#don't even get me started on the rep where they're a robot and that's the reason that they're ace

[apple-eating-goat]

I am *sick* and *tired* of non-allo representation where the character is Aro/ace. Like yes, they exist, yes, the representation is a good thing, yes, aro/ace people deserve to be seen and heard and represented, but where's the representation for the allo/aces?The Aro/allos? The demi people? The aro- and ace- flux people? WHERE IS OUR REPRESENTATION?!?

[nebbys-personal-nebula]

the biggest, most copium agent 4 theory from this clown of an agent four enjoyer

apologies for the wait on this! i wanted to unlock all of the dev diaries to make sure i could squeeze out every last bit of lore...

anyways SIDE ORDER SPOILERS INCLUDING POSTGAME

so let's start with the common knowledge. most people know by this point that agent 4 has a palette. it's one of the first you get in the game, after pearl and marina's. to the surprise of nobody, it is a splattershot...

according to what marina says about the memverse, palettes are a portion of a person's soul dragged into the memverse. so agent 4's soul got dragged in here somehow. how did this happen, and why? there are a few possibilities...

marina mentions in her eighth dev diary that she needs someone to handle system security. she writes: "maybe i can ask that person cuttlefish introduced me to for help there." this is still pretty vague, but we know from smollusk's note on agent 4's palette that it is definitely agent 4. quote:

"THIS is who mawina wanted in charge of memverse security? this unfwappable, free-spirited so-and-so? i would never abide it!"

the question is: if agent 4 was intended to be security for the memverse, then where are they? this leads us to the parallel canon boss!

note that figure in the center. even though all descriptions for this boss describe it as "a lot like eight", it is clearly an inkling with its pointed ears and hair.

the hairstyle is significant, too. all art of this boss, including its icon, display it with the "haircut" style. why does this matter? because official art of agent 4 also uses this style:

on top of that, people have reported that if you have splatoon 2 save data on your switch, the boss will use whatever hairstyle your inkling uses in that game (with that inkling, of course, being agent 4). unfortunately, i forgot to take a screenshot of my save, but maybe someone could reblog this and confirm?

another thing to note about that agent 4-looking robot in the center is that they're wielding the order shot, which is the same weapon you get from agent 4's palette.

so what exactly am i getting at with all this? let's read a little more of smollusk's notes on agent 4...

"buut...no weason such stwength shouldn't be used to pwotect a world of order. an order defense force is MUCH cooler than a new squidbeak splatoon anyway!"

this phrasing is particularly interesting to me because it implies smollusk wants to, or already has utilized agent 4's strength in some way. additionally, smollusk regards fans of chaos in a very similar way. for almost all of them, he argues they must be "punished". examples:

"she must be PUNISHED!" - callie's palette

"her chaotic lies must be PUNISHED!" - shiver's palette

"for the sake of order, they all must be PUNISHED!" - frye's palette

"it annoys me, so he must be PUNISHED!" - big man's palette

"he must be PUNISHED!" - sheldon's palette

"i sentence him to PUNISHMENT!" - dj octavio's palette

almost all of these characters are on the side of "chaos". callie and dj octavio were on the chaos side of the final fest, while shiver, frye, and big man rep the splatlands, basically the land of chaos. no idea what smollusk's beef is with sheldon though that guy was neutral LOL

on the other hand, smollusk is notably softer with characters on the side of "order", like marie, murch, and marina (obviously). he still critiques them, but he doesn't sentence them to "punishment".

agent 4 was on the side of chaos in the final fest. so why didn't smollusk sentence them to "punishment"?

perhaps it's because smollusk is already making use of them...by using their soul to control the parallel canon boss!

think about it! the bosses of the tower are basically security, right? they keep you from reaching the top! since smollusk knows from marina that agent 4 was meant to be security, it could have pulled in their soul to fulfill that job. that's why agent 4's palette is there, and that's why we don't physically see them in the dlc! because they're grayscaled in the outside world!

…it is also definitely possible that the boss is just INSPIRED by agent 4, taken from marina's memories, or something like that. but i like this theory because it explains why agent 4's soul ended up in the memverse.

one other thing - i think the popular opinion is that the parallel canon boss are "robots", due to the way they move, their eyes glowing, the filter on their voice, etc...this is probably true, but have you ever wondered if the boss is actually a real inkling (a digital…real…inkling? you get the idea) if it was just a robot like the others, why would it specifically have ears and hair? not only that, but you can get the parallel mask from the priz shop:

which you wear on your face. what if this is the real agent four, wearing this parallel mask? their gray coloring could be because they're grayscaled! after all, we never actually see a representation of grayscaling in-game. the name implies that they'd actually turn gray in some way, maybe in the color of their tentacles. but this could be the most dramatic extent of it!

this is definitely a stretch, but you can consider it food for the die-hard agent 4 angsters out there. love you guys <3

feel free to reblog if you have thoughts, add-ons or even counterpoints! i find this all really interesting

[deep-space-lines]

Literally I don't understand how the Ultrakill devs managed to make a game with a pretty bare minimum in plot/dialogue/characters and have it be the queerest-feeling piece of mainstream media I've consumed in what feels like forever

Like my other favorite video game ever is Mass Effect, and when I play the Mass Effect trilogy, games with plenty of gay romance and gay sex in it if you seek it out (don't get me wrong, it has its ups and downs with queer rep overall but overall I would consider it Pretty Good in the gay/lesbian/bi rep category) I'm like 'yaaay gay people :)))' and it makes me happy. None of the wlw romance options really appeal to me personally (though Garrus is a queer romance option to me bc you're banging an alien, no I will not elaborate) but it's like, a nice view of the future where homophobia doesn't exist and you can just be in lesbians with a blue not-really-woman and it's not a big deal. And I really love that! Makes me happy!

