#not of choosing the problems OS

[problemnyatic]

Yeah yeah linux having problems is a big joke but honestly have you considered that linux wouldn't run like shit if it didn't have to reverse engineer byzantine proprietary drivers and hardware architecture and deliberately hostile BIOS firmware and one thousand other things that exist solely to force everything that isn't a corporate OS to suffer miserably on every computer ever

[spanishyumejoshi]

Hey, where are all the choose Goose lovers? 👀

[daisys-reality]

PAC: Is your DR S/O possessive? How does it show? ♡ ๑

general tarot reading disclaimers apply here. dividers were made by me, the boy drawings are from pinterest but edited by me. this is a reality shifting themed tarot reading and requested anonimously. for more tarot readings, check out my masterlist. now, think about your DR s/o, choose a cutie from above and read your pile below :)

[from pile one yuuji to pile five bakugo]

cutie one ♧

No. I think your connections is based on a strong friendship, some of you might even be childhood friends. There are already lots of memories made together, a strong bond, deep trust and a certain sense of innocence. I think being possessive over your partner (for your s/o) is a sign of mistrust, of fear of betrayal or of deep wounds that haven't been healed yet. I think only when they would reach rock bottom, in moments where they start fearing you leaving them, certain possessive traits would start showing but they wouldn't be proud of themself for it. If they start feeling possessive, you wouldn't even know, they'd be lowkey and subtle, doing or arranging things without you knowing or when you're not present to avoid situations that trigger them.

-> if you liked this reading and want to request another topic pls click here !! xoxo daisy ♡

cutie two ◇

Yes. Mhm... lots of insecurities and worries here... I think they fear losing what is precious to them and this is not an unfounded worry. Your s/o might have gone through really harsh times, times where they really ended up losing something that had a high value to them. It crushed them and they struggle with feeling really at peace and with acknowledging that you'll stay by their side... their possessive side might immediately show when you're out in a get-together/a gathering or a party - or maybe as soon as a third party is present or involved - no matter who or what it is. the intensity might differ a little for some of you guys' s/os though. They might even be quick to offer you commitment (ex. rush into moving in together, marrying etc - but they are serious about it!) just to get this feeling of security. They are not shy to show who you belong to in front of others and they are the type to spoil you rotten, give you all of their attention and to overindulge in you (they don't wanna leave you even for a second- and this might even surprise you because I feel like they try to play it cool in front of you but in their head there is CHAOS lol). I can also see them putting you on a pedestal, and writing cute little messages or letters and being really tender with you. "I'd die for you" - they're dramatic AF 😂

-> if you liked this reading and want to request another topic pls click here !! xoxo daisy ♡

cutie three ♤

Yes. First of all, you're DR s/o is very very passionate (18+) about you, they desire you so badly AND they can sometimes be quite a bit dominant. They like having control and you are something they would like to have all to themself. However, they have manners and they try to keep themself in check. they might be the type to like to be informed about what you do, when and with who, plan things for you, solve all your problems or/and provide financially for you, so you don't have to lift a finger. I feel like most of you might enjoy this "someone taking control in the relationship" but for others it might be something you're not really used to (yet) …maybe because of trust issues on your end? To them, you're such a temptation, they are emotionally really attached to you - like they've never been before and it makes them unusually sensitive. They might have some emotional immature moments with you just because they can't get enough of you and it feels like they are not so experienced with "love" and dating in general. their desire and their possessiveness sometimes get to their head, clouding their mind. but they're always working hard to get your approval "please, let me take care of you" and treasure everything about you (they'd even frame your doodles lol). while dealing with others, they might come off very arrogant - trying to scare any unwanted third party away. they are only nice to you ♡

-> if you liked this reading and want to request another topic pls click here !! xoxo daisy ♡

cutie four ♧

No. I don't think your DR s/o is the possessive type. He seems to be quite independent and having his own space and type is quite important to them, so they also respect their partner's space and time that they need for themself. "You don't need my approval, you know?" Also, they don't hide their feelings and are very honest and open. They are also not fooled easily and hate childish mind games. They'd appreciate it, if you were honest about your feelings too and just tell them if something bothers you. Even though they don't hide their feelings, they're not the most emotionally intropective person - they might sometimes not understand what they're feeling. If there is something bothering them which they logically can't understand why their feeling this way (ex. immature jealousy without a reason) they might end up just feeling depressed, anxious, lonely or even grumpy/angry. if you see them for example overworking themselves, forcibly distracting themself, struggling to fall asleep or constantly being tense/restless or mindlessly following you around like a puppy, then you'll know they're overthinking things and struggle with uncomfortable feelings they can't comprehend themselves - just confront them and talk things through! They love talking with you and sharing with you whatever you guys have on your mind with each other. one-on-one time with you is their favorite time :)

-> if you liked this reading and want to request another topic pls click here !! xoxo daisy ♡

cutie five ◇

No. I think your DR s/o is the "aloof and distant guy" type of person - someone who introspective to the point of emotional withdrawal, often preoccupied with their own thoughts and feelings, a lone wolf. relationships are not really easy for them. they generally have trust issues with the world. their actions sometimes contradict with their thoughts/feelings. In relationships of any kind they often fear making the wrong choices, struggling with understanding other people and their intentions. They really try to trust you and your loyalty towards them but if they feel insecure or triggered by a third party, they might actually seek your comfort and closeness (cuddling?), wanting you to assure them to take of the emotional stress that their feeling. They lowkey might have an obsessive tendency but not really in the possessive way. Honestly, their feelings towards you feel really pure - they just want the best for you, prioritizing your happiness over their own. They want to become a better person for you - they feel a bit bad that they're not so good with expressive themself and that they're hard to understand sometimes but they feel deeply grateful that you still choose them regardless.

-> if you liked this reading and want to request another topic pls click here !! xoxo daisy ♡

[moxanji-real]

A little PSA because people still don’t get nonsharers smh

I’m going to say it again: the concept of nonsharing really isn’t that hard to understand. Some people choose not to share their F/Os because it makes them uncomfortable and that’s valid. Why shame someone for being open about their boundaries? Would you rather they lie about how they feel and quietly suffer, just to keep others happy? It’s much healthier to let people exist within their comfort zones.

Now, how someone handles being a nonsharer is a separate issue. There’s a big difference between respectfully enforcing a boundary and acting out in toxic ways like spreading misinformation about doubles, making possessive or snide remarks, or encouraging mass blocking someone just because they share the same F/O. That kind of behavior is a problem, but it’s a problem with that person, not with the concept of nonsharing itself.

Being nonsharing should have never been seen as an issue to begin with. The real problem lies with those who abuse it and create unnecessary drama. I’ve met plenty of nonsharers who simply block, move on, and stay respectful. And I’ve also seen the kind of nonsharers who give the rest a bad name.

At the end of the day, hating an entire group for the actions of a few is frankly quite stupid and close minded. I fully support nonsharers and their reasons, but I will never support those who weaponize it to be cruel. There’s a difference between having boundaries and being a jerk.

Nonsharers are valid. Period. 😤🩷

[lyricamaxing]

I js came across a post of someone ragging on nonsharing selfshippers, and I have something that I’ve always thought about that I think I should say.

I genuinely believe that people who rag on nonsharing selfshippers have some kind of ableist undertone. They are always like, “They’re delusional! They are way too obsessed with their f/o(s)! Why do they think they OWN a fictional character?”

First of all, we are not delusional.. that is probably one of the most ableist things you can say to someone especially if they ACTUALLY have delusions. Selfshipping can vary in many different levels, and it is so stupid how you can find a sharing selfshipper who is just as dedicated to their f/o(s) as a nonsharing selfshipper, and people would choose to call the nonsharing selfshipper delusional.

Not to mention, have any of you considered that the reason they’re so obsessed with their f/o(s) is because they are coping with something or have a hyperfixation on said character? Like, have Yall not heard of that specific character helping with their mental health..? And that maybe that character is the only thing they have that makes them happy….?? Or that the selfshipper is neurodivergent and just have very big hyperfixations on the character…….?????

And truly, we do NOT believe that we “own” our f/os. I gen don’t know where y’all got that from. “Your f/o would think you’re toxic with how possessive you are!” Or maybe.. my f/o wouldn’t want randos flirting with them either. Maybe my f/o is also jealous and doesn’t want me with anyone else either. Or MAYBE you should just get outta my business..?

Basically, I believe that nonsharing selfshipper haters are ableist because they just use ableist insults and can’t seem to take it into consideration that people with mental health problems use such things to cope and just don’t like to see their f/o with other people. It can put them in a horrible place mentally, and for some reason people just lack compassion in such areas. As a nonsharing selfshipper, I was once in a place surrounded by doubles and people who shipped my f/os with other characters and it was genuinely so triggering to me that I was put into a horrible mental space and hurt a bunch of people and myself.

This is not an excuse for my behavior, but it is definitely a reason for people to set boundaries and other people to stay out of our business. You don’t know what someone could be going through, and even if they are being an ass, do NOT use it as an excuse to rag on their attachment to their f/os. That loops every nonsharing selfshipper into this toxic rhetoric and gives people the impression that they can be ableist simply because of our mental problems, coping mechanisms, and hobbies. If there is a nonsharing selfshipper who HAPPENS to be a wiener, please just block and move on, do not go around telling everyone how horrible nonsharers are just because of some bad apples.

TLDR; I believe that nonsharing selfshipper haters are ableist because of their petty reasons, because they dealt with SOME bad apples, and because they can’t mind their own business.

[quietstormxr]

Changed

Platonic!Xaden x Sister!Reader

Summary: IF/OS Spoilers, Xaden's POV, exploring the changes to the man he is becoming and how it's affecting those around him.

A/N: Violence and pure angst. Exploring Xaden's villain arc. Purely an indulgent idea that became brain rot.

Word Count: 3.6k

Considering a continuation of this once we see where the story arc goes in the next books…thoughts?

“Come on Violet. The enemy isn’t going to wait for you to be ready.” She says as her strikes come faster, the furious protectiveness in her voice a stark contrast to the flurry of movement.

“I know.” Violet grits out through clenched teeth as she tries to parry and block the incoming assaults. 

