#not in like a negative way in fact very much the opposite but boy there are one or two chapters that i just kind of shake my head through

[flopsxii]

tokyo revengers boys with their crush (aka you!) <3

feat. sano ‘mikey’ manjiro, ryuguji ‘draken’ ken, hanagaki takemichi, baji keisuke, matsuno chifuyu, hanemiya kazutora, mitsuya takashi, inui seishu && kokonoi hajime

notes: first time writing for so many characters and some for the first time :0 i hope it isn’t ass!!! sorry if some characters i haven’t written for before are ooc and inaccurate! ALSO I HATE SQUID GAME BUT TRANS BADDIE.

— i will release a part two soon :)

sano ‘mikey’ manjiro

ꪆৎ i think mikey would be somewhat upfront with you about his crush. of course, he wouldn’t outright confess until he knew you shared the same sentiment. however, he’d make it fairly obvious that he thought highly of you and how he loves spending time with you over anyone else.

ꪆৎ he’d definitely ‘kidnap’ you from classes, begging you to leave because it’s an “emergency”, but really he just wanted to spend time with you. you’d scold him after, reminding him about the importance of school, but he’d just stand there with a love struck smile on his face. it didn’t matter wether you were lecturing him or ignoring him, being in your presence was enough to bring him happiness.

ꪆৎ his crush is blankly obvious to all of toman and probably other gangs in the near vicinity. no one dared to talk to you in a negative way, a bonus of having mike’s affections. and suddenly, if anyone was mean to you, it didn’t happen anymore… sometimes you wondered why but mikey would shush you immediately. “maybe they just realised that bringing down such an amazing person was a reflection of themselves, y/n-chan!”

ꪆৎ would love it when you accompany him on foodie ‘dates’, rides on his motorbike and even accompanying him to toman’s meetings. it genuinely shocked everyone when mikey would interrupt himself to stick his tongue out at you just to make you giggle. truly toman’s royalty!

ꪆৎ also would most likely pitch up at your house at random points of the day. even as ‘friends’, he’d want to nap together and just hang out alone where he wouldn’t have to maintain his reputation as the ‘invincible mikey’. with you, he could just be manjiro.

ꪆৎ in terms of confession, i think mikey would let it slip out when he’s most vulnerable. either when he’s super sleepy or just generally having a rough time. small whispers of how much he appreciates you and likes you would fall from his lips. once he realised what he had done, it was most likely too late to take it back. he just hoped you shared the same feelings.

ryuguji ‘draken’ ken

ꪆৎ unlike his best friend and captain, draken would keep his feelings to himself and it probably would stay that way for a while. it’s not because he doesn’t wanna be with you, in fact, it’s the opposite! he’d most likely think that a relationship with him would come hand in hand with people jeopardising your safety. so more likely than most, he’d stick to being your friend (a very close friend) until he knew you’d be safe.

ꪆৎ probably would trail behind you whilst you’d go shopping, a unreadable expression on his face but instead, his mind was overwhelmed by the thought of you! how adorable you looked as you pointed out cute things, making a mental note of items to buy you for your birthday.

ꪆৎ definitely would be the first one at your door if you came down with any sickness. even if it was a common cold! he’d remind you that sickness could get worse if left untreated and you should ‘stop denying him and just accept his help.’

ꪆৎ he’s immensely protective over you, even if he doesn’t necessarily need to be. other toman members would try and remind draken that he doesn’t need to be worried over your safety, after all the whole of toman would take care of you!

ꪆৎ i also feel like draken would be the type to pick you up and drop you off before and after school. even if the walk was 10 minutes and under, he’d remind you it could be dangerous alone! it’s purely just an excuse to spend more time with you even if he does act like it’s a chore.

ꪆৎ would probably confess to you if there’s imminent danger towards you or it would slip out without him realising. he’d definitely have to take a couple moments to compose himself if it was the latter, a furious blush erupting over his cheeks causing you to giggle.

hanagaki takemichi

ꪆৎ he’s so so shy around you! however, no matter how much he makes a fool of himself in front of you, he just can’t stay away. it’s like he’s in a constant state of fluster whenever he’s in your presence.

ꪆৎ definitely walks you to and from school, holding your hand if you initiate it first. he would probably also try carry your school books for you, even if you remind him that your arms work just fine. he just wants to help you in anyway he can!

ꪆৎ would also 100% feel awful when he sees the sad expression on your face whenever he turns up with new bruises and cuts covering his face. his heart would break when you graze your fingers over the wounds, asking a meek “do they hurt, michi-kun?”

ꪆৎ also the type to try show off to you whenever he can but fail miserably. although, if he sees that amazing smile, the humiliation he feels is always worth it! even if he ends up hurting himself, he won’t mind if you make sure he’s okay after. maybe a hug wouldn’t hurt also…

ꪆৎ speaking of hugs, he’d probably malfunction the first time that your arms wrap around him. even if you were doing it out of worry for his wellbeing, he cherishes the moment for the rest of his life.

ꪆৎ he doesn’t confess… it’s actually you who tells him how you feel. it’s a heartfelt conversation you two share after you see the boy beaten to a bloody pulp so that his friends would be alright. his loyalty and tenacity being one of the few reasons why you adore him so much!

baji keisuke

ꪆৎ honestly, he’s the definition of whipped. even chifuyu is surprised when he sees how baji acts in your presence. it’s so impossibly clear how much baji likes you to anyone else in the room, except you!

ꪆৎ he’d probably start fancying you if you helped with his studies and actually persevered with him despite how difficult he tried to make it. initially, he’d deny your help, grumpily saying he can handle it and to leave him alone. however, when you sit across from him and start reading through your notes and helping him correct his wrong answers, he’s floored. any other person would’ve left after his shitty response but you stayed.

ꪆৎ would act like your best friend but to anyone else, they view you as baji’s partner (albeit unofficially). is fiercely protective over you and if anyone makes you upset (even a little bit) are met with baji’s anger and very soon after, his fists. of course, you lecture him for jumping into action without consulting you but the fact he cares so much makes your heart beat impossibly faster.

ꪆৎ would definitely invite you over to his house to hang out, just so he could have some time alone with you. even if it’s just you reading and him silently laying beside you, it’s almost heaven to baji. if it was heaven, you’d be spilling your undying love for him but he thinks he wouldn’t be so lucky.

ꪆৎ would also end up sometimes bringing you to toman meetings if he absolutely has no other choice. but you’d stick by his side the whole time and if he’s not available for some reason, chifuyu is there to stand in!

ꪆৎ much like takemichi, you’d have to confess to baji first or you’d be playing cat and mouse with him for the rest of eternity. even his mum knows how he feels but he’ll deny every accusation. however, she’s just happy her hot headed son has someone he cares about and she’s so happy it’s you!

matsuno chifuyu

ꪆৎ chifuyu is definitely the type to crush on his best friend! someone he shares such a deep bond with and trusts on an immensely deep level. i doubt he’d fancy someone he knows on a surface level, he doesn’t know them well enough. however, he knows you inside and out, it never feels awkward around you (despite the constant blush on his cheeks that he hides everytime).

ꪆৎ he’s definitely protective over you, along side baji who will take care of you if chifuyu isn’t around. if he sees anyone hassling you, he’s the first to jump in and defend your honour!

ꪆৎ he always invites you round to his house just to see you cuddle peke j. furthermore, he’ll take you to the zoo, aquariums or just pet shops to hang out since you both share the same sentiment towards animals. it’s one of the reasons he’s fallen so hard for you.

ꪆৎ his mum adores your ‘friendship’ with her son, she’s never seen him so happy (in a romantic way!). she will buy food specially for you to share and even sometimes drop devious hints in your ears about her sons feelings; you don’t take it seriously at first.

ꪆৎ he probably doesn’t initiate physical contact with you too much, it makes his brain overload. but, the option is there… he will without a doubt wrap you in a bear hug; savouring the feeling for as long as possible.

ꪆৎ chifuyu is definitely the type to try reenact scenes from his favourite mangas then make a complete fool of himself. however, he doesn’t know that you appreciate him trying nonetheless, no matter how silly he looks doing so.

ꪆৎ following his shoujo manga’s ideology, he’d confess in a subtle but heartfelt way. i think either using peke j as a messenger, a small note tucked into his little collar. or he’d tell you up front and be as sincere with his words as his silly brain would allow.

hanemiya kazutora

ꪆৎ it’s likely that no one knows that kazutora has a crush on anyone, most of all you. i think he wouldn’t interact with you that much in public, instead opting to spend time with you in private when he could truly be himself.

ꪆৎ the amount of times kazutora has to cover his raging blush on his cheeks each time you hang out is insane! he never knew that compliments he hears on the daily about his appearance could make his heart beat so fast, until they came out of your mouth.

ꪆৎ he definitely visits you if you have a job, sneaking in and surprising you with a huge smile on his face! he’s also the type to stay until your shift ends and make sure you get home safely, wether you ride on his motorcycle or not.

ꪆৎ he may also sometimes slip you unexpected gifts, only small ones though that have sentimental value. maybe it’s cinema tickets from the time you dragged him out after his release from juvie.

ꪆৎ he doesn’t want you involved with any gang activity so it’s quite unlikely that you find out he’s still involved with that stuff. however, he would tell you flat out if you heard any rumours about him and would reassure you that he’d keep you seperate.

