#my contribution to the support squad

[matmiraculous]

Grey: So. Who broke it? I’m not mad. I just want to know. UnusualBrother: I did. I broke it… Grey: No. No, you didn’t. World Tour? WorldTour: Don’t look at me. Look at EY. EldestYoungest: What?! I didn’t break it. WorldTour: Huh. That’s weird. How did you even know it was broken? EY: Because it’s sitting right in front of us and it’s broken! WorldTour: Suspicious. EY: No, it’s not! Crystal: If it matters, probably not… Brotherhood was the last one to use it. Brotherhood: Liar! I don’t even drink that crap! Crystal: Oh really? Then what were you doing by the coffee cart earlier? Brotherhood: I use the wooden stirrers to push back my cuticles. Everyone knows that, Crystal! UB: Alright let’s not fight. I broke it, let me pay for it, Grey Gray: No. Who broke it? EY: [whispering] Grey, Fratricide has been awfully quiet… Fratricide: Really?! EY: Yeah, really! Fratricide: Oh my god!

Grey: I broke it. I burned my hand so I punched it. I predict ten minutes from now, they’ll be at each other’s throats with warpaint on their faces and a pig head on a stick. Good. It was getting a little chummy around here. Fratricide is @rdostuff 's Crystal Dory is @tea0w0stache Brotherhood AU is @tea0w0stache and @0ketlyn-s World Tour is @year2000electronics Grey JD is @ijjstlostthegame Unusual Brother is mine and @ijjstlostthegame Eldest and Youngest is mine

[lethalitisms]

[[ dash topic is gonna make me ramble some insane amounts about symbiote intimacy here we go guys

reminder that the symbiote comes from a species that doesn't have sex . they don't need it . they reproduce asexually, they don't even do it recreationally, it's usually something that's considered taboo in klyntar culture ( see: the arachniote; yes i will always see "bonding" as often a metaphor for relationships of many kinds, and sometimes that includes intimate ones ) but the symbiote has some level of desire for it. i personally like to portray it more as somewhat an exploration of its host, its desire to be close to eddie and partake in "human" cultures and norms as a way of showing that they're equals. and also because it IS a valid form of sustenance because the chemicals produced in his brain after an orgasm are actually the stuff that the symbiote requires to survive, commonly found in much happier brains.

i know what you're thinking. omg hot freaky tentacle sex !*#)*)#!@!! but ... in my mind, it's more like ... that scene in #154 where it has its tendrils all over eddie. watching over him, lounging over him, wrapped around his limbs and between his fingers. the symbiote is not a sexual creature, but neither is it asexual by the standards of its species. you could probably label it as asexual from a human standpoint, it has no actual desire for sex in the way of having a sexual drive or a want for it in particular. asexuality, even for humans, is a wide spectrum that the symbiote would feasibly fit within. but this is also dependent on the host ! and i'm not just saying this because eddie is the only one it's had a romantic relationship with.

that idea of the host influencing the symbiote's desires ( in a way ) is what i'm trying to get at. that whole thing in mp#5 where it is constantly asking eddie to "flip the switch" and let it try with him, that in some part comes from him. and because the symbiote can practically read his mind, it's asking him to let it try with him because it knows that's what he wants with another person. but he doesn't have another person, and he doesn't want another person; he wants the symbiote, and the symbiote wants to show him it can be what he wants it to be: a beautiful horror, terror and desire intertwined. ]]

[woso-dreamzzz]

Idol

Barcelona Femení x Teen!Reader

Summary: You manage to humiliate yourself in front of everyone

Your first ever tournament with England ends in defeat.

Defeat to Spain by one goal.

You'd contributed well through the campaign, coming on as a super sub most matches.

You were still young, nearly sixteen but still making waves in the Championship. You'd played at Bristol City, helping them secure promotion.

Then you'd gotten the call from Sarina to join her World Cup squad.

You'd happily accepted.

A natural midfielder, you'd tended to replace whoever needed to be replaced during the World Cup campaign and made waves with the amount of chances you'd created.

Most of them never came to anything, an intercepted pass or a save by the keeper.

But you still made chances, still unpicked midfields and defences like it was easy.

You were a talent, hidden away in the Championship where no one could see you.

You were adaptable, able to play wherever you were put, eager to get just ten minutes on the pitch to show off your skills.

You were a little bummed at hearing your friend Grace would be called away from Bristol City now they were in the wsl but you reckoned you'd still see each other during matches.

That had been the plan until Barcelona paid your release clause.

You'd only been signed to Bristol for one year, your first academy contract and you were already being transferred over to a different team.

To Barcelona.

That was the scary thing.

Their midfield was stacked. You'd even go so far as to say the best midfield in the world, at least in your humble opinion.

In your humble opinion as well, you'd never been more excited.

You were as English as they came but your uncle had worked in Spain straight out of university and only got interested in football because his coworkers dragged him out to a Barcelona game.

You'd have to thank them at some point, for igniting that love of football and Barcelona in him because it was the only reason he'd started you in football in the first place.

'My niece will play for Barcelona one day' is what he'd said to people.

And here you were, practically trembling at Keira's side as you looked up at the building.

You'd come into the England team by yourself, not knowing anyone.

It's nice to know that you have Keira and Lucy here with you now. You don't think you would be able to cope with introducing yourself to such legendary players by yourself.

The nerves threaten to overtake you but you force yourself to stay strong. You force yourself not to show your new teammates how in awe of them you are.

"You'll do great, kid," Keira says to you, ruffling your hair.

"Just try not to embarrass yourself," Lucy teases," We know what you're like."

Your face flushes red and you look down.

"Lucy, leave her alone."

You both know what Lucy's referring to though.

You were a Barcelona supporter through and through but you had a great deal of respect for anyone that played in the midfield. You'd nearly thrown up all over Keira and Georgia when you first met them, mindlessly blurting out their statistics from last season that you'd memorised from watching all of their games before the embarrassment set into your bones.

It was nearly the most embarrassing moment of your life, second only that time when you had accidentally knocked both you and Grace out at training by trying to head the ball at the same time as her.

Lucy and Keira were sworn to secrecy over the first matter and you knew they wouldn't betray you to anyone who wasn't English.

Both times were humiliating but, at least, at Barcelona it was a fresh start.

Or, it would have been an embarrassment-free fresh start had you not completely humiliated yourself the moment Alexia Putellas shook your hand.

"You'reonmywall!"

The words rush out of your mouth before you can even stop them and Lucy bursts into hysterical laughter.

Keira catches your shocked expression as you turn to look at her, brows shooting up to your hairline and eyes wide like you can't even understand why you opened your mouth in the first place. It would have been better if you pretended to be mute.

Alexia Putellas cocks her head to the side curiously.

"What was that?"

Fuck.

She even sounds understanding.

"I...er...It's nothing."

"She said that you're on her wall," Lucy, the traitor, says once she's recovered from her laughter.

Somehow, your face burns even brighter and you hide away behind Keira.

"On her wall?"

"As a poster," Lucy confirms, nodding," She collects them."

"Please stop. Keira, make her stop," You beg but Keira just soothingly pats you on the back.

"No accounting for taste," Patri Guijarro teases, laughing herself as her hand falls onto your shoulder," Is it just Ale on your wall?"

"I..."

"Lots of different players," Keira says, saving you from embarrassing yourself further yet somehow managing to still humiliate you," Not just Alexia."

"Is it a good picture of me?" Patri asks, already assuming there's a poster of her somewhere up in your childhood bedroom," Did it catch my best side? Because some photographers don't, you know."

"Am I on it too?" Pina asks," I don't think there's enough posters of me. I should be on more people's walls."

"It was a group poster. Everyone's on it," You manage to force out of your mouth.

"Except the Alexia poster," Keira, to your horror, keeps talking," That one's solo."

"Keira!"

