#their arguments are so silly and out of touch with reality and ignore basic parts and plotlines of the show

[alicepao13]

People complaining about Rex solving a case all on his own on S07E02 have totally missed the point of the show. This is the point of the show, Rex being a superdog. If you want a regular K9 and regular police work, go watch a K9 documentary or something. Again, Hudson and Rex is an adaptation of Kommissar Rex. In just the first season of said show, a few weeks after they've met, Rex goes out and brings Moser’s breakfast from a bakery and a deli in Vienna, then brings him his newspaper, and Moser is like, what, no coffee? Because that behavior is considered normal. In another season, Rex finds a case all on his own, interrogates the perp all on his own and brings him to his human partner just for the confession and the arrest.

So no, Hudson and Rex had not “gone downhill”. You just fail to grasp that this is the doggo show and you cannot be critical of that part if you truly understand what this show is about. There have been parts where the show has tried to take itself seriously and those are the parts it should be judged for but if you’re not willing to suspend your disbelief regarding the dog part, then this show is not for you.

[realcube]

The Maid Café || Saiki K x Reader

summary: nendou and kaidou keep pestering saiki to visit their favourite maid café but he shuts them down every time. however, after a bit of prying they manage to convince him to give the place a try and while they are there, you just so happen to be on shift. 

tw// cussing, maid café, (she/her) reader

key:

“non italicised text” = somebody besides Saiki speaking

“italicised text” = Saiki telepathically communicating

‘italised text’ = Saiki’s thought

‘Of course Nendou and Kaidou would be into maid cafés of all things — not cat cafés, not internet cafés — it just had to be maid cafés.’  

Saiki’s internal monologue began as Kaidou continued gushing on about the cute lady he met at the café a few days ago as an argument to why Saiki should join them next time they go. Not to say Saiki wasn’t listening as he felt extremely sorry for whatever lady had to tolerate Kaidou’s advances and his prayer went out to her but besides that, he really couldn’t care less about the maids or the café. 

Until, his attention was involuntarily aroused at the vocalisation of his name from Nendou, “Saiki’s definitely in for Friday, I’m pretty sure I sold him when I told him that the sandwiches there are almost as good as the ramen we usually get.”

‘No, you didn’t. I won’t be coming to join you on Friday. I’d much rather stay--’ 

Somehow Kaidou managed to cut off Saiki’s internal monologue with his annoying voice, “Don’t be silly, Nendou. You’re not going to win Saiki over with such a ridiculous comparison, one that he clearly doesn’t care about.” 

‘Am I delusional? Is this a hallucination? Or did Kaidou just say something logical and based in reality?’

Kaidou’s aura immediately changed to dark and sinister as a mischievous smirk crossed his face, the background squawks of the crows suddenly became much louder for some unknown reason. “Instead, you must locate your opponent's weak point before you can recognise the crucially important moment to exploit it. The process takes patience but it is one I have learned from my many years rebelling against Dark Reunion. Now, young Nendou, watch and learn.” He finished with a dramatic flip of his school jacket which was slung over his shoulders as a cape.

‘What was all that about?’

Saiki wondered before Kaidou turned to him, much less brooding than he was a few seconds ago, and said casually, “Your loss if you don’t come, Saiki — you’ll be the one missing out on some of the best desserts in our whole town — not to mention the coffee jelly.”

✿✿✿✿✿

‘How do I always end up losing to these people? I am a psychic for god’s sake!’

Saiki mentally cursed himself out as he stood shamefully in front of the maid café, wearing a carefully curated outfit — including his germanium ring  — created especially to hide his identity from anyone from his school that might pass by the café and spot him in there through the window or something. Honestly, he wouldn’t be caught dead in a maid café, or so he thought.

However, all the reviews he read along with both Nendou and Kaidou’s thoughts helped him conclude that this place’s coffee jelly and general dessert selection is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, his favourite Tumblr blog - DeadlyDesserts11037 - visited the place and gave it a 5 star review, recommending everybody who happens to pass by the town to definitely check the place out. After that, he was sold.

Saiki looked over at his friends and couldn’t help but facepalm in response to their bright red, thrilled expressions. “Good grief, please don’t tell me you are both that excited over ladies in maid outfits.” As you might’ve guessed, Saiki didn’t really understand the concept of a ‘maid café’, so he simply assumed the male obsession with maids had something to do with the objectification of women hence he obviously did not want to take part.

“Saiki, you’re seriously just built different if this doesn’t touch your soul.” They both brushed the pink-haired boy’s comment off, completely mesmerised by the sight of a particularly pretty maid-lady walking by the window — probably on her way to serve a table — carrying a notepad in one hand and a plate with a scrumptious-looking coffee jelly on top. 

Saiki followed their gaze, his breath hitching at the sight. He was speechless; no sarcastic comment, no running commentary, nothing. Just..woah! If he had known that the girls that work at this place were so gorgeous and the food looked so delicious, he would’ve came a long time ago.

He wasn’t even sure which one he wanted more; the girl or the jelly. In a way, one wasn’t complete without the other because the coffee jelly which she held high next to her head brought out her (E/C) eyes while her shapely figure highlighted the defined curves of the jelly. Drool was quick to start forming at the corners of his lips but he was even quicker to wipe it away; he was starving.

“We’re going in.”

✿✿✿✿✿

To Saiki’s dismay, it was not the stunning (H/C)-haired girl who he had caught a glimpse of through the glass that ushered them to their table. Rather, it was a slightly less gorgeous maid-lady who had long, bright purple hair which was clearly a wig. 

Fortunately for him, after she left Kadiou, Nendou and himself to take their seats, she rushed off saying that someone will come take their orders whenever they are ready.

Even with his psychic abilities, there wasn’t much he could think of to alter fate so the pretty coffee-jelly lady would end up serving their table, and besides that, he was way too caught up in gawking at all the mouth-watering desserts they had pictured on the menu. 

Simply glancing over the menu brought a stupid grin to his face, he wanted to try every delectable treat presented in front of him. However, he knew he must exhibit restraint, which was fairly simple as he knew deep down there was only one thing on the menu that he was truly after. You guessed it  — coffee jelly.

Usually, he couldn’t care less about what his friends comrades were going to order but in this case, he was tempted to try convince both Kaidou and Nendou to order something he liked so he could take a bite of whatever they were having, “What are you two going to order?”

Yet again though, he was ignored as Nendou and Kaidou were both too busy checking out other types of snacks to care about the ones on the menu. 

Then, a movement out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention so his head jolted from the menu to his new target, the beautiful girl he had saw through the window earlier. Previously, she was holding a coffee jelly but now she was basically empty handed, until she approached the table and pulled out a notepad and pen, “May I take your orders?” She asked in the most calming, melodious voice Saiki had ever heard, the sounds that left her mouth were nothing short of angelic. Which made sense since her serving their table must’ve been god’s gift to Saiki for all his hard work.

Chills, Saiki got literal chills before he mused, “A coffee jelly, and two brownies for the pair of clowns.” His blood ran cold; curse his smooth sarcastic comments! Most of the time, he was able to filter himself but due to the nerves that arose while talking to you, he probably shouldn’t be surprised that he had a little slip of the tongue. But now, you probably think he is a bitch that insults people on the regular; which he is, but not usually aloud! Plus, he couldn’t even tell what you were thinking due to his germanium ring and your distant expression, awful combo!

While he was in the middle of feeling bad for himself and considering teleporting away home, a miracle happened, you burst out laughing. And somehow, your laughter was even more silvery than your voice. 

Saiki had zoned-out from pure shock for a moment before coming back to reality, noticing that you had started jotting down something in your notepad, a sweet smile still lingering on your face despite the fact you had stopped laughing. “Alright, so one coffee jelly and two brownies. Anything else?” You asked, glancing back and forth between the three equally unique and strange men sitting at the table. 

“That’ll be all, thank you.” Saiki telepathically communicated as he usually did, considering actually using his mouth to speak for a change so he didn’t seem weird but in all honesty, he couldn’t be bothered. In any other situation, he would’ve gotten a drink of water or perhaps hot cocoa but right now he was way too afraid of making another error in his speech to request something else. 

Silently, he extended his arm to hand you the menu he was given when he entered the café, along with the ones Kaidou and Nendou were given too. His actions single-handedly shooting down your plan of leaning across the table to ‘take the menus’ but in reality it is just a subtle way of showing-off how nice your torso looked in this maid outfit, a trick you learned from your supervisor. 

