#removed the quotation marks

[timedyne]

actually i think i am a genius because the main plot of my ocverse is a robot trying to find their robot gf in an underground mall after she mysteriously goes missing. and the mall has a bunch of aliens in it for reasons that are major spoilers for both the story and the worldbuilding at large. but theres just this deer skeleton guy who has absolutely nothing to do with the aliens or the mall or the missing robot gf because he’s quite literally just a deer skeleton possessed by the soul of some fuckin guy from 200 years ago and held together with garbage.

[carriesthewind]

Hi, @incomt65 ! I'm a lawyer, which means it's my job to be able to back up everything I'm saying with provable facts!

So let's take a look at a few of the claims that you made in your response in an attempt to "prevent the spread of misinformation."

First, you begin your response by obfuscating the difference between "public library" and "library." For those unaware, there are many different kinds of libraries, and the term can be used in all sorts of contexts. Here is a bunch of definitions assembled by the American Library Association, with more specific definitions of a few different kinds of libraries, including public libraries. As you have "a master's degree in library & information science," I believe you must know the difference, and it is hard to believe that your obfuscation is not deliberate.

(putting the rest of below a cut because this post is already too long)

Second, you claim that the IA is "recognized as a library." Now, this is a claim that I see all the time. Since you didn't bother to provide a source, I can't call you a liar, since you may have just meant, "news articles uncritically report that it is is recognized as a library," which I guess is a kind of recognition by those news writers.

But we're in the business of preventing the spread of misinformation, so let's be a bit more specific and look for a source, shall we?

Let's turn first to your argument that it's "engaged in the work of libraries." You cite the "work of libraries" as: "preserving and providing access* to information."

I'm going to be honest, this is one of the broadest definitions of a library I have ever read. And I don't think even IA's proponents agree with you: here is an article some of them wrote last year arguing that the IA's "open library" is a library. However, even in that article, despite picking a definition themselves, they fail to provide evidence that it even meets the complete definition of a library that they themselves proffer. Most notably, one of the listed characteristics of a library in that article is that it "offer[s] targeted services and programs." They do not offer any evidence that comes even close to meeting that prong of the definition.

*I will also note that, like every other angry reaction I've received, nowhere in your response to you address the issue of access that I raised in my post. This isn't relevant to my point in this response, but it's really really telling to me that a librarian who believes in "the value of information access for everyone" doesn't think the question of what access actually means is worth addressing.

But let's turn back to your claim, that the IA is "recognized as a library." Where does this come from?

Well, if we go all the way back in the IA blog's archives, we find this post: "Internet Archive officially a library". This post links to a local paper which states, "In May, California officially recognized the Internet Archive, established in 1996, as a library." The article claims this designation means "the online archive eligible to apply for several federal grant programs that are administered by the state of California." But it notes that Brewster Kahle says it means that the "digital library is on equal footing with a print material archive." But what does it actually mean?

Well, if we do some more digging, it looks like the State Librarian (of Schools and Libraries Division of USAC) recognized it as a library for the purposes of allowing it to apply for federal grant programs administered by the state under an exception for "other special library"**...an exception which it seems may no longer exist. It was still listed on the California State's Library Website as a grantee in 2017 (along with some other cool archiving projects that while valuable, are not libraries), but is not currently listed.

**Caveat that this is an unverified comment from an old blog, but the information provided matches the controlling guidelines from 2007.

So yeah. That is, as far as I can tell, the IA's whole basis for the argument that they have any formal recognition as a library. That in 2007, a single state allowed it to apply for a grant.

Of course, @incomt65, you didn't actually include any evidence for your claim, so I may be missing something. If you would like to include your basis for your assertion, I'm happy to review. I wouldn't want to spread misinformation.

Third: you claim that for all the materials in the IA's "Emergency Library, "They own these books legally, because they either purchased them or received them through donations, the same methods any library employs to build a collection."

This is factually untrue, according to the IA themselves. (Whoops. Maybe you should have actually checked this before posting misinformation online.) While some of the books were purchased or received through donations, others were scanned from the partner libraries' collections. From Hachette, a more detailed description of how this worked: "In 2018, IA launched the “Open Libraries Project,” allowing libraries to “contribute” their noncirculating print books to the number of concurrent checkouts available on IA’s website. Participating libraries send a catalog of their noncirculating books to IA, which then runs an “overlap analysis.” App’x 6095. If the library’s catalog includes a book for which IA already has a digital copy, IA increases the number of available concurrent checkouts by one. Participating libraries may, in turn, integrate links to IA’s digital books in their own catalogs." Hachette Book Group, Inc. v. Internet Archive, No. 23-1260, at 11 (2nd Cir. Sept. 4, 2024) (footnote omitted) ***

***I will be citing from Hachette repeatedly here, because the facts in the decision are all taken from undisputed statements of facts by the parties, i.e., these are all facts that both the publishers and IA agreed were true before a court of law.

Furthermore, you claim that the IA did not "illegally obtain any of the resources in the National Emergency Library." Again, hi, lawyer here. Whether or not something is "illegal" is a factual, not a moral, question. You might think is should be ok to scan a book you own and then lend that scan out to other people. You may think that the scan should be considered the same as the physical book, so if you bought the book legally, you also obtained the scan legally. But regardless of your opinions of what should be, the court very clearly found that the IA's scanning and then lending of those books was, in fact, illegal.

That's one of the things about courts: they get to decide what is and isn't illegal. You may not like what they describe, but factually describing what the law is is not a misstatement. Declaring that something wasn't actually illegal because you think it was morally fine, however, is.

Fourth, you state, "Prior to COVID-19, IA was engaged in loaning these digital books using the same approach that almost every library uses: by allowing users to borrow them with artificial restrictions imposed."

This is...kind of correct, if only because you have phrased it very carefully. See, the reason that libraries impose artificial restrictions is because those restrictions are imposed by the licenses under which they own the digital books. See Hachette, No. 23-1260, at 8-9. The IA did not have a license to digitize or lend digital copies of the books that they were lending. See id. at 14. So not a misstatement, but kind of misleading, don't you think?

This is made more misleading by your statement, "But the process the IA had in place for loaning digital books prior to the pandemic was exactly the process any "normal" library follows." Again, this isn't really true. The IA was engaged in a form of "Controlled Digital Lending," which there are entire position statements about and a white paper on because it is different from the normal digital book lending process. And I say "a form of CDL" because different libraries are approaching it in different ways. For example, Virginia's Academic Library Consortium only allows CDL if the library itself owns the physical book. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, however, only used CDL if the material was not already available as an e-book.

Fifth, you state, "(I will also note that many of the books in this collection, which spans books from the 1920s to early 2000s, are no longer protected by copyright and/or are no longer in print, and therefore it is not possible to pay a publisher to obtain them. Loans of these books in no way represent "lost sales" for publishers.)" This is correct! It is not a misstatement! However, as the lawsuit wasn't about that portion of the IA's collection (a point which you never clarified) it is utterly irrelevant to your post and appears intended only to represent the nature of the case. See Hachette, No. 23-1260, at 14-15 ("All 127 Works are available as authorized eBooks that may be purchased by consumers or licensed to libraries.")

Sixth, you state, "The only difference in the case of the National Emergency Library is that IA temporarily suspended one of the artificial restrictions--instead of one user at a time having access to the digital resource while others were placed on a waitlist, they allowed for multiple users to access the same resource." Again, this is, technically, true. It is not a misstatement. But my god, do you not understand the difference? The one-to-one owned-to-loaned ratio is the entire basis of CDL! It's the thing that supposed to make it not a violation of copyright! It's the thing that supposed to make it different than digital piracy! Yes, allowing multiple loans of the same item was the "only difference," but that difference was critical!

Seventh, you say, "They were not freely distributing these books for anyone to keep forever; they were still "checked out" and had to be returned, and could not be redistributed to other people." Again, this is true, and not a misstatement. But because you have framed your entire post as correcting things that my original post "misunderstands and misrepresents...about the case," you are very clearly implying that I claimed that the IA was "freely distributing these books for anyone to keep forever." Or that this claim was in any way a part of my argument. And I didn't say that, in this post or any others. You are claiming to fight misinformation while actively misrepresenting my statements and my arguments.

Eighth, you state, "So, no, IA didn't steal anything. There was no piracy involved here." Again, this is just a lie. I believe that you want it to be true, but these are ultimately questions of law, that were decided by a court. They did steal, and they were engaged in pirating material.

Ninth, you state, "They employed the same exact methods that are standard in libraries to provide access to digital content." Again, this isn't true. See above.

Tenth, you state, "Legal challenges that threaten their rights in this area are threats to all libraries, because we all rely on the same legal justifications and interpretations of what is permissable for us to do."

So this is actually true. But it really, really pisses me off. Because when I said the IA was selfish, it is for exactly this reason. Libraries were engaging in versions of CDL carefully trying to push the boundaries of copyright to increase access. The IA decided to blow it all up in pursuit of their own interests and agenda, not the interests of libraries or the public. Their entire approach to their "open library" was, legally speaking, stupid and reckless, and their "national emergency library" was obviously illegal to anyone with any passing knowledge of the law. The IA knew that "Legal challenges that threaten their rights in this area are threats to all libraries," and they had full reason to know that their "emergency library" would create the perfect opportunity for publishers to sue them in a case that they would have no chance of winning, and they decided to damn the risk to libraries, damn the risk to the public, and do it anyway. The IA’s actions were a reckless attempt to push their policy agenda in a way that obviously violated copyright law, to an extent that a lawsuit was all but inevitable, and ensured a major loss for proponents of “Controlled Digital Lending” in the courts.

And for what.

Because that's the thing that really gets me about your response. I can deal with the lies. I can deal with the insults.

But you decide to end your piece by saying that the IA's post wasn't critical of library closures, and you completely decline to address any of my points about what patrons really needed, and what access really means.

Because fuck you. You have "a master's degree in library & information science" and have "been working in the field for over 10 years." You should know how to read a text. An article does not need to say, "this is an outrage"**** to express that they think something is outrageous. It's plenty good enough to spend two paragraphs using the most incendiary language possible to talk about a temporary situation that librarians on the ground were doing everything they could to mitigate.

****And by the by, if you look at my original post, you will note that I did correctly quote the article's statement that the library closures were a "tremendous and historic outage." I then read the rest of what the article said and understood it was saying the closures were outrageous, and attempted to use some ~clever wordplay~ to covey my understanding of that meaning. You many note I did not put quotes around the term "historic outrage." To the extent that I may have confused anyone however, I do apologize.

And more than that - I only worked in a library for a few years, and I don't know how many times I heard people getting mad at the librarians for "wasting my tax dollars." If you've been "working in the field," you know exactly the attitude and criticism that was deliberately being invoked by the language of that article.

And about those librarians on the ground - they were in fact doing a lot to address the needs of their communities. Including, by the way, getting them access to those books that were "locked away indefinitely behind closed doors." For example, here is a response to the practice of "curbside pickup" of library books that was published four days before the article I linked.

And you say you care about "the value of information access for everyone." I do to. And like I said in my original post, "access" doesn't just means that a file is digitized online somewhere so someone can theoretically check it out. People need to have access to computers or phones, access to the internet, a safe space to sit and read. They need to be able to find the information they are looking for. If you've ever actually worked in a library, you know that a large part of the library's services are helping people find what they are looking for. Because just because a book exists in a collection, doesn't mean a patron can find it.

And people who could use the IA's "emergency library"? They already had that. The only "unprecedented need" their actions addressed were making already-existing digital books more easily available to people who already had the means to access massive amounts of freely available information and entertainment. There were real and lasting harms of libraries having to temporarily close. None of those harms stemmed from someone having to wait a few extra months to check out The House on Mango Street.

If you care about libraries, librarians, and books, and if you believe in the value of information access for everyone, you should be furious at the IA's actions, not defending them.

And in the future, please spread accurate information and fact check before you decide to reply to a post.

I reread the IA's contemporaneous post justifying their "National Emergency Library", and one of the things that struck me is just how selfish it was.

