#so today we had an interview about the code and all. to make sure we didnt cheat.

[fingertipsmp3]

I feel like I’ve lived through at least a month just in the past 3 days. I checked the date just now and damn near had an out of body experience when I realised Monday was only two days ago

[autism-corner]

ok guilt ommited

[lover-of-mine]

Hi, welcome to Buck just had his oh moment and the color theory of it all.

Usual shoutout to @stagefoureddiediaz because being mind meld with her is what's getting me here lol

First, I'm gonna break my own rule and give too much power to the showrunners, I know I keep saying not to, but hear me out. Buck, Bothered and Bewildered is on Buck's pov, right? That was made clear by the episode and then confirmed in interviews that that was the vision, and well, Tim also said that that scene was from Buck's pov, it's all about Buck's reaction and how he will go crazy about this because he's abandonment issues personified, that is also confirmed with the way we don't see what Eddie is doing until he tells Buck, we are learning things at the same time as Buck is.

Okay, well, why am I going back to 704? Well, Buck's fear of losing Eddie (I don't care what Buck says, he wanted Eddie's attention) made him go completely batshit crazy last time. But it also triggered something really important: Buck's bisexuality. And they just repeated that trigger, but this time with Buck choosing to walk in.

They repeated the bt first kiss structure but with Buck making the choices that create that change. The bt kiss, Buck is working on some bills, Tommy shows up, Buck is spiraling because of Eddie, Tommy kisses him, Buck has the bisexual realization. The 808 scene, Eddie is working on the houses, Buck shows up, he's spiraling about Tommy, Eddie reveals something, and Buck is snapped into the realization. Important thing to notice is that Buck still doesn't fully understand the depth of what his relationship with Tommy showed him about himself, so Buck still might not understand the impact of what his abandonment issues just told him while he was sitting on Eddie's couch. And it's all on Buck's pov.

But Anna, you said color theory.

I'm getting there. Because, well, the bt kiss is blue and red.

Same as 808. So we are evoking the same feeling, especially because of Buck's short sleeves and the buttons (and not a white shirt under this like he had all season lol)

And thinking about the blue and yellow coding Buck's bi arc, he worked his way to lighter blues. He starts with the navy blue colors until that lighter teal tone from the coming out scene.

It's also interesting that in the scenes that are about Eddie in a sense, when he's talking to Maddie and he got it right about it being about Eddie, and the coming out scene being about their friendship, are lighter colors along with Buck matching his background. We don't have the yellow elements but we have that cohesion on the frame composition. (I guess the 606 hoodie also counts since blue and green theory but I don't want to make another image now).

If you're new here, the theory is that Buck worked his way to his blue from darker colors, his blue being the color he is wearing during the coming out scene (and Eddie will find his yellow, but we are not talking about Eddie).

We are back in the darker blue but the composition of the scene is lighter. Buck is literally in front of the light as he is talking to Eddie in the kitchen, and it's the middle of the day.

He matches the background, the couch, the Texas frame, the lighting is also a lot colder than it usually is in Eddie's house. And it's also very important that he is on the couch, because yay couch theory.

But Anna how does any of this prove anything?

Well, Buck is working his way back to his blue while in the darker colors, because while he got the bisexuality part right, Tommy wasn't the right person, and he's finally back in the light, we don't have the dimmed light and the obstruction of his face created by the shadow, dare I saw Buck is finally starting to see things clearer.

But why am I so sure? The shirt he was wearing today?

Same color but in a darker shade than his blue.

Buck is back on the discovery feeling that comes with the darker blue but this time he's in the correct hue, he just needs to get to the right shade, and he just figured something out.

Abandonment issues personified just had his oh moment about Eddie at the thought of losing him permanently, sitting on Eddie's couch while wearing his blue.

Other things to notice, Buck knocked but walked in before Eddie could get to the door, he used his key and the knocking was just to let Eddie know he was there, Buck is the one who suggests moving to the couch and the couch ties it back to the couch theory and the 601 dinner, dare I say that even Buck offering to bake for Eddie and the cooking aspect of it all, and the idea that the couch is home and home is a person and for Buck that's Eddie.

Something else is the way that we finally see someone eating whatever it is Buck is stress baking. Madney don't eat at the loft and the chief interrupts them at the firehouse. Eddie on the other hand is DIGGING into those. And food in 911, in media in general, is about connection, and is very pointedly about love here, and the whole stress baking is great because the kitchen is Buck's safe space, he cooks for people he loves, we see that from when Maddie comes back, to the pointed way he gets take out for his parents in 610, to the lasagna, making chilly with Bobby, cooking for the house on 709 and getting Bobby's approval. And the fact that we are getting Eddie eating what Buck's nervous state is creating while allowing Buck to just go through his kitchen to make more because he is not about to not accept every part of Buck Buck offers him is important.

The fact that Eddie isn't objecting to Buck rummaging around his kitchen is also important in the way the show uses Eddie's house in a meta way, kinda like the way the show uses the loft to match Buck's spirits in a sense, how the kitchen is his heart and for family, how the living room ends up being for guests and it's made pointed about the couch his mother bought "for his guests", Eddie's kitchen and the whole way it's the space Eddie allows himself to be vulnerable but there's the thing of honesty, the core of who Eddie is is tied to the kitchen, and the fact that he's just letting Buck move around like it's his kitchen ads a lot. Buck is the only person who walked into the house through the back door, Buck has a key, Buck has been in every room (except the bathroom but I think they are saving that for buddie canon), that's home for him too and Eddie never thinks to question and Buck never thinks to doubt it ("this is Eddie's house, I'm not really a guest").

Anyway, Buck oh moment real. Buddie 8b real. Color theory got me so high I'm wondering this is what doing hard drugs feels like. I think this is all I have to say. I might come back, who knows? I don't.

If you read this I love you.

taglist (interact with this post if you wanna get tagged)

@sparkedblaze @caw-salem @dreamofsomepiphany @100ceruleaneyes @linus-lucy @chaosqueery @gina-spike @chimchiminie98 @elvensorceress @singitforthegirls @dangerpronebuddie @182daysof @steadfastsaturnsrings @sparklespiff @inell @miles--to--go @jesuisici33 @wolfdeans @lunarsolar1 @joshwritesfics @glasscities @kejfeblintz @stagefoureddiediaz @mosaicstardust @eddiedisasterdiaz @hermioneindisguise @queerprincesseddiediaz @lookforanewangle @becausebuckley @lemotmo @thenainitaldisaster @epiaphany @trudayss @shelfthe-reader @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @buckgettingstruck @scoupsahoy @the-whispers-of-death @iced-coffee-jesus @izzysbeans @starkytower @thegeekcompanion @sunflower-eddiediaz @bucks-daddy-issues

@dingdongfries @angelcamael

[dreamcatchers-husband]

Jitters

Male Reader X Fromis_9 Saerom

Length: 2600+ words

Tags: Roomates, Fuck buddies, Mommy kink, Creampie

A/N- Saerom has always caught my attention so I had to make her a fic. At least a quckie.

Do you ever get the jitters? Get nervous?

People get nervous for a lot of different reasons. Job interview? Getting on a roller coaster? Riding a plane? 

For you, it was none of these. The cause of your nerves was two simple words. First date. When the girl said yes, you were beyond excited but the jitters came once you began to head home. Your shoulder hit several people as your eyes were stuck on your phone screen. After each apology, you continued the walk home, planning on what to do with your date. 

Eventually, you arrived at your apartment complex and walked to the front door. Once you passed the door, your legs brought you over to the elevator where you waited for the metal cage. Your travel up the elevator was uneventful as your legs continued to tap up and down nervously.

With a ding, your eyes looked up and saw the number 14. Recognizing it as your floor, you stepped off and rushed to your door. Once your golden metal key entered the keyhole, you turned it counterclockwise and unlocked the door. 

With your shoulder pushing it open, your feet moved forward and rushed towards your living room. Once there, your eyes began to search for a nice brown bookcase that lived in that part of your home. Once your eyes saw it, your mind took over as you pulled the doors open and found a large black safe that sat there. 

Raising your hand, the various beeps from the safe echoed in your ear. Punching The code 0124 made the green light appear as well as a clicking sound. Pulling the safe open, you found a couple of stacks of money as well as a wallet. Grabbing your black leather wallet, you opened it and pulled out a green card. 

With the card now in your possession. You fished out your personal wallet from your pants and put it in one of the slots. The brown from the wallet faded with time but you still loved how big it was as well as convenient compared to others. Just as your wallet went back into your pocket, the sound of a door caught your attention. With the door, footsteps followed that got closer and closer. Finally, a voice was heard as a figure appeared. 

“Why the hell is there so much noise?” 

“Sorry Saerom. I needed to get my other credit card.” 

“You hate using that one. You always complain about the interest rate. Is something wrong? Do you need new tires? I told you those used one-“

“I don’t need new tires, Saerom. This is great news. She said YES!”

“Who said yes? The librarian if the book you had on hold was finally returned?”

“NO. She finally said yes. I can take the girl of my dreams on a date!”

As your hand closed the metal door to the safe, your body turned around and was met with the brown-haired woman. Her outfit immediately stuck out to you as your eyes went up and down her body. The black top cut short just above her midriff, giving you the slightest tease of her amazing abs. The navy green skirt didn't do any better at hiding her body. Despite being on the shorter side. Her legs looked long and soft. They were for sure soft. Of course, you would know with the amount of times they have been wrapped around your head. 

“Oh, why are you dressed up Saerom?”

“Oh, I was just trying on some clothes for the next time we go out to get drinks. So you finally got a date with Hayoung huh?” 