ꪆৎ it’s unlikely he’d confess, liking things how they are, no matter how much he wishes your relationship could progress. either he’s worried you’d see him as a monster, due to things he did in the past and in the present or he just wouldn’t know how to say it so it’s better left unsaid anyways. it would have to be you to lay your feelings out for him to see and decide what to do next.

mitsuya takashi

ꪆৎ i think mitsuya would be one of the most upfront about his feelings on this list without saying it directly. toman can clearly see the sentiment he shares for you, even girls in his class and sewing club know that he’s essentially spoken for!

ꪆৎ he loves inviting you along to his days out with his sisters. not only because he loves spending time with you but also because the two girls adore you as much as he does! one of his favourite photographs is the four of you on one of your days out, a scarf he made wrapped around your neck.

ꪆৎ speaking of clothes he’s made; mitsuya definitely surprises you with new pieces every so often. even if you’d try refuse, telling him he should try sell them as they’re just that good, he’d remind you that he’d much rather see them on you and wants no payment in return (no matter how much you insist).

ꪆৎ gentleman mitsuya always gives you a ride no matter where you need to go! even if you mention in passing that you’re going shopping in the coming days, he will insist that he’s your ride! after all, he can’t stand by whilst you lug heavy bags home.

ꪆৎ once mitsuya is certain about your feelings reflecting his, he’d be direct with his words. “i have feelings for you, y/n-chan.” a simple statement that gets the biggest weight off his chest. he can only hope you accept his confession…

inui seishu

ꪆৎ you’re most likely a childhood friend to seishu, i find it unlikely he’d fancy a classmate or a passing stranger. perhaps, a childhood friends sibling? that way, he’s able to determine wether you actually like him for who he is.

ꪆৎ alongside kokonoi, he trusts you immensely. i highly doubt he’s able to form romantic feelings for anyone without the formation of trust. you’re his confident and he’s yours, and it has always been that way. at this point, seishu is unable to see himself confiding with anyone else the way he does with you.

ꪆৎ when he first started gaining feelings for you, i think he probably would give you the cold shoulder, not understanding how he feels. but, he’ll make things right with you once his minds less foggy!

ꪆৎ if you don’t exactly share the same interests, such as how he’s very interested in motorbikes and mechanics, he will try very hard to get into your hobbies so you can spend more time together. however, it means an immense amount to him that you’ll sit there and let him ramble about his favourite bike that shinichiro worked on, even if it was so long ago.

ꪆৎ he would probably confess when everything has settled down in his life. that includes his involvement with gang activity. he would hate to put someone so close to his heart in jeopardy. however, if you can’t wait, you could always confess yourself…

kokonoi hajime

ꪆৎ it would take him a long, long time to actually acknowledge his feelings for you. he would probably feel like moving on was a betrayal to akane but there came a point where he couldn’t ignore those feelings anymore.

ꪆৎ he would treat you amazingly, even if he’s battling with the thoughts inside his head about you and akane. he’d offer you money if you needed it (you will most likely hand it straight back), buy you gifts and happen to forget the receipt…

ꪆৎ even after several talks that you like spending time with him because of who he is and not what he can do for you, kokonoi still finds it hard to accept. he probably will see some resemblance to akane in that sense and would probably think she’d want him to be with someone like you.

ꪆৎ one of his favourite things about you is that even if he isn’t in a sociable mood, you will still sit with him and enjoy his company. not to mention he’s floored by how amazing you look everytime he sees you!

ꪆৎ he also loves going on day trips with you and seishu, finding every different place the three of you visit special.

ꪆৎ his confession would be sincere and precise. he would lay his feelings out and would promise to treat you amazingly and of course, take care of you in anyway you’d need.

[slaaverin]

I wonder why most Jikookers think Jk loves Jimin more than Jimin do him when it’s clearly opposite. Maybe they are influenced by grant gestures JK does once in a blue moon while Jimin is consistently taking care and loving him.

One of the obvious example is 2 incidents in AYS. jk was riding motorcycle and Jimin was worried saying to be careful of cars but jK ignored him saying I’m good which Jimin said atleast reply with a ‘ok’. But Jk was thinking whether army will be worried about this and confimred he rides the vehicle carefully. See how he was completely tone deaf to Jimin’s worry ?

second is in the forest. Jimin asked him to go slowly and enjoy the view multiple times while Jk was rushing, clearly walking too fast and away from Jimin as if he was trekking alone with his cam. And Jimin subtly shaded him saying how immature it is as Jimin, when he was kid, used to fastly walk to finish first as he wanted to he’s good at it than his peers but now he take it slow enjoying the view.

JK is often unnecessarily praised to waiting for jimin when he does it once or twice but 90% time he just avoids Jimin who walks slowly.

I am tired of this discourse. Aren't you tired? I'm tired.

Can we stop this "Jk loves Jimin most" "Jimin loves JK most" For fuck's sake how hard is it to understand they are simply two different people who love in different ways? It doesn't mean they don't love each other just as strongly, simply that they show it differently. And it's FINE. Are we in kindergarten? Is this a competition?

The two example you picked. Please.

The first one. Of course he dismissed Jimin's worry. One, JK knows how to drive, it was not his first time riding a motorcycle. And secondly, have you never experienced a loved one in your life telling you to "please be careful" "please stay safe" "please bring a light jacket because you will be cold" and you just roll your eyes and say "yes yes I will" without thinking too much about it?

JK is a confident dude who thinks can take care of himself (and he can, as most people), so idk maybe he doesn't feel like pushing the fact he needs extra care from Jimin? (But I don't think he minds it either, just he's not gonna play victim or anything like when Jimin was talking about his cold)

I don't know is he so hard to read??? He never dismissed him in a harsh way? Just like "I know, but I'm a big boy don't worry" which is a perfectly acceptable reaction to have from anyone? Jk is a free spirit as he put it and it just shows. So what? Does it mean he loves Jimin less? Absolutely not, it doesn't mean anything in particular.

Can we stop changing perfectly normal interactions into some kind of twisted toxic ones?

Because you know most people wouldn't see any of this in a negative way. Yet you're making it negative. It talks more about you than about JK.

And for the second one.

Each person walks at their own pace. Jungkook is amused at Jimin's slowness and Jimin to justify himself (because everyone thinks their way of walking is the best way) tells this little story and they giggled and the whole thing was very cute and fun and just shows they are different and once again, so what?

Aren't you nitpicking and inventing stuff that doesn't even exist?

He doesn't "avoid" Jimin, he just walks as he wants to! And many times they're walking side by side. What even are we talking about here???

When I walk especially while traveling with people I walk always waaaay ahead of everyone and spend most of my time waiting for people. When I travel with my mom she's especially slow and I always make a fuss with how slow she walks and even make fun of her. Does this mean I don't like my mom? That I avoid her?

Common sense people, common sense please I beg you this ask is so ridiculous

Once again a perfect example of someone choosing very minute details and making a truth out of them without seeing the whole picture

Did you forget how JK took care of Jimin when he was sick? Even made a little stone tower and prayed for him? How he cooked for him several times, wanting to make the best carbonara possible, for Jimin? Did you forget how Jimin was down in Sapporo and JK was trying to cheer him up? How JK made Jimin giggle repeatedly? How many time he praised him, calling him pretty and encouraging him? How worried he was when Jimin got injured? How he was trying to help with music? How he shared his food?

JK said again and again how happy he was to be on these trips with Jimin.

If you didn't see any of this then I'm thinking you are willfully blind or just a 12 year old.

Nobody in their right mind would try to put jikook's love to each other into some kind of counting of points competition "he did more, no he did more" Are you hearing yourself? The only people making things weird here are you. There's nothing wrong with their own individual ways to show love because guess what? They are different people! Shocker I know.

If you can't take them both as they are and love them as they are without putting your own toxic views into it, then don't even bother.

And if you're a solo hating on the other, your fave would probably be ashamed of you.

I don't want to read this crap in my asks again for real. GROW UP.

Thanks

[bi-badass-geek]

Hades 1 vs Hades 2 Designs

● Hermes besides Hypnos was first character that made me think when i saw him oh some time has passed since Zag's escapes indeed, makes you feel that time skip. In this particular debate between those i'm really digging both but if needed to say which i prefer would go with second. I feel it should be said he sure rolls nicely with longer hair i would say darker outfit too but that's probably because pallet that's used for levels.

Ps. I saw post that mentioned how his ring is the same as ones Charon is wearing in first game and if it's a hint at something i'm here for it!

● Zeus for this god specifically there is discourse about how his pose is less dynamic and oh boy if i don't agree with that so much. In first game you see him and his look makes you think yeah this is the king of gods while in second game man is just there with posture i take often because i'm useless gay that don't know what to do with my hands and feels like they took all this might and put it into chiseling his nipples & abs into his golden chestplate. Not to mention the detail of missing the iconic bolt! Don't think it needs to be said but 100% would pick Hades 1 design out of those options.

● Poseidon the King of the Sea another example in my humble opinion where they went with flattening that dynamic looks exchanging it for man that just standing there chilling which is good for him but where first screams cool uncle second one goes uncle that wants retirement. I really like how we can see the trident now tho and need to point out his outfit sure got more print on it. When it comes down to pointing out which one is the winner in my eyes it would be 2020 one.

