#shit wrong order

[mediumgayitalian]

When Lee and Michael pull him from Chiron's exceptionally dry Ancient Greek lessons, Will is excited. When they drag him down, ducking, behind the stables, as other campers walk by, he is intrigued. When they guide him all the way back to their cabin, sit him on his bed, and then drag two stools to sit across from him, silently, he is still excited.

A little nervous, now.

But excited.

"Will," Michael says, solemn. He presses his fist to his mouth, eyes carefully blank. "Will, you are almost ten years old, now."

Will bounces on his mattress, grinning. "Yeah! I'm nine and fifty-six seventy-thirds." He peers at his brothers hopefully, trying to lessen his fidgeting and appear Regal and Adult. "Am I getting my Dad present early?"

Gods, he hopes so. He has been counting down the days -- every tenth birthday, for every kid, Camp-bound or not, Apollo sends them a gift of gold jewelry, smelted in the heat of the Sun by Holy Hephaestus, jewels handcrafted by the finest artisans on Olympus, blessed by yours truly. Will has been watching in seething jealousy as Michael's signet ring glints every time he pulls back his bow, as Cass' hoops swing when she walks. He hopes the gift is earrings -- he finally convinced Michael to pierce his lobes a couple months ago, and he's tired of the ugly studs. Beckendorf made him promise to let him poke around at whatever Will gets, and Will has been itching to show him.

And to get the jewelry, obviously. That's priority number one.

Lee shakes his head slowly. "No. You will get your milestone when you get it." He exchanges a long, fearful look with Michael. Will picks at last summer's clay bead, with the trident on it. "Speaking of milestones…"

Michael makes a sudden, choked noise, covering his face with his hands and curling forward. Will startles. Lee sighs, looking down for a moment as well. When he looks up again, he meets Will's wide eyes with his teary ones, and places a supportive hand on Michael's back.

"Will…" he looks out to the open window, shaking his head slightly. When he looks back, his face is creased in apology, and his eyes are ringed with pity. Will feels his heart drop. "Have you chosen someone, yet?"

"Chosen?" Will straightens, fists twisting in his shorts. "Chosen someone for what?" Michael makes another strangled wailing noise. Will's breath hitches, and his ears white out. "Lee, tell me! Tell me now!"

"We are a Greek camp," Lee says, finally. "An ancient Greek camp. With ancient Greek customs, kiddo."

He says it softly, apologetically. Like the time a seagull swooped down and stole Will's ice cream, right from his hands, on the beach last week. Will recognizes the hopeless tone of his voice and his heart drops.

"How much did they tell you about…our customs?"

"I didn't listen to the admissions video!" Will confesses, panicked. "I'm sorry! It was so boring! There were a bajillion music numbers and they were all kind of bad no offense and the screen made my eyes hurt and I missed my mom and --"

"Will," Michael says, voice shaking. He meets Will's eyes and Will is horrified to see they are wet.

He has never seen Michael cry before -- not even once.

"It's okay, Will. Some people don't know."

"Tell me," Will begs. "Am I being sacrificed?"

To his great relief, both his brothers laugh, waving dismissive hands as they chuckle. Will sags into his pillows.

"Oh, no, gods no. That would be barbaric." Lee wipes a tear from his eyes. "C'mon, Will, we're a little more civilized than that." He smiles encouragingly. Will smiles, hesitantly, back. "You're getting married."

It takes a long enough moment for the sound to travel and the word to register that Will is sure his hearing aids have gone wonky. He taps them, as though it will do anything, and tilts his head.

"I didn't hear you right. What did you say?"

"Married," Michael repeats. "By age 10, like all people had to do back then." He and Lee exchange another weighted look. "That, or you have to marry Mr. D." He rushes to assure at Will's panicked shriek; "Only if you don't choose someone in time. You have until you turn ten, so don't worry. I'm sure you'll find someone in time. You'll have most of the summer, anyway."

There is a moment where Lee and Michael murmur to each other, nodding. "Yeah," Lee says, mostly to himself. "You'll be fine." To which Michael responds: "Of course, of course. I mean, we did it."

Will sits there, frozen.

"I can't get married!" he cries, coming back to himself. He begins to hyperventilate. "I'm -- nine! I'm a kid!" He looks to his older brothers, blue eyes big and watery. "I don't even know how to file my taxes yet!"

