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sophiamcdougall · 5 months

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You're a reasonably informed person on the internet. You've experienced things like no longer being able to get files off an old storage device, media you've downloaded suddenly going poof, sites and forums with troves full of people's thoughts and ideas vanishing forever. You've heard of cybercrime. You've read articles about lost media. You have at least a basic understanding that digital data is vulnerable, is what I'm saying. I'm guessing that you're also aware that history is, you know... important? And that it's an ongoing study, requiring ... data about how people live? And that it's not just about stanning celebrities that happen to be dead? Congratulations, you are significantly better-informed than the British government! So they're currently like "Oh hai can we destroy all these historical documents pls? To save money? Because we'll digitise them first so it's fine! That'll be easy, cheap and reliable -- right? These wills from the 1850s will totally be fine for another 170 years as a PNG or whatever, yeah? We didn't need to do an impact assesment about this because it's clearly win-win! We'd keep the physical wills of Famous People™ though because Famous People™ actually matter, unlike you plebs. We don't think there are any equalities implications about this, either! Also the only examples of Famous People™ we can think of are all white and rich, only one is a woman and she got famous because of the guy she married. Kisses!"

Yes, this is the same Government that's like "Oh no removing a statue of slave trader is erasing history :(" You have, however, until 23 February 2024 to politely inquire of them what the fuck they are smoking. And they will have to publish a summary of the responses they receive. And it will look kind of bad if the feedback is well-argued, informative and overwhelmingly negative and they go ahead and do it anyway. I currently edit documents including responses to consultations like (but significantly less insane) than this one. Responses do actually matter. I would particularly encourage British people/people based in the UK to do this, but as far as I can see it doesn't say you have to be either. If you are, say, a historian or an archivist, or someone who specialises in digital data do say so and draw on your expertise in your answers. This isn't a question of filling out a form. You have to manually compose an email answering the 12 questions in the consultation paper at the link above. I'll put my own answers under the fold. Note -- I never know if I'm being too rude in these sorts of things. You probably shouldn't be ruder than I have been.

Please do not copy and paste any of this: that would defeat the purpose. This isn't a petition, they need to see a range of individual responses. But it may give you a jumping-off point.

Question 1: Should the current law providing for the inspection of wills be preserved?

Yes. Our ability to understand our shared past is a fundamental aspect of our heritage. It is not possible for any authority to know in advance what future insights they are supporting or impeding by their treatment of material evidence. Safeguarding the historical record for future generations should be considered an extremely important duty.

Question 2: Are there any reforms you would suggest to the current law enabling wills to be inspected?

No.

Question 3: Are there any reasons why the High Court should store original paper will documents on a permanent basis, as opposed to just retaining a digitised copy of that material?

Yes. I am amazed that the recent cyber attack on the British Library, which has effectively paralysed it completely, not been sufficient to answer this question for you. I also refer you to the fate of the Domesday Project. Digital storage is useful and can help more people access information; however, it is also inherently fragile. Malice, accident, or eventual inevitable obsolescence not merely might occur, but absolutely should be expected. It is ludicrously naive and reflects a truly unpardonable ignorance to assume that information preserved only in digital form is somehow inviolable and safe, or that a physical document once digitised, never need be digitised again..At absolute minimum, it should be understood as certain that at least some of any digital-only archive will eventually be permanently lost. It is not remotely implausible that all of it would be. Preserving the physical documents provides a crucial failsafe. It also allows any errors in reproduction -- also inevitable-- to be, eventually, seen and corrected. Note that maintaining, upgrading and replacing digital infrastructure is not free, easy or reliable. Over the long term, risks to the data concerned can only accumulate.

"Unlike the methods for preserving analog documents that have been honed over millennia, there is no deep precedence to look to regarding the management of digital records. As such, the processing, long-term storage, and distribution potential of archival digital data are highly unresolved issues. [..] the more digital data is migrated, translated, and re-compressed into new formats, the more room there is for information to be lost, be it at the microbit-level of preservation. Any failure to contend with the instability of digital storage mediums, hardware obsolescence, and software obsolescence thus meets a terminal end—the definitive loss of information. The common belief that digital data is safe so long as it is backed up according to the 3-2-1 rule (3 copies on 2 different formats with 1 copy saved off site) belies the fact that it is fundamentally unclear how long digital information can or will remain intact. What is certain is that its unique vulnerabilities do become more pertinent with age." -- James Boyda, On Loss in the 21st Century: Digital Decay and the Archive, Introduction.

Question 4: Do you agree that after a certain time original paper documents (from 1858 onwards) may be destroyed (other than for famous individuals)? Are there any alternatives, involving the public or private sector, you can suggest to their being destroyed?

Absolutely not. And I would have hoped we were past the "great man" theory of history. Firstly, you do not know which figures will still be considered "famous" in the future and which currently obscure individuals may deserve and eventually receive greater attention. I note that of the three figures you mention here as notable enough to have their wills preserved, all are white, the majority are male (the one woman having achieved fame through marriage) and all were wealthy at the time of their death. Any such approach will certainly cull evidence of the lives of women, people of colour and the poor from the historical record, and send a clear message about whose lives you consider worth remembering.

Secondly, the famous and successsful are only a small part of our history. Understanding the realities that shaped our past and continue to mould our present requires evidence of the lives of so-called "ordinary people"!

Did you even speak to any historians before coming up with this idea?

Entrusting the documents to the private sector would be similarly disastrous. What happens when a private company goes bust or decides that preserving this material is no longer profitable? What reasonable person, confronted with our crumbling privatised water infrastructure, would willingly consign any part of our heritage to a similar fate?

Question 5: Do you agree that there is equivalence between paper and digital copies of wills so that the ECA 2000 can be used?

No. And it raises serious questions about the skill and knowledge base within HMCTS and the government that the very basic concepts of data loss and the digital dark age appear to be unknown to you. I also refer you to the Domesday Project.

Question 6: Are there any other matters directly related to the retention of digital or paper wills that are not covered by the proposed exercise of the powers in the ECA 2000 that you consider are necessary?

Destroying the physical documents will always be an unforgivable dereliction of legal and moral duty.

Question 7: If the Government pursues preserving permanently only a digital copy of a will document, should it seek to reform the primary legislation by introducing a Bill or do so under the ECA 2000?

Destroying the physical documents will always be an unforgivable dereliction of legal and moral duty.

Question 8: If the Government moves to digital only copies of original will documents, what do you think the retention period for the original paper wills should be? Please give reasons and state what you believe the minimum retention period should be and whether you consider the Government’s suggestion of 25 years to be reasonable.

There is no good version of this plan. The physical documents should be preserved.

Question 9: Do you agree with the principle that wills of famous people should be preserved in the original paper form for historic interest?

This question betrays deep ignorance of what "historic interest" actually is. The study of history is not simply glorified celebrity gossip. If anything, the physical wills of currently famous people could be considered more expendable as it is likely that their contents are so widely diffused as to be relatively "safe", whereas the wills of so-called "ordinary people" will, especially in aggregate, provide insights that have not yet been explored.

Question 10: Do you have any initial suggestions on the criteria which should be adopted for identifying famous/historic figures whose original paper will document should be preserved permanently?

Abandon this entire lamentable plan. As previously discussed, you do not and cannot know who will be considered "famous" in the future, and fame is a profoundly flawed criterion of historical significance.

Question 11: Do you agree that the Probate Registries should only permanently retain wills and codicils from the documents submitted in support of a probate application? Please explain, if setting out the case for retention of any other documents.

No, all the documents should be preserved indefinitely.

Question 12: Do you agree that we have correctly identified the range and extent of the equalities impacts under each of these proposals set out in this consultation? Please give reasons and supply evidence of further equalities impacts as appropriate.

No. You appear to have neglected equalities impacts entirely. As discussed, in your drive to prioritise "famous people", your plan will certainly prioritise the white, wealthy and mostly the male, as your "Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin and Princess Diana" examples amply indicate. This plan will create a two-tier system where evidence of the lives of the privileged is carefully preserved while information regarding people of colour, women, the working class and other disadvantaged groups is disproportionately abandoned to digital decay and eventual loss. Current and future historians from, or specialising in the history of minority groups will be especially impoverished by this.

#ukpol #uk politics #fuck the tories #lost media #data loss #cultural vandalism

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basshole-astard · 9 months

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[AMERICAN POLITICS]

i know everyone is worried about KOSA being a censorship bill, and that's fair. but do you know what really, REALLY concerns me about this bill? the fact they want to install age verification systems at the device/operating system level

(transcript with highlights below cut)

this will almost definitely track your data - note how it doesn't say how much, just that it's going to have to collect some, and that's worrying. to me. best case scenario we need to give our devices our government ID. worst case scenario it's tracking app usage and browser history and who knows what else. they don't say! how convenient.

but, based on Sec. 6(d)(5) "consider indicia or inferences of age of users, in addition to any self-declared information about the age of individuals." and Sec. 10(a)(1)(D) "using indicia or inferences of age of users for assessing use of the covered platform by minors", nevermind Sec. 9(b)(4)'s own admission that some data will be collected, that's.... that's data tracking.

and i know websites already do this, but i feel like a government mandated software for age verification that will track this data is a step too far.....

read the text of the bill here, if you want. genuinely the amount of legaleze is - as far as i can tell - only going to PROBABLY cause censorship, not GUARANTEE it.

but you know what KOSA does guarantee? stated plainly and clearly in their intents of what this bill will do? data tracking.

so if you're contacting your senators about opposing this bill, please consider not only voicing your concerns about censorship, but also about the privacy violations. thank you.

contact your senators here

highlighted text in image bolded

SEC. 9. Age verification study and report.

(a) Study.—The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and the Secretary of Commerce, shall conduct a study evaluating the most technologically feasible methods and options for developing systems to verify age at the device or operating system level.

(b) Contents.—Such study shall consider —

(1) the benefits of creating a device or operating system level age verification system;

(2) what information may need to be collected to create this type of age verification system;

(3) the accuracy of such systems and their impact or steps to improve accessibility, including for individuals with disabilities;

(4) how such a system or systems could verify age while mitigating risks to user privacy and data security and safeguarding minors' personal data, emphasizing minimizing the amount of data collected and processed by covered platforms and age verification providers for such a system; and

(5) the technical feasibility, including the need for potential hardware and software changes, including for devices currently in commerce and owned by consumers.

(c) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the agencies described in subsection (a) shall submit a report containing the results of the study conducted under such subsection to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

#uspol

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saintmeghanmarkle · 1 month

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Comment in the Standard: How dare Montecito millionaire Prince Harry demand our tax money to cover his legal costs

This subject matter cannot be covered too much for my taste.

Emphasis and comments by me:

Prince Harry’s latest court defeat in his rightly unsuccessful bid to overturn the decision to refuse him guaranteed Met police protection after he pulled out of royal duties might seem like a trivial battle over legal fees.

But in fact the duke’s failed attempt to pass 50 to 60 per cent of the costs incurred by the Home Office in fighting his unmerited claim tells us much about the preening prince and his selfish disregard for virtually anyone other than himself, his equally self-obsessed wife, Meghan Markle, and his children. [No one else matters of course. It is all about them.]

That’s because when the Duke of Sussex, as he still wants to be called despite ditching his royal role, wasted yet more of the High Court’s time in arguing for the taxpayer to fund at least half of the hundreds of thousands of pounds that the Home Office was forced to spend on the case, what he was really doing was trying to pass on a large chunk of the bill to ordinary taxpayers. [Sponging off others is quite on brand.

That’s right: instead of having the decency to accept that he’d have to pay up when he lost, the Montecito multimillionaire, for whom the legal expenses will be loose change, wanted taxes paid by everyone ranging from people on the minimum wage to bus drivers, cleaners and pensioners to cover his costs. It’s frankly contemptible. [Does he think it is his birthright to have the peasants pay for his temper tantrums?]

It's notable too that yesterday’s costs order by the High Court judge, Sir Peter Lane, reveals that Harry, who is so protective of his own privacy (when it suits him), managed to breach a confidentiality agreement made as part of the litigation by emailing “certain information” that was meant to be secret to one his lawyers and the MP Johnny Mercer. The prince might have apologised for the error, but the costs order refers to the “seriousness of the breach” and it was at best a sloppy mistake that added to the Home Office costs that he was trying to avoid. [What were you up to Harold?]

Harry’s whole case was, of course, misconceived from the start and it’s worth recapping why.

He asserted that the decision in 2020 by security experts on the Government’s Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as Ravec, that he should no longer receive publicly-funded police protection in Britain because of his move abroad should be overturned.

The supposed reasons were that the committee had allegedly failed to take into account the impact of a successful attack on the prince and had also acted unreasonably, unfairly and with a lack of transparency.

