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unsolicited-opinions · 26 days ago

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It's always hilarious when I see the dates on your posts because in NZ we go day/month/year.

So when I see your posts, for example one I saw just now dated 5/9/25, I'm like "oh cool post from the future". Then my brain catches up and goes "oh wait no that's not right, time travel doesn't exist. Amercian date duh"

(Please never change your date system, I enjoy the moment of confusion)

Can we talk about how weird the US is?

Most of the world uses DD/MM/YYYY, but the US uses MM/DD/YYYY

Most of the world uses Celsius, the US uses Fahrenheit.

Most of the world is metric, but the US won't let go of Imperial units.

The US is the only wealthy nation without universal healthcare.

Most of the world uses 220–240V electricity, the US uses 120-Volt

I read that only the US and New Zealand allow direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ads.

The US is the only nation that ties many aspects of adult life (housing, employment, loans, insurance rates) to a secretive algorithm-driven credit score system.

Many countries vote on weekends or have national holidays for elections. The US votes on a Tuesday - and it's not even a federal holiday.

College sports are not an industry ($18-$20 billion per year!) anywhere but in the US.

The weirdest difference about Americans...is that they're largely unaware of how weird the US is among other nations.

It's funny. I was looking at the above and thought, I should make a list of things about the US I'm proud of! Some of the ways it is positively exceptional!

So I started making a list...and had to face the reality that Trump is attacking all of them.

1. Constitutionally Protected Free Speech

The US has some of the strongest legal protections for freedom of expression in the world - including unpopular, offensive, or political speech.

Unlike many democracies, "hate speech" laws don’t exist in the same form, and government censorship is much more restricted.

Trump hasn't dismantled free speech (yet), but he attacked the free press as "the enemy of the people," encouraged and filed lawsuits against journalists, and floated ideas like expanding libel laws to target critics. While not policy, this rhetoric chills speech and emboldens authoritarianism. His attempts to illegally de-fund public broadcasting are nakedly political, motivated by his distaste for the content of NPR and PBS, and in violation of the First Amendment.

2. Invention Culture

The U.S. is uniquely good at turning wild ideas into world-changing innovations: the airplane, the internet, the smartphone, GPS, social media, electric cars, AI, and yes, even the moon landing.

American culture prizes risk-taking and rewards failure as a learning process - rare in most countries.

Trump's immigration limits (like the H-1B visa crackdown) restricted access to top global talent, which could weaken innovation long-term. His attacks on institutions of higher education will dramatically slow technological innovation and destroy research programs. The brain drain to other nations of technical, scientific expertise has already started.

3. Higher Ed Research Powerhouse

The U.S. is home to nearly all of the top global research universities and attracts more international students than any other country.

American universities lead in medical, technological, and scientific breakthroughs.

Trump slashed funding for scientific research and gutted federal advisory panels.

Anti-intellectualism and attacks on elite universities (especially during COVID and around DEI issues) undermined trust in American academia and discouraged international students.

He also restricted foreign researchers, especially from China.

4. Peaceful Transfers of Power (Mostly)

The US had a long history of peaceful democratic transitions, without coups, assassinations, or military takeovers - uncommon for such a large and diverse nation...and then came Trump.

Trump's refusal to accept the 2020 election results, pressuring officials to overturn it, and inciting the January 6th insurrection are considered by legal scholars and bipartisan commissions as an unprecedented attack on American democracy.

5. National Parks System

The US pioneered the idea of preserving vast, stunning natural landscapes for public enjoyment - Yellowstone was the world's first national park.

The National Parks system is the gold standard for conservation tourism.

Trump opened millions of acres of protected lands to drilling, mining, and commercial use, including rolling back protections at Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante.

His administration also weakened the Endangered Species Act and gutted environmental regulations.

6. Civil Society Strength

The US has a thriving network of grassroots organizations, non-profits, advocacy groups, and independent media that hold institutions accountable and mobilize citizens.

Trump has attacked watchdog groups and frequently tried to delegitimize civil society institutions, especially those related to voting rights, environment, and racial justice.

His administration also attempted to weaponize the IRS and DOJ against political opponents.

7. Free & Open Internet

Despite pressures, the US has generally protected a free and open internet, with few restrictions on access or content compared to most other nations.

...until Trump’s FCC, under Ajit Pai, repealed net neutrality protections in 2017. Though the internet remained accessible, open access and fair competition were weakened.

9. Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

The US leads in startup creation, venture capital funding, and unicorn companies (startups worth $1B+).

It’s one of the few places where a person can come from nothing and build a global empire in their garage (literally - see Apple, Amazon, HP).

Trump's immigration restrictions hurt startups' access to talent and investment (e.g. STEM immigrants, startup visas).

Trade wars with China and uncertainty in international markets also created instability for small and medium-sized innovators.

10. Strong Judicial Review

The US Supreme Court and lower courts have real power to strike down laws and check the other branches - rare in many democracies.

Trump respected judicial review when it served him, but attacked judges who ruled against him, calling them "Obama judges" or "so-called judges."

He also appointed record numbers of federal judges, many of whom were rated "not qualified," and explicitly chosen for ideological loyalty, raising long-term concerns about judicial independence.

11. Religious Pluralism

While religion is prominent in public life, the U.S. also guarantees freedom of religion and supports a wildly diverse religious landscape - everything from Orthodox Jews to Buddhists to Wiccans to atheists.

Trump has embraced Christian nationalism and banned entry from multiple Muslim-majority countries (the "Muslim Ban"), which was later struck down and modified...until he revived it in 2025.

Rhetoric and policies have consistently signaled preference for one religious identity, undermining pluralism.

12. Robust Refugee and Immigrant Absorption (Historically)

Though flawed, the US has welcomed more immigrants than any other country in history and granted millions paths to citizenship, jobs, and education.

Trump cut legal immigration by nearly 50%, reduced refugee admissions to historic lows, ended DACA protections, and dismantled the asylum process.

His administration separated families, created a climate of fear, and made it harder for immigrants to naturalize.

Don't get me started on his ICE raids.

13. Civil Rights Legacy

The US gave birth to one of the most influential civil rights movements of the 20th century — and inspired others around the world.

Figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and John Lewis are global symbols of peaceful resistance and justice.

Trump dismantled Obama-era civil rights protections, including for transgender individuals, voting rights enforcement, and police reform oversight.

He attacked movements like Black Lives Matter and used federal forces against peaceful protesters (Lafayette Square, 2020).

14. Strong Local Government

States and localities in the US have real, constitutionally protected autonomy, enabling political diversity and experimentation (think: marijuana legalization, universal basic income pilots, or charter school models).

Trump has repeatedly threatened "blue states" and tried to withhold federal funding from states or cities that disagreed with him politically (e.g., sanctuary cities, COVID policies).

Undermining federalism in this way weakened the traditional balance of state and federal power.

15. Disaster Response Innovation

FEMA and the U.S. military lead some of the fastest and best-coordinated global disaster responses - often being first on the ground for earthquakes, hurricanes, and humanitarian crises abroad.

Trump’s handling of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was widely condemned as negligent and racially biased.

His COVID-19 response lacked national coordination and downplayed science, weakening U.S. disaster response credibility.

His FEMA director was unaware there is a hurricane season.

So...most of the things about my country of which I was still proud...are being erased.

(But I'm glad our date formatting is entertaining.)

#jumblr #asks #US culture #US Politics #American Exceptionalism

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cantsayidont · 3 months ago

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This seems to be a minority opinion, but I think Hal Jordan becoming Parallax (for real, not because he was possessed by a "fear demon" or whatever dumb bullshit Geoff Johns came up with to hand-wave it away) and then sacrificing himself in a demonstrative way in FINAL NIGHT was, in the main, a pretty logical and organic development for the character.

In THE COMIC BOOK HEROES, Jacobs and Jones (and yes, I know about Jones, don't @ me) describe Hal Jordan as the ultimate "organization man," and that's stuck with me because I think it identifies an important feature of the character. Hal first appeared in 1959, but he was the quintessential Kennedy-era hero, a charismatic individualist who drew strength from the conviction that he was part of a just liberal order in a rational, knowable universe.

This was true even in his early appearances, when he had a very limited awareness of the Green Lantern Corps and no idea who they were working for (which is something that has, regrettably, been retconned from latter retellings, although it was an important part of the earliest issues of the series). What made Hal so successful as a Green Lantern was not that he was especially clever, imaginative, or even strong-willed — it was that he respected the parameters of the role, even when no one was looking, and worked creatively within the rules by which he was bound. If he were more intellectual, he would have been a great lawyer.

The side effect of those tendencies was that, like many liberals, Hal could not cope gracefully with challenges to his world view, and his response to such challenges was authoritarianism. Denny O'Neil called Hal "a crypto-fascist," and that was evident in the 'Hard-Traveling Heroes" stories with Ollie, where Hal faced a series of crises challenging his deeply held presumption that laws and institutions are basically good. His reaction to those crises was panic and rage — lashing out in an attempt to reestablish his own rules of moral order through force, as authoritarians do.

That was the driving force of his disintegration in "Emerald Twilight," where his reaction to being told that he couldn't just use his power to forcibly return things to the way he thinks they should be was an explosion of power-hungry rage. That escalated more quickly than I think felt credible, especially in Hal's sudden willingness to kill his own comrades, but the gist was consistent with his previous trajectory, as was his goal in ZERO HOUR, to go back to the Dawn of Time and rewrite the rules as he thought they should be.

What gave ZERO HOUR's climax its (admittedly very limited) emotional weight was that Hal still saw himself as a right-minded reformer who was still ultimately serving the cause of moral order. That I think could have been Hal's most significant legacy as a character: an actual cautionary tale, not confined to an Elseworlds Annual or Imaginary Story, about someone who used to be a hero until he went too far. (Often, in modern Elseworlds-type AUs, that narrative centers on Superman, but Hal was, and remains, a more credible choice because it didn't require making him into anything he wasn't already.)

The finale of FINAL NIGHT then gave Hal a grandstanding opportunity for redemption: He sacrificed his life and his remaining power to destroy the Sun-Eater and save the world one more time. Probably the most interesting aspect of that story was that some of his former comrades — notably Batman — were not sold, recognizing that it was really just Hal continuing along the same path that had been his moral downfall in the first place, and it didn't make up for the things he'd done or the people he'd killed.

I can see how for a Silver Age Green Lantern fan, that was something of a bitter pill, but I *don't* think there was a way back for Hal from being Parallax, and so ending on an ambivalent note was most appropriate. If it had been up to me, they would have left it there.

#comics #green lantern #hal jordan #green lantern corps #parallax #denny o'neil #john broome #gil kane #joe giella #dan jurgens #final night #karl kesel #stuart immonen #jose marzan jr

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forsaken-headcanons · 1 month ago

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very long yap about my builderman hcs

(my interest with Roblox in general leaks into my Forsaken hcs so here is a link to a very old blog post so that you have context for the whole Lua thing: https://blog.haydz6.com/2007/02/encyclopedia-robloxica | Luatongue is a hc name I have for it but it basically means the same thing dw about it)

also, "^" means that a hc is related to the one(s) above it in some way

okay that's out of the way! come on everypony let's get started!!! /silly

------

-Has a southern accent. It's not thick but it is noticeable.

