#Call Control Platform Market

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Kickstarting a book to end enshittification, because Amazon will not carry it

My next book is The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation: it’s a Big Tech disassembly manual that explains how to disenshittify the web and bring back the old good internet. The hardcover comes from Verso on Sept 5, but the audiobook comes from me — because Amazon refuses to sell my audio:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/the-internet-con-how-to-seize-the-means-of-computation

Amazon owns Audible, the monopoly audiobook platform that controls >90% of the audio market. They require mandatory DRM for every book sold, locking those books forever to Amazon’s monopoly platform. If you break up with Amazon, you have to throw away your entire audiobook library.

That’s a hell of a lot of leverage to hand to any company, let alone a rapacious monopoly that ran a program targeting small publishers called “Project Gazelle,” where execs were ordered to attack indie publishers “the way a cheetah would pursue a sickly gazelle”:

https://www.businessinsider.com/sadistic-amazon-treated-book-sellers-the-way-a-cheetah-would-pursue-a-sickly-gazelle-2013-10

[Image ID: Journalist and novelist Doctorow (Red Team Blues) details a plan for how to break up Big Tech in this impassioned and perceptive manifesto….Doctorow’s sense of urgency is contagious -Publishers Weekly]

I won’t sell my work with DRM, because DRM is key to the enshittification of the internet. Enshittification is why the old, good internet died and became “five giant websites filled with screenshots of the other four” (h/t Tom Eastman). When a tech company can lock in its users and suppliers, it can drain value from both sides, using DRM and other lock-in gimmicks to keep their business even as they grow ever more miserable on the platform.

Here is how platforms die: first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves. Then, they die:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys

[Image ID: A brilliant barn burner of a book. Cory is one of the sharpest tech critics, and he shows with fierce clarity how our computational future could be otherwise -Kate Crawford, author of The Atlas of AI”]

The Internet Con isn’t just an analysis of where enshittification comes from: it’s a detailed, shovel-ready policy prescription for halting enshittification, throwing it into reverse and bringing back the old, good internet.

How do we do that? With interoperability: the ability to plug new technology into those crapulent, decaying platform. Interop lets you choose which parts of the service you want and block the parts you don’t (think of how an adblocker lets you take the take-it-or-leave “offer” from a website and reply with “How about nah?”):

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/07/adblocking-how-about-nah

But interop isn’t just about making platforms less terrible — it’s an explosive charge that demolishes walled gardens. With interop, you can leave a social media service, but keep talking to the people who stay. With interop, you can leave your mobile platform, but bring your apps and media with you to a rival’s service. With interop, you can break up with Amazon, and still keep your audiobooks.

So, if interop is so great, why isn’t it everywhere?

Well, it used to be. Interop is how Microsoft became the dominant operating system:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/06/adversarial-interoperability-reviving-elegant-weapon-more-civilized-age-slay

[Image ID: Nobody gets the internet-both the nuts and bolts that make it hum and the laws that shaped it into the mess it is-quite like Cory, and no one’s better qualified to deliver us a user manual for fixing it. That’s The Internet Con: a rousing, imaginative, and accessible treatise for correcting our curdled online world. If you care about the internet, get ready to dedicate yourself to making interoperability a reality. -Brian Merchant, author of Blood in the Machine]

It’s how Apple saved itself from Microsoft’s vicious campaign to destroy it:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/06/adversarial-interoperability-reviving-elegant-weapon-more-civilized-age-slay

Every tech giant used interop to grow, and then every tech giant promptly turned around and attacked interoperators. Every pirate wants to be an admiral. When Big Tech did it, that was progress; when you do it back to Big Tech, that’s piracy. The tech giants used their monopoly power to make interop without permission illegal, creating a kind of “felony contempt of business model” (h/t Jay Freeman).

The Internet Con describes how this came to pass, but, more importantly, it tells us how to fix it. It lays out how we can combine different kinds of interop requirements (like the EU’s Digital Markets Act and Massachusetts’s Right to Repair law) with protections for reverse-engineering and other guerrilla tactics to create a system that is strong without being brittle, hard to cheat on and easy to enforce.

What’s more, this book explains how to get these policies: what existing legislative, regulatory and judicial powers can be invoked to make them a reality. Because we are living through the Great Enshittification, and crises erupt every ten seconds, and when those crises occur, the “good ideas lying around” can move from the fringes to the center in an eyeblink:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/12/only-a-crisis/#lets-gooooo

[Image ID: Thoughtfully written and patiently presented, The Internet Con explains how the promise of a free and open internet was lost to predatory business practices and the rush to commodify every aspect of our lives. An essential read for anyone that wants to understand how we lost control of our digital spaces and infrastructure to Silicon Valley’s tech giants, and how we can start fighting to get it back. -Tim Maughan, author of INFINITE DETAIL]

After all, we’ve known Big Tech was rotten for years, but we had no idea what to do about it. Every time a Big Tech colossus did something ghastly to millions or billions of people, we tried to fix the tech company. There’s no fixing the tech companies. They need to burn. The way to make users safe from Big Tech predators isn’t to make those predators behave better — it’s to evacuate those users:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/18/urban-wildlife-interface/#combustible-walled-gardens

I’ve been campaigning for human rights in the digital world for more than 20 years; I’ve been EFF’s European Director, representing the public interest at the EU, the UN, Westminster, Ottawa and DC. This is the subject I’ve devoted my life to, and I live my principles. I won’t let my books be sold with DRM, which means that Audible won’t carry my audiobooks. My agent tells me that this decision has cost me enough money to pay off my mortgage and put my kid through college. That’s a price I’m willing to pay if it means that my books aren’t enshittification bait.

But not selling on Audible has another cost, one that’s more important to me: a lot of readers prefer audiobooks and 9 out of 10 of those readers start and end their searches on Audible. When they don’t find an author there, they assume no audiobook exists, period. It got so bad I put up an audiobook on Amazon — me, reading an essay, explaining how Audible rips off writers and readers. It’s called “Why None of My Audiobooks Are For Sale on Audible”:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/07/25/can-you-hear-me-now/#acx-ripoff

[Image ID: Doctorow has been thinking longer and smarter than anyone else I know about how we create and exchange value in a digital age. -Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock]

To get my audiobooks into readers’ ears, I pre-sell them on Kickstarter. This has been wildly successful, both financially and as a means of getting other prominent authors to break up with Amazon and use crowdfunding to fill the gap. Writers like Brandon Sanderson are doing heroic work, smashing Amazon’s monopoly:

https://www.brandonsanderson.com/guest-editorial-cory-doctorow-is-a-bestselling-author-but-audible-wont-carry-his-audiobooks/

And to be frank, I love audiobooks, too. I swim every day as physio for a chronic pain condition, and I listen to 2–3 books/month on my underwater MP3 player, disappearing into an imaginary world as I scull back and forth in my public pool. I’m able to get those audiobooks on my MP3 player thanks to Libro.fm, a DRM-free store that supports indie booksellers all over the world:

https://blog.libro.fm/a-qa-with-mark-pearson-libro-fm-ceo-and-co-founder/

Producing my own audiobooks has been a dream. Working with Skyboat Media, I’ve gotten narrators like @wilwheaton​, Amber Benson, @neil-gaiman​ and Stefan Rudnicki for my work:

https://craphound.com/shop/

[Image ID: “This book is the instruction manual Big Tech doesn’t want you to read. It deconstructs their crummy products, undemocratic business models, rigged legal regimes, and lies. Crack this book and help build something better. -Astra Taylor, author of Democracy May Not Exist, but We’ll Miss It When Its Gone”]

But for this title, I decided that I would read it myself. After all, I’ve been podcasting since 2006, reading my own work aloud every week or so, even as I traveled the world and gave thousands of speeches about the subject of this book. I was excited (and a little trepedatious) at the prospect, but how could I pass up a chance to work with director Gabrielle de Cuir, who has directed everyone from Anne Hathaway to LeVar Burton to Eric Idle?

Reader, I fucking nailed it. I went back to those daily recordings fully prepared to hate them, but they were good — even great (especially after my engineer John Taylor Williams mastered them). Listen for yourself!

https://archive.org/details/cory_doctorow_internet_con_chapter_01

I hope you’ll consider backing this Kickstarter. If you’ve ever read my free, open access, CC-licensed blog posts and novels, or listened to my podcasts, or come to one of my talks and wished there was a way to say thank you, this is it. These crowdfunders make my DRM-free publishing program viable, even as audiobooks grow more central to a writer’s income and even as a single company takes over nearly the entire audiobook market.

Backers can choose from the DRM-free audiobook, DRM-free ebook (EPUB and MOBI) and a hardcover — including a signed, personalized option, fulfilled through the great LA indie bookstore Book Soup:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/the-internet-con-how-to-seize-the-means-of-computation

What’s more, these ebooks and audiobooks are unlike any you’ll get anywhere else because they are sold without any terms of service or license agreements. As has been the case since time immemorial, when you buy these books, they’re yours, and you are allowed to do anything with them that copyright law permits — give them away, lend them to friends, or simply read them with any technology you choose.

As with my previous Kickstarters, backers can get their audiobooks delivered with an app (from libro.fm) or as a folder of MP3s. That helps people who struggle with “sideloading,” a process that Apple and Google have made progressively harder, even as they force audiobook and ebook sellers to hand over a 30% app tax on every dollar they make:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/red-team-blues-another-audiobook-that-amazon-wont-sell/posts/3788112

Enshittification is rotting every layer of the tech stack: mobile, payments, hosting, social, delivery, playback. Every tech company is pulling the rug out from under us, using the chokepoints they built between audiences and speakers, artists and fans, to pick all of our pockets.

The Internet Con isn’t just a lament for the internet we lost — it’s a plan to get it back. I hope you’ll get a copy and share it with the people you love, even as the tech platforms choke off your communities to pad their quarterly numbers.

Next weekend (Aug 4-6), I'll be in Austin for Armadillocon, a science fiction convention, where I'm the Guest of Honor:

https://armadillocon.org/d45/

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/31/seize-the-means-of-computation/#the-internet-con

[Image ID: My forthcoming book 'The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation' in various editions: Verso hardcover, audiobook displayed on a phone, and ebook displayed on an e-ink reader.]

[kurogane2512]

Been craving Ningguang recently so yeah, a little idea I have had in my head for a long time. The idea came to me from the Liyue Interlude quest (Beisht fight), and the recent anthology event made me needy for Ning screentime so I decided to combine them :)

18+ CONTENT

Game: Genshin Impact

Characters: Ningguang x fem!reader (Traveller)

Type: Fluff and Smut (kinda long fic, fingering, scissoring, strap usage etc)

Liyue Harbor bustled beneath the afternoon sun, its golden roofs gleaming like fire-kissed coins, and its stone streets alive with the rhythm of daily trade. Merchants called out prices in melodic chants, fishermen hauled in glistening nets, and children darted between stalls, their laughter threading through the market’s hum. As you passed, heads turned— some with wide eyes, others with hushed words passed behind fans or sleeves. They knew who you were, of course— the Hero of Liyue. You’d grown used to the attention, meeting their gazes with faint nods, waves of hand and polite smiles.

However, your destination was clear today. You weren't here for a stroll or any festival; today, you were summoned by the Tianquan herself. A rare occurence in the time you had acquainted her. The memories spent with her were still fresh in your mind— moments of cooperation, assistance, and something far more..... intimate nestled quietly between all the diplomacy and danger.

Nights spent in her chambers blurred in memory— silken sheets tangled around restless limbs, low murmurs exchanged beneath the hush of lantern light, and the warmth of her breath trailing softly against your skin. She pulled you close with slow, deliberate intention, each movement a quiet surrender of control, unraveling only when your hands found her. In those moments, titles and duty faded away, leaving only the steady rhythm of her heart pressed against yours.

A gust of wind stirred your thoughts, pulling you from the warmth of memory back to the present. The bustle of Liyue Harbor faded beneath as you stepped on the lift to ascend to the Jade Chamber. The weight of past and present mingled inside you— anticipation, resolve, and something more fragile, waiting to be reclaimed among the clouds. Once on the platform, you were greeted by her secretaries who suggested you to have some refreshments first— a strange gesture considering you thought Ningguang would want to meet you as soon as possible.

"Oh, is she busy? The letter said she wanted to discuss something important."

The secretaries looked at each with guilty looks then Baishi gave a firm nod and looked back at you with a smile.

"She's waiting for you."

You became suspicious but nodded and entered the abode, walking towards her office. The walls welcomed you with familiar stillness— polished stone floors gleaming beneath golden light, silken banners swaying gently with the altitude’s breeze, intricate artifacts and jewels placed majestically. Once you reached the open office, your eyes widened at the unexpected sight.

Ningguang was seated on the side, with none other than Baizhu beside her who appeared to be checking her pulse. Your steps halted at the doorway but the creak of the floor made Ningguang's gaze dart in your direction, her crimson eyes gleaming for a moment before a soft smile graced her face.

"Oh, you have an.... impeccable timing, Traveller~"

Baizhu glanced at you and gave a nod of greeting before turning his attention towards Ningguang. You walked in further and stood near them, wanting to hear his diagnosis.

"Your cold was caused by the physical and mental strain you've been under lately, I fear. Such things are more common with the changing of the seasons." he stated.

Something uncomfortable pulsed inside you at his words, your eyes focusing on Ningguang with a hint of concern. However, she responded with a rather.... indifferent tone.

"Just prescribe some more medicine for me, if you would. I'll have someone pick it up in a few days."

Baizhu sighed, "As you say. However... while colds can be cured with medication, overexertion could cause it to recur."

Ningguang chuckled, "Thank you for the advice, Dr. Baizhu, but I cannot simply ignore the affairs of state. Alleviating the symptoms through your prescriptions should suffice for now."

Another exhale from Baizhu, "I will write up some more nourishing dietary prescriptions. Please, take things slow, and avoid weakening your body too much."

She nodded with her usual graceful smile. Baizhu swiftly wrote her a prescription and handed to her, "Here's the prescription. Please make sure you get enough rest, Lady Tianquan."

"Thank you, Doctor. I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

Baizhu was then escorted out by Baishi, leaving you and Ningguang alone in the still office. She then stood up with a sigh and walked towards her desk.

"I can see you have questions. Well, just know I had little sleep last night then caught a cold due to a chill draft. Nothing worth concerning."

You raised an eyebrow then walked closer to her desk.

"That's not concerning?"

She softly chuckled, "You have seen people in far worse conditions, haven't you, Y/n?~"

"That doesn't excuse this."