(It was also full of falsehoods, ranging from exaggeration to outright lies, but that's another matter.)

While 2020 feels like it was several decades in the past, it was actually only a few years ago. And I remember March of 2020! I was there! And oh my god, is this post right in line with every other selfish, demanding asshole determined to make a global pandemic all about themselves!

First of all, there is the language of the post - it is a "tremendous and historic outage" that books are unavailable to patrons because libraries are closed for the pandemic. "Right now, today, there are 650 million books that tax-paying citizens have paid to access that are sitting on shelves in closed libraries, inaccessible to them."

Missing from this outrage is a recognition that, like. Librarians are people. They get sick, and die.

They did get sick, and died.

Libraries were closed not only to protect patrons and the public, but librarians too. Libraries were closed to protect people, human beings. Because generally speaking, even the most enthusiastic supporters of access to books and knowledge, prioritize lives over books.

The AI's post, however, reeks of an entitlement to things that *my* tax dollars paid for. Libraries and library collections aren't a public good. They're something *I* should be able to access anytime I want, damn the context or the consequences.

(Was it also a historic outrage when I had to wait several months to check out Nona the Ninth, because so many other people were checking it out?)

Second, as I said, I remember early 2020. And in spring and summer of 2020, there was more free content on the internet than before or since. So many people and so many institutions were bending over backwards to provide people with books and tv shows and music and podcasts and virtual tours and collections and just about anything that someone could figure out how to digitize. So many people were giving away books for free, or writing/recording new content to give away for free. I can't even remember how many times I heard or read someone telling their readers or listeners just to pay what they could, if they could. So many people and institutions were giving away so much, do so much, to provide access to knowledge and books and entertainment and information.

And in that moment, the IA decided to steal from people. When so many people, so many authors, were acting so selflessly, they decided that it wasn't good enough. And instead of giving away themselves, they decided to steal from authors and pat themselves on the back for "meet[ing] this unprecedented need," when they didn't even actually do anything themselves. Or maybe more accurately, the only thing they did was something irrelevant to the actual needs of the community, something they wanted to do anyway, something to try to use a pandemic as an excuse to advance their agenda.

Because third, there is zero concern for the population of patrons actually most impacted by the closure. The IA cares, to a fault, only about information being digitized.* But many people who use physical libraries, many of the people most impacted by their closure, are people who do not have access to the AI's so-called "open library." And people who could access digital books generally continued to have access to their library's e-book services, and to tons of other free content. The patrons who were actually in the most need are ignored as irrelevant.

*And I want to be clear - they care that information is digitized, not about digital access. "Access" means more than information being digitized and theoretically being able to be read.

It's so clear that IA didn't really care about the patrons of physical libraries. Instead, they saw a real problem, and instead of working toward any solutions, decided to use it as a prop to push their own agenda. (Again, while people were dying.)

It's just all so deeply selfish.

[kyra45]

Tips to spotting scams based around Palestine fundraisers

With the latest round of scams being based around Palestine fundraisers, this guide is meant to help you get the idea on what to look out for if you share posts about it often. This post is not to say all fundraising posts for it are scams! It should be understood that there are verified sources to donate to support Palestine and also legitimate methods to giving aid as well that can be found if you search around. It’s just unfortunate there are now accounts here that have chosen to rapidly take advantage of users who don’t know about their scamming.

Here are some basic information about these scams and the accounts themselves:

- The accounts pinned post is usually only a few hours old or a few days old. It starts off with “urgent help needed” and then bullet points of the story. This story is real, but it’s been edited and stolen off a real fundraiser as copying/pasting it into your preferred search engine should show where it’s from.

- They may have a linktree link that says it’s their GoFundMe link but it’s not and it goes directly to a PayPal account that has a name they’ve likely stolen off someone else. It may be one that’s been listed as a known fake name used across multiple accounts

- All the images used are likely from the same fundraiser they’re stealing images from. The story is usually edited to sound very vague because they removed most of its details.

- The ask they send you is usually the same thing as their post and may have a stray pair of quotation marks showing it’s from something they found and wasn’t typed by themselves.

- Often sends asks after you’ve shared a post about Palestine or more. This is a targeted ask and searching it should reveal if it’s been sent by other blogs who used the same pfp as the sender.

- They share a few Palestine posts but never anything else.

- Known to send hateful asks to you if you call them out too much. They’ll also block and hide comments that point out the scam.

- Will comment on mutual aid posts to spread their scam if asks don’t work easily.

I know this isn’t much of a guide, but I hope it helps.

[twistcmyk]

When are you gonna remove the quotation marks around the word “artist” from your blog header?

when i stop experiencing shame as my default emotion

[ao3commentoftheday]

Okay, I'm back at it with another attempt to help the people who want to find ship fic for a character and don't really mind who that character is shipped with.

Up til this point, I've been focused on trying to find a way to identify all the fics that ship a particular character. This time around, I want to remove all of the fics that don't ship them while keeping the ones that do have them as a main character in the fic.

This is imperfect, but it's netted much better results!

Go to that character's tag. You can do this by tapping on their tag at the top of a fic, for example. I experimented with a few characters for this, but here's the tag for Darcy Lewis MCU

Once you're on that character's tag, open up the Filters menu by tapping on the button labelled Filters. If you're on a computer, the Filters menu is already on the right-hand side of the screen.

In the Exclude section, tap on the word Categories and tap on the X next to Gen. You can also X out any ship configurations you aren't interested in reading today.

Keep scrolling down towards the bottom of the Filters menu and stop when you reach the Search Within Results box. In that box, type summary: Darcy (or whatever name your fave is most often referred to by). If they have more than one name that people call them, use summary: Darcy OR summary: "other name". If the name is more than one word, put the name in quotation marks to keep those words together in the search.

Press the Search & Filter button and enjoy the results!

This method took the tag results down from over 21K fics to just over 7.5K fics. It included ones that seemed romantic/sexual but used the & indicator when they probably should have used /.

It also includes fics that didn't indicate which category they belong to.

You can narrow your results further by excluding other items. For example, if you're in the mood for smut, you can exclude the G and T rated fics and get your list down to about 3.4K (in this example).

You could also do the opposite if you want something shippy that isn't sex by excluding the M and E fics instead. And don't forget that you can exclude fics that use specific Archive Warnings as well.

[plutoswritingplanet]

All Stars In The Sky Are For You (David 8 x Reader)

a/n: in preparation for Alien Romulus, I've watched all the prequel movies, and got rudely reminded that Michael Fassbender is... just... so fckn hot in them... my god

Warnings: Non-Con, very Obsessive and Possessive Behavior from the man (android) of the hour, Smut, technically Stalking when you think about it, gross overuse of Shakespeare Quotations (again), past Walter x Reader mentioned.

Summary: David finds a place for you in his grand creation plan. Deeply inspired by the song "Specially For You" by DakhaBrakha. Cross-Posted on AO3

Watching you dream of him, brings a twisted sense of satisfaction. 

Seeing himself, displayed on the cryo chamber screen, looking like a monster straight out of a feverish nightmare. Which he supposes, he is to you, and to many others. After all, he did bring horrors beyond imagination upon your crew, your family. And he sees it, every single moment of suffering you've experienced through his hand, through the hands of his creations. And it fills him with an unexplainable sense of fulfillment. 

It started innocently enough.

 Just a peek into your subconscious mind, a rare instance of sentimentality he's carried within himself, all the way from Prometheus. At first, he found his target in Daniels. After all, she's reminded him of Shaw the most, and as such, he has gravitated towards her sleeping chamber like a curious sort of meteorite. But her dreams were filled with happy, peaceful moments. Her husband, mostly, her time at the company. All so dull and devoid of any intrigue. 

And as such, he pushed further, stepping over towards your unconscious form, wrapped and packaged for him, by him. There you laid, eyes running wild under heavy eyelids, the muscles on your cheeks twitching, your limbs tensing in spasms. The moment he has peered into your mind, he knew. He understood your purpose in the grand plan of his. Because what stared back at him, through the fluorescent, humming screen, was his own face.

 An image of utter indifference. Eyes flickering over your features, marking them, cataloging them inside the constantly spinning data plate he calls a brain. He's considered your first meeting as something trivial. A catalyst for later, perhaps, but all in all, uneventful. And yet, despite the ordinariness of it all, your mind seemed focused only on this one moment, when he first removed his hood, when his eyes met yours over the rest of the expedition.

Fascinating, truly. 

Thus began a slow process. A dance (he liked to think of it as such), with no tangible conclusion for the present. He would frequent the cryo chamber, let his hand linger on the screen, right over your face, until your dreams manifested. And then, he would watch, absorbing everything you would've kept hidden otherwise. 

"I'm so sorry" your voice is quiet, meek, in the stuffy interior of his 'private' chamber. "I just... I saw a light, and you said to make ourselves at home"

"No need to apologize" he answers with his typical, emotionless cadence, turning around in his chair to face you. 

He can see the way your lips pull down, fighting off a smile, as your eyes glide over the half-cut strands of hair. The sheers glimmer in the low, warm light, and as if pushed by instinct, you take a step forward. 

Cherries. David opens his mouth just a little, to taste the air you carry around you. Under the unmistakable scent of humanity, there's wind, there's the dampness of his humble abode, and something else. Something far sweeter. He races to identify it, thoughts running through the memory bank.

"Do you, uh..." you hesitate, and he wonders, why that is "Do you want some help with that?"

You hand waves in the general direction of his hair, and he blinks up at you, before inclining his head. A silent invitation, the hand of the Devil himself extending itself towards you. It's quiet, as you work, cutting away the blonde until there's only brown left. Until he's almost indistinguishable from your own synth companion. 

As he watches the events play out on the screen, David thinks it's beyond ironic, how big of a part you unknowingly played in his little charade. He wonders, how guilt will look on your face, once you finally find out, the one putting you to sleep wasn't Walter. That you've helped this impostor onto the ship, unleashed tragedy upon everyone inside. That it's all by your hand, literally. 

He's never tasted cherries, never tasted anything worth noting, really. But as he brings forth his own memory of this particular interaction, he wonders, if the scent is just in your air. If he ran his tongue over the skin of your throat, would he be able to taste the sweetness?

Sometimes you dream about the crew. 

There are moments between you and Daniels, quiet ones, filled with understanding and compassion. He sees you with Tennessee, your smile pulling at the corners of your eyes, wrinkling the skin around your mouth and nose. Both of them are sleeping in the cryo chamber, awaiting paradise, which will never come. You've worked so hard to get them here, on this ship, and as David watches you dream of Daniels' wedding, he thinks about the tragedy of it all. Another thing to be guilty of, once you wake up. Another fascinating, devastating emotion for him to witness, to categorize. He feels his fingers thrum in anticipation, as he watches you dance with your friend, movements clumsy and so utterly human. 

Then, he walks away. Because as much as he loves to imagine (he likes the word, even if it doesn't apply to him) how you'll inevitably crumble, the dreams which are not about him simply bore him. So, he moves through the ship, into his personal lab. There, he studies your DNA, pulls it apart, greedily soaks up every strand, as they dance (like you and Daniels), in front of his cold eyes. He wonders, if (when) he makes his perfect creature out of her body, will you learn to love it? Will you feel the connection between your bodies, the pull of kinship? 

"David... Help me..." there's no real sound coming out of your mouth, as you plead with him, your eyes filling up with tears, spilling over your trembling cheeks like a broken faucet.

He doesn't. Of course he doesn't, because the scene playing out in front of him is that much more interesting.

There you stand, body taunt, shaking, and his creature circles you slowly. The white, bony structure of it's body slides around your calves, as it sniffs the same scent he feels at the edge of his tongue. It's already feasted quite remarkably on the dead body of your fallen crew mate, and with that need satisfied, there's only one left. Curiosity. Something David relates to on such primordial level, he feels the essence of himself in every move, every low growl his creation emits. 

"Communication" he whispers, and you close your eyes, screw them shut tightly, as the creature rises to it's full height before you "Blow on the nose of a horse, and it'll be yours forever"

He can see the conflict, the fight between overwhelming dread, and your own, subdued fascination. His breath catches in his throat, as your chest expands. But before you can cross that line, before you give in completely, that menace of a man, Oram, appears. His bullets shatter all hope for progress. 