It was nonsense for the prince to think that he knew better than a panel of experts informed by the latest security advice from the police and intelligence agencies. [This man has a very high opinion of himself.] The High Court unsurprisingly dismissed Harry’s claim on all grounds, finding that there was no reason to overturn the Ravec panel’s decision. It had in fact left open the possibility of occasional police protection for the prince when in Britain, if there was evidence in future of a sufficient threat to his safety.

An attempt by the prince to persuade the courts that a later offer by him to pay for police protection should have been accepted was also rebuffed. Yet another judge dragged into Harry’s interminable litigation ruled it would be wrong to allow the wealthy to receive a service from the limited pool of specialist Met protection officers that a less affluent person could not afford.

That too was the correct and inevitable decision. Police protection officers are highly skilled specialists, trained at significant public expense, who exist only in restricted numbers and who are required to safeguard those facing the highest risks such as working royals, Cabinet ministers and prime ministers current and former, not others like Harry wanting the comfort blanket of protection they don’t need.

In short, every argument put forward by Harry was flawed and rejected by the courts. It’s a sign of his delusion that even the succession of earlier rebuffs from the judiciary didn’t stop him basing his attempt to get off a big chunk of the Home Office’s costs in fighting the litigation on the fantasy claim that he’d achieved “partial success” in his legal action. [He learns nothing from his experiences.]

Maybe that was how Harry viewed it. After he all, he told the world in his biography Spare that “there's just as much truth in what I remember and how I remember it as there is in so-called objective facts”.

But it simply wasn’t true, as yesterday’s High Court costs order reminded him.

It pointed out that Harry had “comprehensively lost” and that there was “no merit” in his claim of partial victory with his judicial review argument failing “on all of the pleaded grounds.” [Harold is a big loser.]

It was the obvious outcome from the start and the claim should never have been brought. His inevitable defeat was deserved and now it’s time for the penny-pinching prince to pay up.

👉 How dare Montecito millionaire Prince Harry demand our tax money to cover his legal costs | Evening Standard (archive.ph)

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author: Von_und_zu_

submitted: April 17, 2024 at 10:53AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

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justalittlesolarpunk · 16 days

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I've been feeling climate anxiety lately. I think it's really necessary to change everything and progress towards a postcapitalist future that doesn't endanger our planet, our Pachamama. But I don't see how that will be possible. What do you think about this?

Hiya, thanks for getting in touch and sorry it’s taken me so long to reply. I get a lot of asks like this so I think I might make this another masterpost. Here’s climate anxiety solutions according to me:

1) Accept your feelings. Recognise that fear, grief, rage and despair are all normal, healthy, human reactions to paying actual attention to what is being done to our planet right now. You aren’t wrong or sick or overreacting by feeling them. Sit with the emotions, allow them to wash over you, cry, smash plates, punch a pillow, journal, write poetry, yell at the news, scream in the woods! Trying to repress these feelings will just make them harder to deal with.

2) Recognise that the paralysis of climate anxiety is not a good place from which to make a difference. Try to let horror, guilt and self-blame go, and lean into the love for people and planet that motivates all eco-anxiety. Start consuming good news stories and keying into activist spaces so that you can learn how others are claiming agency to fight this problem, and how you can emulate that. Remember that despair absolves you of responsibility and that true solidarity with the most affected means letting your emotions drive you towards action.

4) Educate yourself through reading, listening to podcasts, attending talks, seeking advice from elders, and more - whatever works for your particular life and circumstances. The more informed you are about these issues the more you’ll feel able to address them.

3) Make as many changes as you can in your personal life. Are you eating a high-carbon diet? Try to reduce that. Are you consuming a lot of water or energy resources? Look for green and low-intensity alternatives. Examine your transport habits and prioritise walking, cycling, trains, low or zero emission buses, sailing, and replacing longer-haul journeys with remote options. If you live in a throwaway culture, try to prioritise reuse and repair over consumption. Consider how your livelihood impacts the planet, and if it’s negatively and making change is possible for you, start the process of moving towards an occupation that lets you make a more positive difference.

4) Fight! Join a campaign group, write to your elected officials, attend a protest, donate money to causes if you can, commit civil disobedience if you feel willing and able. Put pressure on governments, businesses and the public to change their ways.

5) Prioritise joy and connection. Spend time in nature, watching animals or foraging for plants or swimming or walking or just letting it all wash over you. Link up with other people to talk through your worries, go hiking, lobby for climate justice, safeguard ecosystems and pass down your local heritage. Sometimes, take a day or two to check out of all these issues and problems and just spend time drawing, cooking, playing games with loved ones, or whatever it is that relaxes you. There are enough of us that you can take the time to avoid burnout.

I hope some of this was helpful, and do please get back in touch if you have any other questions or queries. You’re part of a huge global community of people who love and revere the earth and want to build a better future for all life upon her. Hold onto that.

#solarpunk #hopepunk #cottagepunk #environmentalism #social justice #community #optimism #bright future #climate justice #tidalpunk #ask #answer #climate anxiety

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rainbowsky · 5 months

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Yuehua has issued an update on some of the legal cases they are pursuing on DD's behalf.

Translation under the cut.

YUE HUA ENTERTAINMENT

Explanation on the progress of Mr. Wang Yibo’s reputational rights protection case

Recently, our company has found that there are still a large number of Internet subjects who continue to publish suspected insulting and defamatory remarks against our artist Mr. Wang Yibo on various platforms, which has attracted the attention, reprinting and comments of many Internet users. The release and dissemination of relevant content has caused Mr. Wang Yibo to his reputation and social image have been seriously affected, and he is suspected of seriously infringing on Mr. Wang Yibo’s right to reputation. In this regard, our company resolutely safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of Mr. Wang Yibo and protects his rights through legal channels. Our company now makes the following explanation on the progress of some of Mr. Wang Yibo’s reputational rights protection cases that have been initiated:

1. The case between Mr. Wang Yibo and Yu ** [Weibo user "Half hawthorn yys!", UID: 7583092450] Internet infringement liability dispute (right of reputation):

Between July 2021 and September 2022, Weibo user "Half Hawthorn yys!" continued to publish multiple insulting and defamatory blog posts against Mr. Wang Yibo through the Weibo platform, seriously damaging Mr. Wang Yibo's personal reputation. After our company and Mr. Wang Yibo entrusted lawyers to initiate litigation and accountability proceedings against the Weibo user’s real-name subject Yu **, the court made a first-instance judgment on November 15, 2023, and ordered that Yu ** be on the Weibo involved in the case (UID: 7583092450 ) publicly apologized to the plaintiff Wang Yibo for 15 consecutive days and paid a total of 28,000 yuan in moral comfort and legal fees to the plaintiff Wang Yibo. [Case No.: (2023) Beijing 0491 Minchu No. 14528]

At present, the defendant has fulfilled its apology and compensation obligations in accordance with the judgment. At the beginning of the rights protection in this case, Mr. Wang Yibo stated that he would donate the full amount of the compensation in the case to public welfare. Our company will donate the full amount of the compensation in accordance with Mr. Wang Yibo’s wishes.

2. The case of Mr. Wang Yibo and Weibo user "Heartbroken but Fascinating" [UID: 5850457719] Internet infringement liability dispute (right of reputation):

Weibo user "Heartbroken but Fascinated" has been posting suspected insulting and defamatory remarks about Mr. Wang Yibo on the online platform for a long time. Our company and Mr. Wang Yibo have entrusted lawyers to file a lawsuit in court in accordance with the law, requiring the relevant online platforms to disclose the real-name identities of the Internet subjects involved. After the information is disclosed by the platform, it will file a lawsuit against the real-name authentication subject as soon as possible, requiring the relevant subject to publicly apologize to Mr. Wang Yibo in accordance with the law, and compensate for the corresponding mental damage solatium and reasonable rights protection costs.

3. The case of Mr. Wang Yibo and Chang ** [Weibo user "Hanhanqvq", UID: 7799836585] Internet tort liability dispute (right of reputation):

In March 2023, the Weibo user "Hanhanqvq" published a related article against Mr. Wang Yibo through the Weibo platform.

The defamatory remarks are suspected of seriously damaging Mr. Wang Yibo’s personal reputation. Our company and Mr. Wang Yibo have appointed Lawyer Tuo initiated litigation and accountability proceedings against Chang**, the real-name subject of the Weibo user, and the case has now been heard in court.

After the processing is completed, the court will make a judgment in accordance with the law.

4. The reputation dispute between Mr. Wang Yibo and WeChat user "Zhu Rui Gabriel Jiumenwu Pictures":

In September 2022, a screenshot of WeChat Moments was circulated on the Internet platform. The content was allegedly infringing content publicly released by WeChat user "Zhu Rui Gabriel" against Mr. Wang Yibo. The screenshot was widely disseminated. Our company and Mr. Wang Yibo have entrusted lawyers to file a lawsuit, and the case is currently under trial.

5. The case of reputational rights dispute between Mr. Wang Yibo and Wu ** [WeChat user “Xinxin”, WeChat ID: W1526896***]:

n July 2023, WeChat user "Xinxin" publicly made allegedly defamatory remarks against Mr. Wang Yibo in the WeChat group. After the platform disclosed the user's identity information, our company and Mr. Wang Yibo have entrusted a lawyer to real-name the account involved in the case on November 27, 2023. The subject Wu ** filed a lawsuit with the court in accordance with the law, requiring Wu ** to make a public apology to Mr. Wang Yibo in accordance with the law, and compensate for the corresponding mental damage solatium and reasonable rights protection costs. This case is currently awaiting court arrangements.

6. The reputation dispute case between Mr. Wang Yibo and Wang ** [Weibo user "user 2233567890", UID: 5777773235]:

Wang ** continues to publish a large number of blog posts that are suspected of insulting and slandering Mr. Wang Yibo through the Weibo account "user 2233567890". The lawsuit between Mr. Wang Yibo and the real-name subject of the Weibo account Wang ** is currently under trial. 10078410

In addition to the above-mentioned cases, there are still other cases in progress regarding Mr. Wang Yibo’s reputation and portrait rights protection. Our company once again sternly warns all network entities to immediately stop publishing and disseminating remarks that are suspected of infringing on Mr. Wang Yibo's reputation, so as to avoid further expansion of the damage and incurring their own legal liability. Our company will also pay close attention to network dynamics, continue to entrust law firms to collect evidence and file lawsuits on suspected infringing content, and resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Mr. Wang Yibo.

Beijing Lehua Guoyu Culture Communication Co., Ltd.

January 15, 2024

#wang yibo #yuehua #antis go home #ggdd controversies

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xxstarlight-lifexx · 3 months

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Some quotes I have from people speaking out against KOSA, please reblog, tag people, cross-post on other platforms, and share with everyone you can, all quotes are fair use <3

“This law is a scam, created with the express purpose of persecuting LGBTQ+ people and silencing victims of abuse. That is the only possible outcome of these kinds of bills.

Oppose them on principle. Be skeptical whenever they are even brought-up.

This isn’t about safety—it is a takeover of THE major avenue to disseminate information in the modern world. It is more than censorship, it defines the avenues that thought may even take.

It will lead to identity verification companies like Clear or ID.me getting more of people’s private data and guaranteed, exclusive government contracts for surveillance and data collection, in violation of the spirit of the 4th Amendment, if not the letter.

It is also an absolute certainty that conservatives in positions of authority will use this program to persecute LGBTQ+ people, with the force of the State, under the guise of protecting children from pornography and "grooming". It has been an explicit misdirection tactic the right has invented to poison debate on trans rights issues and the (unconnected) growing evidence of sexual impropriety among the powerful, particularly conservatives.

Furthermore, I and most others will not abide by this law, if it is passed, and will take whatever actions necessary to safeguard our personal information via VPN, encryption, onion networking, etc., regardless of their permissibility.”

“This is a violation of basic rights on the Internet. Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech? Or are we just gonna ignore a literal Amendment in favor of “protecting the American children" while many of those children are the ones against this??”

“having full privacy on the internet may have saved my life growing up. don’t take away kid’s privacy, there’s already perfectly reasonable ways for parents to monitor kids.”

“I think that people have a right to privacy online, especially children. This doesn't seem like a bill that would actually protect children from anything, it would just make important resources more difficult to access, increase censorship online, and increase surveillance, all of which I oppose.”

“There are three things you never give out on the internet for your safety. 1) Name, 2) Face, and 3) Home. This bill guarantees that all three will be easily available to those who wish to hurt the children this bill falsely claims to protect. If you actually care about children, stop this bill. Listen to what those of us that actually use the internet are telling you. Children and adults deserve a private, anonymous space to be.”

“i'm a queer teen and i know full well the importance online spaces have in supporting lgbtq+ youth, especially ones who don't have supportive environments in person. censorship doesn't actually erase the information, it just makes it harder to access.”

