#but in my complete lack of education in the specifics i do wonder what was going on then

[villainanders]

seeing mass effect 2 came out just about a year before da2 is explaining a lot to me bc 1) even tho me2 seems to be a more thought out game than da2 in just about every regard it seems like there's a lot similar stylistic impulses going on 2) bioware was REALLY into 9/11 during this timeframe apparently. i don't know what was going on over there nearly 10 years after the event that made them feel like it was finally time to start dropping their 9/11 political commentary but it was happening i guess

[silvery-orchid]

YAN! GENSHIN MEN READING YOUR DIARY(includes: childe, heizou, dottore and capitano.)

childe.

he likes to think of this as something of a habit. back when you were friends and you dozed off so securely and safely in front of his very eyes; in your own room might he add - childe admits that he loved to pick up your diary and skim through it. he hadn't been home for a while so how much did you miss him? oh, his name is mentioned here a lot! that made him very happy. but.. who is this 'charming, educated and handsome' man that you've met now? and when did his name start to show up far more than his? this very 'habit' and revelation was what compelled him to finally show you just how deep his twisted love was. the cutest thing? he still reads your diary and you have no idea. you sleep less peacefully when he is next to you now but he still gets to continue on with it. you never realize it because he spaces it out. three months after you mention a specific snack is when he will bring it; he rewards you later on with the things you forget you ever wrote in there. oh, but childe doesn't. never has and never will forget. now, his name is the only one that shows up among the pages. isn't that wonderful? whoever the 'charming, educated and handsome' man was - he meant nothing.

heizou.

oh, heizou reads your diary without you knowing but his feeling towards it are not appreciation or something good - he reads your diary in complete mockery. don't get it wrong, he loves you - adores you even above anything else imaginable but - the detective in him laughs at you. really, just what do you mean 'i feel that something is off' and nothing else? he was in your room and he watched you sleep, how didn't you notice? oh, you did not even document the missing spoon, or lipstick, or underwear. seriously, just how incompetent must you be he asks, with all the love in the world of course. heizou wants you to be more perceptive and less gullible - and reading your diary gives him enough ideas on how to make you so. after all, you are not just anyone. he wants to chase you but he doesn't want it to be oh so boring.

dottore.

dottore reads your diary as if it was the most boring newspaper ever brought to him. and it makes you mad. but no matter how many times you explain that this is the only privacy you thought you had; or, that he is better off not reading it since all those lines contain are pure hatred for him - he never stops. no privacy and no regard. you hate that it doesn't wound him. it seems to hurt you more in fact. because even if you write about the sweet dream where his whole body got melted with poison chemicals; dottore doesn't even bat an eye. instead, he reads it with sighs; he reads it while rolling his eyes. and then he sits it down in your lap and tsks. what? he looks disappointed.

'how many times do i have to tell you? all of these plans you have for 'killing me' as you so sweetly put it - lack innovation. worst of all; they're not even feasible! i've left behind my worthless diary logs in sumeru and all over the world; and even they are better than this thing you claim to value so much.'

how dare he make you feel like your only escape is a homework assignment brought in front of a professor that is unable to be pleased? yet, it is all you have. and perhaps one day - one of those plans works.

capitano.

capitano likes to make you believe that he is nonchalant to these words. when in reality, he reads every single sentence twice and makes sure his eyes do not skip even a single article placement. really, knowing your lover is as important as knowing your enemy. even more; so no detail shall escape him. you live in this delusion that the only time capitano reads your diary is when he is punishing you. because he makes it seem that way. only when you really mess up, do you think that he will stand in front of you and read it while you sob. he is so mean about it to. endlessly commenting and asking you questions. but, he likes that you believe in a lie. ever since the first time he saw what you wrote about him after he kidnapped you - he knew he couldn't put it down. you were guessing what he looked like under his mask, if he was even human. alas, his excitement didn't last long because suddenly you were mentioning how 'nice' the guard was in front of your door. through your diary, he found out the guard disobeyed his orders; he found out that your heart was leaping at the lavender flowers he gave you. immediately, he dealt with it as any rational man would; by burning down any lavender around his manor and by dealing with his 'rival in love' with a quick duel. your diary is an endless extension of you. so when he sees that your was twisting and you were imagining even worse scenarios of how the guard died - he felt pleasure. your fondness for lavender remained persisted; and he found the best way to deal with it. capitano was patient enough, but he didn't have an endless supply of it. so, for your one year anniversary as he called it - he decided to take off his helmet and present you with some lavender. before he... conquered your body and soul. he cannot wait to see your new impressions about him and if you still had an attachment to those silly weeds.

a/n: what is this you ask? just a silly idea thats been in my mind for a long time. why? i,,do not know. but this is part one hehe

[zoeykallus]

Hi there! I love your headcanons and I was wondering if I could make a personal request. Let me know if this is a no-go.

I have PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, basically PMS [premenstrual syndrome] but 20x worse. It usually resolves upon the onset of the crimson wave. But not all the time.

I have been struggling really badly with the deep depression, insomnia, and self-image issues brought on by my disorder.

Do you think we can see how the Batch handles their fem reader S/O struggling with this disorder specifically? And maybe, if it's not too much, a part 2 with some of our favorite regs?

Thank you so much!

Aloha my dear!

Oh, this is a heavy hitter, I know where you are coming from. So many people out there have no idea how freaking much this can affect someone's life. PMS is already a hard thing to deal with, but PMDD brings it to yet another really shitty level. Don't worry, I got you 😊

The Bad Batch x Afab!Reader HCs - Struggling With PMDD

Warnings: Mention of PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) and its symptoms /Hurt/Comfort/Fluff

_______

AC: I'm using Techs Part first to introduce PMDD and its symptoms to those who might not know what it is. So don't be surprised about Tech's Part being longer than the others, there is a lot of information in there. So please read Tech's part, to understand what this is all about 😊

_______

Ko-Fi (If you feel like giving me some coffee)

_______

Tech

The first experiences he has with you in this context are frightening for him. Apart from the fact that you suddenly seem like a completely different person to him, he is really worried about you. But Tech wouldn't be Tech if he didn't get to the bottom of this.

It takes him a little while to find the right material.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a much more severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It may affect women of childbearing age. It’s a severe and chronic medical condition that needs attention and treatment. Lifestyle changes and sometimes medicines can help manage symptoms.

The exact cause of PMDD is not known. It may be an abnormal reaction to normal hormone changes that happen with each menstrual cycle. The hormone changes can cause a serotonin deficiency. Serotonin is a substance found naturally in the brain and intestines that narrows blood vessels and can affect mood and cause physical symptoms.

What are the risk factors for PMDD?

While any woman can develop PMDD, the following may be at increased risk:

Women with a family history of PMS or PMDD  

Women with a personal or family history of depression, postpartum depression, or other mood disorders

Other possible risk factors include lower education and cigarette smoking

Talk with your healthcare provider for more information.

"Healthcare provider?" he mumbles softly between reading, "As if any of us have such a thing"

Symptoms of PMDD appear during the week before menstruation and end within a few days after your period starts. These symptoms disrupt daily living tasks. Symptoms of PMDD are so severe that women have trouble functioning at home, at work, and in relationships during this time. This is markedly different than other times during the month.

There is a chart with symptoms and he worriedly starts to read it.

The following are the most common symptoms of PMDD:

Psychological symptoms

Irritability

Nervousness

Lack of control

Agitation

Anger

Insomnia

Difficulty in concentrating

Depression

Severe fatigue

Anxiety

Confusion

Forgetfulness

Poor self-image

Paranoia

Emotional sensitivity

Crying spells

Moodiness

Trouble sleeping

Fluid retention

Swelling of the ankles, hands, and feet

Periodic weight gain

Diminished urine output

Breast fullness and pain

Respiratory problems

Allergies

Infections

Eye complaints

Vision changes

Eye infection

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Abdominal cramps

Bloating

Constipation

Nausea

Vomiting

Pelvic heaviness or pressure

Backache

Skin problems

Acne

Skin inflammation with itching

Aggravation of other skin disorders, including cold sores

Neurologic and vascular symptoms

Headache

Dizziness

Fainting

Numbness, prickling, tingling, or heightened sensitivity of arms and/or legs

Easy bruising

Heart palpitations

Muscle spasms

Other

Decreased coordination

Painful menstruation

Diminished sex drive

Appetite changes

Food cravings

Hot flashes

His brows are drawn together critically. With a heavy sigh, he says quietly to himself, "Oh boy…"

Tech makes it his business to see that you are examined by a proper doctor, given appropriate medication, and change your diet. He sometimes seems stern and matter-of-fact, but only when he notices you neglecting yourself. Tech also pampers you to counteract the psychological symptoms, with picnics, massages and the like.

Don't worry too much, Tech's got your back. He won't give up on you.

Hunter

His senses already tell him what connections exist with your condition. But of course he is not a doctor and therefore informs himself accordingly without your knowledge, Tech helps him. What he learns frightens him, Hunter is really worried, and he makes it his mission to make this time, these symptoms, easier for you. Apart from making sure you always have the medication you need at hand, he is also much more attentive and caring than usual during this time.

You can let yourself go and not have to worry about anything, Hunter takes everything in hand and has it under control. He is especially gentle and forgiving with you during this time. You mean a lot to him, and he does his absolute best to help you.

He doesn't argue with you when you get your moods, if you want to be alone he respects that, but keeps an eye on you from a safe distance, just in case.

Echo

This sweet man really throws himself into the task of helping you. Whether it's getting your medications, preparing food, massages, and running relaxing baths, Echo has it all covered.

With him by your side, you will want for nothing during this difficult time. He is also not easily scared away, he is as patient as he is stubborn. You don't have to go to the doctor alone, Echo will accompany you.

He organizes your medication, your diet and everything else you need, if you want. If you don't, you must tell him clearly, because Echo will automatically see his task in taking care of everything.

