#my guy is a bastion of chaos

[djevelbl]

.... What a banger of an introduction

[thevulturesquadron]

Hi!

I have a question about why everyone keep saying Magneto start the war?( I mean technically is human start it.) And how do u think about it?

Thanks!

Hey there, space cowboy! 🌌

Oh I love this one! Had a couple of thoughts since the episode aired, but didn’t have the time to write them down. 

I’ve already seen a couple of takes online: as usual, mostly on the extremes; either people who refuse to acknowledge that Magneto is capable of horrific things or people who jump at any chance to completely vilify him - and both do the character a big disfavor.

Short answer: yes, I believe his actions can be seen as a declaration of war. Both Logan and Morph were completely right in that scene and they are voicing out the two major interpretations of the events. Magneto did save all the mutants, he also declared war - one doesn’t negate the other. And I’ll try my best to explain:

Least relevant part are probably the human sentinels. During the EMP attack each and every one of them powered off. IF that means they are dead and not just powered off it can be used against him as a crime against humanity. Remember how in the scene with Roberto and Jubilee they were shown as standing down and keeping appearances in front of other people? So if it comes down to the argument of self-defense there are a couple of ways to paint these guys as just ���protectors of humanity.’ Unlike the metal ones, these were humans, they were someone’s loved one.

Now… well… the consequences of the EMP attack: we saw the entire world go dark. That alone opens up the possibility for millions of deaths (humans and mutants) in countries across the globe. The few scenes we got were enough to paint a picture and leave it to the audience to fill in the gaps: turning off power plants can lead to catastrophic events (they showed a nuclear power plant for a reason); we saw threats that are now released to cause damage at large (Omega Red); the cameos from Spider-Man and Silver Samurai were not random picks either - cities engulfed in darkness will soon turn to chaos. And so many other things in between (hospitals, cars and planes, communication and defenses, all down). So yeah I am inclined to believe that his actions would result in a heavy loss of lives.

Magneto effectively saved the lives of so many mutants that were attacked by sentinels, but at the cost of many others. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

But why can it be seen as a declaration of war and not just an act of terrorism? (And again this show proves to be SO insanely good and planned to the smallest detail.) At this point Magneto is not just some terrorist. He went through trials in front of the world and got absolved; Genosha got recognized as a fully self-governing nation and Magneto was, at the moment of the attack, the de-facto leader of a nation. His actions are now the actions of the entire mutant nation. He didn’t do it to declare war, that was not the purpose, BUT a direct attack on a country is just that: a declaration of war.

I’ve seen the argument that he didn’t start it, that Genosha was a declaration of war. But Bastion played all his cards right - not one nation was officially responsible for the attack on Genosha - there was no proof to connect the genocide to a world power. The robots wore no flags, they were not the creation of one country. Yes, various nations ARE behind the Genosha genocide, but their hands were not the ones holding the proverbial weapons, merely providing the support for building them (sound familiar to anyone?)

That is the game Bastion is playing and Magneto is one of the most important pieces. ‘You were born for this’. Bastion orchestrated everything to the very last detail. Magneto had to be given a chance to be the face of Genosha, and most importantly the world had to see him truly believe in Genosha as a world nation among the rest, so than when he breaks, the world can see how dangerous mutants are, and how it’s a mistake to treat them as equals. It’s a vile and disgusting plan which makes Bastion an exceptional villain.

It’s why Cooper got concerned when Magneto announced he would be ruling Genosha in a partnership: while Magneto’s psychological profile was well documented and easy to break, him and Rogue posed a real problem to Bastion’s plan because they would have been able to provide a balanced form of government. They could have turned Genosha from an ideal to a functional nation. But he was stripped of all of that, of a peaceful future for mutantkind. Magneto knows each and every face and voice that was behind the attack on Genosha. But he is the only one. And, sculpted by Bastion, he is now a broken man with no consideration for consequences, only his and his people’s survival. Which, ironically, might be the final push to ensure that Bastion’s future comes to pass.

[schraubd]

Portland: America's Last Bastion of Normalcy

In my congressional district, local media is now projecting that Janelle Bynum has ousted incumbent Republican Representative Lori Chavez-Deremer. As terrible as election day was on the whole, I am grateful that I'll be represented by a Democrat in Congress once again, and I'm glad my neighbors made the right choice in sending Bynum to Congress. Meanwhile, across the river in Washington state, Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has won her rematch against Republican challenger Joe Kent. This was a result that thrills and honestly confuses me. Perez's 2022 victory over Kent was one of the night's bigger upsets, largely chalked up to Kent being basically a White supremacist. But clearly the lesson of 2024 is that that's no longer any object, and if you told me ahead of time that election night would see a broad-based "red shift" compared to 2020 I would have been dead certain that Perez was absolute toast. So why exactly did this nut crack? I don't have an answer to that,* and I acknowledge that Perez has annoyed Democratic leadership before. But she seems to have some ideas of how to present progressive priorities in a way that speaks outside of our current base (e.g., her championing of "right to repair" laws, or pairing student loan debt relief with "dollar-for-dollar ... investments in career [and] technical education"), and she is a voice worth paying attention to going forward. Needless to say, both Bynum and Perez bucked a pretty terrible national trend. As most of the country embraced the chaos and the void, the single, solitary exception was the Pacific Northwest. Here, we rejected crude reflex and base instinct. And it's not just the local congressional races. In the Portland mayor's race, we didn't pick the woman who thinks the law doesn't apply to her just because she's "progressive", and we didn't pick the man who wants to execute the homeless because he promised "law and order". Our new mayor is going to be Keith Wilson, whose major appeal in the field, from my vantage point, is that he seemed like a normal, good guy making reasonable efforts to resolve the problems in front of our city. That shouldn't always be enough, but in the field we had it was better than all the alternatives.  In my city council district, I felt like we had a plethora of good candidates to choose from, and the three winners all were among my top six picks. Here too, I'm very happy with the choices offered and choices made, and none of them seem (yet, anyway) like kooks, cranks, or gadflies. I'm optimistic that they will be diligent and attentive public servants when they enter office, and again, that's not something I take for granted anymore. It is, of course, quite off-brand for Portland to be America's avatar of normalcy. Locally, we're more used to embracing our "weird" identity, nationally, our reputation is something like that of a post-apocalyptic drag show. "Normal" is not historically our forte. But for my part, I am so, so happy that this is the city my wife and I have chosen to build our life in and raise our child in. Portland is a great city. It is full of great people, great beauty, great resources, great activities, and great values. I'm under no illusions that anywhere, blue states included, will be "safe" in the coming years. But there are very few places I'd rather be than here, and if you're looking for a new place to call home, I'd encourage you to look our way. * One thing I will say, and someone inundated with ads for the Perez/Kent race, is that Kent went 100% all-in on anti-trans fearmongering. The result was Perez likely expanding her margin of victory in an otherwise red wave year. Take from that what you will. via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/91uKjqv

[eowynsowl]

𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓁𝑜𝑔𝓊𝑒

A/N: Hey everyone :) This is my prologue for my first fic! I am still coming up with a title for it, and suggestions are more than welcomed. I debated doing a "Meet My OC" before I posted this, but I didn't want to give too much away ;) I really hope you guys enjoy this, thank you for reading!

The air in Estelmar carried a quiet moment of peace, a lullaby sung by the rustling leaves and the steady rhythm of the river coursing through the northern lands of Ered Luin. It was a kingdom of light and hope, a bastion of wisdom, healing, and art, ruled by the Barathir family, whose name meant "Steadfast Guardian." Their people revered them as both protectors and leaders, chosen by the Maiar themselves to safeguard a sacred artifact: Gûrhael, the Heart Protector.

The blade was unlike any other in Middle-earth. Slender and elegant, its surface gleamed with intricate engravings of vines and stars, symbols of the Barathir family’s divine connection. Etched along the blade in flowing Sindarin script were the words: "For those who heal also bear the strength to protect." It was said that Gûrhael bore a life of its own, choosing its wielder not by tradition, but by heart. For centuries, it had been passed down to the eldest child of each generation, a symbol of leadership and the unwavering duty to protect Estelmar’s people.

That was, until it chose Amicia.

She had been only thirteen. Her brother, Moridan, twenty years old, had been groomed his entire life to both wield the blade and rule over their people. He was kind, noble, and steadfast—the perfect image of a leader. Yet when the time came, Gûrhael passed him by, choosing the youngest child instead. The blade’s decision shattered the harmony of their family. For Amicia, it was an unwanted weight. For Moridan, it was a betrayal.

