#will also understand what it's like to just enter a radically different

[not-poignant]

Hi Pia

Why did Gary growl and cover Efnisien's face/mouth when he said the safeword? Was he angry and trying to stop Efnisien from saying it so he could continue? If yes how did he manage to pull himself back from the brink of doing something unforgivable?

I think Gary was so uncoordinated in that moment, he wasn't thinking 'I need to shut you up' but there was definitely an instinct of: 'How dare someone tell me to stop.'

There was a visceral war with himself when he growls vs. when he places his hand on Efnisien's face, almost like he's trying to feel his breathing and his voice. It's a very quick motion, and while Efnisien assumes it's to shut him up, I actually think Gary was literally very out of it in that moment and was kind of bracing himself to even understand what happened.

Like, this is a guy who didn't respond to a lot of basic language and sentences for three days, or when he did, mostly could only do so in basic sentences or even single words. So while the peak alpha grokked the 'how dare you' pause, I think it was like a 'wait is an alpha trying to stop me from taking what is mine' level of confusion. He places his hands on Efnisien's face, almost like he's trying to find where the words came from, in my mind. Like someone who is blind who is trying to find a fan switch in a new place. They don't quite know where it is, but they know it's important in hot weather.

He then does hear more of Efnisien's voice (in the form of a distressed shriek) and immediately stops.

I really don't think this is as clean as 'he was fully aware, heard something he didn't want to hear, and made a choice to make sure Efnisien couldn't safeword again.' I don't even think he knew at the time what he heard, or how to understand it, only that he heard it and that he had to stop.

If yes how did he manage to pull himself back from the brink of doing something unforgivable?

Tbh Gary has the safeword to literally stop himself from doing the unforgiveable. And he does it with an immense amount of willpower that almost no human will ever really comprehend. Dude was barely even conscious at the time. Just like Efnisien spent many hours in a heavily dissociated receptive headspace, Gary does the same but from a more dominating peak alpha side. Literally just ruled by hormones in a very primitive way.

I'd say he's one of the only peak alphas in the world who can actually listen to a safeword at all in that state. I don't even think Temsen could.

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

what is The Goddamn Door?

i worked in store that shall not be named, but rest assured it was understaffed enough that leaving the register was a struggle every time. there were two bathrooms - to the right of entrance there was a hall, and on the left was the customers' bathroom, the right the employees. both of them are clearly labelled so.

both of these bathrooms were locked, with keys that attached to a pair of spatulas to tell them apart, because they weren't interchangeable. if a customer wanted to use the bathroom, they had to ask me for the spatula.

I was new to the world, young. It was my first job working with the public. I foolishly thought this would be a simple task.

"Here's the key! The bathrooms are over there by the entrance"

People come back saying they cant find it, which, okay. I think the hallway is pretty obvious, and has a big sign over it that says restroom and both the doors are labeled but. okay. i go through several variations in this first stage.

"Here's the key! There is a hall on the right, and the door on the left"

"Here's the key. There is a hall to the right of the entrance under a red sign - red, yes, red, not yellow, that is a wet floor sign-"

"If you look over there do you see the red sign on the wall that says restroom well if you follow it-"

but finally i managed to a majority of people to at the very least, arrive at the hall. but then they come back saying the key doesnt work, because they were putting it in the employee bathroom door. which okay. i also struggle to tell my left from my right on a good day. no shame. i get it.

but you see. there is another door. just behind you. and maybe TO ME YOU SEE JUST IN MY PERSONAL OPINION it would make the most sense to try the key in the other door also yes. but no they come back and they tell me. that the key doesnt work.

and when i get the hang enough to get them to the correct bathroom door mostly further unaided, they put the.

listen.

listen.

i'm trying to be so so so zen about this but they put the key in knob and then they trun the knob. but they didnt turn the key first to engage the tumbler.

and im TRYING im trying the radical compassion thing so hard lately but okay okya its fine. its fine it was many years ago

ahem

anyway

they come back. and they tell me the the key does not work. so the spiel at this point, if you have been keeping track (because i have been keeping track because the final variance of this goddamn script has been burned into the backs of my eyelids for all of eternity until the heat death of the universe, probably)

"Here is the key. To the right of the entrance, under a red sign is a hall, and when you enter the hall to your left will be a door with the words "Public Restroom." you have to put the key in the lock and turn it to open the door"

i need you to understand i am not talking about one specific individual who was particularly struggling. this confounding riddle developed over the course of months. every single time i thought i had it down to a science, someone would come back with a new and even more inexplicable variety on conundrum with this DOOOOOOOOR. ITS A DOOOOOOOOR THERE'S BEEN DOORS IN EVERY BUILDING YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN-

hh. okay.

and i'd thing 'one person isnt enough to update the whole thing' but its never ever just one person. its sisyphean. its like theres a troupe of hundred of improv performers whose job day in and day out is to ask themselves "how many different way can we not understand how to PUT A KEY. IN A LOCK. IN A DOOR. to torment this one specific 20yo into madness."

and you'd think that's it right. you see i have no specified what way one ought to turn the key in the lock.

and you see now. you see how the ourobouros devours its tail.

because the final variation is this

"Here is the key, To the right of the entrance, under a red sign is a hall, and when you enter the hall to your left will be a door with the words "Public Restroom." you have to turn the key in the lock to the left, and the knob to the right."

and thats too many directions so no one remembered it.

you do not want to know how much money i would pay to put The Goddamn Door through a woodchipper

[dandylovesturtles]

I come bearing a little Sidelined AU propaganda for the @tmntaucompetition ! Featuring a guest appearance by @intotheelliwoods Poptart and Sprout.

———

“Whooooooaaaaaaa!”

Leo can’t help but echo his brothers’ amazement as they enter the stadium. There are so many turtles here (and others, too!) - so many different versions of themselves, some familiar and others radically different.

It’s ridiculously cool.

“I knew it!” cheers Donnie behind him. “I knew I was right about multiverse theory! Oh, this has so many fascinating implications for physics! You guys know how…”

Leo tunes out Donnie’s ramble (he can’t understand any of it anyway) to focus on the turtles in front of him. It’s easy to pick out the other Leos in the crowd (their color coding seems to be one of the few constants between them), but he’s quickly noticing he’s an outlier in one very big way.

“Hey guys,” he says, interrupting Donnie, “am I the only Leo rockin’ wheelies?”

“Statistically unlikely,” says Donnie, coming to stand next to him. “Given infinite possibilities, there are definitely other worlds where you use a wheelchair, and myself and Raph and Mikey as well.” Donnie pulls down his goggles, scans the crowd, and then says, “But you’re right that you may be the only one in the building.”

“I wonder what the difference is between our timeline and everyone else’s?” asks Mikey.

“I dunno!” Leo’s eyes scan the crowd. “Let’s ask.”

He catches sight of another Leo nearby, this one missing an arm. He also seems to be in the company of a grandpa Leo, and Leo has no idea how to handle the implications of that one so he decides not to think about it too hard.

“Hey!” he calls out, wheeling himself up, careful not to catch anyone’s feet on his way. “Leo! …Oh, that’s so weird.”

The other Leo turns, doing the momentary skip with his eyes when Leo isn’t at the height he was expecting. Leo’s used to that by now. The one-armed Leo retrains his eyes, grinning and holding up a hand in greeting.

“Well there’s a handsome face,” he says.

“Takes one to know one,” replies Leo enthusiastically.

“Oh no, this is going to be the whole competition, isn’t it?” he hears Donnie say behind him. He rolls his chair back into his brother’s shin and takes satisfaction in the yelp he hears after.

“Quick question. Did Draxum and the Foot Clan put together the Dark Armor in your timeline?”

“Huh? Oh!” The other Leo laughs. “Yeah! That feels like forever ago.”

“And he didn’t put you in it?”

“Uh, no.” The other Leo shrugs. “He put himself in it. Is that what happened to, uh…” He gestures vaguely at Leo, who nods.

“Oh yeah. What about you?” Leo eyes his empty shoulder. “Was that from the Shredder?”

“Nope!” The other Leo waves that off. “This was from the Krang!”

“Oh,” says Leo. (Behind him, he hears Mikey whisper, “What’s a Krang?”) “Okay, thanks. We’re just trying to figure out where our timeline went different.” He grins. “Nice compression sleeve, by the way.”

“Thanks!” The other Leo grins back. “Nice wheelchair!”

The other Leo and the big Leo tailing him move on. Leo swivels his chair so he can look back at his brothers.

“Okay, so we know the difference,” he says. “In most other timelines, Draxum is an idiot.”

“He’s an idiot in our timeline,” says Raph, “but I see your point.”

“Cool!” says Mikey. “Mystery solved!”

“Now hold on!” Donnie dashes to stand in front of them, arms held out. “Gentlemen, you can’t really mean to take a single data point and form a conclusion based on that!” He pulls up the screen of his bracer, typing frantically. “We need to gather data from every group here, and then we need to run cross-references to find all the commonalities, and then-“

Leo looks at Raph and Mikey. “Nachos?” he suggests.

“Nachos!” they both cheer.

He starts making his way through the crowd, Mikey and Raph helping him navigate, leaving Donnie to catch up.

“Really!? That’s it!? Don’t you have any interest in the mysteries of the multiverse!? You’re abandoning it for nachos!? …Well okay, but no jalapeños on mine!”

[hadapurpose]

My apologies for being away for an extended period of time. I got caught up in reading, and the slang that you all sent me was so awful that I didn't want to interact with this site for a while. Unfortunately, Faust dragged me back.

