#ill accept whatever outcome

[lessthanimpressedlesbian]

I can't change the outcome either way, but I just wanna know if I need to mourn my blorbo or not!

[luffysbasement]

hello, i'm finally distancing myself from mcyt :]

it's been really fun!! i loved drawing for everyone, for my interest and esp just interacting with you all. this fandom brought me my friends and different experiences and emotions that are rly unforgettable but i think it's time. thank you for everything, i appreciate you all! ♡♡ pls do stay safe and take care of yourselves!

(my art will remain here ofc but i will most likely be turning this blog into how it was before, multifandom, personal and just a bunch of whatever!)

[cosmicjoke]

For People, Not for a Dream

Everyone always wonders about this panel, and why Levi didn't include himself when talking about what all his comrades fought and died for.

The thing is, Levi was never fighting for that ideal world, or to create an ideal world.

For him, it was never about a concept or an ideology, because he never believed in the possibility of an ideal world to begin with.

Even when he gives his monologue to the 104th, during the Uprising arc, and speaks about freedom and the chance to have a world without the threat of titans, he still says that both world's are hell, just that he chooses the hell of people killing each other over the hell of being eaten by titans.

So I think to understand Levi, it's important to understand that he never cared about or was motivated by any system of belief or philosophy. He never did what he did with the goal of creating some Utopian world or society. His actions were never driven by any sort of fanaticism.

He was only ever fighting for people. To help people. Even in their ugliness and with all their faults and failings. He accepted that about people and the world; he accepted their imperfection. He never tried to change anybody, he never labored under any sort of belief that he could weed out the bad elements of society and, as a result, force a better world into existence, or a more civilized society. He wasn't blinded to the ugliness of his own actions by a sense of moral righteousness or belief in the "greater good". He never believed any set of beliefs or principles or ideology was or could be made inherently superior to any other. He never believed people could be made better than what they were. And yet he still found their lives worth protecting, along with their right to choose what to do with those lives, whether it be good or ill.

I think that's a big part of why Levi never loses sight of his own humanity, why he never becomes cruel. Because he never loses sight of what he's actually fighting for. Not an idea or a set of beliefs or a dogma. But just people, even when they're not good people.

And we see that reflected in Levi's lack of any sort of dream for himself, and in his support of other people's dreams. He's not fighting for their dreams because he believes in them or their possibility, he's fighting for their dreams because he believes in the worth of the people who dream them. It's the people who have worth to Levi, not the dream or the ideology behind the dream. And he hoped to prove that worth by ensuring they didn't throw their lives away for nothing. That's why he lent his strength to those dreams. It was always for the dreamers sake, not the sake of the dream itself. To show their lives mattered by helping to realize whatever it was they gave those lives for. It's why he's so determined to kill Zeke, because those soldiers in Shinganshina gave their lives for that goal. It wasn't Zeke's death that mattered, but the lives of the soldiers that died for it.

It's why he says in the above panels that if it was going to be worth the price "you all paid", it would have to be an "exhaustingly idealistic world". Nothing less than that would be worth people's lives. I think it's also why Levi's expression is one of such sadness all through the final chapters, because he knows, and always knew deep down, that that idealistic world was an impossibility. That even without titans, the world would still be a hellish place, something we see proven by the final pages of the story, with the destruction of Paradis and the continuation of war. In the end, I don't think Levi believed the outcome was worth the price his comrades paid. It wasn't worth their lives. To Levi, the concept of a "greater good" isn't worth more than any, single life.

But it's also important to remember that Levi was never the type of person to tell anyone else what to do, or what to think, or how to live, and that in itself is testament to how much he values people. The worth he sees in their lives and existence is reflected in the respect he holds for their right to choose what to do with those lives, even if that choice is to give their lives for an impossible dream.

And so that's what he fights for. Not for any sort of dream, or for the realization of an ideal world, but to help people. To help them in whatever way he can, whether that's saving their lives, protecting their right to choose how to live those lives, or supporting the dreams they believe are worth giving their lives for.

It was never for the dream itself. It was for the people who dreamed it.

[shortpplfedup]

Only Friends Character Rankings Episode 9

A contemplative episode this week, as most of the characters stop struggling and start accepting some shit. But while some people come to correct conclusions (Ray and Mew break up, but can you call it a break up if you were never actually together?), others just decide to make the same mistakes and hope for different outcomes (Sand keeps trusting Ray instead of himself; Mew decides to give Top another chance). We're moving into the last act of the story now, and it's anybody's guess where we land up when the dust settles. Last week y'all judged Ray the most audacious by a mile. Lemme put my glasses on and see who I'm feeling this week.

🔺1. Nick (6)

Team Second Option!

Nick and Sand's loser friendship and their self-awareness of same is one of the most delightful parts of a truly delightful show. I can totally believe Nick suggested them hooking up, this is EXACTLY how these things go. Them dissolving into giggles over their kiss and cuddling each other to sleep was a beautiful friendship moment. Another beautiful moment was Nick's acceptance that he really had just fucked things up with Boston (we will ignore the fact that the boy just can't HELP spying on that man having sex with other people🤣), apologising in a heartfelt way and attempting to move on. I think Nick's heart might be the only one at ease at the end of this ep, so he wins the week.

⭐2. Boeing

My room is right here as well.

IT'S MOND IT'S MOND IT'S MOND MOND IS HERE AND HE LOOKS GOOD AS FUCK! It's time to find out what the hell this is all about, but whatever it is looks kinda fucked which YES.

🔺3. Sand (11)

We are just masochists.

The loser camping trip did a lot to make me feel less irritated with Sand this week. Sand has always been incredibly self-aware about how much him having feelings for Ray is a suck move, but having him state it all so baldly and call himself a masochist this episode did move the needle for me. Architect of his own misery? Yes, but knowing he lowhighkey ENJOYS the misery makes all the difference. You know what king, you do you. Swing wildly between euphoria and despair while you're young enough to find it exciting.

🔻4. Boston (2)

Gay, straight, pan, whatever the fuck you want to be. I just opened your eyes.

Oh sis, I saw you trying there, but the lack of impulse control as always will land you in trouble. He should have sent Atom packing after that party, but sad, lonely and pissed off are a bad combo, and one thing Boston consistently does is make poor decisions when he's feeling some typa way. He clearly served up a top tier dicking though, because Atom is in LOVE. Inconvenient at best. As I keep saying though: you can't keep a bad bitch down, and Boston's one of the baddest. This too shall pass.

🔺5. Ray (12)

I am thick-skinned. I don't care.

*deep negro spiritual sigh* How DARE you bust up the loser camping trip Raymond. I'll not forgive you for that one. Ray, rejected by Mew, demands Sand's company for an ego-boosting dopamine hit (including the sex that Mew denied him, natch), continuing to treat him like a servant and a possession. But this time Sand calls him on it, and that maybe means he thinks about it a little? TBD. I do think Ray WAS actually honest this episode about his feelings (hence the rise in rank), but he was still trying to get what he wanted out of Sand. He and Mew ended their ill-advised relationship as friends though, so that's a positive. Rehab seems to be on the menu next week so anything's possible. I still think these two are terrible for each other, but they're 21, I guess it's allowed.

