#personas-against-antis

[machiavellli]

All these haters, including Lesyle Headland, make the Jedi bashing even worse because the Jedi are inspired by inspired by Asian culture, aka my people's culture and religion. Buddhism is NOT Catholicism. And to see the Jedi portrayed by an Asian woman in episode 5 get horrifically killed by Darth Annoying Asshole aka Qimir (who is portrayed by an Asian man also), Master Sol portrayed by a Asian man, and there's a Brendok witch who died in episode 7, and portrayed by Amy Tsang, an Asian woman, plus all the awful Jedi hate ("the Jedi are BAD, confirmed" NO THEY AREN'T!!!) just makes me wonder about how Disney, a Western company (run by several racist, ignorant assholes) and Lesyle Headland (thst racist BITCH) makes me really wonder about how white Westerners feel about Asians. My people and their culture deserve better than how white Westerners treated them!!!

you said it all.

I wish she would understand the complexity of your culture, which, as you said, it’s the inspiration behind the jedi order. :/

[alithiasigma]

The research suggests that death is inevitable and that botox (botulinum toxin), a substance often used in anti-aging treatments, is bad for the human body. Biology, particularly regarding endocrinology, neurology, and sensory studies, indicate that even if death weren't inevitable, immortality would not be pleasant for any human.

scrunching my face real hard rn

[dasyr0se-blog]

Not related to anything but I just woke up and been going through some acotar post and...

What other path is there, in the future, other than Villain Rhysand actually wanting the high king position and actively manipulating feyre's mind to behave and think like he wants her to?

Because that has been happening since, maybe, the end of the third main book. Becoming more and more explicit in acofas and acosf.

There are do many discrepancies from Feyre's true personality (hating being seen as only a baby maker, some trophy wife that has to be protective at all times, fierce and protective of her family despite their problems, uncontrollable) to what she is now, the contrary of everything I've mentioned.

Saw a post where someone said that you can see explicitly when sjm breeding kink developed and, like... fr is absolutely clear.

If it was something feyre had always wanted I wouldn't be even saying anything but it's weird in this case. She's 21, all she had wanted was a bit of peace, a life where she didn't have to actively take care of anyone anymore.

Feyre despised seeing injustice and negligence by authorative figure (hence her clear disagreement with the way Tamlin handled the Tithe and the water wraiths) but suddenly she sees no problem in Rhysand ignoring a whole Court (CoN) and barely managing another (Illyria) in favor of one specific city?

Honestly I have so many other things to say I have half a mind to go back and re-read all the book just to point out just where feyre started loosing herself blindly in her love for her mate and new family.

The way sjm writes is odd. Cassian and Nesta had an amazing potential and she ruined it. Azriel had an amazing character potential but she turned him into another fuckboy who will only be interested in someone if their his potential mate?

Also the weird thing with sjm and her writing of the relationship between Mor and Cassian- like, that man loves, adores and would be willing to fuck the woman he sees as a sister.

Wtf??

Also Armen's assh*le existence in general and her goals for Rhysand High King.

Just wrong.

Let me not even get started with the way she writes the other characters to see Rhysand as the utmost good despite his LITERAL WAR CRIMES.

She wrote he murdered children before she changed her fucking mind and didn't make him a villain after all.

Tf.

I bet she, subconsciously still sees him as villain. Because that is not a gray character.

You know who is gray? Eris, Tamlin and he'll even Beron if you see it from a certain point (very difficult, the man should still suffer and die).

But High Lord Rhysand is just complete bad guy major a-hole who should have died in the war with Hybern. I wonder how many changes Feyre would have done if he hadn't come back and brought Armen with him.

"Oh but we are the Court of Dreamers!" Bitch please you all are a true Nightmare brought out from Pandora's Box (ignoring the frue connotations from PB in Greek Mythology) with the objective of ruining people's lives just because.

Fuck that!!

Still not done raging! Will write a villain Rhysand story! I'm mad now! Will give characters justice (I see you Nesta)!

[arrenlebanen777]

ASTRO OBSERVATIONS 8888

★ The natal chart we all know is actually the persona chart of the Sun. It represents what your soul chose to live out in this incarnation. The Sun is like a gift, a core of purpose and direction. By embodying the planets in your natal chart and healing their energies, you can reach a significant point of evolution for your being. In it, your purpose, healing, duties, and blessings are contained.

On the other hand, the persona chart of each planet reveals how that planet feels at a deeper level. Sometimes, you may not fully resonate with the way it projects in your natal chart, and this is where the persona chart comes into play. For example, Mars in your Mars persona chart can show how that Martian energy truly expresses itself, how it feels at its core, and how it might unconsciously influence you.

★ North Node Persona Chart: This chart is particularly important as it talks about how to transcend a great deal of karma. By embodying this chart more, it can tell you how your love life could transform, how others may perceive you, and even how your physical appearance might change as you align more with it.

★ Anti-Vertex Persona Chart: This chart shows how others perceive you, no matter what. It reflects how you appear physically and energetically to the world and what you unconsciously project. It's similar to the Ascendant persona chart, but more specifically focused on the physical and energetic presence you emanate.

★ Parallels: Parallels between planets act similarly to conjunctions, but I suggest focusing more on the parallels within the persona charts of the planets. For example, in your natal chart, you might have Mars in Aries parallel to Mercury, but in your Mars persona chart, you might have Mars in Pisces parallel to Pluto. This would add emotional intensity and ambition that could resonate with you more than the natal chart's Mars parallel. So, if you're looking to explore yourself more deeply, I recommend examining these parallels in the persona charts.

★ Lilith Persona chart: This chart dives into the more hidden, primal, and instinctive aspects of Lilith’s influence. It reveals how Lilith energy operates on an emotional, spiritual, or even unconscious level. Lilith in this chart can show where a person is unapologetically themselves, even if it goes against what is considered "acceptable." This chart can uncover how a person relates to themes of empowerment, their inner wildness, and the shadow aspects of their psyche.

★ ADITIONAL ASTRO OBSERVATIONS★ Ascendant Persona Chart:

Asteroid Lust parallel to Ascendant: You project a magnetic and sexual aura that others can perceive directly, which can evoke both admiration and sexual tension.

Asteroid Priapus parallel to Ascendant: This parallel suggests that you project an intense energy that others may find irresistible or seductive. There is a visceral connection to your image that goes beyond the rational, making others see you with an air of mystery and primal attraction.

Sun parallel to Ascendant: This alignment boosts your vitality and presence. Others see you as charismatic and full of energy. The Sun lights up your external identity, making you shine in social situations and comfortable being the center of attention even if your natal chart says the opposite.

Anti-Vertex Persona Chart:

Sun parallel to Saturn: This aspect reflects a serious and committed energy in how others perceive you. You project responsibility, discipline, and authority. Others may see you as reliable and mature, but also as someone with a presence that demands respect. Sometimes very cold presence.

Mars parallel to Ascendant: Mars' energy is expressed directly through your appearance and behavior. You project an image of strength, assertiveness, and determination. Others may see you as courageous, aggressive, or with a level of determination that can inspire or intimidate. Sometimes it is very bulldozing with others.

Priapus parallel to Ascendant: Similar to the Ascendant Persona Chart, this parallel suggests that you project intense, irrational attraction to others, but in this case, it manifests primarily in how you're perceived. You may be seen as uncontrollably seductive or with an energy that others cannot ignore.

