#per is a war criminal look at those eyes.

[mc-blizzle]

He’s just a guy and I love him so much

Another picture penguin boy🐧🐧🐧 hopefully the lines don't make it look too bad

[mikareo]

“ ࣭⸰ ★ THE MOON SAYS HELLO. . . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀呪術廻船; geto suguru x fem reader ⠀ ꒰ . . part one of three ꒱ . . . word count; 3.6k

⊹ ⠀⠀despite his insistence on never falling in love, suguru fails to stop himself from becoming smitten with his best friend’s beloved. you’ve become a flicker of hope in his darkness— though you’re someone who can never and will never be his to have and to hold.

series contains; if gojo didn’t kill geto n geto was given a chance to redeem himself, redemption arc!geto, human caretaker!reader, kind of e2l but also not really, love triangle, gojo x reader, fluff, major angst, heartbreak, wedding at the end, swearing probably, geto refers to humans as monkeys per usual author's note; rewritten fic, will be 3 parts in total (i'm half done pls be patient w me im a slow writer...)

YEAR ONE, DAY ONE

His face is sore. So sore. It’s red, swollen, and sore after he’s spent the last three hours screaming in frustration with his current predicament. This is absurd, Satoru should’ve just killed him when he had the chance. Geto’s lost count of how many times his palms have slapped his own face; over and over again with wishes that he can wake up from this hellish nightmare the higher ups call ‘rehabilitation’— though he can somewhat still recall the first slap that he’d given himself around the half-hour mark. He’s got a pretty good memory…that doesn’t stop him from hoping his veins aren’t too noticeable as they angrily protrude from his forehead in crimson currents.

He’d rather be dead than imprisoned like this…like an animal…like one of those damn useless monkeys.

The intensity of his wails continue to bounce off of the barren walls— barren aside from the dark mark he’d punched in earlier— and echo like a party of lost ghouls in the bottom of an empty well. Geto feels like a mad man.

He’s only just begun his isolation and he’s already growing mad with boredom. 

A huff escapes his lips as he plops himself down onto the twin-sized bed that’s nestled in the corner of his so-called ‘suite’. With linen sheets and a dark maroon comforter, it’s almost a cozy living situation; in another life, Geto could imagine himself cuddling beneath the covers with his favorite book and a soft record playing in the background for some ambience. That world is far far away now. Even if he asked for a record player, he doubts the higher ups would grant him one. He’s their most valuable prisoner, and they’re sure to keep him as miserable as possible until he’s one-hundred-percent pure hearted once more. However, despite their reluctance to grant him the things he wants, these aren’t the worst living arrangements he’s ever encountered and he knows that Gojo did his best to give him the best commodities he could to…well…a highly dangerous criminal. 

This is the only path to forgiveness, he reminds himself, constantly trying to be optimistic about the utter absurdity of it all. 

Optimism hasn’t been his specialty in a long time; anyone with a working pair of eyes would be able to deduce that, and he despises it. He’s quite rusty with the characteristic and has looked on the darker side for a while now— but wishes that he could be as reckless as he once was as a teenager. He can vividly remember how loud his laughter was with Gojo and Shoko, laughing as they chased each other throughout the school yard and using each other's cursed energy to their advantage in games of tag— but that would be near impossible now. His two best friends can barely look him in the eyes after the treason he’s committed. Gojo views him as a ticking time bomb and Shoko’s healed too many people to count that he’s harmed.

If he stepped one foot out of this room, he believes he’d be smothered on sight.

The Jujutsu Society fears Geto Suguru..

…and Geto Suguru fears himself. 

In all fairness, he deserves everything that’s come to him. What he did was awful; mass murdering humans…trying to murder even more humans…harming innocent students…starting a war during the holiday season…the whole gist. There are obviously bad actions from the past that continue to haunt Geto to this day and will continue haunting him so long as he breathes— but that’s all it is now…the past. He wants redemption. He needs redemption. If Gojo managed to reach clarity within Geto’s awful decisions, then maybe he can too. 

Geto wants to get better, to be better…not only for Gojo…but for himself. 

This is exactly why he and his best friend has devised a plan, one that will hopefully help lead Geto on a better path— a five-year path that will only be completed if he truly wants it to, and a half a decade seems like quite a bit of time to most; but for Geto, he doesn’t know if it will be enough. 

For Satoru…do it for Satoru…

He wraps his arms around himself in an attempt to comfort his heart that beats with fear every second of every day. It’s been so long since he’s been hugged by another, and he doubts he’ll ever feel that love and comfort from someone in his life. It’s the first time in a long time that he’s been alone with his thoughts with no one else to turn to; and if he’s being honest, there’s nothing in the entire world that scares him more than his own mind. 

“Geto Suguru?”

He doesn’t recognize that voice.

The soft sound comes from seemingly nowhere, startling Geto with a slight jump. Whomever it is sounds frail and weak, obviously intimidated by whom they’re going to be in the presence of in mere minutes; and Geto already finds nothing but annoyance at his new companion. Of course they’re going to have prior judgment. He bets you already hate him for the rumors and stories. He doesn’t really have a choice whether or not you come in, though. Gojo insisted on a caretaker— someone to talk to so he doesn’t go insane by himself— and Geto will do anything to make his best friend happy. So, he stands up and dusts his pants off, making sure to look more presentable, and stalks towards the entryway. His hand meets the knob, yanking it open, and ready to meet the stranger on the other side. 

Standing before him is you, a woman around his age. You can’t possibly be older than twenty-six, but perhaps you’re a few years younger. In your hands are various sweets and snacks that Gojo knows Geto loves, balancing on a silver tray that shines more light in the room than he’d care for. The reflections dazzle straight into his eyes, blinding him briefly with a scowl on his face. Of course Gojo would know to send you in with his favorites. He’s so predictable. His best friend is less surprising than he thinks, causing Geto to roll his eyes to the top of his head; though he appreciates the kind gesture. It’s far past dinner, though. Gojo must’ve struggled to convince the others to allow him a proper meal. 

“Don’t just stand there, monkey.” Geto commands whilst gesturing to the small dining table in the center of his confined space. “Come inside.”

The instant you stepped into his presence, it was horribly noticeable that you have no cursed energy. Zero. Not a lick of it…and he struggles to hide the disgust with his body language. He can’t help but be annoyed that a monkey such as yourself is going to be in his company for the next five years. 

With his distaste for you clear as day, he pulls out a chair for himself and disregards the kind option of pulling out yours prior; expectantly looking towards you with the expectation that you’re going to serve him his meal like a servant. 

“Well, monkey…” he trails off disinterested, “I’m waiting.”

You hustle towards him, quickly and efficiently placing the special grade sorcerer’s meal on the placemat before him and taking the empty seat opposite. There’s a small breath you’re holding in, Geto can see it in your throat— it’s suffocating you with fear for your life as your fingers lightly tap the dark wood in a nervous fit. 

You’re completely pathetic. As if a monkey would ever have the courage to speak to him. This is ridiculous.

His hands slam against the table with a loud bang. “What are you doing?” he questions, heavily interrogating you as you cower in your seat like a meak mouse. “Does Satoru expect you to monitor my meals?”

He really is nothing but a prisoner, isn’t he?

“What damage could I possibly do with this slob that’s been served to me by the scum of the earth? Start a food fight in the halls? Overthrow the Jujutsu world with a biscuit?” (If that is the case, in your defense, the biscuits are quite hard. There must be a new kitchen hand in training who based them.) This is a horrible day.

As Geto impatiently awaits your answer, a deep breath escapes your lips— perhaps a way to soothe your heartbeat into something less than a record-breaking speed— and you attempt to focus your stress and fear into a fleeting moment of zen. Your large eyes shut for a total of three seconds; one, two, three…before opening again. This time, as his own eyes make contact with yours, they’re shining with slightly more confidence than before as you swallow hard and settle your gaze on Geto— the look in your eyes evolving from that of anxiety to empathy. 

“Actually,” your lips rise into a thin smile, “Gojo Satoru didn’t send me here, the higher ups did.”

Your eyes search Geto’s for any signs of discomfort or inner rage that could be boiling beneath the surface of his poker face. It appears that he’s grown even stronger at hiding his true emotions towards humans; however, you can see through the veil. Yes, it’s thick and difficult to brush past, but there’s a slight opening in the center that you peek inside— and what you can see in his heart is a man who simply wants to finally do what’s right. 

“The higher ups are aware that Gojo Satoru has a soft spot for you— hell, everyone who knows your name is aware that when it comes to you, he has no reason. He has no right of mind. I’m only here to monitor and report your progress in an honest manner. That’s it. That’s all. I promise I won’t intrude on your life more than necessary.” 

Shit.

“I’m sorry, Geto Suguru…but you’re stuck with me.”

It’s as if his left and right sides are arguing between themselves. His good conscience says that he should give you a chance, perhaps you could be different than the monstrous humans that attempted to kill his beloved Mimiko and Nanako; while his bad conscience tells him to let out one of his cursed spirits to devour you where you stand. Listening to his right side would definitely get him his best case scenario…a chance to see his girls again…but the left side would be so much more enjoyable. Oh well. At least the higher ups sent someone somewhat his age and not an ancient and decaying corpse like themselves. That’s a disgusting thought. He’d rather be hugged by a hundred humans than be forced to befriend a higher up. A shiver runs through Geto’s spine as a newfound appreciation for you is birthed within him.

“Do you have a name?” Geto taunts as he begins to pick at his meal, slightly disgusted with the stale quality of some of the snacks but nevertheless thankful that he at least has something to subside his aching hunger. “Or should I just call you ‘monkey’ as I do with the rest of your kind?”

That sound?

You’re laughing?

Your giggles are surprisingly pleasant to Geto’s ears as they harmonize into a song that he can imagine himself listening to each morning. Why did you find that funny? He was quite literally insulting your entire existence. Geto is dumbfounded by the strange humor you seem to have, considering that he was being entirely serious with his question. Humans are so strange. He’s never really been able to understand how your peoples’ minds work, but perhaps he could begin to learn the basics. It’s not like he has anything better to do, and some entertainment would be nice. 

He’ll keep you around…it wouldn’t hurt and you can be his companion kind of like a pet.

Pets are cute…

…your smile is cute too.

You smile once more, answering his question with a blush on your face. “Please,” your cheeks redden, “Call me by my name, Suguru.”

YEAR ONE, DAY NINETY-FOUR

“You’re late.” Geto crosses his arms over his chest, exhaling a large breath of air in a loud and annoyed huff as he attempts to seem seriously angered by his new friend’s awful timing. 

It’s nearly twenty minutes past the time that you were supposed to be here; emphasis on supposed. He’s been waiting with his eyes staring at the clock, watching it tick and tick as the time passed by with no you knocking on his door. That’s twenty whole minutes of time in which he was forced to entertain himself rather than listen to your rambles and rants about whatever the latest scandal is in the outside world. You love that pop culture gossip stuff that social media and magazines rave about, and in a weird way, you somewhat remind him of his daughters— personality-wise…not attraction wise…that would be weird. 

Over the past few months, Geto’s grown severely accustomed to the daily routine that you’ve developed, becoming so fond of you that he strangely pictures your smile and recalls your laughter when you aren’t even here. Friendship is a funny thing. He doesn’t think he’s ever had a friend like yourself; yes, Satoru will always be his closest confidant…but his relationship with you is different in a way that he can’t quite put his finger on. He’s never considered anyone else the highlight of his every day like he does you. Your company is the kind of presence that he overwhelmingly enjoys; with such a positive and warm nature exuding comfort to Geto’s loneliness, and your judgment-free outlook on life rivaling his pessimism in a perfect mixture of negativity and optimism. He wishes he’d met you sooner, perhaps when he was a child— and if he had, maybe he wouldn’t have turned out the way he did. 

It’s too bad you would’ve only been an awful human to him back then…he would’ve called you his infamous nickname without batting an eye…a monkey…

…a mere monkey whom he never ever thought he’d develop unwanted feelings for.

For his entire life, Geto always told himself not to fall in love. That love isn’t real. It isn’t obtainable, not when there are people like Satoru in the world— people that you can’t help but love— and then people like him; people who you can’t help but hate. With that being said, he’s never necessarily been looking forward to any potential love matches in his future.

…no matter who he was involved with…

…until he met you.

“Sorry about that, Suguru!” you hustle through the doorway, your appearance a tangled mess with dusty dirt particles littered with gravel. 

There’s a large scratch on your right cheek, not deep or in danger of infection in any way, but noticeable enough that he’s able to see it from a distance. Knowing you, it’s most likely accidentally self-inflicted in some sort of way; you being notorious for tripping or snagging your skin on the sharp end of a table. How do you always manage to be so uncoordinated? Geto can’t help but let out a short laugh, his eyes scrolling up and down your body and taking in your entire appearance, dirt and all. You even manage to make dirt look good. What the fuck? He hates this.

Your voice carries on as you approach him. “I was running on time, but then I saw this adorable shop downtown and I just had to make a stop.” The overexaggerated tone you hold is amusing as your hands wave through the air in a physical storytelling of your experience. The skin of your cheeks is flushed red from your sprint through the city, looking beautiful in resemblance to that of a blooming rose. 

Geto can feel his own face heating up at the sight of you, choosing to shrug nonchalantly in an attempt to seem as if he doesn’t care at all about your dilemma…

…as if he doesn’t care about every second of your everyday…

…as if your overall excitement isn’t the only thing that truly keeps him going nowadays. 

“You tell me these things as if what you do outside of this room matters to me.” He hopes his words mask his rising blush. (Spoiler alert: They don’t.)

Flawlessly, you brush off Geto’s phony disinterest without the slightest acknowledgement. It’s as if the phrase had never even left his lips, with no evidence and proof of insult. This isn’t an uncommon occurrence when the topic of what you do when you’re not with him comes up in conversation, as the prisoner typically tries to ignore his interest in your daily shenanigans— and you can’t deny that it hurts. Most of the time, it feels as if Geto never actually listens to anything you say, and you were able to quickly realize that in the early weeks of your arrangement when the pain began to torment your heart; ripping and shredding it to bits with every eye roll and mocking scoff. You don’t seem to matter in Geto’s point of view. He doesn’t care…at least that’s what you believe. 

In contrast to Geto, you’re an emotional spirit— you crave love.Love is all you’ve ever wanted, needed, and desired. In your time with him, you’ve developed inklings of feelings as well. However, you’ve chosen to let your feelings grow and blossom out of the dirtied patch of grass they were planted in— ignoring the warnings every single person in your life has given you in advance. Despite that, Geto continues to stomp on your budding flowers. He takes a heavy watering can, filled to the brim with hose water, and drowns your garden in the tears that you shed in the privacy of your bedroom. Those tears that are a never ending waterfall due to the fact that you know it isn’t your job to fall in love with your client. Your duty to Jujutsu Society is to help Geto learn to love humans and sorcerers as one in the same and to gain the trust of his community once more— not to love you.

