#so they aren't making things up but they're definitely not doing their due diligence

[smol-blue-bird]

I'm taking a course on breast cancer in literature (for my medical humanities minor) and it is genuinely insane how many historical myths this class is just casually perpetuating. I'm stuck in an endless cycle of reading a book/handout, stumbling onto a passage about historical medicine, noticing some kind of discrepancy that makes me think "hmmmmm, that doesn't sound right," and looking it up to discover that my instinct was correct and the book was wrong or misleading. This has happened three times and it's the first week of the semester! This class is going to kill me

[twst-rose-prisms]

Hi! Can i ask for some preference for the twst boys? Like who would want a cute/naive s!o, who would want smart/ sexy s!o, silly/goofy one or something like that? Just the guys preference in s!o ? Thanks!

Hi hi~ First of all, I'm super sorry for not answering for a long long time cuz I was out of this blog and fandom 😭 If you're still active then this one is for you my amazing rosie! My first request ever so I'm still learning bu~t I tried my best! (shout out to my bestie for helping me a ton with this 🙏🙏) Btw I'm separating this into 3 parts so it won't be too long~

Twst boys preference for their partner

Characters: All NRC students (except Ortho) x Reader Genre: Fluff Reminder: This is just a headcanon post, so even if you aren't your loved one's preference, do not worry! Remember, love might have preference, but it's never the final thing that decides one's partner, so rest assured~ Your lovely twst boys love you no matter what 🌹❤️ Part 1 | Part 2 (coming soon) | Part 3 (coming soon)

🌹 Riddle 🌹

- He would definitely like someone who is responsible and serious about their work just like himself. He admires it whenever they're strict to follow the rules and understand the importance of it like how he is as well. Seeing how diligent they are about their schoolwork would also earn a good impression from the housewarden himself, even better if they're a decently knowledgeable person. - Though he probably needs someone who's always there in his most tired, vulnerable moment too; someone who will comfort him, tell him that he did well, etc. just be there to whisper sweet words, like how hardworking he was on that day, he'll melt into their embrace almost immediately. Let him rest his head on your shoulder or chest, slowly drifting off from tiredness yet his face looks so peaceful and content... Your warmth and gentleness are something he definitely needs after everything that he endured and went through. Of course, those moments are rare since he need to put on a front being a honor student and a dorm leader, so be sure to stick by his side to catch it. - He needs a s/o who can tell him to get loose and take breaks occasionally too, due to how he always being strict on himself. Or whenever he gets angry, they'll be there to calm him down so he won't start an outburst knowing how easily angry he can get. - He isn't really keen on appearance too much, but he would prefer it if his s/o know how to dress properly and formally enough. He is a housewarden after all, so a partner that dress as good as him is enough for a great impression towards Riddle. No need for such things like super fancy make-up or expensive jewelries. - Bonus: if his s/o knows how to bake, surprise him his with favorite sweet strawberry tart occasionally! He'll be pretty flustered that they put so much love and effort into this beautiful tart and would just melt internally, and every bite would taste like heaven for sure 💖

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♥️ Ace ♥️

- He's definitely into people who know how to make jokes or have fun, it's one of the most important things to create impressions toward a guy like him after all! It never hurts to let loose and have fun once in a while y'know. - Though it doesn't have to be someone fun all the time, it could just be someone who could be able to keep up with his shenanigans most of the time or just know how to get loose instead of being uptight or serious. Of course, that doesn't mean letting this guy commit whatever horrible thing he's about to do, his s/o has an important mission and that is to stop him from getting scolded again by the teachers! - He's definitely an appearance type of guy, I mean, just guys being guys y'know; he's probably into cute, cheerful type or maybe a bit girly. But his s/o doesn't have to appear to his taste entirely, just someone being confident enough in their look also earns a point from him too! Giving him a big, goofy grin while making funny hand sings definitely would earn a laugh out of this guy for sure. - Because he's a rather mischievous type of guy, his s/o could be someone who can keep up with it. Or even better, being teasing or joking back at him, it would catch him off guard his s/o actually followed along and that would definitely want him to get their attention. The more unexpected they're around him, the more he would want their attention since he thought they're the most interesting person he has ever encountered! (He won't admit that it's because he falls for them though) - Bonus: One way to get his affection is to watch him playing basketball, like cheering him on or patiently waiting for the match to be over. Just imagine his reaction when you give him a cheerful grin and give him a cool drink as a way to tell him he did well! I'm sure you've earned a spot in his heart at that moment 💖

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♠️ Deuce ♠️

- Because he used to be a rumble delinquent, he probably needs a s/o that would accept his past and encourage him to not be scared, because they'll accept him for who he is no matter what, and that's what he's looking for the most in his partner because he too, want someone to tell him that it's okay to have a bad past, but what matter is how he is himself now and they love him for it~ - No matter how he acts, specifically, whenever he switches to his delinquent mode by accident in front of his s/o, he doesn't want you to be scared or avoid him because of it. That is the last thing he ever wanted - to hurt his partner. And if you saw his "bad boy" mode by accident, be sure to reassure him that you are totally alright with it and it won't drive you away! - He will admire a s/o who is diligent, smart and hardworking, since he is also a hardworking person after all. If his s/o is someone that shows their knowledge in a way that goes "Oh, I read this in a book that..." then our boy is gonna be super impressed! He loves it when you also talk about something you like too and share your knowledge with him, he'll always be ready to listen just to be impressed all over again like the first time. Since he's a slow learner, it would also be great if you could be patient and teach him things that he asks you, don't worry, he is very attentive, especially since it's you being his tutor after all. - He'll probably like it if his s/o is someone strong physically, even better if they don't appear like it; just imagine the astonished look on his face when he sees them easily carry heavy things despite their appearance! He'll be impressed but in another way (if you get what I mean...) - Bonus: If his s/o is someone who can take the lead or initiate a relationship then it's definitely something that will make him melt! Like just imagine if they kiss him or hold his hand suddenly, just being surprisingly affectionate and he'll become a blob! He might not admit it, but it's probably something that he's into, considering how easily flustered he can get when it comes to things like romance 💖

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♣️ Trey ♣️

- I think that out of all the twst characters, Trey is the most easy-going when it comes to partner preference. He's pretty open to any type of people so to him, preference isn't something that he keen on too much, also since he's taking care of everyone most of the time or being the older brother figure, you can expect him to be the perfect, caring boyfriend~ - Though I think he would have special feelings more towards people that are mature with a somewhat older siblings vibe that is capable of taking care of others just like him. He might not appear like it, but he would really appreciate it if he's the one receiving instead of the other way around once in a while, it's the most effective way towards his heart! - It doesn't have to be a s/o that's mature or has an older sibling vibe all the time, they can also just be someone really sweet and supportive. Actively helping him out in the kitchen or tagging along with him in school, that is enough to tell him how affectionate they are towards him, and he too, would be affectionate back towards them. - Perhaps it could also be a s/o that likes hearing jokes or easy-going like him too. Occasionally, he would joke around or make small teases, and if his s/o replied with a laugh or just showed how much they're having fun around him, he would feel really relieved that they love this side of him too, since not many people can take jokes well or sometimes they would even take it seriously. (Ex: the Walrus seal oyster sauce joke) - Bonus: If his s/o is someone who loves sweets then get ready for a gift full of sweetness (literally and figuratively) delivered to them almost everyday! Simply complimenting how delicious they're with a happy expression and that would be enough to earn a heart point from Trey! Even more if his s/o gives him something that they baked themselves as a gift, I'm sure he'll treasure every single little bite with how much effort they put into them 💖

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♦️ Cater ♦️

- Because he's a trendy, fun loving person, I think he would definitely like a s/o that is a fun fellow to be around him! Even better if they also like trendy things; just imagine you guys talking for hours and hours about the latest trends and how do you 2 can follow it, especially those couple trends on magicam. - But of course, it doesn't have to be someone with the same preference as him, it could just be someone chill and easygoing too. If his s/o is a curious, attentive person then he'll definitely love sharing his interests and all the latest trends if they ask him. They don't have to follow it, the way they give him a curious cute look while listening to him talking is already enough to show how much they care about him, and he would be so into them! - He's still overall a chill person that wanna take it easy, so he probably would like his s/o to be the same as him too. Sometimes, just a comfortable silence between the two of you would be enough as he scrolls through his phone casually, with your head on his shoulder or vice versa. - He might have a few preferences when it comes to appearance, such as a cute, trendy or confident s/o who knows how to style themselves. It's totally okay if they're someone more casual, but a well-dressed appearance is if not, a must if you want to impress him first hand. - Bonus: I think Cater is not a person who falls in love easily, but if his s/o tell him how much they love him with a genuine expression, eyes full of sincerity like they really, really mean it, then he'll fall more than just hard~ He probably received a lot of compliments before but none probably meant genuine for him, until he meets someone as amazing as you 💖