The day Estelmar fell began like any other. The golden light of dawn bathed the castle halls, and Amicia had been in the gardens, her mother’s gentle voice guiding her hands as she learned the art of healing. They were tending to a small bed of herbs together, Anidwyn’s hands deftly showing Amicia how to pluck the leaves without damaging the stems. “These plants give life,” Anidwyn murmured, her voice soft yet filled with purpose. “They are fragile, but in the right hands, they can mend what is broken. Remember, my love, the strength to protect lies in knowing when to heal.”

Amicia nodded earnestly, her fingers mimicking her mother’s as she worked. It was a quiet moment of learning, one that carried the weight of their family’s legacy even in its simplicity. Inside the castle, her father, Rondorin, and Moridan stood side by side in the armory, laughing as they prepared for a sparring match. Rondorin’s laughter boomed through the stone halls as he handed Moridan a wooden practice blade. “Come now, son,” he said, a teasing glint in his eye. “If you’re to wield Gûrhael one day, you must learn to defeat me first.”

Moridan grinned, the warmth in his gaze a testament to the bond between father and son. “One day, Father, I will best you. Just wait.”

Rondorin chuckled, clapping his son on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit. Let’s see if today’s the day.” Their laughter echoed as they began their match, the clash of wooden blades ringing out like a melody of kinship.

But the peace was short-lived. The first screams tore through the air like a cruel melody, and before Amicia understood what was happening, the castle was under siege.

She found her father first, standing tall amidst the chaos. Rondorin Barathir was a warrior as much as a king, his voice steady as he ordered the guards to secure the gates. “Find your mother, Amicia,” he told her, pressing a hand to her cheek. “And stay safe.”

She ran, her heart pounding as she weaved through the smoke-filled halls. She found her mother, Anidwyn, in the great hall, her face pale but resolute. The chaos of the siege surrounded them, and for a moment, Amicia froze, paralyzed by fear. Her mother grabbed her shoulders and shook her gently. “Amicia,” she said firmly, though her voice trembled. “You have to stay strong.”

Amicia’s eyes darted around the hall, desperate for something—anything—to stop the madness. Her gaze fell on Gûrhael, resting in its place of honor near the throne. She hesitated only a moment before running to it, her trembling fingers closing around the hilt. The moment she touched it, warmth surged through her, a pulse that steadied her breathing and filled her with an unfamiliar sense of courage.

The blade felt alive in her hands, its weight both foreign and oddly comforting. She turned back to her mother, who stood frozen as an enemy advanced. Summoning every ounce of strength she had, Amicia raised the sword and stepped between her mother and the attacker. Her swing was clumsy, her stance untrained, but the blade’s power carried her strike true. She drove the assailant back, her heart pounding in her chest.

But courage was not enough. Another attacker struck from the shadows, and Amicia’s inexperience left her vulnerable. She could not stop the blade that cut down her mother, nor the cruel laughter that followed.

She fled. Smoke and ash filled her lungs as she stumbled into the forest, the sword heavy in her grip. Her tears blinded her as she ran, her mother’s screams echoing in her ears. Her frantic flight through the forest left her stumbling, her thoughts too clouded by grief and fear to notice the figure stepping into her path.

“Amicia?” Moridan’s voice was breathless, filled with relief as he stepped from the shadows. Amicia froze for a moment, disbelief and overwhelming gratitude washing over her. “Moridan!” she cried, running to him and throwing her arms around his neck. He hugged her back, his embrace warm and steady, grounding her in the chaos. For a moment, just a moment, it felt as though everything would be alright.

But then his eyes fell to the sword in her hand, and something shifted. The warmth in his embrace vanished, replaced by a cold, unyielding tension. He shoved her to the ground, his movements sharp and sudden. Relief turned to envy, envy to rage. “Why you?” he demanded, his voice breaking. “Why would it choose you?”

Amicia backed away, her heart breaking as her brother’s face twisted with fury. He lunged toward her, screaming curses, his hands outstretched to take the sword. “You ruined everything!” he bellowed, his voice raw with rage. “That blade was meant for me, Amicia! You’re nothing but a child playing at being a savior!” His words were venomous, each one cutting deeper than the last. “You don’t deserve it! Give it to me, or I’ll take it from your cold, lifeless hands!” Terrified, she turned and ran deeper into the woods, his voice chasing her into the night.

From that moment, her life was no longer her own. Gûrhael had chosen her, and with it came an obligation she neither wanted nor felt worthy of. She resented the sword, resented the weight it placed on her shoulders, and most of all, resented the loss it had brought. Her family was gone, her kingdom destroyed, and her brother’s love turned to hatred.

Years passed. At twenty-one, Amicia had become a woman shaped by loss and survival. She had retreated into hiding, far from the remnants of her people, who believed her to be dead. She avoided the weight of her title as though it were a plague. Any mention of the word “queen” ignited a simmering anger within her, a reminder of the role she had never asked for. Instead, she found solace in the simple act of healing. It gave her purpose, a way to carve out her own happiness in the lonely life she led. Through healing, she felt a flicker of the approval and love she had once sought so desperately from Moridan, though she knew deep down it would never fill the void he had left behind. Yet deep down, she still felt like the girl who had fled into the woods, crying for her brother to return to her, even as she knew he never would. Moridan was long gone, corrupted by darkness and the promises of Sauron. But Amicia could not stop chasing the faint hope of his love, even as it led her closer to danger.

And so, she carried the sword. Not for herself, but for the people who believed in it. For the family she had lost. For the hope that somewhere, somehow, she could find a way to heal the wounds of the past.

You guys are MORE than welcome to ask questions and let me know what you think! I am so proud to share this with you all :)

[ryahisbored]

Hello strange people. So, I thought I’d use mine (and @taline13's) stories in whumptober 2024 because i like it : D

only issue is, we have so far posted 9/112 chapters, SO I’ll be listing off which chapters apply to each day, and you guys will have to wait until it’s posted to read it :)

You get the chapter, and a small excerpt or two just so you really wanna read it when It comes out B)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/55662469

Here it is and here are the prompts (so far)

1. Race against the clock: search party / panic attack / "if only we could hold on"

This one is unfinished (I think?) and untitled as of right now, but basically, Div is kidnapped for being a witch and Ari and friends have to rush to get her back. Excerpt: (Div's POV) "She had no voice left with which to scream; instead, she tasted blood. Nothing made sense anymore, and she so desperately wished for blissful unconsciousness."

2. Trust issues: Alternative prompt: Communication Barrier

A very new chapter entitled "Divine Forest and Good Food" :D - fully written by T, it is about an enderman and his brother coming to the tavern to hang out and find food, i suppose, after being rescued from captivity. Divs name in sign language is a mix of the words 'divine' and 'forest' so thats what she uses. Excerpt: (Dria's perspective)

"They waited patiently until the short brown thing finished helping another person then came to Kinel. Dria noticed their purple eyes as they inspected Kinel’s leg. They made the same strange noises everyone else did. Kinel was silent as his leg was pulled on a few times, then the purple light appeared again, and Dria felt his brother’s pain disappear. The brown thing stood up slowly and left. Kinel got to his feet, and Dria could see his joy in the way his fingers and tail stretched just a little. Together, they walked off the floating house, up the hill, and into the forest."

3. Set up for failure: Alternative prompt: Finding old messages

Ouch. uh, "Home again". Well, this is the chapter in which Ari returns home after getting very close to dying. She doesn't want to explain much of how she feels, so lets Div read the letter she wrote to her as her last words. ow. (Excerpt: Div's perspective)

"She looked up to Athaven. “Do you still have the letters?” He nodded. “I don’t want to explain it again.” Athaven took them out of his pocket and sorted through them. He set it in front of Divina. -

- By the time she was halfway through, Div was struggling for a different reason: she could hardly see through her tears. She scrubbed at her face and forced herself to read the rest. It broke her heart to have even this glimpse of what her friend must’ve felt, and still might be feeling. Div sat back when she was finished and took a deep breath. Then she turned and hugged Ari, not waiting for permission."