 The training room is empty, except for the few that continue rounds and rounds of signet sparring, the squad collectively pushing past their normal limits.

War was on the doorstep and nothing and no one was going to wait for them to be ready. The enemy was gaining traction faster than they could possibly keep up and being constantly on the defensive was causing more problems than any of them cared to admit. 

“You’re pushing her too hard.” Xaden’s words came out a muffled snarl, but his sister looked at him, her glare cutting through his concern.

‘Threat.’ The voice hissed as a whisper into his mind, Xaden’s eyes tracking every movement.

“If I don’t push her, she’ll die. I’m not going to have that theory tested in the real world when we can keep the control here.” Y/N’s comment came with a strike that Violet wasn’t prepared for. 

In a flurry of confusion, too many things happened at once. One minute Y/N was slicing her blade towards Violet’s arm, and the next Violet was alone with a small cut through her forearm, barely harmed. 

Every noise around them stopped. Weapons clattered to the ground, movements halted, time itself seemed to stop. 

The only sound that dared to break the silence was Xaden’s sharp erratic breaths. 

‘Must eliminate the threat. Can’t let her keep breathing.’ The voice now snarled.

In moments, too quick to be truly human, Xaden’s shadows had lunged for his sister and thrown her into the wall, a sickening crack sounding as her skull and ribs slammed against the stone. His own body followed not far behind, hand wrapped around her throat, shadows pinning her extremities down. The only sound a muffled cry, so small, it barely broke through the silence.

But no one that witnessed the scene would forget her eyes. Betrayal, hurt, disappointment, and fear registering in quick succession. Xaden’s hand tightening and making the familiar orbs flutter closed, her body barely hanging to life.

‘That’s right. You will burn for daring to touch, to harm.’ Vengeance bled through the voice still slithering through Xaden’s thoughts.

Suddenly, as though someone pressed play on life again, boots came running. Violet began to pull on Xaden’s arm, pleas leaving her mouth in desperation, but there was no give in his hold.

Garrick wasn’t as generous. Without touching Violet, a violent gust of wind threw Xaden across the room, his own head now hitting the stone. Bodhi’s hands wrenched and removed the shadows from his cousin, eyes alight with a fire of protectiveness. Garrick continued on quick strides, gently catching Y/N’s limp form as it tried to take shallow breaths, as if remembering how to breathe for the first time. 

The scene now a gruesome reality of what Xaden was becoming. His being no longer recognizing those that he used to choose to love.

“Everyone out.” Bodhi commanded, not letting his eyes leave Xaden, the fire still dancing in them. “NOW!”

The shuffle of feet could be heard until the only people left were the four and the now unconscious form of the person they all loved in some way.

In a voice deceptively calm, Bodhi radiated storm, his figure cutting a picture Xaden would’ve been proud of, if it wasn’t directed at him. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing Xaden? Who did you think that was?”

The accusations stung Xaden as he finally began to register the room around him again. Looking back at the three pairs of eyes pinning him, his breathing began to quicken as the last few minutes began to register fully. 

“I – I don’t know. An enemy.” The words come in a whisper, disbelief painting his entire face. The normally stoic and proud man reduced to a puddle of uncertainty, his large frame dropping unceremoniously to the ground. Xaden didn’t miss the scoff that left Bodhi.

“We all knew this changed you.” Bodhi says, accusation hitting harder than normal. “There was no way to avoid it, but I never thought it would be at the cost of someone who has done nothing but love you, scars and all.”

Xaden felt his heart crack at his cousin’s words, his eyes taking in the limp form of the woman that he thought he would only ever protect. The bright light that had guided him in the darkened world of their childhood. The reason he always had chosen to be a better man.

“I never thought I would see the day that even your own sister became expendable.” Garrick shakes his head, disappointment dripping from every word. “All because of a woman.” 

Eyes hard, Garrick turns away from Xaden carrying her limp form, but not before throwing parting words over his shoulder. “Now here you are, turning on the first woman you promised you would keep safe and protected with your life – even before the hell of the apostasy.”

Then so quietly, questioning if the words were even spoken, “I suppose you really aren’t the same man anymore.”

The words hung thick in the air as Xaden watched the retreating forms. There was no way he would be able to get her wide eyes of betrayal from his mind. The familiar eyes that he shared with his sister torn apart from emotions that he had wreaked, the havoc of his choices burned into the corners of his soul. 

“What was that, Xaden?” Violet’s voice, smaller than normal, cut through the tide of emotion rising. 

“I – “ He started, but his mouth closed as he swallowed thickly. Bile rising in his throat at the thought of the events that just transpired. He tried to find reason, to find logic, but there was none. His mind had turned off, every ounce of recognition glazing over at the thought of Violet being hurt. The voice of darkness overcoming him, clouding his actions.

His mind a chasm of ice, frozen to the reality of the situation, everything closed off except the woman he loved being hurt. But Xaden shook his head, Violet wasn’t the only woman he loved, and he couldn’t fathom how he could forget. Disregard the seed of love that had grown into a garden reserved for the one person he never thought he could leave behind. The one woman who always accepted every secret and still stayed and loved him fiercely. 

The knowledge that he could shut her out so easily, turn on her so swiftly, extinguish her light without thought, began eating at his remaining humanity. 

“It isn’t an if anymore. Now its only a question of when.” Xaden’s words leave him, not directed at Violet or himself, just the truth they had all been unwilling to voice.

“Don’t say that.” Violet wouldn’t accept that, she would fix this.

___________

Later that night, Xaden slipped into the corridors, shadows clinging to him like a second skin. He wanted – no needed – to see her. He needed desperately to cradle his sister in his arms, to gain back her trust, her love. 

“No.” The word came out final, as if he was a child being told his limitations.

Turning, there was no way to escape Garrick’s burning gaze. Defiance flared to life in Xaden, his nostrils flaring at the possibility Garrick thought he could control his actions.

Without stopping, Xaden continued forward towards the door of the infirmary room. 

“I said, No.” Garrick’s arms crossed over his chest, his figure posed as a threat, something Xaden had never seen before, not directed at him.

“You don’t get to tell me I can’t see her. She’s my sister.” Xaden relays with a glare that could cut glass.

“Was.” The word causes Xaden’s eyes to flash dangerously. “She’s no longer your sister when you become more of a threat to her life than a blessing.”

Xaden steps up to his best friend, malice shining in his eyes, but Garrick only steels himself. 

“She’s resting after you dared to lay your hands on her.” Garrick’s words come out calm, but cold. “Do you realize if Bodhi and I wouldn’t have been there, we’d all be burying her right now.” 

“By. Your. Own. Hand.” Each word hit sharper than any physical blow.

The air whooshed out of Xaden’s lungs as if Garrick had punched him in the gut. The words cut through the haze, the truth acting like a blade to his already broken heart. A chilling truth curling in the air around them. 

There was no denial, there couldn’t be. Nothing Garrick said was false. The pull, the ache to reach for more power a constant drag on his psyche. The incessant tug to be united with the one that claimed he could teach him, mold him, constantly drowning out the present. The dark voice creeping in and directing his actions.

Xaden knew he was drowning, but he couldn’t let himself leave everyone he loved behind. Refused to become the thing they fought against, not the thing they fought for. 

“It’s best if you leave. She needs to rest, and I don’t think she’ll feel safe with you right now.” 

Safe. 

Xaden huffed at the word. They had never been safe, the apostasy made sure of that, but she had found safety with him. 

She had trusted him with everything. She found shelter from bitter words and hatred, protection from physical hurts, and solace on the days when the pain lingered. 

But now – now, he was the hurt. 

Xaden was the pain; he was the bitter words. He was the physical agony, as he remembered the handprint blooming on her tawny skin. He was no longer the solace; he was only misery and heartache.

Without another word, he turned and left the infirmary. Left the woman who had always cheered him on and walked towards the one that questioned, the one that he thought he couldn’t live without. Inside though, the vines began to twist and crowd as his mind continued to turn black. 

The darkness creeping slowly over the glow of his soul.

There was no way to fight this. No way to recover.

But he’d be damned if he let his sister slip away entirely. And damned he would become.

___________

Days passed and Xaden let himself get swept away in duty. He continued in his post, teaching cadets to best utilize their signets against the enemy, who they didn’t even know was standing in front of them.

Every class he searched for her. Every time her squad was meant to stand in front of him, he was disappointed. He knew that she wasn’t in the infirmary any longer, he saw her in the dining hall, saw shadows of her leaving the barracks and in formation. 

But she wasn’t the only one. Xaden and Violet began to become an island in the ocean of Basgiath. Every one of his trusted friends keeping their distance. Xaden couldn’t remember the last time he spoke with Garrick or Bodhi about something other than signet sparring class or matters relating to Tyrrendor. Imogen passing him in the halls with a look that could freeze over the tundra. 

The concern that normally painted their gazes since the Battle for Basgiath completely gone. Violet talked to them, but the conversation was minimal, a formal requirement, not friendship, not backup.

It was clear that they no longer trusted Xaden and were protecting the woman that he had almost killed. His own flesh and blood that he had thought no more than a menace, a threat.

When he thought of that day, the memories began to hold less and less weight. The truth of what he had done becoming just a bit more meaningless each day. The light once held in his soul snuffing to only a candle’s worth of warmth.

Only one thing was steady territory anymore.

Battle was safe. Fighting was normal. The power of beating an opponent becoming a high he wanted to chase with a vengeance he had never felt before.  

Pockets of the day brought clarity though, the human part of his soul singing in the darkness. In those moments, all he wanted to do was disappear, hide from the shame of his actions. Those moments though began to get smaller and smaller, the momentary reprieve found when he could wind himself in Violet’s arms. Or fly with Sgaeyl, but that only happened when necessary. There was some reprieve when he saw Y/N, but those were small since she was so distant now. His entire being now a planet that had fallen off its axis, out of the orbit he needed so badly.

He could feel Sgaeyl’s disappointment, the blade of anger at daring to harm the girl that she loved as well. It was no secret that Sgaeyl was just as attached to Y/N as her own dragon, nudging the girl whenever she was in the same vicinity. 