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🦁 Leona 🦁

- Oh, you're pretty daring enough if you wanna date someone like him. I mean, he's the housewarden of Savanaclaw we're talking about here, a real lion prince, if you managed to get his heart then I'd say you're already pretty great yourself! I mean, you already saw how others think of him with their tails in between their legs... - Though, if we're talking about preference, he would definitely like someone who won't be noisy and interrupt his precious napping time. Maybe someone that lets him lay down on their lap, stroking his hair or his fluffy ears while he's sleeping. He might deny it but those low purrs and growls are telling a whole different story. Sometimes he could also use them as a great pillow to hug too, with his head on your chest and arm wrapped around your frame, just be prepared for staying like that for the next 3 hours though... - He would find naive s/o interesting too, so easy to mess around and tease, their expression is truly entertaining to watch with the way their round eyes look astonished, then blush brightly from the way he tease them. Like a lion messing around with the little naive herbivore~ He could never get enough or tired of it. - Maybe he would also like a s/o that can be bold or challenging at the right time. Surprises are a welcoming thing, and Leona isn't an exception to it. A somewhat teasing, flirty relationship between you two would be entertaining and also something fun that he would seek for, he does like it when his "prey" fight back after all, though he'll just eat them up in the end like a lion he is. (interpret it as however you want...) - Bonus: One way to really catch the lion prince off-guard is outsmarting him. Pretty hard to do considering how Leona is, I know, but once your wits manage to catch him by the tail, he'll be pretty surprised his s/o is someone more than just his expectation. Maybe acting a little bit daring while we're at it, but I'm sure that he knows how special his s/o is and that no one else is like them 💖

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🐆 Ruggie 🐆

- I think for Ruggie, he probably would prefer a s/o that is smart and witty like him, maybe even better if they're street smart too as he'll be very impressed someone is the same as him. After all, people who have great practical skills can't be someone lazy from a spoiled, rich family right? Don't get him wrong, he didn't mean bad things, but it's just so because he grew up in such an environment, you couldn't blame him for thinking like that. - Though of course, it doesn't have to be someone like him, it could just be a s/o that likes to take care of others or be very supportive too. They can help him out with his errands; expect him to ask if you want anything in return though, since it has been his mindset for a long time now. But hey, if you help him enough in a sincere way without asking for something else, he might start to open his heart to you a bit and trust you more...? Everything takes time including love after all, so be patient~ - Another preference he would like maybe a somewhat naive s/o. Teasing them is nothing but fun for a cunning hyena like him. I mean, he could also use this chance to impress him with his skills in a way too, their face is just so entertaining to watch, but he probably warns them to be careful or bad people gonna get to them easily~ (ex: Ruggie himself) - Because Ruggie grew up really poor, he is someone who treasures and treats food way more important than normal people would, so if his s/o is someone who knows how to cook then he'd feel like he just stepped into heaven~ I mean, just imagine the happy but surprised face when they feed him such luxurious handmade food that they put so much love into, he feels like he's eating a buffet! His s/o could also make lunch for him daily as well, you two could share together as you feed him your homemade food, and his round ears would twitch in happiness for sure. - Bonus: Something sweet, surprising and genuine would be the best way to get his heart. For example, a bag full of warm, fluffy donuts would do! He loves those sweet treats a lot, so if you have free time be sure to bake some for him alright? As there's a phrase goes "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" after all 💖

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🐺 Jack 🐺

- He would like someone very responsible about themselves and take their work seriously and fairly with no underhanded methods or cheating. Seeing how diligent they are, he definitely would think his s/o is a great and respectful person to be with. I think if they recognize him and compliment him back, that will get him flustered too, though he might deny it with a grumpy expression. (He's just being a bit of a "tsundere" as you call it) - Someone with a moral worthy of his respect is also one of his preferences too. Do try to not misunderstand his coldness, he's a real softie deep down, so if you act kind towards him with no ill intent whatsoever, he'll quickly understand what kind of a person you are and won't be cold towards you much the more you two hanging out... and maybe it'll turn into something more precious than just friendship~ - Once you earn his respect, he'll become your biggest protector that you can imagine. Nobody will dare to mess around with you once you have a giant bodyguard like him tagging along. If his s/o is a bit of a tease and affectionate person, remember to thank him with small pecks on the cheek or a hug, our wolf boy would be pretty flustered with a wagging tail! Speaking of that, he wouldn't mind a bit of a tease too since I think he would like it. (Although he'll deny it again or so) - He isn't an appearance type of person, but if his s/o is someone smaller or shorter than him then his protecting instinct would happen more often. Also, it's cute when your smaller frame tries to wrap both arms around his bigger one, he would unconsciously feel flustered but also found it a bit cute. - Bonus: While it might sound a bit rude to him... or not, but I think if his s/o treats him like he's a big, cuddly and fluffy dog he would get super flustered. Like imagine you give him a big, cute grin while petting his big ears or his super poofy fluffy tail, oh the wolf boy would be so "tsun" about it. His s/o is the only one who can touch his tail or brush it! It's also a way to show affection towards a big wolf like him too, so don't hold back 💖

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To be continued! Stay tuned for part 2~

[smosh-fessions]

I haven't been keeping up with Smosh over the past few months like I used to, what's going on with Angela and the cpap machine?

They did a DREAD: Smosh versus zombies game.

Let me grab the good post I saw on reddit about it when it happened if it's still up.

I copied and pasted it since it means I don't have to type all this in my ask and I've got permission to put it here:

I love the Dread videos. They're fantastic and George is an *incredible* story teller and everyone's characters are great.

However, this last game disappointed me pretty badly on account of the fact that apparently *no one* checked what a CPAP is or how they work, and because of that, basically 0% of the jokes make any sense and using a disability aid as a punchline for two hours is just really not something that leaves a great taste in my mouth. The only one that really landed was the mask being really stuck on her head and face in the tractor beam, because the velcro on those babies is *strong.*

CPAP and APAP machines are most often used for sleep apnea or apnea adjacent conditions where your airway closes while you're unconscious. They're for keeping you breathing WHILE asleep, and they need to be plugged in. You do not walk around using one. (My add in is that they literally have a water tank on them that is not air tight. You would have water absolutely everywhere)

Normally this kinda thing would be like, yeah, okay, people get things wrong, but it's such an easy thing to look up and as a major plot point of a character, it definitely needed researched.

The one I had was also small enough for the machine and hoses to fit in a lunchbox. They haven't been massive in years. They're not the size of a radio flyer.

It would have been nice to have a character with a disability where the disability wasn't only there to be a problem or a punchline.

I'm sure no one intended for it to come off that way, especially as CPAP/APAP aren't often seen by most people as disability aids because there's just not a lot of great, general info about them floating around. It's not something the average person looks into like they would how to wrap a sprained ankle, for example.

I just hope that in the future they both do their due diligence in research and making sure something makes sense, and also just not using disabilities or medical issues as only a joke device.

Disabled people make jokes about themselves all the time. A lot of people use humor to cope, but when it's the *only* thing its being used for, it's not cool. If they were trying to go about it in the same way Eddie's asthma was discussed and approached in IT (his mother gave him water vapor. he does not have asthma and his reluctance to accept that he was lied to was very important!) that would be one thing, but they didn't.

So, they did what basically every abled person does—they made the disability aid the "problem gag". And me and maybe three other people I saw had a problem with it, which was just an extra bit of salt in the wound.

[intimidating-fettuccine]

Hii I'm back again, can i ask for a spicy zalgo x slender x reader hcs?? Tyy againn <33

~✧

This got... So much longer than I meant it to...

I hope you enjoy!

The thing to remember in my canon about the two of them in a poly relationship is the fact that while both of them are dating and sharing you, they aren't really actively dating each other and have no romantic feelings for each other. So, while they amicably share you in a romantic self, it's in the sexual context of your relationship with them that the competitive streak in both of them comes out and they tend to fight to be the one to satisfy you more. 