4. Hallucinations: hypnosis / sensory deprivation / "you're still alive in my head"

Closest to hallucinations we have (so far ;) ) is flashbacks and nightmares - so I'll go with "Div's mistake". In the middle of a whole bunch of chaos, Ari has a flashback to what happened to her in the bastion (yes, directly from JRWI). of course I can't give you the whole thing... (Excerpt: Div's perspective)

"“If you’re going to say you burnt the tavern down, which you didn’t, then I’m going to say that I almost got you killed in the Bastion.”

“Ar— Ari, is — are you — is that what happened? In the Bastion?”

“Yes, but, listen to my point. This wasn’t your fault, it was a bunch of things that happened one after another starting with you. It’s… it’s…” She looked down at her hands.

“Hey. Hey, are you okay?” Div asked.

“I — I didn’t… you were there and… no, you can’t have been there — I couldn’t…” Ari breathed faster.

“Woah, hey, look at me. Look at me.” Div cupped Ari’s face in her hands and rested her forehead against the triton’s. “It’s okay. I’m here with you. Ev— everything’s okay.”"

5. Sunburn: Healing salve / heatstroke / "If my pain will stretch that far"

hahahahha! Easy! Chapter "Well-cooked fish"! Pretty self explanatory, deserts and fish-people don't mix well. (Excerpt: Ari's perspective)

"After an hour or so, Ari started feeling weird. Occasionally, she got this weird light-headedness that felt like someone stole her consciousness for just a split second. Her lungs felt hot with the warm air she breathed, and she wished she could go back to being half-freezing under the sea. With a sinking feeling, her eyes started to unfocus, and Div’s voice started to sound farther away…"

Alright 5 is enough for today, see you all tomorrow!

(also, @taline13, respond with thoughts or edits / ideas!)

[darkmaga-returns]

International Man: After nearly 14 years of brutal conflict, various jihadist groups backed by Turkey, the US, and Israel finally toppled the Assad government in Syria.

What is your take on this?

Doug Casey: I’ve been to Syria twice over the years for about a week at a time. I drove around the country, even including what passes for beach resorts on the small Syrian coast—not that that gave me any special insight into the current situation. Though the country was viewed as a dangerous bastion of evil, I had a great time. Except for active war zones, you can almost use the State Department’s “no go” list as a travel advisor. FWIW, even when I applied for my visa at the Syrian consulate in Beirut, I remember being impressed with their friendly and competent staff.

People forget that Syria is an artificial country. The region called “Syria” has been around for thousands of years, since pre-Roman times. But today’s Syria only came into existence with the breakup of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. It’s not an organic country. Like most Third World countries, it was put together in the drawing rooms of Europe, with zero consideration of local ethnic or religious sensitivities. That’s a guaranteed formula for perpetual chaos in a highly tribal region, where governments are mainly vehicles for theft.

For the last 50 years, it’s been run by the Assad family. Even if you’re a nice guy, or used to be a nice guy, like Bashar al-Assad, when you’re surrounded by lots of nasty people who are holding together a pressure cooker that’s looking to explode, it can’t end well.

[eorin-mya]

IM BACK!!

i've been into the WH40k fandom long enough

This is my OC story I hope you guys like it <3

---

Under the Dark Skies of Hetem Mundi

Hetem Mundi, once a thriving planet, had turned into a ravaged battlefield. Dust storms swept across the last bastion of humanity, where three heroes gathered to face the 31st assault of Chaos. The sight before them was nothing but ruin—debris, the corpses of fallen comrades, and the lingering stench of death in the air.

Lago stood atop the fortress, gazing at the horizon with despair. "I doubt any help will come here..." he murmured softly, almost like a forgotten prayer. For weeks, they had called upon the Imperium, hoping for a rescue fleet to appear in orbit. But the sky remained empty, silent, as if mocking their hopes.

Absosin, known for his strength but also his impatience, stared at the stars with simmering rage. "Those damned high lords won’t bother sending help!" he roared, his voice seething with hatred. "They sit comfortably on other worlds, leaving us and our brothers to die here."

Riccael, ever the balancing force among them, approached Absosin and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Absosin, help will come. I know this is hard, but we must have faith."

Absosin glared at Riccael, his fists clenched so tightly that the sound of cracking joints could be heard. "Faith? They’ve abandoned us here to die! This is nothing but a suicide!"

Lago descended from his post, approaching his comrades who were drowning in despair. "Brothers," he said quietly, his sharp eyes meeting Absosin’s, "stay calm. The three of us have been through much together. Whatever happens, we’ll face it—together."

Absosin struggled to hold back his tears, but the bitter reality hit him hard. Even if they endured, what would it mean? "I’m not sure Hetem Mundi will last another five days..." he whispered, looking up at the night sky, which seemed darker than ever.

Riccael sighed deeply, the same burden weighing on his heart. He knew—this might all be destined to end. But they would not retreat. Not now.

Lago tried to inject courage into them. "Listen," he said, "we might not be able to save Hetem Mundi entirely. But we can save those still alive behind us. Every action we take, no matter how small, can change the future."

Those words left Absosin and Riccael silent. There was a warmth in Lago’s words, as if he understood that their fight wasn’t about total victory, but about sacrifice. The three embraced—a heavy embrace, full of the awareness that this might be their last.

That night, Absosin and Riccael carried out their final patrol. The once-lush forest was now a dead wasteland. They walked in silence until Riccael finally spoke, "I remember when we used to fish here." Absosin smiled faintly. "And you fell into the river because of that big fish," he replied, chuckling softly.

But their laughter was cut short by a massive explosion that shook the ground beneath their feet. One of the northern fortresses had been obliterated in an instant, collapsing the remaining defensive walls.

Absosin and Riccael rushed to the scene. When they arrived, they were met with a horrifying sight. Lago—their loyal friend—lay lifeless. His body was torn in half at the waist, a victim of the devastating blast.

The two friends froze, their eyes fixed on Lago’s corpse. There was no time to mourn, though their grief felt like a storm ready to explode. With trembling hands, Riccael draped Lago’s body with the banner of the Imperium, a final act of respect.

"Now it’s our turn," Absosin said, his voice rigid as he suppressed his anger and sorrow. Before them, the forces of Chaos advanced—a million-strong horde ready to annihilate everything in its path.

Absosin raised his weapon, staring at the sea of enemies stretched out before him. "For the Emperor! For Hetem! For Lago!" he shouted, firing relentlessly, even as he knew his ammunition wouldn’t last.

Riccael joined him, lifting his weapon. They both knew this was the end. But it was better to die here, with honor, than to flee and live in regret.

They stood firm, two small figures against the massive tide of Chaos, yet their bravery shone brighter than the stars in Hetem Mundi’s dark skies. In the end, it wasn’t victory they sought, but sacrifice. Every second they fought was another second for those behind them to escape.

---

[darkx-the-dragon-kn1ght]

Pokémon Reborn Screenshot Let's Play: Chapter 41

Wow, my writing muse has just not been with me this past week. I can't even fully blame it on work, I think it's more to do with other stuff happening in my life the last few days (nothing super tragic or anything, but rather stressful all the same) that's sapped away at my motivation. I wanted to finish the writing phase of this in two or three days- and it's taken me almost five. Sure, I'm assuming no one minds a longer wait for updates as long as the updates actually happen, but I don't like being late on new chapters! 

Not that there's much I can do about that- a schedule’s a schedule, not much I can do to change it, even if I really wanted to. But I've still persisted, and so…here we are!

So what is happening in this game now? How's the story progressed thus far in this second third? I'll tell you one thing, the bad guys and the plot as a whole have not wasted any time causing chaos in the life of our local protagonist- and I'll explain how right now!

Xera returns to the Belrose Manse to deliver the Herbal Extract to Anna. Despite the girl pouring it all over Nostra the doll instead of taking it herself, Anna appears to make a rapid recovery anyways.

Anna claims that Xera is going to need all the Reborn League Badges very soon, and to that end she urges Noel and Charlotte to battle her, being Gym Leaders themselves. Charlotte is still a bit too strong for Xera’s current skill level, but Noel (reluctantly) agrees to battle Xera.

To prepare to battle Noel, Xera returns to a certain area in Rhodochrine Jungle. On the way, she encounters Victoria in Beryl Cemetery, paying respects at Kiki’s recently-made grave. She tells Xera about how she was closer to Kiki than her actual mother, and how Kiki in her will left everything to her and her alone- apparently, she had no other family or loved ones, which Victoria was unaware of due to never asking her. Victoria laments how she missed out on her and Kiki being family rather than just student and teacher, then leaves without another word.

