#some of his videos go into so much depth and take so much research

[tricktack]

sorry for not responding earlier! anyway here’s everything wrong with matpat’s latest video on sonic frontiers.

a few months after sonic frontiers was released, matpat made a video titled “Game Theory: Sonic BROKE His Own Lore! (Sonic Frontiers)”. it is generally very shitty and…. may not even contain a theory in the first place?

before i get on with complaining, i want you to guess at what point matpat first says something that shows he knows nothing about sonic.

it’s less than 10 seconds in.

matpat starts the video by saying “let’s be honest. sonic the hedgehog wasn’t originally designed with in-depth storytelling in mind. Mainly you’re just running, jumping and ♪rolling around at the speed of sound♪”. and this man. had the balls. to show FOOTAGE OF AND SING A SONG FROM SONIC ADVENTURE 2, A GAME WHERE THREE MAJOR CHARACTERS DIE, THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT STORY ROUTES AND WHERE SHADOW THE FUCKING HEDGEHOG FIRST APPEARED. AND THE SCENE MATPAT REFERENCED WAS ONE WHERE SONIC WAS BEING CHASED BY THE FUCKING MILITARY.

and it’s not even like the sonic series has really been fumbling its lore for a long time. it wasn’t until sega released sonic 06 before it was finished and got backlash for that that sonic’s stories started getting a little blander (although they didn’t really stop being good until sonic lost world released in 2013.)

after this matpat proceeds to use the old “rough transition to 3D” narrative which is just…. not true in the slightest??? sonic adventure was great, sonic adventure 2 was great, sonic heroes wasn’t as grandiose as other games but it wasn’t bad at all, the first actually bad 3D sonic game was shadow the hedgehog, released 7 years after sonic first became 3D (and the issues with it mostly came from sega wanting to capitalize off of a few fans who wanted guns in sonic games but that’s a whole other story and also gamma, omega, eggman and tails already use guns although gamma is dead but that’s also a different story)

not to mention he also shows a picture of the werehog from sonic unleashed in this part which like. fuck you matpat werewolves are cool actually (and also that game is from 2008 so it’s also not an example of sonic’s “transition to 3D”)

once he starts actually talking about frontiers the video gets a little better for a few minutes. he does slander black knight a tiiiiiiiiny bit but that pales in comparison to the other things he says so i’m not gonna make a big deal out of it. (i would recommend satbk if you can find a wii or a wii emulator though, it’s got a great story and atmosphere)

so after a few relatively peaceful minutes of matpat praising frontiers, he uh. well he fucks up again. he says that sonic frontiers ties together the stories of all the sonic games and “now we actually have to take sonic’s lore seriously.” but frontiers is far from the only game reference other games - the whole thing is one continuous story with a bunch of different arcs. a lot of people don’t realize this without playing the games, since they usually compare sonic to other games that don’t really have very complicated stories, like the mario series. still, matpat should have done some research on sonic’s lore before making a whole video on sonic’s lore.

he also claims sonic frontiers is a multiverse story based on literally one line. it is not a multiverse story. he would know that if he played the fucking game.

anyway. his theory has to do with the aliens that were revealed to have brought the chaos emeralds to earth before most of them were killed by the End (we still don’t know what that is) and the rest were mutated by chaos energy into chao, little baby pudding creatures who you can raise in the adventure games. chaos, the main villain of sonic adventure, is a mutated chao, and he looks just like these aliens. so what is matpats theory in this video?

five minutes of him pointing out something that doesn’t make sense and then showing clips from an interview with ian flynn, a writer for the game, to make said things make sense. that’s not a theory. that’s canonical information.

the only theorizing matpat does in the entire video is that he claims the master emerald must have undone chaos’s mutation. first, that’s not how mutation works. second, wouldn’t more chao have mutated back, since most of them were on angel island, very close to the master emerald? mutations occur naturally. chaos doesn’t need an emerald to be a mutant chao.

so anyway matpat doesn’t know shit about sonic and he apparently doesn’t know what a theory is either

(sorry if this doesn’t make sense, i’m not really that great at writing things out like this)

okay so what i'm gathering is... the dude who most notably runs a channel called Game Theory... has never touched a sonic game in his life. one of the most popular video game franchises. isn't sonic in a few of the intros GT has had over the years ???? i haven't even played the games and I know that there's tons of lore and plot behind them ???

AND just restating stuff that has already been said by one of the writers 😭 you're right that's not even a theory he's just relaying canon information. maybe he should not take credit for something that was already explained

thank u for the ramble because i would not know otherwise just how Wrong he is about a lot of things lmao

[botwstoriesandsuch]

HEYA WHO WANTS TO LEARN ABOUT GRASS AND VOLCANOES

Yes I'm alive and yes I'm making posts and music again. Ok so moving on HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GRASS???

This patch of grass is from a Youtube video by Quincyvhs ranking grass in Tears of the Kingdom. He's a cool guy and has a similar video on Breath of the Wild and I highly recommend you watch it cause his editing is very cool.

HOWEVER. He made an egregious error today by ranking this patch of grass, this lovely, magnificent, extraordinary patch of grass upon Death Mountain as a mere B Tier. It clearly is an S Tier.

How do I know this? Well this patch of grass indicates miracles. It indicates determination. It indicates the spirit of adventure, of change, of liberty and mayhaps even the purest form of happiness the world round...

...and as later corroborated by the actual geologist that I am dating, it is an indication of the massive shift in Hyrule's ecosystem and climate.

Let's Begin.

Using my ace detective skills I have located the site in question in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom (Botw and Totk). The general consensus is that there is a 5~ year time gap between the two games.

Given that the grass does not exist here in Botw, this means that this patch of grass took at maximum 5 years to grow. However, I'm going to prove that it probably took even less time than even that.

Below is the site on Botw's Map:

We are unable to get an accurate temperature reading of the area because the Sheikah Slate decided to give up. So we're going to use science to determine this soon to be important number

Given that wood near instantly ignites at this location in Botw, we can conclude that the temperature in the air is around 370 degrees Celcius or 700 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now typically, rock and soil serve as good insulators of heat, so the air temperature around a volcano itself isnot usually that much higher than the ambient temperature (unless you are actively within a Pyroclastic flow, which would be a more pressing problem than analyzing grass to say the least)

However, when near the presence of lava, that temperature of the air can actually reach up to 1000 degrees Celcius (1800F) so this reading is actually even more reasonable when you note that we are in good distance of the Medingo Lava Pool.

Conversely, we can actually grab an active temperature reading of the area during the time of Totk thanks to the Purah Pad.

It's 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

Easy. Simple. Fantastic. I love when my job doesn't require four hours of research for every single question!

Anyhow, here are some figures from the Oregon State Volcanology Laboratory on the rate of lava cooling

Yes this post is still about grass, stay with me.

To truly appreciate the glory of science and the glory of this patch of grass, we are going to calculate the exact amount of time needed for the temperatures to lower on Death Mountain to one sustanable for growth (That being around 100 degrees Farenheit).

SPOILER ALERT: It takes less than 5 years. This is insanely impressive considering grass of this type* typically takes DECADES.

Anyhow, The Figure 2 and 3 have to do with the depth of the lava, and Figure 4 deals with the thickness. (Many thanks again to my partner for providing their geological expertise and resources)

The thickness of the Medingo Lava is very easy to calculate given that Link can literally jump in with a splash and drown in it like the world's worst hot tub--the bitch ain't thick at all. So we use the lowest listed reading for that.

The depth of the lava is more tricky, but comparing the lava pool in Botw and Totk, and using Link as a marker of around 5 feet, we can say that the pool is around 10 feet deep.

Therefore, the Medingo Lava Pool took around 2-3 years to cool after Death Mountain stopped erupting.

Now when exactly did Death Mountain stop erupting?

According to the catalog of Volcanoes of the World by the Smithsonian Institution, 93% of volcanos stop erupting within 3 years.

Now I know that Death Mountain only started erupting because of the return of the Divine Beast Vah Rudania, and Link only "stops" the eruption of Death Mountain by defeating it. So one could argue that Death Mountain's "eruption" had to be less than a year or something.

My rebuttal to that would be 1) Within the game's canon, I don't see how we could justify Link taking one day, or even one month to wake up from the Great Plateau, travel immeidately all the way to Death Mountain. and then tame the Divine Beast in less than a month, and 2) Link didn't really stop shit because we can clearly still see active lava flow after taming Rudania. He only stopped the rock falls caused by the Divine Beast, the actual activity of Death Mountain still continues.

Given its insane size, I am going to say it took the full 3 years for its active lava flow to stop on Death Mountain. Volconologists in the notes, feel free to correct me.

SO! The Timeline is:

3 years for Death Mountain to stop actively flowing

2 years minimum for Medingo Lava Pool to cool

= >1 year for temperatures to be right for grass to grow!

This is an insanely quick time period for grass to thrive! The literal instant that the conditions were correct, we are able to see not just grass, but stoloniferous grass as well other types of shrubbery thrive! We would usually need several years for the volcanic rock to erode to rich soil (such as the soil in the Akkala region)

Allow me to elaborate:

This is Fountain Grass. Fountain grass is usually the fist type of grass that you would see in a volcanic region. They grow from a rhizome root system, which is a very vertical downward root system as you can see. This is good for young volcanic regions where only specific dotted areas are good enough for plants to grip onto and grow.

They grow something like this:

This patch of grass below I would call some sort of rhizome. (Botanists feel free to correct me in the notes)

THIS. however. (amazingly) is an example of stoloniferous grass!

This is thick bladed grass (as opposed to the more thin, fine-bladed grass with rhizomes) that grow in a stolon spreading pattern that is much more horizontal. It's a lot like the grass that might grow in your front lawn, if you're rich enough to have one of those in this economy--

They grow a bit more like this:

This type of grass need soil! Especially if we want to classify that other red flower behind the rock there as some sort of volcanic flower

We're basically talking about mass, rapid volcanic erosion in less than a year for this to happen. For context, the soil necessary for the region of Akkala to grow could have taken anywhere between a decade to thousands of years. The weather and erosion necessary for this patch of grass to grow took, at most, 3 years.

And all this in the period of time following an actual apocalypse. How quickly the tides have turned for Hyrule's ecosystem!!!!

IT'S A VERY IMPRESSIVE AND COOL PATCH OF GRASS AND THUS IS DESERVING OF THE S TIER RANKING

Also here's some behind the scenes of what my much smarter than me partner had to say about it ["Last pictures referencing the rhizome grass which, indeed, would be the oldest grass among the patch given it needs the least specific conditions to thrive/less soil to get started]

Growth is cool.

[foundtherightwords]

🏛 👑⚔️"Gladiator II" thoughts 🏛 👑⚔️

Before I start, I have to say that (and please don't throw me into the Colosseum for this) I think the first "Gladiator" is just okay. A solid epic historical/action flick, sure, but to me it's no more than that. And... well, "Gladiator II" is more or less the same, but with a less tight script and therefore less emotional resonance.

It's my biggest issue with the movie. The spectacles are great and the action sequences are solid, but I'm not interested in any of the characters (with the exception of the emperors and Macrinus.) They're all very one-note. To be fair, Acacius doesn't require a lot of dimensions and Pedro did a good job with the character, but Lucius and Lucilla... meh. For a movie that is 148 minutes long, it feels oddly rushed; I felt like I never had the time to get to know the characters or become invested in their fates.

On to the good parts: like I said, the emperors and Macrinus. The review that says Denzel is acting on another level and Joe is the only one that comes close to matching him is spot-on. Out of all the characters, Geta and Macrinus are the only two with some depth. Denzel is amazing, affable and gregarious one minute and then chilling and menacing the next. As for Geta, maybe I'm just biased, but it's so easy to make him one-dimensional too, except Joe imbued the character with nuance and subtlety, so although we don't get to spend a lot of time with them, we understand these two emperors and their dynamic very well. Fred also did great with Caracalla - in fact, if his character wasn't so deranged and erratic and Fred didn't play that to perfection, Geta wouldn't stand out as the sane one as much as he did. They really were the perfect double act.