This whole situation is super humiliating and you can't make eye contact with anyone.

A finger taps your shoulder though and it's rude not to look at someone when they want to talk to you so you have to force your eyes up.

Alexia Putellas is the one that tapped you and your throat bobs nervously.

"I am on your wall?"

"Yes?"

"You play midfield, right?"

"I do."

"I thought so," She says," When I heard we were signing you, I watched some of your games. You had some good ones during the World Cup. You were Bristol City's playmaker."

You nod. "I...Er, that's what they said, yeah."

Her hand goes over your shoulders.

"You have a lot of talent but you hesitate too much. You could have scored in the World Cup final if you hadn't passed the ball. Come on, I have a few tricks I think will work well for you."

[mistresscitrusslice]

The Season 2 Opening. We Must Discuss.

First of all, small beans. Instead of static, lifeless statues, this time we get moving humans. Mel features significantly more than I expected, so she'll probably be a much more major character than I expected for a non-champion character and I'm so happy for her. I believe the use of moving people instead of statues signifies that immense change will be happening. What we thought was literally set in stone in Season 1 will be turned on its head in Season 2.

Okay, on to the really concerning matters.

Yuhuh. Jinx moves too fast for me to get a good screenshot, but she gestures like this around her face a lot. I think we all already know about the Caitlyn-Jinx parallels, but my sister suggests it could be a red herring for the actual resemblances she has to Silco.

Sis gets credit for the following observation, but Caitlyn's daydream sequences about shooting Jinx are controlled and clearly separated from reality unlike Jinx's.

However, sis has not seen ep 2 yet, where Caitlyn does have that moment in the arcade where she shoots her vision of Jinx among the wooden dummies. Not only does this more closely resemble Jinx's hallucinations, it also parallels Jinx shooting the harmless crow in s1 e5. By the time the strike squad are about to leave, she can clearly tell that what she thought might be Jinx was really just a harmless wooden standee. Startling, but harmless. She shoots it anyway.

Caitlyn is totally gonna spiral more, and maybe she'll start losing her grip on reality too, but for now, she has more in common with Silco than she does with Jinx. Did anyone else get reminded of Silco's coat when Ambessa put the supervillain cape on Caitlyn? The collars don't look similar but they still eerily resemble each other, you get me?

Ok back to intro stuff

Vi wipes off her name from her face. That's two tattoos that are rendered impermanent in this opening theme. In the Fenty x Arcane video, they mention that Mel's golden freckles are tattoos. Later in the intro song, we also see her golden freckles gone. Change, impermanence. That seems to be a theme here.

Vi is literally erasing her name from her face. In any normal circumstance, I'd say that means she wants a change of identity, a desire to start over. However, I know that Vi's League lore involves amnesia. Does she really drink herself into that bad of a stupor? Jkjk. I assumed that her amnesia was replaced by the Stillwater imprisonment to explain how she got topside and with the enforcers, but perhaps I was wrong. Maybe they do still intend to go the amnesia or partial amnesia route with her.

The teasers implied that Vi shares the genetic trait that has Jinx predisposed to hallucinations. It's possible that this eventually contributes to her loss of memory, but I wouldn't call it quite yet. However, if this happens during her emo era when I'm assuming she has no support system, she'll be very vulnerable, unlike if it were to happen while she was still partnered with Caitlyn, in which case they could easily fill in most blanks in her memory.

I have no idea what to make of this. It's clear as day what they're paralleling, but why? Why the flashlight scene? My best guess is that they're trying to draw on déjà vu, implying a repetition of history, but why this particular moment? They could've easily chosen anything else in Jayce's s1 arc. He has many more memorable moments than this. Let's see, I'm literally making this up as I go.

This meeting was a pivotal moment for Jayce. Both his meeting with Viktor and his meeting with Mel changed his fate. The Viktor one is pretty self-explanatory, but without meeting Mel, they would've both just gotten exiled or locked up again. With Mel, they had someone in power who could vouch for them.

That begs the question, is Jayce meeting someone new? Or is this a reintroduction to someone he's already known before, a new meeting after a long time apart or after a significant change, maybe a change in them both. I believe it must be someone who was involved in the original hallway scene.

Jayce is either looking at Mel again or at Viktor. Given the amount of Viktor/Mel parallels in Season 1, I believe Jayce is looking at Viktor after he's undergone his likely final evolution. That'll obviously be another pivotal moment for him... but will it be a good one like it was with Mel? Viktor has power now. He's performing miracles. He's, like, two steps away from parting the Pilt River like it's the Red Sea. He seems to hold a grudge against Jayce, though, for *checks notes* saving his life? Jk I know he feels like he's losing autonomy and like Jayce didn't respect his wishes with the Hexcore and Jayce obviously couldn't let Viktor die when he'd fought so hard to stay alive before.

Anyway, I feel like this could easily be both a good omen and a bad omen for Jayce. More than anything, I feel like it'll be an epiphany. He is quite literally seeing the light. The light at the end of the dark tunnel? The light of the heavens at the end of his life? The light of a revelation sent by a god he once knew as a man?

Seeing Mel screaming bloody murder during the opening, this was the first place my mind went to. The pose doesn't match up exactly, and Jinx/Powder's screams are definitely wilder, but I feel like there's definitely something here. Is there anyone else who screams like this, thrusting their head forward and keeping their arms back?

We also see the shadow hands from this earlier shot:

I'm thinking of the Black Rose (is that their name?) kidnapping her in thin air, incorporeal hands reaching at her and snatching my joy the love of my life Mel away. It could also represent people grasping at the power Mel wields, both as the wealthiest Council member and as a Noxian princess, one of the closest people to Ambessa, the one wielding the most power right now.

Mel is really out of her depth right now. Her power and influence is up for grabs if she dares to blink and let her guard down. I'm also surprised that we don't see her fight back at all when there's danger around. I thought she might have more battle experience as she was raised by Ambessa. For those people wondering about her magical powers, I think she would've used them by now if she had them. Council attack aside, which could've been Viktor's magic, she wasn't able to do anything about the memorial attack or her own kidnapping. I think they're trying to show us that Mel is not as untouchable as she presents herself. Under the right circumstances, she's just as vulnerable as any civilian.

The sliver of light? My sister pointed out that it looks just like the crack of light between two double doors. Almost closed... or barely open? It appears in pretty much everyone's shot in the opening, but it's right down the center of Mel's face here. Is she torn between two sides? Is this about an impossible choice she has to make?

The spotlight is also on her. That's two sources of light. It looks like a red sun. All eyes on her as the surviving voice of the Council?

And her expression... shock, fear, horror. The heavy breathing, the look on her face... I feel eerily like I've seen it on someone else before. I can't place who, but I'm getting déjà vu from this. Does anyone else recognize this expression and these mannerisms?

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: What must be done

( Please come see me on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord Every bit helps) (meeting screens fizzle on one by one)

High Commander: Thank you all for attending this alliance conference.

High Commander: I know many of you are scattered across the quadrant, so this conference will have to do for now.

Volgond: Is it not unwise to meet over a transmitted conference?

Vologond: Our enemies could hack into the signal and gain a tactical advantage from our discussions.

Primary C: (In robotic voice) This outcome is unlikely.

Primary C: My people are encrypting the signal with an ever morphing signal frequency that not even our enemies most advanced machines could detect.

Primary C: Only a Cythogen can detect and translate the signal for it to be understandable.

High Commander: To which we are grateful you have contributed your people’s talents to the war effort.

Vologond: (Grumbles) I would still insist our next meeting be in person.

High Commander: Noted.

High Commander: We shall begin with updates along the northern front with Sun Bearer Arthrix.

Sun Bearer Arthrix: We’ve made great strides in recent months in the Hepestus cluster. Three systems have fallen to our forces there but our supply lines now are dangerously spread thin. Our enemies have taken note of this and begun raiding our supply convoys with ever increasing ferocity stalling our campaign.