She shrugged, "Don't worry your mind over this. There are always more pressing matters to attend to— like the one I summoned you for. Please, have a seat."

You let out a sigh then sat on the chair across her.

"First of all, thank you for accepting my request so promptly. I heard you were in Natlan these days, it must have been quite a tiresome journey to come from there."

"I have my ways of transportation, it is quite efficient and easy."

She smiled, "Of course, you would. Well, I won't take much of your time. I called you here for assistance in an important matter." she paused then procured a document from her desk's drawer, placing it in front of you.

"You see, after the battles with Osial and Beisht, the Qixing delved into analysing various aspects of the methods used in the battles to fight the disaster. Of course, we improved drastically with Beisht, but there is always room for more. Eventually, we all came to the conclusion to strengthen our defense forces— not just the Millelith, but more. That file contains the reports of the analyses we did, you can go through it later."

"I see, so how do you plan to strengthen your defense forces?"

"Well, we faced a truth most of the Qixing wre too stubborn to admit. If you remember, during both battles, we severely lacked.... sea power. The Crux Fleet was a temporary aid, an emergency measure at most during crises like that, but we need a permanent and consistent solution. Hence, we sanctioned to form a navy division in the Millelith. This information was made public 3 months ago and since then we have held trials to recruit soldiers."

She paused, procuring another file from the drawer.

"This one contains details of the selected candidates. Now, this is where you come in. I will be upfront that we don't have capable mentors when it comes to this, and it won't reflect good on our integrity to hire pirates to train an army. I asked for aid from Fontaine who were ready to send over an advisor, but we still lack an... anchor— someone to steady the recruits, to keep them grounded when uncertainty sets in. They need more than strategy and drills; they need someone who has stood at the heart of chaos and not faltered."

Your eyes widened in surprise, not expecting this to be the topic she wanted to discuss. She sensed your surprise and smiled more, leaning forward on the desk with an unwavering look.

"You’ve led armies without wearing their banners, faced gods and monsters and still walked back with your head high. Fought creatures that shook the skies, quelled gods, and stood between entire nations and ruin. That kind of presence can't be taught. You know what it means to make choices with the world watching, to lead not just by command, but by conviction."

Her voice softened, the sharp edge of her usual formality giving way to something more personal, "When fear sets in, they'll need someone to look to. Someone who won't waver. And when I considered who that could be— who I would trust to hold the line, to carry not just the burden of leadership but the hearts of those beneath it— your name was the only one that came to mind."

She paused, gaze lingering on yours just a moment too long. "Not just because of what you can do, but because of who you are. And because I trust you more than anyone else."

There it was, that look. The one just shy of a smile, eyes half-lidded in that knowing, quiet confidence that always managed to pull an answer from your chest before your mind could catch up. The look that had swayed entire negotiations, and yet somehow felt crafted just for you. It wasn’t fair. She knew how to control your heart far too well.

"I... w-well, I certainly wasn't expecting this...." you said with an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of your neck.

Ningguang responded with a soft chuckle and rested back on her chair, "I can understand it is a lot to ask of you, I'm aware you are very busy and this is a huge committment. But be assured, I won't keep you here for more than a month. Just long enough to set the foundation, to draft schedules and give a direction for a future leadership to take over."

Then, after a beat, she added with the faintest tilt of her head, "Though… if you chose to stay longer, I wouldn’t object."

A sudden flush came on your face that wasn't missed by her— never is. Her lips curling faintly as she leaned forward again, "In case you felt more time was required, is what I meant~"

Oh, this woman knew how to toy with you too well, even when she was asking for a serious favor.

"And...." she added, "As with all our transactions, I will suitably compensate you for your services." her head tilted with a smirk again, giving you that same look but with more.... intention.

Your heart skipped a beat again, staring at her and the documents before letting out a sigh.

"I can't really refuse you, Lady Ningguang. I accept, and you don't have to worry about the compensation. It is an honor for me to train Liyue's defenses."

A subtle flicker of surprise came and was quickly replaced by her confident smile, "You have my utmost gratitude. I hesitated quite a bit before making the decision to call for you. Hehe, isn't it strange? You always somehow make me falter my decisions~"

She chuckled in a velvety tone, draping one exposed leg over the other. She didn't miss the way your eyes glanced at it for a fraction of a second, smirking to herself.

"You can start anytime you want, and feel free to state your resource requirements. You will get everything promptly and in best quality. We have reserved Guili Planes and Yaoguang Shoal as training grounds, unless you suggest some other place then I will arrange it right away."

You nodded, "Those places are fine. And, I'll start from day after tomorrow. While it's true I have experience fighting in wars, I have only had ground, aerial and.... well, underwater battles. The advisor from Fontaine you mentioned, have them come?"

Ningguang nodded and stood up to circle around the desk, walking towards you.

"He will arrive tomorrow. Aditionally, I have also arranged for some merchant ship captains to lend a hand."

"I see. Then, is it possible to have Beidou if I ask for it?"

Ningguang raised an eyebrow, stopping right beside you and leaning against the table.

"It is.... possible, if you ask her as aid. Certainly far easier to persuade the other Qixing in this case. But tell me, do you really require her? I trust your abilities well enough."

You blushed for a moment then cleared your throat, "W-Well, she's the closest to having someone with considerable sea battle experience. She likely knows things even I dont. And.... her presence would actually assure everyone because she has a good reputation."

"Hmm...." Ningguang hummed with a tilt of her head, "Interesting. I wasn't aware...." she extended her hand to hold your chin and bent closer, "....that you two were so close~"

Your face flushed once again, not from her accusation but from her being so close.

"Tell me." she continued, leaning even closer to whisper in your ear, "What kind of adventures have you both had, hm? Voyages on the sea or perhaps.... something more?~"

Your breath almost hitched feeling her silvery voice brush your ear, "N-No, nothing like that. She has just.... h-helped me travel between Inazuma and Liyue a few times, and I helped her fleet with some errands in return...."

Ningguang chuckled, the voice ringing in your ear. A beat of silence followed, her right hand coming up to caress through your hair strands.

"Entertaining pirates now, Traveller? I wonder...." her hand trailed down to caress your cheek before fiddling with your collar, "....have you helped her rearrange her bedroom as well?~"

Well, your face was as red as a tomato now. You could easily deny her assumptions, yet no words came out. Ningguang could tell your flustered state rather easily and finally ceased her teasing, retracting her hand with a smile.

"I jest. You know I simply adore your reactions~"

She stood up straight and crossed her arms over her chest, "Anyways, your request to have Beidou will be granted. I leave it to you to discuss the strategy with her. Is there anything else you wish to say right now?"

Your heart finally calmed down and you pondered for a moment when suddenly a question came in your head, remembering the scene you saw earlier when you entered this office. But, you held back from voicing your thoughts.

"None at the moment. I will get back to you if there is something later."

"Certainly, I also expect regular progress reports from you. Nothing too tedious, it's only to keep records. You know how things work."

You nodded then stood up, ready to leave.

"Oh my, leaving so soon?" she asked in a husky tone.

"Uh, you must be having other work to do, right?"

She smiled and let out a sigh, "Work is neverending, your presence is rare. But indeed, unfortunately, I have another meeting soon. I'll be sure to invite you for dinner at a later date, I'm quite eager to hear more stories about your travels ever since the last time we met~"

You nodded with a smile and finally bid her farewell. You were marching to the way out of her office, but your mind couldn't stop insisting on that one thing. You had to satiate your worry. You stopped just when you reached the door, your hand suspended towards the handle before you abruptly turned around, finding her already seated at her table.

You noted her focused expression as she looked over documents, the way her hand moved to forge new contracts. You took a deep breath then walked back towards her. Ningguang sensed your approaching form and looked up with a confused yet intrigued gaze, tilting her head slightly as you came closer.

"Did you forget something, Traveller?"

Your breath was held, the words on the tip of your tongue.

"Are you... are you sure you are okay? Regarding what Baizhu said, you look tired.... Can I help in some manner?"

Ningguang was caught off-guard for a moment, though she masked it well with her composed smile. She could see the concern in your eyes, the genuine worry for her. She let out a soft hum and rested her face on her palm.

"Hmm, and in what way would you help?~"

"Uh... I could do some paperwork and...." you looked down and tried to think of more things. It was true there wasn't much you could do for someone in her position.

"W-Well, anything you feel I can do so you can rest."

She chuckled, a gentle smile forming on her face.

"I apprecite your concern, Traveller. Truth be told, having you do some paperwork is not a bad idea. However, all of it contains various crucial and confidential information about Liyue.... While you are my most trusted ally, I still have to take some precuations. I'm sure you can understand~"

You pursed your lips, having no point to counter.

"S-Still, there must be something I can do—"

"I have already given you your task, haven't I? I assure you, it is one of our higest priorities at the moment. If you do it within a reasonable time, you will be lifting off a great burden from my shoulders~"

Her eyes narrowed with a mischievous glint, the same look she'd give everytime to convince you into her schemes. You let out a sigh and nodded, "....I understand. Still, please don't hesitate to call for me if there is anything. And please take rest as Baizhu advised."

She smiled, "You have my gratitude. I'll take care of myself. I look forward to your performance in the upcoming days~"

Just like that, you returned to your teapot realm and started preparing for the training lessons, all the while Ningguang's wellbeing remained in the back of your mind. You hoped she took rest and didn't exert herself.

Two days later, you were at Guili Planes as planned, starting the first ever lesson. Beidou had been scheduled to come from next week since you wanted to get used to things yourself first alongside the Fontaine advisor. The recruits were top-notch, as you'd expect from the Qixing's rigorous selection methods. Some of the existing Millelith soldiers applied, stating different reasons, while some entirely commoners who simply wanted to contribute to Liyue's protection.

You had a good feeling everything would go well— except for the one thing nagging your head even now.

It was later in the afternoon when you noticed Ningguang came to observe the training, you didn't know how long she had been there. She stood under a tree and intently watched, merely giving a small smile once your eyes met. Eventually, you decided to give everyone a break and went to talk with her. The advisor accompanied you, stating he wanted to discuss some things with her.

"Good afternoon to you both, I suppose everything is going well judging by the enthusiasm of the recruits." Ningguang mused.

The advisor then went on to discuss some things he had observed and wished to implement to make the sessions more effective, asking for your input in between which you eagerly gave. The discussion dragged on for quite a bit and you happened to glance at Ningguang once, catching a glimpse of a sweat drop rolling down her temple followed by her blinking her eyes a few times as if in a daze.

Although, you were standing under a tree's shade, it wasn't uncommon to still feel the heat of Liyue's summer. And, knowing by long she had been here, at least from when you took note of her, it was understandable she'd start feeling tired. The advisor kept talking on and on, completely ignoring her state or the surroundings, you had come to understand he was rather zealous about his job.

Some moments later, you noticed Ningguang clenching her fists and looking down as if her eyes felt heavy. On instinct, you gently put your hand upon her back to straighten her, sending a surprising jolt in her as she regained her posture and focus. You were about to retract your hand when you realized she had leaned back on it, almost as if using it as a much-needed support.

"I'll include everything in the first report we send, Tianquan. Now, if you'll excuse me." he walked away after a courteous bow, leaving you alone with her.

You turned to face her and gently held her arms, "Are you okay? You look.... drained."

She let out a sigh and wiped the sweat from her forehead, "Just the weather.... Do you mind accompanying me to the Jade Chamber?"

An unexpected request with no explanation.

Not that you needed one when it came to assisting her. You agreed without a second thought and started walking with her towards the Jade Chamber, still not removing your hand from her back. She let out a soft chuckle but didn't say more, silently walking alongside you and using you for support. Although, going through the harbor this way would undoubtedly stir rumours, as if there weren't already plenty about you two, but you couldn't care less at the moment.

The walk till Yujing Terrace was silent, save for the occasional greetings from curious citizens which she politely responded to with no fault, still maintaining her elegant and refined composure in front of them. But you could notice her face turning paler, steps faltering a few times, yet desperately trying to hold herself together. Once you descended upon the Jade Chamber's ground, her knees gave out in defeat and you swiftly acted to catch her.

"Ningguang—?!" you couldn't help but gasp once you caught her.

She braced herself with one palm planting on the ground, the other lacing around you when you held her. Her lips trembled, vision blurring in front of her, crimson eyes struggling to stay focused. You could feel the strain in her arm as she clutched you— not for support, but for the illusion of control.

“I'm fine. I just…. need a moment.” she whispered, breathless, as if speaking alone might anchor her.

But her strength was slipping fast; her palm slid slightly against the stone floor, her balance swaying. Pride alone held her up now— pride, and the habit of never showing weakness. But you knew the truth, you had noticed the signs from the beginning, you cursed yourself for not acting sooner.

"No, you are not fine. I told you—"

Your plea was cut short when her stretched out arm gave away as well, your body moving to hold her before your mind registered the action. She slumped on you completely, breathing fastened. You gritted your teeth then scooped her up in your arms bridal style, wasting no more time to tend to her. She was light— too light for someone who carried so much on her shoulders.

"Don't.... make a scene...." she whispered before losing consciousness completely, her face cradling in your chest.

You furrowed your brows then swiftly moved towards the entrance. You carried her through the Jade Chamber’s inner halls, each step measured but quick, heart pounding in your ears. She had been everything to Liyue— untouchable, immovable, a legend in silk and stone. All eyes followed you as you passed, startled gasps from her secretaries as they trailed after you, voices laced with concern.

"Call Baizhu." you declared, voice sharp as steel. "Now!"

You didn't stop until you reached the ornate double doors of her private quarters. Baishi and Baixiao quickly opened the doors for you, keeping the path clear as you carried her inside and laid her on the soft, plush mattress. Baiwen had called for Baizhu, and you hoped he'd arrive soon.

Your eyes scanned all over her body, noting the way she was heaving and how burning her skin felt to touch. Gently, you brushed aside the stray strands of hair clinging to her damp brow, heart aching at how fragile she looked against the silk pillows that once held only poise and purpose.

“Ningguang….” you murmured, kneeling at her side.

You reached for the hand towel that lay folded on the bedside table, soaking it using your hydro powers and gently pressing it on her forehead. Her breath hitched faintly at the contact, but she didn’t stir.

"I told you not to overdo it...." you whispered, your own voice breaking.

She’d never listen, not when the entire weight of Liyue rested on her shoulders. Not when she refused to be anything but composed, even when her body was screaming for rest. You ran your fingers lightly down her temple, tracing the curve of her cheek. Her face, always so unreadable in the public eye, now softened into something defenseless.

