#well i'm not letting you the choice actually!!!

[lukolathoughts]

Miss Nicola - supporting LGBTQI rights

Dearest gentle reader,

I have been itching to write a blog post now for a few weeks, but not really knowing where to begin. There have been frenzied weeks and days of activity, but then silence and the fandom meanders like a lost boat at sea. We are often rudderless without the reassuring presence of our ship captains - Luke and Nicola. This also tends to get the sub fandoms spouting nonsense claiming to have seen Nicola in Birmingham or some ridiculous crap. I didn't want to bother her by asking for a photo! No photo, no proof my friend.

I'll talk about me for a moment. I had a week from hell last week. There was something so upsetting for me to deal with, I couldn't go into work as I was crying that much. Try to explain this to your manager: that nasty comments on YouTube made you late for work. Luckily, she is an understanding person and I have told her about my YT channel. Saying some things out loud to real life people make me sound barking mad. But it is the price you pay for being public on YouTube. It also makes me an easy target. I am used to online trolls and people who hate me for saying that Jake is gay and believing in Lukola, but when the stab in the back comes from a supposed friend, it really is the ten of swords. My phone blew up that much, I opened my eyes that morning genuinely thinking Lukola had launched. My hope turned to ash, when I saw what was really happening. I share this with you all because, I have had to have a reckoning with myself the last week. My online life and my real life are not the same. My real life is way more important and I actually need my job, so messing it up because I've got people I don't really know online saying mean things about me, that are not true, shouldn't matter. But it still hurts. But I also realise, they are trying to stop me sharing and trying to ruin my credibility and reputation in order to send me off into my discord crying never to return again.

Well think again. No one tells a Sagittarius woman what they can and can't do. I am made of stronger stuff. Love will always conquer hate. No one puts Baby in the corner, and I will not stand for it. I have scaled back most of my online life now. It had helped me cope with the last year and losing my friend, but sometimes you have to go back into reality. I'm never leaving the ship though. You'll have to chuck me overboard and I'll still jump back on like Rose from Titanic. "I couldn't go, Jack! You jump, I jump, right?"

Anyway, enough about me. Let's talk about Nic. I love Nicola by the way and nothing I say here is a criticism of her or her choices. I see what you're doing though, miss Nicola. I said in my last blog that the shit would hit the fan when Jake has to start press for his new upcoming BBC3 drama What it feels like for a girl. I will admit I have not read the book. Regardless of who Jake is playing, it is reportedly an all queer cast, a queer director and at least one queer writer that I know of. Why would the director of an all queer cast hire a straight man in a homosexual role? If this show is as big as It's a Sin, that aired on Channel 4 a few years ago, then there will be press and a lot of it. There will be press from queer magazines also. Jake is currently in an awkward position, because some press believe he is in a romantic relationship with Nicola Coughlan, a woman who is also 14 years his senior. So, what will Nicola and Jake do?

Jake is holding onto his cash cow with both hands and Nicola needs Jake to continue to pose as her boyfriend to stop the media digging. But honey, they know. It was clear all the press at the SAG awards knew exactly what was going on and they were not afraid to say it. The 'happy ending' comment levelled at them directly by a reporter, had Nicola stunned and Luke smiling like all his Christmases' had come at once.

Nicola knows what is going on. She knows there is a deadline and she knows if she doesn't extricate herself from the narrative she is dating a gay man, she is screwed basically. What is she doing? She's getting out her, I love gays!! T-shirt, hats, scarfs, sunglasses, whatever. She is doing it. Look at me, I love queers! I love her for this and I already know she is an advocate for LGBTQI rights. She has a ton of gay friends. The fandom knows this of course, but do the general public?

At the Neutrogena event on 27th March 2025, there was a very tall drag queen doing some MCing. We know Nic loves drag queens and has been to many shows, so this is nothing new to us. I'm not being overly cynical that the drag queen might have been there for a reason, right? Neutrogena is a product that is targeted at women mostly for their skin products. What has that got to do with a drag queen? I just found it odd.

Next up we have Nicola's Pink Pony Club Post that she shared to both her Instagram stories and grid last Thursday 10th April. The song by Chappell Roan is synonymous with the gay community and one that Jake danced to at her concert last year in a pink cowboy hat. "You guys, remember when my old flat was a gay hotspot!" Nicola, posts 4 polaroid's of her looking fabulous in pink and lays them on a pink blanket. What made you feel so nostalgic, Nic? Or are you sending a message? Look at me, I have loved my gay besties for donkey's years. Prominent gay friends such as JVN and Jack Rooke commented all in agreement, that indeed, Nic's flat was the place to be. And, no I do not think Nicola is coming out herself as gay. Get real, she is supporting her friends and peers.

Then there was yesterday's selfie of Nicola wearing her black - 'I just wanted to say if you are trans and reading this, I love you and so do all my mates' T-shirt. There a few other details in that post that other bloggers such as @toriaaniin have covered beautifully, so I won't go into it here. My eyes sprung wide when I saw this post. I know she advocates for the charity Notaphase.org and I commend her for doing this, but two queer posts in a few days seems to be a lot for Nic, when lately she hasn't been posting at all.

There is also the male hairdresser Halley Brisker in her Opalex video on her Instagram, They make a big deal of letting us know he flirts with male makeup artists. Nicola is clearly good friends with Halley and it is an endearing watch. But to me this seems like a lot of overkill in the last few days for the general public to look at her Instagram and instantly know, yes Nicola does love the girls, the gays and Luke Newton. (FYI Halley Brisker is married to a woman and has children, but to the general public this conversation is implying Nic is comfortable with these conversations).

