#uncovering thieves

[monicascot]

Haribo Candy Heist| Caught on Camera | Uncovering thieves |

Indulge in a sweet and hilarious adventure with the Haribo Candy Heist, caught on camera for your entertainment! Watch as a group of bumbling thieves attempts to pull off the ultimate candy caper, only to face one comical mishap after another. Uncovering thieves has never been this amusing as their harebrained scheme unfolds in a cascade of laughter. Get ready for a sugar rush of laughter as you witness this side-splitting funny video that will satisfy your cravings for both candy and comedy!

[alfredsonger]

This guy dressed to impress but his actions are unpredictable every time ,he shows up to store roam around never have money to pay this time he was craving some Reese’s and here how he managed to get it.

[aria0fgold]

Okay I got Magic Kaito in Persona 5 in the brain again (not just kaito now so ig ill call it mk in p5???) It's cuz I'm dragging Hakuba in p5 this time too. I just think it'd be sooooo funny to give Akechi a headache inducing detective partner.

Not even in a shipping sense, I like to think that they're just friends but Akechi is definitely the "I do Not wanna be here" one but has no choice cuz the dude gotta keep his image perfectly clean and if the higher ups assigned him a partner then fine. Also Hakuba is helpful with the whole magician thief problem as someone that's mainly pursuing that particular thief so Akechi can focus on the other problem which is the Phantom Thieves. But unfortunately for Akechi, Hakuba is a Menace.

For one thing, Hakuba LOVES Sherlock Holmes (he got an outfit and everything. also has a pet hawk called Watson). He's also... very punctual with time. He has a pocket watch for that. Imagine being Akechi meeting your assigned partner for the thieves' cases that you aren't really looking forward to meet cuz you think you can handle Two menaces to society with one being an entire group but then you meet this guy, all smiles (fake ones) and before you even greet him, Hakuba just "You're late by 2 minutes and 12.8 seconds." You can just SEE Akechi's sanity crack cuz oh boi... there's Another Menace in his hands.

Also Hakuba isn't That serious in wanting to catch Kaito KID. Like, he does wanna catch him but that's not really Hakuba's priority (hakuba alrdy knows kaito kuroba as kaito kid but doesn't even do anything to him other than mess around with him cuz hakuba wants to catch kaito kid in the act). Hakuba's priority is Kaito's safety and like, I love that for him.

[fazcinatingblog]

Oh I just had a thought - when Dean's accounting business closed after he died, you could dig up the files and stuff because it's only been 6 years since he died and you have to keep records for 7 years so

[leori-the-unlearned]

it’s not the same but this reminds me of the guy in Russia who filed (i believe it was a trademark - whichever of the filings would grant him sole license to distribute/sell things with the logo) for the SCP Wiki. A creative commons project. But because it was in Russia with Russian law, I think the guy actually could successfully file that.

So for a time, in Russia, this one guy made himself the sole person who could market/distribute anything for a collaborative creative writing site. Which of course the Wiki mods tried to get him to undo.

I’m just drawing a comparison of ‘i didn’t think this up, but it’s totally mine because i found it and decided to do what nobody else would (hint: because it involves stealing credit/burying the original creator & is unethical)’. Actually it rather reminds me of like, Oreos, which were originally invented as the Hydrox, and then I think it was something like the bakers’ lawyer or accountant who wound up taking the recipe and making his own company and now Oreos are popular and the original bakers who made the cookie recipe got squat.

I mean I get that it’s difficult to credit multiple different authors - oh wait no, you can keep the original tumblr post and have everyone’s usernames, or ask people to share their own elder teletubbies art for credit - and sometimes you just want to call your ideas your own and pat yourself on the back even if they’re not, or maybe you had your own idea like it first and you’re upset you can’t publish that without being compared to the thing that was posted first, but- no wait, you can just join in with everyone, and still be the guy who makes plushies and D&D sheets about it, while also letting everyone know who helped -

Yeah this guy just sucks. I’m not going to pretend he has a good angle on this.

hi! i was just wondering if you’re getting a piece of this pie. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/voidrealmminis/rise-of-the-eldertubbies?ref=profile_saved_projects_live

Oh my goodness! Haha thanks for showing me! And no, of course, this guy is still selling my dream while claiming it’s totally nothing to do with me. I hadn’t heard about it so thank you.

For those just joining us, here is the saga of the elder teletubbies:

1. in 2017 I posted a dream I had on Tumblr. In the dream I discovered that the childish teletubbies shown on BBC’s Teletubbies are merely the children of a species that grows up to be forest cryptids as adults. The post contained a detailed character description explaining how the children’s simple antennae become more complex antlers; their coats become thicker hair; their eldritch screens are unknowable; here, look:

The adult Teletubbies have more branching, complex antlers and shaggy coats. They are less brightly coloured. They are terrifyingly large. Their strangely human faces, emerging from the thick fur, are unquestionably adult; remote, serene, reproachful. Their television screens are glitchy, esoteric and unknowable. They are cryptids whose public exploitation has undermined their rarity and their strange, alien dignity.

That’s a pretty clear description.

2. The post quickly gained attention and many people drew art, made sculptures, designed in-depth character concepts, and even made DnD character sheets and entries with detailed notes. It was 2017. The post got over 90k notes. It had an extremely clear description of the cryptid in it. This wasn’t at all obscure.

3. The post and four pieces of the concept art, including the first piece by were screencapped and posted on r/tumblr. The post included this art by the now-deactivated @finoliatav which is, I think, the first piece of art. Most screencaps don’t show that it’s animated! Once you see it you can no longer pretend that any more work needs to be done in designing these characters, really - they’re all variations on a very clear theme.