🔺6. Top (7)

I just want you to know that the person you think loves you the most is not that good.

Watching Top work Mew's moms over all Mew's objections was gross, and I'm fortified anew in my feeling that this dude's vibes are just OFF. Top...circling Mew like this, working Cheum, working his moms, making the move to excise Ray but not actually pulling the trigger because he knows taking the high road will appeal to Mew...look this show has 3 more eps to prove me wrong but something ain't RIGHT with this 'un. Top's money, his good looks, his sweet words, that's all it seems anybody pays attention to, but something underneath...anyway, his strategy's working, right up until the moment Mew runs into Boeing on his fucking doorstep.

🔻7. Mew (3)

I just thought if I became someone else, I'd be stronger.

Well the slut spiral was fun while it lasted, but I guess the morning after a coke bender is generally unpleasant and Mew's a paper tiger not a real G. Mew's trying to keep up the party boy persona but he's not built for this shit, his heart's not in it and Ray trying to literally get in his pants crashed him back to reality. He's totally going back to Top, Boeing or no Boeing.

⭐8. Mew's moms

I saw you on Mew's Instagram. You look better in person.

Oof. Look they're cute and they obviously love Mew, but their son is clearly uncomfortable and unhappy with Top around and they're ignoring that. They may not know what happened, but the room ain't THAT hard to read.

🔻9. Atom (1)

Did I just get nailed and bailed?

Atom tried dick exactly once and it's got him outside Boston's house in the middle of the night begging for more of the same. My bunny boiler hopes have fizzled for both Nick and Sand, maybe Atom is the one I've been waiting for.

🔹10. Yo (10)

Good can't buy love.

Mae Yo with the read this week: 'good can't buy love'. I really want Mom and Cool Stepdad back together. GO GET YOUR MAN YO!

🔻11. Daddy Dan (4)

I'm not going to be your boss tonight. Call me Daddy Dan.

The cringe is through the roof. Well he might get to sniff it but a sniff's all he's gonna get before Nick's back in Boston's bed, and that's just a matter of time at this point.

🔻12. Cheum (8)

The evil spirit left you already, huh?

Will Cheum ever learn to mind the business that pays her? Her lack of interest in her brother's clear and obvious heartbreak is contrasted unfavourably with her overinvestment and overinvolvement in the Mew/Top saga. I also somehow feel like last week's self-interested moment of solidarity with Boston won't survive contact with her brother getting exactly what he asked for and breaking his own heart with it.

[acourtofthought]

Speaking of longing......

SJM uses the word to convey true desire and emotion between possible love interests:

Rhys looked up, meeting my gaze. And whatever was on my face—I think it might have been mirrored on his: the hunger and longing and surprise.

Longing is not just sexual desire (evidenced in the above and below):

His wings flared, chest heaving as stars sparked in his eyes. And it was the longing there—beneath the desire, beneath the need—it was the longing in those beautiful eyes that made me glance to the mountains tattooed on his knees.

She writes hunger AND longing, longing BENEATH the desire and need. Longing always stands apart from the sexual feelings.

I wondered why no one had yet mentioned what now shone in Cassian’s eyes as he gazed at my sister. The sorrow. And the longing.

This is further proven when she says the following in regards to Nesta and Eris:

And then he turned toward the other subject in his letter, facing Nesta before he asked, “And my offer for you?” Not one ounce of affection or longing laced his words.

She's sure to make it known that Eris’s offer to Nesta does not come from a place of genuine emotion.

Elucien hasn't been ready to knock down the walls between them.

“Stay out of it. She’s not ready, and neither is he, no matter how many presents he brings.” I lifted a brow. “Snoop.” Mor leaned back against the steps, utterly unrepentant. “Let him live with his Band of Exiles. Let him deal with Tamlin in his own way. Let him figure out where he wants to be. Who he wants to be. The same goes with her.”

But that doesn't mean there aren't real feelings that exist:

I think so. It wasn’t just about what he thought—it was the … feeling. I sensed no ill will, no conniving. Only concern for her. And … sorrow. Longing.

Lucien inclined his head in a bow, the movement hiding the gleam in his eye—the longing and sadness.

Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing.

Rhys longed for Feyre and ended up with his mate.

Cassian longed for Nesta after she pushed him away in ACOMAF / ACOWAR and before ACOSF when she pushed him away again but he still ended up with his mate.

No one disputed that what they felt for the sisters was genuine despite knowing or suspecting a bond existed, even when the timing wasn't right for the females.

Longing doesn't necessarily equal love (yet) but it does point at something authentic. SJM is fairly obvious when real feelings are involved and not just ones of lust. She's also pretty obvious when a possible relationship exists for the right reasons.

Tamlin and Feyre's relationship came about because he knew he needed to make a human fall in love with him to break his curse. I think he eventually had real feelings for her (though not necessarily healthy ones) but it was initially forced out of necessity.

Chaol, much as he did love her, struggled to accept the different sides of Celaena which Dorian calls him out on.

Dorian and Celaena seemed to have a genuine attraction and affection for one another, they even had shared interests. However their relationship was wrong, what with her being the Kings assassin and him being the Crown Prince. She wasn't willing to have a forbidden relationship because forbidden isn't healthy and typically ends poorly in these books.

Look at the LoA and Helion. They attempted to have a forbidden relationship and that had a poor outcome. As a product of that relationship, not only did it lead to Lucien's abuse for his entire life but the LoA's abuse as well.

I have hope that the LoA and Helion will eventually reconnect but it's not going to happen so long as they remain forbidden.

Azriel's interest in Elain came about as she first gave him a reason to feel useful (damsel in distress in need of saving) then because he started thinking on how his two brothers are with her sisters so why wasn't he also given a bond within the same circle? Especially once he realized he may actually have to let go of Mor and Elain got him a gift while not getting Lucien one (Nesta never got Cassian a gift yet they ended up together, just saying).

But their "relationship" doesn't read as healthy. He doesn't support Elain's desire to do more, he barely even talks to her and when he does the conversation is shallow at best. Not to mention, tiptoeing around and hiding their interest from friends and family and Azriel's disrespect towards an ally are all unhealthy tropes within the world of SJM. The E/riel setup reads as problematic compared to SJMs other endgame couples especially because Elain has been fairly open towards the possibility of them which is different than the start of Feysand and Nessian since the sisters closed themselves off from the brothers, refusing to know them.

Lucien wasn't interested in emotional connections when the mating bond with Elain snapped. Evidence shows he spent centuries not believing it possible ever again as he remained emotionally committed to Jesminda. And while I don't think he feels something for Elain because of the mating bond, I think nothing short of the mating bond was ever going to have him open himself up to the thought of another female. He thought he lost his mate therefore no one else could break him of the hold Jesminda had over his heart except for his actual mate.