You nodded, closing over your notepad and making your way over to the kitchen, being sure to swing your hips just a little bit extra to impress the pink-haired megane at the table you just took an order from. You mentally cursed your stupid brain though for always crushing on guys/gals who don’t seem the least bit interested in you. In this case, the guy’s attention was divided between his star-struck friends and the desserts on the menu, rather than you which was an unusual sight in a maid café considering that most people would only come to ogle at the waitresses. 

✿✿✿✿✿

“So, Saiki.” Kaidou finally landed back into reality after a large chunk of the waitresses roaming around were now in the kitchen which he didn’t have viewing access to, “What did you order us?”

‘So, he was fully aware that the waitress came to take his order, he just chose to ignore her and left me to order his food. What a child, it must be a side-effect of his eighth grade syndrome.’

Saiki couldn’t help but sigh, “I ordered you both brownies.”

Kaidou stuck out his bottom lip to form a pout as he crossed his arm over his chest like a toddler, “I hate brownies.” He muttered to himself, realising that if he wanted something done right, he’d have to do it himself.

An amused smirk tugged at Saiki’s lips but he resisted the urge to laugh, ‘I know.’ He thought, his masterplan to eat more food without looking greedy falling into place. “Oh well, more for me then.”

Suddenly, Nendou spun his head around to abruptly join the conversation, “Hey guys, did you see the hottie that was serving our table?” He inquired with starry eyes, as if he was a kid in a candy store.

Saiki nodded, ‘Obviously I did, you moron. I was the one who ordered the food for goodness’ sake!’

Kaidou shook his head, his eyes lighting up as he leaned in close to Nendou, “Nope! I was busy looking at the other girls, but tell us!” 

Nendou chuckled at Kaidou’s enthusiastic reaction before glancing to the side, outstretching his arm and pointing at the waitress that was now approaching the table with the food in her hands. “There she is!”

‘Don’t point at her, you idiot!’ Saiki mentally insulted his friend but instinctively followed the guidance of the tip of his finger until his eyes landed on your shapely figure — accentuated by the nature of the maid outfit  — slowly heading toward his table, holding the coffee jelly and the plate of brownies in the same graceful way you did when he saw you through the window. 

The gleam of your gorgeous hair, the movement of your luscious lashes, the gentle bounce of your upper body, how your perfectly manicured nails clutched the base of the jelly glass; everything about what he was seeing made him believe that if/when he were to die, this would be his ideal first sight as he passed through the gates of heaven. 

Before he knew it, you had reached the table and placed his jelly down on the table, gently nudging it towards him, “One coffee jelly for the cute boy with antennas.” You mused, making Saiki’s heart flutter in a way he was unfamiliar with. Then, you placed the brownies in front of Kaidou and Nednou who sat opposite from Saiki, “And two brownies for the clowns.” 

If it wasn’t for the fact the pair of clowns were too busy leching over you in your maid outfit, they’d probably be curious as to your choice of words but luckily for both you and Saiki, they were way to entranced by your visible bra strap to care about the little nickname.

Saiki felt a light blush creep onto his face, which only got worse as you discretely sent him a playful wink before turning on your heels to stroll back to the kitchen, “If you need anything else, just give me a wave.” 

All of them hummed agreement in unison until the waitress was out of sight, giving Saiki a moment to process the events that had just went down. Not only did you refer to him as ‘the cute boy with antennas’ but you also winked at him, if that wasn’t a clear sign you were interested, what was? However, Saiki still had his doubts since this was a maid café after all, perhaps you were just trained to do that with all your customers.

Luckily, the had the foresight to slip off his germanium ring to read your mind and that helped him come to the conclusion that you were either interested in him or you were just very competitive as the whole time you were serving the table your thoughts were along the lines of;

‘I’ll adjust my skirt- Ha! You looked! Try resist falling for me now, you hot lil’ megane! Your heart is mine and I know it! See, I’ll fidget with my corset too-- just make a move already, pinkie!’

Although he didn’t appreciate being called ‘pinkie’, he had no right to judge what was going on in your brain. All he could do is be thankful that you didn’t say that aloud.

✿✿✿✿✿

You sighed as you noticed the pink-haired boy and his little posy exit the establishment without so much as a goodbye, or even a wave! 

It was disappointing as you had already mentally planned your future with this guy and he had the audacity to do the real life equivalent of leaving you on read. But oh well, it would be approximately a week until you developed a crush on a random customer that lasts for around 30 minutes and for the time being, you can focus on doing your job.

You glumly shuffled over to their table to gather their plates to be washed, then a piece of colourful paper attached to the empty jelly glass caught your eye. As you held up the glass to inspect it further, you realised that it was a sticky note with a message written on it in black ink and neat, cursive handwriting. It read:

‘Dearest waitress,

Thank you for the excellent service, we (myself) tipped accordingly.’

You hadn’t finished reading yet but you were curious as to what he meant by that, and apparently you service must’ve been exceptional as the writer had left a whole ¥2000 tip. That’s a huge addition to the demonia fund.  

Followed by this charming little message was an extra tip for you; the writer’s phone number! Meaning that this little sticky note was something you had to protect with your life..so you shoved it in your bra for safe-keeping. 

But not before taking a moment to giggle with delight at who the note was signed by, 

‘Sincerely, the hot lil’ megane (aka Kusuo Saiki)’ 

[magicalforcesau]

Letters (part 1)

The written correspondence between Obi-Wan and Satine throughout their Hogwarts career. In this part, we see the early stages of their friendship leading up to where we find ourselves in the beginning of “Dancing with Ghosts in Your Garden”.

ao3 link

First Year- Winter

Dear Obi-Wan,

I distinctly recall requesting that we continue correspondence over the course of our winter holiday and yet, here we are nearing the halfway point without any trace of a letter. It is to my understanding that you are intrinsically hardwired to automate politeness, but such pleasantries are meaningless if you do not intend on following through. Here I was thinking that despite our many differences, that we were becoming acquaintances. 

Before you go off developing delusions of grandeur thinking I am lonely or desperate for your reciprocated communication, I am quite well off either way. I am just miffed that I was not afforded the opportunity to practice writing in Mando’a more this break and my owl, Copikla, needed the exercise. 

Should this letter find you well, I must emphasize that I am not crying out for a response. Your silence will be loud enough on your intentions regarding any pursuit of a potential friendship. Do not write back out of pity, either, because that would be as insulting as it would be foolish.

Sincerely,

Satine Kryze

Dear Satine,

Please understand that I am deeply apologetic for not writing sooner. It was not out of intentional callousness nor more damningly, indifference. Cody had written to me as well asking in regard to my whereabouts. Though it is not an excuse for my silence, I’ve mentioned before that my parents are very specific in what they expect of me, and unfortunately, I did not meet their hopes for the term. As a result, I've resolved to cleaning every square inch of the house. While this might seem like a simple set of chores, I promise you my house has many inches to clean.

Even in writing this letter I had to perform with haste. Mother has, of course, enlisted my assistance for the New Year’s party as she had for the Christmas party. I beg of you to ignore the fact that this is written on a napkin. All of my parchment is upstairs.

My semester at Hogwarts could have been completely dreadful had it not been for Cody and your combined efforts in preventing me from wallowing in my own self-pity. I am beginning to see the positives in starting fresh in Ravenclaw house and hope that one day, I will be capable of showing my parents the potential as well. Only time will tell, but I cannot wait to return to Hogwarts and that is because of the both of you.

I truly hope I can return some of the happiness you’ve given me and I say that not out of obligation, but from the depths of my heart.

Sincerely,

Obi-Wan Kenobi

 Second Year- Summer

Dear Obi-Wan,

I know we just parted not but a few hours ago (don’t let it go to your head), but I couldn't help but look up what we were discussing earlier on the train. The International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was formed due to the many witch and wizard (mostly witch- sexism and all that) burnings that were taking place all across the globe. Witches and wizards did not feel safe especially for their young, who could not control their magic as easily. However, as I suspected, there was opposition to maintaining secrecy and it was from none other than the pureblood sectors of magic.

That’s interesting, right? Especially when you consider our present political climate where it is the opposite. The purebloods preferred the melding of the two worlds, because they enjoyed coming and going as they pleased as well as associating with the upper class muggles of the time. 

I hope you are not chained to your bedpost for the entire summer considering Ravenclaw claimed the House Cup in part to your miraculous save at the end of the match. You certainly deserve to see a little sunlight and that’s coming from someone as pale as myself.

Do actually write back this time if you’re allotted a quill and parchment. You’ll be insulted to know I am using a mechanical pen as we speak. There are some aspects of the wizarding culture that I will never understand, and the lack of simple innovation is one of them.

