#allyship guide

[heyftinally]

Inspired by this post, and specifically this point:

"The people most responsible for providing that soft intro are other allies, not the people who are being directly harmed."

Anyone who calls themself an ally, this post is for you. Consider it obligatory ally reading.

Allyship is active. Allyship is loud. Allyship is also, quite honestly, something you can't label yourself as. You don't get to decide when you've done enough work to be considered safe for that community - the community you want to be an ally to will recognize your allyship over time, but it's something you earn by repeatedly doing the work.

Now let's talk about the work.

Being an ally to any community doesn't just mean you don't hate us/aren't actively a bigot. That's the bare minimum to be a good person, not an ally. Like I said, being an ally is active.

Being an ally means:

Challenging bigoted ideas when you encounter them with facts, statistics, and real-world examples. That means at the family BBQ as much as at the local grocery store on a Thursday evening.

Informing yourself. In order to do the above, you need to be knowledgeable. That means reading books by us about us. Reading blog posts and watching YouTube videos about lived experiences. You have to know us, as best as you are able.

Stand with us. Is there a protest happening in your area? Be there. Not necessarily in the front row, unless they want you there, but adding bodies to the total number in attendance shows support and strength for the cause. Maybe there are only 10 people of a group in your community, but if 20 allies stand with them, that 10 becomes 30 standing up for justice.

Fight for our resources. Is your local library considering removing books about us? Go in and tell them why you think it's important that they stay. Go request books about us and check them out - multiple times. All books about us, too - kids picture books, YA novels, nonfiction, fiction, historical. Get their numbers up so that the data reflects that we are wanted and valued. Or push for local community building to be more accessible. Does the town hall notoriously have a broken elevator? Why? Push for them to fix it.

Volunteer. Is there a resource near you that specifically serves us? A shelter, a nonprofit, etc? Figure out how you can help. Can you work in the office? Serve lunch? Make lunch? Raise money? Donate your time - it's as valuable as money.

Raise awareness. Wear merchandise that represents us (designed and produced by us - shop small!). Educate others on our struggles and how they can help. Any time someone says "I like your shirt" is an opportunity for you to say "thanks! It was designed by [artist], who is [minority] as a way to raise awareness about [topic]".

Now more than ever, marginalized communities need support. That means we need allies doing the work that we've been doing for so long. Because we're tired, but we don't have the option to stop fighting, because it's *our* lives we're fighting for. Allies can help take some of that burden, at least for a little while.

[thetitan555]

cis man frantically teaches you bridget basics before 'The Town Inside Me' ends. the very basics. very, very basics. basics like:

Dash and press the [S] [H] [H] combo

Keep them out with [P] or [S]

Hold down+back on defense, or use [↓ K] (fast) or [→ ↓ ⬊ P] (invincible)

Grabs beat blocking

don't waste your burst please don't gold burst it's not worth the bit

[enolabar]

Essential Guide to Support a Trans Friend: 10 Real-World Tips

Learning how to support a trans friend is one of the most powerful acts of everyday allyship. Trans people worldwide still experience higher rates of violence and discrimination; a 2024 survey by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency found that 67 % of trans respondents avoided public spaces last year to stay safe. The ten steps below—rooted in empathy, respect and evidence-based practice—show exactly how to stand beside your transgender friends.* 1. Listen First, Ask Second The simplest way to support a trans friend is to listen without judgment. Start with open-ended invitations such as “How can I show up for you this week?” and respect any boundaries they set. Active listening validates their lived experience and prevents well-meaning but intrusive questions. 2. Pronouns & Names: Zero-Tolerance for Error Using the correct name and pronouns is non-negotiable. If you slip up, apologise briefly, correct yourself and move on—centering your friend, not your guilt. Normalise sharing your own pronouns in email signatures and on social profiles to ease the burden on trans people. 3. Educate Yourself Proactively Your friend is not a walking dictionary. Read trusted resources like the GLAAD Transgender FAQ and the World Health Organization’s gender-incongruence fact sheet before asking questions. Arriving informed shows true commitment to support a trans friend. 4. Speak Up When You Hear Transphobia Silence sustains stigma. Call out slurs and “jokes” in all-cis spaces: a calm “That language isn’t okay” can shift the room. Publicly challenging bias protects your friend even when they’re not present and models allyship for others. 5. Honour Each Transition Path Every transition journey is unique. Some people pursue hormones or surgery; others do not. The best way to support a trans friend is to honour their choices and offer practical help—rides to appointments, a sofa for post-op recovery, or celebrating a haircut that affirms their gender. Ready to deepen your allyship?Join Enola to connect with trans voices, swap resources and discuss real-world support in a safe queer community. 6. Protect Privacy Like a Guardian Outing someone without consent can jeopardise their safety at work, school or home. Always ask before tagging photos, sharing locations or discussing their gender history. Good allies guard secrets as carefully as their own. 7. Amplify Trans Voices & Creators Follow, share and fund trans journalists, artists and activists. Explore first-person essays on Enola’s Stories feed, then signal-boost favourites on social media. Visibility leads to influence—and influence drives change. 8. Offer Concrete, Everyday Help Tangible gestures speak volumes: accompany your friend to a gender-affirming clothes shop, rehearse coming-out talks, or help navigate paperwork for legal name changes. Practical assistance makes your promise to support a trans friend more than words. 9. Celebrate Every Milestone Whether your friend corrects a misgendering colleague or secures ID documents in their true name, mark the win. Recognition combats the drip of daily micro-aggressions and reinforces self-confidence. 10. Keep Showing Up Allyship isn’t a badge you earn once—it’s an ongoing practice. Laws, language and personal circumstances evolve; so should you. Stay curious, keep learning (try the APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender People), and check in regularly: “How are things this week?” Consistent presence is the clearest way to support a trans friend over time. Why This Matters Mastering how to support a trans friend doesn’t just help one person—it strengthens the entire LGBTQ+ community and chips away at structural discrimination. Together, we can build classrooms, workplaces and public spaces where every gender identity is respected. Quick Resource List GLAAD Transgender FAQ – language & myth-busting Transgender Europe Rights Map – up-to-date legal status by country Trans Lifeline – peer support hotline, crisis resources

WHO Gender-Incongruence Fact Sheet – global health perspective APA Transgender Guidelines – mental-health best practices For daily updates on legislation, culture, and community wins that affect trans and queer people worldwide, keep an eye on Enola’s LGBTQ+ news hub—you’ll find the latest headlines and in-depth analysis at enola.gr/news.  

[yourfaveisintersex]

asking from a place of humility and genuinely wanting to know better/more, what does better care for intersex people look like? what actionable items can those of us who aren’t as directly affected by medical intersexism push for to increase quality of life for intersex people? if i were to have a child who came out intersex, are there safety plans i could put in place with our birth care team to prevent my baby from suffering genital mutilation? i don’t want my allyship to start and stop with “ur valid uwu,” i want to really meaningfully help intersex people, and i just feel lost on where to even start. i have really mild PCOS and aside from having more masculine features and some pain from cysts i otherwise function as a perisex person, but i want to do more to help.

(i also don’t mean to act like you the operator of this blog specifically have all the answers, i’m very open to hearing the opinions of other people, you just came across as knowledgeable and i thought you might possibly have some insight.)

Hoohkay this is gonna be a long one, especially because I asked for some help from InterACT's Discord server InterSpace to make a comprehensive answer! I'm also going to tag @interactyouth and @dhddmods as recommended by 'em for you to possibly check out, the first being... well. Duh. It's THE intersex youth advocacy group in the US of A, and the latter because I was told they're really passionate about ending all forms of IGM— and doing general activism. Hope y'all don't mind!!

Here's some more InterACT specific resources before I start getting into the meat & potatoes under a cut, to fill this out a little and make sure in case I miss anything, you might find it in any of these links.

Advocating Health Equity for Intersex Individuals by the HHS (link), hosted by InterACT as Trump's administration has removed it from the HHS's website

The Fight Must Include Intersex Rights brochure (link)

Know Your Rights: A Guide For Parents (link)

InterACT Legislative Toolkit (link) — In regards to legislation, InterACT recommends you work with an organization instead of doing so independently, as they've been doing it longer knowing the right arguments, and you can get the right context and support from an organization.

