#Especially the aggression risk-taking and suspicion

[pulseofthestars]

Difficult Person Test

You are a somewhat difficult person to get along with (51.43%).

".... I'd argue this but I think the crew of the Argama would dog pile me if I did."

Took this from: @nobuverse

Tagging: No one, steal it for yourselves. Do it pu-

[liquid-bonhomme]

It's so embarassing watching lily be so wrong about her own country's politics. I am admittedly ignorant about Canadian politics, as I am terminally american (je suis desolé). But like, girl, you live there? Are you not embarrassed to get such basic information wrong?

It's frustrating how not super uncommon it is that Canadians like . . . Forget what fucking country they're living in? The constant bombardment of American politics does very much seem to get people . . . Confused. To put it generously.

Being totally honest, I've accidentally called the The House of Commons the "House of Representatives" myself a few times. Especially when I was younger, I had a lot of cynicism with politics and with our system I realized now was more founded in well-poisoning runoff from the states. Even other political commentators I'd consider very politically literate in Canadian politics have opinions very clearly flavored by, up until recently obviously, America being presumed this big brother state that will inform our politics as much, if not more than their own.

When the Cons were leading, functionally off of just importing Trump's popularism here, and then seemingly overnight the polls flipped-- all of us, including myself, seemed to remember all at once how not American we actually are. The sheer aggressive exposure to American culture drowns that out sometimes.

But Lily is above and beyond the typical brainlet Canadian ignorance, I'd say. With that said though, I don't think last night's screed was really motivated by ignorance. Feel free to challenge me on this, I guess, I am thoroughly of the impression now Lily does not actually LIKE democracy. I don't think the reasons are particularly deep. I think Lily is selfish and stupid. I think she likes to be in control, has taken on the Liberal Party as a proxy (because she's not actually fucking paying attention to what they're doing) and she wants her "team" to win and everyone to do what she wants.

Lily wants democracy for Lily, and no one else. And she's just not smart enough to recognize why that's not going to work out for her.

Ironically enough, despite constantly making it clear otherwise, this is something I get accused of a lot. As a socialist and a supporter of the NDP. Mostly by people who DO actively want to undermine the democratic process and are projecting.

While I scrutineered the vote at my assigned polling station for my riding, I argued to protect the votes of both the conservative and the liberal incumbent. There were no potential spoiled ballots for the NDP incumbent. If the intent of the voter was clear and obvious, I advocated for them regardless of who it was for. There was even a missing vote I advocated for us to find. It was for the conservative incumbent. I did not compromise any of my fellows right to a political voice.

The conservative scrutineer was treating me with suspicion. He likely accurately identified that I was EXACTLY the kind of person the conservative incumbent was trying to quietly take away the rights of. That Pierre Poilievre was OPENLY wanting to take away the rights of. I am kind of a . . . Distinct looking individual. He may have recognized me as the person who had a minor verbal confrontation with the conservative incumbent at their debate.

But I am of the opinion that the democratic process in Canada isn't compromised enough to undermine the political rights of my fellows-- even when they are, knowingly or not (likely not) voting in a way that puts my person at potential risk.

And maybe the Conservatives shouldn't be playing stupid games with people's civil liberties if they're this paranoid they're going to give someone like me incentive to screw with their votes-- you shiteating fucks.

I believe in representational democracy. I believe in FIGHTING for representational democracy. I think diverse parliaments with a healthy amount of seats to multiple parties. Infact, I think Parliament should be expanded to include seats FIRST NATIONS ELDERS chosen by their communities in their own way aswell.

I believe the Conservatives are a categorically negative force in Canadian government, economically and socially, and that the Liberals are drifting in that same direction, but that undermining the democratic process to take that power away from them is a last resort.

And one that comes with serious consequences.

That's a bell you can't unring. So it's gotta be worth it.

But as I've argued over and over again, Lily is not a leftist. She is middlingly center-right, advocating only for the middlingly center-left, drifting right Liberal Party to the capacity she believes they serve her. And is too stupid to realize they kinda don't. Not wholly.

[nightmarefuele]

difficult person test

Ren.

generally accurate. when he manipulates he is technically quite sincere. he is grandiose, but rightfully; still considers himself a vessel for something greater. aggression and risk-taking are situational. voice crackle helm vc there is no risk in the eyes of the ren.

Surri.

mhm.

(she's aggressive and insecure but she (sort of) cares.)

Inserv.

tagged by: @deficd

more aggression, risk-taking. less manipulation, slightly more suspicion, but only because he is that which executes ren's commands.

i so love that they fill in each other's blanks. this is the way.

tagging: @kinomorebi, @kylo-wrecked (& the knights! especially he knights.) @petitsdieu, @mentatemperor, @valkxrie, @horroreverent, @silverjetsystm, @muchmorethanmuses, @howlrs / @gravesung, @crimlune

[mastcrmarksman]

Difficulty vs Likeable Test

You are a somewhat difficult person to get along with (46.43%).

You are a somewhat likable person (52.86%).

I think his friendliness and tolerance can be higher. Otherwise, accurate.

under the readmore i will put each trait breakdown

tagged by; @hexsreality (thank you so much)

tagging: @biitchcakes, @gammaragee, @blindbastard, @strxngetimes, @danversiism, @darehearts

DIFFICULTY

Callousness is characterized by lacking empathy or concern for others. People high in callousness typically have deficits in genuine social sentiments and are often experienced by others as coarsely uncivil. In other words, they often make people feel uncomfortable.

Grandiosity can be described as having a grandiose sense of self-importance and the thought that one is better than others. People high in grandiosity often tout their abilities and their accomplishments while downplaying the contributions of others. They tend to put themselves on a pedestal and have a sense of entitlement about them.

Aggressiveness is the tendency to behave rudely and with hostility toward others. Aggressiveness may be doubly hurtful to others if combined with callousness, since the aggressive person may thus be both intimidating and unfeeling in their demeanor.

Suspicion is the tendency to harbor a strong and unreasoning distrust of others. Suspicious people often question the motives of even those who act loyally and devotedly toward them. Such people are often reluctant to open up to others and may interpret kind-hearted gestures as attempts to deceive them.

Manipulativeness is the inclination to exploit others to derive benefits for oneself. Manipulative people take other people for granted and use them to realize their own wishes and goals, thinking little of interpersonal reciprocity or the rights of others. Such people often exhaust and frustrate those around them, since they give little in return for the services and favors they extract from others.

Dominance is the tendency to put on airs of superiority and talk down to others. Domineering individuals have a strong desire to be seen as leaders and often react with combativeness when they cannot get what they want. They frustrate others by meddling in their affairs and with their attempts to control the decisions of those around them.

Risk-taking is the propensity to engage in risky behavior for the sake of experiencing thrills. People high in this trait impulsively seek sensations to overcome boredom, and often get pleasure from shocking others with their adventures and stunts. Risk-takers often make those around them ill at ease since their actions may have consequences for others as well as themselves.

LIKEABLE

Friendliness: Those who score high in friendliness generally exude openness, warmth, and enthusiasm; they often make others feel welcome and comfortable. Congenial people are obviously likable as they make us feel warm and fuzzy. They also often smile and make everyone feel included.

Humor: We like people who make us laugh, and we feel drawn to people who humorously break the tension in demanding situations. Moreover, moods are contagious, and we like to spend time with those who are happy and energetic. It is also important to be able to balance passion and having fun; humorous people who can be serious while maintaining a positive vibe are often especially well-liked.

Happiness: One element that attracts us to others is the feeling that they are happy with who they are – comfortable in their own skin and where they are in life. People who thus have “nothing to prove” will often have an easier time being honest, taking a genuine interest in others, and manifesting an air of ease and straightforwardness around themselves.

Kindness: Kind people are helpful, generous, and considerate; they tend to draw others to them. We tend to want to connect with people who have been caring to us. We also tend to pay special attention to such people – those who seem appreciative of us and are genuinely humble in their interactions with us. Understandably, we like to spend more time with individuals who are empathetic, charitable, courteous, and nurturing toward us than with those who are the opposite.

Positivity: Optimistic people make others feel empowered and happy; they positively affect those around them since they can find something good in most people and situations. This trait also covers lavishing others with positive and encouraging comments. Moreover, such people tend to show positive body language such as strong posture, smiling, and having open shoulders.

Tolerance: People who score high in this trait are often curious about and interested in others while showing tolerance and understanding, which in turn makes them interesting to others. They also practice active listening and make the people around them feel seen and important. People high in this trait are likable since they are approachable and do not have a judgmental attitude. We often do not like to have conversations with those who have already formed an opinion of us in their heads and are unwilling to listen.

Honesty: Research has shown that we gravitate toward people who can be relied upon to be honest, dependable, and loyal. Such people are often consistent and try their best to not let their own moods affect how they treat others. Likewise, such people try to be genuine – clear and frank about their opinions – and strive to avoid lies, betrayals, and misleading others. Trustworthy individuals generally know who they are and are confidently comfortable in their own skin.

[midnightsunnyday]

Find the words

@shabootldoo tagged me to find the following words in my WIPs: water, lights, and tree.