“Okay, before you judge me, at least give me a chance to explain myself.” Stumbling towards Geto, you accidentally trip over your own feet in embarrassment, and proceed to hold out a single flower not yet in bloom. “It’s freshly cut. I saw a bouquet in the window and it caught my eye, because it reminded me of you; but I knew you’d hate a flashy bunch of them so I just bought the one.”

It reminded you of him?

Taking the gift into his own hands, Geto studies it intensely. The rose is a dark shade of red, crimson, or scarlet depending on your vocabulary. The petals are a brighter color while the plushness near the stem turns dark, more sinister as it approaches the thorns lining the sides. Just by looking at the rose, he can understand why it made you think of him. It’s gorgeous, but practically untouchable figuratively and literally. There’s only one angle that he can hold the stem at that doesn’t prick his fingers. Ouch. And he just did the very thing he was being so careful of avoiding.

All his life, he’s never been the kind of person who longed for gifts or compliments, but when coming from the right person…perhaps he is. 

Whilst he struggles to come up with a reply— a simple ‘thank you’ or ‘i appreciate this’— you mentally applaud yourself as you’ve finally found a way to make him speechless…

…but your praise for yourself is short-lived.

He can’t be weak. Not even for you.“I guess it’s not terrible.” Geto throws the flower to the ground and lightly kicks it away with his right foot. As one of the beautiful petals drifts away from the lonely flower, he turns away, not being able to endure the heartbroken look on your face and the offended rose on the floor. Why does he have to be like this? “I’m sure that garbage is all a monkey like you can afford anyways.” Why is he so cruel?

His eyes clench shut as he hears the door begin to close. You’re so gentle even when upset. He admires that about you— you’re the calm to his ever-raging storm, the sailor to his tsunami, and the lifeboat to his wreckage— you’re the most pure-hearted person he knows, and you don’t deserve this awful anger he holds within him. 

Is he…crying?

As tears begin to drip down his cheeks, Geto collapses against the wall with his knees buckling beneath him and his weight crumbling down to a pile of patheticness. He’s just a shell of a man undeserving of someone like you. Soft sobs escape his lips and silent cries fill the hollow room, absent of your joy, crying out until he notices the faint outline of the young rose beside him. With the flick of his hand, he snatches the flower off the ground and lifts the thorny plant with careful hands— finally and truly understanding your meaning behind the gift. This is how you see him? He’s dreadful and hurtful to others on the outside, prickling kind people away with his thorns…but when encouraged and supported, he has the potential to become something beautiful.

Someone that could one day be compared to the beauty that is of a blooming rose. 

With the budding rose in his grasp, Geto sits alone. He realizes that he’s only able to become that person with the help of you. You’re the only person that has even come close to seeing him for who he truly is; aside from Satoru you’re the only person who would think of giving such a gift to the number one enemy of the Jujutsu world. You’re the only person who he’s ever come to feel true and honest romantic love towards. 

Geto has to become better. Not only for himself and Satoru…but now, for you.

⋆⋆⋆⠀ ⠀thank you for reading! reblogs are greatly appreciated! ⋆⋆⋆⠀ ⠀i promise i'll post the next 2 parts soon pls be patient :3

[prettyboypistol]

how much the mercs would want to hide you dating from the others and how they would act if the other mercs found out/teased them? or how would the others find out? (this is also my first time doing any kind of request sorry if it makes no sense, love your writing!!)

TF2 Mercs x M!Reader|| Keeping "Us" a Secret! +18

As per usual, i'm writing in time-canon

Scout

Absolutely tried his best to keep it a secret and will try his damn hardest to make sure nothing happens to either of y'all if you guys are found out to be a little more than homies.

Everyone's probably figured it out, y'all are shit at subtle flirting.

Vicerally rejects any PDA or affection and gets mad when you try to initiate it where any of the merc will potentially see and will respond with something like "fuck outta here with that!"

Overall he's super paranoid about people finding out he also likes guys and specifically his "best friend". If the team sit him down and are like "son, we are actual war criminals. being gay is NOT the biggest issue here." then he gets a little more lax about PDA, but not by much. It still makes him uncomfortable.

Soldier

He's a bit too dense to keep a secret for too long, probably forgetting that he was the one that wanted to keep yours and his relationship on the down low.

Is one of those confrontationsl types and wouldn't hesitate to beat someone up over teasing him or harassing both of you. Not that the team would go past playful ribbing, but any attack, no matter how small, is treated like a nuclear bomb threat.

Not too bothered or too enthusiastic about PDA, doesn't like overly cutesy acts of romance when people are looking but you two have absolutely been caught fooling around in secluded places around the base. The one who found you told everyone and you never heard the end of it.

You mostly are the one who get the teasings, such as "So, you really do like brains over brawn." or "the sex must be great if you put up with that idiot."

Pyro

Noody really could tell that you two were dating, let alone interested in each other. With how eccentric both you and Pyro were, everyone just assumed that both of you were both extremely touchy-feely, very hippie and free spirit, which Soldier degrades you two for.

Pyro likes PDA like handholding, cuddling, and little bumps while walking. Nothing like kissing or getting sexual in public though, they aren't comfortable with you doing that around people they don't trust in the same way they trust you.

They probably tell Engie first and go into detail about how you make them feel. You treat them like an equal and like an adult, as if they're not just their mental illnesses. Engie supports both of you fully and acts like the supportive dad neighter of you had growing up.

Demoman

Not too concerned as well, but that's mainly because he's drunk when dealing with his teammates. He likes kissing you or smacking your ass and then shrugging and saying it's a Scottish tradition.

Loves grossing out the team with PDA. Nasty flirting, dirty whispers, bedroom eyes, and whenever people try to confront his and your behavior, he laughs and just walks outta the room like "awww, cleaRLY you men haven't drunkenly shagged a man! Be feelin' better than a virgin!" With no elaboration on if you two are actually fucking or if it's a bit.

When the mercs ask you, you give deadpan humor of "no, it's a joke. My mum's gotta good bit of Scot in her."

When it finally clicked for them was when Spy walked in on you two getting handsy on the couch while you were on top of him and hiked up his kilt. You looked at Spy and just said "You've done worse." Spy hesitated, but nodded and walked away.

Engie

HIDES IT SO SO MUCH. THIS MAN HAS SO MUCH SOUTHERN/CATHOLIC GUILT. HE'S EVEN HESITANT IN PRIVATE. He really doesn't like you getting too close to him when the others are around, but will allow drunken leaning against him.

It took both of you literal months to kiss, let alone have sex. He is the most tender and gentle lover known to man, and it's all for you. He protects you a lot more in battle with the excise of "he's defending the intel, I might as well buff him up with a few sentries."

You two hiding your relationship gives him high blood pressure and Medic just knows immediately that Engie is hiding his sexuality- to Medic at least, he's not subtle. With a quick peck to Heavy as a thank you for handing him the scalpel Medic is like "So Engie, do you have anything you're not being honest about?" and he just breaks.

"I'm a homosexual!" "Ja! So am I!"

Heavy

Is really wishy-washy about being open, since nobody would ever mess with him about being gay, but they might mess with you and your job. You're not a merc, just a low-level cleanup crew member! If the Administrator found out... would she kill you? Move you away? Would she even care?

Stealing away little kisses is his favorite thing. When you sneak into his room and you two just snuggle and kiss. He's super hesitant about sex in the beginning, but absolutely loves how you assure him and praise him.

Intinidates your coworkers who make fun of you since you have a good relationship with the mercs and all your coworkers think they're psychos.

Sniper is the one who catches you two- in battle no less! RED is thoroughly beating BLU's ass so Heavy sneaks away to the fence to see you and give you a few... many... uh, a lot of kisses. You hear the bullet break the window near you two before you see it, and Heavy takes it as his cue to leave.

Sniper

Since he doesn't really interact much with the group, he doesn't see a reason to tell the other mercs. All you do is go to his van after battle for "a cigarette and target practice". Sure buddy, you just accidentally tripped and ended up on your knees below a freshly showered Sniper. You two spend most nights together, since you two are the two unsociable mercs.

You two do everything together, since you're the more sociable of the both of you, people refer to Sniper as "your shadow", it's a bit of a teasing nickname that you're fine with, and Sniper's alright with it, since they acknowledge him nearby you at all times.

Doesn't overprotect you in battle, did it once and you marched right up to his nest and told him off. Yeah, he cares about you and you love him for it, but you'll respawn! It's fine!

The enemy Spy saw you tell him off and the subsequent kiss goodbye. He was gonna kill the Sniper, but something just left him feeling weird, so he waited until you were gone to kill him.

Spy

He's pretty open about swinging both ways, his tales of espionage have no limits. You're a high-positioned supervisor, so he initially justified yours and his relationship as job assurance... then easy closeness to relieve the lonliness... then- uh, fuck. He's caught feelings when in an actual relationship he can't run from.

Only likes PDA when he's initiating, very cat-like about it. He is to fluster you with a simple look. He is to give you what you can't reach and accidentally invade your personal space, where your breaths mingle and leave you red faced. Only he is to drive you crazy in public... However, if you wear that crop top again he WILL threaten to fuck you.

Has absolutely the biggest exhibition/danger Kink. Invisibly feeling you up as you're in a meeting. Disguising himself as a stranger and you giving favors. He has offered to disguise himself as an enemy teammate but got put off when you got too into the roleplay and cried out for that merc.

You two are never found out, as Spy is just a charismatic asshole and you are futilly enamored according to the team. Although, Scout has his suspicions after he overheard you and him laughing in Spy's smoking room.

Medic

Probably the most open about the relationship from the beginning, but unlike how Pyro is, he is very obvious that yours and his relationship is romantic and very much sexual in nature. Innuendos. Hands skirting your backside. Calling out to you jovially. It's all painfully obvious... it doesn't help that he is the LOUDEST mf in bed. They heard you before you told them.

He loves kissing you and ruining you when he gets jealous. Playing the protecting and possessive lover is one of his favorite things to do. Yeah, all Scout did was ask where you got your shoes, but to Medic, that's basically asking to sleep with you.

"Darling, can I rearrange your guts?" BEST PICKUP LINE HE HAS. FR. ON GOD. Everyone assumes that you two have fucked on the operating table, they pray that it's cleaned after.

Soldier is the one to walk in on you two. You assume he's going to shout and holler about how you two are a disgrace to the army, but he's strangely silent and just walks out. About 30 minutes later he bursts in again and lectures you about fraternizing.

[ladyinred2248]

King of the North, Finan x Reader, Part 6

Warnings: Mature. Minors DNI! Violence. Angst. Sexual themes.

Uhtred, Sihtric, and Osferth escorted you to Winchester at first light the next morning, and you were barely able to breathe without one of them next to you. You felt as if your heart had been ripped out of your chest, as if you couldn’t stand on your own, let alone think clearly.

“Come, lady,” Sihtric whispered, assisting you in mounting his horse, “Careful now.”

You hadn’t slept the night before, too much adrenaline coursing through your veins and an empty pit of sadness engulfing the core of your body. Uhtred and the others were the only thing standing between you and sudden death it seemed, the endless wave of emotions hitting you over and over as your thoughts drifted to your beloved’s inevitable consequences, and it shattered you every time. Unrelenting nausea overwhelmed you until noon hit its peak, the men rushing to take care of you at every opportunity. Uhtred worried for you greatly then, furrowed brows draping his ocean blue eyes as he looked you over. He followed behind you from a distance as you emptied the watered contents of your stomach for the last time, only hours away from reaching Winchester.

“Are you sick, my lady?” Uhtred asked, visibly concerned.

“I am fine, Lord.” You rasped, trembling slightly and trying to fix your posture as you neared him.

“My wife will meet us in Winchester, she can… help you with this,” Uhtred responded, making an assumption that your sickness had less to do with Finan’s fate and perhaps more to do with a woman’s blessing. This thought unnerved him to his very core as he worried for both you and his most loyal brother.

King Constantin readily relinquished the palace at Winchester when he discovered that Finan and Domnal had been arrested, locked in chains and deemed war criminals, traitors to the Kingdom of Wessex and to be punished as such for what Aelswith called attempted regicide. Constantin and Alfred had no qualm with each other per se, only an impending trial to determine Finan’s fate, and Domnal was simply complicit in the eyes of the Witan. Constantin and Alfred had decided that prior deliberations between themselves were appropriate.

Constantin maintained his calm and collected approach, though his rage still stuck to his words as he spoke.

“What makes you think that you are above the law of the land, Lord King? Our treaty is now null, considering the amount of times you have treated my daughter as a simple whore to be taken as property. If you condemn him to death, you can expect a war from the North.”

Alfred looked almost unphased, a stoic and solemn figure where he stood, taking in Constantin’s words but having no real fear of them. “Perhaps a new treaty would serve us well.”

Constantin scoffed, his patience waning, “You mock me. I would choose your next words carefully.”

Alfred hummed softly, his hands coming to join together in front of him as he stood, his trademark gesture of contemplation. “I do not wish to further endanger the safety of my people nor those I hold dear. But treachery must be met with consequence.”

Constantin came closer to Alfred then, searching his eyes with an intense gaze, “Have they not suffered enough?”

The Witan gathered in the great hall of the palace at Winchester, and you noticed how suffocating and oppressive it felt as soon as you walked in next to Uhtred. Noble men, most of them old and ragged, sat before the King of Wessex with stern and unamused looks on their faces. This will be the crowd that will determine the fate of the greatest man I’ve ever known? You thought, already deeming them unworthy of standing before your beloved or casting any judgements. You took a seat next to Uhtred and his men, all of you receiving spiteful glares from the crusted men who sat before you.

Finan and Domnal were suddenly cast before your eyes, escorted in with heavy, binding iron chains at their wrists and ankles and stood before the King. The whole room stood on their feet, your father standing off to the side and his angry expression visible from a distance. Finan looked weary now, as if he had finally renounced his faith and accepted his demise, but something in his eyes told you that this wasn’t the case. Your lover stood before the King beaten and worn, but his dark eyes told you that his fierceness remained, exuding everlasting resilience and faith as they always had since the day you met him.

Finan had a semblance of a smirk as the King and his men rose from their seats, a tinge of rebellion still lingering as he and Domnal looked at each other for a still moment before looking up to Alfred’s gaze. Alfred spoke first, enlightening the crowd to Finan’s many war crimes without mentioning his own provocation, much to your dismay but not entirely unexpected. The trial would have witnesses, and your stomach dropped when the first one was called to speak.

Steapa was called to stand before the King to give his testimony, and Alfred was confident in his loyalty until he spoke with not only conviction but absolute truth.

“I am ever loyal to the King of Wessex,” Steapa began, “…and I have stood in many battles to preserve this Kingdom. This man,” he pointed to Finan, “has stood with me in every one of them. For several years he has stood as Lord Uhtred’s first in command, defending Wessex from the heathens. And I stood before him and watched as he earned his title as rightful King of the North.”

The Witan was silent, and Alfred gazed at Steapa, enraged. Finan caught Steapa’s eye contact as he spoke.

“He nearly killed me when he besieged Wessex,” Steapa continued, “but my direct command was to go against the Kingdom of Ulaid and abduct his future Queen. So, understandably, it was only a matter of time before Wessex would reap the consequences of its King’s order.”