● Aphrodite if she wasn't the one that got thrown into drama because people double standards and hypocrisy. Design from first game and the pose straight up makes you think of love, lust, seduction all the things that are associated with said goddess. As for Hades 2 version i have no clue why it feels like this considering it's actually the opposite because we can see armor on her legs now but she feels less covered for me, do i find it negative or in any way problematic? Not one bit let the woman show off all her assets all day long! Really love the adds of her weapon and shield makes you immerse in the store of oh fights are happening around these parts. From seduction to i stand here at the ready kinda vibe and i'm really digging it.

Ps. Another post i read was about fact that her war paint i will call it (not 100% sure if that is it or just line for the giggles) is reference to Ares and considering her myth i really like that touch!

● Hypnos was the first OG i saw and was like man not only catching up on his sleep but also got such glow up i absolutely adore the design. Not to say he looked bad in Hades 1 but there it was like okay nice to Hades 2 like Damnnn and his lil helpers that keeps him up! Love the fact that of all things they made him be tucked into his cape like burrito.

Ps. I really do hope by the end of the game we get to wake him up so he can try out that nectar that we all leave there waiting.

● Chaos so many things to say and at the same time silence says it all. Seen people focusing on fact some out there call them he or how it's a downgrade from previous but don't even elaborate why they think that because everyone has right to have their own preference but at least put it into words instead of going trash next..there was also notion how they resemble Meg and while i see where people get that idea from for sure before reading that my mind didn't went there at all. I think both designs really work with someone who is primordial originator and how time goes so can their form. I find it very fascinating that they put old skeleton with new one and adore galaxy under suit makes me think of Nyx right away and how they're connected. Can totally see how between those two gamers got major stance that left reminds them more of male and right of female beings but at the end of the it chaos is chaos. Gotta take chair routine from Meg while they at it! The face on the shoulder surely throws me in loop tho fits? Sure. Does it disturb me in micro scale? Yes. About frames and poses don't have much to say cause both caption the essence of i mind my business everything unrelevant until i say so.

Ps. I know it's about physical aspect but let me say Chaos roasting Mel about how her brother is amusing one out of two Hades spawns is living rent free in my brain.

[neitherabaron]

My honest opinion: the Switch 2 Direct had several “Yay!” moments, but a LOT of “meh” ones too.

Despite having lots of cool things to announce, and very little bad, it ultimately felt poorly structured and in my opinion emphasised many of the wrong things.

My favourites (and my criticisms) under the cut. Spoilers from here on out so be careful:

Favourites:

- Mario Kart World. I desperately want to see more of this because it looks ridiculously fully featured. Open world racers haven’t always landed with me, but the idea of exploring a massive game world full of Mario Kart’s design and sensibilities? Exquisite.

- Donkey Kong Bonanza. Redesign aside, this is gonna be fantastic. I love the idea of a more chaotic 3D platformer than we’d normally expect to see from Nintendo, plus after 25 years, it’s high time DK got another crack at 3D.

- The Duskbloods. Holy shit, I was not expecting this. Mind blown. Can’t wait to get my hands on this. Miyazaki saw Sony dragging their feet and finally took matters into his own hands, huh!

- Kirby’s Air Riders. I imagine a few people might have preferred it if the game Sakurai’s been alluding to had turned out to be Smash 6, but I’m mostly just glad that he’s had a chance to do what he wants and develop a different passion project, rather than getting fed straight back into the Smash Bros grinder.

- Deltarune. I’ve actually been putting off playing Deltarune for a good long while, because I didn’t like the idea of starting a massive story and then having to wait so long for a conclusion (not a shot at the release model, just my own inability to hold characters and scenarios in my head). But now I’m finally gonna be able to play the whole thing, and I am Hype.

Least favourite game announcement:

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (specifically the GameCube version, via emulation, on the NSO subscription): Just let me pay for the HD remaster with all the improvements they made for Wii U, rather than paying monthly to have access to the inferior version of the game, through the lens of Nintendo’s questionable emulation, thanks.

My general criticisms of the Direct:

Oh boy. This is gonna read as very negative, which kind of sucks because on the basis of what was shown, there is a LOT to be excited about. But I think taken as a whole, the presentation left a lot to be desired and didn’t add up to a great first impression. It was less than the sum of its parts, and really shouldn’t have been. Let me explain.

They spent a good deal of time showcasing hardware feature, particularly the camera and mouse mode. This was a great idea in theory, they failed to reveal much in the way compelling gameplay that integrates them - particularly the mouse. DragXDrive is a start, but it looked to be the barest of bones on this first showing.

A lot of time in the early to mid presentation was spent re-announcing games that are already confirmed for Switch 1 and explaining how some of them will be very slightly better on Switch 2. While, again there’s nothing wrong with this idea, leading with, and placing major emphasis on minor performance upgrades and expansions to Switch 1 games, some of which have been available for many years, does not create a compelling case for sinking hundreds into a new console. This is something you factor in at the end of the presentation, not as one of the first concrete details you cover.

(Side note - I actually think this is cause for concern. While the reasons for the Wii U’s failure were many and complex, very few people at this point would claim a lack of quality games - in fact the later success of much of the Wii U’s library on the Switch indicates the opposite! However, one factor I do often see cited is that the Wii U’s marketing failed to set it apart as something fresh and vital. Seeing Nintendo pitch, at great length, their brand new console’s ability to run a Zelda game from 2017 at a higher frame rate, and/or an expensive way to play games already announced for Switch 1, before they so much as pulled out a second exclusive Switch 2 title, did not fill me with confidence that the right lessons were learned.)

To be more positive for a moment, the major exclusive announcements all looked fab to me, especially DK Bonanza and The Duskbloods (!!). I think it’s fair to say I was expecting more exclusives, and that I’m surprised that the whole thing went by with no mention of a 3D Mario. It’s also worth noting that, of the major, not-on-Switch-1 exclusives (Mario Kart, DK, Hyrule Warriors 3, Duskbloods, Kirby Air Riders), only Mario Kart will be available at launch, which is a bit of a blow if like me, you were hoping for a big, single player experience at launch. Breath of the Wild sold Switch to me, not Mario Kart 8, and I know I’m not alone there.

My bigger problem with how they handled the exclusives within the presentation is that none of them received anything like a proper deep dive, even though these should be the system sellers were all getting hyped for.

I understand Mario Kart will be getting one in a couple of weeks, which is something, but considering how short the exclusives list was, it was a shame not to see a little more of each. Speaking subjectively, it felt to me like these big, important exclusives ended up getting less overall coverage in the presentation than the third-party lineup, all of which is or will be freely available (and likely much cheaper) elsewhere.

Overall, the problem is not one of content, but of emphasis. After all, third-party support and backwards compatibility is vital to the success of a modern console! But the decision to frontload the presentation with lukewarm demonstrations of the hardware, games which are also playable on Switch 1, and non-exclusives, while first-party and third-party exclusives received comparatively little emphasis and were often relegated to the tail end of the show, was baffling. It killed the momentum of the presentation, diluted the message that this is a must-have product, and dampened my enthusiasm quite a bit.

And yeah, I’m also sad that we only got 3 seconds of Silksong to confirm it still exists, but let’s face it, we did that to ourselves, didn’t we?

[quibbs126]

Also on the topic of changing character’s genders, I know I’ve seen people make Starscream a woman in their AUs, and while yeah, I definitely see it, I honestly don’t think Hasbro would ever officially make Starscream female unless we’re making every character female like Bishoujo

Mainly because of his relationship with Megatron, and how, on more than one occasion, it has been stated to be explicitly abusive. And that Starscream is the victim here. And that’s their general dynamic regardless of whether or not it’s portrayed as abuse, Megatron being violent and harsh towards Starscream in particular. And while it’s sometimes more mutual violence and he can deserve it at times for being a backstabber, Megatron is ultimately more powerful and a heavier hitter than Starscream, so Screamer’s going to end up with the most damage. And if Starscream’s a woman while Megatron’s a man, even if the dynamic is not portrayed as specifically abusive like others, it is NOT going to be a good look, and would look so much worse than it already is

Which yes, is a double standard, and I don’t necessarily agree with it, but it does exist like this; that when it’s opposite genders it’s portrayed as far worse, and I really don’t think Hasbro is going to let their kids franchise villain just straight up do abuse to a female subordinate of his

The only ways they can maybe get around this are not having Megatron, which it seems highly doubtful they’d do and even if he’s not present, he’d still likely be a part of Starscream’s backstory due to how intertwined the characters are, or make Megatron a woman as well

Which then leads into its own can of worms, mainly the fact that the villain leader is a woman and the hero leader is a man, which while not inherently bad, and usually Optimus ends up being made the feminine one in the megop dynamic anyways so maybe this’d do some good on that front being the opposite, is very prone to going very downhill very fast. Both in canon if the writing isn’t at its best and least gendered, and definitely in fanon. I could very easily see some people portraying it as “he can fix her”, and in a much worse way than what people might do currently with them both men. And also straightifying megop even more, just the other way around. Or Megatron having more femme fatale characteristics or talking about her role despite being a woman, though I admit I think we’re far past that on the official writing front and I don’t imagine that to really happen, I just watch too many older things, but it’d probably still happen in fanon with some people thinking of her as just like, that term I don’t want to say because it’s just *egh*, but is “dominating woman I want to step on me”, that one. And regardless of Megatron’s gender, swinging back to Starscream, she’d probably get sexualized in her and Megatron’s dynamic more as well if she were officially a woman