Xera returns to the totem pole in Rhodochrine Jungle, where she encounters and catches Bastion the Golett.

Xera returns to the Belrose Manse; with everyone gathered in the front garden and Charlotte acting as referee, the time for the Gym challenge against Noel seems ready to get underway. However, just as Charlotte as readying the battle to begin, she spots someone approaching from the distance…

A woman flies in on a Dragonite- the eldest Belrose sister, Saphira. She greets everyone and learns from Charlotte about the Orphanage escape, and responds with dire news: Dr. Connal and Team Meteor are on their way to the mansion as they speak, no doubt intent on recapturing the kids yet again,

With Team Meteor traveling across the lake and Connal on the land, Saphira plans to attack the former group while Xera and Laura protect the kids inside the mansion- as the only two other legal adults, they would not get into as much trouble as one of the kids might if they fought (like Charlotte). With the plan set, Saphira and Dragonite fly off into battle as the rest of the group rushes inside.

The group decides it would be best to split up hiding places- Anna and Noel hiding upstairs and Laura- who is revealed to be an Elite Four member- on guard, with Shelly and Charlotte hiding in the kitchen downstairs and Xera on guard.

As the group disperses, Connal arrives with several of his orderlies. True to his word back at Yureyu HQ, he is not going to grant Xera any further mercy, and engages her in a battle. Despite Xera having little time to prepare, she manages to defeat him yet again.

Just as Connal is defeated, a haggard Sirius enters the mansion, informing Connal that Saphira attacked him and his soldiers on the lake, likely killing several (or all) of them. He’s also furious at Xera for her and Cain blowing up his office, wanting to take revenge on Cain in particular. As Connal explains his own situation, Sirius remarks on Xera now being outnumbered…

Sirius plans to search the upstairs area, while Connal will search downstairs- and Xera cannot stop them both, so she is forced to choose. She decides to stick with the plan and stay downstairs to continue holding off Connal, and so Sirius goes upstairs. 

Saphira reappears just as Sirius leaves, and wastes little time confronting Connal about the torture he put her and her sisters through at the Orphanage. In the name of taking revenge, she brings out her Dragonite once more and orders it to use Hyper Beam, sending Connal flying out of the mansion. 

Saphira’s victory is short-lived, however. Sirius, freshly defeated by Laura of the Elite Four, returns downstairs and ambushes Saphira with his Seviper, knocking her out with Poison Jab and taking her with as he escapes.

Laura and Charlotte are the first to emerge after the raid, Charlotte explaining that they’re not just going to leave Saphira in Team Meteor’s hands…even though she’s more than capable of breaking out on her own. Laura agrees, but due to Charlotte being among Team Meteor’s intended targets to begin with, Laura does not allow her to go with, instead opting to head in herself with Xera’s assistance.

Laura explains that Team Meteor was responsible for putting up the strange metal structures in Tanzan Mountain, and thus they must have a base there. With that, the two set out for the mountain on their rescue mission.

So yeah- we're not getting a new Gym Badge that quickly, we're instead having to deal with Team Meteor yet again after all, which I really should have expected but alas!  So it's another rescue mission, not unlike Yureyu HQ- though, to be frank, Saphira seems so powerful she probably doesn't need any help, but it's probably still a good idea to go in and assist anyways, if only to make sure she doesn't pop a vein from Laura going in alone. Besides- no doubt, this'll lead to some answers about the mysteries of Spinel Town, the teleportation, and the earthquakes…all of which I'm still blaming on Team Meteor! And I will continue to blame them until I'm proven wrong! And the only way to see if I'm wrong or not is to go into that mountain, so let's go!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

Part 14

Part 15

Part 16

Part 17

[yeolsaintlaurent]

Nocturnal Reverie ch.3 [PCY]

pairing - chanyeol x fem reader

genre - mature, smut, angst

themes - power imbalance, romance, crime, justice, class divide, politics, sex

synopsis - In the sprawling, dystopian city of Emberhaven, where power and corruption reign supreme, the lives of two unlikely individuals collide in a tale of passion, intrigue, and moral reckoning. Chanyeol, an enigmatic and wealthy scion of the city's elite, finds himself captivated by the elusive Y/N, a cunning and resourceful thief who navigates the treacherous underworld of Emberhaven. Their first encounter, sparked by a chance meeting in a luxurious club called The Velvet Lounge, sets the stage for a whirlwind romance amidst a backdrop of crime, politics, and danger.

warnings - mentions of death, depression

A/N - omg three chapters already?!?! Anyways, this chapter gives you lovely readers glimpses into more of Kyungsoo and especially Minseok. What would their plan on action be? Also also, flirty Loey is here AAAGAHJGBXJSHAJG sorry guys. I am weak...WEAK in my knees for flirty Chanyeol. Hope you guys love this chapter. Let me know your thoughts as always! xx

Chapter three: A dangerous game begins

A week later , sometime towards evening-

The cityscape was cast in a dull gray as Kyungsoo maneuvered through the bustling streets, his jet-black hair neatly combed and his attire sharp as ever. The undercut hairstyle was a testament to his modern sensibilities, a stark contrast to the shadows that loomed over the city.

As a lawyer, Kyungsoo relished his role, particularly when he could use his legal prowess to aid his friend Chanyeol in their shared mission to bring justice to the city. Kyungsoo had made a name for himself, a reputation built on relentless pursuit of truth and justice. Over the years, he had managed to secure convictions against members of the local drug cartel, lower-tier mafia operatives involved in human trafficking, and even some mid-level politicians tainted by corruption.

Yet, there remained a persistent frustration. The high-ranking members of the mafia and untouchable politicians continued to elude the grasp of the law, their connections and influence serving as an impenetrable shield.

With each passing day, Kyungsoo's determination burned brighter. He was driven not only by his duty as a lawyer but also by his unwavering friendship with Chanyeol. Together, they envisioned a city free from the shackles of corruption and criminal influence.

His phone buzzed with a message, and he retrieved it with a sense of anticipation. It was from his trusted informant and ally in the police ranks, Chief Kim Minseok. The police chief shared Kyungsoo's fervent dedication to the cause, and they had formed a formidable partnership.

The message read: "Progress is being made. We've gathered new evidence against the high-ranking mafia members and corrupt politicians. Meet me at our usual spot tonight."

Minseok's sincerity and deep-rooted hatred for corruption fueled Kyungsoo's resolve. He knew that their efforts were starting to bear fruit, that the city's underbelly was beginning to tremble in the face of impending justice.

The police station where  Minseok serves as the chief reflects the gritty, urban environment of Emberhaven. The building stands as a bastion of order in a city fraught with chaos and corruption. Its exterior is a stark, imposing structure, constructed from aged stone and steel, with a facade that has seen better days. The sign bearing the words "Emberhaven Police Department" is a faded relic of a bygone era, but its presence is a symbol of law and order in the city.

Upon entering the station, one is immediately struck by the sense of urgency and efficiency that permeates the atmosphere. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a sterile, unforgiving glow on the linoleum floors. The muted color palette of gray and beige, combined with the utilitarian design, creates an environment that is more functional than welcoming.

The sounds of ringing telephones, typewriters, and the hurried footsteps of officers echo throughout the station, creating a cacophony that never truly abates. The constant buzz of activity, the hurried conversations, and the occasional raised voice create a palpable tension in the air.

Offices and cubicles line the walls, and bulletin boards display wanted posters, missing person reports, and other notices. The jail cells are a stark reminder of the city's underbelly, with heavy steel bars and a lingering, unsettling silence.

Despite the austere surroundings, there's an unspoken camaraderie among the officers and staff. They share a common purpose — to bring justice to Emberhaven, to combat the rampant corruption, and to make the city a safer place. The police station may be a far cry from opulence, but it stands as a symbol of resistance in the face of adversity, a beacon of hope in a city that has lost its way.

Minseok's backstory is one rooted in adversity and a fierce determination to uphold justice in a city teetering on the edge of chaos. He hails from a humble, working-class family in Emberhaven, where life was a constant struggle to make ends meet. His father, a dedicated police officer, was the sole breadwinner for the family, working tirelessly to provide for them.

Tragedy struck when Minseok was just a teenager. His father was involved in a dangerous cartel bust that went horribly wrong, resulting in the loss of several lives, including his own. The shock and grief of losing his father shook Minseok and his family to their core. His mother, unable to cope with the loss, spiraled into a deep depression, leaving him with a heavy burden to bear.