“Yes! It’s even today. Look, I need to go shower so I’ll talk to you later.”

Not waiting for a response, your legs pushed forward towards your room. Your hands moved faster than you thought ever possible, removing the clothing from your body. Guess just a plain shirt and joggers helped with this also. Normally your body would be covered by a bathrobe at this point, but all reason was gone in your mind. With nothing on, your legs ran across the hallway and pushed their way into the bathroom. 

As you shut the door behind you, your arm then extended out and pulled the door to your glass shower. Turning the dial on the shower wall, the chrome wheel moved from the blue to the red section, changing the water temperature. After touching the water a few times with your fingers, your desired temperature finally arrived. 

Hoping in, the warm water began to roll off your back as you closed the door. Stepping fully into the water, your face looked up towards the shower head, and let the water pour over the rest of your body. Reaching to the left; your hand grabbed the bar of soap sitting and lifted it. As your head began to move away from the water, your hand began to raise the soap to your body until a noise caught your attention.

Looking behind you, Saerom entered the shower with you. The smirk on her face was setting off all the alarms in your head. 

“S-Saerom. What are you doing here? I need to…”

“Hey. It’s good for the environment to save water. Let’s shower quickly.”

Taking the bar of soap from your hand, the young woman began to run the white bar over her body. As the soap moved down from her arms, the bar began to lather over her toned abs and moved up. Saerom didn’t have the biggest breasts but she certainly had a pair you loved. In circular motions, the lather began to form around her perky mounds. 

A small giggle left Saerom’s mouth as she pulled your head up. Making eye contact, your roommate gave you a wink and brought the soap to your chest. Just as she did on her chest, the young woman began to rub the soap in circular motions on your body. You were about to say something until your friend spun your body around. The same action as before continued on your back. The smooth touches were very relaxing, causing you to close your eyes and get stuck in thought. 

The relaxing feeling continued until you felt a couple of nubs on your back. Saerom had her breasts on your back.  As your eyes shot open, the young woman’s arm touched your abs and began to work its way down. 

“S-Saerom. We shouldn’t.”

“Doyoon. You know Hayoung is a great friend of mine. She has a rule about the new guys she dates. No sex until 6 months of dating. This is me doing you a favor.”

Saerom’s delicate fingers finally reached your length, wrapping around it in one swoop. Your whole body jolted a bit from the sudden touch on your cock. 

“Look here, sweetie. The throbbing from your cock lets me know you like this. Why don’t you fuck my pussy one last time? Just for old time's sake.”

“B-But Hayoung w-will be here in twenty minutes.”

“Then we better get started.”

The soap on both of your bodies had already washed off in that time. Dropping to her knees, Saerom turned you around once more and looked up at you. Your roommate's hand began to move up and down, getting you harder than before. Bringing her upper body closer, Saerom brought out her tongue and inched it closer and closer until it made contact with your tip.

A quick flick to your tip sent shivers down your spine, causing a small whimper to leave your mouth. Saerom took this as her sign to continue as her tongue moved down your shaft from the left then the right, Saerom’s tongue continued to get your cock wet all over. 

Without any warning, Saerom then plunged her mouth on top of your tip and moved it down her throat. Your hands immediately took hold of your roommate's head and gripped onto her hair. All reason was gone as your hips began to move back and forth into Saerom’s mouth. 

With each thrust into the young woman’s mouth, the more your body began to shake. Taking the lead, Your friend put her hands on your legs and began to shove your length down her throat. Normally your roommate wouldn’t get to deepthroating off the bat, but Saerom knew you had a time constraint. 

Matching her movements, your hip would thrust your length into her throat as she pulled you in as deep as possible. After a couple of times, you decided to pull your cock out of her mouth and give her time to breathe. The sudden slap to your ass caught your attention and brought your vision back down. The scowl on Saerom’s face made you scared. 

“Who said to stop fucking Mommy’s face? You will stop when I say you stop.” 

The sudden warmth from Saerom’s mouth returned around your length. The constricting feeling around your rod was amazing as Your roommate vigorously moved her mouth up and down your shaft. Your hands were suddenly raised once more and brought to the side of Saerom’s head. The glare you got earlier returned. She wanted her face to be fucked. 

Not wanting to disappoint your mommy, you began to thrust with your hip once more. Just like you were slamming into her pussy, your cock continued to get constricted around. As you continued this action, a small sound began to hit your ears. Sure, you were in a shower but this sound was different.

Looking down, your eyes noticed Saerom’s hand down on her pussy. The sounds were of her playing with herself. Saerom needed this just as badly as you did right now. Bringing your hips back, Saerom let go of your legs and brought one hand up to your length. 

Your roommate's tongue returned to your tip and began to move in circular motions around it followed by some strokes from her hand. Standing back up, Saerom laid her back on the shower wall and signaled you to come closer. The air got heavy as you inched closer and closer to Saerom. 

Finally, in front of her, the young woman wrapped her arms around your neck and pulled your head to her neck. Your instincts took over as you began to pepper her neck with small kisses and bites. As you moved further and further down, you felt Saerom’s finger around your cock again. Your cock head began to feel the sticky mess leaking from Saerom’s folds. 

“Put that cock in Mommy one last time. Don’t keep me waiting.”

With a push, your tip began to plunge into Saerom’s cunt. The slick from the woman’s folds leaked onto the rest of your rod as you filled her. A gasp left Saerom’s mouth as you stood there for a few seconds. Pulling back, your strokes began to repeat little by little like you did with her mouth before. 

The warm comforts of her pussy were removed from your mind as Saerom pulled your neck back from hers. A sudden slap to the face shocked you as Saerom tightened her hold on your neck. 

“Stop being a pussy and fuck me. Or do you want your date to come here while you’re balls-deep in my cunt? 

With those words of encouragement, you brought your hips back and shoved your length down her tunnel. With your hands holding her up, your cock began to shove your length down her cunt repeatedly. With each thrust, your speed increased until you were at a steady pace, in and out of Saerom. 

The sound of grunts and moans was all that could be heard with the running water. Your constant pace was good, but not enough for your roommate. The young woman began to move her hips to match your own, filling her as best as possible. Your length could feel the construction around it as her walls tried to keep you inside her at all costs. 

“T-That’s a good boy. You always have such an amazing cock for mommy. T-The perfect length, and girth. F-Fuck even the throbbing from your length is perfect. S-Stay here. Why don’t you just fuck Mommy’s pussy forever?” 

The offer was tempting. Saerom’s pussy was something you had almost every day and it never disappointed. Still, you had to grow up one day and Hayoung was your chance at a real relationship. 

“I-I’m sorry Mommy but Hayoung is almost here and I’m really close.”

“Tsk. Fine. Then you better make me cum one last time before you do.”

Knowing you had no other option, you began to speed up your waist and move faster than before. Moving one of your hands down to her folds your length pulled out of her snatch, exposing the little nub you were looking for. Now found, your fingers began to rub on your roommate's clit as your cock continued to piston in and out of her.

The circular motions from your fingers combined with your cock’s actions caused the moans from Saerom to increase. Your grunts began to match the sounds from Saerom as both your fingers and cock increased in pace. 

“F-Fuck. You’re close sweetie, aren’t you? Me too. J-Just a bit more and you can empty those balls in my pussy.”

A slap to your ass motivated you to give it all you had left. All of your adrenaline shot throughout your body in that moment as you fucked Saerom as ferociously as humanly possible. Your hips could almost break at the rate you were shoving in and out of your roommate. A loud yell hit your ears as you felt a sudden pressure around your shaft. A rush of fluids hit your legs as Saerom began to jolt all over the place.

“F-FUCK!”

Saerom’s nails began to scratch your back as her climax was achieved. Saerom’s orgasm was the catalyst to achieve your own peak, causing you to yell as well. As your cock throbbed, ropes of semen left your tip and filled Saerom to the brim. As the twitches from your cock finished, the two of you were left panting for air. 

With a laugh, you both stood up straight and grabbed the soap again. Your shower had to be a quick one as your date would be there soon, so after 3 minutes you both hopped out. Running towards your room, you quickly entered and noticed a nice outfit placed on the bed. Saerom must have set it out while you first showered. 

Putting on the nice dress shirt and pants, you made your way to the living room and found Saerom relaxing on the couch. Your roommate was in pajamas yet it perfectly fit her curves, just like any other outfit. Standing up, the young woman walked over and began to fix a few things on your outfit. 

“OK then. You look nice. Have fun. This is your last chance to just stay here with me though.”

“That sounds fun but this is what I want.” 

With a knock at the door, Saerom pulled you closer and kissed you on the lips, one final time. Pulling back, the girl walked with you to the front door. Hayoung was familiar with your home so it was an easy meet-up place. As the door opened, you were met with the cutest girl you had ever seen, fit with a beautiful white dress. 

“Oh hi, Saerom. D-Doyoon. You look really nice.” 

“Y-You look amazing Hayoung.” 

“Well then. You two have fun and be safe out there OK?” 

“Yes, captain!”

With a nod, you made your way out the door and looked at Hayoung. 

“Let’s go!”

As you walked away with Hayoung, your mind went back to Saerom and the activities you indulged in earlier. 

You surely are gonna miss having sex for six months. 

