#something that can make a lasting effects on it

[headspace-hotel]

I am small and I can't do very much. That is the despair of an individual in a big and violent world. But the plants teach me it is okay to be small. Everything is either small, or made of things that are small. We are all connected. Symbiosis.

So, on the subject of bugs.

It is the fourth summer of the Meadow. My plants grow strong and wild and cover more space than ever before. I have worked to eradicate the invasive lawn grass and carefully curate large clumps of only native species (with a few esteemed naturalized weeds allowed---I have no quarrel with Chicory, it has a positive effect on the ecosystem).

I have tall, huge native Field Thistles, multitudes of tough and aggressive evening primrose, wild strawberry spreading everywhere, a dozen vigorous gray-headed coneflowers, giant clumps of cup-plant, and so many asters and goldenrods that I've had to start targeting them in my weeding.

Yes, yes, I have the showy ones like purple coneflowers and black-eyed susans, but I also encourage and cultivate weird little weeds that are too inconspicuous or ugly to be often planted on purpose. White avens, lanceleaf frogfruit, nettle-leaf vervain.

There are too many plants. I'll spend forever listing them all. What is really interesting, is what's happened with the bugs.

Every year, there has been a much bigger variety and population of insects. I am both seeing many more species, and seeing the same species in much, much larger numbers. Even on the same plants that were already there 4 years ago, I can see way more bugs.

Flower flies, for instance. There are tiny yellow and black flies known as flower flies that are very beneficial for gardeners, because their larvae are predators that attack aphids. It used to be that I could often see a dozen, but now I see hundreds of them every time I go outside!

Or wasps. There are more species of wasps than I possibly could have imagined. It used to be that I would only see the reddish paper wasps, the ones that make big paper nests in the eaves of your house, but now, there are dozens of different wasps. Some are black, others black and white, others black and yellow, others black and brown, and they come in all different sizes. A bunch of blue-black wasps with white stripes live in the log next to my pond.

I identified them and looked up the species, and they had not been studied at all since the 1960's. Supposedly they are solitary species, but several different wasps have made nests inside the log right next to each other. That's the first interesting thing. The second interesting thing is that the nests were first inhabited last summer, and the same species of wasp still lives in them, so their town has been inhabited for multiple years instead of being abandoned when the larvae emerge. Has the next generation taken over the old nests? I am observing something about the species that is not known to science.

Wasps are hated and feared, but my wasps have never been anything but peaceful and polite, and they have so much beauty and importance in the ecosystem.

And the bees! I am observing bees this year that I had never even heard of before. Many of them are so tiny, I doubt they could even reach the nectar in large flowers like purple coneflower. What if the small, inconspicuous flowers are essential for smaller pollinators like the tiny bees? That would make sense. Different flowers evolved to attract different bees.

Beetles, ants, leafhoppers, flies, moths, butterflies, all kinds of bugs. Specific plants attract specific bugs, but it is not the plants individually that restore insect biodiversity, it is the way the plants interact and form a bigger ecosystem.

What I mean is, as my garden grew, the increase in bugs was not linear in relationship to the plants, it was exponential. The combination of the many different plants into an ecosystem attracted many more bugs than would be expected from the sum of each plant individually.

I remember the emptiness and barrenness before. I see it around me when I visit other places. The disappearance of bugs. The insect apocalypse. It's so clear to me now. The cause is biotic homogenization. I call it plant sameness.

Everywhere around me, landscapes have been made into expanses of the same few plants. But when plant sameness is replaced by variety and diversity, many plants interacting in many different ways, everything changes.

[simplyhansel]

So I just finished my second watch of k-pop demon hunters

And I have a theory. I saw someone point out that the Saja Boys names are based on who they are: Abs is muscular, Mystery is mysterious, Baby is youthful, Romance is a chick magnet, and Jinu's name means "true"

But I don't think their names JUST represent what they are. I think it represents what turned them into a demon in the first place. As Jinu puts it, their shame. First things first: I think there are two types of demons. Demons born in the demon world, and demons that used to be humans.

Outside of the Saja boys, we can see a few other demons in the background who have very similar outfits, most notably the hats. These are the demons that were once human, turned into demons by Gwi-Ma. The other demons with more exaggerated features were born in the demon world.

Starting with Abs. Strength, muscles, looking manly; that's his schtick. There are a few ways he can go. 1) it's possible that he wanted to be stronger to protect someone he loved, but I don't think that is the case. 2) Abby was weak and being weak made his life worse "you are weak, no one will ever respect you. but I can make you strong." this, or some variation of it, is the one I think is most likely. 3) Abs was born appearing very fem (transgender or genetics, take your pick) and Gwi-Ma made him manly and muscular.

up next, we have Mystery. He kind of stumped me at first (which is honestly kind of fitting tbh) but then I rewatched the scene where Jinu pitched the band to Gwi-Ma. during the small transition scene, we see slight shifts in Romance, Mystery, and Baby. Of all the boys though, Mystery's is the most interesting.

Mystery is the only one of them to have exaggerated demonic features, specifically his teeth. I believe that Mystery is half human, half demon, just like Rumi. "but Han!" I hear you say, "Jinu was surprised that a human had demon blood!" but to that I say; no he wasn't. He was surprised that a HUNTER had demon blood. he says specifically "A hunter who is part demon?" This implies, however loosely, that half demon/half human hybrids aren't unheard of. Mystery was ashamed of his heritage, wanted to hide it, be free from the scrutiny. I also think this can be supported by the way he acts during the joint signing. He quite literally barks and growls at the fans at one point lmao. Even if he isn't actually half demon, I think it would still be safe to assume he was born with some sort of physical defect or oddity, more than likely something that affects his eyes.

I feel like Baby is pretty self explanatory. He was made eternally youthful, to the point that he basically looks like a 5 year old. My guess is that he looked older than he was, and he was self conscious, or mocked, or something to that effect. Maybe his wife left him cause he was old looking? idk. In any case, this is what makes the most sense to me.

Romance is somewhat self explanatory, but there are still a few ways it could have gone. 1) He wanted to be able to have anyone he wanted, so Gwi-Ma granted him the ability to charm any and everyone. 2) He had an unrequited love. Gwi-Ma made his love fall for him, but it ended terribly in some way, shape or form. I can honestly see either, as both are fairly self-serving.

Last but not least, Jinu. He is the only member with a normal sounding name, but that doesn't mean we cant infer anything from it. Jinu in Korean means "genuine" or "true" and I think in this case, it symbolizes that he was the only one in the group that had good intentions with his actions. He did legitimately want to help his family, and I believe Gwi-Ma prevented him from doing so. Even if his family wasn't allowed into the palace or wherever, I think he had full intentions to send his mother the money he made. He was never able to, though; Gwi-Ma sent excuses and opportunities to squander away his money, then kept whispering in his ear that he was abandoning them. Don't get me wrong, he did abandon them. But I also understand that when the voice of doubt has you in a strong grip, it's well and truly paralyzing. Gwi-Ma accuses Jinu of being self-serving, but he is arguably the only one in the group who was trying to do the correct thing for the people he cared about the most.

Anyway I really fucking loved this movie: the visuals were stunning, the symbolism was spot on, and that soundtrack was KILLER! If anyone has other ideas or theories Id love to hear them! Thanks for coming to my ted talk.

