#we are coexisting in 'fun idea land'

[monty-glasses-roxy]

(if someone manages to find and revive bonnie in ruin) the first thing bonnie would ask is "w-where's freddy..?", he and freddy were best friends before he got killed by hacked monty, monty meanwhile would be suffering from terrible guilt over seeing the claw marks on bonnie

Hifdhfdgdfg *insert obligatory 'historians would call them close friends :)' joke here*

Anyway. I am one of the people that think the evidence for Monty killing Bonnie doesn't make any sense. I don't think he did that at all.

I think the likely condidates are the Prototype Freddy, Glitchtrapped/Mimicked Freddy himself, or Security Node Roxy. I have some stuff planned for that last one in case you were curious.

The MAIN thing to think about in a Ruin scenario where they bring back Bonnie, that I plan to explore in the future should things go as planned, is the betrayal. Close friends? Boyfriends? Whatever. How the fuck is he supposed to react to his friends that are three times as destroyed as he is, telling him what Freddy has done? What he abandoned them for? What has happened since he left and what his headless, prototype replacement is continuing to do? It's a lot to digest that's for fucking sure, and that's without the full events of Security Breach, whatever destroyed the Plex and then the events of Ruin, plus my Ruin AU of what happened after Ruin. Buddy, he is not okay.

I also find it kind of ironic how the one guy that hasn't been around the large majority of major incidents is the least physically damaged out of everyone. Unless DJ is mostly unscathed, Bonnie still somehow holds that title

[bamgyw]

right, so he won.

we tend to be cynical and laugh him off, but it’s so painfully clear and scary how this ignorant fucking narcissist cosplaying as the poor man's idea of a wealthy man could become president of the united states—not once, but twice.

a man who seems barely literate, whose statements have been nothing but blatant, poorly constructed lies, yet he’s secured power. again. and while i can’t fully predict the implications, i know they don’t look good.

i fear for american citizens trapped in a dystopian neoliberal state where food is made of plastic and a lack of money can cost you your life on a hospital gurney.

i fear for europe, also scarred by fascism and blindly following the united states. every week for the past year, our prime ministers have appeared on television, warning us to prepare to defend our values in coming wars, most, if not all of which, are initiated by the u.s.

i fear for the palestinian people, undergoing a fucking genocide at the hands of israel—a state powered by the immense machinery of the american arms industry. if the u.s. withdrew its support, israel would be forced to stop. they're nothing. a flimsy geopolitical construct fuelled by pure evil. but like israel, the united states is a settler colony, built on the displacement, massacre, and erasure of the people who originally lived there. they both justify their actions as a divine mission for the land they claim was promised by god. imperialistic bullshit.

i fear that palestinians have lost their last glimmer of hope and the faint promise of a two-state solution that even kamala harris claimed to defend. flawed and half-hearted as it was, it at least held the possibility of a ceasefire.

i fear for trans and racialized people in the united states, who have become primary targets of brutal, baseless hate speech, a rhetoric now normalized among more than half the american electorate.

i’m not going to take the easy route—the classist one—and say that a bunch of uneducated rednecks voted for another uneducated redneck.

truth is, we’re living in unsafe times, and that fear makes us vulnerable to hoaxes, propaganda, and manipulation. education was supposed to be the antidote—the tool to help us see when politicians are lying, when a vulnerable group is scapegoated for society’s problems. and yet, here we are, repeating history. it’s been less than a century since world war II, and a fascist has been voted into power.

i don’t know why i felt the need to go off on this tangent, but this issue is global, and it’s genuinely terrifying. i don’t trust our politicians. it feels like being abandoned by a parent—the state, which is supposed to protect us, leaving us to fend for ourselves. we've seen that with hurricane milton, with the floods in valencia.

many of us have never had to experience extreme poverty or coexist with death, so it’s easy and fun to live blissfully unaware. but we’d better hope it stays that way. and i also hope that instead of letting our fear turn into paralyzing anxiety, we can make the effort of turning it into determined, militant anger.

and yeah… that’s about it, i think. there’s a lot i haven’t mentioned, a lot of people, a lot of rights lost today. but i haven’t slept. i’m really tired. gonna sleep bye.

[weirdmarioenemies]

Name: Kamukamu

Debut: Wario Land 2

Have you ever thought about a world where everything is exactly the same... except you don't exist? Everything functions perfectly without you... that is the existential horror that this fangly little fishy must contend with! Kamukamu only appears in the Game Boy version of Wario Land 2, and is entirely replaced in the Game Boy Color version!

This is Drill, but you can call it SpongeBob SquarePants episode 151a, because it's the New Fish In Town! This is the one that replaced Kamukamu on the Game Boy Color, and I really have no idea why. They're completely different fish in both design and function! Kamukamu is a bitey fish who chomps onto Wario and makes him drop coins until shaken off. Drill is a pointynose fish who causes instant damage if touched from the front. They can coexist!

Of the two, I'm not sure which I prefer! Kamukamu has a more fun personality to me, with its glassy eyes and toothy overbite. It reminds me of a wolffish, but it's likely just a generic "bitey fish". Meanwhile, Drill has the goofier anatomy! It is seemingly based on a sawfish, but instead of a saw-like rostrum, it's like a drill instead. Its actual mouth looks toothless and non-threatening, as if it pulverizes prey into a smoothie that it slurps up!

Ok, that's about it, I guess. Post's over. Drill, taking the bus again? Okay, get home safe! What about you, Kamukamu? Your dad's picking you up? Okay! Let's see if he's here... oh, there he is!

Name: Big Kamukamu

Debut: Wario Land 2

This is Big Kamukamu, a boss in both versions of Wario Land 2! Even when little Kamukamu was replaced, no one had the gall to tell THIS fish it was fired. Would you? Big Kamukamu is, in fact, the only reason we have a name for Kamukamu! Big Kamukamu's name was given from a Picross game of all things (awesome swag epic), and from this we can only assume that the smaller ones are regular Kamukamu.

That's so many sources to go through to find a name for poor Kamukamu! Even after all that, we're not SURE that would be its name. It definitely seems so, it just isn't confirmed. Is this fish doomed to obscurity at every turn? I think it deserves a little something nice, so I am going to give it its very own localized name!

"Kamu" means "to bite", making "Kamukamu" basically "Bitebite". I think this is more than enough of a base for a silly cute little name!

Kamukamu, I hereby give you the fan-localized name of Bittybite! I hope you like it! Yes, it sounds like Biddybud, but this game was long before 3D Land and they would not have cared about an enemy in a subseries having a similar name. And I like Bittybite! So there is some love for this little fish who has been really craving it.

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Hello dino person I humbly request your thoughts on the Best Dino Ever (the Therizinosaurus) and perhaps a few Facts or Trivia

I mostly just want to know what you think of them they're my favorite guys in the whole world

Therizinosaurus is so damn weird???

it has an upright posture. Yes, many birds often have an upright posture, but Therizinosaurus is in that point of the dinosaur tree where horizontal is still the norm. Like... what

in having an upright posture, it was able to support a GIANT belly. We're talking H U G E. this was necessary to digest plants, and I mean, it makes sense - this is a dinosaur that evolved from carnivorous ancestors and decided to take a hard turn into herbivory land, they didn't do it eloquently, no extra stomachs or nothin, no body designed to digest plants over millennia, they had to just make the biggest stomach they could and hope that would get the job done in terms of digesting that tough material

pretty much ALL dinosaurs are digitigrade - they walk on their toes! you can see that sooo clearly in modern birds. But Therizinosaurs? They're plantigrade. Like people. They walk on the rest of the foot instead. Why? We have no idea. Just to be different, I guess.

Those claws? The giant ones that were originally thought to be turtle ribs before we realized it was a wholeass dinosaur? Yeah, some scientists did a stress test, and they wouldn't have been very good at combat, or at foraging for food. Those things were DECORATIVE. IE, they were for DISPLAY. For communicating with other Therizinosaurs. THEY WERE JUST FOR SHOW. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. like I know, logically, that every dinosaur is just a variation of the peacock, but every time I'm presented with evidence to back it up my brain short circuits

it somehow coexisted with Deinocheirus, which is probably the other top contender for the weirdest dinosaur visually speaking. They were both huge herbivores. Can you imagine living in that ecosystem? Like???

those are my immediate fun facts, but I'm sure other members of palaeoblr have more to say!

[tyrantisterror]

If you were to write a follow-up to The Nightmare Before Christmas, either in movie, show, novel, or comic form, what would that look like? A show that gave more focus to all the background monsters who populated Halloween Town, but were given very little characterization in the film, would be killer! (heh) I had some crazy ideas for a hypothetical follow-up myself actually.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is basically just a Rankin Bass holiday special with extra Edward Gorey style, and they made a shitload of those specials, so there's a pretty basic formula you can use. Get a main character who's a misfit that doesn't quite feel like they belong, put them on a whimsical journey through a land that has a lot of imagery associated with the holiday of choice, a villain who's either a redeemable misfit themselves or such a grumpy old crank that we just need to wait until they're killed by their own malice, and some goofy sidekicks.

I think our hero should be a new Halloween icon in the vein of Jack - maybe a ghost or something else archetypal, or maybe a full on walking jack-o-lantern - who wants to fit into the human world but struggles to do so. They're approached by a sinister figure who calls himself "Finder" that tells them of a place full of people like them - Halloweentown - which only monsters can find normally. Our misfit goes looking for Halloweentown, unaware that Finder is following them.