But he did not have longing for Elain until he actually had a conversation with her. He said he wanted to meet her just once to know if she was worth fighting for (as he had yet to truly interact with her and knew she was engaged) yet nearly two years later, it is Elain he still longs for.

Again, SJM doesn't use the word longing in this series unless it's attached to genuine feelings.

That Az has never been noted as longing for Elain while Lucien does on multiple occasions is noteworthy. People claim Azriel knows Elain because he put a name to her power but that's not knowing Elain. There are no examples in the book of Az truly knowing her as a person. He gave her TT but Elain doesn't like violence or cruelty. It was a necessity that Elain armed herself but nothing about that scene had anything to do with him knowing her, she wouldn't even take the knife until Feyre assured her she wouldn't need to use it. Mor and Lucien, not Az, were the ones who made it possible for someone to carry out Elain's vision of finding Vassa. Elain spent months being depressed where Az offered no suggestions for her healing while Lucien is the first character who insisted that they get her outside. Az was relieved not to get Elain a Solstice gift the first year, shouldn't he have wanted to if he knew her so well? And Amren, not Az stood up for Elain and her right to do more. Amren, not Az, was the one who forced them to see that Elain was capable.

The current Elucien setup is in line with so many other of SJMs endgame couples while still being unique to their personalities and the way the bond came about. Regardless of their current stalemate (an Archeron speciality), they have similar values, similar temperaments, and similar personal struggles. There is a mating bond and there is longing and if you pay any attention at all to SJMs preferences, that's the formula for an endgame couple.

[eustassslut]

I headcannon that Heat as a yandere would be the kind of yandere to collect things of yours like your underwear or a hair tie and have a box that’s just things of yours he can use to either just look at and fawn over to use as jerk off material. Also I could see a few of them doing things like not bothering to prevent their darling from getting sick because they like you being even more dependent on them and they make fun of you for being such a weak little thing

TW: implied stalking, manipulation, stealing

Heat would start his box the day he meets you, before you even join the crew, starting with stealing your jewellery, hairbands and small locks of your hair. if you don't have hair, he'll happily cut off small sections of your clothes to add to the box. when you're brought onto the ship, he would probably bring the box to your cell and present it to you as a sign of how much he loves you. becoming enraged and depressed when you shove the box away, calling him a freak. when Wire finds out what you've done, he goes insane and ends up bringing Heat a pair of your underwear, telling him that you wanted him to have them as a way of saying sorry (you didn't, but Heat doesn't need to know that). which unfortunately starts him down a path of stealing your underwear to jerk off to and store in his box, usually with the remnants of his affections still staining the fabric. it's not unusual to find him just sat, staring into his box with a dazed expression on his face as he holds onto whatever he saw you use that day. Heat can be a little creepy like that.

Heat is delusional, but Wire's constant encouragement of his delusions really doesn't help. with Wire refusing to give you medicine or keep you safe from the elements with the hope you'll become sick so that you're more accepting of their affections. when you're sick you can't fight back and you're more desperate to give them the physical affection they all desperately crave. Heat loves nothing more than being sought out when you just can't get warm and being asked if he'd be willing to cuddle with you so you can rest. even Wire can't refuse when you beg him for his cape so you don't get rained on or ask him if he can tell you stories of his adventures whilst you try to sleep off your latest illness. he'll fake complaints about how you should be strong enough to not need all of these comforts and call you a weak little baby, all while he tucks you into bed and celebrates getting his desired outcome.

Kid also regularly gets you sick, but not intentionally. he just doesn't understand the lengths of how much stronger he is compared to those around him and the fact you're a normal person. you should be able to stand by his side all day in the sun without water and not pass out or camp at a snowy island without putting the right clothes on. it's embarrassing for him how much weaker you are compared to him, but sometimes he doesn't mind how dependent you are on him looking after you so you don't pass out again. it gives him such a big ego boost.

whilst Killer is regularly annoyed by Wire's intentional decisions to get you sick for his benefit, he can't ignore how reliant you become. how you beg him to help feed you and nod when he chastises you for not being as strong as them. it's not their fault you get sick so easily, you're just weaker than them and you need a reminder of how much you truly need them.

[bowiebond]

I’m sorry but this scene will always get to me.

He is being purposely antagonist, reckless, music blaring and foot heavy on the pedal but his entire demeanor screams that he doesn’t care. Not in a cool way, not in a cruel way, but in a “so what?” way. Billy is a 100% ready to crash and burn and take everyone with him because he loathes their happiness, their freedom, the rules and expectations he’s constricted by. Billy puts every people in one of two categories. The Hated and the Desired.

He’s only charming to those he can use, who he wants, but outside of that, everyone else are used as fuel to make his hatred, his jealousy, his anger, burn brighter. When you are so full of hate and can only establish a persons worth on how they can serve your reputation or help your survival, you stop feeling anything else.

You stop feeling happy, you’re constantly irritated and forced to put on a face and when that faces drops, there is only the ever-growing apathy.

Billy doesn’t care that he’s scaring Max, that he’s speeding, or that he’s going to hit those kids. There’s two outcomes. He offs himself with this stupid stunt and takes his bitch step-sister with him, or Max stops him and he gets to feel the rush of adrenaline explode inside his veins like heroin.

Billy does not care which outcome happens.

He’s seventeen, apathetic to it all, and ready to accept whatever life throws at him, even if it’s death. And god, haven’t most mentally ill teens felt that at least once in their adolescence.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Miriam Grossman: There is no consensus among professionals and experts. There is a debate, but Washington is not acknowledging the voices that are on the other side.

Kids are in the driver's seat. Whatever identity that they have chosen, their parents, their teachers, their doctors, their therapist, is required to accept that.

These professionals have the arrogance to tell parents that they don't know their child, they know better? And the parents better get with the program? Because they're the ones that are going to harm their child? Now, that's pretty traumatic for parents to hear.

In no other field of medicine would we put the child in a position of making medical decisions.

The transgender path is a difficult path. Once you are on puberty blockers, there's a close to 100% chance you will go on to cross-sex hormones. We want to try and put children on a path in which they will have less doctors appointments.

I know too much to not do anything about this.

I know that 13 year old girls are having their breasts removed, minor boys are being castrated. We can't accept it and we can't be complicit in the lie by staying silent.

Edward Drass: Today, I loudly speak out against all forms of chemical and surgical cross-sex therapy. It appears that we're dealing with an unprecedented epidemic of mental illness in adolescent females. This demographic comprises the bulk of the 4400% rise in new cases of gender dysphoria seen in the past few years.

So, I ask you physicians: for what other disease do we allow an adolescent patient to make his own diagnosis and then demand a preferred treatment?

What standards of care have been established for this treatment? What is a satisfactory outcome?

I think other countries and judicial systems are well ahead of the United States in making this determination. The NHS has reversed course in its transition treatment advice. A summary review of transgender medical research concludes there's no support for medical intervention for gender confused minors, medical transition procedures do not reduce youth suicide, child gender dysphoria usually dissipates by adulthood, and the dramatic increase in gender dysphoria in the recent past is likely driven by social factors.