The thoughts would hit the hardest in the Senarium meetings. Xaden’s attention constantly pulled away from the monotony of overstuffed nobles thinking their importance made them strategists, made them invincible. 

If only Xaden could tell them an enemy was sitting at their table, right under their haughty noses, ruling over the largest province of Navarre. 

But no, that wouldn’t serve anyone’s purpose. Let them stew in political matters that would not make a difference once the real threat came. 

It wasn’t until the doors swung open that he was brought from his thoughts. The familiar figure cutting a line towards him and radiating a power he had never seen before. 

A crack of awareness glittered in his soul, and he latched on to it, grasping it tightly in his hands, clawing for the relief of seeing her. 

Her face was solemn, a mask of veritable indifference, though the power that radiated from her was unmistakable. He never thought he’d see her blossom into this intimidating woman, but between her stature and fierce expressions, everyone knew she wasn’t to be messed with. 

Xaden had worried he had taken her fire, that his actions had brought her to her knees, but this woman shined. She was the sun burning through the darkness of his soul, the one who would conquer every shadow he would leave behind. 

Bodhi walked in step with her and they both sat in seats directly behind him. His shadows skittered, desperately wanting to wrap themselves around her and let him be the refuge in the storm of life that he used to be. As they slowly slithered closer to her, they froze when she spoke.

“Don’t.” The word was clear, their meaning perfectly delivered. She didn’t want him, didn’t want his protection, didn’t want his love.

There was no shifting, neither her nor Bodhi moved from their place. They only listened. They watched as the pompous upper echelon spoke of topics they were clearly inept at handling. The cadre tried to hand down their knowledge, to prove the best way to defend their homes, but the nobles dismissed them. Focus on the true war drowned out in a battle for power within their small minds. 

As the meeting came to a close, they all rose as the King took his leave. The Riorson family didn’t bow. They wouldn’t, not after the chaos Navarre had inflicted after the Apostasy. The death they exacted due to their inability to be truthful to their own citizens. 

Filtering out, Bodhi and Y/N began to turn around and follow the remaining members of the aristocracy, their rider leathers a stark contrast to the rich colors of the nobility. 

“Y/N, wait.” Xaden’s voice came out hoarse, even to his own ears. Her eyes were hard, and Xaden didn’t miss the way that Bodhi stepped in front of her, shielding her from her own brother.

“I’m not going to hurt her.” Xaden snapped at Bodhi, though her terrified eyes flashed in Xaden’s mind.

“Your word is no longer a guarantee, cousin.” Bodhi spit the last word as if he was now offended by the idea of being related to Xaden.

A slender hand came up to Bodhi’s shoulder and he turned to look back at her. 

“I’ll be fine Bodhi.” Y/N said in a voice more reassuring that Xaden could tell she felt. “If I’m not, I know how to handle him now.”

The second comment said with conviction, Xaden couldn’t help the way his breath caught, her hand coming to rest on the hilt of a dagger at her side. This was the clearest his emotions had been in weeks. The cloud of darkness seemed to part with her agreeance to speak with him.

Bodhi searches between the siblings before giving her a curt nod and striding for the door.

“Don’t push her.” Bodhi warns. “And don’t you dare lay a hand or single shadow on her.”

The threat looms even after Bodhi leaves the space. A coldness settling over them, where there only used to grow warmth and love.

As she sits there looking back at him, Xaden’s brows furrow. The ease that was always between them seemed to evaporate like smoke on the wind. Her posture rigid, spine locked, and face a mask of cold indifference he’s never known with his sister.

The woman before him doesn’t seem like a sister, she’s a force that will never bend to the will of anyone, except herself. Xaden always thought he would be a good influence; thought he would help guide her to handle the cards they’d been dealt. But instead, she’s guarded, hardened against the man that she used to consider safe – used to consider as home.

“Bodhi and I have talked and we will handle things with the Senarium in your absence.” Her voice was tight, unwavering. Every word she said, exclaimed with an air of calm authority. “Tyrrendor will not be left without someone to steer her through the looming waters of this war.”

“That isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about.” Xaden’s voice cuts through the silence, his tone strong but soft. 

“Then what exactly do you need, Xaden?” There is no nonsense in her tone, none of the usual playful banter of a brother and sister.

“I need you to make sure to keep your promise, that if I – “ Xaden is cut off before he can even finish his thought.

“Stop.” She demands and Xaden instantly closes his mouth. A pause charges in the silence as she chooses her words. 

“If any part of the next words out of your mouth are ‘if you go too far’ then you can stop talking now.” Her voice is clipped and tone sharp. There’s no warmth or understanding there. 

“I stopped being indebted to you the minute you chose ‘Violence’.” The last word leaves her lips in a sneer, tone dripping with disdain. “The minute my life seemed nothing but a burden in your hands.”

“If you’re looking for someone to drive in the knife into your heart once you’ve gone too far, you better go ask Violet – or anyone else either of you trusted with your turning.” She replies, eyes hard and cold with an apathy Xaden’s recoils from. “Because the man, who I used to call brother, has already driven a knife through mine.”

Her words are chosen thoughtfully and the vines that have been threatening since she was hurt begin to darken again and constrict further. 

“The moment you decided my life wasn’t worth the same as hers and tried to end mine, any love between us has ceased to exist. So, you can go ahead and write me off, consider me a ghost that does nothing but haunt these halls.” Sharper words have never been said, the finality cutting through his entire being. The wound of Violet questioning his every motive and feeling, nothing compared to his sister’s words, to his own aggression towards her. 

Without waiting for a response or even a reaction, she strides out the door. There’s no defeat in her steps, no weight of a downtrodden girl, just the grit of reality. The actuality that he had already gone too far. That in the quest and name of love, he had forgotten every single person that had loved him before, the ones he loved in return.

Emotion clogged his throat as he stared at the doorway eyes looking through the space she had just vacated, a piece of what was left of his soul crumbling away at the loss of her. 

Though there was a sudden flash in his brain and everything scrambled. 

Sentiments that seconds ago clung to his skin and wrapped around his lungs wiped away as if never there at all. Xaden blinked and stood from the chair, slight confusion overtaking him, before he strode out into the corridor.

For the first time in his life there was only one thing of importance. The vines choking back every other person, place, or memory – besides her, his Violence and Sgaeyl. Chosen family and his remaining blood scattered to the wind. The blade of responsibility one he tossed to the ground. No one or nothing else would ever win. 

Every happy memory blasted to pieces. Every laugh, every smile, every soft emotion smothered by the rotting darkness that had crept in day after day. He could feel the glimmer in his eyes die, the spark of life extinguished like a candle. The subtle hint of red clouding over his vision.  

Without hesitation, Xaden walked out of the hall, out of Basgiath, and out of the lives of every single person that he ever loved. 

He was one with the darkness he wielded, and he let the shadows consume him and all that was left of his soul. 

Divider: @uzmacchiato

Taglist: @ilovetomtailor@nevermoresworld@nastylicious@iambored24601@mysticalfuncollectorus@sadpieceofbread@alwayshave-faith@bestillmystuckyheart @bookwormysblog

[azaharinflames]

https://www.tumblr.com/azaharinflames/780568231788380160/ive-been-thinking-a-lot-about-buck-and-tommy-and

Have to agree with your response to this anon. I get why BTs or even non-shippers who just enjoy canon are reeling. This season has been filled with questionable choices on the part of Tim and it is hard to trust the process when the journey has been stupid. Still, we know Lou is coming back, Buck has mentioned Tommy more in since the break up than when they were happily dating, and both Tim & OS basically said that they would have their issues. Most importantly, we are quick to talk about the lack of media literacy on the part of the BoBs while failing to follow one simple rule: be mindful of who is saying something. The only people who said that Tommy was gone for good and that was an “exit interview” were BoB journalists. We already know that most of what they say is false or fueled by delusion and yet we choose to believe that???? Sure it is possible that Tim will drop the ball on this but my guess is the plan was always to get them back together but he wanted to create drama and didn’t have any better ideas of how to do so than what we got.

Couldn't agree more, Nonnie.

I'll go blue in the face saying this (and I will eat my words if it turns out I was wrong), but more and more I'm starting to be convinced that this was, in part, a test. And I know that's what we said at first (to cope, let's be real), but honestly? I don't think we were entirely wrong. Because, if anything, this has shown Tim that we do care about Bucktommy. And, something even more important - it's shown Tim that he can give them drama, and people will actually give a shit about it (in ways they haven't done with any of Buck's past LIs).

Tim and Oliver have said in the past how they want the relationship to have their issues (gen), how they don't want a relationship to always be in a state of content (paraphrasing). Oliver went on to say he did like the aspect of will they won't they at a time when he had already shot 806. I think a lot of us forget about that fun tidbit. And if he hadn't fully shot it, he at least was aware of what was coming. We had our warnings, as much as we didn't see them, and now we just have to see if the result is good for us. But it's not crazy to think it has a possibility of being good.

And yes, the journalists are a big part of the problem (and I use journalists extremely lightly). The 'exit' interview, MG claiming Lou was gone for good and that if he came back it wouldn't be as Buck's LI (love how that has aged, btw)... we all took it too seriously. But we're talking about the same people who live to bait the buddies. Who saw the kitchen scene between Maddie and Buck in 811 and tried to spin it in Buddie's favor, even when that was the show shutting it down. Hell, MG downright tried to twist RG's own words, from his own interview. I think we'd all be much happier if we just stopped paying any attention to them (and I know that's hard, but. It's not like they deserve our attention, anyway)

Overall - heavily agree with you, Nonnie, and I'm glad you agree with me, too!

[killuintense]

uh, olá, vi que os pedidos estão abertos e gostaria de fazer um pedido, pode ser leon re2, pode ser nsfw ou cute (já que ele é cute) onde ele encontra o leitora na delegacia e ele se vê em uma necessidade de protegê-la em tudo

❝ see you, leon ❞

rookie!leon kennedy x fem!reader

Warning: first part, second part, final part / cont. smut

summary: Leon thought that his stay for work in Raccoon City would be boring and monotonous. But he didn't know that the Chief of Police had such a... interesting daughter.

content: 3.2k words, fluff, cute Leon, no Racoon City canon events, soft perv leon.

note: when i read your request i was excited because it was an idea that I had in mind for a while, and knowing that someone was interested encouraged me to write it! thank you for entrusting it to me, i'm sorry if it's too long. however, it will have one more part as i have in my plans. enjoy it, sweetheart ♡

Leon was often naive. But he could not help being a little clumsy sometimes; and that day he tried not to make it so obvious, as he walked behind the officer who was talking to him and indicating the different offices corresponding to each cadet.

