#or how most of american society views that you can't just be friends with someone once you fall in love with them because it's not the same

[blueraith]

"How could Vi not notice her sister is suicidal?!"

I feel like people who ask this question have a fundamentally immature understanding of depression and suicidal thoughts/actions, and how the two affect people OUTSIDE of the person suffering from these conditions. Perhaps you guys are young, and you don't know how to view this matter outside of yourselves and your own perception, but it is tragically common for people to miss seemingly "obvious" details that lead up to a loved one's suicide. "I didn't notice anything was wrong" is about one of the most common refrains you'll hear after the fact.

Let’s also remember that Vi does not actually know all of Jinx's emotional tells or signs of an impending episode. She is confused each and every time Jinx goes through one and almost always unintentionally triggers her. This because it's been SEVEN FUCKING YEARS since they've seen, spoken to, or lived together.

Neither Jinx or Vi actually know the current versions of each other very well, it's one of the reasons they keep hurting each other, and part of the tragedy of their relationship.

Look, I have depression. I've had it since I was about 15 or so. I can recall self-isolating or worse and assuming my parents or friends or a teacher would notice and rush to my aid or something.

Never happened. Because depression isn't always a very obvious condition. People mask in different ways, and not always with the conscious intention to hide their symptoms. Sometimes, people with depression mask simply because it makes it slightly easier to get through the day. Jinx's case would likely be even more difficult to spot because of the manic side of her condition.

I ended up getting the bulk of my care taken care of as an adult. Mostly because I could finally advocate for myself and I also realized that NO ONE is going to notice the more alarming symptoms of my own depression better than me.

This is not to say that you can't have a support network. Or that members of that support network WON'T spot something you've overlooked from time-to-time.

But Vi is not Jinx's support network. (Arguably Sevika is far better placed for that.) She might have gotten there eventually if Act 2 hadn't ended the way that it had, but that dream of the sisters being able to recreate their lost family was shattered and the progress they were making in getting to know each other halted at Jinx's realization that she needed to leave for Vi to move on.

I don't know, it's like some of you expect everyone in your lives or in other, unrelated media to have a 13 Reasons Why style reaction any time someone shows symptoms of suicidal thoughts or actions, or when one occurs. This is almost an absurd thing to expect out of anyone unfamiliar with what depression or suicidal thoughts actually look like. Like, if you're American, this idea that everyone everywhere is familiar with what a mental health crisis looks like is even more tragically farcical because we can't even admit that poor mental health is an aspect of mass shootings here as a society and culture.

And y'all expect the ex-con stuffed into a box since the age of 15 or so to be able to just instantly spot that her sister--again whose symptoms she's very obviously not familiar with--is going through a crisis event?

Like, damn, no one in this fandom is cut more slack than Jinx, and this entire criticism of Vi makes that more clear than any other. It's a position ironically devoid of any and all empathy, probably because y'all spent it all on Jinx, and assumes a sort of selfishness and coldness towards Vi that is in no way, shape, or form supported by canon.

It's honestly an argument that I dismiss entirely the moment a person attempts to make it. Largely because I am exhausted of how hypocritical this aspect of the famdom becomes towards Vi. Jinx's actions are a large part of the reason Vi sinks into alcoholism. She then proceeds to taunt Vi about it in the mines as if Vi's pain is nothing to her.

I NEVER hear anyone talk about that. It's almost always about how Vi should have done better. How Vi hurt Jinx. How Vi wasn't good enough.

It's some Grade A, Bonafide Bullshit™

Vi and Jinx were never going to ride off into the sunset together. If that is something you thought was going to happen and are now irrationally blaming Vi for because you're disappointed....? I don't know what to tell you. I personally thought it was pretty obvious that they were Doomed Siblings in this storyline and any potential, permanent reconciliation between them may happen in some far off sequel project or not at all.

[vanilla-bean-buttercream]

"Allies should be okay with hearing hard truths that we have been suffering through for years, because if a child has to experience it, they as an adult can take the time to understand it with their adult brain and their adult emotions, and if they cannot handle that, I shouldn't have to be okay with handling their feelings gently."

and

"Sometimes we go too hard on allies because they're the only person who benefits from the problem who will listen to us, and the anger that we have carried from being wronged for years should not be put solely put on the shoulders of people trying to help us, and they should not have to be okay with being mistreated with the same hatred that people have aimed at us."

Can and should coexist actually.

[ateez-himari]

LXST; RECORD TWO

[NEW UPLOAD FROM ATEEZ]

LISTEN TO 'TAKE ME BACK TO EDEN' NOW ON YOUTUBE (until 4:38)

Liked by m.by_sana and 1,203,389 others

ateez_official_ LXST; Record Two

#ATEEZ #애이티즈 #HIMARI #히마리

View all 890,839 comments

sleep_token So glad our fans brought this ethereal song to our attention 🙌🏻 If you're ever looking for someone to collaborate with we'd be more than willing

hynjinnnn i'm so grateful you trusted me to photograph you and bring your ideas to life, it was such an amazing experience 💛the song is so beautiful that i might be responsible for half of its steams right now, save me a seat at the next tour stop🙏

teezify these photo concepts just get more breath taking and the fact that the water is used to portray the emotions of the song...🤌✨️

youremystar an alternative rock/progressive metal song with HER voice, we really are winning guys 🤭 and the creative direction was all her so it really makes those pics more impressive, I can't even explain how I feel looking at them

himarry.me We as a society underestimate just how creative her mind is...she replaced the vowel by an x to make it a series with different themes 🤯Thank you for working so hard our maknae, but please remember to rest 💕

bluebrry she actually performed it at the Toronto concert...I got chills. not only was she acting but she was singing live the entire time, also Mingi as the toxic masked figure from the video?? this stage alone should get an award 🤩👏🏼

08 July 2024 • See Original

Industry Reactions

Mingi made sure his Instagram story was filled with praise for his girlfriend 'from the moment this song started playing in the studio I felt like I was diving into her heart. I'll never grow tired of hearing that angelic voice even in the depth of my dreams so if you won't stream the song, I will 😤Tiny, please show lots of love to my angel, she deserves it especially after the amount of work that went into this track alone. She fell asleep so often in her studio writing everything from lyrics to the music video directions that I had to make her sleep in mine most nights just so I could bring her home later'

J Hope made an unexpected post on Weverse 'I don't usually make song recommendations but I feel like people need to hear this one at least once in their life. We watched her grow up so I was able to see the amount of potential her production had and yet I never thought to hear something so out of the ordinary, she's really advanced to a new level'

American singer Halsey showed fondness for her friend's younger sister on X 'I've only gotten the chance to meet this sweet girl twice yet she's been stuck in my mind ever since and this song is proof of her impact. It goes beyond the restrictions of her industry, it draws your entire being inside the track almost as if under water. I can't properly explain this song so go stream it!'