Lee and Michael are sympathetic. They move forward, immediately, one on either side of him; Lee slides a squeezing hand around his shoulders, Michael pats him on the leg.

"It'll be fine, squirt," Lee soothes. He gestures across them. "I mean, me and Michael found somebody. It all worked out."

"You're married?" Will chokes out. His breaths come quick and shallow, despite Lee's comforting hand. "Michael is married?!"

"Watch it, twerp," Michael warns, at the same time as Lee says: "It was a challenge and a half, but yeah, Michael is married."

Will glances quickly down. There is no ring on either of their left hands, but they must notice him looking, because Michael snorts, pinching him on the knee.

"We just told you it's an ancient Greek custom, dumbass. Rings were invented later. We just…" He makes an incomprehensible gesture with his ringless hand. "Followed the book, completed the rite, etc, etc. Boom. Matrimony."

Lee nods. He rubs Will's shoulder a final time, encouragingly, before pulling away enough to give him space to breathe.

"You'll find someone, Will. We just thought we'd warn you because it didn't look like you remembered yourself, and we don't want you to have to…well."

Will shudders. Vaguely, in the back of his blurry, blurry memory, he can recall someone saying something in a video somewhere about partners and their importance in Camp. He had not paid attention, and he curses himself for it, now -- he almost had to marry Mr. D. Mr. D. who is rude, who smells like vinegar, who always has something in his teeth, who sleeps all day and drools more than a waterfall, who scares the satyrs on purpose and never even says sorry. Who is mean and gross and the worst ever.

"Thank you," Will says, tearfully. He grips his brothers' hands in his small fists and shakes from his spot between them, almost-life flashing in front of his eyes. If his brothers hadn't warned him, Mr. D. would have made him rub his stinking feet and feed him grapes for all eternity for sure. There wouldn't even be breaks for episodes of Star Trek. He shudders. "Thank you."

His brothers return the half-hug, although Michal sighs about it. He is too short to see the smirks they flash above his head.

"Anytime, twerp."

-- -- --

next

[purble-turble]

Hello, I'm glad you opened the request box. I'm so interested in the Time Travel au that I thought if Time Travel Red Son was a yandere and wanted to protect MK alone, I'd love to see that drawing.

This is a unique sort of challenge, since Time Travel Red Son is so explicitly afraid of becoming like Demon King Red, who is a super duper Yandere, that it can only mean something has gone terribly wrong in this timeline and TT Red has all but snapped and become just like the king! And so, I figured he’d start where the king himself did in his downward spiral to madness: with the tightening fillet.

[somecluelessidiot]

*after a fight*

Evan: Do we have any orange juice left?

Barty: *pours the remaining juice into their cup*

Barty: Sorry, we’re all out.

[littledemo0n]

In honor of killer of killers finally out (and my brokeass not planning on buying any supscriptions anytime soon which means imma have to wait to pirate it) here's more of my Yautja's OC crew + the kids of red boy

[turian]

screams

[ratbaby15]

Replaying jedi fallen order yet again and imagining force ghost jaro tapal with his head in his hands as he watches his beloved padawan being forced to deal with a jedi lineage thrust upon him with track record to rival the disaster lineage.

Cordova was a neglectful master with an obsession with the past so powerful it clouded his judgment to the point he thought a list of the galaxies most powerful potential jedi was definitely a thing that he should keep around and not destroy immediately, then his padawan almost falls to the dark side betraying her padawan in the process who is then promptly turned into a fucking inquisitor.

I just know cordova and cere recieved the ghost beat down of a lifetime from tapal for bringing his padwan into their multigenerational bullshit.

[serpentface]

WRESTLING POST:

Brakul approximately .5 seconds before tapping out in an impromptu chamenikoma match with compatriot Khattaliba Odebi.

There are two distinct forms of sport wrestling practiced here (not counting wrestling involving animals), called kagnomatso and chamenikoma. Both could be classed as submission wrestling, with victory in a match depending primarily upon forcing the opponent to concede defeat via pain/fear/exhaustion inflicted in joint locks and chokes, and secondarily (if at all) upon point scoring. Neither style fully originated here, and similar/connected forms of wrestling can be found around the eastern inner seaway.