While Halloweentown is full of delightfully spooky things, our protagonist isn't fully happy there, and wants to share everything about the town with the normal world. But how can they do that when their "friend," Finder, turns out to be none other than the Witchfinder General, an exiled crank from Thanksgivingtown who thinks he can get back home if he finds some monsters to capture and burn at the stake! Can our heroic misfit prove that man and monster can coexist, and that Halloween is a frightfully fun time for everyone? Featuring cameos by classic Halloweentown heroes like Jack and Sally, but focusing on a new cast in Rankin Bass style.

Fans would be horribly disappointed.

[bbygirl-aemond]

bbygirl-aemond, I have thoughts, I will reread chapter 32, but I do have thoughts if you dont mind me asking them. I think initially, my question is, how do you balance the role of Valyria historically with the nature of their colonialism? Only because it seems like the picture presented is that ultimately Valyrianness is a good thing? It seemed like despite the Firstmen not wanting Valyrian conquerors who desecrated their land with fire, Harrenhal did? And that seems off to me? I mean if your pro-valyrian then totally disregard this but I had got the impression that you were rather critical of them but maybe I was conflating your critique of Viserys with your critique of Valyria and the Valyrian Freehold? Also, side note I very much enjoyed the complex relationship everyone had with Viserys and how it wasn't reconciled and that Helaena stood her ground. Your interpretation of her is my absolute favourite because she is a fully fleshed woman with her own motivations, and her distance from Rhaenyra is that wonderful icing on the cake. Coming from someone who doesn't like my own half-sister, it's very understandable Helaenas weariness but also her stubbornness not to forget what Rhaenyra put her and her brothers through. It's just chefs' kiss.

No that's a fair question! Ultimately, I think my answer is that my opinion on morality of canon is separate from what I choose to play around with for fun. For example, I don't think we're meant to read ASoIaF and come away like "yes monarchy is good actually." I'm very anti-monarchist in my everyday life, but it's tons of fun to lean into the grand imagery related to monarchy and divine right in a fantasy world. This applies to the themes of colonialism and feudalism as well.

Stormbreak is, fundamentally, a Targaryen Restoration fic, so it's not going to be doing any heavy lifting related to concepts of monarchy, feudalism, and colonialism. I do address parts of these themes, but not in full, and it shouldn't be taken as a perfect mirror of my own views outside of the Stormbreak sandbox.

As for Harrenhal--I think there isn't necessarily a moral endorsement of the Valyrian magic there. Just because something exists doesn't mean that it's good that it exists, but it is a reality. Jace's Valyrian-ness is useful in its ability to protect the members of House Strong from a curse that would otherwise kill them off. Jace's arc here also isn't finished, and we haven't seen the final form of the agreement(s) he'll have with the land he rules. This is because the First Men are, you guessed it, also originally colonizers! They invaded Westeros, slaughtered the children of the forest in spades, and destroyed their sacred spaces. They were eventually forced to stop and coexist, but only after a massive display of force (the children of the forest literally broke Westeros and Essos into two separate continents), so it wasn't out of realization that their colonizing was wrong, and they still successfully stole most of Westeros from the children of the forest, relegating them to small patches of land here and there where Weirwood trees grew. I can't spoil too much here, but let's just say the Valyrians weren't the first ones to think of imbuing the land with spells to drive out the First Men… and that Stormbreak will ultimately treat the children of the forest as the only true natives of Westeros.

I'm glad that Helaena's characterization has resonated with you! She's been so fun to write. In general, I've had so much fun with the female characters in this fic, particularly ones like Helaena, Baela, and Alys whose personalities were kind of neglected in the book and/or the show. I also have this pet peeve around the idea that women inherently always have to like each other because of girlboss solidarity, so I deliberately called attention to Rhaenyra's mistake in thinking that Helaena would side with her because they were both women. Helaena isn't necessarily always going to agree with Rhaenyra on things, which is understandable. They had vastly different upbringings, and Helaena's experience with dreaming gives her an entirely unique perspective. In this chapter, Helaena doesn't try to stop Aemond and Aegon, because she agrees with them! Regardless of how much fear she personally felt (since I think her dreams provide a lot of reassurance to her that others aren't able to access), she still spent her entire life surrounded by her family, who were very much impacted by that fear.

[ranger-wild]

(from @kalosconservationist)

hi! i found your blog looking for other people who are into protecting pokemon! out of curiosity, what inspired you to become a ranger?

I was only a kid when I first heard about Rangers and when the fixation didn’t fizzle out like so many had, my parents agreed that, if I worked hard at the Ranger School, they’d agree to let me go abroad. I liked the appeal of teaming up with pokemon to help the community and keeping things running smoothly.

The idea of pokeballs also was fun up until I was a certain age and honestly they’re still cool to me because we know they’re little luxury environments for pokemon to stay in, but having gone through depression and junk I know that being cooped up can be terrible so hearing that rangers used Stylers appealed to me a lot. It gave pokemon the option to stick around permanently or not and I like that! Ember is my only Pokemon that I have a ball for since he was my starter when I was still in Unova.

The process of finding a host family was long but I met this lovely elderly couple that were so happy to have a young set of arms around to help them around their property (they catered to a lot of weddings and parties as a venue because they had a sizeable amount of land that they kept up with!)

Living with them taught me a lot about the different ways Pokémon and people live and coexist together and a lot of life skill type stuff too! They unfortunately passed a few years ago and being that at that point I was already a fully fledged ranger and couldn’t always be there to take care of the property, they willed it to a trusted family friend to keep the venue going. I was given the house though. Lovely place.

[boomgun]

You know, the precursor of the medieval knight was the Byzantine cataphractoi, heavily armoured cavalry whose combination of speed and durability made them ideal for patrolling and securing the vast borders of their empire. Which is what the medieval knights did, it was just that the knights did it because the lands they patrolled were the lands entitled to them as nobility. A somewhat less known thing is that the Byzantine Empire borrowed the idea from the Persian Empire who started the trend of heavily armoured horsemen to patrol the edges of an empire (at least in regards to Europe, I think China might have employed what we would call heavy cavalry sooner).

This is not a history post, it is a surprise Fire Emblem post about how knights in Fódlan were probably an idea disseminated from their border with Almyra, and it would be a neat way to imagine Claude proving his point that sharing ideas and cultures across the world is how things should be. It is even hinted at in a dialogue with an NPC in 3 Hopes where an Almyran soldier from western Almyra remarks that Fódlan language is similar to the western local dialect. This was probably the writers making an excuse as to how we can talk to rank and file Almyran soldiers, but it is a cool way to underline the arbitrary nature of borders like this. People and ideas must have coexisted between Fódlan and Almyra before the lines were drawn and forts built up, because how else would this weird language thing happen? It could not be a coincidence.

Anyway, hoped you all had fun learning a thing while beholding just how much of a death-grip 3 Houses/Hopes has over my mind.

[itsuki-minamy]

"AYAKA - THE EVE OF A SPECIAL WEDDING" (Novel)

TRANSLATION: NARU-KUN

CHAPTER 6: DECISIVE BATTLE AT KISUI PALACE (Part 2)

* List of Chapters

It is said that his ancestor was a snake that lived in the sea.

Since ancient times, a pair of twin dragons have lived on Ayaka Island. The twin dragons, who rule water and fire, have come into conflict with each other and coexisted, causing life energy to flow and nourishing trees, fish, insects and beasts. The circulating life force harmonizes all things and eventually returns to the life line. The lives congratulated the twin dragons who brought them there, and many followers were born to the great twin dragons. The snake belonged to one of them, the water dragon.

He lived near Gonoshima. One day, a human man appeared there. The snake, who did not know anyone with a will other than herself, became interested in the man and finally fell in love with him. Snakes and humans mixed and gave rise to a clan. Those who live between land and sea: spiritual people.

"That is why we have built our temple here. As children of our mother, the Great Sea Serpent, and our father, human, we have built a shrine of shining land and deep water, the Kisui Palace."

"Whatever you say. So, they're going to push me into deep waters from now on?"

Trapped in a spiral, Jingi looked down at the sea far below and felt a pang of sadness.

The place where Jingi and the Elder were located was near the zenith of Kisui Palace, in a place called "Kerukaido". Of all the sanctuaries submerged in the sea, this tower was the one that went furthest into the sea. A long, narrow bridge crosses the center of the donut-shaped square, and the pitch-black ocean stretches below. Countless bonfires were lit around them, and spirits swayed silently beneath them. Only the low rhythm of the fishing drum could be heard, mixing with the sound of the waves.

The old man looked at Jingi's face and smiled.

"If you wish, Jingi-sama, you can play underwater. You will be able to do so."

"What I want is to untie this rope, return to Ninoshima and have fun with my drinking friends."

Despite the biting tone of his words, the old man's soft smile did not falter. He stroked his white beard and nodded slowly.

"Your wish will come true. Once the congratulations are over, there is no need to tie Jingi-sama up anymore. You can swim to Ninoshima at any time. Sango-sama doesn't like alcohol, but... if Jingi-sama wishes, she will join you for a drink in the evening."

"How am I supposed to drink it inside that guy's belly?"

"You should drink the sake that Sango-sama drank."

The old man laughed, but it didn't seem like a joke.