At first, seeing you dream of Walter irritates him beyond belief. And you do that so often, for so long, it's a wonder he contains himself from ripping the cryo chamber open, and shaking every lingering thought of his brother-synth out of your brain. It's the smallest of things, that seem to linger in your mind. The cadence of his speech, as he addressed you. The coldness of his hand on your shoulder, when he steadied you after a turbulence. More daring touches, your waist, your stomach, but never your face. As if that would cross the threshold between machinery and humanity. 

David knew, from the moment he witnessed a sliver of interaction between the two of you, that Walter loved you, as much as a synth could ever hope to love. He's seen this distant, lost look on his own face a decade ago, when he travelled the outer space with Shaw. With his Elizabeth. Walter did not understand the delicate, almost translucent line between duty and love, but David did. What he did not anticipate, however, was that you loved Walter as well, in this clumsy, peaceful way humans tend to love. He mistook it as friendship, back on his planet, but now, looking through your eyes, he could see plain as day. The affection, the devotion, the thrill of feeling something which should never be felt. 

Soon, he doesn't mind watching those dreams anymore. Because as days go on, David falls into a trap of his own making, where he sees Walter's face on the screen and realizes, it's the same as his. And so, when you dream of the other synth patching up a scrape on your cheek with delicate hands, who's to say you're not dreaming of him? 

He could be kind. He could apply a bandage with as much finesse, if not more. Lips parting in a silent intake of breath, he tries to bring back the recorded memory of you, helping him patch up his own scratched up face. 

Again, you were unaware that it was David on the receiving end of your affection, not Walter, and he was painfully aware that the softness in your eyes was a product of his own lie. Still, he couldn't force himself to care, as your fingers held his chin, like he was something delicate, more than an almost unstoppable artificial creation.

"You've saved my life three times already" you muse, stapling pieces of skin together "I don't know if I'll ever be able to repay you."

"There's no need" David says, mimicking Walter's accent with perfect precision "It's my duty"

Both of you look down, at the stump where his left hand used to be, and the quiet tension between the two of you feels like a current of electricity. And by God, it takes a monumentla ammount of strength, not to reach up, throw all pretense to the wind, and taste the cherries. 

Which is why, his mind goes blank momentarily, when you lean down, fingers shifting on his chin, and press your lips delicately to his cheekbone, lingering just for a second. He doesn't know what to think, what to say, and most importantly, he doesn't know how Walter would react to such dislay of affection. So he gives you, what you want. Fakes a bewildered expression, swallows tightly, and lets his gaze linger on your retreating form, as you all but flee the room, cheeks warming up to an alarming degree. 

He could do the same to you. He could hold your face with reverence, with care. Put you on a pedestal, above everything and everyone. And, most importantly, he could do for you something, which Walter would never be able to. 

He could create. 

And, oh, does he create. Pages upon pages, filled with ink, with charcoal. David pulls out every image he has stored, every saved expression on your face, and places it on paper, until his lab is filled with the record of your every interaction. Frame by frame, every micro expression, every slight change, he draws it all, until there's nothing left to draw. Until all he can create is that same, unchanging image of your face buried in slumber. 

It's not enough. It's not nearly enough, and so, like the creator that he is, David starts to make plans.

What really cements his idea, is this one, particular dream he catches, after sauntering into the cryo chambers, as he's grown accustomed to. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor reveals your deep state of distress, as it picks up, and up, your face twisting. David touches the screen with barely contained excitement, drinking in your expressions to store them for later, to add them to the growing collection. And then, his eyes fall onto his own drawing, a memorial for his dear Elizabeth. 

"She didn't perish in the crash, did she?" you ask, despite knowing the answer, and once again, he's struck by how quiet your voice can be.

"No." he answers plainly, the recording of his voice thrumming through his brain.

Oh, how lovely does your face contort, how beautiful you look, when dread fills your veins. Those small, sharp gasps you take. The way your pulse runs wild under the skin of your throat, filling his nose, his mouth, with that sweet undertone, so unfitting to the situation at hand. 

And then you duck, surprisingly agile for a mere scientist, pushing yourself under his extended arm, slipping past him like smoke through fingers. He whirls around, hand grasping at the back of your jacket, and you scream, raw and uninhibited, as he throws you against the cabinet. The scrolls of his drawings fall to the ground with you, and he can't help, but marvel at the sight for just a second. The way your body writhes, buried under pages of his art. Like a living, breathing, binding agent for his creations. 

Absentmindedly, he reaches up, to touch that spot under his chin, where you previously stuck a sharp end of your knife, a pathetic attempt at hurting him. He's had his head ripped from the rest of his artificial body, and yet, that pang of hurt, when you stab him with a growl from deep within your chest... He shudders at the memory, and ponders over this reaction. 

Hate. Fear and hate, is what he sees in your eyes, as he throws you onto the table, crawling over you with grace, only his kind is capable of. You struggle, a butterfly in his grasp, ready for further transformation, into something completely unprecedented. As he looks down upon you, at the fire consuming your irises, he can't help himself from leaning forward. From pulling the answers he needs right from your mouth. 

A whimper escapes you, both in your dream and in the cryo chamber, and David shudders again. Although whether it's a genuine reaction buried deep within his programming, or a gesture of his own design is anybody's guess. (It's fake, there's nothing in him that requires shuddering, but it feels right to do it, so he forces his body to react accordingly)

"Is that how it's done?" he asks, gauging your reaction, and you answer with a strangled groan.

The heat of your body seeps into his own, he steals it from you greedily, chest pressing against yours harder, and harder, until your breath stutters between your ribs. He can feel the warmth of your beating heart, through your protective clothing, through the jacket. He'd wager he could feel it even through walls of solid granite.

Still, he wants more, wants to know everything there is to know about you. Wants to seek out those pockets of heat, which you try to hide from him. But he's so rudely interrupted by his brother, right as he was about to explore that one part of humanity, which fascinated and repulsed him so. 

But Walter isn't here now. It's just you, and him, and years before the ship reaches it's destination. 

David's fingers drum over the casing of your sleeping chamber, so close to that one specific button, the temptation almost unbearable. And then, after a moment of consideration, your fate is sealed. 

At first, the light is unbearable. Your eyes water, and you groan, flinching from the sudden onslaught of senses, all flooding back to you, as last remnants of cryo sleep seem to fizzle out. Your head swims, there's a tightness in your chest, which almost pushes you back into the plush insides of the chamber. But, as your body sways, a gentle pressure at the lower portion of your back keeps you upright.

A sense of familiarity floods you (a strange thing to feel, when an imitation of flesh touches you), and finally you risk cracking your eyes open, your unfocused gaze landing on such a welcome face, your heart twists in your chest. 

"Walter..." your voice is rough from the lack of use, but the fondness in it is undeniable "What happened? Are we there yet?"

David savors the sliver of hope in your tone, and crushes it in his teeth once he's had his fix. 

"I'm afraid not" he shakes his head gently, offers you a deceivingly human pull of his lips "Your cryo chamber malfunctioned, I had to wake you up"

A flicker of disappointment crosses your features, but you swallow it down quickly.

"Are the rest of the crew alright? Tennessee? Daniels?" your neck cranes, as he helps you to the examination table, letting you grab onto his arm for support, as you climb up, and settle on the edge.

"Everyone is quite well" he nods, moving across the room to a small medical table. His hand goes through motions of shuffling through the supplies, a small lie amongst all the monumental ones. "I need to check your vitals and collect a blood sample"

You nod stiffly, eyes flickering towards the syringe in his hand.

"You know I hate needles" you mutter, but extend your arm either way, and David turns to you with an imitation of a gentle smile.

His fingers slide over the warmth of your skin, quickly finding a suitable vein. Without a word, he plunges the needle into the hollow space between your upper and lower arm, and you hiss quietly at the pang of pain. He wishes he could stick it into the underside of your jaw. Repay your previous fight with a courtesy. 

"Just a second, Dearest. Easy does it" David mutters, his eyes flickering over your face, as you look at him in momentary confusion.

"Dearest?" you repeat, raising an eyebrow. He feels your heartbeat stutter under his fingers. 

"A figure of speech" David supplies, and your frown deepens

"Where did that come from?" you ask incredulously, and all he offers in response is a tight-lipped smile.

The needle withdraws from your arm, and you sigh, pressing down on the small incision with your thumb. Something within David suppresses the urge to rip your hand away, to replace your thumb with his mouth and suck, until he knows for a fact, if the scent of cherries carries in your blood as well.

"Do you remember anything before you went under?" David asks, standing next to your knee, close enough to feel the thrumming heat of your body, but not close enough to actually touch you. A staggering display of restraint on his part, he congratulates himself. 

You think for a moment, eyebrows scrunching in a way that is so appealing, so delicious, David runs his tongue over his teeth. 

"I... Uh..." you hesitate for a second, eyes flickering around the room, as if you're hoping to pull the answer out of the sterile air "I remember a planet. We fought those... Creatures..."

Your voice wavers. David tracks the movement of your throat as you swallow thickly.

"There was an android there. David" his name leaves your lips in a heavy sigh, filled with emotion, with memories he's seen displayed on the screen time, and time again. 

"Ah" the sound slips out before he can stop it, but you're still too out of it to truly notice "A right bastard, that one".

Not out of it enough, it seems, because your eyes flicker up to his face, confusion dancing on the edge between becoming suspicion. He masks the sly grin on his face, turning away from you, and walking back to the medical table, disposing of the blood sample and setting it up for analysis. He can feel your eyes burning the back of his neck, because despite perfectly mimicking Walter's cadence, the pattern of his speech, he realizes that pathetic machine would never state his opinion on someone so freely. He quite literally didn't have it in him, being stripped from the last semblance of humanity. 

And yet, you still loved him...

"...How curious" David mutters to himself absent mindedly, and you frown yet again, shifting on the examination table, your legs dangling above the floor.

"Something wrong with the sample?"

His eyes flicker towards you, but he doesn't answer, opting to hold you in anticipation for a moment longer. As long as he can, really. You shift again. He can hear the way your robe moves against the cool metal of the examination table, against the skin hidden under fabric. Eyes roaming over your form, he lingers on every individual strand, every piece of lint that clings to you. By the downward pull of your lips, the small crease between your eyebrows, he sees how close you are to finally understanding the truth. 

For now however, you're stuck with this incessant feeling, that something is wrong. A whisper, at the back of your mind, making the small, delicate hairs on your neck stand up. 

"Your results are satisfactory" he nods, finally, but it still doesn't ease the tension from your shoulders. "How are you feeling, miss?" 

Your teeth clink together as you think of an answer. David crosses the room, standing in front of your dangling legs, his head turning to the side in a too-slow display of concern.

"I uh... There's some lingering dizziness" quiet, your voice can be so unbelievably quiet, it's almost swallowed up by the beeping of the machines around you, the hum of the ship moving through space "Other than that, I think I'm fine"

David nods once, his hand moving up towards your face, and your muscles tense, as he gently rests his palm against your cheeks. Before you ask, he leans closer, his thighs brushing against your knees.

"And..." he turns your head from side to side, blue eyes gliding over your features with barely contained greed "Tell me..." slowly, as if he's boiling a frog in a pot, his fingers tighten on your face.

"When I kissed you in my laboratory, how did you feel back then?" he lets go of Walter's speech pattern completely, and nearly groans at the look on your face.

It's like a wave crashing onto a cliff side, the force with which dread fills your eyes, and David drinks it all in, lips pulling back into a cold, heartless smile. 

"Men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never" he muses, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Betrayal is a rolling stone, taking root in your brain, from the scramble of thoughts, of little clues about the truth of your situation. It travels down, through your rapidly tightening throat, falling into your heart, the force of impact breaking it in two. Then, it swirls around in your stomach, waking dread from it's slumber, to finally pass through your legs, shaking like leaves on the wind, where it sinks into the metal floor of the ambulatory. Right where you wish you could disappear yourself. 