One day you arrive at Zalgo's mansion for your time with him with a very large, very noticeable hickey decorating your neck. The next time you return back at Slender's, he finds that you have hickeys decorating the entirety of your chest and back. It's things like this, the two of them trying to leave their marking on you, to claim you in a more effective, more pleasurable way. It honestly probably gets to the point that you have to step in and tell them to knock it off because your body is so sore and stressed from the amount of rough fucking you've been going through for weeks on end as the two of them try and demonstrate who out of them it the better lover, and while they spoil you to bits and do tremendous aftercare for you every time, it still takes a toll on your body to be voraciously fucked by two separate very powerful demons. 

Ground rules end up being set and made, and the two of them relax quite a bit when it comes to trying to be your more dominant, passionate partner. At least, until the three of you end up having a rare date night altogether, leading back to Zalgo's castle where the two of them end up fucking you together for the first time, and it's at that moment you wish you'd discussed that possibility in advance. You're so out of it, so fucked out of your mind from the pleasure and the dual attention from both of them. Both of their mouths are always on you, their teeth always sinking into you, their hands roaming and squeezing and pulling on you, their words sinking into your mind, asking who knows you better, who makes you feel the best, who knows how to destroy you and tear you apart the most. Any hole of yours you'll let them fill they take turns using, trying to make the experience more pleasurable than the other one, and by the time they're done your face is pleasurably tear-streaked, your body absolutely exhausted, sore, and wrecked from the two of them, and both of them are apologizing and taking care of you better than they ever have before. Of course, more ground rules are set after that night, however- that definitely doesn't mean that was the last time the two of them would fuck you at the same time again. Oh no, you did your due diligence to request dual date nights much more often after that, because after all, how many people get the chance to get the best fucking of their life from the two most powerful demons in the entirety of the Underworld?

[dr-futbol-blog]

The Siege I, Pt. 3

So, once McKay takes off on his mission we find Sheppard with Weir and Bates going through possible new planets for an Alpha Site. This is what he stayed back for so he is damn well going to get it done. Weir sits in the middle because Sheppard is still uncomfortable around Bates.

Bates suggests a planet and Sheppard says: "No. We've only been there at night and it gets ridiculously hot during the day, so no--not really an option." There's symbolism in them doing something only at night because it does not bear the light of day. Further, things being "hot" is referenced three times in the episode which could mean something. As mentioned, Sheppard is not wearing his coat and does not wear it for most of the episode. Anxiety can cause people to overheat so it might just be that he is feeling "hot under the collar". Only, one would expect him to be wearing the t-shirt in that case, at least in less formal situations, as prancing around in a t-shirt probably would have a deleterious effect on any authority he currently wants to exercise.

And exercising authority is something that seems to be forming into an issue:

Weir: We wouldn't be having this problem if the damn Alpha Site that we'd picked hadn't been marked by the wraith.Sheppard: They're a real pain in the ass, aren't they? Weir: Yes they are! Sheppard: How about M4H-212? Bates: No--crawling with Genii spies. Sheppard: You know that for a fact, Sergeant, or is your Spidey-sense just tingling? Bates: It's a fact, sir.

First, both Weir and Sheppard are cursing here and Weir is the one to initiate it. She is seated between an Air Force Major and a Marine Sergeant, she may feel the need to come across as exaggeratedly assertive. Sheppard's response about them being a pain in the ass is delivered with humour, so it seems like his intention is to let her know that it isn't needed, at least not with him. But also, it's interesting that they make a textual reference to something being a pain in the ass here what with the multiple allusions to Sheppard smarting while he is seated.

For some reason, he also looks to the side as he says this, and while the relationship between eye movements and thought may be something of a pseudo-science, I wouldn't put it past actors having made use of it, especially 20 years ago. Looking to the right and up was believed to relate to accessing visual memories (i.e., recalling something in your 'mind's eye'):

So, when he says pain in the ass, he is remembering something and his tone suggests that it isn't his encounters with the wraith that he was recalling but something more pleasant. At the very least, he amused himself with what he said.

Second, Sheppard makes a reference to Spider-Man revealing once more the fact that he is a comic book geek. Sure, one reference doesn't mean that he is an aficionado but we do see him reading actual comics later on so it's safe to say that he is familiar with them. His intention here is not to reveal to either of them personal information about himself, however. He makes the reference as a covert barb at Bates and the way he has behaved toward Teyla recently. If Sheppard has been accused of letting his personal feelings compromise his decisions, he is implying that Bates is doing the same thing only from a different motivation. He is insinuating that Bates makes up his mind based on intuition rather than facts which is not much better.

It's also rather strange that Sheppard would not know that they had encountered Genii spies on this planet. It is the kind of thing that he definitely should have been made aware of. It's the kind of thing he does not just have a professional reason to want to know but actually has a very personal stake in wanting to know. He must not have been reading all the mission reports with due diligence lately. His barb at Bates may therefore contain a hint of self-incrimination as well.

As Sheppard is preparing to stand up to leave he draws his lower lip back in a way that is similar but less severe as what he did when the earlier meeting was coming to an end, sort of like he's bracing himself before standing up. Like there was a sudden stab of pain. It's just suspicious this keeps happening, is all I'm saying. I don't even care what the reason is, it's subtle and I love that acting choices have been made. He also grunts ever so slightly as he gets up.

They settle on a planet that seems feasible and Sheppard is eager to leave right away, saying: "I'll get my team together and check it out." If this was important enough to keep him back from the mission to the Ancient satellite, it needs to get done ASAP.

His team is currently one member short and although they probably could have used a scientist with them checking out a whole new planet, he does not even attempt to replace McKay. But even though he is already one person short, Bates takes issue with Teyla's participation, taking after Sheppard to have a few words with him privately from Weir:

Bates: Major. Is Teyla coming with you? Sheppard: You're not seriously asking me that? Bates: I think that's a bad call, sir. Sheppard: Here we go again!

First thing to note is that Bates does not request permission to speak freely. This episode seems to contain many intentional call-backs to Suspicion (S01E04) which is where both Bates' issues with Teyla and questioning of Sheppard's authority started. For one, Weir mentions Stackhouse by name. Stackhouse was one of the Marines with his own recon team that joined Sheppard's team during the events of that episode. Sheppard is dressed in the same black shirt in both episodes. Both episodes also feature the Athosian Halling, who has neither been seen nor heard of for a very long time and makes a reappearance here. And in both episodes, there is also an imprisoned wraith that Sheppard names after an ex with a human name. But the most obvious connection between the episodes is in the clashing of Bates and Sheppard over the issue of Teyla's allegiance that Weir is forced to referee. Hence placing Weir in the middle of them in the previous scene.

In Suspicion, they had the following exchange:

Sheppard: We need to use the gate. Bates: Then we've got to find out who's responsible ASAP. I suggest we start by confining all non-base personnel to the south side of the complex. Sheppard: Are you kidding? Bates: That's the absolute minimum we should do. If Colonel Sumner was still here... Sheppard: He's not! I am. Bates: Yes, sir.

Bates was not only questioning Sheppard's authority but using Col. Sumner to do it. He compares the two to his face and lets Sheppard know that he finds him lacking. It is extremely disrespectful, and worse yet, he just confirms what Sheppard already thinks about himself. In the season finale, we see the reverse of this take place between Sheppard and Col. Everett with Sheppard himself having trouble fitting into his new role within the chain of command.

The thing is, Bates manages to get so deep under Sheppard's skin because he is pointing out the same things about him that his superiors have done in the past (Weir among them). And further, Bates is just doing his job, just like he was doing his job back then:

Sheppard: Teyla thought we'd scare them off with a big group. Bates: Teyla did. Sheppard: What's that, Sergeant? Bates: She was conveniently absent during the ambush. McKay: So was Ford! Maybe it was him! Bates: I'm just stating a fact, sir. Sheppard: Sergeant... I am only gonna say this once-- Bates: With all due respect, Major, you can reprimand me if you wish, but it's been six times your team's been compromised.

In Suspicion, we are meant to sympathize with Sheppard because he is our main character and since he approves of Teyla, so must we as the audience. But that (or the fact that Teyla does turn out to be innocent) does not make Bates' suspicions unwarranted. They return to the same issue later on in the same episode:

Bates: We still don't know what happened. Sheppard: Oh, that's enough. Bates: It's my job to express security concerns, sir. Sheppard: I've heard enough of your concerns. Bates: Again, with all due respect, Major, I believe you're putting your personal feelings in front of your... Sheppard: You're dismissed. Bates: Yes, sir.