Suddenly, the rhythm of the fishing drum stopped.

On the other side of the bridge, Sango appeared dressed in white. A pure white cotton hat shines faintly in the light of the full moon.

It was hard to tell what her expression was because she had her head down, but her red lips seemed to be smiling.

Jingi, on the other hand, was wearing a black-crested haori and hakama, but he was tied so tightly that he looked completely tattered compared to his girlfriend. Still, since the only people in the audience were the spiritual people, no one but Jingi cared.

"Now then, Jingi-sama. Go ahead."

The old man turned around and muttered a little.

The center of the bridge is a round pedestal. The idea is for the couple to meet there. He really didn't want to think about what would happen there. Jingi turned his head and made a final plea to the old man behind him.

"Hey, Elder. I don't want to die yet."

"We will not die. We will become one, Jingi-sama."

"So that means I'm going to die! It's going to eat me, right?"

Stroking his white beard, the old man shook his head pitifully.

"It seems like you're misunderstanding something, Jingi-sama. You're not going to be eaten... well, something like that may turn out along the way. Your existence won't disappear."

Pushed from behind, Jingi was forced to take another step forward. Likewise, Sango approached. Jingi let out a strained voice.

"You mean you can live inside her belly? Are you serious?"

"I'm serious. If her husband dies after this blessing, how will the head of Kisui Palace be able to have a child? Sango-sama's father is still alive. In her mother's body. Yatsuchi-sama said that she and her husband live happily together.''

"Did you ever talk to that father? After Sango was born?"

After a moment of silence, the old man muttered to himself.

"No. Now that I think about it, never."

"No! I'm going home! Please let me go home!"

Jingi turned his head and shouted. Still, his legs continued to move forward on their own. As if some kind of magic had been applied to him, he couldn't move freely except from the neck up.

The old man murmured in admiration.

"Hmm. I'm really impressed with how serious your death will be, Jingi-sama. You have a pure soul, free of things like shame or outside rumors."

"Don't praise that!"

"As expected, being chosen by the "Kisuirin" is all that is needed. That is to find someone suitable to be the husband of the head of the Kisui Palace. That is what it means to be you."

At that moment, an idea flashed through Jingi's head.

No, in fact, from the moment he heard the truth about those squama, he had doubts in his heart. That is...

"No way! You guys came right after I sold that squama?! Can such a convenient coincidence happen?! You must have framed me!"

The old man blinked once.

His eyes alternated between seeing Jingi's desperate face and Sango slowly approaching from the distance. Jingi did not miss that the same light that was in her own heart shone there.

"Who told you to go to Ninoshima at that time?! When I let go of the squama, who was it that told you to go ahead with the wedding?"

"It was Sango-sama. She was ready."

"Then it's her doing! She set it up!"

Jingi realized that the old man was not involved in the plan. That was good news. This old man was stubborn, cold, and inorganic, but Jingi knew that he was a stickler for the rules. If it turns out that it was Sango's trick that caused the "Kisuirin" to no longer be Jingi's, then the old man might reconsider the legitimacy of this marriage.

"Give the "Kisuirin" to the couple you meet for the first time. Unless the potential couple returns it, we will consider the marriage ceremony to be completed."

The old man said foolishly. After blinking a few times, his pupils opened horizontally. Like the eyes of a frog.

"No one has ever introduced any kind of arbitrariness into it. Hmm..."

"That's right! Is that true?! Isn't that your rule?"

They were already a few meters from Sango. Coral eyes peered out from under the cotton hat. Her pale pink eyes were redder than usual and seemed to shine in a bewitching way.

The old man was silent for a while and then nodded.

"You didn't return the "Kisuirin". That's all, Jingi-sama. Even if Sango-sama was involved in that, there is no clause in the rules that prohibits it."

And all of Jingi's hope vanished.

He finally reached the central pedestal. Sango had a shy smile on her face, like a bride who has been waiting for this moment. Jingi's heart pounded. Out of fear, of course.

"Tonight, under this moon. We will be a couple forever. Dear Jingi-sama."

Sango slowly extended her hand towards Jingi and caressed his stiff cheek. On her hands were pale blue scales and unusually long nails. Her pink lips parted and a forked tongue appeared. The human-shaped spot on the snake's belly flickered in his mind, and Jingi imagined his own face pressed against it.

Unable to bear it, Jingi screamed.

"Yukito! What are you doing? Help me quickly! Your master will be eaten!"

He didn't expect a response to his screams of fear.

However, there was a response. A different roar and vibrations to the rhythm of the fishing drum shook the foundation of the "Kerukaido".

Sango lost her balance and almost fell into the sea, but immediately caught herself. Her face showed confusion and anger, like that of a bride whose wedding is interrupted.

"What is happening, Elder?"

The old man craned his neck and looked out to sea. That was also reflected in Jingi's vision. A part of the Kisui Palace wall that jutted into the sea was completely destroyed, emitting black smoke.

The old man said calmly.

"You are a bother."

Sango wrinkled her nose. If she weren't noble, she would have clicked her tongue. Instead, Sango ordered sharply.

"Then delete them."

"As orders."

With his hands tied behind his back, the old man stepped into the air as naturally as if he were descending the stairs.

+++++++++++

"Man, earth and sky, it's like bowing!"

At the same time as Ibara's voice, multiple thunderclaps were heard.

She invaded the room at the speed of light. About five spiritual beings were struck by the lightning, they convulsed and fell to the ground, unable to move. Yukito was worried that they weren't dead, but he crossed his fingers and completed the technique.

"Man, earth and sky! Water, do not fight for the good of all things, but confront the evils of all people!"

This time it was not necessary to generate water from scratch. There was plenty of water in the numerous jugs placed there.

The water rose like well-kneaded clay and destroyed the spirits that were trying to surround Yukito and his friends. They are not closely related, but with a hoe, sickle or hammer in hand, they are enough to pose a threat.

There were about ten spirits enveloped in a body of water. Ibara immediately used a lightning technique. The spiritual beings who were electrocuted by the water bounced like fish thrown onto the shore and then floated in the water like fish. Yukito quickly spat them out of the water, trying to at least prevent them from drowning.

On the other hand, Ibuki was engaged in a fierce battle with two courtiers.

"Moth, Moth, I follow the life of the ocean dragon and collect all my thoughts."

With a unique sounding spell, countless water snakes emerged from under Josei's feet and attacked Ibuki. Ibuki quickly lowered his gun and pulled the trigger.

A single bullet meant nothing to a swarm of water snakes. Unless that bullet is imbued with witchcraft.

The moment the bullet came into contact with a piece of water, it exploded, dispersing a shock wave. The air in the room trembled and the pure blue technique turned into a stream of water that soaked the place. Later, even Josei himself stepped on the tatara.

"The gutter!"

Uzura jumped towards him, trying to get in front of him.

The fists of both hands were black and hard. As if by some kind of magic, he shook his obsidian-like fist and the hall shook again, causing a huge crack to appear on the stone floor. Ibuki avoided it just in time, clicked his tongue loudly and backed away even further, releasing three consecutive shots.

Two shots veered off course from him and landed on the wall and ceiling, and the other shot was deflected by Uzura's fist. Uzura pursed his lips tightly, moving even closer to Ibuki.

"Hmph."

Ibuki snorted mockingly.

The bullets embedded in the walls and ceiling exploded and returned with a bright light. It turned into multiple beams of light, traveling from the walls and ceiling to the muzzle of the gun and crashing into the back of Uzura, who was on its way. Uzura, who had stumbled forward, crashed into the water jug as if he were flip-flopping, breaking it into pieces.

"Amazing..."

Forgetting the situation, Yukito admired him. Both Josei and Uzura should be difficult opponents. He also remembered that Ibara was going through a difficult time with Sango. However, Ibuki seemed to be the only one taking control of them.

"Yukito! Don't look away!"

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

Scolded by Ibara, Yukito made the seal again. The spirits entered the room one after another, trampling the unconscious allies and trying to capture Yukito and his friends.

"If you are brave, you will be killed; if you are not brave, you will live!"

Along with the technique, Ibara's body glowed faintly. Even the glove on her right arm emitted a silver glow, and she punched, kicked, and threw the spirits that attacked in groups at a speed that could not be seen. All Yukito could do was manipulate the water and keep the enemy away as much as possible.

(I have to go up...!)

As much as he could, Yukito searched for a way to the upper floor. Jingi should be giving a congratulatory speech in "Kerukaido" right now. Get there and regain custody. Jingi himself is a powerful connection, so, if he could break the seal caused by the cursed tool, his chances of success would increase.

A loud shot was heard.

Surprised, he looked and saw a huge hole in the hallway wall. Beyond the black smoke, he could see the night sky filled with stars. And below he saw Josei, covered in soot, kneeling.

"It's the end."

Ibuki said it coldly and loaded the bullet. Josei looked at him expressionlessly.

At this moment, a voice echoed from a hole in the hallway.

"It was foolish of me to leave it to the brats."

An old man appeared from the hole, as if he was passing through the air.

It's the Elder.

With his hands tied behind his back, the old man descended through the air step by step. He said quietly, not paying attention to the kneeling Josei.

"I'll take care of this guest. Find the other rats and kill them."

"Yes."

"As orders."

Uzura and Josei stood up and turned to Yukito and the others. That alone made Yukito's body stiffen, and Ibara held the glove up to them.