OK, so those are my spoiler-free thoughts. If you haven't seen the movie, click away now! It's going to be all spoilers from here! This is your last warning! (Oh and I'll start posting my Geta fic next Tuesday. Here's a preview; if you want to be tagged, drop me a comment!)

Now if you don't mind spoilers, read on...

When we found out that Ridley Scott had done a switcheroo and made Geta the elder brother (interestingly, the subtitle at my theater has Caracalla as the elder, which suggests the translator did more historical research than Sir Ridley and his writer!), I guessed that the movie would still follow a bit of historical facts with Macrinus manipulates Caracalla into killing Geta (OK, the bit about Macrinus manipulating Caracalla is not historical, but Caracalla killing Geta is), and then Macrinus would kill Caracalla to take the throne. Well...

And Geta's death is... my God. I gasped out loud in the theater. The head afterward was a bit goofy, but I can't say it's not effective. Poor Joe. Not only his characters always get killed, they often get killed in the gnarliest ways too.

I'm very annoyed at those early reports saying that the emperors have about 20-30 minutes of screen time though. It's more like 10! This video?

That's basically all of Joe's scenes! (Fred gets more, obviously, but not by much.)

And again, I wish they would stop using cut scenes as promo (like with AQPD1), because this still?

Never happens.

The final fight between Lucius and Macrinus is weirdly anti-climactic. Macrinus is never set up as a great fighter anyway, so there is no tension in Lucius facing him.

Also, I know I complain a lot about the lack of historical accuracies, but the ending particularly annoys me because it makes it seem like Rome is finally getting better, except it wasn't! After the terrible reign of Caracalla, we get the even worse reign of Elagabalus, and then Severus Alexander, which is basically the calm before the storm that is the Crisis of the Third Century. So if Sir Ridley is doing "Gladiator III", I'd like to see how he wriggles his way out of that!

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Hi there! First of all I just discovered your blog and it helped me understand a lot about autism. I was recently diagnosed and I had maaany questions, and going through your blog gave me some answers. So thank you so much for your dedication! ✨

I was wondering if you could share some stuff about burnouts? I saw the post of the signs of burnouts, but I was wondering if you had information about what are the common causes or how to deal with them?

Have a great day/night!

Hi there,

I found some information in burnout recovery and causes:

Text

Signs

* Lack of motivation (hard to care about goals when everyday life is overwhelming)

* Loss of executive functioning abilities (decision-making, organization, etc.)

* Difficulty with self-care

* Easier to reach overload or meltdown

* Loss of speech, selective mutism

* Lethargy, exhaustion

* Illness, digestive issues

* Memory loss

* Inability to maintain masks or use social skills

* Overall seeming "more autistic" or stereotypical

* May have period of high energy before collapse

causes

* Passing as neurotypical / suppressing autistic traits

* Doing 'too much', too much stress

* Aging: needing more downtime, having less energy

* Changes, good or bad (relationships, jobs, living arrangements, belongings, environment, routines...)

* Sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, dehydration

* Illness

* Sensory or emotional overload

strategies

* Time

* Scheduling breaks, managing spoons

* Leave of absence

* Stimming, sensory diet

* Exercise

* Reassured and supports

* Routines

* Better environment/job/etc.

* Boundaries, saying 'no'

* Dropping the mask/façade

* Solitude

* Absolute quiet

* Creative projects, passions, special interests

* Paying attention to reactions and your body

Here’s another Infograph I found:

Text

Sleep and rest as much as you can. We often need more sleep than allistics and it is especially crucial to meet our need for extra sleep while in burnout.

Reduce your energy expenditure. Within reason, reduce social time and the amount of information you are taking in on a daily basis. This often means saying no, even to things you think you

"want" to do. (ex. re-watch TV rather than start new shows)

Engage in special interests at a comfortable and sustainable level. Rather than doing in-depth research, try decorating your space with posters or objects related to your special interests or watching a TV show related to one of them.

Focus on your hypersensitivities. Use earplugs/ headphones/sunglasses, use dishwashing gloves and a mask while cleaning, wear comfortable clothes, eat safe foods, leave spaces that are too bright, loud, or fragrant.

Stim!! MOVEMENT: dance, rock, tap, flap, stretch, walk, stim toys.

TOUCH: soft fabric, self-massage, play with hair. VISUAL: watch

TV/ movie, kaleidoscope, coloring book, satisfying videos

AUDIO/VOICE music, singing, echolalia. REPETATION/SORTING: solitaire, puzzles, sorting objects, repetitive doodles, counting.

VERY slowly create systers/routines that automate your care needs and implement them very slowly. This can look like visual aids, timers, lists, bullet journols, weekly routines, Expect if to take time and trial and error to get into these habits. Pick I-2 habits or systems to implement at a time, starting with the ones you're most excifed about.

Autistic burnout and Complex PTSD have a lot in common and executive dysfunction often increases during burnout, so resources made for these can be very helpful.

Burnout Recovery

I hope this helps. Thank you for the inbox. I hope you have a wonderful day/night. ♥️

[regulusrules]

Yo, I saw your post about orientalism in relation to the "hollywood middle-east" tiktok!

How can a rando and university dropout get into and learn more about? Any literature or other content to recommend?

Hi!! Wow, you have no idea how you just pressed a button. I'll unleash 5+ years on you. And I'll even add for you open-sourced works that you can access as much as I can!

1. Videos

I often find this is the best medium nowadays to learn anything! I'll share with you some of the best that deal with the topic in different frames

• This is a video of Edward Said talking about his book, Orientalism. Said is the Palestinian- American critic who first introduced the term Orientalism, and is the father of postcolonial studies as a critical literary theory. In this book, you’ll find an in-depth analysis of the concept and a deconstruction of western stereotypes. It’s very simple and he explains everything in a very easy manner.

• How Islam Saved Western Civilization. A more than brilliant lecture by Professor Roy Casagranda. This, in my opinion, is one of the best lectures that gives credit to this great civilization, and takes you on a journey to understand where did it all start from.

• What’s better than a well-researched, general overview Crash Course about Islam by John Green? This is not necessarily on orientalism but for people to know more about the fundamental basis of Islam and its pillars. I love the whole playlist that they have done about the religion, so definitely refer to it if you're looking to understand more about the historical background! Also, I can’t possibly mention this Crash Course series without mentioning ... ↓

• The Medieval Islamicate World. Arguably my favourite CC video of all times. Hank Green gives you a great thorough depiction of the Islamic civilization when it rose. He also discusses the scientific and literary advancements that happened in that age, which most people have no clue about! And honestly, just his excitement while explaining the astrolabe. These two truly enlightened so many people with the videos they've made. Thanks, @sizzlingsandwichperfection-blog

2. Documentaries

• This is an AMAZING documentary called Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Villifies A People by the genius American media critic Jack Shaheen. He literally analysed more than 1000 movies and handpicked some to showcase the terribly false stereotypes in western depiction of Arab/Muslim cultures. It's the best way to go into the subject, because you'll find him analysing works you're familiar with like Aladdin and all sorts.

• Spain’s Islamic Legacy. I cannot let this opportunity go to waste since one of my main scopes is studying feminist Andalusian history. There are literal gems to be known about this period of time, when religious coexistence is documented to have actually existed. This documentary offers a needed break from eurocentric perspectives, a great bird-view of the Islamic civilization in Europe and its remaining legacy (that western history tries so hard to erase).

• When the Moors Ruled in Europe. This is one of the richest documentaries that covers most of the veiled history of Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain). Bettany Hughes discusses some of the prominent rulers, the brilliance of architecture in the Arab Muslim world, their originality and contributions to poetry and music, their innovative inventions and scientific development, and lastly, La Reconquista; the eventual fall and erasure of this grand civilization by western rulers.

3. Books

• Rethinking Orientalism by Reina Lewis. Lewis brilliantly breaks the prevailing stereotype of the “Harem”, yk, this stupid thought westerns projected about arab women being shut inside one room, not allowed to go anywhere from it, enslaved and without liberty, just left there for the sexual desires of the male figures, subjugated and silenced. It's a great read because it also takes the account of five different women living in the middle east.

• Nocturnal Poetics by Ferial Ghazoul. A great comparative text to understand the influence and outreach of The Thousand and One Nights. She applies a modern critical methodology to explore this classic literary masterpiece.

• The Question of Palestine by Edward Said. Since it's absolutely relevant, this is a great book if you're looking to understand more about the Palestinian situation and a great way to actually see the perspective of Palestinians themselves, not what we think they think.

• Arab-American Women's Writing and Performance by S.S. Sabry. One of my favourite feminist dealings with the idea of the orient and how western depictions demeaned arab women by objectifying them and degrading them to objects of sexual desire, like Scheherazade's characterization: how she was made into a sensual seducer, but not the literate, brilliantly smart woman of wisdom she was in the eastern retellings. The book also discusses the idea of identity and people who live on the hyphen (between two cultures), which is a very crucial aspect to understand arabs who are born/living in western countries.

• The Story of the Moors in Spain by Stanley Lane-Poole. This is a great book if you're trying to understand the influence of Islamic culture on Europe. It debunks this idea that Muslims are senseless, barbaric people who needed "civilizing" and instead showcases their brilliant civilization that was much advanced than any of Europe in the time Europe was labelled by the Dark Ages. (btw, did you know that arabic was the language of knowledge at that time? Because anyone who was looking to study advanced sciences, maths, philosophy, astronomy etc, had to know arabic because arabic-speaking countries were the center of knowledge and scientific advancements. Insane, right!)

• Convivencia and Medieval Spain. This is a collection of essays that delve further into the idea of “Convivencia”, which is what we call for religious coexistence. There's one essay in particular that's great called Were Women Part of Convivencia? which debunks all false western stereotypical images of women being less in Islamic belief. It also highlights how arab women have always been extremely cultured and literate. (They practiced medicine, studied their desired subjects, were writers of poetry and prose when women in Europe couldn't even keep their surnames when they married.)

4. Novels / Epistolaries

• Granada by Radwa Ashour. This is one of my favourite novels of all time, because Ashour brilliantly showcases Andalusian history and documents the injustices and massacres that happened to Muslims then. It covers the cultural erasure of Granada, and is also a story of human connection and beautiful family dynamics that utterly touches your soul.

• Dreams of Trespass by Fatema Mernissi. This is wonderful short read written in autobiographical form. It deconstructs the idea of the Harem in a postcolonial feminist lens of the French colonization of Morocco.

• Scheherazade Goes West by Mernissi. Mernissi brilliantly showcases the sexualisation of female figures by western depictions. It's very telling, really, and a very important reference to understand how the west often depicts middle-eastern women by boxing them into either the erotic, sensual beings or the oppressed, black-veiled beings. It helps you understand the actual real image of arab women out there (who are not just muslims btw; christian, jew, atheist, etc women do exist, and they do count).

• Letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. This is a feminist travel epistolary of a British woman which covers the misconceptions that western people, (specifically male travelers) had recorded and transmitted about the religion, traditions and treatment of women in Constantinople, Turkey. It is also a very insightful sapphic text that explores her own engagement with women there, which debunks the idea that there are no queer people in the middle east.

---------------------

With all of these, you'll get an insight about the real arab / islamic world. Not the one of fanaticism and barbarity that is often mediated, but the actual one that is based on the fundamental essences of peace, love, and acceptance.

[fandom-lover2]

A Place To Rest Your Weary Soul

A quirkless AU in which Toshinori is a university professor who ends up fostering reader

Word Count - 2792

Chapter One - There's Room For Two

-image not mine-

Chapter Two - In Time, It Will Feel Like Home

Toshinori sighed again, probably the millionth one in the last 24 hours.