Woozi surprised fans with news of their friendship on Weverse 'There have been many talented producers who worked with me in the past but Himari instantly stood out to me with the brilliance of her musical mind. We got to talking more as friends and she told me that she didn't take classes until their early debut days, she just watched people like Hongjoong and Yoongi hyung. When producers say that this girl is a genius we really mean it. Take Me Back To Eden is a mix of two different genres yet she makes them work so well together with just the use of her voice, that's a true artist, someone with a creative vision out of what people expect or are comfortable with'

(G)I-DLE leader and producer Soyeon expressed respect on an Instagram story 'Usually senior idols are the ones serving as role models for their juniors, but after hearing Take Me Back to Eden I have to admit that despite being three years older, I really do look up to Himari. What she has isn't just about natural talent, it's hard work, constant learning, harmony in a team, long hours...a lot of us producers admire her work ethic. Her creativity is absolutely mind blowing, she's without a doubt one of the pillars of this generation and I'm sure younger idols will talk about her for a very long time ❤️'

Netizen Reactions

@/bulleobulleooo on X 'That one scene with Apollo when it turns into a man hits so hard...because the sound was beautiful but the chords were cutting her fingers the entire time. Relationship wise that means he was whispering loving things in her ear while destroying her. Omg then the part where she's singing 'Grow back your sharpest teeth, you know my desire' in tears while he's making her look up at him?? This MV is so meaningful'

@/ateenypresent on X 'this is definitely about being lost in someone's corruption 🤔 look at the details, she even has bruises around her eyes like she was burnt by the 'funeral pyre' she keeps talking about being drawn to'

@/himaswife on X 'Hear me out, I think this whole project is about the evolution of toxic love. The first track was about desire for another person, lust, or being drawn in by someone, this one hints to being so blinded by toxic love (of the person she was drawn to) that she loses herself to the point of wanting to go back to previous innocence yet not being able to due to still being trapped by the other. The next one might be called last and talking about the separation from that person.'

@/secretlyjjoongrami on X 'Wait Eden is the beginning, where everything started, but it also represents perfect harmony. With all the clues in the video I think she's been corrupted by the masked man and broken to the point where everything inside her is in chaos. Maybe that's why her dress when he's around is black and torn, but the reflection in the mirror is wearing white, same thing when she's in the water...'

Min Siblings Updates

Yoongi's private message 'My Himari, please know that I'm more than sorry for everything happening at the moment I promise I'll fix it. This is very unfair to you, I can only imagine how stressed everything must make you right now, how much my stupidity bled onto your life. I wanted you to know how proud I am that you're working so hard especially on this incredibly creative project. Your soul is pure art itself, I hope you'll always be able to express yourself like this. Your big brother is so sorry, I love you, always ❤️'

Hanzo's private message 'Don't worry I streamed your new song the second the notification appeared on my screen, Haneul heard it and won't stop asking for me to 'play auntie's song' ㅎㅎ This is a beautiful project but please remember to rest, Hongjoong says he's worried that you have more nightmares lately. Pretty please send me the next track before it comes out, for your big brother that you love so much 🥺My amazing, artistic little tiger, I love you 💕Remember to send me a message when you land in Rosemont!'

Translated from Korean by Google

[sideprince]

Snape is the only character in the series who crosses from one side to the other. I think some people might argue Pettigrew does too, but he was never really on the Marauders'/Dumbledore's side, he just hung out with them in school - he never fought alongside them as far as we know, he followed them around and then joined up with Voldemort.

But we know that Snape was a full-on Death Eater. We know he had enough of an allegiance to Voldemort to earn a Dark Mark. And that he then changed his allegiance to Dumbledore. He was committed to one cause at one point in his life, and then committed to its opposing cause. I think what some people can't deal with when it comes to him is that he did this through personal growth and hard learned lessons, and mostly on his own, because he didn't have any friends or a support network to help him.

Very few people have this capacity in real life. The ones who do, we often meet in a positive way. For example, the ex-white supremacist who now runs an anti-hate org and gives TED talks and speaks at high school assemblies: that guy may have been a literal neo-nazi, but when people meet him now, they do so in the context of him being an activist against hate and talking about his journey to becoming one. His audience starts off knowing he's on their side. He's framed as heroic and reformed when they meet him.

With Snape, the reader starts off with him presented as a villain. Throughout the series he continues to be presented as unlikeable, with a giant question mark over him. What people struggle with is that the way he's presented flips at the end from him being a villain to being a hero, and the reader has not had an active experience of seeing his transition (well, they would if they knew how to read subtext and foreshadowing). Readers who are mired in a mindset of judgment instead of justice have difficulty understanding and accepting this change.

And right now we're in a culture where the emergence of difficult social conversations around abuse, misogyny, and racism have been tackled by being oversimplified and responded to with judgment as a form of virtue signalling. In elevating the voice of victims, there has been no discernment made between asking what outcome seems fair or right from those who have processed their trauma and those who are still experiencing it, and there's often a significant difference in responses (and worth considering that while elevating such voices, most online conversations are dominated by American culture where, despite the prevalence of this kind of Calvinistic dogpiling, the law is that justice is decided by unbiased third parties, and with good reason).

Basically we ended up with the shortcut of "if person bad, reject them." This isn't justice, however, it's punishment, and an easy way to push the problem away, but not solve it. If you ask victims who have processed at least some of their trauma what they really want, however, they will often say it's to feel safe from the abuser/sexist/racist (or a whole society that enables it). And the safest thing possible is for that person to change completely - to see the error of their ways, feel guilt, and grow into someone who would be unable to perpetuate the kind of act that traumatized their victim in the first place. This happens very rarely, though, even more rarely without any kind of intervention from others (such as white supremacist deprogramming or rehabilitative justice measures).

Which is exactly what Snape did. And that's why some readers can't deal with him. Their understanding of "bad guy on bad side" is that people don't change, and that the way to deal with them is punishment through judgment, instead of rehabilitation through justice. To admit that Snape did all that work himself, and that there are people capable of this kind of personal growth, would mean expanding their black and white view of their society and giving up their own position as self-appointed judge, which in turn would mean compromising their view of themselves as being on the "right side" and having to contend with the idea that they, too are more complex than just "good" and "bad."

Some people will really be able to deduce from the text that Harry has trust issues from his abusive childhood. Or completely invent justifications like “Bellatrix’s parents used the cruciatus on her as a child and that’s why she’s insane”. But if you bring up how Severus’s behaviour points to him having trauma, suddenly they want in-text, page reference, “where does it implicitly state that he has trauma” proof. What is it about Severus that sets haters off? There are far worse, truly villainous characters in this story that are treated like little meow meows. But point out that Severus is a damaged, complicated but ultimately good person, and they lose their stuffings.