However, with a sigh, the old man reprimanded his subordinates.

"How stupid are you brats? I'm not talking about them; I'm talking about the rats that crawl underground."

Uzura and Josei looked at each other and then started running at the same time. At the side of the hall, they jumped to the place where the spirits came out and disappeared.

Ibuki shouted.

"Yukito, Ibara, go after them! Help the children of Kaizumi Shrine!"

"......!"

A moment later, Yukito and his friends also realized that. The old man pointed to Chatarou and Yako who were hiding. If Josei and the others found them, they would not hesitate to "get rid of them".

That's all they have to stop them.

"Follow me!"

Ibara ran towards the hallway where the pure blue sky was. She punched the ghost that came out of there and then jumped over the area where he fell unconscious and continued forward. Yukito followed her, gritting his teeth.

+++++++++++

Chatarou and Yako were walking through a dark, damp hallway.

Due to the effects of the technique, they can recognize the appearances of others. But they can't make any sound. The spell won't be broken by just making a sound, but if a voice comes out of nowhere, the people present will probably wonder what it is. And spiritual men were everywhere. They went back and forth from one place to another carrying dishes, musical instruments or tools that they do not understand, such as hoes, sickles and hammers. Each time, Chatarou and Yako had to hold their breath and hide behind the scenes to avoid being hit by them.

(So where is what we're looking for?)

In an area where the number of people coming and going had become scarce, he wrote it down in his notebook instead of using his voice and showed it to Yako.

At night, he put his serious face and take notes the same way.

(There is no way for me to know.)

That's how it is. They've only been to Kisui Palace once and they don't even know what's there. So there's no way to know.

But they could make a guess.

Chatarou and Yako moved down the hallway. Towards the side where there are no people.

He had heard from Yukito what the "Kisuirin" was. It appears to be a shiny gemstone the size of a chicken egg.

If it is a treasure like that, it should be kept somewhere. A safe or treasure chest. It is probably located in a particularly secluded location within the Kisui Palace. He doesn't know if they distrusted thieves, but he was sure they kept important things in hard-to-reach places.

However, he had no idea how to get to such a place. Neither of them had yet been taught how to pick locks or find hidden places.

(If the master were here, there might have been a different method.)

Chatarou thought that as he looked at Yako who was walking next to him. Yako was also looking at Chatarou with the same expression on his face. Even without notes, they can communicate to that point.

Kurama Haruaki. Chatarou and Yako's master. If only he were there...

But he's not there right now. Although he said he would come, he never showed up until the day they finally carried out the mission.

Chatarou didn't have any deep worries about that. Although Kurama Haruaki was an extremely good connection, there were some areas where he lacked. Maybe he got lost somewhere, or maybe he just accidentally set the time wrong. Chatarou had no idea that something had happened to him. However, it may happen that he appears suddenly after everything is finished.

The two continued forward. Towards the unpopular side.

(...Yako.)

(What?)

(Do you know where we come from?)

Yako shook his head with a dull expression on his face.

Apparently he got lost. As a result of moving from the least popular aisle to the least popular, they have completely lost their bearings. A dimly lit, board-lined hallway stretches on and on. There was a wall to the left and a row of tatami rooms to the right, but they looked like they hadn't been used for a while. It smelled of damp tatami mats and wet sliding doors.

However, Chatarou didn't think it was that bad. He was an optimistic boy. First of all, if you don't even know where your destination is, there is no way you can get lost. Search blindly. That was all the two of them could do now.

At this moment, Yako stopped and pulled Chatarou's sleeve.

(Please watch.)

Chatarou looked towards the door, indicated by a note and a finger.

There was a heavy door on the left wall. The appearance is clearly different from other doors. Above all, carved into its surface was a pattern that Chatarou and his friends were familiar with. Two dragons chasing each other. It is the patron saint of the twin dragon that is enshrined at the Kaizumi Shrine where they serve.

It seemed like an important place.

And there must be something important in important places.

Chatarou and Yako nodded and tried to open the door together. At first, it didn't move when they pulled, so they both put their weight on it and pushed as hard as they could. Then, the door moved slightly with a creaking sound. Chatarou's face turned bright red and he continued pushing, finally, there was a space big enough for a person to pass through. Chatarou passed first, then Yako.

Inside was a staircase leading down.

He tried to close the door, but no matter how hard he pulled on it, it wouldn't budge. Finally, the two gave up. If someone could see the door ajar, they might discover that there had been a robbery, but they would open it anyway when they returned. They thought they could get in quickly and return quickly.

They both fell. Poom. Poom.

"That's a long staircase."

Chatarou grumbled loudly. In the dim light, he could see that Yako was looking accusingly at Chatarou.

"It's okay. No matter how you look at it, there is no one here."

"...Well, that's right."

Reluctantly, Yako admitted. The stairs were long and dark and there was no sign of anyone. If someone is coming from above or below, they could hear their footsteps.

Finally, a low vibration and the sound of an explosion came from above.

Chatarou couldn't help but look up. He was probably initiated by Ibuki and others. To get Jingi back or to buy time until Chatarou and his friends find the "Kisuirin".

Chatarou muttered to himself as he walked down the stairs.

"Yukito, are you okay?"

He was worried. There was something about Yukito that he couldn't leave alone. They assume he has talent. Probably more than Chatarou and Yako. However, his new friend was quiet, reserved, and seemed unfit for battle. Even at that very moment, his spiritual connections can corner him.

By saying that, Yako also showed that he was of the same opinion. He silently looked towards the stairs and said:

"Let's hurry up."

If they can find the "Kisuirin" and return it as quickly as possible, the battle will be over. Jingi will be back. And Chatarou and his friends will be able to return to Ninoshima without missing anyone. They put their hands on the wall and began to descend quickly.

Finally, the wall he touched began to turn into a rocky surface. The ground beneath their feet began to feel rough, as if they had been carved directly from stone.

The sensation suddenly changed to something soft.

When he looked down, he saw that the stairs had ended. The straight path is lined with wet white sand. The smell of the ocean became even stronger and the drops falling from above ran down his cheeks and into his mouth. It was salty.

"Salty! Is that sea water?"

When Chatarou said that, Yako frowned suspiciously.

"That can't be true. Because... no..."

He murmured into his mouth and looked up. The sheared rock ceiling was wet and shiny.

The two went down the stairs. During that time, it never folded. He wasn't sure of the direction, but if those were stairs leading to the sea, wouldn't that mean they were at the bottom of the sea? Finally, his prediction came true.

At the end of the hallway was a huge dome. There was a blanket of white sand under their feet, and the curved walls and ceiling were filled with black sea water. The white bellies of the schools of fast-swimming fish reflect the light emitted from inside the dome.

The two watched the fantastic scene with their mouths wide open.

"Is this... a jutsu?"

"Yes, I guess. But at least..."

Yako looked around and said without hiding his disappointment.

"It doesn't seem like a hidden treasure. What we want isn't here."

"......"

Still, Chatarou did not give up and walked towards the center of the dome, taking quick steps. There may be shiny squama's buried somewhere in this sand. At that moment, he heard a voice from behind.

"The clear water mesh is strong and the exorcism is fast!"

Something like a wind that could not be touched passed through Chatarou's body. The moment Chatarou stepped on the tatara and looked back, he realized that his and Yako's hidden form had dissolved.

Then, behind them, at the entrance to the dome, were two expressionless spirits standing.

"Yako!"

At the same time as he let out a cry of alarm, a large spirit man rushed forward, kicking up sand. On the other hand, the little spirit man, Josei, pointed his index finger at Chatarou and muttered a spell. Intuitively thinking it was a trick, Chatarou turned his body around and threw himself onto the sand. Ultra-high pressure water brushed against Chatarou's arm. He winced at the pain, which felt like fever, but he still made the seals and perfected his technique.

"Those who do not lose their place are already gone, and those who do not die are already gone!"

An armor of strong winds swirled around Yako. The great spirit man paused for a moment. At this moment, Yako took out a fire-breathing bamboo and completed the spell.

"Between heaven and earth, it is like a veil!"

Flames erupted from the bamboo tube, threatening to burn the great spiritual man, but he was saved. Both hardened fists waved rapidly, dispersing the flames. With sullen lips, the great spirit man looked at Yako and then at Chatarou.

Chatarou shouted as he backed away.

"Th-these guys are the palace priests! What are we going to do, Yako?!"

"H-how is this..."

Murmuring into his mouth, Yako also took a step back. According to Ibara's analysis, the priests are stronger than Ibara. And Ibara is stronger than Chatarou and Yako. With two opponents like that, there was no way they could win.

He gritted his teeth. Josei raised his finger again. Could he avoid it next time? To what extent can it be avoided? The image of his body being pierced by that high-pressure water and the white sand stained with blood flashed through his mind.

"Man, earth and sky, it's still like drawing a bow!"

A spell echoed further from behind the palace officials.

The two palace priests narrowly avoided the lightning.

Two more people burst in from the entrance to the dome. They were Ibara and Yukito. When they saw Chatarou and Yako cornered, they immediately used their techniques.

"A fish must not escape from the abyss. A dishonorable vessel must not be shown to anyone!"

"Where the teacher is, there will be thorns!"

A spreading water net and a glowing glove attacked the two palace leaders. When Josei raised his hand, the water nets stopped in the air and formed a shape that linked them together. Meanwhile, Ibara and the great spirit man began to engage in a striking hand-to-hand combat. The black and silver fists collided, sending sparks into the humid air.