Obligatory "PLEASE add onto this post if you have something you want to share" especially because anon invites others' opinions, and I do too because I'm not a monolith nor do I know everything.

Claps my hands together, alright! Now that those have been dumped, let's get into a more personal answer, what I would say.

BODILY AUTONOMY! A LOOOOOOT OF ADVOCACY FOR BODILY AUTONOMY!! Would probably be my first point. It's something that's often ignored or disrespected in intersex populations, whether that be IGM as mentioned, but also just being able to choose what treatment you do or don't get. This should not only be applied to intersex people too, as this overlaps with those who are disabled and or have chronic illnesses (or anyone else who deserves a say in their medical treatment, which might as well be everybody!), especially when less-educated people believe most if not all intersex variations are disorders, and "disorders need to be fixed".

And in lieu of that bodily autonomy bit and choosing your treatment, I have a personal note that I believe people should be able to choose their hormones— both transgender and intersex people, or hell people not of either group and just want a different hormonal profile for whatever reasons. It's depressing that people assigned female are forced on estrogenizing treatments and assigned males forced on androgenizing treatments even if it makes them feel physically miserable, with no choice unless you do some finaggling about it or you go through the rigamarole of gender-affirming HRT treatment, IF that's even possible in your locale! I vividly always recall an intersex person on here, dabwax, how she was rejected on testosterone BY A NON-BINARY DOCTOR because she identifies as a cisgender woman, and had to struggle to get postmenopausal testosterone medicine. That's not okay, and shouldn't happen to anyone!

As another point to help, DO NOT SHUT UP ABOUT INTERSEX EXISTENCE!! We are often pathologized as mentioned above, as being disordered, broken, in need of "fixing" (which just means looking as perisex as possible). Or people spreading falsehoods on what intersex is. Learn what common misconceptions and stereotypes are and challenge them! Challenge the use of the H-slur and fu-slur, challenge the "um actually intersex people prefer DSD and are still male or female" TERF brainrot! Be loud and be an asshole about your advocacy and make people aware WE EXIST! (and you exist too. you'd be welcome into the InterSpace server for your PCOS as a variation (yes, even if its mild) and they could help you more with advocacy if you'd like 🫶 I link the discord server in my FAQpost!)

The more people know about intersex existence in its truth the more people who can fight for our rights, to not have our bodily autonomy violated as patients, to challenge false assumptions about others' bodies, to have more people realize they may fall under the catagory of intersex (because a lot of intersex people don't know it, even if they have a diagnosis, due to the pathologizing of intersexuality as a "problem needing to be fixed" and the sheer erasure of it), to BELIEVE OUR VOICES AND OUR EXPERIENCES AND NOT DISMISS US!! which is honestly another point to be brought up because oh my god perisex people erase and dismiss us so fucking much it's Unreaaalll you correct someone about their intersexism and they get mad at you like YOU'RE the unreasonable one. Like stop using AGAB as progressive versions of male or female. Stop that. Annoys the shit out of me AGAB doesn't inherently imply someone's body parts or life experiences I keep correcting people on it and they get pissy at me if I keep seeing people do that I'm gonna go crazy insane PLEASE call more people out on these misconceptions and not let people brush off intersex folks as an afterthought pleaseplease please

[thatsmzbitchtoyou]

Royal Duties Chapter 1

Summary:  Princess Y/N is betrothed to Prince Bucky Barnes, a political match to form bonds and alliances.  A friendship is formed between them built on understanding and allyship.  But can real love grow from forced circumstances?

Warning:  Language, eventual smut, miscarriage/pregnancy, mentions of possible cheating

Next chapter

Y/N swiped her hands down her wedding dress, sweeping away any last minute crinkles.  Her soon-to-be-mother-in-law smiled kindly at her and handed her a bouquet of deep red roses, and she quickly took them with a small smile back and stood ramrod straight, staring at the ornate church door separating her from the awaiting groom.  She felt numb.  Any feelings of hurt, betrayal, stress…it had all morphed into resignation two days ago.  This was her life now.  No use fussing over it anymore.  Her father approached and she dutifully took his outstretched arm.  “Try to look happy,” he grumbled.

She merely blinked and waited for her cue to enter.  Then the music started, she took a deep breath and pinned on a shadow of a polite smile as the doors opened.  There was really no pretense with this wedding.  Everyone knew it was arranged in some aspect, the smiles and public outings were merely a carefully curated facade to try and convince the people that love could unite two sides that had been at war for years.  Y/N was just a bargaining chip.  A tool in a peace treaty.  She had known this growing up, that at some point she would be married off to God knows who as a means to an end, but she had been given so much time to live her life that when the moment came she had fought it, both diplomatically and not-so-kindly, at one point screaming and beating her fists against her father’s chest.  But it was futile.  She was sold off to the prince of their enemy.  The only solace she found in the arrangement was that at least it would end the war and her people could finally have some peace.

The prince was…nice.  She had met him a few weeks before.  James Barnes, prince of Brooklyn, but he preferred to be called Bucky by those closest to him.  He was a perfect gentleman when they met, giving her the proper greetings and acting accordingly with royal propriety.  He had put on a good show when they were in public, giving her his arm as he escorted her around his kingdom and got her acquainted with his people, basically introducing her as the prospective new queen.  But the moment they were in private he would pull away and act like she didn’t exist.  Honestly it didn’t surprise her.  Their people were enemies for many years, so they didn’t trust each other.  

He was incredibly attractive, which helped lessen the blow of an arranged marriage to a stranger, but he was indifferent.  He was waiting at the end of the aisle, wearing his military uniform as was customary there, but also as a show to her and her father who was ultimately winning in this deal. He looked very handsome.  His hair was long, almost hitting his shoulders, and he had it tied and slicked back for the occasion, a small smile slightly quirking up the sides of his mouth.  And yet her heart didn’t flutter.  Her steps didn’t fumble.  She walked with timed precision, letting the media take all the pictures of her in a wedding dress she would never have chosen and holding a bouquet she would never have chosen for herself.  None of the process had been her choice.

She kept her eyes trained on the priest at the front until she reached the steps to meet her groom, where she made a show of hugging her father and him placing her hand into Bucky’s before he sat down and she let Bucky guide her up the steps.  She handed her bouquet to his sister Rebecca, her maid of honor, then placed her hands into his outstretched ones.  “Please be seated!” The priest called out to the attendees once the song ended, then the ceremony began.  Y/N repeated everything she was supposed to say, keeping her polite smile on her face and looking at Bucky periodically, trying to keep up appearances for the cameras.  Every minute detail of this had to go well, otherwise the peace treaty would be considered a farce and international relations would fall apart.

When it came time to exchange rings she took the gold ring, that she also didn’t choose, and slid it onto his metal finger.  Ah yes, the infamous metal arm of Brooklyn’s war hero prince.  His price to pay in battle.  It really was a feat of science and a thing of beauty all at once.  She had never seen past his wrist, and as much as it was fascinating, it had never scared her like it did others.  She could see it in the faces of dignitaries and other world leaders when they would inevitably stare.  She knew it held great power, the ability to snuff out a life, but she did not fear it or him.  Maybe she should, but as she finished adjusting his ring she did as they had discussed with the advisors beforehand and lifted his metal hand as she slightly bent down and kissed his metal knuckles.  

That garnered a slight gasp and whispers among the attendees, the sound of the whirring of camera lenses focusing in on the moment, a strange sound in an old place of worship.  But that was the whole point.  Another show of her accepting him, and therefore his country and people fully as well as showing reverence, respect, and bending the knee in surrender.  Normally she would have bristled at being asked to do such a thing.  Now her pride had been tucked away into a far recess in her mind and heart, and she didn’t care anymore.

She righted herself, gingerly holding his hand still and met his gaze.  He didn’t look as indifferent, his face looking a little shocked at her actions.  She wasn’t sure why, they had spoken about what she was going to do, even if they hadn’t fully practiced it.  She had agreed to it.  But he quickly schooled his features, the polite smile returning to his lips.  He took his turn in placing her wedding ring on her finger gently.  It felt like a shackle, heavy on her finger with meaning as well as with how large the 12 carat diamond was, engulfing her ring finger.  Bucky nestled it onto her finger, then brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed the ring, then kissed her knuckles and set it back down.  That was surprising.  It wasn’t rehearsed or discussed beforehand, and her dulled heart stuttered at the last minute affection.  She could feel her own shocked expression and quickly blinked and smiled wider at him.  