[lizzy-williams]

𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞 | 𝐛.𝐛.

༄Warnings: Smut, blood/gore, language, mature themes, 18+, minors DNI

༄Masterlist

༄Summary: You're a creature as old as time. And Bucky is entranced by you. (vampire!reader x Bucky)

The moment that Bucky saw you, he was completely enamored. Looking at you was seemingly a gift. You were dressed like an angel, a white cocktail dress with shoes and gold hoops to match. Simple, and yet would be like a beacon of light; a flame and Bucky was nothing but a mere moth just like the other gentleman whose prying eyes made his blood boil.

Possession was all he could feel as he finally made his decision to get up from his sulking corner and go out on the dance floor, where you were surrounded by men who were desperate to get a taste.

Grabbing hands, tentative stares, and desperate body language surrounded you as you danced without a care in the world. As if there was no one watching, your own little world surrounding you.

As Bucky finally pushed his way through the crowd of horny and otherwise intoxicated men, he finally was able to see your body in full view. To say the least, he liked what he saw.

Finally, he slid up behind you, making a bold move and placing his gloved hands on your hips. The moment your eyes locked with his was the moment he knew that there was no escape, and maybe he was okay with that.

You suddenly turned around, wrapping your arms around his neck as he pulled you close, swaying to the beats echoing through the building. Other men looked to him in envy, but Bucky couldn't care less, not when he was staring at one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.

Your skin was flawless, your hair perfect, your curves fitting against his hands like a puzzle piece. The lights blared on around you two as you felt him press himself as close as he could to you, your touch like a drug.

You then caught sight of his dangling dog tags against his red Henley, and you smirked as you looked at him, "What brings you here, soldier boy...?" you tease as you look at him intently for an answer.

Bucky stuttered on his thoughts as he tried to think straight, "Uhm, I was just with a couple of friends, and I think I'm kind of just... on my own now...," he admitted, "What about you?"

"Looking for someone to pass the time with." you admitted truthfully, and of course he would never understand the gravity of your response, barely anyone ever could.

"Well, look to farther," he smirked, pulling you closer to his hulking form.

You suddenly pulled away and slipped out of his grasp impressively quickly.

"Where are you going?" he called over the blast of the music.

You turned around, giving him a playful smirk, before calling back, "Going to get a drink!"

And like a moth drawn to a flame, he followed closely behind.

"You're so full of shit!"

Your laughter was music to Bucky's ears as he leaned against the bar as you sat in a seat, sipping of a Gin & Tonic with a bendy straw.

"It's the truth," he put his hand over his heart with false sincerity.

"There's no way you stayed in Wakanda and met the king. Interesting story, but I doubt it," you jabbed back.

"Believe what you want to believe, but I have." he swore, taking another swig of a bear he knew he couldn't get drunk off of, "Alright then, Miss Cynical, what have you got in the arsenal. You've had to have had some sort of misadventures,"

She paused but only for a second. She has seen many, many things. If only he knew.

"Umm... let's see... I've traveled to 72 of the 195 countries in the world. Lived in Romania for 4 years, France for 2, but I figured after being in the U.K. for 12, I thought it was time to come home."

"So your American?"

"Originally, yes."

"Huh. It's just that you have an accent and... I just can't quite seem to place it."

Bucky would know. He had traveled many years as well. More than he'd care to remember.

You brushed it off, "I take it you've had your fair share of 'misadventures'?" you jabbed back.

"If only you knew."

The hours passed quickly, and by 2 in the morning, people began to filter out one by one, and finally, you decided it was time to take your leave as well.

But you really didn't want to. You had the most interesting conversations you'd had in decades. He was truly a man out of time. Literally. He let it slip about the Avengers, and to say the least, it opened up a can of worms.

He was oddly open about most things. How he was with the Avengers, how he was taken in the snap (you, however, weren't), and how he really did stay in Wakanda. But he spoke of nothing farther back than that.

You decided not to pry. If you knew one thing, it was that people had secrets, and they could get very good at hiding them.

Finally, the two of you decided to shuffle your way to the door, and once you swung it open, you immediately regretted not getting an uber before getting there.

It was pouring rain, the thunder now clearly heard now that there wasn't any blaring music to block it out. Bucky looked at you suggestively.

"It's fine, I... I can call a cab or something," you tried, but Bucky wasn't having any of it.

"Come on, doll, I can give you a ride home."

The two of you quickly ran out into the rain as he used his jacket to cover the both of you, and yet despite the rain, he still walked to the passenger side with you and opened the door, a gentlemanly smile on his features.

Once he got in, he reached to turn the car on but was stopped in his tracks. Next to him, he saw you looking up out of the windshield on the end of the sheet, watching the rain as it fell and slipped down the glass. You had seen rain millions of times before. But every time you did, it made you pause and remember the life you had lived; the things you had seen.

You felt a pair of eyes staring, and you pulled your gaze away from the water droplets to look at the culprit.

"What?" you asked, and Bucky just grabbed you, your lips meeting his, the sound of the rain hitting the metal of the car making the moment that much more special.

You made the bold decision to mount his lap, your tongue mangling with his as you just... felt. It had been a while since you had done that.

The kiss seemed to last for eternity as you softly ground on his growing erection, his breathing picking up. You started to go lower, your lips meeting his jaw as you took a desperate inhale of air against his flesh.

"I can smell the sunlight on your skin," you finally muttered, your hands on his biceps, "You smell so good...,"

"I'm flattered," he nervously chuckled.

Finally, you pulled back, and Bucky gave you a confused, otherwise terrified glance. That was when you noticed that your fangs were out, the moonlight outside the tinted windows of the car.

"Are you scared?" you muttered, knowing that you were going to get what you wanted whether he liked it or not. But you would rather him be conscious and willing.

His look of confusion morphed into something more. Something darker. Lustful. Taking his thumb, he reached up and pushed your top lip up and exposed your canine at the root. He then looked you dead in the eyes, shaking his head 'no' softly.

He then took one of his gloves off. Soon enough his whole jacket was off, and he revealed a harsh metal arm that beamed just as brightly. Who were you to judge? You refused to pry. You knew what it was like for society to hate you because you weren't what they wanted you to be. You move your hands up and down the sleek metal, the plates shifting as your fingertips grazed it.

You gave him a compassionate smile, leaning over and whispering "It'll only hurt for a second, but it'll start to feel good, I promise."