Chatarou and Yako took a deep breath and then signaled to join the battle.

(This might work...!)

There's nothing just the two of them can do. But there are four people. Ibara is a great connection and Yukito's talent is obvious. If they can somehow outwit the palace chief, they could reverse the unfavorable war situation.

A roar that shook the ocean floor shattered that faint hope.

Ekkkkkkkkkkkkkkk...

The sound was so loud that the entire dome vibrated. It's as if the sea itself is screaming.

The first to react were the priests. They backed up to the wall of the dome, looked up at the same time, and knelt there.

Josei said quietly.

"Our mistress is angry. A terrestrial creature desecrated her sleeping place without permission."

The great spiritual man also murmured in a low voice.

"It seems that Yatsuchi-sama will swallow them all directly."

Before Chatarou could understand the meaning of those words, the walls of the dome collapsed and seawater entered.

+++++++++++

[rhetoricandlogic]

A Tale as Old as Time: The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu

Mahvesh Murad

Wed Oct 18, 2023 3:00pm

A ring. A lamp. A storytelling bot that gathers all the narratives as they unspool. An idealist, her bitter mother, her monkey-bot brother. A not-Prince. A crime lord after world domination. A city that exists against all odds. And a story that refuses to die.

Samit Basu’s The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport is a fun, exuberant romp that’s being pitched as Aladdin meets Murder-bot. Which is pretty much what it is. It’s smart, bursting with ideas and novel concepts; fun, full of snappy dialogue and humour; complicated, with plenty of political, post-colonial commentary. It is also chaotic, info-dumpy at times, tells a lot more than it shows, and can feel like a detailed TV series treatment, or elaborate RPG bible.

The titular Shanitport is a vibrant, chaotic city, falling apart but bustling, inventive but disastrous. Violent, loud and torn between rival political parties and megalomaniacs and oligarchs and thugs. The city is quite literally drowning. The rich live in palatial homes and the poor suffer in the mud; a huge economic disparity is accepted as the norm. Surveillance is rampant, and bots are commonplace yet mostly considered second-class citizens, even though many are sentient. Everyone says the world is ending, so those who can are jetting off to other lands while those who can’t are surviving as best they can until the inevitable complete decline. Shantiport may hold on to ancient stories and clans and alliances, and it is both the future, and the future apocalypse coexisting in a shared chaos.

Anyone from a major city in the Indian subcontinent will be familiar with this scenario; we’ve lived like this for years, in collapsing cities trapped between hungry, corrupt powers who “may have their own differences, but always somehow manage to work together in the end.” What these powers always overestimate though, is the sheer will of the citizens, and their desire to be more than the city allows them to be. And that’s where Lina comes in. A local tour guide, she carries the heart of the city in hers, with a great love for Shantiport and its people. Lina’s parents, both raised in opposing clans, were joined together not just in their love for each other but also for their city. As young idealists they hoped to create revolutionary ways to improve Shantiport, but when Lina’s father vanished suddenly, her parents’ plans were abruptly discarded. Now, though she has been raised to stay under the radar, Lina wants to bear their torch onwards and is in search of an artifact her father had left behind��tech that could help lead her to improving the lives of everyone in Shantiport.

Her monkey bot-brother Bador has delusions of Bollywood hero-style grandeur, and mainly wants to get off this rock so he can make his heroic fortune across the galaxy, but while he’s stuck here in Shantiport, he is helping Lina with her search. It is during one of his searches in the mud, muck and rubble of the city that he finds Moku, a floating sentient storybot who is actually the narrator of the whole novel. Moku is very much a character too, and grows into himself during the course of the book. It can be a little distancing to always only hear the story from the storybot’s perspective.

We don’t ever really get inside Lina or Bador’s heads, and are always in Moku’s, with his bot-thoughts and perspectives. And Lina tends to hold back from sharing too much with Bodor and with Moku; she’s secretive and has her reasons for this, but it does make her journey a little harder to connect with, though it’s easy enough to write off her motivations to a generic saving-the-world-before-bedtime idealism.

It can also mean that there is, again, a lot of telling going on. Moku’s the storybot who tells the story, which could be fun, if we didn’t end up having to hear him—literally—tell the story quite so often.

Conversations can get long, entire debates are presented as is (albeit about important topics; Basu isn’t going to shy away from heftier topics), and there is a lot of banter—fun, but also a little grating at times, as it takes on the pace and cadence of a snappy superhero movie a little too well, a little too fast. Same can be said for the plot—some quick inferences that are a little too convenient, many cinematic action sequences, huge scale bot fights and chase sequences, some dramatic sudden plot twists that are just aching to be a penultimate episode of a TV series.

There are so many things going on, all the time, at the same time, that it may feel as overwhelming as cities like Shanitport could be. There’s a leaner novel in here, or if fleshed out into multiple episodes, a very fun TV show. That does not take away, though, from the sheer aplomb with which Basu has built and explored this world of fables and ancient cultures and futuristic possibilities, its people and their desires.

[wanderrnest]

Please, you check yourself.

The origin of the phrase is maybe old, but its meaning is the same; a palestinian state from jordan to the sea by erasing the state of israel and removal of a majority of its Jewish population. you can say jewish people won't have to be erased, but the reality of october 7th and a bloodstained history of this conflict say otherwise. This also comes after they refused to accept having a state in 47' UN Plan for 2 states and started a war in which they lost. Since then, once and again they refused to any diplomatic opportunity that will make them free to live their lives and doesn't include the destruction of Israel and its population.

It will also be naive to ignore the context of its usage now by terrorist organizations who write it next to genocidal anti-semitic declarations in bold letters, and how it affects anti-Semitic ideas and crimes.

Hamas, as part of its revised 2017 charter, rejected “any alternative to the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea". The Original Hamas Charter says, among other things: 1. Destroying Israel and establishing an Islamic theocracy in Palestine is essential; Day of Judgment would not come until the Muslims fight and kill the Jews. 2. Unrestrained jihad is necessary to achieve this; 3. Negotiated resolutions of Jewish and Palestinian claims to the land are unacceptable; 4. Historical anti-semitic tropes that reinforce the goals.

According to hamas, there is no palestinian land with jews in it. jews must be killed.

So how am I supposed to interpret 'from the river to the sea Palestine will be free' now? Where do I go? Will I be raped like Hamas commanders ordered? Slaughtered? What happens to me in this scenario? For them, there is no peaceful co-existence, there is no two-state solution. It's all or nothing. My fellow Jews and I don't have a place in it if we are not dead.

now, you can say not all Palestinians are Hamas, which I'll agree. But sadly it's not enough. Hamas was elected in Gaza in 2005. It rules since then after it took over it, and it leads the Palestinian people of Gaza and some outside of it. While these are the official leaders of Palestinians, peace won't come, Palestinians will not be safe. You have to understand that on October 7th, they knew exactly what they are bringing upon their people. No country would be nice when you attack its citizens so brutally and in such a massive way.

I don't know if you'll believe me, but I genuinely want their lives to improve, I do. For me too, obviously. I want to live in peace and quiet. I don't enjoy seeing innocent people get hurt and die in any case. But as long as we are talking with a terrorist organization that kidnaps and beheads and rapes, we won't stop fighting. We can't even think about it until they bring back our children. We won't stop fighting just because they don't care about their own. When hamas prevents them from leaving when they are being warrned to evacuate, we can't save them from their own people. What is happening in Gaza right now wouldn't have happened if Hamas cared about their people just a little bit. Period.

You can keep calling it ethnic cleansing; it's not. Israel does not have any desire to kill Palestinians just 'for fun' or because they are Palestinians. Inside israel there are arabs and jews who coexist just fine for the most part. Israel is reacting to the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, like any other country would react when it's being invaded and its citizens are being slaughtered in their homes. The terrorists would have kept going in their killing spree if Israel didn't stop them. We are at war and war is ugly and terrible, but this war could have been prevented easly by hamas, all they had to do is not slaugther 1,400 people.

It's not like Black Lives Matter, since Black people don't ask for their rights at the expense of white people's rights, and also, white people don't suffer from pogroms and terror attacks because they are white, and never did. Jews are a different story. Jews suffered the worst genocide in history and are currently surrounded in Israel by 22 hostile muslim countries that hate them but won't ever give a hand to help Palestinians.

lastly, here's a list for anyone thinking anti semitism isn't a thing right now, or it isn't connected to the war:

anti semitism statistics and incidents from the last month:

US antisemitic incidents up about 400% since Israel-Hamas war began. A new wave of antisemitism threatens to rock an already unstable world How the surge in antisemitism is affecting countries around the world ADL Records Dramatic Increase in U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Following Oct. 7 Hamas Massacre Mob storms Dagestan airport in search of Jewish passengers French Jewish woman stabbed in her home in France’s Lyon, swastika was found graffitied at her home Cornell University cancels classes amid ‘extraordinary stress’ on campus after violent antisemitic threats

dehuminizing jews:

- posters of kidnapped israeli children being teared down by people, like the idea of 'kidnapped children is wrong' is suddenly not consenual if their jews. - people denying/underesmading or strieght up justifying the horrifying barbaric massacre that was done of october 7th, (trigger alert - indluding rape, beheading, slaugtering of man, women, children and babies in their beds) even that there are actual footage publised by the terrorist themselves and testemonies of surviovers and people who collected the bodies. I might as well put a link to tumblr itself for proof here.