That day he had arrived late, he didn't hear the alarm and of course; he had stayed late trying to reassure his ex-girlfriend who had insulted him in every possible way for being "a lying bastard" when he told her that he had chosen Racoon City as his work destination. According to the officers in charge of him in his police training, he had been practically the best performer, so they gave him the permission to choose any work assignment he wanted.

Why Racoon City? Well... ignoring the fact that he thought it was funny that it was named after such a "cute" (in his own words) animal, the amount of unsolved case news caught his attention.

There was only one problem: his girlfriend -now ex- to whom he had to give the terrible news and, as if that wasn't enough, run off to town because they were short-staffed, so he couldn't even fire her. It hurt, yes, but they had been three months together in which he had seen little or nothing except for those short vacations they spent together; it was almost a sigh in his opinion.

That's why he didn't count on the warmth in his chest he felt as he entered the main room, where all the cadets stood among the paperwork and calls, watching a young woman laughing along with one of the officers. "And this is where we usually spend most of our time" the officer in charge explained to him, gently reaching out his arms and looking sideways at him, denying with a chuckle "Kid, it's your first day, you're late and now you're distracted" he gently pats the blond and he seems to wake up from his silly slumber. He lost himself in the laughter of that girl a few months away, jokingly fighting with the other boy.

"I wish I could concentrate once in my life when I study here, Jake," you said to the officer next to you, who was jokingly reading the notes in your notebook. Leon laughed softly, he thought it was adorable how you stood on your tiptoes trying to reach your notebook, snorting at the failed attempt.

"And to top it off you get distracted by the boss's daughter" Jones laughs loudly, and Leon looks at him with a sheepish blush, freezing in place.

"Why would the officer's daughter be here? It's dangerous" he frowned and the officer laughed, he seemed to be making fun of him all the time; especially with that stupid nickname he gave him" 'rookie' he had said as soon as he welcomed him to Raccoon station.

"Well, the Chief would rather I spend time studying here than at home alone, I guess" he shrugged and pointed to the desk "You're in your lucky day, this is your workplace, rookie, here's your desk; and it's in front of Miss (y/n)" he meant you, who was now concentrating on her sheets and writing carefully.

Leon would be lying if he said he wasn't thanking God for putting the idea in his head to choose Raccoon City (apparently being guided by his parameters of "adorability" for an animal had served him well). He couldn't remember ever seeing someone so... cute, beautiful, with that unique harmony. It seemed that a force was pushing him to want to get closer to you; to want to protect you. And although that was his job, after all he chose that profession for a reason, he felt from a distance that it was not the same as with the others. That he would never be able to take care of you enough.

"Come, let's go say hello" the officer guided him, pushing him gently by the back to take him to the desk where you were, and after dodging a couple of tables, they arrived "(y/n)! Guess what? A new victim has arrived" he joked noisily, and soon Leon felt his legs trembling, he felt even there your scent and perfume invading him, and your presence hypnotizing him even worse now that he was closer.

You looked up, expecting to find someone Jake's age, who already had two children and was married, but your surprise was gigantic when a blond with eyes too beautiful to describe appeared in front of you. You had never seen him before; because if you had, you would have remembered him. Obviously you would have.

"Hey..." your words caught on your tongue and you laughed nervously, rising almost on impulse to reach out your hand "They were talking about you a lot here..." you tried to joke, afraid of looking like a fool but soon you felt your hearing being clouded by his soft laughter. Probably the most beautiful you had ever heard in your life.

"Leon Kennedy, a pleasure" he introduced himself, shaking your hand gently. Even in his touch you felt as if he didn't want to hurt you, as if he had used the slightest of strength to shake you in greeting "I hope they said nice things" he joked back.

"Hi, likewise the pleasure is mine" you softened your voice as you introduced yourself, and God, you felt the mockery in Officer Jones' gaze, since when were you such a form? If it had been anyone else a simple greeting would have been enough, but you felt you didn't want to take your presence away from him. "Well, you know how they are here, they didn't even deign to tell me your name, I really started to believe your name was 'rookie'" suddenly you noticed that his face turned as red as a tomato and his hands separated with some denial, you could even assure that he had noticed your doubt when doing so. For God's sake.

But before the embarrassment was too obvious Jones laughed outrageously again "Oh, Kennedy you look pathetic" he said and Leon frowned in confusion, making you bite your lip to hold back a giggle "I guess you will see each other often, the young lady studies here because her father is stubborn to accept that she is already a young college girl who can walk on her own" she denied and put her hands on her hips, while tapping the floor with her shoes.

"Oh, Jones, try to understand him. It's only my first year" you jokingly scold, sitting back down "Welcome Leon, I hope you feel comfortable in Raccoon City. It's really nice here."

'Oh, relax, I've seen enough of you to know that Raccoon City has the most beautiful view of all' thought Leon, feeling like a teenager again for having such cheesy thoughts. Cheesy and hormonal.

Soon they said their goodbyes, Jones hurrying the blond to go change into his uniform and start glancing at the paperwork waiting for him on his desk. Leon hadn't seen so much paperwork since the time he had to prepare for his final exam to graduate from high school.

However, he couldn't help visit your desk with his eyes whenever he could. Sometimes concentrating on the sheets, sometimes sighing because you didn't understand something, and sometimes talking to some officer who joked with you or asked you how things were going. Apparently they had known you since you were little, as he learned, since your father was well known in town for being the head of the department; and the affection was noticeable among the cadets, who made a point of wishing you luck in your exams before leaving for some job where they were required for days at a time. Leon felt jealous of them, they had had the joy of seeing you for years, days and days where they could share your presence. He really envied them.

Leon would love to say that the goofy feeling in his eyes when he saw you was only for a couple of days and then he could concentrate properly on his work. But that would be a lie. And every time they seemed to run into each other more and more at the station. Like that time Leon decided to make himself a coffee in the break area, he had been too deep in research at his desk and it wasn't just his butt that was starting to bother him.

"Fuck, they didn't train me to avoid back pain" he complained to himself, putting the water on the electric kettle at his side to heat up. He carefully placed the coffee in the mug he had been given as a gift when he became a policeman.

"Oh, you beat me" he heard a soft little voice and felt all his aches and pains go away. There you were again. "I wanted to put some water to drink some tea" you laughed, denying as you approached with a pink cup in your hands.

"I-I've put enough water in!" he almost sounded a bit rushed to say that, making you laugh on the way "It'll suffice for both of us" he soothed, noticing your look of compression at his words. Seriously Leon was like a silly puppy. You stood next to him and began to prepare the infusion "And.... is everything going well with your studies?" he asked, clearing his throat as he folded his arms and leaned gently against the marble table.

"Mhm... I could say yes" a smile played across your lips, but you soon sighed "But it's complicated, I thought Freud would talk about more things than just why you're a terrible person for being raised defectively by your parents" you joked, glancing sideways with a smile playfully. Leon looked like he couldn't hold back a laugh, throwing his head back.

"I understand you, I thought I'd be solving my first case by now but the truth is getting more tedious than I imagined" he spoke complicitly, looking at you as he smiled, he seemed as comfortable with your presence as you were with his stay. It felt good to have someone close to your age who seemed to understand you.

"In fact, you seem very focused, looking at papers and writing on your notebook or computer" you had practically admitted to watching him from the privacy of your desk but you couldn't help the comment, it was endearing how he frowned in despair when the dots didn't seem to match and he had to go back and reread everything one more time. As adorable as now that his ears were as red as the apple he was devouring in the morning (very cute too) and his hands were nervously playing with the zipper of the jacket with his officer's badge. It should be illegal, however ironic, to look that good in uniform.

"Oh! Look at the water" he laughed nervously once the sound of the heater alerted them that the water was already at its indicated point, turning it off. Nerves were on edge inside the blond as he held you close, having to watch you carefully for fear of something happening to you, missing some event in your life "Let me, I'll put it in, we don't want you to burn yourself..." a soft voice came from him, deep and careful as he poured the water carefully into the cup.

"Thank you, Leon" he almost staggered the water filled device in his hands, hearing his name said in your voice with that soft and cute yet sensual and determined tone that made his hairs twitch as a jolt of electricity melted through his body. You were so close, with your arms touching, making the size difference between the two of you more evident; even though Leon wasn't exaggeratedly tall, his body was thick and strong. You felt yourself going crazy as the seconds passed. "Hey... I made you something..." you seemed more shy now, without any hint of the confidence you had since you entered the room. You played with your fingers and before you wanted to think about it too much, you looked for something in your backpack that you left there along with the other people's things "Look, I don't know if you're a fan of sweets but I wanted to leave you this little detail" you let out a nervous giggle and handed her a little bag decorated with a blue bow that you had prepared the day before. They were heart-shaped chocolate and vanilla cookies. Now you felt it had been too much, but before you could apologize or excuse yourself for that detail, Leon was about to choke on his coffee.

"Are you serious?" his gaze lit up, he set the cup aside trying to compose himself (and not feel so foolish) as he took the cute little bag in his hands.

"Yeah, I didn't know if you liked chocolate or vanilla better so I made you both..." a shy tone came through again, you were trying to ignore how hot your cheeks were not knowing that Leon wanted to hug you and kiss them softly. You were completely unaware of the way the blond's heart was shrinking and he had the need to squeeze you until you were soaked with his love. It was too much to hold in his body.

"You're the best, I don't think I've tasted homemade cookies in years" Leon praised, not wanting to open the bag just to admire the way you had decorated it with that blue bow, ignoring now that you based your choice of color on his beautiful eyes.

"I'll take it into account to bring you more often" now you could speak with more composure, taking your cup and smiling at him before walking to the exit door "See you, Leon" you gently raised your hand to greet him, leaving the room as if you were a ghost.

