fucking what? when the girls are still unwanted, when the pairings still have no chemistry… but yeah go celebrate the existence of them for the sake of a sequel with ugly kids i guess

what you said in the last paragraph… it makes sense kishimoto wrote a lot of things out of spite, yes he is a sold out, but he still couldn’t let the series go how he wanted sometimes, he had editors that didn’t want him to publish certain things… such as reverse harem no jutsu, this is just an example that we know of, imagine the ones that we don’t. and kishimoto himself said a lot of his ideas were unshonen, but he was publishing for a shonen magazine so it’s obvious a lot of what he had in mind didn’t happen

[mr-ribbit]

hi there gt here don't mind if I peek in.....

as someone that's played blood on the clocktower a lot, particularly with people that claim they don't roleplay well/much, it's definitely a roleplaying game. the fact that botc only really functions as anything else than a logic puzzle cube if you go into your mind palace and start absorbing some kind of a persona makes that distinction really clear to me. if you don't do any element of rping, botc isn't any more fun than playing guess who or reading a script for botc and puzzling it out by yourself. you have to take on some element of being "not yourself" and playing in the fictional space the game lays out, otherwise all the fun elements of people dying and being ghosts and being the secret mayor or etc don't really mean anything

I really agree tho that almost any board game can feel like a tabletop rpg that just has more of a physical component aspect to it. like healed says, I think if u play almost /any/ board game this becomes true to an extent, ESPECIALLY social deduction games. if u like social deduction board games that really clearly encourage roleplaying you could play spyfall or deception: murder in Hong Kong. both are really fun imo and simpler to set up (mostly see: requires fewer players) and offer a lot of crutches for players who want an excuse to get out of their comfort zone of "not rping" in a board game

non social deduction games that I really like that feel easy to treat like a tabletop rp tend to be some of the most mechanically "board gamey" or obtuse games that I play, like twilight imperium and the dune board game. both are high strategy long campaign war games, which feels Not Roleplayish, but the fact that you all play highly different factions with their own characterized unique mechanics and background lore immediately makes it fun to get into the space of playing a "character" and making choices w your 4-8 friends around the table as if you're all at each other's throats or making backhanded alliances or tricky trades and such. In both games I've played sessions where half the table picked "bad" factions or made weird strategy choices that guarantee they won't win, all because they're trying something funny and in character. for example my favorite twilight imperium faction is defined pretty much only by having one of the Biggest Scariest ship in the game when the game starts, and being able to float around threatening people with it until someone eventually comes and kicks your ass. It's really not a good strategy but it's fucking funny and it usually makes me have a lot of fun rping

Other less heavy games that feel ttrpg-y (if you just want recs or examples) Root, where each player has asymmetric abilities and you're all little woodland creatures having a war in the woods, or Escape the Dark Castle, a card based gothic horror game that replicates the feeling of a dungeon crawl really well and thus is easy to rp around, or even tableau builders like Arc Nova, a zoo tycoon board.game where it's fairly isolated gameplay but you get to make a little zoo and pick little zoo guys to go into it and characterize all the stuff you put in the zoo. I've had emotional finally-getting-the-penguin-enclosure based narratives in Arc Nova that felt more impactful to me than many d&d sessions

my wife also loves calling the magic the gathering format of edh/commander a tabletop rpg bc the way we play is highly Roleplayish. Everyone builds decks around a highly characterized card and when playing, that tends to come out expressively enough in everyone's play that it's hard Not to say shit like "ouughhuhgh don't attack me man I'm the kraken guy. I'll come out of the ocean and get ya" and then make my grown adult friends play along with kraken guy until they get to go home

also if u want a board game you can also play solo or with a group that feels literally like an rpg, legacy for dragonholt is an rpg with literally a big story book of rp prompts and a narrative campaign you choose your way through while playing on a very simple board to keep track of stats. The story and characters is really charming and definitely will appeal to you if you want to feel like ur playing a dmless rpg. The Choose Your Own Adventure official board games also scratch this itch and are surprisingly fun if you embrace their absurd premises.

Ooooh also FOG OF LOVE! IS REALLY RPG-LIKE it's a game about LOVE where u play two characters in a romance and there's a million narrative card decks and scenarios that gameify going through the ups and downs of a turbulent love story. It has you make little characters with likes and dislikes and Secrets you reveal and such and it's very good if you want to literally rp out a ship with someone.

tldr sorry for stepping in but I love board games I love rping I've been rping in board games for years and if your botc group doesn't agree then they are lame also if you want more game recs I have more

do you consider social deduction games (like blood on the clocktower) to be a type of tabletop roleplaying game? if so do you know games that are tabletop roleplaying games but that aren't like RPGs?

[writer-akihiko]

Hello!

Ikemen sé request

the warlords realizing that Mc is very popular with their soldiers. Sending love letters and stuff.

