#But I already have three other projects...

[seriously-mike]

It's not a grift. A grift is at least intended to make someone rich.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is something that Goldman Sachs and other groups footing the bill hate disproportionately more: a white elephant. A vanity-project boondoggle that refuses to work the way its owners want, particularly looking at the latest fuckup at xAI.

The major corporations burn through absurd amounts of money on server maintenance, the research just doesn't go their way, controllability is typical for stuff governed by what is effectively rolling dice, and they're pissing everybody off acting like that shit is the Second Coming. Just look at Anthropic's Chief Delusional Officer literally pitching AI as a god.

Seriously, if you think that this tech is some world-changing, earth-shattering, divine thing (be it good or evil), you gotta be fucking mentally deficient.

Air Canada got sued. Klarna was forced to rehire the entire customer service department. Some companies even have artists on hand to fix the usual fuckups in AI-generated images all damn day.

I linked to the interview with Jim Covello that Zitron mentions long ago, it should be somewhere on my blog under the "AI bullshit" tag. I also linked to another article by Zitron, where he states that he'd love to use AI, but nobody, absolutely nobody came up with a reasonable, long-time, everyday use case for it. The ones I'm seeing instantly relegate it to the role of a silly toy - I mean, how many incoherent images depicting really basic, stock image stuff do you need? How many randomly generated songs and videos?

Even worse (see three paragraphs above), a lot of arrogant dipshits get irrationably angry to an incomprehensible level seeing AI demos cooked up by the other kind of arrogant dipshits who, for some inscrutable reason, believe they can "fix" something already considered great, be it the Mona Lisa or Oscar-winning movies (those that got an Oscar for cinematography, even). Like, I don't need the footage of an Oscar-winning movie outpainted to 200% size. I need footage from a GoPro or a smartphone outpainted by 10% to 20%, so I can stabilize it in post without having to zoom it in too much. I don't need a painting by someone else outpainted to 200% size either - what I want is getting those three old bags in the background out of the picture.

Meanwhile, they miss the very obvious and instantly noticeable point: that shit doesn't work.

ed zitron, a tech beat reporter, wrote an article about a recent paper that came out from goldman-sachs calling AI, in nicer terms, a grift. it is a really interesting article; hearing criticism from people who are not ignorant of the tech and have no reason to mince words is refreshing. it also brings up points and asks the right questions:

if AI is going to be a trillion dollar investment, what trillion dollar problem is it solving?

what does it mean when people say that AI will "get better"? what does that look like and how would it even be achieved? the article makes a point to debunk talking points about how all tech is misunderstood at first by pointing out that the tech it gets compared to the most, the internet and smartphones, were both created over the course of decades with roadmaps and clear goals. AI does not have this.

the american power grid straight up cannot handle the load required to run AI because it has not been meaningfully developed in decades. how are they going to overcome this hurdle (they aren't)?

people who are losing their jobs to this tech aren't being "replaced". they're just getting a taste of how little their managers care about their craft and how little they think of their consumer base. ai is not capable of replacing humans and there's no indication they ever will because...

all of these models use the same training data so now they're all giving the same wrong answers in the same voice. without massive and i mean EXPONENTIALLY MASSIVE troves of data to work with, they are pretty much as a standstill for any innovation they're imagining in their heads

[immortalmrwavell]

A Worthy Replacement - Epilogue

(Original story posted… hold on… this one is brand new!)

Written for @bodyswappingandshit/@bodyswappingandshit-1

This epilogue has been a looooong time coming. I intended to write it way back after the original three parts were posted but I never got around to it. So with these uploads I thought what better time to do it now that the story was fresh in my mind! Not to mention I haven’t written a new story from scratch since around August 2024 so it was a nice little project. Hope everyone that enjoyed the rest of the story will continue to enjoy this final piece of the story to wrap everything up in a bow ❤️

Read Part 1 Here! Read Part 2 Here! Read Part 3 here!

Martin was backstage, pacing back and forth while wearing nothing but a pair of tight black posing briefs that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. The entirety of his enormous frame was on full display. He’d already been sprayed up and down with bronzer that left his muscles looking even shinier and more defined than ever. He was a living Adonis of a man. He knew that. It was the reality he’d come to love over these last 6 months since having been lucky enough to receive this gorgeous body and life. Yet despite that he couldn’t help but feel the nerves creeping in.

The last couple of days had been a whirlwind. Thanks to his previous champion titles as Mr Olympia, Martin was automatically qualified to participate. Before that though he made sure to trim his beard down to the iconic mustache Chris had worn every year since his first win, a tradition Martin planned to uphold. He’d been through the official height/weight check ins for the competition and had met all the other participating athletes along the way. All of them eager to meet the one and only Chris Bumstead. Martin was just as thrilled to meet all these other handsome hunky men while effortlessly exuding the kind gentle giant attitude Chris naturally wore. From there he took plenty of photos for his socials and received his number for the show. He’d been through the prejudging show where he and other competitors hit all the mandatory poses for the judges so that they could be ranked. Only the top 6 got to compete in the finals. Of course Martin made it through and now the finals competition was only minutes away.

He could already hear the crowd of people outside chattering away. All of them were eager to watch a bunch of hunks get up on stage and show just how god-like they are. And the very hunks those people were excited to see were standing around him now, all backstage and preparing themselves for the competition ahead. All of them look like man-made perfection. And yet despite that, most of them were stealing glances at Martin! Some out of admiration, some out of jealousy and others out of intimidation. Then again it was no surprise these men felt threatened by him. After all Martin was none other than the three time Classic Physique Mr Olympia, Chris Bumstead!

“Come on… I can do this.” Martin muttered to himself. “I know all the moves. Practiced them a hundred times.” He took a deep breath, placing his hands on his hips as he looked up towards the ceiling. His meaty pecs rose and fell with each anxious breath as he went over the routine again in his head. In all honesty this was probably the first time Martin had felt nervous about anything since he became Chris. Of course there had been small things, especially in the early days when he was still adjusting to his new life as a famous stud, but overall he’s had a sense of natural confidence that’s kept him steady. Until now.