Wrecker

He is warm, and lively. Contrary to the expectations of most, he is also very sensitive and attentive. Of course, he does not miss the fact that something is wrong with you. Of course, he is worried and wants to help.

Talk to him honestly, try not to withdraw, and you will have a steadfast supporter and caretaker in Wrecker. He likes to spoil you, make sure you are taken care of and have your medication.

Wrecker is happy to adapt to you, you just need to communicate with him and let him know what you need. Taking care of you is very easy for him, he likes to do that. Knowing that he can make things easier for you is also good for him in this situation. So confide in him, there is absolutely no reason to pretend in front of him.

Crosshair

He is a bit more complicated at first. Of course, you are incredibly important to him, and he also has a certain empathy, but he often stands in his own way when it comes to emotional, interpersonal things.

At first, he can't really deal with it at all and is looking for some distance at this time. But in a small conversation between brothers, in which Hunter makes it clear to him that his behavior sooner or later can seriously damage your relationship, Crosshair first informs himself more precisely about the existing problem. Finally, he approaches you with the knowledge he has gathered and tries to discuss with you what you can do together as a couple, what he can do as your partner to make the whole thing easier for you.

You talk about medications, doctor visits, relaxation techniques, and home remedies to combat some symptoms. It doesn't take long for the two of you to work out a certain routine that you can both manage and that he can use to help you get through this time okay.

@rintheemolion

@andyoufollowyourheart @clone-whore-99

@brynhildrmimi @kaliel2310

@misogirl828 @tech-deck

@meshla-madalene

@chxpsi

@thebahdbitch

@nahoney22 @ladykatakuri

@darkangel4121

@ttzamara

@arctrooper69

@padawancat97

@agenteliix

@allsystemsblue

@palliateclaw

@either-madness-or-brilliance

@ortizshinkaroff

@andy-solo1

@hunterssecretrecipe

@heyitsaloy

@greaser-wolf

@extrahotpixels

@hated-by-me

@hunterxcrosshair

@malicemercy

@bebopsworld

@echos-girlfriend

@cpnt616

@dangraccoon

@jediknightjana

@pb-jellybeans

@antishadow2021

@sleepycreativewriter

@projectdreamwalker

@1vlouds

[not-poignant]

Looking forward to the new chapter of UtB! Also I learn a lot hearing your thoughts on fandom culture, and I was wondering why you think puritanism is getting stronger? Lately I’ve experienced it a lot both online and irl.

Hi anon,

I could write like a 10,000 word essay on why I think moral puritanism is getting stronger in the world, and how that intersects with increased moral panic, and 'anti' or fancop behaviour among fandom.

But I think there's more than one reason, and that at the centre of it, is the radicalisation of political extremes alongside the disdain for human life and education in the USA specifically. In non English-speaking cultures, antis are often considered a uniquely American phenomenon, for example. (They're not, but I do think some of the problems start there).

And from there it's necessary to look at:

The high presence of evangelist religion and their millions in USA politics in particular, and the influence this has on the news and government systems from the top down, affecting legislation, what we see on the media, what gets censored, who gets impacted (SESTA/FOSTA etc.) and so on. When companies like Paypal or similar say they won't support certain sites because they don't support sex workers or explicit artwork, we see extremist perspectives being normalised into the mainstream. Puritanism becomes baked into the system, and accepted as normal. And it has a domino effect, taking one thing away usually means to another thing being taken away, and by 'one thing' I usually mean like... equality, access to basic human rights, and more.

The presence of certain billionaire TERFs in UK politics actively working to destroy legislation over there gives a platform to hateful, bigoted extremists of all kinds, including Nazis (as seen in Australia recently, during a TERF event where Nazis turned up in open support). Also, I'd like to add that a lot of anti/fancop thinking is generally SWERF, anti-kink and eventually TERF in nature, and often homophobic and transphobic even when it's perpetuated by queer folk.

A long-term attack (we're talking over several decades now) on education (especially the humanities and any area that teaches critical thinking) including gutting the funding to libraries, colleges, high schools, primary schools and not increasing the pay of teachers, decreasing the general intelligence of US citizens in IQ tests across multiple metrics (except spatial reasoning). This, combined with the lack of emphasis on teaching nuance and critical thinking, means you get people primed to make didactic, black-or-white decisions and often are prone to radicalisation and black-or-white thinking. There's an increasing lack of ability to understand complex or even reasonably moderately complex thinking tasks. A great example of this was re: anti-vaxxers who said 'if masking works so well, why do you need vaccines' because there was a complete inability to understand that just because something works well, doesn't mean it works 100% of the time. There was a consistent inability too, to grok things like the swiss cheese model. That's not the only reason people are anti-vaxxers and there are some extremely smart people who are anti-vaxxers, but among broader populations, a lack of basic appreciation of nuance and risk mitigation in health was a huge issue. (And it's fairly easy to see this happening in many fandom discussions when we discuss how racism in fiction is generally not great, but that rape in fiction does not cause rape in reality.)

I know the above paragraph is long and unwieldy but it doesn't actually come close to capturing a lot of my thoughts on this so slafkjdsa it'll have to do though. The tl;dr is 'the government said philosophy and critical thinking isn't worth money, so a lot of people don't know how to do it, and anyone who can do it is often attacked or viewed with suspicion' (see also: The increasing suspicion and hostility towards experts in their field x.x). (Oh see also: A lot of people thinking YouTube videos count as 'valid research' for their viewpoints, and a lot of folks just...not ever learning how to research in general).

Something something social media privileging inflammatory and provocative takes as well as clickbait etc. encouraging people to often say things in the worst or least nuanced way possible.

The systemic attacks on democratic processes in the USA (and the UK and Australia and many other places).

The loudest and most obnoxious voices are often the people saying the stupidest shit. As in: It will feel like puritans are everywhere (and there's definitely more of them), but they're also just louder and getting more attention than they used to. It's misleading. Anti-vaxxers are actually a tiny minority for example, and antis are a minority in fandom, they're just...the loudest and the most willing to try and murder real people to defend the rights of fictional characters.

Er so. That's some of it anyway. There's more, absolutely, because I could talk about the presence of puritanism in a lot of levels of our experience/s, whether you're religious or not.

It's frustrating writing about this because I fall into the same trap of knowing that I can't talk about this in as nuanced a way as I want to, even if I get to do it in 1000 words instead of like, a miserable amount of characters on Twitter. Anyone thinking 'but it's not always like that!' or 'but not in every situation!' like trust me, I know. But if I sat here caveating everything that deserves a good caveat this post would blow out even more.

Basically if you try to stop educating your people as much, don't teach them how to research, debate or learn (yes, you have to learn how to learn), and don't give them access to basic needs, and gut your democracy/s, and the people at the top believe a fictional being cares if they're virgins or not or have abortions or not, and you don't care if people commit genocide against the children of your nation because that's not as important as the right to kill them in a moment of anger..., and you create a world where the children of your nation are primed to develop PTSD due to the fear of being gunned down while learning, you create a really great environment for radicalisation, extremism, the safety and comfort of puritanism (i.e. following very strict rules in the hope of fixing what's wrong with the world) while people look for a solution to why they feel so empty and hopeless in their lives.

[tonnerreblanc]

Ramble Incoming!⚠️

I'm usually not one to talk much about fandoms or franchises. I'm not even in all that many. Because, to me, they're too much like politics in regards to drama. (Yes, I said it). And I don't feel the need to deal with that. The most I find myself doing in fandoms is showing off my art, and swiftly going back to my corner.

But, I'mma open the can of worms that are my educated opinions. Thus, I might step on some toes. Just… don't take anything personally. Hahah, I'm not out to start beef with anyone. I'm just doing this for fun and to see what others think. I'm 100% up to having some friendly debates! So, feel free to Ask me if you want. :)

Today, Transformers is going to be my victim: I've been watching this fandom for a while… And boy, is it funny to watch y'all chase your own tails. Especially in regards to how y'all treat new content. (All fandoms with continuities do this, not just us).

People always complain that the new show/movie isn't good because and-I-quote. "It's not loyal to the original!"

Of course, creators can't copy-paste the old stuff. With new people, things will change. And that's okay.

Yes, some things—such as the themes and characters' cores, extra—should stay similar. Y'all forget that the new stuff is basically just professional fanfiction that's at this rate. *cough* And that G1 was a slapstick comedy, but I digress. But, give it 10 years, people like the older stuff that… for lack of a better term, everyone hated. It's suddenly much better compared to the new releases.

With that said, I can't really give my opinions on All Spark or Rise Of The Beasts. I haven't seen them yet. So I don’t feel very comfortable talking about them without context.

But what I can give my opinions on are the characters. Specifically how the fandom treats them.

I'm going to use Optimus Prime (the strong one) and Bumblebee (the golden child) as my main examples here.

Starting with the one and only leader of the Autobots:

One of the most common things I see people comment on is. "Optimus is too [insert reason]!" Then go on some tangent. (Which is normally valid, no hate). And the most common statement is that he's 'too' violent… but let me break it to ya… he's not. He deserves to be darker.

Now, hear me out!

This trend started with Bayverse, which yes, I'm not saying those movies are perfect or the best out there. A better part of the writing sucked! (I don't blame them for it, writers kept and still are going on strike). But… they're not as bad as most fans painted them to be. So let me play the Devil's advocate here, please.

The Optimus in the blockbuster films was brutal, yes. But that's not all he was.

Out of all the Primes in most of the movies and shows (I'm not including the IDW comics, I haven't read them yet), he is the most traumatized. Don't believe me? Just think about it.

He not only had what reality he knew torn out from underneath him once, but twi—wait no… three times! Once with the fall of Cybertron (his home), second with Sentinel's betrayal (his father figure), and third with humanity (a race he swore to protect). He has had it rough! Geez…

Not only did he already have very poor coping skills from the beginning. And what support system he did have ended up getting killed, for gosh sake. And now all he has left is Bumblebee and… a load of jerks. I would talk more about this but, Transformers and support systems are a completely different ramble for another time.

