#interim post

[post-it-notes7]

happy 4th anniversary heart and soul!

[khaotunq]

Akk + ไอ้หน้าไม่อาย | The Eclipse (2022) Thai ไอ้หน้าไม่อาย / Romanised ai'hna-mai-aay / translated (Ai')Shameless. A play on Ayan's nickname, Aye (also canonically spelled อาย, meaning shy). Akk uses the (vulgar/casual) naming particle "ไอ้ / Ai" before the phrase. He's not calling Ayan shameless, he's calling Ayan "Shameless."

[oceantoyz]

It's Chococat's Birthday!!!

Wish him Happy Birthday by voting here (he's #46)!

[klaussicarus]

Wesker that I made for a friend.

[minisculecolossus]

Fëth gabbing to Okzana! More on these characters later, this is them far, far into their story. But who doesn’t love a classic shoulder ride?

[avalonblue12]

The Low-Down on the Genshin VA Drama

So, I was recently responding to someone else, and figured I'd make a post explaining exactly what's happening for people not entirely aware of the situation.

Basically, there's an ongoing SAG AFTRA strike (SAG AFTRA is an american VA Union), and that's extending into Hoyoverse games like Genshin Impact and HSR.

What is this drama about?

They recently replaced a VA for the character, Kinich, who was NOT part of the union but was striking in solidarity without protections.

The new VA, Jacob Takanashi a VA from Japan, expressed his excitement over having a new role on twitter.

This resulted in various Union VAs, such as Paimon VA and Keqing's VA notably to essentially start a harssment/bullying campaign which fans did NOT take very well.

You guys... you guys already see the first problem here, right? Takanashi is based IN JAPAN and for the matter did not know there was a even a strike

Ororon's VA, Nathan Nokes (who btw was one of the few to go "hey guys, maybe let's not resort to bullying tactics especially when we don't know everything) actually went and confirmed this:

This is actually supported by the tweet that started everything:

It is very clear from how it's worded he wasn't entirely aware of the situation. Even if you argue that he could've done more research it doesn't excuse the behavior of some of the other VAs

This is especially notable for Paimon VA who's drawn a lot of ire since she was one of the firstarters despite the fact that she is part of SAG AFTRA and NOT striking. In fact, she voices a character who consistently has some of the most lines per patch and thus has arguably the most leverage out of anyone in the cast.

2. Why are people turning against SAG AFTRA?

There were misgivings about some parts of the Interim Agreement that Hoyo refused to sign in the past, but has recently returned full force with the above controversy:

TLDR; SIgning this agreement means Hoyo has to boot out Non-SAG Aftra VAs. A reminder, Genshin and HSR have been international projects from the start so they would be screwing over a LOT of people. This is on TOP of penalizing them for hiring internationally for this project that was already international in its conception.

Naturally, this didn't sit well with a lot of people, and a few even see this as a power grab. Why? Because if this were ONLY about AI Protections and pay/treatment Hoyo would have signed it ages ago.

To cut it short: Hoyo's international projects ALREADY have AI protection BY LAW in several countries they hire VAs in, including their home of China, and studios/unions outside of SAG AFTRA that they've hired from BEFORE THE STRIKE like SIDE Global already have these protections mandated as well.

There would otherwise be no reason to withhold this from what's likely only a part of their overall VAs when they're willing to do so for everyone else.

IIRC Khoi Dao (Albedo VA) has had his own Q&A about this but keep in mind the source isnt' necessarily unbiased. I recommend reading it through the horses mouth through the SAG AFTRA site or the links above first.

Regardless though, (and this is one poin of Khoi's Q&A people had a problem with) is that full jurisidiction over the jobs of VAs that are already established would come under the hands of a foreign union.

Yes, there are mitigating factors like the Taft-Hartleys, but these are highly limited (3 times 30 hours each for a project for life iirc), and eventually force you to join the Union ANYWAY.

Yes, there are ways to join in on the union, but not only is there a monetary hurdle ($3000 plus additional fees), even if you were to get an exemption or some sort of exception, it comes AT the discretion of said Union, and even if you did everything right, they could still boot you out anyway, out of a job YOU already had.

4. Why is SAG AFTRA doing this? (Imma just copypaste my old explanation here)

Now, personally? I'm not saying the interim is worded like that as a powergrab nor do I personally think it is.