“You alright brother?” A familiar voice came from behind. Martin turned to see none other than his brother in law Iain. “Pre-show nerves kicking in at last?” He asked half jokingly as he strolled up.

Martin flashed Iain a shaky smile. “That obvious?”

Iain had been a pillar for Martin over these last few weeks. Sure Martin might’ve absorbed the essence of Chris Bumstead but the strain this prep for the Olympia had put on him both physically and mentally had been one of the biggest challenges of his life. If it hadn’t been for Iain encouraging him along every step of the way, Martin didn’t think he would’ve got this far. It was only because of him that Martin now had the chance to really prove to himself that he was a worthy replacement.

Iain did a good job at calming Martin down and reminding him of all the hard work he’d put in to get here. Reassuring Martin that he looked even more insane than he did last year and that he was gonna blow everyone away just like he had every time before. It helped of course but Martin still couldn’t shake the nerves completely. Who the hell could? He could tell from his memories that even the original Chris had felt this way almost every time. Only for Martin there was the added layer that this would be his first real olympia that wasn’t just an absorbed memory.

“Just breathe.” Iain said. “Everyone out there is going to love you. And they love you because you’re the best. Not just as a bodybuilder and a champion, but as a man.” It was almost strange for Martin to hear Iain sound so sentimental. He was usually the rough manly man type who’d rather shout his words of encouragement but if anything gentleness of Iain’s managed to hit even harder. “You’ll do amazing brother.”

Martin didn’t think he’d ever been more attracted to Iain than he was in that moment. He wanted nothing more than to cup Iain’s gorgeous face in his hands and press their lips together. Martin had fantasised about it many times but right now the longing to take the man before him in a loving embrace was more powerful than it had ever been. His hands shook slightly at his sides as he imagined it so vividly… but like always Martin held himself back. He knew it couldn’t be. Iain was his straight brother in law, married to Chris’ sister. So instead Martin smiled towards Iain like he always did, burying his feelings yet again…

———

The crowd exploded into a roar of cheers and excitement when Martin walked on stage alongside the other men. Already he could hear some people chanting his nickname “Cbum”. He grinned large and wide as he waved to the crowd, portraying a vision of unwavering confidence despite his inner doubts.

And just like that, the finals were underway.

The hot glimmering lighting shone down on Martin as he hit each and every of the mandatory poses. He began with the iconic front double biceps followed by a strong side chest that emphasised just how god-like his physique was. Martin then turned on his heel, facing away from the audience and judges as he hit the back double biceps where he made sure to show off the incredible definition in his glutes, hamstrings and his back itself. After which he turned to face front again before hitting an effortless vacuum by contracting his abdominals while spreading his legs and putting his gigantic quads on full display. And finally he was able to hit a pose of his choice and Martin had long since decided what it would be. He shifted his stance a little before tossing his left arm up into a strong flex while lifting his right arm and placing that hand behind his head to make for a breathtaking display.

Despite the anxiety thumping in his chest, Martin couldn't help but feel exhilarated at the same time. Seeing all those adoring eyes watching him and scanning his body. It left Martin with a complex mix of emotions that were difficult to even put into words. Yet he smiled on as the judges closely analysed his body during the act. Scanning his form, its proportions and symmetry while noting his perfect execution of every pose. He’d left an impression he knew that much but that was a given considering who he was. And as soon as his act finished, Martin placed his hands together and bowed slightly as the crowd gave him a thunderous applause.

The rest of the finalists each had their turns to go through the mandatory poses and a pose of their choice. Each athlete gave it their all but as usual ‘Chris Bumstead’ was a hard act to follow. Martin watched on as he caught his breath, proud of the performance he’d put in so far but he knew there was more to come yet.

It wasn’t long before all 6 finalists were called back on stage for the Pose-Down. They all stood equal parts away from each other with Martin being near the centre of the stage before music erupted from the speakers. Now was the time for each athlete to go completely freestyle. They had about a minute and half where they were allowed to move across the stage and hit any pose they wanted! Martin had already for this and the second that music came on his body practically kicked into auto pilot as he cycled through some of his best poses. Making sure to hide his weaker points while emphasising his strengths. All the while trying his best to exude as much confidence and charisma as possible on stage in an effort to outshine all his fellow competitors. They were all great guys but at the end of the day Martin was here to prove his worthiness of the title he’d inherited.

The Pose-Down felt as though it lasted an eternity but eventually the music began to fade as the last act came to a close. Martin and the other competitors were asked to stand in a tight line up together as the judges came to their decisions. Martin tried his best to portray a look of pure stoicism but a creeping sense of nervousness couldn’t help shining through. This was the moment of truth. Either he’d leave this stage with a gold medal or he’d have to face the fact that perhaps Mr Wavell was wrong about him. It was a high bar but Martin was holding himself to it. He had to win.

And so after some discussion with the judges, the announcer began to call each placing along. First was of course 5th place and 4th place after that. Each name that was called received a hefty round of applause no matter which place they were in along with congrats from each of the other bodybuilders. But the name “Chris Bumstead” had yet to be called. 3rd place was then announced and once again it wasn’t Martin, leaving him in the final two. He made sure to clap for 3rd place just as he had for the others before, knowing just how hard they’d all worked to get this far. At the same time it felt as though his heart was going to explode under the tension of what was to come next.

There was a long pause after that. Martin rocked on the spot a little, struggling to stay still as he tried to take slow and steady breaths to calm himself. And that’s when it happened. The announcer's voice filled the room as he spoke the name of the man in 2nd place and… it wasn’t him. Martin’s eyes widened with the realisation as his hands moved to cover his face in shock.

“��Which can only mean that this years four time Classic Physique Mr Olympia Champion is CHRIS BUMSTEAD!!!” The announcer boomed and the crowd exploded with the most life it’d had all day. People stood up from their seats to clap and cheer as cameras began flashing wildly to capture the moment.

Martin was still trying to process it all as they handed him the trophy. He was grinning ear to ear with joy and relief, so much so that he could cry. Before long he was bending forwards as the gold 1st place medal was draped around his neck and just like that it was official. He won. Camera began flashing again as Martin absorbed the scene around him, committing each and every detail to memory. He never wanted to forget this for as long as he lived. He took a deep breath and smiled as he raised four fingers to symbolise the fourth win of what was now truly his career.