North Node Persona Chart:

Mars parallel to Priapus: This suggests that you may be driven to pursue your goals with unchecked passion. This combination could relate to intense situations centered around desire, where you need to learn to balance Mars’ energy with a more conscious approach to your primal impulses. You may attract deeply passionate or conflicting experiences until you align your actions with a higher purpose.

Mars parallel to Pluto: You need to confront challenging situations that test your strength, but also offer the potential for deep personal evolution. The experiences you go through during this process may alter how others perceive you, revealing a more powerful, resilient version of yourself capable of confronting your inner demons.

Mars parallel to Asteroid Kama: This parallel heightens the urgency with which you experience desires, leading to more impulsive or passionate actions. This aspect can teach you about managing and expressing your deepest desires. If you align this energy consciously, you may experience a significant transformation in how you experience pleasure.

Mars parallel to Jupiter: This aspect will make your actions more expansive and optimistic. It reflects a desire to act with greater confidence, take risks, and expand your influence. This alignment suggests that, by embodying this energy, you could find significant opportunities for personal growth and success in your endeavors.

Sun parallel to Asteroid Kama: This indicate that large part of your identity and purpose in this life is tied to the pursuit of pleasure, creativity, and the expression of desires. This may suggest that by integrating more of this energy, you could transform how you connect with others through desire and pleasure, which could also influence how others perceive you and how you relate to the world.

Sun parallel to Jupiter: This aspect suggests an expansion of your identity and purpose, with optimism and a desire for growth, both spiritually and materially.

Mercury Persona Chart:

Mercury parallel to Eros: This aspect indicates that your mind is deeply connected with erotic and creative energy. Your communication style may be seductive, persuasive, and filled with passion. You might also feel a strong link between intellectual thought and sensual, creative desires.

Mercury opposite Saturn: This opposition reflects challenges in communication, where you may feel restricted or inhibited in freely expressing your thoughts. You might tend to be more careful or critical with your words, leading to a more structured but potentially rigid mental approach.

Venus Persona Chart:

Venus parallel to Ascendant: Your beauty, charm, and personal magnetism are very evident to others. You emanate a loving and attractive energy, making it easy for others to feel drawn to you. This aspect reinforces your presence as someone harmonious and appealing.

Venus parallel to Mercury: This parallel reflects a natural harmony between your thoughts and how you express your feelings. You can communicate in a smooth, persuasive, and charming way, making it easier to resolve conflicts and build close relationships through dialogue. Usually very seductive voice.

Lilith Persona Chart:

Lilith in Sagittarius in the 9th House: Tendency for a person's dark side and repressed desires to manifest themselves when he or she engages in exploratory activities, travel, or situations that challenge traditional boundaries. Someone who seeks intense and hedonistic experiences while traveling, adopting a "party animal" attitude, and is attracted to unconventional philosophies or beliefs, like occultism.

Scorpio Rising: Projects an intense, magnetic and mysterious energy. Very sexual presence. Others may perceive the individual as someone with a powerful presence and an air of secrecy, and the native have lot of courage to face their shadows with intensity. Very intense individual.

Mars parallel Lilith: Tendency to act impulsively in pursuit of satisfying your most primitive desires. There is a strong need to conquer or dominate situations, especially those that challenge your own boundaries. Very powerful sexual and carnal energy. Aggressive confidence and determination. They could be perceived as someone who is not afraid to show their personal power and desire, which would make them irresistible and charismatic in social or intimate settings.

Venus in Scorpio in 8th House: Extreme emotional and sexual intensity in your relationships and desires, might feel an attraction to the forbidden, the taboo or relationships that involve power and control. Intimate connections can be intense, magnetic, and potentially destructive, but they also have the potential to be deeply healing.

Virgo Rising: Quite controlled appearance, very earthly with a mixture of innocence and coldness, very critical of themselves and others, kings/queens of judgment, very practical with their carnal and dark desires, sometimes they can feel a lot of guilt, they can sometimes be quite promiscuous by not knowing how to handle their feelings of guilt. Tendency to get very stressed.

Pisces Rising: Very dreamy, ethereal, mysterious, mystical, complex and quite difficult to understand presence and beauty, deep sex appeal, most of the times they do not understand themselves, very sharp intuition, they attract very chaotic situations that push them to face their own shadow. And they feel a great attraction to the forbidden and the unknown, these people can have a great affinity with demons or angels. Very artistic and have plenty of creative energy.

[jinxekkotimebomb]

Imagine being a Persona 5 fan but ignoring the blatant anti bigotry themes in the story. The Phantom Thieves actively fight against an oppressive system that corrupt people in power try to force upon them. The current state of the world is no different and shouldn't be accepted.

[cagesofgold]

GEL

Shigaraki Tomura x Reader

“Easy does it…” You cooed, pressing your fingers to the side of his neck and kneading the soothing gel into the fraying skin. He winced in response to your movements, face crestfallen and eyes which always harboured his orphic thoughts downcast to his hands - where he fidgeted. You’d take a glance at his face ever so often, the plains which weren’t hidden by his tufts of pale hair slightly flushed by your closeness - the intimacy of your current act. Kindness he had never been shown.

The room was quiet, the dim warmth from the lamp resting on his bedside cast just enough light onto his rigid body to ensure the precision of your application. Your pyjamas would ruffle with the breeze from the window you had cracked open when you first entered his bedroom, where he sat hunched over his desk, fingernails digging rifts into his battlefield of a neck.

Each scar, each piece of skin that had been scratched raw filled you with unease. Unchecked emotions leading to the abuse of the only outlet he had, himself.

Dip. Your nail picked up a new clot of gel, and you adjusted yourself on his bed as you raised your hand upwards once again. He still never met your eyes, yet his previously sporadic fidgeting grew more consistent as his leg began to bounce - his bottom lip receding under his teeth in an anxious means to relieve some of whatever he was feeling.

“Tomura?” You whispered, vocal chords wrapped in every piece of empathy you could harvest from deep within you. He hummed in response, peeling one hand from the other as he ran it along his pulsing knee - breathing growing ragged.

Strangely, during your time in the league you were so accustomed to seeing Shigaraki as your leader. To follow him blindly, trust his wisdom like it was a spoken oath, footsteps moulding into his.

And yet, as you sat before him, knees tucked under yourself and gel slipping down your fingers. You saw for a split second, his truth. He was just a boy. You forgot sometimes, that he was younger than you - only 20 and was already leading the entirety of the anti - hero movement of Japan. A boy who had been wronged by every person in his life, and it made every protective vein inside of you pulse with anguish.

His countenance was marcid, and when your fingers gently traced along the side of his jaw his spine stiffened. The whisper of his name which fell from your lips reverberating around his entire body and rewriting every circuit that had been carefully crafted by those around him, cultivated until he was a prime product of his cruel environment.

“Tomura.” You smiled gently, pulling his face towards you softly. His eyes met yours for the first time since you popped the lid off the gel, and the usual sturdiness of his irises were replaced by unsteady waves of confusion. Confusion to how he felt, and the horrific realisation that he would never feel the same.

Your touch was like nothing he had ever had the pleasure of knowing. No firm pressure was planted, no spiteful words spit from your lips. You just smiled. Rubbing your thumb against the face he never wanted to look at - your eyes telling him everything he pleaded to hear his entire life.

