#vi is the founder actually

[mollysunder]

Is Jericho a Jinx Stan?

I'll admit it, I cheered when I finally saw this shot. Like, there's Jericho from the back wearing his clothes in a way that looks like Jinx's pants and shirt in one go! It's such a fun way to show that maybe Jinx's more popular in Zaun than we think. That maybe there's people outside of Silco who are looking out for her but don't necessarily align with Silco.

The scene happened so fast it's like the artists wanted you to miss the hint. Seriously, I wondered why this endearing show of support wasn't on random extras or graffiti in Jinx's image. Instead the creators chose to use a character named Jericho to rep her colors.

And then I lost my mind because I remembered there's only one other character in League that has that name.

Jericho

FUCKING

SWAIN!!!!!!!

The grand general of Noxus himself. Idk what he wants exactly, I'm just gonna enjoy the fact that Jinx effortlessly endears herself to problematic old people.

Update 1: This all makes me remember the initial buzz around Swain's potential involvement in Piltover and Zaun's conflict. There was a lot of speculation that all the crows that began to appear were a sign of his presence. But that was more or less shot down as a reason because Swain employed ravens, while crows were more associated with Fiddlesticks. But now we have two examples of two things that rhyme with Swain but just aren't. There's the 'not ravens' and now, the 'not that Jericho', so instead of a red herring this is turning into a teaser.

[miranyx1337]

Alastor x angel reader

FEATHER chapter VI

Tags: fluff (for now ) enemies to lovers, kissing, being protective, cuddles, sleeping problems, flirting, possesive reader is an angel, fem reader

Alastor POV

From window of the radio tower, I observed a silvery creature maneuvering through the crowd gathered under the hotel. It adeptly gave lessons in hand-to-hand combat and tips on outsmarting celestial entities. I lounged on a small rolling chair, resting my feet on the table.

Unexpressed frustration and anxiety engulfed my thoughts as I discarded another chewed-up pen. Knowing that the silvery feather hidden beneath the floor was inherently linked to its owner tempted me even more, to test its intriguing properties.

Her energy brought an unwritten relief to my shackled soul. Increasingly aware of my addiction, I shredded another pen. My hand searched the bottom of an empty drawer for the next victim. Perhaps a real victim would soothe his nerves? The taste and warmth of blood, screams, and insane doses of adrenaline always helped in moments like these.

One of the slender male figures often and closely positioned near the angelic being. it seems like he has chosen MY girl for a lunch.

With a snap of fingers transported to the company of my dear cannibalistic friend and the likely place of a future crime

’’Oh Darling, you are hiding again," her clawed fingers adjusted the slightly crumpled coat. "Everyone gathered here thanks to you, and you rot in the radio tower," she retorted disgusted.

"I'm sorry, Rosie, I was busy."

Alright, alright, but now I'm interested, who is she?"

Of course, she could only be talking about the laughing Y/N leaning her elbow on the young cannibal.

My patience is definitely being tested this day

‚,Then let me introduce you." I grabbed her arm and quickly approached to interrupt the cheerful conversation.

Rossie’s suggestive head motion clearly signaled the youngster to disappear and attend to something usefull

And this, my dear, is Y/N," - I calmly introduced, as if presenting another sightseeing spot. "Our guest from heaven."

"Oh my, so you are truly from heaven?" she replied, as if big wings weren't evidence enough. Our little angel apparently enjoyed some attention, parading cheerfully in her true form.

Yeah, it's nice to meet you, miss." Her gaze halted where I held Rosie under the arm.

"Oh, what miss? I'm Rosie, dear friend of Alastor." Too bad she had to reveal the truth so quickly; I would have liked to see if angelic beings can feel such emotions as jealousy.

"I see you're really skilled in combat."

I wouldn't say that. I can quickly spot opponents' weak points, including my brethren," she emphasized her allegiance.

Now uncomfortable questions could start, but I had already discussed it with Charlie. Y/N was declared as a founder of the ,,heavenly resistance against executions’’ and to show her support, she descended into darkness with the princess of hell.

We stared intensely at each other, and Vivien sensed the tension, letting go of my hand.

"Being honest, I've been watching you all day. Really, you are a lovely creature, and if I'm not mistaken, I could smell Alastor's perfume on you."

Ah, that intrusive and sensitive cannibalistic nose. I must admit, as always, reliable in reading situations.

"Ah yes, Y/N and I had a meeting last night to discuss some training issues." I explained

Yes, I can feel she needed to deal with your experience issues. And a 'holo hole' was the one to actually entertain you?"

A what now?"

I guess Y/N wasn't as embarrassed and angry as me for this improper remark. In the end, she was an angel. Her pure laughter entertained everybody around." "Oh sorry, I just ahahahah ."

Overlord lady starter to laugh with her

I thought it was the right moment to exit the conversation.

I wouldn't want to interrupt you, ladies, but Y/N and I still have some things to discuss.

Instantly, the smile disappeared from her angelic face. She took a more upright position, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I guess so."

Rossie said goodbye to Y/N with a quick smile and a hand on her shoulder, then immediately found herself another interesting occupation.

A heavy silence fell as I led her toward the radio tower. My demonic shadow trailing behind us definitely got too excited, like a dog seeing its owner. A whole day without her was definitely too long. I let the angel through, then closed the door behind us.

"Listen, Y/N."

An unexpected kiss interrupted me, decidedly more intense than the one initiated by me. My hands automatically moved to her waist to pull her closer, but she abruptly stepped back, leaving me unsatisfied.

"What's wrong with you? You hate others' touch, can't stand affection and romantic Things , but let me kiss you around?!"

Could she decide in what mood she wanted to be today? - ,, Y/N, let me explain everything."

"Alright!! I'm listening!"

"It's a curse. Since I ended up in hell, a curse hangs over me... when I get close to someone and form a bond it makes me a slave to them. That's why I desperately avoided closeness."

Of course, it was a lie, but it was the only explanation I came up with for the morning events. The sweet angel's knowledge of hell was limited, unaware of soul contracts or how punishments imposed on sinners worked; I could easily manipulate the truth.

I stepped closer, placing my hand on her cheek.

But you are different. You are kind, good, and lovely. For the first time I could trust somebody this much ." I continued

"You're lying. I don't know if you're someone I can trust," she said.

"Y/N, why would I lie?"

"I don't know, maybe your kiss will turn me into a demon?"

"What?

There was a bedtime story for young angels; if they acted bad, a demon would welcome them in their sleep instead of their mothers, and give them a goodnight kiss to turn them into a hell creature ."

"I've never heard a bigger nonsense since Charlie's hotel idea," - I couldn't help but laugh at this silly anecdote - And did you think these chains were a sign of turning into a demon?"

"Maybe," she said, apparently embarrassed.

"Haha, oh my dear. If you want, I can prove you every night that my demon kisses won't change your cute appearance." I leaned in to practically whisper those words

[nadia-cannot-think-straight]

This is more or less a speculation, not a theory.

I have read some pretty decent post act 3 Arcane fanfics, yet one thing always bothers me a little bit about them. It is an obvious thing that Viktor will return to Zaun at some point, like this is inevitable. The same goes to his falling out with Jayce. Many people have created some cool scenarios on how it will happen, and i appreciate every single one of them.

With that said, i really cannot imagine Viktor getting banished as an event that starts it all. For a simple reason.

I don't think Viktor would have been bitter about it.