But then I play Ultrakill, which technically has 0 gay sex or romance in it (that we see. and even that could be argued but that's not the point here), and start emotionally foaming at the fucking mouth throwing up. Like both are Really Good but Something about Ultrakill just resonates so viscerally with me I think it altered my brain chemistry. I don't know what they put in this game that made it hit the exact resonant frequency of some queer freak part of my brain but it fuckin' did something. It just blows my mind how much Ultrakill managed to make me feel with (comparatively) so little compared to other media I enjoy (Mass Effect, Star Trek, etc). I got this game like 3 weeks ago thinking it would just be a fun shooter game where I play as a silly little robot guy, and instead since then I've made more art inspired by it in a shorter time than like? Anything I've ever played/watched/read before?? Did they put gay cocaine in here??????????

(I don't say this in an attempt to pit them against each other or even really compare them btw Mass Effect is still one of my absolute favorite games of all time and they're completely different genres with a completely different ethos behind their worldbuilding and character development)

But like. What the fuck. I don't know how I would explain to someone like my mother that whatever Ultrakill has going on feels gayer to me than like actual gay porn bc I feel like it makes me sound insane but also I'm right

[zolotravel]

American Express's Customer Service Reputation

Hey there, friend! Let's talk about American Express (Amex) for a sec. You know, that card that makes you feel like a VIP? Well, it's not just the fancy rewards or the sleek metal that keeps people coming back. It’s the service. Yep, you heard me right. Amex has built a reputation for treating its customers like gold.

A Service Legacy

Amex didn't just wake up one day and decide to be amazing. It's been in their DNA since the beginning. They started as an express mail service, delivering important documents ASAP. Can you imagine the pressure to get those things delivered on time? That's where the focus on service was born.

Fast forward to today, and that same dedication to service is still alive and kicking. They've built a culture where every employee is like a superhero, ready to swoop in and save the day when you need help. It's like having a personal assistant, but for your finances.

The Personal Touch

One thing that sets Amex apart is their ability to make you feel like you're the only customer they have. I remember one time I had a weird charge on my card. I called customer service, expecting to be on hold for an hour. Nope. I got connected to a real person in seconds. They listened to my story, sympathized, and resolved the issue quickly. It was like talking to a friend who just happened to work at a credit card company.

Amex understands that people don't just want their problems solved; they want to feel heard and valued. It's about building relationships, not just transactions. That's why they invest heavily in training their employees to be empathetic and knowledgeable.

Measuring Up

Now, don't get me wrong, even superheroes can have off days. That's why Amex is always looking for ways to improve. They use surveys, social media, and other feedback channels to get a pulse on how customers feel. It's like a constant check-in to make sure they're still hitting it out of the park.

And they use technology to their advantage too. Think about those chatbots you see on websites. Amex has them, but they're not your typical, robotic helpers. They're designed to assist you quickly and efficiently, and if they can't solve your problem, they'll connect you to a human in no time.

The Future of Service

The world is changing fast, and so is customer service. People expect more than just friendly reps; they want convenience and personalization. Amex is up to the challenge. They're investing in new technologies and exploring innovative ways to meet customer needs.

But at the heart of it all, Amex knows that it's the people who make the difference. As long as they stay committed to their customers, they'll continue to be a leader in the industry.

So, the next time you interact with Amex, take a moment to appreciate the service you're receiving. It's a rare find in today's world.

Would you like to dive deeper into a specific aspect of Amex's customer service, like their use of technology or their handling of customer complaints?

Amex: Your Personal Squad

Let's talk about those times when things go sideways. You know, those moments when your card gets declined, or maybe you spot a weird charge. It's like a mini-panic attack, right? Well, that's where Amex's customer service really shines.

The Human Touch in a Digital World

In a world filled with automated phone systems and chatbots, Amex has managed to keep the human touch alive. It's like they've assembled a squad of customer service superheroes, ready to swoop in and save the day. I mean, who else would stay on the phone with you for an hour, just to figure out why your luggage is missing?

But it's not just about solving problems. It's about making you feel like you're part of the Amex family. They go the extra mile, often exceeding expectations. Remember that time I locked my keys in my car at the airport? I called Amex in a panic, and they not only helped me find a locksmith, but they also reimbursed me for the cost. Now, that's what I call service!

Listening and Learning

Amex knows that the customer is always right (well, most of the time). They're constantly listening to feedback and using it to improve their service. Whether it's through surveys, social media, or good old-fashioned phone calls, they're always looking for ways to make things better.

And they're not afraid to use technology to their advantage. Amex has invested heavily in digital tools that make it easier for customers to get help. From online chat to mobile apps, you can get assistance whenever and wherever you need it. But they've found a sweet spot where technology enhances the human touch, not replaces it.

Building Trust

Great customer service is about more than just solving problems. It's about building trust. When you know you can count on Amex to have your back, it makes you feel more confident and secure. And that's priceless.

So, the next time you have to deal with a customer service issue, remember that Amex might just redefine your expectations. They've turned customer service into an art form.