#coding industry and diversity

[countakutagawa]

work is consuming my life and that is just so sad for me. is this what life is like when you approach 30. i want to go back to being a teenager.

[geekonik]

Latest in Tech and Programming.

Who We Are

Welcome to Geekonik, your go-to platform for mastering the latest in tech and programming. Whether you’re a beginner eager to start your coding journey or an experienced developer looking to sharpen your skills, we offer a diverse range of expert-led courses designed to help you succeed in today’s ever-evolving tech industry.

Let the Numbers Speak

✅ 200+ Courses

✅ 30+ Expert Instructors

✅ 4000+ Students and Growing

Our Vision

At Geekonik, we believe learning tech should be both practical and enjoyable. That’s why our curriculum is constantly updated to reflect the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. Join us today and take the first step toward becoming a skilled programmer or tech professional!

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: to make technology and programming education accessible, engaging, and impactful for learners of all backgrounds. We are committed to equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the digital world.

Through hands-on projects, expert-led courses, and a collaborative learning environment, we inspire curiosity, foster growth, and empower the next generation of tech professionals. Our goal is to bridge the gap between learning and real-world application, ensuring our students are ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Success Stories

🚀 "Geekonik transformed my career! I went from zero coding experience to landing my first developer job in just six months. The hands-on projects made all the difference!" – Alex R., Software Engineer

Join the Geekonik community today and start building the future of tech—one skill at a time!

Call Us

+91 9560562455

Our Location

H140 Fourth Floor Sector 63 Noida

Website 

[hexhomos]

I apologize for continuing 'the Vitya discourse', but unlike the previous anon (I'm happy for them, it's a nice name), I personally know way too many people named 'Vitya', the most prominent example of those being a guy who goes by 'the Bald Vitya' (he's bald). So you can imagine the visuals my brain draws every time I see these diminutives in fics lol.

Also, I’m new to the fandom, so I could be missing something in canon (maybe it’s the game Viktor thing?), but what makes people think he’s an east slavic coded? I know that Viktor has a Czech accent in Arcane.

LOL i have heard similar complaints from people who associate the nickname with the Most Middle Aged Guys Ever... the diversity of the human experience.

as a quick TLDR for the uninitiated: Viktor league of legends, from the moment of his release into the game 12ish years ago, was a red scare evil russian communism robot guy. His entire shtick is the general caricature of communism where you 'surrender your free will and become a cold unfeeling machine in the name of the greater system' because Thats How American Capitalists Think About Communism. His classic voicelines were also imbued with that classic movie villain russian accent, and its not for nothing that the one champion made to be his rival was Jayce, the literal stand-in for the american piltovan dream and brilliant golden progress by assimilating into capitalism and letting it consume you. I obviously have opinions on why riot's takes are dogshit and you can tell I dislike their centrism here.

then Harry Lloyd (arcane VA) gave him a different accent based on a Czech character he played and a lot of people started making their own hc's after that, but if you thought the commune/sudden evil heelturn in the show came out of nowhere its because the root of his character has always been the red scare Russian caricature and from there we build everything else. I tend to keep to his origins but make him less of a boogeyman.

PERSONALLY I prefer to apply a far more leftist lens on the whole ordeal league jayce/viktor have. You can literally see the roots of a way more interesting conversation if you try: luddites vs the hubris of industrialism and an automated future. Jayce is even wielding a giant hammer. its like the thing tells itself.

[are-we-art-yet]

Is AWAY using it's own program or is this just a voluntary list of guidelines for people using programs like DALL-E? How does AWAY address the environmental concerns of how the companies making those AI programs conduct themselves (energy consumption, exploiting impoverished areas for cheap electricity, destruction of the environment to rapidly build and get the components for data centers etc.)? Are members of AWAY encouraged to contact their gov representatives about IP theft by AI apps?

What is AWAY and how does it work?

AWAY does not "use its own program" in the software sense—rather, we're a diverse collective of ~1000 members that each have their own varying workflows and approaches to art. While some members do use AI as one tool among many, most of the people in the server are actually traditional artists who don't use AI at all, yet are still interested in ethical approaches to new technologies.

Our code of ethics is a set of voluntary guidelines that members agree to follow upon joining. These emphasize ethical AI approaches, (preferably open-source models that can run locally), respecting artists who oppose AI by not training styles on their art, and refusing to use AI to undercut other artists or work for corporations that similarly exploit creative labor.

Environmental Impact in Context

It's important to place environmental concerns about AI in the context of our broader extractive, industrialized society, where there are virtually no "clean" solutions:

The water usage figures for AI data centers (200-740 million liters annually) represent roughly 0.00013% of total U.S. water usage. This is a small fraction compared to industrial agriculture or manufacturing—for example, golf course irrigation alone in the U.S. consumes approximately 2.08 billion gallons of water per day, or about 7.87 trillion liters annually. This makes AI's water usage about 0.01% of just golf course irrigation.

Looking into individual usage, the average American consumes about 26.8 kg of beef annually, which takes around 1,608 megajoules (MJ) of energy to produce. Making 10 ChatGPT queries daily for an entire year (3,650 queries) consumes just 38.1 MJ—about 42 times less energy than eating beef. In fact, a single quarter-pound beef patty takes 651 times more energy to produce than a single AI query.

Overall, power usage specific to AI represents just 4% of total data center power consumption, which itself is a small fraction of global energy usage. Current annual energy usage for data centers is roughly 9-15 TWh globally—comparable to producing a relatively small number of vehicles.

The consumer environmentalism narrative around technology often ignores how imperial exploitation pushes environmental costs onto the Global South. The rare earth minerals needed for computing hardware, the cheap labor for manufacturing, and the toxic waste from electronics disposal disproportionately burden developing nations, while the benefits flow largely to wealthy countries.

While this pattern isn't unique to AI, it is fundamental to our global economic structure. The focus on individual consumer choices (like whether or not one should use AI, for art or otherwise,) distracts from the much larger systemic issues of imperialism, extractive capitalism, and global inequality that drive environmental degradation at a massive scale.

They are not going to stop building the data centers, and they weren't going to even if AI never got invented.

Creative Tools and Environmental Impact

In actuality, all creative practices have some sort of environmental impact in an industrialized society:

Digital art software (such as Photoshop, Blender, etc) generally uses 60-300 watts per hour depending on your computer's specifications. This is typically more energy than dozens, if not hundreds, of AI image generations (maybe even thousands if you are using a particularly low-quality one).

Traditional art supplies rely on similar if not worse scales of resource extraction, chemical processing, and global supply chains, all of which come with their own environmental impact.

Paint production requires roughly thirteen gallons of water to manufacture one gallon of paint.

Many oil paints contain toxic heavy metals and solvents, which have the potential to contaminate ground water.

Synthetic brushes are made from petroleum-based plastics that take centuries to decompose.

That being said, the point of this section isn't to deflect criticism of AI by criticizing other art forms. Rather, it's important to recognize that we live in a society where virtually all artistic avenues have environmental costs. Focusing exclusively on the newest technologies while ignoring the environmental costs of pre-existing tools and practices doesn't help to solve any of the issues with our current or future waste.