No wonder he's mad! I would be too.

Optimus is very obviously grasping at straws here. Yet he still tries his best with the resources he's given. Guys… he tried to give Cade relatable reassurance about his parenting struggles! And that was after humanity started to hunt him down and all the nonsense that ensued afterward.

Another thing that is implied in the movies—that much like Bumblebee—he was a CHILD SOLDIER. (Most of them were if you look at it). He obviously started fighting quite young. So it makes sense, that first and foremost as a soldier he would learn the best and fastest ways to defeat his enemies. Regardless of whether it was seen as brutal or dirty. He would get versed in those techniques after thousands of years of fighting. He gets the job done, that's all that matters.

Y'all also forget that most of the time his opponents were three-plus heads taller than him… ya do what ya gotta keep your loved ones safe, folks.

I love the fact that he has character flaws.

But, he's the strong one, the example child. So the fandom has hung a special set of standards that he must uphold.

Which brings me to Bumblebee, the golden child. Y'all complain to High Heaven about Bayverse. But the Bumblebee movie? Not a peep.

Do NOT get me wrong folks. I adore the Bumblebee movie (and Bee as a character) as much as anyone! But, y'all completely overlooked the fact that… It has some of the most brutal fights in the franchise. Are y'all going to really ignore the fact that Bee shredded Dropkick with a chain? That is on par with how Bayverse Starscream died. Which was just a slower version of Dropkick's death. Speaking of whom, Optimus didn't kill him. N.E.S.T did. And it's by far the most violent death in the blockbuster films. Along with poor Ravage (R.I.P) who… surprise, surprise! Bumblebee killed. Almost no one talks about that…

*Thinks for a moment* Jazz too. Megatron killed him. And no one really commented on how brutal that was either, because it was expected. It's Megatron, he's been shown to be brutal for ages. Ol’ Bucket Head is also very violent in the blockbuster films, big whoop. What am I getting at here? So it makes sense that Prime and everyone else has to keep up with him. I'm afraid G1's 'carefree' passive Optimus wasn't very realistic when you look at the facts of things…

If people are going to talk about how out of character Optimus taking a Decepticon head off is. What about Ironhide? Hound? Bumblebee? He's ripped bots spines out! That is definitely out of character for the OG Bee. Please, keep them all to the same realistic standards!

Which brings me to my next point.

Things tend to be heavily rooted in bias. And with continuities like Transformers, that bias is nostalgia. None of the shows, movies, or comics are going to be perfect, or ever have been perfect. Not only is the notion of perfection impossible but… It's HASBRO. Why do you expect so much from them? They can’t keep jack-squat consistent for anything they own. We all know they have a nasty habit of dropping the coolest lore and never talking about it again… this franchise deserves so much better. It deserves to be shown exactly as it is; a story about a civil war. *sigh* Such a shame.

Anywho… I should probably stop talking now. XD, This is three Google Docs pages long. So apologies! I hope my thoughts (if you made it this far) were interesting at least. I don't know if I made the best of points but, oh well…

Till we meet again, Shalom,

-TonnerreBlanc⚡

[autogyne-redacted]

hi! i saw your post abt race primacy and was wondering if you'd be able to expand on that a bit more if you feel like it. i am i guess kind of new to the idea that it's possible to talk about racism without doing what the example you posted does.

Yeah, absolutely.

As far as race primacy goes, the basic, short answer is that you can avoid it by not positioning race as fundentally, across the board more important or more fundamental than other characteristics. The "if you're white you're white before anything else" part of my example post.

Prioritizing race is an analytic approach, and it's certainly an important one, but if it's your only one you're going to miss a lot of what's going on.

To give a more thorough answer means getting into a lot of background and exploring the messy entanglements that lead towards race primacy and race reductionism, so buckle up it's gonna be a Long Post.

Most of the patterns I want to criticize here are (imo) the result of taking useful analysis and loosing the nuance, generalizing sloppily, slipping between different definitions of words, being overly dogmatic, or otherwise taking it in less than helpful directions. I'm not saying to throw out these frameworks, just to recognize that they don't represent absolutely and universal truths.

I'm also not opposing any specific language here. Sometimes ppl are casual and say things that communicate perfectly well but would make shitty philosophic positions if you took them literally and held to them rigidly. That's life.

.

Whether you're looking at how demographic categories correlate with individual actions or they affect how other ppl treat you, race is significant but saying it is always the most significant factor is a wild position.

To give a clear example, and show one path to race primacy, lots of the conservative Christianity is structured and defined first in terms of religion (obviously), and then around lines of Christian / family values and gender.

The Southern Baptist Convention has had a Black president. Women are still explicitly barred from even being pastors. Out gay and trans ppl are excluded pretty completely.

.

A common approach, to maintain a focus on race is to say that Christianity (or at least the SBC) is a fundamentally white religion and value system. PoC may participate in it, but that as a political and historical force it is solidly on the side of The West, Europe, Colonialism, etc.

I tend to talk about this as abstracting whiteness.

Whiteness often (even if not in our circles here) gets abstracted to talk about shit like cop calling, assimilationism, middle class values, etc.

"White feminism" is a great example of this, where the term can 100% refer to race, or point to middle class, carceral, cis, imperialist, or other shitty tendencies.

If we talk about the shifting boundaries of whiteness, especially looking back to when whiteness was necessary for full legal rights / personhood, whiteness was very directed the thing you assimilated into thru patriotism, middle class achievement, gender conformity, etc. (This is an explicit note that my knowledge is about a US context and I'm sure this shit varies)

There's a bunch of research that shows lots of minority and immigrant groups having initial disadvantages compared to white ppl (measured thru wealth, income, segregation, education, etc) that shrink over time. And a distinct lack of this gap narrowing by most measures looking at Black Americans. Related (at least in part) to this you get some theory abstracting Blackness as that which is unassimilable (some of which is really powerful).

From this and other angles I think it makes a lot of sense why ppl are drawn to abstract whiteness.

However, the second you do that you're no longer talking about race (in a way that can be mapped to individuals). And I (as a white person) am not necessarily any more a part of this abstracted whiteness than any PoC.

And since race (in the individual, traditional sense) does matter, loosening the terms to this point has significant downsides.

.

You can see similar dynamics at work when ppl constantly fall back on referring to Far Right groups like the Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer as white nationalist / white supremacist groups.

They're very much not. Both have had PoC leaders, and they're centered around Western Male Chauvinism and Christian Nationalism respectively.

But, if you see The West, right wing Christianity and American Nationalism thru the lens of abstracted whiteness, than these are all white supremacist groups.

And like ..... there's clearly something to that. Having PoC leaders by no means makes these groups less racist. But there's also a clear distinction between them and what you're gonna see in a hardine white supremacist group like, say, the Klan.

If you caught the mess a few years ago when a bunch of ppl decided that Chelsea Manning had joined the far right because whiteness is ultimately all that matters, that's a great example of mixing up abstract and concrete definitions of whiteness to reach completely ridiculous conclusions.

.

I don't wanna go deep in this point because I haven't seen it since I got off of fb years ago, but I want to briefly mention the argument that the gender binary is inherently European, and thus PoC are inherently non-binary. This is another argument where there lots of individual statements that make sense on their own, and then thru some shifting definitions you reach a wild conclusion.

There's tons to talk about in terms of the imposition of binary gender and specific European norms as part of colonialism. (The Coloniality of Gender is what I think of as the classic piece making this argument).

And there's plenty to say in terms of PoC being held to different standards and negatively framed as too masculine or not masculine enough.

But this argument then acts as if no assimilation to gender whatsoever has happened, and as if there are no differences in levels of gender conformity and the social positions these produce. It's extremely weird and imo the kind of position that imo could only be produced thru a tremendous amount of ppl setting aside their critical thinking due to not having the right identities to see these issues as in their lane.

.

A lot of this comes down to the question of how we name That Which We Oppose. Identity politics really pushed us to frame it in terms of identity, but the world of hardline identity-based structures is largely gone.

Part of what I love about the language of Civilization and Leviathan is that it provides an answer for this question that recognizes the slippery relationship between both individuals and identity-defined groups of ppl and the structures of hierarchy we want to dismantle.

[mask131]

And one last post for the road - but this time about something more general and comparing the USA versus Europe... But still about antisemitism.

I want to say this already: I am not a fan of "Hotel Transylvania". I watched the first movie because a friend told me to, I saw bits and clips of the other movies because you couldn't escape them if you were on the Internet at the time of their release, but you know, I am not deeply into it all. Right...

So, when one of the sequels was released (2 or 3? Let me check... It was the 2), Dracula's daughter had a wedding, right? And during the wedding there was the Jewish ritual of the glass breaking - and the Internet completely gushed over the fact Dracula and his daughter (and by extension all vampires in this world, since the vampires are all synthetized within this one specific family) were Jewish. There were literaly posts saying "UwU so cool to see Jewish representation like that".

And... I was quite baffled by this all.

Mind you - I do KNOW that this was not meant to be antisemitic. The makers of the movie clearly were just referencing how Dracula was played by Adam Sandler, and the Internet fans were truly just innocently cheering on a Jewish character... Here's the thing though: knowing how trigger-happy American social media were, knowing how prone to mobs Twitter and the like was, knowing how the cancel-culture was building itself up in power, I said to myself "Oh, damn, it is going to burst and this poor movie is going to get beaten upon just because it made a clumsy mistake of poor taste"...