[glowettee]

✧・゜: self-discipline doesn't mean hating yourself into action :・゜✧:・゜✧

hey lovelies! ✧

i've been thinking about this a lot lately… how did we all collectively decide that being mean to ourselves was somehow the path to getting things done? like, who started this toxic rumor that self-discipline means internal screaming and punishment? because honestly? i spent years believing that the only way to accomplish anything was through this weird self-bullying technique and it was literally the least effective approach ever.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ the wake-up call ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

last semester i hit a wall with my essay project. i had been doing that thing where you stare at your laptop, call yourself lazy in your head, promise to work for 8 straight hours to "make up for it," then get overwhelmed and watch netflix instead. but one night at like 2am (why do all realizations happen at 2am??) i wondered what would happen if i just… stopped being mean to myself about it?

what if self-discipline was actually about being the most understanding friend to yourself instead of the worst drill sergeant?

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ what actually works ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

start ridiculously small, i'm talking embarrassingly tiny steps. want to write that paper? commit to just opening the document and typing a single sentence. need to clean your space? just put away three things. the magic is that once you start, continuing feels so much easier.

create environments that make things easier, not harder. i rearranged my desk so everything i need is within reach and visible. stopped trying to work in my bed (even though it's so comfy) because my brain associates it with sleep and tiktok scrolling.

acknowledge the resistance instead of fighting it. when i feel that "i don't wanna" feeling, i literally say to myself "i hear you, and it makes sense you feel that way. what's one tiny piece we could do?" talking to myself like i'm my own bestie changed everything.

use curiosity instead of judgment. instead of "why am i so lazy?" (which never helps), try "i wonder what's making this hard for me right now?" sometimes the answer surprises you. maybe you're actually just hungry or need better lighting.

build in rest BEFORE you crash. i started scheduling actual breaks before i felt desperate for them, and somehow i get more done? it's like my brain knows it's not going to be held hostage forever.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ the permission slip approach ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

my favorite technique lately has been what i call "permission slip productivity" where i literally write myself little notes giving permission to:

work imperfectly (first drafts can be messy!)

take breaks without guilt

change my approach if something isn't working

celebrate small progress instead of only the end result

acknowledge when something is genuinely difficult

there's something so powerful about physically writing yourself permission. it sounds silly but it works because it interrupts that mean inner voice that's been programmed into us.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ the results speak for themselves ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

the wildest part? i actually get MORE done now that i've stopped the self-hate productivity method. turns out your brain works better when it's not being constantly criticized? who knew!

my essay (very big essay) got finished early. my room stays cleaner. i actually enjoy my study sessions now instead of dreading them. and most importantly, i don't feel that heavy cloud of shame following me around everywhere.

self-discipline isn't forcing yourself through misery, it's creating systems that work WITH your natural tendencies, not against them. it's about making things easier, not harder. it's about treating yourself like someone you actually care about.

and maybe the real glow-up isn't just checking things off your to-do list, but doing it without sacrificing your relationship with yourself in the process.

what about you? have you been trying to hate yourself into productivity? might be time for a gentler approach. you deserve that kindness from yourself. (and honestly? it just works better.)

xoxo, mindy 🤍

[atan-orofarne]

A number of these are faked and modified, with effects applied or other processing done.

1. Screaming Piha

Lipaugus vociferans

This was the first one that gave it away. It just seemed…obviously wrong.

This has been trimmed out of a slowed-down clip. Specifically this one, from the San Diego Zoo, which also features the actual call:

And another example that seems to be legitimate:

And here's a link to eBird, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We'll be hearing a lot from them in this post, because they're a great resource for bird information, especially in the US, but also internationally:

https://ebird.org/species/scrpih1

2. Australian Bustard

Not bustand.

Ardeotis australis

This one seems fairly accurate. Maybe some sort of effect applied — or maybe just poor audio quality. This seems to specifically be part of the mating display. (Start ~1:40, if the video doesn't on its own.)

And a CLO link. The last audio in the "top audio" section has a poor quality recording of this call, with the bird quite a distance off:

https://ebird.org/species/ausbus1

3. Common starling

(Sturnus vulgaris — European starling in the US)

Why did they use common names for the rest and not this one? Probably because "common starling" sounds bo-ring, and they want you to watch their doctored-up video.

This one has really obvious reverb applied. And I sure as shit haven't ever heard a starling do that. Though they are sometimes mimics, so it might be copying something. But it's hard to trust with the other effects applied; it's altered at a minimum.

Cornell Lab Or Ornithology is a great place to find out about North American birds (and naturalized nonnative birds like the starling). They have wonderful photo libraries and extensive sound libraries of calls, songs, warning calls, and even juvenile calls. You can hear great examples of the most common sounds starlings make. You should also check out their Merlin app if you want help with bird visual ID and sound ID!

4. Great Potoo or Common Potoo

Nyctibius grandis or Nyctibius griseus

From one end to the other, they've gone from a Latin binomial to not even specifying the full common name. This seems to be a great potoo, based on the patterns, coloration, and eye color (pupils would generally not be all dilated during the day, so we should see the yellow, I think, if it were a common). But I'm no expert on South American birds.

This video seems to be outright faked. And the audio was recorded from a distance, not close up, hence the echoing.

This video clip has been reposted a bunch by different accounts using a first-person descriptor, but this seems to be the original version of this video…and it does NOT make that noise in it:

CLO link for the great potoo (does not make this sound):

https://ebird.org/species/grepot1

And the common potoo. This is actually the call of the common potoo, despite the faked video:

https://ebird.org/species/compot1

5. Superb lyrebird

Menura novaehollandiae

This one doesn't seem to be faked. This fellow is a prolific mimic, so it could make that sound. Or loads of other sounds. (And this is a male, based on those tailfeathers — which are also the source of its common name, because they honestly do resemble the ancient Greek harp-like instrument, the lyre, when displaying.)

QI had some fun with this one a while back:

And here's the CLO link, of course. Tons and tons of different calls and recordings — be sure to scroll down to the "top audio" section, where there are over a dozen more recordings! And some do include sounds kind of like this one. This bird is a lot of fun to listen to:

https://ebird.org/species/suplyr1

6. Shoebill

Balaeniceps rex

Yep. They do that.

Though the echo in that room is really exaggerating things. They don't really sound like a machine gun.

The CLO site has a great recording, as you can hear it vocalizing at the same time as the beak clattering:

https://ebird.org/species/shoebi1

7. Kiwi

(there are five species, and I do not know enough about kiwis to tell you which ones each of these are)

This is a real recording. Though not the only sound a kiwi might make. You can hear some others at the beginning. And they've amped the saturation for some reason.

Another recording of a different call:

And one with a mix of calls:

And more!

CLO links:

Southern Brown Kiwi — Apteryx australis: https://ebird.org/species/sobkiw1

Okarito Brown Kiwi — Apteryx rowi: https://ebird.org/species/okbkiw1

North Island Brown Kiwi — Apteryx mantelli: https://ebird.org/species/nibkiw1

Little Spotted Kiwi — Apteryx owenii: https://ebird.org/species/liskiw1

Great Spotted Kiwi — Apteryx maxima: https://ebird.org/species/grskiw1

Weird and wonderful compilation of strange bird noises.

[mischievousmoony]

hello, i’ve been loving your summer kickoff event! may i please request a burger with regulus and the prompt: “of course i remembered, it’s your favourite!” thank you so much!

𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚢

⟢ pairing: regulus black x reader ⟢ summary: it's a completely ordinary day, except for the part where regulus realizes he's in love with you ⊹ 1.2k ⟢ contains: brief/vague mention of walburga/family troubles

note: hi anon! so this is still part of my event, but i accidentally ended up doubling the word count i was aiming for and really loving what i wrote, so i’m posting it as a oneshot! im quite proud of this and i hope u like it too! <3

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“What’s this?” Regulus asks, his voice soft in the way it only ever is with you.

He’s in your kitchen doorway, eyes on the porcelain cup you pressed into his hands, the warmth still lingering where your fingers briefly stilled over his before withdrawing.

