#Dimensionality Reduction

[govindhtech]

LeanVec Improves Out-of-Distribution Vector Search Accuracy

Intel LeanVec Conquer Vector Search with Smart Dimensionality Reduction

The last essay in this series highlighted how vector search is essential in many applications that need precise and fast replies. Vector search systems often perform poorly due to memory and computation strain from large vector dimensionality. Also common are cross-modal retrieval tasks, such as those in which a user provides a text query to find the most relevant photographs.

These searches often have statistical distributions that differ from database embeddings, making accuracy problematic. Intel's LeanVec integrates dimensionality reduction and vector quantisation to speed up vector search on huge vectors while retaining accuracy in out-of-distribution queries.

Introduction

Recently, deep learning models have enhanced their capacity to construct high-dimensional embedding vectors whose spatial similarities match inputs including pictures, music, video, text, genomics, and computer code. This capability allows programs to explore massive vector collections for semantically meaningful results by finding the closest neighbours to a query vector. Even though similarity search has improved, modern vector indices perform poorly as dimensionality increases.

The most frequent are graph indices, which are directed graphs with edges indicating vector neighbor-relationships and vertices representing dataset vectors. Graph traversal is effective to find nearest neighbours in sub-linear time.

Graph-based indices excel at small dimensionalities (D = 100) but struggle with deep learning model dimensionalities (D ≈ 512, 768, 1536). If deep learning model-derived vectors dominate similarity search deployments, eliminating this performance gap is crucial.

This graph search speed drop is caused by the system's memory latency and bandwidth, which are largely utilised to fetch database vectors from memory randomly. Vector compression sounds like a decent technique to minimise memory strain, however PQ and SCANN either don't compress sufficiently or perform poorly due to irregular memory access patterns.

The Out-of-Distribution Queries Challenge

The queries are out-of-distribution (OOD) when the database and query vector statistical distributions diverge, making vector compression harder. Unfortunately, two modern programs often do this. The first is cross-modal searching, when a user queries one modality to return relevant elements from another. Word searches help text2image find thematically similar pictures. Second, many models, including question-answering ones, may create queries and database vectors.

A two-dimensional example shows the importance of query-aware dimensionality reduction for maximum inner product search. For a query-agnostic method like PCA, projecting the database (𝒳) and query (Q) vectors onto the first main axis (large green arrow) is recommended. This selection will lower inner product resolution since this path is opposing Q's principal axis (orange arrow). Furthermore, the helpful direction (the second primary axis of 𝒳) is gone.

A Lightweight Dimensionality Reduction Method

To speed up similarity search for deep learning embedding vectors, LeanVec approximates the inner product of a database vector x and a query q.

How projection works LVQ reduces the number of bits per entry, whereas DRquery and DRDB reduce vector dimensionality. As shown in Figure, LeanVec down-projects query and database vectors using linear functions DRquery and DRDB.

Each database vector x is compressed twice via LeanVec:

First vector LVQ(DRDB(x)). Inner-product approximation is semi-accurate.

LVQ(x), secondary vector. An appropriate description is the inner-product approximation.

The graph is built and searched using main vectors. Intel experiments show that the graph construction resists LVQ quantisation and dimensionality reduction. Only secondary vectors are searched.

The graph index is searched using main vectors. Less memory footprint reduces vector retrieval time. Due to its decreased dimensionality, the approach requires fewer fused multiply-add operations, reducing processing effort. This approximation is ideal for graph search's random memory-access pattern because it permits inner product calculations with individual database vectors without batch processing.

Intel compensates for inner-product approximation errors by collecting additional candidates and reranking them using secondary vectors to return the top-k. Because query dimensionality reduction (i.e., computing f(q)) is only done once per search, there is some runtime overhead.

Searches are essential to graph formation. Intel's search acceleration directly affects graph construction.

LeanVec learns DRquery and DRDB from data using novel mathematical optimisation algorithms. Because these methods are computationally efficient, their execution time depends on the number of dimensions, not vectors. The approaches additionally consider the statistical distributions of a small sample of typical query vectors and database vectors.

Findings

The results are obvious. LeanVec improves SVS performance, exceeding the top open-source version of a top-performing algorithm (HNSWlib). The reduction in per-query memory capacity increases query speed approximately 4-fold with the same recall (95% 10 recall@10).

Conclusion

LeanVec uses linear dimensionality reduction and vector quantisation to speed up similarity searches on modern embedding models' high-dimensional vectors. As with text2image and question-answering systems, LeanVec excels when enquiries are out of distribution.

[garlandgerard]

people in this fandom really treat 457 likers like shit

[hvwks]

bkdks that go out of their way to call uraraka bland and uninteresting or otherwise a "flop" of a character... just know. youre the weakest link.

[jeanmoreaux]

whyyyyy would you write a disney mulan retelling and SUBTRACT from the queer subtext instead of ADDING to it?!?!?!!! also i fear the author is gunning for a very basic, very straight love triangle and i don’t think i am strong enough to deal with that

[greenthestral]

Crushing Poverty: Unleashing the Power of Goal 1 for a Prosperous World

Introduction

In an ideal world, every individual should have the opportunity to thrive, free from the grip of poverty. However, poverty remains a persistent and complex challenge that affects billions of people worldwide. Acknowledging this dire reality, the United Nations set forth a transformative agenda known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Among the 17 goals, Goal 1 stands as a beacon of hope, aiming to eradicate poverty in all its forms by 2030. In this article, we will explore the significance of Goal 1, delve into the multifaceted nature of poverty, discuss its impacts, and outline a roadmap to achieve a poverty-free world.

The Urgency of No Poverty

Poverty is not merely a statistic; it represents the daily struggle of countless individuals, families, and communities. The urgency to address this issue is paramount, as poverty engenders a host of other social, economic, and political problems. Poverty leads to increased social inequalities, limits access to basic human rights, perpetuates cycles of deprivation, and hampers sustainable development efforts. It is crucial to acknowledge that poverty is not an isolated problem but rather interconnected with several other SDGs, such as those related to hunger, health, education, and gender equality.

The Significance of Goal 1

Goal 1 serves as the foundation upon which the other SDGs can be achieved. By focusing on poverty eradication, societies can break free from the vicious cycle of deprivation and inequality, creating an environment conducive to sustainable development. Goal 1 encompasses three dimensions of poverty: extreme poverty (living on less than $1.90 a day), moderate poverty, and multidimensional poverty, which takes into account factors such as education, health, and standard of living.

Understanding Poverty

Defining Poverty

Poverty can be defined as a state of deprivation, where individuals lack access to resources and opportunities required for a decent standard of living. Beyond financial poverty, it encompasses various aspects, including inadequate education, limited access to healthcare, lack of clean water and sanitation, insufficient housing, and social exclusion. A comprehensive understanding of poverty requires recognizing its multidimensional nature, acknowledging the complexities that perpetuate its existence.

The Multi-Dimensional Nature of Poverty

Poverty extends far beyond monetary measures. It manifests in different forms, affecting diverse dimensions of human life. Access to quality education, healthcare, housing, clean water, sanitation, and basic infrastructure are crucial components that contribute to poverty alleviation. Additionally, social exclusion, discrimination, and gender inequality serve as barriers, exacerbating the effects of poverty and limiting opportunities for marginalized groups.

The Impacts of Poverty

Economic Consequences

Poverty has far-reaching economic consequences, creating a vicious cycle that hampers economic growth. Individuals living in poverty often lack access to education and skills training, limiting their employment prospects and perpetuating low-income jobs. Reduced productivity, limited market participation, and insufficient investment in human capital are key challenges that stem from poverty, inhibiting economic development at both individual and societal levels.

Social and Psychological Effects

Beyond economic implications, poverty takes a toll on the social fabric of societies. It breeds social inequalities, marginalizes individuals and communities, and leads to a lack of social cohesion. Poverty often results in increased crime rates, unequal access to justice, and limited political participation. Moreover, the psychological impact of poverty cannot be overlooked, as individuals experience heightened stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem, which further hinders their ability to break free from the poverty trap.

The Roadmap to No Poverty

Empowering Individuals

To effectively combat poverty, empowerment plays a pivotal role. Empowering individuals involves providing access to quality education, healthcare, and social protection systems. Equipping individuals with skills and knowledge empowers them to participate fully in the economy, enabling sustainable livelihoods and enhancing their overall well-being.