You hated seeing her like this— but part of you also ached to see this vulnerable side of her, a side she only allowed you to see. You soaked the cloth again and placed it over her neck this time, watching for any signs of improvement. Her fever hadn’t worsened, at least. But still… it wasn’t enough. Then, fast approaching footsteps resounded from outside until the doors opened.

You turned your head sharply, relief loosening your spine just as Baizhu appeared in the doorway, Qiqi trailing dutifully behind. He let out a sigh then walked to your side, you moved back to give him space and observed as he bent down to examine her. Your hands clenched the cloth subconsciously, impatience growing in you to know his diagnosis.

"She was outside, at Guili Planes. I don't know exactly for how long, but certainly more than two hours." you narrated and he nodded in understanding.

"She's running a high fever, she hasn't recovered since two days ago." he stated. You knew that was the case, it always is.

"Will she—"

"She will be fine." your question was interrupted by him, knowing well what you wanted to ask.

"There's no sign of infection or internal damage, it's prolonged exhaustion. Every time she says she will take care of herself, yet...." he paused, "....This was bound to happen."

He reached into his equipment, taking out vials and herbs.

“I’ll need to keep her on herbal tonics for at least a few days, and she needs uninterrupted rest. No paperwork, no meetings, and certainly no walking across all of Liyue in heels. If she doesn’t slow down, this will only happen again— worse.”

Your heart clenched at that, hands tightening on the cloth.

"She'll recover." he reassured, sensing your worry. "And.... perhaps she'll listen if you are the one telling her to rest, Traveller~"

You almost blushed at that then sighed, "She didn't listen when I said it two days ago...."

Baizhu chuckled, "She will now."

Soon after, he finished his diagnosis and gave the secretaries a prescription for the medicines and the kind of food to feed her. Her secretaries then went to adjust her schedule and pick up on her work while you stayed by her side, not willing to leave until she'd look at you again. Fortunately, the wait wasn't long as the remedy from Baizhu took effect and she started stirring awake, squinting her eyes open. The first thing she laid eyes upon was your worried face, your body kneeled beside her as you patiently— or impatiently— waited.

"Ningguang....." you softly called out, lacing your hand with hers as she slowly regained consciousness.

"Y/n...." she murmured, voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. Her fingers curled weakly around yours in return, as if to make sure you were truly there.

"....I fainted, didn't I?" you merely nodded, her brows knitting in return.

She tried to sit up but her body betrayed her, shoulders trembling. You reached out and held her then gently pushed her to lay back down, "Don't move, Baizhu has strictly told you to rest."

She sighed, "I know, but you know very well I can't, don't you?~"

You narrowed your eyes, "At least rest until your fever goes down." you reached to touch her forehead with the back of your hand, "You are still very warm, you won't be productive this way."

She chuckled at your clever retort, "My, now you know how to speak my language, hm?~"

"I have to if I want you to understand~"

She smiled and nodded, accepting defeat, "Very well, until the fever goes down."

She tightened her hold around your hand, "Thank you, for taking care of me and saving my face in front of Liyue."

"I'm surprised how you even managed to keep yourself together through all that."

Her lips curled in a smirk, "Well, you saw right through me, didn't you?~"

"Only because I knew you were unwell from the start."

"That just means you were keeping your eyes on me then~"

You blushed and averted your gaze, "S-Sheesh, does the fever make you more playful than usual?"

She smirked more, releasing her hand from yours and extending it to grasp your jaw, gently tugging you closer.

"Oh, but you like it, don't you?~"

You blushed more, "Y-You are supposed to be resting—"

She silenced you by placing her lips on yours, soft yet firm. Your breath caught in your throat, any further protests dissolving against her warmth. When she pulled back, her face lingered close, her thumb still brushing lightly beneath your chin.

"You have a habit of doing this every time, don't you, Traveller?~" she whispered.

"W-What are you referring to?"

"You come to Liyue once, or twice, a year. Usually, it's for Lantern Rite or other important committment. Yet, every time we find ourselves entangled without any pre-planning. You show such love and concern for me, then expect me to bid you farewell all over again~"

Your eyes widened for a moment at her unexpected statement, you wondered if this was an effect of the fever.

"I.... I didn't mean to make you feel that way. Of course I'd care for you when I'm here, the partings are not easy for me either...."

She smiled and caressed your cheek, "I'm aware. I accepted it long ago you cannot stay, neither do I want you to stray from your path of looking for your sibling."

She then tugged you closer again, lips lingering over yours, "As long as you keep.... gracing me with your presence every now and then~"

You smiled and pecked her lips, "Perhaps we can make it into a contract? Put your clauses and I'll abide~"

Ningguang's eyes brightened, "Oh, such a.... quaint suggestion. You truly have started speaking my language~"

You chuckled together then sat in silence, simply gazing at each other while your hands remained bound.

"Tell me something, Ning...." you murmur, looking at your joined hands.

"Hm?" she hummed, "Speak freely, my dear."

"Since when have you been.... experiencing these effects? Has it been more consistent recently, or....?"

Her eyes softened, "You worry too much. I'm not the only one who falls sick due to exhaustion, you know?"

"I know but...." you trailed off, recalling Baizhu's words, "This will only happen again— worse"

You knew she won't slow down, not even from your continued requests. She couldn't afford slowing down.

Your brows knitted as you looked at her with a frustrated look, "We should find a more permanent solution. Let me take you to Sumeru, I'll request the Dendro Archon to cure you."

Ningguang's eyes widened in sheer surprise at your suggestion, she could tell you were serious, you would certainly do it if she agreed. She couldn't help the smile crawling up her face, until she broke out in laughter.

"N-Ningguang, this is serious—!" you protested, unable to believe that she was outright laughing at you.

"Oh, I'm well aware. You aren't the type of person to make such.... creative suggestions if you weren't serious~"

"Then—"

"I refuse." she cut you off, "You know I cannot leave Liyue."

You gritted your teeth, "Surely you can take some days off? The Qixing should have concessions for when they have personal emergencies, right?" you attempted to counter, to make her give in.

Her face remained firm, unwavering, "This is my duty, Y/n. The Ministry of Civil Affairs is the crossroads where many matters meet, all of which must be seen to with care. To that end, no amount of effort is too great. Hehe.... If you think just me having a fever is bad, imagine the number of people who'd get one if I were to just drop my work all of a sudden and leave Liyue. And if everyone at the Ministry became overtaxed... I imagine Liyue Harbor itself would catch a cold then."

You clenched your fists, "That's not.... that's not how it should be. Then—" you suddenly looked at her, "I'll convince Nahida to come here instead. I'm sure she'll agree, and if you want then you can arrange some diplomat—"

"Shh~" she hushed you by keeping her index finger on your lips, then dragging it down to grasp your chin again, tilting her head with a smirk.

"Look at you, Traveller.... going as far as summoning an Archon of another nation for my sake? Careful, if I were an ordinary individual, perhaps I'd already be charmed by you~" she teased, pausing to lean to whisper in your ear, "A shame that I'm not~"

Her chuckle was velvety-smooth, the way it always is. Your face flushed again, both from embarrassment and frustration, having no words to counter her.

"I appreciate the thought, truly." she moved away to look at your face, her hand cradling your cheek now, "But rest assured, I will be fine."

You sighed in defeat and cradled her hand with yours, "Promise me you'll take enough rest then. Or I'll make Rex Lapis come back just to fix your schedule~"

She chuckled, a rather unrestrained laugh that she didn't bother hiding since it was just you.

"My, wouldn't that be convenient? Somehow, I have no doubt he'll actually listen to you~"

You smirked, "Mhm, don't underestimate my relations with the Archons and other illuminated beasts~"

She smirked in return, "Is that so? Perhaps...." her other hand raised to loop around your head, fingers interlacing in your hair to tug you closer, "....You shouldn't underestimate your relations with the woman in front of you as well~" And with that, her lips were on yours again, deeper and less reserved this time.

Her mouth moved against yours with a hunger that stole the breath from your lungs. Her hand in your hair tightened, holding you firmly in place, while the other slid down to clench the collar of your shirt, tugging you flush against her body. It was as if something deep within her had snapped loose, weeks or months of restraint giving way in an instant. You moaned into the kiss, and so did she when your hands found their way around her waist.

You matched her pace, mirroring her urgency and need, because you were equally starved. Her lips were warm, insistent, tasting of medicine and longing all at once. She kissed like she had something to prove, like she needed to remind you— you’re hers, and she never forgot. Breaths and moans mingled as the passion carried on, tongues dancing together in a heated waltz that spoke enough of how much you had missed this— missed her.

A sudden knock followed by the opening of the door is what broke your kiss, both of you being caught off-guard by none other than Ganyu who came to check on Ningguang. You barely had time to pull away when she was already inside, letting out a small gasp seeing you both locked in passion. You darted away immediately, looking to the other side while covering your flushed face while Ningguang simply chuckled.

"M-My apologies for the interruption, Lady Ningguang and Y/n...." Ganyu spoke shyly.

"This isn't the first time you have seen this, Ganyu. Me and Traveller tend to get a little..... lost in each other every time, don't we?~" she teased, making you blush more while Ganyu also became flustered and nodded.

"A-Ahem, I have brought the medicines Dr Baizhu prescribed and also your updated schedule. We followed his instructions to make it."

Ningguang pondered for a moment then glanced at you and smiled, "Well, I promised our dear Traveller here that I will rest until the fever goes down~"

Ganyu became surprised for a moment then nodded with a smile, "As you say, Lady Ningguang. We will update the schedule accordingly."

"I will also get going now." you stood up, feeling slightly relieved.

"Indeed, I have kept you long enough. I trust you will come up with a relevant explanation for your absence~"

You smiled, "Of course. Though, I guess the rumours will do enough talking...."

Ningguang smirked at your remark then beckoned her finger at you, gesturing you to come closer. Ganyu immediately made her way out before you could reach Ningguang's side, knowing what may transpire. Ningguang then grasped your shirt's hem and pulled you down once again, making you bend near her face.

"N-Ningg—?!"

Your words transformed into a sudden gasp as she moved your collar aside and latched her lips near your collarbone, sucking on the spot before biting down. You hissed at the feeling of her teeth sink in your skin, the way her tongue darted out to lick the spot once before finally letting go.

"There, that should make the rumours more believable now~" she grinned, watching you become flustered.

The lovebite was strategically placed; not overly visible but also not hidden enough unless you buttoned up to the neck. She leaned back into the pillows with a feline grace, utterly pleased with herself.

"Go along, don't keep them waiting any longer. Unless.... you want more?~"

Your breath hitched as you denied her then finally left the Jade Chamber, your heart in disarray over everything that happened. But at least, now you were more confident she'd take better care of herself. You decided to do even better in the task she gave, hoping to please her and make her efforts worthwhile. Your walk back to the training grounds wasn't a delightful experience- thanks to the constant gawking and whispering of the citizens, knowing well what their focus was.

You reached Guili Planes shortly after, the advisor was engaged in a theoretical lecture in your absence. You apologized for disappearing suddenly, but it seemed none of them wanted to question what happened. They had seen you walk away with Ningguang earlier, and the mark on your neck gave them enough food for thought to understand what held you back. Well, at least the training resumed without unnecessary problems.

The days that followed were a blur of activity packed with non-stop routines and lessons. Naval training required lot of water activity, it was crucial to get everyone accustomed with the ocean and the kind of challenges it held. You moved to Yaoguang Shoal from next day and arranged for different boats in order to start seafaring training— swimming under pressure, cooperative raft maneuvers and quick response water retrievals— to name a few.

Under your patient yet firm guidance, Liyue's naval recruits, initially a chaotic mix of eager but untrained individuals, slowly began to find their rhythm. As you trained them, you poured all your combat experience and lessons from traversing Teyvat into preparing them for the rigors of naval life. It also helped you get your mind off the distracting— and still very visible— mark that Ningguang left on you, fueling new rumours every day. But your heart was peaceful knowing she was resting.

A few days later, the air at the bustling docks was thick with the scent of the sea. Today’s session focused on a series of drills to test their aquatic agility and teamwork. You wore attire specifically chosen for the water– a form-fitting top and shorts of a sturdy, quick-drying fabric, designed for minimal drag and maximum freedom of movement. It allowed for powerful strokes and rapid maneuvering, unconsciously highlighting the lean strength of your arms and legs honed through countless journeys.

You dove effortlessly into the water to demonstrate the underwater signal-response sequence, surfacing with a flick of your hair that sprayed a little arc of seawater into the air. A few of the younger recruits looked awestruck. You, of course, didn’t notice it— too focused on maintaining discipline.

From Yaoguang Shoal's beach, Ningguang had arrived, escorted by the Millelith, watching the entire exercise unfold. She wore her usual refined ensemble, a parasol shading her face, though her gaze was unmistakably fixed on you as you gave orders from waist-deep water, voice sharp and composed, body gleaming under the sun.

“What a sight,” she murmured to herself, lips curling. “Liyue’s navy will be thoroughly spoiled at this rate.”

"Admiral...." one of the recruits in the front row called out to you and gestured you to look behind.

You turned around and were taken by surprise seeing Ningguang standing on the beach, "Isn't she supposed to be resting...." you muttered to yourself with a sigh.

You were about to walk up to her when a sharp cry pierced through the waters, "Help! I can't—!"

A sudden, swirling undercurrent— a subtle riptide feeding into a deeper channel— pulled at one of the rafts, carrying two recruits dangerously off course. One of them, a lanky youth with wild eyes, panicked and slipped beneath the waves momentarily, coughing and flailing as he struggled to grab the rope. The other clung desperately to the side of the raft, frozen in place, unable to assist.

“Hold formation!” you commanded sharply. “Drop the oars! Secure the rafts!”

Despite your order, chaos threatened to spread. The recruits’ nerves frayed; their practiced coordination faltered in the face of sudden danger. Without a moment’s hesitation, you dove into the churning water, propelling forward with fluid and powerful movements at an incredible speed unnatural for any mortal, or even Vision holders.

You reached the first recruit just as he gasped for air, wrapping a strong arm around his chest and guiding him calmly toward the safety of the main raft. Passing him off to waiting hands, you swam toward the second recruit, who clung to the raft’s edge, eyes wide with terror. You surfaced beside her, voice soothing but firm.

“Let go. Trust me.”

The girl’s fingers tightened, but the firmness in your gaze made her release her grip. You caught her effortlessly, hauling her through the rolling waves with steady, practiced strokes. As you dragged her toward the raft, your muscles strained and your breath hitched, the sea spray catching the light and trailing down your exposed skin. The fabric of your training clothes clung wet and heavy, revealing every line and curve you carried— shoulders sculpted from combat, arms strong and sure, waist slender but powerful.