-Decently muscular.

-His physical body looks like a middle-aged dude, but Builder has existed for an insane amount of time. The Admins are not gods, but they aren't regular mortals either.

-Was the first Admin. He actually created the admins as a group, along with Roblox HQ to keep some semblance of peace in Robloxia. Before the admins, Robloxia was an incredibly chaotic and dangerous place, with hackers, exploiters, mythical creatures, aliens, demons, angels, deities, gods, and a million other things running around doing whatever they wanted. The admins and Roblox HQ are like the SCP foundation but to a lesser extent. They don't go out of their way to deal with the supernatural, as they also function as the law/government, but they do try to keep the insane reality breaking dudes away from the general populace.

-Builderman is really, REALLY good at Luatongue. This in addition to his creative thinking made him extremely powerful pre-Forsakening. He may have looked like a normal Robloxian, but he was an admin mainly because he was born with what was essentially divine knowledge that translated to god-like powers. However, when The Spectre took him to its realm, it made him forget nearly all of the Lua he knew, causing him to lose a nearly all of his power.

-^Despite his extreme natural proficiency with Lua, Builderman is not the prophet, as he isn't able to effectively share what it means with others. Lua is less of a "language" and more of a way that the beings within Robloxia can manipulate the very fabric of Robloxia itself. For anyone who isn't the prophet, telling someone who doesn't have a natural connection to Luatongue how to use it is nearly impossible. It's not even known how the prophet is supposed to share Lua with Robloxia, only that they will have some special ability to do so.

-^Has notes that he works on periodically of what he can remember about Luatongue. Usually, "working" on these notes entails him sitting somewhere racking his brain for any scraps of it he can remember, jotting it down, and then pondering over the notes to try and gain back more memories of it.

-^Builderman's knowledge of Lua was among one of the few things that The Spectre couldn't directly prevent the forsaken robloxians from using. The Spectre may be an extremely powerful entity, but it is, by a long shot, not powerful enough to override the code that is the very foundation of the universe. It had actually written off getting a hold of Builderman completely before it got the idea to make him forget Luatongue, and even that was extremely difficult for it, especially since he fought back against being taken by The Spectre, which it wasn't used to it's victims being strong enough to do so. The only reason it managed to pull it off was because Builderman was so focused on his fight with The Spectre and simultaneously resisting it's attempts to transport him to it's realm, that he didn't realize that Spectre was altering his mind as well until it was too late.

-Builderman cannot directly destroy things with Lua; he is only able to create. It's easy for him to work around this because he can just. create something destructive. But Builderman can't straight up use Luatongue to destroy.

-When he was younger, he created a "focus" item of sorts. It was a trowel, and while it looked normal, it had a certain energy to it. Builderman created the trowel because while he had an unheard of ability to use Lua, he didn't have fine control over his powers. Without the trowel, he can make a wall. With his trowel, he can make a castle-sized wall, or a wall fit for a dollhouse, or even a regular wall the size of what would be in a house, of any color imaginable, and made out of whatever he'd like.

-^ a secondary thing the trowel does: anyone holding it will be able to walk in the air at will. When he made the trowel, Builderman gave it this property so that he'd be able to get better views on whatever it was he was making at the moment. After he started taking on the role of the regulator of Robloxia, it turned out that being able to basically fly was really useful.

-^sometimes when he was younger and just messing around, he'd stand like. Fully horizontally in the air just for the laughs. #1 at the lying down game /j

-^obviously, he doesn't have his trowel with him in The Spectre's realm. Builderman had a deep emotional attachment to it, and misses it sometimes.

-Even without the use of his weird god-language-powers, Builderman is really good with tech and engineering-type stuff.

-He naturally has the general vibe of a leader, and this combined with his role pre-Forsakening means that the survivors will nearly always listen to him and do what he says. The other admins also have some authority, but he's got the most.

BUILDERMAN HEADCANONS WOOHOOOO!!!! he 100% has a slight southern accent. He feels like the type of guy to have one.

#forsaken headcanons #forsaken #forsaken roblox #roblox forsaken #wish craft anon #builderman forsaken #mod missletsky🍗⚔️

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bluebellhairpin · 10 months ago

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Harwin Strong X f!Reader

Summary: The arrangement you made with your husband to help Rhaenyra backfires, and you attempt to put and end to it before if gets anyone into trouble. But trouble brews anyway.

Warnings: Leaning into reader/rhaenyra/harwin ship territory. Reader is fem bodied + called wife/mother. Reader is a Criston Cole hater (justified).

Listening to: 'Blood of my Blood' by Ramin Djawadi

Series Masterlist || AO3 Link || Masterlist || Ko-Fi

Ever since Rhaenyra was wed there had been whispers - ones that you could hear without lending your ear to your cunning brother in law.

They were murmurs only heard in the darkest of halls, about how she and Laenor didn’t lay together, that they never had, and refused to do so. Word spread that the Princess had taken a secret lover, and that the guard who’d been killed at their wedding used to be Laenor’s. They gained weight, and became ugly looming shadows over the young couple.

Especially after Rhaenyra had her first child - and he was born looking nothing like Laenor. It caused more rumors to spread. Rumors you did not appreciate. Ones that you weren’t entirely sure how you felt about, because they eventually affected you and your family too. And partially because they were basically your fault.

In the beginning, you chalked up the similarities between your second child, Dawsyn, and Rhaenyra’s, Jacaerys, as chance. You convinced those around you that it was pure coincidence. But as they grew older, despite being almost nine months apart in age, you started noticing things. They way their hair all held the same curls. The way they would tilt their heads the same way when their toys didn’t work how they wanted them to. Their giggles.

Then Rhaenyra had her second son, Lucerys, around the same time as you had the daughter Harwin had spent years longing for. Suddenly you were met with the same rumors as when Dawsyn and Jacaerys were born - and had to fend them off again from others in the Kings Court.

You knew something that only three others in the Red Keep knew, and because of that the similarities blared at you like a red lantern at night. The father of your children was also the father of Princess Rhaenyra’s sons. And that was starting to worry you.

You knew people suspected Harwin as the real father. That he was one of the few men that those in the Red Keep thought could be siring Rhaenyra’s children - her bastards they called them, the word made something sour bubble in your stomach. But you knew what that would mean for Harwin. You knew what could happen to his life, and the lives of Rhaeynra, her sons - even your own children.

Every single one of them could die.

You stood at the window in Rhaenyra’s bedroom. You’d taken to spending a lot of time in her company, especially now she was reaching the end of her third pregnancy. Her labour pains could start any day now, and she was starting to get restless.

There was no blaming her, by the same time during your time with Renai you’d been sick of it by now too.

“You look deep in thought,” she said.

You turned to her, slowly moving your eyes from the window to her place on the settee. She was relaxed, with you around she dismissed all other company - she did it often, you guessed she liked a slice of normalcy free of the fluttering hens at court, or the ears of little servant birds. But all you could think of was when she was younger, before you’d subjected her to the foul words whispered behind her back. Really this was your fault - in an effort to help Rhaenyra keep her happiness, you’d destroyed it. You felt like you couldn’t keep your thoughts to yourself anymore - that the worry was starting to make you crack around the edges.

“Like something worries you.” Rhaenyra, apparently, could notice it too.

“You can’t blame me, you live here too. You hear what people say. It worries me.” you replied, finally cluing someone into your thoughts. You turned back to the window to see where your children and Rhaenyra’s played below, supervised by Pacey and Raechel. “What could happen to them worries me.”

“You think we should stop?” Rhaenyra asked. The question, if overheard without the context of both your conversation and the secrets you both held, wouldn’t have been understood by anyone else. But you knew she knew that the subject had changed to her situationship with Harwin.

“I think he should stop giving you children.” You looked back at her, your eyes lingering on the clasped hands over her belly. “He’s a smart man in many ways, but if he keeps acting as he is now, he’s just going to get us all into trouble.”

“I could talk to him.” Rhaenyra offered, looking up at you with almost wide, childlike eyes. It softened the worry in you, like you’d forgotten she was a younger woman than you were. You moved from the window and sat by her side, taking her hand in yours.

“No. ‘One heart, one flesh, and one soul’. That’s what we were declared on our wedding day. His mistakes are mine, and mine are his. I allowed this to happen, and I’ll end it.” you said, squeezing her fingers, “Leave Harwin to me.”

Rhaenyra’s chest rose and fell three times before she spoke again, voice even more hushed than before, as if afraid to even admit it to you. But she did.

“I don’t want to be alone.”

“You never will be.” you said, shuffling closer to her side as your arm pressed to hers, “I’ll never leave you alone. No matter how far away life could take me, just call me to your side and nothing in the Seven Kingdoms will be able to stop me.” Then you smiled to yourself, mind straying toward the man of the hour. “Harwin even more so. His affection for you might even outweigh his love for me.”

“I’d hate to think that.” she scoffed, sitting up slightly as her hand now squeezed yours.

“Then don’t. This is loyalty deeper than bone, neither of us would leave you alone, and when called to duty Laenor wouldn’t either.” Rhaenyra’s gaze softened again, this time instead of being afraid she seemed nervous.

“Will you tell anyone?” she asked. You shook your head, almost offended.

“No one will hear a word of it from me. After I speak with Harwin, the words will never leave my lips again. It will be as good as forgotten.” Your thumb moved back and forth across the back of her hand as you spoke, and she looked down at it when she spoke again.

“You’re persuading me that this isn’t something to worry about. It’s no wonder Alicent is always so agreeable after you speak with her.”

“Do you wish to be persuaded further?” you asked, smirking.

“Perhaps.” she replied, her smile matching your own. You shifted from your spot on the settee, now facing the Princess fully with both her hands in yours.

“Before the Seven, mine and Harwin’s blood was declared the same. Nevertheless, your children are of his blood as much as mine are, no matter who their mother is,” you said, eyes never leaving hers as you spoke, and your voice softened as you continued, “They’re as good as my own children. That’s enough to warrant keeping them safe.”

Her face morphed. Changing from one that conveyed half assured hopefulness to one that was undeniably relieved. Even her eyes welled with unshed tears with the weight that seemed to lift off her shoulders. Yet her next words laid bare her last ounce of doubt. A doubt you were dead set on burying.

“Can I really believe I’ve earnt enough love and trust from you that not only can you not find it in your heart to hate me, but you are so willing to love these children as your own? That you could forgive me?”

“Rhaenyra, you mean more to me than you could ever imagine.” you said, “Harwin and I both agreed to this, we knew what could happen. There’s nothing to forgive.”

Not even a day later, and Rhaenyra had entered and finished birthing her third child. Her final that would be sired by Harwin.

You’d been with her, until she finished, then left her in the hands of the maids and midwives to go tell everyone else the good news. Well, everyone that mattered to you.

Laenor, as soon as you told him, left right away.

However, to keep up his newly reinforced guise of being indifferent (he took the conversation surprisingly well, all things considered), Harwin stayed and watched over where his four sons ogled over a new dragon egg. You could tell from the look on his face when you entered that he longed to be with her. He had an understanding of the horrors of childbirth that you’d seen in no other man. He’d have to have been torn from your side if the Maester’s didn’t let him stick around when you were in labor - you’d believe he would have resorted to biting, if they went to make him leave you - so you could only imagine how he felt about having to leave Rhaenyra alone.