However nothing happened. Nothing. Because the American audience didn't get the problem - because they were completely unaware of the problem. And yet I, a young random French guy who isn't even Jewish, knew what the problem was without even looking too much into it. Why? I come to realize now that it is because the USA is wildly unaware and unprepared when it comes to antisemitism. Europe had to directly face the Nazis, lived through centuries of systematic antisemitism (the 19th century was especially fertile in this domain), we had to undergo tons of antisemitic propaganda. But the USA? They were much less touched by this. They were confronted by it in such a lesser degree that the random American person is less aware of the antisemitic tropes and stereotypes than a random European person.

If you want a proof: just look at how Americans went crazy when they discovered the blood libel myth a few years ago. That's old news for us in Europe - but when the Americans "rediscovered" it, it went viral and everybody talked about it, and everybody was suddenly seeing it everywhere, even in places where it wasn't... It was a true "trend", because it was somehow new to them. As such it truly is no wonder when you look at the big waves of antisemitism today in the USA - it truly isn't actual malevolence, but it seems to be... just the evils of plain non-education and lack of information. They're not aware of what antisemitism is about, and so they unconsciously play fully into it... I don't know, that's my two-cent sociologist bullshit here.

Ah yes, why is it problematic to depict the only vampire family of your monster world as Jewish? Simple. Vampires have been used as an antisemitic insults and caricatures for centuries now. In fact, it is one of the big problems the figure of the vampire had to face when being adapted and reinvented in modern days: try to avoid the tropes and elements that antisemites reused to turn the vampire into a "symbol" for the Jews. The parastic, money-and-life (blood) stealing Jew, that looks human but isn't truly human, that secretely manipulates the world from the shadows and who - oh yes, is repelled by Christian symbols! Vampires kept appearing on the covers of antisemitic newspapers throughout the 19th century - the big century of the vampire boom in literature. The Nazis also gleefully reused the vampire as a symbol for their propaganda.

This was why I was a bit uncomfortable seeing everybody celebrate in such a way "Oh yeah, Dracula is Jewish, yipee!". I was there just wondering "Do... do they realize it can be taken in a very bad way? You know, like how depicting a cannibal as a Black man of African descent can be inherently racist? Do they... do they know it?" Turn out, they didn't

[yyumemika]

A Premature Burial Episode 5

A Premature Burial 

Episode 5 

Season: Winter

Characters: Mika, Shu

(Several hours later. Itsuki family villa storage room) 

Mika: Snore, snore…♪

(…Nnah? Uh~ oh, I fell asleep!) 

(I’m all jet lagged from goin’ between France and Japan… It’s weirdly dark n’ quiet in here so I ended up fallin’ asleep.)

(Umm, ah, how long has it been already? After all, I gotta have a bit more restraint since they ain’t my relatives.)

(I wonder if Oshisan’s okay all on his own.)

(Actually, I’m just a plain ol’ freeloader, I had no right to barge in on family matters…) 

(I feel a lil’ left out.)

(Oh well, I ain’t exactly Oshisan’s family.) 

(………)

(…Ah, I jus’ got a message from Nazuna-nii askin’ why I ain’t replied. There’s nothin’ to worry ‘bout.)

(I’ll reply with “I’m okay~ I’m a ‘lil jet lagged so I was sleepin’.”)

(“I think Oshisan’s just talkin’ to his family ‘bout what’s actually happened to his grandfather.”)

(“From what Oshisan said, it doesn’t seem like his grandfather has passed away or anythin’ real serious like that.”) 

(“It was just a so-called ruse or somethin’.”)

(“But, considering Oshisan comin’ home late, I wonder if they’re arguin’ about somethin’? I’m kinda worried…” If I put somethin’ like that I might make Nazuna-nii worried.) 

(“Everythin’s fine over here, so ya don’t gotta worry.” —There♪)

(“Thanks fer being considerate. Even though Nazuna-nii and I ain’t that close anymore.”)

(—Nazuna-nii might get all depressed if I start sayin’ stuff like that an’ actin’ like a stranger.) 

(Nnah~… No matter how long it takes, I’ll never get used to it, I’m so bad at it it’s like a normal conversation.) 

(Oh well, send…♪)

(…I ran outta stuff to do.) 

(Oshisan told me I could kill some time by playin’ with the stuff in here…)

(What room is this, a storage room? Didn’t Oshisan say somethin’ like he used to play in this room as if it were his own when he was a kid?) 

(Wasn’t it originally built for Oshisan’s drunken grandfather to dump all the junk he’d found somewhere or somethin’.  Actually, there’s a lotta weird stuff in here.) 

(I also got a habit of collectin’ junk, so I feel kinda close to his grandfather…) 

(That’s probably why Oshisan told me to wait here.) 

(Hehe. Will ya let me worship yer collection, my “kindred spirit”?) 

(Ahaha. It’s all complete garbage… I heard that some people sell off their stuff for money at the antique market.) 

(Hm? What’s this, a book with a lock on it? It’s a diary, right?) 

(That’s a weird dial-style lock… It’s engraved with the alphabet instead of numbers. Is it the kind that opens if ya put in a specific word?) 

(I gotta solve the puzzle. How fun. It’ll kill some time, so I’ll try solvin’ it.) 

(‘Course I know it’s wrong to look at another person’s diary, so if I can solve it I ain’t gonna look inside… Umm, ain’t there a hint somewhere.) 

(Hm~…There ain’t anythin’ written on the front cover.) 

(Ah. But there’s a book here with the same binding as the diary.) 

(What is this, there’s somethin’ like a title engraved here— “The Taming of the Shrew”?) 

(Hm~? Is the content of this “Taming of the Shrew” a hint to unlock it?) 

(I’m really regrettin’ my lack of education, I don’t get it at all?) 

Shu: —What are you rattling around with? 

Mika: Nnaah!?

Y-y-ya scared me! Don’t speak so suddenly from behind me, I thought my heart was gonna come flyin’ right outta my mouth! 

Shu: Hmph. If you don’t want to lose your internal organs then sew your mouth closed. 

Aside from that, Kagehira, it’s become quite the hassle… Do you mind if I lend your strength? 

Mika: Nnah? Of course! I’ll help Oshisan out anytime~♪

Huh? I just noticed now but, Oshisan, yer holding Mado-nee? 

When ya return home in a hurry like this time, it’d be terrible if she got cracked or something, so don’t ya usually put her away carefully?

Shu: Hmph. I thought you had grown, but you still lack aesthetic sense. 

This isn’t Mademoiselle. But they are very similar in appearance. 

I have some things I would like to discuss with you, so let’s move to another place. It’s dusty in here and I can’t stand it. 

It reminds me of my stupidity and helplessness as a child. 

Mika: ………

[rosalinewintrell]

Extra Assignments

What? A double update?? I couldn't leave you all with just a series of letters haha. Please enjoy my longest part yet. Lots of Garreth for you all!

Extra Assignments

Garreth huffed as he pushed another branch out of his face, stumbling behind Rosaline as they followed a nearly invisible trail just on the edge of a lakeside forest. “So,” he said as he caught up with her, “Why do you have these extra assignments again?”

Rosaline huffed and rolled her eyes, ducking gracefully under a low hanging willow branch. She heard Garreth tangle with it a few moments later, and Rosaline smiled to herself, keeping her giggles suppressed. “As much as I adore Beauxbatons, and it truly is a fine institution,” Rosaline stressed, just avoiding shaking her finger at the boy, “It is true that the curriculum is not as… rigorous as at Hogwarts. Much of the more specific subjects are left for secondary education, when students pursue more specialized schooling.” Rosaline sighed and shrugged, “Here, there is twice the amount to learn in less time. I’m…behind.”

Rosaline’s voice had dropped to a whisper as she finished her speech, heart rate spiking as she realized she had spilled her biggest unaddressed secret to a boy she was barely friends with. She bit her bottom lip and squeezed her eyes shut. Her biggest fear when she had been told she’d be transferring schools was that her lax-in-comparison education would be obvious to her peers at her new school. Her grandfather, grandmother, and mother had worked with her over the summer before term slowly closing the gaps in her schooling. However, busy schedules and a sheer lack of time had left more than Rosaline had hoped, and she had been completely unable to begin learning to fly. Seeing the remedial flying class schedule scratched into her schedule had her curled in a tight ball at the back of her closet as she prepared to present it to her mother.

Her mother had been perfectly pleasant, but a lingering sadness and disappointment shone in her eyes, coated her words as she patted her daughter’s shoulder and said it was “perfectly alright” in a perfectly unattached tone.

Her grandfather had petted her head, a bright, genuine smile and reassurance on his lips, heary laughter as he teased, she would be “the next quidditch star” in no time before inviting her into his potions lab.

Her grandmother cupped Rosaline’s face and rubbed the height of her cheek with smooth thumbs, a soft smile on her lips, pure reassurance in her eyes. “You are wonderful,” Rosaline’s grandmother said, “Just as you are.” Her grandmother sat back in her chair, a white knitted blanket over her knees, she held her hand as the older woman rocked in the sun.

A hand landed on her shoulder, firm, yet gentle, a comforting weight on her skin. Rosaline looked up and found Garreth looking down at her, an uncharacteristically serious shadow looming in his eyes. His brow was furrowed, lips turned down in an unfamiliar frown.

“You are not behind,” he stated, tone firm, intent finite, Rosaline opened her mouth to try and argue, but found she couldn’t with the way his gaze bore through her. She could be persuaded he somehow knew everything about her with the surety of it. “You are learning the most difficult bits of subjects without the supplementary lessons on top of your regular classes and assignments.” Garreth shrugged then, “That’s not behind. That’s brilliant.”

There was silence as Garreth started down at Rosaline, who stared up at him, mouth open in shock, usually pale cheeks darkening to pink with blush that flooded up to the tips of her ears. His hand slid down her Slytherin green blazer sleeve and took her own, fingers wrapping around her palm and squeezing.

A startled flock of Jobberknolls deeper in the forest suddenly spooked, a rocketed out of the canopy, the snapping of branches and frightened squawks pulled the couple from their staring, and Garreth dropped Rosaline’s hand.