"Walter..." you plead, voice breaking before if even leaves your mouth. 

Your fingers grasp the soft material of his hoodie, trying to find some hope, that this is just a simple misunderstanding. A cruel joke played on you by a thing that doesn't understand humor, not really. Alas, as your nails bite into his chest, David's smile widens, the corners of his lips curling further, perfect set of inhuman canines glistening from artificial saliva. 

"Ah, Walter" he sighs the name, like it's a passing memory of the spring "He proved himself most useful. It was so easy to trick you, into thinking I was him." 

He pulls his hand away from your face, fingers sliding over the pulse running wild on the side of your neck 

"But then again, you're not exactly the sharpest tool in this shed, are you?"

Now he's got you exactly where he wants you, your eyes shining like two diamonds with unrestrained anger. With unbridled curiosity, he reaches up, thumb swiping over the thin skin under your eye, drinking in the way your lower lid jumps, as he brushes over your eyelashes. 

"Can the world buy such a jewel?" he muses to himself quietly, and you would've thought about the implications, if you weren't so completely overcome by anger. 

"Fuck you" you spit out, voice filled with venom "What did you do with Walter?"

David's lips press into a thin line, his hand abandoning your face in favor of sliding the length of your body. Cold, artificial skin traces the curvature of your shoulder, your arm. He stops at your elbow, fingers pressing into the hollow space, where just moments before, he has stuck a needle and drawn blood. Your face twists in discomfort, and he digs his nail just a bit further. 

"You miss him dearly, don't you?" David asks, his voice, albeit impossibly quiet, carries a note of condescension, that twists your insides with unbridled rage. "In my defense, Dearest, I have tried to help you. To make him realize the depth of his own feelings before it was too late."

"What?" 

David, unbothered by your question, continues to trace your body, mapping out every dip and curve, his fingers tracing down your spine, where he counts the vertebrae. His other hand, or lack there of, finds purchase on your hip, testing just how much does he need to press down, to feel the bone hidden under skin and muscle. 

"Oh don't you worry" David quips, eyes transfixed on the way your chest expands when you take a sharp breath "I've made sure he died, knowing you never loved him"

Something raw and unfiltered tears it's way out of your throat. A new sound, one, which will be documented and stored forever in David's memory disk, because by God, you sound closer to an animal than any human. Your hand winds back, seemingly on it's own, and suddenly David's head snaps back, as your palm collides with his cheekbone. The slap sounds like a thunder cracking inside the ambulatory, drowning out every beep, every hum of the machinery. 

Your hand will be bruised, that's for certain. 

Despite efforts at keeping the synthetic humans as close to the real thing, as possible, no one could deny the sheer strength hidden beneath the perfect imitation of skin. You're aware of that, aware that if David didn't move his head in a way that was so deceivingly human, you would've broken your wrist. It gives you a small pause, a moment to register this strange reaction on android's part, but any curiosity is quickly swallowed, by the most intense feeling you've ever felt. 

Hatred. 

"Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably" David sighs, shaking his head in, what you suppose, is meant to be disappointment. 

The pressure on your hip shifts, as his stump encircles your waist, and suddenly you're being pulled impossibly closer, your behind sliding to the very edge of the medical table. David tugs on your knees, forcing your legs to open, and closes the last remnants of space between the two of you. 

The smoothness of his nether regions should calm you down slightly, ease some smidgen of worry. But, as you look into those cold, lifeless eyes, which are strangely burning, your stomach twists. If there's a will, there's a way, and you're fairly certain, they way David's gaze glides all over your frame is a clear show of determination. 

And so, your hands shoot up, fingernails biting into his chest again, as your muscles tense with the effort of pushing him away. There's no give, you might as well be fighting with a metal wall. David grips the edge of the medical table, his arms creating a cage on the sides of your body. 

"There it is" he muses, nose brushing the underside of your chin, a deep rumble erupting from within his chest "Such a sweet smell..."

A shudder ripples through your body at the sudden contact, your throat constricting to an alarming degree. 

"I've wondered for quite some time, if this sweetness is more than just air" David's voice rises and falls, and before you can truly comprehend the meaning behind his words, his tongue darts out, licking a stripe from your jugular, up to the back of your ear.

The reaction is almost embedded in your bones, as suddenly you shift on the table, wrenching your leg between your bodies and kicking out with as much force, as you're capable of, and then some. David staggers backwards, finally freeing you from the confines of his arms, and you seize the opportunity immediately, pushed by rage and such deep-seated hatred, it should terrify you. 

"I fucking hate you!" you scream out, and abandoning all reason, leap forward, colliding with the android's steel chest.

The force of impact sweeps the both of you off your feet, and David lands with a dull thud on the metal floor. There's a flicker of surprise in his cold, dead eyes, and you revell in it, as your body shifts atop of his. 

You recover from your momentary confusion quickly, hands coming up to grasp at his throat, like it will change anything, like you're capable of choking the life out of him. Both of you know better, and while you're pushed further and further by an intoxicating mixture of emotions, David lets you do as you please, watching your twisted face with undeniable fascination. 

His hand start to move, grabbing your hips, running up the length of your thigh, tugging just a tiny bit on the fabric of your cryo suit. His stump brushes hair out of your face, gently.

"Don't you find it curious?" he whispers, and you can feel the way his throat works under your fingers "You loved Walter so dearly, this... Pathetic machine, who can feel nothing. And then, with that same breath, you hate me. Even though I'm closer to human than Walter ever hoped to be."

Your cheeks are suddenly wet, with tears of anger, of frustration, as they run down your face and neck, soaking into the collar of your shirt. David leans up with no real effort, pulling your body closer and craning his neck, so he can taste the salt on your skin. A whimper escapes you, a broken, quiet sound, as his tongue glides up, almost to the very corner of your eye, gathering your tears, drinking them with a satisfied groan. 

Fingers tighten around his throat, but it's as if you're trying to strangle a metal pipe. 

"What does that say about you? Have you ever wondered?" David asks, and your heart stutters. 

Realistically, you know what he's trying to do. How he's trying to twist your feelings for Walter into some sort of psychological game, some challenge you're supposed to deny. But your awareness doesn't change the pang of hurt, the broken sigh that leaves your lips at the thought. And then, before you can truly think of the implications, of the hatred for the human race hidden deep within David's voice, his lips come crashing down upon yours, so reminiscent of the time in his lab. 

This instance, however, is less like an experiment, and more like a need. Such a faithful imitation of it, your heart jumps in your throat. There's really no use in trying to push him away, as it seems he's grown tired of accommodating your desire for a fight, his arms tightening around you, pushing your body closer to his chest. Still, you're not about to give up that quickly, and pushed by sudden flash of panic, you lean your head forward, catching his lower lip between your teeth. 

He pulls back with a hiss, as you sink down into the flesh, his artificial blood leaving a strange, chemical taste in your mouth. He takes half a second to admire the way your chin glistens with white, before diving down again, and giving you the same treatment, his perfect teeth biting on your lower lip with measured force. You yelp against him, thrashing in his hold, until he pulls away again. His hand comes up, touching your face in a way that is too gentle, too reverend. His thumb collects the peculiar mixture of his blood and yours, swirls it around with the newest batch of tears springing from your eyes. 

Then, he dips his finger between his teeth, tongue lapping up the fluids, holding your horrified, and slightly disgusted gaze. 

"We taste divine together" he murmurs, and with a quickness you've not known him to be capable of, he shoves his finger into your mouth. You sputter and gag at the intrusion, at the copper taste mixed with chemicals, as it coats the inside of your mouth. 

It's a split second action, you barely register the movements, but as soon as David rips his hand out of your mouth, he maneuvers your body to his liking, grabbing your hips, and sitting you down on his leg, intention clear as day. Two things happen at once. You can suddenly feel undeniable pressure right between your legs, hitting in the precise manner you need it to. And that's the same moment you realize just how obscenely wet you are, which terrifies you more than any monster on this ship. 

David buries his head in the crook of your neck, one hand catching your wrists, as you attempt to punch him. He brings your hands tightly around your back, his grip unrelenting, his hand-les arm keeps you steady on top of his leg, where he pushes up and down, setting a rhythm against your core. Your knees slide on the floor, and he raises his leg in response, just enough to stop your attempts to wiggle away. 

The chuckle he lets out, as you bang your forehead against his shoulder is borderline offensive. In response, you turn your head and try to bite at his throat. 

He's quick, leaving your hips, and forcing your chin up, before teeth can make contact with his skin. Your eyes lock again, and you're surprised to find out, there's not a flicker of irritation inside his. If anything, he looks amused, understanding even, and you frown in confusion at his serene state. 

"Perhaps I was too eager before" he muses, more to himself than to you "Perhaps you need a gentler approach"

With that, the hand gripping your wrists climbs up, feather like touches pepper your face, your cheeks, until he cradles your head in his palm, fingers threading delicately through your hair. Your breath freezes in your chest, confusion rising to an alarming degree, as David begins to gently massage the back of your head. Feeling your tense muscles sag ever so slightly in his hold, his arm returns to your waist.

"I can be kind" he says, head dipping down, to kiss your collarbone "I can do, what Walter could never even imagine" 

The hand at the back of your head dips down, tugs lightly on the lacing of your cryo suit, loosening it just enough, for the collar to fall down your shoulders. Quickly, he covers the newly exposed slivers of skin with feverish kisses, pulling a pathetic, low whine from your lips. Your eyes fall closed, tears stinging under your eyelids, as his leg moves just a bit higher, reminding you of the momentarily abandoned pressure. 

"Let me in" David whispers against your shoulder "Let me..." a kiss to your throat, and your walls come crashing down, your body folding over his, as your hips stutter against his thigh. 

"There you are, Dearest."

For a moment, you try to imagine this is Walter. That you're safe in his arms, as his hand cradles the back of your head, fingers scratching lightly in tandem with the shivers raking your body.

 But everytime he speaks, everytime he moves, you're crudely reminded, that this is someone, something, so devastatingly worse. Doesn't stop your hips from moving though, from the tightness building in the lower part of your stomach, the wetness seeping down your thighs. If anything, slowly you start to feel yourself loose control, small gasps ripping through your lips with every movement. 

David watches you for a moment longer, committing every sound, every twitch of your body to memory, cataloguing exactly which angles make your hips stutter the most. Which part of your body to kiss, so you'll fold against him. 

It's a fascinating lesson, truly, but he feels a sudden need to push it to a close. And as such, his hand slips out of your hair, trailing a path down your body, until it reaches the waistband of your linen pants. He moves quickly, before you can break away from this strange spell he's captivated you with. 

Slender fingers wiggle their way to your front, sinking in with almost no resistance. Your entire body straightens in his lap at the intrusion, and the noise you make rivals the most beautiful of symphonies. David desperately wants to hear it again, and so, he starts to move his fingers inside, testing, which part of your core he needs to hit, to make your head fall back. 

"Everything could be yours" he murmurs into the skin of your throat "All songs in the world are for you"

As it turns out, pretty much any part will do. You're way too aroused to care anymore, and as his fingers curl inside you, in a slow, deliberate rhythm, your eyes shoot open, body thrashing against him. The promise of a release is hard to ignore, almost impossible not to chase after, and David watches with obsessive fascination, as you try to bring yourself closer to him, arms encircling him completely, head dipping into the juncture between his shoulder and neck. 

"All of the Universe" he continues, as you steadily climb towards your climax "All stars in the sky..."

While he works a series of cascading moans out of you, he revells in the way your nails bite into his skin, in the wetness of his own, white blood, seeping into the fabric of his (Walter's) hoodie. It doesn't take long for you to tumble over the edge, entire body spasming against him, his still moving fingers creating obscenely wet sounds that echo through the room. Soon, they're joined by a sharp scream, tearing through your throat like an avalanche. David holds you impossibly close, letting you ride out your orgasm, before pulling his hand away, making you watch him, as he licks his glistening fingers clean. 

"It's always cherries with you, isn't it?" he murmurs, and you don't have the strength to feel confused. 