This, in my opinion, is setting the stage for the final act. I can see Nicola doing some sort of article or interview where she clears a certain narrative up. If you notice, Douglas has also been quite forceful again in implying certain things about Jake and Jake himself does not stop others from posting suggestive posts and videos of him. Nicola must remove herself from this mess in order to move forward with her own career and life. Hanging onto old connections are no longer serving her personally and professionally. Her engagement on Instagram is down by a lot, so I'm told and she is losing followers. She has done all she can career-wise for Jake now, he has to make his own way.

If this does not happen and we remain in this weird heteronormative bubble, I fear the press for What it feels like for a girl, will be a shit show. The truth will come out eventually and it will drag both Jake and Nicola down with it.

[grogumaximus]

Rico Verhoeven open about friendship with 'super busy' Max Verstappen: 'Nice to see'

"I just think it's great," Verhoeven tells Sportnieuws.nl about Formula 1. That's why he's also present at the opening of the F1 Exhibition in Amsterdam. "And of course I have a few friends who drive well, Max and Lando (Norris, ed.). So that's super cool. I'm super proud of them and it's great to see how they perform at the highest level."

"We're just friends. But we're both extremely busy, so unfortunately we don't see each other often enough," says Verhoeven about his bond with Verstappen. "Of course, he flies around the world for a large part of the year and I'm also preparing for races. But where we can, we see each other. Then we meet in Monaco or the Netherlands and then we enjoy ourselves."

Verhoeven doesn't watch every Grand Prix due to his own busy career. "But I do watch the highlights to see how he did." He was very impressed by the Red Bull driver's qualifying round in Japan. The kickboxer doesn't know much about the sport, he admits. Fortunately, he sometimes gets extra explanation from Jos Verstappen, Max's father.

"When I'm at a race and I'm sitting next to Jos, he's going to explain to me what's actually happening." For example, about pit stops and the choice of a tire type. "I think that's cool. There's a whole strategic game involved. Very interesting to see that and learn more about it."

A career change is not in the cards for Rico. There is no way he would fit into an F1 car. "Maybe only with one leg," laughs Verhoeven.

Verhoeven has a remarkable maternity gift for Verstappen: 'I don't know if he will use them'

The top athlete seems to have an extremely special maternity gift in mind. When asked if he is going to give Verstappen a set of small boxing gloves, Verhoeven grins: “Of course, of course. I don't know if he is going to use them, but we are going to give them anyway.”

Although Verhoeven is of course a big fan of Verstappen in the first place, the kickboxer is really enjoying the current title fight, in which Red Bull currently seems to play a supporting role. "Yes, that's what makes it fun, right? when it's exciting, everyone likes to watch. Oh, what's going to happen? When you know in advance who's going to win..."

The 36-year-old top athlete doesn't think that Formula 1 isn't fun, but that the current scenario is just a bit more fun to follow. "It's not necessarily that there's nothing to it, but it's still very impressive. Only now you're just like: Okay, let's see what's going to happen today." Verhoeven still hopes that Verstappen can win the title. "Always hoping for Max of course. But in the end I just want it... Yes, the one who does the best, can win, right."

[cosmic-dust-poltergeist]

Pt 4 of the Danny is Tim's 99th attempt at cloning Kon. A 3 year old Danny finally meets his not dead anymore template.

[Pt 3: here]

Danny is so nervous he feels like he's going to throw up. His Template, who was dead and now isn't, is coming over to meet him. He knows his dad wouldn't let the guy near if he thought he'd react poorly to Danny, and Danny is excited about maybe having an adult (barely, technically, since he's 18) to help him figure out his new alien heritage, but he's still scared shitless. He wants this to go well so badly.

"Danny," Tim sighs in fond exasperation, "Come here, sweetheart."

Danny floats himself into dad's lap, tucking himself to his chest.

"Kon has been just as nervous to meet you." Tim kisses the top of Danny's head, just before Danny turns a wide-eyed look towards him. "He's the sweetest himbo and has been gushing about meeting you, but he's terrified you won't like him."

"Rweally?"

"Yeah, one of his deepest desires and deepest traumas is his want of family. But he doesn't want to pressure you into accepting any sort of relationship with him." Tim explains before cracking a sardonic smile. "Which is a big mood. I'm pretty sure most of the younger heroes have imposter syndrome."

"Why?"

"For many reasons. Kon was, and sometimes still is, discriminated against and frankly abused for being a clone. I forced my way into the Wayne family and was repeatedly told I didn't belong. Jason never had a stable life. Damian was a rape baby and raised in the LoA til he was 10. Dick was kicked out by Bruce once he aged out of fostering age. Jason's "not" boyfriend, Roy, was shunned for developing a drug habit after gaining significant trauma." Tim lists off. "A lot of the younger heroes couldn't lean on the adults in their lives, and it leaves scars. We've all found our footing, and deserve everything good we have in our lives, but the feeling of unworthiness is hard to escape."

Danny hugs his dad around the neck. He knew some of this dad and co lore, but it makes him sad each time. No one in his new family family has had easy lives, but are still so nice.

Tim suddenly looks mischievous, "All that to say, Kon has been texting me all morning about what he should wear, do I actually think you'll like him, if he should bring a gift or would you think he's bribing you to like him-"

"Tim!" A guy whines as he enters. He's wearing a leather jacket over a band t-shirt and black jeans. He clothes don't hide how he's shredded and probably 6 inches, at least, taller than Tim. He's holding a puzzle box and looks flustered and embarrassed.