“I’m writing to urge you to reject the Kids Online Safety Act, a misguided bill that would put vulnerable young people at risk.

KOSA would fail to address the root issues related to kid’s safety online. Instead, it would endanger some of the most vulnerable people in our society while undermining human rights and children’s privacy. The bill would result in widespread internet censorship by pressuring platforms to use incredibly broad “content filters” and giving state Attorneys General the power to decide what content kids should and shouldn’t have access to online. This power could be abused in a number of ways and be politicized to censor information and resources.

KOSA would also likely lead to the greater surveillance of children online by requiring platforms to gather data to verify user identity.

There is a way to protect kids and all people online from egregious data abuse and harmful content targeting: passing a strong Federal data privacy law that prevents tech companies from collecting so much sensitive data about all of us in the first place, and gives individuals the ability to sue companies that misuse their data.

KOSA, although well-meaning, must not move forward. Please protect privacy and stop the spread of censorship online by opposing KOSA.”

“Censorship doesn't keep kids safe. Censorship does not save abused children. Censorship does not save queer children. Censorship will not save any of us. Freedom for us all. Freedom for the internet. This shit cannot stand.”

“This bill is a massive overreach on civil liberties and freedom of speech in particular. It should not be within the government's purview to determine what content is acceptable, no matter which party is in power.”

“As we all know, the major threats to American children today are books, bathrooms, and the Internet.

Not getting shot in their own schools or attacked on their own streets.

Since graduating from the public school system in 2007, I haven't seen anything from elected officials to contradict this.”

“KOSA is a censorship bill in sheep’s clothing. It would erode Americans’ rights to privacy, especially that of vulnerable and marginalized Americans, and gather information about the whereabouts and identities of the children it play-acts at “protecting”.”

“This is a ridiculous law

KOSA is a giant bill that is pretending to be about child safety, but is actually overreaching government censorship. It is a violation of free speech and the 1st amendment.

This bill would require that internet users upload their government ID to access any site, and state attorney generals could sue to remove any site that contains content deemed "harmful" to children. The government will be able to censor ANYTHING - such as abortion info, LGBTQ+ resources, and any content relating to protesting or organizing. They will also be able to ID you if you search for any of these topics. This is the opposite of a free internet!”

“The law is pretty much just a trojan horse for censorship.”

“frankly i dont want to be put on a list the gov has of every queer person who opposes their anti-lgbt laws”

“I care about actually helping people instead of making a bill that is going to kill any ability for anyone to get help. That is going to be used to police anyone who disagrees with the absolute mess everything is right now. The conservative morals don’t allow for anyone not white, cuz, straight, or male; and I won’t have that enforced on the fucking public forum.”

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glorianamultistan · 11 months

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The General and The Prince

Park Chanyeol x Male Reader

Contains:- mentions of wars, blood, and kidnapping.

A little over a week ago, y/n's life was all over the place, and it still is; the difference is that now he is married to the vilest person he could have probably thought of while imagining a married life.

But life changes happen often so abruptly that one is found sitting in an emptied ballroom, with a burnt-up piece of dress shriveled up in hands clutching it tightly while the castle palace all around collapses.

Y/n was well aware of the fierceness of the General who was the primal cause of every defeat his kingdom had suffered; the end result of the war was pre-destined the day enemy troops crossed the inner walls of their most secured military base, but for it to come to this was never imagined.

A surrender was in process to safeguard the capital; y/n's father was hellbent on not letting the enemies cross the gates of the capital and destroy it like they have left ashes and misery in the path they have followed.

Yet General Chanyeol was not satisfied with it; he had to take the main palace down, and that was his aim, swearing which left his country.

Y/n sat there, ashen and mute, staring at the embers still there all around him; his clothes were still intact, he had a few cuts and burns throughout his hands and that was it; he sat as if in a trance, without any emotion on his face, so still that to an observer it would be a photograph symbolising doom.

Chanyeol saw y/n sitting there, he knew who it was and he knew why it was important to not touch him still; something in him was calling out, a melody, rising, rippling like an unknown sea coming up from the depth of the earth; it was the very last step which brought him so close to y/n that he was able to clearly see the tear stains on his cheeks that made enough metallic noise to break the young prince's trance and look up; there it was, the face that he denied to dance with at the last winter ball, still looking unfazed, 'let's get out of here your royal highness' said Chanyeol, with a proud grin, that is all he remembers before blacking out.

'Is this really the only thing you are going to ask for, General?' The King was shocked, and the Queen and the princesses too; everyone was ready for General Park to ask for rank promotion; the King even decreed a Dukedom, only for winning over the major ports and cities of the enemies, but to ask to marry the prince of the enemy was unprecedented.

'Yes your majesty, this is all. Now, if you may permit, I will take my leave.' Chanyeol left the murmuring throneroom and made his way to the room housing y/n, it was the fourth day since he arrived with the prince there, and he was informed that the younger regained consciousness last night.

'Leave.' As soon as he entered the room, he ordered all the attendees. He went forward and sat on the chair next to the bed facing the wall opposite to it. The prince was leaning on the headboard with his head down.

'So, your royal highness, how do you like our facilities here?' Chanyeol cocked while turning to look at y/n. No response. After a few minutes, the older continued, 'We will give the inner territories conquered by us back, and you will be marrying me for that to happen.' Y/n knew this was coming; all the threats the General made for years to make him dance with him whether he likes it or not, to marry him and only him, they were all real which y/n took in jest as he was too proud to accept such an invitation.

'You know, keeping quiet will not lead you anywhere, so say what you have to now, I am here to listen, I grant you a wish too, as is the ritual here, ask for anything but return.' Chanyeol was suddenly all perched up, looking at y/n. 'Respect' y/n whispered; his throat was still hurting due to all the smoke he inhaled.

'What?' 'I ask for respect; if you can grant that, I will say yes to the marriage.' There was a stretched silence, the fountain of the connected gardens was all one could hear, then a deep inhale, 'Okay, if that is the only request you have, you will have titles here too, I have been granted a Dukedom and you will be living comfortably, nobody will disrespect you, even at the court. I will assure you that.' 'I want respect from you too; you have taken, vehemently snatched everything, still you are returning the territories, so I will say yes, but I want respect from you too.' 'Will I get the respect back my prince?' Chanyeol smirked; he knew how irritatingly ambitious he was, 'Yes.'

The only win here seemed to be that of Chanyeol; it was the completion of his grand plan, the final nail in the coffin; this is what he has been dreaming about since he set his eyes on y/n a few years ago during a festival, he was just a mere soldier back then, he bloodied his hands to get to the level of a reputed General to be asked in a ballroom full of aristocrats, then too he was denied the chance to be with y/n as the prince knew how ruthless the General was and y/n hated wars and murders.

After a few days of convalescence, all of which were accompanied by Chanyeol, who updated him about the upcoming marriage and all the preparations, y/n was free to meet his family.

A troop was sent with him to the castle on the farthest side of his kingdom where his family was currently staying after the attack on the capital. His father was annoyed and his older brother was not helping with the mood too; they were all dejected that it had to come to this but none of his relatives even suggested going against the marriage.

'We will gain back our territories; think about your brother's future as a limited king; you need to persuade your fiance to let go of all the territories and not just the inner ones.' 'I am doing no such negotiations, I am already becoming the reason for you to get back what you lost shamefully, do not try to depend on any of my upcoming relations, have some self-respect father.'

'Self-respect!?' Y/n brother screamed making him bounce in shock a little, 'It was your deranged idea of self-respect that caused this war; if only you could have given him a chance he would have never attacked us like this. And look where you stand; you are forced to do what you never really wanted and did whatever you could to stop it.'

'Well, brother, you do remember who it was who first denied me to dance with him, don't you? 'A self-obsessed lowly General' is what you said when he asked you for a dance with me the very first time we went there for the Royal Ball.'

'But later he became a threat so I urged you to give him a chance too, then you were the one who was hell-bent on denying him!'

'Enough! Stop arguing about what has already transpired and think about the future. Y/n, son, you must not waver and make demands; you are a prince, he is a General, and the rank difference must come into play.'

'Update your information father, because you seem to be having none; he is a Duke now, and even if I am a prince, of a mostly fallen kingdom I must remind you, I have no intentions of making any more deals for and on behalf of this marriage. I will leave now, I am not waiting for dawn to have another fruitless discussion, farewell your majesty, brother.'

With a solemn bow, y/n left as he came, with the metallic clinks and rustles of the troop.

Reaching the other kingdom he was informed that rather than going to the palace, he would be going to the new manor of Chanyeol, which was now decked and ready for his arrival. He was greeted by the whole household and finally met his mother-in-law, who opposite to what he had expected, was too sorrowful to handle without any prior preparation.

'I am ashamed to be hosting you like this, your royal highness; please find a way to ignore all the mess; the house is still not up to date with all that is necessary to be having you here.' The lady wouldn't even raise her head, 'Please sit now Lady Park, I have no reservations as such regarding the place, I am pleased that I am not in a prison after a war, and please do not make a fuss about the titles, you are going to be my mother-in-law so we can work things out.' 'Oh no sir, I do not accept any of this, I am more of an apologist for my son's actions right now in front of you; he paid no heed to my requests and did what all his swelled-up ego allowed him to do. I don't know how will I ever get over the fact that my son forced you into such a situation.'

'Lady Park, I just had this conversation with my father and brother too; let us please move on from what has happened and try to resolve the situation peacefully and think about how the path ahead can be one that is less painful to go by.' 'You are as kind as the rumours suggested sir; please let me know about any trouble you have here, and I will look into it right away; let me take you to your room for now; you must rest before tomorrow's ceremony.' 'I am not a guest here Lady Park, I am supposed to live here, so please do not be at your tip-toes around my comfort; let us go; it is quite late now.'

Y/n's room was, for now, pretty well arranged; he could run away pretty easily from here, the manor was secured but if he asked Lady Park to help him, he was sure that she would do all in her power to let him go without a scratch; but it was useless to do so, he had nowhere to run and if somehow he managed to cross over to the other kingdoms there was no guarantee of his survival, he had no money of his own or any possession, so he sits down on the bed and flops, to stare at the roof and think, think about tomorrow when at a private ceremony he will accept now Duke of Sandria Park Chanyeol, then he will be living with that man under this roof, as his husband, for the rest of his life, was respect the right choice?

The rituals were over; they were married, no gala, no ball, a peaceful summation of more than five months of unrivaled violence. Y/n was sitting in his room, with a book open as a distraction while looking out of the giant window; the land surrounding the manor was beautiful, and the hills were lush green and mild dew which the mist caused made it all look fantastical.

'Come in.' Y/n answered the knocks and did not look back at the door, thinking it was some maid or servant who came to take his belongings, or gifts as they were, away, 'You looked beautiful today, Mr Park.'

Y/n stilled for a moment, then closed the book and turned back. 'Why did you knock at my door? This is your house.' 'I believe privacy should be respected too; you have all the right to say no.' 'I believe I lost all the rights to deny anything the moment I said yes to you today.' 'Don't make it more miserable than it already is dear, I have no intentions of hurting you, I just want to talk to you before going to my room.'

'Oh? I will get a room of my own?' 'Until you are ready to share a bed with me, yes, you will have a room to yourself.' 'Then I guess there will be no more direct descents for the Dukedom.' 'Time will tell. Well, if you have any requirements tell to my mother who is pretty much willing to serve you food if you want, (he sits on the bed) I will be going on a tour soon so we have a week to spend together and unfortunately my sister will be coming to meet you too.'

'You know, I feel like this is all a dream; as absurd as it may sound, it has yet to settle down on me, because I never thought I would be taken away from one prison to another like this. I knew my father wanted to marry me off as a peace offering to any kingdom willing, but it happened so that I was actually picked up, like a garbage bag.'

'Don't demean yourself; you are the crown jewel I snatched, and this is not a prison; you can go anywhere you want, do anything you want; you do not need my permission for anything, just remember to come back otherwise there will be useless wars again.' 'Don't worry, I will not run away, I will stay, and live, but do not expect me to reciprocate your feelings, whatever they may be, and we will be fine; a lot depends on this marriage, I do not want my people back home to suffer because of my foolishness.' 'Ah well, I will go now; also, try to accept people here too; they see you as a prince and no less; good night.'

The next few days were calm, weirdly bland, and nothing happened, which made y/n realise how calm life can actually be; back at home before the war all he did was read and attend events or be locked in the palace; there was nothing to do, he was not allowed to go anywhere too since the threat of people kidnapping him was always looming, which he never understood why, kidnap the crown prince why the other one.