With the way he acts in the last episode of season 1, i believe that he'd think it was deserved. The thing he could be charged for would be an illegal experimentation and the manslaughter of Sky Young. Things he feels so guilty about he tried to off himself. He has very little time left, and if the trial is a necessary procedure, he'd probably accept it. Would he be upset? Of course, but i don't think he would even try to put an effort to avoid it, once people find out. And at the peak of panic in Piltover after Jinx's attack, the whatever the hell is left off the council would try to ensure that there is still at least a renmant of government control. Just like in act 1, that was literally the reason why Enforcers were trying to arrest 4 kids.

If anything, i think it would be Jayce who'd be the most desperate in this situation. "He'd be mad at Viktor for killing an innocent person" he literally did the same thing (if you think about it, Jayce have killed so much more people besides that kid, we just don't discuss it because in the show they are presented as scary monsters, not human beings that got drugged the hell up and now have their entire ripcage obligarated. But y'know, that's the point of this scene). "What about Viktor's illegal experimentation?" What Jayce did with Vi was also kinda illegal? I mean, he is a councilor, he can do whatever the fuck he wants ig, but before hand it was clear that other councilors would not want that to happen.

I imagine that Jayce would do anything in his power to cancel this trial. Viktor is his best friend, person who he has such a close bond to. And while what he did was wrong, he isn't much better. Yet it is Viktor, his dying friend, who is punished.

I can see Viktor actually being like: it's okay Jayce, it needs to happen, i will be okay (he's lying but trying).

So yeah i don't think that Viktor being banished to Zaun would be a death blow to their relationship.

Buuuuut you know what would probably make more sense (at least to me :3)?

Viktor's punishment being working on hextech weapons against Zaun.

Think about it. Jayce in an act of desperation convinces other councilors that as a co-founder of Hextech Viktor would be a viable asset in designing weapons that would "protect" Piltover against Zaun.

Well wouldn't that make Viktor absolutely fucking furious. Viktor may have ****kinda**** accepted his death but making him work AGAINST the city he spend his entire life wishing to improve and protect? Over his dead body, he'd rather be eaten alive by rats in Undercity alleys than do such a thing.

It works for me much better because it keeps Jayce's character much more consistent. Like, it's understandable why would he do it (he doesn't want his friend to die) but also highlights his change in priorities after season 1. Like, he told Silco that Undercity doesn't stand a chance against Piltover, and well, one rocket proved hin wrong. Now there are dead people in Piltover. I think he'd be more radical, more bold, maybe even less forgiving and 100% stressed af.

Does he want to keep Viktor safe? Yes. But does he find building weapons is now necessary when they are at war? Also yes. And considering the "I'M from the Undercity" scene he also tends to forget that Viktor is not, in fact, Piltovan, that as much as he loves Jayce, he does not associate with Piltover society. He is from Zaun, it is an important part of his indentity. Something that Jayce keeps neglecting.

It also doesn't change the fact that he still feels guilty over the death of that ONE child. Not the countless men in chemtanks, that are as much victims of Undercity's terrible state as Viktor is really. I think that when he'd make a decisions "a necessary decisions to keep them saved" he'd think about them, scary, crazy monsters with blades. Not that one kid. Kid feels so much more personal, people who attack them-not.

I'm not saying that is how the conflict in season 2 will look like, nuh-uh, it's just me making some fanfiction prompts lmao.

Anything could happened since them. Viktor trying to sabotage their work which would end up in an explosive and dramatic break up once Jayce finds out? Yep, i can see that. Add some fire and leave Viktor crying on concrete floor, now we have some nice parallels. But i can also see Viktor fucking off right there and there, or other stuff i dunno.

So yeah i have fanfic ideas.

[nadiv22]

My favorite quotes from civ VI

TECHNOLOGY

“No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune.” – Plutarch

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” – Will Rogers

“I AM FOND OF PIGS. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” – Winston S. Churchill

“Who deserves more credit than the wife of a coal miner?” – Merle Travis

“When you find yourself in a hole, quit digging.” – Will Rogers

“I don’t believe in astrology; I’m a Sagittarius and we’re skeptical.” – Arthur C. Clarke

“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” -W. H. Auden

“I shot an arrow into the air. It fell to earth, I knew not where.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” -Mark Twain

“I’m also interested in creating a lasting legacy … because bronze will last for thousands of years.” – Richard MacDonald

“MONEA, if it does not bring you happiness, will at least help you be miserable in comfort.” – Helen Gurley Brown

“A man on a horse is spiritually as well as physically bigger than a man on foot.” – John Steinbeck

“The Lord made us all out of iron. Then he turns up the heat to forge some of us into steel.” – Marie Osmond

“I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder … Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that.” – Capt. E.J. Smith, RMS Titanic

“Create with the heart; build with the mind.” – Criss Jami

“One man’s ‘magic’ is another man’s engineering.” – Robert Heinlein

“There is no easy way to train an apprentice. My two tools are example and nagging.” – Lemony Snicket

The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” – Malcolm Forbes

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle

“Rocks in my path? I keep them all. With them I shall build my castle.” – Nemo Nox

“Not all who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

“People can have the Model T in any color – so long as it’s black.” – Henry Ford

“The pen might not be mightier than the sword, but maybe the printing press is heavier than the siege weapon. Just a few words can change everything.” – Terry Pratchett

“Astronomy’s much more fun when you’re not an astronomer.” – Brian May

“If facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.” – Albert Einstein

“No one starts a war – or rather, no one in his senses ought to do so – without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it.” – Karl von Clausewitz

“Science owes more to the steam engine than the steam engine owes to science.” – Lawrence Henderson

“Bolt actions speak louder than words.” – Craig Roberts

“Never criticize a rifleman until you have walked a mile in his shoes. That way, he’ll be barefoot and you’ll be out of range.” – The 2nd Target Company

“For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.” – Leonardo da Vinci

“If you can walk away from a landing, it’s a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it’s an outstanding landing.” – Chuck Yeager

“Benjamin Franklin may have discovered electricity, but it was the man who invented the meter who made the money.” – Earl Wilson

“Chemists do not usually stutter. It would be very awkward if they did, seeing that they have at times to get out such words as methylethylamylophenylium.” – Sir William Crookes

“If God had really intended men to fly, He’d make it easier to get to the airport.” – George Winters

“Untutored courage is useless in the face of educated bullets.” – George Patton

“There may be no forgiveness for polyester. On this one matter, Satan and the Lord are in agreement.” – Joe Hill

“I’m a big laser believer – I really think they are the wave of the future.” – Courteney Cox

"Even though the future seems far away, it is actually beginning right now.” – Mattie Stepanek

CIVICS

“Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.” — Colonel David Hackworth

“A strong economy begins with a strong, well-educated workforce.”– Bill Owens “Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too.” – Marcus Aurelius

“It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire. With air conditioning their windows were shut; they couldn’t hear the barbarians coming.” – Garrison Keillor

Divide and rule, a sound motto. Unite and lead, a better one.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” – William Shakespeare

“Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.” – Sun Tzu

“History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

“A good navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“In democracy it’s your vote that counts; in feudalism it’s your count that votes.” – Mogens Jallberg

“There are very honest people who do not think that they have had a bargain unless they have cheated a merchant.” – Anatole France

“You can’t go around arresting the Thieves’ Guild. I mean, we’d be at it all day!” – Terry Pratchett

“Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government … You can’t expect to wield supreme power just ‘cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!” – Monty Python

“In diplomacy there are two kinds of problems: small ones and large ones. The small ones will go away by themselves, and the large ones you will not be able to do anything about.” – Patrick McGuinness

“A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman’s birthday but never remembers her age.” – Robert Frost

“New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.” – John Locke

“A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.” – Douglas Adams

“Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal.” – Edward Wilson

“If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you’re mis-informed.” -Mark Twain

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” – Heywood Broun

“A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week.” – George S. Patton

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” – John F. Kennedy

“Which of all my important nothings shall I tell you first?” -Jane Austen

“I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.” –Albert Einstein

[nextinline-if]

I'm tired of watching creators get stepped on (with a clarified statement regarding the forum poster)

I don't frequent this forum - I went here to investigate pirating. Several people have insisted that the person going by the COG founder's name is not actually him, so here's my updated post. I retract that it's Dan but not what else I said. I still stand by what I said.