His only consolation was that you were there instead.

“How was she?” he asked quietly, a hand resting on your elbow. You eyed Dawysn as his fingertips tested how hot the egg was, slowly inching closer.

“In high spirits. If I were to be trusted, I’d say she’s getting quite used to going through labor for the sake of a new son.” you whispered. Harwin was about to speak again, but instead of listening, you scooped Dawsyn in your arms - he’d burn himself if he were allowed close to that fire stone any longer. “You, little ser, need to keep your fingers to yourself.” you said to your son, grabbing his chubby fingers and kissing each one.

“It’s not that bad -” Larys said - right before reaching his hand too close - “Ouch!” He pulled his hand back, shaking it before stuffing his fingers in his mouth. Harwin came up behind him, and put his hands on his shoulders to guide him to where you now sat.

“You are no dragon, son, leave the scales to those who can handle them.” he said, ruffling his hair. Harwin tried to leave Larys in your care, but he was having none of it - instead he tucked his head into the cool armor at his father’s stomach.

“My Princes’, may I suggest putting the lid on that egg? We don’t want it to cool down too much.” you suggested, pressing a kiss to Dawysn’s head as you set him down. Jace nodded, managing to lift the cast iron lid back in place while his brother already got distracted.

By the time all four of them had settled onto the rug with a handful of carved wooden toys, Harwin beside them telling some story about Aegon’s conquest that you didn’t doubt they all already knew back to front, the door opened. In stepped Rhaenyra, Laenor, and the new child.

Immediately Rhaenyra’s two sons jumped to their feet, eager to tell their mother about the dragon egg they brought up from the pit. Your sons stayed on the floor, watching curiously as Harwin helped Rhaenyra sit, and Laenor coo at the baby. You likewise rose from your seat to get a proper look at the boy, humming and harring at him as he slept.

“He will grow to be a fearsome knight.” Laenor said, shifting slightly so you could see better, but in no way was he giving up the child yet. You were satisfied just to see his face.

“Just like you,” you said, a gentle hand squeezing Laenor’s shoulder.

“Ser Harwin wishes to be introduced to Joffrey,” Rhaenyra said. Her voice, although laced with exhaustion, was strong enough to cut through the baby-induced bubble both you and Laenor were stuck in. Within moments, the baby was passed over from Laenor’s arms into Harwin’s.

The sight was enough to make you want to freeze the moment in time forever. That happened each time you caught Harwin holding a baby. It was like he was meant to hold a child, with how comfortable he looked. How perfect it looked. You couldn’t help but smile, and as you caught Rhaenyra’s eyes, it only widened.

However, like a moth to flame, the four young boys took Joffrey being passed to Harwin as a sign to swarm. They came in from all angles with the grace of a drunk herd of cows, all speaking at once, and all trying to persuade Harwin to let them look at the babe. Harwin could only hold poor Joffrey out of reach while Laenor intervened, persuading Jace and Luke to go to the dragon pit to train.

“You both too, come on,” you said, hands resting on your son’s curls to guide them out of the room, “Don’t forget you have lessons also.”

“But Mother, we don’t have any until this afternoon -”

“Then go to your sister,” you said, ushering them out the door despite their protests, “I’ll be there shortly.” That did it, they did have a fondness for their young sister, something they inherited from their father no doubt. You saw them off running down the hall before turning back to Harwin.

You caught his eye and smiled, in return his gaze was soft, smile even more so as he rocked his son in his arms. The thought returned, that it was if he were born to be a father.

Then you looked over at Rhaenyra, nodding with your smile unwavering. She relaxed in her seat, and her lips quirked up. She needed rest, so you cast one more look of longing over at Joffrey - you could have your turn holding him another day - and closed the door behind you.

You were in high spirits. Joffrey’s safe arrival into the world had many feeling the same way, and he brought joy to many around him - a happy child already, and it had barely been a day.

You’d just left your room, flanked by your son Larys - your purpose was twofold. Larys was promised he could train with the Prince’s if he finished his lessons, so you were taking him to the courtyard to meet them, then you were going to bring Harwin back since he would be just finishing his shift for the day.

Larys really was his father’s son, with almost a natural strength to him despite his youth - it was an aspect you knew your own father would’ve started honing properly years ago. You’d held off for the sake of still seeing him as a child, but in the world you lived in it was expected. Larys liked it, he liked having something in common with his father, and many others in your family - and you couldn’t stop him from doing what he loved just because you wanted him to be safe.

But today something seemed to be bothering him. Usually he looked forward to training, so much so that you could see it on his face. Not today. To try and get him to open up, you dismissed anyone who might’ve followed you - but it took almost the entire walk for him to finally hint at what was wrong.

“Do you think I might be good enough to beat Ser Criston someday?” Larys asked. You looked down at him with your arm around his shoulder.

“If you practised enough, there’s no reason why you couldn’t.” you said. He looked down at his hands, toying with the hem of his training glove.

“I don’t think I get to practice enough.” he admitted, the way he spoke sent pangs through your heart. “Ser Criston is the only teacher and he focuses on the Prince’s so much more. I’d ask Father for help instead, but he’s always so busy.” So that was what was wrong.

You both stopped just short of the door to the training courtyard, and you turned Larys so he faced you.

“Then I’ll have your grandfather send someone from my home. You will get to practice just as well as the others.” you said, taking his face in your palm so you could brush his curls from his face. “You’ll have your own teacher.”

“Really?” he asked, a hopeful look in his eye as he looked up at you.

“Of course. I’ll send a raven as soon as I can.” you smiled, kissing his forehead. “In the meantime remember you can learn a lot from simply watching, even if you aren’t able to train the same as the other boys. Don’t underestimate the power behind observation.”

“Yes Mother.” With a grin on his face, you squeezed his shoulder and guided him towards the door. His steps were more enthusiastic now, and his head was held high. If you were anyone else you might say he was being spoiled - promised his own teacher when even the Princes had to share one. But you were his mother, so instead you’d say he deserved the best of what he wanted.

You both stepped out the door expecting to see the others training, but the sight that met you was far from it.

The timing was perfect - right as you walked into the daylight, Harwin lunged for Criston Cole. The latter was on the ground after only a few blows, but Harwin wasn’t stopping. He climbed onto the downed man and kept going. Punch after punch landed on Criston’s face, and all you could think of was what that idiot did to make Harwin’s temper snap so violently.

You hadn’t thought of doing a thing to intervene, perfectly content to watch, until Larys brushed past your skirts as if to move closer.

“You stay here,” you said, walking forward and pushing your son back a little so he stayed away. Two of the King’s Guard rushed forward, running to pull Harwin off Criston, then two more joined in to stop him breaking free.

“Say it again! Say it!” Harwin yelled, voice rough with rage as he struggled and tried to pull away and attack Criston again.

“Harwin! That’s enough.” you said, reaching over the guard’s arm and pressing your hand to the armor on Harwin’s chest. He physically relaxed when he saw you in front of him, enough that the guards reluctantly loosened their hold. But when he looked at you, his eyes still didn’t change as the men stepped away. He looked ready to have killed Criston, and probably would have if there was no one around to stop him.

“Yeah Commander, listen to your -”

Swiftly you stepped away from Harwin and stood over where Criston had started to stand. He was already weary from the beating, but when you bent over, jabbing a finger to his chest, he swayed where he sat resting back on his elbows as he looked up at you. The look in your eye that made him freeze.

“Stay down, Cole. If you get up before we leave I will let him blend your skull into the pavement.” you hissed. His eyes narrowed at your quietly spoken reference - yes, a fate like Laenor’s lover, and yes you remembered, even if everyone else seemed to forget. It was a fate you were ready to let him share.

“I’m in the Kingsguard and you speak to me like that?” Criston tried to start again, although less confident than before. One more look from you had him shutting up, and your next words were sharp.

“I can speak to you however I want to. If I so desired it, the only place you’ll be safe from me is fucking Qarth, do you understand me?” His jaw clenched, but besides that he made no effort to move or speak again. “I said ‘do you understand me’, Squire’s son?” He frowned, lips rolling over his teeth. You’d hit the exact nerve you were hoping for.

“I understand,” he said. You quirked an eye at him, standing over him so you were no longer hunched over. You stayed like that. Waiting. “Milady,” he finally added.

With that you turned on your heel and made to leave. Harwin said your name, reaching for your arm. Instead, you shoved his armored shoulder when you reached him, pointing to the door.

“Go.”

After returning to your room, Harwin was almost immediately summoned to go speak with his father. Which left you alone for most of the afternoon. You weren’t sure exactly what you were thinking, but it made you so anxious that you couldn’t stand being around anyone until you knew what cause’s Harwin’s outburst.

You were sitting by the fire when Harwin returned, staring into the flames as the wooden door clicked shut behind you. For a moment you heard nothing - he was standing, waiting - then he moved, and the familiar sounds of him taking off his armor started echoing in your quiet room.

“What happened?” you finally asked. He quietened again, before you heard a sigh and the heavy clunk of his sword being put aside.

“You want to hear it?”

“If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t have asked.” You turned your head, watching him walk over and sit in the chair opposite you. Harwin’s hands laid in his lap, one cradled with the other as his thumbs brushed over his knuckles. You decided that after you were done being upset with him, you’d take a look at it - obviously it was sore.

He very slowly leant forward, looking into the fire with his elbows on his knees. His hair was loose, and it fell so you couldn’t see his eyes.

“My father made the decision to give up his role as Hand, and take me away to Harrenhal. I’m being punished and he’s taking my whole family down with me.” He spoke slow, quiet. Once he was done his head fell into his hands, fingers weaved through his curls.

“Actions have consequences. What you did today very well could be the undoing of all of us.” you said, voice even quieter. A log in the fire cracked and fell.

“You know it’s not the first time.” he mumbled.

“You’ve beat Criston before?” you asked. He sat back, pushing away his hair and slumped into the chair with a deep breath.

“No, he’s been lucky I’ve been so patient until now.” Harwin hissed, “He’s made more comments about Rhaenyra’s children than I can remember. I didn’t want to remember, so I tried not to, but today? I couldn’t take it. Those boys deserve better than those whispers behind their backs.”

At least that was something you both could agree on.

“Which is why your father has decided we must go?”

“Which is why my father decided we must go.” He finally looked at you, despair written in his eyes. “But I don’t want to go. It’s so fucking weird there. And cold, you’d hate it. Our children, their whole lives are here. Kings Landing is all they’ve ever known.”

You turned away back to the fire. You felt his eyes still on you as you watched the flames licking the burning wood. You felt him watching you as you thought. You kept your eyes on the hearth, but reached your hand out. His fingers brushed yours before he took your hand in his. His hands were warm and calloused, but they felt like him. They were a comfort, and they felt like home. Home was his hand in yours, not the Red Keep.

“You were upset earlier. Not just at Cole. At me.” Harwin said, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. For all of it. If I hadn’t done any of it -”

“- You are not solely to blame. It was my idea!” you reminded him, squeezing his fingers.