Water: (With Good Intentions Chapter Two. Which is taking forever to write btw. Here we have the brothers showing signs of becoming worse after the events of chapter 16 and MC is no longer there to help with their problems):

“Though I hate to admit it, I agree with Mammon.” Satan turned a page of his book. The Human Psyche and You, it read. “We all failed to assist them that day. Moreover, there’s clearly some bias in your disciplinary measures. Had any one of us spoken to Lord Diavolo that way, surely we’d be hanging from more than just our waists.” “Or locked in an attic,” Beelzebub spoke barely above a whisper, yet Lucifer heard it all the same. “Passive-aggressive remarks will get you more than just my attention, Beel. Speak fully on what it is you need to say.” Beelzebub sat slumped and turned away from the others. Belphegor’s burdens were not his own, yet he carried them all the same. “I…don’t want to argue with you, Lucifer.” “Then finish your food, in silence.”  “I still say we should bust em’ out,” said Mammon, failing to grasp the point of silence. “What’s the point of them being trapped in their room ignoring everyone? Isn’t  it better to, you know, talk about it?” “Humans don’t just get over being killed, especially by those they trusted once,” said Satan. “Such matters are,” he rolled his shoulders, “a bit more complicated than most.” “We've died before.” Mammon guzzled his water, posing the experience as if a simple summer’s walk. “Wasn’t so bad.” “That’s because we can’t die. Though please, you’re always welcome to try. Preferably now, if possible.”  “Hey!”

Lights (With Good Intentions Chapter Two. In this scene, Lucifer is struggling with his loyalty to Diavolo and his growing affection for MC. Angst ensues):

The day of the prince's birth was an occasion that, when first learned, filled Lucifer with a dreary derision, where the hours leading up to it were hazed in an overwhelming show of Dionysian blunder that would make the Greek god himself blush with embarrassment. Every year, Lucifer worked himself past the point of exhaustion, ensuring that every drape, every hors-d'œuvre, hell, every tile of the grand ballroom floor sparkled the way it should. And his brothers, who labored from wall to wall, hated him for it, relegating him as nothing more than Diavolo’s “perfect little lap dog.” But none of it mattered. His brother’s respect was one thing, hopefully mended with time, yet his reputation as the prince’s right hand was another; such bonds he couldn’t risk testing.   Over time, Lucifer learned to find pleasure in routine, satisfied with how everything formed together through the sway of his own hands, entirely in his element. And Diavolo, in trusting him to do so, spared no effort in praising him and his brothers’ after, drowning them in food, Demonus, and even parting with many of his own gifts. Naturally, Lucifer questioned him. Nothing is given freely, the past still fresh on his mind. But Diavolo had a way of breaching past suspicions, humbling Lucifer with a boastful laugh. “In all my years of knowing you, not once have I ever seen you as just my right hand.” Diavolo’s gaze was thoughtful, bearing down from the parapet walk of the castle. Below them was the bailey, a frenzied glow of lights and fevered guests, their voices leveling into the night. His face brightened. “This party is more than just the celebration of my birth, but all the things that came together and made it worth celebrating.”

Tree: (Untitled Asmodeus, Belphegor, and Lilith story. Not sure if it'll ever be finished, but we'll see).

The Jewel of the Heavens was more than just a title. It was the living embodiment of the Father’s everlasting love for all his creation and the beauty that lay within it. It was therefore that such a being would not be born, but molded. The Father had willed together every fragment, from the largest stars to the tiniest of creatures, and like the pressure that builds and springs forth the diamond, so too, did his treasured child, shining brilliantly with the immensity of everything and anything that was and ever will be.  The Father then breathed life into him and with satisfaction, smiled as they stirred. He then looked upon what he created and said, “You are the jewel of this realm and the most beautiful of my creations, for I have molded you from everything I love, and you will spread my will across that which is below, so that they may know of it.”   And so Asmodeus did. And it was good.   Yet mortals were strange and chaotic. They did not love in the way that the Father commanded. They were closed off and selective, secretive and jealous, petty and vengeful. Some stuck with one partner at a time, never allowing another’s touch. While others kept multiple lovers, seemingly without want as they were never bound to begin with. They stood at alters with promises before priests. They hid it away with closed curtains in darkened rooms. They fought and scraped, cried and destroyed, lied and cheated, all for what they thought was scarce. Yet in actuality, was as boundless as the sea itself. It was only natural, then, that Asmodeus would have many lovers, and that those lovers would naturally, want to be his. His siblings, on the other hand, thought it nothing more than— “Being a total sleaze.” Belphegor yawned, lounging in the branch of a tall oak tree.

Um, also I'm not sure who to tag in this. All my writer friends in this fandom are inactive or deleted their accounts so...if you see this and want to participate, then please do so!

Words: love, taken, broken

Reserve: pillow, clouds, laughter

[shmowder]

I had my suspicions... the eyes emoji may have given it away 😁 I appreciate you writing out all those tips! They'll be super helpful, especially when I get confused and am like Why isn't this working like P2?? Which I have no doubt will happen often. And the maps, yay, I love maps and have printed out the one for P2 with all the cache locations and I'll probably print these too.

Save anywhere at any time? I definitely won't abuse that at all... but still I'm glad there's no penalty for dying in P1. Even on baby mode I was about to bleed out from being knifed by 1 guy in a burned district today. Glad to have the combat tips. I've actually never bought any kind of gun in any of my P2 playthroughs and have tried to engage in minimal combat and looting so I wonder how feasible that will be in P1. I guess not very, if I don't want to starve to death. That reminds me, I'm going to have to fight the worms in the Abattoir soon 💀

No worries on the dialogue front, I'm well versed in making sure everyone in my video game party likes me at the expense of having any kind of moral fiber 😇😅

Oh, Yulia ♡ We would be so bad for each other. Give it a month and that house would be unfit for human habitation. #girlrotting

I can't tell how it was intended, but Artemy having the option of saying "Do you know who I am?" to her in that screenshot... it reads as hilariously aggressive to me. Confrontational! The way you describe all the character interactions is so funny though. It made me smile.

I know you probably didn't need this kind of response to that post but I want to acknowledge the work you put into it :) It's pretty likely that I'll move on to P1 after finishing P2 + Marble Nest. Hope you have a good night, or morning, or whatever 🫶

🐿️ anon

I LOVE MAPS TOO. It's extra fun opening my phone to show the map while playing pathologic. Also, the mental image of Artemy who grew up in this town, unfurling a large paper and staring at the map for a solid 5 minutes like a lost tourist, is extremely silly.

girlrotting indeed. Not to mention how harder cleaning would be for her with her mobility issues and the limp in her leg. She mentions in her dialogue that she can't walk around much because of it. I'm taking liberaties and assuming the injury is located in her ankle joints because that's the body part she is symbolic of. No wonder she has a roommate in P2, she's probably a lot of help to her when moving is too difficult.

I did have an idea about a new pathologic healer (maybe reader insert?) who's a medical engineer and ends up convincing Yulia to amputate her leg in order to give her a prosthetic At that time period, this is considered experimental cutting-edge technology with a lot of risks. Even the prosthetic the healer offers is still a prototype and prone to failing but Yulia takes the risk.

The tricky thing was figuring out how to cut her leg since this healer isn't a menkhu and can't open bodies. Two options came to mind. One, Yulia herself has to cut her own leg after taking a shit ton of morphine. Two, the haruspex is called in for a favour to do it for them.

But watch out! Artemy would only help with the amputation, thinking Yulia just wants to get rid of it. If you blabber too much and tell him about the prosthetic, then he immediately refuses to do the surgery or help. The whole "flesh vs machine" thing and menkhu practices forbidding mixing the two.

Either way, the surgery ends up being a success! and Yulia can be seen in more places throughout the town during that playthrough. You find her walking to the cape and alongside the river, admiring the steppe and spending more time outside in general. Man, I just want her to be happy again :(

Also, the scene I pictured of how the reader convinces her to perform the surgery is very hilarious. You just waltz in while she is at the broken heart pub, yell from the top of the stairs. "Hey Yulia, are you free? Wanna come and saw off your leg? I'm very positive I can make you a better one!'

She just stares up at you from below with dull eyes, snuffing out her cigarette against the ashtray and getting up. "Why not. Do kindly lead the way."

There is a third option, but it's more of a ship of Theseus situations? How much can the reader be involved in the surgery before they cross the line of taboo? What if they just hold the equipment for Yulia? what if they only wipe the blood away? What if it's her hand holding the scalpel, but the reader's hand holds the top of Yulia's and carefully moves it, guiding her fingers slowly to separate the skin.

If the two of you held hand and moved as one through all of the surgery, then who really is the one responsible for it?

At the least, it will give the kin a moment of pause before coming after Reader with pitchforks.

And hey, I am thankful for this kind of response. I did need it, actually. I put in effort and time into my replies and seeinh them returned like this always makes me happy. It feels like someone is truly listening and replying back, that it isn't just my own voice echoing through the blog with the occasional. Thank you <3

[construingseacats]

Umireread: Legend of the Golden Witch - Chapter 3: Guesthouse

Sat, Oct 4 1986 - 12:00 Noon

The following contains spoilers for the entirety of Umineko. Please do not read if you are yet to finish it.

Interesting note in the tips about how there’s canonically multiple “on” servants on Rokkenjima, and that Kanon and Shannon just happen to be the two that we see. I wonder what Yasu’s other personalities are like… and how many costumes she has to be able to fool the rest of the family.

Not entirely related to Umineko, but I do like how George is still considered “one of the kids” at age 23. Speaking as a 27 year old, entirely accurate, he’s still a baby, but it’s so common to see pieces of media treat people in their early 20s as bonafide adults - so this is really refreshing to read.