Hi, it's me, your friendly Vi with something on my mind. Unfollow if you will but I gotta speak my mind on behalf of the authors who spend countless hours creating the games that bring you joy. Sure, I've been away from Tumblr so I'm probably late to this but oh well. Still decided to post this.

I moved my game to Twine in August because I don't want to be associated with Choice of Games (COG). Here's a great example of why...

People in a forum asking for and sharing pirated content from indie creators' Patreons.

The author saw it and responded:

[ID: A snippet of what the text reads. Please take this down. This is just...really not cool guys. My hands are trembling as I right this, because I'm both hurt and stunned that someone would take *everything* from my Patreon and post it. If you ever want - redacted game name - to get finished, then try not to do things that will cause me to have a breakdown. Please. /ID]

Here's the response from someone going by COG's founder's name (per screenshots below - apparently it's not him but I do wonder why he lets someone use his name or isn't aware?):

I know this image is small, so here's what it reads:

"Let me tell you something, those who haven't subscribed to your patreon isn't magically gonna subscribe if they don't get stories elsewhere, and those who have already did that means they care about you and I'm pretty damn sure they aren't gonna unsubscribe anytime soon. If something anything changes due to the leaks then it's your popularity, readers are gonna be more interested in your titles and perhaps once they have enough money then they can even subscribe and donate that money to you, right now many members of this forum don't have enough resources to purchase things online such as patreon subscription, hence they had to rely on leaks to sate their excitement of reading the stories. Do think about it, from their perspective and if you can then try to make old stories and demo available for public this way they may not needs to rely on leaks and will read from official source.

Sincerely, Dan Fabulich"

What I said originally when I thought it was Dan: The guy is probably a millionaire (or, at the very least, well off compared to most indie creators) and he has the nerve to create an entitled response like this to an INDIE AUTHOR who uses choicescript.... wow. To an author who yes, has a pretty good following but is spending 1000s of hours creating for the enjoyment of others.

New statement: It's still fucking the way this person is speaking to an indie author. Still seems odd to allow a forum to use your name (and also basically insinuate it is supported by your company)...I would certainly be angry. But then again, I'm not rich and living off indie authors' work.

He (still) has more money than most of us indie authors ever have in his pocket from creating a company that pays pennies to the writers who make it money. People who just rely on passion to create these stories. Even if you make money on Patreon, most people cannot be sustained full-time. Most of the pirated content is not from bigger authors (but some is).

And before anyone says anything, yes, I am aware that many people can't afford Patreon and "don't want to wait." I get it. I promise you, I know the struggle. But like, it's fucking entitled to think you deserve to read someone's work without their permission.

And it's fucking entitled to throw the authors that pay for your lifestyle under the bus. (I still believe the company does this).

I am SO grateful to the majority of you out there who are kind, supportive, and overall amazing. But this is not okay!

Vi, out.

P.S. as an anon suggested, I will try to contact Dan to see if he's aware of this person using his name to make statements like this

[revelisms]

Silco, Sevika and Jinx Headcanons (music ver 🎵)

Since my playlists are running rampant (and they're largely how I get a sense for writing character voices/actions/etc.), I thought it'd be fun to share a few HC tidbits via some tunes :-)

Silco — aka the Bloodshark, the Eye, Mr. Crime Boss himself; the man, the myth, the slippery bastard. Also clocking in with nearly 8+ hours worth of songs for this sack of bones...I am...side-eyeing myself. Anyway.

Foundation — Sunlit Grave, Saint Mesa

This basically kickstarted the playlist earworm, for him. At a high-level, this is the song I think of anytime I write him: it's dark, eerie, regal, persevering. I always get an image of someone sinking beneath the depths at the beginning, and clawing out of a deathly cage/prowling to a bloody pinnacle by the end. The lyrics themselves also capture a flavor of his character, as a dead man speaking to someone (potentially his killer and/or lover) who knew him before; who must choose to let go of their knowledge of who that dead man used to be. He is gone, irreparably changed, and he's not coming back—and he'll drag a kingdom to its knees, by the end. (Maybe it's what landed him in that grave, in the first place.)

Inner Voice — The Wondersmith and His Sons, Astronautalis

This gives a sense of past and present: a glimpse into the hard-cracked persona he'd built in the mines (which I associate with folksongs, especially of an English or Gaelic nature), twisted up into the sly, scheming charisma he harnessed as co-founder of the Lanes. For me, the song paints a potential tale of childhood (the lyrics tell of a family of swindlers, from which the narrator is the cleverest son) and a foreboding hint into the future (too much grease can break down a machine; for all their success, a brutal end is eminent). It also just feels like him—it's growly, arrogant, and jovial; drawling in some moments, and spit-fired in others.

On The Record — Time & Place, Queens of the Stone Age

In terms of what he'd actually listen to (of which I think he'd have a extensive range, to the point of his tastes skewing past eclectic into downright bizarre), this would fit easily between a swath of blaring industrial rock, crooning big band classics, jazz, folk-tunes, experimental funk, r&b, etc. It's got that flavor of 80s post-punk vocals that would be a staple in his sets, with a snappy flare in the instrumentals (something he'd nod his head or tap his pen to)—and, funnily enough, has a slight echo to Snakes (Vi's and Jayce's fightsong), which...oddly fits, given I see him and Vi as actually very similar, at their cores.

Sevika — aka the Lioness, the Teeth, "step on me and I'll thank you for it" Miss King. She's badassery in a gilded package, baby—but there's a tender spot under it all, if you squint.

Foundation — Little Girl Gone, CHINCHILLA

Another song that kickstarted the playlist earworm. This is a baseball bat to the gut with prowess, swagger and Try That Again energy—and the transition of the whisper to the drop just hhh. Gets me every time. This song is the battle anthem from a woman who's earned her armor (fittingly, working under a gangster)—test her patience, and she'll be wearing red on her sleeve; dare to cross her in a fight, and she'll drink you down like liquor. I can visualize a snappy two-punch brawl every time I hear this.

Inner Voice — Milk, BONES UK

Dipping into that tenderness here, with a stark note of ceaseless ambition, we've got this song—a reflection, a demand, a love letter, a hunger. There's so many layers folded into this: the desires of a self-made life to be everything and more their host yearns for it to be, even if, underneath it all, what they truly yearn for is belonging. This feels like a young, angry, cropped-hair and bloody-fisted Sevika fighting down the world—and an older self looking fondly, if a touch melancholically, back on it all.