Maybe everything will be okay. Maybe the blow to his well constructed persona has shone light on the true fragmented person beneath it. And it was all thanks to you.

“Can I do the other side, now?”

God, he’d do anything for you.

[late-draft]

I think that every comprehensive anti-zutara argument should try to answer a very crucial event, and that's Zuko's "I'm sorry (...)" to Katara in the Crystal Catacombs in the Crossroads of Destiny.

Because, why did Zuko do this? We've seen before that he's very unpleasant or even hostile towards people he doesn't know or doesn't care about (and even towards people he does care about). At this point in time, he still harbours a desire to return to the Fire Nation and is still capable of attacking the Avatar as soon as he lays his eyes on him. He did start to attempt to settle into his "Lee" persona in the Earth Kingdom but that persona is irrelevant when he comes face to face with Katara, someone who knows exactly who he is and who he already fought against with all he had. Someone he already insulted and griefed.

He is empathetic, but he instinctively shows it only in his facial expressions that he's clearly unaware of, and in extremely tense, critical moments such as when his ship's helmsman almost fell to his death, or when Zhao got pulled by the Koizilla. Katara had just started verbally attacking him, and based on everything we've seen thus far, it's entirely believable that Zuko might have just sat in silence, brooding as a response to her. They were trapped, sitting in a stable moment with nothing around them happening. She wasn't in danger.

And if an argument says that this indeed was an OOC moment for him, that creates a whole cascade of other problems if it's removed: it would basically affect the entire rest of the plot. There would be no shock of him betraying our heroes, there would be no tension/relief that Katara still has the magical healing water, Zuko wouldn't have known that the Avatar surely survived thanks to that water, who knows what the gaang and Zuko's dynamic would have been at the Western Air Temple if Katara wasn't locked in a state of feeling deeply wounded by his betrayal. Aang wouldn't have had a reason to get frustrated as intense as he had when he saw the scene in Ember Island Players, and he might not have done what he called himself stupid for afterwards.

Something compelled Zuko to overcome his broodiness and apologize to Katara, subconsciously probably for all his previous behaviour towards her as well (the talk about being marked, and lately thinking about being able to make his own choices definitely is a reference to his choices and behaviours from before). This apology isn't directed towards Aang, as he lunges towards him the instant he sees him, even though Aang had asked him for friendship months ago.

Add to this Zuko's suspicious comments and behaviours towards her from before, especially in the North, and it becomes pretty difficult to argue that he didn't have some kind of feelings for her. But I mean. What's the problem here? Everything in canon could still stay the same, identical, just with the added undertones of a melancholic "what if".

[molsno]

god, what happens next is so good. the character writing is just spectacular. it fascinates me just how much depth there is to each character and how that contributes to the story.

milo's dni is the most revealing thing about him, and it's the very first thing we hear from him:

right off the bat, we can see what kind of person the protagonist is. he's a pastel softboi trans man who clings to a childish aesthetic to appear weak and non-threatening. despite being involved in a toxic relationship with another trans guy who attempted to rape and kill an 11 year old girl when he was a teenager and later murdered his girlfriend, which milo helped with by dismembering her corpse, he puts "pedophiles and unhealthy pairing shippers dni" on his carrd. which, ok, maybe he wants to distance himself from people like griffin now - except that's not really true, because he talks to, moves in with, and regularly hangs out with a serial killer fan who idolizes griffin and is even dating the guy while he's in prison. he puts "being against neopronouns" and "anti-otherkin" on the same level as those things. he explicitly denies any responsibility in the murders of haylie and savannah, despite having literally chopped haylie's arm off. all the while, he has "you deserve to heal" in big bold letters, while not applying that belief to anyone but himself.

right from the start, it's obvious that milo is not a good person. but he's also humanized throughout the story. sure, some of his softboi persona is a means of victimizing himself to avoid taking responsibility for what he did - and you could make the case that he was a victim in some ways. on the other hand, he also never got to grow up because he spent 5 years in a psychiatric institute. is it any surprise that he clings to the same aesthetic, interests, and hobbies he had when he was 15? he never got to stop being a kid, and how is he supposed to now? he didn't graduate high school, he can't get a job, and nobody wants to be friends with him because of what he did. it raises uncomfortable questions - namely, what happens next? milo served his time for the crime he committed as a minor. he was already punished, but now he has to live the entire rest of his life. what is he supposed to do?

that, I think is the most interesting part of this story. almost every character in this story makes it hard for you to like them, but they also have very human reasons for doing the terrible things that they do. I'll talk about some of my favorites under the read more, but be aware that there will be spoilers:

claire is one of the most interesting characters to me, just because of how unlikable she is.

when we first see claire in victim impact statement, she tries to ignore haylie, griffin, and milo as much as possible. she doesn't even seem to like her sister. she treats haylie as a nuisance for coming into the room that they share as sisters. she doesn't want to go to the open mic night to listen to haylie play her ukulele. when she finds haylie bawling her eyes out in the bathroom at anime central, she just looks away, as if to say "you chose to date your shitty boyfriend". when she hears haylie and griffin fighting upstairs, she just pretends not to hear it. when haylie is curled up in terror later, claire puts on headphones and turns her back to her. her headphones become a way of drowning out haylie's screams when griffin is around, and because of that, she doesn't hear haylie screaming for her life, and ends up finding her corpse in the kitchen.

that's why I don't find it surprising at all that she becomes an outspoken transphobe who wants to take her anger out on the trans people who murdered her sister. she goes to media events and publicly degenders milo and griffin. she calls aaron's friends trannies. I think it's easy to misconstrue her as a terf, but she literally doesn't even pay lip service to feminism. how could she? she knew that her sister was being abused by her boyfriend, and she did nothing. let me remind you that she lives in a house where "smash the patriarchy" is embroidered on the wall. she doesn't care about any of that. she just wants a scapegoat. she wants to make the law impose harsher punishments on minors who commit violent crimes because she doesn't know what else to do with her life. she very clearly hates herself, becoming an alcoholic to cope with her guilt. she pretends to care about haylie and fight for this law because it's the only way she can convince herself she's a good person, even though she can see that doing what she's doing is turning everyone against her.

and then that brings us to audrey. it's difficult to like her, too, because she's dating claire despite all of the horrible things she's doing. but at the same time, I can see where she's coming from. her mother died of cancer and she and all of her other black siblings were adopted by conservative christian white parents. she's still christian to this day, and makes a point of separating herself from "criminals" by insisting that she has nothing to do with them because she goes to church and takes care of her family. she doesn't want to disavow the law that claire worked so hard to pass because at the end of the day, it won't affect her personally, even though she is aware that the justice system disproportionately punishes black people. she very clearly has a lot of internalized racism, and I think that's best exemplified in the way she draws herself. despite having pretty dark skin in real life, she draws herself as light skinned as claire, her white girlfriend:

like, it's hard to like audrey, but you can clearly see why she's made all of the decisions she has! she idolizes claire because it's her first lesbian relationship. the way she sees it, claire can do no wrong. audrey does actually seem to be aware that her girlfriend is doing terrible things, but she essentially just plugs her ears and tries to ignore it. that's why she doesn't go to claire's campaign events. she ignores all of her girlfriend's flaws because claire is essentially her savior. because she has claire, she doesn't have to go back to her family, to her abusive alcoholic white father. she doesn't have to actually take care of her younger siblings, which is a responsibility she's foisted off unto mark. that's why she ignores that claire is just as much of an emotional drain as her father. she's highly depressed, she's an alcoholic, she trashes their bedroom (leaving audrey to clean up after her mess), she puts up an emotional wall and dismisses audrey's attempts to comfort her, and dismisses audrey's own problems as being less traumatizing and less important. by all accounts, claire is a terrible girlfriend and a terrible person, but because audrey idolizes her as her savior, she stays by her side. I'm really looking forward to seeing how she reacts to claire's disappearance in future chapters.