My recommendation to the Rules Committee is that cross-sex medical and surgical treatment should not be supported by organized medicine, the board of medicine, the legislature, or insurance companies.

==

Here's the thing: almost nobody is being diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which is a specific clinical diagnosis, requiring much more than just a walk into Planned Parenthood for a testosterone prescription.

To quote Aaron Kimberly from Gender Dysphoria Alliance: "Being insecure isn't gender dysphoria. Being lonely isn't gender dysphoria. Liking Queer Theory isn't gender dysphoria. Wanting a new life isn't gender dysphoria. Social anxiety isn't gender dysphoria. Gender Dysphoria is a specific clinical condition, not an identity."

The HRC, Stonewall and pretty much every former-gay rights organization has redefined "trans" to remove gender dysphoria entirely.

HRC:

Transgender | An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth.

Stonewall:

Trans An umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.

GLAAD:

Transgender An adjective to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

As Aaron Terrell noted: "I kind of got wind of the social justice element, and like, transitioning to be trans process around 2017. And when I encountered that in 2017, the people I encountered it from were already acting like I was a weirdo for not realizing that, of course you transition to be trans, and of course it's wrong to be cis, and so in 2017 it was already - I was already weird for not knowing that." The point of transitioning is to not be "cis," to let you be part of the "trans" club. "Trans" are the oppressed glitter-saints, "cis" are the evil "cisheteropatriarchy" oppressors.

One of "Katy" Montgomerie's little friends: "People should be allowed to be trans just because they want to be, regardless of whether they 'biologically' are." To which "Katy" responds: "I am very opposed to a biological test for transness."

Egale Canada's "Trans 101": "A trans person's identity isn't defined by the way they do, or do not transition. So, if someone doesn't feel transitioning is for them, that's totally cool too. [..] Like transitioning, having dysphoria doesn't make someone more, or less, trans. And is not something all trans people experience." Which might explain things if you've ever been screeched at by a purple-haired "they/them" who is unambiguously a man or woman.

Even the American Psychological Association regards that "it’s not a psych's job to assess who’s trans, but to believe them when they say what their gender is, and to assist them in 'achieving their embodiment goals.'"

Which makes "gender affirming care" just cosmetic (sex-attribute modification) procedures, not "healthcare." For what purpose? "Gender identity." Being less girly than Barbie, or less manly than G.I. Joe.

Don't get me wrong: kids are anxious, distressed, depressed, have body issues, self-hatred, disorders such as OCD and autism, and so on. Many of them are very important issues to address. But with very few exceptions, it's not "gender dysphoria." If only because almost nobody's diagnosing for it, because doing so would be failing to "affirm." And as soon as gender is raised, everything else gets put away.

As Ritchie Herron found, "I was essentially told that everything is all related to trans. There’s no possible way that it’s related to anything else. I brought up the concept of my obsessive thoughts - I’ve been diagnosed with OCD since before I entered the clinic - the possibility of autism, and I was told at the very beginning that, no, you can be trans and have OCD."

"Gender dysphoria" is something you self-diagnose from Tumblr without any mental health training, and "trans" is something you "self ID".

And this is the reason we're drugging and cutting up kids.

[kyluxtrashpit]

So just an update on old cat. We had her appointment with the specialist today (cw pet health issues, terminal illness)

So while it’s not brain cancer, the eye specialist is certain it is still cancer. There are treatment options but they are Not Great and even surgery would, at best, buy her some more time. Because of the location, it’s impossible to get it all, so it would come back. Possibly more aggressive too. Even surgery plus radiation would be unlikely to cure her. And all of that would be really unpleasant for her to go through

So we’re not going to do any of that at her age. He also said the steroids are probably doing nothing so we’ll take her off them too (they may have reduced some inflammation early on, thus suggesting they were helping but they probably never did any good in reality). She’s not in any pain right now so main thing is keep her happy and keep the area lubricated

At some point she will start showing signs of pain and that’s when the time will come. We don’t know when and it won’t be immediately, but whether she’ll see 2024 or not is unknown

It’s not good news, but it’s also not really worse news than when we thought it was in the brain. The only difference is what symptoms we’ll be watching for to know when the time comes. So as much as it sucks, I’d already accepted roughly this outcome months ago. I feel mostly relieved just because now I know what it is and I have an idea of what’s coming. I didn’t really seriously think there was a chance it wasn’t cancer, so the prognosis itself is still the same as I expected

Anyway. That’s the update. It’s not great but I’m okay, unfortunately our sweet little kitties are in fact mortal. She’s 16-17 years old and she’s had a great life. And she will continue to have a great life for as long as I can give it to her. I’m buying a steak for her when I go grocery shopping this week and she’s gonna get whatever little treats her fluffy heart desires for the rest of her life

[forgottenalaric]

ooc | Alaric & Eilionora

hi I'm soooo sorry about Alaric!!! (Alaric is also sorry tbh)

So, like I was telling kate -- I think Alaric was initially not really a fan of Eilionora's and thought that she was stupid and proud for not accepting his brother's hand. Not to mention ungrateful for all that her brother was doing for her country/the fact that he'd let both of them live!! And while I don't think he voiced these opinions to her, I do think it was clear that he didn't really appreciate the way things were going.

But in these years following the conquest, I feel like he's starting to realize that he's wrong about literally all of it???? Like, he's seen just how much the people love and respect her and has learned more about what a good queen she was to them and just because she lost this war, doesn't make her ill-fit? He's also starting to question if his own brother is, in fact, a better choice to rule Astaira, which is a whole ~other~ thing!!!

And yeah his feelings towards her shifted to respect - to like - to admire - and finally they started to develop even more deeply and he has NO IDEA what to do with these feelings???? He's never once been kind to her ++ not to mention the little details that she might marry his brother (also the fact that he was once hoping for this outcome?!?!!).

And yeah. I feel like instead of softening towards her, he's a little more hostile (facepalm) which probs doesn't help the situation but like, at the same time, he wants to do nice things for her and like I feel like he goes about this by a really round about way, so that it would never be traced back to him???? (Think in SW when Palpatine hires Dooku who hires Jango who hires Zam who hires a robot who hires two centipedes to assassinate Padme). And this for something as silly as finding out what her favorite Astairan dishes are and having them served at dinner or making sure that the Astairan servants are being treated well or whatever!!! And like he covers his tracks pretty well, but if he was ever confronted, he would "have no idea what you are talking about!!!!!!"

[askfallenroyalty]

tbh i was just thinking that when Asriel or Chara die, bc they're like... Different now?? With like souls and stuff. When their soul passes, their flower core or whatever would wilt and they'd just be dead normal-style. also would like lol tie in better with the whole accepting that things end/change. chara and asriel actually living until the sun blows up seems a little ill-fitting to me

// so once again i wanna say nothing i say is canon regarding post epilogue. this is just going off what was said in the story. feel free to take this with a grain of salt!