He was so out of his depth. How the hell had he even ended up here?

Oh right, he remembers now, and the headache that went with it.

He’d met an old university friend for drinks after work, and after indulging in a few too many, when he really shouldn’t have had one to begin with, got all sad and lamented on how he was nearing 50 and had missed his chance to have children.

That had always been his dream, to settle down with the man or woman of his dreams and raise a few beautiful, starry-eyed humans. But then he focused too much on his studying in varsity, and then spent most of his 20s and 30s progressing in his career. Then in his 40s, he was given to opportunity to return to his university and teach the very lectures he’d been a student in.

And now he was months away from his 50th and had no spouse, no children getting ready to choose their own university paths.

Nothing but a 2 story, 2 bedroom, one bathroom house that remained cold and empty when he was home.

He’d just downed his third beer, and had dropped his head onto the bar’s counter, groaning deeply and feeling very sorry for himself when Tsukauchi made the comment that would change his life.

“You could always foster.” Toshinori sat up so fast his head spun.

“What?”

The detective took another sip of his first beer. “Foster. Take in a kid for a few months at a time while they wait for permanent houses to open up for them.”

Toshinori blinked, his mind already spinning with the possibilities.

“It’s a shame really. I remember when I was still on the streets, doing wellness checks. Those kids had nowhere to go, just bouncing around from house to facility. You’d look in their eyes and all they wanted was someone to care for them.”

And so, in Toshinori’s drunken genius, he’d believed this was the best thing in the world. He’d gotten home, started up his laptop and had gotten about halfway through the application process before he promptly passed out.

-----

When he awoke the next day, with a clearer mind and pounding hangover, he made himself some tea and sat down, deciding to do things the right way.

He watched videos online of what being a foster parent entailed, read through article after article, website after brochure of what it meant to be a foster parent. Then, after hours of research, he decided that it wasn’t just drunk him that wanted to give this a try.

He finished his application process, and waited with baited breath for an hour before the call came through to set up his meeting.

He spent the next day, a Sunday, in a flurry to get his house ready for the inspection on Monday evening, and won’t easily admit he spent way too much time trying to decide what to wear. In the end, he decided his university professor attire would be fine, he didn’t need to go buy new clothes.

The worker who conducted his inspection was impressed, from what he could tell. And he seemed to do well on his interview.

Then came the harrowing few days of waiting for his results. He doesn’t remember what lectures he did for that week, if he even made any sense for them. It took 3 days for them to get back to him, telling him he’d been approved.

He’d never been so excited to spend a few hours after work, 3 days a week, learning new things.

Being a foster parent was a lot more than he expected. They trained him on how to approach certain topics, how to have conversations with the children, how to feed a child.

In the end, he passed yet again, and was told that they would contact him about placing a child with him when the opportunity was presented.

And then he promptly forgot he’d done all that.

Summer was approaching fast, year-end finals needed to be set, final course work crammed into short lectures, and schedules for grading papers were sent out. Then, it was the final day before summer break, young adults were happy to get away from the school halls, and teachers prepared to spend hours grading papers. 3 weeks later, all papers were graded, and Toshinori had just hit send on his final feedback when the phone rang.

It was an emergency placement. Kid had been to two homes before him, but hadn’t lasted longer than a week at either.

Nothing wrong with the kid, but the families they were placed with were too big, too many people, too noisy.

Social services needed a smaller family, no other children. They were hoping for a married couple, but Toshinori’s profile matched perfectly with what the child needed.

Toshinori had been so excited he’d said yes before the agent even managed to finish her story. He was ready.

-----

Now, he wasn’t so sure about that.

He stood before the rows of bedding patterns, completely and utterly lost.

When doing his research, he’d realized it’d be better for everybody if he chose to foster teen ages rather than younger.

He wasn’t young anymore, he couldn’t sit for hours on the floor to play Legos, or chase a child around the park. Besides, teens were just as desperate for home, especially when group homes had been getting worse and worse over the years.

Because he’d chosen to foster teens, he’d needed to take a few extra lessons, and these were hard. Here, the instructors sat the few people in the room down and gave them hard truths. They explained some cases they’d had, children exposed to drugs for the parent’s pleasure, sexual abuse cases. There were even cases of bad foster families doing worse to the kids than their original parents.

Toshinori had felt sick after that, sick and angry and so so sad. Heartbroken that there were children out there experiencing something like that.

He’d felt quite inadequate after that, not knowing how or if he’d ever be able to help someone overcome something like that.

But he wouldn’t be alone. Support groups for both foster family and child were once a week, therapy sessions for both once a month, or more regularly if needed, and a once every 2 months surprise check-in by the agent.

Back to his current situation, Toshinori doesn’t know what to do.

He had been here for 10 minutes now, just looking.

As stated, he agreed to take a teenager. He’d gotten a call saying he’d get an emergency placement teenager in 24 hours. He was getting a 16 year old. A female 16 year old.

What the hell did he know about girls? The longest relationship with a woman he’d ever had lasted 9 months, barely long enough to learn how to understand the female species. Now he was going to have a 16 year old girl, that was in foster care for reasons he hadn’t been told but were probably horrific and traumatizing, and now it was going to be him and her alone.

But, if there was one thing Toshinori hated just less than hearing the stories of what these kids had been through, it was he didn’t like people who went back on their promises, so he was going to figure out which damn bedding set to buy for her and some things to go into her room to make it feel like home.

Not that he knew what girls nowadays liked, but he’d figure it out.

His gut was telling him not to go too girly, not over the top pink everything with sparkles. A softer feminine perhaps, or maybe something gender neutral would be smarter. He had listened during the talks of ways to approach the topic of transgenderism.

Ok, that settled it, something plain, simple. A light blue set.

And now for the rest of the room, and anything else she’d need. He spent about another hour in the hygiene section, analyzing every shampoo bottle and soap bar. He hoped he had gotten everything she’d need as he moved on to clothes.

The instructors explained that often foster children, especially the older ones, only had the essentials with them, and just one change of clothes. Toshinori wanted to get her something more, something new that was just for her. Not a hand-me-down or given by the agency. He hadn’t realized how patronizing clothing was. Firstly, everything in the female section was either pink or sparkled or barely had enough material to cover what it was intended to cover. But eventually he found some decent shirts, grabbing a few different sizes, and some comfortable looking pants and shorts. He was proud of one of the pairs of pajamas he found, little cartoon puppies with bows around their necks.

Moving on once again, he decided some decoration was needed for the room. Being a lover of books himself, he went to a bookstore and again, spent almost hours browsing through books in the young adult section. Not knowing what new book trends were, or what the hell “Booktok Bestseller” meant, he grabbed a small variety of books, ranging from romance, to fantasy, to murder mystery. He made a mental note to remind himself to tell her she was welcome to his impressive collection of books in the living room. 

What else? Were girls still into putting up posters of their favorite actors? Were boybands still a thing? He tried remembering what his students decorated their notebooks with, but none of it made sense to him. Maybe he’d take her out once they’d had a few days to settle, let her chose some things.

And so he paid for the books and moved on to his final stop. The instructors had told them that teenagers valued their space, their own place to hide away and be moody teenagers.

Toshinori didn’t like the teen being called moody and ‘angsty’. A teen with a happy childhood was going through a hell of a lot when their hormones reached this stage, add a traumatic life to the mix and these kids deserved to hate the world. God knows he did at that age, and his life had been decent enough.

He’d seen the young adults around campus, how the lecturers complained they hid away behind their screens, but he saw how it helped them escape, just for a bit, all the while connecting them to an even bigger world than what they would be able to have access to. Let them keep contact with their friends and family in this ever-changing world where it wasn’t safe for them to leave their houses anymore.

The instructors had warned against buying the foster children electronic devices, but Toshinori didn’t like it. Besides, she would need a laptop when the new school year started, if she was with him that long. And if she wasn’t, well then she’d have one at the new home she’d go to. And a phone was needed in this day and age, so he could contact her and vice versa if needed. And come on, he was a university professor, he had the cash.

Making one final purchase, Toshinori loaded his loot into his car and headed home, making his way upstairs to begin setting up the spare bedroom, which was previously his office before he converted it in a panic. His office was now in the living room.

He made her bed, washed, dried and folded her clothes and placed them in the wardrobe, organized the books according to genre on the shelves and placed the phone, laptop and unopened headphones he'd received as a secret Santa gift last year onto her desk.

It was late now, and the agent and teen would be arriving around 2pm the next day. Taking one last look around the room, he hoped it seemed comfortable enough.

------

The next morning Toshinori woke up later than he usually did, but he didn’t mind. This would be the last morning he had as just him. He’d take it slow.

He made brunch, read the newspaper and drank his morning tea, showered and got dressed into something casual, and did one final cleaning of his house. At lunchtime, he forced himself to eat despite not being hungry, and pulled out his medication from its hidden draw in his desk.

That was the only thing that was eating him with guilt, that he had lied when asked if he had any medical conditions. He did, a bad one. He’d been involved in a car accident as a teen himself, leading him to lose a lung and half his stomach. But if he’d told them, the social workers would have never agreed to let him foster.

Did he lie about having a chronic condition? Yes.

Was his condition affecting him in his daily life? At times.

Could said condition affect how he manages to care for another? He would never let it.

He’d go for his check-ups, take his medication, follow the rules. And he’d never let his limitations become an obstacle when caring for the teens he welcomed into his house.

It was 12:30pm, so he went and sat at his desk, overlooking the street, and waited. The longer he waited, the more nervous he became.

Until finally, at 2:01pm, a car pulled up in front of his house.

He stood, readjusted his clothes as he walked to the front door, took a deep breath, and opened the door. He took the few stairs down to the street, and then waited at the base of the steps.

The agent, her name was Sue, got out the car first, moving to the trunk and pulling out a backpack that looked more empty than full. The passenger door opened, and then closed. And then she appeared beside Sue.

It was hard to tell much about the girl, she wore a hoodie a few sizes too big for her, despite it being a hot early summers day, and kept the hood low over her face.

What he could tell though was she was short, but that wasn’t new for Toshinori, he was 6’5’’, everyone was shorter than him. She did however seem short for 16, based on what knowledge he did have of children.

Sue handed the girl her bag, then closed the trunk and made her way towards Toshinori. He greeted her with a firm handshake, and she began the conversation. She apologized, saying she needed to hurry as there was an emergency at another foster home she had to rush to. She promised she would phone later to explain the situation properly, and come by tomorrow to make sure everyone was settled. Then, she gestured for the girl to come up the path.

The girl did so slowly, cautiously. Toshinori could feel her eyes on him as she approached, making sure to keep Sue between them. When she was close enough, Toshinori realized how much of a difference in height there was between them. He wasn’t sure of this girl’s past yet, of what led her here.

Mistrust, that had been the point they went back to over and over again. These kids, they would mistrust everything you did and everything you said. They would fear you, as an adult, as a man, as a woman, as a human. They wouldn’t believe you were going to help them instead of hurt them, wouldn’t believe you weren’t going to hurt them. They had spent hours discussing how to build trust during the first meeting, how to show them they were safe at your home.

He knew the examples, had rehearsed the lines for the hours as he waited for her to arrive, but now he was looking down at her and he was lost. All the words left his memory, all the reminders from the instructors lost to him.

She wouldn’t meet his eyes, cowered from him.

He had never been so conscious of his height as he was right now. He towered over her, and imagined how she must feel. Dwarfed by this scary giant she had never met before.

He realized what the one mother had meant, the one who was a guest speaker who had been fostering for years.

She’d said that no matter now much you prepare for your first, you would never be ready for that first meeting. Actually, you’d never be ready, no matter how many first meetings you had. Every one would be different, and you would need to adjust for every child.

Toshinori took a deep breath. He could do this.