[chaoticloving]

So... I had this funny request.. See.. What if Reader is a famous personality? Like they are an actor and a singer at an young age? Like they worked for movies like Harry Potter and marvel and then later on took singing as career option which resulted being an awesome choice as their music skyrocketed. So what if One directions manager arranged a collab with reader? And one direction was also a huge fan of her but Harry had a huge celebrity crush on reader which he had hinted alot of times in interviews which fans could see, reader didn't knew them well only that they were a famous band and she didn't knew their names too? as she was rather busy with her own stuff plus she didn't knew fans shipping her and harry? So when they all saw reader at the office because it was kept a surprise for them with whom they were gonna collab so Harry started fan girling? I mean it's just pure fluff and teen love?

Performance of a Lifetime

harry styles x reader

a/n: lil blurb for ya! changed it a bit! plus some cheesy h for you!

Harry’s never felt more excited in his life, entirely exhausted, but had that excited-about-to-vomit feeling inside of him while practicing this dance routine.

Its how all of one-direction was feeling at the moment. Wanting to drop dead like flys but not because they needed to impress a certain singer, joining them for a charity performance.

Y/n was a house-hold name, from a young age of being a child star, working her ass off to be taken seriously without being taken advantage of, she slowly dipped into the world of music before she started to become the face of the music industry. She was doing a joint performance with one-direction this friday as the headliner for the day.

Harry nearly fainted when his managers told him they were preforming with her; he also didn’t hesitate to go to dance rehearsals when asked too. He needed to make sure his performance was flawless but also needed to work up his abs—and by work up he means create.

This afternoon though, will be the first time him and be the rest of the band meet Y/n. Harry new he had some competition over winning the stars heart; both Zayn and Louis were trying suspiciously hard during rehearsal to outshine one another, and Harry hated every moment of it.

Soon enough though, they were out of the showers and changing into more professional clothing to meet the singer. Harry was tapping his foot, rehearsing how he was going to introduce himself and win over the girl.

“You ready?”

“Huh?”

Niall chuckled and wrapped his arm around Harry as they walked down the long hall. “You’re going to meet your celebrity crush! Big day for you.”

“I don’t have a celebrity crush-“

“Everyone has a celebrity crush. Mine in Selena Gomez.” Niall chided. “I think Zayn likes one of that Hadid girls, Liam likes Miley Cyrus, and Louis likes any celebrity that people say are nice—which I think is a good thing honestly.”

“How’d you know that then.” Harry sighed.

“You remember in X-factor days, those stair videos we did?” Harry nodded. “Someone asked who our celebrity crushes were, and I think yours is the only one that hasn’t changed.

Harry shook his head, ignoring and hoping that Niall is the only one stupid enough to remember whatever video. “But you saw Zayn and Louis in practice today? They were trying much more than normal, no way they don’t have a crush.”

Niall shrugged his shoulders. “She’s hot. Of course they do. I mean, if she talks to me and is nice I might.”

Harry shoved Niall off of him and groaned, speed walking away from his friend and trying to catch up to the rest of the boys.

“Wait up you dolt.” Niall yelled. “Don’t be stupid, I follow the girl code—I won’t date, flirt, or fuck your crush—and the bro code—I will hype you up. Scouts honor.”

Harry sighed. He was grateful for Niall’s help, really; but sometimes it gets a little carried away with matters of the heart.

“Hurry up ya pussys!” Liam shouted from the elevator, holding the door open for the boys. He got a smack from the manager, John, who gave him a stern glare for his word choice.

Harry and Niall got into the cramped elevator and watched as the doors closed. Harry watched the red numbers go up, slowly yet not stopping. He started worrying as he got higher and higher, it was less than five minutes until he meets his crush—he shivered at the thought.

The doors chimed and then opened. The boys pushed each other out, Zayn, Louis, and it seems now Liam were all extra eager to meet Y/n. John walked slowly behind the group, typing away on his phone.

The say the assistant who stood up when the men entered and made a gesture for them to follow her. She knocked on the door. “Y/n you’ve got your entourage here.”

“Entourage-“ Liam questioned, before the door swung open.

Y/n glanced over the boys, giving them a once-over, and then opened the door fully to let them in. “It’s nice to meet you all!” She chided, flashing a quick smile. “Come in! Come in!”

The women turned around and sat at the other end of a long table, filled with mood-boards, pictures, and tons and tons of sheet-filled binders. The rest of them joined on the opposite side. Harry didn’t miss the glance Y/n sent him, it wasn’t as confused as the last time though, it was more…curious.

Harry ignored that thought. He’s just being delusional.

“Alright so one-direction I can’t wait to preform with you all this weekend.” Y/n’s assistant handed her a clipboard, and she flicked through the pages. “I see the songs you want to preform, and I must admit, I’m not hugely familiar with your work and would like to go over them.” Her manager nudged her. “Sorry.” She sighed, clearing her throat. “I’d like to get to know all of you foremost.”

Harry blinked, but Liam didn’t. “My names Liam, huge fan of your work—both music and film. I sing, dance, date, you name it!”

“Alright nice to meet you-“

“I’m Louis. Raised in Doncaster. And I like your work too, especially that one song on your last album—the one that goes like “why not me la la—“

“Would it surprise you if I told you he’s a singer too.” Zayn smirked, hand on Louis’ shoulder to get him to stop. “I’m Zayn, and to make the rest quick that’s Niall and the one on the end is Harry.”

“Hello.”

“Hey.”

“Well it’s nice to meet you all. And I’m Y/n and quite frankly I’m ready to get to work.” The boys nodded in agreement, a little afraid. “So...Story of My Life.”

~

“Y/n how was it preparing for this event with a group of boys? Annoying I bet.” The interviewer asked.

Y/n and the boys were in their stage outfits, less then an hour left until their due on stage. Harry had on his black skinny jeans, and a grey tang top, his tattoos on display—trying to go for the edgy, bad-boy look. Y/n had on black baggie jeans and a tight, cropped bra-like shirt to match. Harry liked how they looked coordinated.

“It’s been a trip, honestly.” Y/n laughed. “I didn’t know much about one direction, but I like to think that that I’ve made some friends.” Y/n giggled as she pulled in Harry, her arm around his neck. Harry was quite shocked, first of all, he wasn’t apart of the interview, and second of all, she considered him a friend!

“Can you confirm Styles?”

“Oh yeah. We’re best friends at this point.” He delivered his million dollar smile (with a hint of desperation in there) and felt the heat from his blush on his cheeks rise up. “Nice break from those losers back there.” Harry pointed to the boys behind him, shooting the shit and trying to look better.

“How cute you two look! All matching! Was this on purpose?”

“Uhh.” Harry didn’t know what to say. Luckily Y/n saved him.

“Of course! Gotta have the main attractions coordinating!” She joked, leaning into Harry’s chest.

“How cute of a couple!” Harry’s jaw dropped and could feel Y/n freeze. “I’ve got the others to interview! Good luck!”

~~

How Harry got through the performance will forever be a mystery. How he will face Y/n again is an even bigger mystery.

After the interviews went on, more and more people questioned or reminded him of his relationship status with the star. He couldn't even get much of a break after the show because they swung into even more interviews, some better than others though.

Y/n acted odd though. Harry thought back to different relationships he has had with women he was friends with, none were this close to him, sometimes the hug here and there but never hand holding or arm around the neck constantly. Harry was getting mixed signals and was scared he was misinterpreting Y/n's actions. But the public eye, and his band mates, were always around watching him so it's not like much could be said without fear of someone knowing.

"Alright, I think that wraps up this interview. Next in two." Some manager said.

"Hey." Y/n whispered. Harry glanced around him, no one was near; the other boys sat on a separate couch from him and Y/n, and no praying ears were about.

"What?" Thats how you flirt Harry? Come on.

Y/n smiled though. "I just wanted to say I liked hanging out with you today."

"Really?"

"I wanted to know if you could hang out again, but without everyone else?"

"Like a date?" Harry gasped, voice not even a whisper.

"Yeah? If thats alright?" Y/n asked, looking at the dreamed out Harry who was rapidly blushing. "H?"

"Get ready boys!" ... "And Y/n."

"H were are almost live." Y/n reminded him, fixing herself up and then him. "Wanna answer?"

"Good afternoon-"

"Yes." Harry interrupted the interviewer, looking over at shocked Y/n. "Of course! I know this great place off of some road-"

Harry got knocked with a pillow by Niall, who gave him a rude look.

"Anything you wanna share mate?" The interviewer asked.

Harry smiled, finally looking where he should of been all this time, instead of the girl next to him. He nodded his head, held up high and straightened his shirt.

"I got a date."

[thecoleopterawithana]

Even though John is under-powered in this period we still see what made him so magnetic to Paul and to others around him. There is a scene early in Part Two that I find riveting. It takes place a couple of days after George has left. The status of everything - the project, the band - remains uncertain, but they are ploughing on for now. John, Yoko, Ringo, Paul and some of the crew are sitting in a semi-circle. Paul looks pensive. Ringo looks tired. John is speaking only in deadpan comic riffs, to which Paul responds now and again. Peter Sellers comes in and sits down, looks ill-at-ease, and leaves having barely said a word, unable to penetrate the Beatle bubble. At some point they’re joined by Lindsay-Hogg, and the conversation dribbles on. John mentions that he had to leave an interview that morning in order to throw up (he and Yoko had taken heroin the night before). Paul, looking into space rather than addressing anyone in particular, attempts to turn the conversation towards what they’re meant to be doing:

Paul: See, what we need is a serious program of work. Not an endless rambling among the canyons of your mind.

John: Take me on that trip upon that golden ship of shores… We’re all together, boy.

Paul: To wander aimlessly is very unswinging. Unhip.

John: And when I touch you, I feel happy inside. I can’t hide, I can’t hide. [pause] Ask me why, I’ll say I love you.

Paul: What we need is a schedule.

John: A garden schedule.