"Yeah, see ya..." he murmured softly, resting the baggie gently against his chest in an attempt to frame that moment not only in his head, but in his heart as well.

From that moment on the little details became more common between the two of them. The greetings and little jokes in the morning when you passed by before going to college with your father, the little bags of candy or cookies that you would leave on Leon's desk with little notes of encouragement like 'you can do it', 'have a nice day' or 'Officer Kennedy sounds really good'. You were making it really hard for Leon to relieve those feelings for you and you, on your side, were feeling more and more that those looks and smiles you were sharing were too much for your heart. Especially because you noticed how uncomfortable Leon was, always tense when spoken to and afraid to say anything wrong. But with you he always seemed determined, at your side as if something was going to happen to you and he, always attentive, would drop everything and come to your rescue. Like the time when a man came like crazy to complain about an administrative problem and before even wanting to approach to help (as was common in his person), he preferred to stay in front of your desk, looking at the intruder with distrust and some reluctance.

Those little details made you fall for him more and more. It wasn't what he said or didn't say, what he gave you or didn't give you; it was that way of taking care of you and always keeping you in mind. Would he have a coffee? He always took care to leave water ready for you in the electric kettle, and if he had you by his side, he would serve you tea so that 'you wouldn't burn yourself by accident'. Did he have a job outside? Once he arrived at the station after hours out, he would come running to greet you if you were there, asking you if everything was going well, how your day had been. And if he noticed you were stressed, he'd throw out his silly jokes and support you and listen to whatever you needed. Fucking hell. He was too perfect to be real.

"Kennedy? That was your last name, right?" your father perched next to his desk after leaving his office, the blond stood up quickly and nodded stiffly, attentive to his commands.

"Dad! I told you I can go alone, for God's sake!" you groaned in embarrassment, tugging at his coat sleeve. You had been insisting all morning that someone bring you to the college since he would be busy; you hated it when he treated you like you were a silly teenager. And especially when he had to pester Leon to take you; you were sure he had more interesting things to do than escort his boss's 'spoiled' daughter to the university.

"I'm sorry, Leon, I really tried to get him to let me go alone..." the sorrow was in your voice, he had started the patrol car a few seconds ago and was driving very carefully, not before asking you to put on your seatbelt. As always, an angel.

"Hey, this is my job too" he smiled in an attempt to make you take it as something common for him. You knew it wasn't, but the way he treated you with care considering how you felt made your chest warm "Besides, it helps if I go out for some fresh air" he joked.

"Thanks...makes me feel less guilty" you sighed in relief and shook your head, looking sideways at him "Although, I'm sure it's not your job to drive girls to their places of study, is it?" you laughed now looking out the window.

"Well, even if my job from now on was to be your driver, believe me I'd gladly take it" he said it so matter-of-factly that you felt your legs swoon and you were thankful you were sitting down so that one didn't become embarrassing. You found it hard to believe that he wasn't being his usual shy self, but sometimes his words managed to surprise you. You even felt some disappointment when the patrol car stopped, since they had finally arrived at your university; even for the first time in your life you didn't feel that sense of disturbance at arriving in a police car and being seen by everyone. You wanted to stay there until they were forced to get off, you didn't want to get away from him.

"Thank you, Leon... really" you spoke with sincerity in your words, even when you saw him smile naturally and in the same way you leaned over and left a soft kiss on his cheek, opening the door before he could say anything "See you in the afternoon, take care" you went downstairs trying not to stumble and closed the door behind you, walking quickly. You didn't know if you were running away from what you just did, but you definitely didn't regret it.

Especially since you left a flushed and statuesque Leon with his hands still glued to the steering wheel. He hadn't expected that, he didn't even anticipate it but....

But it had been the best feeling of his whole fucking life.

[lovelydork505]

Platonic yandere! Uncle Iroh x reader

(tw: yandere, dark fiction, implied obsessive behaviour, mentions of manipulation)

This is just a concept, I actually haven't thought about it much this is basically just a word vomit.

No matter how you two meet, I feel like it's no surprise that he's not overbearing.

In fact, compared to ozai, he is pretty nice and reader probably won't even notice the rise of his tendencies as a yandere.

Uncle Iroh chooses and values humility over pride so he's pretty chill. He is wise and takes great joy if he manages to get reader to laugh with one of his jokes.

If you aren't a part of the royal family, maybe you originally meet him at a tea shop you frequent or work at.

How long he knows of you will also depend if you are from the fire nation or Ba sing se

His fixation probably starts if you reminded him on anyway shape or form of his deceased son. Even as wise as he is, Uncle Iroh is not imune to grief and it's sorrowful claws, which sometimes leads to some irrational paranoia (not that reader or anyone else is aware).

With that, he wishes to be by your side no matter what, it's enough to just bask in your presence and to know reader is safe and sound at all times.

I see him carrying something you own with him 24/7, so if your favourite necklace is suddenly missing don't worry to much about it. Oh? You're sad about it? He'll buy you another one so you'll always have with you something to remind you of him

He's actually really sweet period

Even though he's just an old man, don't let looks deceive you, he is pretty powerful, a general and brother of the Fire Lord Ozai, when it comes to you and your safety, if it's necessary he won't hesitate to use any of his titles, although he prefers peace over battle.

Teaches you a lot os things like how to brew tea property. Loves to make you tea and other blends

If you don't know how, he'll also teach you how to play pai sho

As we all know, he is great at giving advice when you come to him with your problems, he loves listening to you. If reader has any activities they enjoy he'll absolutely insist to participate.

Best emotional support and company, you'll find it easy to talk to him about anything and everything, and in the middle of your excited rambles you won't even realize the amount of personal questions you've answered and the kind man who is mentally memorising it all, drinking it like the golden liquid of the gods

He tells you stories of his time as a general, tales of the spirit world and shares his knowledge of culture from other nations.

He doesn't care if you can bend or not, you being you is enough.

His yandere side doesn't really shine through that much, he lets you have all the freedom you want but you'll come to notice that he's always near, seemingly afraid to stray too far.

Like a father, he praises you for everything not just because of his tendencies but because he's genuinely proud of you.

Even if he doesn't like it, he'll subtly manipulate you to stay with him or to not leave permanently without him for another path of life .

Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg, once reader ceases to be oblivious of their situation some things are bound to change.

[felidae-sims]

Game Fuckery Help and Linux List [Update].

I'm avoiding re-installing this shit again, so in the meantime I'm sorting some stuff into lists. For Linux research purposes.

Edit: Standby Memory Allocation on Windows 10: New info coming in: That's not the issue. However, what i wrote below about TM is my own experience and has worked for me (without doing what Jessa was saying in the SB memory part, I remembered, hope I didn't waste anybody's time). Does it make sense? idk, but it's harmless, and if it's actually a thing and not just a freak coincidence, and can help anybody else then why not. I do remember trying it with and without cleaning cache :/ [for fuck sake the nerve on EA to put out for sale a new edition without improving it to 64bit]. As discussed by Jessa below, it's an OS problem. What worked for me, for some bizarre reason was to keep Task Manager on before and while playing the game. without it my game was crashing often, on my main non gaming computer. What solved it was fixing windows... for anyone's interested, the gory details are at the bottom of the post under the cut.

+ That combined with clearing cache often.

Jessa's video (Memory Allocation and 4GB Patch Repair). Edit: Turns out this video was pulled back, so basically just make sure the patch is applied?

1. Secound opinion on the whole matter by BrandiNotBroke [the whole #pink flash diaries tag is interesting]:

2. Leefish forum - Sims2 Graphic Cards:

3. @celebkiriedhel's Post (Texture Memory):

Linux:

@teaaddictyt & @niamh-sims About Linux.

2. @nonsensical-pixels about Linux.

3. @brandinotbroke, first Linux supporter I've encountered here. A comprehensive post:

4. @grilledcheese-aspiration, Transferring software and such from Windows to Linuxs:

Texture Memory Fuckery (Pink Soup, among other things):

Kiri's post linked at the beginning, first an foremost.

Original Post by @fireflowersims, plus; re-blog by @ovytia. Both of their tags, and comment:

2. A recap on Pink Soup/Texture Sizes by @rockethorse in the comments:

That's it for now. Any more information or good links will be welcome.

Task Manager thing briefly, for the curious (as if it interests anyone else but me, but in the interest of keeping track).

So the game was crashing often. That thing was easy to spot because the laptop would make loud airplane noises when I'd load the game. It got stuck or something, so I went to end it by force with task manager and noticed that all the resources where used to the max - right up until I'd open TM, and then everything would cool down. Like it was playing hide and seek with me. So I figured I'd get smart with it right back, and just leave TM open the whole time. Low and behold, the game stopped crashing. That combined with clearing cache often. Does it make sense? idk, but the computer works in mysterious ways.

[ralfmaximus]

In regards to the Windows 10 LTSC thing, the caveat is that it uses build 19044 (version 21H2), so it's very likely that certain programs simply won't be compatible with it

Additionally, one article said that even if they do push out a new LTSC version, there's no way to simply upgrade, you have to reinstall the whole OS just to get that new version. There's also conflicting information that it doesn't need a product key, but if it does, then you have to get it through enterprise vendors who may or may not be willing to sell you a key for a single device (or a small batch of devices, ex: 5)

It could very well be an option for some people to ride out W10 for a little longer, but these are just some things to bear in mind

Thanks for your note! It's clear you've thought about this.

The compatibility thing gets thrown around a lot, but honestly one thing Microsoft gets right with Windows is backwards compatibility. I write software for a living and one aspect of my job is retrotesting new builds of my stuff on older platforms. Currently, everything I do works on Win11 back to WinXP.

Of course, companies can choose to break compatibility. Steam famously stopped working on Win7 awhile back, forcing users to upgrade. But the core Win32 API hasn't changed in 30+ years which is remarkable.

Assuming your software doesn't need the latest build of Windows... why bother?

Bottom line, I personally am not worried about not being able to install something. When's the last time that happened with you?