After the initial applause, Martin was handed a microphone by the announcer. It was time for his winning speech.

Martin took the moment to do what any humble champion would do. He thanked his friends and family for helping him get all this way. He thanked everyone across the world who has supported him up to this point. He thanked his teams that’d helped him along the journey of crafting his body and even made sure to give a special thanks to the man himself Iain Valliere who was in the front row of the crowd. He talked about all the hardship he endured to get to this point and the struggles he’s had along the way before complimenting his fellow athletes on the incredible competition they brought today. And he could’ve ended it there. But there was one last thing Martin knew he had to announce. He’d kept it to himself until now but where better to announce it to the world than right here on stage.

“There was also one last thing I wanted to say while I’m up here.” Martin began, heart still racing. “It’s something I’ve wrestled with for a long time and until now I’d struggled to pluck up the courage to say it out loud. But now… I think it’s finally time.” There was a pause where Martin took a long breath before continuing. “I… am gay. And I have been my whole life.” With that the crowd fell completely silent for a moment at the revelation. “I’ve wanted to come out for so long but I was afraid of not being accepted. But I’m not afraid anymore. I, Chris Bumstead, stand here today as a proud gay man!” The crowd remained quiet for another moment but it didn’t take long for a few to begin clapping. Then more and more until the entire audience was cheering him on. Martin couldn’t help but give them all a giddy smile before flexing his free arm in a powerful pose. He could see the headline already.

Moments after Martin passed the microphone back to the announcer however, everything around him seemed to cease. The people in the crowd and on stage all froze in place as all sound seemed to disappear. The colour seemed to drain from the world around him until everything was black and white. His head swung around in every direction, not knowing what the hell was going on. It was as though the world around him had just… stopped. Like time itself had come to a grinding halt and he was the only one who could perceive it.

And then came the sound of footsteps. Martin’s gaze darted all around to find the source until his eyes settled on a single man who came strolling in from the backstage.

Mr Wavell.

“Bravo. Bravo.” Wavell said with a faint smile as he ascended the steps to join Martin up on stage. He was the only thing in the room besides Martin that still had colour. That fact only seemed to make the deep emerald hue of the warlock’s jacket stand out all the more, further elevating the man’s effortless elegance.

“Y-you’re him. That wizard Mr Wavell! W-what did you do to them??” Martin questioned rather frantically as the well dressed man continued to approach.

“Don’t worry about them. I just froze time around us, that’s all. I wanted a moment to congratulate you myself on this wondrous achievement.” Wavell moved slow and casual until he stood right before Martin. Of course Martin’s massive body towered over Wavell and yet the sheer pressure this suited man gave off was so overwhelming that it made Martin feel minuscule in his presence. “You proved not only to me but the entire world that my magic was right to choose you to be the successor to the original Chris Bumstead.” Wavell reached up and removed his sunglasses, folding them before slipping them into his jacket pocket. “You’ve taken his life and made it your own. And with this win, you really can call yourself Mr Olympia.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.” Martin stuttered. “Thank you. Thank you so much. Getting to be Chris these past 6 months has been the greatest time of my life. I’ve never felt so happy or accomplished. So fulfilled. Not to mention adored. And I never would’ve had any of this if it weren’t for you.”

Wavell raised a hand. “No need for thanks. This gift was just as much for my pleasure as it was yours. Getting to see you transform on that first day was a treat in itself. Seeing you explode with muscle and fill out those clothes right after getting high on those musky sneakers you stole. What a naughty boy.” Wavell tutted with a devious grin that caused Martin to blush.

“You uhhh… you saw that?” Martin asked with a nervous chuckle.

“I’ve seen everything.” Wavell answered, causing Martin to go even redder than before. “But there’s no need to be embarrassed. After all, I'm not exactly a good boy half the time either. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t visited your house once or twice while you weren’t home. Maybe had a dig through your sweaty laundry a couple times… among other things. And I can’t promise I won’t do it again. After all… those smelly sneakers of yours really are addictive.” Wavell said with a wink.

Martin’s mouth ran dry, not knowing how to respond. All he knew was that he was turned on like hell right now and that his cock was pressing hard against his posing briefs.

“But that’s not what I’m here to talk about. Instead I wanted to offer you another gift. Think of it as another reward for winning the Olympia.” Wavell said, eyes wandering up and down Martin’s glorious form.

“A-a gift?! What else could you give me?? You’ve practically given me everything I could’ve ever wished for!” Martin gestured down at the very body Wavell was currently eye fucking before grabbing the heavy gold medal draped over his chest and shaking it.

Wavell lifted an eyebrow. “Well. There is still one thing you’ve been wishing for… isn’t there? I’ve been watching you remember. I’ve seen the way you’ve taken charge of this life. I’ve watched as you forced the original Chris into mindless servitude as your underwear…” Wavell paused, allowing for the gears to turn in Martin’s head. Wavell then turned in the heel of his shoe to face the audience. Or rather one audience member in particular. “And I’ve also seen the way you gwauk at him every chance you get, always knowing you can’t have him.” Wavell continued, staring directly at none other than Iain Valliere as he stood frozen and monotone in the crowd like everyone else. “But what if you could…”

“Wait… what’re you saying?” Martin asked as his brain began to process what Wavell was offering him.

“I’m saying I could make him yours.” Wavell answered bluntly. “A little reality warping so that he was never in a relationship with your new sister. Altering the fabric of his soul along with his brain chemistry to make him so unequivocally gay that he’ll almost always have cock on his mind. And of course I’ll make him completely and utterly love stricken by you.” The warlock turned to look at Martin again. “If that’s what you’d like anyway.”

“Yes! I want it!” Martin’s mouth moved before he had a chance to think. The thought of what Wavell was proposing was just too incredible to miss! However the warlock’s blank expression quickly reminded Martin of his manners. “I-I mean… please. Mr Wavell sir. I would give anything to have Iain.”