// asdfkjasdf i was saying chara wouldn't be able to survive up until the heat death of the universe, (which is antropy not the sun's death) which was a more tongue in cheek way of pointing out that realistically, an immortal being wouldn't actually be able to live forever. if chara isn't staying stationed in one place (like the underground) you're more likely to suffer things like illness and accidents over time. (like if you live one life time, you're like, so-and-so likely to experience those things. if you live multiple life times of lenghth, those odds get higher.)

chara isn't a true immortal but rather only doesn't age. their DT won't last forever (which Asriel mentions in the epilogue briefly) Chara will stay alive for a long, long time but will have to choose not to continue someday. chara's stubborn as hell, but they will change as a person and accept mortality. that's the nature of growing up. we've seen with every time skip that chara becomes more and more closer to accepting their mortality, it's just going to take (at least one) life time to get to that. how long they'll live, how long their DT will keep them going -who knows!

as for your original point, the way i have it set up is that chara and asriel are golden flowers who contain boss monsters souls. their souls can wear down with age and fall down. without that soul, they can't recreate their monster forms. so its less so Asriel dies and becomes a flower and more so Flowey loses their Soul again. that's a consequence of being a golden flower.

its important to consider that DT would be strongly tied to one's desire to live. if Asriel is fully accepting of their aging and death, then i don't imagine that flowey form would last. i'm leaving it open to interpretation to what the exact circumstances are in how this goes down. i was just pointing out this aspect of their resurrections, i'm not endorsing it as the canon outcome anymore than other possibility

As Asriel explains in the epilogue, if somethings possible, then it could happen. its just you gotta live under the assumption you're safe cause theres no point in worrying about what ifs

Asriel COULD die early. A plane could crash. Asriel could become Flowey, Asriel could also lose their DT when dying and their flower form could wilt. Idk! all are equally valid and its your choice as a reader to pick what you want to have happened. its free real estate

[not-terezi-pyrope]

Hi! I read a lot of your posts on AI and I’m just curious about your take on the impact of AI on people and culture? I don’t use twitter so I don’t know what is being argued with AI, but my personal qualm is that it could obscure human experience. I’m not really concerned about the ownership of publicly available media, but I am worried about how AI can be used on a large scale by corporations to control human narratives. We already live in a world controlled by media monopolies, almost everything is owned by Disney, and their stuff is absolutely formulaic enough to be written by AI. While humans are borrowing just as much cultural information, one is still an original thought about how art should be created and presented. A corporation’s use of the technology will prime whatever is released for pure profit. It doesn’t need to be thoughtful at all. Again, this is already happening, but AI is just another way to streamline it. That’s part of why the writers strikes are happening right now. That kind of automation technology can shoehorn us into the necessary ends that corporations find most profitable. After reading your posts I realized that I was clumping in the technology with the ill intent of corporations. I wasn’t really considering all of its applications in its current form and I was kind of focusing on fear. You’ve changed my mind about some things. But human learning is dictated by modeling. We are sponges constantly absorbing the media shown to us. What if what’s available to us is always something easily automated by a company with its own interest? Avoiding that media completely would just result in personal isolation. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this as someone who understands the technology!

I think the key point here is one you've already made; corporations are already churning out mass media pulp optimized for profit, and have been doing so for years. At present, that pulp is probably more profitable when produced by humans, at least in terms of the overall story design of our media, so incorporating AI probably won't change much about its quality except for noticeable shortcuts that are deemed acceptable. But this is already true in digital productions. Corporations will probably still try to compete with a baseline of quality to make big budget releases acceptable to markets. You can't cut all the corners with cheap tech, which is why we are not seeing those shitty knock-off animated movies in cinemas. Things need to be a least competent even if they are schlock.

In the long term, if AI really is able to produce entire movies or similar that are comparable to human-made mass blockbusters, then the implication of that kind of depends on who is in control of the AI. It might lower the barrier to creating good looking movies, it might just let Disney make more animated princess flicks faster. I don't think either of those outcomes is essentially bad. There's good and bad ways it could manifest.

Specific failings of the technology could result in things like subtle bias, or feedback syndrome where the AI has little new content to work on as all new artworks are themselves AI generated. These are both technology issues that can be addressed, though, and are far enough off at the moment that it's hard to speculate about any real harms.

Honestly, the biggest negative impact currently threatened by AI is the obvious one that the writers are striking over; capitalism isn't set up to provide for human livelihoods under increased automation. The only solutions to this problem are strict regulation on how corporations can employ automation, or, perhaps more simply, watering down or abolishing capitalism. UBI is most realistic avenue for this at present, I think, even if it's not totally ideal (I'd like those corporations to not exist in a form that creates a profit motive, thanks).

Cultural concerns aren't nearly as scary a prospect on the horizon for me. Yeah, AI can be used to produce cheap schlock, but humans can already do that, can even automate it with free software somewhat with no machine learning required. As long as humans are ultimately deciding how and when the cheap schlock is made, as they are now, I doubt much will change about the essential character of popular art. This is all just my personal opinion, though. It's hard to predict exactly how things will shake out.

Thanks for asking!

[theshoesofatiredman]

“have you read st. augustine?”

“did you research the eastern orthodoxy?

“what attempt did you make of Catholicism?”

“are you aware of the seventh day Adventists?”

“I asked all the same questions that you did and I’m still a Christian”

There’s always going to be some new spin on Christianity. You will beg the deconverted to consider your church, to examine your flavor of faith, before they abandon the notion of God. But unless you can tell me that you will accept whatever outcome is the result of a sincere inquisition, including continued apostasy, there is literally no point. What will your response be when the heretic genuinely and earnestly examines your brand of Christianity and deems it as truthless as they deemed the branch they left? If you cannot grant them the moral autonomy to walk away, if you cannot accept their answer and live in community with them to whatever extent your relationship calls for, then your request for consideration is ill-motived and intellectually dishonest.

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

The Calm Before

https://www.patreon.com/empyreaniris?fan_landing=true

https://starr-fall-knight-rise.tumblr.com/post/182501791735/master-post

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jzEIdDAB4omdO2JcQVMObfrhLJ5kX4ONmSsLypM1ks0/edit?usp=sharing.\

They had planned for this eventuality as remote as it might have seemed at the time, so as soon as that first crack appeared on the surface of that first eggshell, things had been set into motion.  They didn’t know a lot about the Kree, they had never officially joined the GA, and with their home planet now destroyed, there was little hope of learning more, so keeping what remained of the Kree Race alive would be a daunting task.

There were somewhere between three hundred and four hundred eggs, all which were genetically tested upon hatching. They had enough experience with genetic testing to know which Kree chicks were related biologically and which were not. From there, they were each tagged and chipped for future reference. Upon hatching, each Kree child was immediately inoculated against the void sickness, though the inoculation served more than just a protection against the void.

Injected with adapted DNA, they might potentially avoid the genetic drift or bottleneck event often seen when a population gets this low. They had enough Kree to make 50 mated pairs, if that eventuality were ever to happen, but five hundred would have been needed to avoid genetic drift. They barely had five hundred kree all together, so whatever genetic advantage they could be given was going to have to do.