“Steapa, you may step down now.” Aelswith commanded sternly, her own rage festering within her. Steapa continued, speaking firmly and with conviction.

“I am ever loyal to Wessex and my King. I speak the truth as I know it under oath and under God’s command. This man is noble and righteous, and I do not believe he deserves to be served with cruel punishment.”

“Steapa, you will step down.” Alfred commanded, contempt slipping past his lips and joining with his stoic stature.

Steapa gave Finan a firm nod as they caught eye contact once again. Despite everything, Steapa knew Finan better than most men in the room, and spoke truth that spread like wildfire as the men of the Witan spoke in hushed voices. Uhtred and his men held smirks on their faces, pleased at the outcome of Steapa’s testimony.

The next one to speak was Lady Aelswith, who gave excruciating detail of the siege on Winchester, taking care to fabricate her story with many tales of Finan’s merciless deeds. Her rather dramatic retelling spawned gasps of horror across the room.

“The punishment for this crime shall be beheading. It can be nothing less,” Aelswith spat with disdain, “This man is of the devil.”

Finan was visibly offended then, narrowing his eyes at Aelswith, but still remaining calm and letting the events unfold before him. He knew in his heart that nothing he could say or do would change the outcome of a corrupt trial.

Your father’s rage had finally engulfed him as he stood from his seat and approached the King and Queen of Wessex.

“You condone your husband’s behavior, my lady? You accept that he admits no fault in the kidnapping of my Daughter? The constant suffering that he has put her through? Hm?”

Aelswith scowled at him. “The King had his reasons and has always acted in the best interest of Wessex.”

Constantin scoffed, “You’re a fool.”

“Enough!” Alfred shouted, “Action will be met with consequence!”

“You have surely gone mad,” Constantin chuckled, “Any harm comes to this man and I will shatter any dream of a united England you ever had. All of you will be begging on your knees for mercy.”

Alfred was trembling with rage now, a hot flush coming to his cheeks as Constantin demeaned him in the presence of the Witan.

Aelswith stood, fuming from your father’s remarks, “Guards! Take this man! Take him now!”

Your blood felt as if it was boiling underneath your skin and you had endured the deliberations of the trial long enough. You suddenly pushed past Uhtred and his men, coming to stand before Alfred and Aelswith with fury in your eyes.

“No,” you said to Aelswith sternly as you approached, standing next to your father before them, “That is quite enough. Lord King, Finan saved your life. You would not be here today if he hadn’t. None of this would have happened, if… if you could have just let me go.”

Alfred’s gaze softened as he looked at you intently, seemingly trying to reflect upon your words.

“Lord King, if only you loved me enough to understand how my happiness has flourished. If only you could understand how this man has saved my life as well,” you continued, speaking softly, “I beg you for the last time, Alfred. Please…Let me go.”

The room was silent as you and Alfred held eye contact, his eyes slightly watered but no tears falling, only a silent look of sadness upon him.

After several moments of silence, Alfred cleared his throat to speak. “I shall pardon him on one condition.”

You smiled softly as you held Alfred’s gaze and nodded to him before he continued.

“He must relinquish the royal title, and he will swear a lifelong oath to serve me and the Kingdom of Wessex.”

“No,” Constantin interrupted, “Never.”

Uhtred spoke now as he had pushed himself past the crowd harshly, “Lord King, it’s his birthright!”

“Uhtred,” Finan said softly, “It’s alright.”

The whole room became quiet, looking to Finan for his response. The two of you caught eyes then, and he nodded to you before looking back to Alfred.

“I accept,” Finan said firmly, loud enough for the men of the Witan to hear.

Constantin sighed, looking at you and shaking his head still somewhat angrily. You stepped forward, unsure if you would be allowed to grab your beloved’s hand but did so regardless, “Finan, no.”

“Quiet,” he rasped sternly in his deep brogue, “This is the only way.”

Alfred walked closer to Finan, standing before him now as he commanded his guardsmen, “Remove his chains.”

Finan was released from the heavy iron cuffs, and the silence in the room was deafening as he bent a knee to the King of Wessex.

The Witan had been dismissed, and although Constantin and Domnal remained unscathed for the role they played in the siege at Winchester, a new treaty would need to be arranged with Wessex and other areas of the South. Their political standing in the North was left lingering in the air with Finan’s resignation, much to their dismay and anger. They instructed you to find them in the morning to discuss the now unknown future.

Uhtred had resolved to allow Finan to make his own impossible decision, because for now, all of you were exhausted and in need of rest. You took rooms at the Inn, the very same one you had been to with Finan before, the night you first met. You finally had a moment alone with your beloved again, but there was still no resolve that felt justified in your head.

“Are you mad?!” You asked Finan, gripping his tunic to pull him closer.

“Mm,” Finan hummed, “Madly in love.”

Finan grabbed your waist firmly with his hands, pulling you flush against him before capturing your lips in a passionate kiss. His tongue sought entry to your mouth and stroked yours, sending goosebumps cascading down your arms and a throbbing sensation to your core.

“I want you,” Finan rasped, “I want you now.”

His abdominals jerked when you grabbed his cock through his trousers, hard, looking up at him innocently from beneath your long eyelashes.

Finan gripped your hips harsher then, his rough hands squeezing your arse as his tongue traced yours, and you simply melted into his embrace as you grew eager for his heated affections.

Finan pulled at the laces of your dress, pulling it down across your shoulders before bringing his hands to squeeze your breasts. His mouth stayed locked with yours as his fingers softly traced your collarbone, his hand then coming up to give a firm but pleasant grip around your throat as he kissed you. You broke your kiss for just a moment, enough time for you both to grip at Finan’s tunic and throw it to the floor. Your fingers fumbled with the laces of his trousers as he brought his large hand across your throat again, and you let out a soft whimper for your lover as he gently bit your lower lip. Your dress fell to your ankles and you were aching for him now, eager for him to take your body for his pleasure whilst knowing yours would be promised just the same.

Finan sat on the bed with his back against the wall and pulled you into his lap, your back resting against his chest as he took his fingers to your core. He traced them across your sensitive bud slowly for several minutes until he felt you shaking beneath him, stealing kisses from behind you as you arched your head back in pleasure. He finally dipped two of his long fingers inside of you, and your moans increased for him as he traced upwards, rubbing across the heated spot inside you as you rolled your hips to gain more friction. You were desperate now as the sensations grew stronger, your wetness covering Finan’s fingers and growing by the second, but he didn’t relent. He kept the firm and agonizingly slow pace until you were mewling helplessly, your core clenching on his fingers as your peak crashed around you and you moaned his name.

“Yes baby,” Finan cooed in his deep Irish brogue, “Such a good girl.”

You sighed happily and relaxed your back into his chest, coming down from your peak. You rolled your hips on top of him in his lap, stimulating his cock and telling him that you wanted more. You needed more.

“Please,” you said with a soft moan, reaching your hand down to guide him inside you.

“Ah, so impatient,” Finan chuckled, then quickly took a deep breath as you sank down on his cock, your warmth and wetness overwhelming him. You rolled your hips back and forth in a tantalizing motion, taking him as deep as possible. You licked your lips when Finan let out a deep moan, his hips bucking up into yours slightly.

Finan’s rough hands came up to your hips, holding firmly but letting you guide the motions as you rolled your hips faster. You felt his hard cock brush against the sweetest spot again, and you suddenly felt sensitive and needy, turning your head back to look at your lover. “Fuck me,” you rasped, before biting back a deep moan.

Finan’s breath caught in his throat at the next stroke you gave him, obliging your command as he gripped your hips more firmly and started thrusting up into you deeply.

“Oh my god… fuck!” Finan moaned, now arching his head back and losing his sense of control as your core throbbed on his cock, moving in and out of you faster and harder. His thrusts made you moan relentlessly for him, his cock growing harder by the second.

Finan’s primal instinct took over in that moment as he pushed you forward from his lap, the perfect position to fuck you on your hands and knees.

“My perfect girl,” he said in between pants, tangling his hand in your hair and gripping firmly as he fucked you from behind, “So fucking wet for me...fuck.”

“Finan, please,” you begged, “Please… please, you’re going to make me cum!”

Finan groaned as your core throbbed on his cock, clenching him tightly as your peak unfolded before him. Your cheeks and chest flushed red, your legs trembling at your strong, overwhelming peak before you drenched his cock in your wetness. Moments later, your peak relented and you panted to catch your breath. Your slight awareness told you that Finan was also close, so you took it upon yourself to move away from him and shove him backwards to lay on his back. You climbed on top of his hips again, sinking down on his cock as he arched his head back with furrowed brows and a light flush of red evident on his chest as he moaned deeply. He was visibly flustered, right on the edge of his peak.

You grabbed a dagger from the nightstand suddenly, bringing it to his throat as you simultaneously rolled your hips to take his cock deeper inside you. His eyes widened, a mix of intense pleasure and confusion on his face.

“You will never leave me again. You hear me?” You commanded, still holding the dagger to his skin.

Finan closed his eyes as he nodded to you, barely able to think straight as his peak urged closer and closer.

“Speak,” you commanded him.

“N-never, my lady,” Finan stuttered, his abdominals twitching and his chest growing a deeper shade of red as he bit his lip.

You threw the dagger to the floor, bringing your hands to grip his face as you captured his mouth in a wet kiss. Finan moaned into your mouth as he reached his strong peak, his hips stuttering as he came inside you.

>>> Part 7

Taglist: @gemini-mama @persephones-journey @alexagirlie @justanother-sihtricgirlie @whitedarkmoonflower @bcon24 @ficnation

[jewish-sideblog]

i have a question. i don’t mean this horribly!! but per this post you reblogged: https://www.tumblr.com/jewish-sideblog/744967243590434816, you believe to call what’s going on in palestine a genocide is antisemitic. can you elaborate on that, please?

I don't want to get in the habit of addressing things other people have said in posts I reblog, because those aren't my words and a reblog isn't a blanket endorsement of everything other people have said. But this topic is really important, so I'll weigh in just this once.

The primary concern I have with the use of the term genocide is Holocaust Inversion. Most people don't have a conception of genocide outside of the holocaust, so the usage of the word genocide is often an obvious ploy to weaponize Jewish suffering against Jewish people. Its sole purpose is to equate Israelis to Nazis and Jewish government to fascism.

Yet, there is a lot of death in Gaza right now. Horrible death, needless death. I think any erasure of that is as horrible as Oct. 7th denial. To outright deny that a genocide is happening exclusively because of the historical reality of the Holocaust isn't just or beneficial. So we have to look at it objectively. As I said earlier today, I'm not an international relations expert, so the following is my understanding and should be taken with large grains of salt.

"Genocide" as a war crime is extremely similar to murder as an individual crime. The key component (besides death) is intention. If you kill someone on accident in most English-speaking countries, you'll likely be charged with manslaughter, not murder. Similarly, genocide requires the intentional destruction of a population of people, well beyond the necessary realities of civilian casualty in active war zones. Death itself, even in large numbers, does not a genocide make. Civilians will always die on the battlefield. Always.

The International Criminal Court says that Israel has to meet standards of care in Gaza to ensure that genocide does not occur, meaning they don't think one has already occurred. There's some dispute on whether or not those standards are being met-- Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say that Israel is failing to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, while the Israeli government issued sealed documents to the Hague last month detailing their compliance measures. It'll take a while to hear back on those. Personally, I think starving Gaza is an obvious measure of intention to destroy Palestinian civilians.

Anybody is obviously welcome to disagree with the highest court of international law in the world. But the fact that the experts seem hesitant to make that determination gives me pause. Why are so many people keen to bring Israel to the Hague, not Russia for their indiscriminate killing of Ukrainians or the Houthis for manufacturing a humanitarian crisis in Yemen? Hamas, one of the governments of internationally-recognized Palestine, fully admits to intending to destroy the Jewish people in part. They say they'll do it again if they get half the chance. Why is only the Jewish state called out as a unique, genocidal evil? Must we label Palestinian deaths as a genocide in order to mourn them effectively? Aren't hundreds dead a day reason enough to mourn and to push for peace?

Again, I don't want to deny the allegations of genocide any more than I want to accept them. I'm following the experts on this one. And so far, the experts say "maybe". As long as they say "maybe", anybody who insists on definitely and absolutely labelling it as a genocide creeps at least suspiciously close to Holocaust Inversion in my eyes.

[milky-fixx]

pragma

obito uchiha x reader // naruto

—because even your local hardened war criminal/resident traumatized uchiha/certified masked idiot deserves love. 

a collection of valentine’s day obito fics—some canon, some canon-divergent, some au. 

word count: 4.7k

—note: happy (late) bday obito! i started this last vday but couldn't post in time.

POST WAR OBITO LIVES REDEMPTION ARC AU

“Happy Valentine’s Day!”

Obito blinks. He's about to head out for his shift when you present the the small box before him, wrapped with a delicate red bow. Now that he's past house arrest, the Rokudaime, after lengthy debates with his council, has allowed Obito to do community service in an attempt to make amends for his past crimes. It's grueling labor, of course, and he's strapped with all kinds of chakra inhibitors and accompanied by ANBU any time he's out and about. But this form of punishment, he tells you, is far more merciful than he deserves.

“I–” He drops his bag, cocking his head to the side. You press the box into his hands. It takes him awhile to realize it's a gift. For him. Oh. “Thank you?”

Obito's expression can be only be described as adorably confused, and you can’t help but giggle.

“It’s a holiday,” you press. “Where you give your loved ones chocolate and other gifts?”

“Ah, that's right...” He ducks his head to hide the flush rising to his cheeks, scratching the side of his face. He had forgotten about that. “Thanks.”

He’s not embarrassed, per se. (No matter what Kakashi tells you about how Obito as a kid always had this habit of looking away when he’s flustered).

It’s just…. this is the very first time he’s ever gotten any kind of gift on this day, and he's cycling through a tumult of confusing emotions. Because he’s seen firsthand the horrors of the world, he’s wrecked havoc, inspired terror and strife onto others. He’s an awful, terrible person who undoubtedly does not deserve to be alive while so many others caught up in his machinations are not.

And yet… that juvenile, hopelessly romantic side of him--which he's never been able to rid himself of, no matter how hard he's tried--is moved by your actions. In his youth, he often dreamt of things like requited confessions, kisses under the rain, the soft embrace of first love--all these pathetic, soft impulses and desires that had not yet been tarnished by war or the cruel reality of being a shinobi.

Your gift, as simple as it is, reminds him of all these things. It rushes through him, leaving an uncomfortable lump that he can’t swallow past in his throat.

And the shadowy underside of his thoughts creep forward, as they often do when he is faced with your unassuming acts of kindness: He hasn’t done anything to deserve this, to deserve you. The sins of his past will never be washed away, no matter how much he toils away. One day you will wake up and realize he’s not worth the dirty looks from villagers. That the effort to understand a man who does not even understand himself anymore, who has spent his whole life chasing after an impossible dream that has fallen to shambles, is a wasted one—

The hopeful glance from you has those thoughts abating, even for a second. With a flush of embarrassment, Obito realizes you've been waiting for him to open the gift. He undoes the bow, curious to see what you've given him.