Wavell’s expression softened once more. “Then it shall be.” And without another word a purple aura of sparkling magic flared up around Wavell’s body just like it had all those months ago when he changed reality to make ‘Chris Bumstead’ a single man. And like before a powerful pulse of magical energy surged outwards from his body and swiftly stretched across the planet. “There. Iain Valliere is no longer your brother in law. Now he’s just a single man who you met many years ago and ended up becoming close gym bros with. Best friends even.” Wavell licked his lips slightly as he outstretched a hand in Iain’s direction. “Now for part two.” A stream of pure purple magic flowed from Wavell’s palm and wrapped itself around Iain’s head. The magic began reaching inside Iain’s mind and soul before plucking out any straight thoughts of women. Instead replacing them with deeply homosexual desires for other men and a crippling obsession with cock. And after a couple memory alterations, it was done. “All finished.” Wavell quipped as the purple magic retreated back inside his body.

Martin blinked with amazement. “Really? You mean Iain I can actually-”

“Fuck each other raw? Yes.” Wavell said before Martin could even finish.

“Well I was just ‘be together’ but that works too.”

The warlock couldn’t help but hum with amusement. He turned back fully to Martin, taking a few extra steps to close what little distance there was left between them until he was inches away from Martin’s melon sized pecs. “In all seriousness though, keep enjoying this life. Savour every moment of it. Because I truly do believe that you were always destined to have this body. To be Chris Bumstead. So never doubt the man that you’ve become.”

“I won’t.” Martin said honestly. “And thank you again.”

“You can thank me by having some hot sweaty sex with that other handsome hunk over there.” Wavell smirked, gesturing towards Iain. “Trust me, I’ll be watching.” With that he raised his fingers up, ready to snap. “And don’t worry, you’ll be seeing me again Chris Bumstead. And when you do I expect to be caught in a steamy threesome between you and your soon to be lover.”

And then he snapped.

In an instant, life returned to the world around Martin. Colour and sound filled his senses once more as the crowd continued to move and cheer as if nothing had happened. The other athletes continued clapping for Martin in his victory as the camaras started flashing once more. And Mr Wavell was nowhere to be seen.

“CHRIS BUMSTEAD EVERYBODYYYYY!!!” The announcer shouted into the microphone causing everyone in the crowd to roar even louder. Well everyone except one. Iain who suddenly seemed rather dazed as he shook his head a little.

Martin couldn’t help but give the people a few final victory poses. Flexing his perfect body yet again and getting those muscles to bulge into action once more. Powerful veins snaking up and down his arms as his biceps peaked. At long last his nerves over this year’s competition had vanished, replaced by nothing but euphoria. And that feeling only grew when his eyes caught Iain’s and immediately he saw something in the other man that hadn’t been there before. Lust.

Eventually Martin finds himself walking off stage along with the other athletes as the camera men and women all scramble to get extra few pictures of the hunks as they leave. Pushing his way through them all however was none other than the hulking Iain Valliere. Staff had initially moved to stop him until they saw the lanyard around his neck showing that he was allowed backstage with the competitors. He made his way through them all and managed to reach Martin just before he disappeared out of sight.

“Chris!” Iain shouted desperately. “There’s something I have to tell you. I’ve been meaning to tell you for a long time but I haven’t had the courage to say it until now.” He confessed, thick hands grabbing Martin by the biceps.

Martin already had an idea as to what this was but he couldn’t help sweating a little as he glanced around at all the cameras watching them. “O-okay… but can’t it wait until we’re backstage?” Martin asked.

“No. I want the world to see this.” Iain stated boldly before taking Martin’s hand in his own. “Chris. I’ve been in love with you for years. I can’t remember how or when it happened but I just know that I’ve fallen for you so fuckin deeply that it hurts. But I didn’t think you’d ever look at me the same. I thought you were… straight. But after what you said up there I don’t think I could’ve held it back any longer.” He paused for a moment, shuffling on the spot before planting his feet firmly and looking Martin square in the eyes. “Chris. I love you.”

“Iain I…” Martin stuttered. The people around them that’d heard what Iain said looked on in complete shock. Even the cameras around them seemed to lower for a second as the people behind tried to process what was happening right now. But Martin didn’t care about them. He hadn’t planned on doing this so quickly, he’d hardly had a chance to get off stage yet, but it seemed Wavell’s miracle was a potent one. So why the hell not. “Iain. I love you too.” And every word was true.

With that Iain’s whole face seemed to light up as moments before Martin cupped it in his hands and closed the distance between them with a passionate kiss. The very kiss Martin had been fantasising about since the very moment he'd set eyes on Iain. And it was every bit as magical as he’d imagined. Their mouths remained interlocked as the cameras tilted back up and began shooting in a race to capture the best angle for this moment. Not to mention the crew who’d been filming the live stream of the event were still rolling and now had their sights fully trained on Martin and Iain, broadcasting the kiss to the world.

Everyone watching was stunned. Most fans of Chris Bumstead, at least in this altered reality, had known him and Iain to have been best friends for the longest time. Always posting on social media and appearing at events together. Nobody would have guessed that this was where it was all heading though! Besides maybe a few horny fans who’d wished upon it but even they were surprised to see their dreams come true! Iain and Chris were in love!

After making such a spectacle of it, the pair finally separated from their kiss. Iain looked up at Martin with a flushed expression that looked adorable on his rugged manly face. Iain wrapped his arms around Martin in a strong hug before the latter could say a word, not caring about the bronzer that would inevitably rub off Martin’s body and onto Iain’s clothes. With a content smile Martin reciprocated the hug. At last he could say that he had absolutely everything he could have wished for. A perfect body, an incredible life and a gorgeous new boyfriend he was already planning to marry someday.

———

Before long Iain and Martin were backstage together, hardly separable as Martin sipped on a bottle of water. Iain had checked his phone to see the news stories were already popping up. Both about Martin’s win and the kiss the two of them had shared. No doubt that was going to stir up a frenzy for a while.

“I still can’t believe you did that in front of all those cameras. You know that’s going to be one of the only things people are going to have on their minds at the interviews and press conference later right?” Martin chuckled.

Iain laughed heartily at the thought. “Of course. That was the point. I needed everyone to know.”

Martin raised an eyebrow. “And what if I’d turned you down back there?”