You went lower before giving a gentle kiss to a spot on his neck —a warning — before biting deeply into his neck as he let out a pornographic moan.

His blood was intoxicating. Like plums, whisky, and a sharp spike of mint. His flavors were vivid, addictive, and you let out a verbal moan as you tasted him on your tongue.

You suddenly jerked your head back, a gasp leaving your mouth as your lips parted, your eyes searching his, "What are you?" you pried, confusion etched across your face, your hands now holding his face.

"I'm whatever you want me to be."

That was true. At this point, even he didn't know what he was, everything that he was, a blurry memory. A soldier. A lady's man. A best friend. A fighter. Now he didn't know what he was. He was hoping that you could help him figure that out.

Assuming you weren't going to get a definitive answer, yet at least, you brushed it off, pressing a loving kiss to his forehead, before leaning down and sucking more of his sweet, addicting blood from his veins, another groan leaving his mouth as he leaned his head to the side, giving you more access, your hungry tongue probing and licking.

His hands wandered eagerly, grabbing whatever it could on your body as he tried to catch his breath, his body suddenly relaxing, his body no longer feeling pain but rather absolute pleasure.

His head was now cocked up as he gasped for air, feeling as if the air was sucked from his lungs, not in malice but in pleasure as he felt his body well up with heat.

You pulled yourself away from him, pricking your finger on one of your teeth and rubbing it on his bite marks, the gashes closing up almost instantly.

Bucky then weakly reached up, now cupping your face in his hands, speechless.

"Can I keep you?" you whispered in a hushed tone, your crimson-red eyes meeting his crystal blues.

Bucky nodded, enveloped in your gaze.

The words that came out next slipped out before he could stop them:

"Wanna head back to my place?"

The kiss was sloppy and uncoordinated as you fell through the opening doors of the elevator of his apartment complex. You stumbled down that hall in an unsynchronized jumble of needy grabs and touches.

Bucky finally reached the door, grabbing his key and trying to put it in the lock, missing the mark completely and dropping his key to the ground.

Begrudgingly he broke the kiss and frantically shoved it in the lock, unlocking the door and slamming the door open, the two of you tumbling inside and letting your lips lock once again.

You were able to catch a glimpse at your environment when you broke the kiss, noticing how Bucky must have truly been a minimalist.

"Nice place," you joked, smirking at him.

"What can I say? I like a tidy home."

He then wrapped his hands around yours and pulled you to the bedroom. Your dress almost disappeared like a rabbit in a hat, you didn't even feel it leave your body as he tore it off, the only indication was the cool temperature hitting your skin.

Bucky was delighted to find you weren't wearing a bra as he leaned over you, his lips immediately finding your exposed chest. You mewled as his tongue probed at your nipple, using his flesh hand to tweak and pinch the other.

You felt yourself get hotter despite your normally cool temperature, and you loved it. You had spent so long looking for a man like Bucky to make you feel like a little girl all over again. To make you hot. To make you feel like maybe your life was taken from you just so you could meet him.

You bucked your hips up to the erection he had been sporting since you pierced his neck. He let out a primal growl, taking off your panties, leaving you completely nude.

"So fucking gorgeous, like a goddess," he praised before driving in between your necks, wasting no time licking a wide strip up your sex, making you whine in surprise.

Your attempts to make him go faster here futile as you bucked your hips, gripping his hair like a vice. You verbally whined as you tried to get him to do something— anything— but your patience began to wane.

Even though Bucky's go-to tactic was to tease his women until they couldn't take it anymore, he had never met you.

Before he knew it, you moved quickly, standing him up and flinging him on the bed face-up, your hips over his face in seconds, your hand stroking his hair gently.

Bucky stared up at you in shock and awe, nobody has ever thrown him around. He certainly wasn't opposed. His shock turned into pure, unfiltered lust, his hands placed on your thighs, hungrily pulling your pussy to meet his lips, where he then ate you like a man starved.

Using his hair and an anchor, you ground yourself over his eager tongue, your moans only queuing him to lick and suck at your precious pearl even harder than before.

"Fuck Bucky! So fucking good, baby," you praised, throwing your head back as your fangs made their presence known with a smooth 'pop'.

Your hands changed tactics as you moved yourself to lean back, one hand gripping at the headboard, the other sat on his textured abs, your nails making the skin under red and sensitive.

Before you knew it, you were on the edge. Your body was screaming for release, your hormones going into overdrive as you went harder—faster— praying that your coil would snap.

"'M gonna cUM— Bucky fuck!!" You gasped as you finally slipped into your state of nirvana, your body buzzing.

You shook in your ecstasy, perfect noises slipping from your lips as you felt Bucky lick up everything you gave him. Meanwhile, he was in heaven, suffocated by your thighs as he lapped at your ambrosia. You were the most delicious pussy he had ever had.

After Bucky finally detached his mouth from your core, he looked up at you lazily, and you moved your hips down, your dripping pussy hovering over his painfully hard erection.

"You're amazing, Bucky...," you muttered, your lips meeting his in a passionate kiss. Something more than lust or infatuation. You were ready to make him completely and utterly yours.

You reached down, lining him up with you, and kissed your way down his jaw and to his neck. You suddenly sunk down, your teeth piercing his skin as he let out a lewd moan, pleasure coursing through his veins as you began to move on him, bouncing your hips at a sensual pace.

You sucked at his life force with volition, your pace never faltering as it increased, your body nothing but a thief, and at this point, Bucky would let you take everything he had.

You pulled away to look at him, smirking as you felt his blood surround your mouth, coating your teeth as you continued to bring him pleasure.

"Mine," you growled, "All mine."

Bucky nodded in his daze, "Yours. Promise."

Your lips met in a sloppy kiss as you felt him tense up, knowing he was close. Mischievously, you took his flesh hand, placing it where you needed him most. You wanted nothing more than to cum with him.

"I can feel you," you groaned out, "So fuckin' deep,"

Bucky was in a submissive daze, nodding to whatever you said as his mind blurred in pleasure and need. His skin was almost electrifying as you felt his blood run through you.

"So come on. Cum for me. Cum inside me," you moaned, Bucky watching as your breasts bounced with every movement of your hips, "Wanna cum for me, Bucky?"

"Yes! Please, I want it! I want it, please," he whined as you smirked, you couldn't have asked for a better response.

"Cum," you commanded, as you felt your body tense up as well, and just like that you came the hardest you had in almost a decade, your world going white.

You felt yourself scream out as you collapsed on top of the man below you, your body limp as he continued to thrust up into you, letting out a guttural, filthy moan as he came inside of you.

You felt him fill you up, your eyes open as you tried to center your vision, your mind scrambled as you listened to Bucky's adorable little noises.