Enhancing Economic Opportunities

Promoting inclusive economic growth is crucial in eradicating poverty. This requires creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, job creation, and investment. Governments, in partnership with the private sector, can foster innovation and provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to stimulate economic development and reduce inequalities.

Creating Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is essential for breaking the cycle of poverty. It entails investing in infrastructure, promoting renewable energy, and adopting environmentally friendly practices. Embracing sustainable development principles ensures the conservation of natural resources, mitigates climate change, and creates opportunities for economic growth that benefits all segments of society.

Success Stories and Inspiring Initiatives

Microfinance Revolutionizing Lives

Microfinance has emerged as a powerful tool in the fight against poverty. By providing small loans and financial services to the most vulnerable populations, microfinance institutions empower individuals to start businesses, improve their livelihoods, and escape poverty. The Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, founded by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, stands as a shining example of how microfinance can transform lives.

Conditional Cash Transfer Programs: Breaking the Cycle

Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs have gained traction worldwide as effective poverty reduction strategies. These programs provide direct cash transfers to low-income households, conditional upon certain behaviors such as sending children to school or attending healthcare appointments. By incentivizing education and healthcare utilization, CCT programs break intergenerational cycles of poverty, offering families a pathway towards a better future.

Education as the Key to Prosperity

Education is an indispensable tool for poverty eradication. Investing in quality education, particularly for marginalized communities, equips individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to break free from the chains of poverty. Accessible and inclusive education systems empower individuals to secure better employment opportunities, escape poverty, and contribute meaningfully to society.

The Role of Governments, NGOs, and Individuals

Government Policies and International Cooperation

Governments play a crucial role in implementing policies and creating an enabling environment to eradicate poverty. It requires effective governance, equitable resource allocation, and social protection systems. International cooperation, through partnerships and aid, is also vital in supporting countries' efforts to achieve Goal 1.

NGOs and Grassroots Movements

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and grassroots movements play a significant role in poverty reduction by filling gaps in service delivery, advocating for marginalized communities, and facilitating empowerment initiatives. Their on-the-ground presence and community-driven approaches help address the unique challenges faced by different communities.

Individual Actions: The Power of Small Steps

While governments and organizations have a crucial role to play, individuals can also make a difference in the fight against poverty. Small acts of kindness, volunteering, supporting local businesses, and advocating for social justice contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable society. Collectively, these individual actions have the potential to create a ripple effect and drive meaningful change.

Conclusion

Goal 1: No Poverty serves as a rallying point for humanity to address the pervasive challenge of poverty. Understanding the multi-dimensional nature of poverty and its far-reaching impacts is essential for crafting effective strategies. By empowering individuals, enhancing economic opportunities, and fostering sustainable development, we can move closer to a world free from poverty. Success stories and inspiring initiatives, combined with the collective efforts of governments, NGOs, and individuals, offer hope for a future where no one is left behind. Let us unite and work tirelessly to achieve Goal 1 and build a prosperous world for all.

[dodgebolts]

This is the brand of mental illness I strive for THIS IS SO COOL???

[samwisethewitch]

Rethinking "masculine" and "feminine" in Western magic

We all see it all the time. This plant has masculine energy. This crystal enhances feminine power. This ritual balances masculine and feminine forces. But what does any of that really mean?

After all, a plant does not have a gender. A crystal does not have a gender. Elements, planets, and celestial bodies do not have genders. So why is everything broken down into gendered categories in modern occult spaces?

The short answer: "Masculine" and "feminine" are shorthand terms that were developed by medieval alchemists, but modern occultists have lost that original context, leading to one-dimensional and reductive use of these terms.

The long answer: This model comes to us from Hermeticism by way of medieval alchemists. In the Hermetic model, the universe (or Prima Materia or Source or whatever) is a single whole divided into polarities -- sets of equal but opposite forces.

Here's a quote from the book Real Alchemy by Robert Allen Bartlett that I think explains this well:

"One of the earliest observations of Nature was that everything has its opposite -- day/night, male/female, hot/cold, wet/dry. The One divides into active and passive modes, with the active energy constituting the energies of life, and the passive one of the energy of matter.”

This idea was ridiculously widespread in the Middle Ages. To give just one example, Western traditional medicine (i.e., before modern medicine) was based on balancing the four humours by balancing opposite forces. So if you have inflammation, which is a hot and wet condition, you would treat it with herbal remedies that are cold and dry.

Early Hermeticists and alchemists classified different natural forces as either active or passive. Heat is active, cold is passive. Light is active, dark is passive. Fire (the force of transformation in alchemy) is active, while water (the universal solvent in alchemy) is passive. You get the idea.

Because of gender stereotypes in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, activeness eventually became associated with masculinity, and passiveness eventually became associated with femininity. You can still see this in old medical texts: Male bodies are hot and wet, but female bodies are cold and dry, so the medieval doctor should choose his treatment accordingly.

This has more to do with medieval European issues around gender than with nature or magic. My point here is that the gender stuff isn't literal: the Hermeticists did not literally believe that the planet Venus is female or that iron is male. Gendered terms were used as a shorthand to name opposites.

And even within medieval alchemical sources, gender is a spectrum! Let's take the elements as an example:

According to Bartlett, fire is the most active (“masculine”) element, while air is active but less active than fire. Water and earth are both considered passive (“feminine”) elements, but water is less passive/feminine than earth.

So, to recap: Hermetics believe in a perfect whole divided into polar opposites. Alchemists, doctors, and ceremonial magicians love this idea and run with it. Masculine/feminine is just one of many ways to describe these opposite forces. You could just as easily use active/passive to mean the same thing. And even in medieval times, each of these pairs of opposites was understood as a spectrum, with most energies falling somewhere between the two extremes.

The problem is that we've been playing a centuries-long game of telephone. Victorian occultists who were referencing Renaissance grimoires and still working in a vaguely Hermetic framework write in their books that, for example, roses have feminine qualities. A Wiccan author writing in the 1980s comes across this during their research and includes it in their book, but now it's one step further removed from that context. Several other authors repeat the claim that rose is feminine, all citing that one book from the '80s. Flash forward to 2025, and this claim is so removed from the original context that some witches genuinely believe rose is A Girl Flower because of some intangible Girlness inherent to the plant.

What does this mean for modern witches? Honestly, I think that kind of depends on the witch.

If you find working with masculine/feminine classifications helpful, I don't necessarily think you need to throw out that model. Just make sure you understand the background of these terms and remember that masculine/feminine in a magical sense is not the same as masculine/feminine in a gender sense. Maybe read up on Hermeticism, alchemy, and the other medieval and Renaissance occult systems that originated this model. Also, think about how using gendered terms in your practice is connected to your relationship with gender. How are you making space for nonbinary and agender energies and identities?

If you want to work with pairs of opposites but get weirded out by all the gender stuff, why not use a different polarity like active/passive or hot/cold to classify things instead? (This is how I classify herbs in my Southern Folk Magic practice.)

And if you don't particularly care about working with opposites in your practice, feel free to ignore this whole thing. There's no rule saying you have to label things this way.

[velvetvisionsaurora]

Synopsis: When talented producer Y/n (known professionally as the mysterious "Celeste") accepts a position at JYP Entertainment to help Stray Kids with their comeback, she expects to focus solely on creating music. What she doesn't expect is the immediate connection she feels with Han Jisung—the group's quick-witted, sensitive rapper and producer who's been following her career from afar.

Pairing: Han Jisung x Reader

Warnings: Angst, Smut, Heartbreak

<<Previous Next>>

Masterlist Ko-fi☕️ <- Want to buy me a coffee?

Chapter 16: Breaking Point

Three days after your date with Jiwoo, the tension in the studio had become almost unbearable. Your initial resolve to maintain professional composure was crumbling under the weight of constant proximity to Han, whose own behavior had shifted in ways you couldn't quite interpret. Where before he had been carefully neutral, now he seemed to alternate between avoiding eye contact entirely and watching you with an intensity that made your skin prickle with awareness.