On The Record — Know Better, Janelle Monáe

Put her on the aux, and she'll have the dancefloor congealing into a neon haze of sweat and glitter. The mix of the sax and the bassline here just thrums with her energy, to me: self-assured, watchful, slow-smirking. It's often the kind of tracks she reaches for, especially for a crowd; she's got a bold streak in her, and it doesn't take much to stir it to full display (come here now, stranger; gimme that sense of danger).

Jinx — aka the Loose Cannon, the Bombshell, everyone's favorite lil' gremlin. I tend to interpret her character in distinct "phases"—i.e., Powder, Jinx, and Jinx post-shimmer. These also factor into what I musically associate with her; each piece of her character feels very distinct.

Foundation — BLOODMONEY, Poppy

This is like...the Jinx song, to me. It's about distrust, sacrifice, self-identity, denial, rage, all wrapped up in a spiteful bow of religious allegories—a flash-cycle of whose opinion she worships, at any given moment (when nobody is watching, what do you believe?). It's also just a sensory meal with the sound design, and could even match up with soundbites of her voice so easily.

Inner Voice — Crimson, Skott

Take a stroll into Powder building Jinx's persona from the ashes. This is a haunting, beautiful song, with an undercurrent of something fight-eager, spiteful, and hopeful brewing beneath the surface. In the wake of tragedy, there's still a thread of strength; someone picking up the pieces while trying to find a path back to their own mind. I almost hear this as an apology and declaration of war, in turns, from Jinx to Vi.

On The Record — BOOM, Cassyette.

You know this little metalhead is listening to any splitzy mechanical tracks she can get her hands on (fuels the inventor muse, y'know?)—and I think she'd love this. I mean, c'mon. It's a song about explosions, told through a narrator saying how slipping into different mental spaces feels like a bomb waiting to blow. I could see her jamming to this on loop in her workshop while tinkering with a new flare gun. (Also, as a close runner up, I associate anything Djerv with her, given they were the artist for Get Jinxed—she'd probably have things like (We Don't) Hang No More always on the gramophone, singing to it word for word.)

[aswithasunbeam]

Hey! As you know a lot about the time period I’m wondering if I can ask you a question. From what I’ve seen, John Hamilton’s biography of his father was criticised because it claimed that Hamilton authored many of Washington’s letters (and I gather he was criticised by people who admired Hamilton). Did Hamilton actually author many of the papers under Washington’s name - did people just not want to believe it because of Washington’s reputation or for political reasons?

Hamilton definitely authored a good number of Washington's papers. During the Revolution, Hamilton's job as Washington's aide de camp included the duty to pen letters for George Washington. A quick search of Hamilton's papers on Founders Online shows a total of 889 letters written in Hamilton's handwriting that were sent under George Washington's signature.

What brought much more political controversy was Hamilton's involvement in the drafting of Washington's famous Farewell Address. All those years as Washington's aide meant Hamilton had a great knack for writing in Washington's voice. When Washington determined to step down from the presidency, he sent Hamilton a draft for a Farewell Address that James Madison had worked on four years previously (See Hamilton to Washington, 10 May 1796). Hamilton reviewed Madison's work, but decided instead to send his own version of what he thought Washington ought to say to the public. (See Hamilton to Washington, 30 July 1796). Washington ultimately tweaked Hamilton's draft and also passed it around to members of his cabinet for input, but much of the Farewell Address was in fact authored by Alexander Hamilton.

Because Washington generally tried to remain above the party politics of the time, it being widely known that his beloved last words to the public were penned by Alexander Hamilton would have started a political firestorm.

When Hamilton passed away in 1804, Rufus King went through his papers and took the draft of the Farewell Address that would have proved his authorship, fearing Hamilton's family would publish it to give Hamilton credit for the work. Eliza Hamilton spent years attempting to reclaim the document. She even visited Mount Vernon at one point to look through Washington's papers to see if there was a copy of Hamilton's draft there (see The Life and Correspondence of Bushrod Washington, v. VI, pp.617-18). Ultimately, she had to file a lawsuit against King in 1825 to reclaim the document. Eliza did not, as King feared, immediately make it widely known that Hamilton had authored the Farewell Address. However, she did record a statement to be released after her death where she detailed her own personal knowledge that Hamilton had drafted the Address for Washington. In that statement, she related the following amusing anecdote: "Shortly after the publication of the address, my husband and myself were walking in Broadway, when an old soldier accosted him, with a request of him to purchase General Washington’s Farewell address, which he did and turning to me said, ‘That man does not know he has asked me to purchase my own work.'" (Elizabeth Hamilton’s Statement as to Washington’s Farewell Address, as published in The Intimate Life of Alexander Hamilton). Her statement was one of the many, many ways Eliza worked during her life to help preserve Hamilton's legacy.

[croutoncat]

feeling a certain rage at my first employer at this 3 am on saturday morning - was hired with a manager that had no management training but just got promoted bc she had X amount of years at the company, basically left me to do all the tasks she didn't want me to do all while micromanaging me (daily 1:1s??), making false promises about what I could do (said I could do PR but then 'forgot') and keeping me out of important meetings with the CEO without explanation. Also company was litcherally nothing but ultra privileged white people talking about their countryside houses and pretending to be inclusive by hiring 1 non-white (junior) employee and tackling inequality by hiring several women from wealthy backgrounds.... it's a start... but French tech so elitist they will litcherally only hire people from X university. Got 'fired' (quote unquote because you can't technically fire people in France after the trial period but rather ask them to leave) after 1 year, along with basically every junior employee at the company showing how rubbish management is, but wasn't made aware that I could decide when I leave. Plus, the management was 3 white men one of which litcherally asked me 'but... why?' when I told him I was anxious during out team offsite (mental health whomst?) That said. the company has a good reputation, and it was a 'good' experience (+ didn't want to be unemployed out of college). The vibe was Off generally but one of the founders was really nice and gave me a good reference - my manager however lied about being nice and told my current company I was 'too junior', even though my work as a junior employee was actually a reflection of her poor management. Plus they gave me $$$. Bref. Never really took the time to fully process / write about / vent my feeling vis-à-vis my first professional experience which didn't go down too well, leaving me in a Shit situation looking for a (mainly) English speaking job in content in Paree... I can write in French but can't go Off like a tru native. New company is Wild but vibes tho, and really shows to me how important getting on with the people you work with on a day-to-day basis is... plus manager is actually a manager and there is more diversity. I guess it's all a learning curve of Life... everything happens for a reason etc. etc.

[brassandblue]

Who are your muses best friends?

Arthur's best friends are: @bertievi's George VI; @admiraltyspride's Lord Nelson; @ageofxail's Daniel/America (husband!!!), Noel/England & Royal Navy; my Jack/London; & @xbasilrp's Toni/Spain (spicy boyfriend).

Not quite besties but very close platonically (unless otherwise noted) are @terrorcaptain's Crozier (very father-son tbh); Thera at @therapardalis; Mycroft at @governmentofficial (also husband!); @hope-on-hope-ever's John Franklin (friends/colleagues in general but also estranged father and bastard son in THAT ONE AU); endearingly fond of @imprvdente's Fish; & Pris at @herstoriies

@honorhearted gets an honorable (ha!) mention because of how complicated Ben and Art's relationship is. Arthur admires Ben but also wants to punch him in the nose. Arthur enjoys punching things though, so take that with a whole spoon of salt. He genuinely wants the Americans to win and believes Ben to be a properly good man--part of the reason he razzes Ben like he does is because there's really no other way (in Art's opinion) to try and shake Ben out of seeing the war as a largely black and white problem. He sees a lot of himself in Ben--they are both educated, stubborn, hot-headed, and courageous in stupid ways, and they both have a heart. Arthur doesn't want to see America get its start as a country with all of the kindness burned out of all its founders. They are... complicated.