@sharkteemth

[earthnashes]

hey, sorry, but i was wondering how you started on your fitness journey? i'm in a similar spot that you were two years ago and i want so badly to make the progress you have. i keep trying to begin but stopping because i get too scared or nervous, it's so daunting. do you have any good resources like websites/videos/youtube channels/blogs/etc.? i would really appreciate it. you look awesome and your post was super inspiring.

No apologies needed! It is pretty daunting man because it's getting into it for the long run.

Before I finally stuck with it I started and stopped several times in the past as well. If I were to give short tips personally on how to get started based on how I did:

-Start with the most simple thing for you and focus on building a habit out of it. Whatever that is, do it even if you don't want to. For me, I started with a scheduled walk around a trackfield (one full loop around the track) twice a week.

-Take the time to really outline your goals. Make sure to include short term goals and not only long term ones! It helps to say "I'm gonna walk for 5 minutes" and building up to the goal of "I'm gonna walk for 60 minutes", for example. Additional: having something visual can help with tracking it.

-Take it slow, and keep it simple. You're in this for the longhaul. And it will be very slow, but trust the progress and focus on the present

------------------------

As for resources, these are what I used (with some notes if it helps!)

Jeremy Either's Youtube Channel

Great source of information in regards to many things, particularly muscle building. I already had a base understanding of working out due to my sports background, but he's great for complete newbies and for anyone who needs a refresher. I still watch his stuff today but I don't rely on it nearly as much now that I have a better idea of what I'm doing.

Hybrid Calisthenics Youtube Channel

Fantastic channel for complete beginners and for people looking to get into the swing of things again, but at a slower rate. He focuses on being genuinely positive and encouraging finding ways that'll work specifically for you. That includes doing variations of exercises that may be too hard at first, like variations of the pushup, or pullup. Simple routines to get you started without destroying yourself. Very good channel, honestly.

Sean Nalewanyj Youtube Channel

He was the first fella I followed before I found Jeremy. His content is short, punctual, and easy to understand, so if you're looking for much quicker advice without the super detailed explanations his YT Shorts would be recommended. You'll likely have to do a little more research on your own to supplement the knowledge though. Like Jeremy I still watch his content.

Jeff Nippard Youtube Channel

His content is chocked full of research based shit and sometimes can be a tiiiiny bit much to follow, so not really something I'd recommend for beginning lifters. That said, his content in general is downright fascinating and if you're looking for in-depth analysis on the world of bodybuilding, powerlifting, and so on, he's my go-to.

Leanbeefpatty Youtube Channel

Her content is far more vlog-ish, but she gives solid advice while simultaneously just being fun to watch. I like how much more relaxed her stuff is as well, so if you're looking for something that isn't as potentially stressful I'd recommend her over anyone else listed.

Eugene Teo Youtube Channel

I've only just started watching him a couple of months ago but he's been a joy to listen to. His content is relatively chill but he gives indepth explanations without getting too science-y with them. He also promotes things other than fitness that'll help with your goals; stuff like mindful hobbies, healthy food-relation habits (for example: there's no such thing as a good or bad food), so on.

----------------

Other sources I've used to help educate myself the more I got into it include MyFitnessPal (I use it to count my calories and macros), Healthline, countless other youtubes I won't list just so I don't talk your ears off, and asking for tips from fellow gym goers who attend the same gym I do.

I hope these are of some help to you! And keep up the grind; take it one step at a time, and if you need any more advice you think I can help with I'm all ears. I'm rootin' for ya! :)

[enhaheeseung]

Heeseung’s reaction to sounding for the first time.

Pairing: heeseung X fem reader!

Warnings: smut, cursing, hand job, oral, heeseung is kinda a sub, sounding, I suggest you research what this is before reading *nervous laughter*

Note: hi, sorry for the long wait I apologize. Please forgive me I’m sorry this is so short. I did what I could. I hope you enjoy it. @donghoonie-3

‼️Request closed until further notice‼️

WC: 1,6k

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you first came to your boyfriend and asked him about trying sounding for the first time, he just gave you a weird look, not fully understanding what it was exactly.

He had heard of it, but that was it, and once you elaborated on what it was, he looked at you even weirder.

You pouted at his reaction and dropped the topic completely cause you didn’t want to force it on him or make him uncomfortable.

Despite you not bringing it up again, it was on heeseung’s mind for the rest of the day. Now that you brought it up, he couldn’t seem to get the idea out of his head.

Two weeks later, and unbeknownst to you, he was secretly searching for the exact details of sounding once he saw all the different gadgets and sizes of them, his pupils expanded. “That’s supposed to go inside me?” he whispers to himself. It looked scary yet thrilling at the same time.

He then went in depth with his research by watching sounding videos, and he can’t lie that he got insanely hard while imagining you doing it to him.

Now the idea didn’t seem so outlandish to him. It was actually something he was quite interested in trying.

But he had too much pride to ask you about it since he had already shot down your idea when you first approached him about it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He’d secretly try and hint at it in the bedroom, asking if you could take extra time licking his slit when you gave him head, and he’d be unusually vocal when you thumbed over his tiny hole.

But sadly, despite his not so great efforts, you just weren’t getting the hint, so finally, he left his phone on while you both sat on your bed. He “excused” himself to the bathroom, hoping you’d take a look at his screen and see what he was searching.

You smile at your boyfriend when he exits the bed, and you notice the light from his phone in the corner of your eye.

Your eyes gleamed upon seeing the search results on his phone. It was all different types of sounding toys and beginners kits which made you wonder if he was rethinking the proposal you went to him with a few weeks back.

Once he came back from the bathroom, he saw you smiling at him with his phone in your hand, and he was so excited for what you had to say, but he didn’t show it.

You had finally asked him again if he wanted to try it, and he just nodded his head, pretending he wasn’t absolutely ecstatic about trying it, but deep down, he couldn’t wait.

He’s never typed in his address and card information so fast he added the sounding kit to his cart and even paid an extra forty-five dollars for overnight shipping.

Once it arrived, he could barely contain his excitement. He was probably more excited about it than you. He made sure to let you know as soon as it arrived, and he was impatiently waiting all day, hoping you’d want to try it on him the same night it arrived.

When he saw that wasn’t happening, he quickly used his charms to win you over so you would take him to your bedroom, which only took him about one minute to seduce you cause he knew all the right places to touch to make you go crazy for him. “Do you want to try it now?” You ask him while sitting between his legs and slowly pumping his soft cock.

“We can, yeah” Your eyes lit up, and you grabbed the smallest rod and lubricant from your drawer. Once the rod was coated with lube, you made sure to apply some to his tip to make the insertion easier.

“I’ll go slow,” you whisper assuringly while kissing each of his thighs to make him relax. “Ready?” He nodded his head in response and got comfortable on the bed spreading his legs open to give you full access.

You ran the rod along his shaft to get him used to the feeling, but apparently he was too impatient for all of that.

He shuddered from the unfamiliar feeling. “You can put it in now,” he gulped as you traced the veins on his shaft with the rod one last time.

“As you wish” You stretched his hole open and slowly pushed the lubricated rod inside him, a loud gasp fell from his lips.

“W-wow,” he took quick breaths, trying to adjust to the weird feeling.

“Are you okay?” You asked just to make sure he was still completely comfortable.

“Y-yeah, I’m okay,” he assured you immediately. “It just feels…. Weird,” he chuckled as his eyebrows creased together, searching for the right way to describe the sensation. “Really weird but oddly good and a little cold?” You smiled at that and slowly pulled the rod out and re-inserted it. “Mmm, you can go deeper,” he said, a bit breathless. It was only about an inch in, and his toes were already curling in pleasure.

“Feels good?” You asked while cupping his balls and squeezing them softly before working your hand up and down his shaft to increase his pleasure.

“Ahh fuck, it feels so good” A gargled groan erupted from his throat as he gripped the bedsheets below him to ground himself. “Fuck” he lifted his head and watched the rod sliding in and out of his hole. The sight alone made him feel lightheaded, and the pleasure was becoming too much for him to handle as his head fell back on the soft pillows.

He looked so sexy in front of you, moaning and twitching in pleasure. This was far better than you had pictured in your head. The sight of the rod going deeper and deeper inside your boyfriend had your panties soaked already. “You look so pretty, baby,” you complimented him, and you wished you could have marked his neck then and there, but that could wait till later cause right now. You just wanted to make him cum on the thin metal rod that was inside him.

“Thank you, love,” he used the last ounce of his sanity to reply, and you couldn’t help but giggle at his strained voice as you pushed the rod in halfway and swirled your palm around his tip.

His mouth parted open in a gasp mixed with a moan when you squeezed his tip, and he was well past the point of no return. “C-close, so close,” you could tell from the way his chest was heaving up and down and the way his abdomen flexed every other second.

“Go ahead, handsome, cum” on your command. He let out a hoarse moan cumming as soon as the words left your mouth.

The first ropes of cum pushed the rod halfway out of his hole, and you pulled it out the rest of the way, jerking him off until he emptied himself completely, or so you thought. “Fuck y/n,” he whimpered and squirmed on the bed, muscles spasming violently as he experienced the strongest orgasm he’s ever felt.

You slowly stroked him through his high as his whimpers turned into little pained whines, and more milky beads of cum dribbled out of his stretched hole. “Oh fuck” he bit his lip harshly. “I’m still cumming.” He said in disbelief as he watched more trickles of his cum coating your hand and his twitching abdomen.

His breath was still uneven, but his body was starting to relax, only twitching slightly. When you released his shaft from your hold, you placed a gentle kiss on his tip, licking the cum from his tip before hovering over him and kissing his cheek. “Did you like it?” You ask, hoping he had just as much fun as you did.

“I loved it,” he said bashfully. After a few more deep breaths, his eyes started to get heavy as you lay beside him, you pulled the blankets over his tired, exhausted body.

“I’m glad” You smile and kiss his damp forehead.

A few short moments later and he had passed out, too overwhelmed and drained to keep his eyes open any longer. The last thing he remembers is you cleaning him up and thanking you before hugging you to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been a few weeks since the night you both tried the sounding kit, and he was absolutely in love. Every time you had sex, he always asked if you could use it on him, and you were more than happy to fulfill his request.

How could you not when he looked and sounded so pretty with the rod inside him?

“Hey baby, what are you doing?” You joined him on the couch while he was using his phone.

“Can I get this?” He asks while showing you another sounding kit, only this one had multiple different sizes and were ribbed, unlike the ones he had previously gotten.

You smile at his cute, questioning face, and of course, you couldn’t tell him no how could you when he looked so excited? “Sure!” He smiles as you run your fingers through his hair.

“Ooh, and maybe this,” he says after scrolling a bit more, noticing that they also made rods in all different colors and materials, and you can’t lie the idea of seeing a baby blue colored rod inside him definitely excited you, you knew it’d make his dick look even prettier. “We also need more of this,” he murmured while adding lube to his cart. “I know I already got so much, but can I get this too?” He rested his head on your shoulder and looked at you cutely.

“You can get whatever you want, baby” You didn’t know he’d take it literally by the time he was finished. He had all kinds of vibrating rods and different flavors of lube in his cart, but who were you to complain cause you were going to enjoy this just as much as him if not more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well I’m back😂

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Thank you so much for reading. Likes and reblogs are always appreciated. I hope you all enjoy. Sorry for any typos/errors, and as always, enjoy your day/night.🤍🖤

[thefrogdalorian]

Dincember Day 1: Snow

Din Djarin x GN!Reader

Word Count: 4825 Rating: General Content warnings: None! Summary: After a busy few months working for the New Republic, Din surprises you and Grogu with a well-earned retreat to a snowy paradise in the run up to Life Day. Snow-filled chaotic fluff and fun ensues! Author's note: This one sort of spiralled out of control in terms of word count and I did research into SW lore which I doubt I'll do every day, but I enjoyed it! I love browsing Wookieepedia like a big ol' nerd. The city visited is from a video game and the entry can be found here if anyone is interested in that kind of thing. Anyway, hope you enjoyed day one and thanks for reading :D

Link to read on AO3 | My Dincember Masterlist

When Din told you to pack warm clothes for a mystery destination, you were curious about what exactly laid in store on the upcoming trip he had been carefully planning for the two of you to take with Grogu. It had been a busy few months for Din, his frequent assignments with the New Republic, where he was tasked with eliminating Imperial remnants, had kept him away from you for considerable periods. Recently, whispers of Thrawn’s return had swirled and eventually reached fever pitch. The rumours terrified you, but you knew that with someone like Din working to keep the peace, the fate of the galaxy could not be in safer hands. Nor could your future, as it happened. With Din by your side, you felt a sense of security that was incredibly comforting. You knew regardless of what he had planned for you, a surprise trip like this after such a stressful period was an incredibly thoughtful gesture from a thoroughly kind man.