But point of the matter is, while you could maybe pull off male Optimus vs female Megatron in a canon story, it is very easy for it to go downhill, and it probably won’t have good consequences in the fandom either

So a way to solve this new issue is to then also make Optimus female, so there’s not yet again, that gender imbalance

But that leads to another issue, though not so much negative portrayal of something, but rather that by this point, you have both leaders of the factions and the Decepticon second in command female, and by that point you might as well make everyone female. There’s too many major characters being made women (though that’s not to say I wouldn’t mind a majority of the cast being female one time, it’s just that it’d likely be seen as too much at one time by higher ups, at least not without the point being that they’re all female). And also there’s just the fact that that Hasbro would not let Optimus Prime be made a woman, unless it was for a specific gimmick. It’s still considered a series for boys, and there’s already Elita-1, and Optimus isn’t supposed to change too much anymore, so female Optimus for no significant reason other than just being a woman, at least in the eyes of Hasbro, will probably not be allowed to happen. And honestly the same could probably be said for Megatron, he’s always supposed to be male like Optimus, but they do seem slightly more lenient with him, so I could maybe see it being allowed one time

But leading back to the original point because to be honest I think I might have gotten carried away there, Starscream can’t be a woman without Megatron being a woman, and Megatron probably can’t be a woman without Optimus being a woman, and Optimus can’t be a woman, so thus ultimately, Starscream can’t be a woman

At least that’s my understanding of it

[maxdibert]

Omg now I'm also curious about what you think about the characters' political spectrum. I think Severus would be a centrist and the type of guy who would say "facts above feelings". His worldview is very isolated in the books, he only focuses on how the world impacts him and what benefits him the most, so he would be pro worker rights, but I doubt he would take things that don't touch him, like feminism, seriously. Would he be an incel? Lol idk. Lily would be a typical liberal feminist. James and Sirius would be centrists or just apathetic, because why would they actually care about politics when they have it all, but they would pretend to be liberal to safe face and attract girls. Peter would be right leaning and probably an incel too. Remus...I genuinely don't know.

Hermione would be a liberal but I can see her becoming more leftist with time. Ron a liberal, same as Harry. Dumbledore would be a leftist but do nothing to change the system, just like in the books.

I'm not an expert so I'm curious what'd you think? Do some of my guesses fit?

It always amuses me when people frame Severus as an incel when canonically he’s always gotten along better with women than with men. In his household, his father—the man—was the negative figure, while his mother’s world seemed to be what interested him most. His first friend (and apparently his only real one) was Lily, a girl, and he also hung out with Petunia, despite them not liking each other. At Hogwarts, his safe space was still with Lily, a girl, while boys represented the negative aspects of his life: on one side, the Marauders, all men, making his life miserable, and on the other, his housemates leading him down a dark path. As an adult, as a professor, despite the comment he makes to Hermione, he’s always shown to be much harsher and more aggressive with boys than with girls. In fact, his antipathy toward Hermione is significantly less intense than what he feels for any of her male classmates. His paternal figure, Dumbledore, is a gay man, and the only coworkers we know he had a cordial relationship with were McGonagall (a woman) and Charity Burbage, with whom it’s stated they were “friends,” another woman. Then there’s Narcissa, who apparently knows where his shabby Muggle house is in his poor Muggle neighborhood, and with whom he behaves unusually gently, considering his usual crappy personality. That’s not the behavior of an incel, nor is it the behavior of someone who hates women. In fact, given his history as a victim of violence, with all that violence being perpetuated by men, it’s not surprising that he might feel considerably more comfortable with women, who have not been negative figures in his life but rather the opposite.

I don’t see Severus as a feminist supporter, because I don’t think he’s someone who actively participates in political matters. After his flirtation with the far right and the way that blew up in his face, I see him as someone who stays on the sidelines of such things. But I absolutely do see him supporting laws against gender-based violence, for example, because he was a victim of a violent household. I don’t see him going to protests, but I don’t see him opposing them either. Politically, I imagine him as more of a centrist who might occasionally vote for more progressive parties on social issues he considers fair, given his life experiences and working-class origins, but never getting involved in those debates or sparking discussions because he’s pretty burned out from his own past.

Lily is a self-insert for Rowling, so yes, absolutely a neoliberal white feminist, the type who’s all about “I love Hillary Clinton,” with a perception of women’s rights that only considers the problems of white European women and doesn’t grasp intersectionality or dissident feminism. The kind who thinks some people “take things too far” or who says, “I’m a feminist, but the real kind, the kind who doesn’t hate men,” you know? She’d never have voted for Thatcher, but she’d probably see her as an excellent example of an empowered woman, if you catch my drift. That kind of person. Maybe progressive for her time, but a total relic by 21st-century standards. I see her as the type who starts out with more leftist ideas in her youth but gradually shifts to the right over the years, although always supporting basic social causes that won’t fix systemic issues but make her look good in a conversation.

James and Sirius are the typical rich boys who don’t understand the struggles of the poor but think they’re “not like other rich people,” so they claim to have a progressive mindset. Sirius, for example, is the type to bash the right but then treat waiters like crap if they don’t serve him quickly enough at a restaurant (ahemKreacherahem), and he’d get really defensive if someone called out his problematic comments because “I stood up to my fascist family; I know what it means to fight for my beliefs.” Zero self-criticism because zero fundamental political awareness. James is a bit like Lily: “I’m progressive, but let’s not go overboard because extremism doesn’t lead anywhere,” which is a very convenient way of saying he supports workers having vacations but doesn’t want them burning down factories because “that’s not politics; that’s terrorism.”

Remus is the kind of guy who votes for social-democratic left-wing parties with union leanings but doesn’t say so openly at a dinner party and always presents himself as more moderate because he cares more about what people think of him than about his own rights.

Hermione is the classic progressive who seems very leftist within her circle and stands out because, surrounded by a bunch of centrist and neoliberal idiots, she might almost pass for a Bolshevik. But real Bolsheviks would treat her like a system lackey. She’d be seen as too leftist for conservatives and too conservative for the left. She also has a pretty questionable white savior complex and could use a solid dose of deconstruction and some reading on the issues of Eurocentrism and colonial leftism.

Ron is the guy who votes for progressive parties because his whole family always has, and his family does it out of the same habit, so he doesn’t even know what he’s voting for; he just does it out of inertia. And Harry? Harry is a neoliberal with socially progressive tendencies, but social issues only matter to him if they directly affect him. Plus, he’s a system loyalist because he ends up as an Auror, which is the magical equivalent of being an MI5 agent, so… On this account, we’re ACAB; sorry, not sorry.

Dumbledore is the typical guy who was a fascist in his youth and later joined some far-left party but still approaches it the same way he approached the far right: all or nothing. His political vision isn’t ideological in itself but entirely militaristic. He wants to achieve the objective, and he doesn’t care who he steps on to get there, so he’d actually make a fantastic Stalinist.

[xjulixred45x]

okay, I think I'll focus on making a few requests before doing the final work on HADES....BUT FIRST ONE LAST WORK ON KNY.

in this case from Kimetsu Gakuen/Kimetsu Academy.

mainly to make up for the Angst of Kokushibo and his son, so here we go (I'll just refer to reader as "son" because it's easier).

We already know that Kokushibo is dedicated to being Muzan's "bodyguard", and probably thanks to this no one entertains the idea that this man has children or a family in general.

but no, he does have them.

He and his wife (Haruhime seems to be a popular name for Michikatsu's wife so I will use it here) taking into account their work they do everything possible to keep their children's lives anonymous, whether teaching them at home or in high-level private institutions. They will not settle for less for their children.

and I can imagine His oldest child (reader) being especially gifted in those types of areas, the type of child who has the best grades as a child, and has a higher than average IQ level. which makes his parents very proud. that's for(due to recommendations) they decide to put him in various activities to "stimulate" him and have many possibilities in the future.

This causes son to unintentionally become an Overarchiver, that is, he goes to MANY activities at the same time, some he likes, others not so much, but he doesn't dare to tell his parents (especially his father) for fear of disappointing them. .

When he is very Burnout, he does REALLY innocuous and intricate things to miss his activities and his father doesn't notice, it is literally easier to do a stunt.

Kokushibo is not a bad father here, if he comes from the same background as in the original manga, he himself does not know how to have a normal upbringing for any of his children, so he tries to be the opposite in every way of his father, encouraging his child and not discourage him. apart from the fact that he personally fears that his son will be afraid of him (which ironically in a sense is already happening...)

Probably despite being so talented and deadly, he doesn't even realize how negatively this affects his son, his high expectations of him come more from ignorance (of not being very emotionally intelligent) than from a real urgency for his son to stand out in everything.

Other than that, he's a pretty decent father. when he gets the chance, he brags about his son and how smart he is to "trusted" people, tries to go to his son's sports/debate shows, supports him when he gets in trouble (even if he gets in trouble at home ), etc.

I imagine that being an Overarchiver, Kokushibo's son receives many MANY comparisons from both teachers and parents of other students, so he is not very popular so to speak...

You can see Kokushibo even forcing Kaigaku to give him certain reports about his son😅 and ironically they both end up becoming friends (Kokushibo doesn't know whether to be happy or worried, on the one hand his son finally has a friend, but it turns out to be the worst influence possible) .

Kaigaku even ends up helping Kokushibo's son get away with his escapades and relax a little, which would be nice in a way.