Their geneticists considered reconstructing extra Kree through artificial means in order to spruce up the population and add extra diversity, but such a program was still a ways off, and would have to be discussed at a later time. Right now, there was still the matter of keeping these little ones alive.

Heading a team of scientists, Krill, directed the creation of a dietary supplement that should fulfill all of their needs, synthesized by examining the egg yolk from which the kree children had been sustained for nearly half a decade. The Kree hatchlings had all been born at the same time, which in itself was surprising, but led the the assumption that the kree had seen their demise coming, and had secreted cohorts of their eggs away in different caches, to create greater chance of survival.

Citizens of Arcadia hated to think that they had missed other caches of kree children on the Kree homeworld before it was destroyed, but those times were past.

This is what remained.

Now that they were fed, and accepting the food that was offered to them, it was up to the scientists to determine what else the chicks needed including the proper temperature, and handling. Assigned handlers used voice modulators to synthesize the kree language almost exclusively when they were working with the chicks. Some even wore hoods in the shape of adult cree heads, and feathered cloaks to simulate Kree parents.

All and all it was a very strange few weeks at the hospital as they took care of the Kree chicks.

Not all of them survived, of course, as was to be expected.

Whether it be from illness, or genetic defect, a predictable few slipped away, and though they were prepared for that outcome, that didn’t mean it wasn’t devastating. More than a few of the eggs never hatched, but that too was to be expected.

Other Laws went into effect following the birth of the Kree, including the purchase of an uninhabited rocky planet to be slowly terriformed over the life of the Kree until they were adult enough to take on the planet as their own. Teams of scientists were tasked with examining live footage taken From the kree homeworld, along with atmospheric readings and ecological information, in order to potentially synthesize a planet similar to their parental point of origin.

It would be a difficult task, but they had learned a lot from the creation of Arcadia,

One thing they had learned.

Sunlight.

Sunlight was a requirement.

Arcadia, and Noctopolis were the only two planets in GA airspace that existed without light of some sort and with every passing month that reality was becoming more and more difficult. Even with the artificial suns, it was becoming clear that maintaining a planet in darkness was not ideal.

Noctopolis was a planet that was never intended to support life for long periods of time. It was a mining colony that was originally meant to be abandoned, and was now solely dominated by a seedy sort of underbelly that kept the terraforming plants working despite the horrendous costs required to keep the planet functioning. All of this due to, in no small part, to their massive blackmarket connections, and the myriad of crime lords that pushed money into funding their sunless affairs. 

Arcadia, on the other hand did intend to survive with a natural ecosystem. The problem was, nothing they had brought here, had naturally evolved for a sunless world. Humans, Drev, Tesraki, Finnari, Dogs, Wolves, Deer, jeffery snakes, Only the space jellies seemed indifferent to the lack of sunlight.

Everyone else….

It was a conundrum, and one they didn’t intend to struggle with on their new Kree homeowrld.

Then there was the matter of raising the kree, no one was really sure how that was supposed to work. No one understood their lifespan or their mating rituals. Krill and the others were already working  with autopsies and other imaging techniques on the deceased kree to get a better idea, but at the very best they were flying on well educated guesses.

One thing was for sure.

Someone needed to raise the kree.

That thought process resulted in an Arcadia- wide plea encouraging anyone who was willing to sign up for potential foster care for a Kree child, a call that was answered with great zealousness, much to the scientists delight.

Such a program wouldn’t be put into place until they had a greater understanding of Kree genetics, but at least they had parents and families on standby were that to happen.

Krill and Riss had discussed the topic at some length and come to the conclusion that they were willing to take up such a position were it ever to arise. Young Vrul grew up so fast, and the triplets were practically adults despite being younger than a decade. It would be an interesting challenge to take on a Kree child in the future.

Adam’s brother, and director of engineering in their space program, David had spoken with his husband Jordan on the subject, and the two of them were glad to take on a Kree or even two, an idea which they brought up to their young son, who agreed readily that he wouldn’t mind having ‘bird brothers’.

Adam had brought up the idea with Sunny on at least one occasion.

She had not been opposed to the idea, but suggested they wait to see what kind of monstrosities that lay in wait from their own genetic union. Sunny had recently allowed for 3D imaging of her own womb-bound children, a choice she immediately regretted upon discovering several pronounced oddities.

Krill couldn’t be sure if those issues were just a fact of their own genetics trying to intermix, or if there was significant malformation.

They would have to see.

Both of them were noticeably nervous.

Her due date was approaching faster than either of them wanted to acknowledge.

To Adam, it seemed everything in his life was happening all at once: Kelly’s Presidency, the SE soldiers, the compromise of the GA chairwoman which they had yet to prove, The potential birth of the twins, and on and on it seemed to go.

And now on the eve of all of this, Maverick had come forward, and was insisting that she wanted the Anima procedure done as soon as possible, a fact which worried both him, and Ramirez to an incredible degree, though Ramirez beat him out on this one.

Ramirez wasn’t generally the kind of person to worry about anything, but upon llearning that maverick intended to let krill cut into her brainstem and, “fuck around with her soul.” as he had so eloquently put it, he had gone a bit overboard in worrying. He might have even tried to talk her out of it, though talking Maverick out of anything was lying trying to convince the ocean to be less salty.

It simply wasn’t possible.

Plus, as she had so eloquently stated, “its my soul to determine who fucks with it and who doesnt.”

Adam didn’t hear the full extent of the conversation, but Ramirez had lost, rather predictably.

It’s not that Ramirez thought he had any control over Maverick’s soul. Ramirez wasn’t the kind of man to try and control someone, man or woman, but He did so, Adam thought, out of a great sense of fear for his friend…. Lover?

Adam still wasn’t sure about that part.

It was clear that Ramirez had some feelings for Maverick, but Maverick was a lot harder to read. As far as Adam had seen, Maverick had never had feelings for anyone, and sort of reminded him of his brother Thomas in that way. The bond she had with Ramirez was more than friendship, but not something so easy to articulate as love. Or, perhaps, that was also the wrong way of phrasing it, What they had was certainly a kind of love, firstly the love between friends then the love between brothers in arms, and perhaps a love that was deeper than either of those things, but still not in the way that Adam Loved Sunny.

He didn’t want to speculate on the topic, it was hardly any of his business, but he hoped Ramirez would be able to recover from her, if, in the end, she decided something else. Or alternatively, he hoped that Maverick knew what she wanted since those seemed like the two options available to them.

Either maverick didn’t feel for Rmirez like he felt for her, or she did, but hadn’t yet figured out how to show it yet, or act upon it. 

Adam hoped it would work out, whichever direction things finally landed.

But that wasn’t even the half of everything that seemed to be happening. With the birth of the kree, he also felt…. A sense of something else, a sort of change. He would have said a ‘disturbance in the force’ if people wouldn’t have laughed at him.

But it felt like things were escalating.

They had been fighting a war for a long time, his life had only been getting faster and more dangerous.