I don't like to go godmode people, but Art's "default" is that he is besties with Portugal, France, India, U.S. America. However, I handle that on a case-by-case basis because, again, it would be shitty of me to force that decision on other writers.

Goodsir's besties are: The Henry Collins that lives in my head; @tooxldtorememxer's John Irving; @herstoriies' Priscilla (big fat crush on her too tbh!!!!!); @therapardalis; @terrorcaptain; Silna at @tatteredxsails; @bertievi of course; he's also pretty close with @ageofxail's Noel; & @imprvdente's Fish; & he has........ complicated feelings about @honorhearted's Ben.

Thomas Blanky's besties are: @wantsusdead's Francis (I mean we just started threading but LISTEN-); oh also @terrorcaptain's Francis (+ husband); he's also super fond of @admiraltyspride too; can't forget about the Sidebear, thank u @tatteredxsails; & if I get my way he's going to continue to 'Dad' at @imprvdente!!!!!

The Railroad Man has no besties because he's an abject piece of sh oh wow, Moriarty actually!! @multipleoccupancy

[iladkaren]

THE CONSIGLIERE: Chapter I

Pairing: Mafia!BTS x Reader

Summary:

An internship gone wrong.

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

"Work for you?" That was the first time you met Ji-Hye. She had a soft voice that reminded you of your mother, but her bright eyes held an intelligence behind them.

You were looking through the new paintings for this month's art fair when she came up behind you. You nearly dropped your drink, but managed to save it without making a fool of yourself.

"I guess so," you said awkwardly. A little nervous under her gaze, you fidgeted before realizing you should offer your hand.

The Hwan Ji-Hye. Beautiful. Smart. Kind. An overall perfectionist who cared deeply about how things worked. The perfect girlfriend. The perfect fiancée.

Dionysus Museum's Founding Director and Curator. Well-known for supporting avant-garde performance art. She has repeatedly provided a stage to aspiring performance artists at the beginning of their carrers, launching many a brilliant career. She believes that artist must be activists, and that Dionysus Museum provides a venue for fruitful, challenging debates through a fresh, boundary-breaking art.

She is also a great teacher, an incredibly kind person with a sharp tongue and an even sharper mind. And, while some have argued that she lacks creativity, she has proven countless times that there is a place for all creative ideas.

Her father, a prominent lawyer and judge, had been among the founders of the museum as well.

She was amused by your reaction. "Yes, we have an open internship this month. You should consider applying. I see you have an artistic eye."

You blushed slightly. "Oh, thank you, I didn't know they offered internships. It seems a bit odd though."

She smiled sweetly. "Well, no one else from other schools applied here, which means you may actually get in. But don't go jumping into things too quickly!"

"Uhm... that's... I just enjoy painting." You uncomfortably denied.

A sly smile spread across her lips. "Is that right?"

Your face felt hot. Why did she make everything sound so seductive? It was probably the makeup. No wonder you were having such trouble keeping your eyes off her. She was breathtaking. You were completely lost, and you hated it.

"Exactly what we require. Are you, by chance, a Fine Arts student?" She inquired, but you had a sneaking suspicion she already knew.

"Not exactly. I'm taking a year away to get my master's degree in Fine Arts, but, uhm... I haven't completed the semester yet." You nodded.

"That's fantastic! We are now seeking for additional help. We're a touch short on employees." She pointed in the direction of the ushers and guides who worked behind her.

You noticed that each guide wore a red buttoned shirt underneath their suit jackets. Each had black trousers and shoes, and carried a clipboard.

"Are those… your ushers?" You asked.

Ji Hye gave you an enigmatic smile. "We prefer to refer to them as guides, yes."

You did the math. There were a total of seven, which was obviously insufficient for a museum of this size. "I'd have to think about it."

The young woman leaned forward. "Don't think too hard. Just say the word."

You were silent for a moment, trying to gather your thoughts. Your eyes darted from person to person before settling back to her.

"Oh." She seemed depressed all of a sudden. Nonetheless, she persisted in asking, "have you ever accepted an internship before?"

"Uhm... no. I'm still on the lookout." You replied. You thought the conversation was over until her face suddenly lit up again.

"At the very least, consider it. It would make me quite delighted if you chose this internship." She softly held your arm to reassure you. "I can tell you're one of a kind."

Her smile made you feel special somehow, which surprised you. It wasn't like you were a pretty girl or anything—in fact, you thought that you looked more like someone who had spent three years playing tennis than anything else. And yet, something made you trust her. Maybe it was her confident demeanor, or her gentle manner.

It would appear that an angel had gone past. The uneasy pause seemed to go far too long. In reality, it had taken less than a minute. "Ah," you finally said, "thank you."

She squeezed your arm in reply. "Let's hope that it comes true. If not, it's okay. I'll find another way to attract new interns."

"I should probably leave." To avoid the embarrassment, you gently moved backwards, but not before saying, "but thank you for offering. I'll think about it." You instantly turned around and raced through the museum's front doors. When you realized you had made it back to your car with only seconds to spare, you stopped dead in your tracks. This entire afternoon had been a mess, and you felt utterly stupid. You were usually quite good at improvising on the spot, but nothing prepared you for Ji Hye.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that? What if it got her angry? Then again, what if it didn't? Would you have any chance of working for them then?

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

[schraubd]

DeSantis' "Asylum" Offer to Jewish College Students

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an emergency order waiving various requirements for prospective transfer students into Florida public universities "who are seeking to transfer to a Florida university because of a well-founded fear of antisemitic or other religious discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or violence" at their current colleges.* The "well-founded fear" language is borrowed from asylum law, so if I were a Jewish student considering this offer I'd have to be concerned that DeSantis' next step would be to traffic me right back out of the state via a one-way to a New England island. In all seriousness, I have to give DeSantis a very faint tip of the cap here, if only because a few months ago I had a similar thought about whether colleges in blue states should offer a form of "asylum" running in the opposite direction -- assisting admissions or transfers of students leaving Florida public universities in the wake of DeSantis' assault on academic freedom and the rights of sexual minorities. I've certainly noticed an at least anecdotal uptick in "red state refugees" on the faculty side of academia, and it wouldn't surprise me to learn there's similar pressure on the student side. And on the other side of things, I actually wondered back in 2022 if DeSantis might seek to expressly differentiate himself from Trump on the subject of antisemitism. He hasn't really done so -- the seemingly obvious need of a GOP challenger to challenge Trump continuing to founder on the absolute inability of any Republican of substance to say a bad word about the Supreme Leader -- but he has tried to make "antisemitism" a relatively large part of his presidential narrative. And so as DeSantis' presidential campaign continues to flounder in the most pathetic fashion, this reads like a theatrical attempt to capture some of the Stefanik-magic from last month. Of course, DeSantis isn't alone here. For whatever reason, Republicans have learned that fake performative concern about antisemitism is the easiest route for craven gutless mediocrities to become media starlets, at least for a few days. That it keeps on filling this role is maybe something that the Jewish community needs to ponder -- while on the one hand I'm not convinced it's actually Jews who are most impressed by these stunts, there does seem to be a repeated gullibility on this front that deserves closer interrogation. How has the GOP become so convinced that this play, in particular, is a winning strategy for them?  * Nominally, "other religious discrimination" encompasses Muslim students as well -- an interesting prospect as various Muslim and pro-Palestinian groups have begun adopting the broad understandings of "antisemitism" vis-a-vis discourse about Israel and Zionism promoted by some Jewish groups and trying to cross-apply them to similar broad understandings of Islamophobia vis-a-vis how university actors talk about Palestine and anti-Zionism. In practice, it's hard to imagine that will amount to much -- in part because of the vagueness surrounding "well-founded fear" of persecution, and in part because the sort of person who is concerned about that sort of Islamophobia is perhaps unlikely to find Florida an attractive destination to flee to. via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/WbQVEK9

