#anti lofty

[kerryweaverlesbian]

Lofty of BBC's Holby City was maybe one of the worst characters on the show. Is this a hot take? Do people outside of me and my family somehow adore Lofty? I can't imagine how. Here is my hateful mean and nasty reasoning. Read at your own risk I'm not accepting criticism at this time lmao:

A) he was effective comic relief on Casualty because it's the Emergency Department and moments of Lofty tripping over or doing a social faux pas are necessary tension breakers in episodes where people are constantly at deaths door.

Casualty is (when it's GOOD) required to have at least a third of the episode dedicated to a narsty horrible accident (hell yeah) and tensions are always running high so you can see how having someone a be awkward is not going to be the worst thing that happened to them that day.

Holby City is a more hospital staff focused show (although again. If there's less than a third of an episode focused on patients it is probably a bad episode. PLEASE HAVE PATIENTS IN YOUR HOSPITAL SHOW.) but there's a lot of waiting around for people in Holby because it's the longer term care zone. If Lofty is dropping stuff in the background of scenes with this lower energy it suggests he has some sort of untreated disability rather than 'argh I'm frantic OOPS'. He is painted more as incompetent on Holby compared to their more grounded staff. Which makes everyone ELSE look incompetent for putting up with it. (To be clear!!!! I'm not saying people with disabilities are incompetent lol if he had one it would have been a storyline!! And if he had one and none of the doctors who see him every day flagged it it also makes them look incompetent. He doesn't CARE enough to be CAREful. And in a show ABOUT caring for vulnerable people as far as you absolutely can. That's a big problem.)

Like the thing is. Characters on Casualty can be one note architypes forever because they're doing medical CSI. Holby spends so much more time with the cast, they NEED to become more complicated and Lofty never does, he's the same guy no matter what happens. The only other guy like that in Holby is the incomparable Guy Self and he's a villain! He is a villain for never changing or trying for anyone! And even he TRIES to reform occasionally. Lofty (and the SHOW) doesn't see a problem with him perpetually disengaging from making emotional choices, putting most of the work of maintaining relationships on other people, and generally coasting through a profession that everyone else is giving 110% to. The building could be on fire and he'd wander outside and not think to rescue any of the patients unless someone else told him to.

B) the B is for Bisexual. Bisexual representation on Holby City where he cheats on his husband with a woman. It's a yikes from me.

C) speaking of Dom. God their relationship was horrible. POOR FUCKING DOM. tw abuse. Lofty talks to and believes Dom's abusive ex over him? He hugs the guy that RECENTLY pushed Dom down a flight of stairs? And they're still supposed to be a cutesy couple by the end of this? He shuts down Dom's excitement constantly? Hello??

D) the D is again for Dom because. It's their one year anniversary. By the way it was on their honeymoon that Dom couldn't go on to support his sick mother that Lofty cheated on Dom. Just by the way. BY THE WAY if your husband says he's going to stay home for your honeymoon and insists you go by yourself so he can stay home to support his sick mother. Maybe. Hm. Stay and support him instead. Just a fucking thought.

Lofty decides it's not working and they amicably split up (Dom is an angel sent from gay heaven by the way. I perhaps have my biases.) Dom kindly gives him the quirky and personal gift he'd bought him for their one year wedding anniversary as Lofty unicycles away (it may have been a bicycle but I picture it as a unicycle). Lofty gives him. Nothing. Which means that this man sat there as they planned a big anniversary party and not ONCE. not ONCE did he consider buying Dom an anniversary present. Because he's an arse!!!!

E) he only does this :| or this :/ for any emotion. I love characters with flat affects, for example my close personal friends Hannah Supernatural, Abed Community, and also as well my actual real human friends who do this 💖💖💖. HOWEVER. Lofty doesn't show emotion any OTHER way either. There IS nothing going on in his heart. He has passion for nothing. He goes where other people point. He avoids giving his opinion because he doesn't have any. This makes him a bad tv character for a drama. Opinion IS story on Holby. There is an issue, they all take sides and fight over it, and he doesn't get involved.

Anyway. Show's been over for over a year I will never have to see Lofty's face ever again as long as I live unless I for some reason decide to do a bizarre Holby City Rewatch and keep going to season 19.

By the way as I was looking up when he came to the Holby side of Holby City Hospital, I found this quote from his wiki page:

"Lofty is portrayed as a nice person who is likeable and popular."

Hm. He IS PORTRAYED as a nice person. The show thinks he's a nice person who is likable. However.

This concludes my ministry of hate.

[loumauve]

in other news: doctors (of the psychiatric variety) and therapists love me. got invited to participate in yet another study lol

[elodieunderglass]

Hi there! I need to write A Guy who is Extremely Narrowboat, for reasons, and the Narrowboat Guy you just posted is. well. Very much that-adjacent, I suspect. Do you have advice for a) what this Guy is like, and some tips on conjuring them into existence, or b) a good place to look for Narrowboat Things? (if this ask has come in twice I am sorry. Cursed)

No worries at all!

Post references: description of original character Ken who lives on a narrowboat, post about Ken describing characteristics of a quite normal boatie, picture of Ken trying to recruit you into his band (he will teach you how to sing maybe.)

Ken is a Very Boatie Boatie so you should be able to pick or extrapolate some aspects of his character from some of those. The overall smell, of course, being woodsmoke and diesel and slightly damp wool. Personalities range from shifty and feral, to surly, to normies, to chirpy influencers, to wide-eyed wanderers, but boaters are often (not always) daytime drunk. Ken’s a sunny inclusive one that strikes a careful balance between many boatie extremes; practical enough to do a lot of his own repair and maintenance, but silly enough to always have oil on his nose. Your character can fall anywhere on these spectrums!

People who live full-time on narrowboats are incredibly diverse, ranging from prosperous retirees in custom-designed floating houses worth hundreds of K, to people who are functionally homeless. They can be people who live permanently on moorings or marinas, or continuous cruisers who are completely nomadic, (or sensible plan-ahead people who pay a “winter mooring” fee to pause the “continuous cruising” rules during winter and get the best of both worlds.) Ask five boaters and get ten opinions. There are a thousand nuances and reasons why. Some people choose the lifestyle with excitement; for some, it’s forced on them. Some are right-wingers and some are left-wing and some are anarchists, but all of them are living in someone else’s back garden on charity-owned property. The only things they have in common are some basic boater characteristics, like cork-ball keyrings and a lofty resentment against anglers, and the fact that every boater has willingly chosen to marginalise themselves.