and then of course, there's vikki. she's been doing something incredibly disrespectful for years by making true crime videos where she talks about the victims and killers like it's all a joke. she makes a video about whether ethical necrophilia is possible, and makes a callous, bitter joke that the concept of "respect for the dead" is antiquated, because nobody respects her as a trans woman of color even though she's still alive. for this comment, people have harassed her online endlessly, enough that she had to make a video called "STOP TELLING PEOPLE I FUCK CORPSES". that doesn't stop her from making a video about the murder of haylie, complete with an interview from milo. she'll throw him under the bus if it means getting the attention off herself for a bit.

and yet, I think out of everyone, I feel the most compassion for vikki. yes, she used milo for content and called him a "sad little blonde girl", but I can understand where she's coming from! like, again, she's a trans woman of color in the true crime community. she knows the archetype milo is trying so hard to be in order to avoid taking responsibility for what he did. like, I've personally seen trans women of color who are victimized by white trans men who pull the same exact shtick as milo over and over, so I completely understand her frustration. that said, she also realized she went too far and tried to apologize, only to find out she was blocked and that milo basically wrote a callout post against her. I think it says a lot that vikki was one of the only people to actually try to talk to milo, even if the way she went about it was wrong.

vikki does things that are disrespectful, but to be honest, it's not that surprising! she grew up in a 90% white town in the middle of nowhere, got assaulted by multiple white boys for being a faggot, got sent to alternative school, worked for a funeral home as a teenager, and transitioned. not only is she desensitized to death, she's angry that people revere the dead more than her.

it's astounding, really! what happens next is so well written because it makes you feel conflicted about each of its characters. what are we supposed to do with these people who do awful things? a lot of the intrigue in this comic comes from seeing how each of the characters handles this question as they deal with the other characters who have done terrible things, while they themselves are deeply flawed as well. I think the writing really forces you to contend with the idea that these are all still people, and that their humanity needs to be recognized even if they do terrible things. it makes you ask, what happens next?

[6ix9inewiturmom]

I Guess Youre Not a Tough Guy After All.. - Matthew Sturniolo

Summary: You and Matt had been friends for a while but what happens when you catch him staring at you? could you tear down his tough guy persona?

Warnings: SMUTTYY!! P in V, Sub!Matt, very soft Dom!FemReader, Praising, Begging, Spit mentioned, handjob ish, Oral (male receiving)

A/N: GUYSSSS THIS IS MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT SUB MATT… i was scared of writing this at first but please let me know how this turned out, also i wrote this whole fic listening to Older by Isabel Larosa

Psa: USE UR OWN IDEAS DONT STEAL MINE.

Request: Yes by Anon

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ever since 10th grade, The triplets and I have been attached at the hip. Everything we did was with each other, though we were all friends, we had a little family. Matt and I were closer than the rest of them but he's anti feelings so it's not like I could ever figure out how he felt anyway. His tough guy persona would be the absolute death of me.

Matt and I were watching a movie in the house alone because the triplets each decided they wanted to ‘venture’ out of being up each other's asses all the time. In my peripheral view, I catch Matts's eyes gleaming at me in a way he normally doesn't look at me causing me to look over and make him quickly shoot his head back towards the television. “Staring is rude Matthew,” I say smirking towards him.

“I hate when you call me that and you know it,” he says adjusting his lap “I wasn't staring at you, I was looking out the window towards our neighbors I thought someone was outside”

“Nice cover” I chuckle softly “but the window is more behind us than right beside me” I playfully wink.

“S-shut up, you know what I mean” he stutters out.

“Awe someone nervous now” I giggle softly nudging his shoulder “But you got a little drool on ya chin” I point at his chin.

He quickly wiped his chin checking for drool. “Fuck” he mutters “You know what,” he smirks shifting his body over and beginning to tickle me

I start laughing uncontrollably “Stop Matthew”

“Fine fine” he surrenders moving back to his original position “C-can I tell you something” he nervously says fiddling with his fingers.

“You know you can tell me anything” i shift my body so its facing him.

“I uh- fuck” he struggles to get his words out. “I like you…like more than an uh a friend would, you don't have to say anything back but um I thought I'd tell you before-” I cut him off by crawling on top of his lip and pressing my lips against his passionately.

I softly pull away “I like you too” I smile down at him as his gaze softens. “And I have liked you for a while”

“You- you have?” he stutters.

“wasn’t it obvious” I smile placing my hands on his chest

“Fuck” he breathes out leaning in and kissing me again “You have no idea what you to do to me Y/N” he mutters through the kiss.

My lips make their way down his neck softly nibbling at his soft skin making his breathing become heavier “please” he whispers.

“Please what pretty boy? Use your words love” i whisper back into his neck leaving soft purplish marks on his neck.

“Touch me, something, I- I can't take it,” he says grinding his hips against me.

I lean up smiling at him “You're such a pretty boy, I wish I told you more” I get off his lap placing myself between his legs and balancing on my knees. his gaze on me stayed persistent as I toyed with the hem of his sweatpants he had been lounging around in all day. He lifted his hips up allowing me to free his pent-up cock. I had never seen it before but I could tell all the “small dick” jokes he makes in fact were just jokes. My eyes lit up at it as it sprung free from his boxers with a bit of precum leaking from the tip.

“You see something that you like baby?” a cocky smirk is placed on his face.

I placed my bottom lip in my teeth and nodded. My tongue poked out of my mouth and kitty licked the tip making him groan and throw his head back. “Fuck” he says with almost a whimper in his voice.

My lips wrap around his cock as my head bobs up and down his thick shaft batting my eyelashes up at him with his head resting on the back of the couch as his legs start twitching. “C-close” he chokes out.

I hum in response while I take my hand and jerk the rest of his cock that doesn't fit in my mouth up and down and swirl my tongue around his tip. His hips jerk up as he releases his pent-up orgasm down my throat. “Fuck” he drags out “I've never finished t-that f-fast before” he stutters “That's how much control you have over me”

I bit my lip again smiling at the mess I made of him, I crawled back onto him once again placing a passionate kiss on his lips. “I need you” he mutters.

“How do you need me?” I tilt my head to the side a bit. “You can tell me” I send him a reassuring smile

“I-i-i need to be in you” his voice shakes

I smiled pulling my tank top over my head and shimmying my shorts off my legs throwing them off the couch and leaving me bare on top of him. I guess I chose the right day to wear absolutely nothing under my clothes. “You're so beautiful” he smiles up at me as I place my hands on his shoulders to support myself aligning himself with my desperate hole and slowly sinking down as I feel him touch the deepest part of me. “Oh Matt” I whimper.

My hips begin to work up and down his cock as the room fills with the sounds of my thighs hitting him, and our sounds of pleasure. My hands grip his shoulders for more support as I begin to move faster up and down.