“- I could have said no.” Harwin said, smiling knowingly, “I could’ve stopped. I should have, and I didn’t. I have a duty to defend Rhaenyra, but my duty first is to you. From now on, you and our children will be first. Now, always, and forever.”

You stood from your chair, walking over to his side. He watched you, the hand that was grasped in yours broke free to instinctually wrap around your waist as you came close. His arm was warm through the fabric of your clothes. He felt like home, but he wouldn’t take that as an answer right now.

“Harrenhal is your home, no matter how weird or cold.” you said, brushing back his hair and kissing his temple. “The children will grow there, like you did. They’ll call it home too, and we’ll be safe there. We all will be.”

#harwin strong x reader #harwin strong x fem reader #harwin x reader #ser harwin x reader #hotd x reader #hotd x you

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pointlesscandies · 1 month ago

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Tag Game: Scenes I will never forget

Rules: Share 5-10 scenes you can't forget. Not your favorites, the ones that got stuck in your brain for any reason. thanks @watchthisqqq @dramalove247 and others for the tag!

Last Twilight: Mhok and Day breakup scene

Let me start out by saying this entire series broke me. It gave one of the most breathtakingly beautiful and real stories I have ever seen on TV, only to absolutely destroy it all in the last 2 episodes. I still don't think I have recovered from the tonal whiplash and from the destruction of a story that meant so so much to me for 10 weeks.

This scene shook me because it is just so unnecessary. This is not who Day is; especially because he knows about Mhok’s past trauma, and even more so, because it’s not that big of a deal. People decide not to move across the world because they want to stay close to their loved ones all of the time. That + the way that no one comforts Mhok and Mhok loses the person he loves more than anyone else and then it stays like that for three years has led to this scene being seared on my eyeballs. They deserved better.

First Note of Love: Neil and Matt in the car together Listen. I do not cry for much and when I tell you I sobbed over this scene. This may be the only show of 2024 that I actually cried at. The immense loss that Neil experienced is absolutely palatable in this scene. First Note of Love did grief better than I've ever seen it done in a bl and this scene in particular hits hard. Neil's desperate attempt at closure, him trying to ask his brother if it is okay if he moves on without him, and the crash coming suddenly to end their time together, just like it did for real three years ago. I may cry just thinking about it honestly.

Vice Versa: The Reunion Scene There’s something about this scene that has always stuck with me. The way Puen lights up when he sees Talay, only to immediately shut down when he thinks it’s Tess. And then the look on his face when he realizes that they are finally back together again. The hug. The crying. The way that even in this emotional scene they’re both teasing the other. Honestly idk what they put in this scene but I definitely have it saved on youtube just as a little treat for myself

City of Stars: The Reunion Catch me here noticing in real time that I have a thing for reunion scenes. What can I say? I’m a softy at heart. This reunion was just so sweet and wholesome and it truly showed how much these two love each other. Fueang dropping the plates to bolt up the stairs, and then the way he starts to cry as soon as he hugs Krom because he missed him so much?? Adorable. Occasionally I remember this scene specifically and think wow I should rewatch that whole series

Happy of the End I don’t even know which scene to put in here specifically. Is it a cop out to just say this entire series? I mean…every trigger warning imaginable but it was somehow beautiful to see these horribly broken people survive despite it all and I have never forgotten the things I saw. Ever. Ever.

Laws of Attraction: The airport scene

You know why this scene lives rent free? Because Charn planned to act like the dick everyone believes him to be, assuming that Tinn would buy it instantly. He never expected Tinn to see the best in him. But Tinn didn’t even hesitate to say he didn't believe him. That kind of trust and confidence was honestly not what I was expecting from this scene and the look on Charn’s face when he crumbles is poetry.

Bonus because I’m a cheater: The airport reunion scene between Thee and Thaenthai also lives rent free. See above: I may have a thing for reunion scenes…

Love in the Air: Riding

Honestly this is the NC scene that has stuck with me the most and I would say that 20% of that is the insanity of them starting it in public at a race track (never change you two weirdos) and 80% of that is the dialogue. “This is also a type of riding”???? Gagged me when I first watched.

Your Sky: Hia and Real get together

I adored Hia and Real and this scene was adorable. Them negotiating “friendship” boundaries? Both of them being worried that they may ruin their friendship if they ask for more, but both wanting more anyways? Real kissing him and then Hia immediately pulling him back in to keep kissing? The lift and carry? Chefs kiss.

If you havent done it yet...@stilesinwonderland, @nihilisticcondensedmilk @boozles-archive @letgomaggie, @hughungrybear

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e-squared-what-is-my-life · 2 months ago

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Just finished playing dream bbq finally, twas amazing but dear gods was the parkour in the wind area with the human board hell on earth

Anyway, any drabbles or headcanons you gor squandered away? Id love to hear them, especially if it's something about the two enas 💙💛❤️🤍

I've Had This in My Drafts For Weeks Waiting For This One Moment

I Give to You: THE ENA LAWS!

Relationship Laws:

1. No ENA is to have more than one (1) ENA partner. Any ENA found to have more than one (1) ENA partner is to be reported immediately and turned in to the EHF (ENA Holding Facility), where he/she will go through a series of physical tests; in such a scenario, the most fertile of the group will be killed using specially made weapons that destroy the ENAs from the inside out. The remaining accepted pair are to be tagged and microchipped to monitor their activities and parental status.

2. ENAs are to stay abstinent throughout the first (1st) month of any romantic or sexual relationship. (Note to Officers: Some ENAs have been observed Pairing for Life. To determine if your observed pair is one of these cases, refer to the EHCH (ENA Head Count Handbook), which contains information about every Assimilated ENA, both via Random Assimilation and Paired Assimilation).

3. Any ENA not displayed in or reported to the EHCH (ENA Head Count Handbook) that is in a relationship is to be Bulldozed*, NO EXCEPTIONS MADE.

*For those unaware, Bulldozing is the process in which an ENA is sedated and then pressed within a machine specifically made to destroy every pixel in said ENA's body. It is painless and humane when done correctly.

Hunting Laws

1. EHS (ENA Hunting Season) lies within the first week of the New Moon Cycle. Any ENAs discovered to be killed outside of this time frame are to be reported immediately to the DEHU (Deceased ENA Housing Unit), after which the Hunter responsible is liable to face up to two (2) years in jail plus a fine up to or surpassing the value of two (2) Fatty Cattys.

2. Any ENAs observed with Bytes (the scientific and hunting term used for baby and adolescent ENAs), especially if the adult is the mother, are to be left alone until the Byte is of parting age (12-Years-Old at the earliest). (Side Note for Officers: Hunters are allowed to track Mothering and Carrying ENAs*, but only as long as they do not directly interfere with the Byte's Growing Cycle).

3. Bytes under the age of 16-Years-Old are off limits to any Hunters, NO EXCEPTIONS.

4. Downed ENAs are to have their bodies reported to the DDE (Department of Deceased ENAs) so they can be recorded in the DETH (Deceased ENA Tracking Handbook). After their deaths are recorded, Hunters are allowed to do as they wish with the bodies, be it within legal and ethical limits.

*To determine if an ENA is Carrying, refer to the EAaBH (ENA Anatomy and Biology Handbook).

Owner Laws

*Note to Officers: Exceptions are allowed to be made depending on certain scenarios. To determine whether or not an ENA and his/her Owner qualifies for these Exceptions, refer to the EEQH (ENA Exception Qualifications Handbook). DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SHARE THIS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WITH ENA OWNERS!

1. An ENA Owner is allowed to have up to three (3) Working ENAs per household, any number exceeding the three (3) number limit is considered Animal Cruelty*.

2. Any ENA registered in the OEAH (Owned ENA Association Handbook) is to be microchipped and tagged to make sure they can be tracked should an Owner lose or attempt to Upend their ENA or his/her life.

3. Every Owned ENA is to have yearly checkups, in which they are to be given standard physical testing, as well as testing to ensure they are still fit for work.

4. Because ENAs tend to live excessively long lives, it is recommended they are retired upon the age of -FOR OFFICER AND DOCTOR KNOWLEDGE ONLY- to avoid potential dangers to themselves and their Owners.

*Because of their tendency to be highly unstable, ENAs are placed within the Animalia family to avoid confusion and concern regarding legal talk of their species.

Altering** Law

ENAs are to be altered under any of three (3) circumstances:

- An Owner requests it to be done to help them control the temperament of their ENA.

- Any ENA that is found injured due to Mishandling or a reported fight between two (2) or more "Free" ENAs is to be turned in to the nearest ENA vet, where it will be determined whether or not they should be kept alive and Altered to reduce aggression or "put out of their misery".

- A Paired ENA (typically the Mother or Potential Mother) is showing signs of unnecessary aggression or agitation towards his/her Byte.

**For those unaware of what the term "Altering" refers to, by scientific and medical definition, the direct definition of "Altering" an ENA is: The process of ETHICALLY and surgically removing the aggressive Face Plate (AKA "Side Negative") of an ENA to assist in soothing their tempers via ETHICAL alteration of an ENA's mood.

Stargazing Law

By the order of The Great Runas, it is required of ENAs to have at least some knowledge of the stars and its constellations, especially ENA's Lament. Once (1) a year it is expected that every ENA recorded in the EHCH (ENA Head Count Handbook) is recorded offering readings of the stars to help determine Working Status.

Bloodline/Classification Law

Every ENA is required to submit a blood sample at some point in their youth to help any existing ENA organizations determine what Branch of the ENA Tree they belong to. Any ENAs discovered to be seven (7) or more generations away from a Founding Branch* is to be classified as a subspecies**, and is not expected to fall under True ENA Laws.

*Founding Branch: The original branch/bloodline that the first (1st) created ENAs derive from. Approximately 12% of all existing ENAs belong to this branch.

**Any ENA that falls too far from the Founding Branch of the ENA Tree. This means that a large majority of ENAs existing now are, by technicality, subspecies, though the term is broad and only broken down by trained and properly educated scientists and biologists.

Orphaned Byte Laws

1. Any Bytes found orphaned are to be turned into the custody of the OEHA (Orphaned ENA Handling Association). Any Bytes not turned in to the OEHA or hidden for any reason will be killed to avoid improper upbringing which may result in poorly behaved ENAs.

2. An "Orphaned Byte" is classified strictly as a young ENA under Parting Age (12-Years-Old at the earliest) who is found with deceased or unfit parents. Bytes can be made Orphans through unlawful hunting practices, though the resulting future can be altered if there are retired ENAs willing to care for them.

3. Orphaned Bytes are to be considered unstable individuals unfit for work, and have one of two future options: They may be assigned as Pets, or shipped off to factories to be ethically euthanized and turned into ENA Food.

4. Should an Orphaned Byte be considered- in any rare occasion -fit for work, they are only to be handled by experienced Handlers with four (4) or more years of experience handling ENAs.

Pet vs. Worker Laws

1. To be classified as a Worker over a Pet, an ENA must match the following qualifications:

- Have learned basic manners from parents or anything close enough to parents.

- Prove competent in Stargazing.

- Successfully pass required obedience classes.

- Be able to communicate needs and repeat orders to their Handlers.