BATTLER DON’T SEXUALISE THE FUCKING CHILD. This is undoubtedly the low point of Umineko jesus christ

There’s a point made here about Maria always keeping her promises - that’s joining the “George never lies” in the folder of things to keep an eye out for going forward.

George??? You can’t just laugh and say “the cousins didn’t feel complete” without Battler in response to him talking about groping a 9 year old??????? Like, maybe there’s a point here about how Yasu would have been a similar age to Maria the last time she met Battler and crushed on him, but really this is just indefensible, creepy writing that the story is much worse for.

Moving swiftly on - it’s interesting how Kanon is introduced as being around 2 years younger than the group, but Shannon is described as being the same age. I suppose it’s an intentional ploy to make sure they’re not twins (which would raise more suspicion about them being the same person, and could risk skirting close to Knox’s 10th), but it’s still something to take note of. I wonder what the ages of the other “on” servants are given as?

Yasu once again stuttering as her mind fills with thoughts of “hot boy”.

I hate the justification here. Like, I’m glad that Ryukishi is at least trying to paint Battler as more than a mindless perv by saying he does it as an act to lighten the mood, but like, you’re still writing him as a perv. You can just have him be charming without trying to randomly sexually harass every girl he meets. But then I guess he wouldn’t be taking after Kinzo, eh?

So. This scene.

I think of all analytical re-reads of Umineko, this is probably the most notorious scene to pick apart, since it’s simultaneously another case of Battler being a creep at the start of the story, but arguably one of the most important moments where Yasu’s entire plan was inches away from falling apart.

On the one hand, I am a sucker for the stuff going on behind the scenes here - Yasu wants to be caught. She wants Battler to discover that Shannon is a fake identity, but Battler being unable to “commit to the bit” (if you will) prevents him from doing so, and there is no universe where he is able to prevent the massacre before it even begins. It’s dramatic irony at its finest.

But… What message does that really give? The moral is “if Battler was more of a perv then everything would have been okay”, which is, uh, not good? The most charitable reading here is one of Yasu writing this scene intentionally as “I wish Battler was more forward/aggressive but he’s a real gentleman”, which I’m still not super on board with. That potentially has some insight into Yasu’s psyche and messed up relationship with sexual urges, especially if you see it through the lens of a metaphor for Yasu being unable to engage with other people in that way, but that still leaves us with the big issue here.

The biggest problem is this is another scene of Battler being a creep far before the audience is hooked. So far, we’ve been introduced to almost 20 characters, none of them have really done anything yet, the plot hasn’t progressed beyond “they’re here for a family meeting”, and our protagonist is out here sexually harassing women once again. I legitimately do not blame anyone who gets to this point and then immediately puts Umineko down, never to pick it up again. Maybe this would have been a good scene to put at the start of Episode 2 for the earlier reasons, but as is, it just does far more harm than good to the story as a whole. Nevertheless, we powered through it the first time, so we’ll keep pressing through here as well.

Nice pause before furniture here. I can’t help but feel that she scrambled for that excuse, and that the real reason she’s hesitant to stop people from Battler-ing her is, once again, because she’s desperate for her deception to be uncovered. 

It’s extremely funny to see this just plainly stated and brushed away. I sure hope this isn’t foreshadowing to Kanon and Shannon being the illegitimate heir of the Ushiromiya family or something.

Alright, after Battler being the absolute worst against Maria and Shannon, I think we’re through the low point. Don’t get me wrong, we’re about to barrel into the inheritance discussion, which is possibly one of the driest parts of the whole story, but I’m fairly sure all the perv stuff is out the way and we can stop being disgusted at the guy we’re supposed to root for.

There’s a throwaway comment here from Maria about seeing herself as unsociable and it just kills me. My heart breaks for her. Although we haven’t got to the point of her going full creepy kid, so who knows, maybe I’ll grow to hate her again.

Interesting first mention of the war here. It’s one of those details that seems superfluous in the moment, and you’re probably skipping over it automatically, but the history here is fairly significant.

The big door sound effect in Umineko is definitely one of the more iconic ones in it. I can’t help but think that it sounds a lot like a video tape being played (heck, maybe it is, sound design is all about lying to your ears). I know it’s likely unintentional, but it feels thematic with the whole elements of having a fantasy story play out before your eyes.

bore-ral intensifies

And here’s our Golden Witch.

Umineko is a masterclass in misdirection with a lot of its writing. There’s a common theme where it will walk you through a truth, but then go “but no, you’re smarter than that, that can’t be right” and make you abandon the reality that it just waved in your face. In this case, it’s the discussion about the Witch in the Forest and Folklore - you’re told there’s a Witch out there, but come on, you and I both know that these sorts of stories are just made up to stop kids from running into dangerous places, so that’s clearly false. Anyway, while your ego is being massaged, there actually is a Witch in the Forest that the kids needed to stay away from, get rug pulled nerd

Would the 2 year time period of the portrait being installed roughly line up with Kinzo’s death? I’m not sure if it’s just an element of the reworked graphics, but you can see a portrait in Kinzo’s study as early as the Prologue, so I’m wondering if they just took the one that he had in there and placed it out here.

There’s a line here about the whole thing being creepy as hell - I can’t help but wonder whether she’s actually talking about the portrait, or the whole covering for Kinzo act.

No wonder you feel the same misfortune, given she’s the one who blew up the shrine to test that the bombs still worked.

Aha, here’s the dismissal of the sexism in the Ushiromiya family that I was looking for. I’m happy to rescind some of my comments about the presence of it in Chapter 1, although the story did leave that hanging in the air a little long for my liking. Especially considering Battler needed way more redeeming features to make up for his actions in these first few chapters.

Once again, very bold of the story to be going into excruciating detail about the Ushiromiya family before any of them have been endeared to us. Getting all of the details out of the way now definitely makes for a better story later on, but man, I just wish that anything of import had actually happened yet.

A lot of the discussion on chauvinism and sexism takes a very sorrowful tone when viewed through the lens of Yasu’s writing. If women are only good as “borrowed wombs” and she’s reduced to the level of furniture after the accident…

I also feel pretty sorry for Natsuhi here as a fish out of water. I honestly can’t wait for Episode 5 to see her front and centre again.

And then they all starved. The end.

God this scene is so good. Jessica is taking any chance she can to rebel against having to pretend Kinzo is still alive. Seeing her go “I feel better without him” and having Natsuhi slam her down for knowing the real connotation of that is *chef’s kiss*

A sealed room… I’m sure we won’t be seeing many of them in the future.

It’s interesting how our first proper fantasy scene isn’t even related to the murders or the actions of Yasu, but of Krauss pretending Kinzo is still alive.

Kinzo would know all about having your own body used as firewood.

Honestly, it’s kind of incredible how this scene immediately establishes the servants as associates for the fantasy scenes. As soon as we get the red truth that Kinzo died before the game begun in the Episode 4 Tea Party, anyone revisiting this scene really has the entire game blown open for them.

Sure is, buddy.

Sure are, buddy.

The mental image of Genji just sitting alone in the study and kicking back as he drinks to himself is so funny to me. I can’t help but wonder what he was feeling in these moments of protecting the masquerade.

Yasu giving the gold medal to Yasu here. Everyone else is unworthy.

…Well, that’s what the story is about, at the end of the day. Dealing with the true leader of the Ushiromiya family having multiple people in the same body.

We’re still in the opening stretch and we’re already repeating ourselves, woof. I’m glad we’re getting more Kinzo time since he’s the one actively reminding us of the actual plot, but I don’t think we covered any particular ground here that we didn’t already show off in the Prologue. I wonder if anyone has done a count of all the times we get a proper “BEATORICHEEEE” in the story.

I’m really glad Jessica is having so much fun with the Kinzo lies. She clearly doesn’t want to keep up the facade, but has to, so she’s making her own entertainment out of it to cope with the situation. As someone constantly inventing personal win conditions and games to play to stave off the suffocating mundanity of a normal life, I relate to that hard.

End of Chapter.

Bonus round!

Ah, I'd entirely forgotten about the Fukuin house stuff - yeah, you're right. I'm actually mildly disappointed by that, since it kind of nullifies the point on Shannon and Kanon's names being a reflection of their Ushiromiya heritage (since they're just names given out to all the orphans), and also the idea of having more personalities than just these 2 was kind of fun. I'd definitely be interested in seeing someone take a stab at a forgery with a third Yasu personality in the mix.

Seeing George projected onto Battler is definitely an interesting take, although I'm still a little concerned that this is falling more into "Ryukishi is horny" territory than a fully fleshed narrative idea. As much as I'd love to give him the benefit of the doubt, it's a bit too suspect given some of the treatment Rika and Satoko received in Higurashi. I suppose the real thing to see is whether this crops up again post-message bottles, or whether we can truly confine this to Yasu's writing.

[jlegal]

How to Beat a DUI in California – Proven Legal Defenses That Work

Introduction: You Can Fight a DUI—And Win

Being arrested for DUI in California can feel overwhelming. Between court appearances, DMV threats, and the fear of losing your license or job, it's easy to believe there's no way out.

But don’t give in.

At The Law Offices of James L. Arrasmith, we’ve helped hundreds of clients beat DUI charges in Sacramento and throughout California using evidence-based, legally sound defense strategies. In this article, we break down how you can challenge a DUI—and how we help you do it.

With DUI enforcement intensifying in 2025—especially after new IID laws and sobriety checkpoint expansions—it’s never been more critical to hire an experienced California DUI defense attorney.