“Well,” he cleared his throat, “Shall we see if we can spot any Ashwinder eggs?” Garreth, motioned her towards the trail, and she nodded her agreement ducking under a branch to, once again, lead the way along the edge of the forest, peering into the shadows of leaves and rocks for any glimpse of blazing orange shell, her singular focus only just chasing the image of brilliant emerald eyes from her mind.

***

The next time Garreth helped Rosaline with an assignment was much more unexpected. It was distinctly early in the morning; he had accompanied his aunt on an errand to Hogsmeade. She was delivering order requests with the local shop keepers on behalf of the professors, a normal part of her duties as deputy Headmistress; one she usually completed via owl. She had sent an owl to Garreth that morning instead, her letter bearing a request to hear about his start of term and insisting that an early morning constitutional was beneficial to his health, anyway.

Mrs. Steepley had beckoned his aunt into the shop once the lists has been delivered, and he was freed to return to Hogwarts if he so wished. He did. Garreth had every intention to return to Gryffindor tower and sleep another few hours away, but the silhouette of a person flying over the quidditch pitch caught his attention.

It was Rosaline. She was maneuvering through a set of hoops that had been set up along the whole of the field. Her hair, braided away from her face, glinted almost a pale pink in the early sun. She was clothed in a pale red embroidered coat over a set of matching flying clothes, and pair of soft brown leather gloves.

She had a nice broom, nothing ridiculous, but the wood was polished and well oiled, and the bristles were crisp and sleek. There were two charms hanging from the handle, a golden thunderbird sparkled brightly in the still rising sun, matched with a palm sized, Jackalope stuffed toy. A little pink ribbon sprouted from the space between the creature’s antlers and affixed the charm to the broom handle.

Rosaline was, surprisingly, struggling with her task. Garreth only shared Potions with her, and most of their mutual friends often agreed that she excelled in her classwork, regardless of what was whispered about her previous education. Rosaline had always seemed to pristine, in most every regard, and he could think of a few people who might like to know that she didn’t always appear to have such an aloof exterior.

Right now, Rosaline’s face was red with exertion, the furrow in her brow deep as she desperately tried to maintain her balance on her broom, which listed this way and that as she flew, at a snail’s pace, through the hoops. Such an expression was not unusual for Rosaline, it often appeared as she bent over a potions table while she prepared ingredients with just an ounce of obsessive accuracy, while she listened intently to the friends that sat with her at meals, while she decimated Leander at Summoner’s Court. Yet now it seemed so foreign, that furrowed expression. Her eyes were not filled with singular passion, or rapt attention, or even the near malicious spark of mischief that had flashed in them while she simpered at Leander just moments before masterfully shredding his dignity.

They were filled with dark desperation, a bit of frustration, and a sea of sadness so deep he felt his own throat tighten in sympathy. Garreth had to continue to watch for another moment, swallowing the emotion away before approaching Rosaline, who had only just made it halfway across the pitch.

His approach apparently spooked her and her whole broom rushed forward, nearly colliding with the side of a hoop, if not for Garreth quickly grabbing the broom’s handle and pulling it of course. “Woah, there!” he yelled as he pulled Rosaline’s broom closer to his.

Rosaline released a high-pitched shriek as her broom moved suddenly, only turning to Garreth with a glare once she was steady once more. Her eyes, while now filled with more anger and frustration than before, were still sparking with fear, and her pouted lips still trembled. “What are you doing?” she cried indignantly, her tone perfectly matching the petulance her pout might have portrayed in any other situation.

Still Garreth raised his brow and released her broom in favor of folding his arms over his chest, nearly surpassing a smirk as Rosaline shook in the air before settling again. “Saving you from a trip to the Hospital Wing, obviously.”

Rosaline was ready to quip back at him when her broom waddled again and she squeezed her eyes shut, voice dropping off into silence. By the time she looked back at Garreth, she had steeled herself with a near bored expression. “Can we get down?” she inquired, the smooth cadence of her voice fully at odds with the desperate flicker of her eyes towards the ground. Garreth quickly agreed and followed her down, eyes watching for any sign she might lose her balance entirely. She made it safely to the ground however, and dismounted with enough elegance that he was sure she had perfected mounting a broom with an equal measure of grace.

“I take it, you’re not much of a flyer?” He asked awkwardly after he had led them to a bench off to the side of the pitch.

Rosaline huffed and looked at him from the corner of her eye, “Getting right to it today, are we?”

“I can be direct when I want to,” Garreth said teasingly, hoping his proffered smile would relieve some of the tension in her posture.

Rather than relaxing, it seemed like Rosaline deflated, the slump in her shoulders only forming under a new kind of tension, a pressure she bent under. “Obviously.” Her voice remained passive, not exactly soft, but neither defensive nor defeated.

Garreth wondered where this left him. Was he free to inquire further, should he change the subject completely? He had never begrudged Ominis Gaunt his lifestyle, as extravagant as it was, but now he wished he had even half the Slytherin boy’s ability to understand social situations. Garreth licked his lips, “How did you get around at Beauxbatons?” He finally inquired.

Rosaline seemed surprised by his question, and the lack of immediate irritation gave Garreth hope he had asked after her acceptably. She seemed to ponder his question for a moment, dark eyes far away as she formulated a response.

“Well,” She began, “It is rather cold at Beauxbatons.”

“Right,” Garreth interrupted, “Its up in the Pyrenees Mountains, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Rosaline answered with a nod and a hesitant smile, “Even in the height summer it doesn’t get much above seventeen degrees. Most people prefer to use drawn carriages. On nicer days you might catch a few people fling about but, even then, most prefer Abraxan to brooms.”

“Abraxan?” Garreth breathed, mouth open slightly, green eyes round and bright.

“Yes?” Rosaline answered, eyebrow raised in confusion, “The winged horses. Abraxan.”

“No!” Garreth chuckled with a shake of his head, “I-I know what Abraxan are but… well, aren’t they terribly expensive?”

“Ah!” Rosaline laughed, “I guess you’ve heard stories then?”

Garreth nodded vigorously and Rosaline bid him to ask away, “Do they really only drink single-malt whiskey?” Rosaline giggled, but the curiosity in his eyes kept her from laughing outright.

“Some families claim it is all they offer for them, often those families are also breeding them.” Rosaline shook her head, “My family owns two, and we usually only offer it as a treat before or after long rides. They drink water just fine.”

“Are they terribly temperamental?”

Again, Rosaline shook her head, “Not anymore than a normal horse,” she admitted. “The Maxime family breeds Abraxan, and they are known to require a firm hand. But I suspect it’s less about temper and more about will, and intelligence.”

Garreth nodded and fell silent then, looking back up at where the sky was now starting to brighten to mid-morning blue rather than the oranges and pinks of sunrise. He trailed his eyes over the many hoops, spaced far apart and high in the air. “Gonna go back up there?”

Rosaline sighed and ran her fingers over her broom handle, “I really don’t want to. But I usually go for at least another half an hour.”

Garreth hummed, “What if you just, finish with some laps?”

“Laps?” Rosaline inquired, tone completely unconvinced by his suggestion.

“Yeah, we can just, fly a couple times around the bottom of the pitch,” Garreth continued, “I’ll join you.”

Rosaline pondered for a moment, that furrowed expression reappearing on her face as she studied his face. “Sure,” she finally agreed.

Garreth flew next to Rosaline, just a few feet above the ground, at about a jog’s pace; asking her frivolous questions about living in France, the transition to Hogwarts, the latest potions assignment. He resisted the urge to reach out a hand to help steady her when she wobbled, only doing so when it was caused by his distraction.

***

As Rosaline wound her way across Hogsmeade’s main square, heels clicking on the cobblestones, she heard Garreth Weasley’s voice calling for her, and she turned in search of him. It was windy, and rosaline placed a hand on her hat to keep it from flying away. Her hair whipped in her face, but she spotted him, jogging towards her with a hand waving grandly in the air, green eyes crinkled under smiling brows, but still shining bright in the mid-afternoon sun. His hair was blowing across his forehead, curls waving this way and that atop his head. Rosaline couldn’t help but smile as he approached, calling her own greeting in turn.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, as though the village wasn’t always swarming with Hogwarts students.

“Running an errand for Professor Howin.” She explained, gripping the strap of a leather satchel as though its presence would explain everything.

“Right. Another extra assignment?” Garreth inquired, a playful smirk on his face.

“What else?” Rosaline giggled, tangling her finger together in front of her. “Professor Howin asked me to pick up an order of Kneazle food for her. She also expressed that I was to catalogue each species of beast I encounter on my trip and write a paragraph about its care.”

“All very sensible I suppose.” Garreth commented.

“Yes, I suppose, but,” now Rosaline sighed, “I haven’t seen a single beast the whole walk here,”

“Ah,” Garreth said with a smile and a nod, “I can help you there.” Garreth grabbed Rosaline’s wrist and guided her hand to his elbow as he began to walk.

“What?” Rosaline spluttered tripping over the tip of her shoe as she tried to catch up, “Where are we going?”

“To Brood and Peck!” Garreth decreed, a little hop in each step as he pulled Rosaline along.

When he ushered Rosaline inside the large beast supply store, Rosaline was shocked not to see bins and bins of beast feed or grooming products, but creatures of any species milling about the storefront. A Pink Fwooper was clinging to a beam just over the door, Chest puffing with each drawn breath. Behind the counter, a Giant Purple Toad sat in a little pool of clear water. A Kneazle kitten napped just next to the register. Smaller species were held in glass terrariums or enclosed pens lined with soft looking straw.

“I think you’ll have plenty to catalogue, now.” Garreth said as he watched Rosaline take in the space. She was bent at the waist, peering into a few pens that sat in the wide front window. Her smart plaid walking suit with matching bustled jacket looked a bit out of place in the dusty, straw strewn shop, but as Rosaline bent over a pen housing two more Kneazle kittens, the sweetness of her expression betrayed any impression she might feel so.