(he also tried to convince him to vandalize the bike of a boy who was especially mean to him, but son ran away).

the meetings at the Tsugikuni house when Kaigaku and Kokushibo are there at the same time must be VERY awkward.

some extra information about this:

*I think Kokushibo's other daughter (the youngest, I'll call her Mitsuki) is also an overarchiver, but more inclined to art, things like theater, ballet, choir, etc.

*I can't decide if Haruhime and Kokushibo would be separated. But let's say yes because I enjoy an intimidating woman who is soft on her family(same with Koku).

*Kokushibo's eldest son takes martial arts, debate classes, history, mathematics and probably knows how to play at least one instrument.

*as I said, Koku doesn't usually talk about his kids to many people, but his desk probably has several hidden photos of his kids (as children or at certain important events, he's that kind of dad).

*Koku is the overprotective father, Haruhime is the loving but strict mother.

*Muzan has probably tried to infiltrate his son or Mitsuki into Kimetsu Academy, but Haruhime (and lowkey Koku) WILL DIE before their children set foot in a public school.

*(what none of them know is that Kaigaku already put his son in school several times, just because).

*Haruhime definitely doesn't like Kaigaku, Mitsuki tolerates him. Kaigaku is afraid of Haruhime.

*Jigoro adores Son, thinks he's a good influence and probably threatens Kaigaku not to do anything to the poor boy🤣Zenitsu can't believe Son is so nice and at the same time is Kaigaku's friend ("blink if he's holding you against your will")

*Yoriichi probably knows about his nephews and they know about him. but they try to see each other without Koku being there (since he gets angry with their mere presence). They think it's funny.

Overall, just a weird family with communication problems, but who love each other.

Shares, reblogs and comments are very welcome!

[mariacallous]

I read the NPR article about Richard Reeves and the 2024 election and masculinity etc and I'm once again where I always am with him - there are a few things I sort of agree with but overall I want him to shut up.

“The irony is that this was supposed to be an election about women and about women's rights. And of course, it still is.” Reeves says, “But it's striking to me how much of the debate and so much of the performance, almost of the election so far, has actually been about competing views about masculinity and manhood.”

This summer, philanthropist Melinda French Gates distributed $1 billion to causes supporting women and girls. Reeves was surprised when his institute received some of that money.

“What she's come to realize is that a world of floundering men is not likely to be a world of flourishing women, and that we do have to rise together. And that actually, if men really start struggling to do their bit on the home front or in the labor market, it's not like that women end up unscathed from that,” he told Morning Edition.

According to the American Psychological Association, boys tend to perform worse in school than girls, statistically, and are now less likely than girls to attend college. Reeves, in his analysis, says that boys go on to live unhealthier lives as well.

Is the issue that schools and jobs and modern relationships are causing men to struggle? Or is it that misogyny and sexism are contributing to why school performance is down for boys, why college enrollment is down for men, why women are, in some fields and areas, doing better/advancing more?

Reeves says Republican demonstrations of masculinity have become more performative, with increased bravado and machismo. This shift is evident in who has introduced Trump at past Republican National Conventions. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, introduced him at the last two conventions, but this year he was introduced by Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

On the Democratic side, Reeves says the fact that Harris is a woman gives her more “permission” to speak on the issues of boys and men.

He also highlights the significance of Harris choosing Governor Tim Walz as her running mate to contrast Trump’s style of masculinity. “It'll be interesting to see if they follow this up with any policies. But a high school coach, a high school teacher—there’s a way in which Tim Walz is embodying a more service-oriented form of masculinity.”

Reeves points to memes about Walz that praise his masculine traits.

“There's all these memes now he'll fix your car. He'll make sure you get home safely. Like he'll put his arm around you. Be a coach.”

I don;t necessarily disagree with this analysis, but it's very surface-level and anodyne, and doesn't touch on how much negative masculinity is embraced and portrayed by the Trump campaign.

When asked what actions and beliefs define masculinity, Reeves was initially reluctant before sharing his perspective.

“There are very many different ways of being masculine. But I would say that the longest and best established definition of masculinity that I found as I've done this work is really of being of service to others, of being of for more than yourself.”

Reeves explains that historically, what has distinguished a man from a boy is the ability to “generate more of something than you need for your own survival.” It conjures up the idea of the “breadwinner” of a family, though Reeves says it doesn’t necessarily mean that.

“I think the idea of a man who exists only for himself, that's actually the opposite of masculinity. And so there's a certain selflessness to all of the definitions of masculinity that I think is positive, that I think should define what modern manhood is.”

"the longest and best established definition of masculinity that I found as I've done this work is really of being of service to others, of being of for more than yourself.”

Okay...

Recent polling from the Pew Research Center shows that more men tend to vote Republican. But even among the younger demographic of Gen Z, women are heavily Democratic, while men are more likely to lean Republican.

“It really is more driven by the movement of young women to the left than of young men to the right, although it is now both,” Reeves says, “But what's interesting about this is that if you look at the attitudes of young men, of Gen Z men towards gender equality, for example, there is no evidence that they are in any way less supportive of gender equality than previous generations. If anything, they're more supportive.”

He goes on to say, “I think it's a real mistake on the part of people on the left to see the move of young men towards the right and see that as a turning towards the right when it could just as easily be a turning away from the left, because they don't see themselves in the rhetoric and aesthetic and politics of the left.”

Reeves says that many young men feel “quite homeless politically,” and that sense of not belonging makes them open to the right if they feel that they are being heard.

“The problem is that on the right there are absolutely no policy solutions to help young men.”

“But what's interesting about this is that if you look at the attitudes of young men, of Gen Z men towards gender equality, for example, there is no evidence that they are in any way less supportive of gender equality than previous generations. If anything, they're more supportive.”

I think that's actually very incorrect? In fact, haven't we seen the opposite?

"I think it's a real mistake on the part of people on the left to see the move of young men towards the right and see that as a turning towards the right when it could just as easily be a turning away from the left"

A distinction without much of a difference if it ends up in the same result, and even he is qualifying that that's what's happening.

Reeves says that many young men feel “quite homeless politically,” and that sense of not belonging makes them open to the right if they feel that they are being heard.

“The problem is that on the right there are absolutely no policy solutions to help young men.”

So it's almost like policies aren't the problem?

I am so tired of him and his shtick, and the fact that his argument is based on very cherrypicked and personally biased thinking (would we have written "Of Girls and Women" if he'd been the father of three daughters and saw how things were shaping up against them? Doubtful).

@thecardiganqueen @larkandkatydid et al

[musicalmoritz]

One thing I rly hate in fandoms is ooc angst just be for the sake of having angst. It gets to the point where a lot of angst is corny to me bcuz ppl just make it to be emo without considering whether or not it actually aligns with canon

Kou Minamoto is one of the biggest examples of this that I’ve seen. There are so many angst posts abt him being sad that Nene is with Hanako, when he acts the exact opposite way in canon. The only time he’s really acted jealous over her was when Teru flirted with her, and that was more because he felt betrayed by his brother. He didn’t seem upset at all when Hanako crashed their “date” in Yako’s boundary, in fact he was perfectly happy to let Hanako tag along

There is plenty of angst to be made with Kounene, especially considering Nene’s short lifespan. Since the ship is treated as the designated “healthy” pairing in the fandom I also don’t see a lot of talk about how Kou’s savior complex would negatively impact their relationship. There’s just so much to talk about with them outside of the whole “Kou is sad because Nene has a boyfriend” thing. Kou has a boyfriend too so like, now what?? I’ll admit I’m very biased here, I don’t like the unrequited love trope very much. The angst that goes along with it isn’t really my cup of tea, so whenever I make Kounene fics/posts they’re almost always from Nene’s pov with her liking him back. It’s not that it’s too sad for me it’s just kinda lukewarm?? And some of it gives Nice Guy vibes idk. The way I see it, if one character isn’t interested then that’s where the relationship ends, so I don’t see the point in shipping anything that’s completely one-sided. Not trying to yuck anyone’s yums, this is just a preference

Anyways Kounene is a really good ship with a lot of potential besides just being “sad boy Kou hours.” There is another character that Kou gets very possessive over but for once this ain’t about them so I’m directing my attention towards Kounene. And preferences aside, I’d rather the angst just be in character. Teru is a character that gets very mopey about his crush being one-sided, so a lot of these Kounene angst posts would work great with him and Aoi or Akane. Again, it’s not my favorite trope in the world but I can see how it would make sense with him. But for Kounene I think there’s so much angst (and fluff) potential we’ve been missing out on by reusing the same trope. Let’s get creative with it!

[meanbossart]

I love Izzy so much, I feel for him tremendously.

Can you tell us something about his future relationship, whatever it might be, with Grodderick? Or is it under wraps for spoilers? 👀

Sure! The details of their relationship are never relevant to the plot, it's more of a background thing that changes some very minor character interactions in ways I doubt one can predict by simply learning about it - I'll still leave it under a cut for anyone who wants to avoid it. I'll also skip certain story beats which allow their relationship to happen in the first place that are most definitely spoilers, and only talk about the actual dynamic between them and post-ANE events, so if details feel amiss, that's because they are.

So it's probably obvious that they're meant to develop a romantic relationship lol this happens after Grodderick gets somewhat "stuck" with Izzy around through certain circumstances. Izzantar, in his predicament, happens to be far more comfortable around him than anyone else because of his predisposition to feel safe around "slave" races. Now, that's obviously not a great start to any relationship, romantic or otherwise lol but it is what it is.