"It's true!" Tim grins at the newcomer, before adjusting his angle to give Danny a slightly better view. "Danny, this is Kon, your DNA donor. Kon, this is my- our son, Danny."

Danny shyly waves as a blushing Kon sputters and protests Tim's choice of introductions.

"What? I did all the work, you just provided the DNA. Maybe if there's a next time, I'll let you help." Tim teases, and is hilariously oblivious to the gutter Danny can see Kon's mind drop into.

Danny has found his dad to be absolutely oblivious to anytime someone is into him, outside of Ra's. Danny watched so many people try to shoot their shot, and Tim cluelessly rebuff them. Danny thought he was doing it on purpose at first, but soon realized, no, his dad just has low self-esteem and truly doesn't think anyone finds him desirable. It's as funny as it is sad.

"So mean." Kon pouts before holding up the puzzle box for Danny to see the design. It's a thousand piece nebula puzzle. "I ended up getting you this puzzle. Tim- Your dad told me you love space and are super smart, so I thought you'd enjoy this puzzle."

Danny blinks, looking between the barely adults, before deciding to be funny. He says in his gravest voice. "So you chose bribery."

Danny gets the glorious view of Kon's face dropping in shock. Tim is literally shaking as he tries not to laugh, knowing Danny is pulling the guy's leg. The Drakes let him flounder for a moment, trying to find a response to that, before Danny can't help giggling, which pushes Tim over the edge and start cackling, startling Kon into silence.

"You should have seen your face!" Tim wheezes.

Kon gets a dopey look on his face. "You're just messing with me."

Danny nods with a grin. He wiggles to be put down, which Tim complies with, still giggling. Danny trots up to his template.

"You're silly." Danny informs him before holding his arms up and demanding. "Up!"

Kon quickly sets the puzzle on an end table near him before picking Danny up. He looks a little nervous when Danny stares hard at his face. "Um?"

Danny takes in all the shared features between them, some harder to see with the 16 year age difference, but it's sort of soothing to see. He gets distracted when he notices Kon's piercings, gasping and taking a closer look.

"How!?" He excitedly, but gently grabs Kon's ear piercings. Danny had gotten similar ear piercings when he was a ghost, and he misses them, but figured he wasn't going to be able to get them done in this body. It being nearly indestructible and all.

"Oh, my piercings?" Danny nods, leaning forward to take a closer look. "I'm sure you noticed it's hard to hurt us, but there's a rock called kryptonite, and depending on the colour, different things can happen."

"I thought kryptonite just hurt?" Danny asks, pulling back to look at Kon's face.

"It can. Green kryptonite is the most common, and it will hurt you. It turns off your powers and slowly poisons you, and if not taken away quickly, can kill us. Gold kryptonite is the rarest type and will permanently remove kryptonian abilities and usually leaves permanent injuries. So please do your best to avoid those types." Kon explains, "Red kryptonite should probably also be avoided, it makes kryptonians angry and turns off your inhibitions, but it won't technically hurt you to be exposed to it. The last colour I know of is blue. Blue kryptonite doesn't harm you or mess with your mental abilities. It just turns off all of your kryptonian abilities for however long it touches your skin. I have a blue kryptonite necklace I wear whenever I want tattoos or piercings."

Danny turns pleading eyes to his dad. "Can I get ear piercings??"

Danny can't help, but notice an infatuated smile on Tim's face before the man huffs a laugh and walks over. He runs a hand through Danny's hair.

"If you still want them when you're 5, I'll let you." Tim hums, "I don't want it to be an impulsive decision, and people will be less weird about a five year old getting their ears pierced. You might still get weird looks since you're a boy, but that's their problem, not yours."

"Okay!" Danny cheers. He hasn't told his dad about his past life/afterlife, so he can understand the hesitance over letting 3 year old get a body mod, even if it's just a single set of ear piercings, on what seems like a whim. He's honestly surprised he only has to wait til he's 5. Tim can be a bit of a helicopter parent, but then again, Tim really wants Danny to be his own person, never once shaming him for not fitting into a mold.

His aunts and uncles and grandpa have all made comments when they think he can't hear about how different or similar he is to Kon. Or when he shows gender non-conforming interests. Tim gets mad at them anytime he realizes Danny heard them. He doesn't want Danny to feel bad about any of it. Siting that "no shit" there's going to be similarities and differences, that's how children work, clone or not, and how gender is a social construct. He usually starts picking apart all of his siblings' behaviors at that point, pointing out what they inherented from Bruce, what is trauma born, and what's uniquely their's so he assumes they're from their respective parents, as well as all the things they do that don't fall under what society thinks their gender should do. It's funny, but also very nice. Danny loves his dad.

The true question right now, though, is: will he love, or even just like, his template? Danny doesn't hate what he's heard and seen so far, but actual fondness or affection needs time.

"How about we head to the gym?" Tim says, "Kon can show you some of his powers."

"Can I fly higher?" Danny isn't allowed to fly more than 4 feet in the air. Which is annoying, but fair. Again, he's 3.

"Only if you stay in arm's reach of Kon when you do."

"Okay!!" Danny cheers, purposely flailing around. Kon's hold on him tightens slightly to make sure he doesn't fall, but it's not painful. Another point to the DNA donor. That's about five in his favour during this interaction alone.

"Already flying, little man?" Kon grins.

"Yeah!"

"He figured out how to fly before how to run." Tim chuckles, "Now he does both any chance he gets. It keeps things lively."