Chamenikoma is squarely a combat sport, and its techniques are derived from (and still used in) actual life-or-death battles. Its name literally means 'naked combat', with 'naked' in this context having the implications of being unarmed/potentially unarmored. It developed in part as means for unarmed combatants to disable or kill armed/armored foes, though is also practiced as a form of training and sport. It mixes elements of kickboxing with grappling, and the Wardi variant of the broader tradition particularly emphasizes kicking strikes and leg holds. While a heavier combatant will usually be at an advantage, sufficient technical skill can overcome a fair deal of weight difference, especially given much of the technique in initially grounding an opponent revolves around using their momentum/weight against them.

Young boys who receive combat training as a part of their formal education will almost always be taught at least basics of chamenikoma, and the sport is a standard facet of training and upkeep among warrior orders. There are two sub-forms, 'armored' chamenikoma (self-explanatory, performed wearing full armor) and 'naked' chamenikoma (in this case meaning unarmored but usually clothed, actual nude matches are rare). Variants used in pure sport usually fall into the latter category, while forms used for intensive combat training or martial displays fall into the former.

Most chamenikoma tournaments are hosted by and within state warrior orders, and require membership to participate. Forms open to athletes from the general public are one of many sports in the annual triple games (a ten day sun worship + martial holiday based sporting event, hosted alternatively by year in Wardin, Ephennos, and Erubinnos), and some other towns/cities/villages put on their own tournaments opportunistically or as part of holidays.

Sport variants usually involve rules that Reduce the potential for fatalities, though there are few prohibitions against injurious behaviors and serious injuries/deaths are not unknown. Eye-gouging and opportunistic use of weapons (rocks sticks etc) are the only maneuvers that are forbidden in every possible context. Biting is considered a legitimate method of breaking holds, but is a foul if used to force submission, and bites to any part of the head/neck is usually forbidden. Hair pulling is not prohibited and considered a legitimate technique, to the point that some 'naked' tournaments will forbid participation if a combatant's hair isn't long enough for a topknot. Grappling at an opponent’s clothing/armor is also permissible, as is intentional grasping to the genitals. More restrictive rules are often set ahead of time in casual fights or those used exclusively for training.

Referees may intervene on some of these behaviors at their discretion, especially if they deem the intent purely to injure or humiliate rather than to induce submission (ie: tugging at the hair to induce pain or maintain bodily control is okay, but ripping at an already locked opponents hair is not). Referees for formal chemenikoma tournaments are almost always former wrestlers themselves (and/or high ranking warriors), and their calls are final and indisputable within any given match (though not always uncontroversial).

Matches begin upright and usually end on the ground. Fighters will start off in a readied stance and will generally attempt to kick/sweep the opponent to the ground, at which point they can be grappled into submission. Fighting will be paused if the combatants leave the designated arena space, though this does not incur any penalties. A match is won when one wrestler yields (either verbally or by tapping out, signaled by thumping the ground/their own body twice with a hand or foot), or else when one is unconscious/otherwise unresponsive. Downing an opponent and then taking a 'finishing' stance (standing with one foot placed on their neck) is also an automatic win regardless of if a yield has been declared, which is symbolically a statement of 'you would be dead if this was real warfare'.

Though these matches can get fairly nasty in physical content, chemenikoma wrestlers are expected to maintain overall respectful compartment towards their foes. A match begins with both performing a bow to one another, and insulting/mocking/spitting at a foe is socially unacceptable and can occasionally lead to disqualification. Losers are strongly expected to remain stoic and avoid signalling excessive frustration (submission is part of the sport and doesn't lead to a loss of social status as it does in actual duels, but submitting and then being notably pissy about it sometimes does). This sport has high social esteem as a demonstration of martial skill, and most participants will take it very seriously, going out of their way to compliment a worthy but defeated opponent.

---

Kagnomatso (essentially '(great/strong) dance') is purely sport-wrestling, and less physically dangerous than chamenikoma. It has little connection to any combat traditions and is intended as a test and showcase of raw strength, revolving entirely around grappling with striking being strictly prohibited. The goal is to knock an opponent to the ground through grappling and throws, and to subsequently force submission through chokes and locks. Being a heavier weight class always puts you at a considerable advantage over a lighter opponent, and technical skill only goes so far to overcome this. Tournaments (and most Wardi sporting events in general) also don't separate size or age classes, so if you've got a lightweight stature you're probably out of luck. Specialized athletes will generally be on the larger end of the size range, and access to a high calorie diet to gain + maintain weight is often a necessity for success in any formalized competitions.

