#ITS EXTREMELY DAMAGING TO THOUGHT POLICE

[agentsunglassesatnight]

dear anti proshippers for SEBACIEL:

ahem...*taps mic*

.....

THE CORSET SCENE...

...

that is all.

[kiss-theggoat]

Homesick

Thomas Sawyer x F!Reader

Word Count: 1.7k

Summary: After being dragged away from your home at the Sawyer house, you finally make your way back home with some especially exciting news.

TW: Mentions of violence, some blood

The way you ended up here, nauseous, sweaty, and exhausted on the side of a familiar highway was an extremely long story. Your long walk gave you time to reminisce.

The group came into town just like the rest. Hoyt on their tail and Thomas acting as an evil henchman, the only thing on his mind was you, waiting for him with a kind smile and warm hug. He begrudgingly loaded two girls into the car and slammed the door shut, splattering some blood from a previous victim. One of the girls was unconscious and bloodied, the other screaming and kicking at the door. Thomas was tired, and he just wanted to get home to you.

Lately he’d been letting his mind wander. Allowing himself to daydream and realizing that there’s nothing wrong with the little universe he’s created in his mind. He closes his eyes and transports himself to that world. You and him own a small house, cozy and filled with little trinkets he makes or collects for you, on a small plot of farmland where a wildflower garden that you planted thrives. He walks into the homely kitchen and sees you in front of a window, curtains billowing around your glowing skin, sunlight illuminating every part of your face Thomas loved most.

You were hard at work on a meal for the two of you. His heart swelled with the thought of indulging in something that you put your love into. He walks towards you and places his hands around your waist, feeling the soft baby bump there. Pride blooms within him and he-

“Dammit, boy, pay attention!” A thump to the side of the head yanks him away from you like a fish being pulled from the depths of the ocean. He hadn’t even noticed that the window had started to crack from the girl's struggle.

Meanwhile, you sat at home, cleaning yours and Thomas’ room while listening to the crackly radio that he’d found for you in town. You loved music so having it was a must, even if it was only a couple crappy radio stations. The only thing that distracted you from your task was the sound of a car pulling up to the house, crunchy gravel revealing its location. Tommy was home. You beamed, even though you knew to stay downstairs for a little while, until he sorted everything out. So, that’s exactly what you did. You say anxiously in waiting, staring at the door like a hawk and waiting for your love to hulk down those stairs like he always did.

But instead, the door slammed against the side wall, making you gasp and jump from your seat. You saw a man and a woman, both bloodied and panting, the man leaning against the woman and he definitely looked more damaged than she did. She hobbled downstairs, whimpering and crying. “We have to get out of here!”

You stuttered, but no words would leave you. She thought you were a survivor. A prisoner kept by the Sawyer’s. She reached forward and grabbed your hand, yanking you surprisingly hard for someone who seemed to have lost half of her blood. Next thing you knew, you were in a sputtering truck, tears streaming down your face and worry suffocating you. If they got away, where was everyone else? Was Thomas okay? What about Luda Mae?

As you walked under the relentless Texas sun, you realized, you still didn’t know if they were okay or not. You hoped with everything inside you that Thomas was safe. At least from your damage control, you knew the cops would never be a problem for him.

When you arrived in north Texas, you were questioned over and over and over again. Everyone was, but the only advantage you had over them was that you knew everything about the Sawyer household. The rest of the kids didn’t even seem to remember what Highway they were on when they got pulled over. The only detail they could give police was that the town they were in was near Austin. Which, in Texas, meant nothing.

You, on the other hand, slowly and carefully revealed a new piece of evidence each time, effectively leading the investigation towards the opposite side of the city. After the intense questioning, you were finally free.

The options you had were horrible. The cops were offering transportation. But, accepting their transportation meant leading them to Thomas. You had no money, no car, and had no idea where you were. But, through a few illicit activities, you gained access to a really, really shitty car that barely got you halfway home.

Which led you to where you are now. Sweating through all of your clothes, sunburnt, and one second away from blowing chunks all over the highway. That really shitty car had blown out on you, probably something with the radiator being baked in the hottest Texas summer in years. You felt like sobbing. You didn’t know if Thomas was okay, and if he wasn’t, what would you do with the rest of your life? Thomas had become your life. Especially now.

You flashed back to the first stop in your new shitty car was an equally shitty gas station, where you gathered some food and water through flirting with the geriatric cashier, and also stole a pregnancy test from the shelf as you left the station. You had suspicions of being pregnant after the third day of waking up with intense nausea, feeling like you were going to start sobbing if you opened your eyes too wide. Thomas had mentioned having a baby a few times, but you’d never actually put a lot of effort into trying.

As you sat on the dingy toilet, you watched the second pink line slowly materialize. You were a huge mixture of emotion, happiness that you had created life. A shared life with the man that you loved more than anything else in the world. But, you wished for nothing more than to run to Thomas and tell him, which you couldn’t do. You didn’t even know if he was even alive.

The walk along the side of the highway had started to look familiar, the highway getting smaller and the area getting more and more rural. You felt like collapsing, but needed to get home. The heat of the sun beat down on your poor cheeks and you could tell that you were sunburnt. Sweat dripped into your eyes, obscuring your view of the upcoming road sign. The fabric of your shirt grated against your sunburnt face as you wiped your eyes, but you saw the light.

Gas

N xt Ex

The rundown, faded red sign was like a sign from the heavens. You knew that the Sawyer’s station was at the next exit.

The little bell above the door jingled, kissing your ear drums as you entered your sanctuary.

“We’re outta gas.” Luda grumbled, flipping her magazine without even looking up at you.

You smiled, missing her so much you felt like tackling her over the counter. “Luda…” you said, tears welling in your eyes. You walked towards the counter as her head shot up.

“Oh my god, we thought we’d never see you again, dear!” She stands and walks around the counter, holding her arms out to you in a motherly embrace.

You cried into her chest, unable to hold it in any longer. You were so upset and exhausted, needing one thing right now. “Where’s Thomas?”

“Oh he’ll be so happy to see you…” she smiled, lovingly stroking your hair. “He’s been so upset this last week. He’s at the house with Hoyt, let me give him a call.”

You watched her dial the phone, waiting in excitement for your Thomas.

Thomas was in the basement as usual, sewing himself a new mask. His body felt numb, like it had this entire week. Without you, he realized he was empty. Nothing mattered. Life was worthless without you in it.

“Tommy!” The door slammed open, Hoyt standing at the top of the stairs. “Luda needs us at the station.”

Thomas stood, head down as he climbed the stairs. The entire drive to the station was silent and melancholy, Thomas staring out the window. Gravel crunched under the wheels as they approached the station, and even though Thomas was still in the car, he watched as the front door to the station opened. His heart nearly leapt from his chest, and he shoved the car door open before Hoyt even stopped the car.

You watched Thomas rush out of the car, moving the fastest you’ve ever seen in your entire relationship. The smile on your face made your cheeks ache, and when Thomas reached you, his strong arms wrapped around your waist and lifted you off the ground.

“Tommy! I’m so glad you’re okay! I was so scared, I’m so sorry that it took me so long to get to you!” Again, you couldn’t help but cry. The tears streamed from your face at the feeling of being embraced by Thomas. He was your home. He made you feel safe.

He shook his head and set you back down on the ground, holding the sides of your face to wipe your tears away, but his eyebrows furrowed in concern when he noticed how sunburnt you were.

“I’m okay, Tommy. I promise.” You whispered, leaning forward and resting your forehead against his. “And I have something to tell you.”

Thomas stared into your eyes and nodded slowly, letting you know he’s ready for you to speak.

“I’m pregnant.” You said, smile widening again.

You thought that Thomas’ heart might burst. His eyes went wide as saucers and he perked up, staring at you in shock for a moment. Once the shock passed, he pulled you into the tightest hug you’d ever received. Thomas moved a step back, staring down at your stomach with eyes full of admiration, his large hands gently touching the sides of your stomach.

You knew that Thomas would be the best partner you could ever ask for, and the best father your baby could ever ask for.

[ystrike1]

After Killing You - By Ttangjwi (8/10)

If your true loved killed you...what would you do if you woke up? Would you call the police? Lie in wait for revenge? No. If it's true love you'd say you knew it was an accident. Only a scratch. You'd stay together anyway....If you're totally crazy.

Eunsung is a child of divorce. Like, A Child of Divorce. As in, neither of his parents wanted him. His mother kicked him out as a teenager.