I mean first of all, who is writing this incredible dialogue? Samuel Beckett?

Let’s break it down a little. The first thing to note is that John and Paul are talking to each other without talking to each other. This is partly because they’re aware of the cameras and also because they’re just not sure how to communicate with each other at the moment. John’s contributions are oblique, gnomic, riddling, comprised only of songs and jokes, like the Fool in King Lear. Take me on that trip upon that golden ship of shores sounds like a Lennonised version of a line from Dylan’s Tambourine Man (“take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship”). “We’re altogether, boy”? I have no idea. Does Paul? I think John expects Paul to understand him because he has such faith in what they used to call their “heightened awareness”, a dreamlike, automatic connection to each other’s minds. But right now, Paul is not much in the mood for it. His speech is more direct, though he too adopts a quasi-poetic mode (“canyons of your mind” is borrowed from a song by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band) and he can’t bring himself to make eye contact. “To wander aimlessly is very unswinging,” he says (another great line, I will pin it above my writing desk). Then John does something amazing: he starts talking in Beatle, dropping in lyrics from the early years of the band, I Want To Hold Your Hand and Ask Me Why. (To appreciate John’s response to Paul’s mention of a schedule, American readers may need reminding that English people pronounce it “shed - dule”.)

What’s going on throughout this exchange? Maybe Lennon is just filling dead air, or playing to the gallery, but I think he is (also) attempting to communicate to Paul in their shared code - something like he loves him, he loves The Beatles, they’re still in this together. Of course, we can’t know. I can’t hide, John says, hiding behind his wordplay.

— Ian Leslie, "The Banality of Genius: Notes on Peter Jackson's Get Back" (January 26, 2022).

[I was curious to read more of Ian Leslie's approach to the Beatles in general and Lennon-McCartney in particular, since he's currently writing a book about John and Paul's relationship: “John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs". He's also the author of that New York Times opinion piece that came out today.]

[ingravinoveritas]

Just wanted to share a few thoughts on the BAFTAs today, now that I've had a bit of time to process the day's events (and am no longer running around cooking Mother's Day dinner)...

I feel like this was a sort of roller coaster of an event, as so many of us were hoping/expecting to see Michael on the red carpet, given David's nomination for playing Crowley in GO 2. In many ways, it was strange and even jarring to see David without Michael, especially while wearing such a gloriously Crowley-coded suit, but mainly because they are now truly a group of the two of them, a packaged set, peanut butter and chocolate.

And yet, seeing David talking about Good Omens and Michael (referring specifically to the Michelle Visage interview, which I adored just because of how they vibed together, in much the same way that Michael was vibing with Sir Ian McKellen on Graham Norton a few months ago), the way he teased the possibility of more kisses in S3 and so effortlessly ran with Michelle saying "Michael Sheen kisses" instead of "Aziraphale and Crowley kisses"...all of that made it feel like Michael was present. Like whatever mark he and David left on each other after the last six months was fully and completely visible without being visible.

I also loved seeing David so brimming over with confidence and self-assurance--something that wasn't there specifically because of Michael or Georgia or anyone else, but because of David himself. I feel like said qualities are most especially apparent in this gorgeous picture:

We talk so much about the suits and how Joshua Kane or Mithridate dress him so exquisitely, but I think something that gets overlooked sometimes is that what makes these suits look as beautiful as they do is David himself. The way he carries himself when he wears them, and how there seems to be such a perfect congruity between how he feels on the inside and how he looks on the outside. Again, this is not saying that David hasn't worn flamboyant or flashy suits in the past (the velvet ones of course come to mind), but there definitely seems to be something special about him wearing these suits, at this specific moment in time.

I also really loved one particular photo of him with the suit jacket off/sleeves rolled up. Again, it's not only the clothes themselves (and how gorgeously they hang on him), but also how it felt like a moment of just...letting go of something. It also immediately brought to mind the photo of Michael with his bow tie undone at the NTAs after party in 2021:

(Granted I'm fairly certain David is tipsy/a bit drunk in the photo on the left, but somehow that damn hint of a bare forearm felt as daring and racy as seeing an ankle in the Victorian era...)

As to what David was "letting go" of, we can't know for sure, but it looked like something was released, and that he was just so fully present and being himself on the red carpet. I'm so proud of him, so delighted by this new, carefree David that I don't think we've ever seen before, but that I absolutely do hope we will continue to see in the future.

Those are my thoughts on the 2024 TV BAFTAs, for whatever they may be worth. I'd love to know what you all thought of David on the red carpet, and if anyone else noticed some of these things, too...

[onekindredspirit]

This photo is the last remaining evidence that I once stood before the mystic portal of the O.K. Corral. Everything else except memory has been taken with time, and so I deposit this remnant here in salt and light and code. The O.K. Corral was a crumbling, condemned 5 bedroom Victorian villa that featured in my life when I was young. I rented it with a friend for, initially, $40 per week. That price was later negotiated down to 'rent free'. Mr. Fox, our landlord, was seen only once more, and on that occasion he tried to sell the place to us for $10,000. The current market value is around $1.5 million ... but money isn't everything. The O.K. Corral was a 'Dude Ranch' and the definition of that is "... an all-inclusive immersive vacation that includes lodgings, meals, horseback riding, fishing and hiking and more." Okay, there was no horseback riding, fishing or hiking but there were other things going on ... and more. Interestingly, the word 'dude' has changed meaning over the last 140 years. Today 'dude' means something like 'bro' but back in the 1880's, when 'Dude Ranches' first began, it was slang for an urbanite. As I write, things continue to fall into place.

I had known my friend since I was 6 years old. I don't think I liked him much back then. He was an extrovert and pushy when getting the painting resources at school. I didn't sit with him anyway because I was a 'foreigner' and I had to sit next to the only other foreigner in the class, Elizabeth Federinko, a Ukrainian girl who couldn't speak English and drew horses all day. I think it was the horse drawing that eventually drove me crazy or maybe it was something else ... possibly bad blood. Anyway, I'll call my friend 'Bukowski'. By the time we were 20 years old I quite liked the guy. Sure there were other arenas of male competition but I found myself better equipped to deal with those. The cool thing about pushy people is that they make thing happen and 'Bukowski' was no exception. For example, he could cook. We had a litany of weirdos and 'freaks' pass through the O.K. Corral. A note to the sensitive - to be called a freak back then was the highest form of compliment in our subculture. It was all a little crazy and you would be disappointed in me if I told you about life at the O.K. Corral, so I won't. Let's talk about something else. One day 'Bukowski' decided to move to another region of New Zealand, some place warmer that would better suit a boho gentleman with alcohol thinned blood. I have rarely lived alone but for a week I did until one morning I was woken at 1am by someone sitting on the end of my bed and talking to me. I wasn't clear as to what she was saying but I wasn't at all concerned as this was probably 'normal' when you don't lock your doors. Realising I was now awake she turned on the light.

I didn't know her but I knew who she was. I'd seen her riding around the city on a Norton Commando motorcycle which had impressed me because of her small size and once she had smiled at me as we passed each other on a city street. I remember that smile, it was powerful enough to stop and turn me around. It was a beautiful smile. The following morning she returned with her possessions and we shared my bed. I feel I had been looking for this person most of my life but when you dream someone into your life there's a danger that the results may be "... reductive and diminutive and I think basically misogynistic ..." as the writer Zoe Kazan once said in an interview when discussing the 'Manic Pixie Dream Girl' trope. Clementine, in the movie 'The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' warns Joel - "Too many guys think I'm a concept, or I complete them or I'm gonna make them alive. But I'm just a fucked-up girl who's looking for my own peace of mind. Don't assign me yours". One thing though, I was never quite sure if she was my projection or if I was, in fact, the projection of her own desires. But I'm comfortable with that. We lived together. She taught me a lot. I gave her love in return. 'Clementine' eventually moved to Australia, a place better suited to her large personality. Years later I was sitting having an espresso at Fidel's Cafe on Cuba Street when 'Clementine' walked past the large plate-glass window. I had only a glimpse of her face but from that brief moment I sensed that she was not happy and that her health was not good. I didn't get up and rush out to catch up with her. I didn't run after her seeking some meaningful reunion. I let her go ... and watched as she disappeared into the crowd. Sometime in the not too distant past I had discovered that the person I had been looking for all through my youth and into later life was myself. I let 'Clementine' go. But the night I wrote this I dreamed of 'Clementine' and it was a beautiful dream.

- One Kindred Spirit

[herotome]

Devlog #125

Hi-ho, Wudge here! Gosh! I missed last week's update.

Happy holidays from Herotome!!

I haven't drawn anything this year-- oh but hmm, I could do a quick edit, here -

Tadah! For anyone who hasn't already seen it, we got those 50 reblogs to make Warden shirtless! A pure version without the christmas lights went up yesterday, just scroll down my blog a bit or check out the #ro: warden hashtag.

I'm pleased with how much mileage I'm already getting from this picture, ha.

Anyway.

Seems like I'm gonna be focused on writing new scenes and drawing expressions for a while. They're some of the more tedious tasks for me, so I'll certainly be looking for every opportunity to do other things on the side - like coding.

Today I've decided that the LI sprites should have their eyebrows on a separate layer from the rest of their face, to offer me the greatest amount of variety in creating new expressions - and I've come up with a naming system for it, too!

I'm looking forward to implementing this. Eyebrow shapes have much, much less variety compared to mouth shapes, so I might even finish drawing every possible eyebrow for every LI sometime soon. I've already gotten a strong start with Warden and Mia's eyebrows.

Speaking of, I did turn in more expressions over on Ko-Fi!