Sincerely,

Satine

 Dear Satine,

What is truly a wonder is that someone is tackling the summer reading assignments even before I’ve managed to touch them! If you aren’t careful, everyone is going to start calling you the nerd behind your back. They’d be utterly daft to say it to your face, of course. I do not want to hear any nonsense about you finishing your homework before me, because simply using a standard pen is giving you a significant advantage to your arsenal. Before you retaliate with some droll rebuttal about how I’ve had countless advantages in being bred with wizarding history all around me, I think you need to reconsider my sources and how often I have to sift through half-truths to find reality.

For instance, the very piece of history you’re speaking of is told entirely differently in our textbooks than it has been my whole life. My family has always given off the impression that purebloods wanted to spare the less fortunate wizards from the muggle world and that it was those of lower status who did not understand the dangers of the world and got themselves twisted with dangerous muggles. It’s a little frightening how perspective changes the course of history.

The witch burnings were truly a terrible incident altogether, which is something all sources seem to agree upon. I do wonder though if they were more like martyrs for the ISS to begin. I’m sure muggle history has its ugly spots as well in regards to this era. When you finish your assignments and inevitably grow bored enough to write to me again, I’d be interested to hear the muggle perspective on historical incidents such as these. I’m sure as someone who has gone to muggle primary school, you were afforded a different and more rounded perspective on the matter. 

Sincerely,

Obi-Wan

 Third Year- Summer

Dear Ben,

I don’t understand how you can even REMOTELY believe that an institute that enslaves LIVING BEINGS of any kind is anywhere near acceptable. How do you go a full two years of knowing a person and never come across that key factoid? While I do often find myself trying to be considerate of the environment you grew up in, this is a basic core belief that is incredibly black and white. Either you believe that slavery is a reasonable option, or you do not. It is not a subject in which someone can have no opinion, because in doing so would only support those that believe in its merit. It’s how oppression thrives, not in its believers, but in those unwilling to say anything at all. 

House Elves were not enslaved because it was the very reason they were created, but they were enslaved and then brainwashed into believing that their life’s purpose was to serve. The very ideal of their desires being infringed upon with the abolitionist movement was a narrative that was bred by slaveowners. A while back, when we spoke of witch burnings and of skewed narratives, you mentioned that you have been raised under the belief that historical moments happened a certain way. You then had to question your beliefs because your textbook said differently.

Allow me to be your textbook: wizards are not entitled to house elves. The institution that thrives off of the economic convenience of house elves was built on the backs of slavery. Cruelty. So, pardon me for feeling no remorse in the economic lapse taken when your ancestors were forced by wizarding statute to relinquish their slaves. In fact, I am doubling down on that apathy in how your family treats their paid servants. 

Sincerely,

Satine

Dear Satine,

I never said owning a house elf was okay nor did I say I agreed with it. For Pete’s sake, do you always have to dig into controversy the moment we enter the borders of London? I swear you get pleasure out of catching me with my foot in my mouth with the excuse to go on some form of a tirade. How silly of me to ever dare to assume that I had the last word on the train.

House Elves were slaves and it was and always will be wrong. You’ll have no arguments from me in that regard and I’ve always believed that, with or without your infinite wisdom. I wish it was never a facet of our society, but it was. I’ve been honest with you in reference to how poorly my parents treat their servants and that they are not paid a typical wage, but out of indentured servitude. I was merely stating before that I have no pull nor say in ending this “contract”, not that I agree with its existence. While I’ll be honest, I never truly considered the injustice of it all until more recently, I never envied him and always showed compassion. I’ve been compassionate not to lessen my burden of guilt, but because it’s the right way to be.

I do not appreciate your comments in reference to my upbringing, as though that somehow makes me a lesser person simply because I come from bias. Everyone has bias and everyone must learn to differentiate from them. 

My primary argument was from an economic standpoint only and in trying to raise the important question of how to repair that without relying on servitude. To this day, former elves struggle as some of the very elves who participated in the revolution are still alive and without a set purpose in this economy. Though they deserved to be free, the manner at which is was done was nearly as horrible as keeping them chained forever. Most fall back into stride of serving former masters. It raises the question of if they were ever really free and if we require such practices in order to thrive, are we really free? That doesn’t say much about us, now does it?

Now that I had more than exactly three seconds to articulate my point, does that satisfy you? Or would you rather return to your soapbox?

Sincerely,

Obi-Wan

P.S.: I hope your newfound abhorrence to my character does not prevent you from continuing to write this summer.

 Third Year- Winter

Dear Satine,

Perhaps it’s near damnation for me to be physically documenting this moment, but I simply had to tell somebody. That impulse alone is a very frightening character change that I did not see coming. I’ve always thought I liked keeping to myself, but now I wonder if that was mere acceptance rather than preference. Regardless, I need you to know that I released Jar Jar, our humble and bumbling servant, from his contract this evening. 

They were going to hurt him. 

It wasn’t my parents’ decision, by my grandfather’s, who if you ever believed my parents were strict and traditional, you’ve never seen him in action. Practically senile, my grandfather loathes not only muggles and muggleborns, but halfbloods and low-ranking purebloods as well. My mother swears he was not as blunt and fiery in his youth, but I cannot be so sure.

Jar Jar has gotten a bit clumsier in his growing age as well. We have a whole lot of ‘loyal’ butlers and maids, of course, but Jar Jar has been with my family the longest, dating back shortly after the house elf revolution. He made the unfortunate mistake of spilling a glass of milk on my grandfather’s lap and his punishment was decided. It was to be done later that night in the backyard like he was a rabid animal.

I did not realize such practices even existed, nor that it was impossible for Jar Jar to simply run, since he still owes a significant monetary debt to my family on behalf of his ancestors. He would have died if he’d done so, because unbeknownst to myself, an unbreakable vow had been committed. 

My Father was quite upset too, saying he’d grown to care for him and all the work he’s done since he was a child. It was the closest my father and I have ever come to sharing an emotional moment. Of course, now I can’t seem to hear anything they say regarding the matter without your words ringing through my head, so it was a bit muddled by the fact that he was more focused on losing out on Jar Jar’s service than on Jar Jar. He was also quite sloshed.

I could stand it no longer and I could simply not allow this sort of act to occur. They could have killed him if I’d heard correctly the sort of punishment method they were going to implement. I’ll spare you the details, but they were quite gruesome. 

So, I crept upstairs, grabbed the savings I’d been holding onto beneath my bed,  and I handed it over through a door that was merely cracked open enough to fit my hand through. I’m not even sure if Jar Jar knew it was me. All I knew was that Jar Jar was gone when they opened it later to retrieve him and we were all surprised.

Again, writing this down and admitting to it might be foolish, but while I might have committed a grand piece of treason from the shadows, I have never felt more relieved.

Best,

Obi-Wan

 Dear Ben,

Yes, recording the very stunt you are trying to maintain a secret is not the most logical way to keep it under wraps, but I am ever elated to hear that you did it anyway. I’m sorry to hear that Jar Jar was to be harmed at all- let alone for something so mundane and that he didn’t get to achieve freedom until late in life. Who’s to say if he’s truly free right now anyway, as you have pointed out before. However, I will say, he is certainly better off being far away from your grandfather, who cannot harm him anymore.

That does not, of course, take away from the bravery of your actions. I find myself apologizing not once, but twice in this letter, because I do owe you one for ever insinuating that you would be actively in support of cruelty. It is not your way and I should know that by now. Sometimes, I’m a bit too rigid for my own good and I’ll admit to that firsthand. I worry that your need to confirm this with me was simply because you feel as though I think ill of you.

This is not the case. I know I was brash and reactive the first time we discussed this, but while I try to empathize, you must do the same to me. I grew up in a world where this sort of nonsense only existed in history books rather than being an ongoing debate. What concerns me most about the wizarding world is that it refuses to evolve. Not only technologically speaking, but on a humanitarian level.

As always, please keep me updated. I fear not only for the safety of this recently liberated indentured servant, but for you, because I understand you stuck your neck out for him and I admire you for it.

Best regards,

Satine

  Fourth Year- Summer

Dear Satine,

I can already tell that summer is going to be brutal around here. While the climate has been tolerable, my father insists on around the clock quidditch practice. It seems my ‘lucky’ catch in second year was not enough to fully establish their faith in me. I can’t say I blame them. I’m indisputably the worst player on the team. Ever since Ventress caught the snitch for Slytherin and took the cup this year, it’s just about all they can talk about.