The UK has always been hostile to nomads, but is increasingly so now, and the various inconveniences of living without a fixed address add up to some material penalties. It’s not just slightly harder to pay bills, do admin, arrange childcare, commute, vote, etc. The liveaboard narrowboat community once prided themselves on being “the last legal nomads” in the British Isles; anti-traveller legislation has increasingly soured this, with laws being passed limiting everything from the use of wood-burning stoves (positioned by the anti-biofuel lobby in the Guardian as an eco thing. In London. I ask you.) to laws making it easier to remove off-grid children from their parents. And yet, due to housing pressures and the cheap sustainability of the lifestyle, the liveaboard population hasn’t dropped.

By going off-grid you are commenting, politically, in some way, about the grid. By stepping out of society you are agreeing to be a little bit out of society. You simultaneously cross many social classes, and don’t leave your own life at all. Your rights and worries are now shared with the legal rights of Travellers, the Roma, fairground workers, and the unhoused - to the point where the collective term for your community is G****y, Traveller, Roma, Showmen & Boater (GTRSB). (Yes the first one’s a slur, yes people know that - it’s still a community self-description for some, and essentially you’re expected to ignore it and not use the word.) ultimately, a boatie only has to be slightly sideways. A bit self-reliant. A bit willing to be outside.

Reference books? Well, Narrow Dog to Carcassonne is an exciting account; I read Narrow Escape by Marie Browne before moving aboard and appreciated her honesty. There are a lot of influencers living aboard nowadays, but plenty of books abound. My friend Dru remains brave and true and is a trans woman in some tricky days, so you can buy some poetry books from her Etsy shop to keep her afloat and hear from boaters.

I lived aboard for years and am happy to answer questions - maybe Ken could do his own information post! A boater character is a wonderful, rich, textured thing. What would you like to know?

[moodymisty]

Author's Note: hi

Relationships: Perturabo/Fem!Reader

Warnings: NSFW, Sex machines, Overstim, I guess you could consider dubcon if you squinted, Oral (male receiving), Cum on face, brief mention of squirting

Unlike Perturabo, who at some point will tire, or more realistically grow bored, this accursed creation of his is unyielding.

It's will is truly iron clad, because it has no will at all; Only circuits and wires.

Perturabo watches of course, evaluating.

This is all just some sort of analysis for him. The newest of his torture devices- you've insisted on calling them that despite the fact that for all intents and purposes, they've provided enough sexual satisfaction for days on end at the cost of your sanity- must live up to the impossibly lofty exceptions he has set for himself. Even if it's not a machine of war, not a tank or an anti-air gun, he still treats his work with an unfathomable amount of rigor and discipline. He accepts no less than perfection.

He's not going to slack and make something subpar, even if it is just something to make his wife lose control of herself and soak his spare workbench.

He's jerked himself off in his desk chair a few times already, though he swiftly realized it was inconvenient to get up over and over again to cum on your face; He wasn't going to just waste it. He's fucked your mouth, silencing your cries and pleas and making your throat burn more. The vibrating sound of your sobbing teased the thick head of his cock and threatened to make his head loll back as he stood in front of you.

You feel like a sloppy mess. Not that you have any control over it. You're done when he says you're done. Or you pass out. Right now it seems the ladder is the more possible option, though you've passed out before during evaluations of his machines, and oftentimes he lets them continue until you return to consciousness.

The wood of the table is harsh against your knees; It was against your forearms as well, but you've since fallen resting on your cheek. The metal digs into your wrists and ankles, biting your skin. Your body is too tired to do much more than just lie there pliantly as tears stream down your face.

You've lost count of the amount of climaxes, both from your brain turning to mush between your ears and the fact that they've by and large stopped- now it's just a nonstop string of near painful sensation that overwhelms you at the precipice of too much. Your cunt clenches around nothing, hips twitching uncontrollably, clit bullied and quivering. Each vibration feels like it's going up your spine and directly into your brain. You swear there's stars in your eyes.

It presses against your cunt just hard enough that you can't wiggle away from it no matter how much you move, your hips gyrating around trying to find a spot of reprieve even if for just a moment.

You found one briefly for a moment awhile ago, and once Perturabo realized he stood up, cock still in hand, and adjusted it to take your solace away. You'd caterwauled at the sudden return of the overwhelming sensation directly on your clit, and you're sure every Iron Warrior on this side of the base could hear your profuse sobbing.

You already have trouble looking them in the eye.

He's turned down the power a bit since, though the amount of time you've spent tied up like this makes even the softest sensation feel like a punch to your aching gut the jolts down to your groin. Sometimes he briefly turns it back up for a moment, if only to briefly listen to you squeal and thrash, the metal of the restraints clanging.

The pleasure he gets from this is clearly worth the hours he spends building these contraptions. He has so many, each torments you a different way and he's more than receptive to tinkering with them if they fail to impress on the first go around.

Sometimes you wonder if watching you get fucked by his creations is more pleasurable to him than fucking you himself.

Perhaps so, though you also know it's not often he gets to build things that are outside of his legion's usage, and you suppose he enjoys the deviation. Even if it's at your expense.

The room filled with nothing but the sound of your sopping wet and puffy cunt getting vibrated to oblivion and the hapless defeated groans you let out, Perturabo finally gets up and walks towards you.

He turns the accursed thing off, unlocking your wrists before gently grabbing your jaw and tilting your head sharply up to look at him in the eyes. His grip is gentle, but forceful.

"Now go get dressed up. Some of the other primarchs will be at dinner."

Spit dribbles down your chin, your hair a mess from writhing. You're still shaking and your heart hammers in your rib cage, body aching from hours of tensing. Your thighs are sticky and wet from your own release and sweat. You look up at him agape and stupid, eyes struggling to focus, your forearms and knees sticking to the table, and all you can let out with your raspy, scream scarred voice is a dumb sounding:

"...What?"

[todaysdocument]

The Religious Issue in American Politics April 21, 1960

Collection JFK-2.3: Papers of John F. Kennedy: Pre-Presidential Papers: Senate FilesSeries: Files Related to Speeches and the PressFile Unit: John F. Kennedy Pre-presidential Papers; Senate Files; Speeches and the Press; American Society of Newspaper Editors, Washington DC

From the Office of Senator John F. Kennedy

Room 362, Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C.