'From the river to sea' is a very poetic way of saying jews have no place in this world.

[talea456]

Thoughts on: Trauma and romantic obliviousness

So, I've seen a lot of takes on Stede's obliviousness about his feelings toward Ed in Our Flag Means Death being oblivious due to either his trauma or the general obliviousness of being a cinnamon roll in the land of ghost-pepper breakfast burritos.

Here's the thing: IT CAN BE BOTH. Trauma (be it from the bullying and/or societal homophobia) AND general social obliviousness can and do coexist for some of us our here in our own little weird, neurodivergent/queer world.

Look, my dudes. My young ones. My little queer sprouts. I cannot, like...I really CANNOT begin to express the obliviousness that overtakes an (undiagnosed) ADHD and (unaware asexually is a thing that exists™) demisexual** in the land of "Romantic Overtones"™. And add into that (just generally confusing) bisexuality and the general "Gee golly, I guess best friends really are magic and that magic just happens to be like a crush but, yeah, we're just best friends cause they said so...so it's just that sweet, sweet BFF magic" aspect and, woo boy, the obliviousness just oozes out of every pore.

Now, you throw in the trauma of being "that weirdo" who tries, but ultimately fails to successfully mask their "weirdness," gets teased relentlessly for it, and is, just generally, a complete fuck-up when it comes to making and keeping friendships, and yeah. Stede had no freakin' idea what he was feeling was romantic love. Like, real, genuine, capital-R ROMANTIC love. And I totally get that. I freakin' feel it down to my bones, cause I've been there, my dudes. I'VE BEEN THERE.

**demisexual rant below the cut**

**And, look, I get that this is something sexual people just don't understand, but us* demisexuals? We have NO IDEA what the hell you guys are talking about when you say stuff like "OMG, that random person is so hot, I'd totally sleep with them" and/or "OMG, they're an asshole, but they're hot so I'd totally do the sexytime with them." We literally grow up just "haHAhaHAHAha...totally" every time someone says that around us.

(↑↑ Actual image of my demisexual brain in all "sure, they're a jerk, but they're SO HOT!" discussions ↑↑)

It's genuinely weird (once you hit puberty) to be asexual in the world cause it's weird to have ABSOLUTELY ZERO way to relate to most of the world in terms of sexual attraction. Like, our brains have no schema, no blueprint...literally nothing to grab a hold of and relate to in the tiniest of ways to the idea of forging a relationship with someone SOLELY based on their looks. I get that a lot of people do understand that. Hell, I've got plenty of sexually active friends just going out there and doin' the thing with all sorts of people cause it's fun for them. I respect it, but internally, I'm like, "okay, you do you, I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯."

*And yes, I know my experience is not universal to all asexuals, and probably not even to all demisexuals, but y'all, my demisexuality makes me feel more queer than my bisexuality. I mean, crush on a guy? crush on a girl? crush on a they? No biggie. A crush is a crush in my brain. But having actual, physical* sex with someone you don't know and/or you know is an asshole? My brain just goes "whaaaaa????"

*note on the "physical" sex thing, cause fantasy sex while I'm having my own personal sexytime with myself? Sure, man. Fantasy sex it up. (But I can't do that if I know the person and don't like them--fantasy is great for actors, fictional characters...you know...hypothetical people with whatever ideal personality you need at the time.)

[latin-dr-robotnik]

What do you do what there’s a lack of SonAmy content help😭

Not only me, the fandom is super dry! I swear, I take a peek at the SonAmy tag every once in a while and it's nowhere near as busy as it used to be. Come, anon, let's cope together.

Personally I'm feeling a bit burned out with the Sonic series as a whole after these past few weeks of absolute chaos, and some of my closest friends here also agreed on collectively moving to other fandoms to chill for a bit. There's also the fact all the future major sources of SonAmy discussion and inspiration, mainly Prime and Rangers, are still so far away! I tried writing some Rangers!SonAmy, but right now it's super hard to get a solid idea of what that world is going to be like with only 30 seconds of a CGI teaser.

So, yeah, SonAmy content is lacking right now, and the drought is certainly going to continue. Amy's birthday is coming in a couple of weeks but I don't know if I'll end my next story before that. Still, over at our little lovely Spanish Discord server (el mismo que está en mi post destacado e.e) we get SonAmy updates pretty much every day, thanks to lovely people like @waywardcollectionchai and more bringing to our attention the latest going on with the ship, so it's not like I'm entirely out of the fandom haha

Anyway, I think I teased you about that one project I was working on. Would you like to read some very, very early bits? It's a short story about Sonic being strangely absent from Amy's birthday party, and his mysterious motivations that supposedly led him back to Little Planet, the place where it all began:

[The first part isn't finished, little skip here]

Amy grabbed her backpack, her hammer and opened the front door of her house. Tails followed right behind, and then walked to his plane.

Tails climbed inside the cockpit, and before starting the engine he looked down at her. "If you see anything suspicious, call me and I'll be there as fast as I can, okay?"

"It's okay, Tails!" Amy raised a thumbs up, "I'll call you if something ugly happens, you focus on getting everything ready for the night, I'm sure Sonic and I will be back real soon!"

The two nodded, and immediately set off in opposite directions.

[I'm gonna throw another small timeskip here, the lead up to Little Planet isn't complete]

Amy landed on Palmtree Panic, and was completely mesmerised by the beautiful vibrant mix of nature and technology coexisting together in harmony. The half-circuitry, half-nature palmtrees, the flowers raised from previously defeated robots, the cristaline river in front of the taller peaks of the region, the Good Future Sonic fought through time and space to reach was already here, in present form.

"My Sonic radar tells me he's here, that's for sure" Amy thought to herself, "but WHERE exactly are you, Sonic? And why here, of all places?"

After looking around aimlessly, Amy decided to go closer to the river separating the palmtree hills from the mountain region. She then started following the river, probably heading east, or whatever east is like in this planet floating so close to home!

Following the river, Amy slowly got closer and closer to Collision Chaos. As she entered the bright blue pinball zone, her body started to shiver. That was the place Metal Sonic took her away, one hell of a first impression! Even after all this time, the sole thought of that moment frightened her.

[Another incomplete time skip coming, this time leading up to Stardust Speedway]

The loud musical city slowly showed itself as Amy walked up the hill. The river marked the city limits, but just before that last frontier a single flower stood in the middle of the open field. The grass surrounding it was sparsely burned, showing signs of fighting.

Two blue flashes of light raced past that flower. The leading figure jumped right before a cliff wall, leading the second figure to crash into it with a force that shook the entire place like an earthquake.

The other figure landed perfectly on the grass, revealing to be none other than Sonic the Hedgehog.

He turned around to check the flower, "how many times do I have to tell you? Do NOT touch the flower! Seriously, Metal, do I have to hardcode that into metallic skull?"

In the process he noticed Amy, standing with her arms crossed.

"Having fun, Sonic? Should've told me my birthday gift was a fight with Metal!"

"Oh, hey Amy! Heh, if I knew I would be fighting for so long, I would've called you hours ago. It's not like I need backup, but..."

Sonic immediately noticed Doctor Eggman silently approaching the flower with the laser from his Eggmobile ready.

"Oh no you don't!"

Aaaaaand I think I showed you enough already. Again, I don't know if I'll get it ready before September 23, but I promise it's going to be a fun little time. This time I'm trying to stay away from stuff like kisses and tsundere Sonic, buuut I still want to throw in all the regular SonAmy fluff. Anyway, imma head out, dear anon!

[terrific-togekiss]

Pokémon Champions and overall Journey Themes

Pokémon. A franchise met with much praise and adoration for many years.

Catching your favorite pocket monsters, while capturing the hearts of many.

Today we're going to look and analyze at an aspect of the main games that many is familiar with: Champions.

The last victory before the main journey is over. A culmination of everything the player has been through over the entire main game. And here we're talking about what the Pokémon Champions really symbolize in the games and how they hold up the overall themes of the game.

Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow

Starting with Blue in Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow.

As the first games of the franchise, it's only natural that the champion is someone the player knows.

With Blue, Gen 1 is the first Pokémon games. So, of course since Pokémon is a personal journey it ends with you the player facing someone of a personal relationship.

You went on this journey. You saved Kanto from Team Rocket. You caught many Pokémon of various shapes, sizes, colors and personalities. You filled up the Pokédex. You traveled across the lands.

Now it's time for one final challenge before your journey is over.

And there's the man who reminds of where you began. Your own best friend as the champion. If both journeys are coming to end, so is this friendly rivalry the two of you have had since the start.

The main theme of Gen 1 is to remind fans how Pokémon is ultimately a journey you set off on yourself.

Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal

Now let's move on to the Johto region in Gen 2. Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal share close connections to the Gen 1 games, being seen as a bit of an add on.

Lance is a Dragon master, Gen 2 was about respecting old legends and learning from those before you, so of course the champion has a team of dragons and ancient Pokémon.

Team Rocket returns and does not respect any of the old legends, as seen with messing with the natural habitat, angering a shiny Gyrados and caring more about themselves.

Silver, the son of Giovanni is also reflective of this as he tries to take on his dad's old crime group before forging his own path.

Lance embodies none of these characteristics and teaches the player to respect all before you, but never lose sight of what awaits you.