The date with Jiwoo—which you hadn't repeated despite his polite follow-up message—had somehow changed the dynamic, though you couldn't understand why. If Han truly believed his feelings for you had been circumstantial, why would your dinner with someone else affect him at all?

Yet something had shifted, creating a volatile undercurrent that threatened the professional environment you'd both worked so hard to maintain after the breakup. Other members had begun to notice as well, exchanging concerned glances when production discussions between you and Han became clipped and tense, when creative disagreements that would have previously been resolved through collaborative compromise turned into stubborn standoffs.

Today's session had begun normally enough—reviewing the final mix of the title track, making minor adjustments to levels and effects. But tension had been building incrementally, each small interaction between you and Han carrying the weight of unspoken words and suppressed emotions.

"The vocal reverb on the bridge needs reduction," you noted, making an adjustment to the mix without waiting for agreement. "It's muddying the instrumental texture."

Han frowned, reaching to revert your change. "The reverb provides depth. Without it, the transition feels two-dimensional."

"The depth should come from the arrangement, not artificial effects," you countered, your tone more brusque than usual. "The composition is strong enough to stand without excessive processing."

Chan glanced between you, clearly sensing the growing tension. "Maybe we could try a compromise? Reduce the reverb slightly but maintain some of that atmospheric quality?"

"The current level is already a compromise," Han insisted, an edge entering his voice that would have been unthinkable in your earlier collaborations. "Further reduction undermines the emotional impact of the section."

"That's your subjective interpretation," you responded, professional patience wearing dangerously thin. "Objectively, the mix is cleaner and more effective with reduced reverb."

"Music isn't objective," Han shot back, frustration evident in his posture. "It's emotional expression, not mathematical calculation."

"And professional production is about balancing expression with technical quality," you countered, the argument moving beyond the specific issue into broader philosophical territory. "Sometimes that means making choices that serve the overall composition rather than individual preferences."

Changbin exchanged a concerned look with Chan, both clearly uncomfortable with the escalating tension. "Maybe we should take a break," he suggested cautiously. "Get some fresh perspective."

"The perspective is clear," Han stated firmly, his gaze challenging as it met yours across the console. "The reverb stays as is."

Something in his tone—the flat finality, the dismissal of your professional judgment—broke through your carefully maintained composure. "You don't get to make unilateral decisions about this mix," you said, your voice dangerously quiet. "That's not how collaboration works."

"Isn't it?" Han replied, something bitter entering his expression. "I thought making decisions for other people was standard practice around here."

The comment landed like a slap, its meaning clear only to you—a reference to his decision to end your relationship without discussion, to declare his feelings insufficient without giving you a voice in the matter. The sudden intrusion of personal history into professional disagreement crossed a line that had been carefully maintained for weeks.

"That's completely inappropriate," you said, standing abruptly from your station. "And entirely irrelevant to this discussion."

"Is it?" Han challenged, rising as well, the professional pretense crumbling further with each exchange. "Or is it the root of the whole problem?"

Chan stepped forward, alarm evident in his expression. "Okay, let's definitely take that break now. Fifteen minutes, everyone cool down, then we'll revisit this with clear heads."

But the breaking point had been reached, weeks of suppressed hurt and confusion finally boiling over into words that couldn't be taken back.

"You don't get to act like the injured party here," you said, gathering your belongings with trembling hands. "You made your feelings—or lack thereof—perfectly clear. You don't then get to have opinions about how I process that or who I spend time with."

Han's expression flickered with something like pain before hardening again. "I never claimed to have opinions about that. Your personal life is your business."

"Then why the sudden hostility since the date?" you demanded, abandoning professional reservation entirely. "If you truly meant what you said about your feelings not being deep enough, why does it matter to you what I do outside this studio?"

The question hung in the air between you, loaded with implications neither of you were prepared to address directly. Chan and Changbin remained frozen in place, clearly uncertain whether intervention would improve the situation or escalate it further.

"It doesn't matter to me," Han insisted, though his tense posture and averted gaze suggested otherwise. "I'm focused on the music, which is why I'm advocating for the production choices that best serve the composition."

"Right," you replied, disbelief evident in your tone. "This is exclusively about reverb levels, not about you attempting to assert control in one area since you've lost it in another."

The psychological assessment was cutting in its accuracy, causing Han to flinch visibly before his expression hardened into something distant and cold. "Believe whatever you want. I'm trying to create the best possible album, which is what we're all here for, supposedly."

"Yes, it is," you agreed, a sudden clarity washing over you as the full weight of the situation settled in your chest. "And I'm beginning to think my physical presence here is becoming detrimental to that goal."

Chan stepped forward, concern deepening in his expression. "Y/n, that's not—"

"It's true," you interrupted quietly. "The current dynamic isn't sustainable or productive. We need to find a different approach."

Without further elaboration, you turned and left the studio, ignoring Chan's call of your name as the door closed behind you. The walk to your dorm passed in a blur of hurt and clarity, each step cementing the decision that had been forming in your mind since the argument began.

Inside your dorm, you moved directly to your laptop, opening your email with shaking hands but absolute certainty about what needed to be done. The message you composed was professional and straightforward, addressed to JYP's production director with copies to your management team in LA:

Subject: Request for Remote Completion of Contract

Dear Director Park,

I am writing to formally request modification of my remaining contract obligations with JYP Entertainment. After careful consideration, I believe the project would be best served by my completing the remaining production work remotely from Los Angeles rather than continuing in Seoul.

The album is now in final mixing stages, with all major production elements established and approved in yesterday's executive review. The remaining work—final mixing adjustments, mastering supervision, and production notes—can be effectively accomplished through digital collaboration, as is standard practice in many international productions.

My team in LA has confirmed the availability of appropriate studio facilities to ensure seamless continuation of the project, and I am prepared to maintain the established timeline for completion.

I believe this arrangement will provide the most efficient path to completing the album at the quality level JYP expects and deserves. I remain fully committed to delivering an exceptional product and am available for immediate discussion of logistical details.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely, Celeste. Executive Producer

You read through the message twice, verifying that the tone remained entirely professional with no hint of the personal complications driving your decision. Satisfied that it represented a reasonable business request rather than an emotional reaction, you clicked send before you could reconsider.

The solution wasn't perfect—remote collaboration would present its own challenges—but it would provide the distance needed to complete the project without the daily emotional strain that had become increasingly unbearable. Seven weeks of careful professional distance had proven unsustainable; perhaps physical separation would allow both you and Han to refocus on the work rather than the complicated feelings neither of you seemed able to fully suppress.

As the email departed into digital space, a profound exhaustion settled over you, the adrenaline of confrontation giving way to a bone-deep weariness. You'd come to Seoul for a professional opportunity, a chance to expand your production repertoire and work with talented artists in a different cultural context. Somehow, that straightforward assignment had evolved into the most emotionally complicated experience of your career.

The worst part was how much you'd come to care—not just about Han, though that remained a raw wound, but about all of them. Felix with his sunshine warmth and perceptive friendship. I.N. with his endearing combination of youthful enthusiasm and surprising maturity. Hyunjin with his dramatic flair hiding genuine depth. Chan's steady leadership, Changbin's quiet insight, Lee Know's observant calm, Seungmin's thoughtful intelligence.

They had become more than colleagues, more than the subjects of a temporary assignment. They had become something like family, a realization that made your decision to leave prematurely all the more painful. But continuing in the current environment would only damage both the project and the relationships you'd developed.

Sometimes the kindest choice was also the most difficult. Distance, in this case, might be the greatest gift you could offer—to the album, to the group, to Han, and to yourself.

Your phone chimed with a message from Felix: "You okay? Chan told me you left suddenly after an argument."

The concern was touching but also a reminder of how intertwined your personal and professional lives had become here—precisely the complication that had led to the current situation.

"I'm fine," you replied, the standard response when one is anything but. "Just needed space to think."

The truth would come soon enough, once your request was processed and approved. For now, you needed time to begin the mental and emotional preparation for departure, for returning to LA weeks earlier than planned, for saying goodbye to people who had come to mean far more than you'd ever anticipated.

Seven weeks suddenly reduced to days, perhaps even hours, depending on how quickly management processed your request. Time that would now be measured in goodbyes rather than ongoing collaboration, in packing rather than production, in ending rather than creating.