4. A guy called Jars started drawing the BBC Teletubbies as adult Teletubbies. He noted on Reddit that his inspiration for the first one was the r/tumblr post but after that, he considered it entirely his own creative work. He drew each of the 4 BBC Teletubbies as adults using my character description and wrote a little story about how his character had stumbled upon them in the woods. He’s a good artist and his work went viral on Reddit and instagram. Those places being separate from Tumblr by the walls of the enclosure, they quickly believed the Jars was being highly original and praised him for it.

5. jars got carried away by his fame and started merchandising for all he’s worth. He’s selling elder teletubbies placemats. He got a collaborator to help him make and sell plushies.

6. Plushies of my character design applied to BBC characters. Jars sells them. To people. Who buy them. He sells these.

7. I think this is like… his job.

8. It has been years of this. I don’t think he has actually come up with anything else to sell by himself. But given that he now has millions upon millions of views on platforms I don’t use, let alone dominate (Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok) he seems to have fully subscribed to the idea that this is his THING.

9. After a while I wrote him a friendly email expressing that since my original dream was very much about discomfort with how the teletubbies were being exploited, I didn’t mind him selling his own art but that I wasn’t happy with him selling plushes based on my writing.

10. He wrote back along the lines of it all being his original intellectual property and absolutely nothing to do with me, etc, so jog on and don’t interfere.

11. I’m not entirely sure where the original intellectual property is when taking BBC characters and drawing them according to someone else’s detailed description of how to “evolve” them (branching antlers, shaggy coats, eldritch screens, serene adult human faces) especially having drawn them after seeing four separate detailed reference photos to base your own drawings on; especially when they’re the existing BBC characters from the show and not even your own. Like, Jars, you were given an entire detailed brief, several sets of references, an entire concept and a television show: the only artistic choices made here were to pick up your own personal pen and do the drawing. You have never deviated from my description, which you did not come up with yourself in any way. But okay Jars. You did some real intellectual heavy lifting here, this is Intellectual Property suddenly, and I guess this is your day job!

12. I myself actually have a day job, am capable of generating lots of other original material just for funsies, have never asked you guys for money, and I’m not generally huge jerk I don’t think. Also, I’m uncomfortable but have never been clear on how to stop him - I don’t think I can. So I don’t do much about this, apart from occasionally scream with hilarity with you guys about it.

13. Like this is the opposite of Goncharov. This is a guy making his wage on a 2017 tumblr collaborative shitpost insisting that this is the beautiful fruit of his only brain. And millions of people believe him.

14. There are now YouTube documentaries with millions of views and TikTok lore about Jars, and his lore, the Elder Teletubbies, which apparently he invented. People are making their wage talking about the history of Jars and his teletubbies lore. These documentaries are, if you can’t tell, not especially well-researched, as it is not difficult to find the original elder teletubbies art on the internet, which is all timestamped. Occasionally hilarious people from Tumblr point this out in the comments (thank you, you guys are hilarious) but the juggernaut is unstoppable!

15. Jars is now, apparently, doing a kickstarter to raise money for some kind of DnD sheets using the grown up BBC teletubbies.

16. I will point out that tumblr made and played with DnD teletubbies in 2017 for free and nobody had to pay $3000, but again. The juggernaut is unstoppable.

I have never, ever known what to do about this guy.

I have always been open to advice but genuinely never been able to articulate how it “damages” me, apart from ethical discomfort about how much I hate my writing being monetised by other people, especially when it was about my discomfort with exploitation. The juggernaut is unstoppable though. He fully intends to get thousands of dollars from this. He almost certainly will!

[tastefulsimp]

Rescue from the Fade Prison

SPOILER WARNING: Dragon Age: The Veilguard

I recently played Dragon Age: The Veilguard and wanted to try writing how I think Rook's rescue from the Fade Prison actually went down. (+ a self-indulgent Emmrich romance) I felt like the game really glossed over the fact that we were stuck there for weeks. (I also tied it in with Vows & Vengeance) **Edit: I updated to remove Neve because I forgot she wouldn't be there if Bellara was there.

Emmrich's perspective | Female Elf, Veil Jumper Rook | Angst? | Fluff?

In the weeks following Ghilan’nain’s demise, Emmrich and Bellara only had one goal: finding Rook. Solas, clever and dangerous as he is, swapped places with her. While he walked freely, she was trapped in the Fade. Harding made the ultimate sacrifice for them, their cause. It wouldn’t be in vain. They couldn’t face Elgar’nan without Rook. They had to find a way to her, then deal with the gods together.

In the first seven days, the team was frantic and grieving. Stacks of books, scattered notes, and various Fade instruments were strewn about the laboratory, with Emmrich among them. How could he let this happen? Thedas knew Rook as the role she was forced into. The Hero. There was always an effervescence about her. A defiant, determined nature he hadn’t seen up close since his younger days. As a leader, that’s who she had to become to survive, but Emmrich knew a different woman.

In the quiet hours, she had revealed a kind, gentle spirit. She brought a thoughtful and open-minded approach to every situation. Rook never balked at his work, never scoffed at anyone, for that matter. As friends, they had uncovered a strong, unwavering bond. But as lovers, they found greater depths, all waiting to be explored together. In passing glances, delicate touches, and flushed cheeks, they found comfort in the silence. She gazed at him with such adoration. He was never sure that he deserved it or any of her affection. Yet, he was so taken with her. She made the struggle worth it. If killing the gods meant he could relish her embrace for just a moment more, he would face any danger.

Yet, during their struggle, he could do nothing to protect her. When Rook ripped the dagger from Ghilan’nain’s lifeless body, she had vanished. He caught a glimpse of her through the blinding light radiating from the dagger and then nothing. As if Rook had never been there, and neither had the dagger.

Worst of all, the last thing he and Rook did was argue. It all feels so trivial now. A quick apology amidst the chaos was all he was able to convey. He should have considered the reality of their situation and held her instead of letting his fears get in the way. Harding died, and Rook was lost to the Fade. And he let her walk away angry the night before. He had many fears, but the thought of losing her forever was truly unbearable.