Tadah!! Thank you again to everyone who has donated so far!

I'm realizing that in the set dedicated to Dia, Warden and Mia have the same mouth shape on the upper right side... A fascinating subconscious decision on my part.

Outside of art, I did write... once. Er, it went pretty okay. I'm usually the biggest hater of my first drafts.

I think my goal is gonna be to show off the abilities of all the characters as equally as I can; Warden and Jade have had their time to shine (during the job fair and flying MC home, respectively), and I think MC, Griffin, and Mia are gonna be queued up next.

I'll put the rest under a cut for potential spoilers and further rambling - as always, if you don't see the cut, make sure to check out my blog directly!

I have a good idea of what I wanna do with Griffin (it may or may not involve obliterating your rent debt, and I may or may not have written about that in the first-draft-I-don't-hate).

I've been thinking that this scene would involve a change of clothes btw, and did some fashion concepts for Griffin that I also don't hate;

I'm not super sure what I'm gonna do for Mia's eventual ~special show-off scene~, but I'm sure it will come to me.

For MC, I want to show off her relationship with the city, and showcase how qualified she is for the job in a low-key way. I recently discussed with a friend how Men in Black is a huge source of inspiration for me... Y'all know the scene where Will Smith has his interview and did things differently from all the other candidates?? I kinda wanna capture that vibe...!

And ah... I think that's about it, Herotome-wise.

Wudge-wise, honesty hour - I've had ssssome mild health concerns this year.

I don't want to go into detail; I want to say it's been like... nothing life threatening, thankfully, but a lot of small physical inconveniences that pile up and make it harder to concentrate.

I did rest a lot last week so no worries. <3 It's just that parts of my body have been weird and annoying, and I think it's helpful to acknowledge that the flesh prison can be a weird and annoying place. But I value it! And I'm doing my best to take care of it. Health comes first, etc, etc.

With this new year, I hope you guys take care of yourselves as best as you can, too. The person who's most qualified to take care of you is you!!!

Stay safe and keep warm,

Wudge.

[ohhappyday123]

Office Dynamics - Part 9: Boredom and Bonding

The next day, the office was abuzz with the usual morning chatter as everyone settled in for a new day. You were at your desk, catching up on emails, when Michael's voice came over the intercom.

"Everyone, conference room! We've got a special presentation today. Let's move it, people!"

You exchanged a knowing glance with Jim, who was already rolling his eyes. "Another one of Michael’s 'special' presentations, huh?" he muttered.

You chuckled, grabbing your notepad and pen. "Looks like it. Let’s see what he has in store for us this time."

As everyone filed into the conference room, you noticed Tori, the new intern, setting up a PowerPoint presentation. She looked eager and a little nervous, which wasn’t surprising given the somewhat chaotic environment of Dunder Mifflin.

You and Jim found seats next to each other near the back, ready to endure whatever Michael had planned. Pam gave you a sympathetic smile as she took her seat across the room, while Dwight sat front and center, poised and ready to take notes.

Michael clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. "Okay, everyone, settle down. Today, Tori is going to give a presentation on improving office efficiency. I expect everyone to listen carefully and take notes. This is important stuff."

Tori started her presentation with a nervous smile. "Good morning, everyone. Today, I'll be talking about strategies to improve our office efficiency, focusing on time management, organization, and workflow optimization."

As she droned on about time management techniques and color-coded filing systems, you felt your attention slipping. You glanced over at Jim, who was doodling in his notebook. He caught your eye and leaned over, whispering, "Who knew there were so many ways to organize paper clips?"

You stifled a giggle, whispering back, "I think we might need an efficiency plan just to get through this presentation."

Jim snorted quietly, causing Pam to glance over and smile knowingly. Just then, Michael shot you both a stern look. "Hey, keep it professional back there. This is serious business."

You and Jim straightened up, trying to look attentive. Tori continued, oblivious to the minor disruption. "Now, let’s talk about the benefits of a clean desk policy. A clutter-free workspace can significantly increase productivity..."

As Tori’s voice became a monotonous drone, you felt your eyelids growing heavy. You fought to stay awake, but the combination of the warm room and Tori's soothing, albeit dull, voice was too much. Before you knew it, you had leaned over, resting your head on Jim's shoulder, and drifted off to sleep.

Interview with Y/N: “I didn’t mean to fall asleep during Tori’s presentation. It was just... really boring. And Jim’s shoulder was surprisingly comfortable.”

Jim glanced down at you, a soft smile playing on his lips. He shifted slightly to make sure you were comfortable without waking you up. Pam noticed and shot Jim an amused look, mouthing, "So cute."

Jim rolled his eyes good-naturedly but couldn’t hide the warmth in his expression. He gently took your notepad and started doodling little cartoons on the margins, glancing occasionally at Tori’s presentation to make sure he wasn’t missing anything crucial.

Interview with Jim: “Y/N fell asleep on my shoulder during the meeting. It was adorable. And honestly, it made the presentation a lot more bearable.”

After what felt like an eternity, Tori finally wrapped up her presentation. "And that concludes my talk on improving office efficiency. Thank you for your attention."

Michael clapped enthusiastically, trying to rally the room. "Great job, Tori! That was very informative. Let’s all give her a round of applause."

The rest of the office joined in half-heartedly, relieved that the presentation was over. You stirred at the sound of applause, realizing where you were and quickly sitting up, embarrassed.

"Sorry, did I miss anything important?" you whispered to Jim, who was grinning.

"Just the thrilling conclusion about the benefits of a clean desk policy," he replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

You groaned softly, rubbing your eyes. "I owe you one for not letting me sleep through the whole thing."

Jim shrugged, his smile widening. "Anytime. You looked like you needed it."

Interview with Pam: “Y/N falling asleep on Jim's shoulder was the highlight of the meeting. They’re just so comfortable with each other. It’s really sweet to see.”

As everyone filed out of the conference room, Michael approached you and Jim, looking slightly concerned. "Y/N, you seemed a little out of it during the presentation. Everything okay?"

You nodded, still a bit groggy. "Yeah, Michael. Just didn’t get much sleep last night. Sorry about that."

Michael softened, patting you on the shoulder. "No worries. Just try to get some rest. We need you at your best."

You smiled, grateful for his understanding. "Thanks, Michael. I will."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of typical office activities, but there was a lingering sense of camaraderie and light-heartedness from the morning’s events. Pam and you found a moment to chat at her desk, still giggling about the meeting.

"So, you and Jim are getting pretty close," Pam teased, her eyes sparkling.

You blushed, shrugging. "Yeah, I guess we are. It’s nice."

Pam nodded, her smile widening. "You two make a great team. Both in and out of the conference room."

You laughed, feeling a warmth spread through you. "Thanks, Pam. That means a lot."

Interview with Y/N: “Today was a bit embarrassing, but it also reminded me how great it is to have supportive friends like Jim and Pam. Even in the most boring meetings, we manage to find a way to make it fun.”

As the day drew to a close, Jim walked you to your car, his hand brushing yours in a familiar and comforting gesture. "So, dinner tonight? My treat. Consider it a reward for surviving Tori's presentation."

You smiled, feeling a flutter of excitement. "Sounds perfect. But only if I can stay awake this time."

Jim laughed, opening your car door for you. "Deal."

Interview with Jim: “Days like today remind me how much I enjoy spending time with Y/N. Even the most mundane parts of the job are better with her around.”

As you drove away, you felt a sense of contentment and anticipation for the evening ahead. Life at Dunder Mifflin was full of surprises, but with Jim by your side and the support of your friends, you were ready for whatever came next.

[herrlindemann]

Sonic Seducer - 2008, interview with Flake

thanks to ramjohn for the scans.

While his colleagues from Rammstein are working at full speed in the studio on the still untitled successor to their 2005 album 'Rosenrot', we invited the eccentric keyboardist to our psycho couch for an entertaining one-on-one chat. Flake Lorenz on success, idols and the advantages of not owning a wallet!

What is your profession?

I'm forced to call myself a musician, anything else would be a lie! The last thing that would probably apply to me would be the term entertainer. You can't really call me an artist either...

Why shouldn't you be considered an artist?

Because such a view presupposes that I would make art! Music does not necessarily have to be art at the same time. As is well known, there is also dance music that is artistically less valuable.

Do you still have stage fright before performances today?

I still have stage fright, but mostly in situations where I'm not 100% sure about how the performance will go — like during my solo performance at the Berlin Volksbühne some time ago, for example. I prefer to follow a precise schedule with times and other details. I feel very safe knowing the band is standing here, I'm standing there and the crowd is standing over there etc.

Are you a generally insecure person?

Yes. I chronically doubt myself and all other people and things.

Would you describe yourself as a perfectionist?

Not at all! Quite the opposite: I'm a real Schludrian - fortunately!

What was your career aspiration as a child?

I really wanted to be a piano player. In the early days I had lessons, but I didn't have my own piano. So in my free time I practiced at the kitchen table on sheets of paper that I drew the keys on. At some point my parents saw that I was serious about playing the piano and bought me my own piano.

Were you a good student then?

At first, but later I became very bad. From the 7th grade I basically saw myself as a punk and school didn't interest me that much anymore.

Did you have to be bad at school to be a punk?

No, not necessarily. I became a bad student all by myself... I actually would have liked to have done better. In the early days of Feeling B I was still in 10th grade - when I came home from our performances at the weekend, I couldn't be completely rested and fit again at school on Monday morning!

What do you like?

Shipwrecks.

What do you hate?

Very much! I probably hate a lot more than I like. I couldn't come up with a top 10 hate objects without neglecting the rest of the stuff.