[xb-squaredx]

How Monolith Soft’s Future Was Redeemed

Whether you’ve heard of game developer Monolith Soft before or not, if you’re into the gaming landscape they’re definitely a name worth remembering, and they’ve had quite the history over their 23 years in the business. Founded by Tetsuya Takahashi and Hirohide Sugiura, themselves veterans of Square from the 1990s, the company has undergone many trials and tribulations and worked with a variety of different companies from 1999 to the present day. With their latest release wrapping up the current trilogy in the Xenoblade series, I figured there was no better time than to look back and reflect on the journey the company and the founders of that company have gone through, so let’s get right to it!

TAKAHASHI’S PERFECT WORKS

Looking at Takahashi’s resume alone will show that he had a hand in a variety of beloved games during his time at Square. Working on Final Fantasy IV, V and VI among a few other titles such as Romancing Saga, Takahashi and his wife, Soraya Saga, would pitch an idea for the seventh Final Fantasy game. While rejected for being considered too dark for the brand, they were eventually given permission to develop it into their own title, which would become known as Xenogears. Takahashi and Saga had ambitious plans for the title, believing it could become a massive franchise in its own right, though the actual game’s development was fraught with issues.

Xenogears was composed of two discs, and the first disc set up lofty expectations for the rest of the game, balancing a story steeped in religious and philosophical themes alongside turn-based battles that would utilize giant robots, or “Gears.” However, the second disc was mostly comprised of narration from characters with hardly any gameplay or cinematics. This was allegedly done as a result of both the development team’s inexperience and inability to extend the two year development deadline, and thus was done as a compromise of sorts, or else the game would have shipped half-complete. The game’s English localization almost didn’t happen, with several translators quitting the project, both due to the difficulty of translating a game loaded up with references to various scientific and philosophical concepts, on top of controversy surrounding its religious themes. Despite these setbacks, the game was still critically acclaimed and it was clear that Takahashi and Saga were keen on developing the game’s world more. Alongside development of Xenogears they had also crafted “Perfect Works,” their plans for other installments in the setting that would span a much larger story. Xenogears itself was considered, chronologically, to be the fifth part of what would have eventually been six entries.

However, Takahashi and company had routinely faced issues with Square both before and during development of this title. Growing frustrated with their prioritizing of the Final Fantasy brand above all else, they would eventually found Monolith Soft, taking with them a number of other staff they worked with. They found themselves in bed with Namco, who would publish their games for much of the 2000s. Monolith Soft would then decide to start over and craft a new franchise that would follow Perfect Works…and that game would become the Xenosaga series.

A more explicitly sci-fi series from the get go, Xenosaga was conceived as a six game series, with possible plans for it branching out into multimedia, with an animated series and manga series produced, alongside a few spinoffs titles that would end up staying Japan exclusive. A spiritual successor through and through, Xenosaga contained a number of references to the Xenogears series, alongside a continued focus on mech battles, religious and philosophical themes and turn-based combat. While the first game was a strong debut for this new franchise, each subsequent entry would sell less and less, eventually trimming the series down to three games out of its originally planned six. History repeated with regards to development issues, particularly with Xenosaga: Episode II, as Takahashi had taken on a supervising role, and the team itself was composed of newer staff that wasn’t prepared for such an ambitious title. Takahashi would admit the series underperformed on the whole, part of the reason for the sudden halving of the planned story. Despite a clean start, it seemed as if Perfect Works was anything but a perfect project, with now two failed franchises behind them. However, the winds of fate would wind up changing.

FINDING THEIR FOOTING WITH NINTENDO

Monolith Soft ended up cozying up with Nintendo as the years went on, eventually being purchased by the company and becoming a first-party studio in the late 2000s. Morale at the studio was low after Xenosaga’s abrupt ending, but Takahashi was ready to move onto a new project as a way to boost employee spirits. Coming from an image that appeared in his head of two gigantic gods locked in fierce battle, the idea would develop into a game originally titled Monado: Beginning of the World. However, at the behest of former Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata, the title would be changed to Xenoblade, to honor the struggles Monolith Soft had undergone over the years and serve as a slight connecting thread to past projects. And the rest is history…to a point.

The original Xenoblade Chronicles debuted on the Wii in 2010, a massive near open-world RPG with a deep MMO-inspired combat system and an ambitious story. Compared to past efforts, Xenoblade was a game that Takahashi and company were able to realize with a comparatively smooth development, with few compromises to the original vision of the game at that. Releasing to relatively high critical acclaim, the game was initially not localized outside of Japan. Eventually Nintendo of Europe showed interest and would localize it, but Nintendo of America wouldn’t budge. This game, alongside a few others, actually inspired the “Operation Rainfall” fan movement to give them more attention and see localization (and I’ve even written about it before LINK HERE), and while Nintendo might not publically acknowledge the campaign as a deciding factor the game would eventually be brought to North America…exclusively in Gamestop stores. A low initial print, combined with Gamestop selling “used” copies at high prices, insured it became one of the harder to find Wii games, and while it was somewhat better known outside of Japan, it was still rather niche.

That began to change in the Wii U era, however. In a 2013 Nintendo Direct showcasing early looks at various Wii U games, a mysterious title from Monolith Soft was shown. Codenamed X, it was yet another massive RPG with a decidedly more sci-fi look…that sure seemed familiar. Eventually releasing as Xenoblade Chronicles X in 2015, this title would also see acclaim for its massive world and complex combat, though being a Wii U release it didn’t exactly reach many players. A year prior however, Shulk was revealed to be included in the base roster for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, being the last character announced before launch. This helped to put Xenoblade as a series on the map, and gave some momentum that Monolith Soft would continue into the Nintendo Switch era.

Since their acquisition, Monolith Soft would also work as a support studio for Nintendo, particular with their Kyoto office comprised mainly of artists, creating assets for a variety of projects. Over the years, they’ve worked on the Super Smash. Bros. series (Brawl), the Legend of Zelda series (from Skyward Sword all the way to Tears of the Kingdom), the Animal Crossing series from New Leaf onward as well as the Splatoon series. Their help was greatly appreciated with the more recent console Zelda titles in particular, as they were instrumental in creating the vast expanses that would help make Breath of the Wild a smash hit. Considering they’ve lent their talents to a variety of games that have gone on to sell like hotcakes and break past previous franchise records, I think that really helped them prove their worth as an asset for Nintendo, and as such they are given license to continue their own ambitious projects.