2. Pet ENAs are not allowed autonomy; they do not receive the freedoms of their Worker ENA counterparts due to inability to prove competence in multiple areas of Work.

3. Worker ENAs under Handler supervision must be treated with basic respects. Any Worker ENA without a Handler is allowed to receive some heckling and ridicule to encourage a more productive lifestyle.

#ENA #ENA Joel G #ENA Dream BBQ #What's This?#Me Creating an Entire Universe of Lore That Definitely Isn't Canon?#Oh Yeah #Enasquared #It is Mentioned Nowhere in Here But it IS Implied #For Any ENA Pair Really #Gotta be Careful With This Whole Law Thing #I Like Getting Into Nerve Wracking Areas of Lore #It's Like a Roller Coaster For My Brain

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whencyclopedia · 8 months ago

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Pegasus

Pegasus (or Pegasos) is a winged-horse from Greek mythology which was fathered by Poseidon and was born from the severed neck of the gorgon Medusa, slain by Perseus. At the same time and in the same way, Chryasor was also born. Poseidon gave Pegasus to his son Bellerophon who put Pegasus to good use in his famous battle with the Chimaera.

The myth of Bellerophon begins with the hero visiting Tiryns and enjoying the hospitality of the city's king Proitos. However, trouble started when Stheneboia, the king's wife, fell in love with the hero and made inappropriate advances. Bellerophon, being a good guest, politely rejected these advances but predictably, Stheneboia saw red and went before the king and accused the visitor of attempting to seduce her. In punishment, Bellerophon was sent by Proitos to serve his father-in-law Iobates, King of Lykia. On arrival, Bellerophon was set a series of dangerous and impossibly difficult tasks, chief amongst them being to destroy the fearsome and rather bizarre Chimaera. This fire-breathing creature was a terrible mix of a lion's body with a snake for a tail and the head of a goat sprouting from its back. To aid him in this task, Bellerophon was fortunate to have at his disposal Pegasus. In some accounts he found the horse at the fountain of Pirene near Corinth, and Hesiod suggests this fact explains the name Pegasus, derived from 'water'- pēgē. Taming the horse with the help of Athena, Bellerophon rode (and flew) Pegasus and managed to kill the monstrous Chimaera with his spear.

Bellerophon and Pegasus went on to enjoy further success with other challenges Iobates set the hero including a battle with the Amazons. However, becoming rather boastful and thinking he could fly high enough on his winged steed to take his place amongst the immortal gods, Bellerophon was thrown by Pegasus and fell unceremoniously back to earth. Meanwhile, Pegasus kept on going and on reaching Mt. Olympus, he was given to Eos who was responsible for bringing Dawn across the sky each day. According to Hesiod in his Theogony, Pegasus also brought Zeus his thunder and lightning whenever needed.

Pegasus is also credited with creating a number of springs with a stamp of his hoof. Most famous of these were the Hippocrene spring on Mt. Helicon, close to the grove sacred to the Muses, and the spring at Troezen.

Pegasus appeared on Greek pottery, the earliest being Corinthian wares from the 7th century BCE. Pegasus was also a popular design on coins, in particular from Corinth from the 6th century BCE. A famous representation in sculpture is from the pediment of the Temple of Artemis on Corcyra (c. 580 BCE). The Bellerophon and Pegasus myth was also a popular subject in Roman art - especially engraved semi-precious stone cameos and floor mosaics - where the horse became symbolic of immortality.

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#History #6thcenturyBCE #7thcenturyBCE #AncientGreece #WHE #[#]

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fizziepopangel · 1 year ago

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“I’ll shelter and adore you more than anything…”

Touch and words of affirmation are his top love languages. He’s been through a lot that’s really shaken his confidence and his beliefs. Hearing someone actively reassure or compliment him is a huge boost for him, as is feeling something solid and consistent in the form of touch (especially when these come from someone he cares for).

Lucifer absolutely blasts show tunes and sings at the top of his lungs while he’s in the shower.

Flirting goes straight over his head sometimes since people often use the “did it hurt when you fell from heaven” bit on him and it usually results in him trauma dumping and showing them the actual physical scars he has from literally falling from heaven…. He never understands why people seem to drop out of the conversations after since they did ask him.

He frequently uses the phrase “I knew him personally, so I know that God only lets things grow until they’re perfect. Some people get there sooner than others.” when someone makes fun of his height.

He sleeps in duck footie pajamas that Vaggie gifted him on his first father’s day since he and Charlie began talking again. Though she was embarrassed to give him a gift, he was absolutely over the moon excited since this means that his daughter’s girlfriend likes him.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the inhabitants of the hotel, Lucifer has a rubber duck that resembles them all. He often has to remake Alastors because when he’s upset with him, he tends to take his anger out on the Alastor-themed duck. At least one radio demon duck gets destroyed a week.

Eats candied apples religiously

He only wears the hat to look taller. Alastor knows this and frequently steals his hat and then pokes fun at his height as the king of hell wanders around looking for the accessory.

Lucifer loves animals so once a month he gathers all the pets (this included Razzle and Dazzle prior to Dazzle’s death) of the hotel for a little playdates. He buys them cute little outfits, takes them to pet parks to play, buys them each a new toy, and gets them hell’s version of a pup cup.

Yes, he did try to take Husk once because he does in fact view the man as a giant kitty that he really wants to win over…. And yes, Husk does go once, he regrets it immediately.

Despite them not exactly seeing eye to eye (partially because of the height difference), Lucifer and Alastor both enjoy cooking and get together with snacks to watch their favorite cooking show once a week. It started by accident, but since it became a weekly occurrence, they put aside their differences for the one night to enjoy the show together.

Lucifer bakes muffins and banana bread every weekend. He even teaches Niffty how to do it, she’s a flour covered mess by the end of it and her bread usually comes out rock hard and her muffins rarely rise, but Lucifer actually really enjoys the company and he finds the tiny woman rather amusing to spend time with.

After reconnecting with Charlie, Lucifer made it a point to have father/daughter dates once a month in an attempt to get to know her again. After realizing how big a role Vaggie plays in her life, he would start inviting her out with them too and referring to her as his future daughter in law.

He absolutely hates geese.

Lucifer keeps his wings tucked away for most of the time when they aren’t needed, but he usually sleeps with them unfurled and spread across the bed when it’s warm out, or with them wrapped around himself when he’s cold.

While most people would think that the big boss of hell would be the all business type that drinks his coffee black, he actually prefers a soothing warm tea to coffee when given the option…. But if he has to have coffee, he usually has a cup that tends to be more creamer than coffee and it has to be tooth rottingly sweet.

There’s a cabinet in the Hazbin Hotel kitchen full of mugs. Lucifer has 4 duck themed mugs in that cabinet… there were 6 but Alastor “accidentally” broke two.

Lucifer keeps one of Charlie’s baby photos in the pocket of his jacket, but as their relationship improves, he keeps a newer photo of the two of them together in his pocket with it too.

There’s a cabinet in the Hazbin Hotel kitchen full of mugs. Lucifer has 4 duck themed mugs in that cabinet… there were 6 but Alastor “accidentally” broke two.

Lucifer keeps one of Charlie’s baby photos in the pocket of his jacket, but as their relationship improves, he keeps a newer photo of the two of them together in his pocket with it too.

#fizziepop thoughts #vivziepop #hazbin hotel #hazbin headcanons #lucifer morningstar #hazbin hotel lucifer #lucifer headcanons #charlie morningstar #charlie hazbin hotel #vaggie hazbin hotel #lucifer would be the best father in law #dad beat dad #more than anything #more than anything was one of my favorite songs #lucifer and alastor would frienemies #duckies #luci and his duckies #lucifer would love playing with the animals around the hotel

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jadesterling06 · 29 days ago

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Lucía Facts and Elements: 1994-2019 Edition

Born in Queens, New York to Mikhail Narcissov and Isabella Narcissov (neé Yahari)

Her father is from the Siberian region of Russia, in a village called Kimzha, where he would take Lucía 3-5 times a year to visit the family. He served in the Russian military, after his service he immigrated to the United States. He was a dog breeder and breed high-quality Borzoi dogs. The dog he had breed was named Svetlana, who came with him from Russia, she came from a line of dogs the family would breed and keep. Svetlana was Lucía's childhood pet, the two were almost inseparable.

Her mother is from Columbia, Isabella was raised in a spiritual temple that practiced a craft that was a blend of her ancestors old religions and Roman Catholism. Isabella's mother, Lucíana, was the high priestess of the temple. It was later destroyed by witch-hunters when Isabella was 13, she was the lone survivor of the assault. She left Columbia and eventually came to the United States at 21.

At the time just before her embrace, she was studying at Columbia University for Law. She worked at the library on campus.

Her heart truly wasn't in law though, what she loved was Occult, although in a place like New York, there aren't many opportunities that would perfectly provide for her needs.

Eventually, late one night, she would be embraced by Aisling, who was posing as a professor from Bernard College, which is allied with her University. Although startled about finding out about her beast, she pretty quickly warmed up to Vampire life. She was able to study the occult with no problem with resources, especially considering her sire was the Regent of the chantry.

Thanks to her inquisitive nature and love for the mystics, she moved through the circles of mystery in the apprentice rank fairly quickly.

In early 1998, just at the beginning of the Sabbat's firedance campaign extending into New York, Lucía was at the rank of Apprentice Quarta. One night, she had been at the chantry's garden at the Judas-tree, wanting to stock up of some more of the ingredients for the 'sleep of Judas' drug. While taking some careful clippings, a Sabbat fledgling had snuck up on her and staked her from behind, in an attempt to diablerize her. In this terrifying moment, she was quickly rescued from the diablerie attempt, Richard (a minor chantry ghoul npc I made for the chronicle) immediately apprehended the fledgling and brought the limp Lucía to Aisling. She still to this day has a massive scar on her back and a smaller one in her sternum area from where the stake went through. A very bitter memory for her, since then she had a grudge with the Sabbat. Although in recent nights in the chronicle, beggars can't be choosers as her only ally in her current situation is a major Sabbat figure. (Wink wink @mortifying-macaroni 😉)

For her history during her creation, I gave her a loresheet background in 'Sect War Veteran,' at 3, giving her 'Trophy killer,' which she had successfully managed to kill a Sabbat pack leader in her first ever feat of Blood Sorcery. She doesn't brag about despite what happened to her, she has the 'soft-hearted,' flaw and is never proud of her kills, so far a long-time I took a lot of willpower damage because of that 🥲.

If anything, after the battle of 99', she was even more carefully to wound rather than kill, if her superiors would allow it of course.

There is a major NPC in my Chronicle, Desdemona Drago, who's an ex-sabbat Tzimisce that Lucía spared, feeling mercy for Des whose sire was getting ready to kill her (During this moment in Lucía history, I made a note that the gash in Des's neck is so bad that she LITERALLY has to hold onto her head, or else it would've fallen off!) She made a deal with her, if Des gave them intel on the Sabbat's campaign, Lucía would allow her to live. After the battle, they remained in close contact.

Finally in 2000, she was promoted to Magister, a position she requested. Most of their Magisters had fallen during the battle, leaving most of the Apprentices Septimius's to fill in those positions. Of course, Lucía was one of them.