Now for the last thing they hadn’t rehearsed.  “You may now kiss the bride,” the priest said with a sickly sweet smile on his face.  Y/N swallowed thickly and took a deep breath, looking up at Bucky.  His jaw ticked, betraying the slight smile on his face, but took the lead and leaned down, his metal hand reaching up to cup the side of her face.  His metal fingers wrapped around the base of her skull, his thumb directing her jaw to move upward as he closed the distance between them and kissed her soundly on the lips.

Y/N didn’t know what she was expecting, but it wasn’t how much she would love it.  His lips were perfect.  The metal on her skin felt perfect, especially with the grip at her neck and his metal thumb skimming from her jaw up to her cheekbone in a soft caress.  Her heart stuttered again, and she mentally chastised herself.  It was quite convincing, and for just a moment she got lost and drowned out the sound of camera clicks and thunderous applause.  He pulled away first, his eyes focusing on her lips first before flicking over her face.  She stared back at him, unsure of what he was thinking, but she could see emotions flying in those bright, ocean eyes of his.  She squeezed his flesh hand that was still holding her left hand, and he seemed to come back to himself and the polite smile resumed as he turned to the crowd.  Y/N instantly followed, both of them smiling at the attendees.  Rebecca handed back her bouquet and she smiled as convincingly as she could as the camera flashes blinded her and Bucky led her down the steps and back out of the church.  

The rest of the day was filled with constant pictures being taken, faces old and new being shoved in front of her, handshakes, polite smiles and diplomatic responses to questions and compliments.  The reception was a blur of more playing pretend with Bucky as he would hold her close with an arm around her waist, always have one of her hands in his, dancing with her, and every once in a while a well timed kiss.  Usually on her lips, but sometimes on her cheek, in her hair on top of her head, her temple, and once a sensual one on her neck as his metal hand squeezed her hip.  The cameras really ate that one up.

By the time the party ended and the frenzy was quieted by the plane door being shut, Y/N slumped in her seat.  The newlywed couple was now jet setting off on their honeymoon, but only for a week.  Bucky had to get back quickly as a show of commitment to the country, to show that they weren’t spending too much money on frivolous things after being at war for so long.  The second half of their honeymoon was going to be humanitarian visits to spots around Brooklyn, showing off the new Queen and painting their coupling as the people’s King and Queen, united in strengthening bonds between their countries and people.

Bucky sat in the seat across from her, leaning back in it as the plane took off.  They sat in silence, Y/N looking out the window for a while before taking her phone out.  She had multiple missed calls and messages from family members and friends, all congratulating her on her big day.  Her father and mother’s messages were stark in comparison.  “Keep smiling and secure an heir,” her father had written.  “Behave and be the Queen I taught you to be,” her mother had written.  Y/N sighed quietly and set her phone aside, leaning her head against the seat and closing her eyes.  It was done.  

Bucky cleared his throat, and she slowly opened her eyes and met his gaze.  He had leaned on the seat arm rest, looking more relaxed than she had ever seen him, but his flesh fingers fidgeted with the new ring on his metal finger.  He looked nervous, a far cry from the quiet confident man she had observed for the past few weeks.  He was about to say something when his head advisor and best friend, Steve Rogers, approached from the front of the plane.

“Congratulations, Your Majesties,” he grinned proudly at them.  “A fine wedding day.”

Y/N smiled at Steve appreciatively.  He had been a bright light since she had been brought to Brooklyn, always kind and understanding and friendly with her.  “Thank you, Steve,” she said quietly, her eyes blinking tiredly.

Steve nodded at her then sat next to Bucky.  “I’m sorry to bother you with more event scheduling, especially on your honeymoon, but I thought I��d run through the vague rundown of what we were thinking about for this week.”

“Alright,” Bucky nodded.  

Y/N listened as Steve outlined the basics of what their days on the honeymoon would look like.  They would be followed on vacation, undoubtedly, so every moment would be caught.  They had to keep up the charade of a happy, newly married couple.  “That neck kiss during the reception was great,” Steve said with a smirk, nudging Bucky’s arm.  “Just keep doing stuff like that and we’ll be good.  And…” he looked at Y/N with a slight grimace, “it would be helpful if you initiated some physical affection as well.”

Y/N huffed a laugh.  “Will do,” she said with a slight smile, looking down to hide the small blush brightening her cheeks.  It wouldn’t necessarily be hard to initiate physical contact with Bucky.  He was attractive, kind, and she liked kissing him.  It was just getting him to talk casually that would be a challenge.

“And you guys can use this time to get to know each other better,” Steve said suggestively.  “You won’t constantly be chaperoned by me or anybody else.  I’ll only be a phone call or text away, but me and the rest of the team will make ourselves scarce.”

Y/N and Buck agreed, and Steve left to the back of the plane to talk to the rest of their entourage.  Bucky bit his lip, looking everywhere but at her.  Y/N was too tired to care, and when the stewardess came by to ask if they wanted to eat she nodded happily.  “Yes, please,” she sighed.  “I haven’t had a full meal in hours.”

Bucky looked at her incredulously, a small frown creasing his brow as she ordered, then he ordered a small meal.  The stewardess walked away and he leaned forward.  “What do you mean you haven’t eaten a full meal in hours?” he asked.

Y/N waved away his concern.  “Well, we haven’t really had a moment to sit down and eat, have we?” she joked.  

“I ate at the reception.  You were right next to me, why didn’t you?” he probed, his frown deepening.  

Y/N frowned back at him.  “It’s not polite for a princess or Queen to eat while she’s being spoken to during meals,” she said robotically.  “Especially with dignitaries or other royalty.  I have to wait until the conversation is over.  The conversations just kept coming, so I snacked in between.”

He looked perplexed.  “Is that what your parents taught you?”

“Yes, and every royal protocol teacher or advisor I’ve had,” she said, shifting in her seat.

Bucky’s frown stayed, then the food was brought out for them.  Y/N thanked the staff and dug into her meal, enjoying the first real meal she’d had since breakfast.  She made it through most of it when Steve came walking back towards them.  She went to put down her utensils but Bucky shook his head at Steve.  “Give us a few more minutes, punk,” he said quickly and motioned for him to walk away.  Steve’s eyebrows raised, but he nodded and walked back the way he came.  

Y/N looked at Bucky in astonishment.  “It’s okay, Your Majesty,” she said.  “I’m almost done.”

“Finish your food, then I’ll call him over,” he said without looking at her, taking another bite of his food.  “And it’s Bucky.  Not Your Majesty.”

That damned flutter in her heart was back, and she blinked stupidly at him for a moment before picking her utensils back up and finishing the rest of her meal.  A few hours later she was asleep when she felt a nudge to her shoulder.  “Y/N,” Bucky’s voice called out to her.  “We’re here.”

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes blearily, turning her head to look at him.  He was close, leaning over her as his flesh hand rested on her shoulder.  “Hm,” she hummed.  “I’m up, I’m up.”

He gave her a tight smile then stood up, holding his hand out to her.  She quickly got her bearings and took his hand, letting him help her up.  Her team immediately surrounded her, fixing up her hair and makeup, straightening out her clothes that she had changed into halfway through the flight, popping a mint into her mouth before clearing her to leave the aircraft.  Bucky led the way out, and they were immediately met with flashing cameras and shouts of their names.  Y/N kept her smile on, politely waving at the cameras and taking Bucky’s hand when they reached the bottom of the stairs from the plane.  They stood for a moment, letting the cameras get their fill, then he pulled her towards the limo awaiting them.  

“Kiss her!”

“Kiss him!”

“Hope you have fun on your honeymoon!”

Y/N remembered what Steve said, and as Bucky opened the car door for her she gave him a wider smile then reached up and cupped the side of his face, showing off her wedding ring and sweeping her thumb along his cheek affectionately.  He smiled back at her and she sat in the car, another round of cheers and more flashes blinding her until Bucky got in the car and shut the door.