FOR FLAT RELEASE AT 12:00 NOON (EST), THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1960

THE RELIGIOUS ISSUE IN AMERICAN POLITICS

Following is the text of the address of Senator John F. Kennedy before the American Society of Newspaper Editors:

I have decided, in view of current press reports, that it would be appropriate to speak with you today about what has widely been called "the religious issue" in American politics. The phrase covers a multitude of meanings. There is no religious issue in the sense that any of the major candidates differ on the role of religion in our political life. Every Presidential contender, I am certain, is dedicated to the separation of church and state, to the preservation of religious liberty, to an end to religious bigotry, and to the total independence of the office-holder from any form of ecclesiastical dictation.

Nor is there any real issue in the sense that any candidate is exploiting his religious affiliation. No one's candidacy, by itself, raises a religious issue. And I believe it is inaccurate to state that my "candidacy created the issue" -- that, because I am replying to the Bigots, I am now "running on the religious issue in West Virginia" -- or that my statements in response to interrogation are "fanning the controversy". I am not "trying to be the first Catholic President", as some have written. I happen to believe I can serve my nation as President -- and I also happen to have been born a Catholic.

Nor am I appealing, as is too often claimed, to a so-called Catholic vote. Even if such a vote exists -- which I doubt -- I want to make one thing clear again: I want no votes solely on account of my religion. Any voter, Catholic or otherwise, who feels another candidate would be a superior President should support that candidate. I do not want any vote cast for me for such illogical reasons.

-2-

Neither do I want anyone to support my candidacy merely to prove that this nation is not bigoted -- and that a Catholic can be elected President. I have never suggested that those opposed to me are thereby anti-Catholic. There are amply legitimate grounds for supporting other candidates -- (though I will not, of course, detail them here). Nor have I ever suggested that the Democratic Party is required to nominate me or face a Catholic revolt in November. I do not believe that to be true -- I cannot believe our convention would act on such a promise -- and I do believe that a majority of Americans of every faith will support the Democratic nominee, whoever he is.

What, then, is the so-called religious issue in American politics today? It is not, it seems to me, my actual religious convictions -- but a misunderstanding of what those convictions actually are. It is not the actual existence of religious voting blocs -- but a suspicion that such voting blocs may exist. And when we deal with such public fears and suspicions, the American press has a very grave responsibility.

I know the press did not create this religious issue. My religious affiliation is a fact -- religious intolerance is a fact. And the proper role of the press is to report all facts that are a matter of public interest.

But the press has a responsibility, I think you will agree, which goes far beyond a reporting of the facts. It goes beyond lofty editorials deploring intolerance. For my religion is hardly, in this critical year of 1960, the dominant issue of our time. It is hardly the most important criterion -- or even a relevant criterion -- on which the American people should make their choice for Chief Executive.And the press, while not creating the issue, will largely determine whether or not it does become dominant -- whether it is kept in perspective -- whether it is considered objectively -- whether needless fears and suspicions are stilled instead of aroused.

[tealvenetianmask]

I want to take apart the use of the word, "dramatic" in the fandom a little and try to understand why it gets applied to Stolas so often and not to Blitz. Because, honestly, they both sort of are . . .

If dramatic means "oozes emotions and makes the audience feel something for them." Both have really intense emotional moments in the show.

The truth is, they also both hold back quite a lot though. (So maybe neither is dramatic?) There are tons of examples, but to save space, here's one of each. We see Stolas forcing his face serene in the middle of a drunken crying session in Apology Tour, and we see Blitz leave rather than let Stolas see him cry in Ozzie's.

And they BOTH don't let the people in their lives see that they're hurting. Stolas wears a mask for Octavia, and Blitz wears a mask for . . . everyone in his life, really . . . Until recently, both wore masks for each other pretty much constantly too. But when they're each alone, we see the truth.

Okay, so obviously it comes down to presentation, right? Specifically gender presentation . . .

Stolas gets judged as dramatic (and even whiny or self-absorbed in anti circles) because he laments in deep, lofty ballads, with make-up dripping down his face, which is honestly such a win for all the grown-up emo kids watching. He relates to soap opera protagonists and wants to be chased after while he's boarding a train. He reads romance novels.

In short, when he expresses emotions, when he consumes media about romance . . . he's being traditionally "feminine." (A note: this is also why he's often portrayed by fans as "the woman" in the relationship- and that can have its own problems, since, yes, this is a gay relationship between two men, and regardless of gender presentation, neither needs to be "the woman.")

Blitz on the other hand . . . well. He's not masculine in every way either, is he? He loves to crossdress for fun work. When he's enjoying his down time, he's watching two cutesy horses kissing.

But he expresses emotions in ways that are socially accepted as masculine. Namely, anger. It's not dramatic to do any of this, is it?

He calls listening to love ballads "gay . . ." oh, and he uses the same insult for Stolas . . . you know . . . trying to talk about emotions with him. So, for better or worse (worse- this is a bad thing), he's pretty deeply entrenched in society's expectations of masculinity. Or anyway, he performs it more convincingly than Stolas does. Well enough, it seems, to convince some viewers that he's 1) just an asshole with no depth and/or 2) just a chill and badass regular dude man.

But here's the kicker. NEITHER of these characters are wrong for having emotions and expressing them. It's a good thing actually.

In the world of the show, expression heals. Singing helps Stolas process the changes in his life. His decision to tell Blitz how he feels WILL ultimately help them both with their character development. Blitz ends up happier than he's been in a long time and manages to repair a friendship after 15 years apart once he explains his emotional experience to Fizz and cries. Accepting some emotions other than anger in Apology Tour (even if he's far from finished processing them) enables Blitz to grow profoundly as a person.

This blog is in favor of being dramatic.

[sy-on-boy]

These "non main plot" related arcs do hit me in the chest. The anti-war sentiment is conveyed poignantly and consistently throughout the series. I think it is important to dedicate chapters to one of the key messages of SxF. The stark juxtaposition between the (mostly) wholesome and funny daily lives of the Forgers and the suffering the adults experienced in the past. These chapters serve to shows us the history we (and characters) shouldn't repeat. It adds to why we and the characters should be invested in the lofty mission of "world peace", because war / conflict is a horror that affects everyone and permeates through basically the entire cast. From our leads to side characters like Millie. Yes, the tone of SxF is generally cheerful, but it sobers up appropriately to remind us of the traumas these characters have experienced, and yet kindness persists in a post-war world (or inter-war period).