They grow a little closer through Grodderick's endless patience and sincere curiosity about a culture he isn't familiar with. Izzantar, despite his experiences, considers the underdark his home, he can only properly conceptualize of surface customs by comparing them to his own culture, and Grodderick is the only one willing to hear it without judgement - with the eventual wisecrack or pushback. But the way he does it is one Izzantar comfortable with.

Likewise Izzantar would probably defy Grod's own generalized negativity around the orc-ish side of his culture (and frankly be positively shocked it has any merit at all). It's a funny little game of "no, YOU have internalized hate" they keep playing between themselves by accident.

Another major point here is that Grodderick is a) the only person who sees Izzantar as an adult and b) someone who immediately recognizes him as someone with an anxiety disorder. With time he would help Izzy to calm the fuck down and not always assume the worse out of people. His company also allows Izzantar to feel more at ease in public settings in the surface as a drow, and Izzy's brazen company and completely unfiltered perspective is a breath of fresh air to Grodderick. He thinks he's funny, he recognizes and participates in his dry humor, he doesn't offend easy, and he's the furthest thing from a drow. This makes him an apt friend choice and later a romantic interest. Being hot and having cool tats helps LOL

Also they both like to partake in a little devil🌿 which is likely how their first meaningful interaction ever happens (Izzantar sees him smoking and is like "oh boy I could really fucking use some of that right now")

They probably starting fucking kind of casually. It's entirely on Izzantar to pursue him since Grodderick isn't interested in feeding a drow's ego, which is a funny interaction of its own where Izzantar just blows up frustrated that he won't make the first move, since he's used to being a very passive partner. Something along the lines of "WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO FUCK ME" probably comes out his mouth verbatim LOL they get over this non-misunderstanding quickly and Izzantar is just happy to have sex in a way that's completely the opposite of what's expected of him in the Underdark as a popular breeder. Obviously he also finds Grodderick profoundly attractive both for his confidence, smarts, appearance, and frankly his imposing presence because he's not immune to a little bad-boy charm.

I think they catch feelings around the same time as one another, and proceed to get on a long-term relationship.

Izzantar (this is post ANE and never mentioned) eventually sets shop somewhere as a jeweler. He gets a lot of business based on the fact that he's a drow and knowingly plays up the part of someone who's mystically more knowledgeable and skilled about precious stones and minerals than most because of his race (on top of his genuine talent). His bad attitude is also hysterically seen as charming drow bedside-manner and indicative of the quality of his work to wealthy clients.

He lets his hair grow out and for semi-plot-related-reasons starts passing as a female drow (also, he just likes it) Grodderick doesn't care either way. At that point they're living together and get a cat that Izzantar names Angkacha. To his despair, Grodderick nickanames it Chacha and it sticks. Izzy wants the cat to be a vicious killing machine but whenever he casts animal speak on it the cat's just like OOOO MAMA ME LOVE MAMA and he hates it (but not really, he would kill for this cat)

aaaand here's some old doodles of him from that point of his life! The last two have been uh cropped for uh reasons

[texas-gothic]

Before I begin, please note that this is all ESPN Sports Room-style analysis and that Kamala Harris is every bit the genocidal monster that her boss is. Neither she nor anyone attached to her will be seeing my vote. Not that that matters since I live in a deep red state where my vote would end up going to Donald Trump regardless. Yay deeply undemocratic election system!

I honestly think that Harris has a really decent chance of winning this election with Tim Walz by her side. I was almost dead certain she was going to pick someone like Shapiro or Kelly who would have alienated key voting blocks, but no, she actually did the smart thing.

Walz is smart because he continues to hammer on Trump's biggest weakness while distracting from Harris's own. No matter what she and her allies might have to say about a fresh new start, it remains the case that Kamala Harris is still the other face of the most unpopular administration since 1968. By all means Donald Trump should have been able to coast by on an awful economy and taken the Presidency with ease. But then he went and picked professional pervert weirdo JD Vance as his running mate. A strange little man who can't shut up about how much he hates women at a time where Trump's biggest sore point is women's rights. And while it might not seem possible, Tim Walz makes JD Vance look even worse.

Walz, as governor, is extremely popular with his electorate. He has an especially rare record of actually doing the things he set out to do and has been flagrantly ignoring the Democratic Party line of "Look pretty and do as little as possible." People wanted him to defend public education and the rights of minority groups, and he has done so with flying colors. All while his colleagues in Washington allowed abortion rights and affirmative action to crumble while they were too busy scrounging together trillions of dollars to fan the flames of proxy wars.

Vance, on the other hand, has only been Senator for a little under 2 years. And in that time he has done little besides contribute to the partisan havoc that has largely deadlocked this term of the legislature. He's gone on a lot of bizarre, right wing podcasts, sure, and maybe that's what matters to the core base of Republicans, but I don't imagine the fact that he got to sit down and talk with Tim Poole once will play very well with undecided voters. Then there's the myriad of scandals that has broken out around him only since his nomination as VP. Did Vance fuck a couch? Does Vance want to strip people without children of their right to vote? Why does Vance follow so many people who post about "towel boys"? Why did Vance google dolphin pornography? Why did Vance right the forward to Project 2025, maybe the least popular thing to ever come out of an already unpopular think tank? The questions with this guy never end.

So on one hand, we have a beloved governor whose record of firm, swift action and following through on promises might just cover for the current administration's record of the opposite, and on the other hand, a living embodiment of the kind of weird, extremely-online reactionary nonsense that Trump needs to avoid, whose bizarre behavior keeps pulling in more and more of a negative spotlight on their campaign.

This is still a tight race. Kamala Harris was not that popular to begin with, and Joe Biden has given her a lot of baggage on her way to the White House. But Tim Walz might just be likeable enough with voters that they can look past all of that. Largely because it's hard to look away from the weirdo running opposite of him.

I guess we'll just have to find out.

[the-raging-tempest]

Round 2 (if you're up for it): 4, 7, 11, 14

Oh Dujour I’m always ready to yap more my friend. In fact perhaps a bit too much 💕🤣💕

Mercifully I did not need to take any anti-nausea medication today so I am not mega sleepy and out of it. I have the brain to oc post. Sorry for the emotional roller coaster of these ones.

Couple Character Development Asks

_

Does this change over time? What will always reliably make them melt with how much they adore the other character?

Once again the hardest question to answer. Only because I think for Zrise this evolves. But reliably, it is usually about when Siavash's heart is shining. Hard to describe. That doesn't mean it has to be a positive emotion. Whenever Siavash feels the need to do something because it is in his heart, when he can't be silent, or when he can't speak. Those things Zrise used to envy, they morph into admiration, then added in is attraction, and then another layer, a deep attachment.

It's this kind of magic Siavash has, and I don't think Siavash sees it the same way that Zrise does, but when he is well and truly himself he inspires and moves people. When it pours out he changes the world. That is when Zrise feels most lucky to be at his side. That's when he wants most to reach out. For him to know he loves him. That he will guard and try to nourish it. Enable.

It's funny, Zrise thinks of himself as a pessimist. Expecting the worst of people. But I see him as a jaded optimist. This is important and it's hard to articulate why. It's very much that he is negative only towards others about himself. He has to grow out of this belief that he ruins people's lives, that he makes people miserable, that his existence is wrong. It's those beliefs that make him push others away.

Zrise by Act 5 has a near religious faith in Siavash. Not in the power Areelu has given him, though that is probably what others see, it's that he believes Siavash's heart transforms people for the better. He believes fully in Siavash's plans and will go to the ends of the universe to help him. And he'd still feel that way if Siavash never returned his feelings.

So any glimpse he can get. In a song. In a joke. In a battle. In tears. In anger. In joy. When he gets to see Siavash's heart shine bright. When Siavash shares it with him. It's what made him stay in the Crusade. It's what made him lose faith in his Goddess. And it empowered him to save himself.

If this sounds unhinged it because he is. Man is not normal. Hahaha

-

Do they (or would they) pursue the other character’s affection, and if so, how? Do they tell the other character how they feel? Try to earn their admiration? Woo them with romantic gestures? Flirt with them, skillfully or otherwise?

Oh boy. Yes. And at first he fails miserably. At first he tries his usual tactics. Heavy innuendo. Very straight forward flirting. Dressing and acting provocatively. And it gets worse. Trying to make Siavash jealous. Or like… make him see Zrise as enticing… only accomplishing the opposite. Having some random people on his arm. Boasting… I'm covering my face…. He's such a way.

Once Zrise realizes two things. One, none of this works. Two, he actually wants Siavash to like him… genuinely and not just because he's telling himself it would be useful. He still flirts but it's much more awkward. Fumbling and trying not to make the same mistakes. But he has no practice being genuine. More and more he lets slip real true parts of himself. He doesn't know what else to do but make himself useful. Find reasons to be around Siavash…

When he finally tells Siavash how he feels he FULLY assumes Siavash will reject him. Kind of hoping for it honestly. Thinking he's better off knowing this is how Zrise feels so he can squash him like a bug. But he doesn't… in fact he hugs him… WAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

Then Zrise is more a romantic gesture type, but in private. Gifts, that he down plays. Acts of service he doesn't even think not to do. He likes to do it. He's just very used to being taken advantage of. So there's almost a fear that if he says it out loud it will be used against him. He even has words of encouragement but those can be hit or miss.

-

What fears, past traumas, etc. would be hardest for them to talk about with their partner?