“Very good, Your Majesty,” Steve said, already in the car sitting across from them in the back-facing seats of the limo.  “Just a little razzle dazzle goes a long way.”

Y/N scoffed and relaxed back against the seat.  “Exactly how much PDA do you want from his honeymoon, Steve?” she asked.  “A nip slip?  Excessive making out?  The first royal porno?”

Bucky snorted and Steve blushed.  “Oh, um, well nothing like that,” he sputtered.

“I’m teasing,” she winked at him.  “I’m just wondering how far you want us to take it, to really sell it to the people.”

“As far as you’re willing to take it, without it becoming the first royal porno,” Steve teased back.  “Though I’m sure there are plenty of people who would love that.”

Bucky shook his head with a smirk, and Y/N nodded before sighing.  “What’s the timeline for an heir to be produced?” she asked.

Both Bucky and Steve looked at her incredulously.  They glanced at each other then back at her.  “Well…that’s…up to you two,” Steve said carefully.  

She frowned then looked at Bucky, who was giving her a sad, knowing look.  “Is that another lovely thing taught to you by your parents?” he asked quietly.

Y/N felt like she was missing something.  She looked between the two of them, trying to process the turn the conversation had taken.  “Y-Yes?” she answered simply.  “Aren’t royals expected to reproduce within the first year or year and a half?”

Bucky’s eyes looked tight and Steve cleared his throat.  “We don’t expect you to,” Steve said quietly and reassuringly, a kind look on his face.  

Y/N simply nodded then looked away from both of them and out the window.  She felt naive, like she was learning something that everybody else already knew.  Nobody spoke again for the rest of the ride to the private resort.  She and Bucky were accompanied to their little bungalow on the beach, then the door closed behind Steve after he made sure they were settled and the silence around them became deafening.  There was only one bedroom, with one bed.  But now after their earlier conversation, she wasn’t sure what to do now.  Her parents expected her to throw herself at Bucky the second she could and get pregnant.

“Well, I’m exhausted,” Bucky said as he stretched and walked toward the bedroom.  “What side of the bed do you normally sleep on?”

Y/N followed him, watching as he rummaged through his suitcase and started pulling out things for bedtime.  She glanced at the king sized bed.  “Um, usually that side,” she pointed at her left.  

“Sounds good,” he said noncommittally.  He gathered up his things and headed to the bathroom.  “Did you want to shower?”  Her eyes widened and he whirled around with his own eyes wide and held a hand up as he shook his head.  “Not together!  I mean…not that I would mind that, but I don’t expect it, you know?  I–”

Y/N snorted and started laughing, almost doubling over at the look on his face.  “Oh my god, Bucky,” she giggled, covering her mouth with her hand and shaking her head.  He huffed a laugh and rubbed his eyes.  “I may have been taught some pretty shitty purity culture and royal protocol things by my parents, but I’m not some fragile virgin,” she said.  “Yes, I would like to shower, but you can go first.  I’ll unpack while you do what you gotta do.”

Bucky chuckled and nodded.  “Okay, I won’t be long.”

A while later he came out of the bathroom as Y/N was picking through her pajama travel bag with a frown.  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Y/N groaned and hung her head in her hand, rubbing a hand down her face.  “You’re gonna judge my parents real bad,” she said in warning.  Bucky sat on the bed next to her and she looked at him with a grimace.  “My mom replaced all my regular underwear, my pajamas, and my swimsuits with this,” she said, pulling out lacy lingerie set after lacy lingerie set, even the swimsuits looking very revealing.

Bucky’s eyes widened, a blush painting his cheeks as he eyed it all.  “Jesus,” he murmured.  “They really want you pregnant.”

Y/N laughed at that.  “Yeah,” she said.  “They’re um…very enthusiastic about this marriage.”

Bucky shook his head then reached out and thumbed one of the sets.  “Do you have a tank top or something you could wear instead?” he asked.

“Actually, yeah!” she said, quickly getting up and going over to the closet she had been hanging everything up in.  She pulled out an oversized white tank top that she usually used for covering up her swimsuits, then went back to the mound of lingerie and picked out the only piece that was more of a short than a panty.  “This should work,” she said, then smiled at him.  “I’ll go shower.”

“Take your time,” Bucky smiled back at her.

The shower was rejuvenating, but also reminded her how late it was and how tired she was from the eventful day.  She opened the bathroom door to find Bucky had put all the lingerie back into the travel bag and thrown it onto her closet floor, and he was texting on his phone while leaning against the headboard of the bed.  “I’m having Steve order you some new pajamas,” he said as he finished typing the message.  “And we can look at swimsuits in the shops nearby tomorrow.”

“Sounds good,” Y/N said with an appreciative smile.  He finally looked up at her then did a double take.  Her tank top was a bit large, so she knew that the side of her breasts would most likely show, as well as her cleavage, so she kept her arms close to her sides as she walked to her side of the bed.  The underwear shorts she wore were longer than a panty but not by much, and were skin tight, showing off the curves of her ass.  He looked her up and down as she climbed into the bed under the covers before turning away from him and getting comfortable.  “Goodnight,” she breathed.

There was a short pause of silence, then Bucky shifted and got comfortable under the covers as well.  “Goodnight,” he replied quietly.

Y/N tried to relax, shutting her eyes and wishing for sleep to take over.  But she was so overtly aware of him next to her, it was difficult to even breathe normally.  Suddenly a text dinged on her phone, and she inwardly cursed herself for not silencing it.  She reached over and grabbed it from the nightstand, and upon seeing it was from her mother she tensed and pressed her thumb on the notification.

I hope His Majesty enjoys the gifts I set aside in your suitcase.  Be smart, dear.  Remember the positions I taught you, and you’ll have an heir in no time.  

Y/N couldn’t believe the audacity of her mother.  She was about to type a quick reply when Bucky’s metal hand snatched the phone out of her hand.  She gasped and turned to find him leaned upwards on his right elbow, making him hover above her, the deep crease between his eyebrows even more prominent as he glared at the message.  He scoffed then turned her phone off and set it on his nightstand before turning back to face her, his eyes softening as he met her gaze.

“I don’t want you speaking to your parents until they can speak to you as a daughter that they actually care about,” he said firmly.  “Anything else can go through me.”  Y/N stared up at him with wide eyes, her mouth agape as her eyes flicked between his in surprise.  He stared back at her for a moment before sighing and looking away.  “I know that this isn’t something either of us chose.  That my country forced your hand.  But I hope we can make something good out of this.  Make something good between us.”  He hesitantly met her gaze again.  He looked hopeful, and it made a small crack in her hardened heart for what could be in the future.  

“I hope so, too,” she murmured.

Bucky gave her a grateful half smile and nodded before growing serious again.  “I need you to understand that I know we will eventually need to be together…uh, sexually, but I won’t push you or force you.  I’d rather we work up to that and grow as a couple.”

Y/N felt incredibly grateful to him at that moment.  She had been coached and pressured from the moment their engagement had been announced by her parents and their advisors on how to seduce the prince, that she would be expected to bed a complete stranger on their wedding night and immediately have his babies to secure the alliance.  But he was no monster, and all the stress and inappropriate conversations she’d had drilled into her head for the past month now slipped away.  The crack in her heart was chipped away even further, and she silently sighed and gave him a real smile for the first time since they’d met.

“Thank you,” she whispered, not trusting her voice at the moment.

Bucky seemed to be able to read the emotions on her face and returned her smile, then leaned down and kissed her cheek before lying back down.  “Goodnight,” he yawned.

“Goodnight,” she said, yawning as well before snuggling back down under the covers.  Everything would be alright…wouldn’t it?

[starcrossedandstupid]

They are my main POV, so here’s a current guide to The Family’s Alliances!

The Tuff Guys

Etho: a part of the Family, while he doesn’t live with them and is still a Tuff Guy, he is their closest outside ally.

Bdubs: Regular good allies, hasn’t been called family but is a firm ally.

Tango: They didn’t like him, but via snail escape bonding and him being on the Tuff Guys, which are their allies, they seem to be getting back to the right foot. Not as close as the rest of Tuff.

Bamboozlers:

Lizzie: She hasn’t wronged them, and she is married to Joel, so despite the actions of her team they are kind of allied.