🚨 The Legal Landscape in 2025

California’s DUI laws have evolved significantly, with tighter penalties and faster administrative action.

Key 2025 Updates:

AB 1054 enforces mandatory ignition interlock devices (IIDs) for all convicted drivers—including first-time DUI cases.

The DMV now requires hearing requests within 10 days of arrest, or your license is automatically suspended.

Zero Tolerance DUI Checkpoint Weeks now occur monthly in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Jose, increasing risk of checkpoint-related arrests.

If you’ve been caught in this wave of enforcement, there’s good news: you are not automatically guilty. Many DUI cases fall apart under legal scrutiny.

🧠 Legal Defenses That Can Beat a DUI Charge

✔ 1. Unlawful Traffic Stop

Law enforcement must have reasonable suspicion to stop your vehicle. If you were stopped without probable cause—such as weaving within a lane or simply driving late at night—we may file a motion to suppress all evidence collected during the stop.

If a judge grants this motion, the prosecution has no case.

✔ 2. Faulty Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs)

Field sobriety tests are subjective and can be influenced by:

Poor lighting or weather

Uneven ground

Physical or medical conditions

Nervousness

We review dashcam and bodycam footage to identify inconsistencies or improperly administered tests—and challenge their admissibility.

✔ 3. Breathalyzer or Blood Test Errors

Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations governs how DUI tests must be conducted. We investigate:

Whether the breathalyzer was recently calibrated

Whether the officer observed the mandatory 15-minute waiting period

Whether blood samples were properly stored and labeled

Many DUI charges are dropped when test procedures are proven unreliable.

✔ 4. Rising Blood Alcohol Defense

Alcohol takes time to absorb into your bloodstream. You may have been under the legal limit while driving but over the limit when tested later.

This “rising BAC” phenomenon is especially common when:

You were pulled over shortly after drinking

The officer delayed testing for 30+ minutes

You were tested only after being transported

✔ **5. Medical and Health Conditions

Certain conditions can mimic signs of intoxication, including:

GERD/acid reflux (can cause inaccurate breath tests)

Diabetes or hypoglycemia (affects motor skills and BAC readings)

Neurological disorders (may impair coordination)

We obtain medical records and expert opinions to discredit physical or chemical evidence.

🧾 Real Case Study: DUI Dismissed on Evidence Suppression

Client: Sandra T., a 42-year-old executive from Sacramento

Sandra was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint and arrested with a BAC of 0.10%. She claimed she was not intoxicated, and the breath test occurred 40 minutes after the stop.

We reviewed dashcam footage and proved:

She was not observed for the 15-minute pre-test requirement

There were inconsistencies in the arrest report

The officer failed to document proper field test administration

Outcome:

Motion to suppress breath test GRANTED

DUI charge DISMISSED

License fully reinstated

📣 How Jlegal Builds Winning DUI Cases

At The Law Offices of James L. Arrasmith, we use a comprehensive, aggressive approach: Strategy: Dashcam/Bodycam Review How We Execute It: Find contradictions in reports and illegal search procedures Strategy: BAC Testing Records Review How We Execute It: Examine maintenance logs and technician qualifications Strategy: Cross-Examination at DMV Hearings How We Execute It: Catch errors or contradictions in officer testimony Strategy: Custom Defense Plans How We Execute It: Each case is unique—no templates or shortcuts

We’re proud to be among the most trusted DUI defense attorneys in Sacramento because of our relentless focus on facts and outcomes.

🧭 Serving DUI Clients Across California

Our DUI defense services extend beyond Sacramento. We also represent clients in:

Oakland

Redding

San Jose

Fresno

Modesto

Stockton

Santa Rosa

With remote consultations, flexible payment plans, and courtroom experience in every major jurisdiction, we make elite legal defense accessible.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Can you beat a DUI if you blew over 0.08%?

Yes. If the test was faulty or conducted improperly, the results may be inadmissible. We’ve had multiple DUI cases dismissed despite BACs over the legal limit.

❓ Is it worth fighting a DUI?

Absolutely. A conviction can cost you your license, career, and insurance rates for years. Fighting your DUI is always better than pleading guilty without exploring your options.

❓ How long does a DUI stay on my record?

A California DUI stays on your record for 10 years and counts as a priorable offense during that time—meaning future DUIs carry harsher penalties.

📣 Client Testimonial

“Jlegal didn’t just defend me—they took apart the prosecution’s case piece by piece. My DUI was dropped, and I never had to install an IID or go to jail. They were incredible.” — Tom S., San Jose

�� Book Your Free DUI Defense Consultation Now

Every hour counts in a DUI case. Whether it’s your first charge or a repeat, we can help you take back control.

📍 Sacramento & statewide offices 📞 (555) 555-5555 🌐 www.jlegal.org 📧 contact@jlegal.org

🧾 Final Thoughts: The Right DUI Defense Can Change Everything

California DUI laws are complex, strict, and unforgiving—but they’re not unbeatable. With the right legal team, even serious charges can be reduced or dismissed.

At The Law Offices of James L. Arrasmith, we’ve helped hundreds of clients overcome the worst moment of their lives—and come out stronger.

Call today and work with an experienced DUI lawyer in California who knows how to win.

[mysteryoftwilight]

Shelby has one missed message from @siblingsoflight !

"PINNED + reverse (for Celeste)

With a forceful shove, the Heartless let out an aggressive hiss at her heretofore unseen stalker, golden eyes narrowed with suspicion. She didn't like being followed, much less by someone who smelled of so much Light. She especially didn't like how long she'd been followed. One arm was placed firmly over her throat while the opposite hand kept her pushed against the wall. Claws of Darkness threatened to cut deeper if she moved before being let go, but the Heartless made no attempt to do anything beyond that, pale skin dangerously close to the other's. She did everything possible to keep the hunger at bay; she didn't need to eat anyone. She wouldn't fall into that trap. She hadn't so far, and she wouldn't until she was either whole again or dead.

The scent was also too familiar for comfort. A mixture of salted scents and citruses that made the hunger that much more difficult to control. She smelled too much like too many people she'd observed since returning to the Realm of Light, which made her a dangerous enemy to have. There was also that damnedable scent that she could only describe as 'sheared light'. She had a Keyblade chained to her Heart. A perfect storm of reasons to have simply teleported away, but she was committed now. She had questions, and this familiar stranger would answer them.

"Why are you following me? Does anyone know you were following me?" Her voice came out strained; she hadn't spoken in a long time. She had no need to; a monster like her skulked around in the shadows to gather information. If there were better places to skulk around than the castle of Radiant Garden, she didn't know of them. How she'd been found out would be her next question. A weak Heartless like her should've avoided detection easily. Even the security system seemed to ignore her in favor of her stronger brethren. She grit her teeth as she waited, her scowl slowly intensifying. She didn't want to hurt anyone, but she also couldn't take too many risks with her safety...

[economyportals03]

How Does China's 'Wolf Warrior' Diplomacy Impact Its International Relations?

In recent years, China has adopted a more assertive and confrontational approach to diplomacy, often referred to as "Wolf Warrior" diplomacy.

Named after a popular Chinese action movie series, this approach is characterized by a more aggressive tone in international discourse, a willingness to engage in public spats, and a departure from the traditional Chinese policy of "keeping a low profile" in global affairs.

In this blog post, we will delve into the concept of 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy, examine its impact on China's international relations, and consider the implications for the broader world stage.

Understanding 'Wolf Warrior' Diplomacy

'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy represents a significant shift in China's approach to international relations. It is marked by the following key characteristics:

Aggressive Rhetoric: Chinese diplomats, both official and unofficial, have adopted a more confrontational and assertive rhetoric in their public statements. This includes sharp criticisms of other nations, especially those that question or criticize China's policies.  

Nationalistic Tone: 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy often carries a strong nationalist tone, appealing to a domestic audience and portraying China as a global power that will not be bullied by other nations.  

Use of Social Media: Chinese diplomats are active on social media platforms, using them to communicate directly with global audiences and to counter what they perceive as biased narratives in Western media.  

Economic Coercion: China has sometimes used its economic leverage to punish countries that take actions it disapproves of, such as trade restrictions or bans on imports.

Impact On China's International Relations

The 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy approach has had several notable impacts on China's international relations:

Increased Tensions: This aggressive diplomacy has contributed to increased tensions with multiple countries, including the United States, Australia, India, and many European nations. Public spats and disputes have become more common.  

Economic Consequences: China's willingness to use economic leverage for diplomatic purposes has raised concerns among its trading partners. Some countries have sought to diversify their trade relationships to reduce dependence on China.  

Nationalism and Unity: 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy has garnered support among some segments of the Chinese population who view it as a source of national pride. It has also contributed to a sense of unity within the country.  

Isolation Concerns: There is a growing concern that China's assertiveness could lead to its isolation on the global stage, as it risks alienating potential allies and partners.

Implications For The Global Stage

The impact of 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy extends beyond China's immediate bilateral relations. It has broader implications for global politics and diplomacy:

Geopolitical Competition: China's assertiveness has exacerbated geopolitical competition, particularly with the United States. This competition affects various issues, including trade, technology, and regional conflicts.  

Challenges to Multilateralism: China's confrontational stance challenges the norms of multilateral diplomacy and institutions like the United Nations. It has sometimes obstructed international cooperation on global challenges such as climate change and pandemic response.  