But now, he sensed that there was an end coming. Whether this was to culminate in a good way, or a bad easy, he couldn’t be sure, but still he could sense something was changing, something was coming.

Somewhere in the galaxy Kazna was rallying her forces.

It was time he rallied his own 

[komododad1]

Black Sun Vignettes - Address on the South African Crisis

On December 26th, 1962, President of the United States Jacob Olson made a televised address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House on the escalating crisis in South Africa.

The following is a transcript of that address, courtesy of the Jacob C. Olson Presidential Library in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

An image of The Seal of the President of the United States comes into focus on the screen

“And now an address by the President of the United States, speaking live from Washington.”

The seal remains on the screen for several moments, before fading away to reveal President Jacob Olson, seated at his desk in the Oval Office of the White House. He begins to speak.

Good evening my fellow citizens and comrades. For the past three years, this government – alongside our allies in the International Treaty Organization – have maintained military forces on the soil of the Union of South Africa. These forces were deployed at the request of the internationally recognized government of South Africa, with the expressed purpose of maintaining peace, and to enable the government of South Africa to find a solution to end the violent crisis that had been ongoing within its borders, and to transition to a new political settlement that would be acceptable to a plurality of its peoples.

The actions that have been taken by the government of South Africa to preserve and strengthen peace in that country, were undertaken in good faith and with honest and noble intentions. Unfortunately, in recent days, it has become blatantly obvious to the world what we in this government have believed to be the case for some time: that the blatantly fascist leadership of the so-called “Independent State of South Africa” have in no way been engaging in good faith with their government interlocutors and have possessed only ill-intent.

48 hours ago, on Christmas Eve – a day intended for peace, love, and friendship for those of the Christian faith throughout the world, these fascist paramilitary forces in South launched a full-scale offensive out of the territory that they have illegally occupied in the northeast of the country. Our intelligence suggests that the intent behind this offensive is simple: these fascists seek to expand their illegal control over more territory and people, and to destroy the ability of the South African government and its allies to threaten their political power. Their goals are conquest and destruction, plain and simple.

The leaders of these fascist rebels have belatedly offered excuses for these offensive actions, claiming provocation by South Africa and even by this government that forced them to act in what they claim is self-defense. These claims are made with no reliable evidence and are intended simply to act as a fig leaf to enable the so-called “Independent State’s” supporters overseas to continue said support. These actions are unjustified, unprovoked, and abhorrent.

These fascists have not only engaged in illegal violence against South Africa and her citizens, but against those of foreign governments and their people. As part of its offensive, fascist forces have even launched a brazen invasion of the neighboring Protectorate of Bechuanaland, a land that has in no way engage in offensive action against any party to the current conflict. Again, there is no legitimate justification for these acts, regardless of whatever excuses or accusations are made by these aggressors after the fact. This invasion has been launched simply because the so-called “Independent State” covets a route to their fascist supporters in German-controlled Southwest Africa, to enable them to continue their aggression.

Through these hostile acts, this fascist gang has made clear that the only outcome that they will accept in South Africa, is one in which they will be allowed to act with impunity to enforce a system of absolute totalitarianism and racial superiority on the territory which they control. They have made it clear that there are more than willing to both pursue their goals of fascist tyranny and to expand the territory under its control by armed force and have been preparing to do so for some time – all while falsely claiming to be engaged in earnest and open negotiations with other parties to put an end to the current crisis in peaceful manner.

This violence not only was premeditated but has been aided and abetted by outside parties to the crisis. The forces of the so-called “Independent State” have been armed, equipped, trained, and otherwise supported by Nazi Germany and its partners and minions within the Axis Powers. We have intelligence to suggest that German citizens – alongside other citizens of the Axis Powers – are currently serving as “volunteers” in fascist paramilitary forces that are engaged in illegal warfare in South Africa as I speak. The Axis Powers have undertaken these hostiles acts with the intent of furthering their own interests and tightening their oppressive control over the African continent and her people, at the cost of the lives and liberty of South Africans of all races and backgrounds.

Much like the so-called “Independent State,” Nazi Germany has concealed these activities and falsely claimed to be seeking a road to peace and understanding, all while helping to prepare a path to death and destruction spearheaded by their partners in crime. Germany’s actions in South Africa are the latest in a long, predictable pattern of misdirection, lies, interference, and a host of other hostile acts short of war. Not content with its domination of the European continent and most of Africa, the fascist overlords of Europe covet control over all territories that they do not already subjugate or manipulate. They seek this, because their fascist ideology cannot allow them to be content with what they already possess. They must seek constant war and conflict with those they brand as their enemies and the “other” in order to justify the oppressive measures and machinery of death that keep a select few in control of the mechanisms of power and wealth and to maintain that system.

Almost more importantly, Nazi Germany and its cohorts seek to extent their control and influence further, because – quite simply – they are afraid. They are afraid of any government or people that they do not control, because as long as corners of the Earth exist that are not under the bottom of the fascist boot, the fascist is vulnerable. As long as there are people who are living free, demonstrating the weakness and contradictions of the fascist system, there will be others who will seek to make themselves free. As along as there are those who seek true freedom, and are willing to fight for it, the fascist may never sleep soundly.

This is why Germany’s minions now wage war in South Africa, with their blessing and support. This is why Germany and Italy have supported efforts to spread their fascist ideology wherever it has not already taken hold – including in our own hemisphere. This is why they engage in destabilizing provocations to intimidate the free world and to allow them to act with impunity, as we saw very recently with the abortive deployment of German ballistic missiles to the Dominican Republic. Now, with their pride and stature wounded following that misadventure, they seek to gain ground on a new front in order to protect their façade of strength and power.

It is the avowed policy of this government not to seek out conflict directly. As a veteran of two foreign wars against fascism, I know from personal experience that war is never something to be taken lightly. However, to act in defense of yourself – and others – is an entirely different matter. In that case, it is not only justified to fight back, but is ethically and morally necessary if we are to stay true to our values of promoting the democratic rights of all peoples, everywhere.

We have also seen, that when confronted with the expansionary nature of fascism, the only way to meet strength is with strength. This past October, we navigated one of the most dangerous moments not just in the history of this nation, but of the world. The imperialist ideology and ego of Nazi Germany very nearly drove the planet into a global thermonuclear war. It was only through a demonstration of strength – in all respects – combined with restraint, determination, and will, that we were able to navigate that crisis to a peaceful conclusion. It was only by exposing the falsehoods of Nazi claims and demonstrating that we would accept no further lies and bullying that we were able to force them to back down.

We in the free world now face a new, different, but similar challenge in South Africa. As already stated, becoming party to a military conflict – especially one so far away from our shores – is never a decision that should be made hastily. However, while we know for a fact that the people of South Africa will – and as a matter of fact, already are – fight for their freedom in the face of fascism, if left to fight alone against the might of an enemy that enjoys the full backing of the Axis Powers and the fascist world, it is a fight they cannot hope to win on their own. All of these facts and realities have been taken into careful consideration as this government has deliberated on the appropriate course of action in regard to the South African Crisis.