It wasn't what you'd wanted or expected when you'd accepted this assignment. But sometimes the only way forward was to step away, however painful the separation might be.

---

The atmosphere in the studio remained tense in your absence, Han's expression closed and defensive as Chan and Changbin exchanged concerned glances, uncertain how to proceed after the unprecedented confrontation.

"Maybe I should go check on her," Chan suggested finally, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen after your departure.

"Give her space," Han countered, turning back to the console with forced focus. "We can continue working on the other tracks while she processes."

Changbin's expression reflected clear disapproval, though he directed his comment to Chan rather than Han. "Should we reschedule today's session? The energy isn't exactly conducive to creative work right now."

Before Chan could respond, the studio door opened to reveal Manager Kim, his expression uncharacteristically grave as he surveyed the room, noting your absence with a slight frown.

"Chan," he said, gesturing toward the hallway. "A word, please."

Han watched with growing unease as Chan followed the manager outside, the door closing behind them with a soft but somehow ominous click. Something about Manager Kim's expression, the unusual interruption of a production session, sent a chill of premonition through Han's system.

"What do you think that's about?" he asked Changbin, trying to keep his tone casual despite the anxiety building in his chest.

Changbin shrugged, though his expression suggested concern rather than indifference. "Probably related to what just happened here. Word travels fast in this building."

The observation only increased Han's discomfort. If Manager Kim had heard about their argument, about the personal tension that had infected the professional environment, would he make the connection to his earlier warning about inappropriate relationships? Would you face professional consequences because Han had failed to maintain the careful boundaries that were supposed to protect your career?

The minutes stretched endlessly as Han waited for Chan's return, each scenario his imagination conjured worse than the last. When the door finally reopened, Chan's expression confirmed his worst fears—something significant had happened, something that wouldn't be easily resolved.

"What is it?" Changbin asked, voicing the question Han couldn't bring himself to form.

Chan closed the door carefully before turning to face them, his expression a mixture of concern and resignation. "Y/n has requested to complete her contract remotely from LA. Effective immediately."

The news landed like a physical blow, leaving Han momentarily breathless as the implications registered. You were leaving. Not in seven weeks as scheduled, but now. Immediately. Without proper goodbyes or resolution or any of the closure he'd imagined might eventually come.

"She can't do that," he protested automatically, though he knew intellectually that you absolutely could—remote collaboration was standard in the industry, especially for international projects.

"Apparently she can," Chan replied, his tone carefully neutral though his eyes reflected concern as they assessed Han's reaction. "Management has approved the request. She'll be flying back to LA tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow?" Changbin repeated, genuine shock evident in his voice. "That's... abrupt."

Chan nodded, moving to his workstation with a sigh. "The email chain I was just shown suggests she made a compelling case for why remote completion makes sense at this stage of production. Technically, she's right—we're in final mixing, most of the creative heavy lifting is done. But the timing..."

He let the observation hang, the implication clear to everyone in the room. The timing, immediately following a heated argument with Han that crossed professional boundaries, was no coincidence.

"This is because of what happened today," Han said quietly, the reality settling in his chest like a stone. "Because I couldn't maintain professional separation."

Neither Chan nor Changbin contradicted this assessment, their silence confirmation enough. The weight of responsibility pressed Han further into his seat—you were leaving Seoul weeks ahead of schedule, abandoning the close-knit creative environment that had produced such exceptional work, because he had failed to honor the very boundaries he'd established to protect your career.

"We need to tell the others," Chan said finally, reaching for his phone. "I'll call a meeting at the dorm in an hour. Everyone should hear this together."

Han nodded numbly, unable to formulate a response that wouldn't reveal the full extent of his guilt and regret. You were leaving because of him—because of his inability to reconcile his feelings with his actions, because of the tension his deception had created, because continuing in his presence had become unsustainable.

The protection he'd claimed to provide through ending your relationship had ultimately failed, driving you away physically as well as emotionally. The irony was bitter, the failure complete. In trying to shield you from professional damage, he had created a situation so untenable that leaving early had become your only viable option.

Seven weeks reduced to less than twenty-four hours. Whatever slim hope he might have harbored for eventual resolution, for some kind of closure or understanding before your scheduled departure, had been extinguished by his own actions. The realization was devastating in its finality, in the absolute certainty that he had lost something precious through his own misguided choices.

---

The dorm living room was unusually silent as the eight members gathered, the somber atmosphere suggesting Chan had provided some context for the emergency meeting when summoning everyone. Han sat slightly apart from the others, hyperaware of the occasional glances cast in his direction—some concerned, others accusatory, none particularly comforting.

"I've called everyone here because there's been a significant development regarding the album production," Chan began, his leader persona firmly in place despite the personal nature of the situation. "Y/n has requested and received approval to complete her contract remotely from Los Angeles. She'll be flying out tomorrow morning."

Despite the hints Chan had clearly provided beforehand, the official announcement was met with immediate reactions of shock and distress.

"Tomorrow?" Felix repeated, dismay evident in his expression. "But she wasn't supposed to leave for seven more weeks."

"What happened?" Seungmin asked, his perceptive gaze moving between Chan and Han. "This seems sudden."

Chan hesitated, clearly considering how much detail was appropriate to share. "There was a disagreement during today's session that... escalated beyond professional bounds. Y/n feels the project would be better served by her completing the work remotely."

"A disagreement," Hyunjin repeated flatly, his eyes narrowing as they fixed on Han. "Would this 'disagreement' have anything to do with certain personal complications that have been affecting the studio atmosphere for weeks?"

Han met his gaze briefly before looking away, unable to deny the accusation but unwilling to elaborate on the specific exchange that had pushed you to your breaking point.

"This is ridiculous," Felix said, frustration evident in his usually cheerful voice. "She can't just leave without proper goodbyes. Without closure. Without..." he trailed off, the unspoken 'fixing things with Han' hanging in the air.

"Apparently she can," Lee Know observed quietly. "And given the situation, it's hard to blame her for wanting distance."

The pointed comment wasn't directed explicitly at Han, but its target was unmistakable nonetheless. Han remained silent, accepting the implicit criticism as his due. This outcome was the result of his choices, his actions, his failure to navigate the complicated circumstances he'd helped create.

"So that's it?" I.N. asked, his voice small and hurt in a way that made Han's chest tighten with fresh guilt. "Noona is just... leaving? Without saying goodbye?"

The Korean term of affection—the one you'd once mentioned touched you deeply when I.N. first used it—highlighted the personal bonds that had formed beyond professional collaboration. Bonds that would now be severed prematurely, leaving no opportunity for proper farewells or closure.

"I'm sure she'll say her goodbyes," Chan assured him, though his tone lacked conviction. "She wouldn't leave without at least messaging everyone."

"A text isn't the same as a proper goodbye," Hyunjin argued, his usual dramatic flair underscored by genuine emotion. "We should at least have a dinner or something before she goes. A chance to properly thank her for everything she's done."

"I'll reach out and suggest it," Chan agreed, though his expression suggested limited hope for success. "But given the circumstances..."

His gaze flickered briefly to Han, the implication clear—your desire for separation likely extended beyond professional considerations to include distance from Han specifically, making a group gathering potentially uncomfortable or unwelcome.

"This is completely messed up," Felix stated, voice rising with uncharacteristic anger. "She belongs here, with us, finishing what we started together. The album won't be the same without her physical presence."

"The production quality won't suffer," Chan assured him, ever the professional leader. "Y/n is still fully committed to the project, just from a different location."

"It's not about the production quality," Felix countered, frustration evident in his expression. "It's about the creative energy, the collaborative spirit, the family we've become. You can't replicate that through digital communication."

The word 'family' sent another wave of guilt through Han's system. You had indeed become something like family to many of the members—Felix's best friend, I.N.'s surrogate sister, a valued confidant and creative partner to others. Those connections would now be severed prematurely because of his inability to manage the personal complications he had helped create.

"This wouldn't be happening if certain people hadn't made things unnecessarily complicated," Hyunjin observed, not bothering to disguise the accusation in his tone as he looked directly at Han. "If feelings had been communicated honestly instead of whatever game has been playing out for weeks."

"Hyunjin," Chan warned, clearly trying to prevent further escalation. "Placing blame doesn't help the situation now."