“I knew that wouldn’t happen.” Iain claimed, budging his thick muscled body even closer to Martin’s own colossal frame. “It was like I had this… epiphany after your speech. I can’t explain it. I just knew it was the right thing to do.”

Martin leaned in and gave Iain another peck on the lips. “Well I’m glad.”

Iain snuggled closer to Martin, holding him in another embrace. “And if our little moment does end up overshadowing you win later…” He began before slowing his voice to whisper against Martin’s ear. “… I’ll make it up to you tonight by sucking that champion cock and swallowing your winning load.”

Martin’s breath hitched at that, a tingle running up his spin. His dick twitched rather strongly at the thought. With that on his mind he already knew it was going to be harder than ever to keep his dick under control. Moments after he found himself using Iain as a shield so nobody else around the backstage could see the growing bulge in his briefs. He blamed Iain for it of course but the other man didn’t seem all too regretful.

But with that, Martin’s story was complete. Thanks to Mr Wavell he got everything he ever wanted and more. But that didn’t mean it was over. Not at all. This was only the first of many fruits his new existence would grant him. He couldn’t wait to explore everything else this new life had to offer him. Just as much as he couldn’t wait to explore Iain’s muscle ass with his dick. Something he knew he’d have the opportunity to do again and again and again. And he was going to love every damn second.

[ao3scrapesearch]

hi so, thanks to your tool i was able to figure out that every fic ive ever posted onto ao3 (from 2015 to recent, aside from three fics this last month i just posted) were all scraped, and its absolutely horrifying to me to know my works are being used in this way. this is hundreds of thousands of words of time, and is over 90% of all of the writing ive ever shared online, spread over multiple accounts and fandoms and im just feeling- so dejected. i know youre not an advice blog or anything, and i really appreciate the work youve done to help people find this information. im just curious- do you have any advice when it comes to dealing with this knowledge? i dont want to delete my fics and take them from people who enjoy them, and i want to continue to write and see others read my works. but its just so dejecting knowing what theyre being used for now. that i dont have any control over what is done with my own passion projects because some company can show up and just take it and use it in some environment-poisoning misinformation machine

I wasn't expecting to be ASKED for advice when I made the blog! But I give it my best shot for you guys when I can.

So to ME, it's a bit reassuring to see that the data isn't like. Amazingly collected, if that makes sense. If I were looking for a dataset to generate good writing, a huge thing I would want is a way to know what readers actually liked. For the record, having a low hit or kudos count or whatever does not mean your fic isn't good! (You can have a low hit count because your fandom isn't big or because you're not tagging your fic in a way to help the right people discover it, but the fic can still be amazing.) BUT if I were an outsider not looking to actually read the fics, just figure out what about the writing makes people like them, the top thing I'd be looking for is the stats like the hits, kudos, comments, and bookmarks. Nyuuzyou intentionally tried to exclude that data, which is... an interesting decision.

The choice of forum is telling, too. They chose to upload on Hugging Face, which is for AI hobbyists, not corporate models. These are people like you and me, just doing this as a hobby for fun, and it's pretty unlikely they'll ever create something they can sell from this. Yes, they're killing the environment with it, which I hate, but they're doing it on a much smaller scale than any of the commercial names in AI. Very similar to how you can post a fic and even get tens of thousands of hits and tons of positive interactions, but that doesn't mean you also publish traditional novels and make tens of thousands of dollars.

Again, for me, it also helps to remind myself that hey. They're already out there. Even if I take down all 60-ish of my fics that were hit in this scrape, that data is still out there, but if I delete them, it's ONLY out there as a stupid AI-training dataset, and I've cut out my readers entirely. Deleting the ones that were already scraped doesn't un-scrape them, and to me, it feels like letting the scrapers win if they get my writing AND I don't get to share my writing anymore.

For new writing going forward, that's definitely a place to make a personal decision! I've said a couple times I'm going to keep writing and sharing anyway because I love it, but that's not The One Right Way to do things.

I also am in the same boat as I've seen some people in my notes. A lot of my scraped fics were uh. Not my best work. Like I was prolific in 2018 and man... those fics were not super well-written. Text-based GenAI is trained to learn the order words should appear, based on probabilities. So if there's a lot of bad, boring works in there (and there definitely are! we all start out by posting mediocre writing!), that teaches the AI model to write bad, boring sentences. Most of us aren't tagging our fics in a way to tell a computer which fics are like this, so the AI doesn't know which fics are written by beginners who still don't know how to write well or who don't know English very well yet, and at least from what I know, the AI is going to treat those works like they're just as valid as the 100k+ novels we all know and love. All that comes together to make a shitty AI model that no one really wants to use, even if they're otherwise super pro-AI.

I'll round this off with a silly little book recommendation, but this book seriously changed the way I think about life in general and definitely impacted how I was able to take the scraping well enough and focus on being productive about it instead of just upset. The big takeaway from it is that no one can fully control their circumstances, but everyone has the ability to control the way they react to those circumstances. No one can control AI scrapers being scumbags, but we all get to choose how to respond to it happening.

[rr-shattered-memory]

Added a little bit of information and some links of other fun stuffs

Art.

Fanart from @creativitwincest - And my phone wallpaper edit of that.

Loop Three end drawing.

Picrews.

What we currently know.

Remus -in Roman's words- was 'out of it' when he brought him home the night before.

Janus is Remus' best friend and roommate.

Remus plays pranks often enough that Janus is skeptical about some things.

Pain doesn't seem to register as much for Remus.

Roman and Remus were together the night before this started - they were celebrating their birthday together.

Remus knew Logan and Patton before this - Roman's words make it seem like they're not on easy terms.

Remus (as Reem-i do) has a very messy living space.

Remus is working(?) on some kind of Roman inspired project.

Roman remembers the deaths through nightmares.

Remus retains the injuries he gets in previous loops.

Roman gets very flustered when Remus makes any kind of innuendo or flirtation towards him.

Roman said in Loop Two that the only time they haven't been together for a while was when they were 'really young'.

Remus remembers how his deaths felt in the moment but nothing hurts when the day re-starts.

In Loop Three Roman says their situation is 'complicated'.