The largest environmental problems come not from individual creative choices, but rather from industrial-scale systems, such as:

Industrial manufacturing (responsible for roughly 22% of global emissions)

Industrial agriculture (responsible for roughly 24% of global emissions)

Transportation and logistics networks (responsible for roughly 14% of global emissions)

Making changes on an individual scale, while meaningful on a personal level, can't address systemic issues without broader policy changes and overall restructuring of global economic systems.

Intellectual Property Considerations

AWAY doesn't encourage members to contact government representatives about "IP theft" for multiple reasons:

We acknowledge that copyright law overwhelmingly serves corporate interests rather than individual creators

Creating new "learning rights" or "style rights" would further empower large corporations while harming individual artists and fan creators

Many AWAY members live outside the United States, many of which having been directly damaged by the US, and thus understand that intellectual property regimes are often tools of imperial control that benefit wealthy nations

Instead, we emphasize respect for artists who are protective of their work and style. Our guidelines explicitly prohibit imitating the style of artists who have voiced their distaste for AI, working on an opt-in model that encourages traditional artists to give and subsequently revoke permissions if they see fit. This approach is about respect, not legal enforcement. We are not a pro-copyright group.

In Conclusion

AWAY aims to cultivate thoughtful, ethical engagement with new technologies, while also holding respect for creative communities outside of itself. As a collective, we recognize that real environmental solutions require addressing concepts such as imperial exploitation, extractive capitalism, and corporate power—not just focusing on individual consumer choices, which do little to change the current state of the world we live in.

When discussing environmental impacts, it's important to keep perspective on a relative scale, and to avoid ignoring major issues in favor of smaller ones. We promote balanced discussions based in concrete fact, with the belief that they can lead to meaningful solutions, rather than misplaced outrage that ultimately serves to maintain the status quo.

If this resonates with you, please feel free to join our discord. :)

Works Cited:

USGS Water Use Data: https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/water-use-united-states

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America water usage report: https://www.gcsaa.org/resources/research/golf-course-environmental-profile

Equinix data center water sustainability report: https://www.equinix.com/resources/infopapers/corporate-sustainability-report

Environmental Working Group's Meat Eater's Guide (beef energy calculations): https://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/

Hugging Face AI energy consumption study: https://huggingface.co/blog/carbon-footprint

International Energy Agency report on data centers: https://www.iea.org/reports/data-centres-and-data-transmission-networks

Goldman Sachs "Generational Growth" report on AI power demand: https://www.goldmansachs.com/intelligence/pages/gs-research/generational-growth-ai-data-centers-and-the-coming-us-power-surge/report.pdf

Artists Network's guide to eco-friendly art practices: https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-business/how-to-be-an-eco-friendly-artist/

The Earth Chronicles' analysis of art materials: https://earthchronicles.org/artists-ironically-paint-nature-with-harmful-materials/

Natural Earth Paint's environmental impact report: https://naturalearthpaint.com/pages/environmental-impact

Our World in Data's global emissions by sector: https://ourworldindata.org/emissions-by-sector

"The High Cost of High Tech" report on electronics manufacturing: https://goodelectronics.org/the-high-cost-of-high-tech/

"Unearthing the Dirty Secrets of the Clean Energy Transition" (on rare earth mineral mining): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/18/clean-energy-dirty-mining-indigenous-communities-climate-crisis

Electronic Frontier Foundation's position paper on AI and copyright: https://www.eff.org/wp/ai-and-copyright

Creative Commons research on enabling better sharing: https://creativecommons.org/2023/04/24/ai-and-creativity/

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing a main character who’s a bartender… except I’m a minor with zero experience on alcohol or bars/bartending etc

Do you have any resources that could help me out?

Thanks so much, I love your blog !!!

Writing Notes: Bartender

Bartender - specializes in the art of mixing and serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in bars, restaurants, hotels, or other establishments.

In addition to mixing drinks, bartenders also play an important role in providing excellent customer service.

They engage with customers,

take drink orders,

suggest beverage options, and

create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere.

Bartenders must have good communication and interpersonal skills to interact with customers of diverse backgrounds and handle various situations that may arise during their shift.

They may also be responsible for managing the bar area,

ensuring cleanliness,

organizing supplies, and

handling cash transactions.

Types of Bartenders

There are various types of bartenders, each specializing in different areas of the hospitality industry. Here are a few common types:

Mixologists: Highly skilled bartenders who focus on creating innovative and artfully crafted cocktails. They have an extensive knowledge of ingredients, flavor combinations, and mixology techniques to design unique and visually appealing drinks.

Flair Bartenders: Known for their entertaining and acrobatic style of bartending. They incorporate flair techniques such as juggling bottles, performing tricks with bar tools, and creating visually captivating presentations while preparing drinks.

Craft Beer Bartenders: Have a deep understanding of the craft beer industry. They are familiar with various beer styles, brewing processes, and flavor profiles. They assist customers in selecting beers, provide recommendations, and may curate a rotating selection of craft beers on tap.

Tiki Bartenders: Specialize in crafting tropical and exotic cocktails associated with tiki culture. They are skilled in using unique ingredients, tropical fruits, and elaborate garnishes to create visually striking and flavorful drinks.

Hotel/Resort Bartenders: Cater to guests' needs, providing a range of beverages and maintaining high standards of customer service. They may specialize in classic cocktails, signature drinks, or be responsible for managing bars in various areas of the hotel.

Common Personality Traits of Bartenders

Based on a survey of 19,176 bartenders:

They are enterprising and conventional (according to the Holland Codes)

Bartenders tend to be predominantly enterprising individuals, which means that they are usually quite natural leaders who thrive at influencing and persuading others.

They also tend to be conventional, meaning that they are usually detail-oriented and organized, and like working in a structured environment.

They have high levels of extraversion and openness (according to the Big Five)

Bartenders score highly on extraversion, meaning that they rely on external stimuli to be happy, such as people or exciting surroundings.

They also tend to be high on the measure of openness, which means they are usually curious, imaginative, and value variety.

The Workplace

The workplace of a bartender can vary depending on the establishment they work in. Bartenders can be found in a range of settings, including:

bars,

pubs,

nightclubs,

hotels,

restaurants,

resorts, and even

cruise ships.

A typical bar environment consists of a well-equipped bar counter with a variety of spirits, mixers, and bar tools.

The bar area is usually designed to be functional and efficient, with shelves or cabinets to store bottles, refrigeration units for chilling beverages, and sinks for washing glassware.

Bartenders have access to a wide array of ingredients, garnishes, and utensils needed to prepare drinks.

The atmosphere within a bar can vary significantly.

Some establishments may have a lively and bustling atmosphere, especially during peak hours or on weekends, with music playing and customers engaged in conversations.

In contrast, other bars may have a more relaxed and intimate setting, catering to a specific clientele or offering a more sophisticated ambiance.

Bartenders often work as part of a team, collaborating with barbacks, servers, and other staff members to ensure smooth operations. Communication and coordination are essential, as they need to relay orders, share responsibilities, and support each other as needed.