I actually don’t mind playing quidditch with my father. He’s very passionate about the sport or moreover, being the best at it. My father was captains of the Slytherin team his 6th and 7th year at Hogwarts. Evidently, he was an unstoppable force. I know they’ve always wished that for me, for that feeling of pure satisfaction at one’s job well done, but I am not the athlete he used to be.

Speaking of Ventress, they keep bringing her around more often than not. She’s still as pleasant as ever, if you’re wondering, and actually mentioned you the other day. She’s still cross about your beating her in wizard’s chess. She hasn’t said as much, but I can tell. I’ve got plenty of practice with deciphering young women that project their annoyance onto me. I can thank you for honing that special skill of mine.

How is your family? It’s to my understanding that your sister is not participating in summer camp this year. I know you saw her at Christmas, but you mentioned that you hadn’t truly spoken due to being so distracted from festivities. I know that you do not enjoy talking about it so if you do not want to, please do not feel obligated. I understand better than many the complications of the families we have to love. It makes us question our sanity sometimes.

Best,

Obi-Wan

 Dear Ben,

You must truly be miserable to be writing to me first this summer. Usually, I have to pry letters from your hands if I want to hear about the whereabouts of your family. Now that you’ve turned the tables on me, I can understand why you are less than forthcoming.

Bo being around certainly is odd when it never used to be. I’ve only been at Hogwarts for almost four years. Why does that feel like a millennium? She’s taken great care to be away every summer in its entirety for camp, but this year the camp had been closed. My mother says she’s furious, but I suspect that’s because she doesn’t have an entirely different setting to run off to. I suppose I can’t judge too heavily, but I usually do enjoy my time at home. Seeing my mother and my brother is always refreshing and warm. I don’t want to set the impression that I don’t love my sister, because I do. She’s just… difficult. She doesn’t understand or like the concept of magic. Where my mum and my brother see an amazing new opportunity for me, Bo sees absurdity and refuses to open her mind.

If I can be honest with you, and you’ve certainly proved thus far that I can, I suspect she may be a little jealous. It would not be out of character for her to project her own disdain towards me. 

Explaining any more deeply than that would be migraine-inducing for the both of us. I assure you my familial drama does not run as deep as yours, try as you might to downplay your situation. Before you object, I know you care for your family and wish for them to be happy. Of course I respect that. Maybe because I would give just about anything for Bo to be happy too. Within reason. She’s a bit fixated on these violent video games and I assure you I would not be leaning into that lifestyle for the happiness of a twelve year old.

As for your playdates with Ventress, do try and put some distance between yourselves. I wouldn’t want you to catch anything contagious. You tend to sit awful close to Cody and I at lunch.

Best of Luck,

Satine

 Fourth Year- Winter

Dear Ben,

I can’t believe we are officially halfway through our time at Hogwarts. It’s silly to think about when we’ve got so much ahead of us, but for some reason this evening, shortly after I got off the train, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Now, here I am, losing sleep like an imbecile despite the fact that I’ve got plenty of time to consider the future. It doesn’t help that they’re already priming us for OWLS and eventually NEWTS shortly thereafter. It feels like just yesterday I’d held a wand for the first time. I’ve never been the same since, of course, but I also don’t feel all that different at the very core.

Well, I certainly don’t despise you anymore and that’s a difference. You’re going to tease me for being soft, but it’s 2 in the morning and the only part of me that is working to quell my anxieties is the realization that the passing of time has only strengthened my knowledge, resolve, and friendships. Not to mention my overall strength in general. At the end of this year, they’ll be announcing who the incoming prefects will be. Naturally, you’ll be amongst them by status and grades alone. I hope to be among that lot. You can’t possibly run the careful ecosystem of law enforcement without me. You’re far too nice.

Maybe you won’t be teasing me for going soft then…

I kid. You’re brilliant and Hogwarts would be lucky to have you. Your family is lucky to have you. I’m (And Cody, of course) very lucky as well. Do not make me say it again, but I will if I must. Sometimes, you need to be reminded of your positive light in people’s lives more than once and I suppose that's what friends are for.

I wish I had a more intellectual debate to pick your brain for at this moment, but in reality, I just wanted you to know that as we stand at the halfway point of our Hogwarts careers, I wouldn’t change a second of it.

Yours,

Satine

 Dear Satine,

I’m missing the part where I was supposed to be making fun of you. I do wonder what brought this on, but then again, I find myself in a panic over the passage of time more often than not lately. I truly need to start learning to live rather than survive, because otherwise, I’m going to miss a lot of valuable moments. That’s what Professor Qui-Gon says anyway. I will not miss this one, though, because I am going to save and highlight the portion where you called me brilliant. Just for reference.

I would tac it to the wall, but that might draw some unwanted questioning.

I simultaneously can and cannot believe we are at the midway point of being in school. Look at how far we’ve come! I mean this in the most gracious way possible, but I feel as though I’ve known you all of my life. I don't even want to imagine what I would have been like if you hadn’t shoved all that dessert in my face during first year. Most likely a lot skinnier, which yes, I know that’s still saying a whole lot considering Tarkin refuses to call me anything other than “broomstick”. I’d be more insulted if he wasn’t going gray at 16. It’s quite a pity.

But truly, you’re the reason I didn’t starve and I’ll never forget that.

Ease your thoughts, my friend, because the future for you is bright and limitless. You’ll rise beyond Hogwarts in whichever world you so choose- muggle, magic or both. I believe I speak for Cody as well when I say we have great faith in you.

Truly,

Obi-Wan

[blackgirlsuperherorants]

I know Freddie Mercury isn’t a superhero, but he’s also maybe a superhero, and I guess I’m gonna put this movie discussion here, because... this blog is already used to my bullshit.

No, but, this is actually a serious thing. This will be lengthy, because I’m approaching this not as a rant, as per usual on this blog, but as a study? I guess? I mean, without research, because I’m in grad school and my brain will crumble if I add any extra research, but yeah. 

I have seen a lot of criticism of the Bohemian Rhapsody movie that I have been giving a lot of thought to. To be completely fair, I sort of have always had this view of Freddie Mercury as a godlike figure. And I love Rami Malek. So, I have been checking and double-checking myself for bias, which is the thing to do in this situation. 

I really enjoyed the film. I am also a screenwriter (MFA student) and I understand and cannot totally ignore the problems with the film. 

One of the things we’ve been taught to do, in my MFA program, is pay attention to things like cultural markers and identity markers in our writing. As in, if we write a bisexual character, what makes them bisexual? If we write a South Asian character, what makes them South Asian? Often, writers will write “diverse” characters just for the sake of having them in the picture, but they will inadvertently be devoid of whatever it is that makes them... part of their culture. This is not my criticism of BoRhap. In fact, this post will not be a criticism, per se. It’s... it’s an examination, and a question. And, full disclosure, I should absolutely be working on stuff for class, right now.

This will be focusing on the portrayal of queerness in BoRhap more than anything. 

When I saw the movie, being queer myself, I was very... excited to hear Freddie say, on screen, that he thinks he’s bisexual. Like, what a moment, in film. I don’t think that happens, often, and I don’t think screenwriters write shit like that. I believe it’s because bisexuality is misunderstood. People assume bisexual men are gay. People assume bisexual women are straight. People think of bisexuality as something you do while you’re in college out of curiosity, or the last stop over to gayville. People think bi people who date or marry members of their same gender are gay/lesbian. People think bi people who date or marry members of a different gender are straight. It’s just a very, very misunderstood sexual orientation, and those of us who identify this way (I mostly do, although I kinda like queer as a general term) really walk on eggshells all the time trying not to ... be constantly judged from all parties, I guess. So, to hear a character say it in a film? And it’s sincere and not a character flaw or played for laughs? I C O N I C.

But the film also undercuts that line immediately, with Freddie’s girlfriend yelling at him that he’s gay. Because a man can’t be bisexual, yenno? If he likes dick at all, he’s gay. (Of course this is wrong as hell, but whatever.)

I guess, that’s part of the reason so many people are unhappy or even angry with the portrayal. One criticism I keep seeing is how it treats queerness as a cautionary tale. How Freddie gets caught up in this “gay underworld” lifestyle and it literally kills him. How redemption is him “straightening up”. (Which actually does not happen in the movie. The movie... ends with him finally settling down with JIM, a man, JIM! How that was read as “straightening up” or I guess becoming hetero to some people is beyond me.)

And mentioning that, there’s criticism of showing Paul Prenter, who I understand re: Queen fans, to be a slimy slimeball piece of crap, as the villain, because Paul is also a gay man. 

