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Wait…also thinking about Steel telling Suvi when placing the geas upon her that people who aren’t ‘as smart’ (🙄) freak out and get ‘confused and frightened’ when they have a magical compulsion placed upon them. Putting aside the idea of intelligence, what if Silver was someone who would freak out when having a magical compulsion on him? I mean, he definitely has PTSD from being an active war mage but also, if he was compelled to kill a high-ranking Citadel wizard I’m sure that would cause some intense fear and confusion in his brain as someone so loyal. Maybe he realized something was wrong, or was trying to fight it, hence confronting Slate. Or, maybe the confrontation was even part of the compulsion, to make it look like he was angry with Citadel leadership somehow and give the ability to testify that he was ‘acting weirdly’ before the murder. Also is it just me but did it sound like Brennan sort of indirectly confirmed Steel was involved in the fireside?

WBN EP 52 SPOILERS

My immediate thought upon hearing what happens in the last 5 minutes was, like many other people, that Silver must have been compelled somehow. Why would he, a war mage who so loved and valued the “light of the tower” and everything it represented, commit the highest form of treason like that? Even if Suvi’s letter changed something in him, to die with his name shamed and sullied as the worst kind of traitor forever? Running away would have made so much more sense if he did either change his mind, or realize he was being sent away to disappear. Plus we saw him arguing with Slate before reading the letter - I wonder if she told him he was being stationed somewhere in the boondocks, his career over. I fully agree with everyone saying the person who benefits most from his death is Steel - he was a loose end for her and for Suvi, and maybe she was too tired to keep trying to tie up all these threads so it was time to just cut.

One important thing - as far as I understand, one of the things you can’t do with geas spells is give suicidal orders i.e. compel someone to do something that ends in their certain death? The spell ends in that case. I guess there might be a loophole in which technically he could be compelled to kill Silence in a way that allows him to escape/not immediately be killed in return? But for the purposes of this post I’ll assume it wasn’t a geas - which actually makes the situation even more sinister to me. Because the (list in progress of) options I can think of are:

Steel/Slate etc have a method of compelling which isn’t a geas questing spell, but something even stronger or that takes away someone’s will completely - maybe something Lucent created for Steel?

Silver was put under a spell or given a potion/something that made him hallucinate what Steel/Slate wanted him to see? Maybe he genuinely thought Silence was an enemy because he was convinced he was on a battlefield?

Steel/Slate convinced him (without using magic) somehow it would be a really good idea for him to do this, e.g. Slate basically told him his life was over and he knew he would never die as a war hero anyways so he may as well do something useful (i.e. clear the way for Suvi and go out with a bang??) - I’m not really convinced of this one myself but there might be specifics of how they convinced him where the alternative was something worse?

after Slate told him he was being sent away, his career over in order to protect Suvi, he became enraged at the unfairness of the system and genuinely wanted to get back at it somehow (there is a sort of bitter vengeance aspect of like, him taking out Silence might mean Suvi becoming Archmage and therefore even more locked into the Citadel, but I don’t know if Silver would think like that - that feels more like a Steel scheme)

I’m still leaning that he was compelled/forced magically somehow by Steel, because I think he was too proud to fully sacrifice his honor and legacy as a Citadel wizard, especially in death. However, I think if it wasn’t a spell on him and it was just Steel’s manipulation/pressure/power - and his desperation at being crushed by the system he believed in so much - that pushed him to madness somehow, that makes it even more heartbreaking.

I am so excited to see what happens next - I can’t imagine Suvi doesn’t confront her mother over this? Praying that Aabria’s dice decided to be on side for whatever insight/perception/investigation rolls. And of course, Silence might not die, but if he does does that mean Suvi fully ascends to his role immediately? That would be WILD. I’m scared!! THIS STORY!

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The real danger isn’t just that the West is enabling or even partaking in genocide by starvation, but that it is now chillingly comfortable being seen as complicit in it. It's a horrific type of comfort that tells the world, “we know what this looks like and we don’t care.” In this phase, western elites have moved beyond merely permitting genocide under might makes right into justifying it as necessary through might makes righteous, whereby mass starvation is framed as Israel’s right to self-defense. The continued use of this phrase, even by so-called progressives like AOC, ultimately serves as a justification for defensive genocide. This isn’t just cynical realpolitik, but a brazen subversion of all basic moral norms and of humanity itself.

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I shudder when people say "I don't know how we got here" as if the past 650+ days of genocide weren't literally televised, during which Israel committed daily atrocities, experimented with all kinds of violent death, reshaped the entire world's perception of what is now deemed acceptable in the form of collective punishment, and destroyed all red lines to see how far they can go with complete impunity, and to see how far they can go before the world erupted in anger and collective action. It didn't. And that's exactly how we got here.