Life Day was rapidly approaching and Din had promised to whisk you away for a trip somewhere in the galaxy. Where exactly, you did not know. But if you had to hazard a guess, you would not be heading to the deserts of Tatooine, given his instructions to pack for chilly climes. You eagerly bounced around the small cabin the two of you shared on Nevarro, packing your warmest clothes. The warm climate of the lava-covered planet you now called home meant that you had to search the deepest depths of your drawers, but eventually you found hats, scarves and warm woolly mittens that would be perfect for cold weather.

Your entire body was buzzing with excitement as you packed your bag, eagerly anticipating the quality time you would get to spend with Din and Grogu. Din had made it clear when the two of you had met, that the very nature of his line of work would be unpredictable and keep him away from you for long periods at short notice. You knew he hated the fact that his work kept him away from you so frequently just as much as you did, so, you reasoned, there was no point in making him feel guilty. With this trip, you knew that he was more than going to make up for it. You felt slightly guilty about how much you were sure he would spoil you with some of the credits he had earned. But Din Djarin was not remotely materialistic man; the safety and happiness of his loved ones mattered far more to him than any wealth he could accumulate.

So, as you headed out of your cabin the following morning and departed in the ship Din had borrowed from Greef Karga to accomodate you too - his N-1 was too small - you were practically bursting from excitement. But that excitement soon faded once the realities of travelling through the monotiny that was a seemingly never-ending hyperspace dawned upon you. Once the thrill of seeing the rushing blue and white hues outside the window had worn off, you found yourself thoroughly bored. Grogu was sound asleep in the corner of the cockpit, so for entertainment, you decided to interrogate Din in an attempt to ascertain hints as to your destination.

"So… it's cold…?" You mused. Din sat in the seat next to you, his armour illuminated by the multicoloured buttons of the various control panels, "Outer-Rim?" You questioned, watching for any signs that your words were having an impact.

But he did not move an inch, his arms remained folded, his breathing even. This man was impossible to read. But you were not going to give up.

"Fine… Mid-Rim?" You asked.

"I told you. It's a surprise," Din huffed.

You chuckled at how annoyed he sounded. It wasn't as though narrowing down the vast regions to several thousand planets rather than several hundred thousand would make much of a difference. But Din was stubborn. And you loved him for it. You had intended to continue pestering him, but you listened in astonishment when, a few minutes later, you heard the even breaths that indicated your favourite Mandalorian had fallen asleep. You weren't far behind him. It passed the time, after all.

After a long day of travelling you finally arrived at your destination, a place Din informed you once he had landed that was, in fact, the capital of Corellia: the bustling Coronet City.

You had been slightly confused about Din’s instructions to pack for the cold when you exited the ship in Coronet City. You did not see snow or any indication of frigid temperatures. But you couldn't dawdle to muse on it because you had to keep up with Din in the crowd.

As the two of you made your way through the spaceport, you put your hand out as if to offer a hand to Din to help with the heavy bags he was carrying, containing the warm clothes you had packed for the trip. But rather than hand one of the bags to you, your stubborn Mandalorian grunted and shifted the weathered satchel to his other hand. You were momentarily confused; you opened your mouth, intending to offer him a hand. But then you felt the explanation. Your heart melted when you felt the pillowy leather of his well-worn gloves as he held your hand in his. The warm presence of his large hand caused a shiver to spread down your spine.

You looked down at the little green child who nestled happily in your arms; Grogu was taking in all the new sights and sounds with his wide brown eyes and long green ears. So, you decided to take a look around for yourself. You noticed how underdressed everyone appeared to be, compared to what you had been expecting. The planet did not seem to be nearly so chilly as to make the warm clothes you had packed necessary. As if he could sense your confusion, Din finally informed you of his plans.

“If you hadn't already gathered, Coronet City isn’t actually our final stop,” Din explained as the two of you walked through the busy terminus, weaving between locals and tourists alike who had travelled to Corellia for the holiday season. The planet seemed to be at capacity. You were glad you were holding hands with Din, so the two of you did not get separated. “We’re heading up to the mountains. I thought it would be nice for Grogu to experience some snow. Since Nevarro has such a warm climate, it seemed like the perfect place.”

“Oh, Din… that sounds perfect.” You smiled up at him, “Grogu will love it, won’t you, buddy?” You took Grogu’s purr as you leaned down to address him directly as an indication that the child agreed. Din squeezed your hand tightly, appreciative that you were seemingly so excited by his plans.

You had no idea where you were heading, following Din’s lead as you placed your trust in him entirely, just as you always did. Excitement was not the only emotion you felt, though. There was the smug part of you, too, enjoying the assured feeling you had that, no matter how many heads this Mandalorian in his gleaming, unpainted beskar’gam was turning in this spaceport… that he was all yours. And yours alone.

Eventually, you seemingly reached the platform from which you would board the shuttle as Din led you off the main hall of the spaceport, ascending steps to the landing platform. At the top of the stairs was a screen which gave you the name of your final destination: Doaba Guerfel. The name meant nothing to you, but you had no time to dwell on it as Din dropped your hand and struggled with the heavy bags through the shuttle's door.

“I would have helped you, you know,” You informed Din with a smirk. He finally took a seat after placing the luggage on a shelf above the seats. “Rather than you struggling along with those heavy bags because we were holding hands.”

“I know.” Din nodded, “But I’ll never not want to hold your hand.”

Your heart melted for the second time in quick succession. How could this man, known throughout the galaxy for the ruthlessness with which he had once apprehended bounties and now applied those same talents in his work for the New Republic, actually be this soft and caring underneath that hard, Beskar shell? You didn’t think there was anyone else in the galaxy quite like Din Djarin. You were certain of that, in fact.

You passed Grogu to Din and felt yourself smile at his happy coo. The child sat contentedly on his father's lap, peering out of the window as the shuttle departed and flew over the buildings of Coronet City and towards the mountains that loomed on the horizon. You were still some distance away, but you could see that they were covered in snow. You felt your stomach dancing with excitement; it looked like a secluded paradise. Which, as it transpired, was exactly what this town – nestled amongst mountains – was. Din was always so curious about the galaxy around him, respectful and eager to learn about other planets and their language and culture. So of course, it made sense that he had done research when selecting this destination.

“Our destination, as you probably gathered, is a quaint mountainous town called Doaba Guerfel… The mountains you can see are called the Nomad Mountains and the town itself used to be known as Nomad’s Retreat. It’s incredibly secluded, so I thought it would be a perfect retreat for our little family,” Din explained, gesturing out of the window to the mountains the shuttle was hurtling towards. “The town invests heavily in restoration and protection of the wilderness around here. Apparently, the flora and fauna found here in such an abundance that is rare anywhere else throughout the galaxy. I doubt we'll be able to see much given the time of year. But I thought it was nice that the residents here care about their surroundings.”

“It looks beautiful from here already. I can’t wait to explore it with you.” You said, smiling at Din and admiring the way the whiteness of the sky outside made his helmet so dazzlingly shiny.

“We’re renting a small cabin on the outskirts of the town.” Din said, as he turned to face you, adding honestly: “The locals here really tried to keep it as a safe haven from the rest of the galaxy, where others can come to rest and escape. I hope it’ll be the quiet, peaceful retreat that we both need.”

“I’m sure it will be, Din.” You nodded, “It sounds like you’ve put a great deal of thought into planning this for us. Thank you.”

“Anything for you, mesh’la. Apparently, it is the finest resort in all of Corellia,” Din said, reaching out to take your hand in his once again. He squeezed it, as he told you solemnly: “And you deserve only the finest things in the galaxy for putting up with me, with the stress and demands of being with someone like me.”

You were about to open your mouth to protest, that being with Din was not settling in any way. But you were prevented from doing so as the unmistakable robotic drone of a droid suddenly sounded through the cabin, informing passengers that you were approaching Doaba Guerfel. You looked over at Din, noticing the subtle way his fist had clenched around Grogu. Din’s disdain for droids was something that you had not understood when you had first met him, but now you were aware of his past… you had nothing but the deepest sympathy for him.

As you stepped off the shuttle and onto the frozen ground, your lips couldn’t help but curve into a slight smile. The crunch of the snow underneath your feet would never fail to bring back a childlike sense of wonderment inside you that seemed to have dwindled over the years. But that appreciation for the smallest things that you had thought lost as you grew older, was now being awakened once more, after having the privilege to see so much of the galaxy through Grogu’s eyes. It was like seeing everything for the first time, as you monitored the little boy’s wide brown eyes and expressions to check that he was enjoying himself. Fortunately, it seemed as though he was. Grogu seemed absolutely content as the three of you made your way down the main street of Doaba Guerfel.

The buildings were covered in lights and, combined with the dusting of snow that seemed present on every surface, it was the perfect winter scene. When Din informed you that you had arrived on Corellia, you had found yourself slightly disappointed. It was a name you were familiar with, most people had heard of the vast shipyards and subsequent fighter pilots that this planet located in the Core Worlds had produced over the years. You associated it with machinery, industrialisation… not natural beauty. But aside from those assumptions, you knew scant details of the planet.

Even if you had, nothing could have prepared you for the beauty of the picturesque mountain town that Din had chosen to bring you to.

You continued enjoying the sights until your earlier assumptions about Grogu’s contentment were shattered as an opporunity to beg for food arised. The three of you were walking towards a vendor situated at the side of the street. Whatever they were smelling had a sweet, enticing aroma and, right on cue, Grogu whined and reached his little arms out towards the stall. As you approached the throng of people waiting to get their hands on the sweet treat, you noticed they were hot Corellian Ryshcate. You had never had these particular delicacies before, but they appeared to be pastries of some kind.

You stopped at the side of the street so you and Grogu could enjoy the flaky pastries - Din would eat later, given that he was waiting for the privacy of the cabin you would be staying in to remove his helmet. As you took your first bite of the Ryshcate, your mouth was suddenly transported to a rich, indulgent heaven of sugary, buttery goodness. There were nuts and fruits baked into the flaky layers and you hummed contentedly as you savoured the sweet treat.

“Is it good?” Din asked, shifting his weight awkwardly from one leg to the other as he waited, excluded due to his Creed from this simple pleasure. You knew he would not have it any other way though. It didn't stop you, though, from wishing sometimes, for his own sake above all else, that he could join in and live more freely.

“Delicious, Din.” You said, bringing your hand to your mouth as you replied so you did not inadvertently cover him in a storm of pastry flakes. “We can come back and get some tomorrow, perhaps, take them back to the cabin?” You suggested, it would be a shame for him to miss out.

“Sure,” Din nodded, “I think Grogu would like that too.”

You giggled as you noticed that the Ryshcate that had been in Grogu’s hands seconds before was now nowhere to be seen. It was larger than his head, but that had not prevented the little boy with the voracious appetite from gulping down the pastry despite its warmth and size. Once you had also finished your Ryshcate, you continued making your way down the street, Din’s hand finding yours again despite the bags… you just shook your head affectionately at his stubbornness. As you took in the sights and sounds before you, you didn’t think that Din could have picked out a better place for you to visit. Everything from the scenery, to the festive, relaxing atmosphere was exactly what you had been hoping for. You were pleased that Din had told you a little about the history of this place on your journey here. Now that you were actually here, walking around Doaba Guerfel, you could appreciate it fully.