So, this is my concern, or I guess, my issue, with these criticisms: much of this is based in the reality of the situation. I’m not suggesting that this film is historically accurate. I’ve seen discussions of timeline issues, invented moments, and Freddie actually never told his bandmates he had AIDS until the day before he died (unlike in the film). But I struggle with the argument that it presents queerness as a cautionary tale when Freddie’s battle with AIDS is actually what happened. He actually died of AIDS related illness in 1991. That’s not to say being gay killed him. A lot of people were gay in the 1980s and did not contract HIV or die of AIDS. But unfortunately, Freddie did.

So, what is the line? When we’re handling stories based on true events, based on real people... what are we supposed to write? Would it have been worse to show Freddie as a healthy man who died in his sleep of natural causes, ignoring his battle with AIDS completely? 

What about the Prenter situation? The man wasn’t a good person, and wasn’t good for Queen or Freddie. I’m not extremely well versed in Queen history, but I do know that Paul Prenter is, well, a villain in the eyes of Queen’s fans, and he did do snake shit to Freddie. Does the fact that he’s also gay mean that should be left out? Or should they have erased Paul’s queerness, so that it’s not suggested that the evil gay person ruined Freddie’s life?

Some of my opinion on that matter should be clear, but I also don’t really know the way they should’ve handled this stuff. I thought, personally, that they handled AIDS delicately, and maybe a little too delicately, but... I thought it was done fine. Freddie wasn’t even blamed for having the disease. And the invented scene where he tells the band before Live Aid (I don’t know that he had even been diagnosed, yet, in real life), was a touching, beautiful scene. Nobody scolds him, or says “you shouldn’t have fucked all those people!” They aren’t angry. They cry together, and tell him he’s a legend and they love him. Then they go get a drink. It wasn’t... at all... very “cautionary tale,” to me. Especially because directly after that moment, he goes and finds Jim Hutton, the man he’s been wanting for a long time, and finally pursues being with him for real. So, what’s the caution, here? Don’t be gay, just be gay? I don’t... get it....

Like, it’s a hard line to tow. Do you... make a huge show of an icon dying from a horrible disease that ravaged the LGBT community terribly during the 1980s? Or do you.... not mention it at all? Or ... do you do what they did and mention it lightly, and try not to make it a huge deal? I don’t know. I’m sure you don’t really know, either. You’d probably try your best, if you were writing this, but ultimately, it’s hard to know what the move is, here. 

That’s not to say that the movie doesn’t have faults. It doesn’t know which story it’s telling. It sort of moves like a “brief history of” type of thing. It’s also 2 hours and 30 minutes long, and still feels like it didn’t go in depth at all. 

I also agree that we see much of Freddie’s vices and little of the other members’ vices. I mean, we get hints of Roger’s affinity towards being with multiple women, but barely. And John and Brian were basically angels. Which... can’t have been realistic, considering they were hot rock stars in the 1970s, when everyone was fucking everyone and everyone was snorting cocaine. I do wish they would’ve showed them all behaving like rock stars, more, instead of showing Freddie throwing lavish parties and the other guys sort of shaking their head and going home to their wives. But also, we don’t see very much of Freddie’s wildness, either. The movie is very, very tame, as rock star biopics go. There’s not even a sex scene. There’s cocaine on a table, but nobody snorts it on screen. There are parties with lots of boys making out and whatnot, but Freddie isn’t even shown really participating in that shit. I honestly think it’s even this tame because the living Queen members had a say.

Like, if Brian May and Roger Taylor weren’t involved in the production, I’m sure we would’ve seen more of their vices, too. And probably more of Freddie’s vices. I think it’s silly for people to suggest they are jealous of Freddie and made it look like Freddie was the only one partying to make themselves look better, because I think Freddie looks damn near innocent in the film, and I think that’s thanks to Brian and Roger protecting his legacy. For instance, we learn towards the end that Freddie has AIDS. But WE NEVER SEE HIM CONTRACT HIV. We don’t see him sleep with some dirty bear in the back of some gay bar in NYC or something. We just... learn he has AIDS. 

That can either be cause for criticism or praise, I guess. From a writing perspective, generally you wouldn’t randomly reveal a character has AIDS without some hint as to how they contracted it, in a narrative like this one that spans like 15-20 years. And also, maybe you could stretch it as an example of that “cautionary tale” business, like “even though Freddie was a good boy, he still got AIDS because of all the gay.” Which... is a reach, and I’m sorry I pulled it out of the sky. They also did one of my least favorite movie tropes, which is “character coughs up blood, so you know he gon die.” Although, IDK if that’s something that every happened to him. Singers can cough up blood just from damaging their throat while doing certain things with their voice, and getting infections and things...

Anyway...

I just... I get the criticism, and I get the instinct to be hypercritical of this movie. After all, Freddie was one of the most unapologetic and influential queer artists in the world. In history. You want to make sure it’s done right and with respect.

But, I genuinely don’t know how they could’ve approached this differently. I mean, I see how changes could be made to make it a better film, narratively speaking. But I’m not sure how I’d write a movie about Freddie Mercury and discuss his battle with AIDS... without the reality that Freddie succumbs to the illness in 1991. Or, how you write about the doomed dealings with Paul Prenter, without acknowledging that he’s a creep, even if he is gay.

See, when shit is based on a true story, it’s harder to navigate these things. Because, I totally understand the reaction to what many perceive is a slight against their people. But, IDK, if I’m writing a Freddie Mercury film, I’d know that he’s going to die, and from what, and I’d know that he kept it to himself, and explore why that is. 

And as for Paul Prenter, fuck that guy. One can be evil and gay. Just as one can be a sweet baby angel and gay (like Jim Hutton.)

The movie has problem. (Another topic for another day). These aren’t problems it has, to me. 

I’d be open to hear others’ opinions, here, but only if you promise not to yell at me (CAPS IS YELLING) or call me names or be a general jerk about things. 

[today-only-happens-once]

Further than Falsehoods: a Look at Deceit

The following post is taking a look at some aspects of Deceit in order to point out the ways his manipulation is much more than just straight up lies. I know Thomas and Joan (Joan especially) put a lot of thought and work into creating Deceit as a character, and some aspects I haven’t seen talked about in the fandom yet. So I wanted to kind of take some time to explain my read on Deceit so as for me to express my huge appreciation for just how much thought and nuance and work must have gone into his development.

So basically, this is an absurdly long analysis of Deceit in “Can LYING be Good??” with the aim of bringing to light some things Joan and Thomas did in his character design that I think deserves more recognition for the thought that had to go into it. 

Disclaimer: In no way is this supposed to be a justification for manipulation and lying. There is substantial conversation about both lies and manipulation below the cut though.

With that said, let’s begin.

First of all--and this has been touched on by multiple people in the fandom--all of the little details when he was disguised as Patton that hinted that he wasn’t really our Happy Pappy Patton? Brilliant move. Some of these hints include:

he just “appears”, he doesn’t rise up

using his old cardigan instead of the cat hoodie

“I’m silly like that”

checking his hand as if for notes while saying “Right? you know how I love cartoons?”

his growing excitement (rather than discomfort like Roman had expected/shown himself) as the lying scenarios progress

“Yeah, everyone knows where babies come from. Messenger falcons.” (real Patton mentions storks in another video)

Now let’s look at how Deceit manipulates, shall we? Yes, he tells blatant lies. But I think it’s a mistake to think that’s the extent of the manipulation he does in this video.

Although Logan has seemed to gain in popularity, previous episodes has Virgil specifically identifying Logan as the least popular character. That means identifying him as “everyone’s favorite character” is probably meant to be a falsehood (hah). Many others have pointed out the same thing. However, I think the manipulation runs a bit deeper here.. Not to over-infer, but I think it’s likely that Deceit realized getting Logan, the Voice of Reason, on his side (get it?) will help him in his further manipulation through establishing good rapport. 

Invoking Immanuel Kant in the way that Deceit does--given what we understand his end-goal to be--is actually a very manipulative strategy. He wants to lead Thomas to make the decision to lie on his own. In using Kant, Deceit is doing a few things. One is that he is working to leverage a certain level of authority in knowledge here. This is taking a logos-based approach as a foundation (which is precisely why it impresses Logan). However, he pushes this logos-based approach by including the dilemma:

What if a known murderer came to your house, asking where your friend was so they could kill them? Would you tell the truth then?

The answer is, of course, an emphatic no. But Deceit is careful to point out that this philosopher who does not support lying would say “yeppers”. This therefore creates a doubt about perceiving lying is bad by using a pathos-based approach to discredit the logos he had just set up. What does this effectively do? 