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I'm Mahmoud. I've been appealing to you for two weeks for food, but I haven't received any response. I've lost hope in posting and asking you. I haven't reached my goal, but I only have $250 left. It may be a small amount, but it means a lot to me!! Please, whoever can donate, please do so urgently. Those who can't, please tell their friends about me or share my campaign. Please, please, please.

Fundraiser || PayPal || Vetting 1 || Vetting 2

@g0at0ad @gothhabiba @feluka @raangmanch @appsa

@schoolhater @kiirodora @tiredguyswag @corpsenurse @virovac @sayruq @irhabiya @sar-soor @tsaricides

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If Palestinian anger makes you more uncomfortable than the literal genocide going on, I think you need to reevaluate and fast

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Luffy may have been chosen by the fruit. But he is not destined.

He can become the embodyment of freedom according to the prophecy because he doesn't know about the prophecy, and he doesn't want to. He's happy by just being himself.

And by being himself, he frees those around him. All of the crew was freed by him in some way.

The fruit did not chose him for some ulterior motive other than it being Luffy, and freedom is part of who Luffy is.

When Shanks got the fruit to Foosha Village, he thought he was the one from the prophecy. Ever since he talked to Roger, ever since the execution, ever since he set foot in Mary Geoise, ever since he started his crew, ever since he stole the fruit. And that was consuming him.

He must have thought of it every moment, remembered it over and over again. The weight of being the destined one, of beholding the will of the Sun God, of changing the world. All this chained him.

And then, Luffy eats the fruit.

That's the first time he frees someone. The act of eating it was the freedom for Shanks. He realizes it was never him. And that was such a big relief for him he almost couldn't bear it.

There's no way to stop inherited will. That will belonged to Luffy, not to him. And Luffy is free from the chains that were destroying Shanks inside.

Shanks is not Blackbeard. He will never cross the line of killing someone innocent, someone who cares for him, just to get more power. That's why he saves Luffy from drowning and lets the sea monster rip off his arm.

He chose to accept the freedom Luffy gave him instead of fighting it like Blackbeard does. He decides to let go of the past that imprisoned him, both the past of being the chosen one and of being the child of Figarland Garling.

Luffy is freedom, and we've seen that since always.

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This isn't a donation post. I just need people to read this.

I keep saying "It's dire" and it keeps getting even worse. I don't even know what I'm asking people to do, just that I don't want this to happen in silence. I want everyone to know this.

I received these messages from my friend Anas, and soon all my other friends in Gaza started crying from the same ache: there is no food in Gaza.

The gist of the messages, shared with permission, until I translate more thoroughly:

Used to be that the problem was that aid was being sold (instead of just given, as it should be) for ridiculous prices. Now there isn't even food to sell!

Most people in Gaza have now gone at least a day without eating. Many of my friends have gone multiple days.

We are now on a timer before hundreds drop dead unless food is allowed into Gaza. This is not hyperbole. This is a countdown to death unless something changes very, very soon.

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when i say "famine in gaza is being actively buried" i mean the deliberate starvation policy we have been watching in slow motion for twenty-one months that has reached the mass death stage. it should be headline news everywhere because the entire world has been screaming about it for twenty-one months only to be told to watch their language. this should be the only thing you're talking about, because by next week and for the rest of your life we will remember what was being discussed the week that hundreds (if not thousands) of people in gaza starved to death. it is without exaggeration that dire. already a thousand(!!!) people were killed by americans and israelis trying to get food at aid distribution centers, while at least 70 children have died of starvation, 100 people in total.

meanwhile, this is what america's leading newspaper is talking about:

from Child Amputees, Aid Massacres, Mass Starvation—the Israeli War Crimes NYT Covers Less than Mamdani and 'Globalize the Intifada' by adam johnson:

So let us compare coverage of the “globalize the intifada” story with that of stories of actual death and actual human stakes in Gaza—objectively major stories that should, I will assert, generate far more outrage and news coverage than whether a mayoral candidate condemns three words he’s never actually said. For the purposes of comparison we will look at The New York Times, the most influential paper in the country, and one month of its coverage for the following topics. Detailed data can be viewed here.

"Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” (June 18 - July 18 2025). The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a US-Israeli joint production that, according to Amnesty International has "weaponized aid” and resulted in almost daily massacres at the aid sites as thousands of deliberately starved Palestinians line up for minimal food rations. Over 800 aid-seekers have been killed since the fake disrubution sites were set up in May 2025. NYT articles this month: 13.