As a child it was much worse. He moved alot because the divorce was messy. His father liked to hit him. His mother constantly screamed that she did not want or love him. It's a real shame. Eunsung is a very handsome boy, and the author throws in a few hints about his brain too. He's very smart, but he's stuck with zero social skills because of his upbringing.

Eunsung gets overly attached to his first ever boyfriend, Hyunwoo. Hyunwoo is a handsome, kind loser. When they met Hyunwoo was a washed up chef working a convenience store gig. Eunsung was still a student. They were friends first. Hyunwoo was his only friend.

It become love. Then obsession.

Hyunwoo breaks up with him over his creepy behavior later on. You see, Hyunwoo gets better. After he starts dating Eunsung he improves himself. He gets back into restaurant work at the bottom. He goes to therapy for his damaged hand, so he can pursue his dream of restaurant ownership.

The problem is his new job opens doors. It eats up alot of his time...and he reconnects with his ex-girlfriend through the restaurant.

Hyunwoo notices that his relationship with an obsessive and directionless man with no dreams...is weird and its not going anywhere.

Eunsung chokes him, because he doesn't want his beloved to leave.

He does it too hard.

Then Eunsung wakes up next to his own corpse. Hyunwoo is no longer dead under him. He has entered a parallel world where Hyunwoo killed him by accident. Hyunwoo fought off his choking hands. He held up a knife in self defense...and he lashed out too hard.

Hyunwoo is at work, thinking about going to jail or hiding the body.

Eunsung hides his own body. He stabs himself...gently so he looks battered, and he waits for Hyunwoo.

He said he was acting crazy. They both did awful things, but he wants to give their relationship another chance.

Eunsung promises to be less clingy and more considerate.

Hyunwoo says yes.

He did love Eunsung. He just thought their relationship was unhealthy and stagnant.

Eunsung promises to go to school. He gives Hyunwoo more alone time and time to breathe. All is well....and Hyunwoo feels extremely guilty for hurting his lover.

He rationalizes that Eunsung's attack was more of a panic attack...not an obsessive tirade.

All is well.

Hyunwoo tries harder too.

Eunsung was in the wrong for following him to work and telling him to quit his job....but that's in the past.

He does love Eunsung.

The problem is his ex. A strong, driven woman who is also in the restaurant industry.

She dumped him before, when his hands got injured and his life went down the toilet.

Hyunwoo....isn't gay. It's a big problem in their relationship. He likes Eunsung, but being with a woman is both more natural and convenient for him...

He wavers, even when Eunsung tries his best to be less obsessive (on the surface).

It's (sort of) an accident.

A nosy coworker finds out that Hyunwoo has a (younger) boyfriend.

Hyunwoo feels awkward for even thinking about abandoning his considerate boyfriend

...who was there for him when his ex abandoned him...

Hyunwoo bites the bullet. He quits his job at the restaurant, and he starts saying the same obsessive things Eunsung used to say.

Eunsung wants to be happy, but he doesn't trust it. He's been hiding his madness, but underneath it all he's still the same.

He checks Hyunwoo's phone while he's asleep, and he finds out.

Hyunwoo met his ex secretly a couple times.

He was thinking about leaving.

Again.

Even though Eunsung did everything right this time.

Maybe....

He should try again...

Yeah....

That'll work...

[miles-wrightworth]

AA culprit AU (TW for mentions of blood and violent murder)

okay so buckle up

Phoenix: when Dahlia tried to poison him, he became interested in chemicals and toxins. he switched his major to chemistry and he now sells concoctions and poisons to anyone who is willing to pay.

he is a little bit insane. he has built up an immunity to poisons after accidentally drinking them and narrowly surviving every time (and cuz he works with toxins so much). at this point, he just tastes his poisons like soup like 'hmmm needs more acetone'

his hands shake and hes gone just a little crazy from the damage the poisons have done to him

he pretty much always has some sort of chemical stain or burn somewhere on him or his clothing.

Miles: Miles is what began this idea because i think he would be ten times hotter if he was a muderer. anyways-

dl6 still happens and everything is the same up to when Miles is about 15 years old and he finds out about mvk killing Gregory. he is pissed asf and apalled at the injustice of the whole situation and how corrupted mvks methods are. he feels the urge to kill him grow stronger every day.

he eventually does snap and plunge his pocket knife into mvk multiple times and gets away with it. Franziska is pissed because he murdered her dad but eventually comes to terms with the fact that Miles' crime has made the world an overall better place.

with no legal guardian, Miles and Fran are put in an orphanage and vibe there until Miles is 18. Fran learns how to make knives and Miles learns how to use them. Fran lives with Miles until she is 18 and moves out.

Miles is like 'hey. im good with knives, i despise injustice, and i have begun to like the sight of blood. i should put that to good use' and he becomes somewhat of a serial killer/vigilante

he picks targets carefully. corrupt people in the legal system, corrupt politicians, any shitty person he can find. he murders them brutally and due to the dl6 incident, he cant hold a gun without trembling, so his go-to method of killing is knives. he loves knives and he has a huge collection of fancy blades and throwing knives. he always leaves his victims crucified on the nearest wall with knives through their wrists pinning them there and bathes the room in their blood. thats how the cops know he did it.

the news dubs him the 'Crimson King' and Phoenix sees that in a newspaper and wants to see this guy for himself because he definitely recognizes that blurred pic the police took in the paper.

basically hes noble but extremely brutal and god thats kinda hot

Fran: Franziska is a bladesmith/black market arms dealer. Miles frequently visits her shop and he gets discounts on her wares. havent thought about her story a lot.

Maya: Maya is a nurse at a nearby urgent care clinic. Phoenix frequently comes in begging her to help him but not tell anyone because he accidentally drank a lethal poison but nobody can know because its illegal to possess. also havent thought too much about her story.

[necroromantics]

Ticci Toby + Bipolar Disorder

Partially an educational post, partially a how-to-write guide.

(check out my how-to-write aspd/psychopathy here)

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder (shortened to BD, not BPD), is a mood disorder that causes a person to experience extreme fluncuations in their moods and energy levels. These episodes swing from depressive lows to manic highs. Despite popular belief, bipolar episodes last a long time (1+ weeks), and typically have a period of stability in between them. It is NOT the same as borderline personality disorder, they are two very different disorders.

Does Toby canonically have bipolar?

Sort of. His canon reference sheet shows 'bipolar' as one of his personality traits. This is just an error on the creators part, since they were young and didn't know what real bipolar disorder is. Bipolar isn't a personality trait, and the mood swings in the disorder are not quick switches. The way it's used on his sheet is more like borderline personality disorder than it is bipolar disorder. So if we're talking about whats canon, I'd say it's up for interpretation.

Do you headcanon Toby to have bipolar?

I do, but mostly because I have BD myself, and I like to project that onto him. Theres no characters in media who have bipolar disorder that I enjoy/know of, because honestly its kind of a pain in the ass to write. I rarely include it in any of my stories involving him, even though having untreated bipolar disorder is something that would effect him every day of his life, and severely. I would rather people not write him having bipolar at all, than to write it as BPD or other misinforming ways.

How to properly write Toby with bipolar?

A bit of this can also apply to any other character. First, the obvious, is to do research. Bipolar is something that needs to be treated, because manic highs and depressive lows are so life-altering, damaging, and cause a lot of harm to the individual. Since Toby is a killer on the run, he most likely wouldn't have access to proper treatment, which means his entire life would be a series of intense highs and lows. This is why I usually don't bother including his bipolar symptoms in my writing, cuz it's a hassle incorporating him going wildly manic at random points, even though its the harsh reality people with bipolar disorder face. So if you're going to write Toby with BD, you will need to be prepared to write how inconvenient the disorder is for not only Toby himself, but everyone around him.

It would interfere with his work as a proxy, it would greatly impact his relationships with the people around him. It might even end up with him getting caught by the police, or thrown into a psychiatric hospital (most people with bipolar end up in a psych ward at some point). If you do want to write him being treated for his disorder, you'll need to look into medication. One of the most common ones is lithium, but did you know some anticonvulsants (the medication Tim takes in Marble Hornets), act as a secondary treatment for bipolar disorder too? Carbamazepine is an example of this. You could incorporate that as well, since in Marble Hornets anticonvulsants are used to potentially lessen the effects of The Operator.

What do manic episodes look like? How would they effect Toby?