"I imagine." Kon's grin turns a little gooey, before letting himself float and zip to the gym. "Let's have so fun!"

Danny can't help his chuckles. Kon flies there faster than Danny's allowed currently. It's fun!

Danny also can't help but notice Tim isn't in a rush to catch up. Meaning Tim fully trusts Kon with Danny's life. That's a trust that took the rest of the family months to gain, even though Tim knew they wouldn't hurt him. Danny isn't sure what to make of that knowledge, but it definitely makes him more inclined to like his template.

And by dinner time, Danny does genuinely like the guy. He respects everything Tim and Danny have to say, shows Danny a bunch of fun tricks with their powers, and let's Danny lead their games. He's fun, nice, and most importantly, not creepy. He clearly likes his dad in a more than friends way, but is hesitant to act on it, clearly not wanting to fuck up with either Tim or Danny.

Unfortunately for Danny, he can see Tim likes Kon back, but his dad is an idiot and doesn't realize it. So now he has to figure out how to get his dad to realize he's into his template without it being weird.

But really, what was Danny expecting? Trying to clone your "best friend" a hundred times isn't exactly hetero behavior. He decides he's going to enlist Uncle Damian and Uncle Jason. It's for his dad's own good at this point.

He also debates on if he's going to try to parent trap them. He likes Kon, but he doesn't know him well enough to commit to the bit just yet. He'll decide later, once he knows more.

[toomuchracket]

it's your birthday (office nerd matty x reader fluff)

this is teeny tiny but very sweet and it's also for my sweet friend @wreckedandpolemic i love you very much!! <3

“these shoes were a mistake.”

matty squeezes your hand, turning to look at you; when he drops a kiss to the side of your head, you feel him smiling against your skin. “trust me, darling, they were not.”

you pout. “but they're hurting me.”

“oh, baby,” your boyfriend leans down to kiss you quickly, hands cupping your jaw even after he pulls away. you smile at him, and his cheeks go your favourite shade of pink. “almost home, yeah? five minutes longer, and then you can just lie down and let me continue to indulge your every whim for the rest of the night, alright?”

“dirty.”

“well, no,” matty blushes even harder - you don't miss the way his cheeks are twitching, though, a smile threatening to break out onto that gorgeous face of his. “not necessarily, i mean - obviously i would never, ever say no to doing sexy stuff with you, not at all, i just meant that i’d also, like, put your favourite films on and make you hot chocolate and give you massages and-”

“matty, sweetheart, breathe,” you bring your index finger to his lips, softly stopping his breathless monologue and bringing him back to earth. “i know what you meant, angel. just couldn't resist the innuendo, that's all,” you clasp your hands behind his neck, heart fluttering at the sight of him all beautiful and moonlit and looking adoringly at you. “you're so good to me, you know? today's been perfect.”

“s'the least i could do, darling,” matty kisses the bridge of your nose. “lovely girls deserve lovely birthdays.”

“god, you're so cute. where on earth did i find you?”

he hums happily, leaning in to kiss you quickly before tucking you under his arm and continuing to walk towards your flat. “it is actually kinda mental that we met at work, isn't it?”

“you think?”

“well, you don't necessarily expect to start a new job and meet the most beautiful woman in the world there,” he drops another kiss onto your head, as natural as breathing; his little casual displays of affection are one of the things you love most about matty. “let alone falling in requited love with her and buying a flat with her and adopting her dog as your own.”

you laugh, leaning in to kiss his neck - chastely, but still positioned strategically enough to make his breath hitch. “you had no choice in that last bit, you know. maggie loves you more than she loves anyone else,” the wind picks up slightly, and you snuggle further into matty to keep the cold away. “she takes after me with that one.”

“and with getting bored during star wars.”

“oh, christ, not this again,” you sigh, sliding your keys from your pocket when you turn onto you and matty’s street. “i wasn't bored, i just knew what was happening afterwards,” you smirk, leaning against the wall of your apartment building while matty takes your keys and unlocks the door. “that was a good birthday, wasn't it?”

“possibly the most rhetorical question ever asked,” matty scoffs, leading you inside and calling the lift down. “second-best you've ever looked, in that outfit.”

you frown. “second-best? what's the best i've ever looked, then?”

matty beams. “right now.”

“oh, you're such a sap,” you groan; internally, though, your heart is aglow and there are butterflies in your stomach and you're pretty sure you can hear alex turner singing baby i'm yours somewhere in the back of your brain. and you know matty knows how you really feel, but you kiss him anyway, just to reiterate it. “but i love you very much.”

“and i love you,” he kisses you back, passionate and perfect, tugging you into the lift and into his arms, murmuring into your ear while he presses the button for your floor. “have you had a good birthday, darling?”

you smile into his shoulder. “the best.”

[trashcatsnark]

Work is slow so I'm being annoyed to the void

Forever bothered by the sharp difference in how Aveline losing Wesley is treated compared to Anders losing Karl

Because conceptually, it should be very similar.

Shortly after meeting Hawke, the person they love is subjugated to a fate they deem in some way to be worse than death or nothing more than a slower version of it. Their loved one pleads with them to end their suffering, to die at the hands of the person they know would not wish to seem them languish. And they make the choice to put the blade to their partner out of love and mercy.