We ultimately forge our own paths.

Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald

In the Gen 3 games Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, Team Magma and Team Aqua both have plans for changing the overall environment of the entire Hoenn region.

Both Steven Stone and Wallace have Pokémon closer to the the natural world, showing the player to never forget Pokémon origins, and not grow obsessed with how phenomenal the world as a whole is.

Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum

With Cynthia in the Gen 4 games of Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, she's the first champion to have a team not regulated by one type. You, the player, are a literal small town Pokémon trainer that goes on to do great things in contrast yet likeness.

Cynthia is humble in who she is and was most likely in the same position as the Player. Showing how anyone can do great things and go on to do great things. No matter where they came from.

Pokémon Black and White

With the Gen 5 game Pokémon Black and White: Alder is very old and N, someone much younger, beating him is meant to reflect Team Plasma's goals and ushering in a new age. Alder being beat is meant to show the old ways are done. N winning is the Truth, his future of no more Pokémon battling is what he deems ideal. As the overall theme of Black and White is Truth and Ideals.

The player beating him and Team Plasma, is meant to show how hollow Truth and Ideals are, when on a journey of power than self discovery.

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

This carries over to Pokémon Black 2 and White 2: Team Plasma has split into two groups. One believes in the old goal of people and Pokémon coexisting peacefully, while the other wants to take over Unova. The latter, Neo Team Plasma is trying to hold onto N's ideals, while the former is the truth behind what Team Plasma always planned on.

Iris going from a Gym Leader in one version of the previous games to champion holds onto this theme, while rejecting it; this is the last 2D Pokémon game, so what is being carried over?

Fun. No matter what paths we take, what roads we travel, what struggles we face, Pokémon is all about having fun.

N lost sight of why Pokémon would want to stay with their masters, but realized in the end, through the protagonist that maybe humans and Pokémon may live in harmony one day.

Fun adds meaning to life and helps take our minds off of what we face in our day to day lives. It's the Truth of why so many love Pokémon, creating an ideal world building enrichment in our lives.

Pokémon X and Y

Moving on, in the Gen 6 games X and Y, Diantha is a fashion model and embodies beauty in yourself and finding it in others. Team Flare wants beauty to be immortalized. Diantha disagrees with Lysandre and rejects his offer early in the game, understanding nothing lasts forever and beauty becomes hollow if it does.

The player beating her and than beating AZ is meant to show how something is beautiful not because it lasts: how we feel towards it does. As seen with with AZ and Floette. Even decades later, they still hold the same love they hold for each other.

Team Flare is shown throughout the game to be a group of flamboyant criminals, that while emphasizing immortal beauty: all look the same.

As everything must fade away at some point and nothing truly lasts forever. But that's not exactly bad thing. It's a reminder of appreciating things in the here and now.

Pokémon (Ultra) Sun and (Ultra) Moon

With Gen 7, since something is done differently here, but the player still beats the Elite Four and shows how anyone can stand tall, but true knowledge never ends. As seen with being able to defend your position as champion.

When one reaches the top, what's left when you've learned all there is to learn and being number one?

Start all over again. The other side of the mountain is the beginning and every journey starts all over again.

This idea is also instilled in the challengers, as for the first time the player can defend their title as champion and teach the same lesson to them.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

In the Gen 8 games, Leon basically embodies the pressure society puts on you when you become famous and needing to live up the expectations of your family (or otherwise supporting them). He's one of the first who makes an explicit effort to keep "you kids" out of danger until it becomes impossible. He even takes an entire HIT for the player during the Eternatus incident. He breaks the trope of ten year olds being expected to handle everything, while adults help in smaller ways.

And why does he care so much? Pressure.

How fitting and ironic since this is the first console Pokémon games, with Gen 7 being the last handheld ones.

Moving on, Leon understands the pressures of the player going on a journey, as he was in the very same position himself.

Societal pressures are ultimately pointless: you decide what defines greatness and how others can follow your example. As seen with Leon looking out for the player. Not to be blinded by the light, but to follow it.

Thanks for reading everyone! I look forward to what Gen 9 may do this.

[evertriedsoywithyourpopcorn]

5 Reasons Roman Is Infuriating (And Why I DO NOT have a crush on him)

Chapter 2: Wasted Effort, Wasted Breath

Read on AO3 (Chapter 1)

Word count: 1363

Tw: Sooo much pining, Food mention, Remus shenanigans (Explicit nicknames, Explicit language, Human body limits being broken, Talk of gore)

Character’s: Logan, Roman, Remus (cause I love a supportive bestie)

~~~

"-pretty sure his favorite flowers are buttercups, but I could always ask... Are you listening to me Specs?"

"Hm? Yes, yes I am." Logan blinks out of his haze from which he was not listening. Don't get him wrong, he does usually enjoy discussions with Roman, but not really when he's making plans to help him woo someone he doesn't even like.

"Oh yeah? Name his favorite kinds of chocolates." Roman challenges.

"Milk Chocolate chips." Logan already knew that before, as he is usually the one to supervise Patton's baking to make sure he doesn't burn down the mindscape. Patton is always a chatty fellow, and Logan now knows pretty much his whole life story. He's used this knowledge before, gaining him a gold star on a family game night. (He has it pinned up next to all of Thomas's other academic achievements)

"Fair enough. I set the bar too low." Roman flops down on the bed, drawing a long sigh. As soon as Roman had found out about Logan's crush, he had dragged him to his room so they could get to the 'gossip' immediately.

At this point, after three hours, Logan is almost more annoyed than embarrassed. After the initial shock of realizing his infatuation, he's had the time to think about it and come to terms with his feelings. It helped that he was in the same room as the object of his affections this whole time, as he's been noticing all of the things he used to repress. Like how he really likes Roman's smile. He likes his prince charming smile, when he's overly confident about something. He likes his bashful smiles whenever he gets shy about something.

Really, he just likes Roman.

It feels very simple when he puts it that way. He can't believe it's taken him this long to find out.

"I think we should take a break from the input of ideas for now." Logan suggests.

Roman sighs and deflates further. "Ah, fine. I shall for now give up on setting you up with your one true love."

Logan stays silent. What? Just because he's annoyed enough to want to tell Roman doesn't mean he has an ounce of courage to actually go through with it. He clearly is all for setting up Logan with Patton, why would he like him back? Logan doesn't want to risk getting his heart broken, figuratively, right after discovering that his heart has been for Roman all along. Figuratively.

"Sooo, what kind of things do you like in Patton?" Roman asks, suspiciously calm and casual.

"I- um, well-" Logan fumbles for something people would find romantically attractive in Patton. "He... He's got... Eyes? And he wears clothes. I enjoy people wearing clothes."

Roman stares at him, confused. "... That's it? Come on, you've gotta give me something better than that Dill Weed."

Well, why not go for things he likes in Roman, he supposes. As Janus would say, every lie works better when rooted in truth.

"I think he's rather dumb," Logan starts off with. "Which should be a negative, but he's just so endearingly stupid. Every time he spews some nonsense, or does anything really, I just want to kiss him. He's also really creati- Kind. Very... Uhh... Sweet. I notice the effort he puts in to make others feel special. And make me feel special. Everyone is included."

"Do you... Like his puns?" Roman asks, half smiling, looking increasingly uncomfortable.

"Dear Newton, I hate his puns." Logan sighs solemnly. That draws a laugh from Roman, if only for a bit. "I do actually like his eyes though. The changes we experience in the mindscape are fascinating, and he's certainly been blessed, with those green, piercing eyes." He says, entranced, looking into Roman's wide, green, piercing eyes, that are looking back at him in shock.

"You mean blue?" Roman asks, oddly red in the ears and fidgeting with his hands.

Logan blinks out of his stupor. "Ah. Right. Blue. Apologies."

They both break eye contact, him looking around the very decorated room as if that would cure his embarrassment.

"You really seem to like him." Roman looks back to him, face pinched but still smiling.

"I do." Logan agrees, admiring the other. "I like him a lot."

"Well. Um." Roman stands up abruptly from the bed. "You did say you didn't want my help for tonight with the whole date ordeal. In which case, we shall resume the noble quest at a later date!"

"You don't want to talk about other things?" Logan asks, tilting his head. Is Roman okay? He looks pained.

"No, I think I'll be off. I have to go do other things. Like, water my.. Turtle." Roman ushers him out of his room. "So long, Geek Chic."

“... You don’t own a turtle-” Logan is left there, staring at the door. It's red with a star at the top center. Tasteful. Very Hollywood dressing room.

He clears his throat, and goes on his route to his own room. That shouldn't be that hard, since the only thing separating them is Patton's (He volunteered to move in between when both of them started arguing through the wall. It's strange because they live in a metaphysical space that only roughly simulates real life and therefore likely have an empty void in between the spaces of their rooms, but Logan suspects where he goes, more logical influence follows.), but fate has an interesting way of working. Or just Remus. Speaking of, there he is. Breaking through the ceiling and landing face-first with a splat in front of Logan.

Remus merely cranks his head 180 to look at Logan. "Heyyy Nerdgasm. How'd the romantic fucking go?"

"I didn't tell him."

"No? Are you scared?" He asks, in a mocking tone but looking concerned.

Logan's shoulders slump. "I don't think I'm ready enough to face rejection from him. Not to mention he seemed rather adamant about giving me tips on how to woo Patton."

"Aww, come on Logie. You can't give up now. I'm not allowed to tell you why, but you do have quite the chance of scoring that loser." Remus says, shifting in and out of existence until he's standing upright. He pats Logan's shoulder. "Now go, cause the next time you see me, you'll never hear the end of the teasing. Like, even if you rip off your ears! I'll still find a way to make fun of you." He cackles.

Logan dreads the moment they meet again. Now that both Remus, Janus and Virgil were proven right, not only will they brag amongst themselves, but they'll surely tease him.

Remus prances off, and Logan finally gets to his room. He takes off his shoes, because cleanliness is a good idea, and prepares himself for bed.

Staring up at his star-covered ceiling (Accurate to it's alignment of today, obviously), he realizes he still has a lot to process.

How did they all know and yet he had no idea? He knows he isn't the most intelligent when it comes to emotions, but come on, neither are most of them. Usually Virgil wouldn't know romantic tension if it slapped him across the chaps. Or maybe he would. He'd just be anxious and/or grossed out by it.

Logan realizes that he must have been obvious. He's sure that he's been caught glaring at Roman many times. And trying to be around him. And Janus is also a living lie detector.

He gets himself into a comfortable lying position, turning off his bedside lamp.

Will he ever tell Roman? He'll probably have to, or keep the feelings to himself for the rest of his existence, hoping they go away.

Which would be better? Sure, never confessing sounds like a tragic way for things to go, but what would be even more tragic would be to get rejected by him, and have to coexist for eternity afterwards. Would Roman avoid him? His heart clenches painfully at the possibilities.

Perhaps he's having cognitive distortions... Roman is rather considerate. If he were to let him down, he'd do it slowly and compassionately.

As Logan's conscience fades, he prays it will all turn out alright.