“Ach!” A voice called as the store’s proprietress emerged from a backroom, cap crooked, bucket stuck to her foot, “Sorry for the wait! What d’you need?”

“Go make your catalogue,” Garreth said with a tilt of his head, “I’ll settle Professor Howin’s order.” Rosaline thanked Garreth and retrieved a small leatherbound journal and travel quill from her satchel. She began to Scratch down the beasts she’d already seen, peering into pens as she continued. She meandered through the shop as Garreth retrieved a large sack of feed and a receipt from the owner, a sprightly young woman by the name of Ellie Peck, who told Rosaline anything and everything to know about the beasts in her shop when prompted.

Rosaline peered into the final pen, a small one allocated to further corner than the rest. Her gasp caught the attention of both her companions. Rosaline set her book and quill on the ground, reaching into the pen and, with a secure hand under its bum and another under its arms, Rosaline pulled out a young Jackalope. It was just nearly fully grown, but its antlers were small, barely any twist in them, and sporting only one prong each.

“Aye, him.” Ellie sighed as she rubbed the back of her neck. “He’s beautiful isn’t ‘e?”

“Just gorgeous,” Rosaline agreed as she cuddled the creature to her chest and scratched around the base of its antlers with a finger.

“Problem is, I don’t know where to find ‘im a good home in these parts.” Ellie admitted, “He was confiscated as part of some smuggling operation from the States. Most folks this side o’ the pond know hardly anything about Jackalopes.”

“Oh, if I could, I would take him in a moment!” Rosaline said, a hint of a blush coming up to her cheeks.

Ellie raised a brown but regarded the girl with a smile. “Know a bit about Jackalopes?”

Rosaline nodded, a shyer edge softening her smile, “They are quite possibly my favorite beast.” She glanced quickly at Garreth who was watching her stroke the Jackalope’s head with soft, confidant fingers. Soon, Rosaline sighed and placed the Beast back its pen with a final stroke over its back and stabbing, having retrieved her pen and quill.

Garreth had shrunk the bag of Kneazel food and Rosaline tucked it into her satchel. The pair bid goodbye to Ellie. It wasn’t until they were along on the path back to Hogwarts that Gareth spoke.

“So, Jackalopes.”

“Don’t start,” Rosaline said, though a small smile curled on her lips.

“No, no,” Garreth insisted, raising his hands in surrender, “It’s a great choice. Maybe a little unconventional but still a good choice.”

Rosaline had to try to ignore that way Garreth watched her as they continued to walk, but his consistent, direct gaze tingled the back of her neck and she finally cracked under the weight of it. “Okay what?”

“Nothing!” Garreth cried smiling.

“Seriously, what!” Now Rosaline giggled and reached out to shove at his shoulder lightly.

“It’s really nothing, I promise,” Garreth said, using a finger to cross over his chest when she settled a suspicious look on him, “Cross my heart!”

Rosaline hummed and then relented, stepping along the rest of the way back to school grounds.

[twstinginthewind]

💋 One of the Sealponte sisters catches the other about to kiss her mirror!

Mia liked Thursdays. On Thursdays, Savvy met up with the art club. And Sia had her weekly third-year meeting to help place them for internships and such for next year. So that meant that Mia had no one else hanging around their shared dorm room.

She could do whatever she wanted to do! She could try on all of her outfits and some of her sister's and put on a personal fashion show! She could use her bed as a stage and sing along with her radio and pretend to be a superstar! She could try to get ahead on her dreaded linguistics homework.... or not. But mostly, she could just lie back on her bed and dream about the one thing this school had more of than anything else: boys.

(Thanks, Idia.)

Now, Mia didn't have any specific crush in mind. Aside from her Absolute Hero Worship of their housewarden, she was more enamored with the idea of being with a cute boyfriend than any one boy in particular. But there was something, she felt, that was keeping her from landing the cutiepie of her dreams.

Mia. Did not. Know how. To kiss.

She knew in theory. Pucker up and press lightly; it couldn't be that hard. And she had kissed, like, family members. On the cheek, and stuff. Mia sighed and rolled onto her side. This was SO not cute. She couldn't be the dateless wonder forever. She was gonna have to figure out how to kiss someone, so she could get herself a sweetie.

But she wasn't sure exactly how. She wasn't about to practice with her sister, that was just ridicu-nasty. Ugh. And she didn't want to admit her lack of knowledge to Savvy, since she was already working on her fast track to landing a prince charming and getting married right away. And Mia was impressed by her hustle, but... that wasn't the life for her. She just wanted to kiss a boy and have some fun!

But she couldn't exactly ask any of the guys she knew to help practice. Epel would laugh right in her face; Rook would decline like a real gentleman, because he's too much of a romantic to waste kisses on practicing. And her face went completely hot thinking about asking Vil, like, at ALL about it. He was just TOO dreamy. She shook her head. No. It'd have to be a perfect kiss if it was for Vil. He deserved that much. No sloppy practice kissies for that man.

Then what was she supposed to do?

Her eyes drifted over to the little vanity table by her desk. Cute fruit-flavored lip balms littered the surface, along with... oho, what's this? A hand mirror, about the same size as her face. Hm....

Well, she was alone. Nothing to lose, right? She picked the mirror up, and surveyed her reflection. She was no cute boy, but she wasn't unhappy with what she saw. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and lifted the mirror to her face.

"Oh. My. Queen. What are you even doing, Mia??" Sia's voice rang out from the doorway.

Mia yelped and jumped, dropping the mirror, which bounced gently on top of the bed. "Hi Sissy," she said guiltily. "You're back early."

"And you're making out with your reflection. Self-love isn't THAT."

"I was not!! I was just... practicing kissing." Mia hung her head.

Sia put down her bag, and sighed. "My baby sister is growing up. I understand, Mia, but listen to me. Don't worry about that sort of thing." Her lips pressed together into a thin line. "Remember what grandmother said."

"Your education lasts for all of your life, so it's more important than bein' a wife." Mia flopped back down onto the bed. "Yeah, I remember... but I still wanna get good at kissing. So when I'm done, I'll be the total package."

Sia crossed her arms. "Where do you even get this from?! Argh. Anyway, did you finish that linguistics homework? I can help you if you need to...."

[adrianpelen]

Autobiography

Orphan Life

Hi! My name is Adrian G. Pelen, you can call me Addy for short and I am 18 years old students who born in December 22, 2005 in Dasmariñas Cavite. I was being raised at Dasmariñas Cavite along with my father and my siblings, my father is a jeepney driver who work hard to buy family needs and to raise us. Since I was kid, I did not meet my mom in person and she left us to my father like how the wind passing by. One of my siblings told me that they argued to each other, my mother left us and she went in japan and got a family. My father did not left us since we are little kids, but sadly he passed away before I graduated in my elementary school.

Moreover, after the funeral of my father, I was being separated to my siblings because of our financial problem and adopted by my aunt in my mother side at Imus Cavite. I continued my education in Imus Cavite and I enrolled in Imus National High School for my junior high school year. Its difficult to adjust to my new environment especially to my aunt family, sometimes I feel jealous by seeing their family complete and happy together and feel comfortable.

In fact, I am sensitive, introvert, emotional, and easily get hurt person just like my aunt, that resulted of me to being not getting along with others. I was not good at socializing, I felt that it might lead into bad situations. But when I turn grade 8, I met this person who approach me and helped me to feel comfortable and confident to others. We always getting along and whenever I met this person I feel free and happy to do what I want. Whenever I spend our time together, little by little I getting attracted by their kindness and inner self that made me want to confess.

After that, the covid-19 has begun and the pandemic was being emerged. We became separated to each other, until this person leave our town and move to their specific home. After a few years of pandemic, we lack of conversation and we don't communicate to each other. This person are already indicated in my mind for what did this person do to change me that time. I appreciated the help that they give to me and right now I always wondering about the hope or chance that we might meet again in other years.

Additionally, during pandemic I continued my education and graduated as grade 10 student in my previous school. Another is I already passed my grade 11 senior high school, and now I am currently grade 12 student who dreaming to be the one of those students who will graduate in ihr batch 2023-2024.

Aside from that, in all situations that I experiences I realized that I actually overcome and I found myself as a fighter who fight for his life.

Lastly, I also want to give my gratitute to my best friend that I mentioned earlier for what he did to make me feel comfortable that time.

[transmissionsfromthebattlefield]

There's No Trains To Heaven

Things I made this semester: A just barely 19 page long historiography paper. An accompanying 7 and a half page long research proposal with 22 page long annotated bibliography because I found too many interesting sources and had too much to say about them. An 8 page long paper about seditious speech that could have been a little shorter but I had too much to say about that, too. One data research analysis report (with accompanying fun bar graph). A basically functional, entirely responsive website with 7 individual pages (which I'm still putting the final touches on). In between all of this I recorded an eleven song album of nuclear reactor core folk ditties, all by my lonesome.

T’was a good semester.

I also changed my major. Again. This summer I'd declared a second major in history to go with my studies in emerging media and technology with a minor in web design. But I wasn't too sure about the latter degree. Part of why I was clinging to EMAT was plain ol' fear, to be completely honest. Not a crippling or conscious fear, but the oft-restated assumption lingering in the back of my head: it'll make you marketable. If you get a bachelor of arts, you'll either be out of a decent job or trapped in the stressful, low-paying world of education. Get that ~science~ certificate in your life and you'll be rolling in that dough and not destute, unlike those silly B.A. kids.