In the midst of his sorrow, he found a glimmer of resolve. He was determined not to let his father's memory be tarnished by the tragic events of that fateful day. Instead, he decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become a police officer. His dream was to rise through the ranks and bring the justice that his father had been denied.

Despite receiving job offers from larger, more prosperous cities, Minseok chose to stay in Emberhaven. He was committed to making a difference in the very place that had seen his family's struggles. As a young constable, he bore witness to the rampant corruption within the police force, where even some of his colleagues were willing to compromise their integrity for personal gain.

His appointment as the Chief of Police marked a turning point. On his first day, he took bold action by dismissing a significant portion of his staff, signaling his unwavering commitment to eradicating corruption from within the ranks.

Kim Minseok five years ago : 

The newly appointed Chief Kim Minseok stood before his officers, each one watching him with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. He had been entrusted with the duty of leading this police force, and he intended to make his intentions clear from the very start. With the weight of his father's legacy and the burden of a city struggling under the shadow of corruption, he began to speak:

"My fellow officers,, I stand before you today as the Chief of Police, but more importantly, as the son of a dedicated police officer who gave his life in the line of duty. My father was a man of unwavering integrity, and his commitment to justice was his driving force. He believed in the fundamental principles that underlie the law, and he paid the ultimate price for it.

I know that this city, Emberhaven, has seen its share of darkness. Corruption, crime, and despair have taken root here. But it's within this very darkness that we, as law enforcement officers, must find our purpose. We have been entrusted with the duty of protecting this city, of serving as a beacon of hope when all else seems lost.

My vision for this police force is clear. We will be relentless in our pursuit of justice, unwavering in our commitment to the law, and unyielding in the face of corruption. I will not tolerate any officer who tarnishes this badge through misconduct, greed, or deceit. Those who are here to serve this city with honesty and honor will find in me a steadfast ally, but those who would betray that trust will face the full force of the law.

It's not just about upholding the law; it's about protecting the people of this city, particularly those who cannot protect themselves. It's about being the shield that stands between chaos and order. My father's memory fuels my determination to make this city safer and more just for all.

We have a long and arduous journey ahead, but we will take each step together. Let us remember that we are the last line of defense against the tide of darkness that threatens Emberhaven. The choices we make will echo through the lives of the people we serve, and it's our duty to ensure that those echoes are just, fair, and unwavering.

I ask for your unwavering commitment, your dedication to this badge, and your promise to serve with integrity and honor. Let us embark on this mission together and work tirelessly to bring justice to our beloved city, for it is in the pursuit of justice that we honor those who came before us, my father included. Thank you."

With those words, Chief Kim Minseok signaled a new era for the Emberhaven Police Department, one marked by a fervent dedication to justice and an unwavering commitment to the law.

His pursuit of a just and incorruptible police force drew him into the world of law and justice. It was during a chance meeting with Kyungsoo at the courthouse that their paths converged. The two men recognized kindred spirits in each other, united by their shared commitment to root out corruption and crime in Emberhaven. With their unique skills and unwavering determination, they formed an alliance that would prove instrumental in their relentless pursuit of justice.

Present day : 

Inside the confines of the police station, Kyungsoo and the Chief gathered to discuss their pursuit of the elusive mafia kingpin, Dominic "Dom" Marchesi. They had amassed a trove of new information, each piece of evidence meticulously gathered in their quest to dismantle the criminal empire that had plagued the city for far too long. 

Minseok leaned forward, his expression grave, as he began to outline their plan of action. "We've got enough evidence now, Kyungsoo. Our target is Lucio Ramos, Dom Marchesi's right-hand man. He's been involved in every aspect of the criminal operations. If we can get him to talk, we'll have almsot everything we need to take down Marchesi."

Kyungsoo nodded in agreement, his mind racing with thoughts of the impending operation. "Lucio Ramos is a dangerous man, Chief. We need to be careful when we move in. He's likely to have his guard up."

Kim Minseok exhaled deeply, his dedication to ending corruption evident in his unwavering resolve. "I've already coordinated with our undercover agents. We'll catch him off guard. He won't know what hit him."

Their conversation delved deeper into the specifics of the operation, with Kyungsoo meticulously reviewing each detail. As they strategized, the shadows of the city seemed to close in around them, a stark reminder of the darkness they were determined to dispel.

Kyungsoo leaned back in his chair, his eyes filled with determination. "This is our chance, Chief. Once we have Lucio in custody, we'll have the key to unlock everything. Dom Marchesi won't be able to escape from justice now."

Kim Minseok's gaze held a steely resolve. "We've waited long enough for this moment. Let's make sure we do it right."

Surveillance was their silent companion as Kyungsoo and Chief Kim Minseok, along with their dedicated team of undercover agents, delved deeper into the shadowy world of Lucio Ramos. Their days were consumed by the task of closely monitoring every move and activity of Dominic Marchesi's right-hand man.

In a small, dimly lit room at the police station, the walls adorned with maps and photographs of key players in the criminal network, Kyungsoo and Chief Kim Minseok huddled together. The room buzzed with a hushed sense of urgency as they dissected the evidence they had gathered.

Chief Kim Minseok's voice was a low, steady rumble as he spoke, "We've tracked Lucio's financial transactions, his connections, and his involvement in numerous criminal enterprises. We've got enough to build a solid case against him, Kyungsoo."

Kyungsoo nodded, his eyes glued to the intricate web of evidence on the wall. "We need to ensure every detail is in place. If we make a move too soon, we risk tipping our hand."

Their meticulous planning revolved around a covert operation that would put an end to Lucio Ramos's reign of terror. The details were complex, involving the coordination of multiple law enforcement agencies, including those outside the city. They were determined to keep their plan concealed from the criminal underworld.

As the hours passed, Kyungsoo and Chief Kim Minseok worked through each step of the operation, fine-tuning their strategy. They discussed contingencies and prepared for any unforeseen challenges that might arise during the mission.

Finally, satisfied that their plan was as airtight as it could be, they parted ways within the police station. Kyungsoo stepped out into the cool night air and lit up a cigarette, his mind racing with the weight of the task ahead.

After taking a few puffs, he dialed Chanyeol's number, his voice calm but resolute as he explained the plan in detail. Chanyeol listened intently, his commitment to their cause unwavering. When Kyungsoo mentioned the financial strain on the underfunded police department due to rampant corruption, Chanyeol didn't hesitate.

"You have my full support, bro," Chanyeol replied. "I'll provide the financial backing you need. We can't let these corrupt politicians and criminals hold our city hostage any longer."

Their conversation was a pact forged in the darkness of a city burdened by corruption and crime. Kyungsoo knew that with Chanyeol's support, they had a fighting chance to dismantle the criminal empire that had cast its long shadow over their lives.

As Kyungsoo ended the call, he felt a surge of determination. The stage was set, the players were in position, and their pursuit of justice was about to reach its critical juncture.

As Chanyeol exited the cozy coffee house where he had stopped by to get his caffeine fix, he felt a rush of determination to see their mission through. The night air was brisk, and he took a moment to gather his thoughts.

His eyes scanned the cityscape, but he wasn't looking for anything in particular. It was then that he noticed movement in the building across from the local coffee house. A figure stood on a balcony, the ember of a cigarette briefly illuminating their face.

Recognition hit him like a bolt of lightning, and he couldn't help but smile. It was her. Y/N. The woman who had engulfed most of his thoughts since the previous week. Their eyes locked for an instant, and then she hastily ducked out of sight.

Chanyeol chuckled to himself. He had caught her off guard, and it was evident that she recognized him too. Across the way, Y/N peered cautiously from her hiding spot, her heart racing. She couldn't believe that Chanyeol, the man who she herself found thinking about a few times,  was standing there, grinning at her. She raised an eyebrow in mock indifference, not wanting to let on that he had indeed caught her off guard.

He beckoned her with a casual wave, confident that she would eventually succumb to curiosity and join him. He gestured for her to come closer, and she playfully shook her head, feigning nonchalance. A soft laugh escaped her lips as if to say, "Why would I listen to you?"

Their personalities clashed like fire and ice, with Chanyeol exuding confidence and Y/N playing hard to get. Yet, beneath the playful banter, there was an undeniable intrigue. She couldn't help but wonder why he remembered her, and he was determined to find out more about the woman who had stolen a piece of his attention since that night.