Along with being a teacher to the apprentice's, she acted as Aisling's assistant until 2019.

After Agathon's embrace in 2005, the pair began a close sibling relationship, as Lucía assisted Aisling in his education. She was his wing-man when he and Juno had a budding romance.

Due to Aisling's influence, Lucía also from time to time worked with other clans, which has caused her to also face scrutiny from members of her clan, (And Aisling has raised her eyebrows at Lucía's close friendship with a Tzimisce) along with her lack of ambition. But it allowed her to spend more time on her multiple occult fixations, so she was pretty happy with her job.

Lucía knows very well about what Aisling does behind the scenes when the Vienna chantry isn't looking. From dealings with other clans, to other sects, and the works. Although she vocalized her disagreements and concerns about the more suspicious ones, she mostly kept her head down. Aisling entrusted these secrets more to Lucía than Agathon, and for good reason as seen in SONY. Aisling and even Lucía herself thought that she would never go to the Vienna Chantry and turn her in. But after some events and dangerous conflicts between the two, it became a VERY powerful weapon against Aisling in exchange for the Prime Chantry letting Lucís off for her actions in the feud, but not without a few exceptions...

Hope this was entertaining! I really have fun doing these! If you guys have any questions, do let me know!

Dividers were made by @thecutestgrotto

Tremere Gif was made by @marcielleblack13

#oc #oc: lucía narcissov #tremere #vtm art #vtm #vtm oc #solo chronicle #vampire #vampire oc #vampire: the masquerade #oc facts #dont mistake her kindness for weakness #after the battle of 99' she has a body count 🙏

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sloanesallow · 1 year ago

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Big Brained

There's nothing wrong with being feral for one's husband, right? Sloane can't help it, especially when Sebastian shows off that big, sexy brain of his. ✨Sebastian Sallow x F!MC Tags: NSFW! MDNI! Sexual content, oral sex (m receiving), exactly one spank, and some Sebastian dirty talk. 2.5k words [Read on Wattpad] - [Read on Ao3] - [tumblr masterlist] Reblogs, comments, and kudos are always appreciated! ✨

The last place Sloane wants to be is the Ministry of Magic.

She has managed to avoid a permanent place at Whitehall, despite Minister Spavin’s constant and personal invitations for her to join their ranks. Her answer is always no—she does not want a career in the wizarding world’s government, preferring her freedom and whatever anonymity she has left. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for her husband, who is technically under their employment, contracted to work as a curse-breaker with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

At twenty, Sebastian is young, but incredibly talented, and one of the Auror’s greatest assets. He is usually in some far-off destination, exploring ancient tombs and collecting artifacts with a rag-tag crew, helping to chase down Dark Wizards and undo any havoc caused. Sloane travels with the group as an unofficial healer, treating mysterious and mundane wounds while researching remedies both magical and muggle. They are a dynamic duo of sorts, and the Ministry knows that the Sallows are a package deal, the bond inseparable—unbreakable.

After spending the last three months in the Austrian wilderness, they are back in London to receive a new assignment. Sloane spends the morning checking in on their dusty flat and shares a few cups of tea with Poppy in the local shoppe before venturing back to the second floor to find Sebastian. Even though he is rarely in-office, the Aurors keep a room clear for his use, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of what she calls the ‘bull-pen’.

Sloane can hear a few familiar voices as she approaches the open door, peeking her head in to see Sebastian in the middle of a fervent discussion with two of the officers who accompanied them in Salzburg. The other men don’t seem to notice her presence, but her husband acknowledges her entrance with a quick glance, the corner of his mouth twitching up before he refocuses his attention.

“Have the scouts reported back?”

“Yes, sir,” Jeffries, the older and more skeptical Auror replies. Sir—Sloane sees the subtle pride in Sebastian’s expression, even if the title causes her to bite back a laugh. Jeffries continues, “the rumors about increased activities on the Nordic coast are true. Intelligence suggests a small, but powerful group of heretics are attempting to locate bloodrunes, magic the Ministry hasn’t encountered in…centuries.”

That you know of, Sloane muses to herself as she idly peruses the nearby bookshelf, overflowing much like the shelves at home.

“Bloodrunes require significant power to activate,” Sebastian states, not bothering to specify if this knowledge is based on first-hand experience or not. He leans over the map spread out across the desk and traces a finger along the supposed site. “There are probably laylines that can be disrupted, but I won’t speculate until I see the area for myself.”

“Perhaps we should wait before sending a team—”

“Wait for what, exactly?” Sebastian interjects, raising an eyebrow in challenge. He straightens his posture and crosses his arms. “A blood sacrifice? Neither of you studied ancient magical tribes, so I won’t fault you for your ignorance, but the last time runes like these were activated, it triggered a tidal wave that destroyed the sea walls along the Nordic coast. Thousands of people were killed.”

Sloane glances up from the book she is pretending to read and feels only a little shame for ogling her husband when he is in the middle of an important conversation. But she enjoys watching Sebastian showcase his intelligence—he’s always been a little cocky, and rightfully so—he won’t back down when he knows he is right. With his coat discarded and sleeves pinned up, she can see the way the muscles in his arms flex as he waits for either man to respond.

“Alright, Sallow, you win,” the other Auror, Bartie, sighs. The red-headed Weasley is a few years older than her and Sebastian but is far more trusting than the rest of the old guard. “What do you need from us?”

Sebastian shrugs, trying not to smirk when he gets his way. “Whomever the department can spare, really. Preferably those who are proficient in more than just defensive magic. A liaison for the local communities as well, to safeguard them from harm.”

“Should I contact St. Mungos—”

“That won’t be necessary,” Sebastian waves off Jenkins’ inquiry. It should be known by now that the only healer needed is Mrs. Sallow—Sloane. The Aurors give curt nods and Sebastian flicks his gaze to where she is standing. “Now, if you’ll excuse me gentlemen, but I believe my wife has been waiting long enough.”

She smiles somewhat bashfully as the two men finally notice her just as they are being shooed out of the room. Jeffries is indifferent, but Bartie offers a polite smile and wave before leaving.

“Looks like we’re off on another adventure, sweetheart,” Sebastian says when they are alone, re-crossing his arms as he leans back against the desk. Sloane is already swiftly crossing the room, practically launching herself onto him as she swallows his surprised laughter in a kiss. He quickly hooks his arms around her waist, holding her steady as she presses up on her toes to meet his height the best she can.

“Mmm—hello,” he manages, pulling away with a breathless grin. “You’re certainly in a mood.”

“Yes, sir,” she simply replies, catching the glimmer of excitement that passes through his coffee-colored eyes. Sloane touches her heels back to the floor, smoothing her hands across his shoulders and chest, playing with the straps of his suspenders. “Is that so bad?”

“Not at all,” Sebastian hastily shakes his head and gives her hips an appreciative squeeze. “I’m usually the needy one, is all.”

“Well, I can’t help it when you show off,” she explains, undoing the first two buttons of his shirt. “I love your big brain.”

Sebastian’s brows twitch up at the word big, but before he can make a lewd comment she palms the front of his pants, and he croaks instead. He recovers quickly, hands snapping up to firmly cradle her face as he captures her lips in a kiss that speaks volumes of his hunger for her. Sloane matches his enthusiasm, tugging at his suspenders until they are hanging at his sides. As she flicks open the clasps of his trousers, he fumbles for his wand, muttering the necessary spells against her lips to slam shut the door, waiting for the audible click of the lock before tossing it aside.

It isn’t very often that Sloane is in control, and she takes full advantage of catching him off guard, not-so-gently pushing him back until he topples into the cushioned armchair with an oof. He watches her with a mesmerized expression, shifting to accommodate as she kneels between his spread legs. She continues with removing his trousers, pulling them down along with his underwear until the fabric pools around his ankles.

Sloane wastes no time, finding satisfaction in the way Sebastian’s breath hitches as she wraps one hand around the base of his cock, already hard from her teasing. She leisurely strokes him, pushing up his shirt so she can trail a path of wet kisses across his navel, hipbone, and thighs. Her thumb brushes over the sensitive head, spreading the gathering of pre-come as he shudders, breathing already labored. With a coy glance up through her lashes, she slowly takes him into the warmth of her mouth.

Sebastian’s fingers quickly thread into her hair, tugging at the ash-blonde strands as her lips slide down his length until she feels him against the back of her throat. She sucks in to create a perfect seal, repeating the up and down motion a few times before leaning back to swirl her tongue around the tip.

“F—fuck…” Sebastian groans, his head lulling back. Sloane steadily increases her pace, humming until the vibration prompts him to slide open his eyes to watch her head bob in his lap. Her fingers continue to stroke where her lips can’t reach, her other hand softly fondling his sac in a way that has his hips bucking up involuntarily.

She keeps her eyes on his face as it contorts with pleasure, brows furrowed deeply as he resists the urge to unravel too quickly. It’s thrilling for her to see him at her mercy, incoherent murmurs of praise falling from his lips as she eagerly coaxes him to the edge. His grip tightens in her hair, pressing against the nape of her neck, a telltale sign he’s close.

“Slo—Sloane,” he gasps, voice strained. “I—oh, fuck—I’m—”

The rest of his sentence dissolves into a strangled moan, his body tensing and cock twitching against her tongue as he spills his release. Sloane swallows it all, remembering to breathe through her nose as she takes every last drop he has to offer. Sebastian slumps back, in a daze as Sloane pulls away with a wet pop and self-satisfied smirk. There’s a lopsided grin on his face as he silently admires her, affectionately sweeping the hair from her face before brushing the pad of his thumb across her wet lips.

Even though Sloane can feel the slick of her arousal within her undergarments, she is content enough to wait until they return to their London flat for reciprocation. Seeing Sebastian so boneless and completely sated is satisfaction enough. She slides her hands across his thighs, gently massaging the remaining tension away.

“Ready to go home?” she asks, already imagining the evening ahead. A long bath, a hearty meal, and the comfort of their marital bed—not that they’ll be doing much sleeping.

Sebastian gradually sits up and Sloane pushes herself to stand, ready to help him right his trousers and gather his belongings so they can leave before more Aurors—or heaven forbid the Minister himself—stops by for another chat. But Sebastian shakes his head and the devilish gleam in his eyes is all the warning she has before his hands are on her, spinning her around to bend her over the desk.

“Seb!” the protest dies on her tongue as he hoists up her skirts, tucking them around her waist. Sloane sucks in a breath as he cups her, fingers pressing firm against the dampness of her knickers. He makes an appreciative sound, applying more pressure where she needs it the most, but just as she pushes back against his touch it’s gone, and all she can do is whimper at the loss.

“Don’t worry, darling,” Sebastian coos, peeling the delicate fabric away to expose her naked flesh. “I’ll take care of you.”

She lets out a surprised squeak when he playfully smacks her bare bottom, even more heat pooling in her gut as her legs tremble. Sebastian huffs a soft chuckle, this time smoothing the skin over with a gentle touch.

“More?” he asks, the deep timbre of his voice causing her to shiver.

She nods, barely remembering to speak, “yes.”

“Yes…?”

Sloane flushes—even after all these years, Sebastian can so easily fluster her. “Y—yes, sir.”