High Commander: I will dispatch the 4th and 5th reserve fleets to begin escort duties which should alleviate the pressure. In the meantime consolidate the new territories you have captured until you are ready for continued operations.

Sun Bearer Arthrix: It will be done.

High Commander:  Now (flips through some pages) for the ongoing battle for Merina, have you made any progress General Anthony?

General Anthony: The world now rests entirely within alliance hands.

(Several gasps and looks of surprise among the gathered alien commanders)

High Commander: You can confirm this?

General Anthony: Aside from the occasional squad or two of enemy forces that escaped the final battle all major installations and population centers are under terrain control. The previously mentioned scattered survivors are being hunted down now.

Taskmaster Folgar: I find this unbelievable.

General Anthony: Careful now, I may take that as an insult.

Taskmaster Folgar: It took me over a year to establish a beachhead on that planet and my forces were nearly wiped out by the automated defense systems employed. Yet you come along and relieve me of my command and suddenly the planet falls within a month?

(murmurs of commanders heard over the background)

High Commander: While it begrudges me to ask this, can you present proof of the conquest?

General Anthony: (says nothing as screen changes to live feed from Merina)

(The feed shows Terran soldiers patrolling through the shattered remnants of once proud cities that had been protected by advanced sky energy domes that blocked orbital fire and walls lined with powerful automated plasma cannons that annihilated enemies from several miles away

Walls of the fortress cities were cracked wide open and shattered in many places. Many of the fierce automated guns now lay broken and battered on the ground and the ones that still were atop the battlements were being dismantled by terrain engineers to send back to their R&D departments)

General Anthony: Our enemies became complacent while they hid behind their walls; so assured of their durability that once they were breached they lacked the ability to mount a suitable defense.

Primary C: How did you breach the walls?

Taskmaster Folgar: I wish to know this as well.

General Anthony: It was rather simple really.

General Anthony: While observing the enemy we noticed that the automated guns would not fire on an area if they detected one of their own within to projected blast radius.

Primary C: No doubt a safety feature built into the weapons targeting parameters to prevent friendly fire incidents.

General Anthony: (Nods) That is what we figured as well.

General Anthony: So over the course of a month we captured as many enemy soldiers as we could-

Taskmaster Folgar: (Scoffs) We tried interrogating them before and they gave up no useful information.

General Anthony: (Glares at the taskmaster before continuing)- and loaded them on to trucks packed with explosives.

High Commander: You did what?

General Anthony: We then remotely controlled those same trucks to drive directly into the base of the wall segments our engineers determined that if damaged would trigger a structural collapse of the entire-

High Commander: YOU DID WHAT?!

General Anthony: These interruptions are quite tiresome now.

Taskmaster Folgar: Do you have any idea the violations of war you have committed?

High Commander: You will be stripped of your rank for such actions!

General Anthony: And what of you then, High Commander?

High Commander: Me?

General Anthony: When you gave me the order to relieve the Taskmaster you told me that you wanted Merina captured by any means necessary.

General Anthony: (Emphasizing) “By any means necessary”.

General Anthony: I followed your orders to the letter and captured the world; so it is you yourself that has ordered any such violations.

High Commander: Do not think you can twist my words to get yourself out of-

General Anthony: (cuts in) Primary C, would you not state that my actions were the most efficient method to bring about the end of a costly conflict?

Primary C: (Silent as it calculates) 

Primary C: While removing the organic factor of “honor” and “morality”, I compute that your actions did resolve the matter of Merina without further losses to manpower and resources.

General Anthony: And taskmaster, dear taskmaster; when you spent over a year attempting to crack the planets defenses how many of your men did you lose?

Taskmaster Folgar: That is not the-

General Anthony: How. Many?

Taskmaster Folgar: (Remains silent)

General Anthony: That is what I thought.

General Anthony: (Turns to address High Commander) You cannot give me an order and ask it be completed by any means necessary and not expect me to follow your instructions to the letter.

High Commander: Do you not have a soul?

High Commander: Do you feel nothing for those you sent to their deaths?

General Anthony: Such is the nature of all those who hold positions of power.

General Anthony: But if you must know I was the one who escorted the prisoners to the trucks myself, and they were quite enthusiastic about it.

High Commander: What?

General Anthony: Yes. I told them that they were going home and they hopped right in.

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - October 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles on Patreon!

1. Arctic ozone reaches record high in positive step for climate

“Above-average ozone levels continued to persist through September 2024. This is significant as, previously, spring has been associated with ozone depletion[….] The March 2024 ozone average peaked at 477 Dobson units (DU), which is 6 DU higher than the previous record in March 1979 and 60 DU higher than the average for the study period (1979 to 2023).”

2. Why Massachusetts loves Nibi the beaver and [won the fight] to keep her out of the wild

“Nibi, now 2 years old, is roughly the age when wild beavers embark on their journey to find a mate and build a home. [… But] if Nibi is released in October, she would be ill-prepared for the winter[…. The governor has] issued a permit for Nibi to remain at a wildlife rescue as an educational beaver and inspire folks to protect our natural world."”

3. In Madagascar, Taniala Regenerative Camp aims to heal deforestation scars

“Residents of the villages around Lambokely manage the nursery and market garden crops. “Local communities receive training in agroecology and agroforestry, benefit from improved soil fertility, and earn additional income from intercropping in the agroforestry plots. In addition, community members are incentivized to participate in tree-planting activities.””

4. Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Breaks Ground on $6.4 Million Affordable Housing Project

“The project’s first phase will create three-bedroom homes designed for multiple purposes, including elderly housing, emergency shelter, and support for displaced and low-income Tribal citizens. These homes will be built to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, ensuring accessibility for all.”

5. Scientists say painting roofs this colour could save lives: How does it keep cities cool?

“[Researchers] found that cool, light-coloured roofs installed across all of London’s roofs could have cooled the city by around 0.8C [in 2018]. [… Solar panels] could have cooled the city by around 0.3C, preventing the deaths of 96 people [… while generating] more than half the energy [used by] London during the entire year of 2018.”

6. Travis County [TX] opens center to help keep people experiencing a mental health crisis out of jail

“The walk-in urgent care facility is open 24/7 and provides immediate support for people experiencing mental health crises. From there, some patients may be referred to a residential facility[… where] patients will be able to stay for up to 90 days[….] Jailed individuals may also work with their legal teams to coordinate admission to the facility.”

7. Spain’s first transgender soccer team makes debut in regional men’s league

“A soccer team consisting entirely of transgender men has[…] become the first all-trans squad to achieve federated status in Europe. […] Spain passed a pioneering trans rights bill last year designed to make it easier to change a person’s legal gender identity. […] Players may also choose to use a name that’s different from their legal one[….]”

8. Green Status of Species: Pushing Conservation Ambitions Beyond Preventing Extinction

“[… T]he Green Status of Species [is] a new part of Red List assessments that helps tell “a species’ full conservation story.” […] In addition to quantifying species recovery, the Green Status of Species […] will help to better inform future conservation actions by shedding light on which past actions have contributed most to species recovery.”

9. Hell froze over in Texas – the state will connect to the US grid for the first time via a fed grant

“[The projects will] boost grid reliability, lower energy costs, and support the clean energy transition. […] They’ll also generate nearly 9,000 jobs, supporting local economies[…. In particular, the Texas portion is] designed to prevent outages like the ones during Winter Storm Uri that hit Texas hard in 2021.”

10. Pine martens released to be reintroduced to Devon

“Work to release 15 pine martens into woods across Dartmoor has been completed[….] The eight females and seven males have all been fitted with a radio collars to allow their movements to be tracked. […] They were kept in soft-release pens for three days to get them used to their surroundings before being allowed to run wild, staff said.”