Regarding the theme of education and its affect on the young, I liked how Endo showed Eden during wartime in contrast to the period of relative peace we've always seen at Eden (with underlying tensions, of course). Staff and students receiving unfortunate news about their family and having to continue with their day. Hiding in shelters. Henry trying to teach young kids who sleep in his lessons. Martha's despair over her dreams being shattered by the war and her resolve to protect. Henry and Martha aren't kids anymore, but they're still young, fresh graduates from a privileged school who jump into society (and are forced to participate in the war). It gives us a haunting vision of what life could be, and makes us appreciate that Anya and the kids don't have to deal with this at the moment.

[haleynwriter]

there's something in the groundedness of andor that just works as a star wars property (to me) b/c tony gilroy so clearly understands and appreciates star wars as a whole. there's been several modern instances of star wars attempting grit and "realness" that feels wholly disconnected from star wars.

i've never harmonized with the opinion that andor is "anti-star wars" because it isn't focused on the jedi or the mysticism of the force. it's simply a POV that andor is choosing not to focus on. high republic era is also another property that (imo) is also doing star wars excellently and is some of the most mystical, lofty shit i've seen, ever, in star wars media. stories don't have to focus on every POV in the galaxy to also be harmonious with the world they are of.

like tony gilroy and the creative team clearly wants to connect andor to the expanse of canon--there's been multiple kotor references; multiple animated and live action characters from other entities appearing within the show. the story of the jedi just isn't andor's story, but it is still a star wars story inherently. the creative team wants to connect andor to the whole of star wars. the "grounded" nature of the story i believe is made stronger and more sincere because tony is clearly choosing both "down to earth" and star wars in every creative choice. it's a story that resonates so deeply as some of the highest quality art in star wars because the story continues to play on themes, tropes, and characters that have been familiar to us for nearly 50 years. i really admire that choice from the creative team to focus on the real, flawed lives of these characters while also keeping them of the galaxy of star wars.

i do have quibbles with some creative choices but critique doesn't inherently mean disagreement or that i think anything is "bad" (save an arc2 choice, iykyk), per se, but we know the internet loves nuance. (sarcasm, if that wasn't clear.)

anyways --- i just find it silly and unnecessary when andor is considered "better" than star wars, when andor as a property is so clearly proud to be a part of star wars.

[demonsword586]

Leviathan Attacker story part 1

(I would like to apoligise. I play the ps version and tumblr doesn't let me post full on dick pics,so no pp😔. Anyway enjoy the 1.part of Levi's attacker story and I shall post more in following days.)

A long wide hallway with soothing classical music and the faint scent of flowers.

The palace of Hades was lofty and beautiful as though showing it's master's prefrences.

Click,click,click...

You hurried through the beautiful corridor as fast as you could without breaking the courtesy.

Right. You were lightly running.

You wanted to take your time exploring the palace which was a work of art in and of itelf,but-

A few hours ago in Gehenna.

Satan: Go and hand him this chest and come back right away. If you're late even in the slightest,I'm going to take everyone and invade Hades.

Sitri: Really?

Satan: Shall I do it now?

Sitri: N-No. His Majesty Satan is a man of his word.

Satan handed you a black chest with about fifty locks and began to fume.

Satan: The bastard had just used something that Gehenna had helped him with before.

Sitri: That bastard being....?

Satan: Leviathan,of course. I shoudn't have acted cool in the moment and said 'I'll grant you one request,whatever it may be'!! Damn it!!!

Ppyong who happened to be next to Satan,got kicked by Satan and disappeared into the sky in a beautiful parabola.

(bg changes to the sky and Ppyong slowly disappearing)

Ppyong: Ppyoooooooooooong~~~~~

(bg going back to Gehenna streets)

Satan: He chose MC to bring this to him...What an impertinent guy...

Satan kept fuming as though he coudn't calm down.

Sitri explained in Satan's place as though he thought his king was incapable of proper conversation anymore.

Sitri: This chest is called <Anti Pandora's box>

Sitri: It's an object that Morgan le Fay had until the end,but it came into Gehenna's possesion when she made a deal with Satan to dethrone king Arthur.

Sitri: His Majesty cherished it because it's a terrible object with the emotions of all hypocrisy.

Sitri: That's why he's raging.

Sitri: I don't want to hand over the < Anti Pandora's box>,but he even made you Solomon as the deliverer,so his Majesty Satan's rage will soon....

Passing devil: Argh,aaaaaahhh~~~~!

Another devil standing near Satan got kicked by Satan and disappearedinto the sky.

Sitri: ...I was going to tell you to get going,because I expected his Majesty's anger would gradate because of his depression...

Satan: That impertinent bastard!!! I'm going to invade Hades!!! ARGHHHH!!!!

Just when the raging Satan was looking for the next devil to kick,someone furtively pushed a teddy bear into Satan's hand. It was Leraye.

Like how Satan kicked everything that touched his feet,he almost instinctively held it separately by it's head and body to rip it when something touched his hand.

Rip--! Riippp!!!

Ppyong: Ehhh!!!

Rubbing his swollen bottom as he returned,Ppyong looked afraid at the brutal sight.

Unlike the scared Ppyong,Leraye was about to happily pick up the body of the teddy bear after Satan fumingly separated its head from its body.

Thwack!!!

Satan also kicked Leraye who had approached into the distance.

(bg changes to Leraye getting kicked)

Leraye: Aaaarghhh!!

Leraye screams of deep joy faded into the distance.

(bg changes back to Hades halls)

MC: (Is the secret to Gehenna devils having bouncy butts indeed because of Satan's kicks...but I'm still a bit scared.)

You could still clearly see Satan raging like a dragon breathing fire and hurried on.

MC:(I'll hand it over and get back quickly!)

You somehow found it difficult to visit Leviathan.

Partly because he was so beautiful and out of this world,but also because you didn't know when he was going to get frustrated and strangle you.

Sometimes,you thought the heavy emotion of sadness and not speaking the same language may be one o the reasons,but there was also a part of you that wanted to see Leviathan after all this time.

In other words,you had ambivalent feelings about meeting Leviathan,like you liked it but didn't like it.

So confirming your emotions was also a reason why you were hurrying your footsteps. And...

Clink,clink,clink!

MC: (I want to put down this omnous black chest that seems to be wriggling and making sounds from a while ago..)

Just then you remembered what Sitri beseeched you again and again before leaving Gehenna.

Sitri: (Never. Never think about opening it. It would be incomparable to opening Pandora's box)

Sitri: (So please. Never open it.)

MC: ( Right. Let's just see Leviathan's handsome face,give him the chest and go back...)