Over the following week, the team grew hopeless, but Emmrich’s determination did not falter. Bellara spent hours searching academic texts with him. She and Rook were thick as thieves. The two Veil Jumpers had bonded over their love of uncovering lost history and preserving their shared culture. Not to mention, Bellara knew much about the Fade’s complexities. She was such a promising young mage, as was Rook. Emmrich was grateful for the assistance. Their idea to create a replica lyrium dagger was a bust, yet knowing that Bellara would not rest until Rook returned pushed him even harder.

In the third week, Emmrich sat on the library sofa, thumbing through mountains of notes and laboring over pages he’d reviewed a hundred times. While Bellara sat on the floor, tinkering with an artifact she hoped could aid them. Lucanis leaned against the sofa armrest, sipping coffee and chatting with the pair.

"Emmrich, have you ever located someone lost in the Fade before? Lucanis asked.

"Sort of, although the living aren't typically in the Fade to begin with," he sighed. "I witnessed a young woman track down her beloved across the Veil. What was her name?" He pauses. "Ah yes, Nadia."

Bellara stopped fiddling with the artifact and sat up straight. "Nadia... Did she have a friend? I think their name was Drayden?" she asked. Lucanis shifted in his seat at the mention of the name.

"Why, yes. She did, actually." Emmrich replied.

“I, uh, met them briefly in Arlathan. We veil-jumped together but got separated on the way out,” Bellara looked down at her lap. I never learned what happened to them or where the Fade spit them out.”

"Interesting, I also encountered these two, as did Neve." His gaze dropped to the floor at the memory of his missing partner.

"Manfred and I had pulled off during a bad storm, and Nadia found us. She was screaming for help.” He said as he sat the notes down on the table. “Poor Drayden was poisoned, and Nadia… Well, she was whisked into the Fade by a demon posing as her beloved.” He said sorrowfully.

Emmrich’s blood ran cold. The realization that he was now in Nadia’s position. Searching endlessly for a way to break in and save his beloved from the Fade. Except he was a Fade expert, and he knew the odds all too well.

“Neve said they killed that demon, with Harding— and Varric too,” Lucanis smiled empathetically. “From what I heard, Nadia’s partner died in a relic explosion in the Silent Plains... because of Solas." Lucanis paused before speaking again.

"Emmrich, look. If Rook took Solas’ place in the prison, she wouldn’t be exposed to demons or spirits. Rook's situation is different.” he reassured him.

“But, the culprit is the same.” Bellara said in a low tone, “Fucking, Solas.” she spat in the direction of the fake lyrium dagger.

Emmrich gave Lucanis a doleful smile. He was right, although it brings little comfort. Above all else, he hoped that Rook wouldn’t realize how much time had actually passed. It was well known that time moves differently in the Fade. Had it only been days for her? Hours?

He thought for a moment; if Solas had swapped places with Rook— why didn’t they see him on Tearstone Island? Solas is powerful, but even he can’t manipulate the Fade to choose where it drops you from the inside. We spent days searching for fade tears on the island, but nothing. **Rook wasn’t just sucked into any old fade tear; it was the dagger. We didn’t see him leave the Fade on the island, which must have meant that the dagger had brought him somewhere else. The Dreadwolf’s last physical location on Thedas? The Ritual Site. Emmrich shot up from the sofa, startling his companions.

“We must travel to Arlathan,” he stated calmly as his companions stared at him in surprise, “with haste.”

He crossed the library calmly, then sprinted to get his things.

Fade anomalies had grown stronger in the hours since their arrival. Davrin set up camp while Emmrich roamed the area with various Fade instruments, followed by Taash, ready to fight off any demons or darkspawn that might interrupt their search. Hours passed as they searched, determined to find the weakest point in the veil. At the top of the steps in the center of the ritual site, the veil was weakening rapidly. Right where Solas performed his ritual. He should have known.

“This way, it’s thinner here.” Emmrich gestured ahead.

“You better be right,” Taash grumbled.

The team was prepared for anything to escape the Fade, demons, spirits, or other Evanuris. Yet, they all held out hope that Rook was the reason for the thinning veil. Bellara sat on a log with the professor as he fidgeted with his rings, watching the small fade tear grow.

“Emmrich, you can get some rest, you know,” Bellara said, patting him on the shoulder.

The older man smiled at her.

“You’re right, it’s just.. we’re so close.” Emmrich sighs.

“I know what you mean. It’s her.. I feel it, too.” she replies.

Emmrich adjusted his coat, preparing to stand.

“Professor, wait,” she stammers. “I wanted to thank you.”

“Whatever for?” Emmrich questions.

“For returning my letters, for agreeing to help us… for caring for my best friend.”

“Bellara, I—”

“Let me finish,” she interrupts. "Aldwir, she’s the strongest person I know. She’ll get through this. But she needs you. And she cares about you. Gods, she never stops talking about you or making eyes across the room at you. Honestly, I don’t even think you noticed.” She sighs, realizing she’s rambling. "I know you regret the fight, so when she gets out, tell her before you lose the chance.“

Emmrich nods, sitting in silence with her for a moment before speaking.

“You knew about our argument?” he questions.

Bellara glares at him.

“Of course I do. Where do you think she went after your room?” she shouts.

He laughs, and a moment later, she joins him.

“She needs you too, Bellara.” his expression softens.

“I know, just don’t screw this up. I respect you both too much and don’t want things to get weird.” Bellara sighs.

“It won’t come to that,” Emmrich assures her, then rises off the log heading toward his tent, “And, my dear Bellara. I always notice.”

As dawn approached on their second day at the camp, Emmrich stepped from his tent, followed by Manfred, to check the progress on the growing fade tear. They approached the stairs, astonished by how much the tear had grown. Blue and green light spilled from it now, threatening to blind whomever stared too long.

“Manfred, fetch my kit, please,” he said to the skeleton.