“Tea,” you answer, like it’s nothing, turning back into the kitchen to tuck everything away.

But it’s not nothing. Because the second the warm tea hits his tongue, Regulus’ eyebrows twitch up in surprise.

“This is…” he starts, but the rest falters in his throat.

“Earl gray, loose leaf,” you say without looking up, your focus on wiping down the counter with a gingham dish rag. “From the tea shop on the corner of Birch and Cross. Steeped for four minutes. Splash of milk. No sugar.”

“How did you-?”

“I’ve watched you make it more times than I can count,” you say, a fondness in your tone as if recalling a cherished memory.

His eyes follow you as you bustle about the kitchen, placing dishes in the sink, putting the milk back in the refrigerator. There’s a slight tilt to his head, like he’s trying to figure out just how much attention you’d have to pay him to notice he steeps his tea for exactly four minutes—no more, no less. To have caught the name of the tea shop on the bag during the few seconds it sits on his counter while he moves the leaves to the unmarked tin in his cabinet.

To be able to read his mind when you’re not even looking at him.

“Of course I remembered. It’s your favorite.” You glance at him briefly, a knowing smile playing at your lips. “You always drink it when you’re having a rough day, at least. And I know today’s been a long one.”

He hadn’t told you that, but it’s true. He can feel it in the way his body holds itself—shoulders tight, spine rigid, jaw clenched—his stress intertwined in every muscle. And beneath it all, a bone-deep exhaustion. If he were to look in the mirror, he could expect to find sunken eyes and his face drawn.

Spending the morning with his mother tends to have that effect.

Normally, he would escape to the quiet of his flat after a day like today. Spend the rest of his evening in solitude, and—you’re right—pacify his emotions with a cup of his favorite tea.

He doesn’t quite remember when he started coming to yours instead. Choosing your company over quiet isolation. Where he can swallow his frustrations. Tough out his turmoil. That’s what he was used to, before you. Before you were there, gently encouraging him to do the last thing he thought he wanted: talk about it. And yet, he knows he’s better for it.

Regulus realizes he’s never had a friend like you before. Or, maybe, something more than a friend. Maybe the quiet ways you take care of him and the way your gentle touch always seems to linger have been indications of your true feelings. Maybe the way a smile comes more easily to him and the warmth that swells in his chest when you’re near are indications of his.

The realization catches in his throat. What this is, what you are to him. Over a blood cup of tea… he feels ridiculous.

But isn’t it better to be ridiculous than afraid? He never liked to think about it before—you, this. Putting himself in the vulnerable position of placing his heart in your hands, where you could so easily break it. Abandon it.

His heart still races as he thinks about it now, but for a different reason entirely.

Perhaps it’s your patience that changed him, never asking to put a label on what this is. Your constant presence, showing up even when it would’ve been easier not to. You let him learn, in his own time, how to lean on someone else. And he finally realizes it’s okay to lean on you.

Maybe it’s partly that, and partly because he knows you’re worth the risk.

“Is it alright?” you ask, a hint of worry sneaking into your tone, because he’s just been standing there. Tea resting idly in his hands, cooled down to the point where steam no longer wafts from the pale surface. You could have put too much milk. Or not enough. Or you needed to let it steep for longer.

“Of course,” he quickly reassures you. Reading the insecurity on your face, he’s desperate to squash it. “It’s lovely.”

He takes a long drink of the tea. “It’s perfect,” he adds, between sips, savoring every drop. The fact that it was made by your loving hands make it taste better than any cup of tea he’s ever made himself.

The tension leaves your shoulders as you watch him, mirroring the way his had eased several minutes ago. He hadn’t even noticed it, the weight lifting. But he knows it’s your presence that did it.

He slowly places the cup on the counter, staring at it for a moment. Hesitating, before his eyes flash to you, and determination sets in his gaze.

In a few long strides, he rounds the counter. You drop what you’re doing as his hand comes up to the side of your face, his fingertips lightly brushing across your cheek until he gains enough confidence to firmly cup your jaw.

Your breath hitches as his eyes flicker to your lips. He waits a moment, giving you the space to back away if this isn’t what you want. When you lean into it, he brings his free hand to cup the other side of your face, too. Any lingering hesitation promptly vanishes when his lips finally meet yours.

There are no fireworks, like the romantics said there would be. Time doesn’t stop, the stars don’t collide.

The one thing they did get right? The way the world fades away, insignificant in the face of you. He soaks up the warmth of your presence as your hands find his chest, sliding across the cool, crisp fabric of his black button-up, the press of your palms a gentle comfort.

Regulus feels like he belongs in this moment. In this kiss that he didn’t know he was longing for, as your soft lips move against his. He’d stay here forever if he could, but he has to come up for air eventually.

For a moment, you just stay there. Still, foreheads pressed against each other, sharing heavy breaths as you both come back to reality.

First to break the silence, a shaky murmur shaped like a joke slips past your lips, “Must’ve been some cup of tea.”

Regulus laughs, a happy sound from deep in his belly that stirs up a warm swirl of affection in your chest, and he kisses you again.

He doesn’t imagine that he’ll ever really stop.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

[headspace-hotel]

@mediocrerenaissancememe I took a beekeeping class last year and got to work with bees a bunch so here's my corrections/comments

first off, honey bees are not an endangered species. beekeeping is a very precarious business right now, and there are very few "wild"/feral honeybees at least in their introduced range, but this is not the same thing as being in danger of extinction.

clipping queens wings was actually not recommended by my textbook because sometimes if the workers feel that something is wrong with the queen, they will kill her, and it's not all that effective at preventing swarming. If you want to prevent the queen from leaving you can basically put a little door in the hive that is just big enough for the workers to leave but not the queen because she's bigger.

swarming is how honeybee colonies reproduce in nature. they make a new queen, the queen leaves with a bunch of the bees and honey, and the hive continues. this is their natural reproductive behavior, but beekeepers usually multiply hives by allowing the bees to raise new queens, removing the new queens, and placing them in new hives created by splitting up large hives. thus swarming is not necessary for them to reproduce.

When ALL the bees leave, that's called absconding and bees do it when they are not happy with the conditions of their hive. This can be because of parasite infestation, strong chemical smell, basically anything the bees don't like

african and european honeybees are the same species, but african honeybees are more aggressive. bees that have interbred between the two sub-species are called "africanized" bees or more commonly, "killer" bees. Basically, africanized bees are more vigorous in defending their hives to the point that they can literally kill people and livestock because they sting so many times. i don't have to explain why this is bad. however, they are better adapted to tropical environments so some keepers in central and latin america have learned safety precautions to work with them.

Artificial insemination of queens isn't very common, but nowadays a lot of researchers are trying to more intentionally breed bees with certain traits like disease resistance, and artificial insemination is the only way to do this because you otherwise can't control what drones the queen mates with. Yes, collecting the semen kills the drone, but only because drones naturally die during mating.

culling queens happens sometimes but it's important to note that a natural part of the queen's life is killing other queens in their cells or fighting them to the death once she emerges.

Low-performing hives are merged with more successful hives, not culled. Annual hive losses are up to 50%, but beekeepers obviously don't want this to happen.

The main source of profit for beekeepers actually isn't honey, it's pollination services. This is probably the main ethical problem with beekeeping as bees are trucked very long distances to pollinate industrial monocultures of crops like almonds, and in the process they are exposed to pesticides and diseases. it's very brutal on the bees and the pesticide filled industrial agriculture is obviously very bad for the ecosystem.

honey bees aren't native to areas outside europe, africa and asia, but since there are many crops from europe, africa and asia (such as almonds) that depend entirely on honeybees for pollination, they're not going anywhere unless we stop growing those crops.