Dismissing Bates of course does not make what he said untrue, it just means that Sheppard did not want to hear it. This was also the beginning of the difficult relationship with respect to the chain of command between Weir and Sheppard. Earlier, Sheppard yelled at her to "open up the damned gate" in an open display of disrespect which planted the seed of discord between them. This had finally come to a head in Hot Zone (S01E13) when Sheppard used his authority to make Bates override her order, and which remains unresolved between all three of them even to this moment. If anything, Sheppard was just confirming Bates' accusation that he allows his personal feelings to compromise his decisions. It didn't set well with Weir, either:

Sheppard: What? Weir: I'm the one who put him in charge of security Sheppard: Yes you did, and if you wanna dismiss me, go ahead.

So, now, in this episode, following the events of the previous episode (The Gift S01E18) where Bates had started pestering him over the topic of Teyla again, Sheppard is trying to maintain what ever authority he has over the Marine Sergeant. He even attempts to explain and to reason with Bates when as a superior officer he is under no obligation to do that:

Sheppard: The doctor gave her a clean bill of health. Bates: And that's good to hear, sir, but if she can't control how the Wraith use her... Sheppard: You don't know that. Bates: That's right, we don't! She saw everything they saw. Who's to say they can't do the same with her, see what we see? If she's been compromised in any way... Sheppard: She's an integral part of my team. Period. End of story. We're done.

When Sheppard says "You (Bates) don't know that", he replies with "That's right, we (the military) don't!" attempting to remind Sheppard where his loyalties should lie.

Note also that Sheppard doesn't bother dismissing him in the official manner. They are both aware that this has gone way beyond any semblance of decorum. It isn't just that Bates has overstepped his post but also that Sheppard has failed in his own duty as a leader to reprimand him which makes him seem weak. He has lost control of this situation, and this never would have happened if he did not, himself, have that seed of doubt that what Bates is saying might be true. Not with regards to Teyla but with regards to himself.

Now, the thing is, they are playing out this scenario with Teyla who is a female member of his team. It is safe to explore this dynamic using her, especially since there are no romantic sentiments between them. But everything that Bates says about Sheppard is also true of his feelings for McKay. That he is putting his personal feelings in front of his duties and that he is allowing his attachment to compromise his command. During this time, suspicion was enough for someone to be discharged from the military. Mere suspicion could end the careers of homosexual and bisexual servicemen in an instant. Even worse things than that sometimes took place under battlefield conditions. They are flirting with the concept here because if Sheppard was innocent of what Bates accuses him of, for this level of insubordination he would have had him discharged and thrown in the brig or the stockhouse a long time ago. But because he feels guilty, he has to walk this tightrope. And it is difficult to command the respect of someone that has lost his regard for him.

They have no reason to accuse McKay of having done anything warranting suspicion as they are being properly furtive but it doesn't change the fact that Sheppard actually is guilty of everything Bates throws in his face when it comes to McKay. He is allowing his personal feelings to affect his decisions and he is allowing his relationship to compromise his command. The reason he is arguing so hard for Teyla is because he knows that he might be called upon to do the same for McKay one day. And Bates is absolutely right to be concerned, too. At the end of the episode we see what happens when Sheppard's feelings for another "integral part of his team" override his sense of duty. We see how far he is willing to go for Teyla, and how far beyond that he will go for McKay. We never, through the entire run of the show, reach the limits of how far he would go for McKay. Not even at the end of time.

He would do anything for any one of them, he tells Teyla later in Sateda (S03E04). But it is only one of them for whom his anything actually means everything.

Continued in Pt. 4

[damnfandomproblems]

https://www.tumblr.com/damnfandomproblems/762743605285847040/httpswwwtumblrcomdamnfandomproblems762743351

This.

And frankly, at the end of the day, it's just common sense to request verified sources for claims people make. It doesn't matter if that claim is "milk causes IBS", "there is a 12-18 month lag after interest rate changes", or "people on x website were being harassed for y reason". I like to think the people who exercise this common sense aren't actually denying anything, and rather, they are just trying to do their due diligence to ensure there isn't actually nuance in whatever claims are being made.

For instance, there are lots of homophobes online. But, I also see people freaking out and calling people homophobes purely because their favorite ship is m/f! So if someone says, "someone was outed as a homophobe on twitblr", I'm going to ask for sources so I can look at the whole thing myself.

In other cases, like the one we're talking about here, I may not necessarily doubt that things like that are happening overall (and I definitely don't), but there are particular situations that don't fit that same bill, and the more about the general spread of these situations, I know the better.

And ultimately, where's the harm in simply linking a dang twitter thread where something like that happened, or academic stuff, or articles that contain polls and feedback from people in these communities? It just makes no sense to me to throw up a wall and say "I won't give anecdotes". Especially because often, I don't even want anecdotes. I WANT VERIFIED, REPORTED SHIT.

Sorry.

(Forgot to add, sorry: I have a strict no-twitter, no-tiktok, no-overly political spaces policy, and my tumblr follow count is under 30, so I don't exactly have the same "it's obvious, it's everywhere you look" mentality as other people do. I don't know where the hell to look. I don't know the main usernames, or accounts, to go digging around for this shit. So before you (general) assume things like that, consider if you might have just be exposed to spaces for long enough that you no longer recognize they're in "obvious" places for other people, who aren't you, to easily find.)

Posting as a response to a previous ask.

[freedomfireflies]

going anon for this just because i’m a little embarrassed about it lol

i’ve been feeling kind of weird lately because one of my favorite writers on here has started writing a lot of nonconsensual smut stuff. i know i’m well within my right to not read those specific pieces, as she does do her due diligence and provides content warnings, but something about it just makes me feel a little weird? and when i say nonconsensual smut, i mean like it’s harry’s character doing something nonconsensual with the reader or mc, but they end up being into it so it’s still framed as being “sexy.” i’m seeing these stories come up on my dash and i get excited to read them but then i read the content warning and just know that it’s gonna upset me, so i don’t. and it’s been starting to make me question my appreciation for this writer a bit. idk, do i sound ridiculous? do i just need to get over myself? as someone who writes a lot of smut and has dipped your toes into some kinkier stuff, haha, i thought you might have a better perspective on it :)

Omg hi my love!! Nothing to be embarrassed about, fanfic can be a huge part of discovering what we like and don't like, and if something makes you feel uncomfortable, you have every right to question it!

I'm so glad to hear there are content warnings, that's so important, especially for more taboo or kinkier topics!! And I'm so glad you know yourself enough to know not to read something that can upset you!!

I don't know which writer this is, but I can almost promise it's not done with any malicious intent! Sometimes we think we need to writer crazier things in our stories and smut in order to keep an audience! We want to write what no one else has so that way more people will read it and share! And maybe that's what they're doing!

Or maybe the idea is more about Harry introducing the mc to something they didn't realize they would like until it was brought up! And it wasn't intended to read as nonconsensual!

Obviously I don't know that for sure, and if at any point the mc has said the words, "No." and Harry still continued, that would definitely be crossing a very specific line! And would honestly make me uncomfortable, too!

I think you have every right to feel weird about it, especially if it's from an author you love to read from and enjoy following! I think you could message them and admit that you aren't super comfortable and see if they're purposefully writing it that way or if they're open to being more mindful going forward!

But if any author or story ever makes you feel uncomfortable, trust yourself and your instinct! There are some very strange things that get written about in this fandom and I'm even guilty of having written a couple myself! Sometimes we say it's because it's just fanfic and it's not real, but it can feel very real to people!

And if it puts a bad feeling in your stomach, follow that and do what you know is best for you! 💞 Maybe you can mute the author (filter their username) or even mute tags or words that they frequently use so you won't have to see it!!

Again, I'm so proud of you for recognizing this and not trying to force yourself to read anything you don't feel good about!! And I hope this helps even somewhat! If you ever want to talk privately, I'm always always here!!! 💞

[theoooos]

 hey  ,  look  !  its  THEO CRANE  rocking  up  with  their  camp  uniform  on  .  it's  their  SECOND  year  working  at  cooper  creek  so  it's  like  they've  never  been  away  .  they're  pretty  popular  with  the  kids  due  to  their  +  adventurous  and  +  offbeat  nature  .  but  it's  a  tough  crowd  and  they  can't  please  everyone  ,  especially  those  that  say  they're  -  moody  and  -  unreliable  .  they  also  remind  everyone  of  skilled fingers rolling a joint, well-worn hiking boots, the analog static of the radio, and the comforting routine of sorting through the bargain bin at goodwill   .  what's  their  favorite  activity  to  lead  at  camp  ,  you  ask  ?  oh  ,  definitely  NATURE WALKS  .  well  ,  let's  hope  they  can  survive  the  summer  .  it  can  be  brutal  out  there  ! 