Bilateral and Regional Dynamics: The effects of 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy vary from one region to another. For example, it has strained relations in the South China Sea and contributed to territorial disputes.  

Global Perception: China's image on the global stage has been influenced by this new diplomacy. While some see it as a strong, assertive nation, others view it with suspicion and concern.

Conclusion

China's 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy represents a notable departure from its past approach to international relations. While it has garnered support domestically and projected an image of strength, it has also strained relations with key partners and raised concerns about China's long-term global standing.

The path ahead for China will require a careful balancing act between asserting its interests and maintaining constructive international relations. The world watches closely as China navigates this new era of diplomacy, with the hope that dialogue, cooperation, and diplomacy will ultimately prevail over confrontation.

[daugterofthemoon]

Hi, hey, hello. Welcome to the essay(?) where I pick apart this blogger-response which nobody asked for. I have a lot to say about this.

Let's set the record straight, nobody in this community wants drama, don't even go there. No one is accusing you of anything yet, so don't get so defensive. They're just being concerned and they're vocal about it. Nothing more. Nothing less.

However I thought it was obvious that other's would feel uneasy about the chance of being scammed in this community, especially because of manifestation-tumblr's history with scammers in the past.

This is just to make sure you understand where @gorgeouslypink's and @/automaticladyphilosopher's concerns are coming from, since it's quite obvious in your response that you don't understand their perspective, at all. You provided no validation of how they might've felt about this. You immediately got defensive, and to me this doesn't say "I understand where you're coming from". Neither does it say "I am telling the whole truth". This won't make anyone feel "safe" about soya's coaching, whatsoever.

"not everyone who charges money is a scammer!" You're right! However, when you're being defensive about this matter, it only justifies their suspicion of it being a scam.

Why? Because being immediately defensive is a passive aggressive response in every situation, and it automatically means "I'm caught doing something I shouldn't be doing". I know this for sure, because I get passive aggressive all the time whenever I have to come up with a backstory for why I didn't do something I definitely did.

Kira, a past blogger, promoted entering the void for people who paid them and as it turns out; that was a big, fat scam. What's the bottomline in this section? Being scammed is uncool, and it betrays trust they had to the scammer. In this day and age on tumblr we have to be cautious of who we place our trust in, sadly. That's just how this community has transformed itself into. Nobody want's to have a Kira 2.0.

"If I just wanted to scam people then Why would I fake to be someone else ?" Because you wouldn't want to be cancelled on your main account.

"Being scammed is uncool, and it betrays trust they had to the scammer." - Notice how I didn't write "the promoter"? Because you as the promoter isn't directly scamming anyone. In this case it would be your friend, soya.

Risking being caught scamming on your main account would mean you'd lose everyone's trust, have to deactivate and leave tumblr. My common sense is telling me that faking being someone else will help you dodge that bullet. It's pretty stupid to fake being someone else, because people will find out if you did, sooner or later.

"I can just tell everyone that I will give u coaching, that way I could have gained much profit because ofc people are gonna believe me not someone I'm mentioning to take coaching from." As stated above, no. No, you could not. And hopefully you would not, because that would also be quite stupid. Hypothetically, yes, you'd profit, but at what cost? Your followers trust would be out of the window as soon as you get called out for scamming. Everyone don't believe you less when you promote your own, nor if you promote someone else's, coaching. Your followers believe you and the one you're promoting, because they trust in your judge of character. They trust that you won't promote something to harm us in any way. I thought this was common sense to think? When you have a good reputation you have everyone's trust, until that trust is broken.

This is also common sense, and it is obvious common sense was, in fact, definitely not here.

"My blog isn't a ad for her coaching services for God sake. [...] everyone wanted me to post them and so I did . I post them on my blog with her permission, to motivate my followers ! What's wrong in it ?" You can argument all you want about this, but that does not change the fact that you're indirectly promoting it. You also hype up her coaching, which is a form of promoting her services. If it's not proming her coaching, then it sure looks like one, since that seem to be the only thing you post on your blog. Why do I say this? Because you have no posts about anything else other than just success from her coaching (which btw is also promoting her coaching). No posts about law of assumption, no motivation for your followers, no posts interracting with your anons that aren't about soya's coaching.

"And why would she charg only $24? She could have charged $100-$300 [...] none of them came and told everyone that soya scammed my money, don't take her coaching ? WHY ?" Okay, "funny" (read: ironic) story about that. So back in November I actually contacted soya for her void coaching. I then recieved information that (and I quote) "the amount has changed" to $80. Not $24, so don't come here asking why she would charge $24 when she doesn't. Not $100 either for that matter, but still quite a lot more money than you originally promoted on your blog. She did tell me she could lower the amount, and that she would ask you to change the amount on your blog as well. However I can't see you've posted any updates of her coaching price on your blog. Not even now, January 3rd, and it's already been soon 2 months. I also thought common sense was to update everyone about the new price of your friend's coaching as well. I guess some people really do lack common sense.

This is actually embarrassing to admit, but I actually paid for her services november 16th. The full price of $80, at that.. On desember 19th I told her I felt discouraged, because nothing she provided had worked for me, so she offered to enter the void for me. She told me she normally refused to do this when someone asked, and therefore she didn't offer to do it for anyone either, but because of my circumstances she wanted to. And low and behold, she charged $300 for that. In other words, she has, in fact, charged $300 for her services, so your attempt of guilt tripping (yes, guilt-tripping, because you're making people feel guilty for thinking it's too much money for that kind of service. And do remember, if this wasn't your intention; this is just how i perceived it, and you can easily debunk this in a grown up matter.) everyone into thinking that "it could've been worse" is pretty much failing.

I couldn't afford it, as I only could use $50 at the time. We agreed upon the price of $70 and she then allegedly entered a couple days later. Or, I assume she did. She warned me that there was no guarantee, so I knew what I was getting myself into and that there was a chance it wouldn't work. And it didn't work either. Now I am frustrated about my void journey, more than ever, and it sorta hurts, to be honest.

"Don't u think before making a shitty post about me without having ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF, u should have massaged me? And talked to me about this?" I got screenshots of my conversation with soya, and I know for a fact I wouln't want to message you about any of this. Not even my experience with her coaching, because I'm afraid that you'll lie to me. If you'd lie to me about any of this it would make me even more confused about everything. More than I already am, so excuse me for setting boundaries for myself.

I am not going to say the success stories and the pictures from soya's coaching are fake, because I honestly don't know if they are and I frankly don't care. I really hope you're not wondering where you're in the wrong after reading this, if you'll even read it at all. I gather you're one of the "big bloggers", so this response of mine will probably be drowned out by your other notifications.

"I beg u please let this community live in peace , let people peacefully manifest their lives" It's hard to peacefully manifest my dream life when I have potentially been scammed. Even worse if it turns out soya was you all along.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I will be reading pink's Doubts post for probably the 5th time, as well as @soquimic's posts to build myself up again.

Void journal note: At least I can say I've learned that paying for coaching doesn't really help, especially since the information is free. Now I just need to depend on only myself and my own power to enter the void state, as I should've done in the beginning.

i just wanted to bring something to your attention bc you're the only blog that i think people acc trust

i think u know @trynafindbarbiee

sorry if this doesn't link but she blocked me so lol

basically she used to be a good void blogger but you can go look at her page yourself and now it's all just an ad for some random Instagram manifesting coaching account that she claims isn't hers (apparently it's someone who helped her manifest before she entered the void state but she never mentioned this before) but for some reason, keeps on advertising for and lowk gaslighting people into joining bc she says stuff like "do you not want your dream life? why don't you just pay already?"

her exact quote: “She’s open for coaching guys What are fucking waiting for? Don't u want your dream life? Are u not tired? Are u not fed up with all this? ARE YOU NOT?”

This is so disgusting to me to gaslight desperate people like this

Also, I was there when she first posted about that account. She said the insta account only charges $11.99 and then she changed it to $23.98.

Also all the success stories seem so fake. I'm not one to doubt success stories but the first few all seem like they're the same Indian girl and then the last 2 sound like random fictional novels. The second to last is a woman who was hospitalized and over 400 people visited her, like even presidents or celebrities don't get that many people and apparently she had money problems but none of the 400 people could give her any money or like the most recent one. the reason i even decided to call her out was because she made up a ridiculous story of a woman who got pregnant because she was taking antidepressants. i am majoring in healthcare and am very passionate abt this topic because some uneducated people believe this "that antidepressants can cancel out birth control" so they use that as a reason to not take them even though this is completely false and there is no evidence of antidepressants cancelling out birth control❗️

i am pretty sure trynafindbarbie is spiritual soya, it doesn't rlly make sense why she would be advertising her like this and ive noticed certain things like them both saying "peoples"but yeah i hope you can atleast just share this with your followers so they don't get scammed

i looked into this and you're absolutely right, it's a bit disappointing and i just get upset when i see people trying to gaslight and scam this community because the majority of this community are just young girls trying to get their dream life. i hope you guys know that you are so powerful and you can get your dream life on your own!

[earthstellar]

I finally realised why this panel sticks out to me. 

For context: Everyone just arrived in the nightmare Functionist Universe, they’ve ended up somewhere they aren’t supposed to be, and the little drone is basically a cop who wants to search everyone. 

And this scene sticks out to me, this panel in particular, because Ratchet is the only one who challenges the cop-drone. 

Which is pretty significant, actually. 

How to Deal With Space Cops: Fucking Don’t! Unless You Can Get Away With It. 