Manfred hissed happily before turning around toward the tent again. Lucanis had second watch that night, and Emmrich was meant to relieve him, but was surprised to find him sitting in front of the tear.

“Lucanis, is everything alright?” he said, crouching beside him.

“Rook, she’s in there. I saw her for a moment,” he stated, “and I think I saw Varric Tethras with her.”

Emmrich’s blood ran cold as he realized she might be in danger. Knowing the Fade, it was not likely the real spirit of Varric Tethras. No, this would not happen again, not like Nadia. Not his, Rook.

“We need to get her out. I believe I can expedite the process. Quick, wake the others.” Emmrich said as he approached the Fade tear.

“Rook!” Lucanis yelled.

Manfred returned with Emmrich’s tools, and the rest of the camp followed.

“What’s all the yelling about?” Taash yelled as they rushed up the stairs.

Emmrich began chanting a spell and waving a Fade tool while his companions gathered around the fade tear, desperate to find a way to help.

“What can we do to help Professor?” Bellara shouted.

“There! A light!” Emmrich exclaimed.

“We’ve got something, get ready,” Lucanis shouted.

Taash moved closer as Emmrich reached his hand inside the Fade tear. An elven hand wrapped around Emmrich’s emerged from the tear. Taash quickly reached in to grab the rest of the arm. The others grabbed onto Emmrich and Taash as they held tight onto the arm.

“Heave!” Taash shouted.

The group tumbled backward, knocking them to the ground as they pried Rook from the Fade’s grasp. Rook kneeled on the stone, patting her body to make sure she remained in one piece.

Taash, Davrin, and Lucanis shouted and cheered as Bellara ran toward her kneeling friend. Bellara looked her over for wounds, then hugged her tightly.

“Bellara— please, I can’t— breathe…” Rook struggled to say.

“Oh! I’m sorry. I’m just so glad you’re okay.” Bellara said through sobs.

She pulled away, and the two smiled tearfully at each other. Still recovering from his tumble on the stone, Emmrich had finally risen to his feet again and slowly approached the reunited friends.

Bellara heard the footsteps and realized she may have been a little selfish. She wiped a stray tear away from her friend’s face before she turned around and ushered the other companions back to their tents.

Emmrich kneeled, dropping his tools to the ground, and caressed Rook’s cheeks. His gaze softened as he looked into his lover’s eyes. That look, the adoration, it remained. Even after their fight. Even after three weeks trapped in the Fade. She still gazed at him with such a tender expression.

“You found me,” Rook said, smiling through her tears.

“Darling, I never stopped looking.” he smiled tearfully back at her before gently kissing her forehead and pulling her into his chest.

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

Thinking of AiDeku. But like… soft.

Izuku who is a Quirkless analyst owns a cafe because while he makes good money he can't quite stop wanting to be the hero he dreamed of as a kid. So his little cafe gives free drinks to the homeless. He gives 50% off to people from the rehab center down the street and he hires former villains to help them get a good resume so they don’t reoffend.

He's the little hero of the community he's in. A kind word to people and a good cup of coffee goes a long way. A nice place to sit out of the rain, a safe haven for the abused kids he tries to help but CPS ignores it.

That's how he meets Aizawa. There's this purple kid who comes by every day, and the scars on his face scream muzzle. Izuku is worried about the kid, and reaches out to CPS only to learn that the kid has a ‘villain Quirk’. Izuku wants to snarl there’s no such thing.

He's upset and its noticed by people. Word gets out why and a few of the former villains decide to hunt down the one guy they think will help.

Shouta isn't sure why they're hunting him but he drops down to talk. Hearing about this guy with his cafe worried about a kid warms his heart (he was homeless for far to long himself, and knows havens like that are special.) so he goes looking. And uncovers a huge corrupt section of foster care taking payoffs to make sure villains form in shitty conditions.

Aizawa connects with Izuku then and just… he sees this guy around his age. He's got freckles and curly green hair. Scars on his arms and a burn scar on his neck. Izuku’s also got steel in his spine and does not look away as he stares Shouta down. It's attractive as hell.

The hero starts hanging around the cafe, talking. Izuku isn't an informant but plenty of former villains keep their ears to the ground and will tip off the hero. Shouta gets cards form Izuku he passes out to the desperate thieves and pickpockets who just are trying to survive. A place to work, or someone who can hook them up with a workplace.

The bond forms slowly until one day Izuku kisses Shouta and goes; Date?

It's a very firm agreement.

[livmadart]

On the Twin Phantom Thieves AU how does Shinichi's corpse magnetism curse work out? Is Thief!Shinichi also known as a competent detective bc people just keep committing murder around him? Does it "turn off" when he's out thieving and then come back with an unholy vengeance the minute he's back home? I'm so curious.

Also what's Shinichi's thief name? Phantom Baron? Shiragami?

Also your art is so cool I just want to eat it lol

Omg I didn’t really think about it….i think shinichi would be too smart to purposefully draw police attention like that but would be so physically incapable of leaving a case unsolved, he would get very creative about uncovering the victim……but this habit of deaths happening to people who have seen him at heists does earn him a reputation….i think that phantom baron is a good name for his thief persona :)

Thank you for the ask and the kind words!

[dhddmods]

THE BIBLE IS NOT ANTI-QUEER!

We have been dying to make this post for a long time. What we'll be covering includes the following:

Firstly - mistranslations and out-of-context verses.

Secondly - genderqueerness in the Bible.

Thirdly - Jewish cultural genders.

(Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and genital mutilation.)

1st Corinthians 6:9 - 6:10

1st Corinthians 6:9 - 6:10 is mistranslated.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

"Effeminate" is a mistranslation of malakoi. Malakoi is a man who is weak or cowardly - not a man who is feminine. The mistranslation is based in misogyny, by turning "weak/cowardly" into a feminine trait.

