#your money might be worth more but I can’t take it! it’s not our currency

[paperuniverse]

Guy asked if we take American cash and I said no then as he was walking away he muttered “why does no one take it?”

We are in Canada sir 🧍‍♂️

[defectivevillain]

come rest your bones next to me

pairing: leviathan x reader (can be platonic or romantic)

reader’s pronouns: unspecified but masc-intended

“Can you check on Leviathan?” Lucifer asks you, after pulling you aside during breakfast. The Avatar of Pride’s eyes flit about the space behind you, evidently watching his brothers to make sure they don’t do anything mischievous in his absence. “He hasn’t been out of his room in a while and he won’t answer any of our messages.”

“Yeah, sure,” you agree, feeling a bit curious yourself. Levi isn’t one to leave his room unless he really desires to. You’re wondering why Lucifer seems so concerned about it. From what you know, social withdrawal is normal for Levi. You think about Lucifer’s request as you return to the table and finish your breakfast. Once you’re finished, you break away from the group and announce that you’ll return to your room. Somehow, you manage to catch Lucifer’s eye and he nods reassuringly. 

You finally make it to Levi’s bedroom, after minutes of doubt and hesitation forcing you past his door. The door is closed, unsurprisingly. You knock a few times, but no one answers. Grimacing, you decide to open the door slowly. Thankfully, you don’t get smited on sight. It takes you a moment to find the Avatar of Envy, since his room can be rather distracting. Eventually, you find him reclined on the sofa, playing some sort of game. 

“Hey, Levi,” you say, knowing he’s not quite paying attention to you. You linger in the doorway, biting your lip. Leviathan doesn’t really like having people in his room unless he invites them. Knowing this, you stay in the doorway. “Just wanted to check in on you. Have you, um, left your room recently?”

“No,” Levi growls, his gaze caught on his game. You frown and try to think of a way to get his attention. You could take the controller, of course, but you don’t want to die. Another idea crosses your mind. It’s stupid and embarrassing, but it might work. 

“That’s a kinnie moment,” you nod sagely. It takes nearly all of your willpower not to burst out laughing at the cringey nature of the statement. Your effort is worth it, however, because Leviathan’s face twists and he tears his eyes away from the game to look at you. 

“Shut up,” Leviathan scoffs, although he chokes out a laugh for a brief second. You grin victoriously and he rolls his eyes. His attention falls back to his game again. You hover in the doorway awkwardly, watching as he quietly continues to play. 

“Mind if I watch?” You find the courage to ask. Leviathan doesn’t say anything, so you walk in and settle down next to him. Upon closer inspection, the game he’s playing is remarkably similar to Animal Crossing. Although, there are some differences. For one, all the animals are significantly more... menacing. They all have horns, tails, or other features typical of demons. Even so, they’re cute. You watch Levi’s avatar walk around for a little, before he inexplicably comes to a stop. You have to resist the urge not to give him advice- you know he hates it when you try to advise him about games- and stay silent. 

His avatar is standing before a glowing spot of green. You think it must be similar to the yellow glowing spot that indicates where Bells, the game currency, are buried. Levi frowns at his screen and digs it up. Just before he can patch up the hole in the ground, you grab his wrist. 

“You can bury that, you know,” you point out. For a moment, there’s nothing but silence and you think your remark has gone unnoticed. Levi’s cursor remains hovering over the currency, which is apparently called Chimes. That can’t be a coincidence, you think to yourself mirthfully. “Then, it’ll make a tree. Like a money tree.”

“Yeah, sure,” Levi says with a roll of his eyes, clearly not believing you. You shake your head and take the controller from him, ignoring his startled screech and burying the currency. Sure enough, it works and his avatar is now standing in front of a sapling. Leviathan is completely silent for several moments, while your heart races in your chest. “Hm.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t know that,” you blurt out, entirely unable to stop yourself. Levi freezes, his hands entirely still around the controller. Despite the near murderous aura rising around him, the words keep falling from your mouth. “It was pretty obvious-”

“Shut up.” You’re suddenly shoved down against the couch. Leviathan looms over you, a furious expression on his face. His eyes are gleaming and his tail is swishing angrily behind him. His hands dig into your wrists painfully. You flinch and close your eyes, but he doesn’t do anything more than tower over you. 

“Okay, okay, sorry,” you say sincerely. Guilt stews in your chest at the thought that he took your taunts seriously. “I was just joking. You’re obviously a skilled gamer. Hell, if Ruri-chan played video games, you’d beat her at them.” Okay, you’re laying it on a bit thick. It seems to work, though, as Leviathan gets off of you and picks his controller back up again. 

“Hmph,” the demon remarks, gradually shifting back to his normal form. He returns to his original position and picks up his controller again. There’s a slight frown on his face. “No one is better than Ruri-chan.”

“True,” you shrug. Levi raises his eyebrows. Even though his gaze is locked on the screen, you can tell that he’s thinking about what you just said. You grimace. Was it the wrong thing to say? Perhaps you shouldn’t have presumed-

“You get it,” Levi nods, his attention back on his game before long. You chance a sidelong glance at him, only to find that there’s a strange smile on his face. In a sudden burst of spontaneity, you decide to lean your head against his shoulder. The demon stiffens and, for a few seconds, you’re convinced that he’ll shove you away. Thankfully, he doesn’t do anything of the sort. Instead, Levi just... continues playing.

Time passes and you’re beginning to nod off. It's fun watching Levi play, but the game isn’t exactly violent or crazy enough to keep your attention for long. You find your gaze wandering to Henry swimming around. Idly, you wonder if Henry could use some more fish companions. The thought doesn’t compel you for very long, as you realize that the goldfish looks happy enough. 

You try to return your attention back to the game Levi’s playing, you really do. Unfortunately, it isn't interesting enough to keep your eyes open. Furthermore, Levi doesn’t really seem like he wants to talk. You frown and relax from your position leaned against his shoulder. Your eyelids are growing heavier by the second. Eventually, you give up on trying to stay awake and close your eyes. 

You’re drifting off into sleep when you hear a murmur. It’s too quiet for you to comprehend, so instead, you keep your eyes closed and let your exhaustion take over. The last sensation you register before succumbing to sleep is Levi leaning closer to you, as if supporting your form and allowing you to remain upright.

I've said it before and I’ll say it again: I love this son of a bitch. he is so autistic- he’s just like me fr 😵‍💫

idk why but I've been on an obey me! streak recently.... but I kinda love it. the brothers are fun to write, I can’t even lie.

[thebrethrenpost]

Personal Pet Peeve on the Philippine Centavo.

I remember the time when I could still buy a candy called "Dilimon". It was a sugar drop with different colors and flavors that took a while to melt in your mouth. Kids like me used to buy that kind of candy for sharing with our friends like edible marbles. Unfortunately, you don't see that kind of candy anymore here.

But perhaps the thing I missed about that candy was that it was only worth .25 centavos. That's right. A quarter of a piso (PHP 1.00). Things were so cheap back then that the centavo was an actual daily allowance to school. People use it for gambling, transportation fare, and even groceries. Today, centavos still exist. However, they are not viewed as valuable as before. I'll give you an example, how many times do you see a centavo on the ground or road? Ever attempted picking it up? If it was dirty would you still pick it up?

Unfortunately, you might likely say "Hell no Ballan, that thing is dirty. it's not even worth it." Sadly I agree with you. It's not worth it to pick up a piece of metal that costs .25 pesos and gets the risk of getting your hands dirty, especially for something that doesn't have much value. And that's the point. Value. Money represents a unit of value. And if people don't see your money as valuable it is close to (or is) worthless.

This is what always grinds my gears because the government keeps on minting centavos. And not only .25 ones, they even go as far as .5 centavos. I mean who does that! Why would I carry a .5 centavos in my pocket? i can't buy anything with it? Unless I need to collect 20 more, I can make it into PHP 1.00 but it is not really worth it. Like I believe that the time of a Filipino is now worth more than just 5 centavos per second.

What makes Money, Money?

A country's currency relies on 2 things and that is, Economic Value and Confidence. If the economic value is high the currency becomes more valuable. The same thing goes when people are confident with the currency, they will view it as valuable meaning they are likely to save on it. Now, I believe that if we make people more confident in the currency people will tend to use it more and won't waste the currency.

Proposal 1: Remove the cents and high-denominated bills

One solution that I believe should be implied is to cut the pesky centavos including the high-dominated bills. The dilemma in picking up something that is not worth of value is the same as not being in the position to liquidate into small bills for a transaction to be settled. How many times how you ever went to ride on a jeepney in the morning with a bill (Php 50, Php 100, etc..) that becomes a dilemma to give you change?

I believe an economy should be prioritised on the speed of the transaction that is taking place rather than the degree of value of it. When a denominated bill that is acceptable to the majority and can be easily settled with, the circulation of trade will be much faster making the boost in the economic growth.

Of course, this is not a perfect solution. When a commodity’s price causes a dilemma in settling a transaction* it also gives the same problem. Hence I also give the second proposal which is to expand digitalisation.

Proposal 2: Digitalisation

Like it or not, Money is dirty. Like literally, there’s a disease of holding contaminated cash called Staphylococcus aureus. The other suggestion I believe that could help is digitalisation. Using technology in our financial system makes transactions organised and efficient. It gives a better accuracy on how much money is generated and how much excesses are unused. It also helps keep track of where the money is spent. What I like about digitalisation is that even to the smallest centavo, it is stored, counted, and transferred easily. You don’t have to worry about keeping your coins intact and not losing them. With digitalisation, you get to have your money stored in the digital space. You can use your phone or card to do transactions. No need for the hassle of counting and calculating, it’s all automated and direct. You can even do transactions within your own home and have the goods or service delivered to your door step.

Of course, digitalisation still has its downside, especially when living into country with a vulnerable cyber security. The risk of getting scammed, theft and your data getting compromised is higher than being rob. You also get to suffer with those transactions fees also known as “convenience” fees and other charges. Overall, convenience has its cost and over time we as species will evolve on how to adapt to those kinds of unique challenges.

Proposal 3: A New Currency: Piloncitos 2.0 (₿)

And finally, the last resort. Let's make a new currency! But this time, making it different. This not something new but rather an upgrade on the existing currency. In order to make the currency be more successful, or at least have its confidence and economic value last for a longer time, They need to execute 2 important principles.

The new currency must be linked to something that is hard money (e.g. Gold). If they do this, the currency (whether paper or digital) builds a strong basis of value or wealth. This strengthens the confidence and acceptability which expands the opportunity or being used internally and externally (i.e. Dollar). This way, the printing of money, even to the smallest denomination, will be limited to the value of the hard money to be exchanged with.

The second principle is to increase its sense of decentralization. I’m not saying we need to switch to bitcoin, however, there are valuable things we can learn if we use technology to our advantage. Having a more decentralized currency limits people to spend and borrow because keeps track on how much money is left for circulation. There’s limited control on the wealth, and create certain consequences for hording it.** Inflation is there but not as high as the productivity growth that can keep up.

Thoughts

Once again, this is not a perfect solution; however, I believe it is a better alternative to our current currency (fiat). In this day and age, we must learn from the mistakes of history and find ways to innovate and break the cycle of excessive debt and borrowing. We need to value economic growth based on productivity, not on stimulus. When people have limited resources, they tend to work harder and be more patient for growth. They also consider others to maintain existing peace and help lift everyone up, so everyone benefits from prosperity regardless of inequality. This won’t be a utopia, but it will be a world better than the previous one.

**When the distribution of wealth is decentralized hording too much wealth becomes painful as the driver of economic growth is spending. Therefore, the amount of money necessary for savings will be healthy along with the inequality gap. 

*Example: Buying a car with Php 100 bills also causes the transaction to be slow and chaotic because you have to bring in a massive volume of cash.

[midniter]

COMMISSIONS & DONATIONS

Hello! My name is Davi. I'm a working class trans man from Brazil. I've been saving money for my top surgery for years and I have roughly half of what I need. Now I've decided to ask for help to raise the money! I don't have the procedure scheduled yet, but my goal is to have it until the end of 2022. My breasts are so big I avoid wearing binders, making it impossible to hide them. They cause me not only disphoria but also bad posture and back pain. So I really need to get rid of them!

My followers probably know me for my comic edits that I've been posting for years. If you ever enjoyed any of my creations, please consider commissioning me! If you don't want an edit but would like to help, you can just donate. If you can't afford to donate, a signal boost would be appreciated.

Brazilian currency (Real) is worth a lot less than Dollar, British Pound, Euro and probably others. So even if you donate a very small amount, that would be A LOT to me!! So please, even if it's just $1 or $5, that would be incredibly helpful. Thank you!! ❤️💕

Ko-fi: midniter / PayPal: dm me Commission info under the cut.

— First, tell me what you want! I will confirm if I can make it. If my answer is positive, send any amount you want to my PayPal or Ko-fi. *This step can be done via Tumblr asks if you want, but the next ones should be via DMs, e-mail or Discord. — Yes, there won't be specific prices! You can send the amount you want and I'll make something. Of course, the more you send, the more I'll feel motivated to do something bigger, more detailed. But every piece will be made with care and gratitude.  — Once you send the money, send me a proof via DM or e-mail. I'll then start working on the edit! I'm busy with college and a daytime job, so it might take me a while, but no more than 3 weeks. Thanks for your patience. — I'd prefer if our conversations were via e-mail, but it's okay if you want to use Tumblr DMs instead. It can also be via Discord, just DM me to request it.  — If you donate more than 120BLR, I will show you the edit before posting and you can tell me if you want anything changed. For 240BLR+, you get 2 changes (if needed). 360BLR+ = 3 changes. 480BLR+ = 4 changes. 600BLR+ = 5 changes. 1200 BLR+ = 10 changes.

What type of edit I can make: — Graphics, gifs, icons, headers, sidebars etc.

What I can edit: COMIC EDITS   — Any comics from DC, Marvel, Image, Archie, Boom! etc. GIFS   — TV: Doom Patrol, WWDITS, OMITB, Community etc.   — Movies: DCEU, The Green Knight, The Old Guard, Barbie movies, John Hughes movies, Studio Ghibli, Brazilian cinema etc.   — Music: Music videos, possibly live performances, as long as it is found on Youtube. Can be any genre, decade, country etc. I don't have to be familiar with it. What I won't edit: Shows or movies that I haven't watched yet (just because of spoilers); anything that's whitewashed or something else that makes me uncomfortable; anything that I can't find a download link for. If you want to see how my edits usually look like, the links are in my pinned post! I will edit almost anything, even if I'm not a fan, I just ask you to tell me before donating because it *might* happen that I say no, but it is more likely that I'll say yes! Feel free to ask if you have any doubts. Thank you 💛

[creepling]

am i not enough? (quackity x reader) - apocalypse!AU

( 。・_・。)人(。・_・。 ) | part of the @quackisinnit 1k event !