Some previous related posts:

Cocktails ⚜ Literary & Hollywood Cocktails ⚜ Liqueurs

Mixology Tools & Popular Cocktails ⚜ Wine Terminology

Whiskey ⚜ Describing Intoxicated Customers

Words related to Drinking

Sources: 1 2 ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

Glad to hear, thank you! Sounds like a challenge, but could be quite fun. Choose which of these details you would like to incorporate in your story. For more on the actual drinks, tools, other terms used, and possible behaviour of customers when they become intoxicated, I included some links to older posts. And you can find further information in the sources. All the best with your writing!

[renthony]

OFMD has officially been cancelled, and I am once again thinking about all the people in the world who nitpick diverse media to hell and back when it isn't 100% perfect, as if having nothing at all would be preferable.

I'm so fucking tired of good, earnest, diverse media getting held to ridiculous standards by both networks AND fans, and then getting cancelled.

It was supposed to be three seasons. David Jenkins fucking said it was supposed to be three seasons. And then the network dragged its ass on renewing for season 2, and now...no season 3.

FUCK this shit. I'm so tired of media by and for marginalized artists getting fucked over. I'm tired of marginalized people fighting for scraps and then getting the rug whipped out from under us.

Yeah, OFMD isn't the only thing out there. There are other things to go enjoy, for the moment. But the fact that it's the shows that are queer and multicultural that keep getting cancelled is pretty fucking transparent, and I've seen quite a lot of concern from people in the industry about the direction we're headed. The outlook is concerning. It's more important now than ever to support marginalized artists, whether they're making indie art or trying to get something made by a mainstream studio.

Our Flag Means Death. Warrior Nun. One Day At A Time. Willow. Dead End: Paranormal Park. First Kill. Q-Force. The Owl House. Steven Universe. A League of Their Own. Vampire Academy. I could go on, but I don't need to, because there are entire lists that have been curated by news sites: Gay Times, Out, Autostraddle, Pride, Movieweb, Collider.

There's a reason I spend so much time and energy studying things like the Hays Code and the history of censorship. This shit comes in waves, and the only way marginalized artists survive it is through community support, mutual aid, and being really goddamn loud.

So be loud. Make art. Support your fellow artists and the artists you love. We need each other if we're going to weather the storm.

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

A note on "Miraculous treads on very much explored territory and still fails epically".

Thomas Astruc used to work (as a crew member, not a leader, but still) on W. I. T. C. H.

Which is:

A magical girl show with team dynamics

A show that mixes episodic and serialized format

A show where two the male romantic interests have a massive role (Caleb is a main character on par with the six girls, and Matt has an epic character arc)

A show with a strong mystery element

A show with manipulative villains (sometimes with schemes reaolved within an episode! And sometimes longer), villains that turn out to be family members, sympathetic villains, loathsome villains... Great, complex villains, almost all of them

A mean girl quasi-redemption arc

A show that does all of the aforementioned elements very well. Also, better diversity despite being 10 years older.

Yet when I watch ML, I see no inspiration (despite many common motifs), no lessons learned, no indication that the lead writer ever got anything from the experience working on that show. Unless the lesson was "W. I. T. C. H. got cancelled after two seasons, so everything about the show was wrong and we should do ML differently".

(Mind you, WITCH got more plot in two seasons than ML did in five, and still wrapped up the story fairly well)

Sorry for the rant. I kinda know that the explanation for "why is ML not like that" is "ML is forced to be an episodic show against its will", but also.

ML is trying very hard to pretend that it's More Than an Episodic Show and Not Only for Kids, and really doesn't measure up with shows with seemingly similar premises.

(Post that inspired this ask)

Before we get into it, if anyone likes fun theme songs and missed the American opening to W.I.T.C.H.'s first season then I have a treat for you!!!

Top tier opening song! Other countries were robbed!

Anyway, I agree with everything you said and this ask got me curious about the writing staff. I started doing some digging and a lot of them appear to have worked on other shows that would fall with the same genres as Miraculous. Many of those shows were even episodic formula shows that reserved the serialized elements for season finals and specials (looking at you Code Lyoko!) That doesn't shock me, but it does just add to my curiosity as to what the heck is going on with Miraculous.

These aren't new comers to the industry in over their heads, they're established professionals! Why are they struggling so hard to tell a good story while working with an incredibly simple premise? Why are aren't they embracing the show's limits and making it the best it can be in its chosen category? I'd love to know the full story, but alas, I likely never will. My best guess is that commercial success has got to their heads and so they're convinced that any criticism they see can't possibly be valid. At least, that's what the head writer's twitter feed seems to suggest every time I see screen caps from it...

[sjbattleangel]

The Virgin Lily Orchard:

Sides with abusers

Lies about having Indigenous heritage

Is horrifically abusive to friends and family

Always sides with corporations

Writes awful revenge-fics out of spite

Fetishizes black women

Dismisses an entire cultural animation medium (anime) as "spankbait for perverts"

Wrote the worst writing advice ever

Has a pathetic vendetta against Rebecca Sugar for simply existing

Sends death threats to creators

Throws marginalized creators under the bus for not being "woke" enough

Lied about being a "highly sought-after writer" solely to spite Rebecca Sugar, ND Stevenson, Darron Nefcy, Dana Terrace and her sister

Hates Asians

Hates Jews

Holds nothing but contempt for animation

Wants all of animation to be nothing but slice-of-life romantic comedies

Wants the Hays code back

The Chad Rebecca Sugar:

One of the nicest people working in the industry

Has fought hard for diversity and representation in animation

Is incredibly talented

Is friends with Alex Hirsch (Gravity Falls), Matt Braly (Amphibia) and many others

Paved the way for more diverse creators

Has won multiple awards

Wrote and sang songs for Adventure Time

A non-binary, bisexual Jewish woman whose background and experiences influence her work

Created one of the most groundbreaking, inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly shows of all time

Fought against higher-ups when they tried to censor the queerness of her work

Helped normalize discussions of kids' mental health

An uplifting inspiration to a generation of queer kids growing up

Influenced by both western animation and anime

Married to Ian Jones Quartey

[sexymemecoin]

The Rise of DeFi: Revolutionizing the Financial Landscape

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has emerged as one of the most transformative sectors within the cryptocurrency industry. By leveraging blockchain technology, DeFi aims to recreate and improve upon traditional financial systems, offering a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient financial ecosystem. This article explores the fundamental aspects of DeFi, its key components, benefits, challenges, and notable projects, including a brief mention of Sexy Meme Coin.

What is DeFi?

DeFi stands for Decentralized Finance, a movement that utilizes blockchain technology to build an open and permissionless financial system. Unlike traditional financial systems that rely on centralized intermediaries like banks and brokerages, DeFi operates on decentralized networks, allowing users to interact directly with financial services. This decentralization is achieved through smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code.

Key Components of DeFi

Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs): DEXs allow users to trade cryptocurrencies directly with one another without the need for a central authority. Platforms like Uniswap, SushiSwap, and PancakeSwap have gained popularity for their ability to provide liquidity and facilitate peer-to-peer trading.