"Homosexual" is a mistranslation of arsenokoitai. Arsenokoitai are men who assault other men - not just a gay man. Its absurd to mistranslate "gay rapist" into just "gay."

Leviticus 22

Leviticus 22 is out of context. Leviticus briefly mentions homosexuality, by stating “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.”

However, the context of the original Hebrew text and the verses before this is very important. Before this verse, there was a discussion of incest and infidelity between men and women. But none of these texts ever clarified if the laws also applied to male-on-male incest and infidelity. The addition of Leviticus 22 is not to condemn homosexuality, but to clarify that the previously listed laws also apply to gay incest and gay infidelity.

In full context, the verses go as following:

None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness. I am the LORD. The nakedness of thy father, and the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or the daughter of thy mother, whether born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover. The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover; for theirs is thine own nakedness. The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister; for she is thy mother's near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son' wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness: they are near kinswomen; it is lewdness. And thou shalt not take a woman to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her lifetime. And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness. And thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to set them apart to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.”

Eunuchs

The Bible discusses Eunuchs in many different chapters. “Eunuch” was a term used to describe three things:

A man whose penis was removed, due to slavery or a desire for abstinence. 

A person who was born with a male-appearance, but no penis; a type of male-appearing intersex person.

Or a person who removed their penis due to not identifying as a male; a transgender or altersex person, or an intersex person whose penis did not align with the rest of their experiences.

Each of these definitions can be seen in Mathew 19, Verse 12.

“For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

Further evidence that some eunuchs are non-binary can be seen in Isaiah 56, Verse 4-5.

“For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.”

Jewish cultural genders

In Jewish culture (which is where Jesus is from), there were eight recognized genders - Zachar, Nekevah, Aylonit Hamah, Aylonit Adam, Saris Hamah, Saris Adam, Androgynos, and Tumtum.

(Zuh-car) Zachar was the term for people who were born with male traits, and lived their life as a man. In modern terms, this is a cisgender man.

(Neck-eh-vuh) Nekevah were people who were born with female traits, and lived their life as a woman. This would be a cisgender woman.

(Eye-low-night Hah-maw) Aylonit Hamah were people who were born with female traits, but naturally developed male traits later in life. This describes people who were intersex, and had hormonal variations that caused male traits to develop.

(Eye-low-night Ah-dom) Aylonit Adam were people who were born with female traits, but developed male traits through human intervention. This describes trans-men or masculine non-binary people.

(Saw-riss Hah-maw) Saris Hamah were people who were born with male traits, but naturally developed female traits later in life. This describes people who were intersex, and had hormonal variations that caused female traits to develop.

(Saw-riss Ah-dom) Saris Adam were people who were born with female traits, but developed female traits through human intervention. This describes trans-women or feminine non-binary people.

(And-draw-joe-naws) Androgynos were people who were born with a mix of female and male traits. This described intersex people who had ambiguous genitals, or otherwise appeared to have a mix of genitals. Modern Jews also use it to include non-binary and altersex people with androgynous identities.

(Pronounced exactly how it's spelled) Tumtum were people who were born lacking sex traits. This described intersex people who were on the agenital spectrum - people whose genitals were small or obscured. Modern Jews also use it to include non-binary and altersex people with neutral identities.

[dungeons-and-dorics]

one thing I truly loved about Honor Among Thieves was the taverns

Taverns and pubs are essential settings of any DnD campaign. They are the places you party, the places you plan, and the places you enjoy some peace and quiet after a big battle. So the fact that there were so many scenes where plot points and plans were uncovered and concocted was so befitting of a real campaign. it makes me so warm and fuzzy inside, and it’s one of the things that makes me love fics where the party (specifically Edgin and Holga) open a tavern after the events of the movie

It just reminds me of all the NPC tavern owners that ive seen in campaigns where everyone in my party just agreed that either they were 1) shady as fuck, 2) definitely a retired adventurer, or 3) both

[monicascot]

Car Drive thru 7-Eleven funny video | Caught on camera | Uncovering thieves

Witness the epic Car Drive-thru adventure at 7-Eleven in this hilarious funny video! The whole escapade is Caught on Camera as two bumbling thieves attempt their daring heist. Prepare to laugh uncontrollably as the comedic chaos unfolds, revealing the Uncovering Thieves in action. Don't miss this rollercoaster ride of laughter and unexpected twists as the keyword "funny video" takes on a whole new level of hilarity!

[nicorenarin]

Phantom Scapegoat: Why P5X Deserves A Chance

Whilst many often shake their head at the concept of a 'gacha' game, it wasn't a surprise to see the Persona series take a shot at such a game. Persona 5: The Phantom X, or just P5X, was released fully in April within multiple regions of Asia and is planned for both a Japanese & Global releases within the future. Aiming to tell a brand new story within the Persona 5 universe, P5X takes place in a parallel timeline where new protagonist, Wonder, leads in the main role with a new group of Phantom Thieves.

As of writing, the game is about to release its 2.3.3 update, which will include an expansion of the side story 'Cross Fate', which covers the original Persona 5 palaces with both the new and old cast, yet it's clear that this story will aim to tie into the main story in one way or another through the developing concept of parallel worlds and timelines. The one thing we have to be aware of is that whilst the main developers are Black Wing Studios, a subsidiary of Perfect World Games, it was recently confirmed in an interview that ATLUS themselves are still helping to construct the narrative and the world of P5X.

My only question is... where was this writing all over the original Persona 5?

It's quite insane that whilst we are only nearing the end of the third palace, P5X takes the world we know of P5 and makes it insanely intriguing. We went from the third arc being centred around a generic 'yakuza' goon to focusing on a struggle for power between teachers that aims to uncover a bigger conspiracy deep within the school that Wonder and some of the other characters attend. Even the second arc, whilst initially presenting itself as a parallel of the Madarame Arc, I think it does it better.