Regarding the slang, I have composed a list of all the terms sent and what they mean. Most of these will not be entering my vocabulary.

The list in question:

Gyatt: "When anything has a phat ass," which I am understanding is a big behind. Why would you say this to anyone?

Twink: "Gay, effeminate man, a bottom(?)." I believe this could be some of my comrades.

Bear: "Term used by gay men to describe men with body hair & large stature." Okay.

Skibidi Toilet: "The work of Satan." Untrue, as it could not be worse than this bus.

Rizz: "Spitting game/How good you are with pulling and sustaining bitches." So do I have rizz, as I have Penelope? But she's not a bitch. She's lovely.

Twunk: "Typically gay males with twink face and hunk body." Okay.

DILF: "Dad I'd Like to Fuck." Do not homewreck.

GILF: "Grandmother I'd Like to Fuck." Do not homewreck.

MILF: "Mom I'd Like to Fuck." DO NOT HOMEWRECK. (Sidenote, does Penelope count as a MILF for me or is it different because we're married?)(Telemachus look away.)

Skibidi: "Filled with brainrot." Presumably connected to Skibidi Toilet. What is brainrot? Is it a disease?

Brainrot: "A hyperfixation." It seems to be just a normal thing, then. There was actually another definition, though, which was "A crippling addiction to low effort content, lobotomized." And this made me think that my comrades may be brainrotted, as they have a crippling addiction to putting in low effort and may have no brain at all.

I also got "Radical" and "Awesome Sauce," which I have actually heard of before. They are not that catchy.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Steve Stewart-Williams

Published: Apr 9, 2025

It’s a truth rarely acknowledged that the political spectrum doesn’t always resemble a straight line. Sometimes it curls back in on itself like a horseshoe, with the hard left and hard right ending up closer to each other than to the moderates in their midst.

This idea has always had a whiff of pub logic about it. It turns out, however, that psychological science backs it up.

A recent paper by Jan-Willem van Prooijen and André Krouwel explores the psychology of political extremists on both ends of the spectrum. It identifies four key traits that both tend to have in common, and which distinguish them from moderates:

Psychological distress

Cognitive simplicity

Overconfidence

Intolerance

So while the radical left and radical right might disagree on just about everything - immigration, inequality, pineapple on pizza - they still resemble each other in some deep and rather unflattering ways.

Let’s take a tour.

1. Psychological Distress

First up: psychological distress - a gnawing sense of meaninglessness born of anxious uncertainty.

The idea here is that when people feel lost, small, or insignificant, they often go searching for something that will make them feel found, big, and important. Enter ideology - and the more extreme, the better. Extremist ideologies turn a complicated, chaotic world into a battle between good and evil, right and wrong, us and them.

Recent research supports this proposal: People experiencing psychological distress are more likely to gravitate toward radical ideologies, whether on the left or on the right. This clashes with traditional thinking in social psychology, according to which distress, uncertainty, and threat tend only to push people rightward. Apparently, any port will do in a psychological storm, as long as it offers a sense of purpose and clarity.

2. Cognitive Simplicity

Next, we have cognitive simplicity: the tendency to view the world in stark black-and-white terms.

Life is complex. Immigration policy is complex. Climate change is complex. Even choosing what to watch on Netflix is complex if you think too hard about it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, nuance starts to feel less like insight and more like a burden. That’s where extremist ideologies come in. They offer a comforting alternative: simple answers to the complex questions of life.

In one study, both far-left and far-right respondents believed that the EU refugee crisis had a simple solution - they just disagreed on what it was. Moderates, in contrast, were more likely to recognize that the issue was, in fact, horrendously complicated.

The quest for cognitive simplicity can also be seen in conspiracy thinking. Whether it’s chemtrails or the Koch brothers, the far-left and far-right are both prone to conspiracy theories. The theories each side holds differ wildly, but the appeal is the same: a straightforward (if sinister) explanation for a messy world.

3. Overconfidence

This one follows logically from the last: If you see the world in simple terms, you're more likely to think that you’re right about it. This opens the door to an unwelcome guest: overconfidence.

Political extremists - whether waving red flags or wearing red caps - tend to think their views are not just correct, but obviously correct. They’re also more prone to “belief superiority”: the conviction that their views aren’t just true, but also morally and intellectually superior to everyone else’s.

Unfortunately for the extremists, belief superiority isn’t a great predictor of actual knowledge. In fact, one study spanning 45 nations and more than 63,000 participants, found that political extremists are less knowledgeable than moderates - particularly the slightly left and slightly right. In short, those who shout the loudest may understand the least.

4. Intolerance

Finally, we come to intolerance - perhaps the most obvious and most worrying of all four traits.

Extremists on both sides tend to view people with opposing views not just as wrong, but as morally deficient. And when you believe you’re defending the one true path to salvation - whether that’s socialism or nationalism - it becomes easier to justify shutting out, shouting down, or even punishing those who disagree.

Traditionally, intolerance was seen as a uniquely right-wing pathology. And true enough, conservatives are more likely to be biased against certain groups. But leftists aren’t immune to bias. They have their own collection of prejudices, often aimed at groups they associate with right-wing thinking - Christians, businesspeople, and the like.

The main takeaway? Political orientation is a fuzzy predictor of intolerance. Political extremism, on the other hand, is a much stronger one.

Final Thoughts: Horseshoe Theory, Revisited

What does it all mean?

It means that although left-wing and right-wing extremists might seem like polar opposites, they’re more like estranged siblings. They’re shaped by similar psychological forces, just channeled in different ideological directions.

None of this is to say that all radicals are bad, or all moderates wise. History is full of moderate cowards and radical heroes. But if you’re ever tempted to paint your political opponents as uniquely irrational, intolerant, or deluded… well, take a look in the horseshoe-shaped mirror first.

-

Abstract

In this article, we examine psychological features of extreme political ideologies. In what ways are political left- and right-wing extremists similar to one another and different from moderates? We propose and review four interrelated propositions that explain adherence to extreme political ideologies from a psychological perspective. We argue that (a) psychological distress stimulates adopting an extreme ideological outlook; (b) extreme ideologies are characterized by a relatively simplistic, black-and-white perception of the social world; (c) because of such mental simplicity, political extremists are overconfident in their judgments; and (d) political extremists are less tolerant of different groups and opinions than political moderates. In closing, we discuss how these psychological features of political extremists increase the likelihood of conflict among groups in society.

[..]

Discussion

The four psychological features discussed here suggest that political extremism is fueled by feelings of distress and is reflected in cognitive simplicity, overconfidence, and intolerance. These insights are important to understanding how political polarization increases political instability and the likelihood of conflict between groups in society. Excessive confidence in the moral superiority of one’s own ideological beliefs impedes meaningful interaction and cooperation with different ideological groups and structures political decision making as a zero-sum game with winners and losers. Strong moral convictions consistently decrease people’s ability to compromise and even increase a willingness to use violence to reach ideological goals (Skitka, 2010). These processes are exacerbated by people’s tendency to selectively expose themselves to people and ideas that validate their own convictions. For instance, both information and misinformation selectively spread in online echo chambers of like-minded people (Del Vicario et al., 2016).

This article extends current insights in at least three ways. First, the features proposed here help to explain why throughout the past century not only extreme-right but also extreme-left movements (e.g., socialism, communism) have thrived in times of crisis (Midlarsky, 2011). Second, understanding the mind-set of extremists in all corners of the political spectrum is important in times of polarization and populist rhetoric. The current propositions provide insights into why traditionally moderate parties in the EU have suffered substantial electoral losses. In particular, the support for well-established parties on the moderate left (e.g., social democrats) and moderate right (e.g., Christian democrats) has dropped in recent years, whereas the support for left- and right-wing populist parties has increased (Krouwel, 2012). Third, the present arguments are based on evidence from multiple countries with different political systems (van Prooijen & Krouwel, 2017), which suggests that they apply to both two-party systems (e.g., the United States) and multiparty systems (e.g., many European countries).

Of importance, the features presented here can have both negative and positive societal implications. Many movements that were once considered radical have been responsible for important social change (e.g., human-rights movements). For instance, in the study by Tetlock and colleagues (1994), not only extreme slavery advocates but also extreme abolitionists showed decreased integrative complexity compared with people considered moderate at the time; however, few people nowadays would dispute that the abolitionists were morally right (it indeed requires little cognitive complexity to conclude that slavery is wrong). People can endorse both harmful oversimplifications and simple moral truths with high confidence; moreover, intolerance of hate-driven ideological movements (e.g., White supremacism) can be compatible with moral progress.

To conclude, although there are important psychological differences between people with left-wing and people with right-wing ideologies, there are also substantial similarities between left- and right-wing extremists that differentiate them from political moderates. The features presented here provide a psychological perspective on political extremism and contribute to a more complete understanding of how political ideology predicts human cognition, emotion, and behavior.

[neonscandal]

Hi! I have a question, I hope I can explain myself: how would you describe Gojo on a moral level? I see the majority of the fandom (jjk in general, not just the shipping ones) considers him a good person, but I'd argue he's more on the grey side...and not a light grey. See, I can't really wrap my head around the way he blatantly ignores the fact the Suguru was completely fucked up, to the point that in chap 236 he wishes Suguru was with him before fighting Sukuna and imagining him (adult Suguro, the fucked up one) together with the same students he tried to kill in jjk0. How on earth? If I'm not mistaken Gojo never really says "yeah, Suguru was my friend but he used to be completely different, this is not the Suguru I used to be friends with". He never says Suguru was wrong. He just misses him, even though he was surrounded by people who liked him. At least Shoko clearly doesn't feel any affection towards Suguru. And let's not talk about the way he doesn't really seem concerned about the future of his students in chap 236. What do you think? Just to clarify: I do like Gojo. But I don't share the sentiment of the rest of the fandom: he's not a good person. I guess Nanami was right

This is a (somewhat) fair assessment.