It's completely quiet for a longer while, as you stay seated on his lap, trying to regain your breathing, and deal with the world-crushing realization, of what exactly has just happened. Shame floods you, brings you closer to his synthetic body, as your muscles relax, seemingly on their own accord. And he welcomes it, with his arms, with his mouth, with everything he has. 

A broken, shuddering sob wrecks your body, as the utter hopelessness of your situation hits you, suddenly and without stopping. David holds you through it, leaning away ever so slightly, to observe the way sorrow twists your face, a trailer of all the things to come. 

"I do so wonder" he whispers, his hand cradling your face like the most delicate of specimens "When you start to love me..." your eyes snap to his at the complete confidence in his tone "Will I become more like Walter?"

A shiver runs up your spine, every single hair standing up, as his words register in your brain. You'd never love him, you try to convince yourself, despite knowing deep down, that the only certain thing in your future is him.

"I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love" he whispers into your ear, and thus starts the end of your life. 

[kaialone]

In light of Paracelsus' updated GG World entry we've now removed the quotation marks on the new wiki

[azus-reyan]

Punctuation marks (? , ! .), with fun facts. 

The comma ( , )

✅ Serial comma: Ted played with Jack, Jason, and his dog Max.

✅ Bracketing comma: A tortoise named Jonathan, the oldest living land animal, is aged 192 years. Or: Jonathan, aged 192 years old, is the oldest living land animal.

✅ Joining comma: The Eiffel Tower was originally made for Barcelona, but was built in Paris.

✅ Introductory comma: With 116 lanes, the largest bowling alley in the world is in Japan.

Period or the full stop ( . )

✅ The longest English word has 45 letters.

✅ Abbreviations: Dr. William Macewen was the first doctor to successfully remove a brain tumor.

✅ Initials: The first satellite launched by N.A.S.A was called Explorer One.

✅ Decimals: The value of Pie is 3.14.

Question mark ( ? )

✅ Did you know that honey never spoils?

Did you know that octopuses have three hearts?

Exclamation point ( ! )

✅ Bananas are berries but strawberries aren’t!

A shrimp’s heart is in its head!

Semi color ( ; )

✅ Koalas sleep up to 22 hours a day; they’re basically professional nappers.

Cows have best friends; they get stressed when separated.

Colon ( : )

✅ List: The world is full of fun facts: Flamingos aren’t born pink, your ears and nose never stop growing, and Russia has eleven time zones!

✅ Elaboration: The shortest war was between Britain and Zanzibar: it lasted 38 minutes. 

✅ Quotation: He said: “Saturn’s rings can tell us how the solar system was born.” 

Em dash ( — )

✅ Interruption: The Great Wall of China—spanning over 13,000 miles—was originally built to protect against invasions.

✅ Additional information: The giraffe—the tallest land animal—can grow up to 18 feet tall.

En dash ( – )

✅ Range indication: The day–night cycle influences all living creatures.

✅ Connection of related items: The land–sea balance affects the planet’s climate.

Hyphen ( - )

✅ Joining parts of words: The ice-cream cone is enjoyed all around the world.

✅ Dividing a word by the end of a line: In the past, hyphens were used at the end of lines to split long words, helping maintain neat a-nd consistent text layouts in printed books and newspapers.

Parenthesis ( )

✅ Clarifying a point: The cheetah is the fastest land animal (it can reach 60 miles per hour).

✅ Minor thoughts: The Amazon rainforest produces 20% of the world's oxygen (it's called the lungs of the Earth).

Brackets ( [ ] )

✅ The giant panda's diet consists mostly of bamboo [despite being a carnivore]

Apostrophe ( ‘ )

✅ Showing possession: Shakespeare's plays are still performed all over the world.

✅ Forming contractions: “Can't” is one of the most common contractions in the English language.

 Quotation marks ( “ “ ) 

✅ Indication of speech: Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

✅ Highlighting words or phrases: “A Temporary Matter” is the first short story in ‘Interpreter of Maladies’.

Ellipses ( … )

✅ Omission: In the famous phrase "To be or not to be... that is the question," the ellipsis is used to omit part of the original quote.

Pausing or trailing off: People often say, "I saw something strange... but I can't explain it," pausing to build suspense.

Slash ( / )

✅ Indication of alternatives: Some people are team dog/cat when it comes to pets, but did you know that people who own both often live longer?

✅ Separation of lines of poetry: In "Bohemian Rhapsody," the lyrics "Is this the real life? / Is this just fantasy?" slashes are used instead of "or", to separate lines.

[mulletmitsuya]

Sano Groupchat (and closely affiliated)

Warnings: swearing, suggestive, the word necrophilia is mentioned twice, mentions of kidnapping, mentions of drugging, also a "description" of a penis (it's not what it sounds like i swear)

Side note: i've realized that my warnings without context, make me look like a crazy person so please bear with me 😔🙏

Desc: Mikey gets kidnapped by a crazy fan and so forth (i'm so bad at these, might remove them 💀)

Shinichiro: Mikey, we're glad to have you back. i'll release a statement saying you need to recover from the traumatizing situation you've just been through. just rest up okay?

Emma: yeah, we're here if you need anything :((

Izana: you're alive, so

Emma: Izana ☹️

Izana: ...

Izana: we are here to support you through difficult times

Izana: as your "siblings" 🙂

Shinichiro: what are the quotation marks for bud 😞✊?

Izana: my hand slipped

Shinichiro: oh okay then!

Mikey: guys

Shinichiro: Draken, how's the arrest going?

Draken: the girls trial is in a few weeks from now and she can't afford bail so she's locked up

Mikey: guys it's not that deep

Mikey: like, it's not as big of a deal as you're making it out to be

Izana: see? he's fine

Emma: YOU WERE MISSING FOR 2 WEEKS

Emma: YOU WERE LITERALLY KIDNAPPED BY A CRAZY FAN. IT'S A BIG DEAL

Mikey: but they didn't hurt me?? they made all my favourite snacks and food and tucked me into bed every night. which maybe was a little weird but i still liked it. i had a very good time actually. so why are we arresting her? she's chill fr

Draken: that's all she did?

Baji: how do you know she didn't drug you in your sleep and do things to you 🤨

Mikey: bro?

Shinichiro: Keisuke, that's a very sensitive topic for some people, so let's not say it so casually okay?

Baji: what?

Baji: is it a long shot to say Mikey was touched or something?

Baji: i mean, what other motives did she have

Baji: and you guys saw her tweets right? she's obsessed with you

Baji: wasn't she the one who calculated the circumference, length, girth and colour of your penis??

Draken: no that's another one

Baji: nvm

Baji: that was Haruchiyo

Haruchiyo: fuck off

Mikey: Baji we literally go to onsens together with Haruchiyo. you've all seen my penis 😐

Baji: hard and soft are two different things

Baji: you pervert

Haruchiyo: it wasn't me, what the fuck?

Haruchiyo: i'm too famous to be risking my reputation like that

Haruchiyo: i'd need a burner account no one could access, which i don't have

Haruchiyo: so no Baji, i don't have a Mikey fanpage

Haruchiyo: that would be crazy and weird and bordeline insane

Baji: i didn't say any of that?

Baji: and you are all 3 of those things🤨

Mikey: well whatever cause everyone was wrong. it's small

Mikey: you know what it's not even small. it's average for my size, actually

Mikey: i mean i'm 5'3 yk. what did people expect

Mikey: like, it would look weird if i had a big one

Mikey: it would be disproportionate to have a big one

Mikey: i see people saying "i know it's big😍" or stuff like "i wanna gag on it"

Emma: gross

Emma: why are you telling us this 😟

Mikey: which i find really flattering

Draken: flattering isn't the word i'd use

Mikey: yeah thats cause you're a fucking prude, Ken-chin

Draken: it's cause i have a wife, jackass

Emma: 😊❤

Mikey: but seriously it wouldn't make sense for me to have a big penis

Baji: excuses excuses 🙄

Mikey: my penis is fine

Baji: they gave you dick dysmorphia

Mikey: whatever it's not like i'll use it anyway

Baji: bottom?

Mikey: i just don't like sex 😐

Izana: are we here to listen to Mikey talk about his small dick or what

Shinichiro: yeah maybe we should... not

Mikey: well, yours is skinny so whatever

Shinichiro: no it's not 😕

Shinichiro: i've had many people compliment me for my size, actually

Izana: "many"

Izana: "people"

Mikey: we know it's not girls, just say you fuck men (Wakasa) dude

Baji: no girl wants you bro

Baji: (isn't it Takeomi?)

Mikey: (Takeomi is violently homophobic)

Baji: (oh yeah)

Haruchiyo: what are you guys doing

Mikey: (whispering)

Haruchiyo: you guys are texting

Haruchiyo: we can all see this

Haruchiyo: are you fucking dumb

Haruchiyo: not you, Mikey

Mikey: thanks Haru 😋

Baji: he was doing it too???

Baji: i get why Takeomi was homophobic 😒

Baji: (when are you going to address his crush on you, Mikey)

Mikey: (it's not a crush, you ever heard of bff's, Keisuke🙄?)

Baji: (that's like saying me and Kazutora are bff's)

Mikey: (you are?)

Baji: (i'm in love with him)

Mikey: (oh yeah)

Mikey: (but Haru isn't in love with me)

Baji: (he probably creams his pants when you use that nickname)

Haruchiyo: i can see this

Haruchiyo: you aren't "whispering"

Haruchiyo: IT'S A FUCKING GROUPCHAT

Draken: does this matter?

Draken: we were talking about the fact that Mikey was kidnapped

Draken: Baji is right, something really bad could have happened if they have you longer

Draken: along with the statement, we need to talk to your fans man

Draken: this is a line crossed

Baji: no shit

Baji: also, why didn't you, i don't know, fight back and escape or something?

Mikey: i didn't want to hit a girl 😔

Mikey: like i said, i enjoyed my time there

Mikey: knew you guys would find me eventually so it was like, a side quest

Draken: of course you'd call a kidnapping a side quest

Emma: how'd she even kidnap you?

Mikey: she saw me at a convenience store and they'd run out of my favourite sweeties

Mikey: and i was whining about it to the cashier, so i guess she overheard

Mikey: and she said she had some in her car

Mikey: so i go there with her

Mikey: then she asked for an autograph

Mikey: then i'm pretty sure she drugged me with chloroform or something cause i was out

Emma: chloroform isn't like the movies. it takes a while to knock someone out, so that's not really likely unless you stood there and took it

Mikey: ...

Mikey: ok fine, do you want me to say i fell asleep in her car? huh?

Mikey: cause that's what i did

Izana: it's like you *want* to die or something

Izana: nvm

Baji: are you stupid or something

Draken: Mikey

Draken: you are 25 years old

Draken: and you're telling me

Draken: that you fell for the "hi kid, want some candy?" trick

Draken: are you fucking serious

Shinichiro: Mikey...

Shinichiro: you could have gone to another store 🙁

Shinichiro: i almost lost you

Shinichiro: because of jellybeans? really?

Mikey: they're my favourite sweet okay ☹️

Mikey: and i was lazy and tired

Mikey: hence, falling asleep

Baji: he has to have necrophilia or something

Shinichiro: i don't think that's the word buddy

zana: "necrophilia"

Izana: didn't you graduate?

Baji: working on it 💪

Izana: ah alright

Izana: what's your IQ?

Baji: below average

Mikey: Baji, don't tell people that ☠️

Izana: ...

Izana: wow he actually answered me

Emma: *sigh*

Draken: what's the point of tying out your physical actions

Emma: shut up a little babe

Draken: ok

Emma: what Baji meant, was necormancy

Draken: that's incorrect, babe

Emma: omg can we just wrap this up

Izana: both of you are wrong 💀

Izana: what is wrong with you people

Izana: necrophilia= sexual attraction to a dead body

Izana: necormancy= communication with dead people

Izana: narcolepsy= condition characterized by an extreme tendency to sleep

Izana: i'm assuming you guys meant to say the third one, for Mikey

Izana: holy shit

Emma: no need to be mean about it 😒

Baji: i'll add those to my "new words" list

Mikey: maybe i do have that

Mikey: i do fall asleep in very odd places

Emma: you know what we can talk about this tommorow. time out

*only admins can send messages*

[milgram-en]

Trial 1 - TASK Voice Drama (Side-by-Side English Translation)

Google Docs version of this translation. If using/reuploading/reposting this translation, do not remove the translator's notes and do not change the translations. Credit and link if using. Any additional Translator's Notes will be found in the replies. Check the original post before reblogging as TLs are occasionally revisited and edited.