THE PROMPT IS . . . “ AM I NOT ENOUGH ? “

pairing: irl!quackity x genderneutral!reader (apocalypse!AU)

word count: 3,306

summary: the reader and alex become a duo while coming across each others paths during a zombie apocalypse. tensions rise as they set up camp in a warehouse, where alex begins to confess how he feels towards the reader. (angst into fluff <33)

tw: zombie apocalypse, blood (ment), cursing, guns, death, eating.

It had been three months since the fallen of mundane life. Three months of complete abnormality, everything known to be in existence that was worth caring about; completely gone. jobs, currency, education were becoming a historic relic. The world was put back to zero. Instead of cavemen and dinosaurs, the new species of flesh-eating corpse’s roamed in packs and seeked for fresh meat. They may have been slow, but they travelled in numbers and they could smell you from a mile away. I learned that your scent became less of a problem when you didn’t keep hygenic. My stence blended with the earth and blood and the roamers didn’t catch us out as much; so we used that to our advantage.

I only had one companion, his name was Alex. He was absolutely dumbfounded when I discovered him. I raided his abandoned home looking for supplies, and when I had to kill a roamer that vacaded in his bedroom; I found him curled up in a ball under his bed. He told me that he had been hiding the whole month when he realised help was to never come; so his only plan was to hide out until he ran out of supplies. That became a problem when I attempted to take them. We made the mutual agreement that if I was to take the supplies, he would come with me. I refused to stay and hide; that is how you get yourself killed. Thankfully he agreed to come with me, and we have been inseperable ever since. However, our bond is nothing close to a friendship, we just had to stick together to survive.

Alex’s main idea was to find a group, hoping by now someone had turned one of the surbubans into a mini civilization. We had travelled between three cities however and we found no sign of good company. As a duo, we have only killed one human within these three months. A man who tried to kill us at gunpoint in hopes of taking our things, to which we scarsely saved our lives by ducking behind a bar table. With one aimless shoot, I shot my gun and it pierced through the man’s chest. I saved our lives, but the sight of the man’s lifeless eyes still haunts me in my sleep. 

One night, Alex found a two-store warehouse to shelter in while on a supply run. He suggested we camp on the second floor and catch up on our sleep and starvation, since we eventually got ahold of sleeping bags and tinned food. I agreed, but reminded him the stay can’t be perminant. He agreed also, still fixated on the idea of finding a commune.

While I made a fire and cooked food, I obvserved Alex drawing in a notepad. I failed to make out what he was doing so I asked, “What are you drawing?”

“I’m trying to draw a map.” He said to me, “It’s not accurate, but it will give us a rough idea of the roads until we find a map.”

“I didn’t take you as a smart person.” I said, hoping he didn’t think I meant it seriously. It was rare for me to joke in times like these, but when I did, my humour came off dry. Thankfully, my comment made Alex scoff out a chuckle.

“And I didn’t take you for a fighter.” Alex said. Since being with each other for two months, we both naturally adopted different roles that benefitted us. Alex was the navigator, the finder; he seemed to have a good sense of direction and I relied on him to not get lost. He also had a good eye and was always good at finding things such as second-way exits or food hiding in obscure places. For me, my job was a lot more physical. I was a good shoot, I knew how to make a fireplace, or bandage a wound. When things got dirty, I would get lucky and save our asses.

“Your food’s ready.” I said, handing him his warm can of chicken soup and a packet of chips. He thanked me, putting his notebook down and sitting cross-legged beside me. As we ate we sat in silence, the only sounds in the warehouse being our mouths chewing the food. We hadn’t ate in nearly a week. I tried my best to chew my chips before swallowing so I didn’t end up with stomache pain, but the instant flavour shot through my tongue and I instinctly ate them quickly. Alex finished his food within minutes, licking the chip packet and his fingers; scraping every last bit of soup from the can and into his mouth. I reluctantly did the same, feeling a little embarrassed; I have never felt so starved in my life. 

“That was fucking amazing.” Alex sighed out, now heating his hands over the fire. I nodded in agreement, collecting the empty tin cans and keeping them next to our things. They will be handy for traps, tying them with strings and hanging them in the woods while hunting would let us know of intruders. It was the small things like that that has made us survive this long.

“Are you gonna go to sleep now? I could keep watch.” I offered, observing Alex’s bloodshot eyes. If we had mirrors, we would flinch at our reflections. Alex looked rough. He always wore his beanie, which he apparently did even before things got bad. He always had a collective spot of dirt on his nose and cheekbones no matter how clean we were, it’s where it always collected the most. His hands were the most dirty, dirt under his short nails and inbetween his fingers. From the rare occasions we touched hands, I felt the softness of his hands, compared to mine that felt aged and rough. His knuckles were stained with blood. Out of both of us, I was covered in the most blood. When I looked down, my hands had a reddish tint, observing more I could see small cuts on my hands from being idle with my knife when striking roamer’s heads. Without having to see, I knew I had sprays of blood on my face from the amount of times I killed roamers. To think when life was normal we cared so much about our appearence, but now activities like doing makeup, brushing your hair, brushing your teeth seemed so pointless. We were slowly becoming used to primitive life and deep down that scared me. I think it scared Alex too.

“I’m tired as fuck, but I know I won’t sleep.” Alex said in a low tone, looking at his hands full of shame. I nodded my head in understanding, knowing exactly how he was feeling. We hadn’t slept properly in months, instead when one person kept watch, the other just lay down with their eyes closed. We forgot what it was like to dream, or to feel hazy. We were constantly alert.

“Since we have no intention of sleeping. Why don’t we play a game?” Alex said. I cocked my eyebrow up in question. What game could we play that didn’t involve making noise and attracting attention?

“We ask each other 20 questions. Normally if you don’t want to answer a question- you would have to do a dare. But hey, wants the point in hiding nowadays?” Alex said, looking at me contently.

“We should be hiding ourselves more than ever, I think.” I said, adding fuel to the fire to keep it burning. “That way no one knows our weaknesses.”

“So you don’t trust me?” Alex said. His question threw me off. It’s not that I didn’t trust him, but maybe I was unwilling to get to know him. I had already lost the people close to me, and I was still in grieving. I was too afraid to get close with Alex. I always had the thought in the back of my head that one day, I might end up losing him. His intelligence may only get him so far.

“I understand.” Alex said, taking back his question. Seeing the hurt in my eyes, he must have realized what I was thinking. He lost his close ones too. We both lost so much, we had a mutual understanding about that. Yet, I looked at Alex, and he still felt like a mystery to me. He always pulled out jokes, even in times like these. However, in moments when he thought I wasn’t looking, I could see the pain concealed in his face. Sometimes I even heard him cry at night when he thought I was sleeping. Maybe it was about time we opened up to each other, instead of feeling like we need to suffer alone. We could be there for each other not just physically, but emotionally.

“Okay then, since it was your idea, you ask the first question.” I said, hugging my legs to my chest. Alex smiled a little at me, going into thought as he tried to think of a question.

“So, what did you do when life was normal?” He asked first.

I let out a sigh then replied, “I had a very normal life. Lived with my family, did average in school, worked a job to get money. I actually had plans of moving out to the city, I always wanted to go to LA. I never really had aspirations, just wanted to be content.” It sounded boring, but I was happy with my life. I had my ups and downs like everyone else. “What were you like?”

Alex smirked and looked away from me, seeming to become bashful. “I was a twitch streamer.” He said. “And had a Youtube channel. God- it sounds so stupid now that I say it. Like it was all pointless-”

“Were you like- famous?” I asked, trying to conceal a smile.

“Um- I guess you could say that. I had millions of followers.” Alex shook his head, “But I also went to college. I was studying law. I was always staying up late, barely sleeping; both studying and streaming all the time. It took up my whole life, that I just kinda forgot about everything else.”

“Well, you were obviously not famous, because I didn’t know who you were.” I jokingly said, nudging his side. That seemed to make him smile and feel less embarassed.

“So how the hell did you learn how to shoot if you lived such a normal life?” He asked.

“I just learned while doing it. My dad kept a gun.” I admitted, looking at the very same gun I had in the holster wrapped around my thigh. “He would teach me now and then how to use it, but I was never a shooter. The more roamers I shot, the more I got used to it.” Thinking about someone close to me made me chew the inside of my cheek anxiously.

To deflate my melancholy, I asked the next question. “Did you always wear that stupid hat?”

Alex chuckled and rubbed the top of his hat. “Yeah, twenty-four seven. I don’t why, I just find it comfortable. My “fans” would joke that I was bald because I never showed my hair.” He said, “God- saying the word fans sounds fucked up . . .”

“Maybe you’ll bump into one of them.” I said, “Heck- maybe there’s a commune right now dedicated to you, trying to find you and keep you safe.”

Alex laughed again, covering his face with his hands. I laughed alongside him, the first time I genuinely laughed in a good few weeks. Looking at Alex, seeing how I uplifted him, it struck a chord with me. As much as I didn’t like to show it, but he made affects on me that were indescribable. He made me feel just a little more contempt, without him I would probably not be able to cope for this long. We eventually locked eyes with each other, Alex’s gaze being longer than I expected. If it wasn’t for the blood, my face would have exposed the blush forming on my cheeks.

“Have you ever fell in love, (Y/N)?” Alex then asked me, which set me aback. The question was out the blew and I think Alex realised that as he looked away shyly, his gaze fixated on the flames of the fire to avoid my gaze. I still stared at him, almost in amazment, trying to conjuct a reasonable answer.

“I don’t know.” I answered. “I have loved people, yes, but- I don’t think I have been in love. You’re suppose to know when things like that happen, right?”

Alex didn’t answer me, he kept staring at the fire. I found myself admiring his side profile, watching how he slowly bit his lip; concealed in thought. I noticed how the glow of the flames contrasted with the darkness of his eyes, how the light outlined his complexion. When I realized I was staring for too long, I looked away, instead my eyes looked out the warehouse window, my eyes tracing the stars in the night sky. 

“I feel like I have known you forever.” Alex admitted all at once. “It’s only been two months, but I have gotten close to you more than anyone I have in my whole life. It might sound crazy but- I believe we were suppose to come together that day.”

My gaze turned back to Alex when I felt his eyes lay upon me. His stare was soft, something I only seen in passing times. I was able to admire him for the first time since we met. In this moment, in the dead of night, away from danger and suspicion; I could look at him with full sentiment. I didn’t need to admire him when he was less suspecting it, afraid of receiving decline or making things awkward. In this moment I realized, I may have developed feelings more than companionship towards him. That excited me. But also terrified me.

“I feel that way with you, Alex.” I admitted, “But . . .”

I decided to choose my words carefully. This conversation was heading in a direction that made me nervous. The world is falling apart around us, and I couldn’t help but question our motives. We should be focusing on survival, not developing a relationship that could be destroyed at any second. Once we step out this warehouse, our chances of losing our lives become high. I wasn’t prepared to damage my mental state, it was already bad enough. I realized my long pause was making Alex shift nervously, so I looked at him in hopes my words would slip from my mouth.

I caved in, muttering lowly, “We should get some rest.” I got up on my feet and was ready to grab my sleeping bag and make up a place to rest, until I heard Alex get his his feet and say words that made my heart sink.

“Am I not enough?”

When I turned to look at him, the hurt was glistening in his eyes. He gulped dryly and he fumbled with his fingers. My eyes shifted from side to side as I was stuck with my words. I kept stammering, and I rubbed my face in stress, ready to plead my case. Until Alex jumped in.

“Don’t think I’m only saying these things to you because there is no one else, (Y/N). I have been thinking about this for a while, everytime I am left with my thoughts. I am certain I will still have the same feelings if we met when things didn’t go to shit. I don’t just think this because we have been the only people for each other. I really really like you, (Y/N). And because of the way the world is, I never want to lose you. I never want you to feel alone ever again. I not only want to protect you because we’re a team, I want to protect you because the thought of losing you pains me so much.”

For a split second I thought Alex was about to burst into tears. That was when I did something I thought I would never do again, which was pull him into my embrace. I hugged Alex so tight that I heard him gasp, freeze, until he eventually wrapped his arms around me and held me just as tight. My face buried into the crook of his neck, feeling the warmth of his body, his soft hands caressing my back and brushing his thumb down my spine in a soothing manner.

“You are enough, Alex.” I said, my words muffled by his body. I reached my lips to his ear so he could hear my words clearly. “I just didn’t want you to feel like you had to like me, or be forced to like me just because we were brought together. I was afraid you thought you were stuck with me.”

I anticipated the day that once we meet other life, Alex would slowly fade away and forget who I was. Once he meets other people, we would go our seperate ways. I never knew why the hypothetical idea pained me so much, until now. As Alex pulled away from my embrace, looking me in the eyes in a loving manner that was foreign to me, his hands on my shoulders, I realized why that idea made my heart feel heavy. I never want him to leave me, I want him to always be by my side. Alex’s gaze was enough proof that he wanted the same.

Stimulated by his touch, I was taken aback when I felt his hand cup my cheek. The warmth of his breath breezing against my cheek, I inhaled as if oxygene was nonexistent. I never realized the proximity between us was slowly closing in and when I did my eyes fluttered shut. Alex hesitated for a split second before pressing his soft lips against my own. My neck bent slightly backwards and I shifted my head to the side to deepen into our kiss, my blood-stained hands grabbing the edges of his open jacket and holding him dearly close. The heat of the kiss intermingled with the heat from the fire, my cheeks and ears grew hot. Alex’s hands were surprisingly warm as he reached his hands under my shirt, pressing his fingers and palms on the middle of my back before running his touch down my spine. My breath became shaky and I felt my legs grow heavy under me, my hands cupped the back of his neck to keep myself uplifted, and luckily Alex’s arms held my weight and pressed my body against his. It felt like hours had went by between our lips moving in sync, our tongues grazing our bottom lip’s, our hands moving and resting on different parts of our bodies. His touch felt contagious, his kisses ranging between soft and passionate. I didn’t want to stop, I never wanted to let go. Between kisses I would mutter you are enough, you are enough which made Alex smile against my lips.

That night, everything we had to worry about became last priority. The focus all throughout was each other, making up for the days where affection couldn’t be shown. In the dead of night, there wasn’t a roamer in sight. Instead of hearing narls and groans or screams of pain, there was only the faint sounds of nature. The full moon glistened, as if to be a prediction for the emotions spilling between us. I promised myself from this moment on, as I admired Alex, I would protect him no matter what. I will make sure he always feels safe as long as he is beside me. He will always be enough, if not more.