“You feel so fucking good wrapped around me” he whimpers in my ear.

“You feel so good IN me,” I say as my head falls back and my hips glide my wet pussy all over him making not only me but him as well see stars.

I begin to bounce my hips up and down on his cock as his hands grip my love handles for support leaving crescent shaped dents in my skin.

“I'm so fucking close,” he says burying his head in my neck and softly sucking marks on my neck to hide his whimpers as he becomes closer to his edge.

“Me too pretty boy, hold on a few more alright?” I reassure him grabbing the back of his head in a soft way where I'm hugging him as my pace gets faster and sloppier as I get close myself.

“W-w-where can I finish” he stutters as I feel his legs give out beneath me.

“In me, please?” I say as I grind my hips down to allow him to feel deeper in me.

His hips jerk upwards, and his head goes back as a moan almost a whimper escapes his lips as he coats my walls white releasing into me.

Feeling his release into me made me go faster and harder onto him “S-s-sensitive” he hisses and within a few seconds a white ring formed around the base of his cock as my cum dripped down along his cock and I slowly pulled off of him and plopped down next to him.

“You did so good” I smiled moving the loose hair from his eyes back so I could see him better.

“Thank you” he blushed pulling me to his side “you don't understand how many nights in my life I dreamed of this moment” he breathed out.

“I guess you're not a tough guy after all eh?” i giggled softly trying to catch my breath from my previous orgasm.

“Oh shush,” he says flustered trying to cover his face

“You pretty when you blush Matthew,” I say lifting my head up and kissing his cheek making him get flustered a little more.

“I think we might wanna restart the movie” he chuckles “and that's definitely not the last time we're doing this either” he looks down at me smiling.

“And we might wanna get changed so Nick and Chris don't walk in on us” I nervously laugh

"Great idea," He exclaimed with laughter as we helped each other get dressed.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A/N PT 2: SO this was supposed to be out earlier but the triplets went live on twitch and i spent the last 4 1/2 hours watching them and not finishing this LMFAO also i love writing sub matt.. LOWKEY WAS NOT A FAN OF SUB MATT BUT I LOVED IT 😫

[soon-palestine]

So it turns out that Elons trip to Israel wasn't just for kosher theater and an IDF propaganda tour.

A secret meeting took place while he was there that went virtually unreported by any news media outlets.

In attendance was Netanyahu, Musk's tour organizer, investor Omri Casspi, Brigadier General Danny Gold, Head of the Israeli Directorate of Defense Research & Development and one of the developers of Iron Dome, Aleph venture capital funds partner Michael Eisenberg, and Israeli cybersecurity company CHEQ CEO Guy Tytunovich who is ex-israeli intelligence unit 8200.

The six men talked about technology in the service of Israel's defense, dealing with fake content and anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli comments, and the use by non-democratic countries of bots as part of campaigns to change perceptions, including on the X platform.

The solution Musk was presented was the Israeli unicorn CHEQ, a company founded by ex-Israeli intelligence unit 8200 CEO Guy Tytunovich that combats bots and fake users.

Following the meeting, Elon signed an agreement with cheQ, and apparently, the reason for the quick closing of the deal was Elons "direct involvement" with the company.

Now. What they won't tell you.

Israel is primarily responsible for the creation of bots. There currently exists dozens of ex-Israeli intelligence firms whose sole purpose is perception management, social media influencing/manipulation, disinformation campaigns, psychological operations, opposition research, and honey traps.

They create state of art, multi layer, AI avatars that are virtually indistinguishable from a real human online. They infiltrate target audiences with these elaborately crafted social-media personas and spread misleading information through websites meant to mimic news portals. They secretly manipulate public opinion across app social media platforms.

The applications of this technology are endless, and it has been used for character assassination, disruption of activism/protest, creating social upheaval/civil unrest, swaying elections, and toppling governments.

These companies are all founded by ex-Israeli intelligence and members of unit 8200. When they leave their service with the Israeli government, they are backed by hundreds of billions of dollars through Israeli venture capital groups tied to the Israeli government.

These companies utilize the technology and skills learned during their time served with Israeli intelligence and are an extension of the Israeli government that operates in the private sector.

In doing so, they operate with impunity across all geographical borders and outside the bounds of the law. The Israeli government is forbidden by law to spy on US citizens, but "ex" Israeli intelligence has no such limitations, and no laws currently exist to stop them.

Now back to X and Elon Musk.

Elon met with these people in secret to discuss how to use X in service of Israel's defense.

Elon hired an ex-Israeli intelligence firm to combat the bots…. that were created by another ex-israeli intelligence firm.

Elon hired an ex-israeli intelligence firm to verify your identity and collect your facial biometric data.

Do you see the problem yet?

Israel now has end to end control over X. Israel can conduct psychological operations and create social disinfo/influence campaigns on X with impunity. They now have facial biometric data from millions of people that can be used to create and populate these AI generated avatars.

They can manipulate public opinion, influence congressmen and senators, disrupt online movements, manipulate the algorithm to silence dissenting voices against Israel, and they can sway the US elections.

When the company that was hired to combat the bots is also Israeli intelligence…

Who is going to stop them?

Cyberspace is the wild.west. There are currently no laws on the books to regulate foreign influence on social media. There is nothing to stop them from conducting psychological operations and disinformation campaigns on unsuspecting US citizens. These companies operate with impunity across all geographical boundaries and there is nobody to stop them. But don't take my word for it.

For anyone wondering what the end game is for this, it was recently verbalized by Vivek Ramaswamy here on X. To narrow and completely eliminate the gap between what we say (think) in private and in public. In practice, the thought police of the future. And X is actively working on it.

[happysharkintensifies]

Booktok makes me sick, not just because of all the shitty books. It's the prevalence, no, the celebration, of toxic masculinity. Every single booktok book features some variation on the same man. And without fail, against all sensible reason, these characters are portrayed as handsome and charismatic and desirable.

It makes me sick when these authors hold up these toxic, predatory traits and put them on a pedestal as some kind of Ideal Man.

It makes me sick when their aggressiveness and possessiveness is treated as romantic. It makes me sick when these shitty men forcibly grab women, invade their personal spaces, and render them helpless by 'purring' in their ears, every. single. fucking. time.

It makes me sick that these misogynistic, heteronormative, and hypermasculine social conventions keep appearing in so-called feminist literature.

Strip away the idealized elements and you have what is basically the rich, white, cishet, alpha-male archetype. He's tall, usually six feet, physically fit and muscular with obligatory six pack abs, and conventionally handsome, with a chiseled jawline. He's usually clean-shaven, and any hair he may have on his body is minimal. He maintains composure at all times and rarely shows anxiety or uncertainty. He exudes raw charisma and charm and navigates social spaces effortlessly.

His hobbies, if he has any, are stereotypically masculine. When it comes to sex, he's confident, skilled, exclusively dominant, and always knows what to do without communicating with his partner. The sex he enjoys is usually rough, animalistic and overpowering. He may have been with several women in the past, and he may be regarded as a sex god, both in-universe and out.

His toxic traits are rarely portrayed as negative. But when they are, they're usually held up as some edgy, anti-hero persona and the reader is inevitably manipulated into sympathizing with him. He'll be portrayed as a tortured, wounded animal, and his female love interest (and, by proxy, the reader) will decide on some variation of 'I can fix him'.