Rodimus, Drift, Megatron, and Terminus all come from backgrounds where they were all harassed by authority figures on at least a fairly regular basis; They’re far more familiar with being pushed around by cops than Ratchet would be. 

Granted, Ratchet worked in the Dead End and undoubtedly got some degree of shit for it, but he still had the social class/caste status to dodge the more severe questioning, and had friends who were active duty cops himself. He got bothered by some authority figures, but for the most part, he could talk back without fear of suffering any of the more severe repercussions that most of the others here would be facing if they did anything similar. 

Authorities Aren’t That Scared of Authorities 

Chromedome, Rewind, Roller, and Minimus have all worked for or alongside bodies of authority themselves, and therefore likely aren’t as immediately resistant; They want to get through this without incident if they can, and in their minds, that means hearing out the cop-bot before they do anything. Their reactions are on hold. They’re listening, not talking-- Because most of them have been the person questioning others before. 

Gutter Mechs Know The Unspoken Reality of Things 

But check out the looks on Rodimus and Terminus’ faces. They’re just like, alright, this shit again. They’re not letting their faces show anything that a cop-drone might interpret as resistance or aggression, or they know they’re fucked. 

Drift and Megatron actively look put off, because they’re taking more of a defensive approach. They’ve both been treated severely and with suspicion by authority figures before, especially representatives of law enforcement, so they’re not saying anything--But their expressions show that they’re already calling bullshit on whatever this little cop-drone wants with them. “What does this thing want with us, now?” And rightfully, they don’t say shit. They know better. 

It’s a brilliant little bit of visual storytelling. Their reactions--or lack thereof--in their faces is a nice touch. The group of bots present consists of a mix of people with very different experiences of dealing with (or working with) oppressive authorities in their pasts, and Ratchet is the only bot here who wasn’t either a gutter mech or low class/caste, and also wasn’t an authority figure himself (his authority is entirely within the role of CMO, which is still a position of authority within a medical context, but not beyond that). 

Ratchet Had a Cop Friend, So Now His Ingrained Perspective on Authority is Somewhat Fucked

So of course, Ratchet, who has been relatively protected from the worst outcomes of dealing with cops in the past, is the only one to speak up here and risk challenging the cop-drone with a question-- Because why wouldn’t he push back? He’s never suffered at the hands of cops and was never a cop himself. He had cop friends. Surely the cop-drone has to provide a reason for a stop and search? And surely he knows that isn’t necessarily the case in reality, but he still asks, like he’s surprised or caught off guard to at least some degree. (Oh, Ratchet. I like to think that Drift talked to him about this shit afterwards...) 

Ratchet never worked for or alongside a police department before. He doesn’t grasp how fucked he is, if that little cop-drone decides he’s a non-person on a whim. He might understand that there’s risk in this interaction on an intellectual level, but on a personal risk level, he’s never really been at that much risk of being trashed by the cops. 

Even when working in the Dead End, his cop friend(s) clearly knew about it and never arrested him for it. Shit, we know at least one of his cop friends actively helped him out by dropping off potential patients at his clinic. 

So everyone else present has some level of experience, good or bad, with dealing with actual cop bullshit. But the majority of Ratchet’s personal experience with cops has been entirely through the lens of being a respected mid or high class/caste bot with a profession that benefits pretty much everyone, including the cops. He’s largely been “safe”, even when doing unsafe/illegal shit like running his Dead End clinic.  

So of course, his immediate reaction to being stopped and searched is essentially total bewilderment. 

Privilege: Legacy of Cybertron’s Past  

It’s entirely possible that Ratchet, even when working in the Dead End, has never really been all that bothered by cops/authorities before, despite the risks involved in running his clinic there. 

This might be the first time that he’s being stopped and searched like this. He’s never really been profiled or viewed by authorities in this way before, at least not so directly. He’s now dealing with a cop-drone that is treating him the way they treat most people, not the way they treat Ratchet the Medic and Trusted Friend of a Police Captain Equivalent, because the authorities in this universe are ones that he has no personal connection or familiarity with. 

His profile isn’t automatically popping up with all his credentials next to his name. He’s just some bot, with a bunch of other bots, and he’s now suspect. And that seems to have caught him off guard, a little bit. 

Nobody else is saying shit, because they understand this situation more personally. They’ve either been treated like shit by cops before, or they’ve BEEN cops before. 

But Ratchet is the odd one out, and he’s the only one with the particular social status of being a medical doctor, and so he pushes back, because what, exactly, did this little cop-drone say to him? And he feels secure enough to actually ask the drone for clarification. The authority figure bots know to stay quiet and let the cop-drone lead, and the gutter mechs/low class bots know that whatever they say, they’re about to get arrested anyway. 

Nobody but Ratchet is surprised, and it really feels like Ratchet is showing some of his pre-war social privilege here, totally by accident. It’s not his fault, it’s just how he experienced pre-war life compared to the others. Cybertron was a shitty place, and Ratchet was only aware of how shitty it was because of his personal drive to engage with those of lower classes/castes in order to try to assist them; If he hadn’t actively desired to open his own clinic in the Dead End, he would have stayed in Iacon, surrounded by other mid or high class bots. The same people he had spent most of his time interacting with, up until that point. 

We see how he handles Drift in the flashback to when they had first met; His advice comes from good intentions and genuine desire to help Drift, but the advice is ultimately hollow and impossible for Drift to commit to. Ratchet is shown as not really grasping how dire things are, that it’s not possible for Drift or other bots like him to simply walk into a job centre and pick up a paying gig. It took some time for Ratchet to understand this, because it wasn’t his lived experience; As a medic top of his class, he’s always been in high demand. But that isn’t the reality for Drift. 

It’s a realistic approach to exploring class/caste differences, and I really appreciate it. 

This panel is a genius quick and subtle way to emphasise the class/caste differences between all of the characters here, and highlight how vastly differently these bots would all be treated-- Both in their actual past, and in this alternate Functionist universe. 

Anyway it’s 3 AM so I’m going to bed now, just wanted to write this out before I forgot about it LMAO <3 

I can’t recall the exact issue this panel is from at the moment, but when I remember or get the time to look it up again, I’ll edit this to let y’all know! :) 

[punksocks]

Astrology Observations No. 1

Only based of my personal experiences, take them with a grain of salt!

Aries Moons need you to validate their perspective by following their advice to the letter. If you challenge them or try to meet them halfway there’s a good chance they’ll blow up at you. The more you’re emotionally tied to them the bigger the fallout.

Aries suns give their advice with their whole chest as well. But if you’re firm with not following them, they won’t love it but they’ll calm down and accept and support your choices especially if they’re well developed.

Scorpio in the big 3 can often go out of their way to make you feel at ease. Scorpios often tend to make others react either with intense interest or antagonistic behavior. Pluto and Mars rule Scorpio, planets that often involve intensity and aggression. Scorpios will try to be very accommodating and welcoming to others in return, to put the opposite of the harsh energy they receive out there. They know the impact of receiving that judgement. Unless you do something to raise their suspicions, then they will become cold and keep their guard up. They are water signs at their core.

Aquarius suns are either the most humble and giving or the most driven by their ego. They often exist at these extremes. I believe it has to do with Aquarius being the opposite of Leo, which is the exalted placement for a sun sign. Aquarius have to work out the tension of this placement to learn a lesson about altruism throughout the course of their lives. Sometimes they learn to help others while balancing their ego, other times they fall into one extreme or the other. Saturn is a ruler of Aquarius after all.

Leo suns are often very introverted and down to earth when developed. Something about that sun sign placement makes them easy to pay attention to but in a more casual and grounding way than the abrasive energy of a Leo rising or the sometimes surprising show of ego of a Leo moon.

Air signs are often associated with logic and progress. But in my experience some of the most intensely conservative fundamentalist people can have air in their big 3. My theory is that it’s a combination of being able to assume the extreme principles of fundamentalism are progressing to superior ideals and that if they able to process an ideal logically the ideal will tether to their ego. Disagreeing often sparks debate and if you aren’t won over by their logic you could deeply often them.

Virgo mars is underrated when developed. They are helpful, intelligent, and they always find a way to rise to the occasion for the ones they love. The only issue is that their anxiety becomes volatile in a way that really impacts their relationships, and their self esteem.

If you love them let them go heavily applies to big 3 Pisces and Sagittarius. They both crave freedom in order to feel as though they’re free to move through life without hinderance. Pisces often needs time untethered to emotionally process, and Sagittarius is always growing and expanding and cannot stand to be constricted. But if you are a support while giving them space they’ll see you as someone that understands them for awhile at least. You may grow apart at some point but it’s the risk you take and the result you accept.

I just want to feed big 3 Taurus placements. They’re so comforting and you just want them to feel good too so you give them tangible comforts like food.

[minnieves]

Perv!bestfriend soobin pt. 2

part one and three. see filipino ver.

see for your reference (proceed at your own risk): one and two. the 'lea' referred to in the fic is hyuka's older sister.

soobin released a relieved sigh as he hit his bed. the question that you asked him previously kept repeating in his head. his thoughts kept cycling back to how your body feels pressed against his. how soft it was and how you smelled while he was holding you.

he bit his lip while rubbing himself inside the boxers that he was wearing. he could still feel how his heartbeat felt when you asked him that question. he felt nauseous from it. like the answer to your question, he'd never tell you how much he came just from the thought of you.