"Doesn't it?" Hyunjin challenged, rising from his seat with building emotion. "Because I think acknowledging exactly why Y/n feels she needs to flee the country might be pretty relevant to fixing the problem."

Han remained silent, accepting Hyunjin's anger as justified given his limited understanding of the situation. Without knowing about Manager Kim's warning, about the potential career consequences you had faced, Hyunjin's interpretation was understandable—Han had created complications through his own emotional cowardice rather than legitimate concern for your professional future.

"It can't be fixed," Han said finally, the words emerging with quiet resignation. "Some situations don't have simple solutions, no matter how much we might want them to."

His response only seemed to fuel Hyunjin's frustration. "That's convenient, isn't it? Declaring something unfixable rather than actually trying to resolve it."

"You don't understand the full situation," Lee Know interjected, surprising Han with the partial defense. "There are complications beyond what's immediately apparent."

The comment suggested Lee Know had shared at least some of what Han had revealed about Manager Kim's warning, though clearly not with everyone given Hyunjin and Felix's continuing anger. The realization was both concerning and somewhat relieving—Han wasn't carrying the full weight of knowledge alone anymore, yet the circle of awareness was expanding in potentially dangerous ways.

"Then enlighten us," Felix challenged, his usually warm demeanor hardened by concern for you. "Because from where I'm sitting, we're losing someone important because of unresolved personal issues that should never have interfered with the professional environment in the first place."

The accusation stung precisely because it contained truth—the boundaries between personal and professional had indeed blurred beyond recovery, creating the very situation Han had feared from the beginning. Your career was potentially still at risk, but now from a different angle—the premature termination of your Seoul assignment, the unusual contract modification, the implied interpersonal complications that might raise questions with future employers or collaborators.

Before Han could formulate a response to Felix's challenge, a sound broke through the tense atmosphere—a sob, quickly stifled but unmistakable in the otherwise silent room. All heads turned toward I.N., the youngest member's eyes filling with tears he was clearly struggling to contain.

"It's not fair," he said, voice trembling with emotion. "Noona belongs here. With us. With her family."

The raw hurt in his expression, the genuine distress at your impending departure, broke something in Han's carefully maintained composure. I.N. had formed a special bond with you—the sibling-like relationship that had brought him comfort and guidance throughout your time in Seoul. That connection would now be severed prematurely because of Han's actions, his choices, his inability to navigate the complicated feelings between you without creating a situation that drove you away.

"I.N.—" Han began, though he had no idea what comfort he could possibly offer.

"This is your fault!" I.N. exclaimed suddenly, tears flowing freely now as he rose to his feet, hurt transforming into uncharacteristic anger directed squarely at Han. "You did something to make her want to leave, and now she's going away, and everything is ruined!"

The direct accusation from the usually gentle maknae stunned everyone into silence, the unprecedented outburst highlighting just how deeply your impending departure was affecting the group dynamics. I.N.'s relationship with you had been special—the noona/dongsaeng dynamic giving him a different kind of support than he received from the other members.

"You have to fix it," I.N. continued, voice breaking with emotion but conviction unwavering. "Whatever you did or said, you have to make it right. Noona belongs here, with her adoptive family. She was happy here until... until whatever happened between you two."

The plea was so earnest, so heartfelt that Han found himself unable to maintain eye contact, the weight of I.N.'s disappointment too heavy to bear directly. "It's not that simple," he said quietly, the familiar explanation feeling increasingly hollow with each repetition.

"Why not?" I.N. demanded, surprising everyone with his persistence. "If you care about her—and don't pretend you don't, we all see how you look at her—why can't you just be honest? Why can't you fix whatever broke?"

The simple question cut through Han's complex justifications with brutal efficiency. Why couldn't he just be honest? Why couldn't he trust you with the truth about Manager Kim's warning, about his real feelings, about the fear that had driven his decisions? Was protecting your career worth the pain his deception had caused—not just to you and himself, but to others who had formed meaningful connections with you during your time in Seoul?

"I.N., it's more complicated than—" Chan began, trying to defuse the situation with his usual diplomatic approach.

"It's NOT!" I.N. interrupted, tears streaming down his face now as emotion overwhelmed his usual respectful demeanor. "It's only complicated because people make things complicated! If you care about someone, you fight for them! You don't let them leave without even trying to make things right!"

The raw emotion in I.N.'s outburst silenced even Chan, the leader clearly recognizing that this was something the youngest member needed to express rather than be soothed away. I.N. rarely showed such intense feelings, his usually cheerful or thoughtfully quiet demeanor giving way only in exceptional circumstances.

This, apparently, qualified as exceptional.

"Please, hyung," I.N. pleaded, looking directly at Han with tear-filled eyes. "Please fix this. Please don't let noona leave like this."

The naked vulnerability in the request struck Han somewhere fundamental, breaking through layers of justification and self-protection to the core truth he'd been avoiding: his choices had hurt not just you and himself, but others who cared about you both. The ripple effects of his well-intentioned deception had expanded beyond anything he'd anticipated, creating pain he'd never intended.

"I'll try," Han heard himself say, the words emerging before conscious thought could censor them. "I can't promise it will work, but... I'll try."

The commitment, however tentative, seemed to provide I.N. with some measure of comfort. He nodded once, wiping tearfully at his face before retreating to Felix's supportive embrace, the older member murmuring gentle reassurances as he held the still-trembling maknae.

Han looked around the room, taking in the various expressions directed his way—Hyunjin's skepticism, Chan's concerned encouragement, Lee Know's knowing assessment, Changbin's cautious hope. Whatever happened next, whatever attempt he made to resolve the situation with you, would unfold with these witnesses, these people who cared about both of you in different ways.

The protection he'd sought through deception had failed. The careful distance he'd maintained had crumbled. The professional environment he'd prioritized had fractured despite his best efforts. All that remained was truth—however complicated, however potentially consequential, however terrifying in its implications.

You were leaving tomorrow. His time for careful calculations and protective distance had run out. Whatever happened next would require courage he wasn't sure he possessed, honesty he'd been avoiding for weeks.

But I.N.'s tearful plea echoed in his mind, a simple truth cutting through complex adult justifications: if you care about someone, you fight for them. You don't let them leave without trying to make things right.

The question that remained, the one Han would need to answer before facing you with the truth he'd been hiding, was deceptively simple yet profoundly challenging: what was he fighting for? Your career protection? His own emotional safety? The possibility of a relationship that still faced the fundamental challenge of geographic separation in just seven weeks?

As the group meeting dissolved into smaller conversations, plans for potential goodbyes, and processing of what your early departure meant for various members, Han retreated into silent contemplation of this essential question. The answer would determine his next actions, his approach to the precipice he now faced with time rapidly running out.

You were leaving tomorrow. Whatever truth needed sharing, whatever resolution might be possible, would need to happen before you boarded that plane. The countdown had begun, the moment of reckoning approaching with merciless speed.

Han could only hope that whatever courage he managed to summon would be enough, whatever truth he offered would be received, whatever damage existed could be repaired before time ran out completely.

---

As the meeting disbanded, members drifting off in various states of distress and concern, Chan caught Han's eye with a silent gesture toward the balcony. The leader's expression was unreadable, but the intent was clear—a private conversation was needed, away from the emotional chaos of the group.

Han followed with reluctance, knowing what awaited was likely another well-deserved critique of his handling of the situation. The cool evening air offered little relief from the suffocating weight of guilt and regret pressing against his chest as he stepped onto the small balcony, closing the door behind him.

Chan leaned against the railing, silent for a long moment as he gazed out at the city lights. When he finally spoke, his voice was carefully measured, the control of a leader who needed answers rather than emotional catharsis.

"I need the full story, Han. Not bits and pieces, not the sanitized version. Everything."

Han hesitated, instinct still pushing toward protection through selective disclosure. But I.N.'s tearful plea had cracked something fundamental in his resolve, and Chan's steady leadership had earned complete honesty, regardless of how uncomfortable the truth might be.

"Manager Kim called me into his office two weeks ago," Han began, voice low despite the privacy of their location. "Said there were rumors about me and Y/n having an inappropriate relationship. Warned me about the consequences if it was true."

Chan's posture stiffened slightly, but he remained silent, allowing Han to continue uninterrupted.