Lending and Borrowing Platforms: DeFi lending platforms like Aave, Compound, and MakerDAO enable users to lend their assets to earn interest or borrow assets by providing collateral. These platforms use smart contracts to automate the lending process, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Stablecoins: Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like fiat currencies to reduce volatility. They are crucial for DeFi as they provide a stable medium of exchange and store of value. Popular stablecoins include Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), and Dai (DAI).

Yield Farming and Liquidity Mining: Yield farming involves providing liquidity to DeFi protocols in exchange for rewards, often in the form of additional tokens. Liquidity mining is a similar concept where users earn rewards for providing liquidity to specific pools. These practices incentivize participation and enhance liquidity within the DeFi ecosystem.

Insurance Protocols: DeFi insurance protocols like Nexus Mutual and Cover Protocol offer coverage against risks such as smart contract failures and hacks. These platforms aim to provide users with security and peace of mind when engaging with DeFi services.

Benefits of DeFi

Financial Inclusion: DeFi opens up access to financial services for individuals who are unbanked or underbanked, particularly in regions with limited access to traditional banking infrastructure. Anyone with an internet connection can participate in DeFi, democratizing access to financial services.

Transparency and Trust: DeFi operates on public blockchains, providing transparency for all transactions. This transparency reduces the need for trust in intermediaries and allows users to verify and audit transactions independently.

Efficiency and Speed: DeFi eliminates the need for intermediaries, reducing costs and increasing the speed of transactions. Smart contracts automate processes that would typically require manual intervention, enhancing efficiency.

Innovation and Flexibility: The open-source nature of DeFi allows developers to innovate and build new financial products and services. This continuous innovation leads to the creation of diverse and flexible financial instruments.

Challenges Facing DeFi

Security Risks: DeFi platforms are susceptible to hacks, bugs, and vulnerabilities in smart contracts. High-profile incidents, such as the DAO hack and the recent exploits on various DeFi platforms, highlight the need for robust security measures.

Regulatory Uncertainty: The regulatory environment for DeFi is still evolving, with governments and regulators grappling with how to address the unique challenges posed by decentralized financial systems. This uncertainty can impact the growth and adoption of DeFi.

Scalability: DeFi platforms often face scalability issues, particularly on congested blockchain networks like Ethereum. High gas fees and slow transaction times can hinder the user experience and limit the scalability of DeFi applications.

Complexity and Usability: DeFi platforms can be complex and challenging for newcomers to navigate. Improving user interfaces and providing educational resources are crucial for broader adoption.

Notable DeFi Projects

Uniswap (UNI): Uniswap is a leading decentralized exchange that allows users to trade ERC-20 tokens directly from their wallets. Its automated market maker (AMM) model has revolutionized the way liquidity is provided and traded in the DeFi space.

Aave (AAVE): Aave is a decentralized lending and borrowing platform that offers unique features such as flash loans and rate switching. It has become one of the largest and most innovative DeFi protocols.

MakerDAO (MKR): MakerDAO is the protocol behind the Dai stablecoin, a decentralized stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. MakerDAO allows users to create Dai by collateralizing their assets, providing stability and liquidity to the DeFi ecosystem.

Compound (COMP): Compound is another leading DeFi lending platform that enables users to earn interest on their cryptocurrencies or borrow assets against collateral. Its governance token, COMP, allows users to participate in protocol governance.

Sexy Meme Coin (SXYM): While primarily known as a meme coin, Sexy Meme Coin has integrated DeFi features, including a decentralized marketplace for buying, selling, and trading memes as NFTs. This unique blend of humor and finance adds a distinct flavor to the DeFi landscape. Learn more about Sexy Meme Coin at Sexy Meme Coin.

The Future of DeFi

The future of DeFi looks promising, with continuous innovation and growing adoption. As blockchain technology advances and scalability solutions are implemented, DeFi has the potential to disrupt traditional financial systems further. Regulatory clarity and improved security measures will be crucial for the sustainable growth of the DeFi ecosystem.

DeFi is likely to continue attracting attention from both retail and institutional investors, driving further development and integration of decentralized financial services. The flexibility and inclusivity offered by DeFi make it a compelling alternative to traditional finance, paving the way for a more open and accessible financial future.

Conclusion

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) represents a significant shift in the financial landscape, leveraging blockchain technology to create a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient financial system. Despite the challenges, the benefits of DeFi and its continuous innovation make it a transformative force in the world of finance. Notable projects like Uniswap, Aave, and MakerDAO, along with unique contributions from meme coins like Sexy Meme Coin, demonstrate the diverse and dynamic nature of the DeFi ecosystem.

For those interested in exploring the playful and innovative side of DeFi, Sexy Meme Coin offers a unique and entertaining platform. Visit Sexy Meme Coin to learn more and join the community.

[suburbanforestwitch]

They Can't all be Straight Janet : Erasure of Queerness by Some BL Fans

It kills me when I see a post on here or on tiktok still pretending all BL actors are straight and any sign of affection is just fan service. Sure. That makes complete sense… if you ignore math, experience, and the entire concept of human diversity.

Let’s start with the basics: a percentage of the population is LGBTQIA+. That’s just how people work. So if you put together a group of actors—any group, really—some of them are going to be somewhere on that spectrum. That’s not speculation; that’s statistics.

Now, I happen to be the mom of someone with a theater degree. I’ve been around theater kids since my daughter was in middle school. Theater has always been a space where queer people gather. Because it’s one of the places where self-expression, chosen family, and breaking norms aren’t just tolerated—they’re part of the job description.

So, let’s take that already LGBTQIA-heavy industry and apply it to a genre that specifically focuses on relationships between men. Are we really going to act shocked when queer actors are drawn to that work? Like it’s some kind of wild plot twist?

The idea that entire casts of actors in a genre built around queer relationships are somehow magically exempt from the basic demographics of queerness is just… silly.

But Also—can we talk about how Hollywood is absolutely full of straight couples who met on set and fell in love after one movie or show together? It’s practically a trope at this point. But we’re supposed to believe that in the world of BL, where some of these actors work together across multiple productions, travel for fan meetings, do joint interviews, promotions, live events, for years… absolutely nothing real ever develops? Ever? That feels less like realism and more like willful denial.

That's what it is, denail and erasure—coming from people who want to enjoy queer-coded content without acknowledging actual queer people exist within it.

[so-i-did-this-thing]

What are good questions to ask in job interviews to find out if a place is going to be friendly to your continued transition? I have been on T for about a year and am job hunting right now and I'm worried about reaching a point sometime in the next year where I have no choice but to come out because I don't read as a woman anymore.

Ok, big caveat from me: I was once in your exact position. I had just started T and decided to interview with a small company who assumed I was a woman. (I am guessing they thought I was a butch lesbian - I still had my gender-neutral deadname. I did not assert my pronouns.) When they gave me an offer, I let them know I was transitioning. I still got hired, but was treated as an inconvenience. They did not suggest I immediately switch to male presentation, and I was too scared to suggest it. It started getting hostile when other employees noticed my voice changing. I really wish I had just gone into the interview presenting male and I ended up quitting the job within 8 months because it got too awkward.