TAGLIST: @momo-has-a-gun @diggorysmalfoy @quack42069​ (join my taglist)

[silence-burns]

Please Hate Me //part 48

Fandom: Marvel

Summary: Based on: “Imagine having a love/hate relationship with Loki.” by @thefandomimagine​ Who would have thought that babysitting a god could be so much fun?

Genre: slow-burn, enemies to lovers, banter, smut

Being the friendly neighborhood Spiderman always gave Peter a sense of pride and purpose, even if he could only share it openly with a few people. It was the kind of accomplishment that made all the hardships seem worth it in the end. It also made him happy in a way he couldn't really explain, but which involved a certain connection between him and the people he protected and got familiar with over the course of his superhero patrols.

But being the friendly neighborhood Spiderman was difficult in a neighborhood where no one was actually friendly in return.

Peter’s frown grew the further into the building he went. He was pretty sure it was the same one Loki and you had been renting an apartment in, and since he was a rather frequent guest, the neighbours should recognize him by now enough to at least return his greetings. 

That was what logic dictated, but Peter was pretty certain the people he met in the hallway only gave him a stern, disapproving look before walking past him quickly.

Peter was still frowning when he moved up the stairs, juggling the keys in his hand. Then he stopped. The unearthly screams of the damned were muffled, but most definitely coming from apartment number 13. 

Opening the door quietly, he slid into the familiar interior, now echoing with pain and suffering so loud, Peter had to cover his ears just enough to move to the root of all evil  - the bathroom. 

There were many inexplicable things Peter had witnessed happening in the apartment 13, and to some extent he got used to the thrill of not knowing what he'd face next time he paid a visit. Still, he hadn't expected to see various parts of a half-drowned owl sticking out of the sink filled thick with foam and bubbles. The owl must've struggled a lot, judging by the amount of water splashed on every possible surface, and the iron grip you and Loki still kept on the bird. Even if Loki was not wearing his usual features, it was still obvious who your partner in crime was.

The two of you froze. Soap and foam dripped to the floor. Loki's new form shimmered with a glamour only magic could achieve.

"Um, what are you guys doing?" Peter asked.

"Trying a new disguise?" The curtain of Loki's new long hair was luscious and utterly drenched. 

"No, I meant-"

"Listen, boy, as surprising as it might be for you, I'm still me, just with a less… criminally wanted image."

"Yeah, only if 'ME' stands for mischief embodied," you laughed.

"It literally doesn't. It's smooth, but it doesn't."

"Thank you, love. Now, could you please stop drowning poor Barbara?"

Loki sighed, but relaxed his grip on the bird just enough to allow it to peak its head out from under the surface and take a deep, long breath. 

Peter put his backpack down and meandered closer, dodging the growing puddles. "Why is there an owl in the sink?"

"Because I'm not allowing any fleas into my house," you firmly stated, pushing the wings back under the water. "And I don't care how many hours we'll spend here, I'm getting all the mud and dirt out."

Barbara clung to her dirt with all her might, but was overpowered and utterly misunderstood. Loki's new form was slimmer, but held the bird with his usual strength and a big dose of satisfaction. The smirk on his face was unchanged, even if the features were new.

"What do you need a disguise for anyway?" Peter asked, looking for a towel. "Can I go with you?"

"I'm afraid that as wildly chaotic and lawless as our destination is, you'd still be age-checked," Loki cooled his enthusiasm.

Barbara rushed to the towel and clung to it, loudly exclaiming what, precisely, she thought about her caretakers. Peter tried to dry her up as best as he could through her wriggling and screams. 

"Are you sure all this soap is good for her? Did you use any animal-friendly shampoo?"

Loki shrugged. "I doubt she can get any more dead."

The boy looked at the owl. The owl looked at the boy. The ruffled and drenched feathers were sticking out in all directions, uncovering a deep and no doubt fatal hole in her side. 

"You got a dead owl…?"

"It was not my idea," Loki groaned, casting the bird a disgusted stare in the mirror where he tried to change the shape of his eyebrows. 

"You're just angry because she likes me more," you laughed while mopping the floor.

Peter did his best to become invisible and not stare too openly at the ribs poking out of the feathers. Barbara puffed them every time he moved the towel around. The boy couldn't speak owlish, but the small, crittering noises she made were definitely far from happy.

"Where will you be going?" Peter asked. The owl sat on his knees and refused to move even after he finished drying her on the couch.

"To the largest casino on the Moon."

"Wait- There are casinos up there?"

"Not for kids your age," Loki said.

Peter slumped on the couch. "That's not fair."

"We'll be back before you notice." You threw the wet rag to the sink. "Of course, as long as a certain someone FINALLY decides what to wear."

Loki ignored your pointed look, too busy with changing his hair color. No matter how many little details he changed, he still struggled with finding a form he was sure would allow him to pass through the guards unnoticed and unrecognized. It was a shame he couldn't use his own - it felt like a waste to hide a face like his. 

The owl settled on Peter's shoulder, immobilizing him with the claws buried in his skin. But even from the couch, the boy could see the remnants of a hurricane that had thrown a rather alarming amount of clothes around the apartment.

"I thought these were yours," he admitted. The owl kept on looking through his hair with the utmost scrutiny and very little gentleness.

"I've settled long ago on what I'm going to wear. As for the diva himself, though…" you gestured around.

"I need it to be perfect," Loki said. "I have an important role to play, I can't just waltz in there and be recognized."

"You could go blond," Peter suggested.

"Ew, I don't want to look anything like my brother- Wait, that's actually a great idea."

Before any of you managed to protest, a full-grown Thor stood in Loki's place, watching himself from all angles in the mirror. The clothes no longer fit, so he dropped them and dove into the closet again.

"...what have I done?"

You patted Peter's free shoulder. Barbara nested in the crook of his neck. "Nothing they can prove. Hopefully."

*

"I am not my father's servant," not-Thor downed another beer. "And if I want to relax for just one evening, I shall!"

The tankard broke into tiny pieces as he smashed it on the ground. The loud applause and waves of laughter followed the very Thor-like outburst, making Loki relieved he was playing his role well. Even in a place like this, crowded with drunkards and gamblers from all over the universe, it was common knowledge what the god of thunder enjoyed.

Loki forced his glamoured face to remain cheerful as another tankard of beer had been brought to him, disgustingly sour and rough. He knew his brother well, and was sure he'd love it, but Loki himself would rather bite off his tongue than willingly digest any more if only he had an actual choice. He didn't, and therefore swallowed another gulp to the cheering from the crowds gathered at his table. The cards had been laid out, waiting for the victors to celebrate their success, and the rest to decide how much more money they were willing to lose to the god of thunder.

Seated in a great hall of marble and gold, Loki wished he could play the way he actually wanted to, which was the very same way that got him banned from the Moon last time he had visited. But for the sake of the mission, he stayed just above the line between bankrupting and winning money, which added to the body he was wearing, was just big enough temptation to keep his table busy.

Everyone entering the biggest casino on the Moon was inclined to try their luck, or at least take a quick look. It was a perfect, if rather boring, way of scanning everyone who entered the rich complex of buildings. The few fountains set further in the back murmured as they shot curtains of water. The air was thick and warm, making crowds of people inevitably gravitate towards them in search of any cold. With the tall, lush plants artistically winding over and between the pillars, it created little areas dotting the impossibly high hall, where the pleasant breeze gathered the people looking for just a moment of relief. You occupied a spot beneath the fountains, where most people would wind up going to at some point, and used it as a second checkpoint, just in case anyone missed Loki's, or rather his brother's table.

"Come on, does anyone else want to lose their fingers?" Loki heard you call out to the crowds.

Between their never ending sessions of losing and winning the money back just to lose them again, there were many individuals in need of a drink and a quick break from the gambling. How easy it was to grab their attention with a loud voice and a dead owl.

Loki stretched his neck and looked over to where you had sat down the bird with all kinds of currency piled between its claws and a single coin shining through the open ribcage. 

"All you need is to get the coin out, what's the matter, people? Is there no one brave enough to win all this money?"

Greed has always been a major deciding factor for the living beings regardless of race and the world of origin. The queue only rose in length as everyone wanted to try their luck. 

The table under Barbara grew more and more slick with blood from cut and bitten fingers. Pure malice shone in her dead eyes.

"What an awful creature," Loki muttered to himself. 

He could sense the stolen pin somewhere in the vicinity, but the casino was a loud and chaotic place, with multiple areas each centered around a different type of entertainment. More than an hour had already passed, but whoever was currently holding onto the pin, had not yet ventured anywhere near.

The two of you were slowly but inevitably running out of time. Odin might've been old and naive, but his spies' eyes reached far and wide. Loki had little doubt he would be interested in his favourite son's apparent evening fun, especially if he had that particular son with him, in the palace. Thor was a good cover, but not for much longer.

And then, by chance or a generous turn of fate, the shadows stirred and whispered. 

Loki cast the dice, not paying attention whether he'd won or lost. His money wasn't real anyway.

There - by the high palms stood the Hoarders, clad in the worn out rags and way too much jewelry. With their grey skin and long limbs, it was no wonder how easily they blended in with the shadows, using their skills to warp their surroundings and get in places others would consider highly secure. But their success was not measured in how many places they were capable of breaking in themselves, but rather how many individuals of all races they could easily befriend and bend to their will. Although, to be quite honest, Loki doubted the necromancer had needed much convincing. 

There were only three of them, each almost an identical copy of the others, but the Hoarders were encircled by both their partners for the evening and whatever scum tried to befriend them. That made it so much harder to approach them, but Loki was already thinking of a good excuse when he rose from his seat. People parted, giving him space - much more that would be granted to Loki's original form. 

The shadows whispered again. One of the ladies separated from the group, with an annoyed expression on her face.

Loki stretched, making sure to put his hands high. Once he caught your attention, he followed the lady at a leisurely pace.

"What do we do?" You asked once both of you entered the corridor and disappeared behind the corner. 

"She's got the pin."

One more turn took you in front of the ladies restroom. 

"Time for Plan C.” Loki began undressing quickly.

Holding a spare dress in your bottomless pocket was not the wisest choice, but it apparently paid off, even if fishing it out took you a moment. Your hands shook. Someone might have walked in on you at any time. While Loki would be doing whatever it took to get the pin back, you would be the one making sure no one interrupted him…

Like distracting the waiter that was now staring at both of you. Focused on the contents of your pocket, you hadn’t even noticed him approaching. Loki clad in only Thor's skin, blinked. 

The waiter turned on his heel and disappeared.

"I can already feel the gossip stirring," Loki shifted into a more feminine body, quickly putting on the dress. "They are going to eat my brother alive."

"Do you feel bad about it?"

"Oh, my heart is breaking into a million pieces," Loki assured you with a smile far too wide for that to be true. 

He kissed you quickly before disappearing into the restroom. 

Life felt amazing. Loki couldn't help but imagine the amount of trouble his brother would get once the word spread about his whereabouts.

His imagination was running wild, but the one thing Loki couldn't imagine was how, merely thirty minutes later, he'd find himself in the dungeons deep beneath the surface of the Moon, half-drowned, and viciously bitten.

[samayla]

A Losing Proposition

AO3

A S04E06 Window of Opportunity episode tag for @badstargateimagines​ as part of the @stargate-winter-fic-exchange​

They requested the guys playing Monopoly, but as I have never finished a single game of Monopoly in my entire life, I had to get creative. I took my inspiration for the vignette style from the format of the episode itself. Hope this soothes all your crack-fic cravings, dear!

Summary: Jack is just trying to find a game he can win...

“I do not understand the objective of this game, O’Neill.”

“The objective is to get rich, T.”

Teal’c turned over a crinkled, baby pink $5 bill. “I do not believe we can spend this currency in any establishment in your United States.”

Jack snatched back the bill and continued sorting out the money.  “It’s symbolic. Now, do you wanna be the shoe or the thimble?”

Teal’c gave him a look that said quite plainly he did not much care to be either one.

“Look,” Jack said bracingly. “I know it’s not much for choices. I’m partial to the top hat myself, but this is what we’ve got. This has gotta be better than another round of ‘Are you really sure I told you sun and not fire? I think it’s fire. Why would it be sun? Oh. It is sun. Would you look at that?’ with Daniel.”

Teal’c bowed his head in acquiescence and accepted the thimble.

“It’ll be fun. Trust me.”

***

 It was not fun. 

Teal’c beat the pants off him.

Twice.

It did not improve Jack’s mood in the least.

 ***

 “Um, sir?”

Jack, leaning carefully over the rail at the top of the safety ladder, held his breath as the tower of 2x4 segments swayed dangerously, then stilled. “Your turn, T,” he chirped, skipping lightly down the steps. “What is it, Sergeant?”

Siler glanced from Jack to the small crowd of onlookers who’d gathered on the ramp, and back again. “I was just wondering, sir, when my team and I might be able to complete our gate diagnostic?”

“Go right ahead,” Jack answered absently. He watched as Teal’c laid his block from the middle of the tower alongside his at top. The damn thing didn’t so much as wobble.

“But, Colonel,” Siler protested as Jack and Teal’c swapped places once more, “we —”

Jack shouted as Siler’s anxious grip on the ladder rail nearly cost him the game. The sergeant released the metal as if burned, and at Teal’c’s silent stare, he backed away several steps as well.

“Sorry, sir,” Siler said, “but it’s just that you’ve got our ladder, and —”

Alarm klaxons blared to life, signaling an incoming traveler. Jack cursed as he fumbled his block. All fourteen feet of the tower leaned first one way, then the other, then collapsed at the foot of the ramp with a crash that was drowned out by the stargate flaring to life.

Jack cursed again and stomped down the stairs.

“I believe another ‘Jenga’ is in order,” Teal’c intoned, somehow managing to convey an entire victory dance’s-worth of smug superiority with a single arching brow.

“Best four out of seven,” Jack grumbled, already beginning to clear space for the base of the new tower.

“Sir —”

“Siler,” Jack snapped, kicking blocks out of the way, his toes protected by the steel in his boots, “the gate’s fine. Consider your diagnostic complete and your ladder thoroughly commandeered.”

“But, sir—”

“That’s an order, Siler. Diagnostic complete.”

 ***

 “O’Neill, I do not believe you currently hold enough currency or property to win this round.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jack muttered, doing the mental math himself as he passed Teal’c a handful of bills for rent. They were thirty minutes into their latest game, and Jack was practically hemorrhaging money already.

“There is no shame in admitting defeat,” Teal’c offered serenely.

Jack suddenly wished he’d set up the board somewhere other than the massive conference room table. There was something cathartic about flipping a table and watching the de facto winner duck and cover in a hail of tiny plastic buildings.