Character alignment wise, I think Gojo enters into Jujutsu High as a Chaotic Neutral and transcends into more of a Chaotic Good or maybe Neutral Good? It's hard to say because, if in universe, Gojo is the perceived solution to every problem then why are there still so many problems? Including Geto's 10 year stint running amok?

Morally, Gojo absolutely exists in shades of grey. He uses his power to do the lawful thing but... at the same time, could, on a whim, use his power to do what he or Geto feels to be the right thing. The biggest example being the fact that they were willing to protect Riko Amanai's right to choose whether she wished to merge or not even if the latter would have catastrophic ramifications. Based on the needs of society, Riko needed to merge with Tengen, but Gojo recognized erasure of one girl for the security of others wasn't necessarily right. As an adult, again, he does what needs doing but pushes back on elders that would rather see the likes of Yuta Okkotsu or Yuji Itadori dead.

We have to understand that jujutsu society, with all its rules and hierarchy, isn't a morally upright system to begin with. Gojo, as a Big Three Family heir, is deeply entrenched in that. But he has enough sense to, in his own way, try to correct what he perceives to be travesties.

Suguru Geto is a casualty of this imperfect system and Gojo's initial inability to recognize Geto's struggle was the fatal flaw that put the final nail in his coffin. Discovering the twins was the hand that swung the hammer and he was subsequently radicalized. Gojo wasn't the only person who still kept space for Geto. Nanami and Shoko could also understand that the slaughter of that village was wrong but not find it in their hearts to condemn Geto or hear ill words spoken against him. None of them condemn him because, even if his method was wrong, they understand why he desperately wanted to change the way things are.

Gojo's affection for Geto, in my mind, does not necessarily make him a completely bad person, though. For one, while he doesn't outright condemn what happens in the village, he is clearly dismayed by the murder of Geto's parents. We see that he does in fact understand the wrongness of Geto's transgressions. Bear in mind that, until broken by the system they all served, Geto was a gentle and just person with a noble idea of what was right. So earnestly that Gojo allowed space for Geto to influence his own morality. So this radical change in behavior is a shock to Gojo's system and, even though he was used to deferring to Geto's judgement (like not killing the Time Vessel Association), he very clearly and autonomously recognized Geto's sins. Gojo had an unconditional acceptance or love for Geto which is why, despite everything, he would still find satisfaction in closing the loop, as it were, with Suguru right beside him.

⚠️ Spoiler warning for JJK chapter 236.

The man is dead, what more do you want from him? He knew he was going to die and fought hoping that those who remained could pick up the slack of the weakened opponent. 236 was merely an echo of the same faith he had after he was sealed - that he trusted in the people he left behind. I think Gojo has also come to terms with the fact that all he can do is throw everything he's got at the situation. His failure is unfathomable to most but he's been shown the limits to his power before so perhaps that's why he's overly cavalier. In most situations, he's the first line of defense so if that doesn't cut it... what more can he do?

Bear in mind, what we see of Gojo's afterlife in 236 is more than likely what he hopes for in his heart of hearts. But I'm not really subscribed to the idea that he's Gojover. I could be wrong, especially since Gege Akutami keeps comparing other people to Gojo in his absence to fill in the gaps and explain how they could possibly hope to beat Sukuna. But I think what we saw was an extended version of what Nanami experienced before passing.

You can go left or right - Yuki to Geto about his radical ideals

You can go North to start anew or South to your old self - Mei to Nanami and actualized in his dying moments with an apparition of Haibara

These are choices and the second is as explained to Gojo as if he has the same choice. From his hope that it isn't all in his imagination and the setting therein, it would seem he's leaning toward accepting his fate but I just don't think that's the case. If anything, this prolonged ideation is possible because that brain of his is intact. Gojo even told Toji that he should have cut off his head if he wanted to kill him so, who's to say whether that applies now.

Regarding Nanami being right, I assume you mean the Nanami in chapter 236. In which case:

Hypothesis: The reason we see Gojo surrounded by younger versions of those he lost is because they are attached to the version of himself that died. Gojo will come back as a more enlightened person.

Keep in mind, in a way, Adult Nanami understands Gojo. Every version of Nanami is annoyed by Gojo but there's still a respect that goes both ways, even when their ideals differ. I think Nanami's assessment that "You live for jujutsu. You don't wield it to protect something. You use it solely for the sake of satisfying yourself." is apropos for high school Gojo. But that was before he lost Geto, developed a resolve to take in Megumi and Tsumiki (albeit selfishly), protect Yuta from the elders with his life, and protect Yuji. Empirically, there's a facet of Gojo that uses his power for good and it feels like the versions of Haibara, Nanami, Geto and Yaga that he encounters would be unaware of that. I think that's what makes the fact that Gojo visualizes Adult Geto celebrating him stick out even more. Why the mind games, Gege??

In summation, Gojo continues to exist swathed in shades of grey. He could be better but he could definitely be worse. He is a reflection of a corrupt system that masquerades under the impression of working in service of the greater good but ignores the problematic elements of the likes of Mei Mei, and Naoya Zenin.

[nellie-elizabeth]

Outlander: A Hundred Thousand Angels (7x16)

Do you ever cry for ten thousand years over the death of a fictional wolf on a TV show? RIP Rollo...

Cons:

Okay, I will say... the Faith thing is dumb? I don't know, y'all. Maybe this is going to happen in the books too but from what I remember about the book version, Claire has this fantasy about maybe Faith lived but it's all pretty vague and unsubstantiated and it's not really true. I really hate the implication that it might be literal here. And like, what are we meant to understand by Frances singing the song, that newborn infant Faith Fraser remembered her mother singing to her and actually remembers the words? That makes zero sense whatsoever, even in the mystical magical logic that this show sometimes implies. I guess we'll wait and see what they do in the final season, but I found that to be a rather dissatisfying cliffhanger. Plus, if true, Jane is William's niece technically speaking which is a little yikes for me, I must say!

I liked the conversation between Brianna and Brian but there was a bit of a pacing weirdness with it, I could have used maybe a bit of tightening and maybe just make it like 20 seconds shorter? It felt like the sentimentality was dragging a bit and undercutting the sincerity of some of what was happening.

I was so, so sure that the end of the episode was going to be Claire and Jamie at the ridge and they'd see Bree and fam approaching from the distance with the "hello the house!" call from the end of book eight! I was so ready for it that not getting it kind of messed with my head. Maybe it's how the first episode of season eight will end, but I just feel like it would have been the perfect season ender just as it was the perfect book ender.

Pros:

But hey. You know, I can complain all I want, but when you cry like seven different times watching a single episode of TV, you know it's a good episode.

I actually did have hope that Jane's fate would be rewritten somehow, even though I knew it was unlikely - what a sad sad thing to have happened. I thought the way it was played was so beautiful, William talking to John about it first and then going to Jamie, the discovering of Jane's body, the way they laid her out and did honor to her, Jamie taking a bit of her hair for Fanny, all of it was just so heart-wrenching.

I really loved the way William navigated things in this episode. The moment where John takes his son's hand and tries to comfort him that Jane's death will mean something because at least she saved her sister... and then William saying, quite calmly, but with just a hint of anger, "you think you know me, don't you?" was just so good. John functions as such an interesting character in this moment because his sympathy is legitimate and he does feel for William's suffering, but he's also pragmatic and not actually that much of a radical that he'd do anything extreme. He looked into the situation, found that Jane was to be put to death, and that's the end of the matter, however much he might regret that. And then William goes to his other dad because he figures Jamie might be down for some breaking and entering where John would not be. So juicy.

The scene where Jamie and William talk about Geneva was one of the times I cried during this episode. That woman basically blackmailed Jamie into having sex with her but none of that matters in the face of this moment, where the kindest thing Jamie can offer William is honesty - he did not love William's mother, but she was courageous and curious and bold, and he deserves to know that. Jamie touching William's face and saying that he could never regret what came of that night, even though he regrets his part in Geneva's death? Oof. Goosebumps. And William, just the way he delivers that line, saying that he'll never call Jamie "father"... now I'm just waiting with bated breath to find out if William ever breaks that rule for himself in the future.

Ian and Rachel are going to have a baby! I think I can say pretty definitively that the Ian and Rachel story-line has won me over and that I find their love more compelling in the show than in the books. Mostly on the strength of the acting; they just seem so genuine and sweet and in love and tender with one another. The biggest crying moment in the episode for me was of course Ian waking up to find that Rollo had died in his sleep. His "oh no, no, no" and his cries of despair were gut-wrenching to listen to and I had real tears over it. Rachel is the sweetest with her "I married him when I married thee" thing. What a good egg.

I really have to give all the props in the world to Richard Rankin as Roger in this episode - I literally went back and watched his reunion with his family three times and cried at it, just on the strength of his performance. The child actors are, you know, they're kids, they're doing just fine, and as I've said before I think Sophie is the weakest acting link on the show as Bree, so to have that reunion hit as hard as it did was mostly thanks to Rankin's bewildered joy. The way he called out Brianna's name! Ooof! And then that last moment, where the perfect little family tableau turns and includes Buck, and he comes over to share in their joy? Wow. Hitting me in the feels big time. That's his family too!