So. As for my advice:

I'd start with Glassdoor to read employee reviews. I'd also check the company's social media, plus that of the people in your chain of command to do some vibe checking. People who are transphobic are commonly going to be very vocal about right-wing leanings, and you'll see some signs, even on LinkedIn. Check if they have anti-discrimination statements in any of their hiring material, or stated commitments to diversity and inclusion.

In the interview, ask about what sort of clients they attract and what charities/orgs they support and sponsor. If you feel the vibes are promising, ask if they sponsor local Pride. Ask general culture questions about team building and employee enrichment. Ask what healthcare benefits look like and other employee assistance perks they may have. Fish around for gendered policies that could cause you problems, like dress codes. That said, can you bite the bullet and go ahead and interview in a masc gender presentation? Because honestly, that will be the best gauge of how you are going to be received. (And in my experience, folks are fairly likely to assume a masc presenting person is male.)

I tend to be very careful about outing myself until I'm sure I'm in a supportive culture with HR to back me up -- and this might be something you can't discover until you are hired and working for a while. And even then, I've just been very matter-of-fact about transition stuff, saying things like (when doing my background check) "I have older documentation that doesn't match my current name or gender marker, and I can provide any additional paperwork if needed." When I changed my legal name, I gave my boss a simple communication plan on how I'd tell co-workers and clients. Though at that point, most folks assumed I was a cis man, so it was a very different experience compared to that awful 8-month long job.

I wish I had more advice, but a lot depends on how badly you need a job, how safe you feel, and if you have options like only staying in your next job until passing as a woman becomes a problem. To be bluntly honest -- you *will* lose opportunities in your life due to being trans and it's just something to have to have backup plans for (I lost a ton of music gig work because everyone in the industry is all up in each other's shit). But whatever you do, document everything you can related to you being trans, because you never know when you'll need to raise a discrimination case. :/

[dxwjj]

enhypen dr ⸒⸒ 露 intro ﹗

No one can do it for me.

Can I be better now?

Taps on the mic — is this on?? yes? ok, here we go...

"Isn't she lovely."

Rosée, or may known profesionally as Iseul, born in Argentina, summer 2005. The sweetest smile. Soft eyes, the kind of gaze that could bring you comfort or kill a man depending on the day. Previously known for being the coldest during the I-LAND competition... yeah, that was survival mode. Owner of the softest heart —oh! did she... she wrote this herself, right? ... Okay— Ummh and a quiet voice having to mask her kind nature behind the toughest expression to calculate survival odds in a testosterone battle dome at the young age of fifteen.

"What's is this little girl doing in a boy competition??" People were asking the same question— and by people I mean everyone. Contestants, audience, judges, janitors. She looked twelve and walked in like she owned the place. Quiet, polite, alone, determinated. Even she was confused. Everyone expected her to cry and give up, go home. But Bang Sihyuk, he had a vision... he SAW potential —or trauma, honestly hard to tell with that guy—

Raking #5 in the final lineup by public vote, she showed a huge versatility, diverse facets that helped her position herself on the top after almost every performance, along with a dicipline and iciness that scared some of the contestants. She knew kindness would get her eaten alive so she shut it off. Smiled less, spoke less. Nobody could tell if she hated everyone or was just realy, really tired. Turns out it was both, and low iron.

Fortunately, someone else also found her lovely back then. It was Jungkook, when BTS made a visit— he thought she was the cutest thing ever and spiritually adopted her on the spot ! Claimed himself as her "cool older brother", which granted her full permission to borrow his stuff —the girl doesn't return anything—

UPDATE! He just wanted free babysitting for Bam, that's it. So clever of him to pick a cat person... right? With the build of someone you can easily presume would get dragged around by that big-ass dog, and be proven right — but the dog is happy, she is too. Kind of—

Now? Curly hair, rosy cheeks, cotton candy scent, giggles machine. One of the strongest vocalists in the industry, adored for her warmth, praised for her hard work, iconic we could say, the idol of idols —and occasionally caught pleading and crawling on her knees for a girl group sub-unit just to escape men's chaos for a day— Who said that? not me.

"Aloof? Coldhearted? Who are you talking about??"

The "i-land cold one"? Not a newflash but she does not domain that behaviour anymore. Debut day came, the cameras turned on and suddenly... she wasn't cold anymore. No, now she was clinging to Heeseung her members like she'd grown out of their ribcage. Shy, awkward, koala-coded. Again, everyone was confused.

No one saw that coming. One second she's cold and mysterious, next second she's practically suction-cupped to the members like a human leech. With the exception that Hee clings back, so now it's mutual parasitic friendship. Jay's also one of the main victims, trying to drag her off his arm. And that's the key word: he tries... and fails everytime.

"she's not a brat! ... Just a little spoiled."

Nepo baby?? Wait— an heiress! : well, kinda. Grandpa's a CEO, dad's a michelin star's collector, mom's Miuccia's favorite. So yeah, she might have a vault of archival Prada, one-of-one heels made just for her alone. Even her own rolls-royce, at 17, we gotta say thanks to grandpa for that one¡! With two bodyguard who she still thinks are just "family friends who really like driving".

I'm positive you might wonder if she's an ungrateful brat! Well —let me tell you something that is not in the script— she's spoiled... a little rotten, but-but WAIT! Is she evil? Nah, she's a sweatheart. Bakes cookies with love, cries over baby animals, just... don't ask her to carry her own bag.

"Moonwalking since diapers."

Here's the thing— she didn't train for long. BELIFT saw her and said "yeah, she's cooked enough." But why? Apparently it starts with being God's favorite, and obviously, her parents being obsessed with MJ helped (along with a few ballet years). Full dischography, full interview archive, tour dvds. Even that moonwalker movie she squints at now that she grew up. And baby Rosée? She ate it all UP. Copying everything, his dancing, his singing, his talking. She didn't know she was learning— she was just vibing in her living room while using footie pajamas, still not able to spell 'hee-hee'.

"Who's using JK's studio??"

And then she started producing, at 17. The company saw the potential, sure— but even they were like "not yet." Plot twist: yes yet! She got mentored by Slow Rabbit, one of HYBE's best. And while other teens were crying over finals, Rosée was in the studio absorbing knowledge like a sponge wearing Dior's lipgloss. She learned directly, fast, smart. Took notes, made beats. Everyone blinked and suddenly she was in Jungkook's a "borrowed" studio adjustig vocal layers like she wasn't also trying to steal Jungwon's hoodie 5 mintes ago.

Now she's 18 with credits. Producer credits. Making the most of her poetry to create heart-wrenching lyrics and make everyone obsessed. While still being enhypen's certified baby, the dorm's gremlin, and that one boy's soulmate— you know the one. Yes, him. Don't ask me more.

"Face card: never declined. BUT ... at what cost?"

Let's get this straight. She's shy, introverted— used to hide behind her members during interviews, considers "standing near a staff" a social event and is terrified of that MC offer.