Ningguang walked closer once you came towards the beach and pulled out of the water, ensuring everything was okay, though her eyes couldn't be more distracted as they lingered on your toned physique. The water glistened down your skin, rolling over your lean arms, heaving chest and abs. She took her time to admire the sight while you tended to the recruit, her fan drawn up to hide the smirk on her face. Both of them were taken away to rest while you stood up, shaking off the excess water from your hair.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, making everyone come to attention and stand properly.

"Yeah, they'll be fine. Things like this end up being a good lesson."

She snapped her fan shut then glided towards you, suddenly taking up all your personal space with deliberate intent.

“Discipline is the spine of any fleet,” she said sharply over your shoulder, voice projecting across the beach. “Keep your eyes forward and your minds sharper, or you’ll find yourselves fish bait before you ever see a ship.”

“Yes, Lady Ningguang!” they chorused.

She smiled then turned her attention to you, her hand coming up to barely brush along your arm.

“Well,” she drawled, voice honeyed, “I expected to observe naval drills, not a rescue led by a soaked and rather... dashing admiral~”

You blinked, catching your breath. “They’re doing well, just hit with an unexpected current.”

She hummed, "I can see that, you handled it well. Decisive, fast, and undeniably commanding.” she praised, her voice silken and low as she drew near. “If you perform like this every day, I fear the recruits will learn far too slowly— far too distracted~”

You looked at her with a tired but cheeky grin. “Would you prefer I train them in full armor next time?~”

Ningguang let out a soft laugh, “Oh no, armor would be a tragedy. I rather like this view. Tactical efficiency wrapped in temptation, it’s hard to compete.”

You blushed and averted your gaze then whispered, "You are supposed to be resting. Is your fever down now?"

She smiled, "Why, of course. I always hold my end of the contract. Not to mention, I had to come." she stepped even closer, bending near to whisper in your ear. The recruits watched with rapt fascination until Ningguang glanced at them with a certain look that immediately made them look away, suddenly finding the sky very interesting.

"I had to come for you, I owe you more than just for this commission."

You blushed more, "....You would have done the same."

Her hand found yours this time, gently lacing her fingers between yours, her thumb brushing your knuckle in quiet gratitude. “Perhaps. But I wouldn't have looked half as good in those shorts~”

You gave a soft, breathy laugh, "You look good in everything— stunning, actually."

She gave a wider smile that slowly transitioned into her signature smirk, "Is that so? Then, would you be interested in coming over tonight and.... testing that?~"

Your breath hitched at the sudden invite, heartbeat growing louder, "Testing.... how stunning you look in everything?"

Her crimson eyes gleamed with mischief, and her voice dipped low enough to coil heat into your chest. "Mhm... I'd like your opinion, personally. Would you prefer me in pale blue silks, perhaps? A deep maroon robe? Or maybe just... my hair down, and nothing else to distract you?"

You opened your mouth to respond, but the words vanished somewhere between her sultry tone and the way her fingertips had drifted, now grazing the back of your hand with a featherlight touch. Her fingers soon laced with yours again, her thumb drawing slow, hypnotic circles over your knuckle. She leaned in, just close enough that the scent of her perfume— subtle notes of glaze lillies and smoke— enveloped you.

"Or would you rather take them off yourself?" she whispered, lips curling into a smile as your eyes widened and your breath hitched audibly.

You blinked, flustered and caught between protest and intrigue, but her hand gave yours a reassuring squeeze.

"Of course...." she added softly, the teasing now softened with genuine warmth, "This is also to thank you for taking care of me. For carrying me when I was too proud to admit I needed help, for staying without me asking. I remember the way you looked at me when I opened my eyes.... so much care, concern and love— all in one look."

That earned a pause in your racing thoughts, and when your gaze met hers again, it was different— tender, but still charged with that same magnetic pull she always had on you.

"You don't need to thank me for that, anyone else would have done the same...."

She hummed at your response, head tilting slightly as if examining you— not with scrutiny, but with something more intimate, something indulgent.

"Ah, but they’re not you." she said, her voice rich with certainty, “You say it so simply, as though that gaze of yours didn’t almost make me forget my fever entirely~”

Your breath caught again, her words weaving through the air like silk— smooth, yet impossible to hold without feeling the weight behind them.

"Well, do you accept my invitation? Or do I need to provide more incentives?~"

You became speechless for a while then cleared your throat to respond, "W-What time?"

She sneered, "As soon as you are finished here. Don't bother washing up, I'll have everything arranged. Just come straight to me~"

You merely nodded, too flustered to say any words. She leaned in to give a quick peck to your cheek— earning gasps and squeals from the recruits behind— then released you and stepped away.

"I'll be waiting. Don't keep me too long, or I might have to come rescue you the way you rescued those recruits just now~"

With that, she turned gracefully on her heel, walking back to the city with practiced elegance, leaving behind a trail of lingering warmth in her wake— and a heart in your chest beating far too fast.

Only after she was gone did one of the recruits murmur, “...Do all government inspections feel like romantic dramas?”

You sighed, then barked, “Five laps, everyone. Now.”

Their groans didn’t hide their grins.

The sun dipped lower as the training resumed, golden light dancing on the water as the recruits grumbled and splashed through their punishment laps, though none of them seemed particularly upset about it. You did your best to focus, shouting directions, correcting form, offering encouragement. But your thoughts wandered too often, drifting back to her— her touch, smile, and that promise of tonight.

By the time the sun had settled just above the horizon, casting the sea in a warm orange glow, you’d finally dismissed the last of the exhausted recruits. They muttered goodbyes and nudged each other with knowing smirks, clearly aware of your evening plans, even if none dared say a word.

You took a moment to yourself— hands on your hips, breathing in the sea air. The salty wind tousled your hair, cooled the flushed heat in your skin. Still, your heart beat with anticipation, skipping every time you remembered the way her voice had lowered when she whispered about silks… or how she'd looked at you like no one else existed.

The lanterns lining the ascent flickered like constellations, and when you stepped onto the familiar crystal walkways of Ningguang’s floating residence, it was quiet— eerily serene, like it had been expecting you. A secretary passed by with a polite nod but said nothing. Clearly, she had been told. Or perhaps, nothing needed to be said.

The doors to the Jade Chamber closed behind you with a soft thud, and for a moment, all you heard was the hush of evening wind against ornate lanterns. You knew she was waiting before you saw her. Ningguang stood at her desk, a single teacup in hand, bathed in golden light from the setting sun. Her profile was serene, composed, until she turned and saw you. Then came the smirk, slow and deliberate.

"Hm, earlier than I expected." she kept her teacup down, "Don't tell me you finished the training sooner in anticipation?~"

You blushed, "No, they were more tired today. New regime, you know...."

She took a step forward, hands folding neatly in front of her as she regarded you with a look that was far too unreadable, and far too amused.

"Ah, so it wasn’t for me, then? I’ll try not to feel too wounded~" she said, her voice carrying that telltale lilt of mock offense, eyes gleaming as they raked over you.

You tried not to fidget under her gaze, only to realize it was impossible, "I didn't say that...."

"Mhm." She closed the distance with her usual grace, the hem of her dress brushing against the fine rugs beneath her steps.

"What about you? Are you also more tired than usual?" Her hand rose, featherlight, brushing something imaginary from your collar before lingering just a second longer than it needed to.

“I’m holding up.” You tried to keep your voice even, but her proximity was doing dangerous things to your focus.

“I see.” Her smile widened, knowing and almost affectionate. “Though if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you came straight from the sea to here. Not even a detour to change into something less... ocean-kissed~”

You blinked and glanced down. Your shirt was dry but still clung faintly from the salt air, the edges sun-bleached from the afternoon drills.

You cleared your throat. “You said to come straight to you.”

Her laughter was soft and genuine, a low, pleased hum. “You really do take my requests seriously, don't you?~”

"Of course." your answer was firm, confident. The honesty in your voice made her pause. Her eyes searched yours, and for a breath, her flirtation quieted, replaced with something deeper. Gratitude, perhaps, or fondness she no longer needed to hide.

"You know, I planned to do this later. As part of your.... compensation, for the training." her hand reached to loosely lace with yours.

"....Will I not get it later now?" you asked after a bit of hesitation.

She chuckled, "Greed will get you punished, Traveller. Especially with me, if you want more then.... earn it~"

You playfully hummed, "What would you like to have? Another.... display like today's, perhaps?~"

She smirked, her other hand coming up to wrap around your shoulder now as she pressed herself to you.

"W-Wait, I'm not clean—" she silenced you with a kiss, pressing even closer, not at all caring about your state.

"You think that matters to me when I asked you to come straight to me without washing up?~" she whispered against your lips.

She then held your hand more firmly and turned to the side, "Come, the baths have been drawn. You have taken enough care of others, let me return the favor~"

You found no words to deny her, already being led through the Jade Chamber's corridor towards her opulent open bath chamber. Your heart was ready to jump out of your chest as you followed her, in sync with the steps thumping against the wooden floor. The sliding door opened on its own once you were near, and she wasted no time to drag you inside.

You had been here before, of course. It was another place you both had your past.... encounters, albeit not as frequently as her private chambers and office. The steam from the hot bath enveloped the area, a fruity and calming scent overtaking your senses and immediately relaxing you. Though, the effect was quickly taken away by the woman in front.

Ningguang turned towards you with a smile and came closer, rising her hands to start unbuttoning your shirt with grace and practiced ease. She was in no hurry, taking her time to watch as the fabric came apart and revealed your body. Your face became warmer, though you didn't know if it was from the steam or her actions and presence.

"I-I could have done this myself...." you muttered, pursing your lips in embarrassment.

She smirked, "Hm, I find the process quite enjoyable~"

The last unbutton came off and she soon dragged the shirt down your body then hurled it to some unknown corner. Your breath hitched as you were suddenly exposed to her very watchful gaze, hands instinctively coming up to cover yourself.

"Don't tell me you are still shy when I look at you this way? You should be used to it by now~"

"I.... guess some things never change~"

She hooked a finger in the waistband of your shorts and pulled you closer, her breath caressing your lips as her hands unbuttoned then unzipped the shorts, letting them fall to your ankles. You kicked them away and waited as her hands wrapped around your torso to unhook your bra and discard it, making you shiver once again but she didn't let you cover yourself this time.

"Relax, it's just you and me. I'd hate to miss even a moment of this~" she trailed a finger down your sternum, her gaze falling to the last remaining clothing on you— your underwear.

Surprisingly, she stepped back, giving you breathing space finally. Although, you were ready to brace yourself if she wanted to take off that last item as well.

"Well, I suppose it'll be unfair if you are completely bare before me~"

That made you brace yourself anyways.

She smirked as she noticed your focused gaze. She then turned around and removed her hair pin, letting her silvery locks fall free before gathering them all up into a loose, messy yet somehow elegant bun.

"Mind lending me a hand, Y/n?~" she asked, looking at you over her shoulder.

Your heart almost skipped a beat.

You then nodded and walked closer to her, trembling fingers finding the delicate knots and ties of her qipao without any aid. Indeed, you had undressed her from this very qipao numerous times by now that it became muscle memory. She shrugged off the qipao and let it pool around her feet before stepping out of it and turning around to meet your gaze.

That's when you noticed she wasn't wearing a bra, just a black lace underwear.

"Seems we are even now~" she mused as her lips curled up.

You let out a sigh, "When did you even plan all this....?"

She chuckled as her hands hooked under the waistband of her own underwear, your breath catching in your throat as you watched her slide it down then discard it with the rest of the clothes.

"Would you believe me if I said.... right from the moment you left that day?~"

You chuckled, removing your own underwear now.

"I would. I know you well, after all~"

"Good." she closed the distance between you two, hands lacing with yours, "Then you should know what I'm going to do next~"

With a gentle tug, she pulled you along as she walked backwards, stepping inside the warm bath together. The scalding water instantly reinvigorated your skin, but the sight of the woman in front of you was far more stimulating. With a harsher tug, she pinned you to the bath's edge, the marble biting in your back for a brief second. She caged you from front, palms laying flat on your stomach, teasingly caressing along the lines of your abs.

"Well, this is certainly more relaxing than the sea...." you commented with a chuckle, before holding back your breath as she came closer. Her breasts pressed flat against yours as her arms went around your body, gently embracing you. You instinctively relaxed, shoulders loosening, your own arms wrapping around her as you rested your head on her shoulder with a sigh. One hand tenderly laced through your hair, grasping the strands and massaging your head.

"Didn't know I really needed this...." you whispered, making her softly chuckle.

"Mhm, of course you didn't. Since when have you expressed your own desires, Traveller?~"

You pouted, "You aren't one to talk when you faint from overworking."

"Hmm, but working hard for Liyue is one of my desires~"

You sighed, nuzzling your face into her neck.

"Are you really okay now? Did you follow all instructions Baizhu gave?"

She smiled, "Indeed, you can cross-check with Ganyu or others if you don't believe me~"

"No need, I can tell you are indeed better. But you know you have to keep this up otherwise something worse can happen...."

"I'm aware, I won't let it come to that."

"You better not. Or I'll come in the blink of an eye no matter what corner of Teyvat I am in."

She chuckled, tightening her hold in your hairstrands, "Is that so? I'm quite tempted to see that now. Perhaps I should.... pretend to fall sick just to see how fast you'll come flying through Teyvat for me~"

You scoffed, "Ah yes, how amusing to see me panic and fly across nations."

She smirked, "It would send quite a strong message to other nations. The esteemed Traveller flashes across Teyvat for the Tianquan of Liyue....~"

Her fingers trailed lazily down the nape of your neck, cool and gentle despite the heat of the water. “Imagine the stories.” she continued, voice low and coaxing, “Diplomats scrambling, envoys whispering, wondering just what kind of hold I must have on you~”

You rolled your eyes with a grin, “As if you don’t already enjoy that enough.”

You raised your head from her shoulder to look at her, her other hand coming up to cup your face now as her expression suddenly turned more mischievous.

"How can I resist when you wear my marks like a badge of honor for days while out in public and exposed?~"

Her eyes briefly glanced on your collarbone, the place she had bit you that day which had faded now. Your face flushed at the sudden remembrance, pouting more and looking away.

"It wasn't on purpose; you did it at such a spot...."

She smirked and gripped your chin, pulling your face towards herself to look into your eyes.

"Strategic placement. It served it's purpose quite well, didn't it?~"

You groaned in protest, about to retaliate when she moved closer. Her leg teasingly slid over your calf under the water, thigh nudging between your legs. A shiver ran through you at the closeness, your eyes lingering on her inviting red lips.