As I said, there was something just a little off about the scene with Brianna and Brian, but I did love Brian's understated performance, and what he said about how when his wife died, he kept his heart open, and didn't shut down, and that that means he's open to finding her out in the world. He sees a glimpse of her in Brianna, even though he'll never understand that he's looking at his granddaughter. It's such a sweet little scenario! And I liked Brianna complimenting Lallybroch, what a cool experience to meet the man who built your house centuries before you lived in it.

In some ways I wish we'd had more angst over Claire getting shot, since when we check in with her in this episode she's very much on the mend... but I also liked getting some gentle recovery scenes with her. Yet another cry moment for me was Denzel near tears when he talked about how horrible it was to have to perform surgery on family - on someone he loves. That's just the sweetest thing, I love seeing Claire in this mentor role, where she is someone Denzel truly looks up to and admires, and they're also bound by a family connection now through Rachel and Ian's marriage. So sweet!

On that note, the young girl playing Fanny gets the prize for child acting on this show, I really loved her performance. It seemed like she was in shock until they got to the cemetery of unmarked graves, and then her grief just spills out of her, and I started crying yet again. We see again how Claire has aged into this really matronly role in the lives of the people around her, I loved the tenderness with which she spoke to Fanny about grief and memory.

Obviously my favorite scene is the one with John and Jamie and Claire, yeesh, this season fed me SO well with all that drama. It's one of my favorite things about the books, the way that even as John and Jamie's relationship is pretty irrevocably fractured by what happened, John and Claire are now basically besties? Like, John coming to visit her because she got hurt, an the hand holding, and calling her "my dear"... and then the extremely sassy "Mrs. Fraser" after Jamie snaps at him for addressing Claire so familiarly... perfection. We must stan. Jamie and John doing their tension glaring while Claire is openly exasperated, like, I half expected her to literally say "ugh, boys," when she was watching them have their little standoff. And then because she's a boss and she's definitely in charge of both of them, she calls John to her side, has him take her hand again, and right there in front of Jamie, thanks him for "saving her life", to which John replies that they "saved each other" and then kisses her hand, calls her Mrs. Fraser again, and leaves... like, Jamie, buddy, you know I love you, but John won this interaction so hard it's not even funny. I love love love it.

I think we'll stop there - lots of stuff to dig into in the eighth and final season, which I believe is already done shooting so should be arriving much sooner than we had to wait for the back half of this season... there's a lot I'm looking forward to and hoping to see, but mostly I'm just wondering if my Lord-John-related good fortunes will continue... I want more of him, I want Percy, I want it all. But also, I miss Fergus and Marsali something fierce and I would love to see them before the show ends! And we've got some epic reunions coming up with Bree and Roger on their way back home at last. I can't wait to watch it play out!

8.5/10

[lazyyogi]

What helped you at the start of your journey of becoming who you are now and what do you do consistently to keep you on your path to be helpful to others?

Any suggestions on what to do for those who’d like to be able to help others as you do with the answers you provide?

I was blessed with the right balance of suffering.

Some people suffer too little, so they never seek the radical change that comes from the dharma. They're content enough. Others suffer too much; their pain drains and torments and occupies them such that little room is left for thoughts of dharma or the energy to practice it. Similar to how it may be difficult to show a starving person the beauty of poetry. Feed them, ease their pain, and then bring out the poetry.

This is one of the major reasons for why dharma-based religions emphasize helping others. It may bring them to a place in which they are ready and able to awaken from self-based illusion.

While I did experience elements of suffering, my childhood was for the most part extraordinarily blessed. And I was a bit of a brat, albeit a charming one. But when my father died of cancer before I graduated high school, the reality and finality and unpredictability of death struck me hard.

At the time, I was a practicing occultist and so I turned toward a few trusted occultist friends for insight and advice. I was blessed with a friend who pointed me in the direction of tantra, which is essentially a perfect crossing over point for occultists to enter the spiritual path.

Essentially at that point in my life, I had a few of the insights that lead a person to dharma:

Impermanence. Not only the impermanence of our circumstances and their changefulness but also of our very lives. It's one thing to know it in your head, it's another thing to know it. When you realize you are dying and will die, it lights a fire under you.

Suffering and freedom. I felt awkward, tense, confused, angsty, and unhappy. But I also knew that I had at some point lived without those things. This suggests it is possible to be free from them again.

Precious human birth. Beginning around the age of 7, I wondered what my life would have been like had I been born into a different family. Different religion. I didn't understand why kids identified with their family's religion just because that's what their family believed. It is thanks to our human capacities that we can contemplate life, death, existence, and so on.

Freedom is possible. This was a stroke of luck that I encountered the dharma at the right time. Although I wasn't okay with continuing to suffer and I felt that it should be possible to be free from suffering, I didn't know for sure that there is truly a way beyond it. Eventually I did come to discover that through the grace of the way things unfolded for me after my father's passing.

From there I wasn't content to live within the limits of my suffering, I wanted freedom from it. That urge to be free from such limits drove me to learn spiritual practices such as meditation and then practice them with dedication and discipline. My guru sometimes says that if you are sitting on a chair with a time bomb underneath it, you will find plenty of energy to get up and run away.

With spiritual practice, it is like that. When you know you will die and that death may come any time, then you will prioritize that which will liberate you from suffering.

I didn't set out to write a blog encouraging and clarifying the spiritual way. Nor did I really set out to have a 'path.' I just addressed what was most relevant and immediate in my life: the matters of happiness, love, peace, death, suffering, and such. But just as once step after another soon becomes a journey, so too did my obstacles become a path.

Many people helped me on my way and this blog has been my means of paying it forward, as I will never be able to repay them for their kindness. Which is why so long as I am able and so long as there is a space for me, I will always maintain a Lazy Yogi presence somewhere on the internet.

My advice is to free others from yourself first. If we don't work on ourselves, if we don't emerge from our self-based confusion, then we become everyone else's problem. Discover the ways in which you are limited, bound, deluded, confused, and suffering. And then endeavor to free yourself.

The rest will grow from there.

Much love!

LY

[mikeellee]

Oop! I've still got your asks. I got busy but I'll get to them soon. I want to give you a proper reply and I've been thinking on them.

But here's one of my own. One of the easiest ways in a fanfic to put Izuku and Tomura together as a team is to have Tomura be a friend of Izuku's he games with. Pre-UA. All the way since the start of middle school. Izuku interprets the angry rants and the meetups with Tomura and Spinner (who is apart of their gaming circle) as Tomura just talking crazy. Tomura's much older than Izuku but Izuku also has no other friends. In an AU where his meeting with All Might does not lead to him ending up with OFA, Izuku is ripe for being radicalized. Literally all it takes is Izuku being too slow to grab onto All Might before he jumps away. What's really the difference between Izuku and Spinner? There isn't much. If Izuku isn't allowed to live his dreams, and if he can't become a hero and fails the entrance exam without a quirk, what's left for him? Tomura is also a criminal and thinks like one. When he hears Izuku is being bullied, he decides to give him a gift: Bakugo, chained up in the back of the League's base with his hands encased in concrete. Kurogiri abducted him by creating a portal directly under his bed as he slept. If we use more AU elements and this is one where Tomura has the AFO quirk early, he can rip Explosion out of Bakugo and push it into Izuku. Then he turns Bakugo to dust. One of the challenges with any League Of Villains Izuku story is that you need to make Izuku's fall believable. But if Izuku is now an accessory to a murder and has a stolen quirk he can't get rid of, he'd reason that he has to commit to this life. The alternative is what, life in prison? No one will believe him if he tries to claim he didn't want the quirk. You could do a similar deal where instead of the Bakugo scenario, Tomura tosses Izuku a mask and a gun and they enter the USJ raid. Izuku did not take Tomura seriously when he said they were going to kill All Might. He was shocked by the villain army and the Nomu. And once he's at the USJ and is seen holding a weapon, the hero students attack him. If he gets unmasked during the fight, now he's stuck with the League. If one of the kids dies, he's also legally responsible now. Who does he have in this world besides Tomura? Hell, you could have them actually kill All Might in this world. All it takes is Izuku taking a hostage and a moment of distraction allowing Tomura to touch All Might. Tomura almost managed this in canon but was interrupted by Izuku and Snipe. In a world where Iida doesn't make it out to go get help, All Might would show up but the rest of the teachers wouldn't.

Hi @lacunammmm

I was thinking about this ask and how to respond so I think this scenario is fun to play. Ok, so AM gives the spiel and says Izu can be anything else but a hero (he has more options, in theory, than spinner) and even after he saves the PoS know as Bakugou, am in this universe doesn't change his mind, this is not to bashing fic. Am is not a vain fool who loves fame...I think he is doing a kindness for the boy. Nip the bud of evil so to speak 'you can be anything else but a hero'

Quirkless discrimanation, to me, doesn't exist in canon. Bk abused him bc he can and no wanted to save him...if no one wanted to help a kid like Izu, why would save Tenko Shimura?

Izuku doesn't have a mother, he has Inko. Who is not helpful at all. She doesn't physical touch him sure and doesn't starve him but she is not his mother, canon has it Inko is emotional neglectful! Her son playing video games as he says he give up on heroes looking so heartbroken may make her cry but she does nothing....and he befriend shig there.

Shig is nice to Izu. There no hidden agenda. And it's nice to talk with someone, its nice to hear your name instead of deku.

Shiga talks to Izu about his anger. He hates the heroes. After the fiasco with BK Izu is understanding more and more how the heroes are flawed....it's not a matter if you behave, it's a matter if you fit their patterns....Izu doesnt.