“Good girl.”

Perhaps some lingering naivety makes her believe he’ll simply take her like this, but no, her husband clearly has other plans for her. His hands slide up the back of her thighs until his thumbs are spreading her open, teasing her silken folds and entrance.

“Is this what I do to you?” he rasps, sliding two fingers through her arousal before slowly sinking them into her as she lets out a shuddering sigh. The way she flexes around him as he leisurely pumps in and out betrays just how impatient she is for his offer of pleasure. When she lifts her hips to meet his ministrations, Sebastian presses his free hand to her lower back, keeping her still.

“I said I’d take care of you,” his voice is gruffer than before, and she bites back a whine when he removes his fingers. “Do you want me to stop?”

“No,” she breathes, shaking her head. A part of her realizes this is Sebastian’s way of showing her who is really in charge, now.

“Do you want to come around my fingers?”

Sloane shakes her head again, fighting the urge to squeeze her thighs together for the slightest ounce of relief.

“No?” Sebastian feigns surprise, amused by her startled moan when he slips his fingers back inside her anyways. “My, my…you are needy today, aren’t you?”

All she can do is moan, disrupting the parchment on the desk as she grasps for purchase.

“Well,” he says in a sigh, curling his fingers to press against the spot that makes her vision blurry with stars. “You’ll have to use your words, my love. Tell me what you need.”

Sloane bites down a little harder on her bottom lip, her entire body now hot and prickled with goosebumps. She used to hate when he prompted her like this, attempting to coax filthy words from her lips and make her beg. But she really is too indigent right now to care, glancing over her shoulder to meet his wicked expression.

“Sebastian, I swear to God, if you don’t—”

“Isn’t it a sin to swear to God?” he muses, acting as if he isn’t knuckle-deep inside her. “My Sloane is much more polite than that.”

Insufferable tease—she huffs in frustration, but the warm swirl in her gut is a stark reminder that she loves it, loves him.

“Please,” she starts, deeply exhaling. “Shut up and fuck me.”

Sebastian tries to hide his delight but fails, laughing as he shifts to properly stand behind her, nudging her stance a little wider so they are properly aligned. “As my lady wishes.”

There is little teasing after that, Sebastian nudging his hardened-again cock against her before snapping forward to fill her in one fluid stroke. Her sharp gasp is drowned out by his deep groan and it’s very clear neither will last very long. Almost immediately, he sets a quick pace, the friction an agonizingly wonderful burn. Sloane can feel her legs shaking, straining as she stands on the very tip of her toes, Sebastian holding her up by the waist and hips to meet his thrusts.

“That’s it,” he grunts, not bothering to keep any sort of rhythm. He folds his body over hers, his free hand grasping her right wrist, pinning it to the desk as he bares his weight down. “Just like that.”

Sloane whimpers her approval, the warmth of him holding her down a comfort she never expected to enjoy or need. He ruts his hips against hers until they are both frantically crying out, core fluttering around him as he spills again, this time deep inside her heat.

It takes several moments for them to float back down to reality, Sloane sighing as Sebastian rests himself a little more comfortably across her back. He nestles his nose against her neck, affectionately sweeping through her sweat-matted hair as he presses a few lazy kisses to the shell of her ear.

He repeats her earlier ask with a breathless chuckle, “ready to go home?”

She hums her agreement, the two unhurried as they fix their appearances and attempt to tidy up any mess. As they leave the offices hand-in-hand, Sloane thinks to herself that maybe, just maybe, the Ministry of Magic isn’t so bad after all.

#hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #sebastian sallow smut #fanfic

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zel-shadedreviews · 3 months ago

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Every time I return to this movie, the more I begin to see its superior aspects compared to its genre and just how lovable it really is. Dismally, upon release, this didn’t receive the same acclaim due to its existence being overshadowed by another villain-redemption flick, Despicable Me. While it had a video game and a solid little short on its own that could have been extended into a feature-length sequel, the movie went under the radar by DreamWorks Animation for quite the eternity.

Until the unfadable occurred.

Coming from a lost planet, the alien dubbed Megamind sees how his turn of events made him into a supervillain, fighting the pampered hero, Metro Man, day after day. However, the unthinkable happened where one day, Megamind actually officially wins by destroying the hero, granting him access to take over Metro City and finally engaging power. However, even achieving domination, does his goal end there? No, because the villain laments on how boring his new life can be, so he decides to return to his original route by creating a superhero, only to see things turn out for the worse.

This film bares both a personality and an astounding amount of substance to be found, where it’s from mainly the twists towards its main characters and the storyline’s outcome. While you have the villain finally winning his battle, it all comes to a screeching halt upon finding out how meaningless life can be without a purpose; you’ve got to ask yourself “what now?” and then think of the path afterwards. Megamind thrives on being the bad guy all over again, but lacks the individual to enjoy the dynamic. With a great little arc for the villain, he suddenly sparks a new plan that begins to spiral out of complete control, before discovering his own path to take.

The film liked to reference classic tropes from the Superman franchise and reinvent them, showing the chosen villain realising his own destiny by everyone around him, the superhero going through a different development while the next-in-line decides to become the villain. I liked seeing all of these different story decisions as they’re fuelled by character development.

As with many superhero movies, there’s a whole climax involving the battle between good vs. evil, utilising the mediocre abilities yet hidden talents of the first villain opposing the unlimited monster he created. As with its genre, it also ends on a dance number, capping off with Michael Jackson’s Bad, as clearly that’s the law for family films; in the context of the reformed villain-turned hero, I’d accept it their intention of a satisfying celebration.

This movie can be hilarious at times, calling back to its dated tropes with the villain’s plan, but what made the comedy work was it’s hilarious execution with the line delivery. There’s one too many excellent jokes with a prime example being a whole back-and-forth argument between the hero and villain all about warranties. Most of the humorous situations happens from the main attempting to be taken seriously, only for his scatterbrained nature to get in the way.

This sort of animation they used for the human designs was something I would have desperately wanted for Monsters vs. Aliens, a flick that made them look more monstrosities. Here, they’re rather expressive, but only when the film wanted them to be, especially with both perceived heroes containing that energy. Their own body styles captured their demeanours from Megamind’s enlarged head and scrawny body to match his creative ideas and weak nature and how the heroes bare that nacho-chested body.

While the city mainly was that basic area with skyscrapers all around, it’s what mattered in the foreground that overshadowed what’s behind. With a superhero movie came some comedic action sequences, focusing on the movements of each clashing character butting faces with each-other. The fight between Megamind and his own creation managed to deliver some laughs thanks to its robotic design that can easily tiptoe without making a sound; it’s when the fight began to excel into pure chaos, fuelled by what Megamind made in the first place, increasing the stakes and alternating the mood from comedic to serious.

Megamind himself is a good definition of how someone is raised to be evil, but isn’t particularly a die-hard villain. He’s raised by prisoners and taught how to be a criminal, before his destiny is found by the bullies outcasting him as such. It’s several years later on during the middle act where the chosen villain attempts to be nice, taking the guise of a human, in order to pursue a relationship. While this increases the chances of him seeking some redemption, it brings him to the point of despair; this subplot would spark the classic twist of the liar being revealed, only in Megamind’s perspective, the truth brought back him back to his old days, as he couldn’t change the fact that he’s the “bad guy”. I’ve heard from sources listing that he’s autism-coded, spiralling from his inability to pronounce English words, raising his voice at any given moment and refusing physical contact; those I do see where they’re coming from.

That, and you have Will Ferrell doing an impressive job at being a campy villainous alien, especially by how large his overacting could be during performances.

The other characters I also liked, such as Megamind’s only companion and partner-in-crime, Minion, becoming another foil to his foil of the plans, yet acting as a supportive voice of reason. Their connection became an important aspect of Megamind’s storyline, as its always been the two of them during their delivered life of crime. Eventually, while we do receive a third-act breakup, it’s never taken to the point where it’s delivered so seriously thanks to their immature sibling bickering. With David Cross matching the character’s performance, it’s hard to not get some laughs out of his line delivery.

There’s Roxanne the reporter who gladly rushes to the villainous scenario at any given moment, before deciding to take matters into her own hands by deciphering Megamind’s plans. Her role predictably absorbed the role as a damsel-in-distress, but at the end of the day, it’s just another day at the office for her basically knowing every trick the villain chucked at her. With Roxanne’s interactions with the villain’s disguise introduced an honestly-solid connection, bringing more out of their personalities. What became a tad downfall on the other hand was how much they decreased her into the damsel all over again during the climax, but there’s at least a few times she wasn’t completely useless such as helping Megamind find an outcome to the new villain’s rampage. Who voiced her was Tina Fey, capturing that sassy and heartfelt tone from her character.

Who you’d expect to be the villain all this time would easily be Metro Man, joyfully voiced by Brad Pitt, the established superhero of Metro City, wowing the civilians with everything he does and everywhere he soars. We first see how much he soaks up the glamour, representing his egotistical side, before he proudly goes down another round with his nemesis. Later on comes a funny yet insightful twist with how he originally caused the events, spending his performed defeat contemplating on how the pressures of becoming a superhero was really what he wanted. This echoed the beginning segment where he was brought towards an upper-class family and practically raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, immediately chosen to be the idol that everyone wanted to blindly look up to. Mirroring his nemesis, Metro Man never chose the life of the hero as it was pretty much forced into his face; would someone really want to do the exact same job day in and day out if it wasn’t what they wanted to do at first?

At first, you could give him the label that he what he did was really stupid, as he practically allowed everything to happen; however, judging by his speech towards his old enemy, it gave the intention that he may have planned him to change his ways. Another amazing subversion towards his role was how after his own choice of retirement into Music Man, he never changes his mind and chooses to remain anonymous, slapping those tired cliches where characters return to the battle last minute after deciding their alternative choice. Metro Man grew from a childhood bully into a man suffering from an existential crisis, yet was going easy on his nemesis for all those years.

In order to find a new superhero to win back his former status, Megamind uses some of the powers of Metro Man to infect Roxanne’s cameraman, Hal. With this stand-in was another interesting character, where I don’t think I’ve seen such a progression. From the start, Hal isn’t the dorky admirer of Roxanne, but one who creepily crushes on her, making attempts to spend time with her. Even the movie acknowledged that his numerous approaches are pathetic and cringe-worthy. What further expresses his lack of true care was how he felt entitled to Roxanne, believing that he deserved her and nobody else should. The film never sugarcoated his role and presence, as we have to face the fact that he’s a massive r/niceguy incel, turning out to be the real villain all from idolising his coworker that he doesn’t even respect.

With Megamind’s intrusion, he made the biggest mistake by transforming Hal into a superhero, vastly increasing the stakes of the outcome. With his status as the new replacement for Metro Man, Hal, dubbing himself as Titan, fully declares himself as a worthy boyfriend for Roxanne, only to outright frighten her. When offered to help Roxanne find out the plan behind Megamind, Hal deeply refuses, only focusing on how much he thinks he deserves to have her as his girlfriend. From there, Hal straight up devotes his life to villainy, shocking Megamind. This was when we see the true colours of the real mindset behind Hal, where despite how much Roxanne attempts to reason with him, he’s gone too far to the point of no return. Megamind’s own tricks never made an impact on Roxanne, but Hal’s chaotic display of powers could, presenting on how dangerous his abilities could really be. What made an uncaring slacker voice was eaten up by Jonah Hill, evolving this character into an anger and greed-fuelled monster hell-bent on murder instead of heroic duties.