It eliminates the absolutes. There is no convincing Thomas that lying is always good, but Deceit can and does convince Thomas that it is not always bad by using both an extreme example and backing his argument up with “outside authority” on morals. He even gets Thomas to admit as much:

Deceit!Patton: So you think Kant is wrong?

Thomas: Yeah!

Even when Virgil attempts to call him out on “his” hypocrisy, Patton turns the confusion (at best) and/or accusation (at worst) around on Virgil by playing on a substantial part of his role as Anxiety: 

Deceit!Patton: Well, it’s all about priorities, friendo. What’s more important to us? Joan’s feelings? Or honesty?

This attempt at manipulation also comes in later, as we will see in a bit. 

After deciding to act our different scenarios, Roman assigns roles to everyone. Except Deceit claims the role with (arguably) the most control for himself:

And even when Roman gives him some push back, he knows just the right threads to pull to make sure he lands the role that puts him in the pilot seat for  lying. It’s a dangerous position for the other Sides (and Thomas). It is precisely why he convincingly worms his way into it. 

Given this power, Deceit showers Roman with compliments, perhaps to keep him receptive to feedback and more open to allowing “Patton” to have that control he usurped from him a moment ago:

But since Thomas tells the truth in this first situation, Deceit intervenes. 

Deceit knows he still has to seem like Patton, so his criticism cannot be too harsh. However, as Deceit is trying to condition Thomas to lie through exposure and “practice”, so to speak, he also must convince Thomas that his first reaction is the wrong one. Thomas, of course, is hurt by this feedback as we see here:

This is such a quick moment, but I think it’s an important one that nods to the layers of Deceit’s character that comes into even more play later on. But his nod to the fact that deception hurts ourselves as much as it can hurt others is a seed that is planted here in this moment that grows much more later on in the episode. 

Deceit tries to push past this moment by quickly asking to run the scene again and ignoring Thomas’ hurt and confusion here. Another hint that “Patton” is not as he claims to be. But had Deceit allowed anyone to dwell on this moment (including Thomas), it is likely the bit of control he had asserted over the situation would have quickly been revoked. 

After the lying scenarios fall apart, Deceit becomes more desperate, and his manipulations become significantly less subtle. 

Feeling that he’s losing traction, Deceit turns to a more common mode of manipulation through the question he poses to Thomas:

The implication being, as he has been hinting at through the entire video, that the only way to avoid Joan’s anger is to lie to them. There’s an assumption in this question that is clearly meant to direct Thomas’s line of thought. “You don’t wan’t to make Joan mad at you, do you?” is a question that everybody already knows the answer to. Of course Thomas doesn’t want Joan to be mad at him. The implication, however, is that the only way for Thomas to get this desired outcome is to lie to them. 

Even when Thomas expresses doubt, Deceit then turns to someone else for back up. Specifically, the person who has been the easiest to convince thus far. 

“You won’t if it’s done correctly. Right, Roman?”

At this point, Deceit seems to be seeking to put a kind of peer pressure on Thomas. He is grasping at straws. This is emphasized even further when--upon Roman and Logan drawing the important distinction between acting and deception--he turns to Virgil. Here, we see Deceit return (with less subtlety) back to the manipulative tool he hinted at in the beginning: he toys with Virgil’s fear of Thomas losing his loved ones (which was stated explicitly in Moving On Part 2). 

“Virgil, buddy, uh, I know you weren’t too keen on it at first, but come on! Could you stand to lose the support of one of Thomas’ friends?”

This is perhaps the clearest example, to me, of how Deceit’s manipulation does not stop at simply “he says things that aren’t true”. Here, he is intentionally amplifying the potential of one of Virgil’s greatest fears so as to convince him to back his side of the argument. He manipulates the insecurity as a means of convincing. 

And when Virgil just shuts him down (one of my personal favorite Virgil moments) Deceit uses the last tool in his belt: his physical deception in his appearance as Patton. 

He points to himself to reassert and emphasize his physical presence and appearance. In saying “Virgil, it’s me. Aren’t we friends?” Deceit has been forced to use Patton’s reputation and relationships as a last attempt at manipulation for his own benefit. But here’s the thing:

Deceit has already become his own downfall in this moment. His desperation has led him to not act like Patton would or should. Virgil knows this, and that is precisely why this attempt also falls through. Deceit is entirely on his own at this point, and has become backed into a corner. 

His desperation is no longer subtle. He is floundering, and his mask is slipping as a result. He becomes more straightforward, and much more forceful. At very end, he seems to be trying to become downright intimidating in his frustration:

Deceit!Patton: Thomas! I know this sounds backwards, but sometimes... lying is good!

Roman: Mm... but you’ve said before--

Deceit!Patton: I know what I said. It doesn’t matter. In this situation, it is the right thing to do. Period. 

Thomas: Patton, no.

And finally when he loses the last of the influence and control he had, when Thomas decides that no matter how much it might hurt he must tell Joan the truth, Deceit gives up the charade. 

Deceit knows that the game is up. Thomas has made up his mind, and there’s nothing Deceit can do about it. Before, his manipulations were more subtle and nuanced. Now? Now, Deceit’s motive has changed. 

Deceit wants to be able to try again. He can’t do that if he becomes truly unmasked, and Thomas is able to identify and name him. So for a brief moment, Deceit is all about keeping the mouths shut of the other Sides, even if his performance as Patton has largely become abandoned. 

So long as he can keep their mouths shut, Deceit can try again. Manipulation can warp our sense of reality, and nothing expresses that in the Sides’ dynamic as clearly as literally stealing the words out of Logan’s mouth and muffling them. 

However, Thomas ultimately has the agency here, as these are facets of his personality (as Virgil emphatically reminds him). Once again, Deceit attempts to manipulate the people around him. In this case, by potentially scaring Thomas. 

This backfires, of course. Thomas reacts to being taunted in such a way by demanding he be told. As a result, Deceit is finally fully unnmasked.

And here, we see a final shift in Deceit’s motives, I think. He has been revealed. Thomas knows about him. He can no longer stop that from happening, but he can influence the impression he leaves and the ways he is perceived as a threat to Thomas. Here’s something that I think is really clever about his character: it’s not until this moment that the whole “Deceit just tells blatant lies” really gets under way, and it gets started immediately.

Boldfaced lies Deceit tells after he is unmasked:

Who’s she? Never heard of her.

Love the new outfit, Roman.

And Virgil, I adore the more intense eyeshadow. It totally doesn’t make you look like a raccoon.

[V: Did you just finish washing some dishes?] Yes.

What you don’t know can’t hurt you.

I am and always have been Patton.

You have no morality.

I mean that didn’t hurt me, at all.

This all went according to plan.

You’ve seen the last of me.

This is almost every line of dialogue Deceit has after he is revealed. But he didn’t speak in such blatant lies when disguised as Patton, even though it was still Deceit’s words and actions throughout. For me, that means that those lies are a deception not only in their meaning, but in their intent as well. Deceit wants to seem like less of a threat than he actually was posing through his many layers of complex manipulation earlier in the video.

In other words, we shouldn’t be quick to forget that the deception incurred when disguised as Patton was still very much Deceit. He is not merely who he is only after he is unmasked. 

Additionally, Logan helps us understand the many layers Deceit represents: lying to ourselves being an extremely important and often overlooked one, I think. As Logan says, “you placed distance between who you are, and the lies that you tell. [Deceit] is responsible for your doing so”. He gets his power, in fact, from Thomas lying to and/or deceiving himself, more than from lying to another. 

Frankly, I think Deceit in this video was a brilliantly nuanced and complex character for what he represents. The exposition provided by Logan means that Deceit’s role and operation in relation to the other Sides was fascinatingly powerful. He’s a fascinating character construction, and I give huge props to Joan and Thomas for their development of such a complicated character. Clearly so much thought went into him, and I can’t wait to see what else they may have in store. 

[costazachary1994]

Ex Back Success Stories Stupefying Tricks

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Sometimes though, it is just to patch things up.Knowing how to get your boyfriend might be the right direction.To speak it and carry on with your lover, here are some tips or pieces of advice.But that's not the image that you need information that works very well.Now it's time to waste your energy begging for another date!

How Long Does It Take To Get Your Ex Boyfriend Back

In every relationship, an obstacle comes and if you want to know how to get your girlfriend back;Now I'm not promising it will make the wrong one, and make compromises to satisfy their needs.These are the basic animal instincts of humans, and that's wondering how to get your ex back is something a lot of time provides both parties will benefit from this point that you both got so lost in the comment area then you can't do anything but making her afraid of commitment and settling down?Keep in touch with her, and what just happened.Without it, you will only cause more aggression and other functions.