September 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[lunarriviera]

look who made the front page of MDL y'all

Chinese mystery thriller 'Under the Skin Season 2' announces premiere date

by Lily Alice, December 5, 2024

Under the Skin Season 2 has confirmed its release date for December 10. 

Under the Skin is a mystery thriller that tells the story of Shen Yi (Tan Jian Ci), a portraitist, and Du Cheng (Jin Shi Jia), a captain in the criminal investigation team, forced to work as partners to solve a series of bizarre and mysterious cases. 

The second season will continue to build on the core theme of the first season, "Revealing truths through colors, portraying the depths of the human heart." Through the outline of the portraits, it delves into the complexities of human nature. The Beijiang squad, composed of the portraitist Shen Yi, criminal investigation team captain Du Cheng, and others, will persist in unraveling the enigmas of human nature and pursuing the culprits behind the cases.

Tan Jian Ci plays Shen Yi, a young painter who resigned from his teaching position at an art academy and unexpectedly joined the Haicheng [sic] Public Security Bureau. Seven years ago, while still a student sketching on the streets, a stranger approached him with a photograph of a child, requesting him to create an image of what the child might look like as an adult. This drawing, however, inadvertently led to the exposure of undercover officer Lei Yifei's identity, resulting in Lei's tragic death. Five [sic] years later, burdened by a heavy sense of guilt, Shen Yi decided to uncover the truth. He accepted an invitation from Chief Zhang of the Public Security Bureau and became a portraitist for the criminal investigation team. Shen Yi's bromance with Du Cheng is one of the drama's highlights. 

Jin Shi Jia plays Du Cheng, the captain of the Beijiang Police Criminal Investigation Team. A decisive and relentless leader, he often operates unpredictably and spares no effort in solving cases, regardless of the cost.

Baby Zhang plays He Rong Yue, a forensic specialist in the Beijiang Police Criminal Investigation Team.

A courageous, meticulous, and highly skilled forensic expert, she is known for her integrity and boldness. During investigations, she often uncovers subtle truths that others might overlook. Her keen observations and expertise have helped Du Cheng and Shen Yi discover crucial details and solve numerous complex cases.

Her in-depth understanding of human anatomy has significantly contributed to cracking difficult cases. She holds great admiration for Shen Yi and, during their work together, often glances at him intentionally or unintentionally while handling cases.

Zhu Jia Qi plays Jiang Feng, a member of the Beijiang Police Criminal Investigation Team.

A junior team member and loyal follower of Du Cheng, he is straightforward and outspoken. Although he means no harm, his honest comments often lead to misunderstandings. Despite this, he is immensely loyal and is one of Du Cheng's most trusted subordinates.

He harbors feelings for his colleague Li Han, but in her eyes, he is nothing more than a coworker.

Qin Hai Lu plays Chief Zhang of the Beijiang Police Department.

A kind and approachable leader, she balances the sense of duty inherent to a police officer with the amiability of a good leader, while also commanding the authority expected of her. Recognizing Shen Yi's exceptional talent in sketching, she brought him into the department to assist the police in solving cases with his unique skills.

Fang Zi Bin plays Yan Tan Sheng, a detective in the Beijiang Police Criminal Investigation Team. He is highly professional, meticulous, and deeply committed to justice. Always willing to lend a hand, he supports newcomers to the team with his guidance. 

Under the Skin Season 2 will premiere on December 10. The C-drama will be available to stream on iQIYI and TencentVideo. Watch the trailer here.

[adding in Li Han played by Lu Yanqi bc they forgot my babygirl]

[gamma-rae-bursts]

Temily anon here, if you’re comfortable with it please give us the essay-long rant!! No worries if you don’t have the spoons for it, but I would love to hear a more in-depth analysis of their relationship, especially if the person telling it is as passionate about it as you are! :)

Hi Temily Anon! Let's pretend I didn't abandon this idea for well over a year. But here I present to you the essay long rant about how Tara and Emily are literally made for each other!

The Temily Thesis - Exploring the Subtle Chemistry and Romantic Potential Between Emily Prentiss and Tara Lewis in Criminal Minds

This essay is dedicated to @/temily anon, without whom this would not be created, as well as the no.1 Temily stan @gaelic-symphony, my no.1 supporter @nightmarish-fae, and the best of best-brainstorming besties @storiesofsvu

Warnings: heavy lean into academic writing lol

Introduction

The two main characters from the American TV show Criminal Minds, the FBI's Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU) agents, are Emily Prentiss and Tara Lewis. Despite sharing an identical team and comparable professional responsibilities, the characters' relationships and story arcs couldn't be more different. By delving into the possibility of a love connection between Tara Lewis and Emily Prentiss on Criminal Minds, the show expands their dynamic beyond their professional encounters and brings the emphasis closer to a personal bond. Looking at their common history, characteristics, and how their current connection may develop is necessary to explore the possibility of a love relationship between these two characters, even though the show doesn't show it happening. Agent Elle Greenaway's replacement, Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), debuted in Season 2. Upon her arrival at the BAU, several of her teammates were skeptical since they believed she had been brought there because of her political ties. Nevertheless, Prentiss quickly showed her value and earned the respect and confidence of her coworkers. Her importance in the BAU grew over time, and she was subsequently named Unit Chief. Debuting in Season 11, dr. Tara Lewis, played by Aisha Tyler, is a forensic psychologist who was called in to assist the BAU while other team members were temporarily absent. Tara, in contrast to Prentiss, was accepted into the squad with open arms. Her unique viewpoint was amplified by her extensive training in forensic psychology, especially in the field of psychopathy.

The Development of Their Relationship and Their Characters Initially a mysterious agent, Prentiss transforms into a powerful and compassionate leader during the series. As the team tackles a multitude of challenges, both in their careers and personal lives, her bond with the whole team, and for the purposes of this rant, Tara, deepens. As Emily takes on more responsibility in the bearou, her bond with Tara becomes more settled in one of professional cooperation and mutual regard. Tara grows into a vital element in the BAU, despite her character development not being quite as exciting as Prentiss's. Even while she and Emily have a professional relationship most of the time, there are times when they bond on a more personal level which shows how strong their collaboration is. Tara is a reliable friend for Emily, especially in difficult instances, thanks to her competence and constant presence.

Analysis of the Professional Relationship between the Characters

The dynamic between Prentiss and her teammates, notably Tara, changed from that of a peer to that of a leader as she rose through the ranks of the BAU. Decisiveness, sensitivity, and an in-depth knowledge of her team were hallmarks of Prentiss's outstanding leadership abilities. She frequently consulted Tara for her psychological insights throughout cases, and her leadership approach encouraged team cohesiveness and trust. As a forensic psychology specialist, Tara frequently contributed to the team's case-solving efforts by providing in-depth psychological examinations of suspects. The efforts that Tara made were much appreciated, even if she did not take on a formal leadership position like Prentiss. Both Emily and Tara respected one another; Prentiss was a strong leader, and Tara was an expert in mental health, so it was no surprise that the two had a warm relationship.

Analysis of the Personal Relationship between the Characters

As a trusted friend for her coworkers, Prentiss is known for the deep emotional ties she has with them. Respect and unwavering loyalty are the foundation of her relationships with her teammates. Emily develops a close bond with Tara after years of working with her professionally. This becomes especially clear in later seasons when Prentiss puts her trust in Tara's intuition and judgment at crucial moments. Tara and Emily have a more professional relationship based on trust. Emily's fiery and protective personality is balanced by Tara's cool and collected attitude. Tara is less dramatic than Prentiss, but she proves her devotion by standing behind Prentiss's decisions, even when those are difficult or controversial.