The exacto knife dropped in Loop Two didn't reset.

Remus and Roman came home inebriated the night before The Loop - Roman put Remus to bed.

Roman lives two streets down.

Janus and Roman don't have a good relationship.

In Loop Three Janus says 'at least you're here' to Roman implying Roman hasn't always been there.

Roman and Janus has had conversations about it before - Janus doesn't have all the information.

Janus uses romantic pet names pointedly for Remus even though he's not interested.

Janus doesn't remember anything from previous loops.

Remus made Janus promise to believe him if he ever got time looped.

Something happened with them that Roman feels immense guilt over even though Remus has already forgiven him.

Wounds.

Hunger seems to follow through loops.

The twins birthday is June 16th 1993.

The day of Roman's guilt was June 15th 2012.

Loop day is June 17th 2020.

Remus' password for his phone is 06152012

Right hand stab. (L1)

Neck scarred in weird pattern. (L2)

Left knee and wrist. (L2)

Right behind left ear. (L2)

Gash on forehead. (L3)

Cracked skull. (L3)

Remus and Roman Konoe.

Half Japanese on their mothers side, they don't know their father.

Their mother is a very sweet and supportive lady, single mother of two eccentric children and she would have them no other way.

They were born, raised and currently live in Canada.

[maxwell-mtv]

Maxwell_MTV's Store Swap AU for SDV!

[I've been working a lot as always, so it's been hard to write. But... I guess the stars are aligning because one of my fave artists and mutuals ( @vilochkaaa ) posted their own Store Swap AU art today (WHICH IS SUPER COOL YOU SHOULD CHECK IT IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALREADY!!!) and I was also planning on posting my own Store Swap AU stuff today that I've been working on...

I hope everyone enjoys! I've put my extra braincells into spicing this up. Written stuff is below the cut... I was allowed to cook and I made the best meal I could for all you wonderful folks out there lol]

Morris: You ever feel like you're doing better in another life?

The general idea:

In this universe, Pierre finds success after a long career as a professional boxer and manages to somehow use his fame to open a chain of convenience stores after he retires. This, of course, competes directly with Joja and while it’s not enough to drive them completely out of business, it manages to split business fairly evenly between the two.

While Pierre reaps the daily grind of those beneath him as the CEO of what is simplified to being called “Pierre’s”, someone else finds himself settling into a small town to try and live out his own dreams of running a store.

Morris:

While Pierre is living the dream, Morris has been put through the wringer. 

With the success of “Pierre’s”, many JojaMarts were forced to shut down as a result.

Morris was on a fast track to his first promotion to be a manager when his store had to shut down no thanks to “Pierre’s” success in that part of the city.

With the store shutting down, many were laid off (only current management got to relocate to other stores) so Morris became ✨unemployed✨.

While Morris began with quite the rising confidence as he gained notoriety in his store, him being laid off brought all that to a crashing halt.

So, with a new sense of humility given his circumstances, he gathers what he can and searches for a new path in life.

He finds himself in a small town by the seaside, a village, really, with how small the populace was. 

But during his time soaking in the calming charm of Pelican Town, he notices an issue with the locals.

All of them needed to take a day’s trip to the city to purchase their groceries for the week. A huge inconvenience for those who needed small, simple necessities like bread or toilet paper. And when it came to purchasing from the locals, many farmers were out of seasonal stock by the time the locals needed them.

So Morris takes the initiative and opens up what he calls “Morris’s Market” in the semi-vacant building next to the clinic.

Semi-vacant, only because of the public access to Yoba’s altar.

Morris runs a successful business, feeling himself renewed as he gains a positive reputation amongst the locals. 

But still there’s this feeling deep inside of him as though something had gone astray in his story. Like something in his fate had been tampered with to have stolen his dreams from him.

But thanks to time, he finds himself proud and content with his small success as a small businessman.

That is, until someone decides to break ground in his small town, which leads him to a dizzying disparaging of his confidence once again.

Morris, in a desperate plea to keep what he has, often finds himself praying in front of the altar beneath his home. Although he’s never been religious, he doesn’t think he can take another blow to his ego. At the end of the day, when numbers are crunched and sales are charted, he doesn’t see himself doing anything but this.

It is evident that in this universe, unlike canon, Morris is more humble and anxious. Where his insecurities were buried deep beneath the corporate mask JojaMart had given him in canon, he has nothing but his more organic self to offer to a fairly organic town. Polite, tired all the time, and just doing his best…  

Pierre:

After his famous career as a boxer comes to an honorable end, he retires and uses his fortune to start a business. With the charms of what is reminiscent of a small business, Pierre’s General Store (later simplified to “Pierre’s” for better mass marketing) goes toe-to-toe with Joja’s long time success as the better box store.

Competing with a conglomerate like Joja isn’t easy, but “Pierre’s” values that are taken straight from the founder himself aid in toppling them to a mere equal competitor.

"A family business from humble beginnings with the drive to give back to the farmers who give them their produce to sell."

It feels like a more country version of a Trader Joe’s. And (not to intentionally out my current geography) competes against Joja like Meijers does with a Kroger. 

On vaster scale, it’s like Walmart/Sam's Club against Costco…

Hard to explain but that’s the general vibes of “Pierre’s.”

After a little vacation to Pelican Town with his wife and daughter, he decides to take on a capital expenditure which challenges the very competence of his title as a CEO.

Seeing that the only store these people in the middle of the Valley were confined to were either his stores in the city or a “pathetic excuse of a general store” (his words, not mine), he has a little talk with the Mayor.

Breaking ground in Pelican Town was easy, a convenient plot of land was just over the bridge from where "Morris’s Market" was and so customers would be a breeze to snatch up.

Despite what his advisors warned him against, Pierre ignores all odds and sets his eyes on the prize. Not even JojaMart could do what he was about to do, and that would catapult him from just an equal competitor to the top dog. 

It was easy enough to draw a crowd, but there was a growing issue with his store just barely breaking even each week. It seemed that though the town flocked to him for most things, the majority tended to stick with “Morris’s Market” in the name of loyalty. I mean, it wasn’t like his prices were much better than Morris’s store anyways since he aimed for both profit and quality. 