(this story could also feature fem!Izu bc 1) I love her 2) there is the sexism part we can use. "Oh Izumi is a villainess? Bet she is a slut")

This friendship has some time, Shig may be nice to Izu since day 1 but to earn his friendship it took time. And he got it.

He talks about bk and what the heroes did (scold Izu and praise BK) as no one would have lift a finger to save the kid...let him die bc "not the right quirk" and Shig is listening. "Do you want to get revenge on BK?"

Izuku/Izumi: is...that even possible?

Shig smiles wider and asks "do you want revenge?"

And unlike those damn fics where Izu goes "nooo kaachan is good" Izu says yes.

And shig has no problem in locating BK and his cronies (I have an idea for bk here) the boy escape death today bc, don't know, the family went on a surprise trip to see a relative...the cronies aren't spared.

Shig shows them and the cronies who watch as BK tormented Izu ...are now terrified. Izu should be frighten and help them..but he did this once for one of them, the lil backstabber, who joined bk to abuse him.

Shiga: you don't need to do a thing. I do it. Wanna know what is my quirk?

And he decay the boys. Izu just watches. The boys were begging for deku to help...izu has the impression they forget his name. He is not deku.

Shiga: are you satisfied with this?

And Izu is thinking for a moment. Even if he could have been a hero....his life would still be marked by BK. Even if he became a rich lawyer, bk would be free ...it would have more bks.

Izu: no.

Shig is happy bc his lil friend is ok in going to the dark side. Shig promised him no innocent people will be hurt, just the damn heroes...just the ones who hurt him. Who hurt them and Izu agrees,.believes bc the feeling of impotency...to not be able to control his life would drive him mad...he believes shig.

Sensei Satan?

Look he is so vile and stupid ...I can see him giving Tenko's quirks to Izu (if he asks for or if shig says is a good idea for him to have a backup strategy. I can't see shig hating quirkless but having an ace on your sleeve is always good) and make cracks about suicide jokes with Izu.

Izu clocks in pretty fast afo is evil (he may say no to a quirk) and here shig is too...but that is for later.

I mentioned my idea for bk, ok here it is.

UA invasion begins all goes well and am arrives and...Izu kills the man! All the build up for shig vs am is a red herring as Izu kills him quickly and painless. Izu doesn't hate am, he pities the man bc "he can't be anything else but a pillar" there a body to mourn, it does look like am is just sleeping. It's clean, it's merciful (more than what Izu know the heroes would give to him)

Bk? Izu could have killed him...izu just break his arms, hands. Now, bk is QUIRKLESS. The fear on his face is engraved on his/her mind. His amazing and super special quirk, according aldera, didn't save him.

Oh but shig? He kills Aizawa. There no one to save him and plot armour is out for Aizawa (Izu is the one to prevent snipe to shot. Izu studied all of them with Shig as they were planning this) and ...here where Izu could be a woman here too.

Momo tries to help, wearing that damn uniform flashing her tits and Izumi is a bit disgusted...not at Momo, but how they put her in such outfit. Momo is too afraid to use her quirk, Izumi is not faster than a thought but momo can't think...Izumi wearing something appropriate is looking to the rich heiress who is weeping and with her tits out and how Mineta see this a chance to cup a feel. The contrast of a fully clothed villainess vs a heroine who is showing tits bc "marketing" is strong.

(many say hori based Izu on Spiderman but no one mentindo Spiderman is poor, so in this au Izu is poor. Izumi is a poor girl who is looking down to a heiress ...momo will never forget this.)

Izumi kills Mineta.

"Aizawa is dead? But Kuro?" He is not Oboro Kuro is a mix of different people, he is a new being. He has the memories of Oboro but he is not him. In this au, he has more of a personality and is dubious if he is here for his own will or not but he does like shig and vice versa.

Shiga is over the moon. I can see him laugh maniacally at the sight. Am is dead, yes sure he would have loved to be the one who snuff his life but ....frankly Izu killing am makes more sense, he has a reason to do so. In Izu's mind, that was a mercy killing.

And now...the next step is to get rid of afo. Their luck is how afo is dumb as he is evil. Izu is not a good liar but afo never would believe "useless deku" would ever lie to him! No sir.

Izu lies and says am has a heir. Afo believes. Why he wouldn't?

Mirio may be target but is a small sacrifice to make.

Shiga's decay can't end afo.

Afo is too op.

What can end him is...rewind. believe or not, I like the idea of afo being so dumb stupid ge offs himself.

Izu saves Eri, at first he has no idea about the drug. He just saw a lil girl being abused and...acted. shig rolls his eyes but can't say much. The party has a lil girl now (heroes would use her)

Izu lies to afo and tells how her quirk is a small one, smth useless but thanks to the abuse her quirk is gone. Afo believes why wouldn't him?

Izu and shig saved the bullets with the formula.

Izu vs Overhaul? If he is quirkless a fight would be one side. But he is smart...so he could create a scenario where things are in his favour (this can only happen if he stops thinking he is useless) but yeah, it's better let shig face overhaul.

Killing afo is smth Izu does. It has blood on his hands. It was....so pathetic easy. Afo is dead bc he laugh in Izu's face and said "stupid deku, no bullet can hurt me." And to mock him comes closer to let the boy fail...Izu shot him and Afo rewinds.

There no more afo.

Dr evil and Izu meets and well...Shig is not exactly thrilled about that. Dr. Evil is not exactly happy in seeing his beloved dead and Shig is alive ...the man may die, Shig does that.

No afo, no Dr. Evil.

Now it's Izu and Shig against the world.

The time passes. And we see Izu changing mentally and physically. If we are going to the canon age difference so if Izu started the story with 15 years....some time skip of 3 years, would lead him with 18. Shig 23(?? If my math is not wrong) they change.

Shiga won't be satisfied till all the filthy is gone.

Mpa may enter in the picture with proper build up and all the implications it deserves. Redestro is the fanon trope "QUIRKLESS discrimanation" he hates Izu and does see him as a blemish. Shiga shouldn't listen to a quirkless, let alone someone poor and from a nobody family. (Izu is outed as a villain and Inko is shocked...she thought Izu was in college!)

Shiga and Rede begins and is as canon. But shig is pretty clear on "anyone who talks bad about Izu die" and well the numbers lower a lil.

It goes from "if redestro doesn't like this kid, we don't like him either" to ..."know what? He sees very polite"

Izu vs Stain happens as he does defend shig. This is a shig who is human, has ideology and can listen he is not a man child.

(and the spinner? Sigh. Look I respect anyone's opinion but if spinner stans can hate Izu...I reserve my right to hate canon spinner. We don't know a damn thing about him and frankly nothing on him is interstate. My version of Spinner wouldn't be so charitable. I see him more as a follower, a copy cat and the only reason he shift from "stain is cool" to "shig is cool" was bc the quirk awakening. Maybe in that regard, Spinner and Izu do have something in common, they wanted to be accepted but were rejected for things beyond his control)

Shig kills endeavor. Dabi is pissed. Hahaha (or maybe in this au he is dead? Who knows?)

And he makes a point to kill any hero who oppose him.

Izu: what's the next step?

Shiga: rule Japan.

The others countries are ready to accept shig as the new leader of Japan if this means he won't kill them. Izu has a new life.

Ofc rebellions are to be expected but they can menage.

If shig has ofa....Izu has researched this. I do believe 100% the whole "afo took Shig's body" was exclusively for Shig, nine had no problem.

If I'm to give some special feature for Izu...then it would be how...he can handle more than one quirk. Shiga now having a non body snatcher afo wants to gift Izu with whatever quirk he wants...he got 9 quirks, a nice pun to the fact Izu means nine in Japanese.

But if that's not ok, then ...he doesn't need a quirk. He won QUIRKLESS and now...this is a brand new day.

[gayleviticus]

i dont necessarily want to go around slandering this specific person, more just unpack the dynamic happening here, but there's a certain public (like an actual writer not just a social media influencer or w/e) Side B gay christian advocate who seems like a decent enough person, but I feel like spends an awful lot of time criticizing Side A people more than Christian homophobia.

it's not like, huge. this person doesn't feel like a sellout more interested in defending traditional sexual ethics against queers than anything else like jackie hill perry or sam allberry. but idk, compared to other side B people like eve tushnet or grant hartley or wesley hill, even if they do obviously express disagreement w side A, I feel like they have a more fundamental position of solidarity w queer christians regardless of side (I could be wrong here, but that's my impression)

whereas this person i feel doesn't really. it's nothing huge, it just feels like they're more interested in pushing back against Side A than cishet homophobia. and i think it kind of makes sense in this person's context, given they're an adult convert to Christianity from fully gay-affirming agnosticism.

but i also feel like this puts this person in a position that is a lot more privileged than a lot of queer people who were raised in the church (whether still christian or not).

i dont want to suggest adult converts don't face homophobia at all (and in fact, in some ways, a married gay couple converting as adults might get it worst of all given attempts by the church to break up their family). but i feel like the way in which being raised in a homophobic faith tradition gets so deeply internalised by queer people as vulnerable children with less ability to deconstruct what they're being taught is something an adult convert is less likely to grasp.

and especially if that adult convert is Side B - i don't know. i think it would be tempting for someone in that position to not realise that their ability to freely choose Side B as an adult - with pressure, to be sure, but still with a choice - is very different from people who were raised to feel they never had any choice in the matter.

there are other adult converts - like eve tushnet - who i feel (again in my not-exhaustive knowledge of them) do acknowledge their relative privilege in avoiding that ambient air of homophobia as a kid. i think tushnet even appreciates the fact she was able to enter christianity with an already well-formed sense of identity as a lesbian and so could choose the burden of submitting to the catholic church's Side B teaching. her life as an atheist lesbian was preparation for being a side B catholic.

whereas this person i'm talking about i think, seems to view their irreligious gay activist past as something to be repudiated, and seems to hold a kind of resentment against their side A christian friends who told them they could be practising gay and christian, because they felt deceived. Where tushnet perceives a continuity of moving towards better things, this person perceives a radical 180 degree turn and repudiation.

and so i think im not surprised that this person doesnt really feel invested in side A/B solidarity - bc as someone not really exposed to christian homophobia, and who understands their conversion story very much in terms of a road to damascus-style 180 repentance, it makes sense this person would be more concerned about side A than cishet homophobia.