Well, I don't necessarily agree with that train of thought. Having had the concept of "STEM" shoved down my throat in even middle school, I've grown critical of the importance we place on those fields specifically. As vital as technology and science are, you also have to realize that the social sciences are just as useful to, well, society. Yet such fields are looked down upon. No wonder people nowadays are barely capable of critical thought, take everything (especially media) at face value, and barely know the basic facts about their own country's past. It's because we condition kids to doze off in their classes and not take education on any level seriously, especially not the subjects associated with boring, stuffy things like reading and interpreting and thinking. Too much hard work, let's rah-rah the football team instead.

Learning history and connecting it to the present is one of the most important things you can do to become a more aware citizen, and it's time we stop pushing this culture of self-consciousness over what people think of us because of our degrees or careers and actually work on ourselves to actually get some informed participation in society. As for the career part, my workplace on campus is proof enough to me that studying history can get you a fulfilling job that lets you utilize the skills you honed and information about the wider world you picked up in your studies. It helps you connect with people and their past experiences. It helps you contextualize the world you currently live in. And by studying things objectively, it helps you become a more logical person less swayed by disgusting propagandic appeals to emotion. It just helps you become a better person. Realizing that that is the path I want to take, as opposed to sticking with a major I just wasn't fully jiving with in the name of some enigmatic ideal of making my chosen institution proud or something, is very freeing.

The web design minor is staying because I just genuinely love twiggling around with my little HTML and CSS files and applying my graphic design Skillz in that manner. On the other hand, I've picked up another minor: creative writing. I've always taken my writing abilities for granted; I'm a great writer, I'd say. But only now have I really felt empowered (to use a cheesy term for lack of a better one) to express it in a creative way - and not just in the songwriting department. I think I felt for a while that I had to suppress my "creative" side in order to appear serious to...I don't even know who I was trying to appeal to. But my brain has been firing off in too many directions lately, and has been too inspired by the world around me and my various influences to let my individual perspective linger in the background. I gotta do me.

So I went from English while enrolling --> Journalism because I was under the assumption that all the English majors were going to be Swifties --> Public Relations for a few weeks because I had no idea what I was doing --> Emerging Media and Technology with web design concentration --> History + EMAT + web design --> History major + web design minor + creative writing minor. That's a really weird and still incomplete circle, but it's fun to think about.

[tyrorexdmzapp]

The lost recut plans

Rather than just repost all old content or be a complete echo of my other posting spots, I figure I could take a small break and reveal new- or rather, unused content.

While I'm still doing a recut or retelling of The Origami King (after Mario Story Fruit Shake, of course, which is being worked on right now), I had prepared plans between 2017-2019 in case I changed my mind about not doing TOK Recut and doing it after all. I had alluded to this when TOK was first revealed with my thoughts on the first trailer, and I did consider waiting until I published TOK Retold and its EX Story. However, as it's been over two years was released, and it could be a while before Retold alone is fully published, I thought I could explain now.

So two things to explain first. One, these plans were written before certain feedback on the Mario RPG Central server in 2020, regarding CS Recut and a pal of mine's own separate recut of TOK. Therefore, some specific critiques are not amended in the initial plans for Recut 3. Second, like how CS Recut followed on certain plot elements from the fantopic Paper Mario Wonder Journey, these Recut 3 plans proposed following on from Mario Story Fruit Shake, especially certain "sensitive" plot elements. However, Mario Story Fruit Shake hasn't finished being uploaded yet, and with them those plot elements. Therefore, I will not be able to explain everything right now, and may have to skim around certain details. Just know that certain characters and plots would have returned for Recut 3's main story.

Now onto the main event.

Since these plans were written before TOK was even announced, I took an educated guess on what the theme of Modern Paper Mario 3 might be. My guesses were space, data, crafts and or some kind of printer theme. The reason was I suspected the current creative team's (lacking) mindset had deluded them into truly thinking Toads were the only friendly Mario species, and so may want Mario to leave the Mushroom World in a future game to get around that. (Funny enough, Ubisoft's Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope would end up doing just that.) The printer theme, meanwhile, was in assumption the devs would double down on the rather unpopular literal paper world angle. In the end, we got origami, so at best, the crafts and printer idea may have been useable.

I also assumed Things would return as the be-all end-all mechanic to do pretty much anything in the game. These plans posited renaming Things to something else, and having them run off a tertiary stat to regulate use of them. I don’t think I ever got to that stage of brainstorming WHAT to call them, though. TOK itself did the really stupid thing (and not in an admirable way) of making Things bosses, and only giving one thing an actual creative design. No, I’m not taking that back- I think the Legion of Stationary was the worst move the devs could have made, rendered even more baffling by the much more creative and interesting Vellumentals, Handaconda, and especially King Olly. At the same time, though, TOK removed Things as a lock-and-key mechanic, letting the Vellumentals handle the work infinitely. (Wow- even in gameplay, the Vellumentals trounce the Legion). Along with the Legion getting redesigns for TOK Retold (except one member), the Thing idea didn’t make it into TOK Retold’s plans either.

Another gameplay change would be the return of CS Recut’s mark system, where enemies on different sides would fight each other in addition to Mario. Since TOK only had Olly as villain and there isn’t really room to add a whole other side in the main story, that idea didn’t make it into TOK Retold’s reformulated plans.

Last on the pure gameplay side would be an EX Story, like what CS Recut got in reimagining Bowser’s role. There were three candidates for it- Perry (an individualized yet composited Goomba from various Paper Mario games), Luigi, or Peach. TOK itself has no alternate playable characters, merely explaining where Luigi was before he performs certain key functions, and Peach…she was not done justice in any sense of the word in the game, despite the entire reason the game was developed the way it was stemming from a dream one of the devs had. Regardless, while TOK Retold will have an EX Story, it won’t be for those three, especially Perry (due to the fantopic intending to follow yet push back more against the restrictions). Luigi does get intermissions, though, and Peach’s role is greatly expanded at least.

Next time, I'll talk more about what was in the pre-2020 plans for Recut 3.

[mayspeck5]

How Anyone Define A Doctor Web Design Company?

Nba Incl Update 6 Codex is an online application that allows you to design your own t-shirt. Nba Incl Update 6 Crack can design clothing models like athletic wear, short-sleeve and long-sleeved t-shirts. You also have the option of designing accessories like tote carriers. It makes your site accessible. Most people are quiet apprehensive in using different designs with the worry hat their sites won't be accessible one an exciting new design may be. Once you plug-in a Flash in much more . then the majority of the users will probably be able to visit you. This plug-in is used by comparatively a numerous users all over the world. But if consideration other someone who has no associated with your site to visit you, then your design end up being made inside a there isn't a animation to block other you'll need. The the easy way get experience when the young through using create your very own projects or freelance quietly. This is additionally great method for students different some money while attending graphic design school. Nba Incl Update 6 Free downlaod crack are a wonderful way create work to all of your portfolio that's the completely yours. Freelancing is a great to be able to work on real-world design projects with real potential buyers. Use these experiences as a solution to refine and sharpen your abilities. In a good design, everything links together and functions as one whole state. So if one part has to change, the rii a knock-on effect to everything else in your garden. It's marginally like having jigsaw pieces that don't quite fit - it will eventually never be effective! I found out that design was becoming large part of my day, thinking by what new a few needed to learn, what new products I could learn to design and generally, what creative projects It was not respectable get stuck into. My occupation at the same time was a faculty teacher and also anyone who's been in teaching, beforehand . that it can be lot of hard work that needs 100% investment. If your hearts not in it, then don't executed as your not doing anyone any favours, especially your people in the course. After returning to work and due to my new perspective, my eyes begin to open noting a few things that gave us a clearer regarding what teaching was about nowadays in secondary education for the teacher. This consider a no more digging, it's worth trying to learn what exactly is covered in the curriculum. Garden of subjects covered ranges widely between different fashion schools, it's the same worth doing the research to choose one that covers the pores and skin subjects assess to questionnaire. To some extent this pops up to earth area of interest in design. So if may a specific area of favor design excess to pursue, choose an excellent with a curriculum that fits your foot. If about to catch sure may want to do, then choose a college with a further type 'one size fits all' curriculum. C: Exactly what it's as with the real life. In the real world people have deadlines and budgets and suddenly your biggest idea can squished by an individual and make you feel very despondent. You also spend nearly all of your day in front of your home pc. and your chair becomes your buttock's best friend or relation! Don't do it if you lack a adoration for it. And home ready to look at off the graphics or change out of look, don't remove them yourself. Improper removal may harm your motor. Bring your vehicle into a shop to look out of all things. They have re-decorating . tools supplementations removal as well as safe.

[yasminbenoit]

“A Romantic Partner Won’t Complete Me, Because I Was Born Complete”: How Identifying As Asexual & Aromantic Brought Me True Freedom & Happiness | Yasmin Benoit for British Vogue

There is a phase in our lives where everyone seems asexual and almost everyone seems aromantic. It wasn't until puberty kicked in that platonic relationships seemed to take a backseat. My peers stopped wanting to play together and started wanting to 'date' each other. That was when I started to realise that there was something different about me. I didn’t seem to be experiencing the same urges as those I was around. I chose to go to an all girls school in the hopes that – in the absence of boys – everyone would stop caring about sex and dating. It actually had the opposite effect. There was a sense of deprivation in the air and the heightened desire to project their sexuality onto anything and everything.  

Therefore, my lack of interest became even more obvious, and it became a not-so-fun game to work out the source of what should be troubling me, but hadn’t been until that point. Having a sexual orientation isn’t just natural, it’s essential. It’s part of being a fully-functional human being. And to be romantically love and be loved by another is the ultimate goal. It’s part of being normal, which made me both abnormal and puzzling. When your asexual, people think there’s something wrong with your body. When you’re aromantic, they think there’s something wrong with your soul. Even for a teenage girl who internalised all of Disney Channel’s “be yourself” messages, it’s never nice to have people publicly debate your supposed physical and psychological flaws.  