"binnie!" you waved aggressively while calling to him. as if on queue, soobin's gaze lowered to the knitted crop top you chose to wear. it was raised enough that it was showing the base of your bra if anyone looks hard enough like he does. "my eyes are up here bin." you teased him.

"oh shut up. where are the others?" he asked.

"they asked us to wait for them out here since they're just right around the corner," you answered him. you took his hand to wrap it around your waist. smirking to yourself when you didn't feel soobin removed it.

ever since you asked him about it. you felt soobin to be less touchy with you. he's not by any means uncomfortable with you. besides your hand or arm, he doesn't touch you anywhere else.

once your friends arrived, you took your place at the back of the vehicle. seeing that it was the only seat left. once seated, you hear lea tell everyone to keep down since she was feeling car sick.

when the noise died down a little. probably from your other friend sleeping. you took soobin's hand to wrap it around yourself. leaning forward to give his arm some space to move.

"hi binnie," you whispered to him. pushing yourself upwards so that you could kiss his cheek.

"hi y/n," he replied.

you look around the van to take note of who's awake. noticing that besides the driver, only soobin and you are awake.

"do you want to play with them?" you asked him.

"play with what?" he asked you confused.

"my boobs?" you whispered. soobin bit his lip. his face and neck heating up from your sudden question.

you took this as a sign to go on. bringing his hand to your boobs, underneath the bra you're wearing. to which soobin pulled his hand away.

you felt nervous, thinking that you've read soobin's advances wrong. but this was immediately ceased when you felt soobin bring his back inside. now from the front rather than the previous which is being you.

"keep it down," he whispered. soobin felt like his heart is beating in his ears due to how loud it was being. especially since soobin has been dreaming of its since time immemorial. he lifted your top exposing bot your boobs to him. which made soobin bit his lip.

you lean back, carefully lying on your back. soobin slowly took his place above you. making sure that his action won't cause any suspicion from the driver.

"what do you want to do now?" you asked him.

"i want to suck on them." soobin wasn't whispering to you. he was talking to your boobs. before you could even answer soobin, you could feel his mouth on them. his tongue lightly licking on your nipples.

soobin could feel you squirming from beneath him. whatever fantasy he have of you could never top having you underneath him.

"waht a baby," you teased him. soobin lift his head while sucking on your nipples. he lightly bit on them which made you bend your body towards his mouth. biting your lip to prevent you from moaning out loud.

"you taste so good mommy," he teased you. you know that after this, your nipples would be so puffy and sensitive. he was switching from one boob to the other, making sure that the other does not feel left out.

"let's have some stopover!" lea told everyone.

soobin detached himself from your chest. giving each of them a light peck before dressing you up. no hissed when the clothing touched your nipples. you closed your eyes when you felt soobin kiss your cheek.

"do you want me to fuck you?" soobin whispered to your ears shily.

[direautistichobbit]

The AMAB Blues: On Being Eternally “Questioning”

This essay, or whatever this rambling set of nonsense is, comes with a disclaimer.  That this needs to be expressed in the first place is part of the problem I suppose, but I am getting ahead of myself.

I’m about to talk about an big, messy issue that I have been facing as an AMAB person who is gender questioning.  Currently, I identify as Gender-Fluid; previously, I’ve experimented with Nonbinary and Autigendered.  To be perfectly honest, Autigender is probably the most accurate of those I’ve played with so far but I have to explain enough stuff about who I am that explaining an entire term is more trouble than it is worth, generally speaking.  I’m pansexual, but usually more attracted to femme presenting and directed persons, and I’m struggling to sort out how related to my own personal traumas that is.  None of them were sexual, to be clear.  Thing is that I am an exceedingly sensitive person, and a lot of masculinity is…not inclined towards sensitivity in the majority of Western culture.  You become a target for other masculine people to take out their aggression on to prove to each other how manly they are.  So I’m…always anxious around men.  At least a little.  For someone who is Demisexual, this has made the pursuit of relationships with masculine looking persons challenging.  I’m polyamorus, with all of my partners at long distance (one of them is moving away as I’m writing this, don’t worry, we are fine), I have been looking for people closer by.  It has not gone well.

With that subtext out of the way?   I’m also a white, masculine presenting person that (superficially) resembles something that is cisgendered (not even slightly, I’ve come to realize) and heterosexual (not that either) enough that my “passing” privilege is extreme.  I am neurodivergent (ADHD diagnosed, ASD self-diagnosed and largely agreed upon by past therapists/doctors)  but can mask well enough that I get the “peculiar”and “eccentric” kind of labels before I get the problematic ones.  I am not going to pretend that I don’t have a lot of passive advantages here, nor am I blind to the amount of privilege I possess in the vast majority of social situations.  None of what I am about to say detract from those who don’t have these benefits.  I’m not complaining that the gays are being mean to me; they aren’t.  The majority of them have been nothing but wonderful to me.  I’m talking about the issues I’m facing; I don’t discount the issues that others are facing.  Hopefully that comes across here: I’m not blaming the broader LGBTQ+ community for how I feel, the issues I face, or the circumstances that hurt me.  I am not trying to crowd out other voices; I’m just trying to express my own.

Cool?  Cool.

There are a lot of queer spaces where masculinity is, while perhaps not the enemy, regarded with suspicion.  I don’t blame anyone for that; as I already stated, it’s something I share.  White dudes can get away with literal murder, and I know it.  I’ve read about it.  I’ve become familiar with it.  I own it.  I recognize, and attempt to always dignify, the danger that I represent, in potentia, to a lot of people in the LGBTQ+ community.  I recognize that while my intentions are as fair and honest as I can possibly strive to express, there is no way to prove those intentions without someone having to risk an interaction with me. No one is obligated to provide me that chance to prove myself; no one should be either.  There is no way to say I’m “one of the good ones” and have it be taken at face value; even saying that you are a “nice guy” is a huge red flag just due to the sheer number of bad faith fuck-wits who have purposely and maliciously abused that.  I get it.  I understand it.  I don’t make excuses for it.  I don’t misunderstand it.  I don’t begrudge people for it. That doesn’t stop it from being extremely isolating and dehumanizing at times.  Especially when you aren’t sure if “masculine” or “male” is something you even want to be…because the truth is that I’m not certain that I do. Would I say I am Transfemme?  No…but it’s a question I also go to some lengths to psychologically avoid. 

I don’t try to feminize my voice, even experimentally; hasn’t stopped me saving every TikTok on voice feminization that I have come across.  I’m definitely more curious then I’d like to admit regarding the topic.  I own a few pairs of high heels, but have avoided going any further down that fashion/clothing rabbit hole.  The majority of my friends and partners do not subscribe to gender binaries.  I have a lot of crushes on Transwomen, but not because they are some representation of some fetish; I like them because they are wonderful people that I want to be closer with.  They’re cute and sweet and I just kind of want to get lost in them.  Also, yeah, I follow a lot of Transwomen and Transfemmes on social media.  Yes, I have a beard!  How did you know? I don’t know that the end result of this question is being a transwoman.  I also can’t say that it isn’t.  I just don’t ask the question, deliberately, because I can’t follow through with it.  I’m not in a position to do so and right now I suspect that “Unsure but questioning” is easier to take then “certain but unable”. My ex-wife and I are civil, bordering on friendly…but she is pretty much just slightly better then milquetoast liberal.  Better than average but really bad at questioning her biases or blind spots.  Do I think she would use being Trans against me in terms of custody of our child?  No, I don’t think so…but I also don’t know so.  My daughter is 9.  Am I willing to risk my ex-wife’s inability to emotionally regulate?  This is someone who has wished me dead in front of other (She thought I missed the pick up of our daughter,5~6 at that point, by oversleeping.  It wasn’t even my day to pick her up and she was the one who got the schedule wrong) so her emotional maturity isn’t something I can take for granted.  I have no idea what will or will not set her off. Due to a host of reasons, most of them related to COVID and the movement of Amertican society, I am looking at the possibility of needing to get on disability.  While I am a bit of an ambivert, I have gotten to the point where I don’t trust anyone I don’t know.  Shit is crazy out there.  I am legitimately terrified of anyone having power over me.  It’s complicated, but the short version is that my social anxiety has become legion.  If I move to make any alteration to transition, if that were what I decided I needed, it could affect a disability case to my detriment due to the biases of judges.  It could even affect my ability to get representation.  The madness that is some conservatives' idea of how “easy” the disability process is for their definition of “undesirables” is utterly stupefying, because the reality is much different.  

I live with my parents for a number of reasons.  My mother and father are…progressive, for the most part.  They mean well.  That said, they’re also pretty benignly ignorant about a lot of mental health and social stuff.  Not in a way where I have to avoid topics of conversation or humor them on Thanksgiving to keep the peace, mind you, but in a way where it makes explaining myself extremely tedious and painful.  Like I don’t think they would purposely dead name me or something like that, but my mother is also a very “grounded” person…and hearing her drone on and lecture me about elevated risks in society when I’ve studied them more then she has is a kind of personal hell I struggle to properly articulate.  My mother is my greatest ally and, also, one of the worst burdens on my mental health.  I’d be dead without her but I’m also frequently injured by her.  I survive, a lot of the time, by just laying low.  Restructuring my whole identity isn’t something I can “lay low” with.  