This likely stemmed from one thing: SAG AFTRA VAs violating Global Rule 1:

Basically: They're not allowed to work on Non-union projects.

For this EXACT kind of reason. Because it creates a schism in the studios, the union involved would not have as strong a leverage, and literally EVERYONE INVOLVED- the union, the company, independent VAs, international unions- gets put in a scenario where they get screwed no matter what.

Genshin and HSR from the very beginning were not SAG AFTRA Projects. They were VERY EXPRESSLY international ones and Hoyo wasn't shy about the fact that it wanted to hire international talents.

Usually from what I know, Global Rule 1 isn't heavily enforced, which is why the VAs ended up joining GI and HSR in the first place. This wouldn't be a problem for smaller, one-and-done kind of projects, but these are gachas, long-term projects that frequently have VAs return.

So when SAG AFTRA asks all of its members to strike, this happens and nothing gets done for a long time. In a more optomistic lens, they likely feel like in order to get these terms, they HAVE to have full control over the project.

5. Afterword

So yeah, that's basically the down-low on the drama and why people are turning against the union.

Regardless, I highly HIGHLY recommend you, the reader to go through and read the Interim Agreement yourself and come to your own conclusion (not the reddit comments obv, I only added that in case they updated the page) .

This is a very VERY messy scenario that's been mishandled in nearly every place conceivable (how some VAs acted turning people against them, the Union not enforcing its own rules and not being transparent the entire strike to fans and VAs alike, etc.).

Instead of having one or another party explain it to you, read through the Interim Agreement and come up with a stance on it your own! No lens to view it through, just what's been requested from the horses mouth directly.

[polarmoon]

after some time with family, benji made sure to reach out to iris, and let her know that he would be there if she needed anything.

hopefully better days are on the horizon ★

[fakenewsfactcheck]

A Quick Rundown of News on Gaza

All right, fair warning: this is a summary of current events, with sources, but it's also rife with my personal opinions. Especially about Trump.

I saw that there was a big U.S. protest against Trump's desire to act like he owns Gaza, kick everyone out, and build casinos or whatever.

I almost never say this about protests - in fact, I'm not sure I HAVE ever said it - but that is a big waste of time.

Trump has zero claim to Gaza. He has zero power to do any of that.

That energy could be going into so many urgent protests about things he's doing right here in the States.

If anyone supported his "plan," maybe he'd have a shot. But literally every single country and group involved is against Trump's fantasy Gaza real estate takeover.

Israel is against it. Palestine is against it. Hamas is against it. Egypt is against it. Jordan is against it. The entire Arab League is against it. The people of Gaza are against it. The people of Israel are against it. The rest of the people of Palestine are against it.

In reaction to Trump's wild claims, the Arab League had an emergency summit over the weekend, at which it agreed on an Egyptian plan that... leaves Hamas in charge of Gaza.

Which, yet again, everyone's against. Especially the people of Gaza, whose opinion of Hamas is eloquently expressed here by activist Hamza Howidy:

But the "everyone" in "everyone's against this" still includes the Arab League.

Because, among other things, the Arab League knows perfectly well that leaving Hamas in charge guarantees that it will continue keeping Palestine functionally divided into two countries, unable to negotiate a two-state solution.

Hamas has explicitly and openly opposed a two-state solution since it was founded in 1987. (And I don't think it's a coincidence that this was happening at almost the exact same time that Palestine was declared independence.) Hamas's mission has always been the violent destruction and takeover of Israel.

The Arab League knows that if Hamas stays in power, it will fulfill its public promise to repeat October 7 "again and again" in an attempt to destroy Israel. Which will result in more wars, more aid, more suffering, more refugees, and more chaos.

So why did the Arab League agree to this plan?

Analyst Dahlia Ziada explains: the emergency summit wasn't focused on Gaza in the first place. It was a panicked response to Trump's "bombshell statement."

(I hate when Twitter link previews refuse to work. Here's the link, so you can watch her video and follow her.)

She says they weren't trying to solve the problem in Gaza.

They were trying to preserve the status quo, in order to stop Trump from getting involved.

The status quo is bad, sure.

But the status quo is also primarily Israel's problem.

If Trump DID ethnically cleanse Gaza, it would mean that not only would other countries have to absorb millions of Gazan civilians, but they would also be absorbing unknown hundreds or thousands of members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the PFLP, etc.