On the third day Lady Kim, Chanyeol's sister, arrived, and she was like her mother in a grave mood, fidgeting while meeting y/n; he did not understand yet again, why such courtesies for a snatched prince, 'Your royal highness, I am sorry I was not able to attend the wedding, I live quite far away from Sandrian region and it was such a shocking and sudden news.' 'It is alright Lady Kim, please do sit down, you too Lady Park, I have said it to you multiple times don't wait for me to sit, just sit; let us cut back on some formalities insides these walls at least, we are a family now, forced indeed, but I have not a drop of vengeance in me, if you ask me honestly, I used to live like this back at home too, so, let us just be comfortable.'

'How are you adapting to the changes, sir? It gets colder than your kingdom here, I hope my brother has made arrangements for you to be at ease.' 'I am doing well, I have always adored winters more than the humid summers we had, so I can say I am better off here in some sense.' 'Oh it is good to know; we can all go and skate over the lake once it freezes and you can attend the winter festivals; we have a lot of them throughout the empire, I am sure the public is eager to meet you too.'

Lady Park put down her cup and said 'They are eager indeed, I have more than a dozen invitations for the balls and dinners already, and all asking specifically for his roya... I mean, y/n to join them.' It was as hard as biting a bullet for her to let go of the formalities in which she had soaked herself into the bones.

So it went on, and a week went by, full of still awkward lunches and dinners and a few guests to be entertained; throughout the week he did not see the head of the house anywhere, technically he was the head too but he liked Lady Park being in command more as he was not used to being the one in authority of a household.

One Saturday, after almost two weeks of disappearance, Chanyeol knocked on y/n's room around the ungodly hour of 1 AM. Y/n was a bit scared by the knock; he was writing a letter of reply to the crown princess as she had invited him to the palace for a private visit and did not expect anyone to be up this late. 'Can I come in?' The rasp was the giveaway, 'Please wait a minute, I am not presentable.' Y/n was not; he was in his robes; he quickly put on a loose shirt and trousers the said 'You can come in now.'

'Why are you up so late your royal highness.' The courtesy was more sarcastic than respectful, 'I have not been able to sleep, I have weirdly a lot of correspondents to reply to so I thought why not do that.' As he finished speaking and arranging paper on his desk facing the grand windows, he turned to look at Chanyeol and was shocked to see blood all over his clothes; for a moment he was stunned; y/n was not a fighter; he hated the very sight of blood when his brother would come from his military tours and right now, in front of him was a man almost soaked in blood, in his room talking to him, and he felt scared for the man, so much so that without thinking about who he is talking to, he had to verbalise it.

'What the hell happened to you!? So much blood!? Why are you here!? Go to a damn hospital for god's sake!' He almost screamed the last part, and was shaking so much that Chanyeol had to walk from the door side to hold him. 'Calm down, it is not mine.' 'DO NOT TOUCH ME LIKE THIS! I HATE BLOOD!' Y/n screamed in whispers while shutting his eyes. 'Okay! Okay. Will you try to calm down please, wait just turn around.'

Chanyeol took off his pads and shirt and gloves and threw them out of the room, then shut the door to come back in and saw y/n standing still, 'you can turn around now.' The glory of the human body was never so well available for y/n to look at like this; his brother was muscular and well built but nothing he can imagine, even the Commander in chief of his kingdom's army was not comparable to Chanyeol, yet he had to control himself once again. 'What happened? You are still wounded you know, I see the cuts on your arm, not that they should do anything to such a great General, but get treated I guess.' Y/N had already turned around again flustered.

'Nice to know you care, and sorry for coming in like this. I had no idea you would have such a reaction upon seeing blood. I will keep that in mind. I came to check up on you as I was attacked on my way here by some people who were allegedly from your father's kingdom, so I thought why not check up if you are safe or not.'

'Oh. Don't worry, my father does not want me back; they would never come for me; rather, they might kill me as it was pretty clear that I caused the war that destroyed them.' 'Something's wrong with your family, I have never seen anyone react like this to all the events that have happened.' 'Well, why dwell on it. I am here; you survived another attack, and all is fine.' 'Nice to know my survival is fine for you.' 'Don't get ahead of yourself; my survival depends on your survival, do not forget that you brought a prince from your enemy kingdom after a war. You must survive, I plan on living a long life.' Y/n turned and looked straight into Chanyeol's eyes.

There was an understanding between them that some lines are put up and they shall not be crossed, and respect was mutual. 'I will be staying for some time; we have to go to the palace soon, a private invitation. I hope it won't be a problem for you to attend, I have yet to accept it.' 'I was writing to the crown princess; we can go, I have no problem, just keep your mother here; she will probably fall sick due to all the stress she will take about a royal visit.' 'You like her?' 'I never had a mother; she is a good company, but frail for her age; you never thought about her while fighting wars?' Now y/n was sitting on his bed, and Chanyeol was in front of him on the chair where a y/n sat writing letters.

'I thought of her; that is why I never told her any trouble or wound or failure I ever had, and I had a retinue of servants to look after her.' They were again staring at each other; where will all of this arrangement lead them? Nobody had any idea; it was a day-to-day event still.

'Well, I will take my leave; you should sleep, I will ask them to serve the breakfast an hour later than usual.' 'Don't do that; your sister and mother should eat on time, I will just get up early.' Chanyeol was surprised at how well y/n was settling in; it was as if for the first time he had somewhere to hold on to. 'Okay then, good night my prince.' Chanyeol smirked closing the door, and left y/n flustered again.

P.S.:- If you liked it, you can support me by buying me a coffee; link's on my page.

#fanfiction #gay #kpop x male reader #male reader #gaypop #kpopidol #kpopgay #bottom reader #male idol x male reader #exo x male reader #exo #bottom male reader #kpop #park chanyeol #park chanyeol x male reader #chanyeol x male reader #alternate universe #alternate history

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leonaquitaine · 8 months

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On the subject of generative AI

Let me start with an apology for deviating from the usual content, and for the wall of text ahead of you. Hopefully, it'll be informative, instructive, and thought-provoking. A couple days ago I released a hastily put-together preset collection as an experiment in 3 aspects of ReShade and virtual photography: MultiLUT to provide a fast, consistent tone to the rendered image, StageDepth for layered textures at different distances, and tone-matching (something that I discussed recently).

For the frames themselves, I used generative AI to create mood boards and provide the visual elements that I later post-processed to create the transparent layers, and worked on creating cohesive LUTs to match the overall tone. As a result, some expressed disappointment and disgust. So let's talk about it.

The concerns of anti-AI groups are significant and must not be overlooked. Fear, which is often justified, serves as a palpable common denominator. While technology is involved, my opinion is that our main concern should be on how companies could misuse it and exclude those most directly affected by decision-making processes.

Throughout history, concerns about technological disruption have been recurring themes, as I can attest from personal experience. Every innovation wave, from typewriters to microcomputers to the shift from analog to digital photography, caused worries about job security and creative control. Astonishingly, even the concept of “Control+Z” (undo) in digital art once drew criticism, with some artists lamenting, “Now you can’t own your mistakes.” Yet, despite initial misgivings and hurdles, these technological advancements have ultimately democratized creative tools, facilitating the widespread adoption of digital photography and design, among other fields.

The history of technology’s disruptive impact is paralleled by its evolution into a democratizing force. Take, for instance, the personal computer: a once-tremendous disruptor that now resides in our pockets, bags, and homes. These devices have empowered modern-day professionals to participate in a global economy and transformed the way we conduct business, pursue education, access entertainment, and communicate with one another.

Labor resistance to technological change has often culminated in defeat. An illustrative example brought up in this NYT article unfolded in 1986 when Rupert Murdoch relocated newspaper production from Fleet Street to a modern facility, leading to the abrupt dismissal of 6,000 workers. Instead of negotiating a gradual transition with worker support, the union’s absolute resistance to the technological change resulted in a loss with no compensation, underscoring the importance of strategic adaptation.

Surprisingly, the Writers Guild of America (W.G.A.) took a different approach when confronted with AI tools like ChatGPT. Rather than seeking an outright ban, they aimed to ensure that if AI was used to enhance writers’ productivity or quality, then guild members would receive a fair share of the benefits. Their efforts bore fruit, providing a promising model for other professional associations.

The crucial insight from these historical instances is that a thorough understanding of technology and strategic action can empower professionals to shape their future. In the current context, addressing AI-related concerns necessitates embracing knowledge, dispelling unwarranted fears, and arriving at negotiation tables equipped with informed decisions.

It's essential to develop and use AI in a responsible and ethical manner; developing safeguards against potential harm is necessary. It is important to have open and transparent conversations about the potential benefits and risks of AI.

Involving workers and other stakeholders in the decision-making process around AI development and deployment is a way to do this. The goal is to make sure AI benefits everyone and not just a chosen few.

While advocates for an outright ban on AI may have the best interests of fellow creatives in mind, unity and informed collaboration among those affected hold the key to ensuring a meaningful future where professionals are fairly compensated for their work. By excluding themselves from the discussion and ostracizing others who share most of their values and goals, they end up weakening chances of meaningful change; we need to understand the technology, its possibilities, and how it can be steered toward benefitting those they source from. And that involves practical experimentation, too. Carl Sagan, in his book 'The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark', said:

"I have a foreboding […] when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness."

In a more personal tone, I'm proud to be married to a wonderful woman - an artist who has her physical artwork in all 50 US states, and several pieces sold around the world. For the last few years she has been studying and adapting her knowledge from analog to digital art, a fact that deeply inspired me to translate real photography practices to the virtual world of Eorzea. In the last months, she has been digging deep into generative AI in order to understand not only how it'll impact her professional life, but also how it can merge with her knowledge so it can enrich and benefit her art; this effort gives her the necessary clarity to voice her concerns, make her own choices and set her own agenda. I wish more people could see how useful her willingness and courage to dive into new technologies in order to understand their impact could be to help shape their own futures.

By comprehending AI and adopting a collective approach, we can transform the current challenges into opportunities. The democratization and responsible utilization of AI can herald a brighter future, where technology becomes a tool for empowerment and unity prevails over division. And now, let's go back to posting about pretty things.

#stream of consciousness #ai #ai art

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pretty-idol-hell · 1 month

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youtube

The PriPara 10th Anniversary video and Tweet is up again! I believe this information wasn't supposed to be released until after the concert, but someone released it early. Oops.

I also noticed that the official Idol Land Twitter name and avatar has been changed. The name of the Twitter is now "Idol Land PriPara and PriPara 10th Anniversary", the new avatar features the 10th Anniversary logo, and the description explains that this account will be covering both Idol Land and the 10th Anniversary while it is ongoing.

(It's hard to imagine Idol Land ending during the 10th Anniversary, but having the official account being used for something else and the lack of a season 2 announcement today is a little concerning I have to admit.)

Okay, so about the actual announcement:

There will be a PriPara exhibition held this August 9th-25th 2024 in Tokyo, specifically Shibuya. They are also planning to bring the exhibition to Fukuoka and Osaka as well.

Having been to the Rainbow Live 10th Anniversary exhibition this past March, this honestly sounds very similar. They mention displaying PriPara's chronology (the Rainbow Live one had an episode-by-episode guide on the wall) and photo spots of Making Dramas and other scenes (same, we got a Prism Jump and Prism Stone shop as well as a bunch of mini ones), as well as stage costumes (well, we didn't get that at the RL one, instead we got merch and a guitar). The Rainbow Live one was cute, but very small. I was curious if this one might be bigger since they are taking it on tour but looking up the venue (地下1階, where it says "Event Space") this one looks equally small. So, perhaps not worth flying to Japan for, but be sure to check it out if you'll already be there!

Now, she's already made the rounds but the video also announced a brand new character. Not just for the 10th Anniversary, but the 1000th Anniversary!

Laalulu! She is a transfer student from the future, come to study about PriPara at the exhibition.

So... This is very funny for several reasons.

First of all, celebrating the 1000th Anniversary at the same time as the 10th is very on brand for PriPara considering it's long been canon that PriPara has existed for thousands of years, so why wouldn't it exist for thousands more?

And of course, although they don't acknowledge it directly, Laalulu is very clearly a fusion of Laala and Falulu.

Thus suggesting that Laala and Falulu's families become... intertwined at some point, somehow.

But at the same time, they are safeguarding themselves from suggesting she's a direct descendant since she's from so ridiculously far in the future. Yes, I know that vocal dolls, if she is one, can live for thousands of years. But, if she was already a thousand years old, why would she need to study PriPara in our age? So, I think she must be relatively young.

Or is she even a vocal doll at all? Because... not sure how that would be possible either.

My personal headcanon on this would be that perhaps Falulu or a Falulu clone becomes a real girl at some point, and meets up with a descendant of Laala.