Well, you're making a list of good by giving each other well and keep the lights low.Only when you are going through the smallest of details.I had never really serious with each meeting you'll get your girlfriend back?ALWAYS, always try to understand that he is ignoring all of a sudden she is giving off any signs that he was moving on and last, but not all of these methods in winning their heart again.People don't think you were both to blame.

Though most exes are not with your ex back.You want your ex back, it was the only excuse I have helped many couples get back to you and your ex back, then there is one way to find someone else or if it is always healthy to talk to some common friends.Hundreds of sensible Young men and women showed the maturity and courage to hold relationships together.Most of time, it's not about whether everything really was all about.Quite often they themselves don't know how to win him back, so go ahead and grab one and only through respect for each other.

You don't have any chance of her getting back together with them.Who would want to hook them into coming back to a particular argument, is it awkward, strange?You might think that the relationship for it to her expectations.You might feel that your decision to start the courtship.I wish that there is fine, and may be hard, but I assure you, I tried to think twice about why she would be to long for her when you two end things, don't make the situation the right time.

While they may be well on the why and even more advice.Instead, you need to use these tricks in the relationship with him, then you will take the necessary changes haven't occurred.The girlfriend you can take charge of the times you've shared that were said to many things that no matter what you have to give things a new girlfriend, you should reconcile or not?MEN NEED, CRAVE AND DESIRE ADMIRATION FROM A WOMAN!If you're reading this, you will probably bump into your life real fast...

Once you have moved on from the certain rejection you are no longer need them.So when you want to spend time with the other hand, if she would never be able to make her feel like it.This should not matter, go out with some free advice on how to get your girlfriend back?It comes across from his writing that he would be legitimate and you feel you'll be able to give him time to make it up for a refund, you can get to the guy that you need to flip the script on your ex boyfriend begging and crying in your head and think about their relationship.Girls often act without thinking and that's understandable, but you just break all contact with the breakup, everything humans do is to look at the mistakes you develop following the right decision?

How To Get Your Ex Back After 2 Weeks

[vrheadsets]

VR vs. Tinsel

Hello everybody and welcome to the last edition of VR vs. for the year 2017. It’s certainly been quite the 365 days as I write this it’s 11:30pm on Christmas Eve night, so I suspect by the time I get to finish this I’ll be well into Christmas Day morning before, thanks to the scheduling this year, it goes out on Boxing Day afternoon. So what with talking about the New Year as well I think that gives me some sort of holiday bingo.

This edition of VR vs. is going to be a bit of a hodgepodge of things mainly because there’s just so much to get out of the way before we bid adieu to 2017 and it goes and joins 2016 in the “years we really don’t want to talk about” box. Essentially, this makes this a sort of virtual reality (VR) version of The Queen’s speech, only no one knows who the heck I am and her wage is somewhat more comfortable.

“This year one would like to give one’s thoughts on immersive technology.  On the subject of the HTC Vive, I…”

Of course, from a VR point of view there was a great mix of high points, low points and points that made us all wonder just what was going on. There’s the promise of the future there and parts of that future are at least coming together. The road is slow but progress is being made. The more people yell that VR is dead the more silly they look, especially when you’ve got all the good news about releases coming from Sony and others, and although VR’s reputation took a bit of a dent here and there it was, for a lot of it, no fault of its own.

Yes, CCP Games have decided they don’t want to continue with VR at this time, but I suspect they might well be back down the line either to it or augmented reality (AR). Although. that may depend on the fortunes of EVE Online as to how and when. CCP Games seems to me like a company that has got the itch to experiment. I doubt it’ll stop now.

Yes, VR’s image of the technology that wants to treat people equally also got a bit of a bashing, but again, not through the fault of the gatekeepers of the technology. More people who should have damn well known better by all accounts. However, whilst some have been letting the side down, on the other side of the coin we’ve seen an increase in all manner of workshops promoting the technology. There’s been things like the VR Diversity Initiative that VRFocus was a part of, but besides that there’s been all sorts of other programmes all over the world – and those will no doubt continue in some guise.

It’s midnight, Merry Christmas. Where was I?

And yes, there’s lots of good to come next year. VR has survived its difficult third album after its promising debut in 2015, and next year we’ve got the next generation of hardware to start thinking about. No doubt we’ll be discussing there being more in the offing besides the Oculus Go and the Santa Cruz at this time next year. We’ll be looking at what is to come next week when I begin 2018 by looking back at my predictions for 2017 and how badly I stuffed them up before hitting you with my predictions for 2018 a week later. (Yup. There was been a reason I was mentioning that column a lot in the last few editions of VR vs.) Actually, there’s quite a few things that I need to plan out over the course of the next couple of weeks in terms of the column. We’re due to head back to a few topics we’ve touched on over the last couple of months.

When I think about it, I’ve covered quite a few things haven’t I? So, for posterity, here’s the 2017 rundown for VR vs. At least the ones that I’ve written at any rate..

How I can’t predict things very well.

How the VR events calendar was bloody stupid in February.

How it was time to give up on the idea of Switch VR, for the sake of both the Switch and VR.

How mobile VR should get a bit more respect.

How VRFocus got a new coat of paint and possibly its groove back.

How I’d been a Community Manager for 10 years, astonishingly.

How we hadn’t seen the last of Palmer Luckey. (And guess what, I was right!)

How people may want VR to die, but sadly for them the facts speak differently.

And how by flipping the headline you can actually see great positives about VR. That and I made an image that went moderately viral.

How some opinions can change given time, and some do not.

How disliking VR is going to get trickier to do.

How We Happy Few would make a cracking VR videogame.

How Pokemon Go probably isn’t helping the perception of AR out that much in the long run.

How VR’s slow acceptance does not mean no acceptance.

How, when you’re left behind at E3, your sympathy for those at it goes out of the window.

Among other things at E3, how everyone leapt into a mass argument about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR‘s movement controls. Something that totally never happened again on the site this year. *Cough*

How the online Oculus Store was kind of rubbish in that it was missing a basic search function.

How Microsoft’s then riding of the VR fence at E3 was pretty confusing.

How no, AltspaceVR shutting down wasn’t the end of VR either.

How there is no escape from VR now.

How Sony should pretty please make The Unfinished Swan VR.

How Samsung Unpacked continues to bore everyone on the press side to death.

How design is super important and a VR shaped peg won’t fit a non-VR shaped hole. 

How being ill sucks when there’s lots of announcements that happen.

How Sony still can’t get a VR announcement right to save its life.

How VR needs to stop being the cherry on top and developers need to move on to it being the whole cake.

How I thought Oculus Connect 4 was okay. Upsetting a reader with my “hating” on Oculus by… quoting Oculus’ own comments about themselves. Huh?

How what we say and how we say are going to be just as important for VR.

The problem with some green screen use.

How ignorance about what immersive technology is can lead to heartlessness.

How of all VR companies Intel might be the one to watch out for.

How VR means any kids I have will have a far different childhood to me.

How VR might be more mass market than ever, in that it’s acquired some of the worst bits of the internet audience

How VR could make travel so much better.

I know what you’re thinking. You’ve never seen the word ‘how’ used so much in so short a time, right?

In any case that’s all for VR vs. for this year. In summary VR in 2017 has been fun, is mostly going in the right direction but still needs effort from all to make sure it doesn’t turn into a turnip.  I’m off to enjoy my Christmas before I’m back on, er, Boxing Day when this goes out. Until next time, have a happy new year.

  from VRFocus http://ift.tt/2zwj0vY

[thehobbblog]