As he contemplated it each morning as he hit the gym, the problem became all too clear to him. It wasn’t his prices or the quality of products, rather it was the sense of community amongst the town.

I mean, just look how they all gathered every month (sometimes more!) in that old, barely functional Community Center to hold meetings, plan festivities, hold celebrations, and just socialize and bond!

If only there was someway he could break that and shatter that sense of loyalty they had in the name of supporting their fellow townie.

It would be a shame, really… if someone were to report that sad, beaten building to the proper authorities for an inspection. Without the Mayor knowing of it, he might be able to convince them that the building wasn't just “well loved” as the Mayor put it and was hardly still up to code, if at all.

If only he could prove it wasn’t up to code…

Damn his advisors, damn his wife, and damn everyone in this "hick town". He will succeed at all costs… even if he loses his charms along the way. 

Pierre uses his charms as an admittedly still good looking man. If you ignore the small crook in his nose from it being broken too many times before, you’d see why his wife still stayed with him despite her seeming too sweet and meek for his own good. 

It would be easy, if he laid it on thick, to sway the town amongst a tragedy to lean on him in some regard. Just a little wink, an offer of setting up events every month outside his store. Hey, maybe if he could drive Morris’s store out of business he could buy that storefront from him and use it as the new gathering place. It seemed fitting seeing as half the town gathered there every Sunday for Yoba’s altar anyways.

It’s too bad his daughter puts a dent in his plans though… She never did outgrow that rebellious phase…

Pierre works out often in this universe, having the time and freedom to make his own schedule as CEO. He treats his family well enough, although he’s never home long enough to let them see the monster he’s let himself become. But his daughter can see glimpses in the way he talks to her and her mother that he’s not the same father he had once been. It’s like something changed in him along the way to make him worse than he’d been before…

Having never lost a match in his career, only when it was planned for ticket sales, Pierre has an inflated ego which blinds him to his own faults. In his eyes, this is the life he’s always been destined for. To be on the top of the world and determined to never fall from grace.

His daughter, on the other hand, would say otherwise. She often has a similar epiphany as Morris. Where an existential feeling of dread consumes her and deep down, despite her fairly privileged life, she knows this was not what she was destined for.

(I'd like to think Pierre just doesn't bother with the "no-homo" stuff and constantly flirts with Morris in this AU just to rile him up and throw him off his game. Especially when they get into fights about ethics and business and blah blah typical enemies to still enemies but also lovers stuff.)

[thanatos-zagreus-shagreus]

had the idea of adding the glyphs from the owl house onto my denim jacket so I taught myself embroidery and did this as a first project!

here's hoping I'm not gonna randomly glow/freeze/burn alive/have a plant grow out of my shoulder I guess?

Close-ups, pic in sunlight (showing the proper colours), and fire glyph progress pics under the cut I swear I also took progress pics of the other glyphs but I can't find them rn

they're all about 5 cm in diameter and I personally think the ice glyph came out a little wobbly but it was my first embroidery ever and the fabric on that part of the jacket is also a little wobbly so I'm happy with the result

the lovely yellow lighting in my room is biting me in the ass rn bc the yellow and green are a lot lighter irl and the blue and red are a bit more vibrant

here's a photo I took in the sun that captures the colours better!

the fire glyph was the last one! I believe there were like two and a half months between finishing the third glyph and starting this one oops (but also yay bc the weather was amazing this weekend so I did a large chunk of the fire glyph while sitting in the sun!)

and a picture of the shoulder while I'm wearing the jacket! though normally the position of the fire glyph falls a little less front-facing (which is great irl bc that way it looks more interesting from the side and back instead of just from the front)

[bonefall]

mmm would it be possible for Mistystar and Leopardstar to fight/met during the BOTTE? or was Leopard already fed up with Tigerstar, his batshit insane plans and her status reduced to 'Tiger's another lackey' (like Darkstripe and many others) to really care about revenge? if she ever thought about it, that is.. im assuming she would be pretty pissed about being killed (there was a post about Mistyfoot first trying to poison her and Leopard realized it and instead decided to take her on a solo patrol to.. deal with a rogue i think? and then Misty gave her a rock appointment) and might had thought about making Mistystar pay, but it's been soooo long before BOTTE that she might had.. moved on? or just decided she had better things to do, not sure.

I have a BIG rule for the BOTTE, an unmoveable object, which I will abide by like a solemn vow;

NO spirit will be killed by the same cat twice.

I already changed it so Yellowfang doesn't get Brokenstar (he's not even present) and Brambleclaw doesn't get Hawkfrost, so I certainly wouldn't have Mistystar do it to Leopardstar!

I have some ideas but first; context.

The Killing of Leopardstar

Mistyfoot was sloppy.

Leopardstar recognized the way that Mistyfoot had poisoned her food, because she'd done the same thing to Crookedstar before her. Not enough to make it quick, just enough to weaken.

The emotion that licks at her is frustration.

Is this what her life has come to? Dramatic irony? Is this some kind of cosmic joke? To die just like her predecessor, wasting away for a few seasons in the darkness of this musty den, before solemn mourning and empty platitudes from her underhanded murderer.

What should she even do about this? Reveal Mistyfoot in front of everyone, exile her, she plots against her from the safety of another Clan, some kind of rebellion, rah rah rah we just dealt with this.

It's boring. It's so boring it's offensive. This will be the state of RiverClan forever, deputies poisoning leaders and taking power quietly until the end of days. No honor, no nobility, just treachery until the sky dries up and its rich blue becomes a crackled pale-brown.

If she is to die, she will not go out in the slow and painful way she killed crookedstar without a fight.

So she smacks the limp fish aside and brushes past Mistyfoot with a snarl, not even caring enough to drink in the way her traitorous deputy's ears flushed pale, knowing she'd been caught.

Leopardstar calls for a rushed meeting, telling them all that there's actually 40 - 50 feral rogues on the border right now and she saw them all last night or something, so she's taking Mistyfoot to go confront them right now. Don't follow us.

(Something that the more astute members of the Clan immediately recognize as Leopardstar setting up cover for a death match, including Misty's brother Swansong. She snaps at him when he runs to stop her, Don't Follow.)