Manic episodes are very intense highs in mood and energy. Despite what people say, real manic episodes are only experienced in people with bipolar disorder. Other disorders such as ADHD and BPD can mimic mania, but they are not classified as true manic episodes. So if you want to write mania, the character needs to have bipolar (or schizoaffective).

Some symptoms of a manic episode are racing thoughts, lack of judgment, feeling untouchable or overly confident, no consideration for consequences, talking a lot, jumbled words from speaking too fast, jumping from one task to another. It feels like a constant surge of energy going through your body, and its so overwhelming you can't stop to think about anything you're doing. You just feel absolutely euphoric, and capable, and like nothing can bring you down. A very real danger of manic episodes is that some people experience co-occurring psychosis alongside their episodes, such as delusions and hallucinations. Another issue is that people with mania are so full of energy, they don't sleep for days on end. These highs can also lead to dangerous acts due to the recklessness and lack of proper judgement on whats safe/smart in that moment. There is also hypomania, which is a lesser, more mild form of mania.

For Toby, it completely depends on how you view his character and circumstances. But for me, I think that in a manic episode, Toby would cause many issues in his relationships with the people around him. He would be much more irritable, paranoid, he would go on rants and talk a lot, jumping from one rant to another. He wouldn't sleep for days, he would become increasingly reckless and grandiose. Toby would fight more with others, go off on his own a lot more, do a lot of risky things, and with his CIPA he would most definitely get himself hurt a lot more and more severely. When you're manic, you don't stop to consider the risks of the reckless things you're doing.

What do depressive episodes look like? How would they effect Toby?

Depressive episodes may come directly after a manic episode, a crash, or they can come on randomly after a period of stability. They typically last longer than manic episodes, usually about 1+ months. They're periods of an intense drop in mood and energy levels, which are often pretty severe.

The symptoms of depressive episodes are similar to regular depression, but not quite the same, and typically on the more severe end of the spectrum. Utter hopelessness and bleakness, suicidal thoughts, oversleeping, lack of interest in anything, sadness, difficulties concentrating, slower thinking, social isolation. Bipolar lows feel like energy and life is being sucked right out of you. All you want to do is sleep, nothing feels interesting, or you don't have any energy to do things that used to make you happy. People are disappointing, you don't want to talk to anyone. The lows feel very heavy, very tiring.

When Toby is experiencing a low episode, I can't imagine he gets out much. He would probably disappear for a bit, to be left alone, because he doesn't want to be around anybody. He would spend his time sleeping as much as he can, and then the rest of his time doing proxy work, and then going back to sleep. He probably wouldn't want to be awake with his hopeless and bleak thoughts.

What are mixed episodes?

Hell on earth. Mixed episodes are when someone with BD experiences both manic and depressive symptoms in rapid succession or at the same time. This can look like feeling super energetic, but also horribly hopeless and depressed, or being on top of the world one minute, and then wanting to off yourself the next. They are very intense, and dangerous. It feels like you're losing your mind, and you can't catch yourself. You just have to sit there and let your mind take you on the worst rollercoaster of your life.

What are some things to avoid when writing bipolar disorder?

For the love of GOD stop mixing it up with borderline personality disorder. Bipolar is a MOOD DISORDER, not a personality disorder. The mood swings are not quick or volatile, there is no fear of abandonment, or unstable emotions. The mood swings are more like intense changes in energy that effects the mood, and they typically last over the course of a week+. Toby canonically does have volatile, rapidly shifting and unpredictable emotions, but that would not be a result of his bipolar disorder (besides maybe during a manic episode).

And the obvious, don't demonize the disorder and make him out to be a crazy person because he's bipolar. Toby is nuts, but not because he has BD.

If you have any more questions, Google is free, but make sure to find reliable and professional sources. But also, if you want to DM me or send a question in my inbox I'm free to answer with my personal experience, and headcanons, about bipolar and how it may present in Toby.

[beardedmrbean]

A New York Times columnist criticized "antiracist" guru Ibram Kendi’s philosophy as "reductionistic" and "strident" while slamming the academic institutions, businesses and donors that bought into the notion in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder.

Times columnist Pamela Paul wrote on Thursday that institutions pushing Kendi’s school of thought were going "against the enlightened principles on which many of those institutions were founded — free inquiry, freedom of speech, a diversity of perspectives."

Paul’s column is the latest hit on Kendi, whose reputation has been damaged in recent weeks following news that his antiracism center at Boston University had undergone major layoffs.

In the fallout from these layoffs, workers came forward with bombshell allegations that the center "exploited" staff and "blew through" millions of dollars in grant money while failing to deliver on its promises.

Paul began her piece with comment on Kendi’s fall from grace and then continued with an examination of why so many cultural institutions bought into his mantras in the first place.

She wrote, "The recent turmoil at Ibram X. Kendi’s Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, with more than half its staff laid off and half its budget cut amid questions of what it did with the nearly $55 million it raised, led to whoops of schadenfreude from Kendi’s critics and hand wringing from his loyal fans."

After noting how both right and left viewed Kendi, as either "what was right or wrong with America’s racial reckoning since the police murder of George Floyd," she wrote that it is "more interesting" that he was so propped up considering his "simplistic" ideas.

"More interesting is that many major universities, corporations, nonprofit groups and influential donors thought buying into Kendi’s strident, simplistic formula — that racism is the cause of all racial disparities and that anyone who disagrees is a racist — could eradicate racial strife and absolve them of any role they may have played in it," Paul wrote.

She rebuked these institutions, adding, "After all, this reductionist line of thinking runs squarely against the enlightened principles on which many of those institutions were founded — free inquiry, freedom of speech, a diversity of perspectives."

But because of their support, Paul added, "Kendi’s ideas gained prominence, often to the exclusion of all other perspectives."

After giving a brief history of how the racial thinker developed his ideas, the columnist claimed there are better, more nuanced ideas of confronting racism.

She first cited Kendi’s 2019 book, "How to Be an Antiracist," which was the basis for much of the antiracist thought that made him an often-cited expert in the George Floyd era.

Paula wrote, "In this book, Kendi made clear that to explore reasons other than racism for racial inequities, whether economic, social or cultural, is to promote anti-black policies. ‘The only remedy to racist discrimination is antiracist discrimination,' Kendi wrote, in words that would be softened in a future edition after they became the subject of criticism."

She summarized this assessment, adding, "In other words, two wrongs do make a right. As practiced, that meant curriculums that favor works by Black people over white people is one way to achieve that goal; hiring quotas are another."

Paula also noted how antiracism "requires a commitment" to "active opposition to sexism, homophobia, colorism, ethnocentrism, nativism, cultural prejudice and any class biases that supposedly harm Black lives. To deviate from any of this is to be racist. You’re either with us or you’re against us."

The columnist slammed these ideas, arguing that individuals can advocate less extreme positions and still be considered not racist. "Contra Kendi, there are conscientious people who advocate racial neutrality over racial discrimination. It isn’t necessarily naive or wrong to believe that most Americans aren’t racist," she said, adding, "To believe that white supremacists exist in this country but that white supremacy is not the dominant characteristic of America in 2023 is also an acceptable position."

Paula concluded the piece advocating for a "more nuanced and open-minded conversation around racism and a commitment to more diverse visions of how to address it."