The Evolution from Professional to Personal Relationship

From Tara's joining the team it has been painfully evident that there is a high potential for more than a platonic relationship between the characters. Emily and Tara's common experiences within the BAU are one of the greatest possible triggers for a love connection. As a team, they endure the psychological toll of dealing with terrible crimes, which holds a high potential for strengthening their bond. Emily and Tara's capacity to lean on one another during these challenging moments has the potential to strengthen their bond beyond that of friends and colleagues. Emily and Tara are both highly intelligent, driven women who share a deep commitment to their work. Their intellectual compatibility could be the foundation for a romantic relationship, as they would be able to engage in meaningful conversations and understand the complexities of each other’s professional lives. Additionally, their emotional compatibility—Emily’s empathetic nature and Tara’s calm, grounded presence—could provide a balanced dynamic where both partners complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. If the writes decided to go into a romance between these two, the foundation for the relationship has already been laid out in previous episodes, the deep conversations between the two characters, opening up to one another on a deeper level, sharing more vulnerable times, and learning to lean on one other more emotionally give a perfect opportunity for expanding the relationship between the two women from simply platonic to a romantic connection. On top of that, in the latest seasons introduction of Tara's new love interest quickly followed by a break of the relationship forms a greater foundation for introduction of a love potential between Tara and Emily.

Given Emily's hesitancy for developing strong emotional connections, it's not out of the question that her feelings for Tara may have already progressed beyond simple admiration and respect and into something more personal, but she is simply too hesitant to admit them to herself, let alone Tara.

Underlying Chemistry and Compatibility

Emily Prentiss is known for her fierce independence, yet she also has a lot of compassion and is very devoted to her team. Throughout her career, she has consistently developed strong bonds with her teammates. Her ability to manage her emotions while still meeting her professional obligations has been on display in her leadership job, which bodes well for a more intimate relationship with someone she admires and trusts, such as Tara. In contrast, Tara Lewis is level-headed, collected, and motivated by her intelligence. Her training in forensic psychology betrays an empath who places a premium on listening, expression, and complexity of feeling. Tara would be a reliable and encouraging companion for Emily because of her level-headed and considerate attitude to all interactions. The chemistry between Emily Prentiss and Tara Lewis is rooted in their shared experiences, complementary personalities, and the way they interact on both professional and personal levels. Chemistry, in this context, refers to the unspoken connection and mutual understanding that can naturally evolve into a deeper relationship. While Emily is a complex character, marked by her resilience, intelligence, and empathy, Tara is characterized by her calm, analytical nature. The chemistry between Prentiss and Tara could be seen in how these complementary traits interact. Both Prentiss and Tara excel in their respective roles—Prentiss as a leader and strategist, and Tara as a psychological expert. Their professional interactions are marked by mutual respect and a recognition of each other’s expertise. This professional respect can be a foundation for deeper personal chemistry, as it is built on admiration for the qualities that each brings to the team. Throughout the series, Prentiss and Tara have worked together on numerous cases, often relying on each other’s insights and instincts. Their successful collaboration, particularly in high-pressure situations, could naturally lead to a closer bond. The ability to work seamlessly together, understanding each other’s methods and thought processes, creates a sense of partnership that can easily extend beyond the professional realm.

Conclusion

To conclude this very academically written rant, I just wanna express my hopes that Temily is going to become canon, considered all of the above I think this would be a perfect wrap up to the show and giving the audience exactly what they want. The characteristics of both of the women outlined above work together in a great harmony, as it is known that both of them always have each others backs. Note to writers: please give us Temily.

Thank you.

Tags: @inlovewithmiddleagewomen @venromanova

[macabr3-barbi3]

💗 ♡ Here's a new kind of Sup-port letter: Return to Sender ♡ 💗

Dear @ritualofcirice,

The ideas that you bring forth, whether smutty or sweet, are always a joy to read and are always flawlessly executed. Your writing for various fandoms draws readers in, sets the scene, and leaves us all wanting more, and to have such a way with words is a talent in and of itself.

To then use that talent to support and uplift the other members of a community is nothing short of remarkable. Your kindness and encouragement in the servers and spaces that we all share is appreciated and loved, and you deserve some of that back yourself after contributing so much to the joy of the people who have received anything from you; a heartfelt letter, a detailed and wonderful comment on a fic, a fulfilled request for characters that continue to grow on us.

You are kind and courteous, talented, and a delight to spend time with. To know you is to know the many facets of your person that makes you such an important part of our communities.

That's why this letter is for you- to let you know that your efforts to keep our fandom happy and engaged have not gone unnoticed, and to show that we all appreciate what you've done!

Wishing all the best, and sending all of our love,

The Stand In Sup-port Team xo

My first interaction with you was in the comments section of some of my fics in Ao3- I remember it was like a solid 45 minutes of email after email telling me that you and Renz were leaving these long, lovely comments on my Vox fics, and I was so flattered and happy that I almost cried. Then I got to know you when you joined the server and we started chatting, and you were even cooler than I could have possibly guessed, and I'm so glad now to be able to call you a friend. I can't wait to see what the new year has in store for all of us and to see you continue to grow ❤️

Let's see what other letters arrived for you!

From @kewpikayo ♡

"Cirice is a golden, vibrant flame. You can’t help but be drawn in by her warmth and consideration. Her care, her compassion, and her drive to help and reach out to the people around her is a monumental, sincere gift. She is a genuine, unique and extremely colorful soul with skill. Her writing hits my heart with precision every single time I read her words without fail, and her way of reading them aloud is melodic. She brings her stories alive with the vocabulary she uses and the way she breathes life into them with every utterance. It is a joy to hear her recitals! And her Art! I’ve seen a few of her creations and they are indeed a sight to behold! She is truly a great encouragement and is joy incarnate, and to know her is one of life’s greatest blessings. Thank you for giving me the continued opportunity to befriend you, my dear. You are truly one of a kind~!"

From @primsgirl89 ♡

"Cirice. There is a lot I can say about her. But the second I met her it felt as if I was falling into a well of endless ideas and creativity, that was the very second thing I had noticed about this woman. I want to talk about her creativity first since I enjoyed working with her on her project. It was a one-shot for Lucifer, and she allowed me to have my first experience writing with another author. She is such a talented person worthy of looking up to. The first? The endless amount of care and support she just radiates. CiCi is so wonderful and caring, I wish her the absolute best in her life. How much she gives herself to support others is inspiring. She deserves the post and her own personal cheer squad!"

From @fraugwinska ♡

"Ever since I met Cirice (thanks to the wonderful Renz), she quickly became one of my go-to friends - I can't describe the joy and kindness that radiates off of her. She has this sixth sense of when you aren't feeling your best, and sure as hell you'll have a dm from her asking how your day is going or that she wishes you a happy day and offers an open ear if you need it. Playing dbd with her feels like a throwback to when you met with your friends in elementary to play together - you forget that you feel bad, or that outrside problems exist: Cirice is the embodiement of unadulterated, pure fun.

To add insult to injury she is such a talented writer too - so much time and effort goes into her work. She plans her stories out diligently, invests ages in research and involves Betas to ensure that everything she puts out reflects the heart she put in. And you can feel it with every read word. She is an inspiration, a true value to both my server and my life, and I don't want to miss her friendship now that I've been lucky enough to have it."

From @redvexillum ♡

"Cici, where do I even begin? How can words possibly capture the depth of my gratitude and admiration for you? The love and generosity you pour into the people around you—it’s boundless, and it inspires me every single day. You bring so much joy, light, and warmth into the lives of everyone lucky enough to know you.

There are few people in this world who genuinely care the way you do, who go above and beyond to make others feel seen, heard, and cherished. And somehow, I get to say I’ve met someone like you. That feels like a gift in itself.

Also, let’s be real—how could I not be happy knowing you? A fellow 404 fan? That was fate in the making! But what makes you truly shine is the way you effortlessly build safe spaces and communities, creating sideblogs for so many fandoms, writing for countless characters, and curating events that bring people together. You don’t just *share* your passions—you create magic. You make people feel included, loved, and valued, and you do it with so much grace and humility.