Which, if true, would mean that they not only stole @moonlit-angel-serenity 's OC but mine as well, since that's what happens to Hinode in my canon LOL.

Haha, who knows. I'm pretty sure they will never explain it.

But, it seems to me this character is a character specifically made for the exhibition (especially since the logo features Laala and Falulu). Unless a voice actress is announced for her soon, I don't think they will be doing much of anything else with this character.

(In the video, Laala speaks to her and Laalulu replies back with text only, so it seems that she does not have one at this point.)

#Youtube #idol land pripara #pripara

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yukidragon · 9 months

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For those of you in the Something's Wrong with Sunny Day Jack fandom who are concerned by the recent rumblings going on, I gently request that you try to remain calm and not jump to conclusions.

This is a situation that is unpleasant and has multiple sides to it, but we do not need to go up in arms. We're an overall kind and compassionate community. I know that it's natural to want to defend someone who is having a hard time, but there is no enemy here to fight. No one wants a war in this fandom or for anyone to be attacked.

Please remember that, at the end of the day, there are real people on the other side of the screen, with feelings that can be hurt and boundaries that can be crossed. Let's do our best to be kind and respectful.

I'll try to summarize what I know of the situation to the best of my ability. Please forgive the gaps, as there are a number of things that I still don't know about. This will be placed behind the cut, as the topics of non-consent in fiction and personal boundaries will be discussed.

Also, I must emphasize to those unaware - I am not officially affiliated with SnaccPop Studios. I am just a big supporter of their work and acquainted with many people involved with the team and the community. Do not take my words as an official statement from anyone on the development team. I am just a fan hoping to clear up the confusion that has made many in the fandom express concern about this incident.

An artist in the Something's Wrong with Sunny Day Jack fandom has recently shut down their tumblr page and deleted their twitter presence. Before they left, they sent heartfelt private messages to members of the fandom as an unspoken sort of farewell. This, understandably, has disheartened a number of people to see this artist go, myself included.

The artist in question had stated in the past that they were harassed for the content that they created. Their art often involved darker themes, particularly non-consent.

This fact, coupled with their abrupt departure, has led many to the impression that this artist received further harassment to the point that they decided to close down their social medias and leave the fandom entirely.

This possibility in turn led to concern and upset, which were expressed in some posts on twitter. Without full context or information, these posts in turn have apparently led others in the fandom to feel alarmed that something bad was actively happening to members of the community.

I do not know the reason why this artist left so abruptly. They did not give a reason publicly. We do not know if harassment was the cause or some other reason entirely. Their parting messages were ones of kindness and gratitude to individuals in the fandom. I have interacted with this artist in the past, and they showed themselves to be a very friendly and kind individual in all of our interactions.

I do not know the details about the harassment that the artist faced. I have not seen instances of it for myself. That isn't to say that it didn't exist. Accusations like this should not be taken lightly, and the situation must be treated with care to avoid victim blaming. It is vital to have all the facts before coming to any conclusions.

I do know that the artist was criticized for not properly tagging content warnings on their artwork at times. This was something they strived to correct when it was pointed out to them.

Content warnings are not something to take lightly. They are a vital tool to help people to make an informed choice about the content they could potentially access, so that they might avoid subject matter that they find distasteful or distressing.

When tags are absent or are misused, it is important to point this out to the poster in a calm and respectful manner. It's then important for the poster to be gracious and edit their post to add the proper warnings and safeguards so that people can make an informed decision about whether or not they wish to engage with that sort of content.

Asking something be tagged properly and put behind some sort of warning isn't a form of criticism or harassment. This is a matter of informed consent, which is vital, especially in NSFW spaces. This is a matter of respect and kindness.

We do not know if this is the harassment that the artist said they were experiencing. Let's be kind and not make assumptions that this criticism and the harassment are one and the same. Until the artist makes a statement on the subject for themselves, or screenshots surface on the subject, we simply don't know what they had to deal with. It is also not our place to pry if the artist does not wish to go into detail about it.

Aside from the content warning issue is the subject matter itself. There were many in the fandom made uncomfortable seeing the character of Sunny Day Jack in particular depicted as someone who violates consent.

Consent is a big part of the game. The original creator of Something's Wrong with Sunny Day Jack has repeatedly gone out of their way to state that non-consent is not intended to be part of this game's story. This is stated plainly in the official content warnings for the game as well.

Jack was designed to be incapable of doing anything to the player without their consent. As stated on the official tumblr, Jack will never hurt the player, and he genuinely cares about the player.

The game's script is being modified to make this point clearer, as one route in the demo led to many misinterpreting that the main character wasn't consenting to have sex with Jack. There is even going to be a softcore mode and other accessibility features for the comfort of the players. SnaccPop Studios has also hired sensitivity consultants to try and avoid any misunderstandings in the future.

There are many of us in the fandom who are not comfortable with non-consent, myself included. There are also those who are comfortable with it depicted in fiction who are not comfortable with Sunny Day Jack specifically being involved with non-consenting sexual content. Then there are those who don't mind or even enjoy non-consent in fiction in general.

These are all valid feelings. No one is wrong for the way they feel on the topic. We're all adults in this community, capable of choosing to consent to engage in whatever topic that we enjoy. Consensual non-consent, including in the form of art and literature, is like any other kink, even it isn't for everyone.

We should be allowed to opt out of experiences we don't wish to engage with. This is why giving warnings is so important, so we can decide as an individual if we are comfortable engaging in this form of consensual non-consent.

There is no official statement from SnaccPop Studios about the creation of fan work that depicts darker subject matter than what is contained in the game. I'm unaware of any statement that requests fans not create anything involving non-consent in their fan works. As such, I strongly urge people in the fandom not to jump to any assumptions on that topic. Let's let the team speak for themselves on how they feel about fans creating this sort of content.

We don't have a statement from the artist why they chose to deactivate their social media pages and remove their content. We should not make assumptions on the cause or go on the offense against a potential threat that might not even exist. If the artist wants to make their reasons publicly known, I'm sure they will say so if and when they choose to do so. Until then, we should respect their privacy and simply wish them well.

As for the harassment the artist faced before this, we should avoid making assumptions there as well. Without knowing the extent of it or who was involved, it's not something we should be meddling with. Doing so might cause more unintentional harm than good.

To summarize:

It is important to tag your art/writing/etc. appropriately when there is content that might be cause the viewer distress.

It is important to not make assumptions about someone's motivations or opinions on a topic.

It's important not to harass real people over fictional characters.

A person's boundaries and consent are important and should be respected.

We need to try to remain calm when we see something alarming pop up on our feeds and not rush to immediate emotional reactions.

It's important to take the time to get the facts and properly digest them before coming to your own conclusions about what to do with that information.

I hope this post helps clears up some of the confusion floating around. I'm sorry that I'm unable to give the full story of what is going on, but, ultimately, it is not my story to tell. I can only tell you what I have observed and request that we all try to treat each other with kindness and respect.

Thank you for listening to me ramble. Be good to each other and take care of yourselves. Your feelings matter.

#Sunny Day Jack #Something's Wrong With Sunny Day Jack #SunnyDayJack #sdj #swwsdj

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revengemode · 8 months

Note

Would you rather have tz completely disappear until March but you get 5 totally unhinged pictures from a beach vacation as soon as they resurface or you get the occasional pictures of tz every 4-5 weeks of tz in richmond park and target

At the Maximum Chaos Agency, we consider our clients' privacy to be of paramount importance, and we are committed to respecting and safeguarding their personal information including invasive non authorized media. In line with this commitment, we have chosen the second option.

Thank you,

Revenge.

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speef115 · 3 months

Text

King Baldwin IV x Enemy Reader

Warning: Mention of blood

Characters: Some KoH characters

Added characters: Galram

Reader as (Y/N)

In the scorching heat of the desert, with sand swirling outside, the palace bustled with activity. King Baldwin IV sat deep in thought in his study, contemplating a potential threat from an unknown tribe or band of barbarians.

"My Lord, what troubles you?" Tiberias asked, his concern evident as he approached the king cautiously.

"Have you heard of a group or tribe causing havoc in neighboring kingdoms?" King Baldwin IV inquired.

"Sire, I never imagined such a tribe would resort to such actions," Tiberias replied, his forehead glistening with sweat.

Balian joined the conversation, remarking, "They appear to be ruthless and barbaric in their ways."

"It seems we must address this situation," King Baldwin IV said, rising from his chair as the two men stood by, ready to assist. "Do you know their leader?" he asked Balian gently.

"I believe he goes by the name Galram, and he has a formidable fighter by his side," Balian answered before Tiberias interjected.

"Perhaps it's his own assistant, Sire. We must consider their relationship," Tiberias suggested confidently.

As King Baldwin IV walked to the balcony, surveying the gardens and training grounds, he turned back to them. "Are you afraid to confront this fighter? He must be our primary target. But Tiberias, if it is indeed his personal assistant, what course of action should we take?"

A moment of silence passed before Tiberias proposed, "Should we attempt to lure him out?"

"How formidable are they?" the king mused, his curiosity evident.

Balian intervened, saying, "Let's observe their movements. We cannot allow them to destabilize Jerusalem."

With a thoughtful gaze out the window, King Baldwin IV decided, "Let's convene a meeting."

Later, in the courtroom, officials and knights gathered to discuss the threat posed by the unknown tribe.

Seated upon his throne, King Baldwin IV declares, "We are dedicated to safeguarding our realm. The word has reached neighboring settlements; they are fortifying their borders and scrutinizing every merchant's passage," His Majesty remarks, surveying his attentive audience of men.

Guy de Lusignan feigned interest from a distant corner but harbored a deep disdain for King Baldwin IV. Meanwhile, a messenger approached the King on his throne and delivered a letter from Tripoli. After King Baldwin IV opened and perused it, he addressed the assembled crowd.

"The vicious tribe is advancing towards our kingdom, posing a threat to our people. We must prepare and defend ourselves. Their plan involves targeting nearby merchants from other kingdoms and cities, intending to shift blame onto us. We must thwart their scheme before it unfolds," King Baldwin IV declared to his men.

"But, My Lord, there must be a reason behind their actions," Tiberias interjected, stepping closer to the King amidst the noisy crowd, where men voiced their own thoughts and concerns about the news.

Guy de Lusignan moved forward, positioning himself near Tiberias, and remarked, "They are a formidable tribe, possessing fighting skills unlike any we've encountered. Can you face them, Tiberias?" He cast a derisive smirk at Tiberias, who responded with a disappointed expression.

"We await orders from the King," Tiberias informed Guy de Lusignan.

Balian approached King Baldwin IV at the side of his throne, whispering respectfully, "Sire, what are your plans? They seem formidable in battle; we cannot afford to underestimate them."

Guy de Lusignan noticed the exchange and sneered at Balian. "Are you afraid of war, Balian? We must confront these foes; God wills it!" he protested, echoed by his men and the Templars, who cheered in agreement.

King Baldwin IV pondered for a moment, then raised his hand, signaling for silence. "We will confront them, ascertain their intentions, but we shall not initiate hostilities unless provoked," he declared, commanding the attention of all present. Rising from his throne, he was approached by Tiberias, who voiced his concern respectfully. "But, My Lord, if you venture forth, you risk your life," Tiberias stated earnestly.

"I do not seek war; I seek only to safeguard my people and understand our adversaries better. That is the least I can do. I will lead the army," King Baldwin IV assured Tiberias quietly before addressing his men. "Assemble the army!" he commanded, prompting cheers of excitement from the knights. Meanwhile, Guy de Lusignan wore a smug smile, casting a glance back at Tiberias and Balian.

After several hours of preparation, Balian waited outside the quarters of King Baldwin IV, clutching a rolled-up map in his hand, ready to brief the king once he emerged. "My Lord, I have information about this tribe," Balian announced respectfully as the king appeared.

"Please, come in," King Baldwin IV replied softly. Balian entered the quarters and found King Baldwin IV donning his distinctive great helm armor, adorned with a blue color scheme. Unrolling the map on the table, Balian indicated a direction. "They are advancing from this area, but it's likely they've dispersed their forces across other regions as well," he explained to the king.

"Where do you think their leader might be? Will they march with the main force or remain concealed within smaller groups?" King Baldwin IV inquired, gesturing towards the map.

"Honestly, I'm not certain," Balian admitted, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. "But I trust in your judgment. Wherever you lead us to confront them, we'll follow your orders," he assured King Baldwin IV.

"In that case, we'll confront them on their main force while ensuring our other units protect nearby regions within our territory. Remember, our aim is not to instigate conflict but to understand their intentions," King Baldwin IV instructed.

As Tiberias knocked and entered the quarters, he found Balian and the king preparing to depart. Observing King Baldwin IV's momentary stumble, Tiberias rushed to assist him, steadying the monarch.