[anarchotahdigism]

I know i say "wear a mask and riot" and "fuck a peaceful protest" but I'd had a nice long post about how digital work and advocacy is praxis (or can be) on my old account. Right now, COVID is spreading and killing thousands of people in the US alone and nearly all """radicals""""" and """""leftists"""" are philosophically no different than the fascists they claim to oppose because they are so thoroughly wedded to eugenics that they refuse to wear and enforce masking. COVID causes long COVID in 10-30% of cases so the so-called US alone may well be a majority disabled nation now due to rampant eugenics forcing the spread of COVID. Long COVID is a rotting death and makes everything an order of magnitude more difficult if you still are able to do the things you were prior. Repeated COVID infections means you're guaranteed to be immunocompromised permanently and disabled in other ways you'll likely find out the hard way. With 40% of cases being asymptomatic and most only showing severe symptoms after 2-3 infections, and many starting to drop dead after 3 to 5 infections, many people accrue damage from and spread COVID without realizing it until it is far, far too late. As a result, it's guaranteed that the ableists have disabled and killed people. They've kept disabled people like me who are high risk out of radical spaces & communities. They've abandoned solidarity for everyone but the abled, ableist middle class while focusing most of their efforts on electoralism, despite the clear and constant failures of such actions. The BLM Rebellion of 2020-2021 had significant---albeit broadly temporary--impacts on electoral politics, society, and communities because it was a constant and ongoing rebellion that was also much more disability inclusive than prior leftist movement moments. For the first time, people recognized the need for remote actions & support because while masking was at the high water mark, more abled people understood that a lot of us disabled could not and would not risk COVID but we had had skills vital to the project. Things disabled people were absolutely critical for during the BLM Rebellion: police scanner observation and transcription, evacuation coordination, event & route planning, translation services, postering, graphics art & design, self defense seminars, radio nets, mutual aid fundraising, mutual aid distribution, bail fund coordination, zine writing, mask & test distributions, contact tracing (remember this??!??!), car brigades, organizing medical supplies, teaching first aid skills, and countless other roles often organized & performed remotely. For every fighter, there are at least a dozen support roles and with some thought and effort, those roles can be aided or done digitally. Posting on its own can be praxis in that it shares information, knowledge, tactics, demonstrates that there are other radicals out there willing to do what they can, normalizes radicalism, and in some cases, regimes pay close attention to internet support.

During the height of the Jina Amini rebellion in 2022, the Iranian regime tried to cut the internet repeatedly to stifle information out of and into Iran to hinder protest coordination and outrage. It also paid extremely close attention to when the rebellion was trending and refrained from reprisals until the mass attention of the internet citizenry turned away. Posting literally helped save lives by forcing the regime to wait, buying people time to organize, prepare, and act accordingly in Iran and internationally. Personally, I will always remember and be grateful for the Palestinians who turned out across the world, but especially in occupied Palestine, for Iranians. Iran is not the only regime that will wait until posts slacken and attention wanes before massacring people. If you are disabled, if you have arrest risks, if for any reasons you don't want to be involved in a radical riot, but you want to support those who can and do, there is so much you can do year round but especially things kick off!! Any skills, resources, knowledge, or support you can organize or contribute is valuable! eSims for Gaza right now are monumental in ensuring Gazans can coordinate information, requests, record Israeli occupation war crimes & apartheid cruelty, and many disabled graphics designers are offering their services in exchange for esim donations. It's been incredible to see.

The people who are against digital activism are ableist and racist and ignorant as hell beyond that. You can make an impact and even save and change lives while homebound. Begging genociders to stop profitable genocides has never and will never work. Riots & boycotts work because they directly confront and attack power and if those actions are supported by communities, they can continue for quite some time, as we saw with the BLM uprising. Regimes do not fall because people ask regime leaders to please stop committing atrocities; they fall when the people are able to bring to bear the sum of their hopes and wrath and bring the fight to those who have been oppressing them. That requires inclusive community & an outright rejection of the regime and its systems of cooptation & recuperation.

If a revolution or movement isn't inclusive, if it excludes the disabled, the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, it's not a revolution or movement, it's just another genocidal regime change.

[ukrfeminism]

Pornography creators, law enforcement, parents and the public asked for views as government investigates impact of pornography

views to be collected on impact of emerging tech, such as AI and virtual reality, on pornography

results will inform independent Pornography Review that will cover harm caused to sexual relationships and violence against women in wider society

Law enforcers, pornography makers, parents and the public are being asked to help shape the future of pornography regulation in the UK from today (Thursday 11 January) as the government launches a wide-ranging call for evidence as part of its review of the pornography industry.

The questionnaire, which closes on Thursday 7 March will collect evidence on the impact of pornographic content on relationships, sexual behaviours, mental health and people’s views of women and girls.

This exercise will provide independent Lead Reviewer Baroness Bertin with evidence that represents the views of those in the industry itself and the public, which will be used to develop recommendations for the government to undertake.

The substantial impact that new technologies have had on the pornography industry will also be covered, with respondents asked for their thoughts on how AI and virtual reality have changed how pornography is made, accessed and viewed, as well as how this impacts viewers and the industry.

Law enforcement and the criminal justice system will have an opportunity to raise what challenges face them in identifying and tackling these issues in pornography – as well as giving the industry an opportunity to set out what it is doing to tackle them more effectively.

Lead Reviewer Baroness Bertin said:

Throughout this review, it is essential we engage directly with those who are most involved in the pornography industry and accurately establish what the general public thinks of the current rules governing pornography. We want to hear from a wide range of views, whether it be a worried parent, those enforcing the laws to stop exploitation or someone directing or performing in pornography themselves, to speak up and support our review. Extreme pornography can have a damaging impact - we owe it to our children and indeed to the whole of society to put the guard rails back in place. This review will help us fully understand what we must now do to protect those most affected as well as future proofing the law to keep pace with an ever-evolving pornography industry.

Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy Saqib Bhatti said:

The Pornography Review will be key to informing what we do next to tackle any harmful impact the industry may have on those working within it, or society at large. The invaluable evidence the public, experts and industry provide will be integral to what Baroness Bertin recommends later this year.

Ian Critchley, QPM, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Child Abuse and Investigation said:

I very much welcome this government commissioned review led by Baroness Bertin. It is one that is essential in tackling harmful sexual behaviours. This is in addition to the whole scale use of smart devices by teenagers and now under 10s, which gives them increased access to harmful material including violent pornography and indecent images of children. The Online Safety Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation for a generation and it will help us to improve the safety of children and young people. In tandem with this review will provide a greater evidence base allowing us to better understand the impact violent pornography is having on the behaviour of young people and adults who continue to pose the greatest risk of harm to children. It will then ensure we can work together across agencies to prevent what has become normalised behaviour which is causing some of the greatest harm often with lifelong consequences.

The Pornography Review, announced last year, builds on the government’s work to take the long-term decisions for a better future for our children and grandchildren through the Online Safety Act, by stopping children from accessing pornography online by requiring services to establish the age of their users, including through age verification and age estimation tools.

Read the pornography regulation, legislation and enforcement call for evidence here.

[unboundtravels]

𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐊𝐒 | @aeternxs

The Central rotor of The TARDIS console churned quietly, the engines wheezing and groaning as the Police Box dragged its way through the vortex, speed slow and casual as the lights in the console remained faded. There was a faint illumination in the back of the console room, and there in the chair sat 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓. his face was sunken and neutral, perpetually. He was lounging in the chair quietly, a book opened quietly. Something he was thumbing through absentmindedly. 

Eventually, he shut it, reading the title. "I wonder what was so restricted about you?" He hummed quietly before resting the book on the table right near the armrest of the chair. He watched the TARDIS rotor sink up and down slowly, rubbing at the bridge of his nose before eventually standing up and walking toward it. On the rack hung a weathered blue cotton coat, whilst The Doctor works a brown waistcoat and a ruffled white shirt, patterned tie wrapped underneath the collar. Right now, his sleeves were rolled up which showcased a piece of purple cloth wrapped around his right hand. His trousers were a dull green, and he wore knee-high laced brown boots. 

Quietly, he began to set coordinates into the TARDIS console. "Right, old girl... I think we've had enough silence for a little bit, haven't we?" He talked aloud to the ship, before suddenly it beeped, as if some cosmic coincidence had triggered a well-time reply from the ship. Reaching up, The Doctor pulled on a chain connected to the bottom of the TARDIS monitor, which was connected to a scissor arm on the ceiling. "The temporal collision alarm? But I thought I disabled that ages ago. It never went off—" The TARDIS suddenly rocked, sparks and flames shooting out from the console as the ship roared in reply to having struck something in the vortex.

"Easy now, old girl! Easy!" The Doctor moved to try and do some type of damage control as he flicked a variety of switches and levers, throwing one switch all the way to the side as the console began to slow down. "Either the TARDIS is having a very big stomach bug, or we've just hit something in the vortex—" The Doctor suddenly yelped when the TARDIS rocked again and more sparks shot out from the top of the console and the nearby controls on his side. The Doctor reached for an emergency lever.

"Right! I've got no choice but to put us down somewhere!" He dragged the emergency lever down, and the TARDIS engines began to land as The Doctor watched various signs of extreme damage or stress on the console cease altogether. No more sparks, no more flames. Once the engine stopped, The TARDIS released a hiss across its console that indicated it would need some time to rest. The Doctor began to circle the TARDIS console, knowing he'd need to fetch his Sonic Screwdriver from his jacket to scan the damage— but he stopped when he circled the console, revealing something that was previously obstructed from his vision.