Also, there is a question of if I found out I wanted to be a woman or even just more feminine?  Well, would I look like a feminine person I even wanted to be?  With facial hair, I can pass for a solid version of ruggedly handsome.  I don’t suspect that, even with a more feminine face, there are many versions of femininity that I could pull off nearly as well.  The question of whether it hurts more to be a modestly attractive version of something you don’t want to be or an ugly version of something you do want to be comes up frequently.

So I don’t ask the questions that would give me the answers.  At least, for myself, in my heart of hearts.  Executive function issues can be a blessing in disguise, I suppose, because even in spite of everything I just said?  The question of my gender and how I view it feels pleasantly unresolved to me.  I can see the line of data and evidence, but not come to a conclusion because I haven’t done the work to find out.  I haven’t tried to feminize my voice or my appearance in a meaningful way.  It’s also still functionally unknown, even if highly suspected. Which brings us back to the central issue.

It’s one thing to feel rejected or regarded with suspicion when you are masculine in your presentation, you feel masculine, and you have to navigate the mess left by other masculine people.  It’s another thing to feel rejected or regarded with suspicion when you are masculine in your presentation, but don’t even know if you want to be but don’t feel you have the opportunity to be otherwise.  I feel like I carry the weight of choices I wouldn’t make on behalf of someone I’m not sure I even want to be.  I feel held accountable to things I wouldn’t do and never wanted to be a part of.  Not because I don’t want the consequence of being a male…but because I’m not sure that male is something I want to be.

But I look like I’m male…so they do.

I look through dating profiles of people who interest me.  I never hear back.  Lots of them have phrases about “mostly looking for femmes, but open to anyone!”, so the writing's on the wall when I get nothing but radio silence.  Marking down Non-Binary or Gender-fluid doesn’t functionally matter when your face isn’t the kind of face they are looking to get to know.  When people who I’m interested in talk about not being attracted to “mascs”....I know it’s nothing personal.  It’s not any kind of an attack or dismissal of me as a person.  It’s two people discussing the nature of what they are attracted to, and I don’t begrudge anyone for saying.  In another instance, someone who was local and who I was beginning to flirt with but a halt on everything because...my masculinity got to her.  She wanted time to unpack that.  She deserves it.  I would never want her to feel any kind of way about asking for what she needed.

Irregardless of whom I do or do not “blame” for these situations, even if I blame no one at all, it is still a fucking kick to the guts because I feel stuck being something unwanted.  It makes you question the attraction of the partners you do have; how long until they look at you like everyone else does?  When everyone else they are around or connected to is in some way femme or leaning that way, when do you get cut?  When do you stop being undesired....and it’s easy to question that when you cannot imagine even wanting to be yourself much less next to yourself.  Especially when you feel like that happened before. I was pursuing a woman once.  She was a transwoman.  I thought there was a connection, and she seemed to echo the sentiment.  Some point down the line, she exploded at me.  The reasons are still uncertain; some of it was miscommunication, some of it was some problematic word choices that I will absolutely own*, and some of it I still have no clue.   Whatever her reasons, she called me out as just another fetishist. A chaser.  Accused of creeping on trans-women and following them on social media for some fetishizing reason.  Liking memes and posts on facebook that weren’t mean for “creepy cis men”.  I had been wanting to tell her for a while that I was gender questioning.but never did; I didn’t want her to think I was doing so dishonestly to curry her favor or something.  So I was grappling with feelings that she, without realizing, invalidated. It set me back a lot.. We didn’t have a relationship; there was just some flirting and feeling each other out.  It was still traumatic, because I left the situation feeling as if she needed a reason to purge me out of her life.  She asked me never to contact her again; I’ve honored that, and have no plans to change that face.  I’d be lying, however, if I said that I didn’t want to cuss her out.  It felt she was looking for an excuse to villainize me, and she took the first one she got. She damaged me and my progress with my own identity more then any transphobic half-wit ever could, all for what feels like having some moral high ground.  It took me longer to get to the questions about being Enby or GF because of her.  I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive her for that.  I’ve been phobic about being seen as a “fraud” ever since.  That was approximately 3 years ago. Perhaps more.  It still hurts.  Still feels like what I am going to be seen as the enemy for what I look like, not for what I am. .

Yet, I don’t actually know what I; I avoid asking the question about because opening Pandora’s Box is going to make it twice as bad, if the answer is what it looks like it is, because it won’t change what I am able to do about it.  I feel as if my options are to feel like a pariah and just struggle through it blindly or feel like a pariah after doing personal exploration to discover something that I can’t act on anyway.  I don’t suspect I am alone here.  That’s the thing; I am, comparatively, lucky.  I think I am in a uniquely privileged position to express myself this clearly and this cleanly.  I can speak to this in a way many AMABs don’t get to.  Masculinity is one hell of a double edged sword in Western society; you can do practically anything you want as long as do it without any emotions that isn’t anger, confidence, or grim determination.  If you are married, you can love your wife (and kids) in a noble and detached way.  You can only cry when kids are born, you partner leaves your, you parents die, or you get kicked in the testicles.  Even then it’s treated as suspect.  Everything else is socially and culturally forbidden.  I have enough emotional eloquence that I can express a pain that I suspect many others grappling with yet can barely identify, much less explain.  How do you deal with any of this when you lack the emotional vocabulary to feel half of it?  I can only speculate.

I guess this all leads to one point; your friends who are AMAB, in queer spaces, and are in a continual cycle of gender questioning?  They are probably going through some shit.  Probably a lot of shit.  All the time.  We are stuck in the fringe territory of overlapping identities and we don’t really have any way to go in one direction or the other.   Be gentle with those of us who fall under this banner if you can be. It’s lonely when you can even be yourself with yourself...and you can’t.  You don’t even exactly know who you are, and you end up scared that finding out could destroy you.  So you exist, perpetually, as a reasonable facsimile of who you think you want to be if you are luck...and who you need to be if you are not.

=-= =-= =-= =-= =-=

*For the curious, I used the phrase “pull up your big girl panties” in reference to someone I was dealing with at my job; a client at a day program for adults with developmental disabilities.  The individual in question became a very abusive person during her menstrual cycle, often attacking other clients and becoming extremely aggressive at the slightest annoyance or inconvenience.  Pushing, screaming, trying to bash people with her wheelchair and waiting until people weren’t looking at her to do it. While that behavior was very toxic and frustrating, I didn’t choose a good way to speak about this client, and I will absolutely own that there were better ways to express myself and vent my frustrations.  When the woman I was trying to build a relationship cussed me out on using that phrase, she accused me about talking about my ex-wife in this instance...which I wasn’t.  I have no idea why she thought that.

[romirola]

W.I.P. Wed!

Tagged by @ejunkiet, who shared a snippet of a fic that I’m SO eager to read. Brilliant stuff! 

If you’ve read any of my posts lately, you know that I have been working hard at this Redactedverse Tangled AU. My hope is that this is the last snippet I’ll share before I finish drafting. (I’m a very slow writer, though, so no promises!) The story is currently at about 41K and still needs a bit more. Plus revision. Until that exciting day comes when I can finally start posting, please enjoy this snippet. ( @sealriously-sealrious, I chose this snippet purely because of your Aggro appreciation post!)

Tagging anyone who would like to share a bit of a W.I.P., including @dominimoonbeam, @serenpedac, @thegoldenlittlerose, @softredrobin, @amberyartsy, and @yerawizardharreh. No pressure, folks! 

Also, as requested for all Tangled AU material updates, I am tagging @sri-rachaa!

Aggro hopped over to Vega in a stiff crabwalk. He puffed out his fur and flattened his ears against his head all while arching his back. The cat spit out his most menacing hiss before snatching Vega's ankle in his claws. 

"Mhmm, yes, hello to you, too, Aggro," Vega grimaced, shaking his foot to rid himself of the gnawing creature hanging off of his human-form skin. “Mangy little beast,” he whispered when Milo was out of earshot. “You’re lucky I don’t toss you out that window and see if you don’t land on your feet.”

When Aggro had crossed paths with Vega years ago as a kitten, he was a skinny, ornery little ball of fuzz who looked and acted positively feral. On a whim, Vega had scooped up the kitten and brought him home to Milo, presuming the cat would want nothing to do with then-adolescent Milo. The demon cared little to learn much about human-culture, but he was under the impression that cats, especially cats living on the street, were supposed to be aloof, if not outright aggressive. Vega thought that by bringing home a kitten that he would claim could be Milo’s pet, only for the kitten to display aggression towards Milo and eventually flee the tower, would send Milo into a spiral of negative emotions that could’ve kept Vega full for weeks on end.  

Vega was floored when the kitten fell in love with Milo on sight. When he saw that Milo was happier than Vega had ever seen before, Vega could’ve kicked himself. He certainly couldn’t take the kitten away from Milo when it was clear the only place the kitten wanted to be was perched on Milo’s shoulder. If he did, Vega would risk the elaborate charade of the loving father he had managed to manipulate Milo into believing. Once Milo named the kitten, Vega had no choice but to accept defeat and get used to the fact that their tower was now part of Aggro’s territory. 

Milo may have been fully convinced that Vega had his best interests in mind, and not a sadistic, abusive slant to his every move, but Aggro seemed to recognize the evil that resided in Vega. The gray cat (save for his white chest and one front right paw) couldn’t tell Milo about the suspicions he harbored about Vega’s intentions, so instead, he did his best to comfort Milo when he sensed the young human was upset or anxious or deeply lonely. Aggro did his job frequently and skillfully. 

Also, he liked to bite and claw Vega any chance he got.