Where is the most beautiful place in the world for you?

At my home in the country, just outside of Berlin.

Who would you want to swap roles with for a day?

Actually with nobody. I've got enough trouble with myself that I don't necessarily have to take on another role!

What do you have in your pocket at the moment?

A tissue.

That's all?

And money. I always keep my money in my ass pocket — I've never used a wallet in my life!

Out of pure post punk conviction?

No. It's just that I wouldn't think of keeping my money in a wallet in real life. So far it has always looked like this: I kept my credit cards loose in my pocket on the front left and small change on the right. In the ass pockets, notes and banknotes for free use. That's how I got through life for a long time. A friend was very concerned that this would scratch my credit cards and ultimately render them unusable. So he gave me a small bag with a magnet closure. However, this magnetic clasp erased the magnetic strips on all credit cards, garage door openers and alarm system code cards the first time I opened it, so I had to apply for everything again! A clear sign of non-improvement! I dare not imagine what could happen if I used a wallet!

How important is success to you?

There's small successes and big successes — it doesn't bother me that a lot of people think I'm great. With the fame I get from working with Rammstein, the positives and negatives are roughly balanced. It is important to develop your own position on these things. If the TV program annoys me, I turn it off — the same with Rammstein: If I don't want to have anything to do with the band, I put my hat on, go to the back room and have my peace.

What will your life look like in old age?

I don't want to say anything wrong at this point. Mick Jagger said at the time there was no way he would still be on stage singing 'Satisfaction' when he was 50... I also never thought I would live very old. The way of life in this band is anything but healthy: the touring life, the flights every day, the excitement, the noise pollution...

Also, there is a lot of drinking. It has gotten better, but in the past people often drank to the point of unconsciousness; especially in the east. Always. With a reason or without.

Do you have idols?

I think Helge Schneider is very good.

What's your biggest fear?

Quite factually: before dying.

What are your goals in life?

There are none today — I'm done, I've done everything I set out to do!

Do you have any regrets?

My only regret is that I didn't do various things. Then nothing.

[dollsonmain]

That Guy helped clean for one day but then went back to refusing to do anything but play video games.

There's still guest-cleaning to do, and I'll have to knock it out before work. I think vacuuming the downstairs should be good enough, though I haven't checked Son's bathroom which is also the guest bathroom, yet, and it probably needs more work.

I also forgot to do the guest room sheets yesterday, I was so worn out. They're in the wash, now.

Then I have gas station work today.

That Guy said the outfit I picked out for the interview and hair and makeup looked good; both appropriate and on me. I don't know why that one website said the dress code was business formal, black, white, grey. Other than the security and police on site who were in full uniforms, everyone else was wandering around in jeans or slacks and polos or simple blouses. Everyone contracted from Goodwill gets a special overshirt they have to wear around, too. That kind of sucks, actually. It looks bad.

I am still VERY unhappy with how the hair spray dried out my hair. I'll have to not wash it for a couple days, let the natural oils reasaturate the strands, and hope that'll be good enough to make it happy again. If not I'll have to try a masque or something. I can't tolerate the texture of my hair being Wrong.

Mail room blather:

I am a little disappointed that it's not an actual mail room, like when I was in the army I would go get the mail, bring it back to the battalion, process any paperwork like package slips, sort the mail into mail boxes, etc.

That's what I was excited about when I saw the job posting. This job is not that.

She said she's looking for both a backup truck driver which I said I'm willing to try but can't guarantee I can drive the big truck (I did not mention the whole auto-accident related PTSD thing...), and a backup manager which of course that wouldn't be expected until I'd been there for a while and was very familiar and comfortable with the processes involved.

So they will go get mail and bring it back, but then the job is to do safety checks like I said, which was a part of it when I was in the army (there was an anthrax scare at the time and we had to take extra precautions etc. so at least I did already get that training), and to open packages and inspect the contents. I guess from there cleared mail gets passed off to someone else to be distributed or maybe representatives from the various departments come to get it or something. I would learn that later. Part of the job is making sure threatening letters don't make it to their intended targets.

She also said there is a LOT of downtime. So much downtime. Some people quit because they get so bored they can't take it. I can bring in a tablet or my phone and watch movies there's that much downtime. I'm not sure if I can be online and bothering you all, though, and am not permitted to take photos/videos in the mail room.

I can take projects, though, so it would be a good time to work on rehairs and the like.

It's kind of funny that I'd be going from being sedentary with no income to being over-worked at the gas station for very few dollars, to being sedentary again just not at home for ok dollars. $30k isn't a lot, here. The cost of living here is surprisingly high vs the population because we're close to DC. But it is a lot for doing not much, you know?

[rockinlibrarian]

fellow jaclyn moriarty fan! hello :3

Hello! Yes! Let's talk up Jaclyn Moriarty, fellow fan! Jaclyn Moriarty is an Australian author whose sister Liane eventually got more famous on this side of the world because she writes grownup books that get made into shows and stuff, whereas Jaclyn, who HAS written a COUPLE grownup books, MOSTLY writes children's and YA and so gets ghettoized by tasteless people. 🤪 When I first discovered her, she only had the first few Ashbury High books out, which (wrongly) were being marketed as typical realistic YA, so I'd had no temptation to pick them up, until I read an interview with her on a book blog and there was an instant "THIS IS A KINDRED SPIRIT! WE ARE OBVIOUSLY BEST FRIENDS WHO HAVE NEVER MET! ALSO SHE'S FUNNY! Maybe I should actually read one of her books." So I picked up her newest at that time The Murder of Bindy McKenzie (US title--it has a bunch of different titles around the world but always about Bindy) because it had "murder" in the title and was about what today would be referred to as an "autistic-coded" girl so that would be more interesting than straight up realism, and, okay, it was like nothing I'd ever read before. It was epistolary...realism?...but off-kilter, WEIRD. It was both funny and heartbreaking, which is always a nice blend, but my biggest takeaway was just that it was DIFFERENT and I liked it. So I read her other books only to discover they were ALL like that, and also even when there was romance the primary relationship focus was friendship which was really refreshing.

Then she came out with the Colours of Madeleine books which mixed FANTASY into this off-kilter worldview so that got EVEN WEIRDER and more wonderful and just when I thought I'd figured out all the twists it'd hit me with bigger ones out of nowhere! Also they spelled my youngest child's name right! Like Madeleine L'Engle!

By this time I was following her on social media and it became clearer the kindredness was from us being ADHD and loving stories. Whoo! And that's also when I found out she was working on a MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY ADVENTURE! WITH PIRATES! And I was like take THAT me of a decade or so ago that thought our tastes in books didn't overlap! And I can read it to my kids! So I've been reading each Kingdoms and Empires book to my kids and am now trying to get my hands on the latest, but my new library has a smaller budget and I can't get away with buying books just because I want to read them quite as easily. But I do have an excuse, because I'm definitely going to read a few chapters of Bronte Mettlestone to the Summer Reading camp group this summer (the theme is Adventure! How can I not!) So I'll HAVE to make sure we have the whole series...!

Anyway, I'm convinced every last person in the Kingdoms and Empires has ADHD, or at least some sort of neurodivergence, so these stories are truly a delight to read.

Thanks for letting me go off on this topic, anon friend!

[belltrigger]

Submastober / Submas Sharetober Day 10!

Sharetober Inspiration: Detective Conan Title: We Are Who We Are, Even When We Aren't Word count: 1303 Synopsis: Kudari and Nobori are rich, complex people who are much beloved by both their employees and the people who visit the Subway. But maybe they aren't who they say. Dynamic: Nobori x Kudari

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Sometimes, it was easy to forget why he'd come here, to this Subway in Raimon City. He could get caught up in the idea of challenging trainers and awarding BP for wins, cheering those that bested him with as much enthusiasm as to those that lost.

If he asked a random passenger, or even their Depot Agents, certainly their answers would echo the same: he was here to rise to ever greater skill heights with his twin brother. Of course, everyone knew about that - he and Kudari frequently voiced this to challengers as well as in interviews. Having greatly skilled trainers come to them instead of being sought out made their wishes to improve that much easier.

But then, that wouldn't be the only thing that was easier with such a set-up.

No, in fact, none of that was the true reason he and Kudari had come to Raimon City, making a bold statement with their expressions and strict color coding. Marching directly to the Mayor's office, they showed off with dramatic poses and unique methods of speech. When it was accepted that they got the very first double Master position, they insisted on the creation of special matching uniforms. Lines were divvied up according to their particular instructions. Their names spread far and wide immediately, and some even likened them to the great dragons Reshiram and Zekrom.

It was once in a lifetime luck. None of that was standard procedure for going into deep cover. Usually, it was best to subtly slip in and work your way up the ranks, provide yourself a history. Flashy actions were warned against, because they got you noticed too fast by all the wrong people. Especially in the case of twins, they were already noticeable without all the extra flair.

However, such a long-term deep undercover mission required them to work together - neither of them were willing to let the other go alone. The worry would absolutely consume them, since they had been close since childhood. It had been Kudari's idea to remain twins during this mission; he claimed it would be weird to not see his brother's face when he looked in the mirror. He understood what Kudari was saying - if their fake personas were anything other than twins, he'd surely get a shock every time he looked to his twin. Still, he would have explained it a bit differently.

In any case, they went full-steam ahead with their plan to be these stand-out twins.

Nobori chuckled slightly to himself, bemused that even in his thoughts he was now using train-puns and vocabulary. It had become ever so easy now, and he silently thanked the extensive research he'd put into his persona's interests.

"Ingo!"