You rode out each other's highs, your lover panting like a dog, his eye closed as he tried to gather himself as well. When he eventually caught his breath, he couldn't help but look down at you in amazement.

"Absolutely incredible," he murmured as he put his hand to your face, stroking gently.

If you had blood pumping in your veins, you would have blushed, "As are you."

"Can you turn into a bat?" Bucky looked up at you with the curiosity of a child as you gently stroked his hair.

You had spent hours taking him apart, so it felt only right that you held him in your arms and on your lap, stroking his hair gently as his eyes hazed over with sleepiness.

You let out a light-hearted chuckle, "No. I can't. Although that sounds fun, no?"

"What can you do?" he continued to question as he held you a little bit tighter.

"I can... move at rapid speeds, but you already knew that, didn't you?" You jabbed, Bucky letting out a hearty laugh, "I'm immortal, I have a strong influence, I can even sense people who have drank my blood."

"Sense as in how?" Bucky didn't know why he was suddenly so worried.

"I can sense your emotions. I'll know where you are so I can find you quickly," you explained.

"What am I feeling now?"

You paused at the question, a sense of slight pity crossing you as you looked down to him. You closed your eyes, closing everything out in a means to feel him. A stream of consciousness crossed you.

"You're...," you paused, "You're feeling affectionate. In love. Vulnerable." you started, "But you're also feeling unsure... skeptical..."

Bucky liked knowing what he felt. Being told what he was actually feeling. Some days he felt as if there was nothing left. A void where his feelings once were.

"How old are you?" he questioned suddenly.

"Exactly or a rough estimate?" you joked.

"Exactly."

You sighed with a smile on your face, remembering the memories of the past.

"I'm 207 years old. I was born in 1813."

Bucky sat up. He had never met anyone that much older than him. He thought he was one of the oldest living fossils on the planet. But you were just full of surprises.

"D-Do you remember Steve?" Bucky questioned, tears welling in his eyes.

"Rogers? I mean... I saw him in posters in the '40s. Even saw one of his performances. But something told me he wasn't a fan of showbiz. Then after he got out of the ice, I saw him on TV. Mostly news channels."

Bucky winced. If you had seen Steve on the news, there was no doubt that you had also seen him on the news, and that-

"I know you aren't a bad man, James."

Bucky winced as you used his name, but nonetheless, the statement brought more tears.

"Say it again...," he pleaded, closing his eyes as he heard your melodic voice say what he had been wanting to hear for centuries.

"You realize I can't let you go now, right?" He cupped your face gently in his hands as if he might break you, but even with his super-soldier status, you were the one who should be worried about breaking him.

"I couldn't imagine you doing any different."

[herstory5]

"Run Rabbit Run..."

“Run Rabbit Run”

WARNING!!!! SPOILER ALERT!

Do rabbits play a significant role in Jordan Peele's films, or am I the only one perceiving that? Makes you go, hmmm. The symbolism I can't unsee. First, let's discuss his film “Get Out,” we'll get into "Us" another day.  The first scene shows the character Andre strolling through a predominantly white neighborhood. We touched on the pervasiveness of "The disappearing black man" in class lecture. Andre vanishes without a trace, which is not unprecedented in today's world. In most cases, the disappearance of a black male is often unreported. Here, the song "Run Rabbit, Run" provides the soundtrack to a dramatic theme.

The film's racial overtones are a major theme. Several examples of microaggressions are brought up throughout the film. The "model minority" at the "all white" party said, "It's an advantage to be black." There were other buzzwords like "Black is in fashion," "Atta Boy," "Thang," and "My Man" followed. Moreover, there is seldom a lull in the conversation about former POTUS, Barak Obama, as if having a black president eliminated racism or voting for him excuses someone from being deemed a racist. The in-your-face cultural appropriation and desiring of black bodies, as well as assertions of "not seeing color," contribute to a notion of liberal racism.

The "Run Rabbit Run" song is only one example of the film's heavy use of foreshadowing. Chris, our black protagonist, and his white girlfriend, Rose is introduced to us by the sound of "Redbone" sung by Childish Gambino. The song's chorus kicks in right off the bat, “But stay woke! Niggas creepin’. They gon’ find you. Gon’ catch you sleepin’ (Oooh) Now stay woke. Niggas creepin’. Now don’t you close your eyes.” These words are absolutely telling. But let’s discuss it. This was my 3rd time and every time I watch it with a fresh mindset, so that I’m wide awoke! In another scene, Rod, the best friend of Chris says, “Don’t go to that white girl parent’s house.” These are not empty words; rather, they reveal much. Nevertheless, let's talk about it. We can view Rose a white woman just like the white rabbit in “Alice in Wonderland, “and the Armitage home (Roses family’s home) as the rabbit’s hole. Chris is on the verge of following the white rabbit down the rabbit’s hole.

Dean, Rose's father, can we talk about this creep?  Red flags about this character arose from every angle. How about his remarks on Rose doing us all a favor by killing one of the deer so that we may eliminate them from the ecosystem and compares them to "rats", we all know who he was truly hinting at eliminating… THE BLACK MAN! In this context, the deer is a symbol for black males, signifying the widespread belief that they are a threat to society because of their unassimilated ways and the widespread sentiment that they should be put away or eliminated to protect society.

What do you think of Mitzi, Roses mother and her hypnotic tea-and-sugar-stirring ritual, complete with spoon-clinking? The production and trading of tea has deep historical roots in the slave trade, making it more than just a symbol of wealth and social status. The importation of tea and sugar were two of the primary commodities that fueled the slave trade. The aesthetics of the Armitage estate are quite reminiscent of a plantation home, and the film's depiction of the slave trade, with the covert auctioneering of the black bodies, is particularly evocative. Get Out's central message that white supremacy exploits and violates black bodies has its origins in that dreadful era of American history. Did you all notice Rose's mom, Mitzi, serving "carrot cake" for dessert? Please forgive me, but I couldn't help but notice how often the symbolism of rabbits was used. When I consider the 'sunken place,' I also think of the rabbit’s hole and the white rabbit, Mitzi coercing him down the hole.

This reminds me of my first point about rabbits being symbols. From the shadows emerges a chilling scene: Walter, the groundskeeper, now overtaken by Rose's deceased grandfather Roman, dashes rapidly in Chris's direction. This reminiscent of the infamous children's book, "The Tortoise and The Hare (rabbit)" and the unparalleled speed and agility of the Hare. Another foreshadowing moment hinting to Chris "Run Rabbit Run."