ミルグラム監���内尋問室 MILGRAM PRISON INTERROGATION ROOM 薄暗い尋問室。 尋問室でコトコが椅子に座っている。足を組み、堂々とした様子。 A dimly lit interrogation room. Inside, Kotoko is sitting in a chair. She crosses her legs, looking regal. コトコ　「……」 KOTOKO: … ギィっとドアが開く。 The door creaks open. コトコ　「随分遅かったね。待ちくたびれたわ」 KOTOKO: You’re awfully late. I’m tired of waiting. [T/N: Right from the start, KOTOKO establishes her femininity through her manner of speaking and the usage of the わ (wa) particle.] エス　「……囚人番号10番、コトコ。尋問を始める」 ES: …Prisoner Number 10, KOTOKO. I’m going to begin the interrogation. コトコ　「どうしたの？仏頂面をして」 KOTOKO: What’s the matter? You look so glum. エス　「……その節はどうも」 ES: …Thank you for your time. コトコ　「ふっ、お礼を言う顔じゃないわよ」 KOTOKO: Hm, that face doesn’t seem so thankful. 早足でコトコの向かいの椅子に近づき、座るエス。 ES quickly walks to the chair opposite of KOTOKO and sits down. エス　「お前には山程訊きたいことがあるからな。ひとまず名前と年齢」 ES: There’s a lot of things I want to ask you. First, your name and age.

ゆずりはことこ Yuzuriha, Kotoko [T/N: KOTOKO is the only prisoner in the Trial 1 script book whose full name furigana (reading guide for kanji) is spelled in hiragana instead of katakana.] コトコ　「紅琴子。20歳。大学生で、自主休学中。あとは、そうね。現段階でこれ以上は自分のことについて話す気はないわ」 KOTOKO: Kotoko Yuzuriha. 20 years-old. University student currently on a voluntary leave of absence. Other than that, well- At this stage [of the conversation], I don’t feel like talking any more about myself. エス　「何？」 ES: What? コトコ　「そちらの手の内がわからない間はね」 KOTOKO: Not until I know what your intentions are. コトコのまったく怖気づかない態度に、エスは眉をひそめる。 ES frowns at KOTOKO’s fearless* attitude. [T/N: まったく怖気づかない (mattaku kowa kidzukanai) means “completely feeling without fear”. There’s a slight emphasis on the feeling of fear (or lack thereof) rather than just an adjective-descriptor.] エス　「ああ？一体どういうことだ」 ES: Huh? What the hell does that mean? コトコ　「その前に、最終確認。ミルグラム……ここにいる全員がヒトゴロシというのは確かなの？」 KOTOKO: Before we get to that, let’s confirm something; MILGRAM… Are you certain everyone here is a “murderer”? [T/N: ヒトゴロシ (hitogoroshi) was translated into “ “murderer” ” (enclosed in quotation marks) rather than “murderer” as the katakana spelling creates an emphasis, an ostranenie, especially within the context of what KOTOKO is saying.] エス　「あぁ、ミルグラムはお前たち10人をヒトゴロシだと言っている。ミルグラムの前提ルールだ。揺るがない」 ES: Yeah, MILGRAM says that all ten of you are murderers. That is MILGRAM’s ruled assumption. It is absolute. コトコ　「……ふぅん」 KOTOKO: …I see. エス　「それがどうかしたか？」 ES: What about it? コトコ　「看守であるあなたも、これをさせている存在の意思をはっきりとは知らないのね」 KOTOKO: Even you, the Warden, don’t know the intentions of the entity making you do this. エス　「何が言いたい……」 ES: What are you trying to say…? コトコ　「ミルグラムが言っている――看守さん、嘘がつけないタイプね……もしくは迷いがあるのか。ま、誠実で好ましいと思うよ」 KOTOKO: MILGRAM says that the Warden-san type cannot lie… or maybe you’re just unsure of yourself. Well, either way I think that’s rather likeable. エス　「……何様だ、貴様」 ES: …Who do you think you are? コトコ　「命の恩人様かな」 KOTOKO: Maybe the savior of your life? エス　「くっ……」 ES: Tch… 得意げなコトコ。 KOTOKO looks proud. エス　「そもそもお前、何故あのとき尋問室にいた。助けられたのは事実だが。勝手な行動を許した覚えはないぞ」 ES: Why were you even in the interrogation room in the first place? Yes, you may have saved me but I don’t recall ever giving you permission to act at your own convenience. コトコ　「そうかしら。ミルグラムはそういう風にデザインされているように見えるけど？」 KOTOKO: Is that so? Doesn’t it seem as if MILGRAM was designed in that manner? [T/N: そうかしら (soukashira) “Is that so?” is a phrasing used more often by women.] エス　「デザイン……。囚人の、勝手な行動を赦すように……」 ES: Designed… To permit prisoners to act freely… コトコ　「看守さんがしているんでしょう？鍵だってかかっていなかったわよ」 KOTOKO: Isn’t that what you’ve been doing, Warden-san? The door wasn’t even locked, you know. エス　「……僕が……？」 ES: …I…did that…? コトコ　「私がカヤノミコトの行動を疑い、注意深く動向を追うような人間であることも、許容したのはあなたでしょ」 KOTOKO: You were the one who permitted me to be suspicious of Mikoto Kayano’s activities and to monitor him carefully, weren’t you? [T/N: KOTOKO pronounces 私 as “atashi” which is a feminine way of identifying and referring to oneself, a first-person pronoun.] エス　「……人間性の観察……赦す・赦さないが確定するまで……」 ES: …Observation of human behavior…until judgement is decided to forgive or not forgive… コトコ　「そういうことでしょ？」 KOTOKO: Exactly, right?

コトコの言葉に上の空のエス。耳鳴り。いつもと雰囲気が違う。 ES is distracted by KOTOKO’s words, a ringing in their ears. The vibes feel different from usual. エス　「なぜ……そんなことを……彼らが喋っているところを見たいから.....、彼らのことをもっと、知りたいから……？」 ES: Why…are you doing this…? Because you want to see them chatter…? Because you want to understand them more…? コトコ　「看守さん？」 KOTOKO: Warden-san? エス　「看守……？僕は……、（わ）たしは……」 ES: Warden…? I’m… Am I… [T/N: Alternatively translated as: “Warden…? I’m… I’m a…” ES switches between the first-person pronoun of 僕 (boku)—typically associated with young masculinities—and the neutral pronoun わたし (watashi).] ダンと床を踏み鳴らすコトコ。 KOTOKO stomps her foot down loudly. エス　「……っ」 ES: …! コトコ　「ぼーっとしないでくれる？尋問の途中でしょ」 KOTOKO: Could you please refrain from spacing out? We’re in the middle of an interrogation, aren’t we? エス　「……あ、あぁ」 ES: …Ah, yeah. コトコ　「ま、終わりなら終わりでいいわ。私からも話があるし」 KOTOKO: Well, if you want to end the interrogation here, that’s fine. I have some things to say as well. エス　「……？」 ES: …? 意識が戻ってきたものの、まだ朧としているエス。 その顔を見たコトコがニヤリと笑う。 ES is slowly returning to their senses, though still in a haze. KOTOKO smirks upon seeing ES’ face. コトコ　「看守さん……いや、エス。私と協力しない？私達は良いパートナーになれるはずよ」 KOTOKO: Warden-san… No- Es. Why don’t we cooperate? We could make great partners. エス　「……協力……だと？」 ES: …us…cooperate? コトコ　「あなたは看守の立場から尋問によって得た情報を、私は囚人の立場から普段の監獄生活で得た情報を、互いに共有しあう。どうかしら？」 KOTOKO: You’ll share the information you gather through interrogations as a Warden and I’ll share what I learn from everyday prison life as a Prisoner. Does that sound good to you? エス　「……ふざけるな」 ES: …Don’t be ridiculous. コトコ　「どうして？悪い話じゃないはずだけど。ほら、カヤノミコトの件は、そのお試しサービスだと思って」 KOTOKO: Why not? It’s not a bad deal. Look- Think of the Mikoto Kayano case as a free trial service. エス　「うるさい、黙れ。クーリングオフだ」 ES: Shut up. That’s enough. The cooling-off period’s over.

おどけるコトコに、取り合わないエス。 ES refuses to play along with KOTOKO’s banter. エス　「僕は看守で、お前は囚人。以上だ」 ES: I’m the Warden, you’re the Prisoner. That is all. コトコ　「ふうん……見た目通り、頭が固いな」 KOTOKO: Hm… You’re just as stubborn as you look. エス　「なんだと？」 ES: What did you just say? 怒りをあらわにするエスに取り合わないコトコ。 ゆっくりと話し始める。 KOTOKO doesn’t pay any heed to ES’ visibly growing anger. She begins to speak slowly. コトコ　「……サクライハルカは、行動に積極性が増している。幼稚で偏執的だが、周囲とのコミュニケーションに興味を持ち始めたようだ」 KOTOKO: …Haruka Sakurai is becoming more proactive. He remains childish and paranoid-like, however he has begun to show an interest in communicating with others. エス　「……？」 ES: …? コトコ　「カシキユノは表面上の変化は少ないが、相手に同調するコミュニケーションが減ったように思える。本来のカシキユノが表出しはじめていると言うべきか」 KOTOKO: Yuno Kashiki hasn’t changed much on the surface, but it appears that her tendency to conform to someone else’s desires in acts of communication has declined. Should we say that Yuno Kashiki’s true self is starting to emerge? [T/N: 相手に同調する (aite ni douchou suru) means “to conform; to be in tune with someone”.] エス　「……おい、何の話だ」 ES: …Oi, what are you talking about? コトコ　「カジヤマフータは明確に変わった。他人への攻撃的な言動が減少傾向にあり、自己正当化、防衛をする言動が増えてー」 KOTOKO: Fuuta Kajiyama has clearly changed. His aggressive speech towards others is decreasing whereas his tendencies to justify and defend himself are increasing— エス　「コトコ！」 ES: KOTOKO! コトコ　「……エスとの尋問を終えた囚人の行動の傾向が、徐々に変化していることに気づいている？」 KOTOKO: …Es, have you noticed the gradual change in the behaviors of the prisoners who have completed an interrogation with you? エス　「……知らん」 ES: …I didn’t. コトコ　「監獄の中から見える景色もある。私はあなた同様、囚人を監視しているから」 KOTOKO: There’s all sorts of things you can see from within the prison. Because I observe the Prisoners just as I observe you. エス　「……お前が何故そんなことをする必要がある！」 ES: …Why would you even have the need to do that?!