It's a small box of chocolates. Each chocolate is decorated delicately, in various shades of pink and red. Cute, Obito thinks.

He glances up at you before popping a chocolate into his mouth. His eyes widen slightly at the decadent taste that spreads across his tongue.

“It’s--it's good. It’s really good.”

You beam up at him. “I put raspberry jam in some of them! I know you liked it last time I bought some.”

“You–” His eyes widen even more. “You made these? From scratch?”

“Yeah! It took me awhile to get the recipe right, but it was worth it.”

“Thank you,” he says again, his gaze softening. He holds his arm out, gathering you to him in a one-armed embrace, the other arm cradling the box of chocolates to his chest. He presses a kiss to your forehead, his lips lingering against your skin. You press a chaste kiss to the underside of his jaw, returning the favor. Time never seems to be in your favor though, as Obito begrudgingly lets go of you.

“I have to go.” 

“Have a great day!”

As Obito heads out, he makes amends with the fluttery feeling in his chest. He’s certainly too old to be touched by these kinds of things, but something about you has him feeling like he's back in his goofy, younger days, a side of him he thought was long gone to years of planning and trauma and–

Wait.

Fuck. Was he supposed to get you something back?

He stills. 

You’re surprised when the door slams opens. “'bito? Did you forget something--” The fervent crash of his lips against yours cuts you off.

It seems that he’s had enough time to process your gift. His large hands cup your cheeks. His lips move with the desperation of a man clinging to his lifeline, pressing firmly against yours, as if the answer to all his doubts can be found in the meeting of your two bodies.

“Thank you,” he says again, breathless, once he breaks the kiss. His eyes lidded and dark with the depth of his feelings. “I owe you."

He licks his lips. "L-Later today. Is that okay? I promise I'll make it worth your time."

JONIN!OBITO

Obito can think of three scenarios which come close to being as bad as this.

One. When Minato had him and Kakashi babysit an old man’s cat on a genin-level mission. Cats, despite being the Uchiha clan’s natural ally, have never liked him. It completely clawed his face up, and Rin had to tend to his scratches.

Two. When, as teenagers, he asked Rin out on a date, and during said date, she tearfully confessed her love for Kakashi. Unpleasant, certainly. Unexpected? Not really. What was unexpected was that Obito ended up being terribly allergic to something in the restaurant's udon, and his lips swelled up to twice their size.

Three, of course, is a few months back, when Kakashi left on a mission and asked him to train Team 7 for a day. No one told Obito that kids were this obnoxious to deal with. Not with his former sensei's kid screaming that he would best his cousin (Did Naruto realize the whole village could hear him? Was Obito ever this loud? Did Minato secretly invest in earplugs), his cousin acting like he was too damn smart to listen to anything Obito had to teach him (Itachi really should address his brother's superiority complex one day), and the one, normal person in their group, Sakura, clearing pining as desperately for his cousin as he did for Rin.

This scenario though? This may just make all the others pale in comparison.

The fact that Obito is supposed to propose to you today, but his months of careful planning is going up into flames, as if he'd burned them himself with his katon.

The fancy kaiseki ryori he got reservations for months back? Turns out they closed for renovations and he never got notice. Something about an intoxicated genin destroying the whole place while practicing his Drunken Fist technique.

Obito also intended to dress nicer for the occasion, to grab a shower and change maybe, but his mission ran late into the day, up until the very moment your dinner was planned. He had barely enough time to report to the Hokage before he was sprinting towards the restaurant, still wearing his jonin vest and ninja clothing.

He’s just hoping you won’t be mad at him.

He thumbs the ring in his pocket anxiously as he approaches the restaurant.

The two of you end up at the only place available on such short notice--the yakitori-ya, which is where your very first date was at. He curses his luck. It's not exactly the fancy setting he was hoping for--more like a date spot after a late night drinking or for casual dates--but he's out of options. Even flashing around the Uchiha name, which he hated doing, couldn't yield better results.

“Sorry I’m late,” he says as soon as he slides into the booth across from you. “The report took forever, and I swear the Hokage's advisors were trying to sabotage me. Why does it matter how many flower beds I saw on my way back here?" He ruffles his spiky hair in frustration.

You laugh. “It's okay, I’m used to it. You're always losing track of time, 'Bito."

He flushes slightly. "N-Not really... I've gotten better at it, haven't I?"

You hum thoughtfully. "Let's see... you do still get side-tracked by grandmas needing help carrying their groceries, by stray cats begging for food... Isn't that right?"

He flushes again, ducking his head down. Punctuality has never been his forte, but for him to be late on an important occasion like this. When he was going to--

"It's not intentional," he mutters.

"I'm just teasing," you tell him, reaching across the table for his hand, which he offers. "I already ordered us food. So tell me... how was the mission?"

Obito animatedly tells you about his past week, before lowering his voice at the top secret information that he as a jonin should not be sharing, but is anyways. The food arrives, plates of grilled meat on skewers generously filling your table.

He really should have more decorum, but he's starving. His anxiety also isn't helping. He ends up scarfing down the chicken skewers, talking in between taking giant bites of food. Thankfully, you seem to find it amusing, laughing at the way he chokes on a bite that was way too big for him to swallow. He gulps down his water, attempting vainly to act unperturbed.

You lean forward to grab another skewer, and Obito catches a glimpse of something red and lacy underneath your dress. He promptly ends up choking on his water again. Coughing, he thumps the front of his chest several times.

"Are you okay?"

He glances back at you, his face aflame. "I-I'm fine!" he says a little too loud. "I'm fine. Just... fine—“ It's then that he notices just what you're wearing that covers the red lace tease. A tight black dress that seems to accentuate every dip and crease of your figure.

His mouth suddenly seems dry, even though he just drank water. "You look nice. Uh, really nice. Really, really nice. Is that—is that new?"

"Dear, I think you're drooling a little."

He promptly snaps his mouth shut.

"And it is new! I thought I would wear it for the occasion. And you know... for later tonight," you murmur, voice laced with intentions.

"T-T-Tonight?" While he's nearly chugged down his entire drink, the admission has him jolting, his elbow knocking over his cup and spilling the small amount of liquid left. He’s aghast, rapidly dabbing the table with napkins.

You giggle, handing him your napkin as well. “You’re usually not this clumsy. You okay? Tired?”

“A little,” he admits. "I don't think I've gotten much sleep the past few days." You nod thoughtfully, looking slightly put out. "B-But that doesn't mean I can't! I'm—we can still—tonight? Yeah?"

He's flustered. How has he become so tongue-tied and nervous? It's like he's a fucking awkward teen again, for crying out loud. He fiddles with the ring in his pocket, suddenly remembering it's there.

"I-I was actually... well, I had a surprise for you, too."

“You mean other than taking us back to this place?”

He flushes.

"It was the only place that had last minute--I mean, the only place I could find a last minute spot at after my other reservations got cancelled!”

"We haven't been here since we first started dating, right?" you muse.

"Y-Yeah?"

You sigh wistfully. “It brings back memories.”

Come to think of it, he does remember what a disaster your first date was, at this same restaurant. Burning his tongue on the skewers from eating too fast, spilling his drink all over you on in his excitement when you complimented his skills. You must have found him so annoying. You still agreed to a second date.

He cringes. History really did repeat itself.

"Hopefully I'll make new ones," he mutters under his breath.

"What was that?"

It's now or never. Before he loses his courage.

"Marry me?" he blurts out, holding out what he thinks is the ring to you. Instead, it is his half-eaten skewer.

You blink.

"I... are you proposing to me with grilled meat?"

"Shit, I—" His other hand darts into his pocket, brandishing the ring. While his hands are slightly oily from the grease of the food, thankfully his grip doesn't slip.

"You make me the happiest man alive. I can't imagine... I don't even want to think about a future without you," he says heatedly.

It's then that Obito realizes he is supposed to be down on a knee. Shit. He curses a bit, before he kneels down before you, putting the ring back in its pocket and presenting it to you once more. It's a simple ring, engraved with the Uchiha crest.

He glances up at you hopefully.

Or tries to. Obito once again gravely miscalculates in his nervousness. His head smacks the bottom of the table as he looks up—hard.

"Fuck!"

He clutches the side of his head, rubbing at it. His vision goes cross for a second.

Then it's your hands, softer and kinder that cradle his head.

"Babe, are you alright?" you say in disbelief. "You're so clumsy today."

This is supposed to be his moment to be smooth. To make things smooth.

"Sorry," he murmurs against your shirt. "You've got my head on backwards, I swear... I'm so wound up today, and everything keeps going—goddamnit. Can one thing go right?" he starts ranting. "I was hoping you'd say yes—"

"Yes."

"Ah--wait. Do you... do you mean it?"

"Yes. I do. I'd love to marry you, Obito Uchiha."

You reach for the ring, but then pause. "Um, maybe after you wipe that off,” you say, referring to the grease. "And we ice your head?"

You said yes. You said yes. What happens after that point, Obito does not even care about. Once he's back up, he gathers you in a tight hug.

"Thank you. Thank you so much--I--I'll be the best husband, I promise. Someone to make you proud...!"

And as the two of you walk home from the disastrous date, Obito cannot help but keep his arms around you. Unable to bite back down the giddy feeling.

Until something occurs to him.

"You didn't seem that surprised," he says.

"Oh! Yeah. The Uchiha blacksmith who made the ring kept asking if I liked it. Says you ordered it awhile ago, and he's surprised you haven't manned up and given it to me yet."

"Ah…. You—you knew this whole time I would…?”

He's such a loser.

But he's your loser.

And you like him, despite it all.

MODERN!AU, arranged marriage, Obito as CEO of Uchiha Corps.

The smell of chocolate fills the air.

Obito pauses at the doorway. It's been... strange, having someone else in his space. In his home. Living with a stranger who you know you are soon to be wed to, despite knowing each other for such little time.

The thought still makes him a bit restless. He was initially averse to the idea. When he was younger, he dreamt of things like true love and romantic gestures. Not being forced to marry a complete stranger.

But then the incident that left half his body scarred happened, and that severely jeopardized those dreams. Then his uncle's whims. Madara, once he wanted something, rarely wavered.

"The Uchiha Corp. needs an heir, and you do not have any options at this point. Our clan's legacy will not be left to rot should you not find a suitable spouse. If that's the case—if your skills are lacking in that area—I will find one for you."

Ouch.

Obito hated following Madara's orders, but it seems that not much has changed from his childhood. Being forced into roles he has little interest in, being forced to uphold a certain image.

Doesn't mean he has to like it. Or accept it easily.

It's not that he dislikes you. In fact, Obito would say you're quite lovely in many ways. You actually seem to have several of the qualities he's liked in his crushes before (all unrequited). You're kind and patient, and you even have a bit of a temper, if anything is proven by how easily you slip into crass language.

It's just. It's not his choice. He didn't get to choose to meet you. It's not like the two of you met in a coffee shop or at the market, by chance, as love should be.

And that makes him resentful.

He supposes it all came to a head three nights ago, where he threw words and accusations at you like barbed wires. And you had responded in kind.

"What's in this for you again? Money, status? Want to bang the next head of Uchiha Corp. so you can live a life of lavishness?"

You blink. Quickly getting over your surprise, your mouth sets in a firm line as you respond with, "Are you always this fucking rude to people? Or am I just lucky?"

His eyes narrow. "Answer the question. What are you trying to get out of this?"

You're upset. The harsh furrow to your brow says it all.

"Uchiha... I'm not just someone you can boss around. I'm not one of your damn lackeys. And I'm not just going to sit around pretty and subservient if you're gonna be this damn rude to me."

The two of you continue to sleep in separate rooms and beds, as you have been for the past month, but this time, the distance leaves Obito with the queasy feeling of a fight unresolved. The two of you haven't spoken since, thankfully your schedules so different that you don't spend much time together.

After reflecting on it, he supposes you are just as much implicated in this as he is. You don't seem too eager to get married either. That gives Obito a small measure of relief.

Along with the realization that he's being an ass and making things more difficult for you.

Reconciliation though—he's not the best at. Which is why he's lingering in the doorway to the kitchen, working up the courage to approach you. Are you mad, he wonders? Anyone would be mad at being spoken to that way.

You seem to be cooking... sweets? Baking? And just as Obito works up the courage to say something, you lock gazes.

Before you promptly glance away, as if you haven't even seen him.

Ouch.

"Morning," he says deciding to break the ice.

You blink at him. "Oh. Good morning."

"You're up... early."

"Yeah. I was making chocolates." At his look of confusion, you clarify. "For you know.... Valentine's..."

"Oh. Yes."

So awkward. The tension thick enough to cut a knife through.

Are any of those for me? Obito dares to think foolishly, before you reply with,

"I was planning on eating all of these in front of you out of spite. But I suppose you could have one," you say offhandedly.

Obito flinches. "I... guess I deserve that."

"Maybe just a crumb of a chocolate. Ant-size."

He inhales deeply. Patience. "Also deserved."

You look at him curiously, as if you are not expecting his contriteness.

"...I'm just kidding. I did make some of these for you."

Obito's head snaps up. He stares at you cautiously.

"Do you... not like chocolates?"

"No, I—I do! I just... I was an ass to you."

"You were," you acknowledge.

"I wanted to... I wanted to apologize for—for being so..." While usually an eloquent speaker when the time came for him to compose himself, he's at a loss for words. How does he explain it? He's sorry for being such an ass. He's sorry for taking out his frustrations about love towards you. He's sorry he's being an absolute awful excuse for a fiance—

You approach him, and he looks up, only for you press one of the chocolates against his lips. He looks stunned.

"Try it? I... hope I used the sugar and not salt this time."

He hesitates.

"I'm kidding!"

He takes it into his mouth hesitantly, his gaze fixated on you. He chews slowly, savoring the taste.

"It's good. Even if you did use salt."

Your eyes widen. "Oh no. Did I really..." And then you catch sight of his face, alight with mirth. "You absolute liar, you had me worried for a sec."

"You started it!"

The two of you share a laugh. This is... nice. Unexpected. Obito was hardly expecting to be able to joke around like this with you.

That reminds him. He leaves the kitchen to grab something from the doorstep, returning with something hidden behind his back.

"These um, these are for you."

He holds his hands out bashfully. A colorful bouquet of flowers sits in his hand, freshly delivered to his door.

"Oh." You seem surprised, taking the gift from him with a curious look. "Thanks! I'm allergic."

His eyes widen. "You're not actually..." Shit. How awkward.

"I'm just kidding. It takes two to lie."

You crack a grin, and despite himself, Obito can't help but roll his eyes. His chest feeling oddly light, being able to joke around with you like this.

He doesn't know you yet. He doesn't know you enough to like you yet. But interactions like this give him hope that maybe... maybe things won't be that bad.

"Do you like udon?" Obito asks suddenly, remembering a local place that had good ratings. It was by reservation only, but he could pull some strings.