YET! global fashion darling, ads princess. MiuMiu and Dior's precious muse. Like be for real, who scripted this? (spoiler: she did. And inmediately regretted it). The girl is emotionally attached to everyone, scared of solo cameras and still got booked for every high-end brand deal in existence. —teehee she's just twee smol >.< shy lil hug baby and NARRATOR WANTS A RAISE¡!—

Why would a literal awkward-hug parasite ask the universe to make her the face of half global fashion scene?? No one knows, not even her.

So she begged HYBE to leave her alone. Threatened to delete her demos, would've sabotaged the comeback for real if her mom hadn't shown up. Like "You're my daughter, you're flawless. Get in the car".

After all she was born as Bellucci's daughter. A genetically blessed, shy luxury gremlin with no escape due her mom being the brand's co-founder. So now she's crying in MiuMiu and serving face in silence— and yes, she's her mom's muse, and somehow poster girl of the year. Somebody help her.

Narrator didn't get the raise, so he quit. That's it, we're wrapping up here. This was Rosée's intro, attempt of.

Final note¡! I've been frying my brain for days, but this might have grammar mistakes anyway... i'm not a pro at english (yet, at least). And if you find this cringe —cuz I do, self awareness speaking— , i'm letting you know the original draft without the narrator was worse. pls be kind to Rosée.

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Alla Nazimova (A Doll's House, Camille, Salomé)—She was a proud lesbian, she was a director, she was artsy and experimental, she was instrumental in the rise to fame of Rudolph Valentino, she had the worlds biggest strap on energy

Xia Meng, also known as Hsia Moog or Miranda Yang (Sunrise, Bride Hunter)—For those who are familiar with Hong Kong's early cinema, Xia Meng is THE leading woman of an era, the earliest "silver-screen goddess", "The Great Beauty" and "Audrey Hepburn of the East". Xia Meng starred in 38 films in her 17-year career, and famously had rarely any flops, from her first film at the age of 18 to her last at the age of 35. She was a rare all-round actress in Mandarin-language films, acting, singing, and dancing with an enchanting ease in films of diverse genres, from contemporary drama to period operas. She was regarded as the "crown princess" among the "Three Princesses of the Great Wall", the iconic leading stars of the Great Wall Movie Enterprises, which was Hong Kong's leading left-wing studio in the 1950s-60s. At the time, Hong Kong cinema had only just taken off, but Xia Meng's influence had already spread out to China, Singapore, etc. Overseas Chinese-language magazines and newspapers often featured her on their covers. The famous HK wuxia novelist Jin Yong had such a huge crush on her that he made up a whole fake identity as a nobody-screenwriter to join the Great Wall studio just so he can write scripts for her. He famously said, "No one has really seen how beautiful Xi Shi (one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China) is, I think she should be just like Xia Meng to live up to her name." In 1980, she returned to the HK film industry by forming the Bluebird Movie Enterprises. As a producer with a heart for the community, she wanted to make a film on the Vietnam War and the many Vietnam War refugees migrating to Hong Kong. She approached director Ann Hui and produced the debut film Boat People (1982), a globally successful movie and landmark feature for Hong Kong New Wave, which won several awards including the best picture and best director in the second Hong Kong Film Award. Years later, Ann Hui looked back on her collaboration with Xia Meng, "I'm very grateful to her for allowing me to make what is probably the best film I've ever made in my life."

This is round 3 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Alla Nazimova:

HOT as hell. GAY as hell. TALENTED as hell. Producer, director, writer, actress. A silent era superstar who is credited with having coined the term "sewing circle" as a code-word for gatherings of lesbian and bisexual women. Has been called "the founding mother of Sapphic Hollywood" and was the owner/operator of the Garden of Alla Hotel in West Hollywood, which she bought in 1919 and sold in 1928 after deciding she wanted to go back to Broadway. In addition to starring opposite Valentino in Camille, she also had an affair with BOTH of his wives (Jean Acker and Natacha Rambova). In her day, she was one of the most influential women in the business.

"Nazimova was primarily a star during the silent film era, and her career in film started when she was almost forty. She was openly bisexual, and was engaged in two lavender marriages during her life while she carried on relationships with women (including at least one, and possibly two, of Rudolph Valentino's wives). She was brilliant and an autodidact - when she first moved to the United States from Ukraine, she spoke no English, but taught herself "in about five months" and went on to work as a screenwriter (among other things). Her predilections lay in art film, and she's credited with starring in / producing / directing one of the first American art films, the adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play Salome (1923). She has an elegant and commanding presence in all of her films, and is an absolute sensation to watch in motion."

Gif link, another gif link

A great actress who also produced a great deal of her films, Nazimova is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. She was also bi and coined the phrase "sewing circle" for sapphic celebrities.

Xia Meng:

[dotthings]

Congrats to the fans of the wee woo show. I don’t go here but it makes me happy to witness how this arc for Evan Buckley got to bloom and I’m happy because I hope this reflects another shift in the TV industry.

For some media commentary context for you: ABC network is owned by Disney. Fox network was owned by Rupert Murdoch. So I can see how the network change for 911 can easily be a factor on how this got greenlit, after years of creator Tim Minear’s intention to work in hints, on the off chance he could take it there. (I don’t go here, but I did my reading). Oliver Stark who plays Buck also revealed he's been for it and couldn't say anything, until he was sure they could do it, until it aired and was out there. (*steeples fingers*)

For further context, Bob Iger—with George Lucas’ vocal support—just fended off a right wing coup on the Disney board from the kinds of people (like Peltz) who complain “why do we need so many female leads” “why do we need movies with all Black leads.” While it doesn’t mean Disney is no longer an evil megacorp, I’m pointing out that its CEO defended inclusive Disney brand content to the shareholders and the board, as well as dismantling the idea that it can’t be entertainment while being diverse.

The ripple of this goes outside of the wee woo show fandom. I’m seeing the joy on my dash from people who don’t watch the show or don’t watch it regularly, as well as from people who have been watching a long time and noticed things and realized there was a progression and it was there all along, and I know how much this must mean to a lot of people. With the world being how it is, with what people are facing inside the US from the far right, in their real lives.

It’s very hopeful in general for inclusion levels on a major network TV show, owned by a big evil megacorp. Representation matters.

Also I'm aware the wee woo show already had a queer couple, plus it's already an intersectional inclusive series, that’s great.

There shouldn't be limits placed on inclusion though. “But you already have X” shouldn't be weaponized to tell people to shut up. There is no “enough” or “too much” when it comes to inclusion. While I'm not for undermining the inclusion that's there, I've seen that weaponization used with a series that hasn't been great on inclusion, and I've seen that weaponization used for 911, which is. It's a sus argument.

Indirect and unintentional as it is, also bi Buck shut down every concern troll, every gaslight, every denial, every rationale I've ever seen people deploy against bi Dean. Everything from people who don’t understand what bi actual means—“but he likes girls so he can’t be bi”—to “but he wasn’t declared bi from the start of the show so he can’t”—yes he can and the wee woo show just did. On one of the original big three networks. Or people who say it would "ruin the character." Really? “But he’s an action hero”—so what? Evan Buckley is a hero, Dean is a hero, both badass action heroes. “People who see this as canon are delusional”—Evan Buckley went O RLY? Not so delusional now, is it.