My nickname in school was “hollow and emotionless.” I was a joker with a decent amount of friends, but I was lacking something crucial, the kind of love that really mattered and the kind of lust that made life exciting...so I was practically Lord Voldemort with braids. I sat through the regular DIY sexuality tests, having my peers show me graphic sexual imagery, have very sexual conversations in my presence, and ask me inappropriately intimate questions to gauge how far gone I truly was. These tests lead to the development of theories, most centred around me having some kind of mental problem. After a while, you start to wonder if everyone knows something you don’t.

When they said that I must have been molested as a child and “broken” by the trauma, I wondered if I had somehow forgotten about sexual abuse that actually hadn’t happened. I looked at some of my own relatives with suspicion, the same people who would later ask me if I didn’t experience sexual attraction because I was a pedophile. It was suggested that I was “suffering” from my “issues” because I was socially anxious and insecure. The suggestion that my ‘issue’ was pathological stayed with me for a long time, but not as much as the widely accepted theory that I was mentally slow. Unfortunately, that one stuck. I was referred to as “stupid” and I started to believe that was the case. It would impact my experience in education for the next eight years, long after I realised that there was a word for what I was.

Asexual.

I first heard the word during one of the near-daily sexuality tests that I was subjected to. I was asked if I was gay, to which I said that I wasn’t interested in anybody like that – men or women. At fifteen, I was asked, “Maybe you’re asexual or something?” but it wasn’t quite a lightbulb moment. How could it be when I had never heard the word outside of biology class? After an evening of Google searching, I realised that there were many people with my exact same experience, complete strangers whose stories sounded so strangely similar to mine. I also stumbled across the word ‘aromantic,’ but at the time, I didn’t understand the need for it. "Wouldn't all asexual people be aromantic? A romantic relationship without sex is just friendship with rules,” I thought.

Either way, my discoveries showed me that I wasn’t alone, but that only half helpful. I now had an identity that no one had heard of or understood. Most didn’t believe that being asexual or aromantic was a real thing, and I doubted it to. I had been taught to after years of armchair pathologisation. If asexuality was real, why did no one tell you that being sexually attracted to nobody was an option? What if it was just an internet identity made up to comfort people with all of the issues that had been attributed to me? I didn’t have to go far down the rabbit hole to realise that asexuality, like many non-heteronormative identities, had been medicalised. What I had experienced as just the tip of the iceberg. As someone who hadn’t been prescribed drugs I didn’t need or subjected to unnecessary hormone tests, I was one of the lucky ones.

My activism would be my gateway to the community. Despite being the ugly friend at school, I ended up becoming a model while in university. I decided to use the platform I had gained through my career to raise awareness for asexuality and aromanticism. It gave me the opportunity to encounter a range of asexual and aromantic offline, it was then that I learned the significance of having an aromantic identity. There are many asexual people who still feel romantic attraction, as well as aromantic people who still feel sexual attraction. They have their own range of experiences, their own culture, their own flag, and like the asexual community, I was relieved to see that they are just normal people. These intersecting communities are not stereotypes. They weren’t just thirteen year old, pink haired kids making up identities on Tumblr to feel special. They were parents, lawyers, academics, husbands, girlfriends, artists, black, white, young, old, with differing feelings towards the many complex elements of sexuality and intimacy. Most importantly, they were happy.

I am proud to be part of both, and I know that while being asexual and aromantic, I am a complete person and I can live a perfectly fulfilling life. Since meeting members of my communities, I’ve become more open about my identities in real life, and a reaction I’m often met with is sympathy. “You must feel like you’re missing out,” “I can’t imagine being like that,” “It must be hard for your family,” “Do you worry no one will want you?” “How do you handle being so lonely?” “You’re so brave and strong,” “What will you do with your life now?” Even in 2021, a woman who isn’t romantically loved or sexually desired by their “special someone” is perceived as being afflicted with some kind of life-limiting condition.  

Asexuality doesn't make undesirable or unable to desire others. It is a unique experience of sexuality, not a deprivation from it. Even if it was, there is so much more to life than what turns us on and what we do about it. Romantic love is just one form of love, neither superior nor inferior to any other. Being aromantic doesn't mean that you can't love or be loved, it does not mean you are void of other emotions or capabilities. I am not lonely with my friends, family, co-workers and supporters. I feel confident not when someone wants to date me but when I meet my goals and form worthwhile connections with others. My success isn't determined by whether someone will want to marry me someday. What we want out of life is our decision alone, our sources of happiness should not be defined by our ever-changing, culturally relative social standards. The love of a romantic partner won't complete me because I was born complete. Feeling sexual attraction to others won't liberate me because my liberation is not dependent on other people.

Valentine's Day is on the horizon. It's an occasion that amps up the focus on (and the pressure to achieve) a very specific type of love and sexual expression, one that is actually alienating for people inside and outside of the asexual community. During a pandemic where many relationships have been strained, tested, formed or distanced, it's important to keep the diversity of romantic and sexual feelings in mind. Many expect me to feel annoyed or lonely during this time of year, but I actually feel empowered and excited by the way sex, romance and love are discussed more deeply around this time. These conversations are constantly expanding to become more inclusive for everyone, and that's what we need to see all year round.

https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/asexuality-and-aromanticism

[straycinameticuniverse]

RED LIGHTS IS OUT FOR ALL YOU FREAKS

Freaks is the designated group of individuals who lack the patience to peacefully wait for the red lights to go green and so they just keep raging in anger inside their cars or on their motorcycles.

When I said that red lights was about traffic lights and the continuing story of motorcycles, I wasn’t joking and I am so happy that HyunChan came and dropped the video to affirm the fact they are indeed set on educating their fans at whatever cost. The chains and the ropes are the main plot for this music video as they serve as an analogy for how your morals should hold you back from doing the wrong thing but you know what else? This video has brought light to something I had forgotten to mention the last time, the real reason there is two of them going through the struggle with the red lights also serves as a reminder that our friends will never abandon us and will always hold us back from being the worst versions of ourselves.

I will do the very much needed analysis step by step because like the boys, I too care about the education of my fellow stans.

Seeing as how the video begins with Bang Chan pulling at chains I can only assume to be attached to Hyunjin’s body, he is using up all his energy to pull his friend, who is about to go past the red light, so that they do not get fined and completely destroy whatever morals they still have left and the scene goes hyunjin lying in bed facing upward with chains casing his body, clearly he struggles to hold himself back from doing things he shouldn’t do sometimes but luckily his friend Bang Chan is always there to make sure that he is under control, even if it means chaining him down to the bed, you may be wondering why a bed specifically, well its simply, beds are comfortable and even though this battle is only happening in their minds, Chan would never really want to harm his dear friend and that is why he insists on laying him on the bed to fight his demons. Although we see chan tied down on a table it is not because hyunjin doesn’t care about him but because hyunjin was tired and he doesn’t work out as much as muscle man chan and he didn’t want to hurt both himself and his friend so he puts him in a secure table which was the first place he spotted. If you are wondering how they both manage to tie each other because that wouldn’t be possible, well let me tell you an insider’s secret, the events in the music video are not happening at the same time and so they have only put them together because they are similar and so it only just shows how they would do the same for each other when the time comes, they wouldn’t let the other just go on and go past a red light.

When you see chan standing over hyunjin on the bed he is simply letting the boy know that “bro, I am warning you, speeding past that light is not worth it and that is why I have tied you to this bed, I hope you understand” the video then shows how at a different instance Bang Chan has tied Hyunjin up to the neck, and that still represents the struggle, it may not always be easy to do the right thing and it might hurt to be held back but the end results will be worth it, even if hyunjin keeps trying to escape, he doesn’t try too hard because I am sure even he knows that he needs to be held down because there is traffic coming his way up ahead.

When hyunjin is standing Chan you best believe he is telling his hyung to chill, being a few minutes late to where they are going really isn’t that much of a big deal, but chan really doesn’t care to listen, you see him standing on the table talking about, “going crazy now”, and all I can say is same bro, same. Also what a body ody ody ody ody ody that man has!

The sparks you see falling from the ceiling are representing the friction that occurs when the motorcycle stops at the traffic light after having been speeding through the night, it comes to a sudden halt.

When the dance break comes it is only to remind you the important things in life, before speeding past that red light please remember that you could instead have a dance break with your bestie in that time as you wait to pass time till the lights go back to green, if you do not have such glamorous dance breaks with your friends at traffic lights are you really living life and do you even have a bestie? I hope that upon seeing this you will be enlightened to do this yourself, keeping in mind that you should only do this in your heads, getting out of the car during the red light waiting period is not advisable and my babies never advised such, but they do encourage the use of imagination to pass time.

They proceed to show themselves in a chokehold from the other in which this serves to remind you that if the use of your imagination doesn’t work, you are allowed to get a little physical and only a little and please remember it is only to stop the other from crossing the line, that traffic light will stay red for as long as it pleases and you have to fight the forces telling you to past it.

In the background of the audio you can hear the breathing, that’s the tired breath of a man who has been driving their motorcycle safely and smoothly.

You can see them running through the hallways but it doesn’t seem to be that easy, as they are still held down by the chains, this serves to remind you that knowing that going past that red light is wrong is not going to stop you from still wanting to do it and so let’s say thank you to the friends that know better. When the next dance break comes and you see chan lifting hyunjin up, it is to remind you just how your friends will lift you up even if they themselves are on the very ground, they will sacrifice what little of their strength they have to make sure that you are okay.

The rest of the video goes back and forth with the idea I have already stated, the table setup is when they both comes to terms with the fact that this is how things are going to be, they will fight each other for the greater good but in the end they really do just love each other and want the best for the other.

You think you a couple of seductive looks well no it’s all in your head, chan and hyunjin are only making faces because they know that’s the only way to capture your attention, that’s the only reason there are all those looks directed at the camera all my boys want is Ta Educate!!!!!

I hope you are happy and know more are traffic lights, motorcycles and most importantly friendship.

STAY WOKE