Starvation as weapon of war in Gaza (June 18 - July 18 2025). Gaza is currently the ‘hungriest place on Earth’ with all of its people at risk of famine, according to the UN. This is a deliberate siege tactic being used by Israel. NYT articles this month: 5

Child “amputee(s)” in Gaza (June 18 - July 18 2025). Gaza is home to, by far, the largest number of child amputees on earth, with over 4,700 cases. They require constant medical and psychological care which is impossible given the broader attacks on Gaza’s almost nonexistent health system. According to Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem Israel actively denies treatment to over a 1000 of these amputees. NYT articles this month: 2

Amnesty International's July Report on Israel using "aid" to facilitate genocide (July 3 2025 - Present):The shocking report details how Israel has deliberately gutted and attacked proven aid channels in favor of its limited “aid” program designed to kill, humiliate and facilitate population transfers. NYT articles on report: 0

February 2024 Flour Massacre that killed 120+ (Feb 29 - March 29 2024). In February 2024, over 120 people were killed while seeking food from aid trucks on the coastal Al-Rashid Street in Gaza City. NYT articles one moth after massacre: 7

"Hind Rajab” (January 29 - March 1 2024) A five-year-old Palestinian girl was murdered by the IDF along with six of her family members and two paramedics, who were gunned down on January 29 2024 by Israel forces as they attempted to rescue her. It made international headlines but barely a blip in US media. NYT articles one month after her killing: 2

Total NYT articles: 29

"Mamdani” and "Globalize(d) the intifada" (June 18 - July 18 2025) NYT articles one month after Mamdani was first asked about “globalize the int ifada”: 32

All told, this means that the New York Times ran more articles about Mamdani and the phrase “globalize the intifada” than it did, during their relevant month time periods, about Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid site killings, starvation in Gaza, child amputees in Gaza, a July 2025 Amnesty International's Report on Israel using "aid" to facilitate genocide, the February 2024 Flour Massacre, and the January 2024 killing of Hind Rajab combined (32 vs 29).

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boa hancock

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idk if ‘gay culture’ is so important why does it suck so much and accomplish so little politically even for the people it claims to represent

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I'm going to *remembers suicide jokes are detrimental to my mental health* quit my job and start making shoes for American Girl Dolls

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So do we think Steel did some magic compelling to Silver to do what he did, knowing the consequence, to remove him as a player in Suvi's world?

I cannot remember what was in the letter Suvi wrote. If anyone has a handy link to a transcript of that moment, please sent it to meeeee

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I am so crazy ready for the Wicked era hype to be over… the level of anorexia i have to look at every single day is driving me batty like girl i do not want to see that

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“I cannot survive another disappointment”

Then grow up bitch, disappointment is a part of life. Especially when you fuck with people.

Thought you were a big bad wizard sword oh boo hoo disappointment go FUCK yourself

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God. Steel was really never going to tell her about the Geas. I’m so fucked up

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I can’t get over “I cannot survive another disappointment” because BITCH??!!!!!??

Not even going to get into the abuse, control and manipulation we’ve now fully had revealed is Steel’s modus operandi because. I will get too personally upset but. SHE’S ALSO REFERRING TO SUVI’S PARENTS, RIGHT?!!!?

I think it’s in episode 49 that she says “it destroyed me” when Suvi asks what happened after the Acadator was pardoned, and why her parents kept running and Steel went home. Steel’s truest core is this undying loyalty to the Citadel and its project, especially this new world they’re building with Lucent’s research, this belief she’s built up to be stronger than anything. She asks Suvi how something else than the Citadel found a home in her heart because she doesn’t understand - there is nothing but the Citadel in her own (also still thinking about that Heartseeker curse, wtf). Any slight deviation from the plan is a personal disappointment to her, something needling against what she’s given up her whole heart, soul, life for.

I believe she parted on bad terms with Soft and Stone because she chose the Citadel and they didn’t, and she was angry at them for it. She probably thought they were led astray in some way, that they had fallen from the light of the tower, rather than that their deep and true love for magic itself being what made them wizards, and why they were committed to stopping what they felt were abominations against the Greater Binding. Maybe she even saw them as traitors she couldn’t bring herself to kill. I think she felt betrayed and confused and promised herself this would never happen again - she doubled down even harder on her loyalty to the tower and its projects, and she promised herself that this would not happen with Suvi, that Suvi would not stray from the path like her parents had if Steel shaped her to love the Citadel as she does, as a zealot. And what better way to do that then to give Suvi power, to isolate her and discourage her from questioning, to anoint her as a chosen one for the Citadel’s future?

I think she put aside any true authentic human relationality and became someone who sees other people through only the light of strategy, of the bigger picture, of their role and their place in the Citadel’s plans. Even her own children. Suvi is the chosen one because she had potential and desperation and was easy to shape as a traumatized child, the others don’t matter to her. She staked everything on Suvi’s compliance and following exactly in her footsteps, but Soft and Stone sent their child to exactly the right person that summer. There’s grit in the machine, and Suvi is more like her parents than Steel could ever have imagined. So she’s going to have to get ready, because those disappointments are coming her way.

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a collection