Acting, therefore, in the defense of our own security and of the entire free world, and under the authority entrusted to me by the Constitution as endorsed by the resolution of the Congress, I have directed that the following initial steps be taken immediately: 

First: Effective immediately, all U.S. military forces currently deployed to the Union of South Africa, are to consider any and all forces fighting under the flag of the so-called “Independent State of South Africa” to be a hostile armed force and to treated as such under the laws of armed conflict.

Second: I have directed our senior military commander in South Africa, in consultation with the South African military and the military forces of our ITO allies also deployed to South Africa, to begin immediate military operations with the forces currently at their disposal to halt the further advance of fascist paramilitary forces and to protect civilian lives and livelihoods.

Third: I am reinforcing our military contingent in South Africa with additional forces. If necessary, this contingent will be further reinforced with additional forces at a future date to facilitate the successful completion of the orders I am now issuing to them.

Fourth: Under the Charter of the International Treaty Organization, we are calling for an immediate meeting of the International Council to consider this new threat to world peace and to coordinate our support of South Africa’s resistance against fascist aggression with our allies.

Fifth: I am directing our military forces – again, in close consultation with our ITO allies and with the government and military forces of South Africa – to begin immediate planning for a military counter-offensive in South Africa against the forces of the so-called “Independent State.” The objectives of this counter-offensive will be twofold: first, it will seek to retake territory and free populations that have been illegally occupied and subjugated by the so-called “Independent State”; second, it will aim to eliminate the so-called “Independent State” and any forces fighting under its flag as a threat to peace and security in the entirety of Southern African. This mission will be accomplished by whatever means we judge necessary and prudent.

Sixth: I call upon the so-called “Independent State of South Africa” to cease its armed aggression, and to order all forces fighting under its banner to lay down their arms and surrender to the military forces of the government of South Africa and the ITO – effective immediately. From this point on, this government and its allies will accept no further offers of negotiation or parlay that do not directly result in this outcome. We will accept no more false offers of bargaining in good faith. We will accept nothing short of unconditional surrender by the so-called “Independent State,” and an end to illegal armed rebellion by fascist forces in South Africa.

Seventh – and finally: I call upon the government of the Greater Germanic Reich and all signatories of the Tripartite Pact to both A.) cease their political and military support of illegal armed rebellion by fascist paramilitary forces in South Africa; and B.) to refrain from any direct military intervention in the ongoing crisis, which may result in an escalation of the conflict – both within and outside South Africa’s borders.

I now wish to state to you, that which I have already stated clearly and plainly to the diplomatic representatives of Nazi Germany and the other member states of the Axis Powers shortly before this broadcast: the United States of America does not seek military conflict with their governments. The goal of the steps I have just laid out, are to assist the internationally recognized government of South Africa in putting down an illegal armed rebellion that seeks to subvert legal authority and to establish a rogue state with a political system that does not represent the popular will of the South African people. In no way does this necessitate or require military action be taken by the United States against any of the Axis Powers.

With that said, I have also made it clear to the German government and the governments of the Axis powers that we will not accept any direct intervention by the military forces of any Axis member state in the present conflict. South Africa is fighting an internal rebellion, and we are assisting them with the expressed consent of the recognized government of that country. There is no purpose under which Axis military forces may legitimately be present in South Africa under these conditions. Any unauthorized incursion into South African territory or attack on South African and allied forces present there will be considered an attack on the United States and will be responded to as such. This is not intended as a threat, but as a simple statement of the policy of this government.

I recognize that some Americans may raise doubts about the motivations behind or stated reasons for this intervention. In particular, some citizens may question whether the political system in South Africa truly reflects the values that we and our ITO allies claim to hold and promote in terms of democracy, civil rights, economic and social justice, and more. These are sensible questions to raise. We would be doing the American people a disservice if we did not recognize that South Africa – much like our own nation – has a difficult past of imperialism, racial discrimination, social inequality, and a myriad of other painful and shameful issues.

However, in recent years – under the current administration – South Africa has taken significant steps in reforming its political structure and expanding rights and freedoms to all of its citizens. This progress has come haltingly, and is yet incomplete, but has continued – even in the face of past fascist attempts at undermining or sabotaging reform, and now in the face of armed fascist aggression. Much as we have struggled with these issues in our own nation and continue to contend with them, South Africa marches onward in healing the wounds of its past and crafting a better future for all people who reside within its borders – regardless of their racial or religious background. If that effort at self-improvement is not worth defending, then we would be best served at laying down our own arms at home and abroad and submitting to the fascist efforts to expand their totalitarian system throughout the entirety of the globe, until there was no corner of the planet hat was not shrouded in their darkness.

The year 1962 has not been an easy one. It has been a year fraught with peril and danger for all people everywhere. But by standing by our ethical and moral convictions with the strength of our will and character, we and our allies and comrades around the globe have navigated these dangers with grace and dexterity. We have proven to those who would seek to dominate us, that we will not simply fall to our knees and prostrate ourselves before them in fear.

As the year 1963 fast approaches, we enter it knowing that we have demonstrated that the free people of the world stand shoulder to shoulder, hand-in-hand, in defense of one another and their right to live freely and in peace. We will mark 1963 as the year in which fascist expansionism was met with the equal but opposite force of international solidarity among those who do not consider democracy to be “weakness”; who value the rights of the individual without forsaking the common welfare; who mobilize their fellow citizens not simply to engage in campaigns of oppression at home and abroad, but to improve their societies.

It is for these reasons that we choose to go to South Africa and stand alongside our allies. Our goal is not victory simply for victory’s sake; not for glory or self-aggrandizement, let alone empire and wealth. We do so, because it is the right thing to do; because it is in keeping with our democratic values, those which South Africans wish to adopt for themselves. We will not leave South Africa, until its people are able to do just that, freely, safely, and independently.

Thank you, and good night.

[axdently]

𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚜 ; the seven of pentacles often denotes that your efforts have been paying off and that they'll eventually start to accelerate. when this minor arcana card emerges in your tarot arrangement, it indicates that things are approaching completion so that you may anticipate outcomes. if you've been working through something and feel like you're not making any progress, this card is a very comforting reminder that triumph is right around the corner. you will begin to see the benefits of whatever effort you have put out. on the other hand, it might also mean that you are at a junction in your life and need to evaluate your options and make a choice.   @odiria​ 

her visits in the shop are welcome, though understandably scarce butwhen given notice of them, he tried to set the store speakers to play her favorite songs. it wasn’t often for him to see her in an ill-mood, but together as friends they were in the habit of exchanging warmth and companionship when they could. that’s why he visits her this time. he brings with him, a jar of pickled ginger, and a nearly wilted sprig of blue wisteria. the flowers, in his travels, were not sustainable and within an inch of their life, yet he hoped that she’d still accept the token of his friendship. greeting her with a smile, he speaks in a hoarse and tired voice, “Evening Odie.” the packaged jar of ginger is handed over–– a brown gift bag with a blue bow is placed within her grasp. “Is everything alright? I thought I heard shouting.”