Y/N's curiosity got the best of her as she descended from her balcony and approached Chanyeol, her steps cautious but deliberate. She couldn't deny that she was intrigued by the man who had effortlessly charmed her at the Velvet Lounge.

"Why, pray tell, did you call me?" she asked, her tone a mixture of curiosity and playfulness.

Chanyeol flashed his signature grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, I thought a beautiful woman like you deserved to give me an explanation after everything that happened."

She raised an eyebrow, her matter-of-fact attitude unwavering. "Explanation for what? I didn't want to get arrested that night. I’m way too pretty for prison clothes."

Chanyeol chuckled, a low and captivating sound. "Why would you think I'd get you arrested?"

With an obvious shrug, Y/N replied, "Isn't that what people like you do?"

He leaned in closer, his gaze never leaving her. "Ah, but you see, I would never allow someone as gorgeous as you, and as sexy as you," he emphasized the word 'sexy' in a sultry manner, "to be in handcuffs. Unless, of course, it was me who put them there."

Their banter crackled with a palpable tension, a dance of words that left the night air charged with an unspoken challenge. Chanyeol had a way of turning a simple conversation into something far more enticing, and Y/N found herself drawn in despite her best efforts to remain aloof.

Y/N couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Chanyeol's unabashed flirtation. "Are you always this flirty with every woman you talk to?"

Chanyeol leaned in closer, his voice a seductive murmur. "Only the very special ones."

She couldn't suppress a sardonic laugh. "Special, huh? I bet this is what you say to literally every single woman you meet. I literally tried to rob you, remember?"

Chanyeol's gaze never wavered from hers as he replied, his words dripping with innuendo, "Oh, I remember. But I've also been wondering why you've been stuck in my head ever since. That's what makes you special to me."

The night seemed to hum with a charged energy as their conversation danced on the precipice of desire. Y/N, outwardly composed and unflustered, couldn't deny the magnetic pull of Chanyeol's charm. Underneath her faux confidence, an undeniable attraction simmered, threatening to ignite into something more profound. Now that she wasn't speaking to him just as another one of her target, she noticed how fucking hot he was. His black shirt fit him so well revealing the shape of his perfect arms. And his veins, oh fuck his veins. She didn't even realize that she was wondering how amazing it would be when he would wrap his fingers around her ne- wait. "Oh my god, shut up horny side of my brain", she scolded herself internally.

“Sure, whatever you say, big boy.”, she replies back, tilting her head to the side and letting out an airy chuckle.

As their conversation continued to sizzle with tension, Y/N's phone buzzed, and she glanced down at it, her eyes widening at the message that flashed on the screen. Chanyeol, ever the observant one, noticed her reaction and couldn't resist asking, "Is that from a boyfriend?", hoping to himself that shouldn’t be the case.

She shot him a pointed look. "That's not your business," she replied, her tone cool and distant. "If you're done with your flirting, I have other matters to tend to."

Before she could make her exit, Chanyeol gently but firmly took hold of her wrist, turning her back to face him. He slipped a small, elegant invitation into her hand, his voice a silky whisper, "I know you are just as attracted to me as I am to you. Show up at the Velvet Lounge for this event, and you might just find out more about me."

Y/N's gaze bore into his, a mixture of defiance and intrigue. "Why should I go? What makes you so confident I would show up?"

Chanyeol's confidence never wavered as he replied, his voice laced with self-assuredness, "Because even though your mouth is saying one thing, your body language is giving away way more than what you’d like me to know.”

He leaned in closer, his breath brushing against her ear as he added in a matter-of-fact tone, "And let's not kid ourselves, darling. I know just how hot and irresistible I am." Fuck there was that sexy grin again.

Y/N couldn't resist a wry smile as she retorted, "Don't hold your breath on it."

Chanyeol's grin remained undiminished, his voice a sultry promise as he replied, "See you there then, darling."

With that parting remark, they went their separate ways, leaving behind an electric undercurrent of anticipation. The secret event at the Velvet Lounge loomed on the horizon, promising to unravel more secrets and bring them closer together. Their paths converged once more, as the city's pulse quickened in anticipation of what lay ahead.

[xoshepard]

get to know me in 8 games

tagged by @demandthedoodles thank you!!

dragon age series- you thought the first was gonna be mass effect didn’t you. DA gets its propers for being the game that got me into games as an adult

mass effect series- the game ever

bastion- fun combat excellent music good story thank u always supergiant. which leads me to

hades- i still haven’t finished this game but i still adore it ;_;

animal crossing new leaf/new horizons: love being just a little guy doing errands for my cute friends while relaxing muic plays

fire emblem awakening: everlasting memories of being depressed in college and playing this in the dark w colleen

super mario 64: shoutout to my mom for using this game to start my tradition of watching ppl i love play video games and not playing them myself

stardew valley: 1047 hours on steam speaks for itself (i also own it on switch and ios djkshfkj)

honorable mention for abzu, yakuza 0, and sayonara wild hearts!

im tagging: @chiefskye @geekybones @stormikins @gethpyro @alexios @envied-chaos aaaannnd anyone else who sees this and wants to, i always forget ppl 😔

[maximuswolf]

Have metal/punk/hardcore shows changed? What am I missing?

Have metal/punk/hardcore shows changed? What am I missing? I’ve been going to gigs for 35 years. Everything from Sepultura touring Arise to the last tour Zeke did. Recently, I remember gigs being one of crowd surfers, chaotic pits and stagedives.I see many, many gigs now where surfing and dives at a minimum and pits are now circle pits as opposed to the random, chaotic melees of before.I see dingy club gigs of 200, theatre shows of 2000. I estimate I’ve seen some 700 or so shows in my time.Something has changed.Yes, yes, Life Of Agony, Motörhead, Lamb Of God, etc, have all had situations in the past of people hurt or even dying because of what we used to do.But when - and why - did everything become “structured” and, dare I say, “calm”, even?It seems the last bastion of the old school is to see hardcore gigs where dives are still normal. Go see Gorilla Biscuits and it’ll kick off as soon as the trumpets start. I love that.Pits are different now. The random moshing has changed. For example, the literal punches and that asinine kung fu kicking is just stupid. I remember a Knocked Loose gig where a guy was literally punching people - not moshing - and when I punched him back, he was genuinely offended. All, "bro chill, what's the problem". Really? Big open spaces with Kevin and his primate friends thinking they are Bruce Lee. I don't get it. I mean, I *get* it, but come on now. Look at it. *LOOK* at it.I may come across as a grumpy old fart, and yeah, I probably am.But the chaos was fun. People get picked up (still the case), a surfer or diver was always helped. Circle pits weren’t the norm. They happened, sure, but it was an oddity. “Oh yeah, circle pit, that’ll be a laugh for a while.” Then back to the random chaos.Maybe it’s a European / American thing? Frantic pits were just what happened in Europe. Shows in Germany, Belgium, Holland, wherever. No kung fu kicking. Surfers everywhere. Divers everywhere. It was glorious. Just a big melee of chaos and randomness.Shows are still fun. I’ll never stop going. It’s a release as much for me as it is for everyone in this sub.But, what happened? Submitted February 26, 2025 at 10:06AM by 666cookie666 https://ift.tt/i4CbBad via /r/Music

[randomclam24]

ESL

Update - Paul Joseph Watson is known as the zeitgeist of our alt-Right that's "really wonderful" for forward compatability In reality some middle eastern leader is quoted claiming that the European definition of democracy is a country run by jews In reality Europe is known politically as the society that could not survive American culture In reality these people who are coming out saying you're not democracy *are* the jews Update - I found the source of the projection https://www.smashjt.com/post/crazed-sweet-baby-inc-employee-says-their-goal-is-burning-the-games-industry-to-the-ground They conspicuously changed archive.is (Technically if these were tweets, which seems to be the basic unit That last sentence would be an update Update - an alternative was Stillio, it is impossible to share direct links, they must be downloaded and uploaded Update - The truth is, they're not crazed, the source for the leftists needing to deliberate

https://files.catbox.moe/v4tql8.png In summer 2021, it was probably surreal entertainment that released, basically, "do you want Mark Zuckerberg's Sweet Baby Ray's

Update - oh yeah this is the source of the welfare queen worship (hence we're living under a military firmament

(Not just SOAD - "We're all living in America" vibe is truly bad if about the people and not the military This is the country where the current is backed up after being deleted