If you treat Windows as a program launcher (which it is) instead of an ecosystem (which it also is, because Microsoft wants you to live there and pay them $$$) then the 'problem' becomes simpler: will the programs YOU want to run work with an old build of Win10? If so, there's no need to upgrade.

Microsoft has successfully created a religion around Windows Update. You MUST have the latest patches! Otherwise, you are VULNERABLE. Bad Things will Happen if you Don't Upgrade! Be afraid!!

That is simply not true. In my living room I drive our big screen TV with an ancient Dell box (circa 2009) running Win7 and Media Player Classic (MPC). It plays TV shows & movies just fine, exceeding DVD & Bluray resolutions. It hasn't received a Windows Update in a decade, but continues to chug along reliably. I installed Malware Bytes to make up for Windows Defender being out of date, since it has Firefox installed and we do use it to noodle around on the web occasionally. Youtube on a big screen is fun.

Will I ever upgrade that Windows? Probably not. Maybe if the host Dell Optiplex (2009!!) ever dies but otherwise... why would I?

My main workstation is Win10 and I plan to ride this thing until it explodes. Win11 is super annoying, and all the machines I run Win11 on are infested with Copilot and nag screens about OneDrive. I recently downgraded Office 365 to Office 2016 for that very reason.

Sense a pattern here?

tl;dr: Win10, even the older builds, are adequate for the typical user, for the foreseeable future. Installing & activation are stupidly easy. No product keys needed.

Finally: if you're nervous about Win10 there exist stripped down enterprise builds of Win11 available as well.

[axkirak]

The Curse of Cassandra [EP : X]

Read in Ao3 : here

Pairings :  Qimir x f!reader(SEA Reader)  [The Acolyte]

Content Rating : Mature 18+ Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warning (AT YOUR OWN RISK)

tags/themes : Alternate Universe - Dune & Star wars, Partners in Crime, Strangers to Lovers

Summary : At the Jedi Temple, everyone confronted a shocking truth about themselves, whether it was Sol, Yord, or yourself.

Status: just finished writing this fic! (It will end in Episode 14)

A/N : I'm not spoiling anything, but two things: First, Qimir's out of the picture for a bit after this, while the story shifts to the Jedi Temple, where you'll learn more about his and the reader's backstories. Second, there's a super important character here you won't want to miss.

Ps.If you enjoy my work, please reblog it. Just liking the post won’t help others discover it.

➡  Intro // EP : 1 // EP : 2 // EP : 3 // EP : 4 // EP : 5 // EP : 6 // EP : 7 // EP : 8 // EP : 9 // EP : 11 // EP : 12 // EP : 13 // EP : 14 (Completed)

Special OS : Phantom Thread // My mother is my enemy

[Episodes 10] Hand of God be my witness; I am the voice from the outer world

They won't believe me.

The thought crosses your mind as you survey the interrogation room in the Jedi Temple on Olega. The room is nearly barren, with bare gray concrete walls and no windows, furnished only with a table and two chairs on opposite sides. You choose the inner seat, facing the door, patiently awaiting the arrival of another.

It isn't long before the steel door slides open, revealing the tall, gaunt figure of a middle-aged man dressed in a yellow Jedi uniform. Sol’s expression is grave as he takes the chair opposite you. Without preamble, he begins to speak. “I apologize for keeping you waiting. The things you’ve told us are... quite shocking.” He pauses briefly, then continues with a polite tone, “It will take time to verify the truth of all this, and we may not reach a conclusion soon.”

You reflect on everything you've revealed to them earlier. You told them all they needed to know—that Qimir was behind the Jedi slaughter on this planet and that he was a Sith Lord disguised as a harmless apothecary, hiding right under their noses for years.

To the Jedi, however, your account is just hearsay. After all, everything you said came from your visions, lacking tangible evidence to prove your story—no proof that what you saw was real and not some fevered delusion.

You know your fate hangs by a thread. There’s a strong chance the Jedi will deem you delusional and might even cast you out of the Temple. That is a risk you cannot afford to take, especially when Qimir knows you have escaped and is relentlessly pursuing you. Nowhere in the galaxy will be safe for you except under the protection of the Jedi Order. It's your only hope for survival.

“You don’t believe me either, do you?” You decide to test the waters, assessing Sol's demeanor behind his neutral exterior.

Sol clears his throat, visibly uncomfortable as he speaks. “I can't say I believe everything you've said, but I don't think you have a reason to lie, given that you admitted this man was your lover.” His gaze meets yours with sincerity. “But some parts don’t make sense...”

“It doesn’t make sense because you believe the Sith have long since vanished," you interject, interrupting him before he can finish. "But I'm telling the truth. I've told you everything. Qimir is a Sith Lord. His goal is the destruction of the Jedi Order, and he won't stop until he achieves it.”

Sol sighs. He remains skeptical of your words and seems caught between belief and doubt, but can’t help feeling concerned, aware that this issue is far too serious to ignore. The implications of your claims could threaten not just the Jedi Order but the stability of the entire galaxy. It is beyond the capacity of a single Jedi Master to decide alone. “The problem is we have no evidence to confirm the Sith still exist,” Sol says cautiously, his tone now even more guarded. “And the way in which these Jedi were killed doesn’t align with typical Sith methods.”

"But it aligns with Jedi methods," you murmur, though Sol hears every word clearly. "He kills Jedi in the Jedi way. That's why you initially suspected the culprit might be one of your own, or perhaps a former Jedi."

Sol's eyes widen in shock, staring at you as if your words are the most startling thing he has ever heard. "How do you know all of this?" he asks urgently, his voice laced with confusion. He clearly remembers that none of these details were shared with you. So where did you get this information?

You offer him a faint, mysterious smile, one that makes Sol feel unsettled in ways he cannot fully explain.

"I know what you know. And I know what you don’t," you say, your blue eyes momentarily distant and lost in thought. "Your suspicions aren’t wrong. Qimir isn’t his real name, and he was once a Padawan among you. As for the rest... you’ll have to find the answers from your own people—someone who knows him far better than I do."

Sol is taken aback, concern reflected on his face. For the first time, the words of this stranger evoke a pang of fear within him. "Who are you talking about? Who among us knows the Sith Lord?"

"Your friend, Master Vernestra."

Sol furrows his brow, thinking of the Mirialan Jedi Master, who is indeed his friend. At this point, Sol's doubts multiply as he struggles to find answers for himself. How does she know about Vernestra when they've never even met? he wonders.

Sol turns his gaze back to you, his eyes now filled with analysis and wariness. He's no longer sure how to feel about you—whether to be amazed or afraid.

"Who are you really?" he finally asks.

In truth, the more appropriate question would have been, “What are you?”

You sense the confusion and doubt etched on his face, making you start to wonder as well. "You really don't know who I am?" you ask, almost to yourself.

Sol shakes his head, not pausing to consider his response. "I don't know you, and I’m sure no one else here does either."

How is that even possible? You wonder; the memory is still vivid. When Qimir first captured you, he warned that the Jedi were after you too. You were certain their intentions were the same as everyone else's—to claim the power of the last Bene Gesserit for themselves. That's why you always avoided the Jedi. But when things changed between you and Qimir, you had no choice but to reluctantly seek refuge with the Jedi, knowing it was your best chance to evade Qimir.

You had prepared yourself for the possibility that your secret would be exposed here, which is why you dared to use your visions in front of Sol. Even though you hadn’t said you were a Bene Gesserit, you knew that the Jedi, who already held an interest in the Bene Gesserit, could easily piece the truth together on their own.

Yet, Sol’s response is not what you expected.

Confusion swirls within you as you meet Sol’s gaze. You desperately want to peer into his thoughts to understand what he’s truly thinking, but you can’t do that. Despite having prophetic powers, you lack the ability to read minds like a Force user. This limitation makes predicting the future so difficult—human thoughts are ever-changing, and so too is destiny.

However, Bene Gesserit training provides a solution to this weakness through a technique known as the 'Way of Perception.' This method focuses on observing every minute detail in your conversation partner’s movements—like the slightest twitch of a facial muscle, a shift in the eyes, or a swallow—each subtle gesture that reveals their true intentions. By employing this meticulous observation, a Bene Gesserit can analyze another’s thoughts, discerning truth from deception without relying on the Force.

You use the Way of Perception on Sol, meticulously observing his reactions and analyzing them as you have been trained in the ways of the Bene Gesserit. What you discover is that he’s telling the truth. Sol and the others here neither know of nor acknowledge the existence of someone like you—a Bene Gesserit.

In that moment, a realization hits you with blinding clarity—a truth you have never considered until now: Qimir has been lying to you all along.

You remember when he first approached you out of sheer curiosity, manipulating your fear of the Jedi to keep you from running. He worked to earn your trust, all in a bid to uncover your secrets. When Qimir finally learned that secret, he realized you were too valuable to fall into anyone else’s hands. So, he killed everyone who knew about you, all to keep your power under his control.

And what better way to control someone than through love?

That’s exactly what he did to you. Qimir tried to make you fall in love with him, to surrender yourself completely—body and soul—to serve his grander purpose. His ultimate plan was to resurrect the Sith and exact revenge on the Jedi. With the aid of a Bene Gesserit, he believed he could conquer the universe.

But what throws everything off course is that Qimir, instead of merely seeing you as a tool to achieve his goals, has become genuinely attached and has fallen in love with you. 

Then, when you decided to drink the Water of Life, you allowed yourself to foresee the terrible future that unfolded, with countless possibilities and impossibilities stretching out before you.

You know that Qimir's plans will never succeed. Sooner or later, he will meet his end before reaching his goal. Even so, your bloodline and his will succeed nonetheless. Anakin Skywalker will become everything Qimir has ever aspired to be—the one to lead the Sith to greatness, the one who brings the Jedi to their ultimate demise. 

And so it goes, you think to yourself. You expected to feel more sorrow, yet you find your thoughts and heart curiously cold.

As days pass, you lose more and more of yourself. It’s as if you’re no longer human but merely a data system, recording and processing the flow of events in your mind. Fate itself has become nothing more than a set of data inputs into a system, repeating endlessly until it loses all meaning.

You resign yourself, allowing your mind to swim once more in the currents of temporal data, hoping you can still alter those paths, even if only slightly.