As you made your way further down the street, Din finally allowed you to carry your bag so he could hold Grogu. The extra weight of the bag and the exertion caused you to notice how your breath was hanging in front of you like a little cloud. The air was crisp and The Mandalorian next to you looked impossibly handsome in the environment. Given that he was still in his armour, it was quite a feat, but you loved him in his beskar’gam as much as you loved him out of it. The white snow that touched every corner of this secluded mountain paradise, caused the armour to dazzle. Din's presence was attracting more than a few eyes. But with one strong hand in yours and another arm holding Grogu protectively, it was clear that this particular Mandalorian already had a Clan of his own.

Towards the end of the main street, Din guided you down one of the side streets. There were various establishments of all kinds; from diners and cantinas and small family run businesses selling toys and antiques. Most of them had intricate window displays for Life Day and it seemed as though every corner of this town had been touched by festive cheer. It was infectious, you couldn’t stop smiling as you walked down the street at Din’s side.

At the end of the street, there was a footbridge which took you across the mountains to the next peak. Wherever Din was taking you seemed to be as far out of the town as one could get, but it made sense given Din’s need for privacy if he were to remove his helmet and relax on this trip. After walking across several similar smaller bridges – the place was somewhat of a maze and you wondered how Din was keeping track – you eventually reached the cabin that was to be your home for the next few days.

The cabin was made out of dark brown wood, with a dusting of white snow on the roof. It looked unbelievably cozy and welcoming, especially given the landscape that surrounded the cabin. The array of flora that Din had promised were here could be found in the trees dotted around the cabin. It was an idyllic escape, nestled between the Nomad Mountains on all sides. After entering your secluded cabin and unpacking a few items from bags - including your warmest coat, hat, scarf and gloves - you helped Grogu dress in a new coat that Din had purchased for this trip, before you took him outside. You had intended to help him to build a snow-wookiee while you waited for Din to change into something more suited for enjoying the snowy environment than his armour. The privacy afforded by this secluded cabin meant that Din could remove his helmet. You couldn’t wait to see him in his dressed down, relaxed form out here in this safe haven.

The sun was beginning to set, bathing the sky in a beautiful collection of oranges and reds. You willed Din to hurry up, you didn't want him to miss something as stunning. In the time you had spend appreciating the sunset, you found that your plans to help Grogu in building a snow-wookiee were to be unrealised. Before you could even begin gathering snow with the shovel that lay propped against the dark wooden exterior of the cabin for him to play with, the mischievous little boy had used the Force to build an enormous, fully formed snow-wookiee.

“Grogu, that’s cheating,” You said, crossing your arms and shaking your head at him, a wide smile on your face.

“Muh?” Grogu responded, almost offended that you weren’t impressed with his handiwork.

You heard the door of the cabin open behind you and turned around to finally lay eyes upon your favourite Mandalorian. Bathed in the fading golden light, he was mesmerising. Din was wearing a thick red coat, with a material that would protect him from all the elements in contrast to your more fashionable woollen one. He still had his gloves on, too. It was the only part of him familiar to the way he was dressed when you had arrived at the cabin. Din stood there, surveying the scene before him with the prowess of the trained hunter he was. He smiled softly when his eyes met yours. You knew your face had lit up when you had seen him, it was impossible for you not to react to his warm brown eyes, you saw your expression mirrored in his, especially when he looked around and appreciated Grogu’s snow-based creation.

“Great job, kid!” Din said proudly as he strode towards the two of you. He picked Grogu up and brought him close. Grogu cooed and reached out to place his hand on his father’s cheek, his way of giving his seal of approval that Din had removed his helmet.

It was a touching sight. But you had plans to disrupt the peace as you bent down and scooped fistfuls of snow, moulding them into a sphere. Without any warning, you lobbed the snowball in the direction of Din. You had truly only intended to hit him on the side of his head, but your aim was so poor that you inadvertently hit him square in the face. The warm brown eyes that you had enjoyed gazing into only moments before were the first feature of Din’s to be visible again, as he blinked away the snow that had coated his entire face.

“Oh, you’ll pay for that,” Din said, voice low as he set Grogu down.

You yelped and began to run away from him, but you didn’t make it far, before Din grabbed you by the wrist and brought his snow-covered glove to your face, coating your face in snow just as his had been covered moments earlier.

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry!” You panted, breathless with laughter as you brought your hands to your face to wipe the snow away.

“Truce?” Din asked as he released his hand from your wrist and placed it on your waist, pulling you close to him. You looked down at his lips, so warm and inviting. It would be so easy to give in to what your heart wanted and kiss him. But he had played dirty, grabbing you and forcing his hand to your face like that.

“No way!” You exclaimed as you wriggled from his embrace and squatted down to sculpt another snow-based missile.

Din shook his head, laughing at you as you hurled another snowball at him. He retaliated in kind, catching you square in the jaw. You continued like that for a few more minutes, forgetting all about the actual child who was sitting quietly a few feet away in the snow, watching the pair of you fight like children. A snowball fight seemed like a good idea, but the two of you had apparently forgotten about the abilities of the child you adored.

It was the sound of a giggle a few feet away that reminded you that you and Din were not alone here. In all your horseplay, Grogu was being neglected. You were about to apologise, scoop him up and help him make some snowballs of his own. But the kid had other ideas. The sight of his little head, a tiny green dot against the white snow that was still as bright despite the fading light, was the last sight you saw before everything became a snowy white haze. Suddenly, every part of your body was being pummelled by snowballs.

“What the–” You started, wondering how it was possible for snowballs to be made and thrown with the speed they were right then.

“GROGU!” Din bellowed. His mind had been quicker to recall the abilities with the Force that his son possessed, abilities that were helping him thoroughly destroy two grown adults in this impromptu snowball fight. “STOP! THAT'S CHEATING!”

After a few more moments, Grogu finally relented, clapping his hands together in glee. As your vision returned, you noticed the way both you and Din were covered head to toe in snow… your faces barely visible amongst the carnage. Din’s thick coat certainly did a better job of protecting him from the elements than your own garment, which seemed woefully inadequate in comparison. There should have been something slightly humiliating about being beaten by a child, but all you could think about was the way Din’s cheeks were slightly rosy. How his smile dazzled against the brilliant white snow. His presence was magnetic… you could stare at him forever.

“I’ll make you pay for that, you little womp rat!” Din said playfully as he charged towards Grogu, who squealed in delight and tried to make a break for it from Din. Alas, his legs were too little and Din soon caught up to him, scooping him up with a motion that sent both of them tumbling to the ground.

You laughed at the sight and made your way over to them. Din placed Grogu on his knee and began passing him little bits of snow, whispering to him and instructing him how to make a snowball fairly, rather than with the Force. But rather than a sweet father and son bonding moment, it transpired that your boys were actually conspiring against you. Grogu pitched the little snowballs at you with stunning accuracy as each hit your cheeks. You stumbled dramatically, falling to the snow face down beside them and closing your eyes, as though mortally wounded.

“Wake up, cyare!” Din said playfully. “Oh no, Grogu… what did you do?”

Grogu whined in response.

“I think, perhaps, a kiss is needed?” Din said lightly.

The feeling of firstly Din’s warm breath washing over yours, and then his soft lips gently meeting yours meant, once he pulled away, the grin that was on your face shattered the illusion for Grogu, who was now staring at the two of you curiously. Even if you had wanted to continue the act, once Din kissed you, you couldn’t do anything except grin.

“All better.” You sighed, enjoying the way Din’s brown curls were sticking to his forehead, dampened by the snow. Warmth pooled in your chest as you looked at him, reflecting the depth of the affection you felt for this man.

Then, you flipped onto your back and began moving your arms and legs in unison to make a snow angel, watching the brilliant sky as you did so. Din placed Grogu on the snow between the two of you and began making the same motions. Grogu looked confused at first, but soon caught up, thrashing his little arms and legs about wildly. You caught Din’s eye as the two of you gazed at each other, soft smiles on your faces. You were trying to convey how grateful you were that he had brought you to this paradise. The look in his warm brown eyes, that shone like honey in the fading light, indicated that he understood. You slowed down, transfixed by him, before ceasing your motions. But then, the warmth in your chest that you felt whenever you looked at Din, was replaced with something much, much colder. Making snow angels with the two of them was such a joyful moment that you temporarily forgot how cold you were, your coat soaked through. But once the motions ceased, your teeth began chattering.

Din noticed instantly, looking at you with concern before he said, “Come on, let’s head inside and put Grogu to bed.” He raised an eyebrow, “Then,I have an idea for how to help you warm up.”

You couldn’t help but giggle breathlessly as Din pulled you to your feet. It turned out that the kiss had been a promise of things to come. As the pair of you walked hand in hand to the cabin, you took one last look back to the three figures in the snow in the fading light. The large, broad outline of Din’s snowangel, the shape that was unmistakably that of your own body and, between the two of you, the imprint Grogu had made, which seemed impossibly tiny next to the two of you. Especially considering the carnage he had just unleashed upon Din and you with the snowballs. So much power for one so small.

You thought with a smile that the snowy impressions of the three of you looked perfect together in the fluffy snow. They would be gone by the time you rose tomorrow, replaced by a fresh dusting of snow. But the love that the three of you felt for each other could not be replaced by any force in the galaxy.

For now, though, the unmistakable outlines of your little family remained as evidence of the fun afternoon you had spent in the snow.

[matan4il]

hello! as someone who's very much uneducated about the israel-hamas war but wants to educate themself more on the topic, I just want to ask if wikipedia is a good place to start? obviously it's not the be all end all and further research is necessary but do you think it's a good starting place? since with longer texts after some point my brain stops being able to properly comprehend them lol. if it's not then can you direct me to other, more reliable sources? I know it's quite a big ask but I don't want to go around using terms and saying things I don't understand and spread misinformation in the process ^^;;

Hi Nonnie! I just wanna start by commending you for the desire to educate yourself. It's not easy, this conflict has many aspects, and goes back quite a while, so I understand people who don't want to. All the more respect to you for having this willingness to dive in! *hugs*

Wikipedia is def not a reliable resource. I was an editor for a while, because I wanted to contribute my Jewish history knowledge. What I discovered as a Jew is, that it's a website with a bias towards antisemitism. Because Wikipedia is open for anyone to edit, the dominant narrative between two conflicting sides is always going to come down to numbers. Which side has more people to add new pages, or edit existing ones? Which side has more representatives for when disputes are settled with a vote (which is a dumb way to settle encyclopedic disputes... at a certain moment in history, the popular vote would have determined that the earth is flat). So consider that there are a mere 15 million Jews worldwide. Meanwhile, according to a global survey by the ADL, about 26% of the adult human population harbors antisemitic views. That's over one BILLION adults. When those are the proportions, unsurprisingly Wikipedia has an antisemitic bias. I've seen it on pages that have nothing to do with the Israeli-Arab conflict, too.

But don't just take my word on it! Here's an example of an academic article that touches exactly on the antisemitic bias of Wikipedia:

A resource that I like for understanding the Jewish/Israeli POV is the Jewish Virtual Library. It's dedicated to Jewish history in general, and as part of that, covers the conflict. I like it as a resource, because it's encyclopedic in nature, it contains a lot of parts of the conflict that tend to be erased by less history-oriented websites, it is organized in a manner that's relatively easy to use (I would recommend starting with "Israel" and "Myths & Facts", but you also have a search function), it doesn't look away from some criticism of Israel, and at the same time, I've never seen any anti-Palestinian sentiment/bias on there. Another resource is Unpacked, a project that aims to do about the same thing, but mostly in video form (they also have a website). I think its biggest downsides are, that with the video format, it's sometimes too condensed to do some issue justice, and that the website is a bit harder to navigate.