"For me, it would be disciplinary action, maybe impact on comeback promotions, but nothing career-ending," Han explained, the familiar words bitter on his tongue. "For Y/n? Immediate termination. A formal note in her professional file about contract breach. Blacklisting from JYP and probably other Korean entertainment companies."

"So you ended things to protect her career," Chan surmised, the pieces visibly connecting in his analytical mind. "But you didn't tell her why."

Han nodded, relieved at being understood without needing to justify his actions further. "I was afraid if she knew the truth, she might decide some things were worth the risk. That she might want to continue despite the professional consequences. I couldn't let her make that choice when the damage would fall almost entirely on her."

"So instead," Chan said, his tone sharpening slightly, "you told her what? That your feelings weren't genuine? That it was all circumstantial?"

The accuracy of Chan's guess suggested he'd pieced together more than Han had realized from observation alone. "Something like that," Han confirmed, shame coloring the admission. "I thought a clean break based on fading interest would be easier for her to accept than ongoing risk to her career."

Chan was quiet for a long moment, his breathing measured in the way that those closest to him recognized as controlled anger rather than calm acceptance. When he finally turned to face Han fully, his expression confirmed it—the usually warm, supportive leader was genuinely angry, something Han had rarely witnessed directed at any member, let alone himself.

"Let me make sure I understand this correctly," Chan said, voice dangerously quiet. "Our manager threatened one of my members with career consequences without ever speaking to me. Then that same member made a unilateral decision affecting another team member's emotional wellbeing and our group's dynamic without consulting me. And now we're losing our producer weeks ahead of schedule because both situations were mishandled from the beginning."

Put that way, the failure of communication seemed egregious, the bypassing of Chan's leadership an obvious misstep. Han hadn't considered how the situation might appear from Chan's perspective—not just the personal complications between himself and you, but the direct intervention from management without involving the group's leader.

"I didn't think—" Han began, but Chan cut him off with uncharacteristic sharpness.

"That's exactly the problem. You didn't think. Not about the group dynamics, not about proper channels of communication, and certainly not about what Y/n deserved to know for herself."

The criticism stung all the more for coming from Chan, whose leadership style typically emphasized support and guidance rather than direct confrontation. But the anger wasn't just about Han's decisions, he realized belatedly. It was about Manager Kim approaching Han directly with threats about career consequences without involving Chan as the group's leader and protective buffer between members and management.

"Why didn't you come to me?" Chan asked, the hurt beneath the anger becoming evident in his voice. "When Manager Kim made those threats, why didn't you immediately tell me? That's literally my job, Han—to handle these situations, to protect the members, to interface with management when issues arise."

The question revealed an aspect of the situation Han hadn't fully considered in his panic to protect you—that bypassing Chan might have been perceived as lack of trust in his leadership, an unintended insult to the person who had guided them through countless challenges over the years.

"I was trying to protect Y/n," Han explained weakly, the justification sounding increasingly insufficient with each iteration. "I thought handling it quietly would minimize the risk to her career."

"And instead," Chan replied, "you've created a situation where she's fleeing the country to escape the emotional fallout, the group is in disarray, and our album completion is now complicated by remote collaboration. All because you didn't trust me enough to help navigate this properly from the beginning."

The assessment was brutally accurate, highlighting the cascading failures that had resulted from Han's well-intentioned but ultimately misguided attempt to handle everything himself. He had no defense to offer, no justification that could mitigate the consequences of his choices.

"I'm sorry," he said simply, the words woefully inadequate but genuinely meant. "I should have come to you. I didn't think through all the implications."

Chan's expression softened slightly at the sincere apology, his natural tendency toward forgiveness tempering the justified anger. "No, you didn't. But my real issue isn't even with you right now."

He straightened, a resolute determination replacing the earlier hurt and anger. "Manager Kim had absolutely no right to approach you directly with threats about this situation. That conversation should have come to me first, as the group's leader. The fact that he deliberately circumvented my position to intimidate you individually is completely unacceptable."

The shift in focus surprised Han, who had expected Chan's anger to remain directed primarily at his own failings rather than management's approach. "I didn't think about it that way," he admitted. "I was too focused on the immediate threat to Y/n's career."

"Which is exactly why these structures exist," Chan explained, some of his usual patient leadership returning to his tone. "You were emotionally involved and isolated with this information, making decisions from a place of fear rather than with proper support and perspective. That's on Manager Kim, not just you."

The absolution wasn't complete—Han's choices had still created unnecessary complications—but the sharing of responsibility eased some of the crushing weight he'd been carrying alone. 

"What do we do now?" Han asked, genuine uncertainty in his voice. "Y/n leaves tomorrow. There's no time to untangle all of this."

Chan's expression turned thoughtful, the strategic mind that had guided their group through various challenges already formulating approaches. "Here's what's going to happen. You are going to find Y/n tonight and tell her everything—Manager Kim's warning, your real feelings, the actual reason you ended things. Complete honesty, no more protection through deception."

The directive was clear, allowing no room for argument or evasion. "And then?"

"Then you let her make her own informed choice about what risks she's willing to take and what she wants moving forward," Chan continued firmly. "Whether that's maintaining distance, considering options despite the complications, or something else entirely—it has to be her decision this time, not yours."

The approach made sense, even as it terrified Han to relinquish the control he'd maintained through his protective deception. "And what about Manager Kim? The contract clause? The potential consequences?"

Chan's expression hardened with renewed determination. "You let me handle that. As the leader, it's my responsibility to address management overreach and protect my members—all of them, including our temporary producer who has become part of our family."

The confidence in Chan's voice, the certainty of his leadership in this moment, provided a reassurance Han hadn't realized he desperately needed. He wasn't alone in this situation anymore—the burden of protection and decision-making could be shared with someone whose judgment and authority he trusted implicitly.

"What are you going to do?" Han asked, both curious and concerned about potential repercussions for Chan himself.

"Have a very direct conversation with appropriate parties about chain of command and the proper handling of sensitive situations," Chan replied, his tone suggesting this would be no casual discussion. "What happened—approaching you directly with threats, bypassing my position as leader, creating a situation where both you and Y/n have been suffering unnecessarily—violates protocols that exist for good reasons."

Han hadn't seen this side of Chan often—the fiercely protective leader who, despite his usual diplomatic approach, could become immovable when his members' wellbeing was threatened. It was simultaneously reassuring and slightly intimidating to witness.

"You're willing to confront management over this?" Han asked, concerned about potential blowback for Chan's career as well. "Even with the comeback so close?"

Chan's expression made the answer clear before he verbalized it. "I have always prioritized the wellbeing of this team over corporate politics, and I always will. A leader who doesn't stand up when it matters isn't a leader worth following."

The simple declaration, delivered with absolute conviction, reminded Han why Chan had earned their unwavering trust and respect over the years. His leadership wasn't based on position alone, but on consistent actions that put the group's needs above individual interests—including, sometimes, his own.

"What if Y/n doesn't want to hear the truth now?" Han asked, voicing his deepest fear. "What if it's too late? What if she's already decided to move on?"

"Then at least she'll be making that decision with complete information," Chan replied pragmatically. "And you'll both have the closure of honesty rather than misunderstanding."

The wisdom in this approach was undeniable, however daunting the task of complete disclosure might be. Han nodded slowly, accepting the direction from his leader with the same trust he'd shown countless times throughout their years together.

"Tonight," he confirmed. "I'll talk to her tonight."

"Good," Chan said, some of the tension leaving his shoulders as he sensed Han's commitment. "And Han? No half-measures this time. Complete honesty, regardless of how vulnerable it makes you feel. She deserves that much after everything that's happened."

The instruction was clear—no more protective distance, no more shielding through selective disclosure, no more decisions made on her behalf without her input. Terrifying in its implications but necessary if any resolution was possible before you boarded that plane.

"I understand," Han said quietly, the weight of the task ahead settling on his shoulders. It would require courage he wasn't sure he possessed, honesty he'd been avoiding for weeks. But Chan's confidence, combined with I.N.'s tearful plea, had created an imperative that couldn't be ignored any longer.

Chan placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, leader and friend in equal measure now rather than disappointed superior. "Remember who you're doing this for—not just for Y/n, not just for the group, but for yourself too. Living with unspoken truth is its own kind of prison, Han. Whatever happens after you speak it, at least you'll be free of that."