{spotify/pinterest/wanted connections}

STATISTICS:

name: theodora "theo" brady crane

birthday: april 25, 1999- 23 years of age

pronouns: they/them

sexuality: pansexual

hometown: milwaulkee, WI

character inspo: jess mariano (gilmore girls), robin buckley (stranger things), stevie budd (schitt's creek)

PERSONALITY:

on a good day, theo is mellow, easygoing, ready to take their campers on a midday swim and goof around by pushing one of them off the pier when they aren't looking. theo is remarkably empathetic, even though this may not be evident in their blank face, a good listener, who will sit up with you until three AM talking about hopes and dreams. they're good at noticing things that others don't and love taking people on guided hikes.

on a bad day, theo is judgmental and pretentious. their sarcasm can turn biting and they can cross the line between joking and mean. they are not an extrovert by nature, and their social battery can flip quickly. aren't they lucky that mostly, when you're a little mean to kids, they just think you're funny? aren't they unlucky their campers like to make a game of who can piss them off the fastest?

BACKGROUND:

theo did not grow up going to cooper creek. in fact, theo did not go to summer camp at all.

poor would probably be an exaggeration, but theo's family was certainly not wealthy. summers were instead spent at the public library, the community pool, and by the time they were 15, at a string of mall jobs with different neon-colored uniforms.

they managed to get a scholarship to UC Boulder- did they go because they smoke a shitload of weed or did they start smoking a shitload of weed once they got to colorado? chicken and the egg. but theo was happy to pick up a major in english, and while they weren't the most diligent student, they enjoyed their readings and turned in fairly good writing.

confronted by the age-old question: what do you do with a BA in english? theo is still pondering the answer. right now it looks like it's " go to grad school ". but for now theo is content to return to their summer job at cooper creek they'd found on indeed last summer, looking for any position that would get them away and pay their bills for a little bit.

ECT:

what's in their fanny pack?: a deck of cards, spf 75 (they never remember to apply enough, and they are perennially sunburned across the top of their cheeks and shoulders), peanut butter crackers for cranky campers (or cranky theos), and a yankees baseball cap. they've actually never been to new york but they were a huge percy jackson kid.

hobbies: collecting vinyl, reading, long hikes to nowhere, embracing the sun and the grass and the water as much as possible

secret skills: they can play a guitar pretty well. anyways here's wonderwall.

fashion: tevas always, little tank top big shorts, weird patterned men's button-downs, weird t-shirts from thrift stores with other people's high school reunion dates on them (they collect them!)

HEADCANONS:

celeb crush is katie gavin from MUNA

surprisingly, very responsible driver- has never gotten a ticket

oldest sibling :/

their favorite parts of florida are pub subs and waffle house

mcdonalds fountain sprite w extra ice plssss

their favorite author is kurt vonnegut like a fifteen year old boy.

they didn't get on a plane until they were 17 years old

[corvus-christi]

Hello!

This obviously sucks but I wanna add a touch of nuance that these results may not be entirely reliable.

There's been recent discussion about the dangers of online opt-in polling. Essentially, when you run an online poll and you pay people to take it, you end up with some distorted results, especially for younger respondents and (at least in the US) Latino respondents. People in these groups are more likely to say "yes" to outlandish (and especially extreme) things. Theoretically, this is due to the fact that many surveys have a hard time getting enough respondents in those demographics, so you can make more money responding to these paid polls if you're young or Latino (or pretending to be). So you have some people who are only pretending to belong to those groups, and you have some people who really do belong to those groups, but are taking a million of these polls to earn some cash. That means that they're going really quickly through the questions (which often means clicking 'yes' automatically, no matter what the question is) and they may be really bored of these questions, which makes them more likely to click fringe answers just because it's fun.

I don't know if this is explicitly an online opt-in poll because neither Axios nor the Harris Poll will admit it, but it's definitely online. They say it's a nationally representative sample-- but what that means is just that they think they got enough young people and Latinos, and that they are probably weighting the answers of the young and Latino respondents more heavily. It looks like maybe the Harris Poll is done through an online panel, which can be more reliable but only if you're monitoring the behavior of your panelists and weeding out the ones who are clearly cheating. The Harris Poll suggests that their panel is huge ("multimillion"), which suggests they aren't doing a lot of due diligence, and also the fact that they're a for-profit polling service that does market research as well means that they have a vested interest in keeping their panel large so they can run a lot of surveys really quickly. Meaning, again, they probably aren't doing much to filter out bogus panelists.

It was a similar poll that lead to headlines a few months ago that 1 in 5 young adults in the US don't believe in the Holocaust. Pew Research replicated that survey using their own (well-vetted) panel, and found it was completely bogus. (For fun, they also ran an experiment where they asked respondents in an online opt-in poll if they were licensed to operate a nuclear submarine, something which is true for less than 0.1% of the population. They got 12% of people under 29 saying yes. So, uh, don't trust online opt-in polls.)

Well this is fucking heinous.

Other findings from the poll include 46% of Republicans (and 30% of Democrats) want to end birthright citizenship; two-thirds of Americans say illegal immigration is a "serious crisis" that isn't just being blown out of proportion; and more than half believe illegal immigration is responsible for an increase in violent crime.

[my-corneroftheworld]

Child without love

Summary: Namor finds a marine biologist with the powers to control water and deep knowledge of the sea and is intrigued.

Word count: 1,1k

Tags: Smut in later chapters (no minors allowed), "water-bender" reader x Namor after the events from Wakanda forever, possessive Namor, mutant reader, talk of climate change, asphyxiation, the deep sea being a bit scary, war, violence, harsh language, Wakanda forever spoilers, the usage of y/n, afab reader

Ps. if you read the preview before you can start reading after the divider. I barely made any changes other than grammar-related and wording. If you want more chapters I would greatly appreciate some constructive criticism in the comments

Masterlist

Chapter 1

I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eyes. "You can't just go behind my back like that! There are set rules and hierarchies that keep our organization running smoothly!" Adeoye yelled while he was walking frantically back and forth. He never could handle stress well. " You're little outburst may have cost us our one shot to get the right people's attention!"

I want to say I'm sorry and that it was rude and petty of me. But I couldn't because I did what I thought was right. They have ignored our every attempt to better their policies and today's presentation only opened my eyes to how blissfully ignorant they allowed themselves to be. He stopped his pacing and rubbed his eyes under his big ill-fitting glasses.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" he asked abrasively. I knew that he wasn't really angry at me. He was frustrated with everything. The board director's nonchalant attitude, the over-looming doom of the deadline we've got in 2 months and my little outburst were certainly not making things better.

"No" I answered.

"Well if that's the case then you give me no choice other than to suspend you for 2 weeks" he sighed. I wasn't surprised. Cussing out the board due to their lack of ethical consideration whilst ignoring every warning I and others have worked tirelessly on proving wasn't really considered to be professional. " I understand," I say solemnly and start picking up my notes. 5 years of studying and 3 years of diligent work have come to this, being pushed aside so that rich people can profit off of dangerous means at the cost of the health of our seas. And having no power to change anything

I drove home in silence, with nothing but the wind from the window creek as my companion. I think I'll have to practice today to let off some steam. After arriving and leaving my notes by the kitchen counter, I changed into my swimsuit and went down to the beach. Moving here was mainly so I could get to work within 15 minutes but having the sea outside my back door has definitely changed my life. I never liked using my powers in front of others. Mutants aren't really welcome unless they're wearing suits and have fancy names. So there aren't many moments where I can use them to their fullest extent. When I do I feel at home. I feel free of everything. My worries and concerns are washed away.

Once I reach the water I breathe in and allow myself to feel its pull. Imitating the waves with my hands till it starts to imitate me, following my every command. I slowly start walking in allowing myself to be surrounded then I dive keeping the water from reaching my face and requiring no movements though I still haven’t passed 5 minutes at a time. Maybe I’ll make it at 6 today. I decide to explore a little further than usual, seeing what I can find on the sea floor and cleaning up small things that shouldn’t be there.

It was then I noticed it. The entity that has been watching me from afar. It barely moved and I couldn’t really make out its shape. But I knew it was looking at me and it stayed completely still. I was scared. My bubble was slowly shrinking so I began to slowly make my way back to shore. As soon as I did the shadow got closer and closer which made me anxious to reach land. I finally burst into the sea, gasping for air. I lay down on the beach, trying to catch my breath then a voice called out.

“Who are you?”