"My Lord, your condition..." Tiberias expressed concern, still supporting the king.

"I can manage," King Baldwin IV reassured, regaining his balance and signaling readiness to his men.

"I will prepare your horse, My Lord," Tiberias offered before exiting the quarters to attend to the task.

In the dusty expanse, the vast force of Galram's tribe, also known as the barbarians, marched relentlessly. Cloaked in dark attire, predominantly black, they exuded an intimidating allure. Amidst the ranks of men, their bravery echoed in their fervent cries. Galram, mounted confidently atop his steed, led his army with pride, rallying his troops with impassioned shouts.

As they advanced towards the distant kingdom of Jerusalem, a silhouette emerged on the horizon—a looming army in their path. Galram signaled his men to halt, their momentum stilled by the sight before them. Drawing nearer, it became evident that it was King Baldwin IV's army.

Mounted upon his steed with unwavering authority, King Baldwin IV observed the approaching barbarians. His men advanced cautiously, their pace steady as they confronted the unfamiliar tribe.

As the two armies drew closer, the barbarians maintained an unsettling calmness, their gaze fixed upon Jerusalem's army. King Baldwin IV couldn't help but be surprised by their lack of aggression.

Riding forth alone to confront the king, Galram approached while King Baldwin IV was escorted by a contingent of wary knights. Upon seeing each other, King Baldwin IV took note of Galram's robust physique, his fiery red hair partially shorn, adorned with a neatly trimmed beard. Despite his handsome and rugged appearance, Galram's dark cloak exuded an aura of negative energy, hinting at the power wielded by him and his army. The king also spotted the faint outline of heavy weaponry concealed beneath Galram's attire.

"I'm surprised you're here to meet us," Galram remarked. "Consider yourself fortunate; now that you're here, we have no intention of attacking," he added.

King Baldwin IV, his eyebrow arching beneath his silver metal mask, remained curious about the unfolding situation. "State your purpose here," he replied, his tone resolute.

Galram smirked and let out a slight chuckle at the king's response. "Not as brave as you seem, are you?" he quipped, turning to his men with a knowing grin. "Did you see the look on his face?" he teased, eliciting laughter from the barbarians.

Returning his attention to the king, Galram continued to taunt, "Ah, yes, your face is hidden," he remarked, smirking once more. "Are you concealing a coward beneath that mask?" His words ignited further laughter among his followers.

The knights and soldiers of Jerusalem exchanged disappointed glances, but King Baldwin IV replied calmly, "Only God knows who among us is truly brave."

"Ei, you've got strong faith, brother. But not a strong body," Galram sneered, his laughter carrying a sinister edge. "Regardless, you seem curious about our... penchant for wreaking havoc on those who cross our path," he added.

"And what of your intentions towards my kingdom?" King Baldwin IV countered.

"One of your men killed my best friend," Galram replied bluntly. "I was told he hailed from Jerusalem, but we hold anyone accountable who crosses our path," he explained.

As Balian and Tiberias exchanged uneasy glances from their mounts, Balian leaned in to whisper, "Is this why no one stands beside him?"

Tiberias nodded in agreement, replying softly, "We can't be certain yet; we don't even know if it's true."

King Baldwin IV overheard their brief exchange but remained focused on Galram. "Is it revenge you seek? And who is this informant who claimed a man from Jerusalem was responsible?" the king inquired.

Galram's expression turned grave as he met King Baldwin IV's gaze. "Someone from your kingdom killed Agsel, my closest friend and ally," he revealed. "Though not the fiercest warrior, he lent invaluable support to my army. He possessed knowledge of tactics capable of toppling kingdoms such as yours," Galram explained, his words sending shockwaves through Jerusalem's army, including King Baldwin IV himself.

"As for the man you inquire about, his name is Reynald," Galram continued, dismounting from his horse and striding purposefully towards the opposing army of the king. His words sent shivers down the spines of Jerusalem's men.

Upon hearing this, King Baldwin IV realized that Reynald de Chatillon was indeed a traitor. As Galram drew nearer, the men of Jerusalem stood ready, their caution palpable.

"I apologize for his actions, but Reynald acted of his own accord. I have condemned him as a traitor to my kingdom," King Baldwin IV assured Galram firmly. Galram halted his advance and smirked once more. "If that is indeed the case, then I request a duel with your finest knight," he declared. The crowd was once again taken aback by his challenge, but Galram's men cheered eagerly in anticipation.

Guy de Lusignan, brimming with overbearing pride, surged forward on his horse, drawing near to the king. "Allow me to teach them a lesson, My Lord," he declared with unwavering confidence.

Balian and Tiberias exchanged disdainful glances at Guy de Lusignan's arrogance. Meanwhile, King Baldwin IV turned slightly towards Guy, his expression grave as he implored, "You must have your own motives for seeking this duel."

Guy dismissed the king's concern with a careless shrug. "I fear no challenge from these savages," he retorted dismissively. Galram, overhearing Guy's bravado, flashed a sinister smile in response. "He's eager for a fight!" Galram announced, prompting teasing laughter from his men directed at the opposing crowd. Some of Galram's warriors dismounted from their horses and closed in around their leader. Following suit, Guy de Lusignan also dismounted, making way for the impending duel in the center.

As Galram smiled and turned his back to the king, some of his men followed suit, revealing their comrades behind them. Among the throng of barbarians, a female warrior emerged, standing tall before striding towards Galram.

Beneath his mask, King Baldwin IV registered surprise at the unexpected sight, mirrored by the quiet shock etched on the faces of his men.

The girl bore striking red hair akin to Galram's, her beauty accentuated by her dark attire that seemed to exude a mysterious aura, contrasting with her courageous demeanor. King Baldwin IV found himself unable to look away, captivated by her presence.

Halting her approach, the girl caught Galram's attention, prompting him to move closer to her. Jerusalem's men watched on with bated breath, their curiosity piqued by the unfolding spectacle before them.

As Galram drew closer to the girl, the resemblance between them became unmistakable, evident even to the onlooking soldiers of Jerusalem. While it appeared to be his sister to Galram, King Baldwin IV's men still awaited confirmation. Yet, to Galram, she was undoubtedly his courageous younger sibling.

Reaching behind him, Galram retrieved a weapon and handed it to his sister, whispering, "End him," referring to Guy de Lusignan. The girl's gaze fixed solemnly on the king from a distance, accepting the blade without a word to her brother.

Observing this exchange with keen interest, Balian and Tiberias approached the king respectfully, still mounted on their horses. Tiberias leaned in to whisper, "My Lord, do you perceive what I do?"

King Baldwin IV considered the question, then responded, "You're suggesting she's the warrior? Or perhaps, the assistant?" he surmised.

"They must be kin," Balian added. King Baldwin IV nodded in agreement. "Their resemblance is striking, and both exhibit bravery in their own unique manner," he concluded.

As Guy de Lusignan observed the unfolding scene, a smirk of derision crossed his lips, as though mocking the idea of facing off against a woman. Galram's men created a ring around Guy and the girl, providing them with space for their duel. As the girl approached the designated area, the two adversaries squared off, their tension palpable.

"I hope you'll have the pleasure of motherhood and the wisdom of age after this," Guy jeered at the girl, his words laced with insult.

Undaunted, the brave girl met his gaze with steely determination and retorted, "I hope you'll still possess the valor of a knight and endure the responsibilities of a husband after this battle. But mark my words, you'll never see the light of day again." Her bold response resonated with a sense of unwavering resolve.

King Baldwin IV watched from a safe distance alongside his men, his attention captured by the exchange. Despite his attempts to maintain a serious demeanor, he couldn't help but feel moved by the girl's courage. Amidst the anticipation of the impending duel, he found himself grappling with conflicting emotions, perhaps harboring a newfound admiration for the girl he had only just encountered.

As the duel commenced, it became increasingly apparent to King Baldwin IV's men that the girl possessed not only bravery but also striking beauty. They couldn't help but ponder why such a lovely woman would choose to engage in battle.

With anticipation and nervousness mounting on both sides, Guy de Lusignan charged towards the girl, brandishing his sword proudly. However, she remained composed, standing her ground and awaiting his approach.

As Guy lunged forward to strike, the girl deftly sidestepped his attack, disarming him with precision. With a swift motion, she wielded the blade given to her by Galram, delivering a decisive blow to Guy's forearm, eliciting a cry of pain from him. The sight shocked King Baldwin IV's army, while the barbarians erupted in triumphant cheers.

Undeterred by Guy's anguish, the girl swiftly seized a small pin and expertly drove it into his groin, inflicting another wave of excruciating pain. Witnessing this brutal act, Jerusalem's soldiers realized the true nature of this tribe's ferocity.

As Guy crumpled to the ground, weakened by his injuries, the girl poised her blade once more. With a calculated strike, she inflicted a final, devastating blow, slicing through his eyes and leaving him blinded for life. Guy's anguished screams filled the air, a grim testament to the merciless brutality of the duel's outcome.

In the aftermath of the brutal duel, the girl gazed stoically at Guy, her features stained with his blood. Her brother, Galram, observing the scene unfold, hastened to her side.

Approaching her, Galram urged, "Finish him!" But the girl remained unmoved, her expression devoid of emotion.

The soldiers of King Baldwin IV's army felt a chill run down their spines as they witnessed the girl's cold demeanor and the agony of Guy de Lusignan's cries.

Finally, in response to her brother's command, she spoke, her voice cutting through the tense silence. "Brother, it would be far too mundane to end him swiftly," her words reverberated through both crowds.

King Baldwin IV and his men exchanged knowing glances, confirming the sibling relationship between the girl and Galram, as well as their unflinching resolve.

As some of the knights rushed to aid Guy de Lusignan, the severity of his wounds became evident, his body drenched in blood. Meanwhile, the red-haired siblings watched dispassionately as Guy was carried away for medical treatment.

Approaching the king, but maintaining a cautious distance, Galram spoke, his tone tinged with resignation. "It seems the outcome is clear. We have no choice but to advance upon your kingdom."

Balian and Tiberias tightened their grip on their swords, prepared to defend King Baldwin IV, but the king raised a reassuring hand.

"I assure you, regardless of the duel's outcome, we bear no responsibility for your friend's death," King Baldwin IV replied calmly.

Galram's expression soured in disappointment. "But that was the purpose of this duel. With the possibility of my sister defeating your knights, we have no recourse but to take action against your kingdom," he lamented.

"Brother!" The girl interjected, her voice cutting through the tension as she approached Galram, drawing the attention of both armies, especially King Baldwin IV.

"That's enough. He speaks the truth," she asserted, addressing her brother before casting a glance at the king. In return, King Baldwin IV offered a grateful look, silently appreciating her intervention.

"Why do you believe him, (Y/N)?" Galram inquired of his sister.

"I can see it in his eyes. I feel it," she replied with certainty. King Baldwin IV exchanged another grateful glance with her, quietly acknowledging her discernment and hiding his satisfaction upon hearing her name mentioned by Galram.

Galram's expression darkened with dissatisfaction, though he understood the necessity of trusting his sister's judgment. "What will come of this, then?" he challenged the king, his tone tinged with defiance.

"Reynald de Chatillon will face justice, I assure you," King Baldwin IV declared with unwavering resolve, offering a reassuring glance to the siblings. Meanwhile, (Y/N) nodded respectfully in agreement, her countenance still cloaked in the aftermath of battle, marked by streaks of blood.

Turning to his sister, Galram questioned, "Then why did you agree to duel with that knight earlier?"

"Because he is Reynald's ally, I could sense it," (Y/N) replied calmly, her words carrying a weight of certainty that Galram trusted implicitly.

Observing this exchange, King Baldwin IV found himself acknowledging (Y/N)'s intuition, despite not fully knowing her yet.

"Very well," Galram conceded, offering a nod of begrudging respect to the king before departing. In contrast, (Y/N) cast one final glance toward King Baldwin IV and his men before following her brother.

As Galram signaled for his horse and (Y/N) called hers, the siblings mounted up, preparing to leave the scene. King Baldwin IV and his army watched in silence as they gradually faded into the distance, leaving behind an air of uncertainty.

Balian spoke up, breaking the silence. "This meeting took an unexpected turn, Sire."

King Baldwin IV turned to Balian with a thoughtful expression. "Indeed, but I look forward to our next encounter."

"But My Lord, they are ruthless. And how do you feel after witnessing the duel?" Tiberias inquired.

"She displayed remarkable bravery, and her prowess is undeniable. While it may appear ruthless to some, I am relieved, for I have long suspected Guy de Lusignan's treachery," King Baldwin IV replied, his tone reflecting a mix of admiration and resolve.