Maybe because you had been lightly running,but you soon researched the hall where Leviathan was faster than you expected.

The gatekeeper recognized you and bowed to say hello.

Then,he was about to open the door for you when he suddenly stopped moving and leaned toward you a little to speak in the quiet voice.

Guard devil: That's the <Anti Pandora's box>! Wait,rather,you're here today..!

MC: Huh? Is today a special day?

Guard devil: It is special in a way...

Guard devil: But take care. I dared give you advice since everyone in Hades like you very much although they pretended not to.

MC: ???

Unable to understand the gatekeeper,you were about to ask back

When he hurriedly opened the door again as though explaining in detail would put him in trouble.

No,he tried to open the door,when he pulled an expression as though he was saying 'I knew it. This won't work.' and added.

Guard devil: Please,don't even thibk about opening that chest.

With the gatekeeper's amxious voice,the door opened.

Creaaak-

(bg changes to Hades throne room)

The massive doors that were like the mouth of Leviathan's monster opened up and revealed a hall as eerily silent as ever.

The dozends of devils filling the halls were bowing a little,standing on either side of the long carpet in the middle.

But even with all those devils breathing at the same time,there was barely an intake of breath let alone a movement.

You walked through them to stand right under Leviathan's throne that was at the end of the hall.

Leviathan: .....

Mc: (He won't even say hi?!)

Leviathan looked down at you with an odd look in his eyes.

His hair, an odd wheat-color mass that looked as if God has made it just for Leviathan,sweapt across his forehead.

And long full lashes cast mysterious shadows over his clear pupils.

Not only that but his shimmering skin which seemed to self-luminiscence in the dark looked beautiful like it had been sprinkled with stardust.

Just the fact that he was looking at you made you feel like you were more privilaged than anyone else in the universe.

Mc: (Still...is it so hard to say hello?!)

Everyone else would have their tails between their legs when facing an absolute beauty that can crush all logic-but you were diffrent.

Just the fact that he was looking at you made you feel like you were more privliged than anyone else in the universe.

MC: Leviathan,I'm here. How can't you even say hello? That's sad. Satan told me to give this to you!

When you handed Leviathan the omnious black chest in your hand,the silent hall began to stir.

Subject: Even if she/he is the daughter/son of Solomon,how dare she/he calls his supreme,great Majesty Leviathan by name....!

Subject: Wait,but isn't this the <Anti Pandora's box>! How can that omnious object be here in Hades?!

Subject: That's not the problem! That attitude! It's so unhesitant! It's...yeah....it's basiclly treason!

Subject: Argh! Is that the <Anti Pandora's box>?! I-I should request a day off!!!

The servants who were boisterous as usual became even more boisterous,chatting away at your insolence and the black chest,but you heard none of it.

Leviathan was the only one that concernwd you right now.

Leviathan: .....

Leviathan said nothing in reply and only stared down at you from his throne.

He wasn't staring at Satan's object in your hands.

He was looking solely at you as if he coudn't see the countless devils around him.

Leviathan: .....

MC: (He's not usually talkitive....but today he's just strange!)

Feeling doubious you were about to call Leviathan one more time.

When he stood up from his seat and took off his jacket at the same time.

With nonchalant expression,he rwmoved his outer robe,his arms sliding out of the garment and thrusting his toned chest forward.

At that moment his nipples which were hidden inside the thin shirt jutted out over the shirt,creating small shadows beneath them.

The figure quickly disappeared as he retrached his outstreached chest,but the fleeting sight ytuck in your mind.

You and his subjects all held your breaths for a moment as you watched the garment slide gently off his body.

MC: ( W-What's that? All he's doing is taking off his outer robe...how can he look so vigurous?!)

It was a simple act of 'stripping',but it was so rich and intense that you realized nothing could move a woman's heart like that,even if the most charming man on the planet was flirting with her in a commited way.

Your heart began to race so loudly that thw other devils could hear it and suprisingly,you felt yourself getting wet by the simple act in itself.

As you blushed in secret embarrassment,rhe jacketless Leviathan walked down from his throne and stood before you.

MC: Levia-

Leviathan: Shut up.

Leviathan stopped you and said in a low,mumbled voice.

And then grabbed you by the throat with his thin,pretty hand rhat was larger than it looked as he lifted you off your feet.

MC: Kurgh?!

In an instant,you were strangled and your feet were off the ground,your eyes wide in suprise at the suddwn situation.

MC: Urgh, khgh...

Floating in midair,your eyes met Leviathan's eye level which was taller than you.

It allowed you to look him in the eyes and glare.

MC: ( What is it this time?)

Because you thought of lewd things while looking at Leviathan?

Mc: ( But that's not just me! It's because you look lewd!)

Thinking of things that won't make hjm stare at you in disgust you were about to voiced it out-

MC: (Eh wait. Leviathan's state)

*Leviathan blushes*

You though he was looking down at you indiffrently,but there was an unknown fever in his eyes.

Leviathan's expressions were normally difficult to read,but this time !ou could see his emotions.

MC: (He's...mad..)

You felt a strange mixture of excitment and fear at Leviathan's completly crazy expeession.

But your thoughts coudn't continue.

Leviathan took off his glove from his other hand with his teeth,raised his hand to place it on your chest and slashed down vertically.

With a rip- all your clothes that you were wearing rore in half at knce,splitting into two and falling down.

With Leviathan's single movement,you turned naked in midair,with his hand on your throat.

At the same time all the soldiers and servants in the hall looked away and knelt down.

It was a gesture of loyalty to not covet Leviathan's possesions,a gesture to make this place as empty as possible.

MC: W-What are you doing?

You hurriedly covered your chest.

Soon a devil each stepped out from the back feom the group of devils that stood bisected on either side of the purple carpet.

They moved and kept their eyes averted as though thwy werw determined not to looka t your direction.

Soon the two turned away and slowly,lovjngly began to unbuttoned Leviathan's pants

You saw Leviathan's hardened penis rising above his boxers as his pants were pulled down.

You closed your thighs tightly,embarrassed in your strangled state.

They carefully stripped Leviathan down ro his boxers,then laid them aside and walked back to their positions,heads bowed.

When you opened your eyes,you saw Leviathan' beautiful body that was naked.

At the same time Leviathan's penis was clearly visible as he stood here,uncovered,without pants or boxers.

MC: ( W-Was he that big before?)

Leviathan's beautiful pink penis was somehow as moist and flustured as the corners of his eyes.