You have this beautiful way of lending an ear to anyone in need, never making them feel like a burden. That kind of empathy is rare. It’s you. You are rare.

I could write pages upon pages, wax poetic about how incredible you are, and still never quite do it justice. But I’ll rein myself in (for now) because I know others feel the same and want to shout their praises too. Just know this: you are deeply loved and appreciated in our little corner of the world. We see you. We cherish you. And we are endlessly grateful for everything you do.

Cici, you're MY superstar! 😏"

From @redfoxwritesstuff ♡

"I haven't known Cirice for long at all but in the short time I have known her, she has been one of the kindest, most positive and supportive people I've ever been blessed to know. There are few shining lights in fandom, no matter the fandom, who make it a point to be supportive of others to the point of being willing to put in the effort to try to shift fandom culture for the better. Cirice is one of those few amazing people and I'm blessed to have gotten to meet her"

Want To Write A Personal Letter?

Cici's official Sup-port tag is #fromsup-port2ritualofcirice

♡ Is it your first time seeing a Sup-port letter on your Dash? Find out more about the lovely idea here ♡

[whoishotteranimepolls]

hello, finn here, resident one piece "insane tag" writer.... im doing my duty to defend mr. smoker. smo-yan, if you will.

what are my credentials in commenting on this matter? Well. Glad you asked. I've been a onep fan for admittedly not that long, but in that time (like... 8-9 months?) i've messaged one of my close friends. hm. discord receipts.

681 times about him. also you know that one post? yeah from "smoker. smo-yan." to "i fucking love him good god" that's all me. glad we've established my expertise here

2. look at him. first of all, im raising my eyebrow at you anon because woahhhh looking 60 is fine for me. just perfect, actually. they grey/white hair is fucking wonderful to me personally considering i also love rayleigh and beckman.... also just like. every other part of him. he has huge boobs that he refuses to cover because he's allergic to shirts for some reason. he has leather gloves (would suck on any day). when also jacketless, he wears his jitte with a thick strap over his chest that is So droolworthy. he has a Fat Ass. search up stampede smoker because that's like his peak look. his face scar is endlessly sexy. the slicked back hair (more recently) and the more messy spiky look from earlier in the series both serve in contributing to his bad boy persona, which leads me to my second point: the dichotomy of personality.

3a. part a - the bad boy delinquent persona. if you only take him for his surface level actions and words, he seems a little bit mean. like every gruff, rough-around-the-edges mad dog delinquent type. just look at him as a marine cadet, head shaved and frowning. look at the illustration oda did of him as a kid, holding a nail-imbedded bat. he's loud and brash and commands a whole marine squad, he's big and always has a frown on his face and he's arguing and cursing and you just expect him to be unkind. but. But.

3b. But he's not. he's not unkind at all. He's not nice, maybe, but he's so kind. when tashigi has her crisis about justice vs the marines vs "doing the right thing" are often, actually, at odds with each other, smoker supports her in his own gruff way. tells her he'll be there to support her. and. the scene of all time;

4. la pièce de résistance - his character introduction. oda does character introduction SO well in general (see: mihawk, zoro, galley-la shipwrights, countless others) but the smoker intro is my top intro of all time, it's SO good. to recount to those who don't know, we basically see this big scary gruff guy - shirtless, obviously strong, all spiky hair and big stompy boots - and a kid bumps into him and spills their ice cream all over him. He obviously has a reputation as a powerful guy, because the villiagers around all beg him for forgiveness, ask him not to hurt the kid - and yknow what he does? He says to the kid "looks like my pants ate your ice cream," drops a few coin into their hand, and tells them to buy more scoops next time. that's the most attractive thing i've ever seen. he does masculinity like NO other. gods.

5. strong moral compass - doesn't often agree with general marine guidelines. he's pretty shit at being a marine, honestly. tells the brass to go fuck themselves often. follows his own sense of justice, and even though he hates pirates.... temporarily allying himself with them is not off the table, not if it means more justice (in his eyes). he doesn't like innocent people being killed. in stampede, even as everyone attempts to leave the island in light for abuster call, he stays because there must be something he can do. hina sighs and calls him stupid for it, but takes tashigi koby and helmeppo away anyways, showing that this has happened before, likely multiple times.

6. can he stub those cigars out on me. please. please. plea- [comically large piano falls on me, cutting off my speech]

For context, they are responding to this post about Smoker

It's always the last paragraph that pushes it into horny jail territory every time

And he does have one of the best intros. I hope they keep it in the live action

[midnightraine131]

Hello Raine! 💙

How have you been? I hope everything is going well for you!

For the fandom ask:

2, 5, 9, 16, 22, 24

Have a wonderful *timezone*, and wish you all the best(⁠.⁠ ⁠❛⁠ ⁠ᴗ⁠ ⁠❛⁠.⁠)

Hey Anna, thank you for your ask.

It's been so long, well, uhm, I guess I'm doing just fine aside from losing a tremendous amount of weight for the past couple of months.... I can say it in a good way since all my medical results came out real good. I hope to have fewer medications after I see my doctor this week. *Cross fingers*

How about you? I hope you're having a good time (Googles your timezone) Oh, it's very early in the morning over there. Please take some rest.

Anyway, without further ado, here's all my answers.

2. a headcanon you weren't sure about at first but have come to like!

I came across a headcanon about Armin being the perfect husband material like he cooks, takes care of the house chores all by himself, and so on. In most of the fics I’ve read, especially post-canon or modern AU, he’s incredibly skilled at it.

But let’s be honest—during his time as a cadet and in the elite squad, Armin practically disappears when it comes to cleaning or cooking. Refute me if you want, but we never see him holding a spatula or a broom. He probably avoided Levi’s attention altogether when it came time to clean the headquarters.

Still, I like to imagine he becomes more responsible at home as he grows older. I mean, come on—when Annie gets pregnant (assuming that happens), there’s no way he’d leave Jean, Connie, or maybe Reiner to take care of her. Especially since we know she’s pretty unorganized in their shared space. So yes, post-canon husband material Armin it is!

5. something you see in fics a lot and love

Always the shy yet vocally bold Armin, and Annie, the emotionally constipated one LOL. This dynamic has always been my cup of tea in fics.

9. a ship that isn't your OTP but that you enjoy

Oh, this is tricky. I can say AruHitch (?) *blinks rapidly*

I like to think they could be besties when it comes to giving love advice—advice neither of them would actually follow by the end of the day. I imagine them staying up late at night by a bonfire, beers in hand, talking religiously about their crushes and how they have no chance with them in any scenario. They’d probably call each other dummies.

16. a tiny detail in canon that you want more people to appreciate

This one’s about Connie. I’ve noticed that most people in the fandom regard him as a dummy because of how the story portrays him in canon—or even how he views himself. But if you take a closer look at his character, he’s so much more than just a slapstick comic relief. Sure, he underestimates his own intelligence, but he often makes a lot of sense and has talents in his own right. I’ll fight anyone who calls him cringe. Try me.

22. the fandom friend you've known the longest

I guess I won’t count the mutuals I had back in 2013, since I don’t see their accounts anymore, and I wasn’t really trying to get involved back then. When I returned in 2022/23, I decided to start writing fics again and kept this blog active. The first people I talked to were @moonspirit and @annawayne, and they made me feel so welcome in the AOT fandom. I’m incredibly grateful for that.

They inspired me to write more, and knowing we had this little community tucked into a small corner of such an enormous fandom—it truly felt like a haven. It makes me so happy to see new people joining and contributing, whether through art, fanfics, or even as readers supporting everything we do. They welcomed them just as warmly as I was when I returned as a new writer last year, and that sense of belonging is something truly special.