"Um, no."

"Oh..." He deflates slightly. There goes his plans for the udon date.

"I do like ramen though?” you offer. “And I know a good place…”

As the two of you embark on your first official date together, Obito realizes that maybe… maybe it wouldn’t be awful to get married to someone like you.

Maybe it would be fun, even.

CANON!OBITO, obsessed with the Tsuki No Me plan

When one does not have a heart, they cannot love.

When one’s heart is empty, love is also futile.

These are two things Obito knows with certainty.

The third is this: He could never love you in this cruel, harsh reality.

You want his affection, his desire. Stability, consistency. Someone to call home at the end of the day.

But his love?

His love is a bundle of thorns, amidst which a single, wilted rose lies.

He cannot love you in the way most men should. He will not choose you over the Tsuki No Me plan. When the choice comes down to it, he will discard you if you interfere with his will.

And you’ll yell at him, call him names. Tell him he’s delusional.

But do not think that it’s because he doesn’t care. If you know anything about him, it’s that his love runs deep enough to wage wars, to raze down villages, to have the seas run red with the blood of his enemies.

Even if you do not see his perspective, he is merciful. You will be still be able to live a peaceful life in the Infinite Tsukiyomi.

You and him were not meant to be together in this world. Not in a world where children are sent to war, where villages pile bodies upon bodies to achieve a means to an end. Where his love can be nothing but a poison that seeps into you with a single prick.

But in the world of the Infinite Tsukiyomi, anything is possible.

You and him could be the most loving couple. You, his dearest spouse, waiting for him in the kitchen after a long day, the perfect scene of domesticity. He, your loving husband, would kiss you, wrap his arms around your waist. His hands rubbing over your stomach as he buries his face into your neck, murmuring words of affection.

Things would be perfect. Far unlike the cruel, twisted world the two of you lived in now.

A life of eternal bliss.

And you would be none the wiser that it’s all a dream.

TOBI

“Whaaa, what’s with all the decorations, senpai?”

The three of you were sent on a mission near Kusagakure, and once it ended, decided to check out the village. The main square in is alight with decor, red and pink streamers hanging off food stands, flowers and everywhere the eye could see. 

Deidara snorts. “It’s Valentine’s Day, Tobi.” When the masked man cocks his head to the side, he rolls his eyes. “That shitty holiday where you get chocolates from girls.”

“Ah. Did senpai get any chocolates?”

“Tch, ‘course!” The blond crosses his arms, giving his partner a smug look. “I was so popular back in Iwa, girls would line up to give me their goodies.”

Tobi tilts his head. “I doubt that.”

“Why you—“

As Deidara and Tobi bicker, you walk closer to one of the stands, admiring the intricate bouquets. The life of a shinobi, especially in the Akatsuki, is often treacherous. It’s nice at times to sit back and enjoy the world around you. Not to mention how rare to have this much down time between missions, so you take full advantage of it, admiring the sights and sounds around you. 

“Do you see something you like?”

Tobi approaches you from behind, rubbing his head pitifully. You can only assume that given Deidara’s short temper and Tobi’s wily mouth, that he must have clocked him. 

“The flowers here are pretty,” you note, staring at the designs wistfully.

“Would you like some?” 

He poses the question in the same childlike manner he does everything.

You turn to your companion, observing the mysterious orange mask hiding his face. Tobi has always been an intriguing person, if not rather juvenile. At times you have to wonder if his obliviousness an act. Or if perhaps the shinobi world has broken him in this specific way.

Either way, the leader must find some value in his presence in the Akatsuki.

You smile. “No, I’m okay. You should really only give gifts to people you like on this day.”

“I like you!” Tobi says brightly. 

“Romantically,” you add, assuming once more Tobi’s innocence. Whether forced or not. “You should ideally gift someone you like in a romantic sense.”

You observe the other flowers, not noticing the way his mask dips slightly, as he also seems to survey the offerings.

“But I—oh, Deidara-senpai, there you are!” he says. once the blonde has caught up with you two. “Can I borrow some?”

“You broke idiot, don’t tell me you haven’t gotten paid yet!” He scoffs. “What’s it for anyways?”

“To buy them a flower!” He points at you.

“Tobi, it’s fine. Having to carry a flower around with me would be impractical anyways…” You’ve greatly debated it, but it’s true. The journey back to base is a long one, and no doubt you would end up ruining the flowers before then.

Deidara scrutinizes you, and then glances back at Tobi. He glances between you two a few more times with nothing short of suspicion. “…What? You got a crush or something, yeah?“

“A crush? Is that who you should give flowers to?”

“Ha, Tobi, I think you’re out of your league here. Anyone with two eyes would realize that.”

“Funny you say that… I don’t even think you can see out of two eyes, senpai! Not with your hair covering half your face.”

“You damned brat—“

You let the matter go, deciding that with this duo, the less said is the more peaceful. Sighing softly, you walk away to look at another stall, leaving them to argue again. While you couldn’t take one, you could only dream.

When you return to the base, it’s your surprise to find a flower laid out on your bed later that night. It’s a light red carnation, looking like it was picked straight out of a field.

Next to the flower is a note. The handwriting is messy, with an undeniably childish scrawl.

“I hope you like the flower I picked! The lady agreed to give me one when I told her it’s for a special friend!”

[look-i-love-u]

Galladrabbles - Cold Shower

This week's @galladrabbles is inspired by @michellemisfit's prompt: cold shower.

It's part of my ongoing Baldur's Gate 3 meets Gallavich drabble series, which you can read: HERE.

Plus there's a little extra special underneath the cut! :)

||||||

“Hey, Mickey.” Ian grinned as Mickey’s fighter joined his play session. He’d been itching to call him by his name. Had whispered it at night. It sounded right in his head, felt right on his lips.

“Hey, man.” Mickey’s voice sounds gruff. But he’s smiling. Ian can tell.

“Ready to venture forth into the Shadowlands?”

“Sure. What’s got you all giddy? Need a cold shower before we start?”

“Nope. All good. You will need one when we’re done though.”

“Oh ho. Big Words, Red. That a promise?” Ian hears his grin. Wishes he could see it too.

“Always, Mick. Always.”

And here they are!

Mickey's and Ian's BG3 characters! Plus a longwinded explanation why I made those character choices for them... If you can figure out their name choices I'm gonna hug you from afar!

Ian - Half-Orc Cleric, War Domain, Background: Soldier

Irish green skin to represent the Gallagher pride. Blue-green eyes and ginger hair to find himself in the character. Wild ginger curls to go the one step further and be actually true to himself and leave the straightening iron alone, at least as an online character.

Name: Atir

Freckles - duh! Half-orc because they are super hard to kill as they got Relentless Endurance, the feature that bounces them back to 1 HP (once per Long Rest) which he loves and uses as inspiration/analogy as he's determined to never just lay down and give up, plus a war cleric with a soldier background based on his past and his present (he's an emt in the drabble series).

Mickey - Half-Drow Fighter, Battlemaster, Background: Criminal

Tall big burly guy - wishful thinking/finally representing what he feels like inside.

Name: Isc A. Ifli

Fighter - it's what he knows and is good at plus big ass swords!!, Drow as a misunderstood and mistreated creature that lives in shadows but steps into the light (has the dancing light cantrip), scars to represent his history - he went through shit but survived and lives to tell the tale plus tattoo looking a bit like a mouth sewn shut to show someone who had to hide some secrets. Bonus: super strong eyebrow game!

But it's a dark purple to show some colour coming into the darkness and living his truth going forward…

[battleangel]

Do We Even Give A Damn?

US Supreme Court issued two key rulings within the past week: •Houselessnesss is now illegal •US Presidents have been granted immunity.

Houselessness Per Google: “Last week, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which makes it easier for communities nationwide to fine, ticket or arrest people living unsheltered, even when there is no adequate shelter available.”

They have criminalized being houseless even when there are no other options available.

Immunity •Granted US Presidents immunity — as long as the President states that s/he was acting in an official capacity regardless of crime(s) committed, they will be granted immunity.

Due to a literal average 3 second attention span — 3 seconds! — and instant collective amnesia — within a day, dead Boeing whisteblowers & Super Bowl Chiefs Parade shooting were instantaneously forgotten by the public who had already moved on literally by the very next day.

Theres always another show to stream, social media feed to scroll, youtube video to watch, Discord server to respond to.

They are completely emboldened now and are gearing up for an end game.

You do know who they is — right?

From Chicago Sun Times: “As disturbing as this agenda is, the most alarming and repellent policy proposal contained within Project 2025 is the restructuring of the federal government, eliminating the kind of public servants who stopped Trump from completely disassembling the Department of Veterans Affairs, overcame his resistance to expelling Russian spies, deterred him from shooting racial justice protesters, derailed his plan to deploy the military against migrants and kick undocumented children out of schools and deflected his suggestion to drop nuclear bombs into the eyes of hurricanes.

The Heritage Foundation, which produced Project 2025, grew out of the mid-1970s movement to protect racially segregated schools. The first battle it waged was against a school district’s adoption of multicultural textbooks — “n- - - - er books,” as some opponents called them.’'

Why is Orbán their model? Because he showed them how to use elections to undermine democracy and ensure perpetual power for his team,” historian Nancy McClean said. “How? Orbán purged the civil service and refilled it with obedient loyalists. He got the Constitution altered. He completely dominates. And this is what Heritage wants to see happen in the United States.”

Hitler did it too — look up Night of The Long Knives.

Knives Out.

I want you to know He's not coming back Look into my eyes I'm not coming back

So knives out Catch the mouse Don't look down Shove it in your mouth

If you'd been a dog They would've drowned you at birth Look into my eyes It's the only way you'll know I'm telling the truth

So knives out Cook him up Squash his head Put him in the pot

I want you to know He's not coming back He's bloated and frozen Still there's no point in letting it go to waste

So knives out Catch the mouse Squash his head Put him in the pot

Thom Yorke: “It’s partly the idea of the businessman walking out on his wife and kids and never coming back. It’s also the thousand yard stare when you look at someone close to you and you know they’re gonna die. It’s like a shadow over them, or the way they look straight through you. The shine goes out of their eyes.”

Its like a shadow over them.

The shine goes out of their eyes.

Project 2025. Modern Power Project.

The Democrats naturally have their own Project 2025 — Modern Power Project.

You dont actually think the two parties are different. Do you?

You didnt actually waste your time watching the debate. Did you?

Why is Netanyahu addressing Congress on July 11th after murdering 50k Palestinians since October 7th when 1,700 Israeli civilians have been killed since October 7th?

Dont those numbers seem uneven to you?

Thats not a war or a two-sided conflict — its a genocide that the US is funding to the tune of $4 billion a year in aid to Israel and supplying the weapons & bombs for via Boeing, Raytheon, Northrup Grumman & local mid-western weapons manufacturers.

Netanyahu gets the bully pulpit & gets to address Congress.

What does a murdered 6 year old Palestinian child, Hind Rajab, get?

International investigation into her murder confirms she was killed in “deliberate” Israeli fire.

Still, the US refuses to condemn Israel, refuses to stop funding the genocide and arming the IDF in their merciless butchering of my Palestinian brothers and sisters.

Whats going on?

62 House Democrats voted no last week to recognize the current civilian death toll in Palestine.

Why do you think that is?

As we move into the 4th of July “celebration” of a genocidal white supremacist police state based off of brutalism, slavery, militarism, racism, patrimony, patriarchy, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, the ethnic cleansing of indigenous peoples, the powers that be want you to forget about the genocide in Palestine that YOU are funding with YOUR taxpayer dollars if you work a W-2 job or if you made more than $400 last year via freelancing or entrepreneurship.

That is the vast majority of adult Americans DIRECTLY funding the genocide in Palestine that is literally being livestreamed in real time on our phones on social media.

Enjoy your fucking fireworks.

Democrats Project 2025: “There’s also the awkwardness that surrounds any trend that serves to increase the identification between a private nonprofit and a sitting government — something that may be a boon to a particular think tank that wants to look influential, but can be uncomfortable for those who think about the policy ecosystem writ large.”

“My concern with ‘left’ or ‘right’ talent banks is that they would fuel the idea/narrative that the state is being captured,” said Enrique Mendizabal, whose On Think Tanks (https://onthinktanks.org/) studies think tanks themselves."

Were being set up.

And they know people are too distracted scrolling, streaming, gaming, messaging — theyre too numb — theyre too disaffected — non existent attention spans — instant collective amnesia — to give a fucking damn.

The knives are out.

As Michael Jackson pointed out so emotionally in Earth Song — he literally screamed it — do we give a damn?

The answer collectively is a resounding — About what?

Its not “No”. 

Its bored indifference. Casual apathy. Unfeeling ignorance. 

Its a yawn, an eye roll, a hand wave.

Its not even bothering to look up from scrolling social media.

Hashtags, trending topics, for you page.

Endless rabbit holes on youtube.

IG stories.

Discord servers.

Whatsapp group chats.

Twitch streams.

The age of giving a damn is over.

Time for AI, time for robotics, time for 80% of jobs to be replaced by AI, robotics, technology & automation.

Time for NeuraLink neural implants that will send an electronic signal to my neural synapses the millisecond a social media post receives a like.

Time for Google Glass — Version 2.0 — to play ads on our corneas and behind our eyelids.

Time for augmented and virtual reality to take the place of ever attending anything live ever again — sports game, concert and anything else — why attend anything live when I can just put on my VR & AR headset?

Why live my life when I have my virtual life on Metaverse?

I never have to live my offline life ever again.

I can permanently stay in the Metaverse.

Snowcrashed.

Ready Player One.

.Hack come to life.

The fictional video game depicted in Angel Sanctuary in the 90s — what the manga & anime was named after — has now come to fruition.

Aol Instant Messenger.

Youve got mail!

Yahoooooooooo.

Goooooooooooooogle results.

Dial up internet.

AOL 1.0.

AOL message boards.

Geocities. Angelfire. 

Netscape Navigator.

Does anyone remember the very recent past?

Non-smart cell phones.

No unlimited data.

No 5G, no 4G, no 3G.

No text messages.

No apps.

No social media.

Do you remember the time?

No streaming apps.

Music videos on TV. MTV. That's what Music Television was.

Music videos debuting on TV not Youtube.

Youtube didnt exist before 2005.

Does anyone remember the time?

When songs were three to four minutes long not two minutes?

When cell phones werent surgically permanently attached to our hands?

When we werent on our cell phones 8 to 12+ hours a day every day?

When social media wasnt ubiquitious?

Do you remember the time?

Project 2025 is a 1000 page policy paper.

Per Google: “This 1000-page synopsis focuses on how the next Republican administration should spend their first 180 days in office on uprooting bureaucracy that they consider to be favoring the liberal political agenda. The director of the project, Paul Dans described the project by its pressing goal of “flooding the zone with conservatives.”  

If successful, Project 2025 would facilitate the firing of approximately 50,000 federal workers. This mass exodus of a major workforce is merely a means to an end for the right-leaning Heritage Foundation and the other conservative corporations co-authoring the Project. They see the firing of career government officials as the most direct route to creating a federal bureaucracy filled with political loyalists.”