You wondered if you were weird for thinking your partner's erect penis was beautiful, even when he was strangling you.

Or if Leviathan was strange for getting hard while strangling you.

The thick smell coming from the lower half of Leviathan body made your mind hazzy.

With you in his grip,Leviathan was soon breathing roughly.

The fact that you were in the hands of a beautiful king who had gone mad was begining to stimulate you.

Leviathan's penis which coudn't have risen any higher,nodded a few more times before starting to ooze a white liquid.

MC: (Is he coming? No...that's something else...)

The liquid that had begun to flow from the tip of Leviathan's penis enveloped the entirety of his penis and eventually dripped on the floor qith a dull sound.

The devil,the biggest beast in mythology - said to be able to even swallow Heaven - is acting like a male in a rut

The crystallization of a male. The essence that only a male can produce,was flowing out of his body like a fountain.

Such that although you only thought about it for a moment,a small puddle has formed on the ground.

You felt that with that amount,there would be no creature that coudn't be fertilized.

No,it was not slowing down any time soon. The liquid was gushing out so much,you coudn't even tell how much of it was there.

MC: (Amazing.)

You thought and with your face dark red from the rushing of blood,licked your lips without realizing it.

Your perverted nature,unrivaled amongs humans,felt happy to be able to witness such a spectacle.

As you reached the limit of your oxygen supply and your eyes began to fall back,you felt a lightning bolt of pleasure strike your wet lower half.

MC: Kurgh...urgh...!!

As you wrapped your arms around Leviathan's neck,unable to control your excitment,his penis jerked highly once more.

And holding you up with his hand,he thrust his wet pillar inside you.

Fwolp!

MC: !!!!

Leviathan's already wet pillar slid unresistingly inside you.

At the same time,the hand holding your throat loosened and the blocked airway opened once again,sending tickling sensations throughout your body.

You trembled at the exploding pleasure for a moment.

Now,you were in Leviathan's arms as his penis penetrated you.

When you looked up,you could see Leviathan looking down at you.

Looking at his face which was still crazy but the most beautiful face you'd ever seen,you quickly looked away in embarrassment.

Leviathan: Don't...be cold...

MC: (What?)

Blankly murmuring incompregensable words,Leviathan held your bottom with his hand and began to walk with his penis inside you.

MC: W-Wait! This position! Ugh...My stomach is filling up!

Leviathan's object continued oozing white liquid and your stomach was filled with his liquid to the point it looked slightly convex.

As he began to walk,you could even hear the sloshing in your gut. And everytime his feet crossed,a gap opened where you were connected to him and white liquid gurgled and leaked out onto the ground.

MC: (Are we Hansel and Gretel?! This is embarrassing!)

Where Leviathan walked,a white path was being made of the liquid that came out of him,went into you and came back out again.

Being around devils filled your perverted mind with pleasure's you never seen or imagined. It was like that again.

Now you began to enjoy it. You had pressed your own button.

MC: Where...Tell me where are we going?...Ah,ughh...I love it...

Leviathan: To somewhere safe.

Leviathan said something you coudn't understand,but watching his mad and beautiful face made you tremble with happiness.

None of the subjects raised thwir heads or criticized you until the moment Leviathan left through the door at the end of the hall.

You left rhat silent,uncanny loyalty behind and began to move,impaled by Leviathan and carried by him.

Feeling his wet pillar entered you even deeper and left you each time Leviathan took a step.

And the slickness of Leviathan's fluid filling your stomach, and the sound of it dripping onto the floor.

[starlightseraph]

listen, i love dugga doo and his funky little song just as much as the next guy, but we gotta talk about that episode.

i’d like to start off by saying that i honestly don’t think there was genuine conscious malice involved. i don’t think rtd and juno dawson were sitting around a table plotting how to demonise the oh so evil palestinians. the reality is even worse.

i think they did actually want to make a statement, one that they perceive as being pro-palestinian. it came out like this because they are so entrenched in the mainstream liberal dogma of superficial concern for the oppressed and the glorification of “virtuous resistance” that has never accomplished anything.

this episode had real potential. the visual presentation was excellent. it could’ve been an deeply striking look at the resistance of the oppressed. but instead it facilely discarded all the nuance and rationale that exists behind resistance, particularly anti-colonial resistance, in favour of lofty ideals that don’t yield tangible results. at least not in the real world. maybe the doctor’s reaction could have made sense if it had been handled very, very differently. but the writers, living in some of the most privileged positions on earth, just couldn’t comprehend the depths of colonial and genocidal oppression on this scale. it’s somewhat ironic, because rtd is welsh and juno dawson is trans. the struggles they must face are real and valid. i have no doubt they’re painful. but living in the united kingdom as white people in the 2020s makes them some of the most privileged people on earth. that’s not to say they don’t face discrimination, but i think many people in the imperial core struggle to comprehend just how extremely dire the situation can be in a place like palestine. the darkest depths of life in gaza are far, far worse than the worst conditions in the uk. to comment on the validity of the struggle of a people facing an incomprehensible genocide is just hubristic. it’s self-centred. there’s an extremely flawed logic to it, based on a lack of understanding of *wink wink* proper sociopolitical theory.

so, no, i don’t think those involved are truly malevolent. they’re just ignorant, arrogant, and coming from a place of extreme liberal privilege.

here’s a short description of these kind of liberals:

they see suffering and injustice and oppression. they have the sparks of compassion in their hearts, they do become distressed by what they see. they are honest enough to dislike oppression, but too privileged to truly understand what’s required to stop it. in this view, violence attempting to end oppression is just as abhorrent as violence seeking to enforce it.

now, many, many liberals do really only care about suffering to the extent that they need to see it. i don’t think that’s what’s happening here. to address this topic in a way that’s supposed to be pro-palestinian shows that there is a deeper concern.

but…

peaceful “resistance” won’t get you anywhere. for a protest to even have merit, it has to be disruptive. for it to actually be effective, it has to provide a reasonable response to the extreme violence that it’s fighting against. do you honestly think anyone who is currently participating in the slaughter of children will be so moved by a song that they’ll just stop?

music and art are powerful. they can change minds. i’ve seen it happen. talking to people works. i’ve seen that happen, too. but it only works on those who have been passive. a person who hasn’t really thought things through or who hasn’t fully grasped the reality of the situation.

using creativity and conversation to build bridges are excellent tools that we cannot afford to discard. but they don’t stop oppression on their own, they only get more people to see it for what it is.