Unfortunately, many on the internet aren't exactly too fond of such a game. It's understandable. A lot of mainstream gacha games such as Genshin Impact are known for their predatory practices in terms of pull-rates, the fear of missing out, etc. Yet, P5X doesn't fall into this pattern, nor does it show itself as a game not willing to listen to its community. As someone who has barely spent a dime, getting all the featured characters and still having currency to spare is a very good thing. The game cares about you and at times will throw summoning tickets and various other items at you either for nothing or for a simple task. They've even recently brought back Tycoon from Persona 5 Royal and taken it online, which has been brilliant.

Harkening back to the earlier point, I believe that a community like the Persona one unfortunately exposed an ugly side of itself with the rising popularity of P5X. The amount of times I see that it's a 'china game' or the reason they won't touch it is because it's 'chinese' feels rather horrible. I think it's perfectly fine to dislike gacha mechanics, but at no point does Joker emerge from the phone, point a gun to your head and force you to enter your credit card details. Many content creators such as JohneAwesome were skeptical of the game, but after playing it? He's now a huge fan! Who would've thought that playing a game like this would change your opinion? The game isn't perfect and many, like myself, have a fair few issues with the game, especially with how it can be better. Yet, I think it's better to try the game for yourself than make it out to be a devil walking.

With collabs with games like P3 and P4 basically confirmed, along with their potential involvement in the main story, P5X has an opportunity to be one of the grandest stories in the entire series and I truly hope it rises to the challenge.

[dwellordream]

Books Recs of 2024

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. Mystery/fantasy centered around Din, a young assistant investigator assigned to help an eccentric and infamous detective, Ana Dolabra, solve a series of murders. Din is an engraver, his brain altered so he has a photographic memory. However, no one is quite sure how he got his current position, since he failed every single one of his final exams except the combat portion. Ana is an exceedingly odd woman who refuses to go to any crime scene in person and often performs mad science experiments in her spare time. As Din struggles to keep up with the case, which revolves around a bioweapon being unleashed on a series of the empire's best engineers, he also worries what will happen when Ana finally uncovers his secrets.

Highfire by Eoin Colfer. Urban fantasy (very comedic fantasy) about a dragon called Vern (short for Wyvern), who teams up with a juvenile delinquent named Squib (real name Everett Moreau) to take down a corrupt sheriff who is plaguing the Lousiana bayou. Vern is a very small (seven feet long) dragon who is the last of his kind (as far as he knows). When he is spotted by a local troubled teen, his first instinct is to hunt Squib down and kill him, but he quickly realizes the two of them have a common enemy- the murderous sheriff who is running drugs through their territory.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi. Magical realism about a romantic-minded art historian who is swept off his feet by a mysterious and charming heiress. After a whirlwind courtship, the happy couple return to her childhood home; a Gothic manor on a lonely island. The more time our narrator spends around his wife's past, the more questions are raised- increasingly sinister ones about who she is and what exactly she is capable of. Once upon a time, she was best friends with an equally odd and dreamy little girl named Indigo. But no one has seen Indigo for many years now- and the Flower Bride may be behind her disappearance.

Chlorine by Jade Song. Horror/magical realism. Since childhood, Ren's entire identity has been wrapped up in swimming. If she can be strong enough, fast enough, special enough, success is sure to come her way. As the end of high school approaches, Ren's passion for swimming becomes less about her future, and more about past legends of mermaids and sirens dragging sailors into the deep. School, friends, and her parents' expectations all fall away- Ren will make her home in the water, no matter what she has to do.

We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride & Jo Piazza. Realistic fiction. Jen and Riley have been best friends for as long as they can remember, despite their vastly different childhoods. Riley is from a middle class Black family; Jen was raised by an impoverished white single mother. After twenty years of doing almost everything together, their lives are at a crossroads- Riley is a news anchor about to take Philadelphia by storm, while Jen is expecting her first child with her police officer husband. When Jen's husband is involved in the murder of a Black teenage boy by a fellow officer, Riley finds herself expected to cover the story- and Jen finds herself expected to answer for her husband's actions- and her own beliefs about what racism looks like.

Queenpin by Megan Abbott. Crime thriller/noir. Our nameless heroine lives a mousy existence working as a bookkeeper for a rundown local night club, but her life is turned upside down when the infamous Gloria Denton, a gun moll and smuggler, takes her under her wing. Gloria transforms her young protege from a timid girl to a sophisticated, cunning woman capable of handling gangsters, conmen, thieves, and bookies, but when she falls for the wrong man, her relationship with Gloria is strained, and they must decide just how far they can trust one another.

Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen. Historical fiction. Based on the real life trial of Katharina Kepler, mother of the famed Johannes Kepler, Imperial Mathematician to the Holy Roman Empire. Katharina is a busybody, a domineering and devilishly clever woman with a particular talent for healing. She is also a fiercely loyal mother to her adult children, but when an old neighborhood grudge flares into accusations of poison and witchcraft, Katharina is determined not to meekly confess and beg pardon. The more she lashes out at her neighbors and the authorities, the more charges begin to pile up against her- despite her son's desperate attempts to save her from torture and execution.

Bury Me Deep by Megan Abbott. Crime thriller/noir. Based on a real life murder case in 1931 Phoenix Arizona. Naive and sheltered Marion Seeley is deposited in Phoenix by her disgraced doctor husband, who is forced to take a job with a mining company in South America after his medical license is revoked. Marion befriends the vivacious Louise and Ginny, two fellow nurses, who introduce her to the underground party scene in Phoenix. Politicians and businessmen flock to the secret parties held by them, and it's a quick way to make money on the side. Drawn in by the luxury and thrills, Marion falls in love with Joe Lanigan, a powerful local politician, but as their affair intensifies, her friendship with the other women fractures, culminating in a gruesome crime.