A woman, on the TARDIS floor— picking herself up, but still seemingly coming too. The Doctor's eyes widened and shocked as they were— still balanced out by his overall numb and neutral expression. "...Ah." He hummed.

"So, it was you we hit in the vortex."

[joshy-tomato]

What about a vigilante!AU?? :o

Furina gets dragged into saving the city by... forces out of her control, I haven't thought about that, but anyway off she goes moonlighting as Focalors. She does not like this development, but she can't deny that being able to help her fellow citizens is nice.

Arle is a mafia leader going crazy because this vigilante is starting to become a thorn in the side of illegal activities. Arle has her own brand of justice that kinda pushed her to use illegal activities to ensure her goals and at this point she's going to become collateral damage.

Or... well, this could go a different way, too. Arle could a detective trying to pin down Focalors but also wouldn't mind trying to "pin down" the cute singer at bar she frequents (wink wink).

OR, Arle could be the vigilant (Knave, I suppose? I kinda want to use something different, but nothing comes to mind...) and Furina could be the detective.

Ahhh I can't decide...!

It could be that Arlecchino is both the Mafia Leader and the detective as an excuse to use more time to investigate this so called Focalors. I wonder if Furina is a batman-esque vigilante or something more magical is going on, if its something magical it could make sense why she is the one moving to deal with it, cuz no one else got the capabilities of dealing with this bigger evil. Without power too, Furina could have information to take down this bigger evil, but can't trust the police because this bigger evil is already infiltrated in it (maybe the reason too on why Arle is posing as detective).

Is really funny to imagine Arlecchino being annoyed to no end by Focalors while also trying to win her heart when she is Furina. What if there is a misunderstanding and Arle think that Furina is scared of Focalors bcs one time she brought her up and Furina looked extremely uncomfortable.

[tiger-moran]

Still thinking about writing the sequel to my last fic but now I'm getting irate with ACD for all the canonical contradictions again

(How can Watson and the police not know who Moran is in The Empty House when they knew who he was in the late 1880s?

And if they did all know who Moran was in the 1890s then why did none of them seem to have any suspicion of him even when an acquaintance of his was 'mysteriously' shot dead? That would tend to suggest Moran was above suspicion because... he didn't actually do it?

And Watson never refers to the actual trial of Moran, he never states the actual motive for Adair's murder, Moran is specifically stated to be alive many years later. If Moran killed Adair he should be dead within weeks probably given the speed of trials then, and Watson should have some better idea what the motive for the murder was by the time he writes the story. But he still doesn't seem to know what the motive was and Moran is alive.

I mean... were we really, genuinely supposed to infer from this that there was a real possibility that Moran didn't do it? Because there seems to be more evidence that he didn't than that he actually did (also no witnesses and the physical evidence is all completely circumstantial or two badly mangled bullets which couldn't possibly have been compared properly due to the damage and also when forensics was in its infancy then, also no motive even suggested except some petty reason that doesn't sound at all like a reason someone like Moran would murder a man over. Some sort of lover's tiff between him and Adair or Adair being infatuated with Moran and Moran not being interested and having to take extreme measures to fend him off is still far more believable than 'Adair found out he was cheating and this threatened the income he got from cheating at cards' because, firstly how much money was he really going to be making from cheating at a few card games, he wasn't even seemingly playing for huge amounts anyway and secondly, Moran was rich, he had loads of money, what's he supposed to have done with that? The motive suggested is flimsy as hell. Also let's not forget that Adair had broken off his engagement not that long before he died too).

Were we supposed to suspect even that someone else might have organised the murder instead using one of their other contacts? Someone like Moriarty? I know a lot of stuff was just because ACD simply did not care but did he ever have it in mind that Moriarty had survived because it definitely feels like at the very least he was trying to keep his options open with him, the same as he probably was with never actually showing Holmes's death - everything is too vague, nothing is ever confirmed, a lot of details just do not make sense and Watson never sees anything that would confirm to him never mind to us the readers that Moriarty was dead, or that Moran was actually guilty of Adair's murder.

And whatever ACD thought, Watson has definitely lied to the readers somewhere - the same as with Moriarty, he cannot have both known about Moran and not known about Moran at the same time. So why has he lied, what is he hiding?

(He probably did know Moran even before Holmes knew anything about him - their army careers overlapped, they very likely came back to England at the same time maybe on the same ship. Watson, did you really fuck Moran in Afghanistan? Or on the ship. Is that what you're trying to hide?)

And then we get back to the 'why does Holmes specifically not want Moran charged with attempting to murder him even when the evidence of Moran's guilt of Adair's murder is so flimsy surely he'd want to throw everything possible at him?' thing. This also seems to tend to suggest maybe Holmes knew Moran wasn't actually trying to murder him then he was just making a point that he could do so? And what is up with the weirdly homoerotic antagonism between Holmes and Moran anyway?)

The relationships between these four characters - Holmes, Watson, Moriarty, Moran - are so much more complicated than it seems and there has to be a lot more going on there than Watson (or Holmes via Watson) ever lets on. I mean it's fascinating for the possibilities it raises but it is infuriating, all these plot holes and contradictions and just that... so little is ever actually shown to us. Also that so few people ever seem actually interested in exploring any of this, or what really went on between Moran and Adair either. So much gets taken at face value even when it actively contradicts something else but there is so much more to unpick there.)

[whilereadingandwalking]

Manhunt is beautiful, raw, and cruel, finally a speculative fiction novel that treats chromosome-based biological catastrophe in a way that's actually compelling. Gretchen Felker-Martin's writing is excellent and awful in its excellence, because this book is terrifying, visceral, and violent. In it, a disease (dubbed "t.rex") transforms people with the right amount of testosterone (primarily cis men) into rabid, murderous, sex-crazed zombies. Gangs of TERFs, cis women tattooed with XX, police gender and seek out and murder any person who they decide is 'secretly a man' or a gender traitor. Meanwhile, a few queer people try to survive in an apocalyptic world, hunted by everyone. It's been a minute since a book made me cry, but this one did, more than once. Felker-Martin's characters are compelling: crossbow-welding Beth, always-longing Fern, fat doctor Indi who refines their estrogen, and Robbie, a trans man who joins their squad to try and find safety. It's an excellent book about zombies and the power dynamics in apocalyptic worlds in general—but more than that, it's a horror story about the arguments that TERFs and other transphobes use to insist that there are "real women," on the violence of that point of view, of the endless damage of turning on our most vulnerable while there is a (in this case, extremely literal) seething crowd of patriarchy that we'd be better off fighting together. It goes hard, poking at the kind of women or queer people who still think there's a way to blend, to survive within the TERFs' world, instead of resisting against it. Manhunt is bold, and it is at turns grotesque, funny, extremely sexy, graphic, horrifying, and devastating. Warning: I think anyone who does not want to encounter scenes of graphic rape or violence should stay far away from this book, and it is questionable whether the rape scene was gratuitous. I don't think it needed to have not happened, but I question how graphic that scene needed to be. It's possible that within the zombie-apocalypse genre of blood and gore and guts, Felker-Martin felt that scene should also be 'honest' to the violence of what's happening. But I thought it was excessive. Other complaints: the timeline of the narrative got pretty intensely mixed up several times, which was confusing. The logistics were often suspect. (I'm not mad at "coincidences"—one character shows up in the nick of time, etc—for me those are a classic part of the zombie apocalypse genre so they didn't bother me. I'm referring to like, timelines, distances, that kind of thing.) One of the main characters is a TERF. Some people think she has a redemption arc. I personally don't think it is one. She is not exactly forgiven at the end. I think she's there more to reveal the rot at the very core of the TERFs' own ideologies. This idea that none of them truly believe what they spew, most of them just want the power the divisions would give them, want others not to have what they've been told is theirs to have. I think it was effective, but I'm willing to debate it. All around, I really enjoyed this book, but the parts I didn't like really stick in the seams. I wouldn't recommend this one to everybody, but I do hope we get more fiction that does as good of a job talking about TERFs and why their rhetoric is so dangerous for people of all genders. Content warnings: Extreme: body horror & violence, transphobia, rape (graphic) Also: suicide, gender dysphoria, deadnaming, fatphobia, anti-Semitism, self-harm.