24. how has fandom positively impacted your life

God, I can’t stop rambling about how much this fandom has positively impacted me in every aspect of my life. It might sound like I’m overreacting, but after I started writing Aruani fics, I realized something profound: first loves truly linger, even when you’re over 30. For me, that “first love” is twofold—my love for writing and the love I felt when I first shipped Aruani ten years ago.

Sharing that love has brought me happiness beyond words, especially when people read my fics, leave comments, or even reach out on my socials just to tell me how much they enjoy my work. It means so, so much to me. All the time, effort, and tears poured into writing every chapter feel completely worth it because of the love and appreciation from all of you.

Coming back to this fandom has been the best decision I’ve made in the past couple of years, and I truly hope it continues for many more. I’m definitely not ready to move on to another fandom, even though AOT has long since ended. I’m still holding out hope for High School Caste!

[stormoflina]

you wont answer me cuz you know im right. i loved szobo in the early days but his drop off was huge and now he is just another hospital merchant. for all the hype of him being the next kdb he cant even score a solo goal and im yet to see a good pass from him in the final third

Well hello anon.

I didn't answer you, because

1. The last couple of days my head was moving in between the Moon and Mars, and I'm not sure if I would have been able to remain respectful.

2. I'm getting tired of all these anons coming to my infobox and, for the lack of a better expression, trying to take the piss out of me. If you read my posts you know that he's one of my favourite players, and that I'm not mindless hater about any of our players, but especially not towards him.

3. You were being very condescending and annoying.

But buckle up my dear salty anon.

Dominik, naturally, is an offensive minded midfielder. At Leipzig, he basically played as a wide 10 (or occasional RW) and for the most part he does the same for Hungary. In both teams he was a pressing monster, his pressing is arguably one of the best in the current Liverpool squad as well. The difference is, that in both teams he had other midfielders behind him. He still had defensive duties, but not this current caliber. In Hungary he plays one of the hardest and most taxing roles: he drops deep to collect the ball, helps the build up from deep, and he contributes a LOT in defense, but he also has freedom to roam around the pitch, and enjoys the other midfielders support when he appears in the final third.

In Liverpool, he is a box-to-box midfielder. A different role, and not just a different role in midfield, but he is a midfielder under Klopp, played in the RHS in a triangle with Salah and Trent. Salah is our main goalscorer, Trent is our main creator. His job is to provide a stable link up between the two, allowing them to express themselves freely, offer his support, keep the width when needed, etc etc. Without him doing this, that rhs can't function properly. And this is just one of his many responsibilities. When Trent inverts into midfield he drops back into either help out (Ibou), or takes up completely the RB position. A position he has never played, by the way. He's constantly pressing, constantly running, constantly covering/contributing in defensive duties. He is the 5th fastest player this season. Other than his pressing, his other great quality is his off-ball work. Again, arguably, his awareness and intelligence when it comes to that is one of the best in the current squad. I encourage you to watch back some of our recent matches and take notice of him instead of the one giving the assist/scoring, many cases, without his efforts it wouldn't get to the point of it being a goal scoring opportunity.

I'm not going to argue with you and say that his passing hasn't looked a bit off in certain matches, that he didn't have some bad first touches or unnecessary long shots. He did. But please also think about all these NEW and constant duties, (other than the pressing& off-ball work), doesn't come natural to him at all and how these can affect his performance in the final third. Yes, it's an excuse,but a reasonable one in my opinion, maybe not for you, whatever.

All in all, it's easy to fail when you have been shifted from a role of being supported to being the one who is the constant and many times only support. Mind it, this is happening in a much more physical, much more demanding and stronger league. It's no wonder fatigue and eventually injury caught up to him. Other than Endo (and he only had like 5-6 starters in the PL), all of our starting midfielders struggled with injuries throughout the season, Domi was the last one to go down.

Anyways, this is the last time I did this. I'm so sick and tired, especially now with all the hate towards him, having the same conversation again and again. You think he's a bad, selfish person with a big ego, who insults and makes fun of his teammates etc etc. I'm not here to change your mind. But maybe try at least watching football with your eyes open before you start accusing one of the team's most selfless and most hard-working players, who is literally out injured (and likely very upset and heartbroken about that) because he tried to give his everything for his club, manager, teammates and fans.

[oltammefru]

After having done IS4 D15 ending 3 here's my first impressions on the gamemode. Do note that I've only played this gamemode on D15 since a friend farmed difficulties/progression tree for me:

The squads are all relatively balanced, there's a lot of interesting options between them. I favored Support Squad in my first clears for early snowballing reasons but I think I'll likely play something like Scientism more once I learn the stages better. All the class squads seem relatively balanced with each too.

Lin is really goated she is so very useful.

The early game is incredibly fucking snowbally. If you do well early game and transition into midgame with a decent team, it is so easy to get to the point where the game is just over. In the run where I did 3rd ending, I had like 8 E2 6stars, 28 collectibles, and about 30 life + shields at the end of floor 3.

Objective shields, in particular, early game ones, are way more impactful. Often times they're the difference between an entire collapse level worth of collapse.

Collapse effects are far far more negatively impactful than rejections. I know a lot of people had a lot of issue with IS3 rejections but honestly I think they just rarely ever affected the game.

One thing I liked about the design of IS3 stages / the light system is that basically every stage is made much much easier if you choose to leak a few elites, and leaking on one or two stages is rarely enough to fuck up your run on your own. In contrast, in IS4, every leak you make is incredibly impactful and has long-lasting impacts. Life itself as a number only matters in the sense that once you leak once, there's not much of a downside to leaking more so you can use that to take hard stages you'd otherwise leak like 10 on. (I have a post planned analyzing leaking in IS3 vs IS4 and how it contributes to the various themes of the gamemodes.)

6 stars are even more dominant. Part of this is because of the fact that the +1 hope cost to 4 stars and above (proportionally) affects 6 stars the least, but also because hope is way more plentiful and you only have limited squad / deployment units, so you might as well spend your hope on the more slot-efficient units.

Collectible quality is much much higher. Basically everything is at least somewhat good, every variant collectible is just incredibly efficient for its effects.

Golden chalice is honestly kind of mid? Unlike other collectibles, which have instant effects, chalice takes a while to scale up, while not being great early game (which is the main point in time where you really want good collectibles, because of how snowbally IS4 is). It's also far from the most efficient thing you can do with your money, if you get a -50% shop even with chalice it's generally better to spend at least some of it?

Robbing shop on F3 is way way better as an option now (although I've done it quite a few times in IS3 too, I think it is an underrated option in IS3). The F1-3 rob combat is much much harder though.

There's a lot of combats with <25 enemies there seems to be an emphasis on combats with lowish enemy counts. Like I said before, in IS4 it is much more important to play stages perfectly than in IS3 but I do think this creates an interesting gameplay dynamic where like if you've accepted you're going to leak on like Musical Disaster (very easy to leak on that one!) it doesn't even feel that bad to leak a few more.

Emergencies give way more exp than normal commands (and the gap seems far bigger than previous ISes).

Foldartals are neat. I like them a lot. Some of them feel pretty imbalanced though, in particular the one that has an accord that turns selected nodes into Bosky Passages and maxes out your index is so stupidly good compared to most of the other high rarity bottom ones.

[lostcauses-noregrets]

So...... Erwin went all that trouble to get Levi, even risking his own life knowing how dangerous Levi is, and....... to do what exactly? What did he actually gain? Because every time it feels like Levi can make a huge difference, he's not there. The plot always pushes him out of the story. He's only allowed to come back when our main characters are truly cornered and instead of creating a plot hole or weakening the storytelling by "conveniently" saving them, Yams uses his OP captain to save the day and then pulls a "my job here is done" act & disappear. It feels like Levi didn't really live up to Erwin's expectations or at least how he imagined to use his strength because was Levi even useful to Erwin's plans?