Update - It's not just one time, and bravery doesn't exclude smarts, either: If you want to pick on a normie, consider pic related, which I titled "this doob" like the meme

Get the full page and zoom in

It really would be categorically Members Only

Update - So we're getting closer to Germ Theory being the ultimate cause for the Corona virus (fiasco

Some guys posted about whole milk being "triggering" read the fine print - it leaves those with weak immune systems vulnerable Update much later - not sure how I got roped into this, but black people on shoes All I have to do is mow the lawn - otherwise I wear sandals I actually chose recently All Star Converse update - tennis shoes Also, while the iron remains hot - I got my mom to get me a dinner SANDWICH for doing it having drawn it out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnEQbKbNWEw on the previous topic. Update - I won't be here for immediate responses, but I used to keep Smarties cut with my thumbnail like a Pez dispenser to equate the sense of bile Update after mow - I'm starting to get the sense that the old game Acno's Energizer's BALLs has the Google Chrome logo appeal Update later - current pasta The Decline of "Oldfag Culture" and the Dark Influence of Zoomers on 4chan

In the digital underworld of the internet, there exists a realm that once stood as a bastion of unfiltered chaos, sharp wit, and unapologetic subversion—4chan. It was the birthplace of memes, the launchpad for subcultures, and a refuge for those who sought to operate outside the strictures of society. But in recent years, a new generation—Zoomers, or those born roughly between 1997 and 2012—have begun to infiltrate this once-pristine territory, altering the very fabric of its culture. What was once an unrestrained haven for the "oldfags"—those who navigated the site's darker, unpolished corners—has, over time, been slowly but surely hijacked by this younger, more easily offended generation.

This shift has not just been a change in membership demographics; it has been a profound erosion of 4chan’s ethos, from an anarchic, unrelenting force of online rebellion to something less recognizable, more curated, and dangerously fragile. The digital pulse of "oldfag culture" has been dulled, replaced by a new order that is often perplexing, disorienting, and—worst of all—predictable. The Rise of the Zoomer Infiltrators

For those who lived through the early years of 4chan, it was a place governed by an ironic distance from mainstream society. Humor was cynical, self-deprecating, and dark. Offensive content was common, but it was often wielded with a knowing wink—an acknowledgment that nothing was sacred, and everything was fair game. 4chan wasn't a space for niceties. It was a sandbox for chaos, where anonymity allowed the true, untamed nature of its users to thrive. "Oldfags," the veterans of 4chan, prided themselves on their immersion in the site's unique culture. They were the gatekeepers, those who could decode the endless layers of inside jokes, trolling, and subversive commentary.

But with the arrival of the Zoomers—those who came of age in the age of social justice, oversaturation of memes, and hyper-commercialized online spaces—the foundations of this culture began to crack. The new wave was accustomed to a very different internet: one that catered to their social awareness, political correctness, and easily consumable viral content. To them, 4chan was not the home of unfettered freedom, but a place to argue over boundaries and ideology, where "safe spaces" were suddenly in demand and "cancel culture" wasn't just a buzzword—it was a weapon. The Death of Anonymity and the Rise of "Performative Radicalism"

Anonymity was the lifeblood of 4chan's culture. It allowed users to engage in unfettered expression, explore taboo subjects, and embrace the most absurd forms of self-representation. The oldfags who built this subculture were proud of their facelessness. In a world of curated Instagram photos and endless Facebook profiles, they reveled in the freedom to exist without identity, where every post was a cipher, a throwaway fragment that could be made, broken, and remade anew.

But for the Zoomers, anonymity was a concept that didn’t resonate in the same way. Their lives were defined by the constant curation of their online personas across social media platforms. They were children of the algorithm, trained to post with purpose and with awareness of consequences. The anonymity that was once sacred on 4chan became increasingly irrelevant to them, as they began to reveal parts of their identities even within this most chaotic space. Whether it was their gender, their political leanings, or their unyielding need to prove how "woke" they were, the new generation began to reshape the culture of 4chan into something unrecognizable.

What emerged was the rise of "performative radicalism"—the idea that to be truly radical or countercultural, one had to display the most extreme and outlandish views for the sake of online clout. In this environment, the subtlety of humor, once a hallmark of 4chan, began to fade. What replaced it were shallow, shallow takes on complex subjects—posts that lacked the nuanced edge of the oldfags’ biting irony. Instead, the focus became louder, more abrasive opinions, curated outrage, and an obsessive need to fit into an ever-shifting set of cultural codes that often contradicted the very spirit of anarchic expression 4chan was built on. The Erosion of Humor and the Death of the Meme

Memes, as they are understood today, are far removed from the visceral, raw energy of the memes of old. A few years ago, when a new meme emerged on 4chan, it was a bizarre, underground creation—an inside joke built from a pool of shared knowledge and a rich history of in-jokes. It was a meme for the initiated, a symbol of belonging in a space that was intentionally exclusionary. The humor was dark, often nihilistic, but it was always self-aware. It was the kind of humor that only those who truly understood the absurdity of life could appreciate.

But the Zoomers—the children of viral social media and mainstream meme culture—are not interested in these kinds of memes. Their humor is louder, faster, and more surface-level. TikTok-driven memes are less about subtlety and more about virality, often driven by trends and challenges that lose their meaning as quickly as they gain popularity. The edge is gone. The crude and rebellious nature of old meme culture is diluted, watered down into easily digestible content for the masses.

The result is a twofold tragedy: on one hand, the humor itself has become less inventive, leaning into worn-out formats and cliches. On the other, 4chan’s original function as an incubator for subversive creativity has been extinguished in favor of increasingly bland, corporate-friendly meme aesthetics. The Fragmentation of 4chan and the Oldfag Exodus

The death of oldfag culture on 4chan is not merely an ideological shift—it has caused a mass exodus of the site’s original denizens. The users who once defined the tone of the platform have migrated to smaller, more niche communities, seeking refuge from the encroaching tide of new blood. They no longer feel at home in a place that has become dominated by the values of the very mainstream they sought to escape.

It is impossible to ignore the dissonance between the platform’s past and its present. Once a wild west of internet freedom, 4chan has now become a space where moderation, censorship, and groupthink creep in under the guise of "keeping the peace" and "protecting the community." The oldfags have largely disappeared, and in their place stands a fragmented collection of subcultures, each vying for attention in an increasingly crowded and sanitized ecosystem. Conclusion: The End of an Era

As the Zoomers continue to dominate the conversation on 4chan, the once unassailable fortress of oldfag culture fades into memory. The site is no longer the chaotic, creative powerhouse it once was, and what remains is a hollow shell, curated for a generation that, while tech-savvy and hyper-aware, lacks the irreverence and anarchic spirit that made 4chan a true online force.

The decline of 4chan's culture is not just a simple generational shift. It is a death—a slow, painful unraveling of a community that once thrived on the ability to speak freely, without fear of judgment or consequence. The Zoomer invasion has taken this freedom and turned it into something… less. Less raw, less daring, less dangerous.

And so, the oldfags—those who once stood at the vanguard of internet rebellion—retreat into the shadows, as the Zoomers take over the ruins of what was once their home. The internet, like all things, has moved on—but for those who remember the golden age of 4chan, the change is not just disappointing. It is chilling. The soul of the site, and with it the heart of online irreverence, has been suffocated by the very generation that claims to embrace the chaos.