I looked at other encyclopedic resources online and... most of them are just not that in depth, because not being dedicated to this conflict specifically, they start for the most part in 1947, and miss a lot of the historical context that precedes the events of that year.

If I were to recommend specific books, on why a false narrative has become very common regarding this conflict, I would point to The New Historians by Efraim Karsh (it deals with how biased historians fabricate a false narrative about the conflict... To prove the falsifications, Karsh goes back to some of the most critical documents and events in the history of the conflict, examining the original evidence. I learned A LOT that I had no idea about from this book), and Industry of Lies by Ben Dror Yemini (same thing. This book was the first place where I learned stuff like... that Israel had actually offered to take as citizens some of the Arabs who had fled the 1947-1949 War, or that during the war, there were places where Jews were asking Arabs not to leave, such as over the radio in Haifa). You can also search both of these men online, they have stuff they've shared since publishing these books.

I hope this helps? And of course, if you need help with any specific question, I will try my best for you! Have a great day! xoxox

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[haikyuufanficwriting]

Chapter 18: Akaashi

You were an international sports journalist. You figured since you loved sports but wouldn’t dare play them, loved travelling, and loved writing, it was the only logical solution.

You were living your dream, going from country to country, giving your take on all the world’s most exciting games. But when you heard of an international Japanese Volleyball team, that had a majority of players with histories dating back to high school…

Your little journalist brain just couldn’t take it.

It didn’t take much to convince your boss to assign you to the MSBY Black Jackal vs. Schweiden Adlers Game set in Japan, seeing as though with your background research found a myriad of TV-worthy stories that audiences would drool over. The gruelling flight came with practiced ease, and before you knew it you were waiting outside the stadium trying to get into the press box.

Key word trying.

"Press pass," The worker repeated, Japanese accent mudding his words as he gestured for you to produce the necessary document.

You nodded vigorously, rummaging through your bag in search of the pass. "Yes, press pass! I have it right here," you exclaimed, holding up the laminated card triumphantly.

However, the worker's furrowed brow indicated that your efforts were in vain. He continued to stare expectantly, clearly not comprehending your English explanation. Truthfully, you know you should’ve practiced some Japanese before you came here, but you were just coming from another job and didn’t have nearly enough time to brush open a book or YouTube video.

Right now, you were regretting it immensely.

The man at the door spoke to you, the language going through one ear and not the other, not even being able to correctly decipher the context clues he’s trying to give you.

“Sir, please I need to get in! The game is about to start!” You said desperately showing your pass, to which the man only shook his head in growing annoyance as he repeated his words with more force, as if you’d suddenly understand them.

“Pardon me.” A voice came from behind you, soft and melodious, sending shivers down your spine. You turned around cautiously, almost as if you wanted to make sure you weren’t dreaming.

Then you locked eyes with him. Possibly the most beautiful man you’d ever laid eyes on.

A wave of awe washed over you, leaving you momentarily stunned. His appearance was like something out of a dream – the sleek lines of his dark hair framing his face, the subtle curve of his lips as he spoke, and the piercing gaze of his eyes that seemed to see right through you.

You couldn't help but be entranced by his presence. His features held a timeless elegance, with a jawline so sharp it could cut through glass, and eyes that sparkled with a depth that drew you in like a moth to a flame. He was undeniably handsome, but it was more than that – there was a magnetism about him that was impossible to ignore.

When you had realized you were staring you shook yourself out of it.

“Do you need help?" He had spoken in English, but you could tell it was a bit of a struggle for him, which made your heartbeat faster than you thought it would. You couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in your chest as you struggled to find your words. "Yes, please," you managed to say, your voice betraying your nervousness. "I have my press pass, but he doesn't seem to understand." You spoke slowly, trying to make sure that he could understand you, and after a minute of what you assume is translating in his head, the man nodded in understanding, his gaze never leaving yours. With a confident yet gentle demeanour, he effortlessly took charge of the situation, addressing the worker in Japanese with a calm assurance.

You watched in amazement as he spoke, his words flowing smoothly and effortlessly. Even though you couldn't understand the language, there was something undeniably captivating about the way he carried himself.

After a brief exchange, he turned back to you, a soft smile playing on his lips. "You have, uh," He paused, clearly not knowing the word, but you notice his eyes light up with an idea as he pulls out his wallet and shows you his driver’s license, smiling lightly once you understand. “Oh! Yes I do!” You sighed in heavy relief as you pulled out your wallet from your purse and showed your driver’s license, to which the worker nodded and opened the doors.

You had to stop yourself from jumping with joy, afraid of looking stupid in front of the incredibly beautiful man.

You got to say than you in English, before pausing and using your very limited knowledge to say a butchered ‘thank you’ in Japanese, making the man bow and nod slightly, as if to say ‘its no problem’.

You smile, not wanting to look away or for the interaction to end, but when you hear the worker gruff something out and gesture to the press box you quickly turn and make your way inside.

To see the gorgeous man following suit.

You look behind you, clearly surprised and happy. You make quick eye contact, finding that his eyes were already meeting yours before putting your hand on your heart to try and still its fast-paced beating.

Focus! You’ve got a job to do! You chastise yourself as you find the closest seat to the game, losing sight of the black-haired man. You try to forget about him (at least for now) as you watch both the teams warm up with various exercises, noticing the looks the players give each other.

You couldn’t contain your grin as you make notes in your notebook.

What you would give to speak to any of them. You thought, knowing that their recount of the game or of their history would be sure to give an amazing piece. But the amount of work to find a translator as well as to find a time wouldn’t be feasible with next job being somewhere off the coast of Europe.

You’re deep in your note-writing, already imagining what your opening is going to be, when you feel a presence over your shoulder.

“You are writer?” You whip your head to find him, standing there in such perfection you wouldn’t be surprised if he was a sculpture made of marble. You immediately felt yourself blush, covering your little notebook. “Yes, I write about sports.” You point to the game, trying to make your words more understandable. He looks flustered, before putting his hand on his chest and saying, “I write too.”

Well, that makes sense seeing as he’s in the press box. You smile not sure how to add to the conversation with your mutual limited knowledge in each other’s respective languages. Not wanting to give up your second chance at conversing with him, you gulp before attempting more bad Japanese.

“What Name is?” You shakily say, feeling almost too giddy when his eyes lit up with your words and sitting down beside you. He gestures down to your notebook and pen, silently asking for them. Slightly confused, you give it to him, watching as he turns the page to a blank one, and elegantly writes the Japanese script in a beautiful font.

If he wasn’t beside you, you would’ve assumed it was some sort of printer.

“Akaashi Keji.” He slows down his words, pointing to each script as he sounds it out. It was such a beautiful name. Fitting, really.

“Akaashi.” You repeated cautiously as to not mess it up, feeling your heart skip a beat with the look he gave you.

You felt your blush come on twice as strong, taking the notebook and pen back as you wrote your own name in English, teaching him how to say yours. You did your best to hold back your giggles when he struggled to pronounce constants, but when he got it.

Him saying your name did things that no other man had ever done to you.

Hearing the warning whistle that lead to the start of the game, you knew the moments was over. But looking at him…

You knew it was the start of something amazing.

[filthgarbage86]

"What do you like being called" : Eddie x Bunny!Reader part 3

Part 1 Part 2

Author's Notes:

It's finally here! This is the third and I believe last part for this string of story I believe! If you want more specific headcanons/themes for bunny!reader x eddie please let me know in my ask box!

Tagging: @xtravrgnoliveoil acts-of-pastel upside-down-angel lia-winther eddiesgir1 emmalee-01 digital-charlie sleepy-bunnie Here you go! Last parts with choose your own adventure!

Context: After Eddie figures out a nickname for you that sticks in a different way (bunny), you asked him what he wants to be called. "Well you're gonna have to figure it out like I did" situation, it's going to be a lot teasing and trial/error for some shit that's gonna make the reader want to scream from feelings. Read the first two parts for more in-depth!

"You're gonna have to figure it out like I did"

You tried to think just before Eddie figured you out what he meant by you figuring it out like he did. Maybe he was just telling you that metaphorically but how were you supposed to know; so you do exactly as he did.

You did some research of course; you had to phone in a favor originally from Robin with hooking you up some different types of videos that you wouldn't be able to access otherwise. That being said, she immediately wasn't into the idea of giving into male pleasure in any way so she then pulled Steve to come in and help with the project if you will. They were both invested for blackmail reasons but still, it was extremely helpful. Steve found some different things for you, making short little quips every now and then towards you but you were just trying to absorb it all. Anyways, you figure that a bags full of material should be plenty to help you in the right direction. You pay the fee and you're blushing out the door at the comments and whistles you were getting from both Steve and Robin. They embarrassed you so easily but in the most caring way possible. It was sweet, really.

You get home and you start your "homework" if you will. Names... what does a guy even like in terms of names? You didn't even know that you wanted to be called bunny until you heard it from Eddie's mouth. The way he approached it seemed so natural, but you had really given much thought of it. Either way, you just wanted to call Eddie something of equal value, equal impact. You wanted him to be able to unwind as well.

Eddie was always a dominant person. He loved taking care of you and could obviously have you on edge in under a minute. His effect on you is blatant and you don't really know why but with this project, there's this sense of care that you want to figure out about it.

You pop in a video and of course, being from Steve, it's straight up porn. Like two people fucking on screen with frankly awful plot and no chemistry. The girl seems to trying to show like she likes it, but to you, it's obvious. You take it out. This cycles through for a little bit until you have gone through your entire bag and you're left with a weird little list of names on a piece of paper that you had scribbled through watching. Some of them made sense, in a very obvious kind of way and others kind of shocked you, trying to figure it out. You take your little list and you decide "well... I guess I just have to try some out.." (A/N: THIS IS NOW A CHOOSE YOUR OWN ENDING DEPENDING IF YOU WANT A MORE SUBMISSIVE!EDDIE OR A DOM!EDDIE)

The List: Dominant!Eddie

The List: Submissive!Eddie

[kob131]

So heard of the Teraleaks for Pokemon? NGL Feel really bad about that employee that got phished to have this released. The leak itself was whatever but the hacker outright doxxing them was shitty.

On another note, highlights include Cyrus of Team Galactic being confirmed autistic in his character bio (IIRC they flat out use that exact word too), Beta Lickylicky's full design finally being uncovered, a TON of unreleased Pokemon lore and background being unearthed especially around Arceus, scrapped GameFreak games, and possibly leaks for Pokemon Legends ZA

Also, apparently there's some Pokemon Concept art that's drawn in a very different style than what we know, a lot darker and realistic looking imo. It looks like Gen 3 or 4 was gonna have a different vibe than what we got initially it looks like.

I saw this in passing, let's actually delve into this.-

-Hulk Hogan is partially the inspiration for Drayden

... Not since James being a partial reference point for Homer Simpson have I ever taken such psychic damage in this manner.

-Huh, so Cyrus just might be autistic. Maybe. There seems to have been a community note but it got removed. I dunno. Assuming he is-

I'll take it. He's not a fucking moron like Archie/Maxie, he's not contradictory and boring like Lysandre and he's got some level of depth unlike Giovanni. And yeah, I get it. The conflict of thinking in an excessively logical way but feeling such intense emotions. This is a win.

-I guess those Fakemon designs aren't that bad, considering so many just look like Beta Pokemon.

-That uh...that creation myth was something. Someone in Game Freak is a HUGE mythology nerd cuz that whole thing had the same feeling as learning about the creation myth of Chaos. ALso somewhat implies the pseudo-Legendaries ARE in fact 'pseudo-Legendaries'

Though note- No Giritina mentioned. So this likely isn't canon.