And you decide to start with Sol.

"I know what you did on Brendok ten years ago, Master Sol."

Your voice comes out deeper and raspier than usual, almost resembling a man's voice rather than your own.

Those words hit Sol like thunderbolts. You instantly read his reaction, analyzing every movement. The tensing of his shoulders betrays the fear he's trying to suppress. Sweat beads on his temple, indicating pressure and dread. His lips tremble, momentarily rendering him speechless.

It’s a secret Sol has kept hidden from everyone. In the past, when he was still a Jedi Knight, Sol was part of a team assigned to explore Brendok after the planet endured a devastating natural disaster. There, he encountered twin girls named Osha and Mae—children born of the Force, raised by a coven of witches, a group of women attempting to mimic the ways of the Bene Gesserit, who had been hiding on this planet for quite some time.

The twins' strong connection to the Force sparked Sol’s hope that they could undergo training to become Jedi Padawans. However, the witch coven opposed him fiercely. Osha and Mae were the future of their coven; they wanted the girls to inherit the witches' path. They didn't want the Jedi to take their children away, as had happened to other families across the galaxy before.

Tensions between the witches and the Jedi finally reached a breaking point when Sol accidentally killed Aniseya, the twins' mother and the leader of the witch coven. This triggered a violent battle, resulting in the deaths of the entire coven, including the twins, who were trapped in a burning building during the fight.

That calamity has haunted Sol ever since, a nightmare and stigma he has carried to this day.

The entire story was covered up by the surviving Jedi, as this grave mistake could have led to their permanent expulsion from the Order. There's no way an outsider like you could know this secret, which is precisely why you bring it up. You understand that this is the only way to prove the truth of your words and make Sol fully believe what you’re about to reveal to him.

You lock eyes with Sol, unwavering, before unveiling your truth.

"I possess foresight. I can perceive all secrets and discern the fates of every life. That is why you must trust me."

What’s happening to Master Sol?

Yord ponders, watching as the once-calm Jedi Master suddenly storms out of the interrogation room, his face pale as if he has just seen something profoundly terrifying.

For a moment, Yord hesitates. He considers asking what happened but ultimately decides to stay silent. He remains where he is, observing from afar as Sol approaches. Yord notices that Sol seems entirely unaware of his presence, lost in his own thoughts and drifting past him as if he isn’t even there.

Yord's gaze follows the Jedi Master until he disappears down the hall. A frown forms on Yord’s face before he turns his attention to the steel door of the interrogation room where Sol had just exited.

Suddenly, Yord feels it—a deep, undeniable sense of certainty, as certain as knowing the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. He knows what's inside that room. He knows exactly what made Master Sol so shaken. He knows who is in there.

Yord bites his lip, torn between the urge to open that door and simply walk away. But curiosity wins over; he takes a step forward, tension rippling through his body. Cautiously, he pushes the door open and steps inside.

There you are, seated on a chair, with only a metal table separating you from him. You greet him with a faint smile, your demeanor calm, showing no surprise, as if you’ve been waiting for him all along, or perhaps you already knew he would come.

“It’s good to see you again, Yord.”

Hearing his name makes Yord freeze. It’s not just the fact that you know his name, even though he’s never told you, but the way you say it—your words and tone are exactly as they were in his dream last night.

There’s something eerily familiar about you, something Yord can’t quite shake off. It’s as if you and he share a connection that runs far deeper than the mere acquaintance, although he still doesn't know who you really are.

For the first time, Yord begins to suspect that he’s caught up in a mysterious and complex pattern beyond his understanding—something his mind can barely comprehend. 

And he knows. The only person who can explain it all is you.

Yord takes a deep breath and moves to sit in the chair across from you, his hands clenching nervously in his lap. “This might sound strange, but... I dreamt about you before we even met,” he says, the words spilling out before he can stop them. “I saw your life. I glimpsed what has happened and what will happen to you. How is that possible? Why do I feel like I've known you all my life when we've just met?”

“Dreams are messages from the deep,” you reply. “They’re a form of prophecy, a sign of the gift we both share. But your family's lineage has abandoned the old ways, which is why your power is weaker than mine.”

Yord senses a hint of sympathy in your voice. Though you speak of it as a gift, he can tell you view it more as a burden—an inescapable curse.

His eyes lock onto yours, searching for answers, but when your piercing blue gaze meets his, it feels like you’re the one reading him instead. In that instant, he’s certain that those eyes can see straight into the depths of his soul.

"You mentioned my family... Do you already know who I am?" he asks. 

"I do," you nod. "Our ancestors are connected."

With each word you speak, Yord’s confusion only deepens. "How do you know all of this? Did you see it in a vision?"

"I didn’t see it; I was there," you correct him. "I stood at the mouth of the cave the day my sister was born. I held her in my arms. That child grew into a woman, and eventually she loved and secretly gave birth to a daughter before she died. Your bloodline began with her."

"How is that even possible?" he argues, his voice growing tense. "How could you have been there thousands of years ago?"

"I’m not telling you this to make you believe. I’m simply informing you." You give Yord a gentle smile, a fond smile like an elder gives to a child. "If we’re counting, you are as much my descendant as she is."

Yord raises an eyebrow in surprise. He just notices that your choice of pronouns has suddenly shifted. Instead of using ‘I’ to refer to yourself, you now use ‘she’ as if you’re speaking about someone else.

And then it hits him. Yord suddenly realizes that the woman in front of him is no longer herself. Her spirit is tainted, like clear water muddied with black ink. Something is possessing her—something he both fears and cannot comprehend, like an ancient mystery sealed away for eons, only now unraveling.

“Who the hell are you?!” Yord shouts, one hand instinctively reaching for the lightsaber at his side, ready to strike if the person in front of him makes any sudden moves.

But you remain calm, unshaken by the threat of violence. "You know exactly who I am," you reply evenly. "Think carefully. Your mother warned you about my coming. You’ve always known who I am, just as I’ve always known who you are."

Your words send a shiver down Yord’s spine. His throat tightens, and he finds himself unable to speak. 

He remembers clearly what his mother warned him about before she passed away. Her wrinkled hand gripped his tightly as she whispered the important secret of the universe that no one knew except him—the return of that person.

All his life, Yord had dismissed those words as nothing more than the ramblings of a dying woman—just imagination and meaningless superstition. But today, when he faced you himself, he finally realizes that it was all true.

As the truth crashes down on him, Yord unknowingly utters the words.

“Lisan Al-Gaib.”

A/N :

Yord when he know who you are

[bunny-lovers]

Hazelnut hot chocolate & bubble tea?

Hope you & your f/os have a wonderful weekend & thank you for the ask! 😊 @rebel-wolf13 @cherrycollie @akashicdestiny @wildmxgic @starlos-soulmate

Cappuccino: what was your first date like? Whose idea was it? Did it go well?

The first date was a stroll. It was perfect & the weather was great on that day. It was my idea & yes, it went very well.

Jasmine tea: how did you meet? What were your first impressions of each other? Did your view of them change over time?

Rumi and I met when she saved me from the villain. After she beat the villain, she went up to me, asking me if I was okay. I almost couldn’t speak ‘cause of how strong & badass she is. I love her muscular arms, it’s so attractive to me. When she flex her arms, I find it so hot. Ever since she saved me from the villain, I started to have a huge crush on her. When I got home, I lay on my bed, looking at the ceiling & thinking about her nonstop. I was so attracted to her! About a week after she saved me, I saw her again walking in the street. I walked up to her & thank her for saving me. Rumi said it’s no problem, I’m just hopping around & kicking the bad guys’ butts! I smiled at her, admiring her of how strong she is. I blushed when she said that. Rumi noticed I was blushing and asked me what I was blushing about. I told her ever since she saved me, I started to have feelings for her. It caught her off guard when I said that, Rumi said in a calm voice saying how very sweet of me, she called me little bunny and said I was cute when my face is red. I asked her if she want to have a coffee date with me and she said yes. After asking her out, she & I gave each other our phone numbers and started to call & text each other. Rumi & I had meet at a coffee café in person. We were talking, just to get to know each other. We spend about an hour there. After the coffee date, she and I walked somewhere private, it’s just me & her. I confessed to her first since I really had feelings for her & Rumi confessed to me back. After we confessed to each other, Rumi and I looked into each others’ eyes, having arms around each other, we both lean in and had our first kissed. The kissed was sweet & soft! For me, I thought Rumi is so cool & badass. I love her so very much. For Rumi, her impressions of me was how I'm a very good listener & how trustworthy I am. Yes, my view of Rumi change over time. So did Rumi.

Rose lemonade: what is your f/o(s)’s favorite flower? What is yours? Do you ever get each other flowers, or do you prefer other gifts?

Rumi's favorite flower is white lily. My favorite flower is sunflowers. Yes, we do give each other flowers.

Coconut milk: do you like to go on vacation with your f/o(s)? Where do you like to go?

Yes, we do & we mostly like to go somewhere warm.

Hazelnut hot chocolate: what do you do with your f/o(s) that’s the most comforting to you? How do they pick you up when you’re feeling down?

I listen to her, be supportive, simply offer love, bring one of her comfort foods, & give her space. Rumi would ask me questions, listen to me, hold my hand, offer physical affection, & give me space.

Orange soda: do you have any favorite memories with your f/o(s)? What are they?

Yes & there's so many of them. It's hard to choose one. Every moment I've spend quality time with Rumi is a gift.

Sparkling cider: have you and your f/o(s) ever been to a formal event together? Would you like to? What did/would you wear?

Yes, we been to a formal event together a few times. We would both wear black suit blazer, a white shirt & a black dress pants.

Passion-orange juice: how do you get along with your f/o(s)’s friends? How do they get along with yours? What do they think of each other?

I was a bit shy when I first met Rumi's friends. Once I see them more, I became talkative. I get along with Rumi's friends very well. Rumi gets along with my friends as well. She's very talkative towards my friends. My friends think Rumi is so cool.

Bubble tea: do you ever like to surprise each other? What kinds of surprises?

Yes, we do & we like unexpected gifts, & a really good dinner.

Chocolate chip frappe: what is the sweetest thing your f/o(s) has ever done for you? What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever done for them?