[memories-of-ancients]

The Ancient Celtic Ritual of Killing a Sword,

During the early iron age up to the rise of the Roman Empire the ancient Celts dominated most of Europe, their tribal societies stretching from Spain in the west to Turkey in the east. One ancient Cetlic tradition was the ritual of “killing”  the sword of a deceased chieftain or warrior for burial. Often the sword would be heated, then bent into either a circle or “S” shape thus making it irreparable and useless. In hundreds of Celtic graves throughout Europe such ritually killed swords have been uncovered, one of the most well preserved being a iron sword uncovered near Oss in the Netherlands dating to 700 BC.

There are many possible reasons such a ritual was done by the ancient Celts. The sword could have been killed as a ritual sacrifice to speed the soul of the deceased into the afterlife. Indeed a sword would have made an excellent sacrifice considering the expense and labor needed to craft a quality iron sword in that age. In addition, it may have been a special honor for a particularly brave warrior, and while the warrior rests peacefully in death, likewise his sword should be permanently retired. Kind of like how today we retire the jersey of a famous athlete who passes away.  Finally, killing the sword may have a more practical and down to earth purpose, to make it useless if uncovered by thieves and grave robbers.

By around the 1st century AD most Celtic tribes had been overrun by Germanic peoples or conquered and assimilated by the Roman Empire. However the tradition of sword killing continued with many German tribes, and during the early Middle Ages was commonly practiced by the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings.

[felixcloud6288]

Dungeon Meshi Chapter 62

It's the boy and he's making us a delicious meal story.

Throughout this chapter, we're given Mithrun's backstory as a Dungeon Lord. However, the story we're told is actually Kabru's retelling because when Mithrun said he'd tell Kabru everything, he meant he'd tell Kabru EVERYTHING.

The chapter alternates between Mithrun's time as a dungeon lord and his and Kabru's journey through the dungeon. Each time we go back to Mithrun as a dungeon lord, it's actually Kabru putting the story together in a comprehensible way.

Kabru's adoptive mother is in the group. Her name is Milsiril. There weren't any good shots of her uncovered arms this chapter so I can't say whether any of those scars were from before this incident.

I take it that elves are generally prone to using unnecessarily complex methods to achieve certain end goals. Mithrun told Kabru that he'll need a sleep spell or a potion to be put to sleep, and he said being bundled up cozy and given a foot massage would never work, right before falling asleep.

It's exactly the same vibe as the mandrake harvesting thing only with fewer dead dogs.

All of this happened before the shapeshifter encounter? The shpaeshifter Kabru and Mithrun encountered probably was the same one then.

Kabru and Mithrun are both serious characters and whenever the story focuses on them, it tries to take things seriously. But with this one single panel, it's clear this is going to be an exception.

There's a light inconsistency with timing. Kabru said it will take a week until they're rescued but the day ends saying "Four days left until rescue." I just can't tell if there's an error with what Kabru said or if that message is not supposed to be tied to the end of this specific day.

The next page opens with "Day three after the fall" and Laios's group had fought the ice golem that day. So if it's already been two days since Kabru and Mithrun fell, then that would mean chapters 39-42 were all in a single day and there was a roughly two day period of Laios's team either finding the way to floor 6 or travelling through the floor before encountering the shapeshifter.

On Kabru's end, the only known moment of time passing was when Kabru fell asleep for five hours last chapter. Meanwhile, team Laios would have had to take some time to make Marcille and Senshi's snow shoes.

I'm going to guess that it takes roughly two days travel to get to the cave system in the sixth floor. Kabru and Mithrun encountered the shapeshifter near the start of the path to the caves while Laios's team encountered it near the end of the path.

Mithrun is probably wearing Shuro's jacket. It at least matches the color of the jacket we saw Shuro wearing in chapter 32.

The inciting incident to Mithrun becoming a dungeon lord was seeing his brother with the girl he liked through a magic mirror. But then we cut to Kabru thinking about how that's a good plot hook.

I think he either super dumbed down what was in the mirror, or may have straight up lied about what really set Mithrun off. Like, his brother living this happy life with Mithrun's beloved is part of it, but that note where Mithrun joined the Canaries in his brother's place tells me that the mirror is actually showing him how wonderful his brother's life is and how this could have been Mithrun's life instead.

Makes sense that the barometz fruit doesn't have the same organ structure as a real sheep. It's just trying to mimic the sheep to attract predators. The bones are probably just stems to help keep the shape.

Kabru and Mithrun stole the hippogriff's eggs and accidentally turned it into a griffin. Maybe it attacked Laios's party because it thought they were the egg thieves.

Maybe Mithrun's poor directional skill is because he got so used to the layout of his own dungeon that he's forgotten how Euclidean geometry works. It might make sense to assume that a stairway up is actually the way down and to go forward, you need to go back.

Several of these characters were named in the start of the chapter. The two row are Nils and Sita. The middle one in the bottom row is Coyote. I can't tell who the other two are, but I want to say the one on the lower right is Yugin.

Sita is a guard while the rest are criminals.

Mithrun's "beloved" was definitely an illusion of some kind. The goat's power only extends to the dungeon so it couldn't have brought her into it.

She may have been a lamia from the start since we can see a snake body in the corner of the very next panel.

Her color pattern indicates she's a king snake lamia. I talked about them in chapter 10. She's harmless, or at least as harmless as a lamia can be.

The scene where the goat ate Mithrun's desires is unsettling. The goat holds him down and violates his body. And it gouged out Mithrun's eye in the process.

And when the goat was done with Mithrun, it left nothing behind of his wish. He's left lying in front of the magic mirror he destroyed.

This comes right after the Winged Lion showed Laios his ideal world where people and monsters live together in harmony. The magic mirror was probably placed to tempt anyone who explored the dungeon and Mithrun took the bait. And the vision Laios saw in chapter 60 is just the Winged Lion baiting him into becoming a dungeon lord so it can eventually eat him too. And it will probably eat all of Laios's companions first just like the goat ate Mithrun's.