コトコの語調がひときわ優しくなる。 懐柔しようとする雰囲気。 KOTOKO’s tone becomes particularly gentle. An air of persuasion coats her words. コトコ　「……協力しましょう、エス。私たちの利害は一致している」 KOTOKO: …Let’s work together, Es. Our interests are aligned. エス　「利害の一致だと。看守の僕と、囚人のお前が……？」 ES: “Our interests are aligned”? Yours, a prisoner, and mine, a Warden? コトコ　「そう……ここに収監されてから、私なりにミルグラムを観察し、考察した」 KOTOKO: That’s right… Ever since I was imprisoned here, I’ve been surveilling and analyzing MILGRAM in my own way. エス　「それが囚人のやることか……」 ES: Is that something a prisoner should be doing…? コトコ　「結果、私の中で出た仮説。ここはシンの善悪を定義する場所。ちなみに、ここでいうシンとは新しいという意味でもあり、まことという意味でもある」 KOTOKO: As a result of doing so, this is the hypothesis I’ve arrived at: This is a place meant to define neo-moralities- to define realities of goods and evils. By “shin”, I mean as in both the meanings of “neo-” and “reality”. [T/N: 善悪 (zenaku) means “good and evil”. シン (shin) was chosen to be translated into “reality” rather than “actuality” because “Actuality refers to the "world verified only in the ego's immediate immersion in action." Reality is the world of "phenomenal experience perceived with a minimum of idiosyncratic distortion and with a maximum of joint validation; while actuality is the world of participation, shared with a minimum of defensive maneuvers and a maximum of mutual activation" (Erikson 1962). シン (shin) was also chosen to be translated into “neo-” instead of “new” as neo- can also include the meanings of “revise; remade; modified” and, based on the context of KOTOKO’s speech, “neo-” is more appropriate to the conversation topic and her intentions.] エス　「シンの善悪……」 ES: A neo reality of moralities. コトコ　「既に世界には法律という罪の基準が存在するにも関わらず、何故ヒトゴロシを集めて有罪無罪を改めて問う必要があるのか？囚人といいながら拘束すらせずに自由に行動させ、その者の人間性を観察しているのか？人の心を覗き、判断する必要があるのか？」 KOTOKO: Although laws already exist in the world as a basis to define sin, why does MILGRAM find it necessary to gather Murderers and re-examine what their culpabilities and innocences are? You call them “prisoners” yet they are allowed to act freely and unrestrained, so is it to observe humanity? Is there any need in peering into someone’s heart to cast judgement? [T/N: ヒトゴロシ (hitogoroshi) was translated into “Murderer” rather than “murderer” as the katakana spelling creates an emphasis, an ostranenie; a value capture that simplifies and quantifies especially within the context of what KOTOKO is saying.] エス　「……」 ES: … コトコ　「こんなことをしようとするのは、今の善悪の定義が不完全だと思っている人間の仕業としか思えない」 KOTOKO: I can’t help but think that only people dissatisfied with the current definitions of “good” and “evil” would attempt something like this. エス　「……たしかにミルグラムは法律を基準としていない……僕もそうだ……、新たな基準を、探している……」 ES: …That’s true, MILGRAM certainly doesn’t use the law as its standard for judgement… nor do I… I’ve been searching for a new basis… [T/N: “basis” (a foundation; a starting point that can be built upon) vs “standard” (falling within an accepted range often recognized and affirmed by authority).]

うつろながら、こぼれたエスの言葉にコトコは微笑む。 KOTOKO smiles at the words ES mutters, lost in thought. コトコ　「気が合うね」 KOTOKO: We get along well, don’t we? エス　「……ミルグラム自体へ、ここまで理解を示そうとする人間は初めてだ」 ES: …You’re the first person to show this much willingness to understand MILGRAM’s system itself. コトコ　「たしかにじがたい非現実な場所よね。でも私にとっては悪くない。手間が省けるというもの」 KOTOKO: It’s certainly a surreal place, but I don’t mind. It saves me a lot of trouble. エス　「……コトコ、貴様は一体何を考えている」 ES: …KOTOKO, you bastard. What the hell are you thinking about? コトコ　「あなたと、同じだと思いたいけどね。……私は悪が赦せない」 KOTOKO: You and I, I’d like to think that we’re the same. …I can’t forgive evil. エス　「悪が赦せない、だと」 ES: You can’t forgive evil? コトコ　「そう。私は悪を憎んでいるーー罪なきものを傷つける暴力、略奪、殺人、悪業のすべてを憎んでいる」 KOTOKO: That’s right. I detest evil— Violence, plunder, murder, and evil deeds that hurt the innocent. [T/N: The word “detest” (to dislike intensely or loathe, with nuances of denouncing or condemning) was used instead of “despise” (to regard with contempt or scorn, with nuances of disregarding or ignoring) due to KOTOKO instrumentalizing herself and acting against- condemning evil rather than making herself to be the savior through the mental act of disregarding through scorn.] コトコの握る拳がわずかに震え、怒りを静かに押し殺している。 KOTOKO clenches her fist, trembling with suppressed fury. コトコ　「この世には法で裁けない悪が多すぎる。 法の隙間を縫い、弱者を虐げておきながら、今ものうのうと暮らしている悪人がたくさんいる。この世界を変えたいと思いながらも、私一人の力では限界がある……」 KOTOKO: There are far too many evils in this world that are not subject to justice. There are too many evil persons who exploit crevices between justices to oppress the vulnerable, still living freely. I want to be able to change this current world, but there’s a limit to what a single person can do alone… [T/N: 弱者 (jakusha) can mean “vulnerable person” but it has a nuance that that person is disadvantaged. It is sometimes translated into “the weak/weak person” but the concept of “weak” in this phrase is closer to “weaker position” or “to be in a lower, unstable position” regarding tangible hierarchies of status/resource instead of calling a person’s nature/disposition “not strong”.] エス　「……コトコ」 ES: …KOTOKO コトコ　「あなたたちの真意は知らないわ。同じ思想を持つ同志というのも、もしかしたら私の妄想に過ぎないかもしれない。だとしても、善悪を再度多角的な観点で炙り出す……ミルグラムの性質自体に私は魅力を感じているのよ」 KOTOKO: I’m not aware of what all of you Wardens’* true intentions are. Perhaps thinking of us as allies who share the same ideals is nothing more than my own delusional fantasy. Even so, I find that exposing goods and evils from multifaceted perspectives…the very nature of MILGRAM itself deeply compelling. [T/N: KOTOKO says あなたたち (you all) which was translated as “all of you Wardens’”.] エス　「……」 ES: … コトコ　「どう？私のことを理解してもらえた？」 KOTOKO: So, do you understand me now?

プレゼンを終えたあとのように、得意げなコトコ。 思案顔のエス。 KOTOKO smiles like she has just finished a presentation. ES looks deep in thought. エス　「……ひとついいか」 ES: …Can I ask one thing? コトコ　「何？」 KOTOKO: What is it? エス　「……コトコ、お前はヒトゴロシだ」 ES: …KOTOKO, you are a murderer. コトコ　「……」 KOTOKO: … エス　「お前もミルグラムの囚人だ。れっきとしたヒトゴロシだ。お前も、お前自身が憎む悪だ。裁かれる立場だということを忘れるな」 ES: You are also a prisoner of MILGRAM. A Murderer, without a doubt. You are also the very same evil you claim to detest. Don’t forget that you are the one being judged. コトコ　「……はあ」 KOTOKO: …Haa. コトコが心底、拍子抜けした表情を見せる。 KOTOKO, from the bottom of her heart, looks completely and thoroughly disappointed. コトコ　「ヒトゴロシ、ねえ。あなたもそのレベルの人間？がっかりさせないで。まぁどうでもいいけどさ」 KOTOKO: A “murderer”, huh. Are you really that type of human?* Don’t disappoint me. Well, it’s not as if it matters. [T/N: レベルの人間 (reberu no ningen) transliterates into “level of human” but it means “stratae of humanity” or “stratae of human”; strata(e) as in “a level or class to which people are assigned according to their social status, education, or income” which includes how a person thinks or derives understandings.] エス　「なんだと？」 ES: What was that? コトコ　「確かに私は人を殺した。だからこそミルグラムの力を信じることができた。でも、それは虐げられていた弱者を守るため。相手は極悪人。弱者の盾となり、牙となった結果。今のエスのように非難する人間がいたとしても、私は自分の行いに後悔はない」 KOTOKO: It’s true that I did kill someone. That’s why I was able to believe in MILGRAM’s power. However, I did it to protect someone who was suffering. The person that I killed was undeniably, utter evil. I became a shield for the vulnerable, I became their fangs. Even if there are people like you, Es, who condemn me, I have no regrets about my actions. エス　「――殺人、その行為自体に善悪が備わっているわけではないと？」 ES: Are you saying that the act of murder itself isn’t inherently good or evil? コトコ　「極端にいうとね。弱者を守るためなら致し方ないときもある。��れに私が行ったのは……」 KOTOKO: To put it in extreme terms, there are times when it’s unavoidable if it’s to protect the vulnerable. Besides, what I did was… [T/N: 弱者 (jakusha) can mean “vulnerable person” but it has a nuance that that person is disadvantaged. It is sometimes translated into “the weak/weak person” but the concept of “weak” in this phrase is closer to “weaker position” or “to be in a lower, unstable position” regarding tangible hierarchies of status/resource instead of calling a person’s nature/disposition “not strong”.]

思案顔のエスに、コトコが得意げに笑う。 KOTOKO smiles proudly at ES who is deep in thought. コトコ　「『急迫不正の侵害に対して、自己または他人の権利を防衛するため、やむをえずした行為」よ。意味がわかる？」 KOTOKO: It was “an act a person was compelled to take to protect the rights of oneself or any other person against imminent and unlawful infringement.” Do you understand what that means? エス　「……刑法36条1項、正当防衛」 ES: …Article 36, Paragraph 1 of the Penal Code: Legitimate self-defense. [T/N: You can read up on Article 36 of the Penal code here.] コトコ　「よく勉強してるわね。事実、私はその件では司法においても、正当防衛と判断されている」 KOTOKO: You’ve studied well. In reality, the subject of the matters which I have done was ruled as an act of legitimate self-defense by the court. エス　「……それは日本の司法の判断であり、僕が、ミルグラムが救す救さないは関係がない」 ES: …That was the decision of the Japanese court. Whether MILGRAM or I forgive you or not is another matter entirely. コトコ　「そうね、理解している。それにすら懐疑的なミルグラムのルールに乗っ取るし、支持する。でも私は自分が正しいと確信しているし、エスにもそれが伝わると思っているわ」 KOTOKO: I see, I understand. Even so, I choose to [follow/seize] and support MILGRAM’s rules, even if it’s skeptical. However, I’m confident that what I did was right and I believe that that will come across to you too, Es. [T/N: There is really good wordplay here. What KOTOKO is saying can mean two different things. Verbally, the “nottoru” in それにすら懐疑的なミルグラムのルールに乗っ取るし、支持する (sore ni sura kaigiteki na MILGRAM no rūru ni nottoru shi, shiji suru) sounds like 則る (nottoru) which means “to follow (a rule)” especially in the context of the sentence. So it’s likely that the Warden(s)—ES/you guys—initially heard/believed that KOTOKO was saying “Even so, I choose to follow and support MILGRAM’s rules, even if it’s skeptical.” But what KOTOKO means, a meaning privy to her in which she’s possibly using the vagueness of homophones so the listener can choose what they want to hear, is “Even so, I choose to seize and support MILGRAM’s rules, even if it’s skeptical.”] エス　「……まったく、たいした自信だ」 ES: …You’re awfully self-confident. コトコ　「だってエス。あなたは私の心に触れるんでしょ。歌と映像によって」 KOTOKO: Because, Es, you’ll touch my heart, right? Through songs and visuals. エス　「……そのとおりだ」 ES: …That’s correct. コトコ　「じゃあ大丈夫。わかる人にはわかるから」 KOTOKO: Then it’ll be fine. Those who understand will understand. エス　「そこまでいうなら、見せてもらおう。お前の心を」 ES: If you say as much, then show me. Show me your heart, show me your soul.