They should in some way be seen as mirrors, even interestingly enough happening to polar opposite couples. A Templar and a knight. A circle mage and apostate. Like not that I think it's completely fair because mages are systematically opressrd but like- if there was any like point of comparison for a more pro-templar character and pro-mage character to have a *oh we're not so different, you and i~* moment that'd kind of be the thing to narrow in on

But somehow the writer don't seem to recognize the way these losses mirror one another and treat them differently in a way that makes my teeth itch

Hawke has the option to tell Aveline whether or not she wants to kill Wesley is her choice. You the player are allowed expressly to prioritize her freedom/autonomy in the narrative. This is then reinforced twice as the "right" choice, initially in gaining friendship with her for using it. Then again when Aveline tells the story of her father's death and reinforces how much being allowed the space to make her own choices, especially in connection with grief matters to her. How much having someone hold her hand and say "you're choice" matters to her.

There is no "your choice" option with Anders and Karl. The player can only either encourage him to kill Karl or encourage him not to. For the mages, who have had far less autonomy and freedom on their lives- one of which has just been forcibly lobotomized, the player doesn't get to prioritize their autonomy and instead can only assert their opinion. This is also the case despite, arguably the choice to kill Karl being an even grayer area morally. Wesley on all levels was doomed to die, it was just a matter of a quick pain free or a longer drawn out affair. Being made tranquil is a death of the self, your personhood, but not your actual physical life. But instead of allowing a softer choice that let's Anders choose, you can only assert one side or the other.

Additionally, just like Aveline- Anders narrative has... kind of a lot to do with freedom and autonomy, so it also would have made sense for this option to reinforce that value in him- but no.

Then, Aveline's loss of Wesley is reflected on fairly often and is treated with a lot of kindness through out most the narrative. A lot of Hawke's initial dialogue options are then checking in on how she's coping with her grief a full year later.

Immediately following Karl's death and I do mean immediately- you can talk to Anders about Justice. You can flirt with Anders. And sometimes if you click on him, he mentions Karl didn't deserve to be lobotomized.

All meaningful dialogue regarding his loss of Karl is not just romance locked. But in vanilla game, gender locked as well. You literally cannot "check in" with him about having to kill someone he at the very least clearly cared about- unless you wait at least 3 years and are a man who has sex with him.

And also also almost immediately following that being how Anders joins your gang of freaks- everyone is complaining about how he's too whiny, angry, and a bummer while mages are being actively oppressed and also he JUST HAD TO KILL SOMEONE HE LOVES BECAUSE OF IT

And to be clear on this piss on the poor website, I fucking love Aveline. This is a not "she didn't deserve this care narratively" post, this is I wish he'd have gotten a fraction of the same treatment post.

Hawke doesn't get the slightest option of "Hey, we can talk about the glowing in a bit- are you okay? I'm so sorry that happened, are you okay? Do you need a minute?"

Like I get that bioware hates the dude but christ almighty, can I get a hug anders button in this fucking game

[neurospiczzzziee]

what do you think of blitz being shocked when stolas kisses him before relaxing in sinsmas?

I LOVE THIS DETAIL SO MUCH!!!

(I'm going to be mainly looking at this from the Perspective of Blitzø)

The reaction of shock we first see shows that Blitzø wasn't expecting it. He didn't feel that he was owed payment like a kiss. He was just happy that he saved his favorite bird. He would have just been happy lovingly looking at Stolas with the sparkle in his eyes.

I think the sensation Blitzø is experiencing is relief.

For the longest time Blitzø and Stolas were on complete different pages. Their ideas and opinions of what one thought of each other was completely different.

When Stolas is shocked states to Blitzø

"you've just risked your life to save mine"

Blitzø doesn't respond in a Cocky way with his mask like the old him would have. He doesn't brag about himself. He doesn't berate Stolas for making him risk his life. For making a stupid choice.

Instead he just says in the most gentle way "well. . .so did you."

He is showing Stolas RECIPROCATION!

This is the first time his feelings have actually properly reached Stolas and the kiss shows it.

Since the Mastermind, heck even at the end of the apology tour Blitzø was trying to show Stolas that he actually cared about him.

Because you need to remember in during the song ALL 2 U Stolas sings the lyrics:

"I don't think you meant to hurt me

Cause I don't think it

meant a thing at all"

That line is the one that DESTROYS BLITZØ.

Cuz what's going on in his head is he realizes that Stolas thinks that he doesn't care at all. That he never cared for him.

The opposite of love is indifference and Stolas thinks he's indifferent.

Blitzø was in love with Stolas but his own armor of self loathing/doubt blinded him of reciprocating his feelings.

That's why during ghost fuckers he's so upset Because is so mad at himself for hurting Stolas and the fact he self-sabotaged himself from the possibility of being happy and having an actual loving relationship. He is wallowing in his own self pity.

(side note I think if Verosika hadn't told Blitzø to lay off that he would have kept trying to pursue Stolas. I do think it was a good thing because he needed time to evaluate himself and how he actually feels. The boy needed introspection.)

During Mastermind Blitzø assumed that Stolas had moved on and it wasn't until Stolas came in and risked his life that Blitzø realized that Stolas still cared for him. Because of what happened he was in a way given the second chance to show Stolas that he actually cared for him back. But the problem is Stolas is rightfully in shock and depressed. Blitzø understands this so he just in a way quietly loves him by caring for him. (Side note I do think if mastermind didn't happen and Stolas was in trouble or anything like that Blitzø still would have gone out of his way to help him and try to show Stolas that he cared for him)

From what I've seen I don't think Blitzø at all expects Stolas to reciprocate feelings for him. I think Blitzø in Sinsmas just wants Stolas to be happy again. He just wants to make sure Stolas doesn't feel like he's alone. Because he knows what it feels like to be alone, to feel abandoned. I think Blitzø would have been happy continuing to just admire Stolas from afar in a quiet way. So Blitzø just continues to quietly love him.