So now we have to deal with the dramatic irony that Laios's party is relying on an even greater threat to stop Thistle.

The elf with Milsiril was also named in the opening part. Her name is Helki.

Did Kabru make a tart?

So the reason ancient magic is forbidden is because it opens the path for demons from another dimension to come in. Demons feed on human desires and grow stronger as they feed. Demons are trapped in dungeons to prevent them from reaching the surface and they lure people into the dungeons. People with particularly strong desires are made dungeon lords to cultivate those desires to be even stronger.

And the Utaya incident was the result of a demon getting strong enough to break out of its dungeon.

The last two-page spread was what the lion promised, and this one is what would actually happen.

The demon in the image has a few characteristics matching the Winged Lion such as a mane, wings, and similar horns to some statues of it.

The first two-page spread was the world the lion promised Laios and the second is what would really happen as it destroys the Golden Kingdom. I can't tell if the person it's about to eat is anyone specific but it would be appropriate if it were Laios.

Even if knowing the truth wouldn't stop people from trying to use ancient magic, being forward about the danger and reason would at least stop some of them and let them understand why anyone trying to use ancient magic should be stopped or deterred. Like, Marcille is studying ancient magic BECAUSE she doesn't know why it's outlawed with no reason given.

The diagram used when explaining the quality of desires is literally an upside-down diagram of Maslow's hierachy of needs.

Kabru has realized he made a grave mistake entrusting Laios to the dungeon.

So Kabru and Mithrun were the ones who made that campfire from chapter 50.

The changelings have decided that Mithrun is super buff by elf standards.

If Pattadol is the Marcille of the Canaries, then Lycion must be the Senshi.

Remember how there was a panel in chapter 50 of Shuro freaking out because Laios threw the bell? Way more stuff was happening at the time. Shuro's face and Cithis telling him to shut up still happened though. Mithrun also hit his head when it happened.

As it turns out, the Canaries have been in the lower levels of the dungeons for several days when the Winged Lion warned Laios about them. Since Mithrun knows where to find secret passages, he probably figured out a secret way to the next level after Laios had opened that giant door and they camped out on the next floor when Laios's team was riding the trolley down.

Kabru and Mithrun were always just ahead of Laios this chapter so I expect them to meet up just before they all reach the bottom of the dungeon.

back

[siena-sevenwits]

Some live reactions to the first scene of An Illusion of Wings by @scarvenartist

“Mist rose from the icy canal, fog swirling around the eight ghostly monuments arrayed on both sides of the bridge.” – WHAT a wonderfully atmospheric opening! The tone – the visual! And the rest of the paragraph is a cut gem too – I can see this, I can feel this. It gives a remarkable sense of city’s age and the time of year. And given what I know of this story, that shapeshifting into animals is a feature of the story, it’s very fitting to start with these images of heraldic beasts. Reminds me ever so slightly of the opening montage of shots in the film adaptation of A Man for All Seasons.

Man. The way you plummet us straight into this duel situation while evoking all these hints of the broader worldbuilding. I’m impressed.

I had to look up “sable hat” and am pleased that I now know the name for those things. I am now educated.

“But I had been wandering the streets for hours in a futile search for my thieving feral sister, and these privileged gentlemen had decided to settle some insult on a public thoroughfare, inconveniencing everyone else. It offended me.” I love how voicey she is – this is so expressive of someone just done. Just absolutely done. “Thieving, feral sister” – the frustration in those words! And now these chaps dare to block up a public footpath with their stupid potential-murder-tiff – it’s just rude, it is.

Gonna call it now – this is going to be all my favourite things combined. (I have an advantage in that I read an older version of the first chapter of this story once before, but I still feel justified in calling it now.)

Yeah, Cazda, you’re taking all the angsty brooding out of the situation! Have some manners, dear!

As someone who struggles with finding smooth ways to slip a character’s age in organically, I applaud the way you got the fact she’s sixteen in early in a way that further characterizes both Gospodin Spectacles here and Cazda – he’s condescending in his elation, she’s touchy (though understandably so just now.)

Again, I’m at an advantage having read another version of this part, though it was some time ago and it’s only coming back to me as I read. But in light of that advantage – masterfully done, dropping that hint about how he wasn’t there when the initial offense that gave rise to the duel happened – that he’s not the man he appears to be. His remarks about “believing he had to be restrained” and all. And when Cazda catches that it’s a strange thing to say, he plays it off in words that might make us assume he was drunk at the time, and not wonder about it any further.

The description of his eyes turning “brittle blue” is very striking.

Cazda seeing the guardswoman and picturing herself similarly is a good character establishing moment – glimpses of what she values (“authoritative, confident, independent”). what she aspires to.

Oh, whoa, Officer, you’re putting a sabre to a young girl’s throat? You mean business! Yike!

I’m so curious now – her father was arrested? She was interrogated? She felt a confused guilt? There’s intriguing stuff here to be uncovered.

A teen girl wearing her father’s old coat – another hint about her circumstances and her family’s.

Swallow-man (Kiro, I know it’s Kiro, and I’ve loved him for years now even before my earlier reading foray because he’s so characterful in the art) is well-known to the police – at least his tendency to disappear as a swallow is. Oooh, and not just to the police it seems. OK, the Firebird, sure, he’d probably like that better than “Swallow-man.” Cazda doesn’t seem so inclined to be impressed, and indeed seems eager to disillusion her siblings. It will be interesting to see how much of this is a temporary fit of frustration and how much is her normal character.

Just the sight of the coin makes her stomach churn with hunger- yes, she and her family are in a bad way.

Nezka! I don’t really remember her much from the previous read, but I know she’s feral Magpie younger sister!

Hm – having a different human face is more serious that shapeshifter duelling. Yeah, I can see why that would be considered more dangerous to society in the eyes of the law.

And we're ending the scene with a return to Cazda's envy of the guardswoman - significant, foreshadowing.