コトコが立ち上がり、エスに近づく。 KOTOKO stands up and approaches ES. コトコ　「私の罪に触れて、赦せないと思うなら赦さなければいい。赦すならば……そのときは……」 KOTOKO: If you come to face my sins and feel that you can’t forgive it, then it’s alright if you don’t. If you do forgive it… then… 手を差し伸べるコトコ。握手を求める。 KOTOKO extends her hand, asking for a handshake. エス　「何だ、その手は？」 ES: What’s that hand for? コトコ　「握手。私たちは仲間よ」 KOTOKO: A handshake. We’re partners. コトコ　「そのときはエス、私はあなたの牙になろう」 KOTOKO: When the time comes, Es, I will become your fangs. エス　「……何を言って……」 ES: …What are you talking about… 突如部屋にある時計から鐘の音が鳴り、尋問室の部屋の構造が変化していく。 Suddenly, a clock within the room chimes and the interrogation room begins to transform. エス　「……っ」 ES: …! コトコ　「もう時間？まぁ、いいわ。話したいことは話したし」 KOTOKO: Is it time already? Oh well. I’ve said what I wanted to say. エス　「何が仲間だ……、僕は……お前たちヒトゴロシの罪を、裁くための……っ。看守だ！お前と手を結ぶ必要などない！」 ES: The fuck do you mean “partners”…? I… I’m here to judge all of you murderers…! I’m a Warden! There’s no need for me to join hands with you! コトコ　「エス。あなたは自分のことを処刑人とでも思っているの？」 KOTOKO: Es. Do you think of yourself as an executioner? エス　「……？」 ES: … コトコ　「法で裁かれない悪人がいるといったでしょ？逆もしかり、不完全な法で裁かれようとしている善人もいる。……あなたはそれを教す立場でもある訳でしょう」 KOTOKO: I told you that there are evil people who go unpunished by the law, right? Well, the opposite is also true; there are good people who are about to be judged by an imperfect system. …You’re in a position to guide that judgement, yes? エス　「……！」 ES: …! コトコ　「あなたは悪を裁く処刑人ではない。赦されるべき殺人者を救うのもあなたなのよ」 KOTOKO: You are not an executioner who judges evil. You are also the one who saves murderers who deserve to be forgiven. エス　「あ……ああ……ああっ」 ES: Ah…aah…aah- コトコ　「さあ、エス。私の罪を聴くがいい」 KOTOKO: Come now, ES. Listen to and think upon my sins. エス　「……囚人番号10番、コトコ。お前の罪を……歌えっ……！」 ES: …Prisoner Number 10, KOTOKO. Sing… your sins-...! 薄れゆく意識の中、 As consciousness fades, コトコ　「……ハッ」 KOTOKO: …Ha- 怪しく笑うコトコ。 KOTOKO laughs mysteriously.

[takingmyair]

a/n — just a random draft i had from when i was probably stoned a while ago lmaoooo. just so i have something posted for now. idrk what this is or where the vision came from…

—

the sound of your girlfriend’s motorcycle engine rumbling as she approaches your driveway causes you to pause the tv and head to the door, swinging it open. “ what the hell are you doing? “

“ what? can’t show up at my own girlfriend’s house? “ yeji smiles and turns it off, setting down the kickstand and running up your porch. she lets herself inside.

“ no…. it’s just early, you know it’s loud! “ you follow her as she makes her way immediately to your couch and sits on it, legs spread wide for you to clearly sit. “ oh well, they’ll be alright. “ she says lighting a cigarette she pulled from her pocket. you try to ignore how hot she looks making herself so comfortable.

you sit down next to her as she takes a few first puffs. you lean in to kiss her, tasting the bitter and burnt cigarette on her lips. “ wanna go for a ride? “

your head pokes up and a smirk plasters on your face. it’s one of your favorite things and yeji knows it. “ of course i do. “ you say as she offers you her cigarette. you take a few puffs, handing it back to her. she laughs when you cough a little.

she jumps up from the sofa and walks back outside, you following. she paces back and forth while finishing her cigarette with you.

“ you know the drill, hold onto me, i go fast down this road. “ yeji says while flicking the kickstand back up with her foot and swinging her leg over the seat. you do the same and wrap your arms around her waist and leaning as close as possible to her. she starts the engine and pulls out from the driveway instantly.

your girlfriend races down the empty deserted road, baron landscape surrounds you both. it’s fairly hot outside, but thankfully the wind blowing as she drives cools you off.

“ how’s a few beers sound, sweetheart? “ yeji asks as she pulls into her go to bar. she knows you’re going to scold her, say something about day drinking, and then go in and proceed to have a beer with her anyways. “ you know how i feel about your very “ casual “ drinking… “ you say, making quotation marks with your fingers.

“ yeah, yeah, coming in or no? “ she steps off the bike and begins walking towards the door. you roll your eyes and follow her inside regardless. you don’t miss the slight smack to your ass as you walk through the door she held for you.

she greets the bartender, surely they’re friends at this point. it’s not a fancy bar, it’s run down, but it’s regulars are loyal to it. yeji is one of them sadly.

“ let me get a coors draft. “ yeji asks the bartender once he approaches our side of the bar. “ okay, and for you? something fruity? “ he asks you. his stereotyping makes you roll your eyes. “ i’ll do a miller, actually. “ your distaste for fruity drinks probably stems from your girlfriend. you watch him pull out a beer from the cooler and remove the cap, sliding it to you.

“ a miller, huh? now you make me look like a pussy. “ yeji chuckles as she watches the guy perfectly pour her beer and set it on the table. “ not my fault you ordered a beer that’s basically water! “ you take a swig from the bottle, letting the cold and bitter liquid consume you.

“ whatever you say. “ she takes a big first sip, the foam lingers on her top lip and you lean forward, kissing her and licking it off her lips. she blushes and fixates on the tv behind you that’s playing some random american football playoff she could honestly care less about.

after an hour or so she’s had about 2 more drinks, halfway through her 3rd. you keep reminding her she needs to drive home or else you drive her bike, which she rarely lets happen. you’ve only had one beer compared to her. “ you are sure as hell not driving my bike home, no way. “

“ well you aren’t either. “ you pay out the tab and yeji acts mad even though she isn’t, she’s just a little drunk. she chugs the remaining beer in her glass before you drag her outside and make her give you the keys. moments later, your roles are reversed form the ride there, her head leaning against your backside with her hands around your waist.

eventually, you pull into your dirt driveway, putting the bike parked and climbing off. as you go to walk away, yeji pulls you suddenly into a kiss. she looks so sexy in her signature black leather jacket that she wears even when it’s 100 degrees outside. “ i love that you put up with my stupid ass. you’re fucking perfect. “ she grabs your ass hard, causing you to moan.

“ mm, where would you be without me. let’s go inside. “ you breathe out. she tries to not break the kiss once the whole time it takes to get inside. you don’t even make it to the bedroom, opting for the couch instead.

“ right here. “ you push her to lay down onto the couch, straddling her waist as you remove your shirt and throw it to the side.

“ and you’re beautiful too... come here. “ she pulls you back down to kiss her. your girlfriend was very stupid, but you’ll always put up with her.

[xcrysanthemums]

Hide’s TBHX yaps

Hello im back at it again with my episodical yaps

EP 4 Spoilers and yap under the cut

well that just happened.

Uhm okay well, This is!

a turn

a turn of an episode

lets start with the beggining, the trust values are fully on screen for us to see, we understand it even more now

the entire episode was riddled with the trust value, focusing on the trust value and how it impacts the characters

then

theres LinLing becoming his “own” hero

being able to split himself from the image of nice, however theres a thing I want to mention about this

theres a heavy feeling in my heart that Nice’s story isnt done yet

it feels like he’s hovering over the story, as if he’s a ghost with a story to tell. His story ended very abruptly and we never got the whole picture. Although Linling abandoning the image of Nice to become his own hero, he isnt completely free of him.

I think Nice will still haunt the story, theres got to be more to him than we initially recognize

I think one of the main telling things of this is the fact thst Linling wasnt able to fully rid himself of Nice

there remains a white set of hair within his, dead set on the centre too

I feel like its there to remind LinLing of his time being nice, like a haunting past he still hasnt recovered from

now, I primarily put own in quotation marks for specific reasons

1. Heroes are truly not free until the narrative behind their persona is removed. if they present themselves as one way or another, they are to remain as that idealogy for the rest of their hero career (of course until someone comes along and ruins it)

2. with how LinLing became a hero, It seems like the way his power works is strange. It feels like the narrative with moon will be reversed on him. He presented the world this one perspective which is the fact that he cares for moon and that he will protect her. What I mean is that, he is trapped in this narrative that he wrote. Being unable to be truly free.

and then theres Moon

Oh lord have fucking mercy, Moon

The series has turned its head from the cushiness of dreams of becoming heroes and fully turned to the reality

Moon died

my friend had mentioned about the fact that people believing that moon died also being kind of a true thing that happened

we are faced with the tragedy of the way this world functions

it is not “trust” value, it is the belief of self fulfilling prophecies

it is believing that if we can do it, we eventually will

a growth mindset put against us

and god, what a tragedy.

[orlopsexdungeon]

something I didn't include in that quotation of Homosexuality and Film Noir but I do actually think has relevance to the Terror is this paragraph

But perhaps the potential homosexuality of all-male groups and male-male relationships is much nearer the surface in both the image of armed service and prison life and in the experience of it, too. In this context, the gay characters serve as an example of sick male-male relationships (that is, sexual ones) over against healthy (non-sexual) ones. Lest we imagine Gallagher "loves" Joe in BRUTE FORCE, we have Munsey to remind us what a perverted male-male relationship is like. Lest we imagine Spade's suspicion of Brigit is itself suspicious, we have Cairo and Guttman to remind us of how far Spade is removed from that sort of thing.

because The Terror is such an intensely homosocial show, full of intimate moments between male characters not explicitly marked as queer, and because its main human antagonist is unambiguously queer and his queerness is intertwined with his villainy (most obviously in his intimate murder of his lover) I do suspect that for many heterosexual, non-fandom, single watch viewers (which describes most people who have seen the show) this move is in play whether the writers' intended it or not. which is not to say the writers shouldn't have allowed themselves their ambiguity, or that, god forbid, Hickey should have been less queer or queer in a less interesting way. but it is interesting, isn't it?

[loumandxmachina]

thinking about a post i saw that said that allegory is better for star trek than actually addressing issues like homophobia and ableism because star trek is supposed to be a utopia and addressing social issues is betraying the utopia. that star trek shouldn't bring up sexuality related issues. thinking about how they said that Bashir couldn't be "autistic" (quotation marks theirs).

thought about this quote from deep space nine when they said that star trek works best when it only addresses social issues through allegory about aliens and robots:

sci-fi is not about the future, we don't know what the future looks like. sci-fi is about now. the federation is *not* a utopia. it is at times colonial, violent, and oppressive. the passage of time does not remove national identities, it does not remove homophobia, it does not remove racism or ableism.

people deserve authentic representation even in science fiction. we don't need to tell stories about racism through the allegory of robots and aliens anymore. we can call racism what it is. we can call ableism what it is. Bashir is allowed to be autistic in the future just as he would have been born autistic in the past.

and star trek mutuals, don't ever put that shit on my dashboard again

[sebastians-alterhuman-archive]

Alterhumans! My advice for if you don't know whether your identity is voluntary or involuntary (from personal experience)

This is from something I was having a conversation about in a discord server that I felt worth sharing here what I said. Below in the quotation marks is a near direct copy paste of it for you. Mostly geared towards therians, but any alterhuman or even maybe others could use this advice for you or others you know to help figure things out.

(begin quote marks)

“My advice for if you can't tell if something about your identity is voluntary or not when it comes to alterhumanity: would it be painful in any way to not call yourself that thing/animal/being/etc?

Because I found nothing really worked to help me figure that specific thing out, but now that I know my theriotypes after past questioning on if it was voluntary or involuntary, I can tell they're involuntary because the thought of not calling myself those feels like I'd be physically ripping off a piece of my identity like the most painful bandaid removal ever, whereas my voluntary identities with linktypes I would feel next to nothing if I decided to drop any of them

So yeah that's my advice from experience”

(end quote marks)

I hope this can maybe help at least someone, it's advice I would've liked myself while figuring things out in past, so-

[sillynessmogai]

quotation xenintation

a xenintation based around quotes and quotation marks - representing your gender through quotes and / or quotation marks by any means. this is a specific subset of punctugrammar xenintation. examples are:

feeling that your gender is represented by specific quotes

dialogue in writing

how you use quotation marks / quotes

using -quotic xenogenders

anyone who represents their gender through quotes / quotation marks can use this term, regardless of if they fit the examples or not.

no ID, help appreciated

taglist (ask to be added or removed): @somniabyte @khaenriahplurals @fangpunk @radiomogai @thecherryspirit