 ***

 “Watch it!” Jack shouted.

Walter, in a show of shockingly quick reflexes, caught his fumbled stack of folders and leapt onto the nearest chair, like a 50s cartoon housewife who’d spotted a mouse.

Jack climbed down from his perch atop a file cabinet and into one of the office chairs.

“What is it, sirs?” Walter asked, scanning the floor anxiously.

Teal’c tipped over another file cabinet to make a bridge, scattering files across the carpet before he answered. “The floor has become covered in semifluid molten rock. If you touch it, you will die.”

Walter stared blankly for a moment before chuckling a little nervously. Clearly, he wasn’t sure whether to take the threat seriously or not.

“Just stay put, Walter,” Jack ordered. He shoved away from his file cabinet, but the wheels on his chair were no match for the carpet of the briefing room. The chair toppled, but Jack launched himself out of it as the back hit the ground. The edge of the conference table forced the breath from his lungs, but he hung on and hauled himself up onto the tabletop after a moment.

“O’Neill,” Teal’c called. “Are you well?”

Jack gave him a thumbs-up from where he was sprawled, though he suspected Teal’c might be winning this game, too. “All good, T.”

 ***

 “Uh… whatcha doin?” Daniel asked warily, peering up over the top of his notebook as Jack erased a huge swath of Ancient text from the blackboard.

“Quitting.”

“Jack, you can’t just—”

“Can,” Jack corrected, sketching out a quick grid. “I can, in fact, just. We’ll start this all over again in a couple hours anyway. T— X’s or O’s?”

 ***

 “What the hell is going on in here?” Hammond demanded as he entered to briefing room to see nearly a dozen of his personnel perched atop various pieces of overturned furniture in what looked to be the epicenter of an explosion.

“Careful, General,” Walter shouted. “Don’t touch the carpet!”

Hammond jumped back over the threshold to the concrete of the hallway. “Why not?”

“There is some sort of semifluid, rock-like substance on the floor, sir,” Captain Rodriguez answered, wobbling a little in her chair as she snapped into a salute at the general’s tone. “There seems to have been a containment breach from one of the labs. Not sure how it got all the way up here, but it seems confined to the carpet, at least for now.”

“Why was there no alarm?” Hammond demanded. “Colonel O’Neill?”

Jack held his hands up helplessly from his seat on the bookshelf, to which he and Teal’c had retreated to watch SG-9 fumble their way through the ‘containment breach.’ “Peters knocked the phone off the shelf, sir.”

“The handset appears to be broken,” Teal’c added.

“We were trying to contain the substance using pieces of furniture, General,” Peters offered, desperate to salvage his image in this bizarre situation.

Hammond’s reply was cut off as the alarm blared and electricity crackled to life around the stargate once again.

“Best. Loop. Ever.”

“Indeed.”

 ***

 “We seem to have reached an impasse,” Teal’c said.

“We call it a ‘cat’s game,’” Jack answered.

“Why?” Teal’c asked. “I see no cat.” He cocked his head to the side, as if he might discover a hidden image on the board.

“You know, I have no idea,” Jack admitted.

“Actually,” Daniel offered without looking up, “there is a theory that it’s called a cat’s game because tac spelled backwards is cat. Other theories tie it to the idea of a null or scratch outcome, like a cat’s scratch, while a third camp—”

“I thought you were pouting,” Jack cut in.

“I wasn’t pouting,” Daniel answered. He flopped his sheaf of notes dramatically on the table. “I just don’t understand why you’re not more concerned about this.”

“About a tie in tic-tac-toe?”

“About the time loop, Jack!” he shouted, throwing his pen down as well. “Teal’c, you’re with me on this right?”

“We have endured the loop a great many times, Doctor Jackson,” Teal’c said. “We will undoubtedly endure it many times more before the translation is complete. Panic has not yet improved the situation in any significant way.”

“But you can’t just give up!”

“Sure we can,” Jack declared brightly. “We get a do-over no matter how this turn out, so why worry?”

“Why worry?”

“Cheer up, Danny-boy: you won’t remember this in a couple of hours, and I promise we’ll get right to work next time. T, I’m X’s this time.”

 ***

 Jack ducked as red and green houses went flying across the commissary, raining down on the unsuspecting diners.

“You are correct, O’Neill,” Teal’c said, righting the table again. “That is indeed a much more satisfying ending to the game.”

"I told you it'd be fun."

[rosarenn]

All things are ephemeral

I've been thinking a lot about the illusion of certainty and the way it holds us back from achieving great things.

There's this idea that if something is temporary, transient, that it isn't worth putting any effort into. That something is only worth your time if it endures, if it's permanent. That the investment must be followed by a payoff or why bother.

I am very much talking out of my own experience here, as a white settler/colonizer raised in a more or less middle class family. I know my experience is not universal, and I am still going to talk about "we" and "us" because I want to include myself in this group, and I'm noticing a pattern that I want to talk about. If you have never experienced certainty, or are in a stable position for the first time in your life, this is probably not about you, for example. Take what you need and compost the rest.

I'm reading Nine-Tenths of the Law: Property and Resistance in the United States by Hannah Dobbz, which discusses squatting in the US. One of the themes that comes up over an over again is the idea that because a squat is temporary, because the police could kick you out at any moment, because you don't have ownership or equity or any kind of title on your side and you could lose everything in a moment's notice, that it doesn't make any sense to improve the home you're living in. That the work would be wasted, and who wants to work their ass off and not reap the benefits? Why would you bother?

And this, to me, is so incredibly short-sighted, and represents an internalization of the logic of capitalism. Why would you bother? Because you are fucking living there. You're living there, you're passing your limited time on this planet in this space, and why would you live in a dump if you don't have to, if you don't like living in a dump, if you would feel better, be happier, enjoy your time there just a little bit more than if you didn't clean it up. It's the same reason I've painted countless rental apartments - even though I don't know how long I'll be there, while I'm there I eventually get sick at looking at plain white walls. It's why I'm planning to paint a mural in my rental apartment - it will bring me daily joy for as long as I am here. It's why I decorated my office when I still had an office. Because if this is where I am passing my time, I want it to be a little more pleasant.

We've so internalized the logic of the state and the market that we have this illusion that home-owning provides certainty, that it makes sense to invest in a home you own because it can't be taken away at a moment's notice. But it's a lie. The bank could repossess your home. The sewer could back up. A flood or a wildfire could make your home vanish in a moment. With climate change these events are only going to increase in frequency, as will the unrest and failed states and all the other forms of violent dispossession that that entails. The entire stock market could blow itself to pieces tomorrow, the currency we've all agreed to use could become worthless pieces of paper, anything can happen. I could die tomorrow. I could die today. There is no certainty, any where, ever. Anything I work for could be for nothing - nothing except for what I make of it here and now. I want to live before I die.

I think about the way I've been indoctrinated to delay gratification to the extreme. That's what the promise of capitalism to the middle class is, after all. Work tirelessly for all of your productive years, save your coins prudently, invest them in the stock market for the future and never take out your principle because compound interest is magic and you'd be a fool to forego that sweet, sweet "free" interest income. And then, and only then, you can retire for a few years and live a tiny sliver of your life free from the constant grind of daily waged labour. If someone is not able to make ends meet, I was taught, it's because they are too loose with their spending, they aren't able to delay gratification long enough for the real payout, the poor dears. Scrupulously saving, denying ourselves the momentary joys of right now in order to chase a possible future prosperity, is positioned as a moral good.

Of course this is a lie, and a terrible way to live (even as it is incredibly privileged). I lived this way for years and I'm only now beginning to come to terms with it. There's so much grief there. How much did I miss out on? Think of all the joy, vitality, and the things that make life worth living that I denied myself - and for what? To chase certainty in the future, because I couldn't accept the ephemerality of today.

There's a delicate balance needed here, of course. There's an argument to be made that what we need is more delayed gratification, not less. The constant churning consumption, the endless extraction from the earth and our bodies, putting today's profits ahead of tomorrow's, or even above the survival of our own children - these are features of capitalism and they are destroying us.

But they need to sell us this lie, that if we work hard today we can be happy tomorrow, to keep us working. Because if we truly looked at horrors of this reality, if we truly knew in our bones that everything we have today could be gone tomorrow, that everything in life is fleeting - would you still go to work, day after day after day? I know I sure wouldn't. Even though I don't know what I would do to survive instead. Even though stepping into that unknown is terrifying. Even though I have no answers, I would have to take that leap.

I think, too, about the way I sometimes see people talk about revolution - and I include myself in this group. That until we are ready to make a global revolution, until we are all but guaranteed success, until the moment we reach critical mass, all we can do is wait. Maybe we agitate, maybe we form unions and organizations and try to spread the word, but until success is certain we can't act, not truly. I see this more in communist circles than in anarchist ones, and it was especially present in the critiques of the temporary autonomous zones that popped up in the midst of last summer's uprisings - they would never succeed, they would be quickly dismantled, and thus were doomed to failure and shouldn't even be attempted. As if there was no value in the experiences, however fleeting. As if the way we live our lives is irrelevant. As if a thing bringing you joy is not enough justification in itself.

Even though I skew more towards anarchism, I can still feel this attitude infecting my own thinking. I don't want to try to unionize my workplace because it will fail and I'll get fired and it won't matter, really, anyways. I don't want to talk openly about my politics when I know people don't agree with me, because what's the point when I already know I can't change their minds. What's the point of guerrilla gardening when the city can just come by with a weed whacker and destroy our labour. So on and so on ad nauseum, every endeavour doomed to be temporary and thus, automatically, a failure.

I think of my friend who spent the past two summers building up an incredible garden, who now has to move, suddenly, before the end of the growing season. My first reaction was that it was such a waste, that she had put in so much effort and time and money and now wouldn't even be there to collect the final harvest, that it would be better if she hadn't done the planting, somehow. As if she hasn't taken immense pleasure and pride in her garden for the past two years. As if she hasn't harvested throughout the whole summer. As if the harvest she planted suddenly winks out of existence if the benefits go to someone other than her. As if this somehow invalidates everything that came before. But this line of thinking is horseshit. Someone will still eat those vegetables. If nothing else, the birds and the beasties will love eating what she has grown. She learned so much and will be able to carry that knowledge forward with her. On and on, there was great value in this venture even if she will not be there to reap every last piece of the harvest. And if it wasn't a sudden move, it could have been a drought, or a violent storm, or an infestation, or theft. Or or or. The possibilities are endless, results are never guaranteed, and if we are only working to achieve an ends, we might need to take a good long look at what we're up to.

I wonder if the roots of this ideology stretch all the way back to the agricultural revolution. Ephemerality would have been the day to day lived experience of hunter-gatherers. Here today, gone tomorrow, pick the berries now, while they're ripe and before the birds get them. But agriculture? Prepare the field, plant the seeds, water, tend, wait. wait. wait. then finally harvest. Finally finally your labour has paid off and you can eat. Careful though because there won't be another harvest until next year, so be careful, ration, wait. Would you plant the field if you didn't know if you'd be around to harvest it? That's a tough sell, for sure.

I think of flatwormposting, on instagram, who announced suddenly that they would delete their account today. That they felt like they had accomplished what they wanted to accomplish, that they were complete, and ready to move on. The immediate response, of course, was no, don't go, or if you must go, please don't delete the account. Leave it up, to sit in perpetuity, an archive of your work and legacy. Please, you did good work, please let us keep it. As if deleting their account deletes their work. As if they won't carry it forward with them. As if people who interacted with the account while it was up weren't changed in some small way. As if a thing that is temporary - which is all things - is somehow less important than a permanent thing.

And their response was simply, all things are ephemeral. All things are ephemeral, everything could be gone tomorrow. If they didn't delete this account, instagram could. A hacker could take it. Nothing is certain, everything is a constant renegotiation. Given that, what now?

What now? How do we want to live before we die? What choices might we make if nothing was certain? What risks would we take? How would we live our lives if we knew, deeply, truly, in an embodied way, that another world is possible, as the Nap Bishop constantly reminds us? That the continuation of this one as it is, that the status quo is not and has never been certain? That each day we wake up we make this world again, and we could simply chose to make it differently, to paraphrase David Graeber. If we no longer privileged that which is over that which could be. If we no longer held onto the illusion of certainty and control and permanence.

All things are ephemeral. What now?

[tothewhistlingwinds]

500 followers drabble - “Game Night.”

Thank you again for following me! The drabble below takes place shortly before the events of the game, before the Covey meets the MC. 

What had started off as a normal night was quickly developing into a shit show. 

When Teddy had suggested a games night to unwind during the evening, everyone had been quite open to the idea. Landing on a game that would suit everyone had been a bit of a process; Clémence was vehemently against Alejandro’s suggestion of Apples-to-Apples, and Ernest had developed a headache halfway through reading the instructions to Cards Against Humanity. They had a cribbage board, but Bridget was the only one who understood the rules. 

It was Mars who had suggested Monopoly.

And thus, it was Mars who had brought the group to their current state.

“Can someone please trade me Park Place for Vermont Avenue?” Alejandro asks, frowning as he looks over his disappointing selection of cards. “I really want to develop property on the dark blue squares.”

He sweeps a lock of hair out of his eyes and gives the people sitting around him a pleading, puppyish look. The expression’s far more compelling than it has any right to be on a man in his twenties, but his fellow players seem to have built up an immunity of sorts against it. 

Even Mars, who was most easily swayed by Alex, shakes her head. “Nice try, Alejo, but I haven’t forgiven you for hoarding the Pennsylvania Railroad,” she says

“I had to,” Alejandro argues. “Otherwise you would have gotten a monopoly on the trains.”

“That was the right choice,” Ernest says solemnly, nodding at the other man. “Absolutely no one wants a Mars-controlled railroad monopoly.”

“I hadn’t even realized until you said it,” Mars says, but a smile tugs on the corner of her mouth anyways—a smirk much too devious for anyone’s comfort. Alejandro clears his throat and turns to Teddy.

“Teddy. Brilliant, beautiful Theodore—”

“No. Whatever you’re going to suggest, no,” Teddy says. He doesn’t even bother looking up from where he’s neatly sorting his play money on the carpet. “You don’t have the card I want, anyways.”

“Which one would that be?”

Teddy puts down his money and scrutinizes his cards, three red properties and two yellow ones. “I want...Atlantic Avenue.”

“Who has that?” Alejandro asks.

Clémence (who, to a casual observer, wouldn’t even seem to be paying attention), lifts her hand up, the vibrant yellow card clutched between her fingers. On Clémence’s left, Bridget lets out an interested “ooh.”

“I don’t think you’re getting the card, Teddy,” Bridget says, and her sympathetic words are off-set by the look of mischievous glee on her face. 