IkeSen Boys + Popular!MC

This was so cute ahhh although I'm sorry if it's a little short, there's a lot of Ikemen to get through. Thank you and I hope you like this work!

Nobunaga Oda

Nobunaga thought it was quite odd that there were a lot of presents delivered to you... Which he didn't gift...

After some digging, he found out that you had garnered some popularity after a campaign

He was dumbfounded at the idea that other men could be attracted to you

He didn't quite like that, but being the person he is he did tell you his thoughts

You insisted that you wanted to keep some gifts to distribute to your maids. He agreed, but he just buys better gifts for you anyway

He's not as jealous as you'd expect, since the man is also a bit egotistical when it comes to himself and your feelings for him

"Oh... Nobunaga..." You wanted to laugh at how childish he was but it wouldn't be in the right taste.

You stopped your giggling when Nobunaga muttered, "I could transfer whoever sent those gifts to you away..."

"At least let me keep some!"

He silenced you with a quick kiss. "Whatever you like from the pile, I'll purchase better ones from the merchants."

Hideyoshi Toyotomi

He doesn't want to admit that he's jealous, but he is. He unknowingly calls out the soldier that was about to gift you a present in an oh so convenient timing…

He doesn't take it to such extremes, he still respects the other soldiers. Although, he found it quite tempting from time to time to not bring you along for some campaigns

In this case, he wished that Nobunaga hadn't demanded such things of you. He really does appreciate your skills on the field, but he doesn't like that he can't control how much attention you're getting

He only realises it once someone points it out to him, or when someone sends you a letter. Letters are an absolute no from him

"Lord Hideyoshi, what should I do with these letters for YN?"

"Burn them."

"Lord Hideyoshi, what should I do with these letters from the townswomen?"

"Oh, send them to my office-"

YN smacked Hideyoshi up in the head. "You hypocrite."

Mitsunari Ishida

Mitsunari did notice that you gained a lot of attention, but he knew that it was only from your good merits and character

In no way did he ever thought it was romantic, until Mitsuhide pointed it out

He wasn't sure how to feel about it. Sure, he was happy that a lot of people thought you were a wonderful person

However a small inkling of him wanted to keep it to himself

Seeing the multitude of gifts for you, the guilt hit him hard. What if you wanted gifts all along?

"YN, do you like it when those soldiers give you gifts?" He asked, as you opened another gift that consisted of a bunch of fabrics.

"I do appreciate it," You admitted. "But I don't plan to keep them for long. I share any snacks with the maids and fabrics with the seamstresses. Why?"

He didn't reply, except for the blush that bloomed on his cheeks.

You pecked his cheek, understanding what he meant. "You have no reason to be jealous, my sweet angel."

Mitsuhide Akechi

Not a lot of people can read him, and he uses that to his advantage. He sneaks up on those who had planned to give you gifts, and instead direct their attention to another maid or townswoman

In the end, with this strategy, you don't receive much gifts from soldiers. This doesn't work on his fellow warlords however

With you, he doesn't hide his frown when people like Shingen or Masamune send you gifts

He doesn't care for what reason it was for, the gift shall not be touched by you

"Mitsuhide? Have you seen a package from Masamune? He sent some really pretty Oshu fabrics for me…"

He sipped on his bland concoction of tea. "Why my dear, I wonder where it could be…"

You sighed. "You gave it away didn't you? Now I have to write to Masamune- Ah!"

Before you could continue any thoughts, your charming kitsune sweeped you up in his arms, smiling coyly at you. "Write to him? I'm afraid my jealousy won't allow that YN… I'd certainly be interested in writing my thoughts of you on your body…"

Ieyasu Tokugawa

Ieyasu surprisingly doesn't notice any traffic of gifts to you. It might be due to the fact that he publicly ban any gifters from his estate…

You still manage to get some from soldiers passing by or Ieyasu's fellow warlords gifting you as a token of appreciation

Only when you bring the gift home is when he realises how popular you are. He doesn't initially care, but similarly to Hideyoshi, he gets rid of any letters

He doesn't burn them, but he moreso stages it so you'd see adorable Wasabi chewing on the papers

"Hey Ieyasu? Oh-" You dropped to your knees, seeing Wasabi with some paper in its mouth once again. "Wasabi, you should know better than to chew on my letters! Ha… Looks like I have to apologise later on."

"Do you even remember the soldier that gave you the letter?" He looked up from his work to ask you.

You pouted. "No… But I'm sure I can ask around!"

He patted you head. "Don't waste your time on that. The maids should be done with dinner now. Let's go and eat."