Jimmy: The reason they don’t seemed to be allied with the Bamboozlers anymore. Just started trying to kill them, reason unknown to Gem or Joel. He was treated like a sad puppy instead of a threat, but he blew up some of the car and is now more of an enemy, though still a sad puppy in their eyes.

Scar: Enabling Jimmy trying to kill them, more of a threat but less of true malice, so the relationship is easily repairable if Jimmy’s wish to kill them is dealt with.

Four Gs (Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss, Girldad)

Scott: Neutral. They are fine with each other, but since he’s teamed with Pearl and Impulse it is unlikely to ever end up as true allyship.

Cleo: Same as Scott, neutral but probably won’t be real allies due to their grouping with Pearl and Impulse.

Pearl: Ohhhh Gem hates her this season. Pearl pulled some stuff in episode two, and betrayed her in Secret Life’s family. Joel is a good ally and is very on board with hating her. Number two worst enemy.

Impulse: The most hated man on this side of the river. The cow fiasco in episode one. Him beint with Pearl and pulling tricks with her in episode two. Gem and Joel hate his ass! They got him killed twice, but it’s not clear if he is aware of that.

Renwood

Martyn: Annoyed with him constantly, but mostly in good fun. Solid allies!

Ren: He didn’t do any of the cow bit, so even better allies than Martyn. Good ally.

Spanners/Sub One Club

Mumbo: Allies in name, neutral in action.

Grian: Not even technically allies by name, as it was just Skizz and Mumbo in the ep one cow trade. Not on bad terms by any means, though.

Skizz: A little above neutral, as they told him to kill Impulse and he listened! He was quite nice even when on Red.

BigB

BigB: They’ve basically not interacted, so the most neutral of neutral that could be

[unsolicited-opinions]

This appears to have been taken in Dublin today.

This is the allyship of the illiberal left.

Tel Aviv is the most LGBTQ+ friendly city in the region and it isn't even close. Israel has laws to protect LGBTQ+ folks from persecution and those laws are enforced.

Hamas does not return the allyship which Queers for Palestine inexplicably offers to people who despise them.

I invite any member of Queers for Palestine (or any LGBTQ+ person who feels solidarity with these movements who despise you) to please advise of any allyship that has been shown to LGBTQ+ folks from Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, the Houthis, or Hezbollah.

We'll wait.

Israel isn't guilty of pinkwashing. Israel isn't trying to manipulate how LGBTQ+ folks see Israel. Israelis just see LGBTQ+ folks as human and deserving of human rights.

Their Arab neighbors do not.

This isn't Islamophobia, it isn't anti-Arab propaganda, it's verifiable truth.

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[official-redguardian]

In honor of mental health awareness month, I bring…

Thunderbolts* Allyship & Support Resources!

A collection of resources for any number of identities.

Written, edited, collaborated, and posted by entire Thunderbolts* team, as my English isn’t very good.

\\ I have spent a lot of time putting this together. I believe in action. In providing help here and now for people who need it. In a website full of arguing and discourse, this is what actually helps people. //

LGBTQIA+ Resources

The Trevor Project LGBT+ Youth Mental Health Hotline. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Human Rights Campaign - Understanding Neopronouns A guide to Neopronouns. The history, and usage of Neopronouns. https://www.hrc.org/resources/understanding-neopronouns

GLAD - Transgender ID Project “Free resources for transgender people living in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont) seeking to update their legal name and gender on federal and state documents.” https://www.glad.org/id/

InterACT - Intersex Support and Advocacy Groups https://interactadvocates.org/resources/intersex-organizations/

The Asexuality Visibility and Education Network https://www.asexuality.org/en/

Not Losing You “Not Losing You is a two+ minute national PSA/micro-movie that is being produced to help prevent LGBTQ youth suicides in the wake of GOP-led anti-Trans and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation sweeping the U.S.” https://www.notlosingyou.com/

Transmedicalism and Me - Mangloence “Informational comic about transmedicalism and its harm to non-binary and all trans people.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CPeMiSzFd8M

Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project "The Mission of Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP) is to challenge and end the human rights abuses committed against Black, Black/Brown Trans people inside of California prisons, jails, detention centers and beyond." https://tgijp.org

Mental Health Resources

Beauty After Bruises Resources for Trauma survivors regarding C-PTSD, coping mechanisms, and trauma.  https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/

Survivor’s Dictionary (WIP) A list of definitions and examples of types of abuse. (Please interact with this carefully and at your own discretion. Abuse is a heavy subject.) https://survivorsdictionary.carrd.co/

Intrusive Thoughts A guide to OCD advocacy & education. https://www.intrusivethoughts.org/

Melanin & Mental Health "Melanin & Mental Health was born out of a desire to connect individuals with culturally competent clinicians committed to serving the mental health needs of Black & Latinx/Hispanic communities." https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com

Daylio A mental health journaling and mood tracking app. https://daylio.net

International OCD Foundation - Am I a Monster?  Information about POCD (Pedophilia OCD) https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/am-i-a-monster-an-overview-of-common-features-typical-course-shame-and-treatment-of-pedophilia-ocd-pocd/

Emotional Incest: When is Close Too Close? Information about emotional incest, parentification, and enmeshment. https://psychcentral.com/sex/emotional-incest-when-is-close-too-close

New York State - What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like? https://www.ny.gov/teen-dating-violence-awareness-and-prevention/what-does-healthy-relationship-look

Dealing With A Codependent Parent: How To Help Them And How To Heal https://www.regain.us/advice/parenting/dealing-with-codependent-parents-how-to-help-them-and-how-to-heal/

DDS - Autism Support Centers https://www.mass.gov/doc/autism-centers-2023/download

PADSA - Conflicting Access Needs https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PADSA-Resource-Guide-_Conflicting-Access-Needs.pdf

AASPIRE - Primary Care Resources for Adults on the Autism Spectrum https://autismandhealth.org/

Informative Essay - Narcissus and The Daffodils An essay on the nature of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). https://medium.com/@EvelynPsychotic/narcissus-and-the-daffodils-ac149b3399ca

ASAN - Autistic Self Advocacy Network https://autisticadvocacy.org/

Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation "BLHF provides culturally competent therapy referrals and wellness resources. Through trusted referrals and a deep understanding of the health of under-resourced populations, BLHF has built a reputation for its unwavering commitment to ending the stigma surrounding mental health." https://borislhensonfoundation.org

Hotlines, Warmlines, & Reasons to Stay

(Resources with a star (★) next to the name include a quick escape option built into the website.)

Warmline.org A non-emergent way to talk to peers about mental health related things. https://warmline.org/

The Trevor Project - Get Help (★) The links to the Trevor Project’s help lines. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

Crisis Text Line A crisis line for all things from a bad day, to needing a reason to stay. https://www.crisistextline.org/

Therapy Route - Helplines Around the World Helplines from every country around the world. No place is free from support. https://www.therapyroute.com/article/helplines-suicide-hotlines-and-crisis-lines-from-around-the-world

SAMHSA - National Hotline Substance Abuse and Mental Health hotline. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

National Domestic Violence Hotline (★) https://www.thehotline.org/

BEAM - Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective https://beam.community/get-help-now/

Jewish Resources

My Jewish Learning Jewish traditions and celebrations. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/

Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life https://www.isjl.org/

Tenement Museum - Digital Exhibits Digital exhibits through the tenement museum which go into the lives of various immigrants in 1900s America. https://www.tenement.org/digital-exhibits/

The National Center for Jewish Film Jewish film history and preservation. https://jewishfilm.org/about.htm

Torah.org - Project Genesis Torah passages, Jewish traditions, and celebrations. https://torah.org/

Homeless & Low Income Resources

Food and Nutrition Service - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAPS) Food benefits for low income families and people. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program

National Alliance to End Homelessness - How to Get Help if You Are Experiencing Homelessness https://endhomelessness.org/how-to-get-help-experiencing-homelssness/

National Runaway Safeline 24/7 Youth support. Call, text, and email lines. https://www.1800runaway.org/

Homeless and Housing Resource Center (HHRC) Food benefits for low income families and people. https://hhrctraining.org/

Resources for Parents/Guardians/Teachers

Human Rights Collective Emergency Funds for Relocating and Supporting Families and Transgender Individuals https://www.hrc.org/resources/emergency-funds-for-relocating-families

Human Rights Collective - Parents for Transgender Equality National Council https://www.hrc.org/resources/parents-for-transgender-equality-national-council

Ableism in Parenting: How to Explore it in Four Ways https://vermontmoms.com/ableism-in-parenting-how-to-explore-it-in-four-ways/

CWIG - Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubpdfs/child-trauma.pdf

NAMI Basics - Education Program “NAMI Basics is a 6-session education program for parents, caregivers and other family who provide care for youth (ages 22 and younger) who are experiencing mental health symptoms." https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Mental-Health-Education/NAMI-Basics

We Are Teachers - Autism Resources For Teachers https://www.weareteachers.com/autism-resources-for-teachers/

[serpentface]

Historically plausible depiction of semi-mythological Wardi founding heroes Erub and Janes, engaging in rites of sworn brotherhood.

