Episode 52 Part 1
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Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, Season 5
Ep 41, Ep 42, Ep 43, Ep 44 Ep 45, Ep 46, Ep 47, Ep 48, Intermission, Ep 49, Ep 50, Ep 51
one of the things that's the most fucking frustrating for me about arguing with climate change deniers is the sheer fucking scope of how much it matters. sweating in my father's car, thinking about how it's the "hottest summer so far," every summer. and there's this deep, roiling rage that comes over me, every time.
the stakes are wrong, is the thing. that's part of what makes it not an actual debate: the other side isn't coming to the table with anything to fucking lose.
like okay. i am obviously pro gun control. but there is a basic human part of me that can understand and empathize with someone who says, "i'm worried that would lead to the law-abiding citizens being punished while criminals now essentially have a superpower." i don't agree, but i can tell the stakes for them are also very high.
but let's say the science is wrong and i'm wrong and the visible reality is wrong and every climate disaster refugee is wrong. let's say you're right, humans aren't causing it or it's not happening or whatever else. let's just say that, for fun.
so we spend hundreds of millions of dollars making the earth cleaner, and then it turns out we didn't need to do that. oops! we cleaned the earth. our children grow up with skies full of more butterflies and bees. lawns are taken over with rich local biodiversity. we don't cry over our electric bills anymore. and, if you're staunchly capitalist and i need to speak ROI with you - we've created so many jobs in developing sectors and we have exciting new investment opportunities.
i am reminded of kodak, and how they did not make "the switch" to digital photography; how within 20 years kodak was no longer a household brand. do we, as a nation, feel comfortable watching as the world makes "the switch" while we ride the laurels of oil? this boggles me. i have heard so much propaganda about how america cannot "fall behind" other countries, but in this crucial sector - the one that could actually influence our own monopolies - suddenly we turn the other cheek. but maybe you're right! maybe it will collapse like just another silicone valley dream. but isn't that the crux of capitalism? that some economies will peter out eventually?
but let's say you're right, and i'm wrong, and we stopped fracking for no good reason. that they re-seed quarries. that we tear down unused corporate-owned buildings or at least repurpose them for communities. that we make an effort, and that effort doesn't really help. what happens then? what are the stakes. what have we lost, and what have we gained?
sometimes we take our cars through a car wash and then later, it rains. "oh," we laugh to ourselves. we gripe about it over coffee with our coworkers. what a shame! but we are also aware: the car is cleaner. is that what you are worried about? that you'll make the effort but things will resolve naturally? that it will just be "a waste"?
and what i'm right. what if we're already seeing people lose their houses and their lives. what if it is happening everywhere, not just in coastal towns or equatorial countries you don't care about. what if i'm right and you're wrong but you're yelling and rich and powerful. so we ignore all of the bellwethers and all of the indicators and all of the sirens. what if we say - well, if it happens, it's fate.
nevermind. you wouldn't even wear a mask, anyway. i know what happens when you see disaster. you think the disaster will flinch if you just shout louder. that you can toss enough lives into the storm for the storm to recognize your sacrifice and balk. you argue because it feels good to stand up against "the liberals" even when the situation should not be political. you are busy crying for jesus with a bullhorn while i am trying to usher people into a shelter. you've already locked the doors, even on the church.
the stakes are skewed. you think this is some intellectual "debate" to win, some funny banter. you fuel up your huge unmuddied truck and say suck it to every citizen of that shitbird state california. serves them right for voting blue!
and the rest of us are terrified of the entire fucking environment collapsing.
I'm sorry but the irony of Nico calling Max unprofessional is sending me so bad like sir there's an entire garage full of people, who were literally in the trenches trying to survive the Brocedes fallout while just doing their jobs, who might have a few things to say about your (& Lewis') level of professionalism at that time 😭✋️
their kisses with you.
fem. reader. suggestive.
feat. bi-han, kuai, tomas, syzoth.
bi-han —
steady and sure, grabbing at your waist, wrapping a hand around your throat to keep you still as he indulges himself in your lips. although he is not the most affectionate man, bi-han has an exceptional fondness for kisses. perhaps it’s the breathless sounds you make, or the soft gasps in between his tongue — perhaps it is simply that he prefers you at his mercy, a pretty little thing caged beneath or within strong arms. typically at night, when the moon is high and all is silent, he allows himself to calm, to open before you and allow you to initiate. bi-han tends to lose himself in these moments all too easily, an annoyance at his expense. most times, without even trying, simple kisses from you lead to sleepless nights and sore bodies.