Those groups have all worked as a coalition for years. And Hamas is the armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is based in Egypt, and already took over Egypt's government once.

Egypt has been trying to prevent feeding more resources into the Muslim Brotherhood for years.

That's why, ever since Hamas's violent 2007 coup in the Gaza Strip, Egypt's border with Gaza has been completely closed most of the time. Total blockade.

Occasionally, it's opened up to let specific people through, or (like now) to let people cross once they've been screened for security risk and paid a massive $5k-$12k fee which is absolutely war profiteering.

The absolutely bizarre bit isn't that the Arab League would go, "okay, sure, if you think you can contain the threat in Gaza, we'll back you up by telling Trump we have this covered."

Or that the Trump Administration would go, "well, that's not a plan."

It's that the Trump Administration has been talking directly with Hamas.

I can't even imagine what the idea there is.

My fantasy would be the U.S. lightly, between the lines, threatening Hamas about what the U.S. could do if it doesn't release the rest of the hostages and surrender.

Because that's what the activists in Gaza have been demanding in protest after protest, throughout the war. And the pro-Palestinian movement has utterly silenced this in favor of stanning Hamas.

The current situation is that the first ceasefire phase is over. The second phase was supposed to involve Hamas releasing dozens more hostages, in exchange for Israel pulling out all troops and the war ending.

To give the current administration some credit... which it physically pains me to do....

Israeli officials said Sunday they support a proposal to extend the first phase through Passover and Ramadan — near the end of April — crediting the idea to Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

If that plan gets the green light, Hamas would release half the hostages on the first day and the remaining when a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached.

Israel’s Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis welcomed the report, telling Fox News, "President Trump actually changed the whole idea. Instead of putting Israel under pressure, President Trump is putting Hamas under pressure, and this is the right thing to do."

I'm so fucking mad that they're doing something right.

Update: While I was writing this, Dalia Ziada was apparently tweeting some more:

Trump truly communicates with all the tact and grace of a rabid bull.

[tj-dragonblade]

🔍🔍 bloop

Thank you for making me put a few more words on this one! Follows on directly from the last snippet in the wip: search agency tag:

"And yet. It is my property, and I would have it back. Without paying for it again." "I feel for ya, buddy, but that ain't fair to me." The guy crosses his arms, squaring up to argue. Ordinarily Hob might feel inclined to step in, to mediate, but instinct stays him. This is not the item that Dream actually wants; he remembers very clearly Dream saying he was unconcerned with retrieving the gemstone and the 'headwear', that only the pouch truly mattered. So if this ruby is just a decoy, why insist on taking it back? He holds his tongue, lets Dream do whatever it is he's doing. Dream folds his arms, mirroring the proprieter. "Then let us find some compromise that is fair to us both," he says. "The woman who sold this to you. I have reason to believe she is in possession of other stolen goods of mine. I would like them back as well." "Sure you would," the guy says, nodding, his tone an obvious attempt to be sympathetic. "She was tryna sell a few things besides the gem; could be they were yours?" "A helmet, not unlike a gas mask in appearance, with a spine protruding from the front?" "Yeah, she had that. Almost bought it, what with the weird magical energy comin' off it, but I couldn't imagine actually unloading it to anyone and I didn't want it stuck in my hoard. Didn't feel right." "A wise decision," Dream agrees, and Hob doesn't miss the look that flashes over the dragon's face, a look that says he's not sure what kind of bullet he dodged by rejecting that sale and he's glad enough to never find out as Dream continues. "The other item is a small pouch full of enchanted sand." "She did have a pouch she tried to sell me; couldn't neither of us get it open, though, so don't know what was actually in it. Wasn't buyin' it unknown." "Do you know where she might have gone next to try fencing her goods?" Dream asks it with a tired note in his voice, a weary and defeated cast to his expression, and the dragon's whole demeanor softens just a little. "There's a lot of possibilities, yeah. I could maybe come up with a list, but—" He shrugs, seeming almost genuinely apologetic. "Then let me propose a trade," Dream says, unfolding his arms and placing both hands on the glass countertop. "Tell us everything you can about this woman—what she looks like, where she may have gone next, anywhere that would make a likely stop for selling stolen magical items. And I will relinquish my claim to the stone, withdraw my personal seal from it." "That's all you want?" The dragon sounds wary, like it's too good to be true. Hob thinks, given the size of that stone, that it probably is. But he's trusting Dream. Dream offers a wan smile. "There is greater value to me in retrieving my other property, even if it means the loss of this piece. You have already paid a great sum for it. Tell me anything you can of the one who sold it to you, of where she could feasibly attempt sales, and will let you keep what you have bought in gratitude. If I catch up to her, I can take the money from her in recompense." "Alright, okay. You got yourself a deal, my friend." The dragon holds out his hand to shake.