At the tail end of 2017, the Switch’s debut year, we would get Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which would go on to become the best-selling entry in the series and experience a boon of new players. More in-line with the fantasy aesthetics of the Wii game, 2 also continued exploring similar themes and further developing the battle system shared across both previous games in the series. Despite its success, the game itself still ran into problems though. With much of Monolith staff working on BOTW it was mostly a skeleton crew on Xenoblade 2, resulting in a number of third-party artists being brought on to ensure the game could be completed, though that also led to complaints about the inconsistent art style and character designs. Technically, the game had issues at launch that were slowly patched out, and being the first simultaneous worldwide launch of the series, it was clear that the English localization was not given as much care as previous games. Despite this, it was clear that this title was what helped to establish Xenoblade as a core Nintendo IP moving forward, and the franchise continues to do well.

A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD

Following Xenoblade 2’s release, it would receive a prequel game as part of its expansion pass, Torna: The Golden Country, which fleshed out events happening in that game’s distant past, alongside polishing up gameplay to relative acclaim. In 2020, an enhanced port of Xenoblade Chronicles 1 would release on the Switch, with updated visuals (in particular polishing up the character models), and a new epilogue story, Future Connected. The heroines of Xenoblade 2, Pyra and Mythra, would be announced as playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s second Fighters Pass as well.

In 2022, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 would see a surprise reveal at the start of the year, releasing just a few months later. After the somewhat mixed reception of the previous game, 3 received rave reviews and several Game of the Year nominations. Many felt it to be an emotionally charged journey, once again spanning a massive world and containing complex combat to wrap it all together. In just a few years, the entire trilogy was now available all on one system. Not too shabby for a series initially struggling to get localized.

The major thing to remember with the Xenoblade series is that it was yet another fresh start for Takahashi and company. While still clearly its own thing, as the years went on many eagle-eyed fans would spot various references to past Xeno games. These often were seen as knowing winks and nods, but little else. When it came to various characters and story beats, there were also some connecting threads indicating that Takahashi, after all of these years, might finally be dusting off “Perfect Works” and starting anew again, after he had previously sworn it off and considered the ideas scrapped. One major change this time around however seemed to be based around making sure each individual game in the Xenoblade series would be a standalone tale that wouldn’t require playing previous entries. There were some connecting threads, yes, but ultimately each entry could stand on its own and fully realize a given theme or story idea without having to overtly connect into a larger narrative. And then Xenoblade 3’s story DLC happened.

Released at the tail-end of April 2023, Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed was yet another prequel campaign in a similar vein to Torna. Future Redeemed would cover events that occurred in the backstory for the base game, however this time around it became clear VERY quickly that this was where it would all come together. Without getting into the details of things, on top of being wary of spoiling this expansion after it just released, Future Redeemed ends up being the means to tie the trilogy together and end it on a satisfying note, with a conclusion that gave fans a lot of closure. Various theories were finally put to rest, though just as many have sprung up in the wake of that game’s ending.

It isn’t immediately clear just where this franchise, or Monolith Soft as a company, will be going next, but my gut tells me we have some great things in store. The core Xenoblade trilogy may be done, but Takahashi has gone on record stating he wants the series to continue for as long as he can do so. There’s still a lot of clear affection for their previous efforts as well. Xenosaga’s KOS-MOS and T-ELOS were guest characters in Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s expansion pass, and there have been more…overt nods to the series in general as time has gone on. There are rumors here and there that the series might return in some form. At the very least, I’m sure many a fan would be happy with simple ports to current systems, but we’ll have to wait and see just where Takahashi’s Wild Ride takes us.

In the end, I’m just happy to see that Monolith Soft has managed to turn out alright after all these years. I first became aware of them when, on a lark, I picked up a copy of the original Xenoblade. I was struck by that game’s scope and ambition and I’ve been a diehard fan ever since. Seeing just how much they’ve been carrying Nintendo into the Switch era, I think it’s only fair that they get the respect they deserve. On top of it all, it sounds like the company promotes a fairly healthy work/life balance, and their time with Nintendo has enabled them to see their visions through with few compromises. A win-win for all involved, really. Their own original entries might always be a bit niche and definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m glad their ambitions are becoming more and more realized as time goes on. From humble beginnings in the trenches at Square, to now being a pillar of one of the Big Three game publishers, I can’t wait to see the heights that Monolith Soft can climb.

-B

[moni-harmonia]

Chapter 3 - Act VI

Finally played the rest of the quest and here are my thoughts about it!

This was a very intriguing quest. As a big Dainsleif fan, I’m certainly disappointed that he didn’t have a big role this time. We only see him once a year so I always expect something important from him. But his biggest contribution this time was his lore drop to Kaeya.

The good thing is that the reveal that an ancestor of Kaeya created the Abyss Order was very relevant to this quest because we actually meet him in person.

So the Traveler somehow starts... “living” a memory from their sibling. In it, we see the founder Chlothar Alberich who was trying to free his son from the curse.

We learn a few important details here. That only pure blooded Khaenri’ahn became immortal, while those who lived there but were from other regions became monsters like Hilichurls. That’s why Kaeya recognized Dainsleif as a pure blood, aside from the eyes of course.

We try helping the guy and we end up on some weird ruins where Hilichurls are gathering. Then we see this peculiar purple crystal and hear a voice, calling himself a “sinner”.

We don’t get to know who this is, but it’s obvious that is someone very important who has incredible powers. With his... blessing, Chlothar is able to return his son Calibert’s consciousness, which seems like a miracle.

But Chlothar says something very ominous to him: Never take the mask off.

We return to the ruins but the crystal and the Hilichurls are gone, and then so is Calibert. We find him but the poor boy can’t take it anymore, he takes off the mask and we don’t see what happens.

Next we wake up, Chlothar has changed his demeanor a lot. He mentions how Calibert can now weave his destiny and he’ll become “The Loom of Fate”. Then he calls the Traveler by their sibling’s position and that’s when they realize what’s going on as they see themself on a mirror.

The final scene is quite thought provoking. We end up digging a couple of bodies, and one of them seems to be Chlothar, burried with his wife. Which means that at some point somehow Chlothar got rid of his curse.

This quest while being incredibly interesting, leaves us with a lot of questions. Who is the voice? What happens when a Hilichurl takes the mask off? Again, what is the Loom of Fate? What is the power of the Abyss? How did he get rid of the curse?

The one thing that was clear to me is that I really feel for the people of Khaenri’ah. This was very heart breaking and I can understand their hatred for the Gods.

There are some other things that I was left wondering about. Chlothar said his wife was from Mondstadt, which is why his son turned into a Hilichurl. Is there some importance to that? Like, does that have something to do with the fact that Kaeya was left there? Probably not, but it was a curious detail to mention.

If Chlothar got rid of the curse, probably others did as well, which explains Kaeya’s existence. He’s not curse as far as we know. He’s of course not a Hilichurl and he ages so he’s not immortal. But do they really have no side effects from that? What if the reason Kaeya covers his right eye has something to do with all that?

I really hope that next time we continue with a Traveler Act we get to at least know the answer to some of these mysteries. Sumeru’s the fourth region so we’re past the middle point now, we need to start getting some answers.

So it was a pretty interesting quest, but I’m disappointed that we didn’t see Dain a lot and that we got even more questions than before. I really want more quests like this per year, one is not enough!