-Yeah, those are some realistic looking concepts. Especially that beta Cacturne. Kinda glad they didn't go this route because A. looks good but doesn't fit Pokemon's style. B. The style we did get was far more cohesive with older Pokemon. And C. Would work better as an independent monster collector built around this concept. As in- Pokemon did NOT need to dominant ANOTHER aspect of monster collecting.

Also not surprising- Gen 4 had a lot of sharper, more adult-like designs like Gallade or Electrivire.

-'A game about raising and fighting bugs. You can also fuse them' Cool concept, Game Freak. If you do this, please do it without using Pokemon. Again, we don't need Pokemon consuming MORE of it's genre. ... Look, I value the distinction between Pokemon and SMT VERY heavily.

-So looks like Pokemon has been eyeing cutting the Pokedex since Gen 3. Reminds me of the Foxacade video where he said something similar (that their best bet to do this was back in Gen 3). Also shows ideas for what would become Mega Evolution, Dynamax and Gholdengo back in 2000.

P.S. 'They tried to make a game simple but included the REGIS?!' Dude, we went from themes of letting go of past glory and moving on to two dunderheads who failed fourth grade biology.

-So they knew people were gonna go crazy for Skyla. Always thought she was...specially made. Also explains why I keep seeing Shadow in my research.

-... And yet these stories are still better implementation of adult themes than Palworld.

On a serious note- What is up with that fucking Slaking story?

-I don't see any ZA info other than some passing info on Gen 10. Which really sucks for the developers- they're likely getting crunched still and now their hard work that they could deliver with maximum impact using good marketing is now just laid bare for everyone to mock them over.

-Lastly: It's not bad enough some poor grunt accidentally leaked a massive amount of info, likely getting him blacklisted from Japan's video gaming industry but they also had to get their info released so they can get blacklisted everywhere else AND mocked for it?

I don't care much for or against leaks but come on, have some decorum.

[aroacewxs]

Idk if this has been asked before but Im curious to know how you think wxs all found out about their aroace identities? Personally I think Nene was the one to introduce the label to everyone else during like a group discussion where everyone is like 'yeah I just don't get the hype around romance' and nenes just like 'um. Guys are you all aromantic too?' followed by confused looks from everyone else, cueing Nene to explain it

cue me dancing around: I LOVE THIS QUESTION. this is a sign for anybody else to ask me about aroace wxs hehehe they make me happy. and i will answer in depth

starting off with tsukasa: i mentioned this here before but tsukasa to me is so oblivious aroace with sex repulsion. he doesn't particularly understand the sentiment attached to sex or romantic dates and is even more confused about the norms surrounding these things

i also don't think tsukasa will actually take the time to research what he's feeling. too much theatre in that brain. he wouldn't even consider that this feeling, feeling detached from romantic and sexual attraction, was not something everybody else experienced. he just assumes that this is how everybody lives, there's no way people actually go on dates, smash lips and all that. that only happens in plays and movies!!!!!! and then his world slightly falls apart/lh when he finds out all this is real

emu would just be like "okay!!!!!!!" and move on with her day i think. i like your thought about how nene would introduce the term to them first and everyone would be like "oh. OH" LMAO i think emu would accept it the quickest. look into it a bit maybe, consider a few of the experiences she's had regarding her lack of romantic and sexual attraction and go "ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" as a lightbulb flickers above her. and then she kisses her friends because she likes to do that

nene and rui would think about it the most. before knowing what the term aroace meant, they definitely thought they were broken, that they were falling behind. for rui, it went hand in hand with the alienation he experienced from his peers, and for nene, she believed that she just didn't have these feelings because she was embarrassed to make friends in the first place. forget romantic lovers. but it would catch up to her as she enters high school because she believed that by now, she should have some sort of desire to pursue a romantic relationship like how everyone else around her did.

they would both go on thorough internet deep dives, watching different videos about attraction, browsing the aroace subreddit, etc. this is a little silly but i think nene stumbled across jaiden animations' aroace video and had her life permanently changed by it (me). i like to imagine nene and rui walking home together one day and then nene suddenly saying "i think i'm aroace," to which a wide-eyed rui replies with "same. what the freak" and they'd quietly share their findings as the sun sets behind them.

tldr: nene and rui think about it the most -> emu and tsukasa remain oblivious -> nene and rui come out to each other -> they bond over their shared experiences -> nene comes out to wxs first -> introduces the term -> tsukasa and emu's lives are changed -> they move on. show must go on

thanks for the ask :D

[444m777]

29 things I love about Michael: Day 29

Where do I even start?

Well first things first HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!

I spent the majority of the day watching a bunch of MJ videos, edits, performances and I got the bright idea to read several MJ books at the same time🙃 so in between switching from my phone to books I’ve been also crying and wishing he was still here not for the fans but for his children so he could physically be there for them and watch as they grow older and more into who they’ve always been but as an adult. My heart goes out to his kids and family.

So on the 29th day (and I missed so many days after the 19th or 20th) I want to say that his essence is what I love about him. Everyone’s essence is unique to them. Some try to copy but we can tell when someone’s trying to be someone they’re not. Which is why he cannot be replicated. And he shouldn’t be. What we are left with is his legacy and as fans we must preserve it in its entirety. Not just the music and dancing but also who Michael was as person. A true humanitarian who wanted to protect children all over the world. Providing a space(s) of comfort for everyone. Reminding people that they’re not alone and that together we can truly make changes in our own communities and the WHOLE world.

To make up for the days that I didn’t get to post brief sentences on why I love Michael for the days I didn’t get to post

Day 20: he was vegetarian but he loved him some KFC. I myself have dabbled in veganism/vegetarianism throughout my adult life but CHICKEN when fried oefff… that’s tough to let go completely haha

Day 21: his complicated relationship with dogs… I know he didn’t like dogs because they turned on him and some dogs bite etc. but I just love how he loved his half wolf half german shepard dog called Black Girl. She was abused by her previous owner and Michael and Janet tried their best to be gentle and gave Black Girl lots of hugs and kisses when they were younger. I’m a dog person so I was a bit sad he mentioned being afraid of dogs and mentioned dogs turning on him BUT Black Girl was sweet and gentle and Michael made sure to take care not to trigger her (unlike other people like his Father who used to point his gun at the dog—yikes!).

Day 22: also love that he was so curious about the universe and why things (meaning a leaf, space, insects etc.) were the way they were. I want to go more in depth about this at one point because he was just naturally curious as most kids are and he continued to indulge that curiosity as an adult. He asked a LOT of questions. Something I used to get told as a kid “that’s just the way it is!” but I didn’t let that stop me. Reading/researching truly keeps me going for hours and hours. You just get lost at every new bit of information and he was huge on that. We truly can learn so much from his approach to life

Day 23: I’m also reading a book about Prince lol and of courseeeeee I’d find Michael in it. Long story short in the introduction Prince mentions how he wants his memoir to be written and doesn’t want to use the word magic to describe him/his music. He said “just look at a word and see if it’s one I would use. Because MAGIC isn’t one I’d use. Magic is Michael’s word. That’s what his music was about”. It’s true. It truly is Michael’s word.

Day 24: I’ve been struggling with my drawing. Like my lessons are going fine but when it comes to drawing Michael I’ve had really nice moments and other WHO TF IS THAT!? moments xD and i came across a video that showed roughly 200 drawings Michael did. There were I think about 10 ish drawings I haven’t seen before. And I noticed he would do light sketches and go into realism to more abstract and self potraits. Not everything was perfect. And by perfect I mean like super clean. I struggle with that at the moment and I love that his drawings reminded me that I’m doing this for fun. And to trust that when I draw something I’m proud of I should rejoice and when I draw something I’m not too happy about it then I can try again another time. He’s re-drawn so many of the same characters in varying styles over and over again. I mean he’s been sketching for DECADES so I've only been drawing for what 10 days🙃 it was a nice reminder to gently tell me to chill out haha.

Day 25: I love how big of fanboy Michael is when it comes to his idols and the greats he learned from and also having the chance to meet some of them. I’ve been thrusted down a small hole and have been busy collecting info regarding his idols. Seeing the patterns, the inspirations and just trying to get a feel for what fascinated him so much. Aside from their great talents/showmanship you are also expressing one of your highest forms of yourself so I want to see more of what he saw in them the same way I see and feel about him.

Day 26: this one is a bit sad as I really feel he was snubbed from acting. It’s very clear that becoming an actor was the next step in his plans. From a very young age. It’s sad roles were promised then suddenly given to someone else. Audition tapes not considered and even having a shitty meeting with the person who’s going to play the character you were promised to play just to get some sort of rise out of him. At least that’s why I think that person did that and set that meeting up. Anyways I’m just so happy that he chose to invest his own money in Moonwalker and made it happen. I always thought I’d see more of him on screen and we were robbed by a lot of jealous people and people who felt he wouldn’t add anything aside from the fact that he’s famous. He still continued to pursue it in smaller ways and I hope in the next lifetime he’s able to be the full fledged actor he’s always wanted to be and directing and writing movies left and right!

Day 27: his music is truly healing and positively affirms a lot of great things. I’ve kept track of affirmations in his music from the Jackons up until Invincible. I struggle with anxiety and would repeat some of the affirmations throughout the day or when I wake up in the morning. I make sure to be grateful and I affirm a good and positive day with one his lyric affirmations. I’ve used affirmations before but THESE stick with me because it’s Michael lol but he truly was ahead of his time in so many subjects that people would and WILL be baffled when they find out. He was a SMART, curious man. And very big on positive thinking and positively manipulating the subconscious mind.

Day 28: I love how he was pro-Black. His message was very much UNITY of all races, backgrounds etc. but he reminded people that he was proud to be BLACK. People love to forget that part.

[blazehedgehog]

What are your thoughts on Jeff Gerstmann hating Nights Into Dreams?

I mean, listen, Jeff's been around for a long time, and I think he probably got set in his view of the game back when it first came out and the internet being what it is hasn't really given him much room to fairly reevaluate it.

He might also just not like it. That's fair too. Jeff has his tastes and there just might not be much overlap, even though I think it might scratch parts of his Tony Hawk itch if he really got into it.

It's also a funny bit that he gets really angry at games like Yoshi's Island, Shenmue and NiGHTS, so he has a vested interest in continuing to maintain the bit at all costs. And with how, uh, "passionate" Sega fans can be, I imagine being that angry comes pretty easily.

But I will say this: Jeff being angry about certain games has inspired at least two videos I have in the pipe. I never mention him by name or the fact he inspired those videos, but him talking about what he hated about those games got me to talk about what I love about them.

One I've been talking about for literal years at this point, what I've called "The NiGHTS Documentary." I held off on doing it because it's going to be a very long, intricate video.

The script is basically done, and has been done for some time. I started writing it back in 2016, but a lot of what I say in it dates back even further, to a time before Jeff even helped launch Giantbomb, to one of the very first videos I ever conceptualized for Youtube. Jeff's thoughts simply spurred me to write this version of it. I keep saying, "the next video I do will be NiGHTS," and then something else gets in the way.

The second one is a much more in-depth do-over of my old, old Shenmue video. I never liked my first Shenmue video in retrospect, because it was mostly just me describing the gameplay with an empty "I just think it's neat" tacked on in the last 30 seconds. This new video goes much more into why Shenmue was interesting, and while the script itself looks complete, it needs more research for some of the claims I make. I also wrote it in the shadow of Shenmue 3, hoping to get it out before that game came out, so I should probably play Shenmue 3 and see if I need to further revise my thoughts.

Jeff is allowed to think whatever he wants to think. I think he's proven that he is well spoken, has interesting things to say about a lot of topics, and is generally pretty intelligent and thoughtful, so if I don't agree with him on a few, whatever. That kind of "comfortably agree to disagree" position is a rare one these days.

And if nothing else, writing that NiGHTS documentary script has made me come to the conclusion that NiGHTS isn't a game for everyone. So if Jeff (or anyone else) can't vibe with it, I understand that, and it doesn't take away from how much I enjoy it.