This needs some refinement yet but progress is progress.

[kifkay]

Class Swap AU

where everybody changes their original designation and becomes a different class!

Aisha, Tecna, Flora and Stella are a specialist team.

Aisha is the team leader. She doesn’t want to be — tends to overthink her decisions in the field and is two bad days away from developing a stress ulcer at all times — but needs must, as they say. Codatorta thinks it will prepare her nicely for her future as Andros’ Queen. Aisha mostly thinks about running away to become a forest hermit.

Stella didn’t want to be a specialist at all. Alas, she hadn’t shown a natural inclination towards magic growing up, nor did she try to compensate for it by studying harder. This meant that she couldn’t become a strong fairy or witch. As a compromise, her parents sent her off to the Red Fountain — a very prestigious school where she could earn a fancy title and rub hands with fellow royal heirs & heiresses.

Flora is not a violent person by nature and hates having to resort to fighting. She enrolled in RF because of all of the humanitarian missions the specialists go on: evacuating people in danger, assisting during natural disasters, helping those who were wronged or cursed.

Tecna likes fighting and that’s partly why she enrolled. The adrenaline, the risks, the precarious balance between strategy and improvisation that could turn the tide of battle at any moment. At the end of the day, being a specialist — the team’s brains no less — is all about problem-solving creatively and Tecna loves that.

Bloom is an artificer and master Hagen’s (Faragonda’s) apprentice.

In this AU, Daphne did not pass down her dragon spark to Bloom but hid it in some dark corner of the universe instead. Daphne’s last deed is portaling Bloom to her godfather’s doorstep, the Famed Blacksmith master Hagen. He raises her as his ward and teaches her to craft magical weapons. Bloom grows up knowing who she is and who her family was.

Hagen finally allows Bloom to leave their castle at the age of sixteen, to apprentice under Faragonda’s tutelage and protection.

Sky and Brandon are fairies.

Brandon became a fae because Sky did. He always wanted to be a knight, but once he knew Sky was serious about becoming a fae - Brandon reasoned that the only way he could follow his friend to Alfea was to pursue magic as well.

Musa, Riven and Timmy are a witch coven.

I have no justification for it other than it just feels right. Just three buddies who everybody assumes hate each other because they trade insults as easily as breathing!!! But they don’t!!! They’re just emotionally repressed assholes who barely like anyone other than each other, and have a funny way of showing it.

They probably have matching jackets with their coven insignia or something equally dorky as that.

Nabu is a specialist with no magical powers.

The little lordling learns of his arranged marriage earlier than Aisha does and runs away from home, intent on seeing for himself what kind of girl Aisha is. Lucky for him, there is an open spot on the specialist team where Aisha is the leader! A lot of pining ensues.

Helia is a wizard.

He studies directly under Saladin. Helia has his own teachers and trains separately from the rest of RF, for the most part. He is Saladin’s chosen heir; has been groomed to take over his grandfather’s seat in the Company of Light for years now.

He is also — kind of miserable. It’s not the kind of life Helia wants for himself. But he also loves Saladin and would do anything to make him happy. So wizard it is! For now, at least.

The Trix are fairies who believe that they deserve to be the next guardians of the Dragon Flame.

[crehador]

LET'S GO BUSTER BROS BACK IN THE LEAD IKEBUKURO NUMBER ONE YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WIN A RAP BATTLE BUT YOU CAN WIN THIS CURRY BATTLE I BELIEVE IN YOU

[amee-racle-ofmyown]

HEY HEIST DUO ENJOYERS I haven't drawn them in ages but BOY do I think about them always❤️ here have some food

[aseuki]

Ward against shadow, bringer of dawn and light...

[mordimor]

playing with fire

[astral-schools]

enjoy your stay!

[happywitchesofnewdi]

BF hoodie