______________________________________________________________

I quickly turned around and faced what seemed to be a man. Out of panic, I summoned water at my side and launched it at him with full force. He then began to levitate and dodge my advance with.. wings attached to his feet? Shocked I ceased fire and looked at him again. He was otherworldly. His dark eyes stared at me with a hint of confusion and irritation. His hair was a dark brown and wet from the swim, framing his face ever so slightly. The sunset made his warm terra-cotta skin glow along with his pearls and gold accessories. He was beautifully serene, like straight out of a dream. If I didn't know any better I would’ve thought that he was a god. As I scanned his body so did he with mine before stopping at my eyes demanding an answer to his question.

“Who are you?” He asked again urgently, stepping closer to my frame. I tried to move back as a response.

“I- I’m y/n l/n.” 

“That is not what I meant. I mean where are you from? Are there more of you?” 

“I’m from here. I’m not sure what you mean by more of me” I answered hesitantly. Why is he asking all these questions? I mean from the looks of he’s most definitely some kind of mutant. He’s a bit too good of a swimmer to think otherwise. Not to mention the literal full-functioning wings at his feet.

“More who can manipulate water.” he clearifies. 

“No.. I mean none that I know of” I say and start rising slowly from the ground. “Who are you?.. Are you perhaps like me?” I have never met another mutant before. Let alone someone connected to water. Hope starts swelling up. Maybe..just maybe I am not alone. 

“No I am not like you. As for who I am it is not for you to know.” He says bluntly. And just like that my sliver of hope is gone. “Then what do you want?” I ask while noticing he’s pointed ears adorned with what seemed to be jade earrings.

“That is yet to be decided.” He begins circling me around slowly. “There are threats that are making it hard for me to perform my duties and your power, though meager, may develop into what I need to avoid any more...complications.” 

Duties? Complications? What the hell is he talking about? He studied my face, assessing it possibly looking for a way to find out what I was thinking. Does he work for the government? Is that it? I’ve heard of mutant agents who were forced to do sketchy shit that higher-ups didn't want to be associated with. 

“Sorry, I’m not interested. Though I am grateful for the consideration to recruit me, I have my own “duties” to attend to.” After voicing my intentions I decided it was best to leave. As soon as I turned around I heard him say. “I’m afraid I cannot take no as an answer” and before I could react, everything went dark and my last thought was how warm he felt in his arms as he took me back to the sea.

[olreid]

Hi! First of all i'm sorry if this is a weird or heavy question but i feel like i need to ask somebody, and you were the first person i thought of, so, yeah. How do i consume media critically? It's a phrase i hear around a lot, especially with some of my main interests, but i'm not 100% sure what it even entails. I know i have to be aware of the metatextual reasons for things and its flaws and such but... what then? am i supposed to do something about it or...?

this is from carl freedman on kant: "any mode of thought that declines to interrogate its own presuppositions and to engage its own role in the construction of the objects of its own knowledge may be appropriately stigmatized with the adjective precritical [...] precritical thought is the "intellectual equivalent" of the work of any status quo."

so essentially there is a certain amount of precritical thought that is necessary to maintain and reproduce the structures which make up dominant society. certainly there are people who are actively imperialist, capitalist, white supremacist, etc. but their numbers are bolstered by the people who don't question why things are the way they are -- whether it's why some people are forced to sleep on the streets or why we budget so much money toward police -- who ensure that things stay the same by accepting the things around them as normal, natural, and inevitable.

conversely, adopting a critical posture is not something that applies solely to media -- it is a way of moving through the world that involves being curious about why things are the way they are and questioning things that might otherwise be taken for granted. when we validate the claims that projects, policies, and objects implicitly make to being normal, natural, and right, we give them a lot of power. imagine a world in which cities had to start from scratch and justify every dollar they allocate toward police instead of just saying 'this is the way it is and the way it's always been.' when we start to poke at the historical, social, and political forces that have produced the world we live in, things start to seem a lot less inevitable and a lot more mutable. we can more easily imagine different ways to live and different ways to structure the world we live in. freedman again: "critical theory constantly shows that things are not what they seem to be and that things need not eternally be what they are."

we can apply this questioning and curious attitude, this desire to understand how things were made and why, to all parts of life, including the media we consume. the cop show wants us to take its centrality in the media landscape for granted; the true crime podcast wants us to squeal about the grisly details of murders without stopping to wonder why that particular form of storytelling is so popular in this specific moment in history and culture. the point is not necessarily to get definitive answers to those questions, but to explore, theorize, investigate, and take an interest in the things we consume. it's a lot like doing due diligence about where your food comes from -- aren't you interested in who is making the things you surround yourself with and what, if anything, they're trying to sell you or convince you of?

as to concrete strategies for developing your critical thinking and reading skills, i'm not sure i have any great advice that's not already been given. it depends on the person -- what they are naturally curious about and can use as an entrypoint, what methods of research work best for them, what pieces of media they love enough to do background reading and research about. you don't always have to go out of your way -- you can start being critical wherever you are. re: "am i supposed to do something about it?" no one is going to make you develop a critical framework for approaching your life. there is no force-feeding of interpretive tools and skills; no one is going to sit you down and supervise you until you are sufficiently critical . it's a choice you will have to make for yourself. for my part, i enjoy honing my critical capacities and actively work toward those goals because i never want other people to make choices for me about what i believe. i want my values and principles, the things that make up my life, to be chosen intentionally rather than handed down to me by the tides and trends of mass media, the propaganda in form of advertisements and targeted content and shows designed in a lab to appeal to my demographic, whatever that means. i want to be able to think for myself, rather than surrendering my agency and autonomy to those who are eager to think for me and make of me an uncritical, uncaring reproductive agent of the deathmaking systems that need our support to go on working.

one last freedman: "the increasingly totalitarian character of capitalism as a world system paradoxically makes it increasingly difficult to feel or even to theorize either capitalism in general or particular capitalist societies as wholes (just as fish, for instance, presumably do not feel wet and, even if endowed with rational faculties, would have great difficulty in producing the concept of wetness." being critical is stretching our capacities in pursuit of being able to be that fish that can conceptualize the wetness of water -- to see the things that were hidden from us before, often intentionally, and decide for ourselves whether we like what we see or whether we want to build something different .

[theminecraftbee]

ahhhhhh I love your empires earth au! two of my favorite smps combined to make the ultimate au <3 can I ask if you have any further thoughts on philza or maybe grian in the AU? or one of the other smpe factions? maybe in relation to the Antarctics war crimes?

hilarious number of people in my inbox currently going "empires earth? more of that?" because i DO have more thoughts about this au thank you! you asked specific questions and i will answer one of them because it's late and we'll definitely get more philza later. so for now...

one of the other factions? what about the other side to the great smp earth war. the perpetual nuisances, or perhaps the perpetual underdogs. the original "boys". we speak, of course, of business bay. (note that this ended up being half setup of various smp earth headcanons/worldbuilding stuff because i don't know when to stop that's the risk with this au if you let me go on about it half of it is geopolitical headcanons ANYWAY.)

business bay as a nation-state is known as a somewhat mercantile place. it's unusual on smp earth in the number of people who speak pixandrian because, due to its role as a center of trade for a lot of places, it only makes sense to speak wandering trader. that's business talk, baby!

this ends up having the interesting effect of business bay having pixandrian as one of its official languages, the other being english. this makes it literally the only non-pixandria nation in this entire au that uses pixandrian as one of its primary languages. as you can imagine, this comes in handy for them later.

you can find someone you can pay for anything in business bay, according to word of mouth. there's not much illegal there if you pay enough for it.

this includes its leaders - the business boys themselves are an interesting lot, with the current head, tommyinnit, having a known record of trying to kill people for money. some people insist that deo ALSO is an assassin of some sort, but considering he's actually good at it, no one has proof outside of his diligently-prepared tax records about the people he's killed. and like, those could be to keep up appearances. you never know.