[anamericangirl]

I’ve wanted to ask someone about this even though it’s very personal:

How does baptism work? Does doing it guarantee that you will be absolved of sin and will be able to go to heaven, or purgatory (which from what I’ve read is where you cleanse yourself of sin before you can enter heaven)?

I sometimes feel stressed thinking about it because a lot of things from the Old Testament are things that are commonplace nowadays, and even though my dad says that the OT was created in the context of encouraging survival of their group, and Moses created the New Testament, which is what we follow now, I don’t know if what was on the OT would still be considered sinful or not, regarding heaven.

I’ve read that the most successful way to go to heaven is repentance, not out of wanting to go there when you die, but out of genuinely wanting to change. I’ve mulled over this for a while and it makes me feel scared. How do I know if I’m genuinely repenting out of change and not for selfish reasons? Will I need to repent again before I die, and is repentance for OT or NT rules? And I know that Jesus died on the cross for this very reason, but I still can’t shake the fear of doing something wrong before I die, even though I don’t do anything morally wrong or considered sinful (from my understanding) that isn’t considered commonplace for the 21st century. Sorry for just dumping this into your inbox, since it seems like just basic fear of afterlife questions that we don’t have the answers to :P

No need to be sorry, I think this is something everyone struggles with at some point during their lives.

The ideas of purgatory and baptism being necessary for salvation are taught by the Catholic Church and I’m not catholic so if you ask someone who is a catholic you will most likely get a different answer than I give but baptism does not guarantee anything.

Baptism is a symbolic ritual that many undergo as a testament to their newfound faith and a representation of having their sins washed away. It does not give you salvation and is not necessary to obtain it.

Jesus tells us many times that we are saved through grace and faith. Not works and not baptism.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:8-10

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” - Romans 10:9-10

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” - Ephesians 1:13

Baptism is an act of obedience once we are saved, it is not the method through which we are saved. That is done by believing Jesus is the son of God and that he died for your sins.

Repentance of sins is not a one time thing. We are all going to commit sins even after accepting Christ, so repentance is something we will need to do multiple times. Biblical repentance, though, is more than being sorry for the wrongs we’ve done. It is a complete change in our way of thinking and living. We are turning away from our old lives to follow Jesus.

I like the way gotquestions (which is definitely a site I recommend for questions you may have about god and the Bible) lays out what repentance looks like.

1) True repentance involves a sense of awareness of one’s own guilt, sinfulness, and helplessness

2) True repentance apprehends or takes hold of God’s mercy in Jesus Christ

3) True repentance means a change of attitude and action regarding sin. Hatred of sin turns the repentant person away from his or her sin to God

4) True repentance results in a radical and persistent pursuit of holy living, walking with God in obedience to His commands

The fact that you are so worried that your faith and repentance might not be genuine and might be selfish is a good sign because it shows you are aware and want to do it right. Remember, God isn’t looking for perfection, he is looking for sincerity. He knows we are imperfect and we just have to give him all we have.

God is more interested in your heart and mind than he is in how well you follow the rules.

The thief on the cross next to Jesus was never baptized and not been a follower of Christ for his entire life and when confessed that Jesus was lord as he was dying Jesus said to him “truly I tell you today you will be with me in paradise.”

True repentance is a lifelong endeavor because you will make mistakes but they don’t damn you from receiving grace and salvation.

Of course this is not to say that the rules god gave us aren’t important. They are and we should strive to do our best to follow them, but we are all going to mess up.

In James we are told that faith without works is dead, but this doesn’t mean that salvation is obtained by works. It means if you really believe something, it should be reflected in the way you live. Like if someone told you they were a vegetarian but you saw them eat meat every day then they’re not really a vegetarian because even though they claimed something they are not behaving like one.

If you are striving to live for God and do the right thing because you know you are a sinner and need God’s grace to obtain salvation then you are on the right track.

Don’t be so worried about following all the rules perfectly. Romans 14:14 says “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.” So if you feel like something is wrong to do even though in reality it’s perfectly fine and other people have explained it’s ok but you feel it’s wrong then it’s wrong for you.

Just make sure to read your Bible and pray and ask god to guide you and as long as you trust in him and are endeavoring to follow him then you don’t need to worry.

Hope that was helpful! You can always message me again if you need to.

[scamornoreviews]

Teslacare Review - Is Teslacare Legit?

Learn all about Teslacare’s cutting-edge self-care devices, built to harness Terahertz technology for optimal wellness. Discover the benefits, features, and FAQs in this detailed review.

Teslacare is breaking new ground in self-care with advanced Terahertz technology. In this review, we explore its benefits, unique features, and how Teslacare can help you tap into natural wellness.

Introduction

Self-care has evolved by leaps and bounds, especially with innovative brands like Teslacare entering the scene. Known for its unique approach to health, Teslacare combines the latest in Terahertz technology to deliver products that are convenient, portable, and non-invasive. With Teslacare, users can explore a wellness routine that aligns with their body’s natural rhythm. This review dives into Teslacare’s offerings, its standout features, and why this technology could be a game-changer in the self-care world.

# What is Teslacare? #

Teslacare specializes in Terahertz-powered devices designed to support wellness and rejuvenation. Unlike traditional self-care products, Teslacare’s line is centered around technology that’s both sophisticated and user-friendly. The brand focuses on making advanced wellness tools accessible to everyone, no matter where they are or what they’re doing.

# Key Features of Teslacare #

Teslacare’s appeal lies in its blend of technology and ease of use. Here’s a breakdown of its main features:

Terahertz Technology Teslacare’s signature feature is its Terahertz technology, which produces a frequency that resonates with the human body’s natural rhythms. This technology is believed to help activate healthy cells and encourage overall balance.

Portable and Handheld Teslacare devices are designed to be lightweight and portable, making it easy to bring them along whether at home or on the go. This portability makes self-care accessible anytime, anywhere.

Non-Invasive Approach Teslacare’s non-invasive design is a standout benefit. Users can enjoy the benefits of wellness-focused technology without any needles, incisions, or painful procedures, promoting a safe and comfortable experience.

Multi-Functional Uses Teslacare devices are versatile, making them suitable for a range of wellness applications. To understand how Teslacare’s multi-functionality fits into a routine, it’s best to consult a distributor for tailored advice.

# How Does Terahertz Technology Work? #

Terahertz technology is one of the most fascinating aspects of Teslacare. Operating at a frequency that’s close to the vibration rates of healthy human cells, this technology is believed to encourage cellular activation, potentially helping to remove harmful free radicals. By aligning with the body’s cells, Teslacare may enhance wellness by resonating with a frequency that promotes energy and balance.

# Benefits of Using Teslacare #

Wondering why Teslacare stands out? Here’s a quick list of the key benefits users report:

Enhanced Energy By utilizing the Terahertz frequency, Teslacare may help increase energy levels, allowing users to feel more awake and revitalized.

Ease of Use Teslacare’s handheld devices are designed for simplicity. Just turn it on and use it in targeted areas as instructed for a straightforward wellness experience.

Flexible for Home and Travel With its portable design, Teslacare is a fantastic option for people who want a convenient solution that fits into both home and travel routines.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee Teslacare backs its products with a money-back guarantee, making it a risk-free way to try out the benefits of Terahertz technology...

Full Teslacare Review here! at https://scamorno.com/Teslacare-Review/?id=tumblr

# Why Teslacare is Different #

Teslacare doesn’t just rely on advanced technology—it’s also a brand committed to making wellness practical and accessible. Unlike many high-tech wellness devices that require complex setup or special training, Teslacare’s products are intuitive and easy to use. With this blend of high-quality tech and user-friendly design, Teslacare delivers both sophistication and simplicity in one package.

# Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) #

1. What is Terahertz technology, and how does it work? Terahertz technology operates on a frequency close to the body’s natural cell frequency, making it potentially helpful in stimulating healthy cellular activity. This resonance can assist in promoting overall balance and energy in the body.

2. Are Teslacare devices safe to use? Yes, Teslacare devices are non-invasive, meaning they don’t require injections or other invasive procedures. This design ensures a safe and comfortable experience for users.

3. Can Teslacare devices be used by anyone? While Teslacare devices are generally safe for most users, it’s recommended to consult with a healthcare provider or a Teslacare distributor if you have specific health conditions.

4. What is the benefit of Teslacare’s portable design? Teslacare’s compact, handheld design makes it easy to use and carry anywhere. It’s perfect for those who want wellness solutions that fit seamlessly into their daily routines.

5. Is there a guarantee on Teslacare products? Yes, Teslacare offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so customers can try the products and see if they fit their needs without financial risk.

# User Experiences with Teslacare #

Many users report positive experiences with Teslacare, particularly in feeling increased energy and ease of use. Its portability is a favorite feature among those who enjoy traveling or need flexibility in their self-care routines. Customers also appreciate the device’s safety and non-invasive nature, making it a comfortable addition to their wellness journey.