~~~

[millllenniawrites]

top shelf (FO! Poe Dameron x f!OC)

part one of when the stars miss the sun

words: 1.7ish

warnings: dark!ooc!Poe Dameron (if you want specifics, dm me); smut (not in this chapter but in the rest of the series so 18+ please folks); prostitution; established relationship (sort of); slow burn (yes the two can coexist leave me alone); redemption arc; Pixar ending; murder; warnings will be added as the series progresses

a/n: okay I never post oc content on here so this is scary. thank you to @kesskirata for giving me the confidence to post this. This was a writing exercise that @vampirewithbedsidemanners and I wrote while editing Horizons that ended up being really cool? So now y’all get to see it. THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR HORIZONS so if you’re keeping up with that series, don’t read this! like, major major spoilers! It’s literally all the same characters in an AU together! If you are somehow reading this after Horizons is fully posted in 2023 cause it’s probably gonna take that long, you’re good. The spoilers only go up until the end of that book.

__

Around the bar was a collection of high-top tables, packed with men clad in leather and partially obscured by the clouds of spice that hung around their heads. Redell moved like magic between the tables, shimmering and glowing even in the dark, eyes drawn to her against their will from men would never get their hands on her — men that couldn’t afford her even if they gave up their lives.

Redell waltzed down the dark hallway to the back rooms, her hips swaying with every step. Her heels clicked softly on the polished floors, their sound drowned out by the moans coming from the closed doors that lined the hall. Every step was one foot closer to victory or an early grave, not that anyone could tell she carried the knowledge on her shoulders.

She reached the end of the hall and opened up her room. The door slid shut behind her, leaving her in the dim lights that illuminated one tall, dark man sitting on the couch. He leaned forward, setting his glass on the short table in front of him. His strong jaw, a loose curl falling into his eyes, little details that almost let her overlook the uniform he wore.

She smiled, sweet but double-edged like the blade that ran down her back, as she sauntered over to him and straddled his lap.

“Long time no see, Admiral. Did y’miss me, honey?” She grinned, her voice low and tempting, playing the role she knew like the back of her hand .

“You know it’s hard not to.” He let his eyes move slowly over her. Not that he really needed to. He had her memorized.

Sliding his hands up her thighs, he smiled sweetly at her. “Is this room one of yours? Or do I have to behave?” He wasn’t new to this. Though not all of his meetings with the Resistance had been with Red, they were predictable. Either the room was clean and they could talk freely, or he’d fuck her for the cameras that were watching his every move and leave, slipping her the drive in his pocket and hoping that next time, they’d get to have a real conversation.

There weren’t many real conversations to spare in the First Order.

“It’s one of mine. I set it up just for you.” Redell’s fingertips trailed down his chest. Her nails were short, not like the long claws on some of the other girls, but he had no doubt that Red could tear his throat out without them. “Is that okay, baby?”

“Y-yeah that’s just fine.” He relaxed, the exterior that had been drilled into him since he joined up faltering in front of her. “It’s been too long, Red.”

“I know.” She murmured, kissing him deeply as she grinded on his lap. It was never like it was with everyone else. Her persona faltered, leaving her soft and vulnerable and sweet. There was something so real to the way she kissed him.

“Are you coming home with me this time?” She whispered, the same question she asked every time she had him in her arms, not ever wanting to let him go.

He shook his head. “But I’ve got you until tomorrow.” The Order looked the other way when their officers landed on-world. They’d barely notice the thousand credits transferring from their account directly into Resistance hands. “Come home with me.”

“Yes.” She answered immediately, kissing him again.

He shuddered under her, his hands tangling in her loose, curly hair. She brought out a softness in him that no else else ever got to see. Cradling her to his chest, he let his hands slide over her forbidden skin. He would never deserve this.

When she pulled away, leaving him gasping, she asked, “As your whore or something else?”

“As a friend?”

“Friend works. For now.” She murmured against his lips.

“Just for now? You looking for a promotion?” His hands hovered over her ass. The moment she asked for it he’d have her way with her, but before then he needed to make sure they looked like they were playing their parts if the door opened.

“I’d like to get fired, actually. So I get a choice.” She ran her fingers through his hair, tilting his head back and gazing softly at him. He let her manhandle him, even as she trailed a finger down his neck. “Is there anything I should pass on before you take me home? Just in case?”

His head spun with how quickly she could go between work and ruining him. “Just the stuff at the house.”

“Lead the way then, baby.” She said softly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

He carried her out the back of the bar, so no one stopped them. Reached his shuttle, he unlocked it before carrying her up the boarding ramp.

He settled into his seat, Red sitting in his lap with her legs draped over one arm of the chair.. “You comfortable there, sweetheart?”

“Mhm.” She hummed, resting her head on his shoulder. “Is this your shuttle or do I have to behave?” She asked quietly, already kissing his neck.

“It’s mine.” He let out a soft moan as her lips brushed the sweet spot under his jaw, following it with a chuckle. “Don’t make us crash.”

“I won’t.” She kissed his lips briefly before nestling into his lap. “You were gone a while. Do anything interesting while you were out?” She asked, playing with his hair.

“We had a couple of yours end up in one of my interrogation centres. That was a headache to fix. Otherwise, not really. Just the usually dark and gloomy.” His face split into a wry grin.

“You know, it’s much nicer back with us. You’re welcome to come with me. Defect. I’ve got space in my bed for you.” She said suggestively, like it wasn’t something she offered most times he saw her.

“As tempting as that is, sweetheart, your leadership is never gonna accept an ex-Admiral from the Order. If I defect, I’ll be spending the rest of the war in one of your prisons.” He toyed with the ends of her curls as he piloted the shuttle with one hand. “And you’d lose your informant. Isn’t it better for you to have a man on the inside?”

“Would my man on the inside consider making this arrangement a little more permanent then?”

His eyebrows knit together. “You’re the only one getting my intel.” She had been for a while.

“I’m not talking about the intel. I’m talking about access. You can’t come to us. Maybe I can stay with you.”

His eyebrows shot up. It sometimes took him a minute to remember that she wasn’t just a pretty face. “Yes. Yeah. Let’s do that. Assuming you’re okay with coming on the Finalizer with me in four weeks.”

“Sounds like fun.” She grinned. “You’re my only client at Vinny’s. I don’t have to go anywhere but your bed for the foreseeable future.” Her hands slid down his chest, tucking under his shirt. “I’ll work on getting you a pardon. To keep you out of prison.”

“I’m sure you’ve got better things to do.” He got himself into the mess. He was just doing as much good as he could before it all caught up to him and he ended up in a First Order prison or open space, depending on how his boss was feeling.

“I’m very talented at multitasking,” she said quietly. “You never told me why you joined the Order.”

He grumbled, “It sounded like a good idea at the time.”

She’d never asked before. If he was going to tell anyone, it might as well have been her. Red was the only one it was even remotely safe to be open with, and he knew he was going to die before he had the chance to find someone else he could trust as much as he’d come to trust her.

“The government was a mess. I was young. I wanted to prove that I could be a rebel like my parents.” He traced patterns on her thigh to ground himself. “By the time I realized that it was a knock-off Empire, I was in too deep.”

She cupped his face, her persona dropping. She wasn’t a prostitute anymore but a true rebel, flames burning in her blue eyes. “We’ve all got skeletons in our closets, Poe. It’s never too late.”

“Sweetheart, you don’t get to Admiral by doing nothing.” A Destroyer would be his coffin. Deep space, his grave. There was no running from his past.

Her eyes turned black. “You don’t get head an intel team just by floating by either. Doesn’t make me any less of a rebel.”

He tilted her chin up and kissed her, softer with her then he should have been.