At the sound of his brother's call, Nobori turned crisply, hands behind his back. "Emmet! How did your battle go?" Stopping with a little bounce, Kudari was quite obviously full of energy. Surely, he must have faced an incredibly strong trainer.

"I am Emmet! It went great! Did you know? Many strong trainers come every day! But a really strong one came today and made it all the way to me." Enthusiastic, Kudari brought his hands up in fists, shaking them with barely contained excitement. He was practically hopping in place. An excellent battle, then.

At first, it had been so strange to hear his brother speak in such clipped, simple ways. Top of their graduating class, with Nobori immediately behind him, Kudari was a highly skilled orator. It was important to him to express himself clearly, but eloquently. In fact, Kudari had helped train Nobori on the speech patterns that he now used. But at the same time, he had always sounded so serious and distant - his scholarly tone would offer no opportunity to question him, and held utmost authority.

Something else, too, became different now that his brother Kudari was his brother Emmet.

When they were younger, Kudari's smiles were subtle, small things that only Nobori could really notice. It was not severe like the frown that Nobori now wore as Ingo, but his brother's mostly neutral expression often led people to believe his mood to be ever-sour.

In their actual line of work, Kudari could never let his guard down during their normal cases. Their true work was dangerous but necessary, and although it was one they willingly entered, the circumstances that led to it were messy and still hurt his heart to think on. But here, in Raimon's Battle Subway, he could have a fun day, talking casually to passengers, joking around with the Agents, and facing against challengers who sought to prove themselves. It was so far removed from their actual job, but Kudari had been the one to suggest these personas.

All of that left Nobori wondering if this was the ideal life that Kudari wished for.

He would not say that Kudari was unhappy before but...

As he watched Kudari eagerly recount the battle that he'd just experienced, Nobori never imagined living this life could have impacted Kudari so positively. He smiled so much now - when they first were developing these personas, it was a strain for Kudari to smile so broadly. Over time, though, the smile became more natural and brighter. He laughed way more often. Unlike before, they had enough free time to try restaurants and talk walks through the bustling night life of the city on a whim. Were he engaging in these activities with anyone but his twin, any onlooker would think they were on dates.

And with this thought in the back of his mind, Nobori found himself falling in love with his brother the more he saw his happiness shine through.

It was... improper to be sure. Not only was he falling in love with his twin, but it was happening while they were hiding their true identities. Such a revelation could easily be misconstrued. He feared that confessing this to his twin could be interpreted as him "preferring" Emmet to his true brother. Such a thing couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact, he would argue that this *was* his true brother.

"I am Emmet. I think Ingo is no longer listening!"

Snapping his attention back onto Kudari, Nobori blinked. It was true, he had been caught in his thoughts, content in his twin's presence.

"Ah, my apologies, Emmet. I did not mean to rudely become distracted in my own head."

Kudari gave him a smirk, which to outsiders was only visible in the narrowing of his eyes. His smile, Emmet's smile, remained in a pointed v. "Ingo better be thinking of dinner. That is the only thing that could be more important than a good battle!" Putting his fists on his hips, Kudari straightened his shoulders and nodded his head.

It was too endearing. Nobori wasn't sure how much longer he could last without telling his brother about the feelings that had developed within him.

"Indeed. In fact, I was thinking of treating you to that new cafe you were eyeing on our walk to work today." Kudari perked up, dropping his hands from his hips as he stared with great interest. "Cloud informed me of a special menu event they are hosting. It would be a most excellent station to stop at on our track home."

"A treat! A treat! Ingo's treat!" Kudari whirled around on his heel, beginning to walk back to their office in large swinging strides. Following along and quickly catching up to walk next to his twin, Nobori clasped his hands behind his back. If the opportunity arose to inform his twin of how he was feeling, then so be it.

For now, he would think how best to prove to his brother that his love was true and not merely a quirk of their current identities.

~~*~~

Detective Conan spoilers ahead!