# How to Use Teslacare Effectively #

Using Teslacare is straightforward, but here are some tips to get the most out of the device:

Start Small: Begin with shorter sessions to allow your body to adjust to the Terahertz frequency.

Stay Consistent: Regular use tends to yield better results, so consider adding Teslacare into your daily or weekly self-care routine.

Target Specific Areas: For a more personalized approach, consult with a Teslacare distributor who can guide you on the best areas to target...

Full Teslacare Review here! at https://scamorno.com/Teslacare-Review/?id=tumblr

[daggerzine]

“I am a Cliché” A documentary film about Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex (2021- review by Dina Hornreich)

There is a so-called “Afro Punk”

<https://www.spoonersnofun.com/afropunk> movement which is yet another tangent to consider upon adding the social construct of race to this ongoing mix of sex & gender rock’n roll activism which allows us to arrive at another level of understanding entirely.

Kimberlé Crenshaw calls this approach “intersectionality” which (in a nutshell) can be explained thusly: if we all live under this male white corporate tyranny which favors a “mythical norm” (cf: Audre Lorde) by promoting greed, violence, & misogyny (i.e. toxic masculinity); then black men may have some advantages because (at least) they are still male, and white women may have some advantages because (at least) they are still white.

But what do black women have working in their favor? <insert cricket noises here>

Enter Marian Elliott (i.e. Poly Styrene) who was a pioneer amongst the outsider world of rock’n roll n*ggers (sic) who found little camaraderie amongst the punks in whom she sought substantial inspiration in the late 1970s. She was very different amongst the regular lot of Sex Pistols inspired bands like Joy Division or even the Slits <https://www.slitsdoc.com/>.

However, her legacy continues to inspire droves of feminist/black punks who also perpetuate this unending dire feeling that needed, wanted, and deserved to express share with an audience. From zines like Osa Atoe’s “Shotgun Seamstress” <https://softskull.com/books/shotgun-seamstress/> to Rachel Aggs’ variety of bands (Shopping, Trash Kit, and Sacred Paws) <https://www.lostmap.com/visitations-rachel-aggs>, her influential contributions remain impeccably unassailable.

When I first discovered her music in the summer of 1995, I was living on a kibbutz in Israel near the city of Netanya which was likely the optimal time and place for me to best appreciate her shrieking critiques of consumer culture and its perpetuation of misogyny, racial oppression, and gender essentialism. It remains the first and only time that I ever looked at the cover art for a recorded album and felt entirely at home in my own skin (before I even opened the package!); and then listening to her music clearly solidifies that sentiment even further.

At that time, there was little else that could validate at the same level of impact that purchasing a copy of “Germ-free Adolescents” at a record store in the bus station in Tel Aviv as it did for me in 1995. In fact, when I returned to the US for my junior year of college at the end of the summer, my male friends relentlessly teased me about the obvious similarities I shared with Poly; and then refused to concede that she was equally important to the movement as Joe Strummer more readily gets recognized. The only legitimate piece of music writing that I could find which seemed to do her work justice was a brief chapter in Richie Unterberger’s 1998 book “Unknown Legends of Rock'n'Roll" <http://www.richieunterberger.com/ulrhome.html>.

The radical ways in which she was spotlighting the propagandistic nature of advertising as it relies heavily on manipulating (and otherwise exploiting) human emotional vulnerabilities (involving guilt, shame, and blame) just to sell consumers a completely fabricated self-concept of gender identity. As a young British woman of partial Somali descent (on her father’s side), there is no respite from her internalization of the stigmas that her innate differences invited (given the experiences that her appearance manifested); and so the overwhelmingly complicated struggles that she faced on a regular basis made every waking moment of her life an arduous endeavor. It was a relentless onslaught of arduous challenges with very little recognition for the substantial emotional investment that she threw into her every effort with almost nothing to show for it at the end. Pills, drugs, and similar remedies are poor distractions from this harsh realization.

The film reinforces how the “punk” label often reveals itself to be an increasingly illusory category – given some of its more “miscellaneous” categorical aspects – and an overall lack of coherent focus which only suggested that its purpose was merely allowing for our ongoing right to be asserting our existence in a cruel and unjust world.

We are not people who were built with the solid foundation to layer on so much pressure given that fragility; as such, she eventually collapsed (mentally, physically, and socio-emotionally) from the toll that trying to find validation in a scene that only mocks any level of commercial or mainstream validation at its outset. So she escaped to the religious fervor of the Hare Krishna movement in India; and struggled in her more conventional roles as wife, mother, etc. I’m not clear on how she elected that particular community, as I’m inclined to think her father may have been Muslim, but I am not really sure how supportive they were for those endeavors.

Because she stood up for herself in these unsustainably creative and political ways leaving herself immeasurably depleted while lacking the resources to keep herself going, there was no escaping the stigmas of successive “breakdowns” – and other concomitant pathologies which only punish her for taking that kind of artistic risk in her work in the first place. (It seems inappropriate for her estranged daughter to even weigh in on such matters, in the first place.)

It’s not clear if she was ever able to take a step back to fully appreciate such influential contributions, and it seems Celeste made this film simply to be able to do that work for her own healing in order to have a more peaceful ending. (Eventually, there was another iteration of her band, X-Ray Spex, involving collaborations with her daughter prior to her eventual passing to breast cancer.) I often wonder how successful most “rockstar” types can be as parents given the demands of that kind of career; especially back in the 1970s. It’s a very demanding lifestyle even though music is considered “the language of the spirit” (and punk didn’t always have that unifying, healing kind of creative vibe).

“I am a cliché” clearly provides ample testimony to the limitations for trying to thrive as a feminist punk rocker while trying to negotiate a suffocating oppression that is created by male white corporate tyrants looking for “the next big thing.” No matter how much Poly tried to find solace from being a trailblazer, the limited availability of resources for supporting this kind of endeavor made the toll of that risk completely unsustainable. There is no glamorization of her life despite these accomplishments, but her legacy remains all the more significant as a result.

www.polystyrenefilm.net

[steelbluehome]

Paste Magazine

A Different Man‘s Exhilarating, Insightful Genre Blend Is More than Skin Deep

By Katarina Docalovich

April 2, 2024

You can change your hair, you can change your clothes, you can surgically change your face to that of Hollywood hunk Sebastian Stan, and you’ll still be the same awkward, unlikeable weirdo on the inside. Or at least, that’s what writer/director Aaron Schimberg asserts in A Different Man, an exhilarating blend of body horror, dark comedy, sci-fi and romance. Even with all the power of the 21st century’s most scientifically advanced beautifying technology, the human race has still not figured out a medical surgery to make us better people, perhaps because this wouldn’t be a particularly profitable industry (but that’s a discussion for another time).

It’s not that Edward (Sebastian Stan), an unsuccessful actor afflicted with neurofibromatosis, is a particularly vain individual. In fact, he’s hesitant to undergo the radical facial surgery that eradicates his disfigurement. It just so happens that the surgery gives Edward Patrick Bateman levels of handsomeness. Can you blame Edward for taking that chance? Who among us wouldn’t opt to look a hundred times more conventionally attractive?

It’s once Edward abandons his own name for a fake sounding one and forsakes his former nice guy identity for a new debaucherous life as a wealthy real estate asshole that we realize, hey, maybe this wasn’t such a great guy to begin with. On top of that, maybe I, the viewer, am also an asshole for assuming Edward was a decent guy just because his face was deformed. This is a layer that Schimberg explored with his previous film Chained for Life; is it more morally deplorable to gawk at or to pity the severely deformed?

We can judge Edward’s new neighbor Ingrid (The Worst Person In the World’s Renate Reinsve), an aspiring playwright, for not giving him a chance because of his affliction, and we can judge her for many other things later on that I would hate to spoil, but it is more difficult to judge her for rejecting Edward once his true colors shine through. I was fully prepared to write Ingrid off as a classic manic pixie dream girl when she first busts down Edward’s door wearing a yellow crop top and matching yellow booty shorts that reveal her abs, fawning over his typewriter and adorably asking about his childhood photos, but I underestimated Schimberg’s understanding of the darker and more insidious parts of the female psyche.

It becomes clear that Ingrid has no qualms about lying to herself and using the pain of others for her own artistic gain. Just as it is easy for us to assume Edward was a good person because he was hideous, it is easy for us to assume Ingrid was inherently “good” because of her undeniable beauty and charm. As fate would have it, Ingrid writes a play that feels eerily similar to Edward’s life pre-surgery, and she’s searching for a lead actor—the role Edward was “born to play.” Edward’s newfound beauty is now a curse, and he clings desperately to what could have been.

At the exact moment when Edward believes he can trick himself into recreating the past with Ingrid in some warped way, the charismatic Oswald (Schimberg’s previous collaborator Adam Pearson) enters their lives stage right, and suddenly, he’s everywhere. Pearson is so compelling here that I hope it becomes his new calling card after long being known as “the guy from Under the Skin.” Oswald is the kind of guy who does yoga in the park, already knows the cutest women at the bar, and flawlessly performs karaoke without the slightest hint of self-consciousness. Oswald is so enchanting, lighthearted yet understanding, and funny that you almost don’t even notice his neurofibromatosis-caused facial deformities, proving that you don’t need to look like Sebastian Stan in order to live a prosperous life surrounded by loved ones. He’s Edward’s exact foil.