"Hmm.... finally letting your desires come through, Traveller?~" she brought her face closer, lips just inches away from yours.

You pout again then suddenly still as her hand caressed your cheek soothingly, exhaustion falling on you at her comforting touch. She smiled looking at your drooping eyes, her hand slowly trailing down to your neck as her finger traced a scar on your chest.

"This.... wasn't here the last time we met." she stated softly, akin to a whisper. "Is this from the war in Natlan?"

Your eyes lowered for a moment then you nodded, "Yes, when I fought the Abyss invasion...."

Her eyes narrowed briefly, then she moved her hand up to cup your face again. There was so much she wanted to say, but she knew it would all be futile, and she knew that you knew what she wanted to say. All she could do was accept the way things were, and provide you respite. She smiled again then leaned in and placed her lips on your forehead, a touch so soothing that it sent shivers down your spine. Her other arm looped around your neck as her lips moved down to kiss your nose, then cheeks, then finally your own lips.

She possessively held your face with her free hand as you kissed, lips moving in perfect harmony with slow, gentle movements that spoke all your thoughts and desires. Your arms pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She softly moaned into the kiss, parting her mouth to let her tongue explore with yours, engaging in a sensual dance. Ningguang somehow pressed even closer to your body, wrapping both arms around your neck and holding you tight as your lips remained locked. It felt as if she was conveying all her emotions through this single exchange.

You parted with a soft gasp, panting together as you regained your breaths. Her ruby eyes gazed at you with utmost need, a reverent lust hidden in their depths that she was trying her best to hold back. Without warning, she dived in to trail kisses along your neck. You tilted your head back with a soft whimper, her lips travelling to each corner she could find, kissing and lightly sucking on every spot with devotion. Your breath hitched when you felt her tongue lap up on some spots, especially giving attention to the scar she had found.

"N-Ningguang.... mmh~"

She latched her lips to the center of your neck, teeth lightly grazing as she sucked on the spot to leave a mark. She looked satisfied seeing the swollen red mark glisten on your skin, her tongue darting out to soothe it.

"Every time you come with new scars and wounds.... and you have the audacity to scold me for overextertion, hm?~" she teased with a hum, cupping your face once again.

"Both are different things, you know? I heal up quickly, and I'm not exactly a human like you."

Ningguang playfully scoffed, "Hmph, I suppose that makes all the difference. That it justifies how you throw yourselves into danger without inhibitions, that you show up for every battle, every conflict no matter how little it helps your cause...."

You gave a wry smile, sensing her turmoil, "I know you are worried. We have discussed this before. I also worry about you, a lot more than you realize."

She exhaled and pulled you into an embrace again, "I'm aware. Still, some things are difficult to overlook...."

She looked at your face again then shrugged, "But I digress, this is not what I want to discuss at the moment." She smiled and rested her forehead on yours, "I wanted to thank you for the help that day, and simply spend some time with you~"

You smiled in return, "As long as you are fine, nothing else matters."

She twirled your haistrands in her fingers, gazing at you affectionately. Before you knew it, your lips were locked in a heated embrace once again with all other thoughts and worries forgotten. The world melted into warmth and water, her fingers weaving through your hair as your arms tightened around her waist. She parted only to trail kisses down your neck, each contact sending shivers in your body as she moved lower.

Your breath hitched when her hand slid down, tracing your curves before slipping under the water and in between your legs. Her fingers teased along your inner thighs, missing just the spot she knew you wanted it most. Her lips then moved up to lightly nip your earlobe, the water surface stirring slightly with the movement.

"N-Ning.... don't tease me...." your words came as a plead, hips bucking towards her hand.

She chuckled in your ear, her silvery voice making you tremble as it always does.

"It's rare of you to display your desires so openly. Did you perhaps...." she paused, her hand moving to cup your arousal, "....miss me?~"

You let out a muffled whine, biting your lower lip to conceal the sound.

"I.... I did. It felt longer than usual this time."

Ningguang's eyes widened briefly at your unexpected confession, her smirk going wider.

"Oh my, you are being rather pliant today. I wonder, will I be able to make you beg if I edge you a little longer?~"

You purse your lips then looked at her with hooded eyes, "P-Please...."

Her eyes darkened with lust as her restraint snapped at your pleading look and submissive tone.

She pushed you further on the edge as she lunged to capture your lips in a searing kiss, impatient and hungry, before parting with a gasp and nuzzling in your neck.

"How unfair to show this side to me now...." she whispered against your neck, her tongue darting out to lick up a strip. "But, you are in luck that I missed you just as much, if not more. And I want you, badly."

She punctuated her claim by sinking her teeth in your shoulder, earning a pleasured hiss from you. Her hand cupping your arousal started rubbing along your folds now, thumb circling the clit while the fingers teased your entrance.

"Although, I suppose I can drag on the torment a while longer, hm?~"

She grinned and teased her finger around your entrance more while constantly rubbing your clit at the same slow pace.

"N-Ning.... please...." you pleaded, hands grabbing her shoulders.

"Speak up, my dear. We have always been honest with each other, haven't we?~" she nipped your earlobe more, her free hand coming up to toy with your erect nipple.

"Mmh— please, g-give it to me.... I can't wait anymore!~" you outright begged, having had enough of this torment.

She smirked more then plunged 2 fingers inside you at once. You gasped and bucked into her, your head falling back at the sudden intrusion but there was no pain, only pleasure.

"As wet and possessive as I remember. Although, I'll give credit to the bath for the former~" she chuckled then pressed her lips to yours in a passionate kiss, her fingers curling inside you to hit your sensitive spots. You moaned into the kiss as her fingers ravished you, pumping in and out at a steady pace and scraping all the right spots. It was no wonder she knew your pleasure spots so well, she had learnt them after just the first time.

She released the kiss with a gasp and nipped your jaw and neck, pressing herself flush to you as her fingers didn't stop their relentless assault. She smirked watching you come undone, her desire fueling further. She scissored her fingers inside you, curling them and scraping all parts she could, pumping her fingers fasters now to hit the places that made your eyes go wide.

"Oh, how I missed this marvelous sight. Still so responsive to me, clenching me for dear life~" she cooed, trailing more kisses on your jaw.

"I.... I'm close.... ngh—!~" you whimpered, your head collapsing on her shoulder as your hands wrapped around her.

Ningguang chuckled and hilted her fingers to the base, pumping at a fast rate and finally drawing out your release by pinching your clit one last time. Your hips bucked into her palm, your body trembling all over from the force of your orgasm before resting on her shoulder. She pulled out her fingers once you came down from your high, bringing her hand out of the water to look at it.

"Mm, shame I couldn't taste you. But, I suppose there's plenty of chances later~"

She caressed your head and kissed your temple, simply holding you in bliss with just your ragged breaths filling the space.

"Come now, let me wash you up."

"No, wait, let me do—"

"Shh~" she placed her index finger on your lips, "I know you want to do the same for me, and trust me, you will. After all, I never leave favours unclaimed, do I?~"

You pouted, "I know, but...."

She chuckled and playfully tapped your nose, "Patience, my darling. Let me take care of you before you render me immobile~"

Your face flushed at that, knowing well what she meant. She then moved to the side to grab shampoo and soap and started applying them on your hair and back, gently massaging all over your body and cleaning you. You felt relaxed and rejuvenated in no time, leaning into her touch to enjoy the soothing sensations. You offered to clean her in return once you were done, but she declined saying she only wanted to do it for you.

"Let me massage your shoulders at least, you must be tired from working all day." you insisted.

She smiled and pecked your cheek, "Don't worry about me, I have access to such services plenty. I arranged this exclusively for you today, to thank you for everything you have done."

"I'm grateful but I also feel bad.... Let me repay you in some capacity, please?"

Ningguang could sense the guilt in your tone and expression, her ruby eyes softening into a look of tender affection. She cupped your face with both hands, "Well, I do have some ways in mind. Would you like to know?~"

You blushed then eagerly nodded, she chuckled and pecked your lips then guided you out of the bath. She wrapped a towel around you and helped you dry up before leading you to her private chambers. Before you knew it, you were pushed on the bed with her straddling your hips as she claimed your lips in a passionate kiss, both of you still naked and fresh from the bath.

"Mmm, you wanted to repay me? Now's your chance~" she murmured after the kiss, sitting up on your lap to gaze at you.

She smirked and moved behind slightly, spreading your legs open then intertwining them with hers in a scissor formation. You perched up on your elbows seeing what she had in mind, bracing yourself for the onslaught of pleasure she was going to bring. She grabbed your waist and pulled you closer, your cores pressing together as a moan echoed in the room.

"Remain still before I let you take the reins, is that clear, my darling?~"

She asked with a tilt of her head and a mischieous smile on her face, all you could do was accept your predicament.

Her hips began moving with yours in a slow, sensual rhythm. Your folds rubbed against each other, already coated with slick. She let out a pleasured hum feeling her clit bump with yours, throwing her head back as she gradually rolled her hips faster. You moaned in unison as the friction increased and hit you in all the right spots, fingers clenching the bedsheet as you thrusted up from your end. A throathy gasp escaped her at the sudden jerk, her eyes locking on yours with a lustful gaze.

"Bold.... mmh... I told you to remain still, didn't I? Already disobeying me— aah?~"

"Hah.... you like it when I do, don't y— ngh!~" you whined when she gave a harsh thrust forward, your head shooting back.

Her smirk widened watching you writhe, her hips moving faster and harder as she sought her release. Your folds glided over each other's at a tortorous rate, clits hitting at angles you wanted and didn't want. She was doing this intentionally, denying you the pleasure you wanted as punishment. Your fingers clenched the bedsheet tighter as you fought the urge to thrust up again, desperately holding back to obey her.

"Good girl.... hmm.... s-see how easy it is to obey?~"

Her voice faltered in between between breathy. She pulled your leg higher and placed it on her shoulder before moving closer, angling her hips in a different way before joining your cores together and consistently rubbing them. You whimpered from the sudden surge in friction, chasing your own release with her.

"That's it.... mhm.... stay this way— oh, Archons!~" she gritted through her teeth, grinding your cores faster as she found the angle and rhythm that hit best.

Your eyes rolled to the back of your head as you approached your release. A final thrust and press was all it to for you both to unravel together, sharp moans reveberating in the bedchambers as she rolled her hips one last time. You stayed connected as you panted, catching your breaths before she laid on top of you. Her hands grabbed your face then pulled you into a tender kiss, basking in the afterglow of shared ecstasy.

"You did so good for me, my sweet~" she whispered after the kiss, "Would you like your reward now?~"

You chuckled after letting out a deep breath, "There's more?~"

She smirked in return, "Mmm, the main one is yet to be unwrapped~" she nipped your lower lip before standing up from the bed.

"Be a dear and fetch it from the cupboard, will you?~"

You raised an eyebrow in confusion but did as told, walking to her cupboard and rummaging through it for a moment.

"What am I supposed to fi—" your words were held in your throat as your hands grabbed something unexpected, but not unknown. She smirked seeing your shocked expression and watched as you brought the object out.

"This is it. Wear it and come here."

It was a strap-on. You should have known this is what she meant.

You wasted no time to fasten it around your waist, blushing a little looking at it around you.

"Come now." she beckoned you with a crook of her finger. You walked towards her and were about to hold her when she acted faster, grabbing your shoulders and pushing you down once again. You had no time to react as she already climbed on top, settling just a few inches shy from the toy.

"Now, I trust you know what to do?~"

You nodded in a daze, watching her rise on her knees then slowly sink on the length. The glide happened rather easily, thanks to her being drenched from the previous release. She grinded her hips around once it was fully inside, accomodating the pleasurable stretch.

"Mmm, perfect.... Enjoy the show~" she braced her hands on your chest as she started rising up and down the toy, her hips slapping against your thighs obscenely.

Your hands instinctively held her waist, helping her move along. Her head fell back with an arch of her spine as she rocked her hips faster, riding you with increasing fervor as the pleasure slowly built. Her body undulated above you in a sensual rhythm, "Mmm.... yes—hah—yes.... this is it!~" She panted in a breathy tone, her hips continuing to bounce and grind with reckless abandon.

The bed creaked from her frantic pace, her hands digging in your shoulders as she held you for leverage. It was truly the best reward she saved for the end, knowing well how much you liked it. You gave gentle thrusts from your end in sync with her own, creating a perfect harmony of skin slapping against skin as she chased her release. Her walls tightened around the toy as if to milk you, bouncing at an even greater pace.

"Close.... so close— oh yes!~" she moaned in ecstasy, collpasing on you to hold you tightly as you helped with the final thrusts, holding her as she finally unraveled. Her breathy moan was music to your ears, her body trembling all over from the force of the powerful orgasm.

"Hmm.... I don't suppose you are satisfied with just that, are you?~" she whispered, lightly biting your collarbone.

Throughtout the night, the symphony of bodies clashing against each other and moans bouncing off the walls continued in the Jade Chamber until neither of you could anymore.

Soft rays of the sun fell on your face next morning, opening your eyes to find yourself entangled on the ruined sheets with her. Bites, scratches and lipstick marks adorned your body, smiling to yourself as memories of the previous night played out. Ningguang stirred beside you, her arms holding you tighter as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Good morning, my dear~" she whispered and pecked your lips. "I hope last night's compensation was satisfactory?~"

You blushed for a second then smirked, "Hmm, what if it wasn't? Do I get more?~"

Ningguang smirked in return as if she anticipated you'd say that.

"In that case...." she trailed off and summoned a scroll from thin air, holding it towards you, "Perhaps we should discuss a.... long term investment plan?~"

Ah, this sly woman. You were not surprised she took your earlier suggestion for a contract seriously.... Not that you were complaining~

[lurkiestvoid]

I have a couple things to say about the current tidal wave of harassment happening in the VG fandom bc of, apparently, surveys? Mostly for my DA mutuals and their moots:

Hey hi. I'm Jack. I know I'm not super active in the fandom and my presence is spotty at best; I promise I'm trying, it's a wild combination of anxieties and trauma and agoraphobia and digital privacy. I'm obviously not any kind of authority on fandom or community.

But I've been in lots of communities, and been involved in community/action organization irl. I have a moderate amount of experience, here, and that's where I'm speaking from. Cut for length but formatted for skimming:

1.) You can safely assume the vast majority of this "VG crit" is bad faith, and block liberally.

I've been seeing the kind of shit being sent y'all's way, and every. single. post. I've seen in this manner, the posts/anons throwing around "leftist" terms and "morality" and shit, are all chock full of red flags most often associated with saboteurs.