That's why I think the kiss shocked him so much because it lets him know that his feelings finally reached Stolas. Stolas realizes that Blitzø actually cares for him. For the longest time they weren't on the same page and they finally are experiencing mutual receprocation.

What we are seeing is for the first time that sensation of relief and ease on both parties!

Thank you so much for sending me this ask. I truly love this detail of the kiss and I love talking about this silly show so much 🥹💕. For my friends that read this whole thing. Thank you for reading my little rant 😊.

-✨Neuro✨

[alicelufenia]

So while I personally haven't gotten to play yet (still waiting on some crucial mod updates) Minthara's Speak With Dead dialogue change has been confirmed by @mikuchan (thank you for your service), so thoughts time!

You know as Minthara fans I feel we've all been trained by Larian the past two years to lower our expectations, so it's by virtue of that trend that, while I was genuinely surprised this was added to the game at all, I am paradoxically not at all surprised that this is most likely all we're getting.

Obviously never say never, which for any other companion is a good philosophy to have. That being said, once patch 8 dropped and the announcement was lead with whoever at Larian actually writes these posts stating there will be no more content created for the game - so no additional classes, gear or items, but also no new dialogue, writing, or reactions, other than bug fixes.

Which in Minthara's case, the difference between "added content" and "bug fixes" is so nebulous at times, given how much of her dialogue that her long time fans have taken to heart is still inaccessible due to dialogue flag bugs. Hell, the second part of her Alurlssrin dialogue is STILL not available in game (as far as I know, I haven't heard anything new about it). I'm not talking about her calling your love Alurlssrin, I mean the follow up where she explains what it means. How many of us have made it canon that our oc definitely would respond with "I alurlssrin you too" even though it's never been in game, and no one who's terminally online about Minthara would ever know? For fuck's sake, I STILL run into comments with people saying "gee I wish I could recruit/romance her but OOooOH i can't be Evil!" when first, skill issue, and second, she's been able to be knocked out since patch 5. And MOST people who do know she can be knocked out, think that was only added in patch 6 or even 7, because it was so buggy and unreliable before that (I still remember the horror of having to deal with the game's "temporarily knocked out" status, which is all but indistinguishable from "knocked out" which just means "dead but you can't loot body parts."

My point being, for most of the game's history, and to the VAST majority of the playerbase, Minthara was basically set up from the start to be the least recruited companion; originally conditioned to only be obtainable by taking the evil option, which were all written like Larian expected only Dark Urge players to even bother. Like they've gone on record that the "evil" route isn't an alternative route so much as "well you wanted to spoil the story we were writing so here ya go a whole plate of NOTHING. Unless you play Dark Urge, where the story we're writing is daddy made you do it. Also redeemed durge wasn't even going to be in the game until people asked about it, and the writer himself thinks it's the hackiest thing he's ever written, which is really ironic because it's easily the most popular choice for durge runs."

That's where they envisioned Minthara being even an option. And I do mean option because, if you play how Larian apparently expects you to play evil (and a depressing amount of the community seems to agree) where you just blindly pick every worst option regardless of what an actual character would do (because you're not playing a character, you're playing the EVIL route, remember? And evil means being a murderous jerk to everyone, nothing else!) then you probably killed her anyway because the easiest way to play evil is to just aggro on every NPC. Even Dark Urge has yet another option to kill her. They made a companion exclusively for the route where you probably don't have any companions.

Phew, I'm not usually so negative about this stuff, but given this was the last content patch as they claim, I feel like letting out a bit of catharsis about a lot of the decisions with Minthara's place in the story. Her character basically lives and dies on Emma's amazing performance and Adam's phenomenal writing. Like everything about Minthara that actually IS in the game and fleshed out is wonderful. So when they say their vision is complete for the characters, it maybe carries a bit more weight as to what is added/kept in on their final patch.

So with that in mind, and again according to the patch notes and what the community has found so far, we have: a few fixed dialogue options (always welcome, wish they specified clearer which and where but I'm sure we'll find out in a few days), tons of bug fixes for her knock out recruitment (but not, notably, any updates to quests or dialogue suggesting it's even possible to players not already in the know), more non-dialogue bug fixes, and her act 2 Speak With Dead dialogue was updated.

Still no Ultimatum with Halsin, even though more and more of that has shown up in datamining every patch for a year. No expanding on the extremely controversial "durge breakup," apparently their official story on that one is still that it was a mistake. And at this point I'm done giving them the benefit of the doubt or dismissing the least charitable readings of their decisions, cause what evidence to the contrary has their been in that regard? But the SWD dialogue that's been available via datamining since late EA, that was originally written for a pregnancy plot that was later scrapped before release? THAT does get in.

And here is why I struggle to give them the benefit of the doubt with these things. I'm sure one of the first things the community will do the next time Emma Gregory makes any sort of appearance is to ask her about this, yeah? She was asked at one point about her thoughts on the removed durge breakup, and she very notably dodged that question. So I have no idea what she can even say about this SWD dialogue.

Like as of now I'm still happy it was added! There are so many implications to the revelation that she has a daughter (presumably already born and back in Menzoberranzan). But as a longtime Minthara fan I'm used to building storylines around like 80% headcanon/implied details rather than explicitly canon content. And if you don't know anything else, there's all sorts of implications with this revelation. She has a daughter! Your Tav/Durge is the parent who stepped up! You don't actually hear her say anything about this in game because she wants to be secretive about the existence of her daughter, for her safety!