Evan Buckley avenged bi Dean.

It’s self-evident. It’s right there. Different show, different network, but the concepts are familiar, the situation has a certain familiarity. This turn of events on an ABC show didn't just make bi Dean fans valid. bi Dean fans were always valid, the bi Dean reading was always valid. But I appreciate how much what happened on the wee woo show bonked people with a truth stick, about self discovery, character arcing, queer readings, queer coding, and the validity of merely noticing things.

[cupidl0vr]

Hi, I saw that your requests were open. Could I please request an Asahi x reader fluffy/NSFW fic? Adult Asahi of course.

I'm not sure if I need to give you the exact scenario or you'll do that yourself but in case it's the former, maybe something like reader crushes on coworker Asahi but doesn't think she has a chance with him because he's so handsome and working with all these gorgeous models who also find him attractive and he's very popular in the industry but reader doesn't know that he only has eyes for her.

Thank you if you write it.

Work of Art

Aged up! Asahi Azumane x reader Type of Writing: Fluffy - NSFW Warning: NSFW, fem coded reader, fingering, hickeys, marking, praising, tit fonding + sucking, dirty talk, public sex, pet names kinda, unedited A/N: I didn't have time to edit this because I have an essay due at midnight and its ten. Also the ending is very rushed, I'm on two hours of sleep, apologies.

Your whole life revolved around fashion and the art of design. You made it your job to help others look good and create clothing that filled those around you with joy and happiness. Sometimes though, you focus too much on others and it bled into your life as you neglected yourself and put all of your focus on your career. That was until Asahi joined, one of the sweetest men you’ve ever met in your life. 

A year ago, the brown-haired male was welcomed to the team as a new designer being brought on to help create more diversity in clothing. The two of you didn’t talk until the two of you were left alone at the studio still working on designs till late at night. You felt your eyes growing heavy as you slumped down at your desk, the sketchbook in front of you drifting from your mind. But, your mind snapped open when a large soft hand was placed on her back jolting her awake. 

“Sorry,” Asahi smiled gently, brushing a strand of his hair back showing off his soft features, “I didn’t mean to wake you, just wanted to know if you needed some coffee or maybe some tea?”

At that moment, you fell in love with your coworker Asahi Azumane, but deep down you knew it would never work. The two of you were just coworkers, nothing more. That didn’t help your jealousy that seeped through, especially when the models visited for fittings. 

Helping your usual model, you focused on pinning the fabric on her form wanting to make sure the outfit fit perfectly on her for the opening night. Hearing the sounds of giggling, your eyes drifted over to the man who was working with a new blonde model who was laughing and touching his arms. Frowning at the sight, you shook your head pushing down the nausea that was felt in your stomach at the thought of the two of them being together. 

She was perfect. A platinum blonde with perky blue eyes that were round and almond-shaped. She was tall with long legs and perfectly tan skin. You were the opposite. The opposite of what he wants. The model in front of you hummed, at the sight of your staring a soft smile playing on her face. 

“Talk to him,” She stated. You shook your head, “He’s busy and I’m not worth it.”

“You are worth it, you’re an amazing girl,” She remarked, placing a hand on his shoulder, “And like my momma always said if a man doesn’t appreciate the person you are then that man isn't worth being around the person you are.” 

“Thanks but I’m not his type,” You signed, draping a fabric over her. She scoffed, “You’re drop-dead gorgeous, and it’s clear that blonde girl is just trying to get into his pants. If he had a single brain cell he would turn and go for the girl who's going to be with him for more than his body.” 

“I need to grab some more pins, I’ll be right back,” You turned, “Don’t move.”

“Don’t plan on it,” She hummed. Heading out of the room, you entered the closet that had all of your spare materials in it searching for some pins. Frowning when you couldn’t find them, the sight of a large hand was seen holding them out to you. You frowned, “What the…”

“Looking for these?” Ashai asked, holding the box of pins. You nodded, taking the box sheepishly, “Thanks.”

“Anytime, you’re dress is coming together well. I can’t wait to see it at the show this week,” Asahi exclaimed, leaning on the door frame. You took a deep breath, “Let’s hope I finish it, I’m likely going to have to stay late again.” 

“I’ll see you there then,” Asahi smiled, turning to head off not carrying anything from the closet. You tilted your head in confusion, “What did he need in the closet?”

—

Dragging her feet around the office, you dropped to your desk pulling the sketchbook out and drawing down some final touches that were decided today with the model. Humming softly, the sound of giggling was heard making you pick up as she stood and walked over to peek around the corner. 

“Asahi?” You mumbled, seeing him talking with another model. Watching the two of them interact, your heart broke when you saw the hand that traced up his arm causing a frown to adore your face. Shutting your office door, you focused on your work quickly getting the final sketches finished allowing her to race out there avoiding the male. 

“Y/n?” He called, holding a cup of tea for her. Opening her office door, his eyes landed on the empty desk a frown falling onto his face at the thought of her leaving already. Taking a deep breath, Asahi shut the door missing your smile, your smell, your voice knowing he would have to wait till tomorrow to feel it all again. 

“Look what you’re doing to me,” Asahi muttered, staring at one of the photographs on the wall that had a photo of you standing next to your spring line. Asahi smiled, “Beautiful.” 

—

Rubbing her temples, you sat in your office staring outside the window that allowed the moon to reflect in showing the late night. Stretching, you stood up and walked out of your office heading to the studio where your line was seen pressed onto mannequins. Adjusting some of the details, you wrote comments into a notebook not wanting to mess anything up. 

“It looks great,” Asahi mumbled, leaning on the door frame. Flinching at the sound of his voice, you glanced over and stared at him not expecting him to be here this late at night. You nodded, “Thanks.”

Walking over, he stood beside her admiring her work a soft look in his eyes as he watched her work applying new fabrics over the mannequins. You let out a shaky breath, “Do you need something?”

“No, just came to watch,” Asahi answered. You frowned, “I prefer to be left alone while I work.” 

“Where’s the fun in that?” Asahi exclaimed, leaning on one of the tables. You scoffed, “Don’t you have a model to be hanging out with or something? I bet they want to spend more time with you.”

“I don’t want to be with them though,” Asahi mumbled, “I much rather be with you.” 

“What?” You widened your eyes at his words, glancing back at him. Smirking at the shocked look on your face, Asahi stood up from the table and walked towards her. He leaned forward, “You’re beautiful under the moonlight you know that.”

“I’m busy,” You muttered, pushing him away. Avoiding his gaze, Asahi frowned and reached over grabbing your wrist and pulling you towards him. Placing you against the table, he caged you against it his face mere inches away from yours. You squeaked, “What are you doing?”