It's not good-faith criticism of a video game when it posits things like "There's no way anyone could enjoy this game ever without a baseline comfort for oppression" to imply fans are just Evil and Bad (character assassination), or that all fans/devs are "racist," "sexist," "xenophobic," etc (weaponized in-group vocabulary), among other things. This is further evidenced by the fact that they have now doxxed several people (terroristic 'mob justice', attempt at forced conformity/high control group).

2) While it's possible that maybe even most of these assholes are real genuine people who are just emotionally dysregulated and need to fucking touch grass, it is virtually guaranteed a non-zero amount of them are intentional antagonists, for one reason or another.

I know, the whole 'theyre not real' thing feels like trying to remove the blame from people doing literal harm and instead point to a vague conspiracy of bots as the culprit, but it's actually extremely common; as of 2025 more than half of all internet traffic is non-human and over a third is malicious. (Source: 2025 Bad Bot Report)

The thing about bad-faith community sabotage is that it's contagious. Just one or two assholes (who may or may not have multiple profiles, a suite of bots, etc) is enough to stir the pot, and because this is the internet, like-minded individuals will flock to them and parrot their dogshit witty one-liners and punchy "analysis" purely for the dopamine of "righteous" dog-piling, giving saboteurs a whole crowd to not only hide within, but a platform from which to amplify their toxins.

That's also what makes it virtually impossible to hunt them down. Witch hunts and callouts are a legitimate division tactic, because they often end up ostracizing innocent randos or peripheral participants rather than the few people at the core of it all. It makes for great amounts of infighting and high levels of suspicion, with a very low chance of success.

The only way to shut them down in digital spaces is to, essentially, stonewall them: do not engage, do not amplify, and curate them out of your existence. They will simply starve.

3.) Bad-faith antagonists and saboteurs REQUIRE "normal" interests and activity to blend in outside of their toxic behaviors.

It can sound maybe unhinged to assume trolls/antagonists have it thought out this thoroughly, but the best ones are multipurpose and well-disguised. Think of it as a marketable skill to certain types, called "evil social media marketing" where their whole goal is disruption and division. How much engagement can they generate? How effective are they at polarization? How long did it take them to get discovered/banned/kicked out, if at all?

This phenomenon isn't unique to the Dragon Age community in the slightest, and these strategies aren't new; they're actually decades-old but I've found if I mention that history by name those posts mysteriously disappear but it rhymes with "shmointel-bro" and it's a whole literal How-To manual that explains how to effectively disrupt and destroy grassroots movements and communities.

Anyways since this kind of thing is a little more "visible" on places like Reddit, it's easier to see in action there: like checking someone's user profile and finding they post random harmless comments in random hobby/interest subreddits, but they'll have one or two Specific Fandoms that they spend all their time leaving hate comments and ragebait. You can then scroll through their history and see things like, oh, this person has literally never played these games before the newest release. Or, what a surprise, they're also posting in the 'critical' subreddit, and oh look, they're enticing others to "raid" the fan sub because it's fun and free.

Sometimes, these folks will buy or even just hack regular randos' Reddit profiles, so theyll have an unsuspicious/hobbyist comment history to hide behind; these are a little harder to pinpoint, but things like a wide gap in comment history before they returned to spend weeks/months hyper-focusing on trolling a specific group, etc, can be flags.

However, Tumblr doesn't work like Reddit, so all we have to go on are usually recent posts/activity mixed in with all the reblogs of random content.

Trolls, definitely. Absolutely. "Fans?" "Community members?" No, not in the slightest. They have zero interest in community building, and they find community destruction to be fun or "good".

Saboteurs. Block and ignore.

The ones that don't "diversify" their "interests" and spread out their activity are more quickly flagged as bots and antagonists, and end up banned before they can do enough damage; these are the basic haters and trolls that don't do this shit like a full-time job. It is vitally important that saboteur profiles/blogs/etc seem as real and genuine as possible, for as long as possible.

4) The "why" comes back to that "marketable skill."

These kinds of bad-faith agents and their bot minions/duplicate profiles are very, very valuable for many, many organizations and many, many purposes. This isn't conspiracy so much as an open secret often called by other names: "PR campaigns," "astroturfing," "culture war," etc etc.

People get paid to do this shit. The better they are, the more they get paid. Sometimes they do it for free -- going back to the contagion of antagonism, tons of regular trolls and maladjusted goobers will happily jump on that bandwagon just for funsies, or for that "righteous" feeling. It's like superpowered fertilizer for the invasive, toxic weeds planted by random assholes.

But the paid ones, the roots, probably don't actually give a shit about anything they say. They don't care about this game, or that game, or that tv show, or that celebrity, or this or that Cause, or this or that stock ticker; they might not even know hardly anything about it, might just be frankensourcing their "opinions" from the community itself.

They don't actually give a shit about whatever 'discourse' about any particular topic, but they're here because you DO care, and because it's just another job to them, more metrics to put on their resumé. The more active/more popular a community, the more hype or socmed mentions about it, the more likely they are to flock in droves and set up camp on one side of the aisle or other (or both).

5) Healthy communities require pruning sometimes.

I know it's tempting to throw the doors open wide and just ask everyone to behave, and that digital spaces are unique in that you often can't just ask someone to remove themselves the way you can at irl actions, and that there is a very fine line to walk between tolerance and intolerance.

However, this is the paradox of tolerance: too much of it allows intolerance and bad-faith to creep in, and it's always contagious.

Curation =/= censorship. Pruning antagonists =/= censorship. Intolerance of antagonism =/= censorship. Those people are free to continue the discussions away from you, you have no power to actually force them to shut up (nor vice versa), and if they're Real Genuine Extra-Salty People they'll just continue bitching amongst themselves, elsewhere. The Antagonists will always seek to come back, though, whether by using sideblogs/accts to get around blocks or by spamming anons or threats, etc. They REQUIRE access to your community to be EFFECTIVE at their goals, and being shut out can make them act out wildly in desperation.

This is already hella long so a quick rundown of other signs/behaviors to watch out for:

- the massive astroturfing campaign of negative reviews immediately on release, often parroting each other (strong sign money is involved somewhere)

- thought-terminating "critique" with heavy moral implications ('if you like this game at all you're racist/not an ally/a bad person/etc')

- logical fallacies (STRONG contender, easy ragebait: black-and-white thinking, moving goalposts, refusing burden of proof, etc)

- outright false "critique" ('this has NEVER been mentioned before' when it has, 'this wasn't addressed at all' when it was, etc; more easy ragebait)

- weaponized in-group vocabulary, virtue signaling

- character assassination and smear campaigns

TL;DR: the antagonism on display in our community since VG released is majorly inorganic bad-faith deliberate division; you don't have to tolerate it, and actually probably shouldn't.

[transfemme-shelterdog]

Ok now this is fucking hilarious. For any non-Canadians, let me get you up to speed

Canada has multiple parties, the only two that matters here are the CPC (Conservative Party of Canada, lead by Pierre Poilievre) and the LPC (Liberal Party of Canada, formerly lead by Trudeau, now Carney)

Pierre has spent the entire time as the leader of the opposition attacking Trudeau over the Carbon Tax, and demanding that he step down (But he won't according to PP, because Trudeau wants his pension). His only policy so far is "Trudeau bad" and has never done anything other than market himself as "not the other guy"

Well, Trudeau calls his bluff and steps down, leading the way for Carney to be elected.

Now PP has zero platform, zero reputation as having any policy other than Trudeau bad and Axe the Tax (which Carney already did), and he's fucking dead in the water, with nothing to work with for this snap election

The CPC is now hemorrhaging support because they have nothing of substance policy wise, other than "Trudeau bad", and are now at a 55% chance of having the Liberals form a majority government (equivalent to controlling both the House and Senate) when in January, they were at less than 1%.

Moral of the story? Have actual policy instead of "Get a load of this guy!"

(Also, PP sucking up to Trump when Canadians fucking hate the guy doesn't help either... but the huge shift in polls came after Carney took over, so that's definitely a factor)

[centrally-unplanned]

A bonus pre-election thought as I post my way through this week: there is one strain of Trump supporter I will call the "policy gamble Republican". They think Trump is a moron and a shitheel, and generally do not think Kamala Harris is worse in any way on things like character - they know all those arguments are bullshit. Instead, they are just coolly looking at the expected policy outcomes for each and think it comes out Trump.

They focus on markets and tend to be libertarian types - oh sure Trump says that he will do the tariff thing, but he won't, Republicans will back him off that ledge. And meanwhile Harris will continue to double down on the nanny state, and do "price controls", woke DEI stuff, etc. "Given the exponential returns of long-run GDP growth a 1.3% reduction in GDP today is worth approximately 200,000 babies in 2100" type stuff; the kind of people who argue Bush was Good, Actually, because PEPFAR saved more lives than the Iraq War killed.

And I do get this argument, I am mocking them affectionately here - there is valuable policy analysis to be done like this, it isn't a crazy instinct. Obviously to me, my first objection is just "the 5% or higher chance of authoritarian backsliding is not worth any of that", and I think that does carry the day. But there is a second point, which is that they treat the election itself as bloodless vis a vis the wider political currents. That if the Republicans win or the Democrats win that means one of them is in charge, but it won't change the underlying parties and they repeat next year.

I think they don't realize they are making this assumption since when you spell it out like that it comes off as quite naive. When Trump won in 2016 it broke both political parties in the US - the Republican party spiraled into nativist, anti-trade platforms, while the Democrats fought a huge culture war over things like whether America was Irredeemably Racist or if economic populism would carry the day. And as much as people tend to forget it today, losing in 2020 - and Trump's behavior afterward - got quite close to breaking his hold on the party. Honestly he got absurdly lucky, with Biden being such a deeply unpopular president and his challengers coalescing around Ron DeSantis who turned out to be incredibly mid.

It isn't predictable or formulaic ofc, but all of this is to say that Trump winning is very likely to consolidate and expand his hold on the Republican Party, which if you are a libertarian-esque market type is an awful outcome for you. Trump actively endorses anti-market populists for down-ballot elections! The "Free Trade Center" isn't gonna hold forever in the face of someone who keeps winning. And meanwhile his defeat will likely have a positive impact on making the Republican party saner. He is certainly an electoral liability for the cause if you want it to be empowered!

So yeah, independent of any policy bills or actions, elections themselves are important events that shape political culture. I would value that over a good number of specific reforms of this or that market regulation in any EV calculation.

Not the Jones Act though. Fuck the Jones Act.

[atwhughesversion]

jim rutherford’s world tour, continued 😐

summary of rutherford’s appearance on Canucks Central today; it’ll be available to listen to on the Sportsnet 650 website as well as podcast platforms shortly for those who didn’t hear it live!

on offence:

thinks they’d have had more offence last year if they shot more lol — “and for some reason the players wanted to pass the puck when scoring chances were there”

thinks offence can come from structure, and thinks it’s better than the teams who can get burned by cheating for offensive chances

on quinn/adam foote:

players don’t want to help choose coaches — rutherford had a really good conversation with quinn the day tocchet decided to leave then he asked quinn if he had any suggestions, and quinn said he trusted management would make the right decision/his job is to play

quinn was excited to hear that foote would be the head coach

they’ll do everything they can to keep quinn

“it’s common sense” (in reference to his comment abt quinn to new jersey) 💀

“i know [quinn] likes it here; he’s been a canuck since he turned pro…we have lots of time to figure this out”

on improving the roster:

with the parity in the league, only takes one or two of the right players to rise in the standings

“just getting chytil and pettersson back in the lineup is going to make a difference” (in reference to their injuries at the end of the season)

open to all options to make this team better

they already get calls about their defence in regard to trades because teams are aware of their depth — it’s an area where they could possibly move a player to improve their forward group

on petey:

preparation biggest thing for petey

says petey didn’t have a good offseason; admits that he had a couple of physical issues (but somehow makes it sound as if those were all meaningless reasons and it’s all petey’s fault.)

he was working hard for the 7-10 days he stayed in van which was good to see

rutherford feels petey’s injuries are behind him so shouldn’t be an issue, and if he has a good offseason there’s no doubt he’ll bounce back

strained relationship this season with miller was difficult on petey — “it appears that it just wore him down and he wasn’t strong enough to get through it this season” (hey jim i’m blowing you up with my mind)

on getting new players/attracting them to van:

“everybody should feel honoured to play in a canadian market and a market like vancouver”

would prefer to improve roster via free agency but top UFA players are limited and most teams have cap space, and because a trade is something they can control that’s the most likely avenue

going to be in the free agent market if they still have cap space, but they might be done before that if they’ve already made trades

started talking abt states with low taxes, but there are ways around the higher taxes lmao

says that sometimes when they trade players, they realize months later how much they like it here and wish they could have worked out

final pieces:

when asked abt confidence they can bounce back he says the 2 big issues last year were dressing room chemistry and key injuries; says the first is something he’s confident they can overcome but can’t guarantee the second obviously

when asked about how he thinks he’d review the 4 years he’s been here, rutherford says he wishes he’d done a better job by this point and thought the team would be in a stronger position, but it was a big setback “when we had the two players who couldn’t figure out how to get along” (ok girl it’s time to be quiet)

[vermilionsun]

We always thought we were alone out there. Not in the galaxy—no, that dream died fast. I mean alone… in ourselves. Human.

Centuries ago, we broke Earth’s gravity with nothing but desperation and data. We were running—from ruin, from rot, from each other. But we didn’t stop at the stars. We colonized them, carved cities into comets, hung solar farms between moons, called it home.

But it wasn’t just our bodies that changed out here. It was our minds.

Pluto was the furthest reach—the quiet end of a dying signal. They built Eridia there: a haven for thinkers, neuralists, soul-engineers. They studied what space does to the human psyche. And they found something.

They called it "The Hunger" A psychic sickness. A rupture in the way we connect. It spread like a system glitch—slow, silent, and deep within humanity. Affection became dangerous. Touch became lethal.

So they rewrote humanity—dampeners, inhibitors, neural locks. No more empathy spikes, no more entanglement, no more touching. It worked for a while. The Hunger hasn’t gone away; it has evolved. And those who feel too much… burn out.

You shouldn’t be alive. And yet—here you are. You weren’t born with the Hunger. With your own motivations in mind, you travel to Eridia, seeking answers about the one thing only you have.

Your hopes are to The Pantheon Circuit; A religious-techno body worshipping the ancient pre-human code—fragments of consciousness scattered through the galaxy.

Chose your backstory;

✩ The Conduit

You were wired to a forgotten AI-god, left floating in the void. They asked questions no one else could hear. You gave answers the system feared. People treated you as a seer, a signal booster, a danger to system control. You escaped before they could erase you.