Alejandro nods and pats Teddy’s shoulder. ”Rest in peace.”

 Teddy sputters, looking helplessly at Clémence.

“Clémence—”

“No,” Clémence says. She flips her black hair over her shoulder in one smooth, aggressive, motion that makes it hard to tell whether or not she’s doing it specifically to brush him off.

Ernest speaks up from her other side. “I’ll trade you for Atlantic Avenue.” 

The brunet man had been quiet for the past few minutes, surveying the board—it was always worrying when Ernest had too much time to think, because it usually meant he was figuring something out. 

Clémence leans over to look at his cards, and shakes her head.

“Your cards are even worse than Alejandro’s,” she says.

Ernest furrows his brow, and holds up a bright yellow slip of play-money. “What if I give you five hundred dollars?”

“Still no.”

Ernest sets down the fake five hundred dollar bill, reaches into the back pocket of his slacks, and pulls out a thin leather wallet. “How about fifteen real dollars?”

Interest finally piqued, Clémence leans over to collect and is promptly physically pulled back by Bridget.

“That’s not how this game works,” Bridget scolds.

“How about that transaction you had with Mars? I don’t recall that being in the rule book,” Teddy says, his normally warm voice suddenly accusative. Mars flushes red and reaches a hand up to her head. Her hair, usually left down in its wild brown curls, has been arranged into a dainty crown braid. A silk daisy is tucked in near her temple.

“That’s different,” Mars says defensively. “I traded Bridget for the Short Line railroad. She just did my hair while we were waiting for you to all finish fighting over who was in jail. It’s not our fault you all decided to waste your time.”

“We’re innocent,” Bridget agrees. 

Alejandro frowns and raises a hand to his chin, pretending to be in deep thought. “I could have sworn you two were texting each other...” 

Before Mars can defend herself, Clémence snatches Mars’ unlocked phone out of her hand.

“‘B, I’ll let you do my hair if you give me Short Line. Anything but pigtails,’” Clémence reads out loud.

“Subtle,” Teddy says.

“Wow, that’s straight up hurtful,” Alejandro says, shaking his head. “From one railroad baron to another: why would you do such a thing, Marisol?”

“Now you’re just being hypocritical. We all know you and Mars were arranging a deal in Spanish,” Ernest says. Real currency is clutched in his hands even as he accuses the others.

“Yes! That couldn’t have just been ‘language practice,’” Bridget says, jumping on the opportunity to deflect attention away from herself. 

Alejandro, to his credit, doesn’t even try to deny it. “Yeah, okay, we tried, but I can barely understand Mars’s accent. So it never amounted to anything.” 

“It’s not my fault you don’t understand Rioplatense Spanish.”

“Mars tried to cheat twice. I think that makes for a bad example,” Teddy says, and Mars gives him an exasperated look.

“An example for who?”

“The impressionable youth, of course,” Alejandro says, waving towards Clémence. The black-haired woman scowls and throws one of the dice at Alejandro; it bounces harmlessly off his stomach.

“I think you’re right. Mars should be punished for breaking the rules,” Bridget says in her primmest voice, tucking her knees underneath her and smoothing out the skirt of her dress. Ernest nods in agreement. 

Mars rubs her temples. ”Ernest, you can’t punish me for cheating. You literally tried to buy off Clémence five minutes ago.” 

The corners of Ernest’s lips twitch. “You chose a game called Monopoly. I’m just taking advantage of my capital.” 

“Not your real capital,” Mars says pointedly, and the flower in her hair bobs with her movements. She looks back down at her cards and groans. “This is because of my railroads, isn’t it? These are more damn trouble than they’re worth.” 

“How much trouble?” Alejandro asks immediately, leaning over. “Because I could take them off your hands—”

A chorus of “no” rings out, from everyone around the board, ranging from indignant to exhausted to downright murderous. Teddy throws down his cards and groans.

“Screw it. Alejandro, I’ll give you Park Place if you give me the Pennsylvania Railroad and two hundred dollars.”

Alejandro’s fingers hesitate over his card. “Real money, or fake money?”

“Oh my god, I hate that this game is at the point where you have to ask that,” Teddy sighs. “Fake money.”

“Sure, as long as you promise you won’t give it to Marisol,” Alejandro says. Mars frowns and mutters something under her breath.

Ernest raises an eyebrow. “Mars, I might not speak Spanish, but feel like I can make an educated guess as to what ‘decapitar’ means.” 

“Good,” Mars says darkly. “Suffer.”

She turns to her cards, but looks back up after a beat.

“Also, it’s Teddy’s turn to roll.”

“This is so confusing. We should have just played checkers,” Bridget sighs to Clémence, playing with the origami butterflies that used to make up her Monopoly money reserve. 

“That would have been even worse,” Clémence says. She holds up a thin leather wallet, neat and monogrammed with initials that decidedly aren’t hers. “Want to see if Ernest keeps anything interesting in here?”

Bridget drops her butterfly, her attention now entirely off the other players (who have descended into a passionate and increasingly physical debate over the meaning of the words “income tax.”) “Ooh, yes please.”

[anthonybialy]

Broken Fixes

If government fixes everything, it can't stop. Cruel businesspeople keep breaking our world out of greed of selling us things. Heroes struggle to get full nights of sleep. The benevolent apparatus's fortunate beneficiaries might take an increasingly perfected life for granted. That must be the reason your beloved rulers keep creating what they're solving. You may have noticed those out to alleviate your pain keep inflicting it, but you'd forget how much politicians love you otherwise.

Every standard is different for your supervisors. Lucky private sector outfits don't need to manufacture demand. You'll be hungry again in a few hours, which means restaurants have an easier time than the CDC. Those who've decided they're saving your lives aren't going to learn to cook.

Your minders want you to keep perspective. Governmental flunkies have done brilliantly if if they're trying to stay in semi-business. Results of bossing you around for your alleged benefit are universally ghastly if those inflicting assistance actually think they help. Stop being selfish and think of their needs.

Would you like more free money? Satan offers fewer catches. It turns out printing money fast enough to make the presses hot makes each bill worth less. Inflation shows how supply and demand works for money itself, too, which is why liberals don't understand. Being handed currency that's more valuable as paper towels than for purchases is the downside of having all you'd like. Joe Biden assures you the phenomenon is temporary as he eats from a bag of Fritos that cost $487.39.

Free things sure are expensive. The price is just the start. Education, housing, and insurance seem to get monumentally more costly when Washington works to make them affordable. The presumption that products be made cheaper by throwing cash bundles at them is bound to pay off. Like all federal programs, they only fail when we're stingy.

You'll be shocked by what happens when money taken from taxpayers is spent by politicians who for some reason don't care about value received. It's as if separating consumers from prices actually increases costs. I feel like I'm starting to learn something about economics. Don't worry, as your dear Congress will just pass a bill banning things from being expensive. The economy will be arrested if it dissents.

Faintness from hunger keeps you from moaning loudly. If you can't afford fast food anymore, at least feel proud that workers are overpaid by law. Demanding 15 dollars per hour sure is a convenient number to remember, but that totally was the proper amount and not merely easy for sloganeering.

A rate that was easy for activists to utter with the alliteration of fighting for 15 would be acceptable naturally if the labor is worth it. But states won't let markets decide, which is why your wallet's thin contents prohibit you form choosing to add cheese to the burger you can't afford, anyway.

Mandatory starting salaries are inflicted by the sort of politicians who never earned raises. It's not like they're going to admit labor would end up being worth more if the minimum wage were zero. As a hint for panic freaks, workers would make more upon negotiating and competing. It's not magic if personal profitability increases by doing good work. In these enlightened and wealthy times, victims of compassion can't afford to dine with royalty at Burger King. And His Majesty is unable to afford servants.

Making it harder to find work in the first place is one of those cruelties that'd be ruefully amusing if irony didn't affect so many humans personally. Sure, it's tougher for everyone else to afford everything, but at least everyone at the place you're priced out of is rich.

Sanctimoniously announcing that nobody working full-time should be in poverty creates way more of it. High school kids manning a fry basket can't move on or afford what they cook in glorious oil even with an employee discount, but at least they're never hired in the first place.

Food just needs to be made complimentary. For those who know prices can't be evaded, it's dismaying to ponder how many things are branded free to compensate. Insurance mandates distanced consumers from prices, which made the latter skyrocket as the former glumly put back what's now figuratively out of reach. But increasing costs is just part of the compassion involved in torching markets.

Don't major in economics, as you might learn why it's too expensive to be there. Tuition blew the roof off the library at an uncanny moment: it just happened to increase beyond inflation when government started throwing grants and subsidized loans around like they were giving military equipment to the Taliban. But domestic students remain unsatisfied with value.

Giving away mortgages only melted down the global economy, but at least some people got to live in houses they couldn't afford for a few months. Remember to blame greedy financiers for coping with toxic waste handed to them by a government acting as if home ownership were a right. If so, they sure committed millions of crimes against humanity. It doesn't seem like The Hague is interested in justice.

Beg politicians to stop remedying. Life is challenging enough without the alleged help of messianic dolts. It's possible to get by with hard work paired with a shrewd eye for deals. Instead, those who think we're one intervention from cheap everything wind up increasing prices by law even though that runs counter to their declared goal. The worst part is they're not harming on purpose.

[arizonamansions-blog]

DogeCoin Cryptocurrency is extremely undervalued and is about to take the financial markets by storm.

Investors are transferring their bitcoin shares into doge coin shares by the quadrillion‘s

#dogecoincryptocurrencyfirstquarterearnings48billion2021

#dogecoincryptocurrencyabouttoboomrecordbreakingbullmarket2021

#Bitcoincryptocurrencyextremelyoverpriced

#bitcoinshareholdersconvertingbitcoinintodogecoinbyquadrillions

#dogecoinextremelyundervaluedstockpriceissoaringcryptoCurrency

#dogecoinworth48billiondollarsfirstquarter2021

#dogecointakingoverbitcoininvestorshares

#investorsgloballyareconvertingbitcoinintodogecoinbyquadrillions

#coinbasestockpriceabouttoboomfirstquarter2021earningsrecordbreaking

You can purchase DogeCoin Cryptocurrency here: Use my referral link https://crypto.com/app/66mqe8t45a to sign up for Crypto.com

#DOGECOINCRYPTOCURRENCYBESTBUY2021BIGGESTGAINERGLOBALLY

#dogecoincryptocurrencysetforglobalboombullmarket

#dogecoinsettoboomglobalbullmarketcryptocurrency

#dogecoincryptocurrencyboomingrallytostartapril24th2021

#dogecoincryptocurrencytomoveintonumber1spotoverbitcoinbyendofMay2021

#dogecointobecomenumberonecryptocurrencyintheworld

GOVERNMENTS GLOBALLY PURCHASING TRILLIONS OF SHARES OF DOGECOIN CRYPTOCURRENCY

We have the original blockchain programmers about to flip the script that keeps societies suppressed financially. The blockchain programmers gave us the key to free ourselves from inching down the freeways in our metal coffins every day. They designed this code to make people more wealthy than any government. The Golden Rule: those that have the gold make the rules.

governments globally are launching fake news articles to bring down dodgecoin Cryptocurrency. Do not listen to them. We the people have the power. Do not sell. Hold for 6 months and we will give you the mansion in the hills you always wanted.

Our BitCoin mining rigs are the best on the planet. We are mining BitCoin for you, and dumping it all in DogeCoin Crypto Currency. Stay the course on DogeCoin Cryptocurrency. Hold for 6 months or they will win.

Buy as much dodgecoin cryptocurrency as you can and hold it for six months you can purchase it here: You can purchase DogeCoin here easily: Use my referral link https://lnkd.in/ecR2RJe to sign up for Crypto.com

https://lnkd.in/eKWJP8F

As one, we will be in full control of the gold which means we make the rules and live our lives on our own terms the way we want not the way the government thinks we should live.

When you commit yourself to an idea, that’s how legends are made. YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY HERE AND NOW.

Buy DogeCoin Cryptocurrency Today. It’s is set to reach over 1000 dollars quickly. Current Stock Price is less than 4 cents. This is how people become multi millionaires. I personal experienced a 425,000% gain in DogeCoin putting my portfolio well into the millions.

You can purchase DogeCoin here easily: Use my referral link https://lnkd.in/ecR2RJe to sign up for Crypto.com

https://lnkd.in/eKWJP8F

Even if you put 100 dollars in at 4 cents a share and it goes to just 1 dollars you will have just turned 100 dollars in 2,500.

I am 110% right on this one, you have to take a leap of faith on this. I wouldn’t be here telling you all this if this wasn’t the most important thing going on in our lives right now, and this stock being the 7th largest cryptocurrency in the world goes to 1,000 dollars you will have just turned 100 dollars into 2.5 million dollars.

This is one of those stocks that reminds me much of Bitcoin. At one time Bitcoin was trading for 200 dollars a coin. Now, Bitcoin is trading at over 62,000 dollars a share.

DogeCoin is following the same exact pattern that bitcoin did this is a must buy.

The people that purchased hundreds of bitcoin‘s at $200 a share are now billionaires, Bitcoin is trading at around 60,000 dollars per bit coin today. Imagine owning 1000 Bitcoin today purchased at 200 a Bitcoin.

To have the capability of turning $100 into $2.5 million quickly it does not get to look any better than this, do not miss your opportunity to blow, this opponent comes once in a lifetime.

This is bigger than you and I. This is for our kids, and our grandkids, and our great grand kids.

It’s okay if you don’t under Cryptocurrencies. I didn’t, I was a skeptic, until someone explained it to me in plain English. I will do just that, right now.

The programmers responsible for creating the block chain computer programming code or perhaps the most genius coders to have ever existed because they figured out a way to set us free in every way.

You might be working 40 to 60 hours a week making $40,000 a year maybe even $150,000 a year but the point is you are not working for yourself you are a slave to a company that will work you to the bone and then tell you to piss off when you are too old to do the job and younger more talented kids out of college can replace you for much cheaper. You might get lucky and have a small 401(k) and maybe even a small pension that you can live off of the rest your life in a two bedroom two bath and not have to work so you can be on a fixed income that you can barely get bion for the rest of your days.

Cryptocurrency is designed to give the people control of the all mighty dollar not the governments. I have seen governments go to very great links to try to shut down cryptocurrency because they know if it takes off governments lose full control over the financial markets. Whoever controls the financial markets controls your life.

The point of cryptocurrency is to give you the financial freedom to live your life on your terms however you deem necessary not how a government thinks you should live cryptocurrency gives you the freedom to make as much money as you want and the government can’t do a darn thing about it because it is a D centralized financial system that the government has zero control over. No government has control over any cryptocurrency which is the beauty of it all.