[wonder-galixy]

~~~First Day~~~

New jobs are scary. Supposedly.

Walking up to the Pizza-Plex filled me with childish glee more than anything. Fazbear Entertainment was the leader in the tech industry. From coding miracles to unique machinery, it was the place I’ve been dreaming of working for. Applying and interviewing was completely digital, all zoom calls and online testing. That includes tons of PDF files about qualifications, education, and previous work experiences.

I walk through the Pizza-Plex, towards  one of the employee break rooms. Today’s the first day, the test day, and I made sure to be early. However, changing into the proper uniform ate up any extra time I had planned. I ultimately left the locker room with my uniform slightly disheveled, and without wearing the uniform’s hat. But I did remember the Fazwatch, a small detail I’m proud about.

I made my way to the atrium when the speaker system blared out, “The Pizza-Plex will be closing in 5 minutes, please gather any children or belongings and make your way to the main entrance. We hope to see you again, have a faz-tastic day.”

The crowds fizzled out quickly after that. I watch the families crowd the gift-shop one last time before filing out the giant double doors. (Or would they be quadruple doors? I mean, it’s 4 pairs of doors-) The shutters lower after the last child leaves. I double-check them to make sure they’re locked. Mom always said to double-check, even triple-check, (just about) everything.

The shutters were, indeed, locked. So I switched my attention back to my Fazwatch and the email for all my tasks for tonight. I start to wander while reading through the email, my excitement slowly building with each step I took down Rockstar Row. Eventually, I just had to stop and-

“YYYYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!” My voice echoed through this small section of hallway, “I DID IT!!! I’M EMPLOYED BY FREAKIN’ FAZBEAR ENTERTAINMENT!!!! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

I collapse to my knees and continue yelling, eventually devolving into flailing around on the floor. Eventually, my lungs ran out of air and my arms tired out. I take a few deep breaths before getting back on my feet. Bringing my head back up, my eyes land on some iconic Glam Rock robots. Lo and behold, all four band members are standing in the hall with me, they probably left their rooms upon hearing me scream and fall to the floor. If they were capable of judgment, they’d be judging me.

“You’re Freddy Fazbear!!!” The words leave my mouth before thinking. 

The resident bear smiles lightly with a small wave, “Indeed I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rockstar. You’re the new mechanic, correct?”

“Indeed I am!”

“How did a child end up working here?” Roxy pipes up from behind Freddy.

“Hey! I’m an adult! I’m in college!!” I scoff in a fake sense of insulted.

“Oh! I love the enthusiasm!” Chica chirps up next to Roxy.

“Oh, you’re gonna get on my nerves fast.” Monty says (probably under his breath) before walking back into his room.

“I’ll apologize in advance for Monty’s behavior-”

I brush off the offense and attempt at an apology before Freddy is even finished, “Nah, it’s fine. Honestly, it wouldn’t be Monty without some trouble.”

I resume my walk and skim over the email one last time, “Anyway, I need to… check the photo-booths, un-jam a claw machine, and… stuff!” 

“Ah! Of course, I didn’t mean to bother you. But! If you need any help, you can call one of us with your FazWatch. Good luck!” Freddy waves me off. What a start to an adventure! 

There’s a bounce in my step as I make my way to the atrium. Most of the tasks are simple repairs that take 2-3 minutes. With my education, a beginner’s mechanics class was required. I could get these done sooner, but I forgot to bring my toolbox. I always forget something, how foolish. The photo-booths needed more photo film, which was always in a supply closet nearby. Very convenient. 

The photobooths took the longest, followed by taking out the trash, followed by finding the trash compactor. This landed me in the arcade, unjamming a claw machine. Something is stuck in the trapdoor, making it unable to close, but also blocking any prizes from getting out. I’ve been toying with it for a few minutes, but I can’t make any serious progress without a screwdriver. The lights haven’t gone out yet, I think it’s because it’s Sunday. The Pizza-Plex closes earlier on Sunday (if only by a few hours), but the lights are still on their regular schedule. 

I resort to using my employee card as a make-shift wedge to get the screws loose. Thus, removing the prize hatch from the claw machine. A button eye from a plush falls out from the hatch. Do I need to be concerned there’s a plush without an eye? Should I dig through the machine to check?

My alarm is the one thing that snaps me out of my thoughts. My shift is officially over and I need to clock out. It’s better to get out on time, Fazbear Entertainment doesn’t do overtime pay. I hastily screw the metal sheet back onto the machine and (just as hastily) organize my belongings. On my walk back to the employee break room, I decided to finally use the call feature on my Fazwatch to page everyone.

“Ok guys! It’s 12 a.m and my shift is over. I’ll see you guys tomorrow from 7 to 12 for routine maintenance. Have a good night!”

Freddy and Chica are the only ones to fully respond, Roxy gives a non-commital grunt through the watch, and Monty is completely silent. The same goes for the Daycare Attendant and the ‘S.T.A.F.F’ channel. Just fine. I double-check my belongings before raising the automatic shutters on the front door. I have all the key items and some miscellaneous things, button eye included, and finally walk out of the Pizza-Plex.

[douxlen]

Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch on Microsoft, Regulation, and Europe’s AI Ecosystem

New Post has been published on https://douxle.com/2024/08/14/mistral-ai-ceo-arthur-mensch-on-microsoft-regulation-and-europes-ai-ecosystem/

Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch on Microsoft, Regulation, and Europe’s AI Ecosystem

Over the past year, Paris-based Mistral AI—one of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2024—has rapidly risen as a homegrown European AI champion, earning the praise of French President Emmanuel Macron. The startup has released six AI language models that can answer questions, produce code, and carry out basic reasoning.

In June Mistral said it had raised $645 million in a funding round that reportedly values the company at more than $6 billion. That followed an announcement in February that Mistral had struck a deal with Microsoft to make its models available to the U.S. tech giant’s customers in exchange for access to Microsoft’s computational resources.

Mistral’s co-founder and CEO Arthur Mensch has been vocal in debates over the E.U.’s landmark AI law, arguing that rather than regulating general-purpose AI models like Mistral’s, lawmakers should focus on regulating how others use those models. He also opposes limitations on AI developers freely sharing their creations. “I don’t see any risk associated with open sourcing models,” he says. “I only see benefits.”

TIME spoke with Mensch in May about attracting scarce AI talent, how Mistral plans to turn a profit, and what’s missing from Europe’s AI ecosystem.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Florian Bressand, chief business officer at Mistral, told CNBC a few months ago that more than half of the team that developed Llama now work for Mistral. How have you managed to draw so many talented researchers away from well-resourced companies like Meta?

At first, we hired our friends. We could do it because we made some meaningful contribution to the field, and so people knew that it was interesting to work with us. Later on, starting in December, we started to hire people that we knew less. That owed to the strategy we follow, to push the field in a more open direction. That’s the mission that is talking to a lot of scientists, that for similar reasons as we do, liked the way it was before when communication and information was circulating in the free way.

There are so few people around the world who have trained the sorts of AI systems that Mistral does. I know France has a thriving AI scene, but do you think you managed to hire some significant proportion of the people who know how to do this—perhaps even all of them?

Not all of them. There’s a couple of them, friends of ours, at Google, at OpenAI, a few of them remain at Meta. But for sure, we attracted, let’s say, 15 people that knew how to train these models. It’s always hard to estimate the size of the pool, but I think it’s probably been maybe 10% of the people that knew how to work on these things at the time.

Mistral has been fundraising. What are you spending the money on?

We’re spending the money on mostly compute. It’s an industry which is structured differently than software, in the sense that the investment that you need to do at the beginning to get the scientific team running, to get models that are on the frontier of technology, is quite significant. Today, we are still running on our seed compute, but finally getting access to the compute that we raised money for in December.

Executives at almost all the other foundation model companies have talked about how they expect to spend $100 billion on compute in the coming years. Do you have similar expectations?

What we’ve shown is that we burn a little north of 25 million [euros] in 12 months, and that has brought us to where we are today, with distribution which is very wide across the world, with models that are on the frontier of performance and efficiency. Our thesis is that we can be much more capital efficient, and that the kind of technology we’re building is effectively capital intensive, but with good ideas [it] can be made with less spending than our competitors. We have shown it to be true 2023-2024, and we expect it to remain true 2024-2025. With obviously the fact that we will be spending more. But we will still be spending a fraction of what our competitors are spending.

Are you profitable at the moment?

Of course not. The investment that we have to make is quite significant. The investment that we did and the revenue that we have, is actually not completely decorrelated, unlike others. So it’s not the case [that Mistral is profitable], but it’s also not expected from a 12-month-old startup to be profitable.

What’s the plan for turning a profit? What is your business model?

Our business model is to build frontier models and to bring them to developers. We’re building a developer platform that enables [developers] to customize AI models, to make AI applications, that are differentiated, that are in their hands—in the sense that they can deploy the technology where they want to deploy it, so potentially not using public cloud services, that enable them to customize the models much more than what they can do today with general-purpose models behind closed opaque APIs [application programming interfaces]. And finally, we are also focusing a lot on model efficiency, so enabling for certain reasoning capacity, making the models as fast as possible, as cheap as possible. 

This is the product that we are building: the developer platform that we host ourselves, and then serve through APIs and managed services, but that we also deploy with our customers that want to have full control over the technology, so that we give them access to the software, and then we disappear from the loop. So that gives them sovereign control over the data they use in their applications, for instance.

Is it fair to say that your plan is to make AI models that almost match those of your competitors, at a lower cost to you and your customers, and that are more openly available? Or do you hope to match your competitors’ most advanced models, or “frontier models,” in terms of absolute capabilities?

We also intend to compete on the frontier. There’s some phenomenon of saturation of performance that has enabled us to catch up, and we intend to continue catching up, and eventually to be as competitive as the others. But effectively the business model we have is a business model that the others do not have. We are much more open about sharing and customizing and deploying our technology in places where we stop having control.

Recently, your most capable models did move behind an API, whereas you started with all of your models being open. Why did you change your approach?

This is not something that we changed on. We always had the intention to have leading models in the open source world, but also have some premium features that could only be accessed through monetized services.

We have a very significant part of our offer which is open source, and that enables developers to adopt the technology and to build whatever they need to build with it. And then eventually, when you want to move the workloads that they’ve built into production, or if you want to make them better, more efficient, better managed with lower maintenance costs, then these developers come and use our platforms, use potentially our optimized models to have an increase in performance and speed in reasoning capacities.

It’s always going to stay that way. The open source path is very important to us. We are building the developer platform on top of it, which is obviously going to be monetized because we do need to have a valid business model. But we expect to bring extra value to developers that are using our open-source models.

You have often argued that Europe can’t be dependent on American AI companies and needs a homegrown AI champion. Mistral is one of the most prominent European AI companies but has a partnership with a U.S.-based “hyperscaler,” Microsoft, to access the computational power it needs. Does Mistral’s dependency on Microsoft for compute limit its ability to play the role of sovereign AI champion?

We have four cloud providers. We are cloud independent by design, and that has been our strategy from day one. Our models are available through Microsoft Azure, but also through [Amazon Web Services], and also through [Google Cloud Platform]. We use the three of them as cloud providers. We also use different cloud providers—CoreWeave, in particular—for training. We have built our stack of technology and our distribution channels to build the independence that we believe our customers need.

Should Europe try to build its own sovereign compute infrastructure in addition to having AI labs based in Europe?

I think it would be beneficial for the ecosystem. But Europe isn’t some actor that takes independent decisions and builds something out of thin air. There’s an ecosystem aspect to it, of how do you make sure that effectively some of the infrastructure for compute is available in Europe. 

This is super important for our customers, because some of them are European customers, and they do want to have some form of sovereignty over the cloud infrastructure they use. In that respect, there is already some availability, and our inference, our platform is actually deployed in Europe. But there could be some improvement. It’s not Europe that decides it. It’s an ecosystem that needs to realize that there are some needs that could be addressed. We would love to have some European cloud partners in the near future.

Cedric O, former Minister of State for Digital Affairs of France and one of your co-founders, has warned that the E.U. AI Act could “kill” Mistral. The Act passed, but the codes of conduct for general purpose AI models are yet to be written. What should those look like?

Generally, the AI Act is something that is very workable with, in the sense that the constraints that we have are constraints that we already meet. We already document the way we use our models, the way we evaluate our models, and this has become a requirement for frontier models. So this is fine.

There’s some discussions to be had on the aspect of transparency for training data sets, which is something that we’d really love to enable, but which is something that needs to be measured against trade secrets. A lot of our [intellectual property] is also in the way we treat the data and select the data. This is also the IP of others. As a small company, we are defensive about our IP, because this is the only thing we have. And so in that perspective, we are confident that we can find a way for things to be acceptable for every side. 

We’ve been asked to participate in the technical specifications and to give our input. We also expect that Europe should, in all independence, make its choice to enable the development of the ecosystem and also to enable everybody to be happy.

There are a lot of sound bites out there from executives at your competitors about how AI is going to change the world over the next five or 10 years and the things that they’re worried about, the various transformational things that they think might happen as a result of the development of more powerful AI systems. Do you have predictions for how AI might change the world?

We make a powerful technology, but I think there’s a tendency of assuming that this powerful technology is solving every problem. At Mistral, we’re very focused on making sure that our technology brings productivity gains, brings reasoning capacity to certain verticals, to certain fields that we will have societal benefits. 

Everything that humanity has been building are tools, and we’re bringing a new tool that brings new abstract capabilities. So in a sense, you can see it as a more abstract programming language. It’s been 50 years since we programmed in computer-understandable language. Today, we are able to create systems by talking to them in English or in French, or in any language. That brings a new abstraction to workers, to developers, and that obviously changes the way we’re going to work in the next 10 years. 

I think if we do things properly and we ensure that this tool is in the hands of everyone—and this is really why we created Mistral—we can ensure that this brings improvement to everybody’s lives—across the world, across the spectrum of socio-economic status. The way to do it is, for us, to first enable strongly differentiated applications in useful sectors like health care, like education. It’s also very important to ensure that the population is trained and has access to the technology, and to enable access to this technology—providing the technology in a more open way than the others, is a way to accelerate it. It’s not sufficient in the sense that the political decision makers also have to create enablement programs to accelerate access to the internet in parts of the world where it’s not not accessible. But I think what we’re building has a positive effect in enabling the population to access that new tool, which is generative AI.

Is there any scenario you can imagine in the future, where you’ve developed an AI model, or you’re in the process of developing one, and you notice certain capabilities. Would there ever be a scenario where you decided it’s better not to open source the model and to keep it behind an API, or not even deploy it behind an API?

Not in the foreseeable future. The models we build have predictable capabilities. The only way that we found collectively to govern software and the way it is used in a collective way is through open source. This has been true for cybersecurity. This has been true for operating systems. And so the safest technologies today are the open source technologies. 

In a sense, AI is not changing anything about software. It’s only a more abstract way of defining software. So I don’t see any risk associated with open sourcing models. I only see benefits. This is a neutral tool that can be used to do anything. We haven’t banned the C [computer programming] language, because you could build malware with the C language. There is nothing different about the models that we release. And so it remains important to control the quality of applications that are put on the market. But the technology that is used to make these applications is not the one thing that can be regulated.