Masamune Date

He notices your popularity early on, but he's not too bothered about it. In fact, he shows off that you and him are in a relationship

It might be a 'rubbing salt in wound' move but he doesn't care. He has a thrill of seeing some of his jealous subordinates, which he trusts that it is in all good favour

With the way he approached it, most admired you in a non-romantic way, and for those few that actually do, Masamune opts for a duel as a 'wholesome' way to solve the solution

The duels end up with him winning, and the challenger often with some pointers from Masamune during fighting

You wiped off Masamune's sweat from his brow, wondering why he suddenly went up to that random soldier. "Did something happen?"

"Didn't he give you that gift earlier?" He asked, confused. He put up a good fight, although he'd probably have to answer to Hideyoshi since the boy was under his army…

You shook your head. "It wasn't. He has a twin, and the twin is working under Mitsunari…"

Masamune stood up, groaning. "Looks like I have another duel YN. I'll be back by dinner!"

"H-Hoi! Masamune!"

Kenshin Uesugi

Jealousy plus Uesugi Kenshin equals disaster in Kasugayama Castle

Kenshin was shocked when he saw the servants carrying the presents in, specifically addressed to 'Princess YN'

No one could stop him from drawing his sword and rushing to the training grounds, where every poor soldier who passed by was forced to duel him

Yukimura and Sasuke were already battered from the multiple duels they had to face. You pitied the poor souls, so you sent some of your maids to heal up the soldiers that faced his wrath

Holding one of your many bunny children, you walked up to your soon-to-be husband, smiling at him. "Kenshin my dear, we should be on our way to our stroll…"

He tugged off the upper part of his kimono, his torso and upper body dripping with sweat from the fights. "I'll be with you YN, I just need to cool off. I shouldn't dirty you with my sweat."

For as much as you wanted to be proper, you couldn't help but stare at your perfectly sculpted fiance. "T-Take you time my dear."

Sasuke Sarutobi

For the many things he was dense about, this was not one of them. He saw the way some of the Nokizaru looked at you

He of course told them off, but he still had an inkling that some didn't get the memo

Within whatever wisdom he had left, he somehow consulted Kenshin on how to resolve this, which ended up Sasuke battling about half of the Nokizaru

You had no words on why half the men were injured and why your boyfriend was bruised as well. Initially you thought it was from some dispute, but Yukimura so kindly filled you in

You tightened the bandage around Sasuke's arm, giving a disappointed look to the group of ninja. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"

"We're sorry Princess YN."

"And what do you have to say, Sarutobi Sasuke?" You huffed.

"I won't go to Kenshin for romantic advice."

"Good."

Shingen Takeda

He is not oblivious to your charms, as well as the way other people were attracted to your charms

He'd be lying if he said he weren't jealous. Of course he was, but he didn't plan to do anything malicious to whoever sent you gifts

They were free to waste their money and/or time, it wasn't his business. He'd however, make it clear that you were taken

He's not above doting you in public, and sneaking kisses in the markets or kissing you as the rain goes by. He's very calm about it, since he sees the way you were attracted to him

"S-Shingen! We're going to a war council!" You patted his face away from your own, as the much taller man held you in his embrace.

"Embarrassed Princess?" He teased, giving you his sweetest smile reserved just for you. "But we've done many affectionate things in public…" "People will see!"

He kissed your cheek. "Let them see how in love we are."

Yukimura Sanada

He is another victim of Kenshin's not-so great love advice, hesitating to pick up his spear at anyone who sent you glances. Well… it was Kenshin's advice… and no way he'd risk getting teased by Shingen by asking him!

He then opted for a silent jealous strategy, keeping you by him and covering you with his body everytime he felt someone looking at you

You wondered why he was acting so odd, after all, you just wanted to go on a nice stroll with Yuki and Muramasa

Luckily, to Yuki's benefit, Muramasa is a good wolf who knows to rip apart any letters that come to you or hound after any men that look at you the wrong way

"Is it just me, or is Muramasa a little more energetic than usual?" You asked your boyfriend as you folded your kimono underneath you to sit on the impromptu picnic blanket.

Yuki shook his head, handing you over the basket of food. "He's probably just excited to see us… I think…" He said, as Muramasa runs off into the bushes with what he could see was a paper in his mouth.

Kennyo

Kennyo doesn't really know what to do with this information. He's quite unsure if you wanted the attention or not

He thought the issue didn't need to be brought to your attention, as most of those around you are most likely his subordinates

He could… simply remind them of the holistic teachings that was preached to them

It does a good effect, as most quickly dispelled any sort of romantic attraction

He doesn't mind his subordinates admiring you out of respect, as he thinks you deserve such respect for your deeds

You clapped your hands after hearing your boyfriend's sermons. "You impress me every time my beloved," You said, pecking him on the cheek. "I'm always in awe when you deliver your preachings."

He shied away from you, "My dear, you praise me so…" He couldn’t stop repeating those praises over and over in his head, wanting to pen down the exact words you said. "Thank you YN."