In short cryptocurrency gives regular people The ability to turn a few thousand dollars into a few million dollars so that they do not have to live and die underneath the sword of a corrupt government. They say we have the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, and the freedom of press... our first amendment rights... if you honestly feel that is true you should ex out of this window right now.

Cryptocurrency gives people back their right to pursue happiness.

Cryptocurrency is designed to give you your life back and allow you to pursue your dreams. Your dream might be different than mine but whatever your dreams might be this is your opportunity to actually be able to accomplish your dreams and hopes for the future.

My dream personally is to expose the corruption in our medical system, and put the right people in charge of our health and wellness because right now we are getting poisoned with incredibly unhealthy foods that should never have been approved by the FDA, we are drinking water with an incredible amount of chlorine in it, and we are breathing in the most toxic air this world has ever seen and it is causing a battery of different health problems from cancer to auto immune disorders. People like to assume it was all one big coincidence but I can assure you it is 100% intentional.

There is absolutely no money in keeping people healthy at very low costs. There are trillions of dollars wrapped up in keeping people sick and selling them a host of pills and treatments they really don’t need. When I discovered the truth behind our medical system it was at that moment I decided to do some thing about it and cryptocurrency was the light when I was in the darkness.

People that I genuinely loved my whole life passed away because they were eating garbage and drinking toxic water, when it came time for our medical system to save their life they pumped him up full of chemo and radiation took all of their money threw a bunch of pills at them and then killed them after the insurance money was gone and there Bank accounts were liquidated and their houses were refinanced to the point where they owed more in their house than it was worth.

My dream is to make sure our children do not have to endure these medical injustices and I’m doing something about that right here and I hope you can join me in that fight. https://gofund.me/190a3d0c

On a day-to-day basis I am going toe to toe with big Pharma and Western medicine. We are only a few thousand strong at this time and big Pharma alone it’s a multi trillion dollar industry so believe me when I say, they will do just about anything to protect what they have built. Big Pharma has monetized and monopolized every single medicinal plant on earth.

https://www.newsmax.com/t/health/article/691946?section=Natural-Health&keywords=alternative-medicine-doctor-dies&year=2015&month=09&date=16&id=691946

https://www.gazettetimes.com/opinion/letters/letter-conspiracy-targets-holistic-doctors/article_66755c2b-0772-55eb-aaf5-7e18827d837c.html

Our naturalistic and natural path doctors are now forced to work underground they cannot advertise for obvious purposes.

Only the super rich can afford the best food, the best air with houses up in the mountains, and the finest water this planet has.

I highly encourage everybody to read the testimonials on X 39 stem cell patches. Again I was a skeptic at first but after being on stem cell patches for a year I genuinely cannot believe how much better I feel. I am 41 years old and I feel like I’m 25 years old X 39 stem cell patches simply activate your own stem cells because they’re being suppressed by chlorinated water and preservatives: https://www.lifewave.com/stemcellcancercure

I want you to get that house in the hills and I want you and your family to have the very best this life has to offer you deserve it. Purchase as much dodge coin as you can today and you will see what I am talking about just this morning we made over $20,000 just by purchasing DogeCoin a few weeks ago.

You can buy it here: https://crypto.com/

I will be straight up with you when you use my referral link we both get an extra $30 right out of the gate here is my referral link for being able to purchase DogeCoin on crypto.com. Please use my referral link or go straight to crypto.com to purchase DogeCoin. When you use my referral link we both get a little something to get started: https://lnkd.in/ecR2RJe

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me text me FaceTime me I am in this with you. I am not a very good salesman I am simply trying to liberate you and give you and your family the very best opportunities.

You might ask would I gain from all of this and the truth is I don’t get much from publishing this information. The people that started cryptocurrency‘s were tired of being a slave to corrupt governments and they decided the people should have the ability to print their own money as a government does. This is your ticket to print your own money: https://lnkd.in/ecR2RJe

DogeCoin

The only way we can beat them at their own game is to become wealthy beyond our wildest dreams so that we can afford to live our lives on our own terms, and

#dogecoincryptocurrenciesskyrocketing #switzerlandgovernmentbuys7trillionsharesdogecoincrypto #bitcoinprice #mikeNovogratzforecastdogecoim88thousandasharedogecoincryptocurrencybooming #dogecoinforecast65000dollarsashare #markcubandodgecoinbuys10trillionshares #nigeriadogecoincryotocurrencyskyrocketingbestbuy2021 #republicanpartypurchasingdogecoinbillionsofsharesbiggestgainsinhistory #democraticpartybuyingtrillionsofsharesdogecoincryptocurrencyshootingup #cryptoworld #dogecoinsettoboomnewbullmarketaheadcryptocurrency #elonmuskdogecoinboomingcryptocurrency #guyfierebuystrillionsdogecoinskyrocketing

We are holding a Cryptocurrency DogeCoin Seminar being held Friday. It will be the best financial decisions you ever made in your life to attend online. We will be releasing blockchain coding, account set up information, and how to make more money than you ever thought possible.

Space is limited, sign up today to reserve your spot. We are only holding one seminar, make it count and join us here: https://fb.me/e/dnVamSzlH

Platforms that give you, and your friends up to 50 dollars each just for signing up. Free money: https://blockfi.com/?ref=73d1ed60

Free Money Here Just To Sign Up on Coinbase: https://www.coinbase.com/join/mcconn_bbb?src=ios-link

Free 80 dollars here just to start an account, plus they give you free stocks!

[paxful-account24]

Buy Paxful Account

Hey! Don't be concerned if you're wondering where you can buy paxful accounts. I can assure you that purchasing paxful accounts from us is absolutely safe. We sell the best paxful accounts on the market. So, if you're looking to buy cheap paxful accounts in any quantity from here then you've come to the right place. There is no need to wait any longer! Now is the time to buy paxful accounts.

 Features of Paxful Account

Random country based accounts

Verified with a trusted bank

Verified with ID Card

Verified with unique phone number

Verified with Prepaid Card

Full Verified Accounts

No limit of Transactions

Buy Verified  Paxful Accounts

 Yes, We provide 100% guarantee of our paxful accounts.No need to have any doubt about the safety of buying the best paxful accounts from us. I can assure you that it is completely safe to buy paxful accounts. So, why bother looking for other buying sources.

We have a huge number of paxful accounts for sale. Life is too short to spend all this time browsing different sites to buy paxful accounts. We come as all in one package. Join us on board and enjoy a relaxing trip using the most convenient mode of payment..

 What is Paxful?

 Paxful is a popular cryptocurrency-trading peer-to-peer finance platform.

Ray Youssef and Artur Schaback formed EasyBitz in 2014, which was later renamed Paxful, which comes from the Latin word "peace." When they developed it, they had one aim in mind: to make Bitcoin more accessible to all, from corporations to merchants.

Many of the world's major issues revolve around money, specifically how to earn and transport it. Sending money around the world is neither fast nor inexpensive, but Paxful has changed that.

Paxful is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency marketplace that connects buyers and sellers for business. Paxful's availability of over 300 payment methods makes it extremely simple to find appropriate deals. Users have full power over their funds with us.Paxful is highly safe if you know how to mitigate risk and secure your account, in addition to our escrow system and dedicated 24/7 customer service. Paxful users get a FREE Bitcoin wallet when they sign up.

Paxful's peer-to-peer scheme eliminates boundaries and constraints. Consider your Paxful account to be your own personal financial passport. You can use it to submit money and purchase items from all over the world. With our Bitcoin affiliate program, you can start a company.

 How to Buy Bitcoins on Paxful

Choose the amount of Bitcoins 

Choose the currency you want the exchange rate 

Select a payment method

Choose a seller and click “Trade”

Follow the payment directions and then press "Mark as paying."

Wait for the seller to release the Bitcoins.

 It's worth noting that depending on the payment system and whether or not the seller is online, certain trades can be completed immediately while others can take longer.

For example, Paypal and gift cards are instant. Bank deposits, Western Union, and Moneygram take time because you must leave your home to deposit cash at their place.

 Currencies and Payment Methods

 Paxful is a Bitcoin exchange that only buys and sells Bitcoin. The platform does not keep fiat currencies for users because the money is sent directly to the sellers.

 Paxful sellers accept over 300 different payment methods, with credit cards, PayPal, Amazon gift cards, wire transfers, and Western Union being the most common.

Keep in mind that the exchange rates for various payment methods can vary. Non-refundable payment methods (bank transfers, cash, etc.) have lower exchange rates, while payment methods that allow chargebacks (credit cards, PayPal, etc.) have higher exchange rates.

 Paxful Fees

 You won't have to pay any fees to Paxful if you buy Bitcoins from them. Depending on your payment method, as I previously said, different sellers can charge fees or a premium. Paxful charges a 1% commission to its sellers.

 Buying Limits

 Paxful has 4 verification levels-

Level 1-Verification via email and phone. The maximum bet is $1,000.

Level 2 – Level 1 requirements + ID verification. Limit is $10,000.

Level 3 – Level 2 requirements + address verification. Limit is $50,000.

Level 4 – Level 3 requirements + enhanced due diligence. No limit for this level.

To trade on Paxful at all, users from the United States must complete levels 1, 2, and 3, while users from the EU and Canada must complete at least levels 1,2 & 3 if they wish to withdraw any funds.

 Supported countries

 Paxful is available in all countries except the following:

Sanctions against Burundi, the Central African Republic, Cuba, the Crimea zone, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, the Republic of Congo, Somalia, and South Sudan Sudan and Darfur, Syria, and Yemen are only a few of the countries affected.

 How to Use Paxful Safely

 I wanted to point out some resources that may help you solve any issues when buying Bitcoins through Paxful.

It's preferable to buy from Paxful's recommended sellers because they have a better reputation and are less likely to be scammers.

Never communicate outside of Paxful, and make sure everything is recorded inside the system so that moderators can assist you if a disagreement arises.

Make sure the person you're trading with is online, since unanswered orders expire after a certain amount of time, and if the seller isn't online, this can be inconvenient.

Release the payment from escrow only when you have complete control over the payment you get, that is, when it has been verified and is in your account. For "Pending" or some other equivalent status, do not release the Bitcoin from escrow.

If you can't afford to lose money, don't send it. It doesn't matter what website, system, consumer, country, or anything else.

 Frequently Asked Questions

 Is Paxful a Scam?

 There are several online discussions on whether Paxful is legitimate or not. Paxful is, in my view, legitimate; but, there might be users on Paxful that are attempting to defraud you. This is true of eBay, LocalBitcoins, and OpenBazar, among other P2P marketplaces.

 Where is Paxful Located?

Paxful has offices in New York City, Hong Kong, Tallinn, Estonia, and Manila, Philippines, among other places. 3422 Old Capitol Trail PMB# 989 Wilmington DE 19808, USA is their mailing address.

 Final Thought

Paxful allows users to buy Bitcoins with almost every payment method imaginable. The user interface is highly intuitive, and while everything seems to be in order, there are a few things to keep an eye on.

First, double-check that you're getting a good exchange rate. The exchange rate will often hit 2x the “official” price of Bitcoin on conventional exchanges, depending on your payment process.

Second, to prevent being scammed, make sure your seller has a good reputation and has completed enough trades in the past. As long as you keep these two points in mind, the platform is a reliable way to buy (and sell) Bitcoins.

[justgottafinishthischapter]

Worldbuilding Tips: The Five Visitors

You’ve done it. You’ve come up with an idea for your fantasy world, but right now it’s mostly curb appeal and decorations without much else. So, you have the skin and flavor of your fictional world, but what if you’re having a bit of trouble coming up with the meat needed to make your world juicy and delicious? Well, I have a little game that can help flesh out your world.

Imagine a ship or whatever other kind of vehicle arriving on the shores or outskirts of your fantasy land and from that vehicle emerges 5 people from our own mundane world: a historian, an economist, an anthropologist, a diplomat, and a cartographer. There are some other visitors, but these are going to be the most universally beneficial.

The Historian:

This person is going to be interested in the backstory of your world. They don’t need to know every minuscule detail (though they wouldn’t turn that much information down) and just a general overview would be much obliged. Many fantasy worlds such as Tolkien’s Middle Earth and Martin’s Westeros are far more rich and interesting due to the amount of effort put into crafting their world’s histories. If you’re stumped, look to real world history for inspiration. It doesn’t even need to come from the middle ages so long as it works for your story. You should be able to answer questions like: How long has the dominant civilization been around? What are the biggest defining moments in your world’s history? What things are common knowledge that every child is expected to learn (such as George Washington being the first president of the USA) and which stuff is known more by historians and social studies teachers? And as you’re discussing the rest of the visitors, think back on how the answers you give would impact the historical aspect.

The Economist:

You don’t have to know the exact cost of every single thing in your world, but have a good guess. Be able to at least have a scale of price. If someone can buy a loaf of bread for 13 of your world’s currency, but a house costs 17, that would mean that either that bread is very expensive, that house is very cheap, or each unit of your currency is equal to a lot of real world money. Whatever you use to refer to your currency, keep not only price scaling in mind, but economics. If you have a port city, there’s going to be a lot of merchants in that area. The first primary export you’re likely to see in such a port town would be seafood, but also keep in mind the things that are closet to that port, as well as the climate. Greece for instance is a very rocky and mountainous country, so while they can grow crops, they would not have been any match for medieval French Aquitaine, the crown jewel of medieval farming territory. It’s also worth remembering that food in the middle ages was far more valuable than it is today. There was an old saying that wheat is worth its weight in gold. It was southern France’s bountiful soil that caused it to become one of the richest and most coveted territories in medieval Europe.  So, keep in mind where resources would come from and where they would need to go, as well as trade that would be useful. A seaside farming town might not have any good access to raw minerals, while a city in the frozen mountainous north might not be able to grow crops, but are bountiful in minerals. The correlation of supply and demand now opens a vital trade route between them. This becomes more complex when the topic of war comes into play. The kingdom that supplies your crops and food is at war with your oldest ally. Now there’s a dilemma between having enough food to feed your people, or betraying the trust of a long time friend. Now your world building can be used as a part of your drama and narrative tension. The economy also impacts culture. What is considered a display of wealth, or is a common status symbol? What are the living conditions of the poor, the working class, the rich, and the aristocrats? Is there upward mobility? In the middle ages, you were what you were for the most part, especially serfs: peasants tied to their land. It was illegal to leave your territory, but there was a saying in the middle ages that “city air makes you free” that once a serf made it to a city, they’d be free of the life they’ve escaped.