I think the evidence is still unclear on whether honey bees negatively impact native bees in any way, but there isn't sufficient evidence to call them an invasive species

most of this comes from The Beekeeper's Handbook by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile

Wild that folks keep saying beekeepers abuse bees as if bees are not both venomous flying animals and fully unionized

[alinathinkstoomuch]

CLOCKED IN

pairing: aaron hotchner x fake!fiancee!reader summary: hotch is trying his hardest to keep it together when your so-called friends crash the night out, good thing the bau are world class shit stirrers, based on this request. warnings: fluff, protective hotch but also protective bau!! brief reference to them meeting which can be read here word count: 1.3k

✧ masterlist | ✧ alina's 1k bar

Hotch was, against all odds, and probably his own expectations, actually having a good time. Shocking, really. But he knew exactly why, it was you. You sitting under the glittering mirrorball light, talking with your hands mid-explanation. 

It was your first official time meeting the team, and he wasn’t even a little bit surprised by how quickly you charmed every single person at the table. You had that effect on people. It was something he’d always admired about you, and okay, maybe envied a little too. He wasn’t exactly known for being warm or approachable. His voice didn’t magically pull smiles from strangers. Yours did.

And yet somehow, you—completely out of the blue—had walked into a bar similar to this one and asked him, a total stranger, to pretend to be your fiance for the night. Still one of the most absurd things he’s ever heard and he deals with absurd for a living.

Maybe that bit of envy came from a selfish place, though. Because he liked to think that the effervescent side of you was something you saved just for him, but it wasn’t because you were like that with everyone. All grins, all giggles, all theatrics because that’s who you were. And it made him furious inside to imagine anyone taking advantage of that. Like those awful friends who made you feel like you had to lie in the first place.

Still, in a roundabout, slightly messed-up way, he guessed he owed them one. Because their cruelty had delivered you straight to him.

He was mid-sip of his drink when he caught the way your smile wobbled. And when you did a double take towards the front door, his eyes were inclined to follow to see who or what he was going to have to glare at for sucking the light from your face that fast.

He didn’t even try to hide the exasperated sigh that left him.

“Oh boy,” you muttered, eyes still on the door.

“Do you know them?” JJ asked, leaning forward over a cluster of empty cocktail glasses. “Because they’re pointing.”

“And coming over,” Morgan added, eyebrows raised.

You straightened in your seat. “That’s…the quarter of the group responsible for me meeting Aaron.”

“No!” Penelope gasped, hand flying to her chest. “You mean those friends? The ones you had to lie to? The whole fake-fiancé saga?”

“In the flesh,” you confirmed, grabbing your drink and taking two very necessary gulps as Aaron braced himself for the evening to dissolve into performative lunacy. 

You shifted in your seat beside him, shoulders going stiff in that I’m fine, this is fine way that meant the opposite. And yeah, his jaw clenched. Because the idea of you having to perform just to feel safe, or liked, or respected? Made his blood run hot. Especially when you were surrounded by people who actually saw you—really saw you—and didn’t need a single performance to adore you.

“Oh my god! Okay! We all have very important parts to play,” Penelope whisper-yelled at the table.

“Just don’t make it weirder than it has to be,” Emily muttered, toying with her paper straw.

“You want another drink?” Rossi nudged Aaron who just glared at the older man. “Come on, lighten up. I didn’t get to see you in fiancé-action last time.”

“Consider yourself lucky,” Hotch said dryly, reaching over and resting his hand over yours in a squeeze.

You turned to face him and the panicked look on your face made his stomach knot. “I’m sorry for this. I had no idea they’d be here, I haven’t even spoken to them in months.”

“You don’t owe me an apology, just like you don’t owe them a damn thing.” His tone softened. “But if you want an out, just say the word, I’ll make up an excuse and we’re gone.”

You opened your mouth to respond, but it was too late.

“Wow,” came a voice you knew all too well. “Look who it is.”

“Veronica.” You offered a perfectly polite, perfectly fake smile. “Dani,” you added, glancing at her tagalong.

“Mind if we sit with your fiancé and friends?” Veronica asked, already pulling a chair over from the table behind because she wasn’t actually asking or waiting for permission. She wedged herself in between you and Emily.

Dani copied her motions, plopping herself down between Penelope and Spencer. The poor genius looked like he was calculating the fastest way to disassociate, especially when Dani’s manicured hands rested a little too close to his drink. 

“So,” Veronica said, all teeth. “Are you going to introduce us?” She glanced around the table. “How do you all know the happy couple?”

“We work with Hotch,” Morgan answered smoothly, lifting his glass. “FBI.”

“Oh. Wow. That’s… intense.”

“Depends on the day,” Emily chimed in, “But yeah, keeps us busy.”

Veronica’s icy gaze slid to you, her mouth twitching. “Must be nice. All that… structure and stability. Probably pays off a little more than fashion, huh?”

You barely had time to get a word out before Penelope jumped in for you. “Oh, sweetie. One campaign of hers pays more than my entire annual salary. And I’m not exactly working for peanuts.”

You let out a sheepish laugh, just as Aaron’s thumb pressed gently against your hand, as if reminding you to breathe. 

“Anyway,” Dani piped up, suddenly remembering she had both a voice and a personality, “how’s wedding planning going? You must be deep in it by now, right?”

“Weren’t you just looking at venues?” Rossi added with a grin, like he’d been personally waiting for this moment. Hotch made a mental note to get him store-brand whiskey for his next birthday.

“We were,” Hotch replied as casually as he could manage. “She wants a beach wedding. I want one where her dress doesn’t blow into the ocean.”

Morgan snorted while JJ shook her head, trying and failing to hide a smile. 

“Tell the truth,” Emily grinned. “You just don’t want sand in your shoes.”

“I don't want sand in my everything,” Hotch said flatly, taking a sip of his drink at the involuntary conversation. 

“Fair,” Morgan laughed, tipping his glass towards him. “Sand gets everywhere. Man’s got a point.”

“Well, the guest list must be pretty large then,” Veronica went on, smiling just a little too sweetly. “Half the FBI, and of course us, your best friends. You’ll need something that can accommodate everyone.”

“We’re keeping it small,” Hotch almost snarled, his tone landing somewhere between polite restraint and you’re not fucking invited. Not that there was an actual wedding, but if he ever did marry you, those two would be the last names on the list.

“Oh! But you have to have bridesmaids, right?” Dani pressed on, gesturing between herself and Veronica. “I mean, you’re probably thinking of us, your best friends—”

“We haven’t gotten that far,” you cut her off.

“Besides,” Emily added with a shark-like smile, “it’s so hard to find dresses that don’t clash with fragile egos.”

Your eyebrows shot up before you could stop them. Morgan was grinning like a man thoroughly entertained. JJ stifled a laugh behind a cough. And Spencer? He just looked politely baffled, having subtly nudged his drink as far away from Dani’s claws as possible without making it look like he was giving it to Rossi. 

Hotch, meanwhile, added a new line to his growing mental list: whatever bottle Emily wanted for her birthday, she was getting the top shelf version. Hell, maybe two. 

Some of the tension in his chest eased a little and he hoped yours had too. Because if there was one thing his team excelled at, it was rallying around someone they’d decided was theirs. And judging by the grins, side-eyes, and Emily’s very intentional lack of filter, the BAU had officially clocked in.

Not for a case. 