[shinra-makonoid]

Hey. I don't know if it's still the case, but I know in some earlier posts you had some concerns about transitioning (not cause of the effect but of complications). I had some doubts about that too which is why I delayed it some time. But the more trans people are discussed in public the more I worry it's going to affect some laws in my country. Like I never expected RvW would be turned over so quickly. I try to "console" myself thinking it's just their american system that allows such quick changes but I'm not so sure here. I honestly hoped they would have "more important" stuff to discuss since there is a war going on and still corona...

Are you worried that healthcare related to transsexuality is declining?

I do have my mastectomy in september and a surgeon meeting for the hysterectomy. But even when it's only 2 months I'm scared, also for the following trans people.

I read somewhere online about a trans guy who said something similar and that we was so at ease when everything was "over" for him. That it basically doesn't concern him anymore because worse case HRT can be acquired using different prescriptions. And I know that view is bad but I honestly can't wait that it doesn't concern me anymore.

Do you have any experience with these thoughts, concerns or some advice how to deal with the anxiety?

Sorry for late response.

I have less worries about complications but I still have some. I'm not worried in my own country in regards to declining healthcare related to transsexuality for me. I used to be, because I thought that the swarm of new trans people would make people transphobic and ergo would make it more difficult, and it has been the case mainly in the US and the UK, but I think the language barrier made it pretty difficult to cross there, or maybe we're just a bit late compared to them. I hear about trans people with people I'm stealth with, almost monthly, but usually it's pretty neutral. My most recent example is my raid group talking about someone who changed their name to "Zoe" and it was surprising but overall the person mentioning it was happy that there was freedom to do that now and everyone agreed.

Of course it is polarized online, especially on Twitter, even on the French side, but it doesn't seem to cross the internet barrier just yet, even in political programs, it was mentioned only by a radical left (to provide more access to healthcare to trans people and protect them mainly).

It doesn't exclude the idea that it might become more difficult on the long run, because again as I was saying, I think we're just a bit late to the party but eventually it'll probably get there. However I'm not really worried that much for me, because I'm well surrounded in regards to my healthcare, and considering I have transitioned for some time, there is no doubt in the fact that I'm serious in it. I don't think much surgeon or healthcare provider would look at me and think "hummm this is probably a woman who is confused about her gender" because I have the chance to fit well in society in general as a dude. I am however more afraid for my best friend for example because she doesn't pass that well and that might make things more complicated for her if that happens you know.

"I read somewhere online about a trans guy who said something similar and that we was so at ease when everything was "over" for him. That it basically doesn't concern him anymore because worse case HRT can be acquired using different prescriptions. And I know that view is bad but I honestly can't wait that it doesn't concern me anymore."

I think this pretty much nails down why I'm not too worried, even for top surgery you can claim it's for other reasons (like gynecomastia). Bottom part is harder to really handle for sure, but it impacts such a little amount of trans people to begin with, I'm not sure it would be down right forbidden either, idk.

For the anxiety part, I think that getting away from the internet or living as stealth and regularly seeing that most people don't care much about it and "live and let live" is the thing that reassured me the most to be honest. Despite my fear regarding anesthesia/powerlessness, I cannot deny that surgeons usually know what they are doing and are formed for quite a long time to handle procedures. You can ask questions to them to settle your fears, or even, if you got the stomach for it, watch some procedures on youtube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GFYPcmPqFA or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEKPz5zuDjc (warning, graphic obviously, it's a surgery). I feel like knowing what exactly is going to happen can settle a bit of the anxiety for me. You can ask them what kind of medicines will be used to check for their specific information (I know I will be doing that), you can ask about the post-operative care, etc etc. I fight against the anxiety with knowledge, because I think that's the best tool we have when we can't really control what's going to happen, and your surgeons know exactly what will happen. And I think that asking your surgeon a lot of questions can also build some trust with them, they are going to handle your body while unconscious, so it's important that you trust them for that! Also, you have to remind yourself that whatever negative feeling you feel a week after the surgery, it might not be the feelings forever, because surgery is a traumatic moment for your body and your mind, and it can be painful and difficult to adjust, but it gets better with recovery. So don't forget to look forward to milestones after your surgery to keep your spirit up if you're struggling a bit.

I hope that helps, if only a bit. Thank you for your message. :) I wish you a good surgery and a happy and fast recovery.

[silverskye13]

The thing that confuses me the most is all the names. I never was the good with vocab, and now everyone's using these fancy terms I can't keep track of to describe themselves. Not to sound rude, I'm just confused by it all. It's good people are figuring out new ways to express themselves and their gender/sexuality/etc. I just wish I could keep up with everything. What does nonbinary mean? whats the difference between aromantic and asexual? (1)

Aiy hey don’t worry about it! All this stuff is insanely confusing when you first start hearing about it. I discovered a lot of my information along with a good friend (who is also a psychology major which was handy) and I still get confused and have to look up terms constantly. So I’ll give you a couple blanket things, and a couple of me things, and I’ll give you a couple websites / videos you can look at in your spare time, and you can go from there!

I also want to say that I’m attempting to research this stuff before I type it here, but if for some reason i get anything wrong, ya’ll are free to correct me and I’ll amend whatever it is. Take what I say with a grain of salt, I am still learning.

I wanna preface is when most people start talking about this stuff they’re talking about a few things that are all pretty similar yet different. And those are:

Sexual OrientationRomanticismGenderSex (as in your biology)

All of these things are on a spectrum, which is why there are so many terms for different things. People like knowing their place on the spectrums. It helps form a sense of identity, especially for people who don’t adhere to what western society sees as the regular binary (i.e. someone who is a single gender/sex and only attracted to the opposite gender/sex).

Uhhhh I’m not sure what order it’s best to explain these in? But here goes:

Sex refers to biological differences; chromosomes, hormones, internal and external sex organs, etc. The things you are born with, given your DNA. If someone is transsexual, it means they are, intend to, or have already transitioned from one sex to another using hormones or surgery. It’s the physical change undergone. 

Gender is masculine and feminine, or specifically what a culture recognizes as being masculine traits and feminine traits. What you and I are familiar with is the western (american, english speaking europe) standard, but it varies from culture to culture. Some cultures even recognize third or neutral genders - which Western culture will sometimes argue doesn’t exist.

When we think of male or female, we generally think of Male Sex + Male Gender Roles vs Female Sex + Female Gender Roles.

If someone is Transgender, they are someone whose identity, expression, behavior, or general sense of self does not conform to what is usually associated with the sex they were born in the place they were born. Nonbinary is a portion of this where you feel you adhere to neither gender binary (i.e. you don’t feel like masculine or feminine based on how your culture defines these terms. Or perhaps you feel like you are both, based on your culture. Nonbinary is kind of a blanket term in and of itself).