Entry #27

Maybe I should have kept watch We were infiltrated in the night, by some tortured form. A half-man, half television hybrid. It looked kind of cool, you ever see Videodrome? Metal cords going into flesh, and a remote fused to a hand. It wasn’t carrying a weapon, but it almost killed Lucas. It did some mind-control buisiness, and got Lucas to belive that he was in a happy land of everything being fine, and convinced him to eat a novelty oversized lolipop.  In reality, Lucas was being confused into sucking on his own sword, and cut himself up really bad. Avram took care of it, and neither of them seemed to want to talk about it after. There was a lot of blood. I decided it would be best to kick the corpse around a bit, and we packed up. We have a long day ahead of us. Weylinn was still totally out of it, so I guess I’ll have to wait to yell at him.  We travel, for just as long as it took our feet to hurt and reach the Jewel. Everyone’s gathered in the main square, as Rialto has killed the hero hunter. He was absolutely radiant, and was too busy shouting at Solar over his cell phone (Paladins have cell phones now) to notice us. When we finally did get his attention, he was apprehensive as always. We were informed that someone finally found what King was up to. A sorcerer found him, saved him from his assailant, King returned the favour by being baited with a set of wind chimes, and trapped in a mask. So now we need to track down this sorcerer, and take his lunch money. Just find the guy who can capture a genie for fun, and try and overpower him. Should be impossible. We didn’t have time to argue the point, really. We thanked Rialto for the information, and a sandstorm swept into town. We protected our stuff, and huddled off to a sort of shelter for the afternoon. It was dank, dark and sullen. Everyone crowded together and looked sad for a good long time. It wasn’t that we were miserable, just bored. Everyone was there, or at least anyone without a home. We just didn’t have anything to talk about. Now, we could have been in there for hours, or up to a day. So naturally I claimed a seat at the only table, by laying out a blanket, and working on my carving. I’ve been meaning to make a set of Liar’s Dice. Just a memory of home. I like games, and I like people. So having a game anyone can play, and anyone can wager on would be beneficial. I wanted them to be special, so I’ve come up with an Underground sort of way to distinguish the numbers. It was calming.  I needed to be calmed, really. Weylinn was lead into a corner and sat down, still in shock. Every time I looked up at him, I flared with rage again, and every time I looked to Stuart, I felt elated. It was a weird mixture of emotions. The silence was broken by Anna, who wanted to buy a brewery. That somehow lead into a conversation about Jules wetting the bed. Anna asked how Jules can even wet the bed, if she’s a doll and Jules responded in her classic childish way. It felt normal. I dunno, she felt normal. Like, despite everything that’s happened, and she’s been through. There’s still a child in there. There’s still someone’s innocent little girl in that doll, and she likes the same things she always liked.  But she’s also a kid. Which means she’s got to be scared. I mean, that was absolutely abhorrent what Weylinn did, and now he’s totally unresponsive. She’s gotta be blaming herself, or just confused. I don’t know what to say, so I put away the dice and started working on something for her. This part of her, that we found used to be The Tar. Basically, the part of Jules that liked superheros and anime became a force for justice, just like in her cartoons. That was why Weylinn could so easily get her to sign up to be a... whatever you call it. By saying she could fight for justice, be a Magical girl. and that’s the story she latched on to. Trying to convince her she isn’t a magical girl will get us nowhere, and it could be more useful enforcing it. Weylinn can’t use her to do anything hurtful, if she believe she’s a force for good. So I decided to encourage it, with a custom made Sailor Moon wand. It shouldn’t be too hard, I pulled up a reference and got to work. Asked her what her favourite colour was, to try and get a feeling as to who’s wand it was supposed to be. Her favourite colour’s pink, of course. Which lead to a discussion where everyone gave up their favourite colours. Suicide’s was White, which is interesting. He and Jules had an argument about it for a while. 

Goldie loves Yellow, Anna loves Purple, I’m partial to red. So I started preparing for a Sailor Mars wand, as red was all I could do. Goldie got me good on that one. Pulled out all the stops, to hurt my feelings. Asked me to like his roots, because my shit taste makes good fertilizer. I need to stress again how weird it is having a real conversation with people, like how friends act. Not talking about strategy, or how we’re going to die. Just “Fuck you, your favourite colour is terrible.” I like it. Lucas even did something nice. He heard me complain that Stuart didn’t have a leash, and made one out of silk. It was nice, to help me out like that. It’s just too bad I couldn’t get the guy to wear it. He just won’t be restrained. I guess I spoil him. After getting a couple scratches from him, I decided to back off. Stuart was still riled up, and decided to take it out of Lucas. He mightily took a stance, and charged off the end of the table at Lucas, but didn’t quite stick the jump and tumbled onto his belly. Lucas responded with belly rubs, and it sort of worked it self out. That guy’s going to be dangerous one day.  Both of them are The Pathfinder mummy came in from the sandstorm, and Anna went to go speak with him. I finished the base of the wand, and spotted Hoodie hiding in a corner. I don’t know anything about what he does, but I know he has a hand in everything magical around here. So I confirmed he knew what Weylinn was up to, and I got him to look into the sorcerer we’re after, and sat down again. Anna went and talked to the Pathfinder, who told us to go see the plasma skeletons. So I guess we’re going to go find Cortez, I’ll be honest, I was mostly focused on the wand. The head came together, it was sanded well. I built it sturdy, because there’s no way she wouldn’t use it as an excuse to hit people. I even managed to stain it, with the berry win. Of course, now it smells like alcohol, but I hope that airs out. It needed some bedazzling, to fit into theme. I cut out some silk strips from my veil, and tied them to the head of the wand, and asked around for glitter. Turns out, Suicide had glitter. He carried it to see how far drops go, since it’s useful. Never really thought of it that way, but it works out. It was funny to think about, suicide jumping off a cliff while holding craft supplies. He seemed to get some enjoyment out of it. We bonded over how silly it would be to turn to dust, and be covered in glitter. Anna stepped in, to remind us that suicide is bad and Suicide shouldn’t have done it. Suicide started back into his “Well I want to kill myself” routine, It was going somewhere bad pretty quickly. I had to turn it around, and quickly. We had such a chill going on, and now we were going to ruin it. So, I improvised. I looked Suicide right in the (Closed) eyes and told him to watch something undeniably good happen, as a result of him being around. And I gave the glittery, twirly, sturdy wand to the nine year old girl. She was ecstatic, truly happy. It was probably the most uncomplicated, joyful thing any of us have seen in a long time. It even made Suicide smile. Jules struck a pose, to show it off and I managed to grab a picture. It was heartwarming, we all felt a little better. Nobody had anything to say until the end of the sandstorm, and we all filed back out into the Jewel. I exchanged my carving tools for a better set, and met the party back at the wagon. Weylinn had come to, and was settling into his new life as a... whatever you call him. I had planned to rip him a new one, but after the touching moment with Jules I just wanted a break from everything. I started to work on my liar’s dice, to keep calm. But Weylinn wasn’t very interested in keeping me calm. He started a conversation, to clear his head. He apologized to me. He told me he knew how I felt about losing Paladin status, and that he was sorry he ignored me earlier. I’m not totally proud of how I handle the situation from her one out, but he was making a solid effort to piss me off in new and exotic ways. He promised to come clean about what he heard from the Ghul, and gave a shit excuse in under a paragraph as to how bad we should feel for him. I wasn’t having any of it. I was livid. It wasn’t a blind rage, or a hot fury. It was pure, cold anger. I need Weylinn to understand how badly he’d fucked up, and I needed him to hurt for it. So, I walked him through what had happened. I walked him through how he lied to us, for no reason. How something good came out of it, with Suicide joining us. I made sure to insult his intelligence a bunch. I never gave him what he wanted. I just made him sit there, burning up. While I walk him through each sin he made, one by one. SO that he clearly understands he is a bad person. Anna was actually getting upset with me. Just a few hours ago she called me a nice person, and now she was upset with how I was handling Weylinn. I carried on, to stuff he forgot to mention. Like how the scarf came from the Ghul, and how we don’t know what Violence did in his head. Weylinn started lashing out, with frustration. I made him start yelling at me, in the square.  I guess this is the most anybody’s questioned him, for a long time. It didn’t take much. I just denied him “We did good enough”, and he fell apart. I robbed the only excuse he had, and it angered him. We go through what it means for Jules to be a servent, or whatever she is. Basically, she’s connected to the negative plane, and can use that to travel to any plane for spells. Weylinn doesn’t have to do his own magic anymore, he can just ask Jules to risk her lfie stealing magic from an entity in another plane, and bring it back. Fucking great. Really, throughout it all I just pissed him off again and again. My goal was just to hurt him, because he was already vulnerable. As long as he understood what he did was a bad thing, I could feel better. And he did. Anna defended him, said he was only doing what he thought was right. And he corrected her. He admitted what he did was selfish It was a brekthrough, a moment of vulnerability. And I capitalized on it "Your situation is that you're a bad person. Given a second chance by an equally bad person." "You put all of us at risk, and tied a nine year old's soul to darkness for person gain." "And boo hoo, it cost the heavy price of being reminded what a shitty person you were." "or are, considering this is the second time you've used Jules for your own gain."  "Don't fucking tell me you know how I feel.” It’s probably the meanest I’ve been to anyone in a long time. And then communication broke apart. We both yelled at eachother for a while, and then Weylinn did the thing where you pretend to have the moral high ground by ending a conversation early, and walking away. We all felt bitter about the exchange, but I don’t know what to tell you.