...deo terrifies people to the level that techno does.

i think business bay would do the discworld thing of like. having a thief's guild. having an assassin's guild. having a "petty vandalism" guild. the business boys are a lot of things, but it turns out one of them is "willing to legalize anything if they'll pay taxes for it, actually". you can do whatever crime you want, you've just gotta pay your taxes on the crime, you know?

this is also funny to me because tommy is in no way vetinari he's just a scammer who thought it MIGHT work and then everyone was surprised when it did and he just fuckin'. rolled with it. business bay was also known as a prideful place of illicit commerce anyway, may as well make it official.

anyway one of the political reasons business bay and the antarctic empire can never REALLY be neutral is that the antarctic empire heavily, heavily frowns on this practice, and just HATES business bay operatives entering antarctic borders. like, even when they aren't at war the antarctic empire HATES this. as a result, business bay often attempts to ban the antarctic empire from operating in its trading hubs. if you don't play by the business boy rules, you don't do business. or, uh, is it that if you don't play by antarctic rules, you don't get their business...? really depends on who you ask.

the other reason that the antarctic empire and business bay stand opposed is that, while the antarctic empire is unquestionably the greater military power, business bay is a far greater economic power. this means that, while business bay tends to be the underdogs, they're actually on similar footing in ways that mean if the other one is out of the picture, the one that remains is unquestionably a superpower. make of this what you will.

anyway business bay also thinks phil and techno should have been executed for war crimes. mostly the ones about taking over the world. they're one of several nations to have called for this.

after the antarctic empire uncovers the empires realm and things start crossing over, business bay also grows interested in this fairy-tale world. for one, its long-standing feud with the antarctic means that it cannot allow the antarctic to control all of those alliances, politically. also like. THEY'RE the trader guys. they've got things to do!

so how do they do it? well, they don't have an army like the antarctic empire's... but they are good at sneaking into places they aren't supposed to be. that's like, half their guilds.

a number of business bay folk are also hired by various OTHER powers on smp earth to go sneak into empires and gather information. this is done knowing that there's a fifty percent chance they shove their feet in their mouth because hey, then at least business bay takes the blame for that instead.

...but business bay finds something far more interesting to them. you see, while business bay comes across as entirely mercantile, you'd be surprised to learn that place is PRIDEFUL. and they take pride in something that no one else does: they may believe in gods, but they also believe in the ability to challenge, fight, and tear down gods that aren't doing well for you. you should be able to fight god in the legends of business bay, they say. many nations find them foolhardy for this; at least a few times its been joked that this is why they keep on entering losing wars with the antarctic empire. they have enough money to do it, and their religion says they should fight gods they don't like!

listen: business bay legends don't say you have to win against those gods... but they say you can. haven't you heard of chip?

and when deo walks into the grimlands, and he looks up at the people tearing down the demon's tentacles, and he looks over at the high peaks of rivendell, and he hears the stories of the people, he thinks:

well. there's a god here that we should be fighting, isn't there?

...

business bay has some things they're doing in this au, is what i'm saying.

[fioras-resolve]

so like, i find myself frequently aggravated with the gaming video essayist sphere for making videos that keep threatening to be really good. but they frequently disappoint me because, well, they're not made for me. i'm a game developer of many years, i know most of what they're talking about already. you could make a case that these kinds of "authoritative voices" present a strict orthodoxy for what video games "should be." and there's some truth to that, but honestly, i'm more irritated that they're mostly just Some Guy With A Take.

i think Game Maker's Toolkit is a really easy point of attack, because he's a very popular game design youtuber with a very clear bias toward specific types of games and who only started actually making games recently, but honestly i like gmtk. his stuff about accessibilty has been massively influential on me, his Developing series where he explains his process for developing his game has been really insightful to me, and like. honestly his vids are just comfort food for me, i don't know what else to tell you. his stuff is pretty entry level, and if you're looking to actually make a game you'll definitely need to read up or watch gdc stuff to get the full story, but he's like. fine. he's okay. i'd even call him really good, but i know that's my tastes.

the thing with gmtk, right, is that even before he was a game developer, he still did his due diligence. he checked out the interviews, the talks, and even got to talk to actual developers about their craft. i put my faith in him that he knows what he's talking about, even when i disagree on a particular take. i cannot say the same for other youtubers in the same space, who seem to be operating mostly on vibes and gut reactions. you don't need to be a game developer to have something to say, i like Errant Signal a lot because he's approaching games with actual criticism and not just review. but if you're going to make a statement on what makes Good and Bad Game Design, then you should probably have more under your belt than just youtube videos.

but the thing is, right. a lot of these videos are not made for me. punkitt has compared the experience to being a competent chef in a world of phonies, but these videos aren't all aimed at competent chefs. these creators aren't trying to be game design teachers, they are trying to be tastemakers. they are trying to communicate to fans of games as a fan of games, why they like or dislike something.

and sometimes they don't even do that. there's this one channel that does like "the competitive history of [x] pokemon" and it just lists that pokemon's competitive viability in chronological order. it's so BORING and it keeps THREATENING to be good. because there's one video of theirs i actually like about the history of Stealth Rock, this problematic mechanic and how game freak have tried to combat it over the years. it's really fascinating to me because i love competitive game design and it presents a really cool case study in how one mechanic can cause massive headaches throughout the entire series. i love that stuff! but pretty much every other video is not nearly that cool, and is clearly just made for pokemon fans to have more content to consume, and i just, ugh, you're almost interesting, why do you have to do this! there's a lot of videos like this which are just cataloguing some feature of a game or series and they don't feel the need to answer "why care" because you caring is presupposed. but like, tell me why you care, man! or is this just content to you?

idk, i think it's really easy to just be some schmuck with a hot take who thinks this hot take is worth spreading. or you might have a basic understanding of game design theory and think you're prometheus for spreading it to the masses. i'll admit that i sometimes say things when i only half-understand what i'm talking about, and i can only hope i rectify those moments by emphasizing the corrections or deleting the original posts. but i like to think i still have something interesting to say, because when you think about games as long and intensely as i do you basically have to form interesting opinions. but having an internet presence is innately an act of arrogance, and i think some people could stand to keep their arrogance in check.

but honestly... something i've been thinking about recently is the question of like, "do i have the credibility to be worth listening to?" i like to think i'm better, more qualified than the youtube men who peddle opinions as orthodoxy, but like. i am fundamentally just a bedroom game designer who has never been in The Industry and who mostly just makes whatever cool thing comes to her head. Daybreak Hearts is the first time i've done this seriously and talked to artists and started making a presskit and shit. i know i'm as prone as anyone to saying things off the cuff that sound utterly unhinged to people who don't already agree with me. and i try to curb that. but am i not also just some guy with a take? i am just as arrogant as any of them, i just try a little bit harder to back it up.

...man i have thoughts about The Gaming Video Essayist Sphere but i'm afraid to talk about them. can someone tell me to give my thoughts so i feel more emboldened to?

[skipps-writes-for-gojo-satoru]

I'm not sure Gojo has ever even shown an interest to any girls.

He calls Utahime weak and teases her by making fun of her, essentially- which she hates. Mei Mei is incredibly strong and beautiful, and Gojo acknowledges her skill but that's it. I also noticed that in the anime (the manga doesn't have honorifics, so please correct me if I'm wrong) but he calls her Mei-san rather than Mei Mei. Therefore, I don't think he ever tried to get much closer to her than the interactions we've seen. When she asks him if he'd comfort her if she cried, he tells her that's she strong- she wouldn't cry. I thought it was interesting that while Mei Mei's question was slightly flirty, Gojo answered so simply, without any teasing.

He calls Shoko by her first name, which is understandable since they spend more time together being in the same grade. He realizes that her ability is rare and useful, but like with Utahime and Mei Mei he doesn't go any further than that. He mostly speaks to her about work related things and doesn't flirt or tease much at all.

Honestly, I think Gojo actually respects his female colleagues and mostly pokes fun at Utahime because she's so uptight and strict. Shoko and Mei Mei are more relaxed and self-assured, and Gojo recognizes their skills and compliments them for it rather than teasing them. I doubt Gojo really thinks Utahime is truly weak more than he just loves riling her up. Other than that, Gojo's pretty respectful.

Also, in the Hidden Inventory arc, Gojo was bombarded with screaming from all the girls excited to see him. Other than pulling his shades down so they could see his face- after they asked him to, btw- he didn't really do much else. He didn't even react much to the teacher giving him her phone number. His only comment was "what a fun school," and it's interesting to see that while lots of girls do appreciate his looks, he acts only mildly amused.

Other than that one model as his wallpaper, we don't really see Gojo flirt or show interest with anyone. He only really teases Utahime to piss her off- I suspect he hates how much she follows the rules like Nanami does, who he teases often as well. He likely just enjoys annoying people so stern because rules just don't sit well with him (especially because of what those "rules" had done to Geto).

It's just a possibility, but he could be one of those guys who's more interested in work than pleasure- I know, he's handsome, but not all handsome people are players and cheaters. I think that's a horrible stigma and a lot of attractive people irl are judged and criticized solely for their looks. People make too many assumptions on someone just based on their genes, and I think it's pretty shallow to think Gojo's a womanizer just because he's attractive. And he knows he's attractive- but when did being confident in yourself make you a philanderer? Gojo has never used his looks manipulatively at all.