He is essentially the unrealistic standard the ideal Proper Man; the one that men are expected to emulate, and that women are expected to swoon over.

But what really irks me is the lost potential.

If there are men who don't fit into this mold, they are depicted as pathetic, ineffectual, or any number of negative traits.

The narrative quietly and passive-aggressively mocks them and portray them as boring and un-sexy.

After all, is this the kind of man who will bravely swoop in and sweep a helpless woman off her feet? Of course not. Such men are boys. Wimps. Cowards.

These books are supposed to be fantasy: a genre in which easily anything can be explored. If faeries, magic, and contrived mating bonds can exist, then why can't we also have male characters who exist outside the stereotypical, hypermasculine mold?

Why is it that we can have so many fantastical, impossible, and wondrous magical forces, creatures, and peoples, but we can't have men who aren't possessive, abusive, or controlling?

Why is it that male characters, have to be so innately dominant, abusive, and violent? Why do they have to be so fit and muscular and strong?

Even worse, why is it treated as something that is so natural, so inescapable, even in the realm of fiction?

Where are the men who aren't tall and fit? Where are the men who don't have sculpted abs or chiseled jawlines? Where are the men who aren't lean and muscular?

Why can’t we have men who are skinny or overweight? Why can't we have men who aren't handsome or attractive, but just average looking? Why can't we have men who are shorter or just average height?

Why can't we have men with non-stereotypical hobbies? Why can't we have men who love to read, or paint, or write, or sing, or dance, or build model kits?

Why can’t we have men who are timid and shy? Why can't we have men who feel anxiety, fear, and sadness? Why can't we have men who aren't afraid of crying openly?

Why can't we have men who aren't sex gods? Why can't we have men who aren't confident in bed? Who are anxious, or even scared, at the prospect of sex? Who are passive instead of dominant? Who want to experience intimacy and affection?

Why can’t we have men be kind and gentle and sweet for once?

I'll tell you why we can't. Because booktok says men like these are not 'man' enough. Booktok says men like these are the 'boring' option, and completely devoid of interesting quirks, traits or personality. Booktok says men like these are underserving of attention, and only fit to be background noise.

As far as booktok is concerned, men like these can't exist.

[loveschoice-if]

DEMO COMING SOON...

A once-in-a-lifetime love... Loading...

You have been a faithful employee at Hanwool Group for about nine years, working diligently as the secretary to the current Vice President of Marketing, Park Joo-Seok. Although the world knows him as the future CEO of Hanwool Group and the most eligible bachelor in South Korea, you know him better as your arrogant and workaholic boss.

Now that you have paid off all of your outstanding debts, nothing is holding you back from quitting your job and maybe even starting a whole new life. Just as you're about to hand in your resignation letter, however, your chaebol boss comes to you with an unexpected proposition.

“Marry me.”

??!! Is he being serious? Will you accept his (albeit not super romantic) proposal?? What will happen next?! Play to find out!

Planned Features

Play as the female lead of your very own romance K-drama!

Experience many tropes from the wonderful world of K-dramas (or skillfully avoid them, it's up to you!)

Choose between four different routes, each with its own unique storyline, sub-genre, Male Lead™, Villains, and more!

Fall in love at your own pace, perfect for slow-burn and fast-burn lovers alike!

Will you follow the script to your perfect happy ending, or stumble into a tragic one?

The Male Leads™

The Boss

Name: Park Joo-Seok (박주석) Age: 32 Job: Vice President of Hanwool Group's Marketing Division

Pressured by his wealthy family to get married and take over the family business, but also feeling no desire to fall in love anytime soon, he turns to his loyal secretary of nine years (and the only woman he can trust) for help: you. All you need to do is enter a contract marriage with him and convince his family and the press that the two of you are truly in love. Can you successfully pull off this charade without catching feelings?

Inspired by What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?, Business Proposal, and Secret Life of My Secretary.

Tropes: office romance, contract marriage, fake relationship, rich man x poor woman

The Idol

Name: Yoo Jae-min (유재민) Age: 28 Job: Idol in the K-Pop industry, represented by X Entertainment

After turning down your boss' marriage proposal, he assigns you to work on a current marketing project involving one of the biggest stars in the K-pop industry, Yoo Jae-min. Previously known as the cutest member of the former boy group, NOVA, he is now a successful solo artist with a face card that never declines. But don't be fooled by his adorable on-screen persona. For whatever reason, he seems to have a personal vendetta against you. Can you successfully work alongside him without letting tensions boil over?

Inspired by So I Married My Anti-Fan, Sh**ting Stars, Lovely Runner, and Moon In The Day.

Tropes: idol romance, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden love, secret relationship

The Childhood Best Friend

Name: Lee Hae-jin (이해진) Age: 29 Job: Doctor, specifically a General Practitioner (GP)

After turning down your boss' marriage proposal and quitting your job, you decide to leave the high-paced corporate life and move back to your hometown on the coast. Turns out, you weren't the only one who had this idea. Once a successful doctor at one of the best hospitals in Seoul, your childhood best friend, Lee Hae-jin, now lives across the street from your grandmother's old place, where you are now staying. The thing is, you haven't spoken to him in over a decade, ever since your grandmother died. Will you break the ice and rekindle this old friendship, or is the past too painful to face?

Inspired by Summer Strike, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, and Welcome to Samdalri.

Tropes: friends-to-lovers, childhood meeting, second-chance romance, first love

The Grim Reaper

Name: Reaper Kim/Kim Saja (김사자)/??? Age: ???? Job: ...the Grim Reaper

You've turned down your boss' marriage proposal, and quit your secretary job after nine years of dedicated hard work. Now what? You find yourself sitting on the roof of a building, and you slip on something. Just as you're about to fall to a certain death, some person grabs you and pulls you back onto the roof. But this is no ordinary person. There's something oddly supernatural about him and a familiarity you can't quite place. He wants to strike a deal with you. What exactly is his agenda, and will you agree to his terms?

Inspired by Doom at Your Service, Goblin, and My Demon.

Tropes: supernatural being x mortal, doomed love, reincarnation, fated love, amnesia

Anticipated FAQs

Is MC gender-locked female & are the main love interests gender-locked male?

Currently, yes. Right now, it's just easier for me to write if I have consistent variables and characters in my head. It also helps me focus on just finishing the stories because I want to make sure each route gets the attention it deserves. Rest assured, I WILL introduce more gender options for both the MC and the main love interests, and it will be something I keep in mind as I'm writing!

How long is this game going to take to complete?

Unfortunately, it's probably going to take a really long time. This is one of the most ambitious writing projects I've done and life is unpredictable but I will do my best!

Are there more love interests/routes planned?

Um... is four not enough for you?! LOL just kidding! Right now, I just have four love interests/routes that are generally fleshed out. I'm very open to suggestions, so let me know if there is another type of love interest/sub-genre that you want to see represented!

Note: I will update this section as I get more questions :)

[brucewaynehater101]

DC in a Witcher AU: Gotham's Royal Family

[Background stuff: Witchers are still being made at this time, and I've changed city names to match more DC names] @chiyana helped a ton with the set-up here. Many many thanks ^^

Bruce Wayne [Human] - King

At the age of 10, he became the king of Gotham. Due to his young age, he had a regent appointed. In order to protect himself, he developed an airheaded persona. Why would anyone bother assassinating what would become or is a puppet king?