The insight struck deeper than Chan likely realized, articulating something Han had felt but couldn't name—the suffocating weight of deception, even when motivated by protection rather than malice. The constant vigilance required to maintain the fiction had become its own form of exhaustion, a burden that had grown heavier with each passing day.

As they returned inside, the conversation concluded but its implications reverberating through Han's consciousness, one truth emerged with undeniable clarity: the time for protection through distance had ended. Only complete honesty remained as a viable path forward, whatever consequences might follow.

You were leaving tomorrow. The countdown had begun. Whatever courage Han could summon, whatever truth needed sharing, whatever resolution might be possible—it had to happen now, before time ran out completely.

With renewed determination tempered by realistic awareness of the challenges ahead, Han began mentally preparing for the conversation that would determine not just his own future, but yours as well. A conversation that should have happened weeks ago, before deception and distance created wounds that might prove impossible to heal.

But Chan believed in the power of truth, even belatedly offered. And Han, despite his fears, had to believe that possibility existed as well—that honesty, however late in coming, might still provide a foundation for whatever came next, even if that was nothing more than understanding and closure before physical separation.

You deserved the truth. And finally, after weeks of protective distance, Han was prepared to offer it—completely, without reservation, regardless of what followed.

Next>>

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[princesssarisa]

I think a lot of the bad commentary about Little Women comes from people who want to view each of the March sisters as symbols rather than fleshed-out human beings.

We see these reductive views again and again in books and online. Jo (they say) represents unconventionality, independence, and gender-nonconformity. Meg represents traditional domestic femininity. Amy represents the elegant society lady: an aspiring one in Part I, a successful one in Part II. And Beth... well, they disagree, but most often they say that she's either a symbol of perfect goodness (a model for her more flawed sisters to aspire toward, but too good for this earth), of childhood (which is why she "never grows up" and "has to die" when her sisters reach adulthood) or of the "angel in the house" archetype (and therefore "has to die" because that stifling, anti-feminist archetype has to die).

My personal view?

None of the above is true. The March sisters aren't symbols. They're human beings. Louisa May Alcott based them on herself and her own three sisters, who were obviously three-dimensional human beings. The same is true for their fictional counterparts. They all have dimensions and none of them fit into those neat little boxes.

[seat-safety-switch]

One of the easiest ways to get an article, video, or just general conversation topic going is to rate and rank a bunch of items. Vending machine snacks. Disney movies. Moral philosophies. However, all ranking is inherently personal, and it gives way to conflict. Some folks like that conflict, but I do not.

I've never been particularly interested in what "the best" is. And I certainly don't care what flavour of corn soup is the most beloved by someone I've never met. My doctor tells me this is because the part of my brain that feels social shame had to be surgically removed after I put a pencil crayon up my nose when I was in third grade. They're called leads, you fucking quack. What province are you from again?

Besides the fact that the video would then be eight hours long and spend at least a half hour talking about the crimps on a Coke can, people are really there for the fight. They are there to get mad at the celebrity for not agreeing with them that Sgt. Pepper's is the worst Beatles album, and for using their outsized voice to marginalize their own superior opinion. That's like, six or seven clicks, and like eight minutes of typing in all uppercase. Don't think the robot hasn't noticed. Comparison is the death of not-clicks, Robert Frost once said.

What we have to do as a society is pick one thing each, and get real weird about it. Why limit ourselves to a reductive, one-dimensional "ranking" when we can simply list a bunch of incredibly niche things off and talk about what we like about each of those increasingly strange sub-features? Sure, it might seem like a wasted life when you're spending your entire waking time dedicated to the SHQWIT 9500 High Power LED Flashlight, and your cousin gets the plum assignment of telling people about the significantly technically superior SHQWIT 9501. With experience, though, you will find that these are all uniquely valuable paths in life.

[chiiroptereh]

[Please zoom in, there's a lot of detail! And a massive file size...ouch]

Hi guys, long time no post! Been working on Art Fight and life stuff, but I've got something kinda fun for you.

This is a compilation exploring how a mortal Bill may interact with our world if there were still some kinda Euclidean instincts buried in there. Y'know, before the Book of Bill ruins all my headcanons >:P (EDIT: IT HAS BEEN READ. YAHOOOOOO)

Also quite an experimental piece as you can probably tell. Lots of details on both said headcanons and the art stuff under the cut, but I invite you to study the colorful texture yourself beforehand and think about what it might be representative of, just for fun because I got some really cool answers from my friends when asked :]c

TL;DR: the headcanon is that Euclideans have exceptional eyes for geometry. They find things like symmetry, tessellating patterns, graphs and fractals very aesthetically pleasing. If pushed into our 3D world, they feel comforted by the familiarity flat objects/spaces bring, as well as high-contrast patterns. Shadows especially are a familiar dimensional reduction that may bring them much comfort.

Bill would surely not be happy about these inclinations, constant reminders of a past long gone, but I'm not sure he's even aware of them here :P I think his ego gets in the way to the point where he just views these interests as common sense, which, of course, us lame humans just don't understand because we aren't nearly as cool as him. Of course he likes perfectly symmetrical leaves and staring at the kitchen floor, it's called taste, look it up!

And yet, he can't seem to shake the strange sense of melancholy he gets from viewing his own shadow.

~ End of TL;DR, long version below! ~

🔺 Headcanon Development

So, the catalyst of this idea was in relation to my friend and I's AU ( @love-triangles-au ). TL;DR, Bill's brought back mortal, meets another triangle named Y.V. (it's his hand holding the paper in the piece, actually), at some point they fall in yaois together, you know how it is. And, in writing a pair of triangles (or, more broadly, writing from the perspective of a different species), something I've had to consider was that you really can't get much further removed from a human being than sentient geometry.

The anatomical aspect was mostly figured out (see my piece on Bill's eye-mouth), but I wanted to consider what psychological differences might be at play. I wanted them to be weirder, more alien, double-so for Bill. At first I explored these possibilities through the lens of Bill and Y.V.'s relationship, specifically the question "what might a triangle find appealing about another triangle?"

Well, really the only things that came to mind were straight lines and symmetry, anything related to the geometric form of such a creature. That's more-or-less where that ended until the thought struck me that there's no reason this aesthetic appreciation couldn't extend to the rest of the environment, and then further when I realized, "wait, this is a species that is designed to live in a 2D environment. Like, they should seriously be really weird. I need to push this like 200% more."

So...yeah! I did some thinking and brainstorming with others and came up with a pretty long list of things a Euclidean in our world may be inclined to enjoy or find some level of comfort in. It's worth noting again that in this piece specifically this is a mortal/powerless Bill, so he can't really escape this Earthly environment. IF he's aware of these instincts at all (and that's a big "if"; when have you last been cognizant of your own instincts let alone known where they were stemming from?) I think he'd have snuffed them out in immortality and/or purposefully gone against them; he doesn't take kindly to being told what to do.

In order from left-to-right, top-to-bottom, here's an explanation for each!:

Flat objects such as paper are something he may find particularly engaging. It's basically 2D!

Tessellations are especially fascinating, and our world has them everywhere in the form of tile floors. Symmetry and such a predictable pattern...as the infinity of the starry sky might for us, the infinite potential of tessellations might invoke a similar sense of awe in him. Add on the maximum contrast of black on white kitchen tiles and the forms are only even better defined! A sensitivity to contrast would be very helpful for a 2D being navigating their environment.

Fields are flat and open, much like Euclydia itself. Laying flat may make him feel a little more at home.

More tessellation in the honeycomb of hymenopterans (bees, wasps and friends)! It helps that pain is hilarious.

The city is an absolute treasure trove. Rectangular buildings, precise architecture, square sidewalks and straight lines abound...he may as well be looking at a rainbow or an art gallery! I think a Euclidean's brain is very fine-tuned to mathematics, especially in regards to trigonometry. What may appear to be a straight painting might appear obnoxiously crooked to him.

Zebras are high-contrast :]

Another flat surface, another relaxing space <3

I think graphs are about as high as high art gets to most Euclideans.

I've touched on shadows before, and for good reason; truly they must be something borderline magical to the Euclidean and perhaps bitterly nostalgic.