Much conversation will be hashed and rehashed regarding the third act and final shot of A Different Man, and I found myself questioning whether or not Schimberg would have the technical ability to land the plane after so many twists and turns, but I was silly for doubting him. A Different Man is a major work—even as it shapeshifts from Cronenberg to Kaurismäki, developing into new territory at every turn, Schimberg never loses sight of his central questions: What makes us who we are? What does it mean to be a good person in this weird but beautiful world, surrounded by other people? Without providing precise answers, or resorting to the tired old cliché of “beauty is not skin deep,” Schimberg throws us in a new direction. There are always large objects falling out of the ceiling, and people loudly pounding down the door. Much like life, once you get comfortable in the rhythm of A Different Man, Schimberg shoves you out of your seat and forces you to question what you thought you knew about yourself and those sitting next to you.]p

A Different Man also signals the kind of marriage between independent New York filmmakers and “the Hollywood elite” in a way that we haven’t really seen since Uncut Gems. The supporting cast of A Different Man is a who’s who of New Yorkers who have dedicated much of their lives to independent filmmaking and programming. The list of cameos includes, but is not limited to, Funny Pages director Owen Kline, Screen Slate founder Jon Dieringer, Anthology Films Archives archivist John Klacsmann, and filmmaker/programmer Caroline Golum. Whenever a major producer like Christine Vachon and a consequential actor like Sebastian Stan spot a winning project like A Different Man, much less help those artists behind it bring such a unique vision to fruition, it’s nothing short of a miracle.

Director: Aaron Schimberg

Writer: Aaron Schimberg

Starring: Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson

Release Date: April 3, 2024 (New Directors/New Films) September 13, 2024 (Limited)

[meowww-ffxiv]

Theodore: As I have indulged you in many of your Little Creature Tendencies, I ask you to indulge me in my weekly existential anxieties.

Meowdred: Okay. OwO

Theodore: Do you remember the Ea? How they said the universe will one day enter an eternal ice age, and no new stars or life will ever be born. At the time, I was so concerned with saving our star that I rejected their revelation with all my heart, but I think what they said is the truth.

Meowdred: Are you worried about it now?

Theodore: I don't know if "worry" is the correct word. But it looms over me. Some days it shadows all my joys.

Meowdred: Hmmm. I can tell you what I think about it.

Theodore: That it does not matter if we all die in the end and are never reborn, only that we are alive in this moment?

Meowdred: Well of course it MATTERS. Nobody wants to die, man, me included. But I think the Ea posed a fundamental flaw question just like Hermes did.

Theodore: Oh?

Meowdred: When they saw the truth, they said "This cannot be! Our existence is not indefinite!" Which I understand flew in the face of all that they had achieved, but come on. Everything's going to end SOME day, and the part of the universe that encompasses life surely must, too.

Meowdred: But they were saying all that from their perspective. You and I have seen how just the shards of Hydaelyn possessed such radically different flora and fauna. The other side of that ice age, or even within that ice age, might not contain or support aether-based life forms -- life as we knew it. But so what? Something or someone might have still lived.

Meowdred: I was going to ask the Ea that too, but Y'shtola and Urianger were more succinct in their rejection of their wallowing.

Theodore: I see. But that does not actually make me feel that much better considering the extinguish of aether-based life forms is still true.

Meowdred: And so? It is a grand truth. It is the assurance of a final destination for our journeys. The only thing worse than dying to me is not being allowed to die. Not being able to lay down your burdens for the last, final time. And it's so far away!! Practically infinite. How many hellos can you fit into this infinite before our time ends, how many goodbyes, how many skills can you learn and perfect and pass on. How many new friends and new experiences and even new enemies to define, redefine, unmake and remake you?

Meowdred: How many turns of the heavens do I have, to love you? Let's say our souls will be peculiar and we retain ourselves after these bodies disintegrate. How many reunions would we have? Adventures and tranquil nights alike. When I see before me the amount of time I have to be your friend, it's both finite in this life and infinite in its possibilities. But believe me, I'm glad for it.

Theodore: :''( I love you too. I love you the most out of everyone and everything.

Meowdred: I love you too. ^w^

Theodore: Also I suppose you were playing up the part about being old?

Meowdred: Raha pointed out that it's not so much I feel old as I feel worn down, and not processing everything as well as I want to. It's not synonymous as feeling like I'm at the end of my ropes. This body is frail but it loves me well enough if I care for it, as do all things. I'm up for adventuring.

[cynicallyscorned]

Ship Bias!!

5 ships i'm biased about for my muse! ( accepting. )

and the #1 contender is... shocking nobody,

Sonic X Cynic.

listen. okay. when i first conceptualized cynic, I went in with absolutely no expectations when it came to ships. the goal was just to play a version of sonic that was fun to hate with a warped idea of self image and right and wrong. I was not expecting cynonic (and every variation it can come in) to be one of the main OTPs here. Tbh I didn't even care much for dupe-shipping since part of me thought it was a lil weird, and the other part just had no experience w the concept. enter my friend Jeremy, who came up with an AU sonic on the spot as I was sharing a bit of info about cynic that is basically the polar opposite to his rugged bad boi persona. a couple impromptu improv charming exchanges between them later and I was sold LMFAO. I haven't been the same since. and since then I've developed such a soft spot for the idea of this traumatized lil rat learning to become...okay with himself and who he is and come away from the darkness through Sonic's help. (frankly, sonic being such a strong influence in the other character's life in a positive way has always been one of my favorite things abt his pairings) I've adored every interaction he's had with every sonic! platonic, romantic, sibling like, enemies -- it does not matter to me. it will always fascinate me and I will always get a kick out of writing this guy's complicated and messy feelings abt his alternates because it's always so unique every time.

Shadow X Cynic.

I'LL BE REAL CHIEF. the OG plan was so far away from this pairing. I came up with cynic during a period where sonadow had been a bit soured for me due to bad rp experiences. part of the way I established cynic and his dynamic with his own shadow from his dimension was a little influenced by this fact. WITH THAT SAID - I've been completely sold on the pairing I have going with seiko's shadow (@somewhereinchaos) because it's like a completely different spin on sonadow. at first it just seems like two edgy moody assholes that somehow get along but then the nuance and actual sonadow undertones start coming out as their relationship develops. cynic and shadow are quite similar and they find comradery in their shared grievances with the world - yet at the same time also have strongly different personalities and they manage to strike an unexpected balance of lifting each other up and leaning on one another for support. I love that cynic brings out a soft and emotionally consoling side of seiko's shadow that had nearly been forgotten, while shadow brings out more of the heart and passion that makes cynic A sonic! its so fascinating... their relationship has also made me fall in love with sonadow all over again and I just care them so very much. 🙏

Scourge X Cynic.

You are strongly responsible for this brainrot turning into a full fledged otp because I was not prepared for how much these two would have me in a choke hold HDGLJ. like, I already knew cynic would think scourge is cool, that he'd have a person crush on him. I've said before while describing him that cynic is of a similar concept to scourge if he just never changed his identity. radical differences aside, they both understand what it feels like to be told (indirectly or otherwise) that they are inherently wrong and their version of 'sonic-ing' is bad. but where cynic desperately clings onto his identity as sonic with a struggling grip, scourge cast that life aside and became something bigger. that suggestion is so dangerously tempting to cynic as it is painfully relatable, to embrace your worst side because it's 'all you'll ever be.' BUT BESIDES ALL THAT - it ALSO is in a hilarious yet tragic way, a dark spin on cynonic. scourge has all the personality traits of sonic that pull you in, make you wanna like him, which is.. infectious to cynic. they are doomed by the narrative but you still can't help but go 'aww' when scourge gets cynic to laugh or when they riff off each other in their dumb competitive natures.

Surge x Cynic.

THIS ONE CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF LEFT FIELD FOR ME BUT I AM NORMAL. ok, maybe not normal. I haven't caught up on IDW since reading the first issue for imposter syndrome so there's stuff I'm missing here -- but the bottom line is @synnrrgy's surge has wormed her way into cynic's tiny little brain and he is down bad. they somehow bonded through beating the shit out of each other and sharing that same brash attitude, not to mention their mutual dislike for sonic and feeling the inferiority complex. they are the kind of pairing where one part of the ship is always pushing each other's buttons and vice versa but still can bond over doing dumb and reckless shit. what's more, cynic is hopelessly drawn to dysfunction, and still has that deep seeded ache to help people deep down. the situation surge is in with starline aches my HEART because it seriously brings out the desperation cynic has to protect the ppl he cares about, making him pull a complete 180 to the closed off and aloof demeanor he usually has. and the memory loss.. augh. I love me a good angsty antag pair that motivates one part of ship to try to be the 'hero'

Blaze x Cynic.

THIS ONE.. KINDA JUST HAPPENED and it's not exactly the setting you'd expect either. in the TBC au ive mentioned dozens of times on this blog, cynic who is a misunderstood outcast at school develops a crush on @warraigoe 's blaze, and due to tragic circumstances leads to them both being put in a position where they have to sorta set aside any growing feelings so they can prioritize 'leading' the one standing force against CHORUS tech. blaze is both cynic's rock and also someone he trusts to watch his back, but she is also nearing dangerously close to hosting age (essentially when a teenager comes of age and falls victim to the brainwashing hive mind psychic force known as the Song. it's like an invisible illness that comes for almost everyone at some point in this verse) and so cynic is deeply afraid of losing her too. it's another very doomed by the narrative pairing and it's their softer moments with each other that just makes all the upsetting things that end up happening to them hit even harder. in another life they are happier and able to maybe get a chance to actually enjoy each other's time without the threat of inescapable doom bearing down on them...