In the end, perhaps it is only fitting that the decline of "oldfag culture" mirrors the rise of the sanitized, bite-sized internet we see today—shiny, quick, and ultimately forgettable. Update after above Temp Spawned from Stuart K Reilly's review claim of GBA Duke Nukem, I actually considered gauging the uncanniness of each port of Doom by how they rendered Deimos Lab Update - here's why I said it temp SNES won out Update - Apparently, the take on the sharty is that millenials are listing the trauma they are because they're in the mentality of just paying off their student loan Update - If you just sit there, the most active thing ever since daytime television is porn

[transflynnscifo]

i decided to actually pay attention to what torays decided to give to a certain tov character in it for 3* and 4* equipment

im using both the torays wiki and hyouta for info

(vespy spoilers below, of course) (LONG POST AHEAD DUE TO LOTS OF IMAGES)

the character in question is alexei. he seems interesting to check out since the only one we see him with is with his imitation of dein nomos (and yuri is able to find a similar variant of it to equip in act/part 3 of the game, false dein nomos)

anyway! first up we have

sinclair saber

which is the messed up variation of a sword yuri, estelle and flynn can equip, sinclair saber!

and for the sake of comparison, yuri has sinclair saber in torays (it looks a little different from the tov version)

next up we have

2. damascus sword v

sword present in vesperia for yuri and flynn (the one in torays is equipment for cress from phantasia)

the next sword is

3. warped vorpal sword!

and the one from tov used by yuri and flynn (the vorpal sword in torays is for guy cecil and already looks much too distinct)

4. false dein nomos! the sword i mentioned earlier in my post. im pretty sure its the same one alexei uses in his boss fight,

as opposed to the one you can get for yuri in case you were unable to learn Bastion off of the real dein nomos

5. masks!

i legitimately do not recognize this sword from in-game, nor there seems to be an equivalent to it. since it's the first listed weapon in the wiki, im 90% sure this is the base weapon alexei has when you recruit him in the rays. one worthy thing i want to bring up is that the japanese name for it is in katakana, so it is just "masks" as a name. it could mean nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it could also be a nod to the fact alexei is a twist villain in vesperia, i guess?

finally, i want to list the one i think may be a favorite

6. chaos fencer!

which is a messed up variant of yuri's sword!

this sword is particularly notable to me because the most common way to get it is locating all the star gems. the listing for it on hyouta marks it as "Secret Mission reward from Duke Memory, 100%"

ive never tried that but thats definitely interesting!

there is no yuri variation of it in torays, but the one kratos has is extremely similar! so i think the connection here is for kratos since he appears in the labyrinth of memories

i wasnt going anywhere with this besides taking note of the similarities, but thanks for reading if you have!

[jayoftheorb]

Needed to get these guys out of my head so I wrote up some head cannons about class switches; Bard, for tbks under the cut (very rambly, I'm not good at writing)

Gorgug- whe he was small he would play on the pots and pans like drums and his parents wanted to encourage his creativity. Has tried probably every instrument his parents could find or make, it's metalwork. Gets really into drums and some string instruments, can't play alot of brass cuz of tusks but trumpet is easier, French horn is even harder because of the delicate trigger mechanisms, gets really good at clarinet for some reason, so good that it's his secondary instrument in case he breaks all of his drumsticks (true percussionists have like ten spares, sticks break too easy)(and also fiddle, he can play fiddle really well)

Adaine- learned viola because her parents made her, ended up really liking it, switched to "violin" (plays fiddle, can't call it that in front of parents) think Lindsey Stirling, parents got mad when she became a Bard instead of wizard even though they pushed her to learn and get better, hits her dad w fiddle and kills him, her fiddle in s/j year is a gift from fabian and its practically indestructible(gold, made by telamine, theres a side quest where she kicks the devils ass at fiddle)

Fabian- Really likes sea shanties, starts out dancing with his pa, does alot of 2 and 4 steps, lotta linedancing before getting into elven dance, could be a real good master of ceremonies when he starts hip-hop dancing, is in the college of swords but its very piratey, learned fiddle for fun but actually really enjoys it especially the slower more classical melodies favorite spell is suggestion

Kristen- acoustic guitar. Can also play piano but doesn't want to lug around a keyboard. Has a lovely voice but prefers to let her guitar do most of the work, wanted to be a paladin(to helio) like her parents for a while but becomes a paladin of Cass in the nightmare forest, it's wild. When she meets tracker at the black pit they bond over only really knowing worship songs and tracker gives her a book w/ rock sheet music (classically trained) she steals an electric guitar from the black pit and stashes it at fabians house for a while till she moves in with track and jawbone

Riz- (most excited about this one) goblin music is chaos, idk alot about indigenous music, but I like it, riz does alot of throat singing and body drumming, alot of odd noises, his dad used to sing him to sleep, kinda sounds like Tibetan throat singing with alot of clicking and hissing and all that (need to do research) the other bks like it alot, when he gets more comfortable he starts doing more metal (kinda like korn) struggles alot with connecting to his heritage (personal hc; 3rd gen goblin imigrant, sklondas ma came to bastion city for a new life when the rangers moved in on the mountains of chaos, poks dad moved from the other side of spyre (idk) Pok lived in elmville for his whole life, moved to bastion to work for the government culture outreach program, met sklonda, moved back to elmville, had riz, got eaten by a dragon)

[eddyheck]

I've been thinking about how they would pull this off for the other omnics, so hears my pitch:

Echo is easy, she'd be Dr. Liao(wasit?) In a flight suit and she'd have her finger blasts with equipment and such. I've assumed some of her tech is Volskya being hard light and all.

Ramattra would basically be the same esthetic as Zenny above, but the question remains: where are those arms and legs coming from? They could be hard light again, cybernetics, I like the idea of it was a guy that actually HULKed out, but my favorite idea is if there was a particular crossover, since those are on the table. Like say if ram was an Earthbender. And/or his Ult could easily be the avatar state (I'm just sayin)

Orissa, I can only mostly see as a triple amputy that had gone to extreme with the cybernetics, but with the Fantasy themes they've done(DnD and Greek myth(even most Halloween)) I'd say Buffalo Centaur Battle Bae Orisa could totally be on the table #deathbysnusnu

Bastion tho... oof Bastion: Sorry folks, I'm gonna have to stretch this out into another bullet point set in hopes that you might actually lose interest and stop reading this so you don't hear the worst idea I've ever had. Like seriously stop now.. (I got a couple good ideas tho)

The obvious but stupid version would be only a human head so far gone into cybernetics that he's literally just a head in the machine. That's definitely as deep as you need to go into THAT idea no need to go any further than that. Maybe it could be a Futurama crossover and it's Nixon's head in a jar. Even just a brain in a jar would be a solid Halloween skin. Definitely as deep into that idea as you gotta go

Another opportunity that I personally like would be another Horizon Lunar Collony refugee(or infiltrator) piloting a salvaged Bastion type armature. Not necessarily a primate as Hamond has proven. Something with a whistle would make sense: Lemur, Gibon, hyper smart Bird that gets along with Ganymede? If you liked the Brain in a jar, how about an Octopus in a fishbowl/reverse deepdiver helmet, like that one Zenny skin?

Fantasy version of the last one, it could be a legit WoW plug of a Gnome or Goblin(maybe Murlock) in walking mech/tank

Ok, think the THING meets Akira(maybe a dash of the Chaos from Warhammer 40k), and you got your walking shambling Eldrich horror of bullet hell murder that kills everyone while tooting on a kazoo that are actually screams of pain. There it is that's the gross shit I was thinking of, no reason to keep reading anymore. Get the fuck outta here ya crazy kids.

I told you to stop... A human head should never be used to shame like this. If nothing else, I hope you're lazy in that you have no ambition to look up what I mean by Skibitty Toilet Bastion that's it. I'm not going into detail. It's an Gen Alpha meme and it's pretty much literally crap. Not even shit, just crap, ab_so-lute CRAP. I hate how much it makes sense and I hope blizzard never goes to such lows as this. You were warned

Zenyatta - human ver. concept

by me

It’s not the final version of it (just a sketch) I’ll try to make it soon. I’ll be trying to make few concepts of his clothes yk (and sorry for the feet I can’t draw feet I hate feet)

[darkmaga-returns]

International Man: After nearly 14 years of brutal conflict, various jihadist groups backed by Turkey, the US, and Israel finally toppled the Assad government in Syria.

What is your take on this?

Doug Casey: I’ve been to Syria twice over the years for about a week at a time. I drove around the country, even including what passes for beach resorts on the small Syrian coast—not that that gave me any special insight into the current situation. Though the country was viewed as a dangerous bastion of evil, I had a great time. Except for active war zones, you can almost use the State Department’s “no go” list as a travel advisor. FWIW, even when I applied for my visa at the Syrian consulate in Beirut, I remember being impressed with their friendly and competent staff.

People forget that Syria is an artificial country. The region called “Syria” has been around for thousands of years, since pre-Roman times. But today’s Syria only came into existence with the breakup of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. It’s not an organic country. Like most Third World countries, it was put together in the drawing rooms of Europe, with zero consideration of local ethnic or religious sensitivities. That’s a guaranteed formula for perpetual chaos in a highly tribal region, where governments are mainly vehicles for theft.

For the last 50 years, it’s been run by the Assad family. Even if you’re a nice guy, or used to be a nice guy, like Bashar al-Assad, when you’re surrounded by lots of nasty people who are holding together a pressure cooker that’s looking to explode, it can’t end well.