kuai liang —
ardent, unrestrained, grasping at hips and breasts and hair, unable to keep what little space remains between the two of you from heating up — figuratively, literally. his lin kuei ways may have taught him restraint, focus, but kuai’s hotheaded tendencies always get the best of him when it comes to you, only for you. his kisses trail like fire all across your body, his teeth leaving scorches in their wake, a tongue like that of flames licking at tender flesh until you melt like caramel in his hands. kuai is unrelentingly keen on smothering you with every bit of adoration he has; his lips alone are more than capable of proving it. you are a goddess worthy of worship, and he a devotee all too willing to bow down and serve, evermore shall his love burn for you.
tomas —
soft like daytime mist, cupping apples of cheeks, the tremble of fingers when his lips touch yours. he has little experience with romancing women, much less the gift of their kisses; you are his beginning, his end. it is precisely why tomas pecks, rather than lose himself to your lips, for a bashful nature keeps what eager will he has in check. his boyish charm only adds to the endearment, and often he finds you to be the one most content in initiating them. it’s a strange comfort, that you still pursue him despite his meeker approach to affection and love. assuring him that he is wanted sends his self-confidence soaring, and gradually does he ease into the idea of receiving and giving kisses on a more constant basis — privately, of course.
syzoth —
quick and light, flurries of kisses, all about your pretty face, your petalsoft lips, sometimes at those sensitive sweet spots across your décolletage if he’s feeling cheekier than usual. syzoth, fairly new to the concept of kissing with warm, wet mouths, tongue and teeth and all, hadn’t expected warm-blood affection to be so pleasant. he is cautious of physicality, having grown to live without its softer aspects for years prior to you, but kisses are easy, innocent enough to practice. you have made it this way for him, precious as you are. he kisses you hello, goodbye, as luck before either one of you leaves for calling duties, and simply when he feels like it, even if friends are around to witness and tease. he doesn’t mind them, as long as you don’t.
Newbie Kunikida dealing with Ranpo for the first time
After read this part of "Kunikida and Katai's Brilliant Days" story many ideas popped up in my mind, especially Newbie Kunikida and his relationship w/ Ranpo, Yosano and Fukuzawa
Poor Kuni, when he was a new agent member, definitely suffered a lot dealing with the Early Agency (AKA Ranpo and Yosano)
However, for sure that he had funny and good moments :)
Random Vox, Valentino and Velvette headcanons (Part 2):
-Whenever they go to a restaurant Vox or Velvette have to read the menu to Val due to his poor eyesight.
-Velvette had an eating disorder when she was alive. It took a really long time for her to open up about it towards the other Vees.
-Valentino loves picking Vox up and carrying him around. He weighs nothing to Val (as shown in their dance during episode 8) and with the moth’s four arms it’s easy to manhandle him. Whenever Vox is throwing a tantrum Val will just haul him over his shoulder and cart the tv demon away kicking and screaming.
-Valentino had a bunch of ear piercings when he was alive and misses them a lot. He makes up for it by getting multiple piercings elsewhere (Vox is very much a fan).
-The three have matching tattoos, a simple VVV design. Vox’s is on the back of his neck, Velvette’s is on her wrist and Val’s is on his lower back.
-Velvette has hundreds of different phone cases and swaps them daily to match her outfits.
-Vox listens to Mindless Self Indulgence, Electric Six and The Offspring.
-Velvette had a boy band phase and Vox and Val refuse to let her live it down.
-When he was alive Vox had a severe stutter that developed during childhood. As he got older he learned to control it however he’d slip when experiencing strong emotions. One of the reasons he hates glitching is because it reminds him of the shame he felt. It’s one of the few things Val and Vel won’t tease him about since they know he’s really insecure about it.
-Velvette secretly loves plushies and has a massive collection in her room. Vox and Val are always buying her new ones. She sews some herself too.
-Valentino and Velvette have craft dates together. They’ll go to a cafe and gossip while working on small arts and craft projects.
-Vox loves sneaking up behind Val and Velvette and lightly shocking them to make their fur/hair fluff up.
-To retaliate Val and Vel always mess with Vox when he’s live on camera. They’ll blow him kisses, make lewd hand gestures etc all in an attempt to make him lose his cool.
-Vox is a skilled photographer and is often roped in to help with Velvette’s fashion shoots.
-For all his showmanship Vox is awful at roleplay in the bedroom. He gets way too into his role and forgets that the situation is supposed to be sexy.
-Val gives the best hugs. If Vox or Velvette are having a bad day he’ll pull them onto the sofa and let them snuggle into his neck fluff. Val adores physical touch however his antenna are completely off limits.