Balian and Tiberias nodded in agreement with the king's response. "We must return to Jerusalem and address the events that unfolded today. Guy de Lusignan will face the consequences of his actions once he has recovered," King Baldwin IV declared, his voice firm with resolve as the army began preparations to march back to the safety of Jerusalem.

After returning to the palace, King Baldwin IV retired to his chambers, his mind consumed by thoughts of (Y/N). He couldn't shake the memory of her unwavering resolve and striking presence on the battlefield. Despite the chaos and bloodshed, there was something about her that intrigued him.

Seated at his desk, the king mulled over the events of the day, his thoughts drifting back to the enigmatic red-haired warrior. What was it about her that captivated him so? Was it her fierce determination, her undeniable skill in combat, or perhaps something deeper that he couldn't quite grasp?

Lost in thought, King Baldwin IV found himself drawn to a map of the kingdom spread out before him. His gaze lingered on the borders, his mind racing with strategies and plans to fortify their defenses against the looming threat posed by Galram's tribe.

But amidst the practicalities of rulership, his thoughts kept returning to (Y/N). He found himself wondering about her past, her motivations, and the bond she shared with her brother, Galram. There was a complexity to her character that he couldn't ignore, a mystery that called out to him.

King Baldwin IV found himself whispering her name once more, "(Y/N)..." as he pondered the enigmatic warrior, his thoughts consumed by the memory of their encounter. He couldn't shake the feeling that their paths would cross again, and he wondered when that moment would come.

As the hours passed and the moon rose high in the sky, King Baldwin IV finally set aside his concerns and retired to bed. But even as sleep claimed him, his dreams were haunted by visions of (Y/N), her fiery spirit burning bright against the backdrop of a kingdom in turmoil.

-End-

P.S. Please tell me if you would like me to continue this story 🫠 Thanks to all for reading 🤗🤭

#king baldwin iv #kingdom of heaven #koh fandom #king baldwin fandom #kingdom of heaven 2005 #fanfiction #fanfic #kingbaldwiniv #baldwin #king baldwin fansclub

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byunpum · 1 year

Text

The new member | Part 5

Pair: Miles Quaritch (baby blue boii) x Human reader

tw: Teasing, mmmm miles being soft, Lyle bestie and spider, zdog being jealous, Quarith being upset.

POV: Y/N is sent from Earth to Pandora to be part of a particular group of people…

p.s. This story is created after the ship altercation. Neteyam never dies, the sullys are able to run away, but spider decides to go with his "father" to the base. All recoms are still alive.

Note: I can't…I try to make Zdog as mean, but I can't. She looks like such a good person…but whatever. This part was pretty short, because part 6 would be the end. This was supposed to be a short series, and it's already 5 parts long. I hope you like it!!!! yassss

"We're part of what?" you felt the grip on your waist tighten. Quaricth's ears fell back. And his face reflected a look of terror. You weren't really upset by Z-dog's comments, she was always talking more than she should. You were upset because while they were investigating and taking custody of the caged animals, one of the PPA members handed you some papers. In those papers, there were photos of each of the recoms. There is also all their personal information, how they had created them and the goal they had with them.

You sigh a little, trying to explain everything to Quaritch. "I imagine you know some things…but not everything. You are part of an investigation, you are literally guinea pigs. I don't know what they will do with you. But in those documents…" You stop talking for a moment, at this point Quaritch had already gotten up off the floor. And he had taken some steps backwards, his hands were folded on his chest and his tail was on the floor, wagging slowly.

"In those documents they talk about…how they are going to eliminate you if in 3 years you don't achieve the expectations of their plan" You look up, all this time you were looking at the ground. You didn't want to be the one to tell him, but you had to. That's why you were here… to protect them.

"So you knew all this?" says Quaritch, his tone of voice rising a little. And his expressions had changed to one of anger.

" No, wait!!! I just found out" you try to approach him, but he takes a step back.

"Right…that's why you're here. To protect the damn animals…and that includes me" Quaritch shouts. This time, it's you who steps back. If Z-dog was intimidating, imagine Quaritch.

"MILES!!! I didn't know anything I swear… those papers were just handed to me. I'm only here to protect you guys, I'm not the villain" You try to take his hand, but he keeps pulling further away from you.

"The right thing to do… is for everyone to calm down. And let the PPA take custody of you" you speak.

"Custody? We're not animals Y/N" Quaritch yells. He was scaring you. You knew you didn't have to say these things, let alone like this. But it was the reality, if they were part of some investigations, they have to be safeguarded like the others… living creatures.

"I know… but it's protocol. I swear, they will not be treated like animals. Our goal is not that…but I need you to understand, that the RDA is just using you. Everyone on your team…they are using them." You are silent for quite a while…Quaritch is pacing from side to side, you can see how upset he was.

"Quaritch…you're not even you. You only have the memories of that person, and I know you fight every day with your subconscious, we…" you see how he turns and approaches you in giant steps. You stand still.

"No… I know who I am, and you're not going to come here and tell me who I am or how I should act. Just do your job" Quaritch speaks, his tone is threatening. You decide not to say anything, you knew he was on the defensive. Being told that you are just an experiment, and that you are now the property of the PPA. It must be difficult.

To your bad luck, half of the conversation you two had had was overheard by the Z-dog soldier, she decided to come out and apologize to you. But she was taken with this surprise. You turn around and see the woman approaching you. Oh no, this couldn't get any worse. "Is something wrong here?" asks the woman.

" No, let's just go" Quaritch says placing a hand on the woman's back and walking away. "Miles…please don't leave like this" you speak, but the man ignores you. You stand in the hallway in silence, thinking about what you did wrong. And you didn't do anything… you just want to protect him. At that you hear footsteps, and you turn to see spider approaching. "Hey…what's wrong? Why did they leave like that… they already finished picking up all the animals" says spider, the boy looked happy but his smile was gone when he saw your worried look.

"Spider… how do I make someone understand that I just want to protect him?" you speak, spider saw how you were turning red and your eyes were getting watery. "But what happened?" Spider didn't know anything about you and Quaritch, so you decided to tell him everything, cautiously of course. Because even though Spider was 'big' he still didn't have any malice in many things. The boy listened to you from beginning to end. When you finished explaining everything, the hallway became quieter as spider thought about how to answer you.

"So… you and my 'dad' are dating…" spider asks. " Well I thought so…" spider shuffles his hair and then starts talking. " And you found out about the RDA's plans with the recoms, and you told him about it and he got upset with you?" spider speaks up. " Yes, I was explaining to him that the PPA will take custody of them, but of course… he thinks we're treating him like an animal. But we're treating him like…" spider interrupts you, finishing your sentence. "Like a living human being. I understand," spider says, pulling you in for a hug.

"And they're going to be okay?" spider looks at you. "Yes, this change will happen in a few days" you say, pulling away from spider's embrace. As you see lyle approaching, he doesn't look upset. In fact, he was walking with his unique style. "Doll… I've been told. Is it true that the PPA will take custody of us?" asks lyle, approaching where you and spider were. You were surprised at how calm he was. How was it possible that he was taking it easy and Quaritch was not. "Who told you?" you ask. "Oh, it was the PPA custody team, they told us that in these days we will have to sign some things blah blah" lyle speaks. "And everyone took it well?" lyle looked at you and laughed a little. You knew that was a no, it was normal for them to feel that way.

" Honey… look" Lyle kneels down to be on your level. "I understand you… the colonel is furious. And some of the guys are too" lyle says. "Including zdog?" you look at him, raising an eyebrow. Spider laughs a little. "Including zdog, but let them be…they'll figure this is for the best. I don't feel like getting killed a second time" lyle says getting up. "Quaritch almost killed me, when I told him everything" you say, as spider comes over to give you another hug. You felt he needed a lot of love, so you hug him back. "The colonel has been having trouble adjusting to these new bodies, he'll understand - just give him space - don't worry your boyfriend will stop being mad at you," Lyle jokes. You stick your tongue out at him, spider copy you. "At least you have your stepson on your side," lyle continues to joke, and spider starts playing with him.

After talking for a long time in the hallways, you decide that you'd better pick up the food from the cafeteria and go eat it somewhere else. You knew that when you entered the cafeteria area you were going to meet everyone, so Lyle entered without causing any suspicion, took some food to eat, and left as if nothing had happened. You were watching the whole thing from a small glass window overlooking the table where he was. Quaritch looked annoyed, but lost in thought, he didn't even look at Lyle.

"Well… it's been a long day, see ya" you start to say goodbye to the men. "another question, they're going to give us good food right?" lyle asks, this causes you to tap him on the arm. "Lyle, no one is going to get them out of here… the RDA is going to change administrations. And I doubt the disgusting apple mash will change it" you make a disgusted face, and are joined by lyle and spider. At least you had two people on your side. You two escorted spider to his room and you and lyle walked together to the dorms. When you arrived you noticed that no one was there, there was only zdog sitting on the couches, reading some magazines.

Lyle said goodbye to you, ruffling your hair a bit, and saying a cute comment. Which made you laugh." Are you sure you want me to leave you with this lioness?" says lyle, giving a quick glance to where zdog is sitting." Yeah, don't worry. Go and rest" you say, as you push lyle to go to her room.

You stood there thinking silently, until you feel a look. You turn to confront the look. You watch as zdog gets up, and walks slowly towards you. " The night is beautiful" you say, watching as zdog stands in front of you, causing you to look up. "Custody?" she spits, she had this attitude of superiority. "I'll explain…this is what's best for you" you speak, until you feel zdog grab your forearm. He was squeezing hard, you knew he was going to leave a mark. "Listen to me you fucking rat…I want you away from the colonel" she spits, lifting you off the ground a little. You squeal, she was squeezing your arm so hard you felt it was going to break. "Let go of me!" you whine, and she throws you to the ground. You feel the blow on your spine. " I-I don't want to hurt him" you were getting up from the ground, but the woman pushes you down again. You decide to do nothing, she was three times your size, it was an unfair fight. "Leave him alone." You stayed silent, watching the woman walk away from you and walk to her room.You weren't going to fight or lose your patience. You knew quaritch wasn't interested in zdog, so you weren't going to fight.

Your arm and back hurt so much, you just lay there on the floor. It was to be expected that someone had heard something, the scream that came out of your mouth when you fell to the ground was very loud. While you were trying to relieve your back pain. You hear a door open. You looked up to see who it was, you were begging for it not to be zdog. You were surprised when you saw Quaritch. He stood in the door frame looking at you. "What happened?" Quaritch moves a little closer to you, but still keeps his distance. " Nothing… I'm surprised at how many enemies I've gained, and all I've done is help" you complain, trying to stand up from the floor. Just before you get up, your lower back fails and you fall back to the ground.

"Hey… be careful" says Miles, reaching over to lift you by the arm, But just before he touched you, he saw the hand mark z-dog had left. "She… did she do this?" asks the man, bending a little to lift you up by your sides and standing you up straight. "Who else is going to do… I can't fight her" you say, avoiding his gaze. You knew he was upset with you, but you are surprised when he reaches over and strokes your cheek. "I'm going to talk to her…she shouldn't have done this," Quaritch says, taking your arm to check on the bruise. "Don't tell her anything…I don't want to have any more run-ins with her" you say as you follow Quaritch, he is helping you sit on one of the couches.

You were sitting next to him, letting him touch and caress your arm. "Are you still upset? Lyle said…" Quaritch interrupts you and reaches over to your arm and places a kiss on the wound. "Yes…I'm still upset, but…I care about you" Quaritch says, pulling you closer to his body. Making you lie on him. "Just promise me…you won't do anything crazy with us" Quaritch says, you look up. You pull out of his grip and sit up on your knees to take his face in your hands. "It's going to be okay… we're going to take care of you. I'm going to take care of you" you reach up to give him a kiss on the tip of his nose. Miles laughs and reaches over to steal a kiss on your lips. "You're easy to get along Colonel" you tease him. "Only because it's you" Quaritch grabs you around the waist, making you giggle a little as he settles you in his lap.

"So …. you're going to take care of me" you see how he's laughing, as he launches himself to kiss your neck. Moving down to your chest, while one of his hands is already working down your shirt. "Yes, I'm going to take care of you".

"Hey… let's go to my room shall we?" you give him another kiss on the lips, as you start to get up from his lap. You hear him moan a little, he was purring. "You purr?" you look at him surprised. You didn't know he could do that, you had heard from some people that they were able to do that, but you had never noticed it.

"Of course not" quaritch says nervously, as he breathes in some oxygen from his mask. Shit, you made him so nervous. "Yesssss you were purring…my cute giant kitty" you speak hugging his waist, your face reaching just above his pelvis. "Careful precious…you're too close" Miles laughs, moving his hips forward. You lift up his shirt and give him a kiss right on his lower abdomen, making the man purr again.