Before he assumed ruling rights, he went on a "soul searching journey" where he trained with various warriors (including Witchers and the League of Shadows). When he returned, a bat-like creature also started to visit nobles and "evil-dooers." Bruce, who had learned from his parents' demise, could not tie all of his actions to his own as king. He needed an "uncontrollable third party" to limit retaliation against him or those who support him.

In this AU, he does kill. He despises it, but he needs to kill in order to maintain his position as king and protect his citizens. However, he is one of the very few human-run nations known to protect non-humans. This leads to him having a higher non-human population than most other human-run nations (though Starling Kingdom rivals this).

Dick Grayson [Part Elf] - Traveling Acrobat

During a banquet held by King Bruce Wayne, Dick's parents died. Bruce took young Dick in as a ward but was unable to adopt/officially claim his as heir due to political ramifications. Bruce was very new to his position and was still trying to weed out anti-elf (and anti-nonhuman) sentiments. Dick, who was nine, also did not want to replace his parents and did not understand the precise issues occurring.

Bruce wanted to protect Dick, but Dick was adamant about aiding Bruce in protecting elves. After Dick started getting into repeat fights in the capital (after sneaking out), Bruce finally trained Dick on combat and how to aid elves in a number of ways. This included smuggling, causing distractions, and directing them to people Bruce trusted.

Around when Dick turned eighteen, Bruce and him had a major fight. This was the culmination of misunderstandings, the pressures of being considered royals, Dick still not being officially adopted (which is/was a miscommunication), Dick's lifespan being naturally way longer than Bruce's, and other stuff. Dick left with his group of friends (Titans) to travel the continent. Nightwing, the traveling acrobat, just so happens to be in town where non-human injustices occur or at major ports for smuggling non-humans to Gotham or Star Kingdom

Jason Todd [Previously Human] - Witcher

King Bruce Wayne was enamored by the street kid daring to steal the wheels off of the King's carriage. The King took in and soon adopted this kid.

Much like the King's previous ward, Jason quickly started to get into trouble trying to help others out. He saw the way that nobles treated the poor and commoners. Jason was trained to fight, and he often ran to cities/towns around the capitol to ensure that they were being treated appropriately. He also visited non-human settlements to check on them and learn more from them.

At the age of fifteen, his mom reached out to Jason. Jason, who was fighting Bruce at the time, did not tell him about the letter. By the time Bruce learned about it, it was too late. Jason was presumed dead.

Jason, however, was taken in by the League of Shadows and underwent the Trial of Grasses. By the time he became a Witcher, he wasn't sure about seeing Bruce again. He decided to avoid the old man and continue doing what he's always done: travel around saving people where he can

Tim Drake [Human] - Count/Monster Hunter

Timothy Drake attended several banquets and ceremonies held by Bruce Wayne. It's during these events that he deduces that Bruce is not as dumb as he pretends to be, that the man is the bat creature, and that Dick Grayson assists Bruce in saving/aiding citizens. Tim keeps these realizations quiet.

When Jason "dies," Tim sees the ruthlessness of the bat-creature and how Bruce's airheaded persona is slipping. It is, unintentionally, causing harm to those Bruce and Jason worked to protect (especially due to people beginning to try more extreme measures to take out both the bat-creature and King Bruce). Tim travels the continent to find Dick to convince the man to help Bruce. Dick is very confused and concerned when he realizes this. Bruce thus gets a little noble child bullying him to be better.

Tim, with his current position as viscount, spies on nobles and infiltrates their lands. He basically establishes limits for Bruce, convinces the man to lean on others for support, and distracts him with helping others. Bruce sends Tim away to train with the same Witchers and warriors Bruce did (which Tim does, but he also ends up training with Lady Shiva)

Due to Tim not being officially tied to Bruce, Tim travels between his lands and Bruce's capital pretty frequently. What he doesn't tell Bruce is that he, and his group of friends, often hunt down monsters and/or travel around saving people. Tim is not needed at his estate as often as he leads Bruce to believe.

After Tim's parents die, Tim invents "Uncle Eddie" as regent. Uncle Eddie stays regent even after Tim gets adopted so Tim can rule those lands while being considered a royal heir. Tim uses his lands to help non-humans and humans (similar to Bruce but on a more direct and smaller scale).

It's during one of the monster contracts Tim picks up alone (which he does limit himself to smaller/easier monsters when alone. He knows, unfortunately, that he can't hunt certain creatures due to his human nature) that he meets a Witcher by the name of Jason.

Cass Wayne [Human] - First Princess

The LoS wanted a loyal assassin Witcher capable of reading intent via body language and intrinsicly knowing how to read chaos. They never taught her speech, but they rigorously trained her in preparation for the Trial of Grasses.

One of these trainings included killing humans. After her first kill, however, she disappeared. She was not found for eight more years.

By the time she's sixteen, she's constantly on the move, covered in dirt, and wearing whatever clothes she can find. Her eerie, inhuman like mannerisms and movements, along with her appearance, cause rumors to follow any sightings of her (despite how few these sightings are). When the Knight Commander of Gotham is saved by her, the man can't help but wonder if the bat-creature knows this new entity.

Bruce, upon hearing this account, seeks Cass out in his bat-creature gear. It doesn't take long before Gotham welcomes the First Princess and another bat-creature.

Damian al Ghul Wayne [Human] - Prince/Mage

Damian was created with the intent purpose of furthering the reach of the LoS, one day inheriting Bruce's kingdom, and being a powerful warrior. Talia, before she exchanged fertility for immortality, had Damian. She did not want nor need more children for her goals (though she does love her child and does not wish to replace him).

Ra's and Talia had hoped that Damian would be a strong warrior like Bruce and a powerful mage like Talia. They had wished that he would rival Ra's in potential. While Damian was a spectacular combatant for his age, his chaos was limited. Not only did he have access to less, but his specialties were *not* fighting. He was, in the LoS's eyes, mediocre at attack and defense skills.

Damian was instead extremely proficient in healing, much to Ra's disappointment.

Talia, after learning this, sent Damian to live with Bruce. With this, she hoped her son would be happy and able to inherit Gotham.

Damian's arrival caused immense turmoil for the nobles. Factions started to appear between those who valued blood ties to the throne and those who valued Tim's skills/upbringing in Gotham nobility.

[grusinskayas]

Greta Garbo, with Mauritz Stiller behind her, arriving in Los Angeles, September 1925.