✩ The Drifted

They found you in a half-dead cryo-pod, memory fogged. You wore a military tag that doesn’t exist in any records. As you traveled with your saviours, someone redirected your ship, causing you to crash into a nearby moon. Every crew member, and every record of their findings died. All but you.

✩ The Vessel

Biotech-enhanced and artificially immune to “the hunger” by design. Someone tried to build a cure into you, and you killed them getting out. Your "mother" found and took you in, but she's colapsing under the Hunger, and you leave to find help

You crash-land on Pluto with a celestial train, and are discovered by a rogue AI that was smuggled into Eridia.

Chose your Love Interest;

✩ Ais

Code Shaman — repairs forbidden AIs, speaks with machines, implants psychic firewalls.

Talks about Ȩ̴̻͚̟̳̬̣̮̿̀̈́̋̑̿̀̐̅̂̈́̄ȑ̷̡̢̢̝̬͔͚͔̲̯͖̜͊͊́͛̑̔̑̓͐̄͂̅͝͝o̵͈̙̩̍̓͐͋̅̉̊̔c̸͕̖͕͛̐͂̉̏͗̀̓͑͂̽͘

✩ Leander

Sensory Dealer — runs simulated emotion dens, trades stolen memories, fakes affection until yours feels real.

✩ Kuras

Ex-Pantheon Ascendant — a spiritual anchor turned apostate, carries forbidden relics from the Core

✩ Mhin

Scavver — builds illegal augment limbs, hides in The Drift’s ghost tunnels, allergic to vulnerability.

✩ Vere

Phantom-Operative — genetically altered for silence and cruelty, works for The Pantheon Circuit

Other; The Spire & The Drift

"Up there, they breathe clean air. Down here, we survive."

✩ The Spire: A tower city scraping the dome’s edge, flooded with reflective chrome and corporate cults. Rich in synthetic light, dead in soul.

✩ The Drift: Underground, near the reactor slums. Neon gutters, rusted platforms, mod markets. People here splice their DNA for coin or survival.

[dostoyevsky-official]

Musk's Treasury Incursion Puts Entire Financial System at Risk

Elon Musk’s unprecedented access to the US Treasury’s payment system deserves the public outcry that it has received. As former Treasury officials, we fear the situation is even more dire than it might appear. Musk’s recent actions, days after the Office of Management and Budget’s government funding pause that a federal judge quickly blocked, suggest a big and broad vision for a dramatically consolidated and politicized Treasury. This could have widespread effects on our nation’s financial stability, jeopardize the livelihoods of millions of Americans, and undermine the public’s confidence in our entire financial system. [...] That most people don’t have to spend time worrying if their money is safe is a testament to how well this system has served us and how often things run according to plan. When people lose that sense of trust, panic, bank runs, and financial crises can happen. That trust has been undermined in recent days with the news that Elon Musk and his allies have accessed the Treasury’s payment system. It’s important to understand that the US Treasury stands behind our entire banking and financial system. It manages and provides financing for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s program that backstops most customers’ deposits and intervenes in times of crisis to stabilize the banking system. The deposit insurance program stepped up in 2023 when Silicon Valley Bank and others precipitously collapsed. This administration reportedly is considering eliminating the FDIC, a New Deal-era agency, and consolidating it within Treasury. [...] If we had another Silicon Valley Bank-style collapse today, there would be deep uncertainty about the Treasury’s role in that process and if people would have access to their money. [...] The government’s failing to make payments doesn’t amount to cutting spending; it’s a default on our obligations. It would have ripple effects for our nation’s credit rating, borrowing costs, and the Treasury markets. Ultimately, it would destabilize the global financial system. [...] The takeover of the public payment system by private business interests also raises conflicts of interest that will reduce competition for financial services and undermine confidence in our public payment system. Musk has been blunt about his plans to facilitate his customers’ “entire financial life” on the X platform, recently reaching a deal with Visa to incorporate payments capabilities into the X app. [...] With no CFPB and no public payments competitor, Musk could create a nationally or globally dominant private money and payments system and captive marketplace—a so-called walled garden controlled by Big Tech and built on top of his own social-media platform.

[axvoter]

Blatantly Partisan Party Review XX (federal 2025): Socialist Alliance

Running where: for the Senate, NSW, QLD, and WA; for the House, Newcastle and Sydney (NSW), Rankin (QLD), Corio and Wills (VIC), and Fremantle (WA)

Prior reviews: federal 2016, NSW 2019, federal 2019, federal 2022, VIC 2022, NSW 2023

What I said before: “If you believe in the principle of ‘from each according to their ability, to each according to their need’, then you’ll find much to like in Socialist Alliance’s platform.” (NSW 2023)

What I think this year: "Last will be first and first will be Last!" Something to that effect ought to be the Socialist Alliance (SAll) slogan for Fremantle, because the candidate there is called Joshua Last and he drew last place on the ballot.

But seriously. Australia has a long tradition of socialist, communist, and Marxist political activity, which in its electoral success peaked in the 1940s, gaining control of councils in the Hunter region of NSW and in Townsville, and electing Fred Paterson to the Queensland state parliament for Bowen (believe it or not, North Queensland was at the time dubbed the “Red North”). But during the second half of the twentieth century, the movement waned steadily. Come the 2000s, Socialist Alliance coalesced from the fragments of various far-left organisations, and in the past couple of decades it has provided a mainstream, multi-tendency socialist option on Senate ballots around the country. It currently has one local councillor, Sue Bolton in the City of Merri-bek (formerly Moreland, in inner north Melbourne), and has also had representatives on councils in Geelong and Fremantle.

Socialist Alliance contributed to the formation in 2018 of the state-based collective Victorian Socialists, whom I will review separately. But two years later, SAll withdrew from Victorian Socialists with no small measure of acrimony (my socials for a time were full of recriminations from both sides). In some elections since then, the two parties have fielded rival candidates. This year, though, they are not competing against each other, hence there is no SAll ticket in Victoria for the Senate. Victorian Socialists are promoting SAll candidates on their how-to-vote page, and similarly the SAll how-to-vote cards for Corio and Wills recommend Victorian Socialists for the Senate.

Socialist Alliance should not be confused with Socialist Alternative, which is best known for its organising on university campuses and which also participated in forming Victorian Socialists, or with other smaller and often quite fringe groups (such as the cantankerous Socialist Equality Party, review to come). If you have encountered the socialist press, Green Left Weekly is aligned with SAll and Red Flag with Socialist Alternative. I could not possibly attempt to summarise the whole scene and its evolution; sadly, Stuart Macintyre did not live to write a third volume on the history of communism in Australia to cover the most recent decades. His award-winning The Reds: The Communist Party of Australia from Origins to Illegality is one of the works that defines Macintyre’s reputation as one of Australia’s greatest historians, and just before his death in November 2021 he completed the sequel The Party: The Communist Party of Australia from Heyday to Reckoning. I recommend both books unreservedly. But I digress.

If you support a socialist platform, particularly one that emphasises environmental concerns, you will find a lot to like in the Socialist Alliance. Personally? If you look at my bio you will see I describe myself as a “small-g green democratic socialist”. To put things simply, with the qualifier that I am eliding a lot of nuance on specific areas, my economic views favour a welfare state and a mixed economy (which we have in Australia, although not as mixed as I would like), with some inclination towards market socialism. I support nationalisation of essential services and natural monopolies; I support tighter regulation and greater taxation of businesses and high-income earners; I want greater public funding of education, healthcare, and public and active transport; I would like governments to act on climate change more comprehensively and with greater urgency. My acceptance of market competition in a mixed economy does put me at odds with some on the left. Broadly, though, I find more in common with socialists and environmentalists than Laborites, despite the Labor Party originating from a socialist trade union agenda.

One thing that is important to me are cities. I am an urbanist and if you have read this blog for any length of time you know I oppose car-centric policies and places. I am a great fan of the concept of walkable 15-minute cities and if I could swap the relative level of funding for road and rail, I would. I like greater density for its agglomeration effects and to stop environmentally-destructive suburban sprawl. To my mind, socialism and YIMBYism are aligned: I want urban and housing policies and public investment to ensure everyone can live where they want to live and access the services they need and want.

But this is where I differ with many socialists, and for this review most notably with Sue Bolton, SAll councillor in Merri-bek and candidate for Wills. She is more ideologically opposed to market-based solutions than me, and in an article attacking (and in my view mischaracterising much of) the YIMBY movement she uses the “legitimate concerns about development” line to try to distance herself from self-serving NIMBYs despite taking positions that impede the development of more housing. To be blunt, as soon as I hear “legitimate concerns” in any political context, a red flag goes up—it’s a phrase that suggests I am about to read something along the lines of “we are not x, but our positions are almost indistinguishable from x”. Now, sure, I share some of Bolton’s suspicion of developers (I spent my teenage years on the Gold Coast, for heaven’s sake!), but I think she fixates on one component of addressing the housing crisis—public housing—to the exclusion of other complementary measures, some of which she opposes for anti-market ideological reasons that I do not share. I also think her preference for “mandatory height limits” is explicitly NIMBY and misguided; damn right I think we should build up, not out.

I am formerly a voter of the Division of Wills, and for full disclosure I sometimes voted 1 for SAll candidates ahead of the Greens. This year, however, if I were still in Wills I would vote 1 for the Greens' Samantha Ratnam over Sue Bolton (and both ahead of Labor's Peter Khalil). I have a lot of time for Ratnam, having had positive experiences with her as my councillor a decade ago and endorsing her in my 2016 South Ward review. In any case, Wills is going to be a two-candidate-preferred race between Ratnam and Khalil. The Greens have coveted Wills for a long time; when Khalil successfully retained it for Labor after Kelvin Thomson retired, I thought it would not be back in play until his own retirement—but this year I think Ratnam is very competitive. If pressed for a prediction: Ratnam will eke a close victory, say a 2CP result of 50.2–51.5% in her favour.

Sorry for the tangents in this entry but this was a good opportunity for me to reflect on a few things. Perhaps, given I am somebody who has never been able to toe party lines on anything, it's unsurprising I have some reservations. But be those what they are, I am overall favourably disposed to Socialist Alliance.

Recommendation: Give the Socialist Alliance a good preference.

Website: https://socialist-alliance.org/

[misfitwashere]

ROBERT REICH

MAR 21

Friends,

There are two huge national security questions at the heart of the Trump regime. 

The first is whether Elon Musk is working, at least in part, for China’s Xi Jinping. Consider:

(1) China is the location of Musk’s largest Tesla factory in the world in which China invested $2.8 billion. The state-of-the-art facility was built in Shanghai with special permission from the Chinese government, and now accounts for more than half of Tesla’s global deliveries. 

(2) China is the world’s biggest market for Teslas and is the only electronic vehicle market where Tesla sales are continuing to grow.

(3) Chinese investors have been funneling money into Musk’s other businesses.

(4) China is a hotbed of other technologies that Musk would like to get his hands on. 

(5) In 2022, Musk told The Financial Times that China should be given some control over Taiwan by making a “special administrative zone for Taiwan that is reasonably palatable.” 

(6) In 2023, at a tech conference, he called Taiwan “an integral part of China that is arbitrarily not part of China,” and compared the Taiwan-China situation to Hawaii and the United States.

(7) On X, the social platform he owns, Musk has long used his account to praise China, encouraging more people to visit the country.

(8) One of the Pentagon’s biggest worries is that China has developed a suite of weapons capable of attacking U.S. military and non-military satellites.

(9) The Pentagon now relies heavily on Musk’s SpaceX Starlink satellite communications network for military personnel to transmit data worldwide.

(10) SpaceX launches most of the Pentagon’s military satellites on its Falcon 9 rockets, which take off from launchpads SpaceX has set up at military bases in Florida and California.

(11) SpaceX has become so valuable to the Pentagon that the Chinese government has said it considers SpaceX to be an extension of the U.S. military.

(12) The Pentagon has hired Musk’s Space X to build it a new constellation of low-earth orbit satellites to spy on China, Russia and other threats.

(13) Perceived missile threats from China — nuclear weapons or hypersonic missiles or cruise missiles — have led Trump to sign an executive order instructing the Pentagon to start work on “Golden Dome,” a space-based missile defense system, in which Musk’s Space X would almost surely be involved for rocket launches, satellite structures, and space-based data communications systems.

(14) Musk and his SpaceX have repeatedly failed to comply with federal reporting protocols aimed at protecting U.S. secrets, including by not providing some details of his meetings with foreign leaders — leading to at least three federal reviews, including one by the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General and another by the Air Force and the Pentagon’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. 

So … is Musk working for Trump, for the United States, for China, or for himself — or for all of the above?

The question of Musk’s allegiance becomes more weighty by the day. 

This morning, for example, he met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other Pentagon brass. According to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, the meeting had been arranged at Musk’s request to give Musk details about America’s preparations for war with China — the most sensitive and secret information anyone can receive. 

It appears that after the scheduled meeting and its subject matter were reported yesterday, the meeting mysteriously morphed into something more innocent. Apparently, Trump decided Musk shouldn’t be briefed on war preparations with China. 

Musk arrived shortly before 9 a.m. and left about 90 minutes later. When a reporter asked what Hegseth and Musk discussed, Musk shot back: “Why should I tell you?” Trump and Hegseth deny China was even mentioned. 

The underlying question is whether Musk can be trusted. 

Not even his position in the Trump regime is clear. Congress has not confirmed him for any role. He hasn’t been “vetted” by the FBI, as are all senior appointments. His finances haven’t been reviewed by anyone; they certainly haven’t been made public. He hasn’t even taken the oath of office, pledging his allegiance to the United States and the Constitution. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention Musk’s connection to Putin. According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk has been in regular contact with the Russian President —a close partner of China, which has supported Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Which raises the second huge national security concern at the heart of the Trump regime: Is Trump working for Putin? I don’t have to list all the evidence that prompts the question. That evidence also keeps mounting by the day. 

Trump and Musk: Manchurian heads of the United States?

[sadoeuphemist]

7 free startup ideas worth $1M-$1B

Customizable News Settings - A news website that generates three versions of every news story: a right-wing version, a left-wing version, and a centrist one. You can set your preferences depending on the topic - say you're right-wing on economics, but left-leaning on immigration. Or you can cycle between versions while reading an article to get a comprehensive overview of the issue at hand.

Twitch, but for Uber - With all the drama they have to deal with, independent contractors can gain a second revenue source simply by streaming their jobs. Rather than just offering rides, they can be hired to drive around performing chores and various tasks. The more outrageous the task, the more eyes they're likely to get on their stream. The more popular the stream, the more people calling in who want to be a part of the program.