if you actually want to fix things, you can’t expect the oppressors to voluntarily lay down their arms. oppression and colonisation are based on dehumanisation.

how many oppressive systems have been thoroughly dismantled without violent resistance? all of the most commonly named “peaceful” revolutions were anything but.

the civil rights movement in the 60s and 70s. the gay liberation movement in the 80s and 90s. the labour movement in the 10s, 20s, and 30s. women’s suffrage in the early twentieth century and women’s liberation in later decades. the end of apartheid in south africa. the overthrow of various regimes in africa, asia, and latin america, and the protection of the vulnerable still living under those regimes. de-nazification in east germany. partisan movements throughout europe. kicking the english out of half the world. the move from feudalism to capitalism. in various places, the move from capitalism to socialism.

none of these things were accomplished through gentleness. if you think they were, you’ve been propagandised. every social movement in the west has only gotten real gains after displaying that they would become a real problem if their demands were ignored. anti-apartheid fighters were by no means pacifists. partisans did far more than distribute food, commit sabotage, and hide fugitives. they killed people to advance their cause.

trust me, i hate violence. i hate death. i don’t want people to be hurt or killed. i’m what you might consider radical because of love for people and peace. i want things to get better, so we’re in a position where peace is even a viable option. revolution has to be guided by love. but, also, refusing to fight back with equal vigour is what gets us crushed.

^ this is honestly what watching that ep felt like. “shut up sciencoid, with the power of… uh… not doing anything, we’re going to convince our genociders and colonisers to let us live!”

i beg yall to read theory. and learn decolonised history. only then can you really grasp even a shadow of understanding for the people who get the worst in these ultra-oppressive and often murderous systems and what’s truly necessary to overthrow them.

[ruinofchimera]

Hi, I'd like to know your opinion. Why do you think Peter betrayed the Marauders and blamed Sirius?

By the way, I hope you are very well.

Thank you for the perfect cue. Time to roll up my sleeves and dissect the bane of the Harry Potter fandom: Peter Pettigrew.

Why did he betray the Marauders? I like the phrasing. Because behind it, the real question to ponder is lurking. Did Peter ever betray his friends, or did he just betray the Marauders, the twisted idea of inclusion that he never really had? Oh, don’t get me wrong—there’s no denying that James and Sirius were practically the poster boys for friendship. No argument there. We’ve all heard that tear-jerking speech from Sirius: “I’d rather die than betray my friends.” And fair enough; Sirius had every reason to be an emotional wreck—he was talking about James, the only person he ever truly gave a damn about. Sure, we don’t know everything about their golden years, but what we do know makes it painfully clear: James and Sirius? They were a two-man act, a bond so tight it was as if they shared the same heartbeat.

But where on earth did this idea come from that someone else—anyone else—was ever part of that special bond? The books paint a pretty stark picture if you care to look. There was the alpha pair leading the charge, while the other two trailed behind, playing supporting roles. Look at how they chose Pettigrew to be Secret Keeper in the first place—not because they thought he was capable or smart, but because they figured no one would suspect him. Translation: “We don’t think you’re much good for anything, Peter, but hell, no one else does either, so maybe that’ll save our skins.” And yet somehow, fans cling to this rose-colored myth of brotherhood. Four souls, brought together by some unshakable bond of loyalty. Let’ get real here. There’s a very good chance that Peter didn’t even see James and the gang as friends. He was just along for the ride, hanging around like a dodgy uncle at a family reunion.

People love to reduce Peter’s Animagus form to a symbol of cowardice and betrayal, but they miss the real significance of what a rat actually represents—survival. And at his core, that’s exactly what Peter is—a survivor. Strip away all the noise, the grand ideals, and lofty heroics that everyone around him seemed so fond of, and what you’ve got left in Peter is raw instinct. He wasn’t guided by some deep-seated belief or conviction. No grand moral compass pulled him one way or another. He’s the embodiment of the quintessential “baby boy” trope—the “please take care of me” type. (Sorry, Regulus, but the Chalamet fancast isn’t enough to hold the title. Hand over the badge.)

What Peter craved more than anything was protection. It didn’t matter whether it came from James Potter or the Dark Lord himself. The man just wanted someone bigger, stronger, meaner to pat him on the head.

Pettigrew was already used to playing second fiddle to James and Sirius, who were so full of themselves they practically had their own gravitational pull. So when Voldemort strutted onto the scene, another powerful, arrogant tosser demanding followers, was it really such a massive shift for Peter? Hardly. It wasn’t life-changing. It was just a change of scenery. He did what he was best at: finding the biggest bully on the block and pledging his allegiance to survive. Sirius and James had been grooming him for it for years without even knowing.

It’s easy work, bashing Peter. Man’s got a face like a rodent and a spine to match—hardly the makings of a tragic anti-hero, is he? Sorry, Peter, but “pretty privilege” isn’t swooping in to save you like it did for Slytherin Skittles. If Pettigrew had even a hint of good looks, we’d have a library of fanworks trying to paint his redemption. But with a face like that? Not a chance. Instead, we get a convenient scapegoat for the fandom to rally against, letting the poster boys soak up all the angst. The sacred friendship betrayed! A tale for the ages, and people can boo-fucking-hoo about it for eternity.

As you can see from my lengthy ramblings, I’m doing just fine—so no worries in this department.

[cantareincminor]

SxF Chapter 97 TwiYor Parallels

Wow wow was not expecting today's chapter to veer off into old people territory!

Henry Henderson's flashback was so poignant. Who knew him and Martha went that far back to being Eden classmates together?

Other than the anti-war message that seems to be coming up in the next chapter, I believe Endo has another message for us readers: that this is a cautionary tale for younger not-quite-there couples like Twilight and Yor.

There's already another parallel in the Henry/Martha relationship with TwiYor: Twilight is the brainy one, and as a child he was rather timid and a bit of a crybaby due to his overbearing father, while Yor is the athletic and bold one at least when it comes to defending the weak and standing up to villains.

But the deeper parallel is this:

Twilight's already outright said a few chapters ago that his lesson from the Mole Hunt Arc was that he had to kill his emotions and no longer allow himself to be so weak. He's firmly in denial, obviously. But it is entirely possible that he could follow Henry Henderson's path and stubbornly ignore a person who clearly adores him, who's been standing right next to him all along, all on behalf of some lofty ideals he may never achieve in his lifetime.