Kagnomatso fighting has less of a skill barrier than proper chamenikoma, and small-scale tournaments are very often organized at village scales during holidays. Bigger tournaments are organized by cities, and also feature into the triple games. Formal bouts are generally held in small, circular rings, over grass or dirt that has been raked free of stones. Competitors wipe down their skin with olive oil soaked rags prior to a bout, rendering them more difficult to grasp but not outright sodden. They will generally compete in loincloths, though some community-organized tournaments involve fighting nude to wholly prevent grappling with clothing (which is considered cheating).

Kagnomatso tournament matches usually include point systems, which have some functions in keeping these time limitless matches from going on excessively long (though bouts between evenly matched competitors are still known to sometimes last hours). Points are scored by forcing the opponent out of the ring or pinning/holding an opponent in a prone position (chest and hips both touching the ground) for three counts. A match is automatically won if one wrestler hits ten points.

The primary goal is still to force the opponent to yield rather than to score points, as this is a more surefire way of achieving victory (and tends to be more entertaining). Matches are also sometimes called by referee on the basis of one wrestler approaching unconsciousness or otherwise being clearly incapable of continuing, even if he hasn’t yielded.

Intentional striking, eye gouging, twisting the fingers, intentional targeting/grasping of the genitals, biting, grappling with clothing, and pulling of hair is prohibited, and can mean an automatic loss at the referee's discretion. Other behaviors may be called by referees, particularly if a wrestler is judged to be attempting to break or dislocate an opponents limbs. Referees in formal tournaments generally carry a khaittail flyswatter (has a leather pad and functions as a whip) to break apart combatants when need be.

[the-cat-and-the-birdie]

VERY IMPORTANT SPIDER-VERSE QUESTION -

Do Nueva Yorkers know about Spider Society?

In Across the Spider-verse, we essentially see The Spider Society essentially terrorize the downtown of Nueva York in an attempt to capture Miles.

All of the Spider-people seem pretty versed and keen on where they're going for the most part. None of them seem particularly shocked by the floating train to the moon too.

This could be chalked up to the fact that they're Spider-people, and that means naturally good navigation -

But the Spider Society is basically one of the tallest buildings in NY99

So I'm assuming everyone (citizens) knows what it's for, or at least have a name for the tower (O'Hara Tower, or maybe just Spider Society Tower like the Avengers).

And it makes me wonder -

Do they see Spiders often? Do they know about The Society?

Do citizens know about the multiverse, as if it's taught in elementary school? Do they understand why there's so many Spider-people?

They seem to know it well - so do Spider people hang out in Nueva York? Maybe you can eat lunch at the cafeteria, or go off campus for some local 2099 food?

Are they celebrities? Do people see them like super-stars, or like students at a college in a college town?

Or do they go out there plain clothed so they blend in more?

But if they can do all that, that implies they're getting 2099 currency from somewhere. Maybe an allowance/stipend from Miguel? If he can own that big building, then why not?

I'm so curious!!!!! AHHHHHH

I NEED A POLL

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Cause nah for real, think about it -

Margo and Gwen hanging out at a super futuristic arcade together during their off time.

Cafes run Spider-Society discounts like cafes around college campuses. They have local fans.

Ben Reilly getting stopped in Nueva York for a picture with a fan and he doesn't stop talking about it for weeks.

The Spider-saur and Spidey-Jeep pulling up to the drive thru and you — the poor McMiguel's employee in 2099 have to act like that's natural and normal

hanging out with Hobie and hitting a bar with him in Downtown Nueva - listening to some obscure as future-retro punk band from 2099.

WAIT A MINUTE AM I COOKING LET ME COOK

Are y'all seeing the vision??