Each were princes of separate pre-Wardi tribes (Erub was of the western Ephenni, Janes was of the central-southern Wardinae from which the name 'Wardi' derives). Two men of their general description historically existed, but their cited exploits were likely performed by many people over a larger time scale (conquering lands to the south and east from rival Wardi and Wogan tribes and founding the kingdoms of Wardin and Erubinnos).

They are unclothed (as is necessary for the rite) but wearing recognizable regalia, as their sworn brotherhood was a display of alliance between the ancient Ephenni and Wardinae and performed before their men. Erub wears both gold and bean-bead jewelry, Janes wears gull feathers and a pearl choker (aspects of these have been retained in contemporary east and south Wardi regional adornment). Erub's wearing of tattoos (stylized paired lions across the back with their tails looping around to the chest) is an obsolete practice, and the form of headband Janes wears is now considered women's dress.

This post is not actually about them.

SWORN BROTHERHOOD IN IMPERIAL WARDIN: A POST:

Sworn brotherhood is both a ceremonial rite and a legal institution in contemporary Imperial Wardin. Progenitor variants of this practice occur or are attested to in all historical human inhabitants of the region (Wardi, Wogan, Cholemdinae, and Hill Tribes); where and from whom these traditions originated is unclear. In most cases, its historical function was as a form of allyship between larger groups of people (powerful families, tribes, occasionally entire kingdoms) via two men as a proxy, but its contemporary Imperial Wardi function is much smaller in scale has a heavily diminished role in politics.

The core function of sworn brotherhood is to both spiritually and legally bind unrelated men as kin. Similar rites involving the physical exchange of blood are used in marriage ceremonies and formal adoptions, for much the same purpose of kin-making. A person's blood is regarded as housing their living spirit, and thus to share it binds spirits together that would not already be bound by biological kinship. The contemporary variant of this practice emerged primarily between warriors/soldiers as means of establishing security for their families should one member of the brotherhood die prematurely, and to encourage loyalty and strong partnerships for mutual defense in combat.

It is an oath of exceptional loyalty and friendship, establishing mutual devotion in allyship and accepting the same duties and responsibilities to a compatriot that are otherwise only expected of blood relatives. The physical exchange maintains this bind tightly and ensures its lasting endurance. This bond provides a sense of spiritual security and will persist after death- if one brother dies alone and unburned, the other may be able to find his soul and help guide it away to the afterlife.

This rite establishes kinship in a very practical legal sense. Each brother is sworn into the other’s family, with most of the obligations implied. Each brother is sworn to familial duties towards the other’s parents- providing for them in old age, defending their status and honor and providing retribution for damages, and serving roles in certain familial rites.

Each brother’s wife and children is considered legally under the care of the other- if one brother dies, the other is in charge of filling practical obligations of a husband/father in continuing to provide for them for life, or otherwise arranging a new marriage or (if he is unwed) marrying the widow himself. He remains in control of the wife's assets, inheritance, and children unless or until she is passed into the care of another man. This is considered legally enforceable, and overrides any objections of the wife's father (who will have already lost his legal authority over her in handing her out in marriage). The wife has no direct say in this matter (and does not in general, with women being legally under near-complete authority of their father or husband).

These familial duties are required on part of each brother, but not strictly required to be requited by their family members. A family patriarch can refuse kinship to an unwanted son-in-blood, or accept one the rest of his family does not, and can enforce this decision on his wife, daughters, and any underage sons, having ultimate authority over their formal relationships. When accepted, a son-in-blood will usually receive a formal place in his new extended family's inheritance (usually treated as a youngest son). A son-in-blood is very occasionally adopted as a formal heir, though typically only in cases where a father's biological sons die prematurely (especially given this can cause complicated situations in terms of which family name the son-in-blood is bound to).

The rite of sworn brotherhood is accomplished in stages and with the assistance of a priest (generally those devoted to Ganmache, which presides over most domestic kinship affairs). Both men are blessed and purified by the priest and garbed in simple robes, and will then recite a lengthy, formal oath before God to declare allyship and swear to all expected duties as kin. The second half is done in privacy. Both men will remove their robes, with the metaphysical vulnerability of nudity under a mutual gaze allowing for the transformative effects of the rite. Each slices the palm of their hand deeply enough for blood to run and drains it into a bowl of wine. The oaths are then repeated, with remaining blood being smudged onto prayer parchment and cast into fire as an offering. The wine is then consumed by both, physically imbibing each other's blood/spirit to seal the rites. Most variants also include additional matched scarification in a prominent location (usually the forehead)- the intentional violation of the body via permanent modification, displayed prominently on the body to the public gaze, acts as a constant enforcement of the bond.

This rite is only strictly required to be performed once, though in practice is generally repeated on a yearly basis (as most rites with permanent effects are- the world's movements are cyclical and impermanent, the only permanency is in repetition).

The practice is regarded as an ideal of platonic affection between men. The family as a social unit is of vital importance in this cultural sphere, and inducting an unrelated man as one's kin is an ultimate, idealized display of loyalty and friendship. This practice may be notably attractive to men in romantic partnerships with other men, as it allows for a lifelong commitment to an unrelated man, comparable in many ways to a marriage. Though (like most male relationships) sworn brotherhoods are de-facto expected to be non-sexual, as it is a relationship between equals, a circumstance wholly out of the accepted realm of male homosexual behavior (you should not want to 'shame' your sworn brother). The vast majority of these brotherhoods are platonic.

No comparable rite exists in an official capacity for women, akoshos, or eunuchs (largely due to its place surrounding men’s roles as family patriarchs), though some may undertake similar rites to accomplish the same spiritual kinship results (without the legal benefits).

[dewdropple]

Even Roses Bloom on the Craggiest of Cliffs: A Dive Into the Fashion of 2b2t

2b2t, a place known for its rough and gritty landscape and even deadlier denizens, has cultivated a different fashion scene than any I'd seen before. Joined by our guide Fit, travel with me to take a look at what 2b2t has in store.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66528709

This is the piece I wrote for @mcyt-couture-zine! It's about the fashion that one might find on 2b2t.

This was such a cool project, and I'm glad to be a part of it! Check out the rest of the zine because every single piece made for this zine is jaw-droppingly beautiful.

If you're curious about my inspiration for the fic, I wrote a bit about it under the cut.

I wanted to write about 2b2t because I think that it's such a cornerstone of Minecraft servers that there would have to be some interesting fashion trends there. I picked FitMC to be the guide because I'm more familiar with his videos and character.

The first video of his I used was this video that explains how eye armor trim became the rarest item in 2b2t and that wearing an armor piece or set with the eye armor design is seen as extremely prestigious. Coupled with the fact that 2b2t would have an entire system dedicated to different armor aesthetics in materials, decorations, and embellishments, and I set up a little fictional interview with someone who wore a set.

The second video I wrote about was this one that's about how someone gathered a bunch of 2b2t youtubers together to recreate a real-life cult/secret society. They had robes, masks, and a camp in the middle of nowhere. However, the camp's coordinates were leaked and soon the whole camp was griefed. The oddest thing, though, was that no one showed up from the coordinates. The griefing was done entirely by the person who made the secret club. I took this and spun it to put even more emphasis on how 2b2t would value armor and see armor as safety and wearing anything else would be seen as dangerous or sketchy.