What did Erwin actually gain from Levi?  This. 

Levi doesn’t just contribute his strength to Erwin’s cause by fighting, he also provides stability and support. Agreed, there are numerous times when Levi swoops in to save the day with his extraordinary speed and strength, but more often than not his most important role is to inspire courage and resolve in others, whether it’s Historia, Hanji, Gabi, the 104th, or Erwin himself.  Levi is a constant; he embodies the spirit and the heart of the Survey Corps and the cause that their fallen comrades died for.  He is there to remind them what they are fighting for and to give them the strength to keep fighting. 

Erwin himself explains this beautifully in the Smartpass Close-Up Interview:

Erwin: Starting with Levi…I think he is excellent at shouldering important duties. With the title “Humanity’s Strongest” as part of the SC, our reputations have also been elevated. On the battlefield, he has also faithfully completed the tasks I have assigned to him. Despite his warmhearted nature, I’ve asked him to carry out some cruel missions… Journalist: Is Captain Levi very…”warmhearted?” E: You’ve already interviewed his subordinates, right? Then you must have heard just how much they trust their captain. J: Indeed. I even heard the same thing from new recruits who are not from his squad. E: He just has a rude attitude��but he cherishes his comrades’ life more than anyone else. His reputation cannot be established based on strength alone, Humans can subconsciously detect how much concern others have for them… and when they notice this kindness, it inspires power…That is something that I can’t do.

You ask if Levi was even useful to Erwin’s plans. My question would be how far would Erwin have got with his plans if he hadn’t had Levi by his side?  Levi was his most trusted comrade, his steadfast right-hand man and, perhaps more importantly, his friend. He helped Erwin to bear the weight of all the lives lost under his command, and of the dream that drove him to the point of despair.  And when it all became too much to bear, when Erwin faltered and almost succumbed to guilt and despair in Shiganshina, Levi was there to lift that burden and to help Erwin to summon the courage to sacrifice his own life for Humanity.  That is Levi’s real strength.

[stonecrusherdrawsthearts]

World of Heroes R - Spider Squad

Who are the Spiders of New York? MENACES, that's who! Vigilantes with no official backing, who have taken it upon themselves to act as the 'protectors' of this city, but lack the real means to handle the crimes here. They focus on some maniacs with animal costumes tackier then even their own, and don't do anything to mitigate the damage left behind from their fights. I thought it was bad when there was just one of these freaks of nature here, but now there are three of them! Who knows when they'll strike next?! Whenever that is, you can bet the Daily Bugle will be the first to call them out on it!

MEMBERS

Spider-Man - the most infamous vigilante menace in this here fine city. Sure, his rabid fans will say he's "their favorite hero" who "never gives up" and "will always stand up for the right thing, even when its hard." And he sometime pays lip service to the idea of "Great Power coming with Great Responsibility." But if he wanted accountability, he'd register with the Avengers or Justice League or, hell, even the X-Men. But NO! He's a rogue, and that makes him just as dangerous as the 'villains' he fights!

Venom - For a month, Spider-Man tried out an edgier color palate maybe to avoid some real consequences for a shuttle incident, only to change back later. Then this guy showed up with the exact style, calling himself New York's new Lethal Protector! And wouldn't you know it, he's taking the Spider-Man motif and applying the Batman method of striking fear into the common man. Hell, some people claim he's actually a host to an alien symbiote, but I personally think that mouth is just... I dunno, makeup effects.

Web Ghost - The third webslinger to show up randomly in New York, and she's surprisingly even more active then Spider-Man herself. I don't know if she's just that dedicated to being a menace, or if she's trying to prove something. Hell, some people theorizes she's the reanimated corpse of the one person Spider-Man's confirmed to have killed "on accident," Gwen Stacy. I don't think this is true, but I can't help but wonder what it says to the world if it was. Like, the girl died at Spider-Man's hands and now she's swinging around the city like he does. Would he feel even a hint of regret? ...Ah, who am I kidding, she's just another girl with spider-powers, none of that death stuff.

NOT MEMBERS

J. Jonah Jameson - Former Top Reporter and Now Editor of the Daily Bugle, the best damn newspaper in the city of New York. People come to me for the truth, and I give it to them. You want my opinion on rich billionaires like Lex Luthor going into politics? They should have to give up literally every cent over 5 million as taxes, that way they actually contribute to society. You want my opinion on the Avengers? Reliable defenses against unwanted alien invasions, and so humble about it, too. Metahuman rights? That's something I support, and I hope Professor Xavier helps everyone. And Spider-Man... a goddamn menace playing hero in my city. This guy wants to help the greater good? Then show who you really are behind that stupid mask. Secret Identities are just a coward's way of avoiding accountability... unless we're talking the internet.

Mary Jane Watson - Some theater kid who works near the Bugle, I don't know. She's better behind the scenes then out front... look, what do you want me to tell you? I know nothing about her! Do you... look, just get out of here already.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Joan E. Greve at The Guardian:

Summer Lee, a Pennsylvania congresswoman, easily beat back a primary challenge on Tuesday, delivering progressives one of their most significant victories yet of this election cycle as they brace for a wave of pro-Israel funding targeting pro-ceasefire candidates. The Associated Press called the 12th district Democratic primary at 9.21pm, roughly an hour and an half after Pennsylvania polls closed at 8pm ET. Lee defeated local council member Bhavini Patel, who had criticized the progressive “Squad” member over her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. Patel had pitched herself as a “pro-Biden Democrat”, suggesting she would better support the president’s agenda in Congress.

But Lee waved off that criticism, and she often pointed to the $1.2bn in government funding she delivered for her Pittsburgh-based district over her first term as evidence of her legislative effectiveness. “I am so humbled and proud to win my first primary re-election to be the congresswoman for this incredible district I’ve spent my life fighting for,” Lee said in a statement celebrating her victory. “Our campaign was built on a record of delivering for our democracy, defending our most fundamental rights, and expanding our vision for what is politically possible for our region’s most marginalized communities.” That argument appeared to sway many of Lee’s constituents as well as local Democratic leaders. In February, the Allegheny county Democratic party formally endorsed Lee for the first time, after the group backed her rival in the 2022 primary.

Lee’s 2022 primary made national headlines because of the involvement of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac). According to OpenSecrets, the Super Pac United Democracy Project, which is affiliated with Aipac, spent a total of $3.3m against Lee in 2022. She ultimately defeated her opponent, Pittsburgh attorney Steve Irwin, by less than 1,000 votes, or 0.9 points. This year, progressives largely expected pro-Israel groups like UDP to again invest heavily in attack ads against Lee. But surprisingly, they chose to stay out of Lee’s primary, a choice the congresswoman’s allies credited to her popularity and legislative record. Despite the absence of the pro-Israel lobby, one Super Pac did get involved in Lee’s primary to boost Patel’s campaign. The Moderate Pac, which aims to support centrist Democrats and is largely funded by Republican megadonor Jeffrey Yass, spent more than $600,000 supporting Patel. Lee and her allies turned Yass’ involvement in the race into a campaign issue, lambasting the billionaire’s Super Pac contributions.

[...] Although UDP opted to stay out of Lee’s race, progressive leaders believe her successful campaign strategy could still be instructive for other pro-ceasefire lawmakers expected to be targeted by pro-Israel groups in their primaries. Aipac and its political affiliates reportedly plan to spend $100m this election cycle, after pouring nearly $50m in to the 2022 midterms. At least two other “Squad” members, Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri, have already attracted primary challengers, and Aipac has already endorsed their opponents. Lee alluded to Bowman and Bush on Sunday, telling supporters that her victory would reverberate around the country.

AIPAC and pro-Israel Apartheid groups got handed an L last night, as incumbent pro-Gaza Ceasefire progressive Dem Summer Lee holds on in the PA-12 primary, fending off Bhavini Patel.