To be frank, I feel that this movie was a hidden gem at the time, but I’m glad that people are really giving this the attention it deserves, even making memes out of the door lens image and Metro Man’s lines. For me, it’s a personal favourite, my appreciation for its existence growing stronger with every watch.

Final Rating: B+

9/10

#zelshadedreviews #dreamworks animation #dreamworks marathon #megamind #megamind review

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helpdraseel · 10 months ago

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Help Dr. Aseel’s Daughters To Escape From GAZA WAR To Safety 🇵🇸🍉

I am Doctor Aseel Al-Saqa, caught between two missions linked only by life and death. I used to work in the emergency department at Al-Shifa Hospital, but I never expected my life and my family's life to turn into scenes of horrifying war. As a mother to two beautiful daughters, Amal and Haya, the weight of this responsibility becomes even more profound.

Since the morning of October 7th , the sound of shelling has filled the skies of Gaza, dramatically altering our lives.

Before War:⬇️

We fled with my husband Walid and our children, Amal and Haya, from the airstrikes, leaving behind everything we own in search of safety amidst screams of pain, fear, and panic. There's no longer a routine familiarity with alarm sounds; instead, waves of fear engulf me amidst my desperate attempts to protect my family and make them feel secure in a time of chaos and destruction.

Our hearts ache for what our little daughters, Amal and Haya, are going through. They deserve all the joy, love, and safety in this delicate age. I appeal to all of you to help us ensure our daughters' right to a dignified and safe life by leaving Gaza away from the effects of wars and conflicts.

Before War:⬇️

During WAR When my Daughters Scared from the Sound of Bombing:⬇️

We suffer from a shortage of food and healthcare resources. My innocent daughters, two-and-a-half-year-old Amal and ten-month-old Haya, suffer from food scarcity and lack of healthcare, as polluted smoke from rockets fills the sky of our city and sewage water accumulates in our streets. All of this makes them vulnerable to devastating diseases like gastroentritis and pneumonia. Our children should not bear this ordeal; they are our future, and we must provide them with the protection and care they deserve.

The moment the occupation destroyed the hospital where I served and caused my home to collapse before my eyes, it was not just a loss of shelter, but a powerful blow that shattered my entire life. Therefore, I need your help in this difficult moment, to extend a helping hand and support so that I can rebuild my life and the lives of my children anew. I need to secure a new roof over my head and return to my profession as a doctor to continue my journey of giving &healing.

My husband, Walid, works as an accountant in a Company. He faced a tough moment since the beginning of the war, as he lost his job and his workplace was bombed and destroyed. These painful experiences have made life more complicated and challenging for us.

As for my family, which consists of my father-in-law, my mother-in-law, and two brothers-in-law who lived with us in the same building, their house was destroyed along with ours during the bombing.

They were forced to flee in the middle of the night, leaving behind everything they owned. My father-in-law suffers from heart disease and diabetes, and amid this devastating war, he faces a constant shortage of insulin and the necessary treatment, which makes us tirelessly search for medication to ensure his survival. We are in dire need of your help, especially with my father-in-law's difficult situation, as we strive to move him to a safe place that provides him with treatment and security away from the ravages of war and destruction.

Perhaps this fundraising effort is our last hope that we rely on strongly. I appeal to the world to listen to my plea, as we are in desperate need of assistance to alleviate our suffering and escape to safety outside Gaza. We are a family of six and two daughters, and we need financial assistance ranging from $10,000 to $13,000 per person to leave Gaza and reach Egypt in search of safety.

Thank you for your support and for standing by me during this difficult time.

#palestine #gaza #free gaza #free palestine #gaza genocide #gaza strip #gazaunderattack #save gaza #stand with gaza #gaza gofundme #help gaza #gofundme #i stand with palestine #save palestine #palestinian genocide #support #support gaza #from the river to the sea palestine will be free #palestine fundraiser

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mariacallous · 7 months ago

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When South Korean legislator Kim Min-seok warned in August that President Yoon Suk-yeol might be plotting to declare martial law, even the most ardent critics of Yoon were skeptical. Of course, the right-wing president was increasingly displaying authoritarian tendencies. In response to his miserably low approval rating, hovering between the high teens and low 20s, as well as mounting corruption allegations against him and his wife, Yoon ordered indiscriminate raids of the offices and residences of liberal politicians and journalists, numerous thinly supported criminal charges against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, and ostentatious military parades.

But still, the idea that Yoon might attempt martial law and a self-coup—where an existing leader seizes dictatorial power—seemed to be too outlandish. It was seen as partisan fodder, unbecoming of a lawmaker of Kim’s stature—a respected former youth leader of the South Korean democracy movement that ended the military dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan in 1987. South Korea had not seen martial law since its democratic transition, although a declaration of martial law remained a theoretical possibility in case of a wartime emergency in a hypothetical clash with North Korea.

Then it happened. At 10:23 p.m. local time on Dec. 3, Yoon called an unscheduled press conference. In a six-minute statement, Yoon announced that he was declaring an emergency martial law, claiming that the opposition Democratic Party made the National Assembly “a monster trying to destroy liberal democracy” because the liberal party had brought 22 impeachments against officials in his administration and threatened to slash its discretionary budget. Yoon branded his political opponents are “pro-Pyongyang anti-state forces,” in the same rhetoric that South Korea’s military dictators had used to justify their rule.

Within an hour, Gen. Park An-soo was appointed as the commander of the Martial Law Command, which decreed that all political activities in national and local legislatures were prohibited, all media were subject to the control of the Martial Law Command, and public gatherings and rallies were prohibited. Soon, armored cars and helicopters began emerging in the streets of Seoul.

South Korean news anchors reporting the announcements were visibly shaking because they knew, as did most South Koreans, what could be in store. The last time martial law was declared in South Korea was in 1979, in the waning days of Park Chung-hee’s dictatorship that later gave way to Chun’s. In that martial law period, from October 1979 to January 1981, Chun’s paratroopers massacred hundreds of protesters, perhaps thousands, in the southwestern city of Gwangju.

The mass murders in the aftermath of the Gwangju Uprising became one of the defining moments of modern South Korean history, memorialized in the novel Human Acts by Han Kang, who won the Nobel Prize in literature in October and is due to give her acceptance speech next week. But in 2024, most South Koreans had regarded the massacre as a distant historical event, a tragic but old incident that their country had put past. The public watched the news in shock as armored cars and helicopters were heading to the National Assembly, where lawmakers had the ability to end martial law by a majority vote.

Fortunately, history did not repeat itself—in part because, as with everything he has done, Yoon executed the autogolpe with clownish incompetence. Aspiring authoritarians around the world have long had an established playbook for coups: TV broadcast controlled, the internet jammed, opposition leaders arrested, and checkpoints set up around the city.

The martial law declaration aspired to all of these possibilities, especially control of the media. Yet none of those things happened on the night of Dec. 3. TV cameras roamed freely near the National Assembly Hall, while liberal leaders exhorted the public via social media to protest against Yoon’s power grab. Squads were reportedly deployed to arrest key opposition leaders but were too slow to stop them. Soldiers were reluctant to use force, letting themselves be pushed back by unarmed protesters.

Although details are still emerging as of this writing (around 24 hours since the martial law declaration), it appears that Yoon’s self-coup attempt was so clumsy because the president could not balance the need to keep his plan secret and the need to get the requite buy-ins from key players. Reportedly, it was Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun who suggested declaring martial law. But Kim could only muster a small segment of the military to follow his orders; most of the military and the police remained in their posts. Yoon apparently had no buy-in from conservatives either, as People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon quickly denounced the coup attempt.

Nevertheless, there were many moments where just one wrong turn could have resulted in chaos and bloodbath. Under the law, the National Assembly can end martial law with a majority vote—but of course, that assumes that the legislators are able to vote. The declaration, completely illegally, forbade the National Assembly from gathering, and armed soldiers were dispatched to patrol outside the Assembly Hall, as helicopters equipped with machine guns hovered over them.

Somehow, the South Korean legislators managed. The protesters led a tense standoff against the special forces deployed to the legislature, blocking the soldiers and armored cars while opening a path for lawmakers to enter the building. Democratic Party spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong wrestled an armed soldier with her bare hands before going into the building. Lee, the Democratic leader, showed surprising athleticism for a 60-year-old as he hopped over the walls to avoid the soldiers in front of the building—while livestreaming a video of himself to boot. Thankfully, not a shot was fired.

Once in the building, the lawmakers and their aides barricaded the entrance and opened the legislative session at 12:49 a.m. Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik emphasized that proper parliamentary procedure must be followed to leave no doubt about the result, even as paratroopers broke a window to enter the building and legislative aides pushed them back with fire extinguishers and cellphone flashes.

At 1:01 a.m., after 12 agonizing minutes of typing up the bill and submitting it in accordance with the parliamentary procedure, the 190 out of 300 Assembly members who could manage to enter the hall, including 18 legislators of Yoon’s own party, unanimously voted to end martial law. After a few moments of hesitation, the helicopters and armored cars, then the soldiers, began leaving the hall. Even after the vote, there remained a question whether Yoon would honor the National Assembly vote. The legislators remained in the hall, fearing that Yoon might redeploy the military or declare martial law once again. But at 4:27 a.m., the defeated and humiliated Yoon held a press conference to announce that he would lift martial law.

As of this writing, the situation remains fluid. But it does not appear likely that Yoon will be able to finish out the remainder of his term, which runs until 2027. The Democratic Party demanded that Yoon resign immediately or face impeachment proceedings, which require a two-thirds majority of the 300-seat Assembly. Although Yoon’s party holds a slim buffer with 108 legislators, the president’s coup attempt is likely to be enough to peel off at least eight lawmakers, since 18 of them already voted to end martial law.

Yoon may choose to resign rather than to face the ignominy—though he might still be prosecuted. South Korea has an illustrious history of prosecuting and jailing its former presidents, including two out of the past three presidents, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, both conservatives.

However it ends, Yoon’s presidency will serve as a reminder of the resilience of South Korean democracy. South Korea’s first martial law situation in more than four decades ended in approximately six hours, based on a parliamentary vote, with no casualties and not a single shot fired. One errant bullet could have changed the course of history, but the overwhelming weight of democratic norms, physically manifest in a protesting public and the parliamentarians calmly voting in the face of ongoing assault, stayed the hands of the soldiers.

On the other hand, it is another embarrassment for South Korean conservatives, who miraculously came back from the impeachment of their last president, Park, in 2017 to recapture the presidency in a narrow win in 2022 based mostly on grievances about high housing costs. This latest episode will do little to help right-wing leaders shed their reputation as the descendants of military dictators with a streak of authoritarianism that could flare up at the first sign of trouble. The so-called reasonable conservatives, the smaller cadre of right-leaning moderates who think vainly that they can work within the system to change it, will once again have to impeach their own president.

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