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

The NDP are being utterly thrashed though, like to the point where party status might be on the line

The NDP are long overdue for some deep soul searching as a party, not to mention a need for a shakeup of leadership, and I hope they take this to heart after this election

It’s such a clear testimony that no one trusts them to lead in difficult times, and they need to work on that. I also think the tactic of going for the liberal throat in campaigns rather than the conservatives really, really back fired this time around. It’s always a bit tactless (and same for the libs, but they tend to focus on the tories over the NDP), but it was a massively bad judgement call this time around

[astralleywright]

the Gods' conversation in the first episode of Downfall, about how they need to destroy Aeor in its entirety to prevent mortal knowledege of how to destroy them from spreading, is so dark. both from the perspective of watching a handful of people weigh the lives of thousands, but also because they do end up destroying Aeor; and it doesn't work. it prolongs things for another millenia, sure, but someone eventually discovers enough of the Factorum Malleus' plans for Ludinus to construct his own version and make his own plan, something he's motivated to do specifically by the original destruction of Aeor. not only does the Gods obliterating one of the last civilzations still standing in the Calamity (and all their children within) not bury the knowledge of this anti-god weapon, it becomes the very reason someone wants to try again.

(obligatory disclaimer that Ludinus is bad and doing bad things and we should not release Predathos and set him loose at the Gods buffet. thanks)

[loserlovesmusicals]

I love how with every trans Jeremy Heere post and headcanon I find, I have seen none where Mr. Heere is unsupportive.. Gotta love it

[ominousgradient]

Snotlout in a sexy nun dress with a waist high slit clobbering people with a comically large aspergillum

[thanatologie]

which, actually, in a follow up thought related to elder scrolls no one asked for or cares about but that i want to put a pin in to explore later for me: scratch the devotee of arkay thing, who cares about arkay, fuck arkay. like it's kind of hard to deny the aedra and daedra since they, you know, physically exist and do have an effect on the world (which, fair, when you get into the lorkhan of it all the aedra are mostly cut off and the daedra aren't but that is neither here nor there for the purposes of this thinky thought). like you pray at a shrine sometimes you get an answer, sometimes people literally mantle (become) the gods, it's a whole ass thing.

but emmrich being emmrich probably has a very dwemer-esque mindset about all of that in that, sure, they're real, true facts things. powerful, yeah, but maybe not worthy of a whole ass religion that was a compromise to marry nordic animism and the elven pantheon after the slave rebellion and trashing of the ayleid empire, right.

no, arkay has fuck all to do with whatever he's got going on, but what does effect him is the banning of the practice of necromancy from the arcane university (and the college of winterhold at a much later date). sure, you say elder scrolls necromancy and think mannimarco, i'm sure, but there have been necromancers that aren't actually terrible, awful people who use their knowledge of it to do horrible things, and he'd follow a path more in line with the recommendations of on necromancy and the order of the hidden moon, encouraging the dead to move on instead of what the majority of necromancers are doing which is keeping souls tethered instead.

[diximixy]

As a hungarian bg3 player I feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle when trying to take Astarion's story seriously. Yes his big scary abusers name is Cazador. Cazador Szarr...HIS LAST NAME JUST MEANS SHIT. Literaly shit is szar it just has one less r's. How tf do I take this seriously ah yes really scary poopy man, poop king, our poopy pants overlord.

[littleplantfreak]

Top 5 Wind Breaker boys that would kill it at pole dancing (other than Tsubaki, because they already rock at it) are as follows

Umemiya: He gets so fun with it and can do it to any music (Hiragi or Tsubaki pick out the best songs for him routine or freestyle)

Tsugeura: He has the muscles and is also relaxed enough to make the movements fluid and work well. Also pole has similarities to wrestling when it comes to performing for an audience (kinda). Probably a little quirky with it though.

Chika: Would he be great at it? Yes, but his intention would never be to perform. It would likely be just a mellow thing he does if Endo happened to have a pole or something. He’d barely need to be taught 😒One of those bitches who replicate moves from sight alone no practice necessary.

Suo: Might not be the beefiest guy ever, but he is so smooth with it that it makes up for any lack of muscle. Very good at timing his moves with the songs and can improvise easily.

Endo: Does it and gets bored of it most of the time. Instead of using it the exercise or relax, he does it as a way to let off steam, getting lost in a song while he works out how he’s gonna dance to it.

[rubber-glovs]

sorry for staying in my room 24/7, I got sfth patreon and now I strive to speedrun every single show, longform, livestream and special until my subscription ends