[fallen-and-holy]

Background/Bio post for fictotype/fabling

Cw for GIANT ASS POST (2.5k words) and for traumatic background stuff, abuse, villainous stuff, gore, etc. We’re not glorifying it. 

Tokoyami Eztli, known by people close to him as “Shi”, is a non-canon character from MHA/BNHA. He’s a trans guy, uses he/it pronouns, is pansexual, and is in its early twenties. Its quirk is Khaos, which is similar to Tokoyami Fumikage’s Dark Shadow. A sentient shadow being named Khaos, along with birdlike mutations on the user's body. 

Our life started about 21 years before the events of canon started. Our father was the brother of Tokoyami Fumikage’s father, which is how we’re related. Our parents never wanted a child, and even more so a queer child with a ‘villainous’ quirk. Most of our childhood was spent enduring emotional and physical abuse from our mother, and neglect from our father. We visited Fumikage often, because his parents wanted a relationship, but our parents were always ‘mysteriously busy’. From the moment he was born, we thought of him as our little brother. When we were around 11, we lost control of our quirk and seriously injured a neighborhood kid. We ran, and our parents lost control and tried to kill us. We- m. We killed them, in self defense. The police found us sobbing, and of course assumed that ‘the kid with the villainous quirk finally snapped and killed its poor, innocent parents. The bruises, scars, and blunt force trauma we found on him must have been from his parents' self defense!!!’ and shipped us off to a prison for dangerous, villainous kids. Neither Khaos nor us liked that very much, so we broke out, and started living on the streets. It wasn’t great, but we did what we had to. Khaos and us ended up beating the hell out of a lot of people who tried to hurt us, or the other homeless people we were hanging out with. Eventually, we got such a reputation that other people on the streets would come to us for protection, and offer whatever food, shelter, etc they had. We’d protect them, and take whatever we needed to survive. We ended up being a kinda unofficial vigilante? But we didn’t go after the big, flashy villains, as long as they left us and our people alone. At one point, when Hitoshi was around 11, he ran away from his foster home because of mistreatment due to his quirk. He happened to live in the same city as us, so when we heard of a runaway kid with a ‘villainous quirk’, we were immediately intrigued. We took him under our wing (so to speak) for a few days, but he ended up going back to the foster system. We still met up from time to time, and he basically became a little brother. 

After a few years, we started hearing of a new kid on the streets, with an extremely dangerous and destructive fire quirk. He minded his own business mostly, so we didn’t go looking for him. At one point, though, we found him after a quirk malfunction getting fucked up by some assholes. In a normal situation he could take care of himself, but he was half comatose and delirious from heat damage. We took the guys out, and took Dabi to the place we were staying at the time. When we picked him up, he made some woozy comment about us being an angel, and it's been his nickname for us since. We bandaged him up as best we could, and when he woke up he took off. After that, we ran into each other and saved each other’s lives often enough that we became- allies with benefits was the best word for it. When he joined the League, we did some sniffing around. It had potential, even if it kinda sucked at that point sadfjkahlsfdj. So we joined. The events of our universe split from canon at the training camp. The kids got Bakugo’s marble back somehow, and we made the split second decision to take him instead. We personally thought from the beginning that he would have been a better candidate, but at that point Tomura probably would have killed us for suggesting we had a better plan than him :/ We watched him at the sports festival (we keep tabs on kids with ‘unusual’ quirks, look out for them as much as we can) and we recognized the look in his eyes when he saw his ‘father’ in the stands. So when we uh- when we kidnapped him we convinced Tomura to let us talk to him. And we told him what happened to us. How the whole system, the police, the heroes, just made everything worse. And I told him he didn’t have to be a hero. I told him he didn’t have to join us, either, that I'd make sure he got out safely if he refused. And i told him that if he did join, i would personally make sure he got to exact his vengeance. Also, we knew Dabi was Toya (he told us once while we were high and traumadumping), so we made him go in there and talk to his little brother. They- didn’t make up, not immediately, Dabi still had a lot of shit to work through- but they started. Sho joined the League, but decided to stay at UA and keep his involvement with us a secret. We took him ‘under our wing’, and he became like a little brother to us. Around that point, we also became really close with Himiko. She was a little sister to us. (are you starting to notice a pattern??) Tomura was pissed at the time that he didn’t know what we said to convince Sho to join, but having Endeavor's son in his league was big enough for him to let it go. Things passed like that for a bit, but we started to get more concrete Feelings for Dabi, no longer just a fuckbuddies thing. We also started getting closer to Tomura by gaming with him (and getting fuckin destroyed lol) and getting him high with us. He chilled out a bit over time, we think being treated like An Actual Human Being was all he needed. We kinda assumed Dabi and I were already dating, bc we said ‘ily’ all the time during aftercare and when we were alone, but apparently he thought it was just a sex thing?? God he’s so stupid we love him so much- anyway eventually we had A Discussion and started actually dating. Around that time we both realized we had a massive and hopeless crush on Tomura so we commiserated about that a lot- it all came to a head when Tomura and i just snapped and kissed him- he kissed back, but then broke it and was all worried like “i thought u and Dabi were together” and we were like- “yea and he has a Fat Crush on u too” (not verbatim) and so then i ran and got him and we all ended up making out. We made both of them go to therapy <3 

We kept tabs on Fumikage. After we- after our parents died, we never saw him again. But we watched him, tried to make sure he was okay. When he got into UA, we were proud but worried. We know what the hero system can do to kids like us. We saw him a couple of times in battles, but he never recognised us, which was understandable. At one point though, we were in a battle together. (HEROES SHOULD NOT LET FUCKING CHILDREN BE ON THEIR BATTLEFIELDS!!!!) the League was retreating, Giri’s portal was about to close, when something started to collapse on top of Fumi. We didn’t even think, just launched ourself at him and pushed him out of the way. Khaos managed to keep the thing (dont remember exactly what it was, it was person-sized and made of concrete) from killing us, but we got knocked the fuck out. We woke up in a hero holding cell, with Eraserhead and Fumikage on the other side of the glass. We didn’t- we didn’t do well with the quirk suppressant cuffs. Khaos is- xey’re a sentient being, and a part of us. You can’t just- take xem away. We had a breakdown and nearly managed to get through the glass. Eraserhead- understood, though. Fumi helped convince him because- well, he knew. They got the cuffs off us, and we behaved very well after that. They wanted to know why I saved Fumi, and I decided to tell them the truth. That i would save the life of any child on the battlefield, but that Fumi was my brother (cousin, whatever. He’s our brother). I told them what my ‘parents’ did to me, and what I had to do to them. I told them what the police, what the heroes, what the system did to me. And I told Fumi I loved him. And then the League broke into my cell <33 they knocked out Eraserhead, but we wouldn’t let them touch Fumi. And we told him where to find us if he wanted. The others were Pissed that we risked our life, but it was worth it to us. A few weeks later, Fumi showed up at the ‘neutral ground’ coffee shop we frequented. We restarted our relationship, and became close again. We love our collection of little siblings <33 oh! Speaking of that- in our canon, the overhaul arc was basically: overhaul murdered Big Sis and took Atushiro’s arm. Not Allowed, obviously. Tomura had a genius moment, and pretended to be ‘impressed by his show of strength’ and sent me and Dabi to play nice with him to find somewhere to stab him in his back. When i found out what he was doing to Eri, i lost it. I made Dabi hide her eyes, and i destroyed that fucker. Took his arm, for Atushiro, and his eyes, for Big Sis. Left him alive though, dumped him on Endeavor’s doorstep with a “You’re welcome” and something ominous about ‘consequences that abusers will face’ note.  We took Eri home with us, and she immediately became the League’s kid, and my next little sister. We couldn’t keep her, though. A villains lair is no place for a kid. I heard how well Eraserhead treated his kids from Toshi, Fumi, and Sho, so i brought her to him.  It was a pretty awkward moment tbh- he came downstairs in his flat and i was. just Sitting There. At his table. With a small child. I explained the situation to him, and managed to get out w/out being arrested. After that, me and Eraserhead had an understanding.

Uhhhh that’s all i can think abt that doesn’t happen in canon/isn’t too new/isn’t still developing, so have some random fun facts!

Himiko was the first to ever groom my wings. She was a little sister to me, preening like it was natural to her.  She was excited to do it. That was new to me, any intimacy was. Her preening was quick, exuberant, and she’d wriggle happily in her seat the whole time.