Ah yes. To be generic, it's to talk about experiences where he felt helpless. As I've said Zrise can't stand to think of himself as a victim. He takes a level of reasonability and blame for the things that have happened to him because he wants to feel in control. He doesn't want to feel that powerless ever again. In a way it is an extension of his self destruction.

So the fact that he feels he can even start to talk about these experiences. I think, subconsciously, because he believes Siavash will see and soothe that wounded part of him. But it also means he must reckon with what he's done, and more what's been done to him. Which he has avoided since they happened.

I think the hardest for him to talk about is the truth of his relationship with Orianne (Oria). Because he genuinely believes he should be dead instead of them. That they are better than him despite being his literal abuser. I don't know if he even could talk about everything. But the fact Zrise can even start to talk about this, and Siavash pushes back on his harmful ideas… Life changing for him.

-

What, for them, constitutes a level of intimacy that they would only rarely share with someone? This can be physical, emotional, etc.

This is an interesting one. With the above said. That is something he's never shared with someone before.

Zrise does not really see sex as intimate. He does not like to treat his hook ups with any level of emotional vulnerability. It is like a job to him. Which means its an interesting thing that he really does put off being physical with Siavash. Very cautious even touching his hands or trying to kiss him.

He does worry Siavash might see him as a pest because of how he acted before. But the biggest part is that he's genuinely scared. The last time he was emotionally invested in sex, in a relationship, in a person, it didn't go well for him.

It's almost like he is more emotionally open than he is physical for some time. It's not that he doesn't want it, it's more that he feels like he's asking for too much. Scared of that intensity. He doesn't know what will happen. How he will react.

Zrise realizes after being with Siavash that maybe, perhaps, sex was not supposed to be as soul sucking as it had been before. He wouldn't put it this way, but his behavior was often a type of self harm.

-

What would their partner do that would really turn them on, perhaps unintentionally?

What who put this here!? Not me surely. This question is just too fun not too.

There's this fire Siavash can get in his eyes. A want for chaos, destruction and mischief, it is not common, but when it happens Zrise is willing and ready. HAHA

Watching when Siavash can so smoothly and easily convince someone of something. Defuse tension. Take command in a way that isn't domineering or controlling. Especially when directed at Zrise. He likes that more than he'd ever say.

On certain days it isn't hard to distract him. Certain tones of his voice. Ways he tunes his guitar. Hair down and or messy. Sleepy smile.

[thelunarfairy]

Tsukasa's discerning gaze

Due to the number of times I've received questions with this phrase involved "Tsukasa liked seeing his brother's face when he killed him" it made me want to talk about it.

The Yugi twins are opposites. While Amane doesn't like to talk about how he feels, Tsukasa is sincere and talks whenever he feels like it.

Hanako very easily shows his emotions according to the way his body reacts, Tsukasa is difficult to read, he is unpredictable precisely because he doesn't show it.

Tsukasa is interested in understanding his brother, and since Amane doesn't like to talk and in fact he doesn't speak, Tsukasa found a way to make the older twin show how he feels.

Tsukasa pushes him to the limit, makes him get into situations he hates or doesn't know how to deal with, precisely because he can't hide it.

Amane's body is very responsive, no matter how much he tries to hide it, he doesn't always succeed. The eyes, the body, they always give it away.

Tsukasa likes it when Amane shows something, because it means he's feeling it, and the way he reacts lets Tsukasa know exactly how he really feels.

So, we return to the phrase from the beginning "Tsukasa liked seeing his brother's face when he killed him"

The only way Tsukasa could find out how his brother was feeling were his expressions. That's why he says he liked the expression on his face when Amane killed him, because he was finally sincere, even if in a negative way.

Tsukasa tries to see Amane's face after saying that he liked the expression on Amane's face when he killed him, and you clearly see that Hanako tries to hide it. The expression on his face shows us how sorry he is, how bad and guilty he feels for remembering the day he killed Tsukasa.

And what does Tsukasa say to him when he finally gets to see his older brother's face?

He understood from the expression on Hanako's face that he felt guilty for killing him, so Tsukasa says he loves him as he knows Amane regrets it.

That's how it works.

Look at Hanako expressing himself without saying a word in these examples.

Now see him trying to hide them

It's clear how the way Hanako expresses himself works, isn't it? And Tsukasa knows that.

Yashiro knows this, he can't hide his jealousy towards her, and what does she like to do most? Bragging to him when someone is interested in her or flirting with someone in front of him.

Yashiro takes the time to try and guess how he feels.

As long as Hanako doesn't say how he feels, this will happen again and again. Tsukasa won't care about this, he will push him to the limit so that he finally has the courage to come out.

As I already said in some of my posts, Hanako is the boy who forces himself to hold back, he doesn't allow himself to be free to do or say what he wants, he holds back.

And what does Tsukasa like?

[senka-mesecine]

Idk if this is too much to ask you to write but what do you think the ideal dates are for the platoon boys? Thank u sm!!

---

― For Taylor? Especially post-war Taylor? Weed, music, slow dancing and you. Anywhere. Anytime. It can happen in an intimate, dimly lit room somewhere for all he cares, away from prying eyes, because hey, that room contains just about everything he technically needs for an excellent time, which is the exact opposite of his least perfect figurative date which undoubtedly involves all the pomp, ceremony, pretentious mingling and posturing of high society; the very environment he grew up in. All the inane questions. All the formalities. All the stares. The judgement, of course. All those bullshit rules and expectations. The very thing he ran to the 'Nam from. If he ever went out to such an event with you the first and last thing on his mind would be how to get the heck out of there, retire somewhere, light up a blunt and actually just unwind in your company. That's the perfect date and a cause for happiness.

― O'Neill likes beaches, palm trees, sunsets, tanning oil and the whole shebang. You asked for a perfect date, so yeah, what's the point of even asking if he can't describe literally the most stereotypically perfect image humanly imaginable, with all the elaborate details that go along with this fantasy. The type of crap you'd put on a postcard and send someone to make them angry and envious of you. Maybe throw in a Pina Colada in there with a tiny umbrella. Someone cooling him with a bamboo fan. He wouldn't mind a massage either. Basically, man just wants to go to some paradise island with you and go native out there for a spell. Maybe you can feed him grapes. And then undress too. Feed him grapes while you're undressed. Ah, who are we kidding. It's quite the opposite, I imagine. Man would probably end up massaging your feet by an open pool and cockily beam with pride while doing so (all unprompted).

― Bunny. God, Bunny. What on earth would Bunny even consider a perfect date? Running over road kill while speeding on the open highway? Maybe placing a can on top of someone's head, pulling a gun and saying 'Hey, babe! Watch!' as he aims. It is very difficult to imagine him in a civilian life and the unhinged crap he'd get up to, but in any case he got to be sadistically braggadocious, got to do whatever he wants, got to, the way he'd see it in his unhinged mind's eye, impress you and he got some pussy for it too afterwards, because what it boils down to. Getting laid with you is the perfect date. Indulging in some delinquency on the side? An excellent appetizer and side dish to said perfect date's outcome. Everything else is stupid and distraction to him from what he really wants. It's best just to put out. Might just sate him and distract him from doing something chaotic.

― Wolfe's the polar opposite of Taylor in that he undoubtedly wants all the fluff, puff and pomp of higher society. All those Ivy League graduates. Colleagues from West Point. And of course, him, flaunting you. These are his type of people and individuals, unlike those in his platoon, he actually fits in with. Here, he is not a fish out of water. This is a place where his socialization is well received, he's seen as at least semi-competent over the fact he served at all and what's best, he's seen as something positive instead of something negative. It's his compatriots from the platoon that might not fit into his world over here if they were ever figuratively present, the tables finally turning and Wolfe privately might relish that thought the same way he relishes showing you off, sipping on some champagne, ensuring you're in your finest attire yet while he half-smiles like the cat who got the cream.

― Swinging on a hammock in his arms? Literally, you think Elias needs more than that? Man genuinely strikes as easygoing and casual enough to consider, lets say, a nap date as a perfect date, because yeah, to quote him, feeling good is good enough and that's just about all he wants when he's in love. To feel good; feel happy. That's a philosophy he abides by. Unencumbered, carefree and light. I imagine him, in say, a civilian life, out underneath a shade somewhere where it's still sunny enough to feel the warmth on his face, just having done smoking some weed, maybe some soft music playing from somewhere and him caressing the top of your head as you're nuzzled into his chest, dozing off, being outside on that hammock long enough to actually see the first stars at dusk accompanied by the early moon peer up from above head. That's the definition of paradise. Everything else is missing the point to him.

― Hard to explain just why, but Rhah strikes as the only person on this list who'd consider something usually seen as a traditional date as his perfect date, convinced his person needs to be pampered and treated right because he isn't an animal; meaning that, yeah, he'd want the meal, the candles, the set table, the atmosphere, the everything. Probably cooks himself too. Sets up the whole scene. Throws on translucent red shawls on all the lamps to ensure the coloring of everything is a deep red because that's the color of love, baby. Undoubtedly doesn't choose a restaurant, rather goes for something more intimate of the homemade variety because he thinks civilians are inhuman robots not in touch with reality and he'd rather avoid meeting any of them, if possible. You get the roses, you get the schmoozing, you get a million and one complement delivered in that gravely voice and you get the romance in the most classical sense possible.