“You’re avoiding me, why?” Asahi asked in a low tone, whispering into your ear. Sending chills down your spine, you frowned, trying to ignore the rising blush on your face. You signed, “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Why?” Asahi wondered, staring into her eyes. Feeling your heart racing from the closeness between the two of you, you swallowed the lump in your throat. You twiddled with the hem of your shirt, “You work with all of those beautiful models, why not be with one of them?”

“Because none of them compare to your beauty,” Asahi whispered. You bite your bottom lip tightly, “Liar.” 

As those words fell from your mouth, he gripped your hips and smashed his lips onto yours holding you tightly as he took your breath away. Fluttering your eyes shut, you wrapped your arms around his neck returning the kiss with the same amount of passion. Breaking away, you caught your breath your chest heaving up and down as you looked up at him seeing your lipstick smeared all over his face. 

“Am I a liar now?” He grinned. You hummed, “I might need a little more convincing.” 

Smirking at your words, he kissed your lips again before ducking under to your neck sucking deep spots from your jaw down to your collarbone. Reaching for your shirt, he began to unbutton it letting the fabric hang open as he looked up to meet your eyes. He mumbled, “Is this alright?”

“Yes please…” You begged, a soft whine escaping your lips. Nodding his head, he kissed down your collarbone pushing your shirt off and tossing it to the side. Staring at your chest, he swiftly undid your bra tossing it off to the side as his eyes were glued to your breast a hungry gaze in his eyes. 

“Gorgeous,” He growled, placing his mouth on one of them. Sucking deep marks onto it, he placed his mouth on your soft bud giving it attention, while his hand went to the other one soft words falling from his lips as he praised your body. You whined, pulling at his shirt, “Want to see you…”

“As you wish baby,” He smiled, pulling his shirt off of his head. Taking her breath away, you reached out tracing a hand over his muscles and toned chest feeling every part of him. He grabbed her hand and kissed the palm of it looking at her with a loving gaze. He spoke against her palm, “Those models are nothing compared to you.”

“Liar,” You whispered. He smirked, leaning towards her lips, “I’ll just have to prove it to you then.” Picking you up, he placed you on the table allowing your back to rest on it sending sharp chills at the cold surface. Tearing the rest of your clothes off, he stared down at your nude from his dick straining against his pants. 

“You’re staring,” You blushed, looking away from his lustful gaze. Asahi leaned down and kissed the inside of her thigh, “Don’t be embarrassed, I’m just admiring the piece of art in front of me.” 

“Need you…” You whined, bucking your hips for some kind of friction. Grinning at your words, Asahi left soft kisses on the side of her thigh until reaching her cunt lips and licking a long strip on them. Releasing a soft moan, Asahi groaned as the pain in his pants grew the more he heard her beautiful calling. 

“More,” You moaned, tangling your hands into his long brown hair and pushing him against you. Wrapping his arms around your thighs, he digs into your cunt licking and sucking until you’re a moaning mess underneath him screaming his name in a beautiful melody. Sticking a finger in, he felt you unraveling from your tough, closed-off side, showing a different side to him. One that no one has seen before. 

“So… fucking good,” You gasped, legs shaking from the upcoming orgasm. Adding another finger, Asahi continued pleasuring your cunt, feeling you nearing you nearing your end as your hole clenched around his fingers. Sucking on your bud, you let out one final scream before coming undone for him releasing onto his fingers. 

“Asahi!” You squealed, feeling him lapping up your juices licking everything up. Gasping for air, Asahi grinned at the state you were in brushing a strand out of your face and allowing him to see your beautiful body in the moonlight. You shivered, “That felt so good…”

“I’m glad to hear that, but we’re going to have to get going before the security guard catches us,” Asahi chuckled. You widened your eyes, sitting up, “But you didn’t-”

“It’s fine baby, we can handle me another time. This night was for you,” Asahi exclaimed, “I wanted to prove that you are one of the most beautiful girls in the world.”

“You don’t mean that,” You frowned. Asahi cupped your face, “I know exquisite art when I see it, and you’re the only one my eyes long for.” 

“Asahi…” You mumbled. Asahi kissed your lips, speaking softly against them, “We can talk on the way to my apartment, for now, let me love the piece of art you are.”

“Ok,” You nodded a soft smile on your face. Smiling at her words, Asahi grabbed her clothes helping her get dressed before taking her to his car and getting in. Driving down the highway, the two of them remained quiet listening to the soft jazz that wad playing on the radio. Asahi smirked, placing his hand on her thigh, “Am I still a liar?”

“I’m not sure yet,” You hummed, leaning over towards him, “I might still need a little convincing.” 

“You for sure will soon,” Asahi laughed, squeezing her leg. Smiling at the sound of his laughter, you softened your eyes seeing the determined look in his eyes knowing he wouldn’t stop until you believed every word that fell from his lips. Leaning over, you placed a hand on his face kissing the side of it softly letting a small whisper out. 

“Thank you.”

---

Request open!

[soleminisanction]

The discussions of elements and factions being 'defanged' in Veilguard alternately annoy and amuse me for two reasons.

One, because this has always been a series about how almost everything and everyone has multiple sides and interpretations depending on who you are, what choices you make, and what your perspective is. Is Loghain a scheming traitor, a ruthless pragmatic doing what he believed was necessary to save his country, or a misunderstood hero unfairly condemned by the ignorant masses? Is the Qun tyrannical, or exactly what the people who choose to live under it need? Is Solas a rebellious hero, a traitorous trickster god, or a tragic victim? Is that woman Flemeth, Mythal, Tyrdda Bright-Axe or even Adraste?

It all depends on who you ask when. So of course you're seeing the Crows in a positive light -- circumstances position them as freedom fighters against the Antaam invasion, and for one of your teammates they're literally family. And even then they're still as strongly coded with mafia tropes as Neve is a noir detective. And of course you need to go poking around before you find the pile of dead bodies the Lords of Fortune are hiding behind their fighting ring. Pirates are all about branding, and Isabella's branding is clearly inclusion and good times; they keep the unpleasantness under the rug.

The second reason this amuses/annoys/interests me is it reminds me of Pathfinder. The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game came out in 2009, just like DA Origins, and like DA its setting tried to distinguish itself with "real-world" grit and grittiness. Slavery. Racial tensions. Religious persecution. Mass slaughter. Infestation and disease. Plus the occasional demonic invasion and a shitton of dragons.

But it's been 15 years since then, we live in a post-HBO's Game of Thrones world, and both sides of the game industry have made deliberate efforts to become more diverse. Some of those changes came with discussions to readdress and reconsider the nature of dark fantasy and whether it really needs to be a parade of potentially exploitive human misery.

So I know for a fact that Paizo's made deliberate efforts to pull back on some of those aspects to make things more welcoming for a diverse player base, doing things like outlawing slavery across the entire setting, reinterpreting 'evil' ancrestries like orcs and goblins into fully-developed cultures, and giving the exoticized "fantasy Asia/Africa/India/Americas" setting new, in-depth and cultural respectful re-examinations.

And people bitch about that, too.

So my read is Bioware's doing the same thing for similar reasons, and personally, I like it. Is it perfect? No of course not but we all know what a nightmare this game's development was. They did good with what they had.