Sexual Orientation is what you’re talking about when you say you’re asexual, pansexual, bisexual, homosexual, etc. It is basically what you are attracted to sexually. It’s who you would be okay with having sex with on a physical level. If someone is heterosexual, they’re only sexually attracted to their opposite gender (think your stereotypical male/female relationship). If you’re homosexual, you’re only attracted to the same sex. Etc. The different adds to the names mean you’re attracted to different things. Pansexual is attraction to everyone regardless of gender, bisexual is being attracted to two genders (male/female normally but some people view it differently, like male/nonbinary). 

Asexuality itself is it’s own umbrella term when it comes to this. It’s used to describe the grey spectrum of… not being attracted to things… that people can be. The ones I hear most often are:

Asexual: not sexually attracted to anythingDemisexual: only feeling sexual attraction after a strong emotional bond has been formed first. There’s more under the asexual umbrella, I just won’t list them all here.

Romantic attraction (or Romanticism) is typically defined as a pull or allure toward a specific person, but instead of a sexual desire, it’s a romantic desire. It’s when you look at someone and have a feeling that makes you think “I’d like to do romantic things with them.” What those romantic things entail depends on the person. For some, it may be dates, dinners, holding hands, and cuddling. Others may include kissing with that. Others may not like anything that involves touching. 

If someone is aromantic, they don’t feel romantic attraction. If someone is demiromantic, they only want to do those romantic things with someone they already care deeply about. A lot of the prefixes from sexuality carry over to romanticism (which is why they tend to get confusing).

So if we’re going to state what I am fully as a definition:

I am Nonbinary, Asexual, Demiromantic (probably. honestly the romantic orientations confuse me a little).

For me personally, nonbinary means I’m repulsed by feminine gender roles and stereotypes, but I also don’t see myself as masculine. I feel self conscious and very much like I’m pretending to be a girl when I’m forced to wear feminine clothing, or fill feminine rolls. It’s something I tend to feel pretty nasty about, and is why my self esteem for such a long time has been so low. And while I don’t feel nearly so repulsed on the male spectrum, it isn’t what I’d define myself as. To me, nonbinary means I’m neither masculine or feminine. I ride a grey area, I use they/them pronouns, I use a gender neutral version of my name, and i try not to cringe when I’m called by feminine pronouns.

For me asexual adheres to the regular definition. I don’t have sexual attraction to anything. I joke around a little, but mostly that joking comes from what I know other people feel or want to hear. I personally don’t feel anything, and never have through any of my relationships. Which has made my past relationships kind of difficult, and in one of them specifically, was the entryway for a lot of manipulation that was kind of forced upon me. It’s not too fun to talk about so I won’t XD Ya’ll don’t need to know anyway.

Demiromantic for me is the intense romantic desires that I have for the people I love and cherish in my life! But since I’m asexual it’s always in the platonic sense. I want to buy things for my friends and spend time with them and eat food with them and go places and have fun and adventures. Which for a lot of people sounds like ya know… regular friend things. But for me comes with a lot of emotional attachment that I think is above the norm? As far as I’ve seen anyway. 

So yeah! Hope that helps a little! I’ll go ahead n link you all the websites I searched while gathering my information, and also a video @rinzydings did awhile back on their feelings on being nonbinary because it has some good information on that front! So here be the chain of links.

Hope this helps a little?

Be careful going down the rabbit hole of romantic attraction terms though. There’s a lot and I have no idea how well researched any of them are. They mostly tend to just come in vague list form that varies from list to list, whereas most of the other stuff gender / sexuality wise tends to have bulks of terms generally agreed upon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a14VtPAqv3Q&t=329s

https://lgbt.williams.edu/resources/terms/http://www.student.uwa.edu.au/experience/health/fit/share/sexuality/definitionshttp://www.wearefamilycharleston.org/lgbt-a-z-glossary/http://www.med.monash.edu.au/gendermed/sexandgender.htmlhttps://www.7cups.com/qa-lgbtq–17/sexual-attraction-whats-the-difference-between-romantic-attraction-and-sexual-attraction-653/https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/119238-a-list-of-romantic-orientations/https://transequality.org/issues/resources/understanding-non-binary-people-how-to-be-respectful-and-supportive

[goodnessmaria]

WE ARE WOMEN.

In Kyrgyzstan, there is a tradition where a man, together with his friends or relatives, can kidnap a woman he wants to marry. They will bring the woman forcefully into their home with the family of the man waiting and preparing to put a veil on the woman which symbolizes that the woman is getting married. Most women had no choice but to accept it because it is a tradition. A law cannot stop it because it is a tradition.

In Bulgaria, some girls who are young and virgins are being sold by their own family in an annual bride market to a suitor/bidder who can buy them for marriage or in some cases, it is what they want to find a wealthy man to be their husband.

In Mauritania, young girls are being force-fed to gain weight to prepare them for future marriage. The mothers of those young girls prepare a 9,000 calories meal a day to feed to their daughters because men find stout women more attractive than an American model.

In India, a lot of women are working in the sex industry, managed by gangsters who lured and sex-trafficked those women who came from poor villages when they were just young girls. Those women are locked up in a building surrounded by gangsters who threaten them, starved them, and abused them by hitting them if they refused to work for sex.

In Honduras, many women are being killed by men who might be their boyfriend, friend, relative, hitman, or just a stranger. Most of those Honduran women are killed for $60 because men perceived women as an easy target. After all, women trust people easily and it makes them vulnerable.

In Nepal, girls are being married off at a very young age because society viewed women as economically incapable and they don't have anything to contribute to their family. Young girls are forced to do labor and get married to lessen their family's burden.

In Romania, many young girls are groomed to work as sex workers in Europe. Those young girls think that there is no escape in that kind of life and there's nothing they can do to change that.

In Nigeria, many female students are being sexually harassed by school faculties in exchange for good grades. Nobody believed them because most of their offenders are the head of the university or a pastor.

In Iraq, one of the oldest ethnic groups, The Yazidis were held captive by the terrorist group, ISIS. ISIS killed all men and kidnapped all women and children to raped them for a very long time.

In South Korea, perverts put hidden spy cameras on public restrooms, hotels, the dormitory of female students to capture them naked while changing clothes and posting them on porn sites. This causes suicide for many students.

In Ghana, thousands of women are enslaved by a tradition where women must give up their freedom to live their own life by forcing them to live and work for priests for the rest of their lives. This is a way to pay for the sins of their own family.

In every part of the world, there is a woman who is a victim of tradition, poverty, sexual abuse and gender stereotypes. Women become sacrificial lambs because they perceived our gender as weak and incapable. I don't believe in equality especially when it comes to gender. Because I believe that each gender has its uniqueness which makes them different from the rest and makes them stand out. However, just because someone is different, you think to have the right to invalidate them or ignore the fact that they have rights, duties, aspirations, and life of their own. Every women, especially those who have the heart of a warrior are stronger than the society could imagine. Women can be independent and strong. Women can contribute and feed her family with her own money. Women are capable. Our body is not an object to own.