And then if you're in the know, you know that this dialogue has been in the game since launch, and all that was effectively done is it was enabled in game. Dialogue written for a storyline that no longer exists in the game.

Honestly if it weren't for the fact that it was actually called out IN the patch notes, I'd be half inclined to think it was another mistake. And the way it's called out too:

makes me feel so insane because, how does it make more sense now? At best it came as a shock and surprise for players, at worst they feel it was added without any real thought or purpose. You've created more questions than answers Larian, don't pat yourself on the back like you've really added something to her character! All this will do is maybe make a few more people incorporate being a step parent into their OC's lore (like me for instance).

Can you even imagine if they handled new Astarion content so ham-fistedly? Not for a second.

Anyway I don't know much else I can say about this that hasn't been repeated numerous times before. Except Minthara finished out bg3 as she began; buggy and underdeveloped, beloved by a few, ignored by the rest.

It's patch day for Baldur's Gate 3, so you know what that means

Time to Ctrl+F Minthara in the patch notes to see what they've done to my wife this time. (below the cut in case anyone wants to go into patch 8 blind)

Bug fixes, lots of bug fixes. Holy fuck her Emperor dialogue has been bugged one way or the other for as long as I've been playing.

But what's this about Thaniel? You can't have him without Halsin, but there's no mention of Halsin and Minthara interactions here. So I guess previous patches stand, and Minthara will just steal his tent spot, but now Thaniel won't remain at Halsin's (former) spot. Gotta say, I was looking forward to Babysitter Minthara when I restarted my Tav run, so that's a bit of a disappointment. Oh well, bug fixes are still good.

I'm super curious about this one, I don't recall which dialogue this is. They don't specify Durge, which has a bugged dialogue option. This is counted as a writing change, so hopefully previously datamine-only line? Gods know she has a lot of those.

Also speaking of that:

I'm sorry, does this mean her unused early access SWD lines are finally going in the game??

Could this mean her lines mentioning her daughter are now in the game? Is Momthara canon now?

I don't dare hope until I see it myself, but if so this is HUGE for lore implications!

This on the other hand, has me worried. Are they implying they patched her act 1 silence trick? I sure fucking hope not, us Minthara fuckers have been starved for content, that was our last thing we had! You scrapped durge breakup in its infancy, don't ruin this for us too! 😭

The rest is general bug fixes, usually related to random NPCs aggroing on her specifically. Coulda done something with that, like how the paladin in BG1 will turn on Viconia and your other evil companions, and you have to pick who to side with. Obviously the dickhead paladin would have to die in my games.

I've never encountered this bug specifically. Obviously I'll be testing my Murder Method to keep Karlach and Wyll after completing Raid the Grove, so nice yet another potential roadblock to that exploit is gone.

[cyellolemon]

THEY ARE KISSING

[brofightiscancelled]

okay ill bite why do u hate kaoru sakuraba sidem aside from the fact that they went from hokuto as a main blue to downgrade to kaoru. to make it less awkward that I’m asking abt sidem on ur osomatsu side blog, what sidem idols would u assign to each matsu ?

i think sideM should collab w osomatsu-san and put them all in Beit so they can all get JOBS!!!!!!

anyways i hate kaoru from idolmaster sideM. i need all my osomatsu-san side blog followers to know that i hate this man. "i need a lot of money fast to pursue an extremely niche medical research track, which is why i quit my stable and high paying job as a surgeon to become an idol while having no soft skills, physical strength or stamina, or interest in getting along with people" are you Stupid??

he's not even using his idol clout to spread awareness of the rare disease he's trying to cure (like SEM does) so it can secure funding, he sees it 100% as a job and refuses to have fun, he is actively unpleasant and uncooperative in every interaction with his coworkers because he's trying to "rise to the top". it seems like the only thing he has going for him are his looks and that he kind of liked to sing when he was a kid. why not become a model at that point when you have the personality of a wet tree trunk. or better yet why not STAY A FUCKING DOCTOR!!!!!

also, i don't like meganes, so write that down.

[cowboytumbleweeds]

"Well, he's not that guy from the first season of Bridgerton, I'll give you that," Carson said with a smile. He and Gen had always been able to talk crushes of any gender. It was nice. "I'm actually amazed that we've never gone after the same guy." Carson threw a comforting arm around her shoulder, squeezing it. "You do deserve better. And luckily, you got me. I'm going to be that interfering asshole who never lets you settle for less," he teased. Of course, Gen would always make her own choices, but he'd always want to protect her, too. "Girl, c'mon. I know. I appreciate you too," he said, expression switching from playful to sincere. "You're always gonna be my favorite person. No matter what."

"You know I'm not that into white guys." Gen replies, shrugging. Sure, there was an exception to every rule, but generally speak she knew her type. "Ugh. I was a stupid little girl in love. I know better now. I deserve better. Doesn't mean I don't like someone with a little edge, though. I need someone who an keep up with me, y'know?" Not that anyone had proven they could. Maybe she had high standards, but Gen knew what she was worth. "I know, and I appreciate you. I know I probably don't say it enough, but I do." Genevieve pauses, turning to look back at Carson, he expression softening. "You're like, my favorite person."

[flightfoot]

So I saw this comment recently on reddit, and it resonated with me.

This is something that I always find frustrating when I see conversations about what the Democratic party needs to do to win voters over. Because the things that voters SHOULD be demanding, that should matter, aren't applied equally to both parties. And when you've got a massive propaganda network that's constantly drumming up how great your party and especially your leader is, no matter what he does or how it stacks up with what he promised to do, while the other party has very strict morality and effectualness requirements.