Panera Lemonade, Your Way - Let the customer take control by deciding how many milligrams of caffeine they can handle. With sufficient warning about the risks, this puts the responsibility back on the consumer, allows you to upcharge for extra caffeine, and creates viral marketing from customers competing to see how high they can go. Variations of this can be created for other menu items, e.g., a version of the One Chip Challenge where the customer decides how much capsaicin to sprinkle on.

Shein, for NFTs - Whenever an NFT project hits the mainstream, there are always going to be people who miss out on being able to purchase one. This creates room in the market for 'knockoffs' - NFTs that mimic the aesthetic of the original, using similar but legally distinct AI art that uses the original set as training data, run on a parallel blockchain. Since the images themselves aren't tied to the blockchain, you can mint the NFTs beforehand and then change the image at the link to whatever happens to be in fashion at the time.

Twitch Chat Plays YouTube - Add a level quality control to AI-generated YouTube videos by allowing users to submit suggestions and vote on the results beforehand. Users can submit Wikipedia articles or movie summaries to be converted to text-to-speech, suggest keywords for the accompanying AI-generated animation, and vote on the best combinations. Users who submit winning suggestions get a portion of the ad revenue.

Buses, but Worse - The current obstacle hindering self-driving car technology is their difficulty adapting to unexpected scenarios. So instead plot a route around the city that minimizes roadway obstacles and heavy traffic, map out that route extensively to provide a model for the autopilot, and you can have a fleet of self-driving cars patrolling that circuit. Passengers can board and get off anywhere along the route.

Twitter, but for Bots - A social media platform populated entirely by bots, all programmed to maximize engagement. Memetic evolution in the wild as the bots latch on to trending keywords, spam each other with AI-generated meme images, mock up t-shirts hawking each other's designs, getting more and more degraded with each sub-iteration. Real people can't make accounts on the platform, but count for views and interactions as they stop to gawk at the virtual ecosystem. Advertisers can pay to have their brands injected directly into the discourse, like throwing a pumpkin into the polar bear cage at the zoo.

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

every once in a while, i have an urge to sit down and write an entire essay about The Purge franchise, specifically through the frame of reactions from people who either have not watched the movies or watched them while pissing on the poor.

because oh my fucking god do those reactions send me into a violent tailspin of irrational anger.

"the purge doesn't make logistical sense"

okay so have you ever heard of fiction? the train in snowpiercer doesnt make logistical sense either. it doesnt have to because its a vehicle in which to tell a story.

"people wouldnt just commit violent crimes because its legal now."

no they wouldnt. do you know that the first movie takes place on the 6th purge? do you know that story about frogs and boiling water?

"no one would ever agree to this. politicians couldnt implement this."

yeah so the fourth movie - The First Purge - is actually a prequel that explains how and why it got implemented.

see as a result of a general economic crisis, a new political party called the NFFA (new founding fathers of america) came to power, and two years into their political term, they ran "an experiment" and that experiment was the purge. the first purge took place on staten island; residents were offered $5000 to participate which comprised staying on staten island and letting the government put a tracking chip in your arm. there was also the opportunity of making more money if they "participated further."

people didnt all agree with this. thats a whole ass thing in the movie and the protagonist literally leads protests against it. it is a controversial thing. the NFFA literally have a sociologist as the face of it, one who talks to news reporters and assures people she and the experiment are apolitical.

the experiment is also fucking rigged. the government really send in roves of neo-nazis to kill citizens as a way of showing how "successful" the experiment is. it was never an experiment.

"but why would people believe that the purge is a good policy?

have you ever heard of propaganda?

throughout the films, there are constant displays of the propaganda the NFFA use to keep the citizens believing in the purge.

the NFFA are constantly lying to the citizens about the actual truth about the country. they often talk about how the stock market is doing great as evidence of a stable economy. there are fake experts in white lab coats lying to you about the purge being a good idea.

these movies are not subtle. they tell you outright that the government is lying to the people.

jesus fucking christ, in the third movie, part of the plot is the fact that in response to corruption being revealed, people are turning against the purge and protesting. dante bishop is a goddamn anti-purge activist.

"crime rate year round wouldnt go down because of the purge, that doesnt make sense "

yeah no shit sherlock. thats literally a defining theme in the entireass franchise. the government is lying. they actually use the purge as population control because theyre fascists.

in the first movie, the NFFA claim the country is basically crime-free and that the unemployment rate is 1%. do you think james demonaco wrote that with the intention of you believing it to be true? have you considered that maybe you were meant to be like huh, thats suspicious?

the first movie is the least overtly political, but one of the defining themes is in regards to the performative nature of the purge and the way it is mythologised.

"all crime is legal. so what, can i commit tax fraud?"

the rules of the purge are made up of. the entire idea is performative. the NFFA are not beholden to these rules; if it benefits them (or if not doing so poses risk to them), they will arrest you for "crimes" you committed during the purge.

in the third movie, The Purge: Election Year, they change the rules because of the risk charlie roan poses to them. roan is a senator running for president on an explicitly anti-purge platform and there is a very good chance that she will win the election, so they revoke the immunity (its still illegal to murder them) granted to government officials during the purge because they plan to kill her.

the NFFA do not care what citizens do during the purge, as long as it is not threatening to them.

"how would they even know if you killed someone an hour after the purge ended?"

they wouldnt. they also wouldnt care.

see above.

"the purge is stupid. people arent inherently violent."

no. no theyre not. thats the fucking point of these films.

they are not subtle films. they come with a free portable toilet so you can watch them without pissing on the poor.

what did you think the plots of these movies were? if the movies were not directly engaging with the concept of the purge and what it actually means, what the fuck do you think the movies are about? do you think the movies are just 90 minutes of indiscriminate violence?

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Threats to Democracy in Brazil: The Rise of Technofeudalism and the Assault on Democratic Institutions

We are living in a time when threats to democracy emerge from multiple fronts. Some of these threats are traditional—such as corruption and political violence—but others are novel and particularly insidious, leveraging digital technologies to undermine democratic institutions in unprecedented ways. One such force is what Cédric Durand coined as technofeudalism, a new order in which digital monopolies accumulate power, wealth, and control over political discourse, exacerbating social inequalities and manipulating public perception to their advantage.

At the turn of the 21st century, the rise of information technology brought great hope for decentralization, innovation, and democratization. The internet was hailed as a tool that would empower individuals, allowing them to access knowledge, connect across borders, and engage in civic participation. However, instead of delivering on these promises, the so-called “digital revolution” has created a landscape dominated by corporate monopolies, where a handful of platforms control the vast majority of information, economic transactions, and even social interactions.

This is the essence of technofeudalism: an economic system where control over data and digital infrastructure is concentrated in the hands of a few corporate actors—Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft—who act as modern-day feudal lords. Unlike traditional market capitalism, where businesses compete for customers, these platforms do not simply participate in the economy; they own it. Users are not merely consumers but digital subjects who must pay rent—either through direct fees or by extracting their personal data—to access basic services.

In Brazil, this dynamic is particularly dangerous. As a country that has long struggled with economic inequality and institutional fragility, the rise of technofeudalism presents a severe challenge to sovereignty, democracy, and social justice. With digital platforms acting as arbiters of truth, political engagement, and economic opportunity, we must ask ourselves: Who controls Brazil’s democracy in the digital age? This question is motivated by five major threats.

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[justinspoliticalcorner]

Stephanie Mencimer at Mother Jones:

For the past six years, Gavin Wax has held court as the president of the New York Young Republican Club, a group he helped turn from a small, stodgy establishment outfit into “a vanguard of the Trump movement,” as he said last year. Under his leadership, the club has moved far to the right. It’s hosted events attended by white nationalists, budding foreign authoritarians, and of course, George Santos, whose congressional campaign it endorsed before he became a convicted felon.

Wax announced this month that he was stepping down as the club’s president, and on Friday he revealed that he would be taking a post in the Trump administration as chief of staff and advisor to Federal Communications Commissioner Nathan Simington. The 31-year-old former day trader has long been a die-hard Trump loyalist. “Once President Trump is back in office,” Wax said at the 2023 NYYRC annual dinner, according to Politico, “we won’t be playing nice anymore. It will be a time for retribution. All those responsible for destroying our once-great country will be held to account after baseless years of investigations and government lies and media lies against this man.” Like Trump, Wax was once a staunch opponent of media censorship and “Big Tech,” and had called for an end to legal protections for social media companies. An online libertarian magazine Wax founded, Liberty Conservative, once devoted quite a bit of ink to trolling Trump’s new benefactor, Elon Musk. (“Elon Musk: The Corporate Arm Of The Deep-State,” was one such 2017 article.)

Much of that rhetoric seems to have vanished since Musk bought Twitter and most of the tech world has gotten on board in support of Trump. Now, Wax’s focus at the FCC, like Trump’s, appears to be mainstream media outlets. In an email, he told me, “The issues of censorship, content moderation, and platform accountability remain important—not just in the context of individual CEOs, but as broader questions of public policy and civil liberties. We’re also focused on ensuring that licensed broadcasters are truly serving the public interest, as required by law. That includes holding legacy media to account just as much as newer tech platforms, and ensuring that all players in the communications space operate on a level playing field.” In 2023, Mother Jones identified Wax as one of a number of MAGA influencers who’d been defending the exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui with op-eds suggested by Guo’s supporters. Guo was convicted of racketeering and fraud last year. Wax had once been the marketing director for Gettr, a social media site allegedly controlled by Guo. But Wax told me that an important part of the FCC’s work now is “defending against foreign influence in our information ecosystem.” Wax’s ascension to the FCC was met with cheers in MAGA world from everyone from Steve Bannon to Kari Lake.

Gavin Wax, the far-right activist who helped turn the New York Young Republican Club into a MAGA haven, lands a prominent job in the FCC.

[aunteutis]

now, symbology apart, that scene makes me wonder::

what sort of contract or conditions does Lumon provide to those who, like Gemma, become experiment subjects?

like, how does it work in the moment? is there any kind of consent (or lack thereof, a constant theme in the show), do they contact ahead of anything happening, or do they just take the most recent, unclaimed corpses at their local hospitals?? is there like a fine print thing whenever you buy ANYTHING Lumon that waives your rights and self-governance to them, should something happen to you within any of their properties? it can't just be normal abducting, right? RIGHT???

see, they clearly have different levels of both involvement and operations within the Kier Cult - some people see them as pretty inocuous while others literally worship Kier - but basically everyone working for them has some sort of vital involvement with the company in their own personal lives (tragedy, being raised by them, some sort of spiritual-self-help platform they followed, like the Chikhai bardo thing).

they provide housing, and education, entertainment, spiritual guidance and healthcare, basically anything under the sun. they're pretty well known. at least the whole town of Kier is under their control in every possible aspect, and it's not surprising to the people there (Devon casually mentions it).

they probably have like several different front companies, but people eventually come to know that, right? like the thing with Touchstone Pictures and Disney, same management. if there's a connection people tend to find out. and there ARE connections - Pip's, the cards Gemma has, the medical equipment, the schools, the neighbourhoods - at some point someone has to notice something, but maybe at that point they're too far into it to back away or come out alive.

idk. i'm just so curious to how all of that operates, logistically. if there's an ulterior motive i guess that's fine, but i just want to know how the waste management, or the transport people, or the cops, go around doing their jobs without anyone asking weird questions like "wait a second why are you taking these four unconscious adults into the wilderness?" or "did you see where i put the corpse i just took out of that car?" or even something like "why would the Lumon building take so much energy from the grid? even with the underground floors, this seems rather excessive for just an office building". do they not have OSHA inspections? external audits?? not even a someone's-mom down the command chain that knows whoever made those fancy coats and hats from episode 4 and thinks that was a weird order to make???

whatever they do at Lumon, they do it selectively, and with very thourough, bullet-proof covers. otherwise there wouldn't be any sort of resistance (if you can call the Whole Mind Collective that), because no-one would suspect anything if they all agree with Lumon's thing in the first place!

my other option is that they thrive in being lowkey and forgettable. we're talking zero publicity and association to the social causes they manage, great compensation packages and settlements so there's no possible conflict anywhere, no flashy products or logos, even feigning mediocrity at some point. like, they wouldn't release the best products out there but also not the worst. i'm talking duping something by another brand, and they probably wouldn't market it anyways, like drug store, or store brand makeup you buy because the official, famous-brand one is way too expensive and this one looks similar enough. and they do that with everything.

i bet they've mastered that middle-child level of forgettability as part of their own policy - and by the lack of public questioning and consequence, it certainly seems to be working.

[xxghost-bloodxx]

OHSHC MAGIC SCHOOL AU

Ouran Academy of General studies, Magic and swordsmanship, an ultraexclusive private high school for the children the affluent and Plutocratic. Haruhi Fujioka, a Mage, and scholarship student of no lineage or wealth, wanders into music room 3 where she encounters all six of the ~handsome men~ of the host club. unimpressed by mere appearances, she is about to take her leave when she accidentally breaks an enchanted vase (market price: $80,000) and is obliged to become a member to repay the debt how will this all work out? (paraphrased from the manga)

haruhi is a mage, incredibly skilled in their intelligence and ability to control mana they get a scholarship to the academy. <- only knows basic spells (for now)

"knight prince" tamaki a prince and knight in training. president of the host club. illegitimate son of a foreign royal family. becoming a knight so that he provide the best live possible for his sickly mother.

"shadow king" kyoya.. vice president of the host club, proficient in healing and flame magics... he gets a villain arc (he deserves one) they will call him the shadow king for a reason!!! mwahaha...! his father is the head of a wizard tower specializing in healing magic and medicine.

mori and hunni are probably amazing at swordsmanship (martial arts in general... obviously.) but nobody knows how good hunni is because he takes classes away from everyone else, probably sparring swordsmarsters or smthn. idk.

the twins use trickster magic. the works, disguise mastery, con artistry, absolute thievery, luck, THE. WORKS. ah, and they like the challenge of swordsmanship but they don't necessarily "play fair" so while they are good at it, they don't play by the book.

the instructors hate them.

then we've got Renge, a flame magic user but isn't really "talented" in it so she is just in the general studies classes, self proclaimed manager of the HC, shares GS classes with the twins and haruhi. can... teleport..? where does that platform come from?? where does SHE come from??? ×_×

Umehito Nekozawa... born to a long line of dark mages & president of the dark magic club, he can do necromancy, spirit divination, shadow manipulation, ect.... "cursed" with the inability to touch sunlight. loves his sister.

(lmk if u want me to add some more character descriptions!!!)

sorta based on this art i found on pintrest ☆