I still feel fortunate because I lived in a country where many people, regardless of their gender, age and beliefs, are standing up to help women eradicate the way how society viewed us. This should apply to all gender that experienced abused and stereotypes from their family, friends, and even strangers. But the problem will never disappear unless we do something about it instead of just talking about it. Action is better than words.

Remember, yourself is your power. The society is your enemy. Train yourself to fight and win the battle using your wisdom and strength.

AND TO YOU:

IF YOU CAN'T ACCEPT IT, RESPECT IT. IF YOU CAN'T GIVE RESPECT TO IT, DO NOT DEMAND THE SAME THING YOU CANNOT GIVE.

(APOLOGIES FOR MY GRAMMAR)

FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS. FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME. FEEL FREE TO VOICE OUT YOUR IDEAS. 🌼

[theliterateape]

You Can't Blowfish Your Way Outta This Mess

By Don Hall

The blowfish (Tetraodontidae) is a relatively small creature with almost no capability of fending off predators.  Its defense mechanism is to puff up to nearly twice its size, and the appearance of strength and fish badassery serves to ward off creatures bent on devouring it.

Two white guys on the street below my window (I live above a bar in Wicker Park, so do the math on how many of these encounters I hear from my living room), both a bit drunk, both angry and aggrieved about something, both puffing up like the blowfish. One of them yells “I’ll kick your fucking ass!” No. No, he won’t. My experience in drunken bar fights (which is considerable but only legendary in my own mind) is that nine out of every ten guys who tells you he will “kick your fucking ass” is posing and is highly unlikely to even throw a flailing four-year-old kid punch. The guy who actually kicks your ass does it without preamble. I see protesters in lock step facing down policemen in riot gear, and they often get a defiant “Go ahead, make my day” glint in their eyes. They yell at the cops as if the solidarity of the crowd gives them some sort of protection. Their righteous anger pumps up the blood and jacks up the image of invincibility. I’m certain they are terrified on some level, knowing that pepper spray or a billy club or four cops on one protester would instantly render them helpless, but they puff up to seem unafraid. These protesters don’t look that much different from the supporters of Trump except that those raging, angry people are mostly white.  Which means they have much less to fear from the authorities given the intense racist inequity in how cops treat black people when they get loud and angry.  That said, these supporters of the Outraged, Classless Political Animals created by reality television, internet activism and the courtship of the Religious Nutjobs in the eighties, soup themselves up to seem far more scary than they are. What they are is a group of frightened, intolerant, low education Americans terrified that the tiny slice of Americana they identity with is going to be ripped from their clawing stubby fingers. We post on our social media walls the affirmations of how badass we are, how impervious to the opinions of others we have become, and I see blowfishes everywhere. Scores and scores of people who feel defenseless and, like the aforementioned fish, expand themselves to give pretense that they are not to be trifled with. An impotent rage that brews when someone receives a parking ticket or finds their car towed. The railing away at how unfair things are in a society of people solely looking out for themselves. ”Speak softly and carry a big stick.” —Theodore Roosevelt We live in a society that, since the very beginning and even before, the loudest voices with the most aggressive language tend to win. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and all that. The customer who bitches loudest gets the freebie because, in the end, it's easier to just give him what he wants than have to listen to the bloviating. When the Universe grants the food pellets to the rats who squall the most vociferously, the message is simple and obvious. Blowfish the shit out of your daily problems. Go online and type your grievances ALL IN CAPS SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS HOW GODDAMN PISSED YOU ARE! Unfortunately, when everyone is blowfishing, the din of noise and posturing becomes so overwhelming that we all stop listening to each other, and the quiet fish in the corner with the big stick is getting things done for himself. The quiet fish. Like the Koch Bros.  Like the CEOs of Monsanto and BP and Target. The invisible heads of major media. The CEOs of banks and insurance, and pharmaceutical companies. The guys who sneak in the shadows and control things with big sticks, they are the enemy of the rest of us. They are the predator fish looking for some delicious luncheon comprised of poor, ignorant, angry, and impotent people with some fava beans and a nice chianti. These guys don't bolster up a false image of strength because they don't need to — they pounce when they feel like it, and couldn't give two fucks about your rage-filled Faceborg wall or your one hundred-person protest of downtown businesses.

So... what is your big stick?

If you're living in a more rural area and you tend to see the world through a more conservative/libertarian lens, it is likely that your big stick comes in the form of weapons: rifles, pistols, knives, kevlar vests, night vision goggles. If you live in Montana, you're one of those militia, 2nd Amendment cats hunkered down in your bunker just waiting for the predators to come for you. The only problem in this perspective is that you tend to only see the government barracudas and ignore the presence of the political and corporate sharks.

If you're living in a more urban area and you tend to see the world through a more liberal lens, the gun thing probably isn't your style. You likely truck in organizing protests, online petitions, writing think pieces, holding panel discussions — your big sticks are ideas and activism. Unfortunately, just like our militia types, unless you have massive numbers on your side, your weapons are as effective as a single gunman against an army. If you don't get your ideas out to a lot of people (ie. massive publishing blocks or expansive social media reach) then you and your fifty friends aren't really gonna make a dent.

Neither stick is really that big.

Humanity is an incredibly adaptable life form. The blowfish is a blowfish, and no amount of anthropomorphic Disneyfication can allow the blowfish to change itself into a different kind of fish with different kinds of defenses. Humans can change their tactics, can change their perspectives. What is required is a shift in personal paradigm to no longer inflate the ego to defend the self and create a big stick while engaging in a pattern of focus.

Life is not like a game of chess. Chess was created at a time when people were viewed as expendable in the pursuit of power. In that paradigm, most of us are pawns, and that's just a shitty way to approach life, yes? We all want to be the Queen (the most powerful piece of the board) but it isn't likely, and in the game of chess, a pawn has to have the help of every other piece to achieve that kind of status.

Life is more like a game of Tetris. The only way to win is to continue surviving the game, piece by piece, connection by connection. The only enemy is time and the increased speed of the digital gravity. The big sticks in Tetris are patience, focus, and tenacity. The key to winning is foresight and smart choices in which pieces to drop, how to spin them and the ability to see how things fit together. Seeking immediate justice — RIGHT NOW OR I'LL KICK SOMEONE'S ASS! — is how someone loses the game.

Patience. Focus. Tenacity.

Shift your game, change your defenses. Stop being a blowfish.