The sweetest thing Rumi has done for me was when I was struggling to carry the heavy grocery bags & you saw me struggling to carry them. She took & carry them in the house for me. The sweetest thing I've done for Rumi was I paste cute messages on her mirror.

Strawberry banana smoothie: if you live with your f/o(s), what kind of routine do you have together? Do you have any rituals you like to do together?

We wake up at the same time, have breakfast together, getting ready for work in the morning. During the evening, we cook dinner or sometimes we eat out, watch a TV show, exercise, getting ready for bed, & head to bed at the same time. Yes, we like to go for a walk, talk about our day, check in each other, exercise together, & look into each other's eyes.

Mocha: what is your favorite kind of date with your f/o(s)?

We like either activity dates or low-key dates.

Chamomile tea: have you ever slept together with your f/o(s)? What position do you like to sleep in - cuddled up, spooning, maybe separate? Do you sleep better with them?

Yes, I like to sleep in spooning position. Yes, I definitely sleep better with Rumi.

Vanilla milkshake: what is your happy ending with them? Do you get married? Do you travel together? What future do you want the most with them?

My happy ending with Rumi is to get married, adopt a child, travel, & move to a new house.

[skitdangerous]

★ ¡Se aceptan pedidos! Si tienes alguna idea en mente sobre el layout, no dudes en decirlo. Por favor, sé específico para que pueda saber qué material usar (actor o personaje). Si tienes alguna ambientación en especial, también puedes solicitarla.

Además, puedes elegir si deseas con o sin fondo, lo que aplica tanto para icons como para headers. También te ofreceré dos opciones de PSD para que utilices el que más te guste. Puedes ponerle uno por encima para personalizar, no hay problema.

Por favor, no olvides dar créditos a @ skitdangerous en Twitter y evita hacer pasar mis ediciones como propias. ¡Gracias por leer!

★ Requests are accepted! If you have any idea in mind about the layout, don't hesitate to mention it. Please, be specific so I can know what material to use (actor or character). If you have any special setting in mind, you can also request it.

Additionally, you can choose if you want it with or without a background, which applies both for icons and headers. I'll also offer you PSD options so you can choose the one you like the most. You can place one on top to personalize, no problem.

Please, don't forget to credit @ skitdangerous on Twitter and avoid passing my edits as your own. Thanks for reading!

★ ¡Aceito pedidos! Se tiver alguma ideia em mente sobre o layout, pode falar. Por favor, seja específico pra eu saber que material usar (ator ou personagem). Se tiver algum cenário especial em mente, também pode pedir.

Além disso, você pode escolher se quer com ou sem fundo, tanto pra icons quanto pra headers. Também vou te oferecer algumas opções de PSD, use o que você mais gosta. Pode colocar um por cima pra personalizar, sem problema.

Por favor, não esqueça de dar os créditos pra @ skitdangerous no Twitter e evita passar minhas edições como suas. Valeu por ler!

Thanks! ★ PSD USED © sladestrokes — kaijucatedits.

[usagi-chwan]

Tachihara x Reader - Everything for your smile

Reader's name is Misaki in this chapter! :)

Also, there will be no spoilers for Tachihara and his past, just knowing who he is is enough to read. Please do not reveal anything, in the comments, that will potentialy spoil BSD for others! <3

(And I am sorry in advance if there is a few mistakes in this OS, I am currently hospitalized and it is therefore a bit difficult for me to correct everything without any problem... Do not hesitate to tell me if I made mistakes!)

"Honestly, I don't understand how this is even possible. No matter how hard I try, there's no way I can do what you do."

Misaki, rolling over onto her back, stared at the ceiling without really seeing it, an annoyed pout on her lips. She was currently in her room, on her bed, playing video games with one of her closest friends, Tachihara.

The latter, sitting on the carpet on the floor with his back against the bed, a controller in his hands, let out a nervous laugh. In the middle of a frenzied game of one-on-one combat, Misaki had suddenly decided to question her whole life.

To tell the truth, it was more or less the first time he had heard her confess her weaknesses in this way. The young woman was used to being sure of herself and her strength, even if she did not have an ability. Perhaps being the niece of the leader of the Black Lizards had a lot to do with her self-confidence, it was quite possible.

She could be, for that matter. Tachihara had trained with her many times, and each time he had been amazed by Misaki's power. It made him wonder how she had not moved up the ranks, instead of just being a fighter in their special armed unit.

At least, that is what they told themselves within the ranks of their organization. He suspected the reason: it was simply her uncle, Hirotsu, who blocked his niece's promotion on his own initiative, in order to protect her. In this way, she was much less exposed to danger, without anyone really noticing; the middle-aged man had managed to conceal it perfectly from the eyes of everyone except Tachihara.

He was observant, and he was getting to know his colleagues well.

As a result, Misaki was now questioning her abilities, even though she had all the qualities required of any self-respecting unit leader. And, deep down, this pained him enormously. But, of course, he could not tell her, because it was not his place to do so.

On top of that, he was not a hundred percent sure of what he was thinking. If Hirotsu ever found out, he would not give up on him.

"Don't be so defeatist," he replied, choosing his character on the TV screen as Misaki did the same. "I'm sure it's only a matter of time. I always train with you, so I know what I'm talking about."

It was not really a lie, what he had just said. It was obvious that, once Hirotsu came to terms with the fact that he could not continue to block his niece's ascent indefinitely, Misaki would be promoted. 

He heard the young woman laugh lightly, albeit with a palpable hint of sadness. He spent a lot of time with her, so he knew how to read her every move. And so did she.

"I don't know, I just don't understand... You and Gin don't have any abilities either, and yet you're so high up in the hierarchy... I'm starting to think there's something wrong with me."

She spoke in a light voice, obviously detached from what she was saying, as if these words were natural and of no consequence to her. But no, far from it. She was frustrated by this injustice, and Tachihara knew it.

He remained silent for a moment, lost in thought, as the characters on the screen fought with all their might, resulting of course in a crushing victory for Misaki. Whether in video games or in real life, she was always able to emerge victorious from the most delicate situations.

Putting his controller down on the carpet in front of him, the redhead turned to face Misaki, lying on the bed just behind him, and came face to face with her, taking her by surprise.

"Wah...! Don't turn around like that, you scared the hell out of me!"

But, despite the smile she forced herself to put on, now that someone was watching her, he could see in her eyes just how hurt she was. If only she knew that it was her own uncle, most likely, who was responsible for all this, how would she react?

Bad, was the first response that came to mind. She was not the type to let herself be walked over, even by her own family. Nor was she one to let her sadness get the better of her.

He was sure that, as soon as they left this room, Misaki would be back to normal, as strong as ever. In a way, he was the only one who could witness her moments of weakness, even if they were extremely rare. Especially when these moments concerned her skills, which in principle left no doubt in any mind.

Especially enemies, of course.

Tachihara, with a serious look, plunged his eyes into Misaki's, to make her understand that he was completely sincere.

"I can assure you that you're much stronger than Gin and I put together. I don't understand why you haven't yet been recognized for your true worth, but you can count on me to support you no matter what. If you like, I'll even try to talk to our superiors, if that would help."

The young woman remained speechless for a moment, staring at him with wide eyes, surprised to see him looking so serious. Then, the next moment, a big smile gently stretched her lips, as she put her arms around his neck, still lying on her bed, and Tachihara still sitting on the floor.

She was therefore at exactly the right height to embrace him in this way.

"Thank you, Tachihara."

Displays of affection were not exactly Misaki's forte, that was for sure. That is why, at the moment, the young man lost all his nerve, turning as red as a crayfish in just a few seconds, with his friend's face resting on his shoulder.

"You're welcome," was all he managed to stammer out, much to his chagrin.

The young woman moved back after a few more seconds, picking up the previously dropped controller, and returned her gaze to the TV screen, a determined look now on her face, donning that strong, assertive expression that was entirely characteristic of her.

She was back to normal, if he dared say so. And that was all he had ever wanted.

The next fight began, and the good mood returned to the room, as exclamations and laughter erupted once again, with of course cries of frustration from Tachihara, who was being beaten again and again, as usual.

But he had made up his mind. As soon as he could, he would talk to Hirotsu. He owed Misaki that much, especially after the thanks and hug she had given him.

This memory only served to bring the blush back to his cheeks, as his finger missed the button, thus cancelling the parry he was about to make, and which he would have badly needed to deflect Misaki's special move.

The result, once again, was victory for the young woman.

But her happiness was worth all the defeats in the world, wasn't it?

[canadian-riddler]

There's a post going around blaming Apple for the decline of computer literacy, but the fact is it's a worldwide trend and Apple doesn't dominate market share THAT much, particularly in countries that can't afford Apple devices

Android, at least when I used it last, did allow you to do most computer-adjacent things. I tended not to because it was more onerous without a mouse and keyboard, but it was in fact possible

Apple in the first place was designed for people who didn't care about computers that much but needed something that worked without fiddling with it. In that vein, Android used to be something you could tinker with to your heart's delight, if you really felt like it. If the end user is choosing not to, despite having the ability, that's not really the fault of the OS. It certainly has nothing to do with it if the end user chooses not to go to their respective app store and download programs other than the ones that come pre-installed; it isn't as though when you boot up Windows for the first time it happily tells you there's a dearth of browsers other than Edge to choose from

If you really want the 'you have to figure it all out yourself' experience, you have to choose some branch of Linux, and only people who love tinkering with their device tend to do that. Linux has always been that OS, but the vast majority of computer owners simply can't be bothered with it

And that's the crux of it. People who gravitated to Apple did so because they couldn't be bothered and they were never going to BE bothered. But I don't think you can really blame Apple for the end user simply not caring how their device works. iOS HAS a file system, however minor; if someone gets on a computer and only knows how to save to desktop, it's not really Apple's fault that user never bothered to use folders on their tablet

The real issue, imo, is the general lack of curiosity about pretty much anything. Someone who wants to know how to use a computer has FAR more tools to do so than anyone who idly clicked around one in the 90s. But you can't make them pick up the tools. You can't make them use them. You can't make them WANT to use them. And that's where I think the real problem lies