For you. 

tags - @fandomscombine @pastelpinkflowerlife @hazzyking @bernelflo @risenqueen1521 @jazzimac1967 @camihotchner @abschaffer2 @ill-be-okay-soon-enough @pacmillo-blog-blog @stilestotherescue @kiwriteswords @anvdala @supersanelyromantic @yourallaround-simp @percysley @wowitsafemale @cinnamoncunt @keiminds @iyskgd @mystic-rox @insured-by-the-mafia @mggslover @star-crossed-sephie @tearykth @2dloveshp  @lovelystrawberry @imissaaronhotchner @justyourusualash @alexxavicry @storiesofsvu @ehedrick012110 @hopelessromantic727 @piatosniathenie @averyhotchner @softtdaisy @khxna @thehotchners @tinythebunni @violettablackwood @starsmoonn @kajjaka

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[womanofwords]

Darling Demon (Part 18)

Yandere!batfam x betrothed!neglected!male!reader x yandere!demon!spouse

TW: loss of virginity.

In your defense, Azrir left you unsupervised with a known aphrodisiac and the exact amount to take for the desired effects. If they didn't want you drinking it, it shouldn't have been accessible to you in the first place.

The barrel of aphrodisiac called to you, taunting you with Azrir's voice. Come on, Y/N, it crooned, as much as an inanimate object could croon. Azrir's been dragging you into a secret pocket dimension they own to do everything except sex. You might as well grab yourself a tall drink of me, some toys, and a generous amount of lube and literally fuck yourself. Something has to quench that fire in your loins.

Your rear still stung from the corporal punishment Azrir had applied to you. What would they do if they found you drinking the aphrodisiac without their permission?

With shaking legs, you walked towards the barrel and got the cup needed. Just one cup and then you waited five minutes. Azrir was probably going to be gone for ages. You could totally test drive all of your toys quite thoroughly by the time they got back from torturing more sinners.

You watched the liquid flow out of the tap and into your cup. It didn't look appetising, but so long as you could actually last a while with them, you'd deal with the taste. Stopping the tap before your cup would overflow, you put the cup to your lips, readied yourself for whatever would hit your tastebuds, and . . .

"Y/N! What are you doing?"

Dammit. Azrir had come back. You froze with the drink to your lips, literally the most 'caught red-handed' expression you could possibly be in. They stormed over and took the cup from you. "Y/N, you are not supposed to drink this! Don't you remember that your libido will go through the roof and you'll be focused on sex for hours on end, to the point of not being able to sleep or even eat until all of it is worked through your system?"

"Yes, I know," you said.

Azrir tried again. "And that you can't get your virginity back once I'm done with you?"

"I know that, too."

"Oh, you just know everything today, huh?" Azrir knelt down to look you in the eyes. "You really want your cherry to be popped, huh, little prize?"

"Yes, Azrir," you said, grinning up at them.

"Do you want me to be forceful and mean as I take your virginity, Y/N?" You nodded vigorously. "How very interesting. Y/N, if you really are willing to begin sex with me, then kneel in front of me like a little puppy and open your mouth wide."

"OK." You did as you were told, while Azrir went back for the cup. With the cup in one hand, their other hand pinched your nose as the liquid was forced into you.

"Here's the drink you wanted so badly, my little plaything," Azrir said. You felt blood rush to your crotch as you were made to swallow the potion. "I knew you'd want my touch, but not the lengths you'd go to. Who knew you'd want me so badly?"

Azrir took their sweet time preparing you and themselves. Lube, restraints, hickeys, anything to get those five minutes over with.

"Y/N, I've removed your clothing and now you're about to be fully deflowered. Before I get started on you, can you say 'bye-bye, virginity'?" Azrir was on top of you, knowing exactly what sort of effect they had on you.

You forced the words out of your mouth. "Bye-bye, virginity."

And it began.

All that time giving you 'sex education' meant they knew everything that made you internally tick. "You're going to be in this position for hours," Azrir taunted. "But then again, I guess you'd like that. Being kept in position by someone who needs you to take it and feel everything that comes from me."

Azrir was meticulous in the way they pleased you, making your head spin with their touches. "More," you moaned.

"NO MORE!" your mother screamed, as her limbs were cut off again and again. "SOMEONE GET THAT DEMON OFF MY SON!"

"Not our call," one of her torturers said. "And you should get used to this. He's only had-" They checked the scoreboard and winced. "Five."

"And how many orgasms is my son going to have?" your mother asked.

"In one session? Around 16, maybe 20 if they're really strong." The demon dug into your mother's leg further, eliciting a long, low groan of pain. "Then again, Azrir is one of the strongest. They'll be having your son for as long as they like."

The fun ended when you passed out, seven and a half hours later. A blissful smile was on your face as Azrir took you out of the restraints. "What a good little prize you were for me, Y/N," they said. "Sleep well. I must check on something."

Azrir slipped out of bed and went to your mother, looking at the scoreboard they had set up for her. It read 37.

"Satisfactory. Such pleasure will ensure Y/N will never be satisfied with a human," Azrir said.

"Leave my son alone, you monster!"

"He consented, and I don't want to," Azrir said. "Also, you gave away his soul. We honestly didn't think you cared. Oh, well. I plan on doubling that number the next time he wants it."

Azrir left your mother screaming about the depravity of it all as they went back to your side. Besides, they'd have to be with you. After the hours spent underneath a sadistic, pent-up lust demon, your ability to walk would be . . . compromised.

Taglist: @tinybrie, @bunniotomia, @c4xcocoa, @darkmoka, @fightmebissh, @bloobewy, @chi1lllb, @cqerrz, @heart-cream, @noone1233nobody, @type-ink, @sonyboos, @atlasbatman05, @eyeless-kun, @zomqiez.

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[sha-brytols]

theres a lot about the last straw i like to think about with esther because this was actually like literally the lowest point of her life bar none. you thought leandra's death was bad ohhhhhhh boy. the funny hilarious thing about esther is that like. sometime into anders moving in and their relationship becoming increasingly more domestic and serious, she ends up developing a codependency on anders that rivals anders' codependency on HER. and she doesn't ever realize it because they're always together so there's nothing really for her to realize until they're apart.

and like there WAS a period of time where anders ran away (not long after making esther distract the cleric) and esther lost her MIND about it i talked about it here teehee but when that happened esther had like. some degree of control over the situation and was able to go after him and get him back and it was all fine.

but in this case? here? there is no control. everything is on fire. in the span of like 30 minutes her entire world crumbled into a nightmare. the grand cleric assassinated, mages dead in the streets, sebastian swearing vengeance on her and the city, the chantry in flames. what happened to her home? orana? bodahn and sandal? apawstate? its all so much all at once and she can't handle it. and worst of all her emotional support apostate is gone because she almost did something she would never be able to forgive herself for.

so ❤️ esther hawke last straw cringe compilation:

almost went through with killing anders. isabela stopped her mid-kill. the blade was inches from his neck. isabela told him to get lost so they can sort themselves out later. anders ran away.

murdered orsino in cold blood in front of like a dozen frightened mages. he confessed to covering for quentin in the interest of keeping his mages protected. bad move in front of the daughter of one of his victims. especially when she's already in a weird place mentally . she did it with her bare hands too it was great. not for orsino i mean. or the mages who saw it. or even really esther. anyways

meredith fight. everyone on their last legs. esther realizes for the first time Oh We Might All Actually Die Here. remembers what happened to her during the arishok duel and decides to do that but On Purpose. like. lol. you know.

but it turns out getting impaled by a red lyrium sword has a really weird effect on your blood. she goes into a blood frenzy but THIS one has the scary glowing red eyes like in her gameplay frenzy and she's a little out of control of her body and her brain. probably also killed a couple templars that were on THEIR side because she couldn't tell friend from foe and had to be pinned down and knocked out by fenris to get her to stop. "how did the lyrium not kill her" don't worry about it. reaver thing. probably. idk.