The criticisms of Garbo expressed by the New York executives reached Hollywood and were expanded by MGM employees on the lot. Garbo was called Stiller’s “folly” and his “glad-hand girl,” brought along for sex. Sven-Hugo Borg, Garbo’s interpreter, was appalled by the anti-Swedish slurs aimed at her: “square head,” “flat foot,” “peasant,” “skyscraper.” The individuals making them thought that Garbo didn’t know English, but she knew enough to understand them. Studio flunkies pulled her from movie sets, calling her “the Swede.” If Garbo resisted them, they taunted her, saying that she had been a latherer in a Stockholm barbershop, implying that the job included sex. “Everywhere she turned, people were unkind to her,” Borg wrote. The Saga of Gösta Berling, with English subtitles, was screened at the studio, but the audience laughed at it. The sensitive Garbo was deeply hurt. She was especially insulted by Max Factor, who told her that Swedish women needed to be taught beauty care. Becoming friendly with Pola Negri, Garbo often visited her at her home. “She would sprawl on the rug,” Negri remembered, “and rail against MGM. She was very tall, almost like a man with her large shoulders, and she would mourn: ‘I came here to conquer, and I guess I have to suffer. Someday I will be like Lillian Gish [MGM’s top actress], and then I will tell them all to go to hell.’” She never forgot how badly she was treated when she first came to Hollywood. […] Soon after The Torrent’s premier, she wrote angrily to Mimi Pollak that the Americans were stubborn; they never understood anyone and they never showed compassion. In February 1926 Garbo wrote to Lars Saxon that talking to [Louis B.] Mayer was like “hitting your head against a brick wall.” By March, when her sister died and Stiller left MGM, Greta was desperate. She wrote to Saxon: “I don’t understand why God suddenly meant me such harm. It’s as though a part of me has been cut away.” Hubert Voight, the MGM publicist who had befriended her in New York, was dumbfounded when he visited Hollywood in the spring of 1928 and found Garbo acting like a diva, “unapproachable, stern, haughty.” That persona was important; it became central to her life and her acting, as a way of coping with situations beyond her control. But there was also the childish Garbo, who acted like a clown and dressed in adolescent male clothing, partly as a disguise, but also because she liked to cross-dress and to act like a clown. Or she could be dramatic, crying and raging on request. There was also a depressed Garbo, who exercised to relieve her melancholy, or when life seemed too difficult, simply went to bed.

Ideal Beauty: The Life and Times of Greta Garbo by Lois W. Banner

[wingzie]

Speaking to the media as a UK Army

Earlier in the week I mentioned in a local group chat that the UK’s attitude towards BTS and KPOP overall had changed. It felt like everyone was excited during Dynamite and then interest was quickly lost. Things got worse after the Festa Dinner. Because of previous experiences with a certain boy group, it was reported that the members would never return. These stories were soon edited, but it was obvious that there was a certain bias against the members now. The previous hype posts for them and their new releases were less present. Instead, we have gone back to having to do everything ourselves during chapter 2. 

As I am sure many of you are aware, it has already been a tough week for UK Army. We found out that MUSE had inclusions, making it harder to chart. We got backlash from solos for something that wasn’t our fault and the emails we sent were ignored or received weird responses. We are a resilient bunch though and we continued to promote and gain more funds. I figured that things for us couldn’t get any worse. I was wrong. On Sunday I was sent an article from the BBC by a friend. They asked my thoughts on it and I quickly understood why. Something else worried me though. I recognized the journalist. He is someone that we have history with. He kindly wrote about Persona and Wembley in 2019, but he also sneaked in a line that he thought that the members were miming through the concert. At the time, a few Army tried talking to him about it on Twitter and he was receptive to the feedback. I decided to try and do the same and to do it privately in the DM’s. Something which he told me himself that he appreciated. I spent a good amount of time drafting my message. I made sure that it was polite, but also included the reasons why a certain part of the article was troublesome. During this, a friend of mine also made a detailed thread correcting the misinformation. Once the message was sent, I went on with my day and waited to see if I would get a reply. Much to my surprise, I did indeed get a reply. I don’t have consent to share our messages, but we replied back and forth a few times and he said that he would look into changing the wording. I quoted my friend's thread, explaining that I messaged him privately and that he was working on it. As someone who posts about Jikook on a regular basis, you could say that I am used to getting unnecessary abuse. However, I was not fully prepared for the response to this. As more hours passed and there weren't any changes made, the more anger and hate I received. This greatly confused me, as I wasn’t the one who wrote the article itself. I just wanted to try and help and we had to be patient. 

A day later the edit was made. I messaged the journalist again to thank him and he responded back, explaining that the reason it took so long was because there was a debate internally about the best way to respond. I then shared on TL about the edit being made. It wasn’t the best edit, but that’s all we got. Unfortunately, the hate towards myself increased even more. Some said that the article was my fault, that I failed BTS or that I was an anti. Plus a few words that I daren’t repeat here. Some saw what was happening to me and sent kind support. These included people who I have never interacted with before and I will be forever thankful for that. I also spoke with some about the response of the general public towards the article. The article was heavily advertised so there were discussions in relation to Seventeen going to Glastonbury. This hasn’t been done before so some were curious and some were confused. It was interesting to see the reaction to it, even if it was poorly written. I was personally exhausted though.

This whole ordeal started on Sunday and I woke up on Tuesday still feeling a bit wary of receiving more hate. On top of this, I had gained around 300 more followers from all of this and didn’t know how they would react once I started posting Jikook. If I’m honest, I felt a bit uncomfortable with everything going on. What did shock me though, is that some of these new followers were going through my “pinned” post and liking the threads on Jikook. It made me a bit self-conscious, but I didn’t want it to overcome me and Jimin’s promotions though, so I came up with an idea. 

July is my Birthday month and to celebrate I am doing a giveaway for other UK Army. This gives them a chance to get any albums they currently do not own and to try and boost sales for Jimin at the same time. The UK fanbase don’t really want to be associated with me because of my account, so I decided to do everything myself. To help boost morale, positivity and the community spirit that Army has. Overall, I do not regret reaching out to the journalist. He was rather difficult to speak to, but an edit deserved to be made for the way in which it was written. I appreciate the discussion we had and those that supported me. My focus will continue to be on Chapter 2. Look after yourselves and each other. 

[pannaginip]

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JUST IN: Drag artist na si Amadeus Fernando Pagente o mas kilala bilang Pura Luka Vega, muling inaresto ng MPD

RH29 @/boy_gonzales

2024 Feb. 29

Bahaghari on Facebook: Pura Luka Vega's rearrest highlights LGBTQI's non-enjoyment of freedom of expression and artistic freedom

After months of being released on bail, drag artist Pura Luka Vega has been arrested again, this time by a different court but with the same complaint.

Bahaghari once again condemns the weaponization of the law against Pura and their right to freely express their relationship with faith through art. Evangelical groups have allotted resources to further marginalize an LGBTQI+ person in the court of law. Similarly, many city councils across the Philippines have declared them "persona non grata," following a viral video where they, dressed as Jesus Christ, performed Ama Namin remix in a bar.

It has not gone unnoticed to Bahaghari the double standards at play in this case. Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the mega-church Kingdom of Jesus Christ was indicted by FBI for alleged crimes against women and children but none of the city councils who have declared Pura "persona non grata" are mum on this issue. Until now, Quiboloy is in hiding even with summons from the Senate in their investigation on the abuse allegations against him. Furthermore, the complainants for the case are all affiliated with the Philippines for Jesus Movement (PJM) founded by Eddie Villanueva, the father of Senator Joel Villanueva, whose office has deployed disgusting tactics to delay the SOGIESC Equality Bill.

The art of drag and other similar acts of expression by LGBTQI+ people are under attack around the world. In the United States, legislations have been passed to criminalize people based on gender identity and expression. In the Philippines where a national anti-discrimination law is absent, LGBTQI+ individuals are subject to gender-based violence.

Pura Luka Vega's case is an attack on LGBTQI+ people's expression on their relationship with faith and religion and the expression of their artistic freedom. LGBTQI+ individuals have different expressions on their faith. Many are still practicing their religion. Some have abandoned it altogether due to the trauma and marginalization they felt in the presence of their religious leaders.

#DragIsNotACrime #FreePuraLukaVega

2024 Mar. 1