[wcrriorhearts]

Iron Flame theories under the cut

After I had a few days to let the book sink in completely, here are some of my unhinged theories about things that came up in Iron Flame

Violet has a second signet and it manifested in the torture scene, where she saw Liam. Yes, she was cut off from her dragons, which is why I think the power was weak, but signets manifest into something the person needs and what does Violet need more in a war after losing people she loved? A way to reach out to them and potentially even bring them back. There was nothing that indicated Liam was a figment of her imagination and I honestly think she truly saw his ghost, BECAUSE they did not burn all of his things ( more on that later )

Violet is tied to Malek & not in fact part venin as many in the fandom believe. Even though her hair is partially silver, she is entirely different from venin in all other ways and I believe they want her for her difference and not because she is like them. Back to Malek, whenever Violet begs him for something, he grants it ( except Liam :( ). She beats death so many times that it seems nothing can kill that girl. When she sees Liam in her cell, he says that Malek sent him. I strongly believe that the Gods actually do exist and aren't just mentioned as part of their religion and that Violet is connected to the God of death, either bc he saved her once, blessed her, cursed her, whatever. Maybe her mother struck a bargain with Malek when she was pregnant with Vi to save her life and the silver hair is a mark he left on her to show she is his. Yarros likes to take names etc from the Gaelic language and there is the Irish myth of the silver branch, which grants entry into the 'Otherworld' without dying, which would explain her connection to the dead and to Malek

The tradition of burning people's belongings is not just a quirky idea they came up with, but a necessity. They forgot why they do it after 450+ years, but I believe that as long as things remain of a deceased, they can be brought back in some shape or form. The tradition began when the people realized it was necessary, but this is why Violet can still reach out to Liam, his letters still exist. Part of him still exists in their world and can be reached

Naolin is not dead, but the Sage. It is never explicitly mentioned by the people close to him, eg Tairn and Brennan, that Naolin is actually dead. Brennan said ' it cost him everything' to save him, but not that it cost Naolin his life. I believe he turned venin and is able to reach into Violet's dreams due to his former connection to Tairn. Tairn also never specifically mentioned that Naolin died, but that they will not speak of the one who came before. We see that Jack's bond with his dragon remains after he turned, so it is to believe Tairn cut the bond to Naolin after he turned. Xaden thinks in his last chapter that Saegyl is uncharacteristically quiet -> I think she cut the bond, but that a bond severed this way is not 100% broken in the way it would be when a rider dies

Andarna said she slept for hundreds of years and waited for someone like Vi. She is an entirely unknown breed of dragon no one has ever seen before, because her breed comes from a time of the founders before the chasm and all knowledge of them existing was erased, because there must be something about them that threatened Navarre. I think that her connection to Vi will be integral in changing the war and that she was destined to bond Vi, unlike Tairn. I sadly believe that whilst Tairn will teach Violet and help her grow, he will not see the end of the war, because he was always just meant to be the teacher, whereas the special girl was always meant to bond the special dragon to end the war and save the world

I think Violet and her 'differences' will be the cure to being venin. Venin lose their souls when they bleed the power around them dry, but if Violet is truly connected to Malek, she might be able to bring back their souls and restore them

[robert-c]

Bill of Rights – With Some Interpretive Comments

I.              Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This specifically means religiously motivated laws under the guise “general morality”, “Natural Law”, “offense to believers” etc. In order to ensure all beliefs are protected there can be no banning of actions by others that some feel offended by because it conflicts with their beliefs.

Freedom of speech does not permit the call for armed uprising against the government nor should it allow “hate speech” which incites to violence or promotes the idea the some citizens have less rights. A live and let live attitude is the best way to preserve everyone’s freedom to believe what they wish without pushing their beliefs on others.

II.            A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

“A well regulated Militia” a phrase almost always omitted by some is the key to this right. At the very minimum regulation should include a basic level of proficiency and safety. While this was intended to be how we recruited citizen armies, today’s only reason for keeping it is to allow a person (in the absence of the police or military) to defend themselves and their home. Nothing in this amendment could reasonably be construed to allow any citizen to possess any sort of weapon they choose, especially if they have violent or antisocial history.

III.           No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

IV.          The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The standard for “probable cause” should not be something as vague as their presumed affiliations based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender etc, There is no reason to presume that the search can be destructive. It shouldn’t be a method of intimidation, destroying or completely scattering one’s belongings around the premises.

V.           No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

While it has been common for some people to claim that “taking the fifth” is tantamount to guilt (at least until they themselves are under suspicion of a crime) the clear purpose of this amendment was to prevent coerced confessions, i.e. torture. The Founders were well aware of the kinds of dangers the republic would face which would elicit excuses for an exception, but did not feel that such excuses would warrant the long term damage to the freedom and rights of citizens.

VI.          In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

The right to a speedy trial does not offer exceptions for a public unwilling to pay the taxes for additional courts or judges. Being as how these are among the most important functions for a free society the complaints about their taxes shouldn’t be a deciding force in providing a chance for the innocently accused to clear their name and be on about their business, as one would expect under the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

VII.         In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

VIII.       Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

This should be considered in connection with the Sixth Amendment. There is a tendency for high bail to be set for poor defendants which essentially deprives them of their freedom, often their livelihood as well as their right to a speedy trial. The entire point of bail was to ensure the accused’s appearance at trial. If a speedy trial cannot be assured then some method other than incarcerating someone presumed to be innocent until convicted by a jury should be employed. Requiring bail only for violent offenders, prior felons, etc. may be a step in the right direction, but avoiding the imprisonment of people for long periods prior to trial simply because they cannot afford bail seems in complete opposition to this amendment.

IX.          The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

X.           The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

This is a very interesting amendment, largely in the way that it and the one preceding it have been deliberately misinterpreted by “State’s Rights” advocates almost from the beginning of the republic. It doesn’t and shouldn’t be a cover for each state to enact their own version of religious laws and observances, as it has in many cases. Those laws that claim some citizens cannot have the same rights as others simply because of their race, beliefs, sexuality etc. which are all based on religious notions, are a good example of what is wrong with the common right wing interpretation of these two amendments.

[casualteakehidupan]

[Genshin Impact Archon Quest Chapter III: Act VI Caribert]

Man, Caribert was... something.

A well done dream trope for sure. The fact that Traveller saw Dainsleif before going to sleep again, and the next moment he woke up Paimon is just gone is tripping me off. So the twin sibling went to that house before. Was she alone? Or did Dainsleif said he's with her at that time? And for once I actually did miss Paimon. Glad to see her again in the end. And Traveller hugged her in the end, aww.

Though I am greatly confused by a lot of things. I should revise my Genshin stories to be honest. I barely follow what it is about anymore.

So Alberich is the founder of the Abyss Order? And that guy.. Caribert is really his real son and he sacrificed him or something? All because he wanted to know about the power of that sinner?

Alberich... How did Kaeya came to life again? He's not cursed like the other Khaenriah people since he grew up alongside Diluc. Probably his ancestors escaped before they got cursed, and lived somewhere else in the world of Teyvat. And that's how Kaeya is where he is now.

So Caribert is the name of that Child. Poor child. How could your father do that to you.

Hmm. Now that I think again. Could it be that Kaeya's father is immortal too and is still alive out there and and he somehow found a woman that he loved somewhere in Teyvat and that's how Kaeya was born?

Good quest though. Love it.