I dont have time to read 1000 words, much less a 1000 pages.

Does anyone remember a time before music videos?

Why do you think you havent heard as much about the Democrats version of Project 2025?

Its called the Modern Power Project.

Have you figured out yet that Democrats & Republicans are both controlled by the dark entities that inhabit the center of the planet of the earth?

They are the ones that install Reptilians as figureheads — Biden, Trump, Netanyahu, Blinken, etc.

Look at the eyes.

They are Reptilians.

All US Presidents descend from the same UK royal bloodline. 

Look up the genetic testing that has been done.

They are Reptilians.

The dark entities that inhabit the center of the earth placed a power grid on earth multiple millennia ago designed to keep humanitys consciousness at a lower level indefinitely so that they would be able to enslave & control us.

The Reptilians are their enforcers.

Dark empaths and malignant narcissists are their foot soldiers.

The dark entities that inhabit the center of the earth do not want humanity on a mass level raising their consciousness, experiencing their ego deaths, opening their third eyes, experiencing a kundalini awakening, self-actualizing and self-ascending.

If humanity on a mass level does the above and mass ascends, the planet — earth — will also ascend from our current 3D to 10D multidimensional living.

If you are a starseed, indigo child or angelic empath like me, and like Youneekk, your mission is to do everything you can in your own way for humanity to experience a mass consciousness raising.

Youre not human. 

Its a temporary manifestation.

You are only temporarily manifested as a human. 

Remember who you are.

You are an eternal energetic limitless being that originated in the dreamscape.

Thats all the afterlife is — your imagination.

We all intrinsically know from the time that we are children that we can dream and imagine anything.

Thats all the afterlife — dreamscape — is.

Its a multidimensional dimension that we all have existed in prior to our very, very temporary manifestations as humans for eternity.

Just like the “Big Bang” (Kemetic Explosion), we have existed eternally just like the universe and everything in it.

The creation explosion exploded out in a multifractal explosion of light eternally into the past and present in one eternal moment of creation that created everything — humans, unicorns, angels, dragons, gods, mermaids, whales, dolphins, wizards, magick, spells, fairies, sirens, mages, potions, incantations, poetry, art, music, creative expression, crystal balls…

Please Save My Earth, a 90s anime & manga, is actually real. 

That is why people sent letters to the editor of the publication that the manga was originally serialized in stating that the manga brought back their memories — that they were actually aliens from a distant planet in a past life like the main characters that were sent to Earth in their current life to save the planet from ecological destruction.

Please Save My Earth is just describing starseeds & indigo children as that is our mission and the “past life on a distant planet” represented in the anime and manga is simply remembering that prior to you physically incarnating as a human being when your human parents conceived you, you were a limitless energetic eternal being in the dreamscape — you were highly empathic, sensitive, third eye open, self actualized and self ascended — then the process of incarnating as a physical human being in a 3D realm when your parents conceived you severed you from your true self.

Especially if youre American, you were then raised in a western capitalist society with the number one military and economy in the world — a patrimony, patriarchy, fascistic police state based on systems of inequality oppression and police brutality, white supremacy, free labor from enslaved Africans with no restitution or reparations ever paid to descendants that built this country, genocide of the Native Americans, Trail of Tears, zionist devil, funding the genocide in Palestine & supplying the weapons through Boeing, Raytheon, Northrup Grumman to murder 50k innocent Palestinian civilians, transphobic, homophobic, ableist, might makes right, exploitative, low down and dirty, cutting corners, killing whistleblowers, everybody dog food.

Hyper competition, being treated as a machine, dehumanized, being treated as a robot, a cog in the capitalist machine, being programmed to keep your head down and work, play through injuries, work while sick, “pain is weakness leaving the body”, militaristic, hegemonic, xenophobic, millions of poverty related deaths but povertys never addressed, industrial complex pipelines that lead directly to prison and/or death — foster “care” system, cancer industry, medical industry, pharmaceutical industry, NFL, WWE, adult film industry, NASCAR, PBR, UFC, boxing, psychiatric industry, OTC industry, opioid industry, corporate America, retail, fast food, food service, K-12 indoctrination centers, colleges & universities, US military, Pop Warner, fraternities & sororities, weight loss & diet industries, plastic surgery industry, cosmetics industry, alcohol industry, snack industry, beverage industry, meat industry, self care industry, social media, gaming, streaming, reality TV, big tech, big banks, finserv, Wall Street, Fortune 500, Fortune 100, Fortune 25, Fortune 10, Hollywood, music industry, TV industry, publishing industry, theater & Broadway, dancing, stripping…

Remember who you are…

[divinekangaroo]

i might be super late to the party but i was lurking in he tags and: i would LOVE some more explanation/in depth study of what was going on with Tommy and Finn, especially in the last season. I am still, not confused per es, but just wondering alot about some of the choices

This is so interesting, isn't it, particularly when you look at it comparing what 30yo Tommy says to 11yo Finn in S1 versus what 43yo Tommy says to 25yo Finn in S6.

I will warn this isn't coherent in ANY WAY as my infant is being grumpy, but here's a lump of things which struck me as worthy of indepth consideration:

-S1 Tommy telling Finn "don't be me" versus S6 where Tommy basically forces Finn to break his promise to his wife and drink, a mimicry of all the things Tommy has done (go abstinent, fall off the wagon, break promises to his wives).

-Finn being present at all the various violences the Shelby brothers commit, including as a child picking out his own machete (!!!) for one of the mob battles (think it was Epsom?); doing this well enough that he had a reputation -- Songbird Lady in S5 knew enough about the Shelbys to name her new Songbirds 'Tommy, Arthur and Finn'.

-Accidentally or deliberately, Tommy having set up Finn to develop Tommy's vices - cigarettes, drinking, drugs, whoring - pretty much all by the time Finn turned 16. But S5 Tommy nevertheless being very opposed to Finn developing Tommy's vice for violence and risk-tasking, albeit framed as 'we're too high in criminal hierarchy to do grunt work now' not 'you of all of us never have to risk yourself'

-Finn being involved in and integrated into all their illegal business but as a sort of free labour, gopher ('go for'/fetch like an apprentice, or a squire to a knight) - manning the door, bringing around the car, etc

-Finn seeming to hero-worship Tommy, but actually having a brotherly emotional relationship with Arthur. Tommy to emulate, Arthur to actually be a brother.

-Finn and Arthur being the only ones willing to entertain a conversation with their father on his return - Finn trusted Arthur not Tommy, Finn had no father figure, and Tommy did not fill this father figure space or Finn never would have gone with Arthur.

- Tommy brokering Arthur, John and Polly's marriages, and endorsing Ada's partnerships before the family accept them (and Tommy doing what he likes with his own marriages). Then, this way S6 Finn asks Tommy about marrying a girl 'who likes the life' and Tommy telling him no, 'find a girl who doesn't like the life'. And then Finn marries Mary with Tommy's endorsement to the family, and Mary tells Finn not to drink until after 6pm. I did wonder if Mary was the first girl, or was Mary a different girl that Tommy found/endorsed? Because Mary doesn't seem like a girl who likes the life if she's setting limitations on drinking time?

- Finn was effectively raised by Polly. The Shelby mother and father were gone by the time he was 1. Arthur and Tommy (and John) were gone to war by the time Finn was 5, and only returned at when he was 10. Finn had no father figure, ever.

---

So there's this odd push-pull where Finn is clearly one of the Bad Shelby Brothers, because at that time, having him integrated and present in their business was likely the best and easiest way to signify he was protected as well as keep an eye on him. They also used him very much like a squire to their knights, doing the labour and supportive chores and shitty jobs in order to learn the higher level jobs. But then those many conflicted occurances where it seems that Tommy wishes Finn wasn't so involved? Tommy wishes in many ways Finn was less invested in the business so Finn could be released from it? But maybe he doesn't, because Tommy in multiple circumstances challenges Finn with presentation of a vice and Finn always, always indulges -- even if that time, Tommy said don't rather than do?

---

Then we have this interesting symbolic thing happening in S6 between Duke and Finn and Tommy, all revolving around watches.

Duke steals Arthur's watch -- 'I can tell the time' - and in S5, Michael's supposed takeover piece has this strong sense of time -- time for the next generation to step up and time for old men like Tommy to step off the stage and Michael fully brings Finn into it (with Finn's consent/support, or unexpectedly??) and the camera focuses on Finn. So, linked to Michael's failed takeover via the motif of time, Duke can also tell it's time for the next generation, demonstrated by getting one over on ol' Arthur?

Then, Duke only believes Tommy is his father after Tommy explains about Duke's mum's watch that actually, Tommy stole in his youth; and Tommy's brought Duke into the fold so preciptiously because Tommy's (due to terminal diagnosis) running out of time to tidy up his family's loose ends and has to do this now. But also, Duke is symbolically returning time to Tommy that Tommy otherwise wouldn't have by bringing back Tommy's decades-old stolen watch?

Then Tommy has that explosion at Finn about drinking when he wants to and uses Finn's watch to make his point: that says Shelby and you're a Shelby so you tell the watch what time it is. Behind all that is this sense that I bet Tommy wishes he could control time, too, because he'd love to wind it back right now that his time is running out, but also, Finn is a young Shelby and could determine it's time for himself to step up if he simply stopped doing what Tommy kept telling him to do?

In a world where Tommy wasn't running out of time and/or Duke didn't appear, I imagine Finn may have been brought to one side for a quiet chat about Billy Grade and his role in Polly's death. I imagine Finn would have been absolutely destroyed that his sole true caretaker figure was dead because of his loose tongue. I imagine he would have killed Billy, or at least supported Billy being executed. But in this world, Tommy is dying and running out of time, and Tommy is delegating many of his painful tasks to others to do because he can't do everything right now, and why not test both Duke and Finn? Test this next generation as to their readiness to take his place? And who's left in the next generation but for Finn and Duke given Michael's proven himself unsuitable and Charlie is far too young? (I'm sure Uncle Charlie probably had some secret remit to re-home Duke if Duke failed in that scenario too)

---

And I also find it a super interesting parallel that Tommy forces Finn to demonstrate Shelby family loyalty by shooting his best friend, an act Tommy himself did with shooting Alfie for Alfie's betrayal that nearly killed Arthur. In this instance Arthur only almost died so Alfie only almost died - whereas Billy had to really fully die.

---

I mean, none of this gets to a satisfactory conclusion, it's just a bunch of conflicted threads/thoughts. I feel Tommy was vaguely treating Finn like a squire in a faint anticipation of one having Finn step up and take over the business from him, there's a near 20-year age gap between them, but Tommy was always conflicted by this because 1) he didn't really want his littlest brother to have to do the same shit he did, and 2) Finn was not leadership material, smart or cunning in any way, he was really just a consumer of the Shelby proceeds and always obeyed and never really acted to assert himself in the hierarchy. This faintest possibility of Finn taking over was then derailed heavily by Michael who was smart so Tommy dropped those vague unformed thoughts about Finn, but after Tommy knew Michael would be out of the picture in some way in S4 when suspicions start to rise? Finn starts to show up again in Tommy's arc in a very different way, and is put under various levels of pressure, right up to this S6 contrived scenario between Finn and Duke.

I get a sense that over time, Tommy challenged Finn repeatedly with situations of vice, corruption, conflict, difficulty, in the hope Finn would demonstrate enough strength to push back against Tommy instead of performing the vice. But Finn never did, and even when he fucked up, it was a silly mistake not worthy of any respect, not even in the way Michael is worthy of the respect of being killed; and so he is always framed in Tommy's mind as the weak one. There's a clannish behaviour (where clans are about constantly fluid status, not granted/earned and static rank) where you only get status if you behave in a way that already is of that status. Finn never, ever did this. Tommy then contrives a situation of extreme pressure as a last ditch effort to see if Finn will stop being that squire, weak one, or will he finally act according to the status he should be able to claim.

It's also this working class thing of dumping shit and abuse on your sons until your sons are strong enough to force you to stop. Finn's not a son, but that mentality...

---

I'm sorry this is so rambly, one of those fun things that it takes more time to be brief and succinct than just word-vomit on a screen XD Post S6, I have only two fic concepts in my to-write list, and one of them is 100% about Finn, trying to reconcile all of the above. I think Finn's actor did an amazing job of packing so much pain into that final scene it'd be a disappointment if any eventual movie doesn't give him a heavy arc.

[trashcanwithsprinkles]

Wow, I'm mad at myself for being late to the favorite fic subject coming up /j

Personally, I'm a huge sucker for cya and have itysg as a second(however, if we decide to count your other fics then... itysg would be third while your smile makes me smile would be second). I think it's the amount of world building that makes it so interesting for me along with the fact that it takes place before the archon war. Like, there hardly passes a day where cya doesn't just... scoot right over into my thoughts making it kinda hard to reread cause it know it so well </3.

I am sad to say that I haven't checked out BitA yet. When I first saw it while looking for some other fic of yours to read, I didn't really like apocalypse stories much. I might check it out though cause I'm a lot more open to those kinds of stories now. I also remember starting every good intention, but I don't remember why I stopped... I think I had to get off my phone for a bit and just... forgot to continue? Idk I really should check those two...

You really get me Sprinkles- those murder mystery fics are so good! I remember reading one of genshin that was also mixed with a time loop and I just ate it up-(it was sadly discontinued and then deleted from ao3, but not before I managed to download it for future offline reading-) I'm honestly interested in those wriolette ones you mentionned, may I have a few recs if you don't mind? I need more wriolette in my life.

i do in fact have some wriolette murder mystery / cop mystery recs

A Match Made in France by oooohscar - not a murder mystery per se but it does contain mystery investigations. it's basically furina trying to matchmake neuvillette and wriothesley and she quickly discovers they work well as investigation partners? and so she starts trying to get them to investigate things together, but then shit gets out of hand. it's so fucking good and so fucking funny. like it's pre-reveal furina but i can forgive the mild ooc and- y'know, furina portrayal pre-trauma-reveal (?) just because it's so well written and hilarious (and also she's not portrayed entirely as a brat, i find her more absurdly histrionic than anything). also it's not just furina pov, it switches between all of them. it's incomplete but updating, and absolutely worth a read

The Gambler's Debt by Marsrevale - much more serious than the one above, this one is a murder mystery through and through. the mystery is still only starting, so it probably has a long way to go, but i'm patient so i'll keep up. it's basically neuvillette and clorinde going to investigate a series of murders in the fortress of meropide (this is a sort of modern au so meropide is a gambling house / hotel i think) and wriothesley is the main suspect, but there's also stuff going on between neuvillette and wriothesley bc they knew each other long ago but only wriothesley recognizes him. idk how else to describe it, it's really intriguing so far, i hope the mystery pans out nicely

Hold my hand, never let me go by Jinnmi - also a proper murder mystery, this one is about what is essentially a branch of fontaine's police force for criminal investigation led by wriothesley and the many interconected cases they have to solve. neuvillette is sent as a consultant to keep an eye on them, but ends up basically joining the team as they all try to solve a big case that seems to threaten the country whole and is also somehow connected to wriothesley's past. this one is very good, the murders might be a bit too gruesome for sensitive people? but still, really nice. i love the unsettling vibe of whatever the one behind this all is planning, the suspense is also really good. still updating and i rush to it every time a new chapter comes out, it had me in a chokehold when i first found it.

hope those sound interesting!