The third source I used wasn't a youtube video, but a book, Secrecy: Silence, Power, and Religion by Hugh B. Urban. It's a book that I read during my undergrad that talks about how groups of people, namely religious groups, would communicate to each other who was part of the "in" group and who was part of the "out" group using clothing, accessories, language, and other methods of expression without directly stating it. Many groups did this for a lot of different reasons, for safety, to escape the law, to be racist, but I think in a place like 2b2t, there would be a system in place where people would be able to communicate their allyship without being as open about it as like wearing a banner or how their armor was crafted. This is why I put the thing with the rings in there, but I don't think I necessarily conveyed the whole idea. But that's okay, because the fictional author/interviewer who's writing the interview just didn't pick up on the significance of what the rings meant. Anyways, I would highly recommend checking out the book if you're interested; it's a very good read!

Thank you for reading! And I cannot express this enough, check out the rest of the zine, too!!! <3

[expendablemudge]

DEAR CIS(GENDER) PEOPLE: A Guide to Trans Allyship and Empathy, when you wonder "what do 'They' want" best ask "Them"…now more than ever cis people need some radical empathy therapy. #ReadingIsResistance to unchallenged blind spots!

[skinnerhousebooks]

Did you know A Fire at the Center is also available as an audiobook? Get your copy today from Libro.fm, Audible, or any other major audio platforms. And you can often request that your local library purchase a copy too!

This is a story of becoming and un-becoming. When the living waters that crisscrossed the Standing Rock reservation came under threat, minister of the nearby Unitarian Universalist congregation Karen Van Fossan asked herself what it means, as a descendent of colonialism, to resist her own colonial culture. When another pipeline, Line 3, came to threaten Anishinaabe ways of life, the question became even more resounding.

In A Fire at the Center: Solidarity, Whiteness, and Becoming a Water Protector, Van Fossan takes readers behind the scenes of the Dakota Access Pipeline conflict, to penitentiaries where prisoners of war have carried the movement onward, to the jail cell where she was held for protesting Line 3, to a reimagining of decolonized family constellations, and to moments of collective hope and strength.

With penetrating insight, she blends memoir, history, and cultural critique. Guided by the generous teachings of Oceti Sakowin Camp near Standing Rock, she investigates layers of colonialism—extractive industries, mass incarceration, broken treaties, disappearances of Indigenous people—and the boundaries of imperial whiteness.

For all those striving for liberation and meaningful allyship, Van Fossan’s learnings and practices of genuine, mutual solidarity and her thoughtful critique of whiteness will be transformational.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in June 2024 🌈

🌈 Good morning, my bookish bats, and happy Pride Month!! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

[ Release dates may have changed. ]

❤️ The Shadow of Summer - Marlon Yelich 🧡 Of Stardust - (ed) Avrah C. Baren 💛 The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye - Briony Cameron 💚 Triple Sec - T.J. Alexander 💙 Same Difference - E.J. Copperman 💜 The Pull of the Tide - Various ❤️ The Misadventures of Getting Lainey a Date - Eija Jimenez 🧡 Surface Pressure - Adrian J. Smith & Neen Cohen 💛 Mirrored Heavens - Rebecca Roanhorse 💙 The Fire Within Them - Matthew Ward 💜 One and Done - Frederick Smith 🌈 Digging for Destiny - Jenna Jarvis

❤️ She Who Brought the Storm - Vaela Denarr & Micah Iannandrea 🧡 Tristan and Lancelot: A Tale of Two Knights - James Persichetti & L.S. Biehler 💛 London on My Mind - Clara Alves (translated by Nina Perrotta) 💚 The Deep Dark - Molly Knox Ostertag 💙 Furious - Jamie Pacton & Rebecca Podos 💜 Gay the Pray Away - Natalie Naudus ❤️ Such A Small World - Jordan Clayden-Lewis 🧡 Make It Count: My Fight to Become the First Transgender Olympic Runner - CeCé Telfer 💛 Cicada Summer - Erica McKeen 💙 We Used to Live Here - Marcus Kliewer 💜 Dandelion - Merlina Garance 🌈 The Curse of the Goddess - C.C. González

❤️ The Schoolmaster - Jessica Tvordi 🧡 Cigarette Lemonade - Connor de Bruler 💛 Coil of Boughs - Penny Moss 💚 Ballad for Jasmine Town - Molly Ringle 💙 Asking for a Friend - Ronnie Riley 💜 Pleasure Principle - Madeleine Cravens ❤️ Perfect Revenge - Jessica Burkhart 🧡 Lockjaw - Matteo L. Cerilli 💛 Markless - C.G. Malburi 💙 Queer Art - Gemma Rolls-Bentley 💜 Morally Straight - Mike De Socio 🌈 Our Bodies Electric - Zackary Vernon

❤️ Love Is All - Various 🧡 Becoming Ted - Matt Cain 💛 Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet - Molly Morris 💚 Dear Cisgender People: A Guide to Trans Allyship and Empathy - Kenny Ethan Jones 💙 Pole Position - Rebecca J. Caffery 💜 Something to be Proud Of - Anna Zoe Quirke ❤️ Hot Hires - Nan Campbell, Alaina Erdell, Jesse J. Thoma 🧡 Lord of the Empty Isles - Jules Arbeaux 💛 Kissing Girls on Shabbat - Sara Glass 💙 When You Smile - Melissa Brayden 💜 We Could Be Heroes - Philip Ellis 🌈 But How Are You, Really - Ella Dawson

❤️ A Bluestocking's Guide to Decadence - Jess Everlee 🧡 Take All of Us - Natalie Leif 💛 One Killer Problem - Justine Pucella Winans 💚 Why Are People Into That? - Tina Horn 💙 Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity - Jack Turban 💜 Lady Eve's Last Con - Rebecca Fraimow ❤️ Sea of Broken Glass - Jenna Pine 🧡 Rapunzella, Or, Don't Touch My Hair - Ella McLeod 💛 Wolfpitch - Balazs Lorinczi 💙 Looking for a Sign - Susie Dumond 💜 Director's Cut - Carlyn Greenwald 🌈 Wish You Weren't Here - Erin Baldwin

❤️ Act Two - Rochelle Wolf 🧡 Unexploded Remnants - Elaine Gallagher 💛 The Stars Want Blood - Morgan Lawson 💚 Shadows Dark and Deadly - Andrea Marie Johnson 💙 Design of Darkness - R.D. Pires 💜 Two Sides to Every Murder - Danielle Valentine ❤️ Meet Me in the Sky - Jeffrey K. Davenport 🧡 A Shore Thing - Joanna Lowell 💛 The Lions' Den - Iris Mwanza 💙 Under the Dragon Moon - Mawce Hanlin 💜 A Sea of Wolves - Sarah Street 🌈 Saints of Storm and Sorrow - Gabriella Buba

❤️ Private Rites - Julia Armfield 🧡 Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous - Mae Marvel 💛 The Stars Too Fondly - Emily Hamilton 💚 Keeping Carmen Ruiz - Alyson Root 💙 Cuckoo - Gretchen Felker-Martin 💜 Heartwaves - Anita Kelly ❤️ Bound to the Wild Fae - Tavia Lark 🧡 Four Squares - Bobby Finger 💛 The Ghost of Us - James L. Sutter 💙 Poison in Their Hearts - Laura Sebastian 💜 Puppy Love - Elle Sprinkle 🌈 Hot Summer - Elle Everhart

❤️ Liddy-Jean Marketing Queen and the Matchmaking Scheme - Mari SanGiovanni 🧡 All Friends Are Necessary - Tomas Moniz 💛 Six of Sorrow - Amanda Linsmeier 💚 Shanghai Murder - Jessie Chandler 💙 PROUD - Anthology 💜 Little Rot - Akwaeke Emezi ❤️ Fling - Deja Elise 🧡 Too Many Stars to Count - Frances M. Thompson 💛 Rakesfall - Vajra Chandrasekera 💙 The Unrelenting Earth - Kritika H. Rao 💜 Freakslaw - Jane Flett 🌈 Please Stop Trying to Leave Me - Alana Saab

❤️ A Sense of Shifting - Coco Romack, Yael Malka 🧡 Moonstorm - Yoon Ha Lee 💛 Now, Conjurers - Freddie Kölsch 💚 Hide No More - Rita Potter 💙 Running Close to the Wind - Alexandra Rowland 💜 The Afterlife of Mal Caldera - Nadi Reed Perez ❤️ Her, Him & I - Christian Weissmann 🧡 The Sons of El Rey - Alex Espinoza 💛 Show Me Your Teeth - Amy Marsden 💙 Defeating Demons and Breaking Up With My Boyfriend - Dylan James 💜 For Real - Alexis Hall 🌈 The Clarity of Light - Jade Church

[katyspersonal]

I've connected the dots. I've connected them:

1) Jar Innards were attempts at creating a 'Saint', made out of multiple victims (mostly fellow Hornsent but at some point Shamans too)

2) Jar Innards have a glowing golden string inside

3) Divine Gate is made of multiple people too, maybe even willing sacrifices for all we know! In the trailer it was shown to be very... lively and organic lol. As opposed to the petrified state we found it at.