the last cutscene also didnt go like that at all cullen didnt let her go quietly he tried to arrest her but she was. still in her Mood. and she tried to attack him. fenris practically tackled her to the ground and knocked her unconscious. cullen was like. ok yeah maybe this isn't a great time. just get out of here.

she did reunite with anders like immediately after the party fled from kirkwall because she was literally dying (again) and no one could heal her and anders popped up right in the nick of time and stabilized her. it was a really weird night for everyone involved. isabela might have gone looking for him or he just showed up who knows.

it's actually very important to me that the tale of the champion and the story that varric tells cassandra are two completely different things. the former is an embellished and glorified version of what happened to a woman who never asked for any of what was given to her and who did not deserve to have her name dragged through the mud for trying to live her life. the latter is the brutally honest recount of how a messy, angry, bitter woman was put in impossible situation after impossible situation and came out of it a shell of what she used to be. so cassandra's the only one in the entirety of thedas (who wasn't Actually There i mean) who actually knows who Hawke is. not the Champion.

buuuut i say this because. at the end of the day, varric wasn't telling esther's story. he was telling hawke's story. and hawke was always the person he wanted her to be. so a lot of it is still heavily embellished, but for the most part not intentionally. untiiiiiiil the last straw, where quite literally everything that varric says to cassandra is bullshit LOL. hawke chose to protect the innocent at all costs. hawke was forced to kill a mad blood mage in self defense. hawke fought with everything she had and never lost hope. hawke the hero who always did the right thing. and anders was the manipulative bastard that took advantage of her devotion to him and destroyed her life in the process, but hawke still loved and forgave him. because that's how good of a person she was. lol.

[iatrophilosophos]

For sure! I love talking about this stuff and rattling it off for the sake of Posting does make it slightly easier to write for real

The last thing ill say is that I think its important to recognize and value this conversational mode of knolwege bc it *is* ongoing, in a culture that doesnt really acknowledge or value it. All people who practice in science-dominanted fields are using conversational knowlege all the time, as far as I can tell. Medical professionals are not subscribing to a purely algorithmic decision making process: they still make judgement calls all the time and utilize large amounts of anecdote from other professionals (and hopefully, additional sources!) in order to make those calls. ESPECIALLY in outlier contexts. Im lucky enough to be in that room quite often. Insurance companies (in most of the us) and state-backed healthcare regulating bodies (in countries & states with socialized medicine) really, really would like medicine to be pure algorithm, ideally the most financially convenient algorithms. One of my dr friends, if you get them started, won't stop talking about the deskilling of medical providers and the attempt for both insurances and workplaces to remove variable, judgement-based practice from the equation. This is bad for effectiveness and Especially bad for those outliers, because higher degrees of specialization in disparate roles in a hospital prevent more holistic (as in, looking at the whole person in context) assessments and lets a lot of shit get missed; as well as having a lot less opportunity for providers to build knolwege that offers options to people with niche needs/understudied conditions.

I dont have nearly as intimate a window into other fields but the situation seems very similar when it comes to shit like ecology (and the relevant professions or roles).

So like, im not even posing "returning" to something that science has "replaced", and more saying that conversation is a fundemental part of knolwege that can exist with or without scientific studies and that acknowledging, valuing, participating in, and building strong effective practices for is of increasing importance as the forces that be ATTEMPT to dismantle it.

"these researchers published a paper on something that literally any of us could have told you 🙄" ok well my supervisors wont let me write something in my thesis unless I can back it up with a citation so maybe it's a good thing that they're amplifying your voice to the scientific community in a way that prevents people from writing off your experiences as annecdotal evidence

[asktheritochampion]

Hmmm...How peculiar. You expressed a lot of eagerness to not been seen as a young fledgling Revali, and now that you may have potentially reached that stage physically, you seem...dissatisfied.

Could it be deep down you actually liked being seen as youthful? To others, and yourself?

It is strange isn't it? To want something so badly, only to finally get a hold of it, and for you to not feel the way you thought you would about it.

Maybe your cheek spots could return. Maybe they haven't disappeared quite yet, and it's just a momentary effect of whatever medication you took. Nature has a strange way of working it's wonders.

I won't wish you a happy coming of age day, as age doesn't define who you are, or your worth. Instead I'll celebrate your life.

I celebrate that you got a second chance at life, and got to experience what you missed. I celebrate that you found someone special to share your life with, and appreciates you for who you are. I celebrate that you found others that love and care for you. And most importantly as a member of my people, I celebrate that you were born a part of the Rito community.

Life is a gift, and it makes me happy to see many appreciate you for being a part of theirs.

Tch, you again?

What exactly is your role in the Village? To simply follow me around and spout attempts at appearing wise? Honnestly, it's begining to look embaressing for you.

For your information, I am not disatisfied. I'm thrilled, delighted even. Can't you tell? This is exactly what I wanted, and it was long overdue.

I just- well it's like- I supose I-

Ugh...I don't know. Whatever.

Growing up in times of war, it feels as if I never was a fledgling. I hatched from the egg already having responsibilities to my people. I have been a grown man for as long as I can remember, protecting my people before my flight feathers had even fully grown in. Now that war is over, I am the leader of the Rito Warriors and the Champion of my people - the highest rank I could possibly be beyond becoming the Elder himself. I achived all of that before I even shed the last of my markings.

Except - what is it exactly that the world expects of me now? Manhood is suposed to be the time when one flourishes and achives, and yet I have reached the highest heights already and have no further that I can soar. Now that I am accepted as fully mature, the Village must expect greater things of me, and I must make them proud - and yet where can I possibly go from here?

I feel as if I am mourning a childhood I never had, and fearing an adulthood I never thought I'd reach. Everything feels like it's changing so suddenly, and I know that's suposed to be a good thing. Why am I having such trouble accepting that life is moving on? Why can't I figure out what I'm suposed to do with my life now that I'm still here? The war being over is a positive thing, but war is all I have ever known, I knew I would die in battle some day, I never expected to make it this far and now I just feel...lost.

[polkadotloser]

heyy can i please ask for a scott barringer x reader where he gets jealous or something please

mdni .•*

Scott Barringer x reader • jealous!scott • oral (f receiving) • puss eating • proving he’s better • smut with plot • jealousy makes him hotter some how • not proof read yet sryyy

I’ll keep it short and sweet :-)

Scott Barringer is on a good day, very sure of himself and his relationship with you. very sure until he saw laith making you giggle and laugh.

BANG.

“what was that [name]?” Scott asks, his hands pinning you to the stone wall by your shoulders. you crinkle your nose and manage to push him off. “what are you talking about?” you scoff.

his face hardens and he stays silent before eventually speaking up. “do you like him?” he asks, voice more madder than before hand. you roll your eyes and cross your arms over your chest. “no Scott, I don’t.” you say it like it’s common knowledge.

he sighs, reaching a hand out to grab your hip. his thumb circling your hip bone slowly. “You like driving me crazy, don’t you?” he accuses angrily, voice picking up some more volume. “don’t say that Scott” you shake your head at the accusation.