It's definitely a possibility that he would be a womanizer, but I'd say it's unlikely based in what we've seen. To sum it all up, Gojo doesn't show interest in anyone. He teases Utahime often, likely for the same reason be teases Nanami- they're too uptight. Shoko and Mei Mei are both incredibly skilled and beautiful sorcerers, and he does acknowledge and compliment them for it, but he doesn't tease or flirt with them. He's respectful, and he works with them as his colleagues. He didn't get distracted by the teen girls fawning over him either, or suddenly get overtly cocky or show off, only sliding his glasses down so they could see his face, and even then he acted only mildly amused. Also, when Miwa asked him for a picture, he didn't even stay and chat with her or anything (I know she's a minor, but if he truly was a womanizer, he would have at least stayed to hear her compliment him or anything to feed his ego) Maybe ask her "Oh, you want a picture with me? The strongest? How cute~" A flirty comment, a joke, something to fuel his own ego, but he doesn't do that. He doesn't act in a way that conveys he openly pursues attention from women. He just takes the picture with her and walks off casually.

Therefore, other than the fact that he's handsome- and I know many people who would assume things about someone based on their attractiveness, which is a terrible stereotype- Gojo doesn't show much interest in flirting at all. He could be the type of guy who works more than plays- and there's plenty of guys who are handsome but aren't super interested in playing around. Being handsome doesn't automatically mean he's the type to sneak around and have affairs here and there. It's completely realistic for a handsome man to be uninterested in any kind of relationships- not all men are sex crazed, and being a tease to his friends doesn't make Gojo a flirt either. Teasing your friends is perfectly normal.

Therefore, Gojo being a 28 year old virgin is totally possible- not everyone's a sex crazed teen who only thinks about what's between their legs, and basing it on what normal Japanese teens do is unfair. Neither Gojo or his lifestyle is exactly normal, and there's definitely barriers when it comes to experiencing normal youth activities for Gojo's generation- especially Gojo's generation. Yuji's generation definitely has more freedom to do fun things because of what Gojo has done to give the youth more freedom- things he hasn't been able to experience himself in his youth, like playing baseball during the exchange event. That was the first time they ever did something different to tradition, and that was only because of Gojo's consideration.

Gojo's youth was filled with blood, exorcising, and choosing between life and death. The deaths Yuji and co. witnessed were what Gojo experienced as well, if not worse. Gojo's task in his youth was to protect the weak, and he found that burdensome. At least, until Geto betrayed them, and Gojo realized the new burden he had to bear in changing the Jujutsu world because of what it had done to his only best friend.

There are definitely more important things in Gojo's mind than just losing his virginity, like saving people and choosing who to save, whether he should kill or not kill.

Gojo is the strongest, but he also bears the biggest burden- and that burden is something he chose to bear, and being the strongest is something he chose to be. Because before Geto left, it was "We are the Strongest." Now, Gojo worked tirelessly so that he could say "I am the Strongest."

And that's not something you can do while sleeping around. I think a lot of people fail to recognize just how hard Gojo works for himself and others. They just think, oh he's the strongest, so it should be easy for him. But it's really, really not that simple, is it? Especially when you have to do it on your own, and even then Gojo realizes that his strength alone isn't enough to save people. He can't save everyone by himself- It's not enough for just him to be the Strongest, so he works diligently to build and inspire his students to stand with him.

He's actually a very deep and emotional man who cares about his students and especially, even now, his best friend. Everything he does is for their sake- he sacrifices the normal life he could have lived, like Nanami had done, for their sake. And he fights with the higher ups, takes the brunt of their ire, and laughs it off, acting as if he fine, like a dad pretending he's superman for his kid's sake. But Gojo is burdened, and he's tired, and he hardly sleeps, and he has the most missions- he's the Strongest, which means everyone needs him, and he bears it.

Sorry for ranting again tho. I think I went into two different topics lol oops- 🤔

OUR SAVIOR 🤔 EDUCATING PEOPLE pay attention ya'll another thing I've noticed in the latest episode is that in his phone contacts he actually writes Utahime's name properly like formally no emojis or teasing shit he actually sees them as his colleagues people he can rely on his field of work and yes about the whole thing when he bursted into riko's class man was absolutely clueless just silent as a teacher tries to give him his number. I'm pretty sure as a child Gojo wasn't allowed to attend public schools due him being in danger or putting others in danger so he doesn't know much about public schools or normal people in general since he spends all his time with people from the jujutsu society.

That is definitely true just because someone is good looking that doesnt mean he's some cheap womanizer. I see a lot of people shipping him and Utahime together which is understandable ship who you like but I don't think Gojo as any ulterior motives like wooing Utahime by teasing her he just is plainly teasing ya know like friends do but in this case Utahime hates his guts and he doesnt know. I mean it takes some amount of hate to try to throw hot tea at someone 😂

While certainly I agree Gojo's teen like wasn't the best it was like he literally had a full time job at that age but who's to stay he didn't go messing around one time? I'm sure during his teen days he wanted to experience things he didnt get to to but now could because he lives on his own now. But maybe he didnt at all who knows? Which also raises another question, I wonder if he has any romantic experiences? And this was all before what happened in the hidden inventory arc after that I can see him more becoming invested in his duty and with what happened with geto as well would of definitely had a huge impact on him to try harder even though hes the strongest so that the next generation wouldn't have to experience the things he went through.

It's really sad if you really think about it what hes been through and what he has to shoulder all while keeping the facade that he's okay, I bet there were times he cursed his powers and his life....but he bears with it anyways because everyone is counting on him....

And don't be sorry at all! I am actually really learning alot about Gojo from you. Please continue to tell us your thoughts and feelings. I don't mind at all ❤ and thank you for taking the time to write 💕

[my-corneroftheworld]

Child without love

Chapter 1 is now available ;)

Preview

I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eyes. "You can't just go behind my back like that! There are set rules and hierarchies that keep our organization running smoothly!" Adeoye yelled while he was walking frantically back and forth. He never could handle stress well. " You're little outburst may have cost us our one shot to get the right people's attention!"

I want to say I'm sorry and that it was rude and petty of me. But I couldn't because I did what I thought was right. They have ignored our every attempt to better their policies and today's presentation only opened my eyes to how blissfully ignorant they allowed themselves to be. He stopped his pacing and rubbed his eyes under his big ill-fitting glasses.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" he asked abrasively. I knew that he wasn't really angry at me. He was frustrated with everything. The board director's nonchalant attitude, the over-looming doom of the deadline we've got in 2 months and my little outburst were certainly not making things better.

"No" I answered.

"Well if that's the case then you give me no choice other than to suspend you for 2 weeks" he sighed. I wasn't surprised. Cussing out the board due to their lack of ethical consideration whilst ignoring every warning I and others have worked tirelessly on proving wasn't really considered to be professional. " I understand," I say solemnly and start picking up my notes. 5 years of studying and 3 years of diligent work have come to this, being pushed aside so that rich people can profit off of dangerous means at the cost of the health of our seas. And having no power to change anything

I drove home in silence, with nothing but the wind from the window creek as my companion. I think I'll have to practice today to let off some steam. After arriving and leaving my notes by the kitchen counter, I changed into my swimsuit and went down to the beach. Moving here was mainly so I could get to work within 15 minutes but having the sea outside my back door has definitely changed my life. I never liked using my powers in front of others. Mutants aren't really welcome unless they're wearing suits and have fancy names. So there aren't many moments where I can use them to their fullest extent. When I do I feel at home. I feel free of everything. My worries and concerns are washed away.

Once I reach the water I breathe in and allow myself to feel its pull. Imitating the waves with my hands till it starts to imitate me, following my every command. I slowly start walking in allowing myself to be surrounded then I dive keeping the water from reaching face requires no movements any more though I still haven’t past 5 minutes at a time. Maybe I’ll make it at 6 today. I decide to explore a little further than usual, seeing what I can find at the see floor and cleaning up small things that shouldn’t be there.

It was then I noticed it. The entity that has been watching me from afar. It barely moved and I couldn’t really make out it’s shape. But I knew it was looking at me and it staying completely still. I was scared. My bubble was slowly shrinking so I began to slowly make my way back to shore. As soon as I did the shadow got closer and closer which made me anxious to reach land. I finally burst of the sea, gasping for air. I layed down on the beach, trying to catch my breath then I voice called out.

“Who are you?”