The Anthropologist:

Every society has a culture. The way they act, think, dress, believe, talk. It’s all impacted by culture. Beliefs tend to be tied either to what has come before, or based on the world as observed. While many modern fantasy pantheons are based on ancient Greece, it’s not the only model to live by. In a loose interpretation, religion in it’s earliest stages was a rudimentary science used to explain why things happened. A culture that developed along rivers, sea coasts, and other popular trade routes are far more likely to be diverse melting pots due to the frequent traffic of people coming and going, and the common sight of foreigners choosing to set down roots. Meanwhile, a more out of the way and isolated culture is far less likely to have widespread cultural diversity. Tying back into history, a country that has experienced a number of successful wars may tend to think of themselves as invincible, or may try to police the issues of other countries, assuming they’re always on the right side, or that they can’t be defeated. The same culture may ask a high price of any other culture that asks them for militaristic support. Ask what things your people value, be they material or abstract ideals. However, try to refrain from creating a Planet of Hats, a trope often seen in Star Trek and similar Sci-Fi shows and even some Fantasy stories where everyone of a single race all have mostly the same skills, interests, personalities, and roles in the global culture. This is also the time to start thinking about myths, legends, folk heroes, and historical people and events worth celebrating, as this may be when you start to craft holidays or celebrations. This could also lead into discussing religion, and the gods or lack there of that might be celebrated by your culture. How does your society reflect itself in art, music, literature, dance. Does the way someone dresses tell you something about their place in society? Some taboos come from simple logic. The reason it’s frowned upon to eat a cow in India is the same reason it’s immoral to eat horse in western culture. Both are beast of burden livestock worth a lot more alive than dead. Cows produce milk, a source of nutrients and health. Horses are strong and were used in just about everything from plowing fields to pulling entire families or communities a great distance. Horses even became status symbols, as even in modern culture, owning a horse or pony is still considered to be (largely) a snobby rich person thing. Understanding not only what your people believe, but even just a vague idea why they would believe it is a vital aspect.

The Diplomat:

As this landing party is your fantasy world’s first contact with our own reality. How would they react to the newcomers? If there’s more than one society in your world, how would each society, country, kingdom, race, etc. react to something completely foreign? Would they try to forge an alliance? Open trade negotiations? Declare war? Prepare a feast? How would they feel about the way we dress? act? talk? How would they react to different levels of progression in technology? Could an unbiased third party from our world help two feuding sides come to peace with one another? How would they feel about knowing of a world beyond their own? Are there actions or behaviors acceptable in our own society that are considered offensive to them?

The Cartographer:

Although it’s not necessary that all fantasy worlds have a fully designed map, it is a good idea to have at least a rough idea of where things are in relation to one another. This can tell you about climate, resources, wildlife, natural borders, natural disasters, food chains, and more. It’s worth at least taking a crash course in understanding how geographical biomes tend to be laid out in order to make your world feel more real. Some authors claim that a world map is the single most important feature, others say it’s not that important. Frankly, trust your gut based on the kind of world you have. You may need a map, you may not. It really depends on the size and scope of your world. For instance, with Disney’s

Zootopia

, the entire world doesn’t matter. The audience doesn’t need to know where in the world Zootopia is, or what climate or biome it’s in. Zootopia itself is the world being built, and the separate districts and biomes of the city explain the world that’s being focused on.

Secondary Visitors:

They may still be important to your world, but are less likely to be universally helpful to all people.

Biologist: if your world has creatures beyond those found in our real world, it may be worth exploring how their bodies work on a more scientific level in order to give more realistic weight to their supernatural abilities.

Linguist/Translator: If you feel compelled to come up with a language no matter how basic or complex, it may be worth while to consider the problems with communication. this may also extend to unique idioms, colloquialisms, and slang native to your fantasy world.

Teacher/Scholar: Regardless of whether or not there is a formal education system in place in your world, a teacher may be interested in how knowledge is passed down, and what information the culture might have that would be unknown to people of our world. Whether that’s how to keep a wild animal from charging you, to knowing how to forge a mineral that exists only in your world, being able to readily answer questions is generally considered to be a good thing.

Healer: There may be healing spells in your world, there may not, but most fantasy stories tend to involve either action or adventure, both of which tend to cause fights. And since fights tend to lead to injuries, it’s important to know what can and cannot be treated, and how readily available these healing abilities are to the public.

[neuroduckvergent]

The Beagle Coin

Fandom: Ducktales 2017

Characters: Louie Duck, Donald Duck, Scrooge McDuck (Dewey & Huey mentioned)

Notes: Autistic Louie, ADHD Scrooge, ADHD Dewey

-

Special Interests, Louie decided, were both a blessing and a curse.

They were a blessing when they brought you joy and excitement, when you had someone to talk to them about. When they were something normal and not too out of the ordinary, because otherwise the people at school would look at you weird and laugh about your weird obsessions and- he didn't need to go down this rabbit hole right now. He didn't like to think about the other kids at school. They didn't matter. He had his brothers.

They were a curse, however, when you would never be able to complete a collection you have been working on for years. When the missing piece was taunting you oh-so smugly. When it was <i>just</i> out of reach. Close enough to grab it but with such great consequences you couldn't even dream of taking it.

It frustrated him.

Louie's special interest was money, particularly coins. And no, that didn't refer to him wanting to be rich or anything, that was a completely different dream. Having money just for the sake of spending it was really great, but having coins in your collection and knowing all of the history behind the coins, being able to talk about when they were forged, and having so much knowledge in your head you can even put your nerdy brother to shame? That was the best.

Over the course of their adventures, Louie had discovered so many coins he didn't even know existed and it made him so happy! His collection was ever growing. Back when they still lived in the marina he didn't really have a lot of coins. A few old quarters and one of every current coin, but none of them were actually valuable or special in any sort of way. Still, they had emotional value and he cherished them. He knew all the history behind why they had the coins they had today, which led to the missing piece in his collection: The elusive Beagle Coin.

Before Scrooge bought (more like stole) Duckburg from the beagles, they had already started producing some currency. It was only coins and not a lot, but they were known as beagle coins. Nowadays they were worth more than Louie's entire life and super rare, so the chance of ever getting one were below zero. Or, well, so he thought.

Turns out Uncle Scrooge has one.

He was helping Uncle Donald clean the money bin when he stumbled upon the fabled missing piece in his collection. Of course his reaction was immediate, happily clapping and bouncing as he went to show it off to his uncle.

"Uncle Donald look what I found! Look! Uncle Scrooge has a beagle coin! Can I keep it Uncle Donald, please please please?"

Uncle Donald, obviously, told him to ask Uncle Scrooge. Bummer. The old miser would never let him steal it- have it, not steal it. Louie would never steal anything, he was the most honest person he knew! Plus the stern look Uncle Donald gave him kept him from even attempting it anyway.

"Come ON Uncle Scrooge! Please let me have it? I don't want to sell it, I want it for my collection!" "Laddie, do you think I'm daft? This coin is worth thousands of dollars, I'm not going to give it to you. You will sell it and who knows in whose hands it will end up in then!"

Uncle Scrooge really was just as understanding as Louie had predicted: not at all. He wouldn't even listen to Louie trying to explain how much this coin meant to him, which just ended with him being incredibly frustrated about being not listened to, and eventually just having a meltdown. That caused a ruckus and Scrooge pretty much just kicked him out of the money bin.

Well, that was a disaster.

He refused to talk to anyone after that for a few days. It went well for the most part, even when he couldn't really stand Dewey exploding on him about how you shouldn't ignore your family. Huey brought him back to earth quickly by, very angrily, explaining to his brother that Louie was obviously listening and probably just nonverbal and that he should sit down Dewey, he's obviously not doing good!

He managed to hide his mood from Uncle Donald for a few days, not really looking forward to explaining why he refused to talk to anyone, least of all Uncle Scrooge. But Uncle Donald had dad senses, and he was onto Louie, which meant Louie couldn't flee for long. And soon enough he was cornered.

"Okay, Lou. What's wrong? You've been avoiding me for days and I can sense there's something wrong."

And Louie wasn't sure if it was all the frustration that was pent up or if it was because talking to Uncle Donald felt safe, but whatever it was, he spilled the truth pretty much immediately. He began venting about how Uncle Scrooge didn't take him seriously, and about how he refused to listen to him and how overwhelmed he felt by the whole situation.

Needless to say, Uncle Donald didn't take that too well. He patted his head before stomping off. Not five minutes later you could hear his signature anger outburst, loud and echoing throughout the halls. Then everything fell quiet for a while, and Louie briefly wondered if Uncle Donald might have fallen asleep from exerting too much energy by being angry but then he could see his uncle walk down the hallway, Uncle Scrooge in tow. He looked apologetic and Louie was suddenly very aware of the fact that Uncle Donald would probably have murdered Uncle Scrooge if he refused to apologize.

"Ah, laddie. I am sorry. Your uncle... definitely showed me how important this coin would be to you. I wasn't aware coins were your, what do you call it, special interest?”

He was fidgeting a bit and Louie could tell that the other clearly had issues dealing with neurodivergencies, despite having ADHD himself (at least according to Uncle Donald. He overheard him talking about it when he was soothing Dewey about his diagnosis, and how it was fine and normal. "Our family might not be the most neurotypical, but we are the most daring!" That had calmed his brother down a significant amount). Louie could at least appreciate that he was trying, the apology seemed sincere enough.

"I didn't mean ta make you feel like your interests weren't important, but me boy, you need to understand I can't just give you such an important artefact! It's worth a fortune." "But Uncle Scrooge I won't-" "No, I can't afford to lose that much money."

Hopes dashed, Louie looked down to the ground, ready to go back to have the damned thing taunting him. He was about to go "okay, whatever" when Donald intervened.

"How much is the coin worth? I'll pay for it." "Donald, the coin is worth over thousands of dollars." "Well, luckily my life savings are worth almost 10.000 dollars. They were supposed to get me through retirement, but this will be worth it."

Scrooge looked taken aback by that and Louie was honestly just shocked. Uncle Donald couldn't do that! Some stupid coin wasn't worth all that!

"Uncle Donald no! I don't need it that badly-"

Louie might be a conman and devious, but he was also not completely immoral, especially not when it came to his uncle. He knew that Uncle Donald was still struggling with money, so nuh-uh, absolutely no way he was taking that. Judging by Uncle Scrooge's reaction, the older duck wasn't a big fan of that idea either.

"Laddie... This coin isn't worth you wasting your life savings. Okay look, I'll trust you on this okay? I'll trust Louie to not give the coin away and I'll trust you to make sure he doesn't lose it. I don't want to take ye money."

Donald seemed to not have been expecting that, blinking in confusion a few times before smiling softly. Louie, on the other hand, was ecstatic, bouncing excitedly and hugging Scrooge before pulling away quickly and pretending that didn't happen, trying to play cool.

"Yeah, um, thanks Uncle Scrooge."

His giant grin betrayed him, but both of his uncles had the courtesy to not mention it, though Donald did ruffle the feathers on top of Louie's head, making the young duck huff a bit.

[rwmhunt]

Leviticus, Chapter 22

1. Lo, for That I cannot prosecute my thoughts; I needst here cultivate caution- Then put a hold unto my options, That I cannot challenge him. Any source of information, That be of an admixture truth, And of an admixture untruth, is of a danger, Did you know that? Humbly needst I move toward diamonds and gold's Otherwise-useless demarkation on worth; My face must stay its specter in clay, For it is my career; That I can say: It is mine.

2. Thus, to Aaron, gold and diamonds Bringeth ignominy and unwarranted power; Strewth, they are only much use for The rings of your finger; So let alone the past, Which you mark As a messed up place, How then, is this the valid Strategy for the future? Lo, let us divide and game.

3. Increase the paywall; Holy things are ringing in changes; You are the visitor here- I'd like to take the time To consciously consider you so, for We have reached besmircher's cutoff. It's me, mark it; and Either I am a negative nebulae Of unimaginable everything, And you are a little golden bull, Or you are a negative nebulae Of unimaginable everything, And I am a little golden bull;

4. But know that I shall not give you the word For the thought-track down which You might draw the line Of asymetry, such, That you wouldst know How to rend a perfect opposition To go between. And whosoever soweth dead seeds Among young female researchers Hath faileth the épreuve- It shalln’t do for thy running issue, Moreover, those women who are of Quite senior position and are doing it Unto the coercive nature of such a power's New destruction of ability to focus, As unto the camp's commander, With how Peleg begat Reu; Well, it might be enough to get you pregnant, But wait, where am I going with this?

5. Worm touchers, Creepy pressers, Come, come, observers, Keep from that strange creature; Don't be giving unto me None of thy screaming abdabs; I think on you, Pig dressed as a clown, Eructing unto, then drawing forth A near-entire white, plastic fork; And know you not how this came to me- Lo, it came up with a sequence of items that appeared Not unlike balls of meat, Furred, wistfully, in a grey cowl of reactionary mucus; A kind of veil, a barrier, in effect, Penetratable, at any point, But equally real as a barrier, Gainst our otherwise passive environs, Such as be the diffusion of inert thoughts, or spores, murky, and maintaining of a human resource, I liked to thrill it- The direct and immediate livid relationship Between a font of funding and a media event, O, harmless dalliance of the stationary cupboard- You are knowingly walking, As against your will, A wrong into the carpet, Within the tent of meaning.

6. Looking up to see God's face in the moon, Or whatever it was That can't be drawn, And I won't be drawn; His hands he filled with moisture and His own was sent for ablution Into the improvised basin. So denieth all such allegation Through the washing of thy soule, Clean off; so sloughed away, Away with the diminishing liquid.

7. Sundown with the unseen Woman's leverage on the situation- if you should find a way to redress balance, So she gaineth a bit more power in some manner, Then so what? it was no loss. A new deal, And the bill shall embolden survivors.

8. Positions of power shall have of a hard time In recognizing the coercive nature of that power Within an unbridled relationship; Things that die 'Of themselves', Or are yet rent by nature's horn, Are defiled; while I, a malign influence, lie with my soul distracted; Oh lord, but I've been swallowed by narrative, And tried to keep it communal, Inside and outside; As you are.

9. Pit stop- The horror is the fact; The horror it unfolds Through legions of would-bes Without a meter, like me, Who have applied, Will apply, in perpetuity; Just do it, Or die; if then, As I am still.

10. The individual is always Hedging toward A private business model. Attention-seeking shalln't be of sin, no! Tis sensible, keep with a forward optioning- That's why i tell you, Soujerners and servents, Who art sent to the concession to collect me my messages- My tutu is a Fendi, And my codpiece is a Bosch. We live unto a roaring attention economy. But you're not up to it. I've given them a tomato one, And also I gave them a spaghetti- We struggle to attune to where I'm compelled- Ourselves, as groups, who feel of themselves As blunted against their lack in deserved attention, Because it is a powerful, a dangerous feeling.