“Say it. say you want that dickhead and not me—go on” Scott dares, though there is more insecurity in his voice, then anger. you frown and shake your head again. “I want you Scott, you know that.” your voice is now softer.

he pushes you against the stone wall, this time he’s gentle. his hands slide down to your arse—grabbing a handful of soft flesh before grunting. “Say it again.” he whispers, eyes flickering down to your lips. he wants to see your lips move around the words. “I want you Scott.” you whisper, more sure and firm then before.

before you can say anymore his lips are against yours in a heated kiss, his hands let go of your ass and are already working on your shorts. your hands reach up to unbuckle his belt but he stops you. “no, i wanna make you feel good” he whispers as he tugs down your shorts. he leans back down to continue kissing you, his fingers hook under the waistband of your panties before sliding them down.

he slowly kneels down on the wood chips, grabbing one of your legs and throwing it over his shoulder. making you gasp and grab his sandy blonde hair for support. he looks at your pussy—already swollen from the kiss. he pokes out his tongue and slides the wet muscles up your slit, you shiver and tug on his hair.

he flattens his tongue and continues to lick your ashy pink clit, tasting your sweet arousal. he groans, effectively making his tongue buzzed against your clit. you yank his hair and whine. “hurry” you beg. usually he would tease but now he’s proving how much better he is than laith. he wraps his lips around your clit and begins to suck.

you gasp before throwing your head back, your face scrunching in pleasure and need. his hands grip your thighs tighter as he eats you out, putting in all his effort until you begin to shake and moan. you try to suppress your moans but it’s no use, your a mess for Scott. “oh my god!” you inhale before cumming on his mouth.

he give your pussy one last lick before looking up at you, his chin and mouth covered in your juices, a huge grin on his lips.

much better than laith,

xoxo polka :-)

(I love this ask! I hope I did well)

[snowdrop520]

Ikemen Sengoku Official Web Post: Message from the Developers

[ 22.06.2025 ]

Link to post.

As of the 22nd of June 2025, Ikemen Sengoku: Romances Across Time celebrates a major milestone, its 10th anniversary. We extend our deepest gratitude to all who have supported us over the years.

Ikemen Sengoku began as a small seed with a goal to become an “IP that would last a decade”. That seed sprouted when being watered with your love, and has since grown to become more than just an app; it branched out to stage plays, anime, merchandise, and much more. We truly believe it was thanks to your unwavering affection for the warlords, that this tree has grown so large and full.

Now, as we reach this point of our ten year journey and embark on a new decade together, we are proud to announce the launch of our new app: “Ikemen Sengoku: Romances Across Time – Eternity”

Why The New App?

The existing app has built a long and meaningful legacy with our playerbase, and every member of our development team is deeply attached to it. In preparation for this 10 year anniversary, we have held countless discussions about the future of Ikemen Sengoku beyond this point.

The team wishes to keep Ikemen Sengoku running and bring you joy for many more years to come. However, as the years went by during the long-term operation of the existing app, various issues have accumulated — issues that must be addressed.

Despite having received many requests regarding the system over the years, this app was built on a foundation from ten years ago. This makes any significant improvement works and updates extremely challenging, and this is something we have always felt sorry about.

In April 2022, the app experienced a major service disruption due to unauthorised third-party access, which resulted in the corruption of our data. The process of fully recovering the lost user data took over a month, and we sincerely apologise for the immense inconvenience and concern this incident caused. Since then, we have been working hard on reinforcing our security measures, migrated servers, and upgraded the system to prevent reoccurrence.

With the next ten years in mind, we carefully considered the best way to proceed and ultimately decided that launching an entirely new app would be the most effective and lasting solution. This new app will be our platform to continue delivering heart-fluttering experiences for many more years going forward.

About the New App

The new app, Ikemen Sengoku: Romances Across Time – Eternity”, will continue the theme of “a dramatic love worth putting your life on the line for”, which is the core of Ikemen Sengoku. It will introduce new experiences such as a commu (bond) points feature to bring you closer to the warlords, a cards system where you can enjoy voiced lines and beautiful illustrations, and a brand new story arc: Act 3.

From here on, all new content – including main story routes, sequels, and events – will be added to the new app.

Previously released main story routes and sequels will also eventually be ported over. However, only a selection of warlords’ stories will be available at launch, but will be included over time(※).

The new app will also feature major improvements such as enhanced visual storytelling with blinking character sprites and more immersive scenes. We hope you will enjoy visiting the old stories in their richer, more expressive versions.

System improvements that were difficult to implement in the existing app, such as free avatar item placement and free premium currency (the word used here was “diamonds”), will also be included, making for an even more enjoyable experience.

(※) Due to system differences, some distribution formats and bonuses may differ; further details will be provided at launch.

About Act 3

As previously mentioned, Act 3 will be delivered through the new app. This new arc will be kicked off with the release of Nobunaga Oda’s second sequel.

In Act 3, a new enemy force – the Ashikaga Forces – appears, travelling back in time to the warlords’ pasts in an attempt to twist history and seize complete control of the era. As the protagonist, you will witness your beloved's past firsthand and grapple with your emotions. It is a story about time travelling, that asks where your true happiness lies – past, present, or future? Act 3 will bring even more dramatic and emotionally resonant romances, as you're forced to question your values and confront new threats. In the main stories, sequels, and second sequels that unfold in Act 3, one of the branched out routes will feature illustrations and scenes of the warlords as children, offering a glimpse into their innocent younger selves. In the second sequels, you will also be able to experience a wedding ceremony with the warlords and illustrations, so we hope you will look forward to these heartwarming additions.

Additionally, for warlords who were planned to receive their sequels in Act 2, those will also be delivered through the new app. Please stay tuned for more information.

About the New Warlords

Starting from Act 3, the new faction – the Ashikaga Forces – will introduce five new warlords: Yoshiteru Ashikaga, Hisahide Matsunaga, Kanbei Kuroda, Saizo Kirigakure, and Sen no Rikyu.

These new characters with unique characteristics compare favourably with the warlords you have come to know and love, and will add greater depth to the Ikemen Sengoku world.

With a total of 22 warlords, there will be plenty of new encounters and interacting with these new warlords will also allow you to see new sides of the existing warlords. We will continue to dive deeper into each warlord’s personality, portraying them even more vividly.

Data Linking

To ensure a smooth transition for long-time players of Ikemen Sengoku, we will be holding a data linking campaign between the existing app and the new one.

Do note that due to system limitations, transferring all saved data and items will not be possible. However, we will do everything we can to provide fair rewards and facilitate a smooth transition.

What you can transfer:

Based on your “Charm” and “Princess Points” in the existing app, you will receive special items in the new app e.g. story chapter tickets, gacha tickets, closet space, and items to boost your “Princess Points” – please refer to the in-app data linking page to check which rewards you qualify for.

A new feature called “Sengoku All-Time Ranking” will be introduced in the new app, which combines your “Charm” and “Princess Points” from both apps for an overall ranking.

Some rewards earned in the existing app will also be gifted again in the new app. Details on the eligible events and bonuses will be shared in future updates.

※ This campaign is limited to players who have cleared the tutorial in Ikemen Sengoku before the release date of the new app.

Instructions on how to link accounts and the reward details can be found on the data-linking page. If you generate a data link ID by 8th of July 0000hrs JST, you will receive 20 story chapter tickets to use in the existing Ikemen Sengoku app as a special gift.

The Future of The Existing App

The existing Ikemen Sengoku app will cease to receive new event updates in September 2025, and will continue to host rerun events until the end of December 2025. From that point on, all new “long stories” i.e. main story, sequels, second sequels, and events will only be available on the new app.

...

Further details on Ikemen Sengoku: Romances Across Time – Eternity will continue to be published on the official website and social media platforms. We are working hard to bring you something truly special, and sincerely hope you will look forward to it.

The subtitle Eternity reflects our heartfelt wish for the bonds we share with you will continue for many more years to come, and that the love between you and the warlords last for eternity.

If Ikemen Sengoku, now a fully grown tree, has at any point in your life offered you sweet fruits or the comfort of shade, we couldn't be more grateful to have played a role in that.

Finally, allow us to thank you once again from the bottom of our hearts.