Honestly? I feel like actually talking up Democratic accomplishments, would be way more effective than anything else. Of course a lot of people go with the dumbass Republicans with how they're constantly fed news from both tv and their friends about how amazing Republican leadership is, while even people firmly on the Democratic side talk about how they need to hold their noses to vote for Democrats. One side is just way more likely to enthusiastically go along with whatever their leadership decides, regardless of how stupid and immoral it is.

[rubenesque-as-fuck]

Running into a dating dilemma issue I have not encountered in quite some time. Starting talking to two different people on an app at around the same time, went on a date with one of them last Saturday. It went surprisingly well, even fooled around a little for the first time in a long while. We have a second date at an arcade planned for this Sunday.

Other person was a little slower on the draw (not as timely with responses) and has offered to meet up this Friday. They seem nice enough, but now I'm kind of focused on the first person- but obviously that connection is also still in the exploratory stages and there are no guarantees that anything else will happen with them. I'm not great at dividing my attention when I'm interested in someone but I also don't want to count any chickens before they hatch (the chickens in this case being a meaningful or at least ongoing sexual relationship 🐣)

So the dilemma is: do I still go on the date with person #2? The way I see it I have three options- agree to the date and see where it goes, decline the date, or put it off until next week and see how I feel after the second date with the guy that I already met. I feel like I should make a choice soon but I truly don't know which one 😬

[screamingwiththewolves]

I generally don't make posts like this, cause I don't wanna start an argument or disagreement, but I do find the "Is Hyde really a person?" discourse, a bit odd...I know it's a comic, and maybe I'll be proved horribly incorrect but...

Does he have emotions, with personality traits and preferences? Yes.

Does he insist he's a person? Yes.

Then he is, in fact, a person.

[unproduciblesmackdown]

come get your levitous sidekick / vicious bastard / funny little guys

[rookamell]

Nuance in the tags

[chiarrara]

I don't know I just feel like....

We just watched a man self-immolate in his military uniform. And I don't want to sound like an idiot, because it's much more than this but, couldn't you say that was a very extreme form of conscientious objection?

He could not be complicit anymore, but there is literally no way out of being complicit in this genocide if you live in America. For him especially, being trapped in military service. But for all of us. All of us are trapped in complicity in some way, and we can try to counteract that sin with as much meaningful direct action as we can possibly do, but all of that action comes with some proportional level of risk.

So, a man burned himself alive in an extreme form of conscientious objection (the only form available to him - one of great violence)

And people are still on here telling people to suck it up and vote for Biden.

I just... maybe I'm really stupid and I just can't see the logic y'all are putting forward. Because the way you lay it out it all seems to make so much sense to you. I understand we're trapped in a two party system. I understand the Republicans don't have the same consciences we do and are gonna vote en masse for Trump. I understand Trump is a danger globally and domestically. I understand all that, and I don't want his second term to come to pass. I'm not ignorant of how dangerous he is.

But a man self-immolated to object to the system of complicity he's trapped in, and the most logical response y'all have to a bunch of people wanting to opt out of complicity in this election, and the next four years of horrors that will be done in their name is to tell them, you just have to suck it up and be complicit. Your only tool is to make a phone call. You can try to protest, but there's a non-zero chance you'll be beaten and arrested and have your life ruined, by the way. You can donate to try and put a bandaid on the horrors you're seeing through your phone screen everyday (and you should, but God it's sure not stopping anything). But you're not allowed to object to being complicit in the selection of the Genocider-In-Chief.

It's not going to stop the genocide. We know this. It's not going to stop the election. We know this. It's not going to change anything directly, and Trump is going to get elected (which he will either way. most people who would vote against him are doing it anyway, y'all are fighting a very very small online minority).

But a man self-immolated in his military uniform. He didn't think that act was going to directly stop aid from going to Israel, or stop the genocide, or destroy the US military industrial complex. He didn't think his one small (but extremely brave and impactful) act was going to solve everything. Everything that was going to happen is still going to happen just with one less man in uniform.

But it wasn't nothing. It didn't do nothing. It's not his fault that the military will keep on chugging. It's not his fault that things are getting worse in Gaza every day. But he's not complicit anymore and he sent a message. And he had to die to achieve that.

And y'all are telling us we can't even do the very small act of not being complicit in the presidency. It's a less effective act of protest, but I also don't have to die for it.

It's not a boycott (I've seen this strawman, i don't know why you think we think that). It's not going to "send a message to the government" (obviously, we're not ignorant). It's to the Party that runs these candidates, and makes money off of "pick us because we're not the other guy" then commits crimes against humanity. I don't want to roll over and be fucking complicit in that.

Parties and candidates look at those numbers. they see how many people voted for them last time and how many people this time.

They don't care about our voices, and our protests, and our emails. They care about donations, and they care about votes. That's it. That's all they look at. If the emails and the phone calls and the protests don't result in a drop in one of those two things, they don't fucking care.

I don't know. This is a long ass ramble, but I'm trying to work out my feelings about this. Because we can't opt out of paying taxes, we can't really opt out of the benefits of living and being born in the Global North, we can't opt out of work, we can't opt out of the military, we can't opt out of following the law without extreme violence being brought against us. We can't do a whole fucking lot besides call, email, donate, and protest in a way that doesn't get us beaten and arrested, and if you do get beaten and arrested, you'll be dealing with the legal consequences for years or potentially the rest of your life.

And a man burned himself to death to object but I can't withhold my vote???