[dailycass-cain]

Batman: Wayne Family Adventures gave us a NEW Cass-centric arc.  It FINALLY released in its entirety this past Wednesday so yeah, at long last I'm gonna dig in and my thoughts on it!  

Season 2 of WFA has given us a lot of Cass in appearances (sixteen of the so far forty-eight episodes released) though unlike Season 1 Episodes 90-91 is our first official Cass-centric dramatic story this season.

And it is a double salvo of treats.

First off we get a team-up of Cass with Damian. Something we've barely gotten in the comics. Literally, Gates of Gotham is STILL the only time these two have teamed up.

That was in 2011. We're in 2023. HOW IS THIS STILL THE ONLY CANNON TEAM-UP we've had between them?!

Yes, they've interacted more since 2020 (three times compared to just twice prior to that, and I'm being kind with one of those interactions).  So yeah this episode is already doing things the mainline hasn't broken ground on.

But as always WFA gives us the dynamic barely teased in the main line (but is laser-focused here), the big sister Cass worried for Damian on their mission who breezes how easily it'll be given its Mad Hatter they're dealing with.

Just like recently in Batgirls #16, there is an underestimation of the Hatter that in this adventure costs Cass as she's brainwashed to be his weapon. Hatter's dialogue in part 1 is our first real insight to criminals in Gotham know about Cass.

This is something NEVER brought up in the mainline comics nowadays (probably due to DC's fear of acknowledging either origin of Cass). So we're in this "Schrödinger's bat" situation where both are her origin, but are not shown.

Here, it's quite clear probably which origin is canon to WFA (more on that soon) as Cass is used by Hatter to kill Damian. For all Damian's own fighting skills well, this is the first comic mention of him acknowledging her and actually caring about her.

Like literally, this episode fully continues off the last Cass-centric episodes we got all the way back in Season 1 with Episodes 32-33 “All Seeing” where we saw things thru Cass's eyes. Here we see again how the family views her via Damian.

But not only that, this is Cass's greatest fear come to life (per "All Seeing" her being used as this weapon and not a person). Again writer CRC Payne just DELIVERS with the emotion by having the emotionally reserved Damian pour out trying to reach Cass.

I have to give major props as well to artist Geoniya Acuna too. The emotion is drawn in both characters' faces. The change in Cass's eyes when she's switched into "weapon mode".

All of it is just *chef's kiss*.

That jaw-dropping ending is a good lead into part 2 where we see the war in Cass's mind trying to take back control.  

And here we get the series showing us her origin for the first time. And oh my.  I so wasn't expecting to see this bastard again:

Due to DC not acknowledging which origin of Cass's is the defacto one has left David Cain in a curious state.  Because if they go into the old one he's like above.

If they acknowledge the newer one, he's basically Donnie Yen as Storm Shadow.

So it just shocks me to see WFA go for their take on the original origin. It's simplified and that's the point Payne having Cain talk to Cass this episode.

I don't see it as Cain actually talking to her, more a mixture of Hatter's mind stuff and Cass's own insecurities taking shape. Until she remembers a CERTAIN someone who she met when she was lost. 

Again, the episode takes HEAVILY into Cass’s old Pre-New 52 origin acknowledging Babs took her in (and the crowd who ache for this version of a mature Barbara go wild). I know you stood up and cheered when WFA went there.

Because of that, Cass starts to break free of the mind control. Remembering more the bonds she forged. Remembering the identity she took and if anything this is where the one slight I have for this issue.

The episode gives us the first ever clear look of the top section of Cass's Batgirl outfit.  I had to pause reading it, and was like "Gimme this WFA. I want to see this suit in action. You don't tease me like this."

This is the only negative I ever give WFA when it comes to Cass/Tim due to their troubled histories in mainline DC Comics. WFA is like, an all-you-can-eat buffet acknowledging it all.

By showing it, you do the Orphan identity a disservice. Literally, we're 99 episodes in, and the only time they've acknowledged "why" Cass adopted this identity was as a joke.

I get "why" it was added to the series. It was the identity Cass had at the time.  But the creators of WFA have done their own "rebranding" of the identity. Giving Cass a scarf or cape to the costume. A different mask than the one she wears in the comics.

I get it. It's because for script purposes it allows the creators to have her outside the mask and be more expressive.

It's just that... 

You tease us fans by showing this suit. You dangle that Batgirl crumb over us. You're just gonna make us want more of this WFA Batgirl costume now (after dancing around it last season).

Now I want it.

I want to see this costume in action. I know Acuna can handle it. Give them the chance someone!  Give us the Batgirls episode this series NEEDS!!! You just don't tease us Cass/Steph's costumes and expect us not to want MOAR!

Cause we do.

Back to the story, these moments break free from Hatter's grasp and we get that righteous beatdown he's so deserved for daring to do that to Cass (along with a cute sisterly moment of Cass picking Damian up).

Like, again the series does what the main line hasn’t. Given us this moment of the two (given their similar backgrounds) being there for one another when moments like these happen. 

Even more, a cute exchange after all said hijinks. 

These two episodes again were a nice sequel to the last Cass-centric arc paying off seeds that began there and we get some rich moments here.

The only thing is the Batgirl-in-the-closet problem which continues to hamper the series.

But I digress that's my own minor nitpick. I can fully admit and cast aside my own "fandom" to say WFA is doing the duty it can showcasing ALL the Bats why they have such loyal fans.

This was another amazing chapter that WFA just seems to pull for their female cast and I'm glad there's this balance between overtly cute, but also educating the casual fan to those not given the light previously shined on them.

That said, I think it's time for another Harper Row arc. She's overdue for one being introduced this season.  Just give us that perfect bookend for the character with another stellar arc.

The creative team knocked another home run with this Cass arc.  Kind of leaves me just wanting more. 

Am I greedy? 

Yes.  

But it shows how good this creative team is feeding that fan side to me with these characters. Make that crave occur. So yeah kudos to them. 👍

This was an amazing arc giving us things I wish the actual mainline DC Comics would give us. Something I feel is an untapped field just aching to be dug into and mined.

[dragoneyes618]

This past Last Saturday afternoon, 71-year-old Hagar Gefen was driving through the Jordan Valley when she was waylaid by Palestinian assailants. They pulled her from her car, beat her and stole her vehicle.

Gefen is an anti-Zionist activist affiliated with the radical NGO Looking the Occupation in the Eye. Her group’s modus operandi is to harass Israeli civilians and military forces in Judea and Samaria in order to demonize them. As the organization’s leaders wrote recently, “We initiate direct actions that get in the face of the settlers and challenge the security forces. We work in cooperation with Palestinian colleagues who often stand together with us in the West Bank.”

Gefen was carjacked just after she had just finished such a “direct action”: “Protecting” Palestinian shepherds from Israelis who live in the area. When security forces came to help the elderly woman as she sat beaten on the side of the highway, Gefen refused to file a complaint against her assailants.

Her story is notable because all aspects of it—the carjacking, her efforts as an anti-Israel activist to demonize Israeli residents of Judea and Samaria, and her refusal to report on Palestinian violent attacks, even when she is the victim of those attacks—expose the nature of the current international campaign against Israel’s civilian and military presence in Judea and Samaria. This campaign reached its pinnacle on Feb. 1 with an executive order issued by U.S. President Joe Biden, directly targeting Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria as quasi-terrorists.

Galloping Palestinian terrorism

This week, the Israel Defense Forces published its final statistics for 2023 regarding Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria. Last year saw a 350% increase in terrorist attacks over 2022 levels, with 608 attacks last year and 173 in 2022. The IDF reported that 300 of the 608 attacks were shooting attacks—the highest number since the Second Intifada from 2000 to 2005.

The IDF data only includes incidents that ended with wounded or dead Israelis and others. The full data shows that the dimensions of Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria are much greater.

United Hatzalah’s Rescuers Without Borders serves as the first responders in Judea and Samaria. Its data enumerated 4,099 terror attacks during the first six months of 2023 alone. In the 100 days following Oct. 7, Palestinians carried out another 2,674 attacks on Jews in Judea and Samaria. Rescuers Without Borders includes vehicular stoning attacks in their data. Those average around 10 per day.

Not including stoning attacks, the Oct. 7 massacre or the casualties of the war in Gaza, the Shin Bet tallied 3,436 attacks in Israel, including Judea and Samaria in 2023. A total of 43 Israelis were murdered and another 224 were wounded. Israel Police put the total number of terror attacks in Judea and Samaria during 2023 at 5,600.

While the data varies depending on the source and what is counted, the trends are clear: 2023 saw a massive increase in Palestinian terrorist attacks, and in the number of Israeli victims. The steepest increase came in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks.

Elusive settler violence

This brings us back to Gefen and her bid to “protect” Palestinian shepherds from “settler violence” in the Jordan Valley last Saturday. The level of Palestinian terrorism against Israelis in Judea and Samaria, coupled with the sheer volume of terrorist agitation in the areas, make it difficult for Gefen and her comrades to claim that Israeli Jews are the cause of the dire security situation in the areas.

But they don’t let the absence of evidence stop them in their bid to demonize and criminalize “the occupation.” To advance this line, as Looking the Occupation in the Eye explained, anti-Zionist activists from Israel and abroad working with the Palestinians have developed a pipeline for pumping libelous claims against Israeli Jews into the international discourse, and most importantly, into the U.S. State Department. The process, stunning in its boldness, was first exposed by the Hakol Hayehudi (“The Jewish Voice”) news service early last November in a report on one such NGO, the Hamas-aligned and Muslim Brotherhood-funded International Solidarity Movement (ISM), whose members overlap with members of Gefen’s outfit.

The case first reported by Hakol Hayehudi occurred on Oct. 25. That morning, Israeli and foreign ISM activists began harassing IDF reservists in a guard post outside the Maon Farm in the south Hebron Hills. When the reservists left their post to confront the activists, ISM member Allison Russell filmed them in an unflattering way that made it appear the reservists were instigating an altercation. Russell posted her video on Facebook later that morning.

Shortly after Russell posted the video, Breaking the Silence reposted it on its Twitter feed, presenting it as proof of “settler violence.” Breaking the Silence is an Israeli-registered NGO that runs international political and lawfare campaigns to demonize the IDF.

Breaking the Silence is funded by foreign governments, the United Nations and anti-Israel far-left NGOs aligned with the Democratic Party and the State Department, including George Soros’s Open Society Foundations and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Given its connections, once the video was posted on Breaking the Silence’s Twitter feed, it quickly made the rounds in Washington. Around 20 hours after the ISM provocation outside the Maon Farm in the south Hebron Hills, Biden issued his first broadside against Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria. Standing next to visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, he condemned “settler violence” and accused “extremist settlers” of “pouring gasoline on a fire.”

Two days later, a coalition of 22 anti-Israel NGOs, mainly funded by foreign governments, including the U.S. government, the New Israel Fund, the Open Society Foundations and the Ford Foundation, published a document titled, “Emergency Call to the International Community: Stop the Forcible Transfer in the West Bank.” Datelined from the south Hebron Hills, they decried what they referred to as “the state-backed wave of settler violence.”

The groups alleged, “For the past three weeks, since Hamas’s atrocities of October 7th, settlers have been exploiting the lack of public attention to the West Bank, as well as the general atmosphere of rage against Palestinians, to escalate their campaign of violent attacks in an attempt to forcibly transfer Palestinian communities.”

The truth was very different both then and since. IDF data showed that violent incidents involving Palestinians and Israeli civilians in October 2023 were down 31% over the corresponding month in 2022. Violent incidents involving Israeli civilians and Palestinians were 55% lower than they were in November 2022.

In other words, as Palestinian terror attacks against Israelis reached a 20-year high, incidents involving Jewish violence were down by half, standing at 201.

Moreover, as veteran investigative reporter Kalman Liebskind demonstrated in the Israeli newspaper Maariv in December 2023, among the 201 reported cases of violence involving Israeli civilians and Palestinians, the IDF could not determine in 136 cases, or 67% of the incidents, who had started the incident. As Liebskind and others showed at the time and since, in the vast majority of those cases, the “settler violence” was simply Israeli civilians trying to defend themselves against Palestinian terrorists and lynch mobs.

As Liebskind reported, in one typical incident designated as “settler violence,” an Israeli motorist driving to his home in Tekoa in Gush Etzion with four teenage passengers was blocked from advancing on the highway by a herd of sheep. He slowed down only to have his vehicle pelted with rocks by a dozen or so Palestinians. Armed, he exited his car and shot two shots at the ground to try to scare them away. His gun jammed, and the Palestinians began beating him with rocks and sticks, and tried to steal his gun. When the teenagers tried to help him, they were also assaulted. Another Israeli driver saw what was happening, and armed, he got out of his car to help. He shot into the air, and the Palestinians began attacking him as well. The first driver was bleeding from his head wound. A military patrol that arrived at the scene was also attacked with rocks. The soldiers opened fire on the assailants, shooting three of them, before rescuing the Israeli drivers and teenagers from the lynch mob that ambushed the first driver.

Since the IDF force arrived after the incident began, it was classified as an act of “Jewish nationalist violence,” rather than a terrorist attack. This misclassification is so routine that even the United Nations acknowledges it is standard practice.

On its website, the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs acknowledges that its data on Palestinian casualties of so-called “settler violence” “includes Palestinians killed or injured during attacks or alleged attacks they perpetrated against Israeli settlers.”

The purpose of the slanderous charges of Jewish aggression is obvious. They are leveled against Israeli civilians to assert a moral equivalence between Palestinian terrorists and their Israeli victims. Particularly after Oct. 7, the case for Palestinian statehood hinges on criminalizing Israeli opponents of Palestinian statehood. And the most easily caricatured and demonized opponents of Palestinian statehood are Israelis who work to maintain Israeli control over Judea and Samaria by farming, herding sheep and living in scattered communities. Israelis in these areas are law-abiding and peaceful. But if they are perceived as such, the U.S. and other Western governments will have no way to justify their policy of forcibly expelling these Israelis, along with the rest of the 500,000 Israeli Jews who live in Judea and Samaria, from their homes and communities, and transferring control over areas where no Jews live to Palestinians who overwhelmingly support the genocide of Jewry and the annihilation of the State of Israel. Demonizing them is key.

The demonization campaign against the Israelis in Judea and Samaria brings U.S. diplomats together with Palestinian terrorists and terrorism boosters. It culminated on Feb. 1 with Biden’s executive order. Titled “Executive Order on Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank,” it makes Israeli Jews targets of U.S. economic and travel sanctions. The order reads like a press release from the anti-Israel NGOs it relies on for its false accusations. It asserts that Biden “find(s) that the situation in the West Bank—in particular high levels of settler violence, forced displacement of people and villages and property destruction—has reached intolerable levels and constitutes a serious threat to the peace, security and stability of the West Bank and Gaza, Israel and the broader Middle East region.”