Thank you for continuing to love the warlords.

Because of you, they have grown stronger and now walk on a path leading to brighter days.

We humbly ask for your continued support of Ikemen Sengoku and its warlords.

[icwasher]

Okay, but imagine a BBC Merlin time travel AU where both Merlin and Arthur get sent back, but neither one of them knows that the other one got sent back so they're both trying to change things while also not arousing suspicions. And, in true BBC Merlin fashion, they don't find out for the longest time. And I think they would get sent back at, like, the beginning of season two, that way Merlin and Arthur's dynamic is already established, meaning both of them don't want to do anything to change that and arouse the other's suspicions.

And you would think that one of them would notice, but every time Merlin does something suspicious/different, Arthur just thinks, "Oh, he's probably doing a magic thing that I didn't catch last time." And whenever Arthur does something different/suspicious, Merlin's just like, "Ah, my actions are having a butterfly effect. Good."

You've got two people trying to keep Morgana from turning evil. Arthur is telling her that things will be different when he's King, while Merlin is trying to relate to her more. Arthur automatically knows who to trust and who not to trust, and when Merlin points those things out, he actually listens. Arthur is always in the know. Uther has no idea what's going on. Merlin is out here doing ALL THE THINGS with his magic, and Arthur doesn't even notice. And neither of them can tell when the other is lying because both of them are such idiots. Somehow, Arthur ends up in mortal danger just as often as he did last time.

But it's not just silly-goofy-fun-and-games. There is so much angst. The whole time, Merlin is missing his Arthur, the one who died, and he thinks that he's never going to have that Arthur again. Plus, he knows this time that, if he fails, Arthur will die, and so there's a whole other level of pressure there.

Arthur, on the other hand, doesn't want to put Merlin through all of the trauma that he faced before. He feels responsible for making Merlin feel unable to share his secrets with him, and also knows that he will be causing Merlin unimaginable grief if he fails, which he does not want to do. Again.

But the whole thing is mostly hijinks. Because the show is mostly hijinks.

[weiszklee]

The other problem with rent control is that it can incentivize weird shit like people holding onto leases on flats and subletting bc they can make money from the large arbitrage between the rent the market will bear and the rent they are paying (cf Berlin). Even where it’s dubiously legal it’s hard to enforce, and bc finding a flat is incredibly difficult (due in part to rent control) renters will still take that deal if they have to. You can try to ban that sort of thing, but as long as there’s a strong incentive toward it, bans are at best going to require costly enforcement efforts. In that way you can create a situation where renting is great if you’ve been living in the same flat for the last fifteen years but really bad if you need to move for some reason, and given that people will often need to move for various reasons (they have kids and need bigger space, they want to downsize or save and need less, they want to move closer to their job or to a specific neighborhood to be near an ailing relative etc) you’re just shifting the friction of the rental market from the Kaltmiete sticker price to spending months or years having to hunt for flats.

If you want to keep rents low or lower them, it’s much better to directly put downward pressure on rents by building extensively, than to enact awkward price control schemes that have lots of weird side effects from market distortions. As triv says, rent control isn’t a big deal if you pair it as a sop to renters along side good policy, but many cities treat rent control as sufficient. I think this is because enacting rent control is seen as “doing something” and relieves political pressure, even if it doesn’t on its own relieve scarcity. It would be better if rent control was off the table, so that if politicians wanted to be seen to be doing something, they were forced to look at other policies.

I suspect rent control is also better for property owners—it usually lapses when a new tenant takes over, or owners are allowed to increment the rent more, so rents can still rise in principle, keeping property values higher. Building more reduces the rate of rent rise in a more durable way (or, if you really go all out, lowers rents), which is terrific for renters but bad for existing property owners. Obviously it would be better for owners if there was no rent control, but if you had to choose between the value of your property rising more slowly and the value becoming stagnant or falling you would choose the first.

Okay yeah I agree that building more is better than rent control on its own, but that does not make rent control in general bad. Absent other options or, as in the discussed case, alongside other measures, rent control does indeed do something and isn't just for appearances.

To be fair, my personal experience with renting is only in flatshares. The one I am living in right now has existed for decades, with inhabitants slowly rotating in and out, thus keeping the GbR (which is the actual renting party) instact and keeping rent low. Of course this is not an option for families, but like ... every person who is helped by a policy is a win. That it isn't helping everyone is not an argument against it. (I realize this is easy to say when I am one of the people who are in fact benefitting.)

Subletting for profit defeats the purpose, of course, and should be restricted or at least heavily taxed. I am not like familiar with the matter, but intuitively this seems hard to hide from bureaucracies. Is this actually that big of a problem? I have never lived in Berlin.

and bc finding a flat is incredibly difficult (due in part to rent control)

Again here is the implication of a causation. How does rent control induce scarcity if it doesn't even apply to newly built houses? It should have no effect either way on incentives for building. It helps the people already living there, but that does not mean it screws over those who want to move to a city, it should just have no effect on them. Unless, I guess, you think people stay living in the city despite wanting to move away just because they are in a rent controlled flat, which I don't think is very common. Like, there will be a few people who this describes, but this should not make a significant dent in supply.

About politicians choosing to do rent control over incentivising building more just because it's easier, I have no idea how to evaluate if this is a big problem. Sure rent control might silence the nagging renters a little, but housing scarcity has a lot of detrimental effects besides making renters complain to politicians. Politicians should already want to solve this.

[n1k0laa5]

Redirect everything towards your desires.. just because you can.

This is pretty simple and a nice technique for those who doubt a lot—I like to pair this up with a pair of specific affirmations and breathing in and out. My affirmations often times for me were like an interruption to doubts.

These were the exact ones;

“Worries don’t manifest.”

“Negative thoughts and unwanted thoughts don't manifest.”

“Doubts don't manifest.”

“Fears don't manifest.”

“What ifs don't manifest.”

“Opposing thoughts don't manifest.”

“There's no such thing as what ifs or even ifs because that would mean it has an option of not happening when it's already happened.”

“Intrusive thoughts don't manifest.”

“Anxiety never manifests.”

“Anything I don't want to happen never happens—it doesn't have the power to manifest.”

“This is not my story.”

“I do not accept this.”

(Both last ones were for doubts.)

And yes, you may think these are excessive. But, I would only use them the moment I felt an ounce of doubt come up. I didn’t scroll through Tumblr or look for validation, I affirmed, persisted and distracted.

Now onto our actual topic;

Redirecting everything is something that can be done casually or have some thought put into it.

For example: you’re manifesting or attempting to shift, and suddenly your 3D shows you something that badly contradicts it. You can either affirm that your 3D is temporary OR you can redirect it.

“This is just my 3D acting up, before something dies, it gets stronger one last time. This is proof my 3D is changing.”

Or, if that didn’t necessarily make sense or you’re not one to have time to put thought into it..

“This proves I have my desire / I have shifted.”

That’s it.

You don’t need external validation. You don’t need anything. You need redirection.

Doubts? It proves you have your desire and you’ve shifted.

Worries? You have your desire and you’ve shifted.

Any emotion ever? Any thoughts from your ego telling you it’s not working? Everytime you cry or react?

IT PROVES YOU HAVE SHIFTED AND HAVE YOUR DESIRES.

It doesn’t need to make sense.

You are God. You decide if it makes sense. You decide what’s possible, you decide what works, you assign meaning and power to everything.

And if you decide your doubts and spiraling have zero power over your desires—it now has zero effect.

You can spiral. You can doubt. You can cry while eating five buckets of icecream and scream about how tired you are. Don’t repress your emotions.

Because after that; you’ll decide to redirect everything to work out in your favor.

Because that’s what God does.