4) Marika pulls golden strings from a literal pussy in Divine Gate, which is "affair from which gold arose, and so, too, shadow was born" (refers to following creation of Erdtree and Scadutree)

5) Miquella, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have created anything, nor seduce anyone except for his half-brother lololololol, he simply entered the Divine Gate after having severed ties with his body and personality and it already made him a God. So, what Marika did with the strings was not required to become a God, but her own volition ("seduction and betrayal").

6) Extracting the golden string from it also presumably what "killed" it; it didn't lose its God-promoting quality, but it did petrify. Maybe she stole lifeform-creating feature of it in general with it.

7) She most likely didn't auto-own Elden Ring upon ascension. I mean, Miquella doesn't either. It was, however, owned by Ancient Dragons until Lord of Placidusax "was fled"! Considering that he "awaited his return outside of time" in which he was already wounded, it more likely refers to consequences of battle with Bayle than not!

8) Two Fingers were guiding Marika from the start, they are even featured in talismans depicting birth of the Erdtree from a seed form! Two Fingers ALSO will have a mental breakdown if there is no set 'Order' for five minutes. They don't care what laws of nature are or who establishes them, as long as things don't descent into primordial chaos (aka Elden Ring must not stay broken or otherwise vacant no matter what)

9) Rune of Death was plucked from Golden Order upon its creation, and is found guarded by Maliketh in the place which looks like this:

So, most likely, this is the location in which Elden Ring was placed, before Marika took it inside of her, EXCEPT for Death!

10) Death was owned by Gloam-Eyed Queen until Maliketh defeated her

11) This statue must depict someone who should have been well-liked by either Ancient Dragons or their OG followers (became Banished Knights)

12) It depicts a woman with Shadowbeast, a brand of Empyrean (although hers is unusual as three headed), and GEQ was an Empyrean chosen by Two Fingers

Okay so

After Bayle wounded Placidusax and God knows what else he caused, consequences were that Ancient Dragons no longer could keep Elden Ring, so it remained vacant. It would be nearly as bad as Shattering for the Two Fingers who need a concrete person to shape the laws of nature, nor Greater Will would like the state of primordial chaos! So, they called upon those they've chosen as Empyreans - much like thousands of years later they'd call upon Tarnisheds, and Marika was the most promising one + the one to succeed!

Perhaps this statue IS GEQ, after all! And she didn't really betray Ancients Dragons of course, they were in disarray and could not own Elden Ring anymore after having lost it! Things once broken... etc. But, she allied Marika as second fiddle in her wish to create controlled era glistening with life, rather than letting Death occur the way it used to! Certainly cut the influence of Deathbirds, for one!

I am not sure yet why that allyship went sour! Since GEQ was literal God-Slayer, but Marika killed Fell God herself, I questioned whether fall-out happened before War with the Giants! @val-of-the-north said maybe GEQ refused to kill that guy in particular, because his fire is the one and only threat to the Erdtree but GEQ never thought Marika wanted to actually live forever? Like, she assumed that when the time comes, she or them both would pass the mantle to the next cycle. All things must die someday. I really like this idea! (Also adds the weight to Messmer and Melina being born siblings and allies in being curse upon Marika that I never knew I needed lol)

__________________

Damn, Ymir might blame Metyr and Marika for disarray of the world, but at this rate Greyoll might just hold Bayle's beer hgjhjggh Curse Bayle, indeed. On the other hand, I am a believer that fate can't be outrun and even if one tyrant never existed, another would've taken their place, so...

[historicaldoll]

On the topic of race and inclusion in American Girl dolls I do genuinely hope they change it up soon. I want to hear more stories that have diverse characters. I still can’t believe we’ve only had one native American doll. Native girls still exist and are still dealing with extreme discrimination. You’d think American Girl would mention it.

I would genuinely love to see a GOTY who talks about discrimination of any kind. A disabled character, a queer character, a character of color, etc. It’d give so much more representation and show kids that together we can stand up to oppression. Teaching kindness, inclusivity, allyship, and openness.

AG has written books talking about race, gender, sexuality, body types, and disability but not much in the main doll-line. It has always been in guide books (which is good too! I just wish to see it in the main stories!)

I was actually a bit excited for GOTY 2025 because on the teaser page there was a lot of rainbow imagery so I was (still am) hoping she’d be queer.

[divineerdrick]

Homestuck: Beyond Canon Upd8 for March 23, 2024

As James promised, we've got a second post for this month. No news or anything to go along with it, so let's just jump straight in!

Jane is evidently not handling things well.

Ah, good! We've got a link to the previous conversation. This can be very helpful for dealing with timeline shenanigans in the middle of pesterlogs. I just hope they're not too worried about our ability to put together where we are in the story. I mean if we've stuck around this long . . .

Jane's paranoia is building, but she appears to have not noticed Jake is spying on her. Still she seems somewhat overconfident in her abilities. To be fair, she has been dodging and surviving assassination attempts since childhood.

Wait! Jane on the moon? I thought that wasn't canon! Well, if anything on Earth C past the credits are supposed to be canon at least. I wonder if that means we might return to some of the sprite shenanigans?

Oh wow! This is a tirade and a half! The worst part is a lot of it is true. We know Jake wasn't the best parent for Jade, and we know now about Joey and Jude. But still, I got the impression Jake was much more in Tavvy's life than Jane was. And seriously! Forcing a premature pregnancy with Life powers? The hell! Worst part is when it comes to Homestuck's worst guardians, I'm pretty sure that only barely breaks top 5.

I'm dying! Jake is doing a Gamzee impression and Dirk can't take it!

Well that's a sentence I just read.

Jegus, Tavvy is still very much definitely in the running for worst childhood though . . .

Of all the things to say . . . No! No Jane! You don't get to claim any LGBTQ+ Allyship!

Still, although the Candy timeline is pushing things to an extreme, this is a side of Jane I don't think ever got considered. Jane has been training all her life to be a public figure, to be an Empress really. And as much as I love them, a bunch of idiot teenagers created a civilization and then just let it build for 5,000 years. From the previous iteration of beyond Canon, it seems the Exiles were the true guides until the kids returned.

And Jane saw a group of adoring, worshipful people greet them and knew she needed to step up. It just sucks she couldn't bring herself to truly include the Trolls in that.

Yeah, I'm with Dirk on this one. Wow! Jane blamed Jake for Dirk's death. Just, wow . . . And here I thought Jake was the one who never truly understood their friends.

All and all this was a really painful conversation. I think this one might have been worse than the one between Jade, Rose, and Kanaya. Why do some of the worst conversations in this story take place between Jake and Jane. From reading this, I'm really getting the impression they've always been more codependent than actually in love.

Oh fuck! That really fucking sells it!

I'm at a loss for words. I don't know if this is going to actually stick, or what Jake will actually do when I press, "Page of Hope: Rise up." but that was one hell of a way to realize an epiphany.

Wait, no! That's it! Like I get the reference but really! We're just going to open the door and leave it there!

Oh who am I kidding! How can I be in this fandom and honestly complain about an ending to an upd8 like this. Yes, I want it to keep going! Yes, I wanted a flash video to start! But how many times has this story kept me waiting? Let's just hope we don't have too much longer.