Once they're a fair distance away, at the southern delta that divides WindClan and RiverClan, where the cliffs will hide them and the wet stones will not catch the scent (and where Reedwhisker will die, someday), Leopardstar lays it out.

No more tricks. No more schemes. If one of them is to die, it will be with honor.

"You want my lives?"

(Boss music fades in. Misty sees the health bar appear lmao)

"Come and take them."

After she came and took them

Leopardstar is kind of obsessed with the final battle of her life. That fight was everything she hoped for, except that she didn't win.

She wants it again, and she will triumph this time.

Hawkfrost is easily able to twist it into, "You lost only because StarClan shone upon her with that stone. It wasn't real skill. Join our cause and we can get you that rematch, we will defeat Mistystar, win back RiverClan, and dethrone the Stars!" But at the end of the day, it's an excuse.

Same sort of excuse Leopardstar came up with when she believed she wanted an honorable battle, rejecting the guilt and fear that clawed at her to think about dying the way Crookedstar did.

She does this a lot. Dodging feelings of remorse or regret by substituting power fantasies, avoiding any hard lessons. She says she wants revenge, but what she's actually doing is avoiding taking an L. Shame is a vagrant in Leopardstar's heart; she will never let it stay for long.

But...

That's really hard to do when Tigerstar is actively using her and speaking over her in every interaction. Being here, in the Dark Forest, taking the SAME advice she once groomed into Hawkfrost to only look at the positives of Tigerstar's legacy and ignore atrocities, is embarassing.

It's HUMILIATING.

She had her starshine BASHED out of her with a rock and went to the hell she'd been downplaying since she "regrettably" tore down the Bonehill. Being Tigerstar's stooge. Reducing the proud, ferocious leader of RiverClan into a goon.

Towards the end, she will have a scene with Hawkfrost, proud warriors that they are as mentor and apprentice, and vaguely address this. As far as Leopardstar's ego will allow, of course... the shame of it.

It's an important moment, because it's as much about Leopardstar and Hawkfrost as it is about Hawkfrost and Ivypool.

Leopard is too set in her ways to change, even if she is capable of brief glimpses of self-reflection, of which this is one. Hawkfrost, however, is seeing his mentor and himself in a different light. How she'll let herself be humiliated over and over as long as she can cling to her ego... and how by doing Tigerstar's diplomacy work, Hawkfrost is doing the same.

And he's dragged his OWN apprentice into it, too. She accidentally double-killed her friend, Antpelt, but he killed him more by bringing all of these trainees here to begin with. How Ivypool gets pitted against Tigerheart because TigerSTAR is playing mind games, how it's destroying her bond with her sister, how much fun and joy in the Dark Forest he's missing out on by not giving the afterLIFE a chance...

How much he's thrown away for this, before and after his death.

I'm not sure yet if it's the LAST stop before the BOTTE, but it's close to the end of Hawkfrost's redemption arc. Recognition of self through the other. He is part of a cycle he has a choice to break.

But anyway... back to Leopardstar.

She wants to fight Mistystar, but I don't think I'll let her have that satisfaction. She has already gotten nearly everything she ever asked for and can't even acknowledge that she did.

I think it's most fitting for SWANSONG to finally get what he craves; a chance to take a burden off his sister.

Leopardstar allowed TigerClan to STRIP his brotherhood from her because they don't share blood. Forced him to pretend like Rippleclaw meant anything to him, as if Oakheart hadn't been his proud baba as long as he could remember. Stonefur, Mistyfoot, and Swansong are the kits of Graypool; and he's not gonna let this golden FART ignore that ever again.

So my idea is that when Leopardstar meets Mistyfoot in the Second Wave of the BOTTE, she pounces onto her for her rematch, but Swansong BURSTS out of the crowd in response and rips her off, allowing Mistystar to go back to defending their Clanmates

"I don't want YOU," Leopardstar spits, "My battle is with Mistystar!"

"Tough titfeathers! It's MY turn to get a hit in for Stonefur!" He bristles with equal parts fury and excitement, lunging towards a fight he's dreamed of for years.

Still subject to change, though! And I'm not sure if Swansong dies here, or in the 3rd Wave, or if maybe he succumbs to injuries after the BOTTE is over.

It would also be fitting if he got a whack on Mapleshade though... since Maple doesn't even consider him Applekin and won't curse him. It would be neat for him to get angry about that lmao. "What do you MEAN my siblings are haunted by a demon? But NOT ME?? What ELSE am I getting left out of???"

EDIT: I'm currently planning to kill him in the 2nd Wave

[thecrispier0nion]

maybe if i bang my head on the wall hard enough the horrors will go away

[miodiodavinci]

i'm still working on my PV for today, but perhaps in the meantime you can enjoy the remnants of my scrapped anniversary plans from earlier in the year w

at the very least, should i ever choose to return, i'll at least have one ZOLA's hair and faceup done ! ! !

[collectors-tablet]

Would the Archivists consider releasing the Maine Coon to roam around the archive?

Not a lot for a cat to eat here, anyways.

[Part 4]

[firebirdsdaughter]

Don't mind me…

… I'm not finally having the courage to catch up on Tiger & Bunny s2 and crying about it.

I'm not.

I'M NOT

[stellewriites]

part 5 of already spoken for is finished!!! just need to edit and then i’ll be posting next weekend :3

[densewentz]

ya'll i need flavor ideas for cakepops for an old woman book club holiday party. it's a small group, and all the women are insane. so far I'm leaning toward white chocolate raspberry but I'm open to suggestions

[nebulardrip-art]

be the change you want to see in the world. draw ptutu otp.

[good-beansdraws]

I finished my slutty Fuuta art...

"Sometimes you gotta take your fave very seriously, with accurate characterization and themes and details -- and sometimes you gotta throw all of that away and make them your little paper doll to dress up in slutty outfits" (+ base one so you can join in the fun 👍)

(Edited to add the one from the maid fuuta ask hehe)

[quitedisastrous]

i wish i could just do nothing for a few days straight. maybe even just sleep for a few days straight. sooo excited for constant misery over the next 20 days

ranting in the tags. i would just scroll past if i were you