This one kinda speaks for itself. Dweeb.

🎨 The Artsy Stuff

Lately I've been trying to find ways to fit more color into my work, as color is perhaps one of my favorite things in the world. My wardrobe is rather garish; my dad jokes that you could see me from space. My fursona is obnoxiously bright for a reason -- I feel my soul is a very colorful one!

I also realized recently that I don't actually know the exact style that speaks to me. I could talk about the phenomenon of the "style crisis" that many artists have all day, but in my mind the best cure for this feeling is to go against it entirely and begin stealing as much as possible.

So, I've tried to keep an eye out for more sources of inspiration everywhere I go, physical and digital. I've tried to train my mind into making a habit of considering, "can I do anything with this?" everywhere I go, and it recently paid off!

The glittery rainbowy texture you see plastered all over Billiam is this one, a photo-manipulated set of fruit stickers. I must confess I've been obsessed with this image for the past 72 hours, and this seemed like a good excuse to try it out!

I worried throughout the process if it might be so abstract that it loops back around to being horribly deliberate, if that makes sense -- like each sparkle was not a piece of a whole but rather an object in itself -- but it seems like that hasn't been a problem, so I'm grateful for that :Dc

I hope it can dazzle and delight you as it does me, but as long as you find it fascinating at the very least then I consider it a success! I really enjoyed hearing my friends' interpretations while workshopping it, and got tons of amazing answers from opal to kaleidoscope to fossilized bone marrow! I truly believe that the best art has some room for interpretation and it really excites me to be surrounded by that kind of creative energy that follows said pieces. That definitely adds to my pride in this work. It's weird, it's colorful, it's detailed and yet ambiguous. I'm feeling pretty autistic about it

Alright, I think that's about it. Thanks for listening!

[mitigatedchaos]

Why is the race based health rationing an important issue for you?

To me if feels like It's basically just a trolley problem except both tracks have 5 people on them.

And while the increase in white racial resentment could be a problem, it feels like a potential reduction in minority racial resentment plus a reduction in white embarrassment due to life expectancy discrepancies could cancel that out.

Admittedly I'm Australian and our white/aboriginal life expectancy gap is larger than the US white/black one so that might change the amount of embarrassment you guys have...

You don't actually get a reduction in minority resentment, because...

It's based on pseudoscience, so you don't actually get a rise in minority outcomes proportional to the size of the transfer.

In the case of healthcare rationing during Covid specifically...

The "ethical justification" for this policy, SSM said in the internal memo, is that "COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on low income communities and certain racial/ethnic minorities in the United States." But in the states where SSM operates hospitals, the story is more complicated. According to the Wisconsin health department, whites make up 81 percent of the state's population but account for 84 percent of its COVID deaths. Hispanics and Asians, on the other hand, account for a disproportionately low share of the state's deaths.

So as you can see, favoring "BIPOC" in treatment specifically (a position that is somehow "color supremacist") is political, not scientific.

This is... how should I explain this...

People vary widely, so every time you treat someone as a representative of a category, rather than an individual, you risk doing an injustice based on the distance between the individual and the category center.

If your category centers are just completely made the fuck up, then, statistically speaking, the distance is likely to be greater.

However, you don't always have good information about individuals. Therefore, if you're a smart liberal, you focus on disaggregation, individualizing situations and feedback loops, and creating individualized information, so that incentives favor individual treatment.

This includes, at another step out, creating and maintaining a politically-favorable environment for disaggregation, which may include limiting immigration if immigration would cause pro-aggregation political forces to exceed your ability to push disaggregation, and punishing and cutting off resources to political formations that engage in pro-aggregation politics (including left-wing minority coalitional ethnic politics; only disarming one side of pro-aggregationists is just being pro-aggregation for the other side).

(In my case, I believe that particularism adds to human dimensionality, and suspect that a flat planet which has been fully individualized would have too little friction, reducing the adaptability of our species, so I'm not an "atomize the whole planet" liberal. But that's another discussion for another time.)

[blackbullet99]

I will NEVER understand people who say “Zuko was the only one who supported Katara”

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but ZKs ALWAYS bring up The Southern Raiders as this huge revolutionary moment where “Zuko supports Katara like no one else did”, as you can see in this garbage TikTok.

I genuinely cannot comprehend how people can be THIS delusional.

While Katara does ultimately get some closure confronting the man who killed her mom, and it was nice of Zuko to help give that closure. It’s literally the LEAST he can do for Katara to make up for the crap he’s done before. Him going out of his to make amends with Katara in NO WAYS means he’s the only one to support Katara.

Re-watching A:TLA, all the members of the Gaang were on the same relative playing field, the were all equals, they all pulled their weight, sometimes one member would have to take charge, be it Sokka in The Library or Katara in The Desert, but they were a team. 

I have no idea where this notion that Katara has do EVERYTHING comes from. 

If taking Katara somewhere is such a big deal, Aang literally does this in the first darn episode, so she can learn waterbending, which is highly important to her culture, he gives himself to save Katara’s village from Zuko. He willingly lets Katara take Appa, encouraging her to go with Zuko.

In terms of emotional support, Aang comforts Katara when Jet dies, Sokka comforts her when Aang is captured at the North Pole, both comfort her when she bloodbends. Aang even empathizes with Katara’s anger, by relating to similar moments where she comforted him. 

These ZKs are really gonna act like Katara had NO support and all her friends were just dicks.

F off 😂

I also HATE how these supposed Katara always try to make her episode where she confronts her grief head-on and is pushed far into uncharacteristic, yet well deserved anger as some Wattpad Twilight Katara X Zuko fanfic. 

Most of the things these Zutara fanatics care about regarding this episode is about how “Katara now has a big strong man in her life to help her, because she’s to tired, has to hide her true feelings and does everything alone”. Again, ignoring the fact that Katara does have good friends and family who support her and NEVER pushed her feelings aside (when she’s angry, she’ll let you know), making her whole arc about what guy she likes is so reductive and borderline sexist.

Lastly these Zutara fanatics always use THIS episode to showcase how Zuko is supposedly “the only one who understands Katara and loves her ‘true self’ unlike Aang”.

Zuko doesn’t even know Katara, heck I don’t think he even knew her name until he spoke with Sokka. Aang and Sokka have known her the longest out of the Gaang, they’ve seen all sides of her character, they know that taking someone’s life (horrible person or otherwise) could have a bad effect on her and are simply concerned, Aang himself was in a similar situation in The Desert. 

Katara being consumed by anger and rage to the point of bloodbending and telling her brother “she didn’t love their mom like she did” is not her “true self” any more than Aang’s “true self” was him harming a  buzzard-wasp, lashing out at his friends and gearing up to destroy some sandbenders in The Desert. They’re not wrong for feeling angry, it makes sense why they’d be, they are three-dimensional characters, but they’re the result of are extenuating circumstances.

I’ve seen plenty of ZKs say “Zuko was gonna let Katara make her own decision, he trusted she wouldn’t lose herself”. Lemme set the record straight, Zuko fully expected Katara to off Yon-Rha. When Aang warns Katara about taking vengeance and urges her to let out her anger without harming him, Zuko mocks this idea and openly admits that Aang was right and violence wasn’t the answer. Aang was wrong about Katara needing to forgive Yon-Rha, especially seeing as the killer felt no remorse for his actions, but Katara made her own choice.

I will never be convinced that these types of Zutara shippers actually care about Katara. If she ain’t next to Zuko, she’s pretty much worthless to these people.

[tanadrin]

in my new programming language:

whitespace--including line breaks and space characters--is forbidden

arrays are indexed starting at -1. they still go up, btw. they just start at -1.

multi-dimensional arrays are indexes boustrophedon-style. every other row is indexed in the opposite direction.

to keep file sizes down, there are no comments

not only do you need a header file for every class declaring variables and functions, you need a footer file with a statement explaining how this class complies with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

to encourage concise code, variables are limited to two letters. the first letter determines the type, and the second letter must be unique. also, you are limited to 256 variables at one time, because nobody really needs more than that.

the compiler will attempt to guess whether the value you have typed is decimal, hexidecimal, binary, etc. you may not provide any hints. it needs to do this on its own, for personal growth reasons.