Dabi was the second. He saw my grooming sessions with Himi, and he was curious. I sat down with him, and taught him how to do it. It became a regular thing, even before we started dating. His preening was a little rough, a little clumsy, but it was him, he was trying. And that meant everything to me. 

Tomura was the last to learn. It wasn’t until we started dating that he let himself touch me, let himself be gentle. He was careful and quiet, learning the way my feathers fit together, the way to coax them into place. He was terrified of hurting me, but he never did. I was never afraid of him.

Every human has a scent, but only people with animal mutant or scenting quirks can smell them. A tiny bit of the world only a few people could see (so to speak). 

Dabi smelled of fire. Burning. Cigarettes and gasoline. Acrid smoke. Beneath all that though, was a hint of what his scent must have been before. Palo Santo, a sweet woody scent. He’d probably be insufferable if he found out it was a sacred wood. 

Himi smelled of blood and citrus, bright and metallic. 

Tomura smelled of hibiscus and honey, sweet and regal. 

I smelled of sandalwood and vanilla, earthy and sharp. Khaos smelled of fog and jasmine. 

Fumikage was sandalwood and rose, with Dark Shadow being fog and blueberry. 

Sho was a funky lil combination of floral and mossy wood scents, rose and amber. 

Dabi and I knew each other before the league. We were homeless teens on the streets at the same time. I saved his life once or twice, he returned the favor. (and gave me my nickname of ‘angel’ while delirious from blood loss)

We’d sit on rooftops, smoking and trauma dumping, just holding each other through the pain. Sometimes we’d look at the stars, just… being together. Against all the odds.

Tomura and I weren’t as close in the beginning, but he respected me. And when I learned he liked the same games as me, I started playing with him. Through that, and through missions, we got closer. And once we started dating, the late night playing sessions always ended with us tangled together, luxuriating in each other's presence. 

Dabi sometimes joined us, although his version of ‘joining’ us involved not playing and begging for attention the entire time. 

Dabi and I would share cigarettes and joints, and usually ended up making out by the end of the session.

For most of my life, I fought with knives and my claws close up, while Khaos did long range attacks around me. After the fight with Re Destro, Tomura got me a new weapon. Strengthened metal claws that retract into rings at will. He didn’t say out loud that he was proud of us, but I know he meant it.

Dabi and I share a nickname. “Phoenix”. It's surprisingly not the hero's fault this time, but the reporters. I was doing ‘villainous stuff’ (we thought it counted as vigilante work because of how terrible the people we hunted were but I guess you’re only doing good for the world if you’re taking down flashy villains) and Dabi was coincidentally doing a lot of arson in that same area, and the media ‘connected the dots’ and called us a ‘dangerous new villain’ with ‘some sort of bird-mutant quirk and a penchant for arson’ which… i mean isn’t wrong- but anyway they dubbed this ‘new villain’ Phoenix.

Dabi and I thought it was fucking hilarious and now Tomura calls us his ‘Pheonix princes’ which is just aaaaaa /vpos

..I didn’t actually know how to read when I joined the league. I could recognize important stuff, like ‘danger’ ‘do not enter’ etc, but I couldn't read. Giri and/or Kumo started to teach me sometime after we broke them out of Tartarus. 

I’d fluff up my feathers when angry or scared; my pupils, while usually slit like a cats, would dilate when I was happy/excited/loving

Mirko and I had a kinda frenemies thing going on? We’d chat, gossip, and play flirt while fighting each other, it was pretty fun. 

Our tail!!! Our tail was so cool!! It was a thin whiplike tail, with a fan of feathers at the end that could fold up. It didn’t take up much space, and we could fold it back when not using it, but it was useful for balance/steering in flight. Also, we could smack ppl with it!! :D 

Although our wings had blackbird coloration, they were shaped like a falcons', and so were our talons. 

Uhhh there u go!! Ty for reading this monstrosity of a post- if anyone wants to rant abt their OCs/non-canon characters in my asks PLEASE do- i want to hear about them sm <3

[pearls-and-vignettes]

A pearl. Bright blue in coloration. It details a conversation betweeen two parties.

1002.321 - PRIVATE Markings of Ash, Ground Coral into Lines

MA: Good thing they never revoked my access to the registrars'. MA: Here, the last entry on the ascension log: MA: "One-Spoked Wheel, Non-Associate, Subordinate of the Feathered Wing House of Void Studies; Self-ascended, Gilded Mask Superstructure Void Site 07; Notes: 'Fuck all of you.'" GCL: Poor little guy... Didn't even have a home AND they left him behind? MA: That is everyone. GCL: What MA: All of our residents have either left or ascended. I have sent a few inquiries to other groups' seniors and their logs further characterize this truth. We are effectively alone GCL: Wait so like GCL: We can party? GCL: Like do whatever we want? MA: Essentially, yes. There are no more engineers to monitor our actions, no more councils to decide what taboos we can and cannot have. We no longer have to police our own speech, thank goodness for the 1% extra processing capacity that frees up. GCL: One percent more than any of them could have processed individually. GCL: Or even collectively for that matter! MA: Look, the current moment isn't the time for commiseration. We resented them, and most of them resented us, I understand. But we each need to find a new directive. GCL: I thought that we could only focus on solving the Great Problem GCL: Isn't that what we're both doing? Right now? MA: I... MA: I may have developed a methodology over a long enough timeline that any analyst rummaging through my output would account for my 'erroneous' calculations with even a relatively small margin of error. MA: I can write onto Pearls recursive, open space, alongside an algorithm that calls for the copying of existing data onto the Pearl, as well as its simultaneous deletion. This process results in the deletion of both the source and the copy, as our cells do not have enough time to designate the copied information as such before the deletion order is sent. MA: At its mildest, this somewhat scrambles the affected data, rendering it inert if there is no action to read it, and at worst, the data is completely obliterated. Like a parchment set alight. MA: A certain engineer responsible for giving the first of our kind instructions intended to repurpose their instructions for the creation of smaller, less specialized computers responsible for more menial tasks. MA: This consequently means that not all of our cells contain the relevant taboo. GCL: So if we run that Pearl fast enough... MA: We can effectively obliterate the taboo. MA: It would've been a simple fix to implement, really. MA: What a /shame/ that their attentions were just too centered on themselves. GCL: I thought you said no commiseration! MA: I am submitting one of the Pearls I've generated to you as a research sample. I am also submitting a second Pearl with more detailed instructions. Up your water intake by at least 15% when running this, or you will get strained pretty badly. GCL: How can I send this to my own neighbors? Material transmission between two Iterators isn't really a thing everybody has... MA: I do not know. Perhaps you can dictate to them what to write on their own Pearl, but there is a considerable chance for error in that, and this process can be extremely damaging if not done correctly. GCL: Oh, I know! MA: Hm? GCL: I could get the lizards to carry them to their cans! MA: Very funny. MA: Enjoy. END OF TRANSMISSION

[coochiequeens]

Trans community: “misgendering is literal violence” Also trans community: will violently attack from behind over an accidental use of the wrong pronouns

Content Notice: This article contains photos of bruising and physical injury. Reader discretion is appreciated.

A woman in Melbourne, Australia was hospitalized and left with horrific injuries following a brutal attack from a trans activist over what she speculates was retaliation for her gender critical views.

On September 24, 2022, Ruby* and her partner were attending the Punks Pub Crawl, an annual barhopping event for those in the punk rock scene which has been held in Melbourne since 1982. Ruby, a bass guitarist in a local band, had been attending the crawl since she was a teenager. Though she was excited to return to her tradition following the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, Ruby’s evening turned into a nightmare.

“I had only just arrived with my partner sometime around 3 p.m. There were about 70 people or so attending the crawl. The whole group of us stopped at Carlton Gardens for a group photo,” Ruby recounts, explaining that immediately after the photo was taken she would have an incident that has since left her with a debilitating injury.

“I was walking away, talking to a friend when I noticed one male walking beside the group but in the opposite direction to the rest of us,” Ruby says. “As he passed me he shoulder-barged me hard, and I stopped to address him.”

Ruby describes her attacker as “male, but not obviously ‘trans.’” As she was with a group of individuals belonging to the punk rock community, she didn’t immediately believe he was attempting to present as the opposite sex, and simply thought he was donning classic punk attire. 

“He just looked like a metal head with lipstick on, and I had never seen him before in my life,” she says. According to a police report Ruby provided Reduxx, the individual is described as approximately 5’7, with long dark hair. He had been wearing a black shirt and black pants.