You laugh a little, as you walk away, taking his hand to head to your room. This was already becoming routine for you. "This would be reconciliation sex?" asks Miles, stepping through the door frame. You just laugh and make him go all the way into your room, closing the door behind him.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the RDA facilities…

"Good evening general" says one of the employees of the research area. "Good evening" General Ardmore didn't usually ask for help in her plans, but this time it was necessary.

"May I know what you called me for, it's late" says the man. "I'm sorry…I know it's late. But I need your help" says the woman, settling down at her desk. "Do you know who Y/N is?" says the woman.

"Sure, she is the new member of the recoms squadron," says the man, already suspecting more or less what the general was going to ask him.

"Well, …. I need her to disappear or I need you to bring her back to earth. But I want her off the base" says the woman. She had a cold look on her face.

"General…that's impossible. The PPA is on top of us, they are not going to get their team out" the man speaks. In less than three weeks, the PPA was going to take over the GDR.

"I can't let the PPA come here and ruin everything," the woman says, raising her voice. "And what about Colonel Quaritch? He could help us," says the man trying to get out of the awkward situation.

"That man has lost his direction," says General Ardmore, as she takes a sip of her coffee.

The "I know I can change him" squad: @mechformers @cullenswife @littlethief78 @nieshiren @parasiiite @bxnnywriting @shelbythequeen @sassvy-blog-blog @shaylang21 @perfectgradient99 @jinx14 @elvyshiarieko @littlethingsinlife @ilovedoms @the-hufflebird-girl @ronia-entries @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed @mechformers @perfectgradient99 @mad-simp420 @quaritchlvr @kittycow8875 @mjnij @ladylovegood-69 @dilfs-bitch @witchywannabe3263 @fanboyluvr @stickyfictioninwriting

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knfmemarbles · 7 months

Text

The Devil's Promise pt. 1

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I have posted any fics but I hope you enjoy this one as it is part one of a series!

word count: 2.5k

pairings: Simon "Ghost" Riley x reader, Johnny "soap" McTavish x reader

warnings: none I am aware of (if there are any lmk!)

I sighed and tended to the bar at the Saloon, trying to make a little side cash while my father was off at another meeting. It was always nice not to have to deal with his company, having their prying eyes or clinging hands near me. Sometimes, living under the watchful eyes of politicians was the worst place to be. No freedom, no adventure, and no love life the way I would’ve hoped for. My hand was likely promised to the new person willing to protect our town. Many gunslingers were responsible for safeguarding towns and saloons from outlaws and ruffians. However, my father had been swift to draw a line in the sand, almost crossing it as he attempted to enlist more than he could afford. I brushed my hair to the side, standing straighter as I tried to keep my manners with the newest entering patrons. A broad figure entered the Saloon with his posse, eyes scanning the room before staking a claim on a corner table. A mask dawned on his face, a red skull obscuring his features from vision as a back cowboy hat covered the top of his head. It wasn’t one of those cliches where the whole Saloon went silent as they watched the newcomers come in and were suspicious; they were hardly noticed. After all, the town was quite large, and people passed through on business or travel constantly. However, no one had masks like theirs adorning their faces. It was the only thing that caught people’s eyes as they walked by, but they turned back, knowing it was better not to ask. Better to mind your own business. The man settled on a stool, gesturing for one of his buddies to get up and get drinks as the rest of the posse flocked to the table. They began to joke around and became vivid, nothing like how they entered. The group’s vibrant energy while sharing a drink was now nothing less than fun and bubbly. But the cautionary tale of the Devil’s posse only made my hair stand up on end as I knew the danger they posed and why they were in the part of my town only bothered me further.

The information was like an itch I couldn’t reach as my dad only fed me pieces of what was going on between him and the gunslingers in the area. These men did not play fair. They were more than willing to shed petty blood: At least, that’s what the stories say. Their leader was the one in the red mask. He was known as the Devil himself. Father warned me to stay away from this business if possible as my future was already promised away. He did not want to have his bargaining piece used against him. The one who stood closest to the Devil himself was the one to make quick of getting up. He grunted with effort as he was left with the task of acquiring the drinks for the group. He signaled to you as he walked up, hand twirling around in a circle before gesturing towards his table as he approached your bar. He pressed himself against it with his elbows resting against the old polished wood. After all, your town was wealthy.

“Round ‘o whiskey.” He said as he eyed me subtly with his head tilted. He looked amused more than lustful as he let his eyes wander. It gave me a short time to take him in. His hair, neatly shaved, faded almost into a mohawk. His jaw stubbled enough to make him look rough around the edges. The clothes adorning his figure were nothing short of cowboy: a cowhide vest resting on a long-sleeve black, thin top, not to mention the chaps that complimented the jeans.

My gaze flickered up to the cowboy to give him the acknowledgment he sought before moving to grab the closest bottle of Tennessee whiskey. The thick glass was cold to the touch as I reached to grab a few cups to fill, “How many would you like, sir?”

He tilted his head back to the other side, getting a small head count of his group. He rattled off the number of men in his posse with the smile never leaving his lips. He stayed, leaning against the bar as his eyes wandered around the walls and other tables before settling on a staircase tucked right out of sight unless you were looking hard enough. His curiosity began to get the best of him as he leaned forward to speak over hushed words.

“Have any women upstairs?” His words laced in a heavy accent as his eyes followed the staircase. “Or is that just rooms?”

Had he had the accent the whole time? My brain tried to recount as he continued to talk. It sounded almost Scottish. However, his questions did get a laugh out of me. A polite smile eased onto my lips as I shook my head no. “Unfortunately, sir, if you’re looking for company for the night, you must visit a brothel. Those rooms are off-limits to guests.”

He put his hands up in defense with a chuckle. “Alright, miss, you got me there.”

The silence hung in the air as I filled the last few glasses with alcohol. I started to set them on a tray, willing to carry them all over myself before the man rose to his feet.

“Allow me.” He murmured, gently taking a few off the tray to lessen the load.

“Oh, well, thank you,” I waited for him to reply with a name.

“They call me Johnny.” he winked before moving to the table, raising the glasses in the air while the gang around him cheered for the first round of drinks.

I couldn’t help but linger on the group; watching them with such excitement only made my world feel so much smaller. My heart yearned to be a part of something bigger than myself, even if it was as dangerous as gunslinging. But I was merely a woman; I needed to be prim and proper.

I began serving each drink in front of each member. Some took directly from my hand, offering thanks here and there. It wasn’t until I placed the whiskey in front of the man in the red mask.

His eyes narrowed once he saw it. His gaze rose to mine before placing the liquor back onto the tray with a clink.

“Bourbon.” He spoke gruffly, a thick British accent correcting the drink as he leaned back against his seat. “Kentucky.” It was almost an afterthought like I wouldn’t have figured it out alone. It’s not like the chain of saloons carried many different selections. This one is the number one contender and is currently the only bourbon in most stores as of late.

I gave a meek nod, pursing my lips as I pulled the tray away from arm’s length.

” Kentucky bourbon. You got it, sir. Was there anything else I could help you with? “I asked with almost a sarcastic rasp to my voice. The man had easily gotten a rise out of me. I flickered my eyes from the cup to his gaze, not allowing myself to let my eyes wander as I stood straight back up. He didn’t bother speaking another word, only grunting, turning his attention elsewhere. I felt my eye almost twitch at how dismissive he was. I shouldn’t want the attention of the gunslinger, but it was difficult trying to ignore the annoyance bubbling instead of fear. I almost wanted to scold him for his mother not teaching him manners.

I strode back to the bar, setting the tray down to attend to a new glass of bourbon for the man.

While my attention was redirected, Johnny just grinned before turning back towards his boss, who gave him a questioning brow raise. He shrugged in response. "What? She's a pretty gal, and you need to talk more." He says, shrugging as if he wasn't scheming some plan. "She's got a slippery tongue too, might tell you what's up there." He grabbed a thumb backward towards the staircase. "It's a secret, from what I've found out." Redmask sighs briefly before looking at me with a slight hum as if thinking of Johnny’s suggestion.

After finishing pouring the glass, I stopped to check the time. A small curse slipped through my lips as I returned to the table.

I returned with a small set of menus and gently set them in the center of the table before setting down the bourbon in front of the gentleman with the red skull obscuring his face. I gave a quiet “here you go” before looking to all the other men in the group, “I brought some menus; if you are interested, feel free to wave any of the other waitresses by, and they will be able to help you there.” I smiled and pointed out a few before getting ready to turn and head back to the bar to serve a few patrons waiting for me to serve them.

Johnny smiles at me before touching my wrist, not grabbing it but gently touching it with his finger to stop me. “Thank you, sweetheart. One more thing, though, is there a place we can stay for the night?” He asks, removing his finger from your skin to not make me uncomfortable. In the meantime, Redmask digs around in his pocket and provides a large wad of cash he holds out for the taking.

I felt my face heat up at such a gentle touch. Most men in the bar were very grabby and demanding, rarely using feather-light touches. I gently brought my hand to my chest, touching where his hand had once been. “Ah well, I am sure the local motels around here would be more than willing to take all of you in for the night. Virginia run the one three blocks down.” I smiled, feeling they were trying to figure something out about the upstairs rooms. I looked towards the cash and tilted my head at the red-masked stranger. “Closing the tab?” I asked. I turned to face them with genuine confusion as they were barely served one round. I glanced at the other cowboy and gave him a kind smile, “Would you like me to have someone go over to let Virginia know you need a place to stay?”

He nods, mentally noting the place before taking hold of his glass and drinking. “Ah, that would be appreciated; thank you, sweetheart.” Johnny cooed while his boss sipped at the drink. His eyes leave you after returning to the other men as they talk and joke. The red-masked man, however, just nodded to the question he asked, huffing in slight annoyance. “Any other drinks can be bought by themselves.” He grumbled out, not wanting to feed into his men’s drinking problems. Nor get blackout drunk and cause problems while trying to stay low.

“Okay, I can close that for you. Let me get your change.” I murmured and grasped the money from his gloved hand, brushing my fingers as I rounded to the bar and counted out the Change. I kept glancing at the group, returning to why they were there. Maybe Father had business? No, he never talked well of the posse—quite the opposite. I was utterly lost in thought when counting the money, almost wholly zoning out.

The masked stranger watched as I counted the change. Though he didn’t intend to let me give it to him, he would hand it back, even as a tip, if anything. He turned back towards Johnny, who was already looking at him. He subtly tilted his head in my direction and asked a nonverbal question. It was answered with a single nod. They had come into the town for something. And they would get it no matter what happened—a score to settle almost.

I stopped before bringing the change back and setting it on the table. “Virginia is aware of your upcoming visit. I hope you all enjoyed your time here.” I murmured before heading back to the bar before moving to make my way to the staircase, ready to take a small break from the smell of alcohol and bustling bodies. The amount of people trying to grab my attention slowed my movement to the room, but I needed to get going. I kept glancing behind me, feeling burning gazes on my back, my head on a swivel until I met his from across the bar again. I gulped before continuing up the store, fishing in the small pocket I created in my dress for a key to the room I had been using.

I looked over my shoulder before unlocking the third door and sliding through quickly before giving a soft sigh and moving to set the key down on the nearby dresser. Looking at the time, I promptly began to head to my father’s, moving to strip from the corset and dress to something a little more fancy and ladylike. That way, my reputation would not be affected as my father used me as his little pawn. I wish I could avoid it at all costs, but family love ran deep, and I felt I would only let them down if I didn’t do as told. Not to say mothers’ punishments weren’t the other reason.

I slipped on a different pair of shoes, throwing on light makeup before snagging the key and leaving. After locking the door, I descended the stairs and started through the bar, dodging touchy customers and waving bye to some of the ladies, knowing my father was about to have my head for being late. I cleared my throat, passing by the posse as I waved a tiny bye. The curiosity of who they were gnawing at me as I truly wished I could get to know them.

Johnny gave a tiny head tilt along with the tip of his cowboy hat, grinning as he watched as I walked away. He was unaware of the second set of eyes following me as I left, yet he made no motion to say goodbye. After I left the bar, though, redmask stood. He signaled to Johnny to follow; he was the closest thing to the second in command he would get. They also waited a few minutes before leaving the bar, looking around to see where I had scurried off to.

I waved over my driver and watched the horses slowly trot up, smiling as I approached. I stroked the nose of the horse gently before talking to the coach before moving to get into the cart. The smile disappeared as quickly as it appeared, a frown taking place as I knew I would now have to face my father’s men and wishes. I grew mildly frustrated. I was wishing that I could sneak off and go on my adventure of sorts. After slinking out of the Saloon, I hadn’t even felt the gaze or the men following me.

#ghost x reader #ghost x you #simon riley x you #simon riley x reader #simon ghost riley #simon riley #simon ghost x reader #ghost #x reader

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