Their ascribed actions, the order goes on, “undermine the foreign-policy objectives of the United States, including the viability of the two-state solution.”

Biden’s order freezes all funds belonging to the targets of the sanctions. The four Israeli farmers named in the order stand accused of no crimes and were never convicted of any crimes. Their families report, however, that they were subjected to daily assaults and provocations by ISM and other anti-Israel activists who have trespassed on their land and have harassed them, and their wives and children, daily for the past four years. They are not U.S. citizens and have no property in the U.S. or accounts in U.S. banks. All the same, after the Treasury Department threatened Israeli banks with sanctions, the men’s bank accounts have all been frozen.

Next target for demonization: The IDF

One of the many distressing aspects of the campaign to criminalize Israeli civilians is that it is already apparent that they are only the first target. The next one is the IDF.

Two months ago, as the administration and its allied anti-Israel NGOs were kicking their post-Oct. 7 demonization campaign against “settler extremists” into high gear, the State Department sent the IDF a list of military operations that its forces in Judea and Samaria had carried out since Oct. 7, demanding detailed explanations and justifications of the operations. The State Department gave the IDF three months to submit its response before the United States began banning weapons transfers to the units involved in the incidents.

For their part, NGOs like Breaking the Silence work with anti-Israel reporters to demonize the IDF war in Gaza as well.

Last week, CNN ran a report featuring videos that IDF forces in Gaza took of themselves and their units blowing up buildings in Gaza. Recognizing the justice of Israel’s war in Gaza, the soldiers are proud of their contribution on the battlefield. The videos posted have gone viral in Israel, and play a key role in boosting and maintaining morale.

Yet spurred by Breaking the Silence’s CEO Avner Gvaryahu, the CNN report presented the videos as sinister admissions of Israeli venality, in general, and of the malicious nature of IDF soldiers specifically. “Israel is under increasing scrutiny over the war in Gaza. These videos may well be adding fuel to that criticism,” the reporter intoned.

The anti-Israel NGOs rejoiced at the report. Looking the Occupation in the Eye tweeted its glee at the thought of war-crimes trials against IDF soldiers.

“Take a look [at the CNN report]. Here are the soldiers that are helping the Government of Israel prepare its report to the [International Court of Justice at the] Hague [where Israel is being tried for genocide]. From anonymous warriors to celebrity bombers. Who wants to go abroad, and can’t? [For fear of war crimes charges, CBG] Raise your hands!”

Today, 92% of Israeli Jews oppose Palestinian statehood. Following Oct. 7, the vast majority of Israelis across the political spectrum recognize that a Palestinian state is as great an existential threat to Israel as Iran’s nuclear-weapons program.

Recognizing that they have no domestic support for their prized program, Israeli anti-Zionists and the State Department have joined forces to extort the government and people to act against their existential interests. The people, army and government of Israel now face a choice: They can stand up to this campaign of extortion through criminalization, even at the cost of an open breach with the Biden administration, or they can accept the destruction of their country.

[eggs-can-draw]

I love V3 as a concept, but shooting canon out back for a meta commentary for a long standing series was.... Honestly a mid ending.

Not to mention as an entry, it highlights a Lot of the issues prevalent throughout the series in terms of incest (poorly handled in every attempt), racism (making darker skinned characters have violence related ultimates or butchering their cultures), homophobia (gesturing vaguely to every canonical gay relationship), transphobia (look at how they handled Chihiro), and thinly veiled WW2 Apologism/Outright Antisemitism (Kiyo's design, Kokichi's splash art, The Board Of Global Controllers Thing Byakuya References, and Kirumi's entire last name and deal being a reference to The War Criminal Prime Minister of Japan, etc.)

Fortunately, because Chunsoft Fucked Up as per usual, my city now. My silly billies and my redesigns and rehashes.

Oh yeah they definitely Fucked Up but like. Would it be danganronpa if there wasn’t at least one bit where you gotta look away and pretend you aren’t associated. Cmon. Listen. Every game has that several aspects we pretend isn’t real. And then a localization that walks in and makes some of the bad stuff worse (I am looking Angie Yonaga and her already questionable writing in the eyes.)

I unno in a Lot of ways I feel like Dr fans will hammer on V3’s misgivings a lot more than the other games (barring udg cause you need to be a specific level of strong willed to have udg be one of your favorites)

Like. I unno. I think chunsoft is just shitty I’ll be real. I like a thing they made but I don’t like a lot of the choices made within it or what they imply about the people making those choices.

It’s midnight im probably not getting my point across correctly but I think the vibe of v3’s ending went incredibly hard, and the way it repaints the entire game before it rivals the strength of sdr2’s ending in my opinion.

V3 is a Lot of REALLY good concepts that have to coexist with some REALLY bad execution or ideas alongside it, but that’s ALWAYS been Dr.

[tomorrowusa]

Russia is intentionally targeting Ukrainian schools and other educational and cultural institutions. Because of this, schools in Kharkiv, the second largest city in the country, education is conducted mostly by remote learning.

Kharkiv Secondary School No.26 has been school for twin brothers Misha and Maksym Maslov for 11 years.

The brothers and their classmates have been doing their final-year exams from home due to the threat of Russian missiles. Their school has already been struck once.

"There was a whole rocket or a bomb in our schoolyard. It fell here," Maksym says.

"I think it's unforgivable," Misha says.

"It shouldn't be happening. It's unhuman. People live here. There are no war objects here, and it's a totally peaceful place."

Of course it shouldn't be happening. But Vladimir Putin has been resorting to terrorism since the first day of the war. War crimes are the norm with Putin's Russia.

People in the West who make excuses for Russia or who describe the war as a simple "border dispute" are little more than apologists for fascism.

There's a strong feeling in Kharkiv that schools and other educational facilities have been deliberately targeted by Russian missiles as a way of eroding Ukrainian culture and identity.

When you look at the numbers, it's hard to argue against this theory.

"Six-hundred-and-thirty-four educational institutions have been destroyed or damaged throughout the network," says Oleksiy Litvinov, the director of the Kharkiv Department of Science and Education.

"Among them, almost the majority are institutions of general secondary education, that is, schools. To date, the number of them destroyed and damaged in the entire region is almost 500."

"Universities, academies, schools, institutes and kindergartens, 44 per cent of these are damaged or destroyed. Among them, 74 were destroyed in total."

These observations about Russia targeting Ukrainian schools are not just coming from Ukraine.

The Eyes on Russia project at the Centre for Information Resilience has been mapping the attacks on Kharkiv's educational facilities since February last year.

The project's deputy lead Belén Carrasco Rodriguez told the ABC their evidence shows that Kharkiv schools have been deliberately targeted.

"In July 2022, we saw that although the front line had shifted from Kharkiv there was an increase in the shelling of educational facilities in Kharkiv City," she says.

"An analysis of the surroundings of these educational facilities suggested that these were targeted attacks and not a by-product of indiscriminate shelling."

Ms Carrasco Rodriguez says directly targeting schools could constitute a war crime.

"A lot of children have lost their access to education, especially in frontline areas, and others have had to shift to online education or move to other schools," she says.

Back at Kharkiv Secondary School No.26, graduating students are not letting Putin and his fellow war criminals get in the way of their dreams.

"I want to apply to university to become a paediatrician to treat children in Ukraine," Viktoria [Kulish] says.

Maksym wants to become a computer programmer, his brother Misha is hoping to work as a translator.

"I already know four languages and I want to learn a fifth. It will be Chinese," he says.

"I want to let the world know about our problems, about everything that is happening here."

And there's another priority that dominates their thinking as they finish up their final-year exams.

"I hope the war ends," Misha says.

"Yeah, me too," Maksym says, finishing his brother's sentence.

[meltingheaven27]

O Allah, hear my confession, forgive how bloody my bloodline

It's election week in Indonesia, it's my second election ever.

The election week is tense as ever, it is never calm enough since the rising of technology makes us easily use the platform to use our voice and criticize any part and thing. I used to not really care about politics, i don't know where to start, and i don't think my presence is relevant. But it is different now. Since i get into university, i do realize politics reacts to every life aspects and from that thoughts, i started to care about politics.

2024 election give us 3 candidates, with one familiar faces, Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo trying so hard to be elected as a president of Indonesia for 3 consistent years, he never really want to lose, everyone else too, right? But, he's... a bit too ambitious. He was on a military background and has been on Soeharto regime as a general. He participated a lot of massacre that is happened in Indonesia, one of the worst, such as Timor Timur and 1998.

His background on general and closeness with the regime of Soeharto is the starting point where i starting to learn that i, to be exact, my family is one of reason part of this mess.

My family have a strong bond with Soeharto regime and Prabowo/military. Where on my mom side, my grandpa is in a high position on Per***** or PT Ba***, where my mom's family fortune is benefited from the rule of Soeharto where most of his law leaning on the higher society, it makes them (my family) seemed glorified him in a scary way. Our familial ties has our own way to the vice president, i don't really know how. His name is Tri Sutrisno, a spouse of my far related family, Tuti Sutiawati.

I remembered how my mom brag about her tableware, and i remember when she showed me a souvenir for her Wedding ceremony from Try Sutrisno, it was a pink and white ceramic set with a floral print on it, also a nice printed letter to congratulate her wedding with my dad. That's when i know how i related to someone that is a big person, someone from higher society.

My family always told me how sweet and safe Soeharto regime is, they always told me how the prices are cheap (for them), safe when you walk home at night (i really need a verification on this), and any other things. It's always on the same narration between one member to another, i started to believe that.

Days are changing, i started to learn later in my life, that Indonesia's history is written or mostly told hiding the harsh truth. Where at that time, when Try was a vice president and general, is also part of the mess, just like Prabowo.

the picture's ahead is a prints that taking a part of the mess in Indonesia from Aksi Kamisan

Try Sutrisno is allegedly taking part of the tragedy of Tanjung Priuk, where lies a failed Indonesia democracy under Soeharto regime. As said in Wikipedia, the tragedy took 20 person's died, just because critique of the regime and one of man that moving the dead bodies was Try Sutrisno itself.

I learned those things from activists, mostly, articles and literature is also take part for finding all of his involvement and information. To think about it too, i started to realize when i exposed to 2 narration which leads me to use basic logic to think and looking for the red strings, which one is making it sense logically and objectively, most importantly, why does my family is stable when the horrible things happened?

It was my first Kamisan, the protest that runs for more than 700+ weeks that took place in front of the Presidential Palace Jakarta and Thursday, right after the election day. The quick count said that Prabowo is leading the electoral politics. The ambience was full of anger, if not, in between hopeless and mad over the chaos Indonesia's Politics in general. Where the leading candidates is a war criminal and unethical youngster that broke off the law with the help of his uncle (Constitutional Court) and dad (President). The frustation on people's eyes, the hurt they felt, is represented by emotional rain that couldn't wipe down their rage over the corrupt government. There is several agenda such as oration from several activists and professors, how their voice full of rage and sadness combined, that vibrating to my inner self, full realization that i am guilty. I am, my family, is the main cause of these people suffering. My eyes full of tears, wiped out by the rain in front of National Monument. I can't say anything, i honestly don't know what to do, i am blinded so far, but i want to do something at least, other than repent to God and the people.

I wanna pay back by voicing my voice and take part, even though i know it's too late. This is my sins, where my bloodline is full of blood.

[tree-of-blue-squirrel]

butting in on this point, because in theory it is alright, but once you look at the details it is just plain malicious

it's "theft" to make an image in an art style "owned" by someone else (imagine if this was actually a law. now imagine what a company like disney would do in this scenario. how would this turn out for small independent artists?)

I think we can all agree on the fact that digital art (at least when made by human creative process) IS art. Art forgery has been around for a long time, although it´s been restricted to forgery in physical and historic media - after all, a dead artist can´t argue that they didn´t actually create some specific artwork and during the world wars, bunch of art going missing means that no one bats an eye if there suddenly is a newly rediscovered one.

Then of course comes the long and meticulous process of proving that the piece was authored by the dead artist, not a forger who is trying to pass it as a real deal. This doesn´t make the forger any less skilled, copying the style and materials used is no easy feat, especially when looking to fool someone rich dumbass to hand over a large sum of money. However, the deception involved is the crime. Basically, the fake copper ingots thing all over again.

Digital art has the short end of the stick, precisely because it is composed of colored pixels, not physical materials applied in numerous layered strokes. Making an indistinguishable copy of any digital image is stupidly simple - even more so if you intend to just make a visual duplicate, not one to one copy which has 100% of the pixels. Just think of the many times you´ve taken a screenshot on phone or desktop computer or cropped a part of a post to paste it for comedic emphasis.

Teaching a computer to emulate an artstyle - that is not easy. You have to put genuine amount of effort and resources into it, just like a forger would. It makes you no less of an artist, the same way that a skilled forger must have a great skill before making a work to pass off as a genuine article. However, there is distinction in use of those skills that makes a fine art forger a criminal.

Deception for monetary gain.

Let´s say a prospective programmer feeds their little AI baby bunch of images by a specific artist (perhaps recently deceased) and begins to create artworks, passing them off as genuine art of the deceased, created juuuust before they passed away. What a pity they couldn´t share them with the world before their departure. So sad...

It sounds far-fetched now maybe, but with the evolution of AI, this MAY become a legitimate concern. I mean, there are already workarounds for these problems, such as digital glazing, digital signature, hell, even steganography if you are really intense about proving that your art is truly yours.

Except, that is NOT the issue that is being picked apart in this post. What is at the core of questioning is the unglazed, freely accessible images being used as starting materials. They have authors which go swept under the rug, not acknowledged or compensated for their work. Now, Brandname watercolors don´t just exist in nature, they cannot be simply foraged, so it follows that master-level images should not be freely accessible on the internet. But they are, in a clean, legal way, because the law has not caught up to the tech yet.

The most straightforward, ethical way of sourcing images for AI - when used to produce monetary value in ANY form (ads on host websites, pay2use structures, subscriptions, etc.), is to compensate all of the contributors of the images in a form of royalties (written an notarized consent contract necessary of course), which should be on per generation basis, and any AI generated content bearing an NON-REMOVABLE WATERMARK ON FULL DISPLAY AT ALL TIMES or a similar measure, making it impossible for someone to parade AI generated content around as human-created. Removal of such mark would therefore make the piece illegal to distribute for financial gain, though not halt distribution itself (this is in an online space impossible to do).

TL; DR: I agree that AI generation has its place in many spheres. It has a potential to speed up workflow and automate repetitive pattern-heavy tasks. It is a way to efficiency, HOWEVER, I do not believe AI should be a road to financial gain when the input data is a creation that can already be sold as is.

That is all.

on the other end the copyright argument against ai art is just so bad. I hate how that's the most common one people use, like I'm sorry but an interpretation of copyright law that classifies images made with generative ai as "plagiarism" or "theft" would be a worst-case scenario for everyone except the walt disney corporation