Now are we going to get a Henry Henderson + Loid Forger heart-to-heart over relationships and past regrets?? PLEASE HENDERSON-SENSEI, APPLY YOUR ELEGANT ADVICE TO THIS HOPELESS YOUNG MAN'S LIFE! GET HIM TO REALIZE HE'S IN LOVE WITH HIS WIFE!

/rant

Edit: only realized after the fact that the last two sentences rhyme LOL

[aliciavance4228]

Best thing about Bellerophon I've read in a while:

Plutarch, Concerning the Virtues of Women:

"Of the Lycian Women: That which is reported to have fallen out in Lycia, although it be fabulous, hath yet common fame attesting it. Amisodarus, as they say, whom the Lycians call Isaras, came from a colony of the Lycians about Zeleia, bringing with him pirate ships, which Chimarrhus, a warlike man, who was also savage and brutish, was commander of. He sailed in a ship which had a lion carved on her head and a dragon on her stern. He did much mischief to the Lycians, so that they could not sail on the sea nor inhabit the towns nigh the sea-coast. This man Bellerophon pursued with his Pegasus and slew him, and also defeated the Amazons, for which he obtained no due requital, but Iobates the king was most unjust to him; upon which Bellerophon went to the seashore, and made earnest supplication by himself to Poseidon that he would render that country barren and unfruitful; and having said his prayers, he faced about. Upon which the waves of the sea arose and overwhelmed the land, and it was a dreadful sight to behold the lofty billows following Bellerophon and drowning the plain. And now, when the men by their deprecation, laboring to put a stop to Bellerophon, availed nothing at all, the women plucking up their petticoats met him full butt; upon which confounded with shame he turned back again, and the flood, as they say, returned with him. But some unriddle the fabulous part of this story, by telling us that it was not by execrations that he brought up the sea; but the fattest part of the plain lying lower than the sea, and a certain ridge extending itself all along the shore which beat off the sea, Bellerophon broke through this, so that the sea forcibly flowed in and overwhelmed the plain; and when the men by their humble addresses obtained nothing, the women assembling about him in multitudes gained respect from him and pacified his wrath."

Bellerophon was the original anti-simp. Change my mind.

[nyxrev]

Saitama moves: normal ground slam

………(oh they're just regular swords)

I thought Saitama would walk out of the forest to check on commotion as Void burst out of the ground, then swat him anti-climactically as OPM does, maybe some good ol' lectures. But perhaps he is lost, or confused as usual.

*dramatic gaspspsp*

Look, more lore, more mystery.

*sips tea, bombastic side eye*

oh dear… oh dear… 🤭😬

Blast,are you surrre you still want to prioritize his life? Is it wise?

Void's attachment was Blast's wife, but what's their relationship?

Blast still has hopes for Void, but Void is pissed at him, for whatever valid or not reason, or maybe he is just manipulated by the… critter on the moon.

Void said Blast brought misfortune around him by how he irresponsibly preached lofty ideals, at the end, he could not protect anyone.

Who was it Blast couldn't protect? What were his mistakes & failures? What caused such rift between them? Why is Void so pissed at him years later? What did they do prior fallout anyway? Was it shady work? You don't just go search for mysterious cubes on a whim. How did they learn about it?

Do Blast's personal flaws tie back to his power? How they contrast his power of darkness with Void?

I mean Void is also plenty unhinged …almost blinded by his light & what -ever vision he was planted with. Clearly, his earthly attachment was his weakness, it let him be whisked away by the nefarious critter. Both of them got deep faults to work on.

I wouldn't be surprised if it all stemmed from small issues neglected & snowballed to resentment, which could've been resolved if only they communicated, but ofc dudes refuse to talk it out so they spiral down a bloody brawl. Maybe Saitama will smack them both to clarity, idk.

Tbh we don't know much about Blast, his motivation, character, etc.

Blue is his son, but by the way he started his own organization, & the fact Blast has been absent probably more than half his life, seems like their relationship is not too good…no mention of his mother yet either …well, a distant dad raises no son.

Flash questioned why Void did not target Blast's child/family first, could it be his weakness is not his son or wife? Not unlikely, if I had to guess. There's some complicated relationship dynamics afoot.

[theamityelf]

Spiderverse AU with Makoto and his assorted survivor classmates being spiderman/woman/something.

Kyoko in her lavender suit, byakuya in a fancy white suit (he wouldn't be caught DEAD in anything white normally), Hiro in a mishmash homemade suit that was clearly self-made but it's cozy so no complaints, Toko/Jack in deep maroon-purple, and Makoto with his silly little green hoodie suit.

What do you think their canon events are? :3

This might be much too on-the-nose, but my first thought was that the killing game was their canon event, and it's a situation where each of them was in their universe's version of the killing game, and their killing games ended with everyone getting killed except the one with spider powers (because their spider powers helped them survive whatever it was that killed the others).

The reason I say this is, it'd be kind of sweet to have each of them, as lone survivors, get to meet lone survivor versions of the friends they lost.

Most of the survivors became more solitary than ever, after outliving all their friends; they're very lofty and disconnected from the world, as spider heroes. Especially Kyoko, Toko, and Byakuya. Those three aren't at all doing the "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-person" thing. Kyoko is an aloof hero, Byakuya is a rude anti-hero, Toko is probably just using her powers defensively where Syo uses them offensively.

It'll be good for them to get to meet versions of their friends who went through what they went through. Makoto is still the Ultimate Hope, which is mostly good, but it also means the Future Foundation is probably trying to assimilate his hero stuff into their image. Lot of webs in their logos and their site UI and everything. But he's still just as willing to defy them for the good of others as he is in canon.

Alternatively, their canon events could draw upon the UDG captives of each THH cast member, so it's like:

Every one of them has experienced their closest loved one being kidnapped and then coming back wrong. In a Lizard Peter Parker kind of way; they had to fight their loved ones as overpowered mutants. (Kinda funny for Toko; she had to fight a giant mutant stink bug.)

And maybe it's a Miles in Across the Spiderverse situation, where the others are treating it as inevitable that Komaru is going to die but Makoto refuses to accept it. He'll find a way to save her!

[hero-israel]

Besides anti-Semitism I think one of the reasons people hate Israel is jealousy and incredulity over how much Israel cares about it's people. Israel will go to the end of the earth, break treaties, sacrifice soldiers, start wars solely for the sake of saving not only world jewry but also non Jewish Israeli citizens. Not strategic advantage, not economic gain but solely to save its people.

Also, Israel shows the reality of what a lot of their lofty political slogans look like. There's always more to complain about from a real, tax-and-army, sausage-making country than from a theory.