― For King? Fishing? Somewhere in a creek back home? You're both buck naked? Surrounded by pine trees? Bathing, splashing around, laughing like a pack of unruly kids, swimming around and having fun? He eats you out at one point? Maybe someone busts out the weed for good measure and maybe that person is him? Maybe not? What? You don't think that's a perfect date? Stop lying to yourself! Everything described is the exact opposite of the high stress, hard working environment of daily military life; everything he couldn't have there (with the exception of the reefers), he gets to have and experience during a figurative perfect date with you and he makes sure to experience it as frequently in quantity as humanly possible because in his own words, it's all gravy now that the war is done and he wants to make sure he indulges in that gravy guilt free without any pressure or social expectations involved.

― Again, Barnes and Elias are more similar than they think, because much like Elias, Barnes doesn't need much for something to be perfect, even though he'd staunchly deny there's such a thing as 'perfect' because it's not realistic to reach out for nonsense like that, but deep down, below all the cynical gatekeeping and rampant gloom and doom, a bottle of something hard, a good smoke, a meadow somewhere and you; all he really wants and needs. Literally imagine him as the type to just observe the wild nature of Tennessee somewhere up in Hill Country and be content with that, as far away from the world as humanly possible. it's the closest to peace he's gotten, really. In fact, man needs so little in way of quality time spent it's almost daunting. He is quite literally the definition of 'you're all I need.' Not at all a mere figure of speech with Barnes. Not just pretty words. Nope. He means that. Somewhere you'll never be found so he can have you all to himself. There. A perfect date. But then again, with him that sort of thing is never just a date; it's a lifestyle, really.

[veliseraptor]

Top 5 fucked up family bonds!

oh mannn. I feel like this one fluctuates depending on, like, what fandoms I'm focused on at the moment, but to try to shake it up a little since I've answered a question like this before (though that was specifically for siblings! and no shade! just challenging myself, mostly, since most of these are probably going to end up being siblings, that's just what I'm like)

1. Azula and Zuko. Since Avatar is in the air lately and I just queued a post about them, and I am deeply invested in their relationship even if I don't talk about it a huge amount these days - I think about this one in particular from Azula's persepctive. The way that Zuko is the negative that Azula measures herself against, that she pretends not to care about him but I think he occupies a substantial part of the way that she constructs herself in opposition to him, as everything he isn't, the negative model she will never be. But then there is Zuko's end of things, the push-pull between the ever-present comparison between them where he falls short and the fact that I think he genuinely does care for her even as he doesn't, I think, really know how to deal with her, or really understand her. And also any family relationship involving attempted murder is going to be like catnip to me.

2. Kinn and Vegas. Family dynamics where I am both very into the family dynamic and also kind of ship them occupy 3/5 positions on this list, which says something that I think is just about the way that sufficiently obsessive and entangled relationships between a pair of people is going to lure me into seeing what I can do to make it more fucked up (with possible fucking). But anyway!

I love how they make each other worse, all of the time. They bring out the absolute worst in each other, always; they fail to see each other clearly and perceive each other beyond their flaws but also beyond how their respective fathers have pitted them against each other like fighting roosters. They're mutually obsessed with each other no matter how much I think Kinn would like to pretend that he is aloof and indifferent. It's a mess. It's delightful. Also the only non-siblings on this list. Notable for the fact that in their first scene I failed to recognize them as cousins and assigned them ex-boyfriend energy.

3. Felix and Mildmay. Okay so I've included them on lists like this before but they deserve a mention anyway. Because boy! What a mess! From the beginning! They love each other so much and it's a disaster! Felix's attraction to Mildmay at least in part because he doesn't know how to love without sex! Mildmay's hopeless attachment to Felix despite all the cruelty he dishes out! They're just...I love them and I love their mess of a relationship and I also love how it develops over the course of the books into something better. Honestly the only one of these pairs that does that. Kudos to them.

4. Celegorm and Curufin. Okay, this one is built a little bit on a towering edifice of headcanon, but so sue me, and it's not entirely! There is on page content for these two! So there!

A friend of mine has the tag for these two #the other brotherwives and I feel like in some ways that sums it up for me - the way that they are, again, entangled in each other in a way where they always come as a pair, and their personalities both complement and contrast each other, and they're just so. All the sons of Feanor are a mess of codependent relationships but these two kind of stand out by virtue of always being paired, in everything, including all their worst choices, even their deaths. And again, I have a towering edifice of headcanon in particular about how their relationship both decays and calcifies over time, becoming both more desperately close and also more tangled with resentment at the way things fall out, but ultimately they can't be separated from each other.

5. Millions Knives and Vash. Throwing out a wildcard I haven't talked about much, but like. Wow! Another sibling relationship tailored to cater to me that came as a surprise out of left field and decked me in the face! I still need to read the manga but at least when it comes to Trigun: Stampede the sheer toxicity here, the fucked up love and protectiveness and possessiveness and guilt and the way that ultimately while Knives' goals exploit Vash it doesn't, I don't think, erase the love; I think he still sees it as for Vash's own good, even as he's doing much the same thing he deplores when humans do it. I have headcanons about part of Knives' motivation for crashing the ships has to do not just with self-protection but protection for Vash, and the way that decays over time is. Chef's kiss. Love it.

Bonus mention to Lucivar and Daemon and, because I just can't leave them off and they do still have a special place in my heart, Thor and Loki. But also for a non-sibling relationship again possibly out of left field, I actually think a lot about Loki and Odin too, and if I still have MCU feelings sometimes those are one of them.

[nighttime-horrors]

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　All Yours　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

⊹ฺ Requested by @ohauggieo

⊹ฺ Characters: Farz Murphy (BTD2)

⊹ฺ Contains: Fluffy as hell; Jealousy; Actually very sweet, haha; Third POV; Use of (Y/N); Gender neutral Reader; SFW

⊹ฺ Note: I'm so sorry this took forever, lovely! I hope you like it! <3

— ♡ Minors and Ageless Blogs DNI! ♡ —

Farz Murphy never pouted. Or rather, he did, but would never willingly admit it.

The scowl on the man's face was practically permanent, but how could it not be? Farz had always been easy to set off, and it was one of Vincent's favorite things about him. Vincent, was currently not on Farz's list of favorite things or people now, though. He couldn't be with the way his arms were around you and pulling you into him at the bar while Farz was on the opposite side of the room.

The only solace Farz got from his current predicament was that you seemed exhausted and kind of tense. Obviously, Farz wasn't thrilled with the negative implications of your rigid posture and the way you looked like you were about to pass out, but that just meant that Farz would be able to get everything he wanted from you once Vincent left. Farz wanted Vincent to get distracted by something or for him to get in a fight just so he could swoop in and take care of you. Was it possessive on his end? A little, but Vincent wouldn't even be aware of your existence if it weren't for him.

Farz could have smiled seeing Vince's large hand give your shoulder a squeeze before slightly pushing you away in Farz's direction. He wasn't sure what distracted Vincent enough to push you away, but Farz was far from complaining. Route 66 wasn't exactly your favorite place, and if Farz could help fix your night, he would, even if it was only to focus your attention on him for awhile. He would give anything for your undivided attention.

As you got closer, you finally made eye contact, offering him a sleepy smile he fought hard to not return. Farz had an image to uphold in his head. Instead, Farz settled for a nod of acknowledgement that he knew you wouldn't question.

"Hi, pretty boy." You quietly greeted, leaning into him. Farz felt heat rise to his cheeks and he weakly nudged you, hoping to create some space between the two of you. He knew the attempt was pointless, though; you pretty much always knew.

"Hey." He lamely responded, huffing at the fact that you were still in his space. You didn't want to budge.

Your bottom lip jutted out into a teasing pout before you poked Farz in his cheek. "What's wrong, bub?" While the question came out casually, Farz could hear the concern behind your words. If he were less aware of himself and his surroundings, he would have melted.

Farz just shook his head, leading you to a quiet table in the back. "Nothing."

Farz could feel your disbelieving stare on his back and knew you weren't going to drop whatever suspicion you had. One of the first things that Farz learned about you was how observant you were and he hated it. He motioned for you to get into the empty booth he led you to before getting in behind you, sharing the seat. As he sat, Farz ignored the slight raise to one of your eyebrows.

"Liar."

He scoffed with an unbelievable eyeroll. "I'm not lying."

(Y/N) looked at Farz incredulously before grabbing his hand that was closest to them, lacing their fingers together. "Yes you are." They laughed. "That's okay, though." Farz felt his eyebrows knit together in confusion. "You'll tell me eventually." (Y/N)'s hand squeezed his. "My pouty boy."

Farz's frown deepened and he refused to look at them. "I wasn't pouting." He stated. "Just observing."

"Observing what?" They asked, looking at Farz with an amused look.

Farz fought every instinct to groan and smack his feet against the ground like a frustrated child. He would never be able to explain it, but (Y/N) always got their way with him. He hated it. While he didn't give in to the impulse of acting like a toddler, he did, once again, huff and roll his eyes.

"Aww, baby." (Y/N) cooed, taking their hand from Farz's and using it to tilt his head towards them. "Are you jealous of me being with Vincent?" Farz felt his face burn, but he couldn't bring himself to look away. All of (Y/N)'s attention was finally on him and he wasn't about to give it up. "My sweet boy, you know I'm all yours." Even with the giggle in their words, Farz could hear the sincerity and he knew that he was all (Y/N)'s, just like they said he was.