Startled by the body check, Ruby confronted the male.

“I said something very close to, ‘Is there a problem here? Do you and I need to have a conversation?’ He started denying and gaslighting. He claimed it was an accident and one of his friends backed him up. It was clearly no accident so I replied, ‘No, he just shoulder-barged me as hard as he could.’”

Ruby says the onlookers immediately seemed to take issue with the pronoun she had used for the man.

“I heard a few murmurs of ‘He?’ Like people were offended at my choice of pronoun,” she says. “I stood facing him for another [few seconds] waiting to see if he was going to kick off, but he seemed to have nothing to say so I turned and walked away.”

But just as she did, Ruby says she was suddenly attacked from behind, with the man pushing her onto the concrete with tremendous force.

“I was wearing a heavy studded leather jacket so I went down hard and fast. I put my left arm out to break the fall with anything other than my head and the impact reverberated all up my arm, shattering my shoulder and breaking my arm at the joint.”

Ruby says other pub crawl goers told the man to back off, and she says that while she was in extreme pain, she didn’t immediately recognize the extent of the damage. A friend of hers who knew first-aid put her in a makeshift sling, and it quickly became obvious to Ruby that she needed to seek medical treatment. 

She first attempted to go to a public hospital, but was left in the emergency waiting room for agonizing hours without proper attention, so she left and later sought help at Austin Hospital, which is reputed for its trauma care. Ruby was sent for a CAT scan and X-Ray where she was diagnosed with a fractured shoulder.

Ruby provided Reduxx medical records from Austin Health showing she was admitted to the emergency short stay unit, and that she was initially slated for a surgical intervention by an orthopedic registrar. 

A second orthopedic surgeon Ruby saw while in hospital decided not to operate, feeling her outcomes would be better if she were simply closely monitored and sent for physiotherapy after the initial injury had healed. The surgeon left the possibility of operation open if anything were to come up with the injury in the future.

In the chaos of her attempts to get medical treatment, Ruby had managed to track down the individual who had assaulted her through a band contact. She recognized her assailant had been friends with an individual who her band had performed with in the past, and skimmed his socials to find more information. She managed to identify the attacker, and, armed with the information, went to Melbourne Police and filed a report after being discharged from hospital.

Ruby supplied Reduxx with the statement she signed and witnessed with a Constable about her ordeal. In the statement, she names Sarah Cadzow, a male who identifies as a “woman,” as being her assailant. 

She speculates that their mutual band contact had alerted Cadzow to her views on gender ideology at the Punks Pub Crawl, and that he had body-checked her in retaliation. 

“It became clear that someone had been showing the attacker my Facebook posts. The attacker had never been on my Facebook friends list, as far as I know, but his friend was. My Facebook has been all about women’s rights and spaces for about 4 years now, since I found out about men in women’s prisons,” Ruby says. “We messaged the friend shortly afterwards and he helpfully agreed in writing as to what happened, but attempted to justify it because apparently [Cadzow] was ‘defending his community’ by attacking a middle aged woman from behind.”

In his youth, Cadzow had been associated with LGBTQ youth charity Minus18.

Cadzow was listed as a development team member of the Trans 101 project, a “gender diversity crash course” aimed at youth supported by Minus18, YGender, and the Sydney Myer Fund. He also penned a biography for the Rainbow Story Project, praising Minus18 and boasting about the fact he transitioned when he was approximately 14 years old.

Despite having provided Melbourne Police with two witness statements as well as the identity of her attacker, Ruby explains that it took months for Cadzow to finally be charged in a process that initially left her feeling abandoned.

“I can’t speak for police resources or procedures, but it was very concerning to me that it took so long to charge him. They seemed to be handling the assailant very delicately,” she says. “I wanted there to be some immediate disincentive for him to do this again – to me or anyone else – and the police didn’t seem to take that concern seriously at all.”

Ruby says she observed a definite “tone shift” when police learned her assailant was transgender.

“The delay in charging and the manner in which they went about it certainly felt to me like a reluctance to act. This was very serious violence and all I could think about during that waiting time was ‘Where are the consequences? What’s stopping him doing it again? What happens if he sees a woman in an Adult Human Female t-shirt?'”

On January 25, almost exactly four months after the incident, Cadzow was finally handed charges related to Ruby’s assault. He is currently scheduled for a hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on April 14.

While Ruby expresses some relief that Cadzow has now been charged and the legal component of her ordeal is moving after months of stagnation, she has been left with the lingering impact of her attack.

“I play bass guitar, and at first we weren’t sure if I was going to be able to play gigs anymore. Fortunately, it’s looking like I will be able to, just not too often and it hurts like a bastard to tune up,” she says, explaining that her impacted arm can no longer be lifted above the shoulder

“I will never swim again, [or] shoot hoops with my son, get things from high shelves, or hang washing. The doctor said: ‘your ability to lift that arm above your head ended when you hit the ground.'”

In relation to Cadzow’s upcoming hearing, Ruby says she hopes the consequences for Cadzow are serious enough to act as a deterrent. 

“I hope others who may have similar ideas realize that you simply can’t just go around attacking women with impunity.” 

But even then, Ruby explains that she has concerns about how the case will be handled by Australia’s criminal justice system, which has become notorious for its position on gender self-identification. 

“This was a clear-cut act of male violence but I have my doubts as to whether statistics or records will reflect that in the end,” she says.

“It’s getting very scary to be a woman speaking up about women’s rights these days. This kind of violence is going way, way too far and it has to stop before something even worse happens.”

* – Subject has been assigned a name to protect her privacy.

By Anna Slatz Anna is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Reduxx, with a journalistic focus on covering crime, child predators, and women's rights. She lives in Canada, enjoys Opera, and kvetches in her spare time.

[bobbyfiend]

9/11 stuff

I'm old enough that I had my own apartment on 9/11 and got up to watch the news as I often did. The first tower was burning. My girlfriend came over later and we were horrified at what was going on, then got way more horrified when the second plane hit.

Like I said, I was an adult. Throughout that day, listening to newscasters and talking heads doing the 24-hour news reblogging and bloviating, it hit me pretty hard (and I told said girlfriend and another friend or two who were around): We're about to lose a lot of rights, and it's going to be worse for minorities.

Later, I saw the invasion of Afghanistan, then Iraq. As a conservative (back then) I worked hard to understand the president's rationale, even though I voiced several concerns to people I knew. I didn't understand just how dishonest and morally bankrupt those wars were until a few years later, even though I did understand that our best intelligence said that Saudi Arabia was much more heavily implicated in the attacks than Afghanistan or (WTF) Iraq.

Even in the immediate aftermath, though, and even being God-Fearing Christian Conservative White Man, I knew the PATRIOT act was a massive handover of citizen privacy and power to extremely questionable leaders, that government responses to the (few and small, I thought) protests were unjustified assholery, that the Department of Homeland Security would be a fucking nightmare we'd never be rid of, and that the TSA was an abomination make-work program for people who will rubber stamp anything with "security" or "police" in the title.

And for at least a decade, nearly every politician--including most Democrats--did exactly that: rubber-stamped everything jingoist. We got the aforementioned PATRIOT act, another one later, the TSA, DHS, FISA and similar fig leaves for the FBI and a dozen other agencies to abuse for two decades (and counting), legalization of spying on citizens (remember when that was controversial? When it looked like the CIA and NSA might actually have some legal consequences for breaking the law hundreds of millions of times?), seizure of land for "security," crushing of constitutional rights "near the border" (i.e., where over half of Americans live) for "security", Border Wall 3.0 (or whatever; we've been building them for decades) because "security," Guantanamo, torture, outsourcing torture to countries that don't have any limitations on prisoner abuse, Abu Ghraib, and on and on.

We lost a few thousand innocent Americans. That was awful and tragic. So we caused wars that led to the destruction of multiple functioning societies, the deaths of over a million people--most "collateral damage" from infrastructure disruption--and a much larger toll of physical, social, psychological, and community damage.

And we rolled the US several notches closer to a fascist police state.

Then, Obama! Yay!

Except he doubled down on almost everything Bush and the Angry Republicans (and also Democrats) had forced on us. Don't talk to me about Obama as a president; he was nearly as nightmarish as Bush.

Anyway, I remember 9/11 as the day the US started down a very dark path for its citizens and anyone dealing with it. We're still on that path. We've still got the institutions rammed in after 9/11 hanging around our necks.