11. So eat souls As paid for with a priest's money, On escrow, attention Has always been currency Though rendered unimaginable Since the falling-away of the gold-standard, As was borne unto the tent of meaning, Where every page has a piece carved out, To house an advert's grab For égards; No space is secure, For security hath put an advert thither.

12. Jade lock, To knock the donald offline, So unto a stranger, Gone off to scavenge, The framers that frame themselves As refuges for free-expression Shall be rent at the fringes, forcing A redirection, away from my personal kingdom.

13. But should she go prodigal, Whosoever you are, Howeverso you might express thyself, You may now have a crack at a global audience, With incentives and disproportionate benefits Offered unto the most shameless, The demand of each to pay what scarce attention Might be rendered unto others, To get some fraction of this nominally limited resource, As unto yourself alone. Such are these poor weapons, An oversharing, That, essayed to the personal, Stretcheth my nancy stories To breaking.

O Marigold, I was bad At that, in the territories of fandom, As forced to return Unto the track over and again- Such was my leaky comprehension; Only apparent to me in the afterward, And now, I cannot say I am better.

14. Whence, Enroute from the concession Shouldst be eaten of the item Without, thence, So anguished in the relish, Thou giveth a fifth Of the holy thing; So that the leg shall grow A starfish, whole . Then let us bend our dark tubers towards, And look the knot, as in at an eye-

15. What's gold and glitter, But to mock a toom, And maketh of myself A symbolic same, Wrought as an aesthetic echt; Where diplomacy is weak, The aesthetic be yet The sole portal unto The conveyance of meaning; Verily, here, that I keep within The aesthetic of thought Whereby action is always y, You are i, and The antagonist be markated x; Where holy might only Fall down to one's discretion, You should've known That I wouldst be so solid.

16. Or suffer them to bear the enquiry of trespass, Felt as an information glut, Whilst eating of their holy orders, Found relishing within the anguish, And those who want it, Want it as much as they can get it, And  there is more access than can be vaunted, For, in an attention economy, one is never not on. Yes, me. O the guilt.

17. Attention is akin to the spirit; That it be vital but conventionally invisible, And thus, think not very much upon it, But unto whom, being unable to share A simple encounter with it, Wouldst soon become an artifice of torture.

18. Tell Aaron et al ensundry, To take up of stock with sarcastic markets, Sarcastic markets and I, impunity; The sacrifice of your own will I hand you freely; or no; T'was never yours to oblate, But sacrifice thy quasi-will, As will thee, Which is mine, against The short hedge, Thus maketh me of a currency exchange.

19. And an haut stud dost thou, unto me, weasels? By your whimsically free-will sacrificing? How charmingly lame. I sense Actors at play, in a very long game Of grooming the disaffected- Call me my boys in- then Send a lie to the long deceiver, To use the ruse, in turn, like poison, For to wish you that which upon may be Enabling unto the benefit of thine enemy.

20. It's no hambone, No hobbling billy- If he tells or interferes I'll fill the well in; its Prophets in stocks and neck-irons time, Else tolerate such increasingly radical agendas Of such gleefully uninhibited platforms as Where followers might laugh At biblical memes and opine such as- 'I'd rather do drama than a play, where, You can't say, really, What you want to say.' Go long, my cowhands, go long.

21. And peace is a sacrifice Of the streaming platform, while Attention has always been currency, Same. Our abilities to pay heed are limited; Not so our abilities to theoretically receive of it; No need to adequately substantiate If you can bamboozle With all the time in the world, Ka-pow-ka, ching-ching, da-da, Badoo-daboo-baday; Trust-modesty, yay, verily. Humility is hard to sustain In an attention economy. I only see me accelerating.

22. Blind, broken, maimed; Cankered, scurvied, wan with the wen, Thus, by my lights, The fault shall be displaced, Be it cleaned or weeping, Tis a no-no, get me another. Such was The schism that fractured the donald, Sent out to extend a tortured metaphor, Became too much of a liability To be held in high office- But if the stranger doesn't come, After all the things I’ve done for him,

23. Well, it's alright for a free-will offering Which you feel compelled to go along with, But it's not good enough for a vow offering As be brought unto online-influencer culture, And it might be enough to get you pregnant But it shan't be enough to stir my interest- I require an extreme case of humility, Whereby a person giveth his all to a presence so completely selfish As to serveth no other purpose. It's me.

24. But the reality is far less complicated than Moses, Hiding his damage behind a veil of linked-up back-channels, Recoiling at what his fellow hardcore moderators attempt to oblate; Too engrossed within the tents to consider anything outwith While hoping the whole doesn’t spin out of control.

25. Corruption is in them, strangers, Bethinks, flooding an affiliated image board So thoroughly that it becometh abomination. Here increaseth the shamelessness of wanton Allegation,  terror co-option of a social platform, which struck with the rise of a reality magik-vision, Alike as came unto a mid-80s index of abundance, Shewn running away whilst attempting to make focus On the ever-deterioratingly indistinct Object of the distancing, that It’s only when, at stopping to think about it, That the understand can be ascertained as to quite how rife it is.

26. Here, he left a passing message for Those who might collectively commandeer: Abide by life; that, if, then, I wouldn't be here.

27. Debates about amplification And attention-hijacking form a Siege mentality Of the corrupted Federal Apparatus- For seven days beneath the dam, As then a fire spiralled further Toward a more outlandish means Of unconstitutional civic theatre,

28. Whereby a calfling must be made to last The night and know it's mother As having died before slaughter; So the community Moved in after it went dark, Enjoining, then modulating, then killing off, And now Your complexes are all cooked in, Deeply infringing upon the weirds of others.

29. So must you make sacrifice To your very free will, As to common patriotic causes, Or else be sieged Within the corrupt Federal Apparatus.

30. The fundamental thing is: You cant escape my attention economy; Eat everything now, For nothing shall be saved, And this same day shall be Until tomorrow; when again, it's me.

31. Lo, and you must; it's me, remember? But by now all this blood and all this law Was affecting them, as had long been within their dream, Where they have their own rules, quirks and cultures, Which they ignore at your peril; Where environments play out upon a knife-edge, And attention might simply be a lens Through which to read the events of the moment While running away.

32. Herein, power shall not be trusted To recognize affiliated abuses of power; Yet, check, however, before Redirecting such missives from my personal kingdom, For lo, there shall be nonesuch insubordination, As might mitigate against, for I shall be hallowed; Me me me me, So you;

33. Thus, I lay my notional claim Unto my servant-leadership- as bang, That brought you out of the land, Didn't it? Akhenaten to me. So Leviticus stood at The simply-inflated Size of Capitalism, To whom, hereto, On a bench they'd built Between themselves, Be here, thisway, is addressing- 'Imagine; You have been wrong For a long long time now.'

[fightmeyeats]

ACNH: Colonial Desires in the Context of Quarantine

Since finishing up my undergraduate studies in June, one of the major things I've been doing with my free time is playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons (please don't @ me but I've already logged something like 400 hours). As much fun as the game is, one of the things that's really stood out to me is how much AC:NH depends on and reifies colonial logics, and how important it is to unpack this in the context of the game's popularity and the ongoing pandemic.

One of the first ways I want to address colonialism in AC:NH this is through the way I was first introduced to it, namely through its connection to my thesis and what I refer to as the "terraforming imaginary". Before I started playing or had even decided to buy the game, I was working on my thesis "Constructing New Worlds: An Investigation of Climate Change and the Terraforming Imaginary" (which, shameless self plug but if you're interested you can check out my 10 minute video presentation for symposium at Johns Hopkins University here). During this time I was talking about my thesis pretty non-stop with anyone who would listen and as a result probably about half of my friends independently sent me this meme

[ID: meme from @animalcrossingmemes which shows two children; the one on the left is smiling and looking off into the distance with the label "daydreaming about terraforming" while the child on the right looks stressed and upset with the label "actually terraforming". Beneath this meme is text from @kaijuno which reads "I realize this is an animal crossing meme but as an astrophysicist I was really excited for a second that someone was finally seeing the light on how fricking difficult an a huge waste of time it would be to try to terraform Mars". Beneath this text is another meme with four hands gripping each other's wrists to make a circle. In the center is the initial animalcrossingmemes image and each arm is labeled, respectively, "Minecraft Players," "Sims Players," "Animal Crossing Players," and "Astrophysicists apparently"]

Although my thesis addresses terraforming in the context of space exploration/colonization, AC:NH's engagement with "terraforming" (alongside other aspects of colonial practices and desires) helps to expand on the stakes of this. The reason I put "terraforming" in scare-quotes is because…technically, there isn't any terraforming in AC:NH, given that terraforming is "the operation consisting of rendering other stellar bodies—mainly planets and eventually asteroids—appropriate for human life" (Frédéric Neyrat, 46). While I'm all down for an interpretation of the Animal Crossing world as a non-Earth planet and the villagers as aliens, the island is already suitable for human life and the use of "terraforming" in the game is generally more readily identifiable as geoconstructivism: players redesign and restructure their islands, shaping waterways and topography to create idealistic spaces (as opposed to making the island literally livable). Either way, it speaks to the terraforming imaginary—the underlying set of logics and desires conducive to the imagining and desiring of “terraforming”, ie the logics and desires of colonization. Even though AC:NH's terraforming isn't technically terraforming, it is an embodiment of the terraforming imaginary, centering desires for the "civilizing"/"cultivating" of a space into an orderly, colonized ideal. On even a very surface level it is useful to think about this through the island rating system: islands are ranked out of five stars, with deductions made for things such as having "too many" weeds or not "cleaning up" by leaving items lying around rather than placed with intention. 

Another, perhaps more obvious, way in which AC:NH embodies colonial logics is through the "Nook Miles Tickets". Players trade in Nook Miles (an achievement based currency) for tickets which they can take to the airport and use to visit other, uninhabited islands which they can destroy to extract all of the resources slash-and-burn style. Players also have an increased likelihood of catching rare insects, fish, and sea animals to display to their own island museum or sell. As Wilbur, a dodo pilot, explains about this process: "we run the 'finders keepers' protocol here. Lumber, fruit, fish, whatever? Yours if you can carry it", going on to emphasize the importance of not leaving anything behind as there will be no returning; they "burn the flight plans" after each flight.

Although the rampantly destructive extraction of resources is the most apparent embodiment of colonial logics, the centrality of the museum and the imperative to complete each wing by finding and identifying all of the bugs, fish/sea creatures, fossils, and artworks in the game is an equally significant connection to colonialism. Benedict Anderson argues in Imagined Communities that the museum, along with the census and the map, "shaped the way in which the colonial state imagined its dominion—the nature of the human beings it ruled, the geography of its domain, and the legitimacy of its ancestry" (164). The specifics Anderson goes into differ of course, because he's talking about actual colonial states while AC:NH has the fluidity of embodying the underpinning desires which colonialism as process requires to function, but what holds true is that these specific forms of producing, organizing, and displaying knowledge which produced "a totalizing classificatory grid, which could be applied with endless flexibility...to be able to say of anything that it was this, not that; it belonged here, not there" (Anderson 184). Essentially, in AC:NH part of a player's ownership of the island occurs through a player's ability to classify and collect artefacts for the museum. Furthermore, this imperative to collect and preserve fossils, art work, bugs, fish, and sea creatures is part of the way the player's island is positioned as a place of value. 

The museum also implicitly functions to reify positions of authority, legitimizing a kind of monopoly of knowledge. In AC:NH, this primarily means the positions of the museum curator (Blathers) and, to a degree, Tom Nook (who selected and invited Blathers) are secured as the authorities on knowledge. When Tom Nook tells the player that the island(s) are deserted, we must take this as truth...yet fishing both on the player's island and the Nook Miles islands can turn up trash items like old tires, tin cans, and boots. Colonial logics depend on a management of who counts as "people" and what counts as "inhabited" and the myth of empty lands; Tom Nook's instance that these islands are all deserted is haunted by these lingering traces of some other inhabitation prior to the game's start. 

Okay, so you might be asking what does this all mean and why should we care? Let's talk about both the game's popularity and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which contextualized its release (and continues to shape daily life). Animal Crossing: New Horizons has not only received overwhelmingly positive critical reception, but is one of the best selling games both for the Switch console and the Animal Crossing series. According to freelance journalist Imad Khan's New York Times article "Why Animal Crossing Is the Game for the Coronavirus Moment," the game's appeal centers in its function as an escape to an "island paradise where bags of money fall out of trees and a talking raccoon can approve you for a mortgage". Khan quotes Dr. Ramzan (a professor of game narrative at Glasgow Caledonian University) who refers to it as "the universe you’ve always wanted, but can’t get." Given the significantly decreased mobility and connection that has accompanied social distancing, as well as the increased stress and heightened inequality which have accompanied COVID-19, this probably isn’t particularly surprising. It makes sense that a cute, low-stress video game would be a valuable form of escapism.

Mobility is a particularly fraught discourse in this context: on the one hand, concerns surrounding containment/immobility are heightened in the context of neoliberalism and within colonial societies, which depend upon discourses of individualism and independence to demarcate the “freedom” which comes from capitalist economies. At the same time, the desire for things like connection/community, movement, and spatial autonomy/sovereignty are not inherently colonial, even as colonialist logics frequently position colonial/capitalist/neoliberal expansion as the solution. Animal Crossing is heavily situated within this entanglement, simultaneously offering a very real form of connection (and even protest) for many people while also implicitly speaking to latent beliefs that colonization is a legitimate form of mobility and escapism. To say that AC:NH is the universe we’ve always wanted but can’t get is to refuse to engage with the inherent contradictions of neoliberalism and reafirm the notion that colonial capitalist worlds are worth wanting; that the fantasy of individual wealth and success through destructive extraction and market freedom, when obtainable, is good.

None of this is to say that playing AC:NH is the same as colonization, because of course it isn't. However, the colonial undertones of the game reflect the pervasiveness of colonial logics and desires in our daily lives, subsequently further normalizing them. Journalist Kazuma Hashimoto, for example, emphasizes the importance of contextualizing AC:NH's colonial undertones within Japanese Colonialism in "Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Japanese Colonialism". As Hashimoto argues, "I am only asking that people familiarize themselves with Japanese colonialism and why something as innocuous as discovering a deserted island can be read as colonialism — especially within the context of a Japanese game".

Inattentiveness to the more subdued, invisibilized manifestations of violence facilitates their internalization and acceptance; educating ourselves and paying attention to and challenging places where we feel comfortable with these kinds of escapist fantasies is an important exercise in critical thinking which can help us to continue to refuse their real life manifestations.